I cannot put into words the joy that was brought to our hearts on February 25th.

Fikirte and Konjit had not seen their brother Belete since August of 2010. As Karson shared during the process, “I don’t know what it would be like to not be able to see Kaden every day.”

Adoption is beautiful my friends, but there is loss before there gain. In our family’s case, our girls endured the loss of their parents, their brother, their friends,  their language, their culture, the place they had always known as home, and more. They are happy, healthy and loved, but their past is also a part of their story. Loss before gain.

It has been such a blessing to be a part of making sure that Fikirte, Konjit and Belete can see one another every day.

Ryan and I were able to visit with Belete in November of 2013, and we watched as he shed tears over longing to be reunited with his sisters. We were honored at that point to share that we were working to bring him into our family in the states. He has always been a part of our family, but we wanted to make it official through his adoption. Through a few more tears and some smiles that day, we were able to find out more about the family and the beautiful history they have here in Ethiopia. I look forward to sharing more about that with all of you in the days to come.

Kaden and Karson have been praying with our family for this day–praying for a brother they had yet to meet. Prayers that were raised almost daily since 2010. Karson often having insight that we hadn’t thought about as parents. Kaden thinking that it was about time he had a brother in a home overrun with girls.

February 25th marked a new beginning. We pray that this begins a time of gain for this young man who is now our son.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.                                               Ephesians 3:14-21