House of Karrs: This Time of Year

We love the Christmas season around here! Not only are we anticipating the celebration of our Savior's birth, but also Aidan's birthday on the 22nd. It's a busy time, but one we are enjoying even more with an almost 3-year-old running through the room in his red slippers nabbing candy canes off the tree when he thinks we aren't looking. We love rocking by our fireplace and reading all our Christmas books as we explain over and over how the love of God came down for the world in a tiny baby. Even though the three wisemen in our play Nativity set sometimes arrive by firetruck or airplane, Aidan's grasping the concept as much as a kid his age can!

I look at my son, and I can't imagine my life without him, and I'm so thankful to God for creating him just for our family. I'm also thankful for his wonderful birthmom, Mary, who chose us. (Yes, Aidan's birthmom is Mary too!) As he grows and understands what it means to be adopted, we share his story with him again and again and show him the pictures of how he came to us. Aidan now can answer who's tummy he grew in: "Mary's tummy!". He knows that God told her he was supposed to be our baby, and Mary listened to God, and that's how we became a family.

I remember how it felt on Dec. 14, 2005 boarding the plane to California, excited and nervous, unable to really grasp that I would have a baby, my baby, with me the next time I saw Texas. After serious illness, infertility, and a previous failed adoption, it seemed so surreal and UNreal that this was finally happening for us. But our Savior knows the desires of our hearts! He used all those things to bring us our son, and He constantly reminded us of His love and provision throughout. Our child could have been born in any state, but he was born in California where we have family. I was so honored to witness his birth, cut the cord, and feed him his first bottle. Mary invited me to share her room, and at night Aidan slept between the two people on earth who love him the most- one enough to choose life and then let him go. We were released from the hospital with Aidan on Christmas Eve and drove to my aunt's house where my whole tearful but joyful family was waiting on the driveway. We were granted permission to travel home to Texas on New Year's Eve where friends greeted us in the airport, and Aaron's whole family was waiting on our driveway!

The Lord brought this long-awaited child to our home so closely tied to the time another long-awaited Child came for the whole world. You see, two miracles happen for us this time of year, and for this we give God all the Glory and praise.

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given..." Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Morning 2005