Hope and Beauty in Broken Places...

Every two years we seem to face a moment of decision that changes our lives.  We met and chose to date, two years later we chose to get married, two years later we took in the boys, two years later we adopted Sophia, and two years later (this June) we chose again.  This time to take in and love a sweet girl named Morgan.  She is 13 and has really brought such joy to our home.  Her story is not one I feel is right to blog right now.  She lost her mom a few years ago, and through God's weaving, we were given the chance to be a part of another divine interruption in the life of a child.  Morgan has mild intellectual disabilities and some speech issues.  Most of the time she is smiling, hugging, helping, and just loving.  She has a great network of teachers and friends around her and we are blessed to be a part of them now too.  She has shown us again that there is Hope and Beauty in broken places. 


This summer is coming to a close and it is shocking to me all that has unfolded these past short months.  We had the gift of having my cousin Linsey be stay with us this summer.  She left last week and I cried more than I have in a long time.  She is heading back home to finish her senior year of high school and we have great expectations for all that will unfold in her life.  She loved the kids so well this summer and I wouldn't have made it through without her!  My brother Jimmy, has also relocated to Baltimore and is in the process of starting to work and find his spot in this crazy Mortenson world!  Last week we had our annual Capernaum Day Camp and all of our family including mom, aunt, and cousins, came to be a part of it.  What a gift to love our friends with disabilities, to be loved by them, and to do it with our whole family.


I said that every two years we are faced with a choice.  I take that back.  Every two years God gives us the gift of being a part of a bigger plan...the only choice is wanting to follow hard after Him and being faithful to His call on our lives.  Its our sixth anniversary this weekend.  Looking back, we might not have choosen exactly what we are living each day...but we are grateful HE chose it for us.  There really is Hope and Beauty found in broken places...there is Jesus.