Enter in two very young, imperfect people wanting desperately to be good parents but equipped only with love and a set of unrealistic expectations of what a family should look like. Suffice it to say, we made our share of mistakes...all four of us, each one carrying our own set of expectations, each one trying to impose those expectations on each other. Sometimes I wonder how we made it through at all.
God in his infinite wisdom gave us plenty of good times and just enough heartache. Good times when we needed to laugh and heartache when we needed to circle our wagons and draw close.
He used every experience to piece us together as a family, turning mismatched imperfections into a beautiful family quilt.
Now that the girls are young adults, each with a child of her own, I think we have finally learned to set our expectations aside and accept each others strengths and weaknesses.
Forgiveness and grace are still works in progress, but love...that is never in doubt.
Faithfully His, Patty
what a beautiful post, from a beautiful human being. how very lucky your daughters were.
ReplyDeleteI have three biological adult children and one adopted child. He came to live with us when he was four. So much had happened in his short life. He was as cute as a button but what a challenge. He is on his own now and doing okay. It was a long hard road getting to where we all are now.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful! We are praying for a couple we know that work with a missions organization. They are unable to have children - someone donated the funds to enable them to adopt a child from China - they are Chinese themselves. It has been a long process - they are waiting still - they've prepared a place for this child - I told them it is a beautiful picture of God's salvation - someone paid the price - God has prepared a place and now He waits for the child to accept and to be adopted into His family - I was blessed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteKathy
Sweet post. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteHow very beautiful your sentiments about your girls. Raising girls in my opinion is especially challenging. So many more things to worry about. I guess that is what prayer is for.
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is so wonderfully written ♥
ReplyDeleteThis is a very lovely post, Patty! Thank you for sharing your walk with us!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post, and I have to say that I know where you are coming from.
ReplyDeleteMy girls were not adopted, they are step-daughters. Thankfully, they are grown and they still love me, more than ever before, I am grateful to say and I love them dearly.
Life is so tough sometimes, especially for children, we can only do our best and love them with all of our hearts and pray for the best.
Hugs, Cindy
Hi there! Thank you for your visit and for following me on Simplify. I came over to say hello, and have been enjoying your blog ever so much! Such a sweet post I read first, and then I went back several pages, and see that you are a friend of Elaine's too. I love Elaine, and her blog Sunny Simple Life. I hope to meet her in real life soon. We are not far from one another.
ReplyDeleteI will be back....that's for certain!
Kris
Hi Patty, I am back because I just now read your comment! I only saw you had followed, and was coming to say hello, and then I saw your comment later.
ReplyDeleteOopsie...you explained all that I discovered in my sleuthing on your great blog!!!
You quilt too?
Kris
PS Where in So. Cal are you?
Patty
ReplyDeleteYour daughters were so blessed to have you and your husband there for them. I can't even imagine the challenges all of you went through.
It is hard raising children, but we just keep loving and praying. It's hard to resist this combination!
Take care-Kimberly
Oh Patty i just love your fri posts, sounds like God brought a beautiful family together, how wonderful to be in His hand.
ReplyDeleteBless you Karen xxxxx
What a lovely post...your girls are lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said.
ReplyDeletePatty,
ReplyDeleteI like your metaphor of the family quilt. So many different blocks get stitched together. A thread unraveling now and again is bound to occur.
You sound like such a loving and caring person. Happy Thanksgiving weekend from Canada.
-Karen
Patty, I am coming to really look forward to these posts. They make me think and I like that.
ReplyDeleteI think you were probably a far better parent than you give yourself credit for. Your spirit is sensitive and giving.
Hope your Fall day is totally blessed.
Barb ♥
A beautiful, heartwarming post!
ReplyDeleteLife truly is a journey of living and learning for all of us. This post is a perfect example of God's amazing grace and mercy. I love your openess and honesty, and that you both welcomed these two precious daughters into your lives. How blessed they were to be placed in a home like yours.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! I just found you and will for sure be back to see what God is doing in your life. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteOh Patty. What a beautiful outpouring of the love in your heart. Your family has truly led a walk of faith. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete