Today. Today we adopted four girls.
Obviously, I’m crying. Friends, this has been a long time coming. Typically these cases should be opened and closed within a year and a half but for some of our sweethearts, it has taken almost three years.
So yes, I’m crying now, but oh these are tears of joy. Relief. Gratitude. Overwhelm at God’s goodness.
The past 2.5 years have been rather grueling so the tears I shed then were often as I was screaming out to God for help, wisdom, patience, understanding, and rescue. He is faithful and while I haven’t enjoyed every part of this journey, I gratefully accept all that God has taught me about Himself during it.
We can trust Him. We can. We can cry out to Him and we can listen to what He tells us. We can believe Him. We can sit in the quiet with Him and not say anything because we can’t find any more words. We can grieve alongside Him and know that He will care for all that is lost. Because while there is much to be gained when we adopt, it also means that much has been lost. This is deeply felt.
But today, I rejoice. I set aside all that has hurt and all that is hard and I go all in with my feelings of JOY. Today, four little girls became Coppingers.
Would you like to meet our daughters?
This is Zakiya. We call her Kiya (key-ah). She is seven and she is a bio sibling of one of several others in our home. She is smart, helpful, and loves to chit-chat while she works with me in the kitchen. She loves animals, twirly dresses, and playing school. She is a delight to us and her beauty is overwhelming.
This is AnnaSophia. We call her Anna. She is three and is a bio sibling of several in our home. She is a little mommy, full of sweetness and independence. Hearing her sing Jesus Loves Me in her precious little voice reminds me why we’re doing what we’re doing. She brings a smile to everyone who sees her.
This is Acacia Joy. (pronounced uh-kay-shuh) She is two and a bio sibling of several in our home. She has been with us from the time she was a newborn. Matt and I chose her name because Acacia wood was used in the building of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle – which was filled with the glory of the Lord. (As a fun bonus, Matt grew up on Acacia Avenue in Fresno, so this makes her name extra special.) She is everything JOY, from her incredible belly laugh to her naturally sweet spirit and slightly ornery personality.
This is Josie Lynn. She is one and a bio sibling of several in our home. She has been with us from the time she was a newborn. Matt and I named her after both of our middle names: Joseph and Lynn. We love the story of Joseph in Genesis – how God took him from his traumatic beginning and made him something great for His purposes. This is our prayer for our Josie. She is quiet, observant, sweet, calm, and gives us her best giggles when we kiss her cheeks and neck.
We were all-boy-parents for our first 23 years. We never once regretted not having daughters, but we did wonder what they would have looked like. As it turns out, they look like this. They are beautiful, precious, and so very loved.
Thank you for celebrating with us today.
Oh my gosh! I am crying tears of joy for your family!!! I am so happy we get to see their faces and know their names now! I am so happy for you all, what a wonderful blessing!
Congrats! What a beautiful day for your family.
What a glorious, beautiful day! Glory to God for the permanency of hope and healing He has granted to you and your girls!
What a beautiful day! Thank you for sharing a tiny bit of this journey. I look forward to all that is to come!
I’m so happy for your family! You give such blessings to moms with your blog posts and I know you are such a blessing to these wonderful girls! How amazing God is!
Wow, I have tears too. Thank you for sharing this story and thank you for taking them into your home.
Congratulations on the addition of your daughters! What a blessing.
Congratulations Laura & Matt, These girls are so blessed to be in your family now. You & your husband & your sons are wonderful roll models . Love & Best Wishes., Betty Russell
p.s. I have been reading your blog for so long, you seem like neighbors & I admire your stamina & your love for family. This world needs more people like you two. Blessings!
I am so glad that this has finally happened for you. They are all adorable. Bless you and your family for being willing to raise these young ladies to adulthood. Many times it may be hard, but you and Matt will do the same great job you did with your boys, and it will be worth it many times over because you are following God’s plan.
Oh, Laura! Bless your hearts! Oh so patient to have daughters in law but now to have daughters, too! I, too, don’t know how you do it, even with all the extra help you bring it. How do you split up your heart to love on all these precious human beings?! God has given you and your husband a unique gift and blessing and experience! And I am blessed to have the privilege to watch your journey. I always love your candidness and real life kitchen photos. Your simple every day meals that have helped me keep it simple and cheap. Like just throwing raw veggies on the table and calling it good.
But adoption days/gotcha days are the best I’ve heard! And the matching dresses from the other post! And all their gorgeous names and meanings! And all those older brothers to love on them and protect them! I think sometimes you feared having an empty nest and no one to cook for, lol. Admit it. I’m afraid of it, lol.
