Lily's Homecoming

The Journey 

August 30, 2015 my life began to change and not just because it was my birthday. A friend from church, Debra, called and shared that Lily had been taken out of her home. Lily was immediately placed in the Parker's home for a month. Debra knew I worked at SBMS, where Lily went to school, so she asked if I could bring her home from school everyday. My immediate answer was, Yes. 

See, I've noticed Lily at school since she was in sixth grade. She often walked alone, carried humongous stacks of books and had a sad feeling around her. (I am very sensitive to emotions and have been told by more than one counselor that I am an emotional thermometer.) Every day I saw Lily going to gym I would tell her hello. Sometimes she smiled, sometimes she said hi and other times she kept walking. I could tell she was hurting, so I just kept loving her as much as a school librarian can. 

When I got to start driving Lily home after school, we started to bond. We talked about our days, art, and school. Sometimes she even sang along to the song on the radio. Then she started telling me about her drawings and I was hooked. Lily has so many beautiful stories inside of her. God started tapping on my heart that maybe I could do more than just drive herhome. I saw her at church each week and she started asking to sit with me. God was working on her heart too.

As the fall semester progressed, the month that Lily was supposed to stay at the Parker's turned into two months, then three months. Somewhere in that time, Lily and one of her friends asked to speak me. They asked if I had ever thought about fostering or adoption. I was floored. Since when do eighth graders come to their school librarian and ask such serious questions? That very week, Debra and I had just talked about what it would look like for me to take guardianship of Lily, so I answered honestly and said that I had thought about it. 

But, since when do single women take on guardianship of a young thirteen year old? I wrestled, but God kept working on my heart. Debra gave me one of the wisest visuals. She shared part of her family's adoption journey with me and asked me how I would feel if I saw Lily in photographs or in life with another family. That sealed the deal. I didn't want her in anyone else's photos...I wanted her in mine and my family's. 

So after a few weeks of back and forth, Lily's birth mother signed over guardianship to me. Since I work in the district and at her school, it had to be fully legal. So on, December 6, 2015, Lily came home with me. 

December 6

I was living in a one bedroom condo, but Lily was happy to sleep on the couch. Then came the search for a new home. We saw some great places that were too expensive and then some really scary places. And just in the nick of time, God provided our new home. We started moving the December 26th and it felt like it took forever. We had lots of help from friends and family. I honestly could not have made it without my sisters.

Moving Day

Calling in all forces!

So many people have been generous to us. Lily has a beautiful wardrobe, a headboard, mattresses, bathroom decor and is loving having her own room for the first time in her life. We also got a washer and dryer and help moving it too. It's really starting to feel like home now. Lily loves to eat home cooked meals so I've really been trying to cook at home and eat out less. Amber called tonight and joked, "Every time I call you, you're cooking. Who are you?!"  It is easy to cook for someone who is so appreciative. 

One of the most beautiful things for me to watch is how my family has embraced Lily. She had Christmas presents and lots of hugs. Jenna and Benjamin adore her. Anytime I call they ask for Lily now. Only God could do something so special. 

Christmas Morning

Jenna and Benjamin love Lily.

We've definitely had our ups and downs, but overall, having Lily come live with me has been one of the least stressful things in my life. We were both more than happy to say good bye to 2015 and we gladly welcomed 2016. We celebrated in Spring at Lance's party with Amber and Andrew. It was Lily's first time doing fireworks and she LOVED it. We will always have fireworks on New Years!

New Years Eve Fun!

So that's a little bit of our story. We love hanging out by the fire place. I'm learning about Anime. Lily is learning about rules and chores. We are both learning to love each other. And Millie, how could I forget Millie? I've lost my sleeping buddy because she loves snuggling with Lily each night, but it's okay by me, especially when I get a big hug and an "I love you" at night.

We both love the fireplace!

Lily and Millie