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Working through transition...

Transition is always hard. It's always going to be.
Transition from going from a house of 2 adults with no responsibility to a family of 3 with the responsibility of a child is a lot - let alone a teenager.
Transition from one home to another throughout an entire childhood and then to a couple of strangers who (you are told) will be your "last stop" is, I can only imagine, overwhelming.

So, while we were ready after meeting our girl to jump in with 2 feet... things happened and the transition plan flew off the rails. After a lot of meetings, tears, stress and confusion... our girl ended up in an emergency situation and moving in on Friday.

It was a whirlwind weekend of activity and unpacking. We talked a lot. We ate a lot. We laughed a lot. We went to a ballgame and a movie. We bought groceries and shopped for clothes. We spent time together finding out what our family looks like and how we operate.

Once again, Ryan's faith and confidence in our family has brought me to tears and made my heart overflow. Without his confidence of us being the right fit and the right family and our ability to be the parents our kid needs, I don't think I could have said yes. He was born to be a dad. Honestly, he was born to be a dad of teens. He's cheesy and funny, laid back and has an unbelievable ability to always sense what actually matters and what doesn't.

Our girl has a lot of hurt to overcome. There has been recent emotional and spiritual damage that we will help her overcome along with what could feel like an insurmountable amount of past abuse. Despite that, she is funny, quirky, adores animals and genuinely caring. Her heart is deep. While it will take a long time... maybe a lifetime... to show her that we love her, we are committed.

I am beside myself excited to be here for Thanksgiving week. I can't explain how amazing it feels to have her with us for the holidays... for her to ask if she can help make Thanksgiving dinner and talk about what we should do for Christmas.

To say I'm not terrified would be a lie. But I have faith in Ryan, in our family, in the 3 of us to work through bad days and celebrate the good ones.

Thank you all for your love and support... more coming soon...
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