Know Yourself

It amazes me how little I know myself.

Had someone told me 19 years ago that I would someday meet, and build a life with one of the most amazingly kind, funny and deeply beautiful humans in this world, I’d have laughed in your face.  I could barely survive one day back then let alone picture a life where I could thrive.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be able to be a foster parent, I would never have believed you.  I couldn’t see that strength then, and it surprises me still today.  It isn’t that this life isn’t frequently gut-wrenchingly difficult.  It is simply that it is symbiotically awe-inspiring and beautiful.

Four years ago when we started this journey, I would never have believed I could parent a non-neurotypical child. Heck, if you asked me four months ago, I probably would have said it would be too difficult for me and I wouldn’t be able to give the child what they need.  (Wrong again Jennie, you got this girl!  Killing it!)

Everyday is new right now. Most daily tasks are tedious, and sometimes an all out battle, but we are still blossoming in-between all of that.  Or, maybe we are growing because of these challenges.

These children that we are so lucky to have the privilege to care for, are giving some kind of lifeblood right back to us.  We have learned so many beautiful things that we would’ve been utterly disadvantaged not to have been exposed to if it hadn’t been for this life.

Just when I think I have myself all figured out, this life I am so blessed to lead, knocks me on my ass and teaches me something new!