A Peace That Transcends

If you know Brad, you know he is goofy/ silly/ a loud talker/ passionate for the people he cares about/ and ultimately,  he loves to tell stories. Now imagine Brad x6 and you have Brad's family. 

Gigi with Evie

The Bakers came to Athens this past weekend to meet Evie, see our  house, and see us. It was great to have Gigi (Rosemary) as an    experienced set of feeding arms and hands, to have help with diaper changes from Auntie PeyPey (Peyton) and Tia Marisol (Molly, our Spanish translator) amid TJ Maxx shopping advice,

Peyton and Molly and Evie

Alex and Evie

and Uncle Owletts (Alex) provide some much needed snuggle time. 

Though he isn't pictured here, we also appreciated Popsidootsie (Ricky)'s help with Jackson during the weekend. Jackson got some much needed attention and love.

Sunday, we took Evie to church at St. James for the first time. I was excited to get back to church and for Evie to meet her very large extended family. It was amazing-- our friends there were so supportive and loving. Pastor Jerry called our family and close friends down to say a special prayer for Evie, Lauren, her family, and us. I kept my eyes closed most of the time, partially in prayer, but also to resist the water works behind those lids. The congregation sang "Jesus Loves You" to Evie and gave her a standing ovation. 

With Evie, at St. James, 14 August

Our St. James family has lived with us through my pregnancy and loss of Caleb, through my stroke, through my rehabilitation and mending, and through this adoption process. A friend told me yesterday that she understood Psalm 30: 11-12 in a whole way because of our journey: 

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

  You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

         O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

The Lord has turned my mourning into dancing and given me the legs that can dance again! Brad and I are so, so grateful for that St. James family, as they have prayed-supported-cried-yearned-celebrated-rejoiced with us through the last year and a half. 

At the end of Pastor Jerry's celebration for us, Brad shared with him that we have often dreamed about that moment that we could introduce our daughter to the congregation and likened it to the scene in The Lion King where Mufassa and Nala present Simba to the Prarieland:

And so, of course, Jerry shared that with the congregation, and Brad had to follow suit:

Overall, it was a great weekend. A blessed weekend. Some might even say a miraculous weekend.

Rosemary, Alex, Molly, Evie,
Ricky, and Peyton Baker

And today, Evie, Jackson, and I are resting from the weekend. Jackson's back at his 'station' and thankfully, Evie is sleeping!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7