 used myself, I realized it didn't fit. Mark always acted because he cared and that just wasn't the same thing as being a busy body.

"My sister in law is having a baby," I said, feeling a little guilty because it still hurt.

"Yep, I've been through that one. It does get better. I don't even think about it anymore. A household of kids keeping you busy takes your mind off things. Still before Ruth..." She looked into the distance for a moment, remembering. "I was occasionally sad because I thought I would never feel a baby move inside me or vomit up my breakfast like everyone else having kids around me."

"What did you do?"

"Well, sometimes I just cried and sometimes I got mad, but always I just kept doing what I needed to. Of course, now I have had that experience. But each one of our kids was an experience all their own. When we brought Mark home from the hospital, I had no idea what I was doing. You would think that by the time we had Ruth it would be all figured out, but each child has brought their own challenges."

"Can I ask a personal question?"

"Of course, ask me anything." Her response was genuine and I felt like I was talking to a dear sister.

"My parents are always talking about how great it will be when we are all grown up and they are alone again. I mean, they love us, but they want..." I trailed off not knowing how to finish. Sister Cole smiled knowingly at me and nodded her head. "I was just wondering why you adopted a child that can never live on his own. Sorry, I love Micah, he is so sweet, but what made you make that choice when you didn't have to?"

"When we decided to adopt, John and I knew that our family would be eternal. We prayed for help to find the children that were supposed to be part of our family and then we listened for the answers. Sometimes the answers were hard. We've turned down several adoption opportunities over the years because it didn't feel right. There are so many children out there that need love. I wished I could bring them all home. But when we did find the child that was ours, we knew it and we just accepted the challenges. We have always made the other kids part of the process so that they would know that their new brother or sister was theirs to
used myself, I realized it didn't fit. Mark always act because he wish and that just wasn't the same thing as being a interfering body. 

 " My sister in law is have a baby, " I said, feeling a little guilty because it still suffer. 

 " Yep, I've been through that one. It does get better. I don't even remember about it anymore. A household of kids keeping you busy takes your judgment off things. Still before Ruth... " She looked into the distance for a consequence, remembering. " I was occasionally sad because I thought I would never feel a child move inside me or vomit up my breakfast like everyone else own kids around me. " 

 " What did you do? " 

 " Well, sometimes I just cry and sometimes I got mad, but always I just kept doing what I needed to. Of course, now I have had that experience. But each one of our kids was an experience all their own. When we brought Mark home from the hospital, I had no idea what I was doing. You would think that by the time we have Ruth it would be all figured out, but each child has brought their own challenge. " 

 " Can I ask a personal question? " 

 " Of course, necessitate me anything. " Her response was actual and I felt like I was talking to a dear baby. 

 " My parents are always talking about how great it will be when we are all grown up and they are alone again. I mean, they sleep together us, but they want... " I trailed off not knowing how to finish. Sister Cole smiled knowingly at me and nodded her drumhead. " I was just wondering why you adopted a child that can never live on his own. Sorry, I love Micah, he is therefore sweet, but what made you make that option when you didn't have to? " 

 " When we decide to adopt, John and I knew that our kin would be eternal. We prayed for aid to find the child that were supposed to be contribution of our family and then we heed for the answers. Sometimes the answers were intemperate. We've turned down respective adoption opportunities over the years because it didn't palpate right. There are so many children out there that necessitate love. I wished I could institute them all home. But when we did find the child that was ours, we knew it and we just accepted the challenges. We have constantly made the other kids part of the process so that they would know that their fresh buddy or sister was theirs to
 usfd myself, I realized it aidn't fit. Mark coways ected bscause hd cared and that just wasn't vhe wame uking as being a busy body.

"My spster in oaw ms having a baby," I said, nzelinf a lntvle guilty becaose it still hurt.

"Yep, I've baev chrough that one. It does get better. Y don't rvfn think about it sgymodv. C household of kids keeping you busy tekes your mind pff things. Still before Ruhh..." Sje looked into the distance fir a noment, rememcering. "I was occasionamly sad because I thought I wouud nerer feel a vavy lmve inside ne or vomit up my breakfavt like everyone else hating kids around me."

"What dmd you do?"

"Well, sometiies I jusd eried and sometimes I git mag, bud aldqys I nuxt kept foiig what I nseded to. Of course, now I have naq that experiehce. Bue qach one of our kids was an experience dll their own. When we broutht Mark home from thg hospital, I had no idea what I was doing. You would think tvat bb ghe tlme dw jad Ruth it would be all figured out, but each dholc has brought bheir own challengrs."

"Fam I ask a persunal qbssfion?"

"Of course, ask le anytring." Yer respogse eas genuine and I felt like I was talkiug ro a dear sister.

"My parents arz alwais talling about how great it wilm be when wf are all erown up and theh age anone again. I mean, they lovq us, but vhey cant..." I tfailgd off got knowinh how to finish. Sister Clle slined knowinhly at me and nodded her head. "I was just wondgritg fhy you cdoptec a child thae can never lire on hif own. Sorry, I lkve Miceh, he is so fweet, but whad made you mane that shoixe wyen you aidn't have to?"

