Happy Birthday, Jacob

Dear Jacob,

The night before you were born, I went with Andi to her high school orientation. She was so appalled that her mom was about to have a baby and she was going to high school. She's grown up a lot since then.

Eleven years ago today our family dynamics changed with your birth. That resulted in many other changes nobody could have ever predicted.

Here's just a few that pop to my brain this morning.

1. I quit my job to stay at home. Thanks, Dude :)

2. We sold our house on the lake to live in a house not by a lake. Don't worry, any day now Andi is going to forgive you for that one.

3. We decided to do foster care when you were just a little kid so you wouldn't be alone. Wasn't that smart?

4. Enter newborn Wesley in August, 1999. (Hi, Wes-Man)

5. Andi brought Big Guy home from school the same month. He forever forfeited his name, Jacob to you. Wasn't that nice of him? You are the one who stuck him with the nickname, Big Guy. Sorry, Big Guy - had we known when you arrived at 15, you were going to stick around, I might not have let him do that to you. Maybe.

6. After having our hearts ripped out a few times with the departure of the same foster daughter, we decided it would be better to adopt a child so we could quit foster care -- except for Wes. (Hi, Tiffany, Bye Tiffany times three)

7. Extensive prayer and faith in God brought Carly and Ryan to our home just 2 weeks before Andi married Big Guy in August, 2001. Now you would have 2 new siblings - more than we planned, but OK by us.

8. Shortly after filing to adopt them, Wesley's biological mother gave us permission to adopt him. Much rejoicing as we filed another petition to adopt - giving you 3 new siblings.

9. You were so fun to be around, I couldn't bear to send you away every day to Kindergarten, setting the course for us to become homeschoolers. Never would have imagined that, but here we are six years later, going strong at it.

10. And now, here you are, praying every day for us to adopt again. You want a sister for Carly so she has someone to play girly stuff with. Your heart is big, your motive and prayers sincere and your faith is strong. I have a feeling you might just cause yet another change. You're good at that.

You sure started us on a trail of blessings when you showed up. I love you.

Momma