Life With Peter! A New Chapter

Welcome Home Peter!  We have waited so long to say that to you my dear son.  And here you are!  You are trying to figure us out and we are trying to figure you out.  And as we are being sanctified in grace together as a family we are finding our God strong and mighty.  We are weak and dependent on the Only One who can save, the only One who can bring an orphan half way across the world and put him into a new family.  Everything is new to you dear and by God's grace you are handling it just fine.

Daddy and Mommy are confident in only one thing.  GOD!  We are convinced that anything with man is impossible, but with God, ALL things are possible.  And as we lean ourselves into God's bosom we find peace, comfort and direction for our new family of six.  You see Peter, we know that with each addition to our family comes the challenge of change to our way of doing things.  Well Peter, you will find out sooner than later that Daddy and Mommy are slow to change and it wrinkles at our desire to have ease and comfort.  And not just us but all of us are struggling with it.  This is God's very good plan for the Inglin family.

With every change comes more prayers being prayed, more honest confession of sin, more gazing at the Cross of Jesus and finding forgiveness and strength.  But perhaps, dear boy, the most precious of all realities is that we can do nothing in our own strength and abilities.  God has delighted in showing us that over these months that we have waited to embrace you.  And now when we run into God's presence you come along too.  This journey that we are on together is just that, a journey, not a jaunt.  It's a delicious 7 course meal and not drive-thru at McDonald's.  Each turn, each detour, every new landmark is a gift from God. 

Being around you for such a short time has made me appreciate delay!  Details are important to you and so they become important to all of us.  It could be that we have to buy more expensive diapers to accommodate your incredible flexibility, you know the ones that have leak guards.  Or maybe it's learning some new signs together so that you can be understood better.   Going places in a hurry just doesn't happen anymore.  You know what Bud?  Doing things well with love that earns your smile and high-five is totally what we signed up for. 

We are all finding "our" way of loving you as well.  Eliot just can't stop hugging and kissing you.  Sometimes it bothers you and you hit or even bite him.  Most of the time, you both just laugh and play together.  You bring out your brother's tender and protective side.  He loves you fiercely already.  Megan makes you laugh when she plays with you and tickles you.  Right now, she seems to be a favorite, especially if you don't like what I'm feeding you.  Emily always gets a kiss on the nose from you.  We all get kisses on the lips but she gets it on the nose.  You love looking at her and she delights in you.  Daddy just loves having both his boys together in the same house.  He truly loves everything about you and I think you love everything about him too.  We really study each other don't we?  You and I are already building trust between us.  I love how discerning you are and how you can understand so quickly.  I loved being at the playground recently when you were afraid you looked for me and reached for me.  It made me cry.  I guess our favorite thing to do as a family is swim in our little blow up pool in the back yard.  We just love splashing and laughing together.

We haven't rushed into your introduction to the medical field yet.  All your care givers from Mother's choice gave us plenty to do while we unfold together as a family.  It is really a very lazy summer just slathering love on each other.  Praise, music and laughter seem to head the chapter of this new beginning.  And as we learn new things along with you Peter we will always hold out God to you as the Author of our lives together and in this truth we will find real joy that lasts forever. 

So I say goodnight to you son!  As I listen to your snuffly snore on the baby monitor and turn to bed myself I am compelled to say, "Thank You God!  Thank you for all the challenges, all the changes, all the newness, all of You.  Thank You for making us a family, and thank You for keeping us with Your steadfast love and mercy.  Peter is just perfect for our family.  AWESOME God!  We love you!"  What will tomorrow bring?  I can't wait to wake up and see.