Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever.

This update is by far my favorite, I hope it's yours too!

Jason and I have been anxiously awaiting the day of Avery's trial. We have spent countless hours running through every scenario. Would we have another baby to fill the void if Avery leaves? Will we quit foster care from heartache? How many days/weeks/months will we grieve the loss of this bright, shining little girl?

Me, being a "worst-case-senerio-er," I have been preparing my heart for months, ever since Avery's bio-mom re-entered the picture. This left me with thoughts that would bring tears to my eyes, like, how will bio-mom know to say "I love you" three times with three kisses before turning off her lights at night? How will she know to stash straws in every crevice of the house and car, not to mention planting them at other people's homes just in case? How will she know to drain the water from the bathtub first before pulling Avery out otherwise there is a MONUMENTAL meltdown? How will she know that the seals are Avery's very favorite animal to visit at the zoo? The list goes on FOREVER.

Jason, on the other hand, has always been more of a glass half-full kinda "what if" player. He went into how exciting it would be to be around to see the woman she grows into, what color to paint her room, and will we have to bring a booster seat with a buckle to the movie theater well into her teens? All of those things I would be MORE than willing to think about, but I just couldn't get past the dark hole of unknown looming over my family.

Well, yesterday was the day we had been waiting for, a more definitive answer on what to expect.

.....Drumroll please......

Avery will be ready for adoption in a little under two months, if all goes well! Bring on the tears! Upon he conclusion of the hearing, Avery's caseworker flew through everything that would happen in the next few months, like becoming permanent placement, changing her name, and it was all of a sudden happening so fast! Everything that we had been praying and praying for was all so close we could taste it!

Because hey, if not us then who?

Jason and I live by that!

Yes, Avery may be forever afraid of stickers from the Walmart lady, or like PB&J one second and then all of a sudden think its the worst invention in the world, or hide in a cupboard with a flashlight and her straws for hours (to the point where you feed her a meal from inside because you can't take that kind of joy away.) While the list of quirky things is never ending and will always put a smile on my face, we are also facing so much unknown! Will she ever have the capacity to learn how to love and get married? Will she live with us as an adult? Will Oliver have to look out for her at school? Will she ever understand how much Jesus loves her?

Dude, those are huge questions. And we are board to stick around to learn every single one of their answers.

If not us then who?

So I hope this update brings a smile to your face, because just when we thought our hearts couldn't get any more full, they are exploding with joy!

Buckle up everyone, because if all goes our way- our little family is in for a wild ride!