When less than perfect is enough

This week I’ve been working on my yearly photo album. Each year around this time, I put together a book full of pictures we’ve taken throughout the year. Typically, our parents and grandparents get these as gifts on Christmas, and they absolutely love them. So do I. I don’t love raking through thousands (literally) of pictures to put these books together, but by the end, it’s a labor of love, and I’m so glad I do it. In making this year’s album, it’s crazy to see the difference a year makes. Last Thanksgiving, I was massively pregnant with Brody, and Knox was, well… just a smaller version of his silly self! He was the baby of the family just one year ago, and now, Brody has taken on that role.

This was my boy one year ago. Look at that wrinkled up nose… trouble!! He’s still trouble, in fact, he probably is more trouble than he was last year, but his sweetness far outweighs his sneakiness.

I feel so, so fortunate to be where we are. Things may not be perfect, but the important things are. Despite any troubles we face, we have each other. Where we were last year, we were happy.

But now? The fact that we get to watch this boy grow and learn each day?

We never knew we could be as happy as we are, now. It can wear you down when life comes at you hard. When relationships crumble, when money disappears, when deals fall through, when hopes are crushed, when hard news is delivered. Through all of those hard things, it’s easy to forget that God is still there. He loves us, and He’s still blessing us through it all. You just have to realize what your true blessings really are.

Things may not be exactly as I’d like them to be. I may not be working my dream job or be living in my dream house, but I am living my dream life. It’s a dream I didn’t even know that I had until I started living it. I knew I wanted a family one day, but I had no idea how much I needed the exact family that I have. Even though it’s so, so hard some days to come to terms with Knox’s difficulties, I wouldn’t change a thing about him. God gave him to us just as he is for a reason. We do all that we can for him, and we do all that we can for Brody- to give them the childhood and the lives that they deserve. We may not ever be rich or successful or powerful or perfect. But we will always love each other and be thankful for every single second we have together. For that, I am thankful. And this life? It’s enough for me, just as it is. This is our version of perfect.

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