March on, Laura! You’ve got a billion more muffins and smoothies to make!
Congratulations!!
I love this comment so much ?
Beautiful! I’m so happy for you!
Oh my goodness, how cute are these girlies. They look precious. Thanks for sharing this. GOD BLESS!!!
Congratulations Laura! (and Matt!)
What beautiful additions to your family!!! I rejoice with you in all God is doing in – and through – your lives. God truly has a plan – and it it GOOD :)
His timing is perfect! Have an especially blessed and joyful MOTHERS DAY!!!
Congratulations!
Your girls are beautiful! What a sweet post. Congratulations and God’s blessings to your family. :)
I AM CRYING! Yes, I am celebrating with you! What gifts you are to these children. May they be richly blessed by your loving examples of selflessness. Still crying…
Oh my goodness gracious- how precious and sweet are those adorable faces! Congratulations! Love watching how the Lord works. What a blessing for your family.
Congratulations! The Lord has certainly increased your quiver and made it pink to boot!!
Wow! Laura I’ve been following you from France for the past several years, and am rejoicing with you all at this incredible news. May the Lord call each of these precious girls to a relationship with Himself in His timing, and may He continue to bless and uphold your family as you look to Him. Congratulations!!
Well I haven’t even met you and I have tears of joy too – praise the Lord for this day when you can officially share with us about your lovely, amazing girls!
Congratulations! What beautiful daughters!
Praise God for bringing these girls into your family! What a wonderful day ??
Oh I am crying for you!! Congratulations! They are beautiful ?
So beautiful! Congratulations!!!
I am overjoyed with tears to read this! God is GOOD!! I have been a long time reader, from when the big boys were pre-preschool!! Your home is so blessed! Sending you all the virtual hugs Laura!!???
Laura, they are all so beautiful. I’m so glad they’ve found a Jesus-loving forever home. I have nothing but admiration for all you do. Simply amazing.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL MOTHER’S DAY POST. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR ALL OF YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY , BUT YOU HAVE ALL BLESSED YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY & GIVEN US REASON TO REJOICE & THANK HIM FOR NOT ONLY BLESSING YOU BUT ALSO YOU FOR SHARING ALL THESE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS WITH US AND BRIGHTENING OUR DAYS. THANKS & MAY GOD CONTINUE TO USE & BLESS YOU & YOUR WONDERFUL FAMILY.
Praise God and congratulations!! They are absolutely beautiful.
Congratulations! They are absolutely gorgeous and so so precious!! God Bless!
Happy Mother’s Day and ‘yes’ I will praise God with you for your beautiful family.
Praising God!! He is so very good! Thank you so much for taking us on this journey with you. What joy to finally get to see your girls’beautiful faces and learn their names!! Hugs to all of you <3
Congratulations Laura! This is so exciting…I’m so happy for you all! God bless you with ongoing strength and wisdom!
Wow so amazing to watch God at work using ordinary people! I’ll never forget meeting up with you and a few other moms and your little boys at Panera in Colorado Springs many many years ago with my 2 little boys, 18 and now graduated our homeschool and 16, and now we have 2 girls too, 8&6. Thank you for sharing practical tips and hearts turned toward heaven.
Laura I am just so beyond happy for you and your precious amazing family. May the Lord so richly bless you for your heart for the orphan. I’m overwhelmed with joy for you and how gracious God is in our desires. And a new home! I can’t wait to see what God will continue to do. I think I’ve been reading your blog since about 2010 ?
I’ve been following your blog for many years and lots of my family’s favorite recipes I credit to you! You’ve encouraged such balance and godly stewardship in food through all your practical advice and your love for the Lord is obvious. Thanks for sharing and making the time! It’s amazing to watch the journey the Lord is taking your family through with adoption, I really appreciate your openness.
What a beautiful bunch of girls, congratulations!!!! I’d love for you to share how you came to this season in your family of fostering children. I have been such a long time reader (like 2010ish?), but don’t recall you ever actually sharing how this season came about. Bless you all, God is so good!
What beautiful little girls. What a blessing for you all.
Congratulations to all of you. You guys are such a blessing to those who know you. God is truly good.
Rejoicing in God’s marvelous grace and praying for ongoing mercies as you continue to knit together as a family. May you know His joy and hope!
I am so so happy for your family. God is so good.
What wonderful news! Thank you for sharing your home with us. It is a joy to read your updates & they encourage me so much! I “only” have 3 children lol