The Dawn of my 34th year!

Whoo...hooo... Today marks the start of yet another year. You know, I am a lover of starts. New Years... any Anniversary...Birthdays... there is something so refreshing in beginnings. It is a time to reflect on the previous year as well as a chance to dream about what may lurk just beyond the horizon. I have been amazed by the paths that my life has taken over the past few years. Last year was certainly not an exception to that. The most defining moment of the year was most certainly the finalization of Paige's adoption (and of her adoption of me!). We were so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends as we honored that precious beginning. Adoption is such a beautiful picture of beauty coming from ashes. A truth that is echoed in the timeless writings of Isaiah:

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.

There is a brokenness that takes place when a child cannot live in the safety of their mother's embrace, and yet I am daily reminded that Love rebuilds and heals in ways that I cannot even begin to fathom. The process is not speedy it is not built to our cookie cutter standards, but it is rich and deep. I am honored and extremely humbled to have been invited into this adoption story.

I also had the privilege of getting to begin my journey into Graduate school this year. I started the Counseling Psychology program at Lewis and Clark college in the fall. It certainly has not been easy to juggle the demands of life alongside school work, but the process has been incredibly rewarding. Every class helps me to further define my vision of working within schools for children who have experienced the trauma of foster care. It is an exciting area that is full of need, and equally full of untold beauty.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the year had to do with Paige's schooling. I found myself homeschooling for the last few months of the school year. If you had told me that would be the case at the beginning of the year, I probably would have laughed. It became pretty apparent that Paige was not having her needs met in the school that she was in, however. So, I simply did what mothers do and worked out an alternative for her. It was not easy, but it was amazing to see her tap into the world of learning with excitement. We were able to connect into a wonderful homeschooling community. It looks like Paige will be attending a private school this fall, but I am so excited that God reminded me that my daughter will be taken care of in ways that I cannot anticipate.

Over the past few months I have also been pursuing a closer relationship with a friend of mine. And while it has been far from simple, I have been reminded over and over of the power of love to pursue even in the midst of uncertainty.

So.. the upcoming year? Hmm... Who knows. I am really excited about a project that I am developing with the schools. Through mentoring, training of school staff, working with foster parents, and DHS I am hoping to develop a program that will help children in care gain more support and success in the school systems that they often find so difficult.

I have no doubt that Paige will continue to grow in front of my eyes. I know that there will be difficulties that she will face, but I also know that she will remind me of the power and necessity of relationship.

I am richly blessed and so thankful today.

Here's to a New Year!

Love,

Krys

Ephesians 3:18-20

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!