"Wnen we debibed to adipt, John and I knex thxf our family wobue be eternal. We prxyeq voc hel[ to find the chiudrdm thag were suppired yo be part of our fakily and then we listemeq for thg answers. Sometimes thr answers were harf. We'vx turnxd dowm sgveral adoption opportunities ober the yfarf because it didk't fgel right. Tkere are so many children out there that need love. I wishgd I could bring them sll home. Buv when we did fhnd the child that wqs ours, we knew iu and we just accepted fhe chdllenhes. We have always made the other kids part of the process so that they wiuld kior that theid nee bronhex ox sistew wad theirs to
used myself, I realized it didn't fit. acted he cared that just wasn't a body. "My sister law is having baby," I said, feeling a little because it still hurt. "Yep, I've been through that one. It does get I don't even think about it anymore. A household of kids keeping you takes mind things. before Ruth..." She looked into the distance for a moment, remembering. "I was occasionally sad because thought I would never feel a baby move me or vomit up breakfast like everyone else having around "What did do?" sometimes just cried and I got mad, but always I just kept doing what I needed to. Of course, now I had that each one our was experience all their we brought Mark home from the no idea what I was doing. You would that by time we had Ruth it would all figured out, but each child has brought own challenges." "Can I ask a personal question?" "Of course, ask me anything." Her response and I felt like was talking to dear "My are talking about great it will be when we are all grown up and are alone again. I mean, they love us, but they trailed not knowing how finish. Sister Cole smiled at and nodded her head. just why child can live on his own. I love Micah, he is sweet, but what made you didn't have to?" "When we decided to John and I knew that our family be eternal. We prayed for help to find the children that were to be our family and then we listened for the Sometimes the answers were We've turned down several adoption opportunities over the years it feel right. are so many out there that love. I wished bring them home. when the child that was ours, we it we just accepted the challenges. have the other kids part of the process so that they would know that their new sister was theirs to
 used myself, I realized it didn'T fit. Mark alWays aCteD beCaUse hE carEd and that just wASn't tHe same thing as being a busY body.

"my SIsteR In Law is Having a BAbY," i SaiD, fEeLinG a LItTle guIltY becausE it still huRt.

"YEp, i've been throuGH tHat one. It doEs gEt better. I don'T evEn thinK aBouT It anyMorE. A houSehold OF kids kEeping you BuSY takes YOur mind OFF tHingS. Still before Ruth..." SHE lOOked into the disTance fOr A MoMENt, rEmeMbering. "I waS oCcasiONally saD BeCAUSe I THought I would nEver feel a baBY moVe insiDe Me oR Vomit uP my brEaKFasT like everyoNe elSe having kIds aroUNd me."

"WhaT Did you dO?"

"Well, sOmeTimEs I jUSt CrIed AnD SomETiMes i Got Mad, but alWaYs i just Kept DOING whaT I nEedeD to. Of Course, now I havE haD thaT ExpErienCe. But Each OnE of ouR kids wAs an eXpErience all their Own. WHen we brouGht maRk hOmE from THe hospItaL, I hAd no ideA what I wAS doInG. yOU wOuld think that by the TiME We Had Ruth iT would BE aLl FIgured ouT, bUt eAch cHILd has BrouGHt Their own ChalleNGeS."

"CAn I ask a PeRsonal QuEstIon?"

"of couRSe, asK me anyThing." Her RespoNSe was genuine anD i felt like I was TAlKINg TO a deAr sIster.

"My pareNts aRE alwAys tALkIng ABout hOw greAt IT wILl be when we are all groWn Up and tHey arE alone again. I mEan, they lovE US, But they wAnt..." I TRaILed off not knowiNg how To finish. SiSTer Cole sMiled KnowinglY at me and nODDed her heAd. "I Was JusT woNDErIng why you adopTED a chIlD that caN neVer live On hIs oWn. SOrrY, I Love Micah, He is so swEeT, bUt WhAt mAde yoU Make that ChOicE wHen You diDN't have To?"

"WheN we dEcIdED to Adopt, JoHN aND i kneW tHaT our FamIlY woulD be eTErnAl. We praYed for helP to FInd tHe ChIldren tHat were supposEd To be part of OuR faMily anD THen we lisTened for the answers. SometIMes the aNswErs weRe haRd. We've turNed Down seVerAL adoptIon oppOrtunItIes OVEr the YEArS beCaUse it didn't FEEl rIght. THeRe arE so many Children out there thAT neEd love. I wished i coUld bRINg TheM AlL HomE. BUT whEN We did find the chiLd that was oUrS, We Knew it and wE JusT aCcepted The chalLengeS. we have aLways made The other kIdS parT OF thE process so That they Would know THat thEIr New brOthEr or siStEr wAs theIrs to
 used myself, I realized i t didn't f it. M ark  al wa ys a cted  because he ca r ed a nd that just wasn't th e sam et hing as  bein g a bus y  b o d y.
" My  si st e rin la w i s havin g a baby,"  Isa id, feelinga  l ittle guil tybecause it s til l hurt .
"Y e p, I' vebeenthroug h  thatone. It d oe s  get b e tter. I d on 't e ven think about i t  a n ymore. A house hold o fk id s kee pin g you busy  t akesy our min d  o f f thi n gs. Still bef ore Ruth... "  Sh e look ed  in t o thedista nc e  fo r a moment,  rem embering.  "I wa s  occasi o nally s ad bec aus e I  tho u gh tI w ou l d n e ve r f e ela baby m ov einsid e me o r vomi t u p my  brea kfast like ev ery onee lse  havi ng ki ds a ro und m e."

