All in God's Timing

It's easy to think about all the good things when everyone in the house is sleeping and the only sound is the dishwasher running.  And the big kids will be here tomorrow to unload the dishwasher for me, so even better.  I want to go in and lay on N & BG's floor and just hear their breaths and be close to them all night long while they are so sweetly sleeping.  Their last night with us.  I told N that all 5 of us would read to him.  Camille went in first but he didn't want her in there.  Lucas read first.  Madeline read her all-time favorite "Peter Pan".  I read "Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You".  Buddy read "You are Special."  N ended up asking for Camille and she read "IF you give a mouse a cookie".  Trying to make the most of our final time together. 
Most of the time I'm really ok with this monitored return to mom.  Last Sunday was a great night when the Gilmartins, Georges, Goetz, and Lunborgs got to go to Fuzzy's and meet N's mom and grandma.  It was a great evening of fellowship and letting N's family see the community that has cared for their kids the past year.  I am so thankful to my community for all of their support.  I wanted N's mommy to see the support I had and to know that it was ok for her to ask for help in raising her kids.  I hope that she is able to find half as good of a support team as I have.
We have come such a long ways.  From a tiny baby who was crawling, to a laughing, running, telling me "no", almost 2 year old.  From a boy in a body cast prone to crying fits & temper tantrums, to a laughing, swimming, confident young boy.  And that is why we do what we do.  Not because our hearts will be broken and sad tomorrow night when our house is quiet.  I'm sure we will be feeling plenty of those feelings, but to see the changes in these kids over a years time is being able to witness God's glory in our day to day lives.  Just as Miss Becky reminded N of tonight, "Who loves you the most?" and N says, "God."  Thank God for this year.  For the smiles and the struggles.  For the growth we have experienced as a family and a small community.  And each of my hatched kids has said sometime in the last week, "when do we do this again?"  All in God's timing.