I couldn’t help but smile when I saw it. During the official welcome of our family in an Hogar de Vida staff meeting, I glanced down at my sandaled feet. Little white freckles peeped happily back up at me.
There was flour dusting my toes.
I didn’t even brush it off. My heart was so content with our welcome and the baking spree that had decorated me. That morning my mixer had labored over wheat bread for our family, cinnamon rolls for the meeting, and rolls for the team’s dinner. I was tired, but happy. This is what I was made to do.
That feeling has warmed my heart many times over the last few weeks. We’ve hosted three teams from pickup to drop off, shared meals and the story of God’s work in our lives, shopped, cooked, cleaned, sanded, painted, and learned names to match beautiful faces. On the trail behind us are a good many “firsts,” marking out the path to the feeling of “home.” I have carried a one month old new arrival from the house tia’s arms to a medical eval, feeling the flutters of first-mom jitters all over again. We now know just where to put the glass in the refrigerator to catch the condensation runoff that’s supposed to be routed below, and where to get our favorite produce at the farmers market. We can see the work the Lord is doing here, and the difference that it makes every day.
Familiarity has paved the way. Evenings spent reading books aloud on our couch, early mornings hanging laundry. Goodnight kisses, Spanish greetings, movie nights, and bright sunrises. My running shoes have ventured out to tread the hills, and my lungs have caught up. Joy has come again.
We are home.
The Good News Family 
Love the photos! Thanks for giving us all a sneak peak into your home in Costa Rica!
My pleasure, Elizabeth. I beg forgiveness for the crooked horizontals on the pics. I was trying to live by “done is better than perfect,” but it still bugs me. Thinking of you and Casey often as we learn how to be a dog family. That’s probably my next post. 🙂
Can’t wait to read more about your new pup!
There’s no place like it. Tears of joy for you, and maybe even a few tears for myself as it washes over me that you are now so far away. In just a few short weeks you will be back for a visit, and yet we will not see you. I’m hoping for next year. In the meantime, I’m going to sing the song God gave me (when we lived in Memphis) for you. You can find the words on my poetry blog if you want to read them. (link off of the graceacademy page) Love you.
That’s sweet, Chris. Thank you for your song over us. What was the name of that poem again? We plan to travel back every other year, so we will hope to catch you in 2016. How big all the kids will be by then!
When our five were little they also voted to have a sleeping room and a play room. Two bunk beds and one kid who insisted on sleeping in the closet.
That’s such a sweet idea, Scott & Jody. Thanks for the encouragement on sibling togetherness. 🙂
My heart is so happy as I witness your heart becoming more and more content, blooming from the seeds of faithfulness which God has nourished and watered with His love and grace. You are exactly where you are meant to be and I can’t wait to see how else He grows you in the days to come. I love you very much, Kris, and I’m so very, very proud of you.
Cherishing that, Marie. Igualmente, mi querida amiga!
I love this so much!! I am so blown away by your willingness to obey God in this adventure. Know that you are often in our thoughts and prayers. Love you all!
Can’t tell you how much I cherish the memories of being able to worship together, Emily. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. We keep you in ours as well every time we see the charming fb posts about your awesome family.
I love your home, especially your views! But even more especially (no grammar police here I’m breaking from logic!), my beautiful friends who fill it. I miss you all and tear up writing this, I know you’re “close” but not seeing you everyday makes you feel so far!
We can hide together from the grammar police in two languages, Mary. Miss your beautiful face and heart, and all those hours spent ducking your fan in class. Would love to be sitting there again after the heat we have here. Kiss your sweet family for us!
Thanks for sharing! It looks so beautiful and you sound so happy.
Thanks for keeping us updated. We so enjoy hearing from you all. You have a great gift for sharing from the heart. May our Lord continue to provide and guide your family.
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