The Importance of Love

This last week has been a super eventful one for this Garff household. On Tuesday we took in 5 foster children...yes, I said 5. We went from a family of 4 to a family of 11 in one day. After the first two days I thought for sure that we were crazy but as the days have progressed I feel more and more blessed. I know that sounds crazy and maybe I have just totally lost my mind but these children are so loving and so amazing. I am also so proud of my own children for the acceptance and love I have seen them display. Tonight after I bathed all nine children and got them into their rooms for bed I started what I call "rounds". I start in room 1 singing lullaby's and end in room four, having sung a total of 12 different songs. Tonight as I was singing "baby mine" to one of our foster kids I felt an enormous wave of love rush over me. The lyrics to the song touched me as I sang them to this little girl who gives so much love and needs so much love in return. As I sang "little one when you play, don't you mind what they say; all those same people who scold you, what they'd give for the chance to hold you." I held her in my arms and thought "if only everyone could see how special you are." These children are in need of so much love and have endured so much judgement from others but they truly are awesome kids. I took the 3 older girls to get their hair cut today and under all of the tangles and chocolate milk mustaches were the most beautiful little girls. They were so excited about their new hair cuts, as were my children who got their hair cut as well. Ivan was so funny, he wanted his spiky on top and so instead of my bald little baby boy, I now have a grown up (very handsome I might add) little man. I am so thankful for this opportunity to help and serve these children and for the opportunity to teach my children about the importance of love and acceptance. We truly are so blessed.