Marya turns six

quick note about Marya. She turned 6 today and last night as I was getting ready for bed I was just thinking over the last year with her. I have wrote a lot about what the Lord has done in Addie, Abreham and Petros's life. But he has equally worked in Marya and Ezra's life. As I thought back about Marya I just wanted to cry. God has grown her and changed her so much. Since we got home last Feb with our three new children Marya has had to totally be in the background. We have spent so much time working with the new children, hours upon hours of talks, hugs, discipline, tears, so so much. So much extra work for them in school, in everything we do they need extra attention right now. There has been a cost to adopt these children and it has not only been for Jake and I. May I say though it is a cost that we counted and stepped into knowing that it was God who would do this. Marya has so beautifully taken an encouraging role. Enouraging them when they are afraid, upset, sad, working through hard stuff. She has not demanded from me. She wakes up with a smile and goes to bed with a smile. Now she is still a crazy wild little girl that is strong willed, but I am amazed at what God has done. Those of you that are close to us know how hard she has been for us. I spent a large part of her toddler life at home working on obedience and her spirit was hard to break. I barely remember Ezra's infancy because I spent most of it in the bathroom with Marya giving spanks. But through it all our love for each other grew and I am so thankful!!! Today I was remembering when she was born and how much I cried because I was so overwhelmed with love. I once called a nurse into my room while I was crying just to tell her how much I loved Marya. Today we thank God for all He has done in her life and in ours through her and we beg God for wisdom as we continue to raise this wild horse.
love love
Jen