Day 2,314

The First Year As Five

October 31st has proven itself to be a testimony of bountiful harvest in our lives over the years. Six years ago yesterday, we celebrated the hope we have in the regenerated heart of my father the day before he died. Three years ago yesterday, we celebrated the Lord’s generosity in providing for us our very first home. And one year ago yesterday, we celebrated through tears and alongside our church family as we chose to receive Bearett into our own family as Son.

I’m currently studying the book of Galatians and have been for the better part of the last month. The providential timing of the Lord to have me in Galatians 4 was not lost on me, as this last week, I’ve been reading about our sonship in Christ through spiritual adoption. 

The most beautiful part of adoption to me is that it - by definition - requires a choice. The choice of bringing the offspring of another into your own family. When I consider the reality that before being adopted myself by the Lord, I was apart of another family - an unregenerated daughter of the enemy without any hope - I am utterly speechless at the unmerited mercy and grace of the Lord. He chose me as his child. He didn’t have to. He didn’t need to. And He was perfectly in His own right not to. But instead, He chose me as I was, gave me new desires, a new hope, a new birth, a new home, a new name - an heir alongside His perfect Son. Through faith in Christ, by the Lord’s will, this is what I’ve received and done absolutely nothing to earn. 

Choosing Bearett as our son could never measure nor compare to the redeeming love with which the Lord showed when he graciously chose me as His daughter. But choosing to adopt Bearett is a picture of the Gospel that serves as a visible reminder in our own lives every single day of the goodness of the Lord and His unmatched kindness, mercy, and grace. 

Though at times, things are a little hairy and don’t always go as planned, life with Bearett has been everything we hoped and prayed it would be. And so much more. 

He unites this family in a way that never was and brings a certain joy that couldn’t exist without him. 

The girls are crazy about him.

I said the other day that I honestly don’t know what we ever did without him. And it’s true. I don’t. I can’t imagine our lives now any other way. 

They do everything together. They see everything together. They learn everything together. It’s been such a joy watching them grow as brother and sisters and I am just so grateful.  

To celebrate our special day yesterday, we skipped school and had ourselves an entire day of family. We went to the park, ate lunch at Panera, got all dressed up in our favorite costumes (!!), went to Fall Festival at our church, and finally did a little door to door candy collecting. 

The kids had a blast. 

And we did too. 

Every year now, we have a built-in day of celebration, centered on the abundant kindness of the Lord, and it’s a day we look forward to with renewed hope and sweet perspective. 

Bountiful harvest. 

Overflowing goodness. 

Unmerited favor. 

If anything I said above was confusing, just look at the photo.

A year ago, fathoming THIS picture would be inconceivable. Truly. My three kids sitting on the benches outside our church watching “The Lightlings” next to Morgan - it’s overwhelming to comprehend. Shocking even. But not to Him. I’m in awe at my God. 



From the Conley BeeFive (nearly Six!) to you, Happy Harvest Festival!