Today marks two months since the day that our son moved into his room in our house! To say our lives have been turned upside down, would be an understatement! This new family path on our journey of life together has been equally exhausting and life-giving!

Going from 0-12 in a moment has been very interesting. While we were not there for his first steps, words, or haircut, we have been able to have other “firsts” with him: his first time on a bike, his first time on a basketball team, his first taste of a Starbucks Frappe, and even, his first taste of a Chipotle taco!

We’ve learned how important “bed time” is. We’ve discovered how tough it is to “get away” and have a date night (thanks Michael!). We’ve experienced the reality of a (constantly) empty refrigerator and pantry as he consumes the daily calories he needs to function (PSA: it’s a lot). We’ve even come to love (read: sarcasm) homework time and the joys of trying to explain why middle school is, well, middle school.

Honestly, we’re enjoying being parents. There’s nothing like hearing your son wake up in the morning excited to see you. “Dad! Can I have a hug?,” is usually his first question of each day. (Yes, it was strange having someone call us “Mom” and “Dad,” but its become part of our reality now!).

Moving forward, we’re looking toward January to start final steps in our foster-to-adopt journey. Early in the month we’ll be able to submit the paperwork to the courts to begin processing our son’s adoption. We anticipate, if everything goes smoothly, to become (legally, anyway) his parents/forever family by February (March at the latest). We’re very much looking forward to that (foster parenting is a great thing, but it will be much easier to breath when we can make decisions as his parents, not foster parents!).

Thank you for all of your questions, thoughts, and prayers. We couldn’t have gotten this far if not for the support of so many of our friends and family!

As we move into this Christmas season please be in prayer for children, like our son, who approach the holidays with a different family than that of their birth. Pray for them as they celebrate the joy of the holidays, while a part of them (always) misses the biological family they once knew.

If you’re looking for a great family project this Christmas, consider donating (or making bags yourself) to “Together We Rise.” Many foster kids leave their biological family’s home and have a short amount of time to pull together their belongings. Many throw a few clothes and, maybe, a favorite toy into a trash bag that they then carry from foster home to foster home. Together We Rise seeks to make this process (at least) a little easier by giving these children a nice duffel bag (filled with goodies) that becomes theirs and gives them something nice to call their own, as they move from place to place. You can find out more information on Together We Rise, here.

As for the Powers’ family: the journey continues!