Graduation - Part 2

As I mentioned in yesterday's graduation blog, Nicole is an adopted daughter. The amazing thing about foster children and adopted children is that, for us as parents, they become just like birth children immediately. The biggest difference is that foster children that we had in our home over the years needed a lot of prayer, love and care. Most of them had issues that required medical or therapy care. Many of them came to us in terrible shape. It's probably a good thing that we never kept track of the time Kathy and I (mostly Kathy) spent in doctor's offices, labs, traveling time, gas used, etc. If we knew in advance what it would cost in time, money, etc., we might not have been so giving. Nicole captured our hearts immediately. We nicknamed her ET, because she had such big eyes and a big forehead. As you can see to the left, our ET has become a beautiful young lady.

One Sunday, when she was 2 or 3, we had special guests at our church. They had a ministry to abused children. They told some stories of rescuing children from horrible situations. After one very sad story, I thought to myself, "I know Nicole had a rough start, but nothing like this." Almost immediately, the Holy Spirit whispered in my mind, "you rescued Nicole from a life that would have been much worse than this." When I consider her difficult start in life, and where she might have been, I can understand the special bond that I have with my Nicoletta. (my nickname for her)

Now she off to college in the fall. Our prayers will take on a different focus as she prepares for the future as a young adult. It is so great to see God at work in our children and I am so thankful to be a front row observer. These 18 years have flown by and the next 4 will too. God is faithful and I can't wait to see His creativity at work in Nicole's life in the years to come.