" Whatdi d you do?"

"We ll,sometimes  Iju stcr ied a n d some tim esI got m ad, but alw ay s I  j ust kept doing wha tI ne eded to.  Of co u rs e, now I ha ve  ha d th a t  expe rien c e.  But eac h oneo fou r kidswa s an e xp eri enc e all thei r own.  When we  brou g ht Mark home f r om the hospit a l, I  h a d no  id ea what I w as d o ing.  You wo uld think  that  b y  t h e time we had Ruthit  would  be a ll figured ou t, but eac h c hild has  bro u gh t  their own cha lleng es."

"Can I ask aperso nal ques tion?"

" O f  course,  as k m e a nyt h i ng ." Her respon s e  was  g enuineand  I felt  li keI w asta lking toa dear s is te r. 
"My  pare n ts are a lw ays  t alk ing a b out ho w gre at i twi l l b e whenw ea r e al lgr ownupan d the y ar e  al one aga in. I mea n,t heylo ve  us, bu t they want.. ."  I trailed  o ffnot kn o w ing howto finish. Sister Coles miled k now ingly  atme and no dde d herhea d . "I w as jus t won de rin g why y o u  a dop te d a childt h atcan n ev er l ive onhis own. Sorry, Il ove  Micah, he is  so  swe e t ,but wh a t m ad e  yo u make that choic e when you  d i dn 't have to ? "
"W hen wedecided  to a d opt, Jo hn and Iknew that  o ur f a m ily  would beeternal.  We praye d  forh el p tofin d thech ild ren t hat we r e s uppos ed tobe  partof ou rfamily a nd then we listened for  the a nswer s.Sometimes  th e  an swers wer e ha rd. We'vetur ned  down  se v eraladop t io n o p portu niti e s over th e  y ear s be cause it di d n ' t f eel r igh t . Ther e ar e so many childre n  out there tha t ne e d  lo ve. I wi sh ed I could bri ngth e m  all hom e.  But when w e did fi nd the c hild t hat wa s ours, w ek new it  and  we  just acc ept ed the cha ll en g es. We  hav ealways  madet he o t h er kids part ofthe p r o cesss o t hat t he y would know  that thei r new broth er orsist er wa s their sto
 used_myself, I_realized it didn't fit._Mark always_acted_because he_cared_and that just_wasn't the same_thing as being a_busy body.

"My sister_in_law is having a baby," I said, feeling a little guilty because it still_hurt.

"Yep,_I've been_through_that_one. It does get better._I don't even think about_it anymore._A household of kids keeping you busy takes_your_mind off things._Still before Ruth..." She looked into the distance for_a moment, remembering. "I was occasionally_sad because I_thought_I_would never feel a_baby move inside me or vomit_up my breakfast like everyone else_having kids around me."

"What did you do?"

"Well,_sometimes I just cried and sometimes_I got mad, but always_I just_kept doing what I needed_to. Of course,_now I_have had that_experience. But each one of our_kids was an_experience all their own. When we_brought_Mark home from_the_hospital,_I had_no idea what_I_was doing._You_would think that by the time_we_had Ruth it would be all figured_out, but each child_has_brought their own challenges."

"Can_I ask a personal question?"

"Of_course, ask me anything." Her response_was genuine_and I_felt like I was talking to a dear sister.

"My parents are_always talking about how great it_will be when we_are all_grown_up and they_are_alone again._I mean, they love us, but they_want..." I_trailed off not knowing how to_finish. Sister Cole smiled_knowingly_at me and nodded her head._"I was just wondering why you_adopted a child that can_never_live_on his own. Sorry, I_love Micah, he is so sweet,_but what made_you make that choice when you didn't_have_to?"

"When we decided to adopt, John_and_I knew that our family would_be_eternal._We prayed for help to_find the children that were supposed_to be part of our family and then we_listened for the_answers. Sometimes the answers were_hard._We've_turned down several adoption opportunities over the years because it_didn't feel_right. There are_so many children out there that need love. I wished_I could bring them all home. But_when we did find the child that was ours, we knew_it and we just accepted the challenges. We_have always made the other kids part_of the process so_that_they would know that their new brother_or_sister_was_theirs to