A new Baskin to introduce to you

I recently was asked to speak at a luncheon for foster and adoptive moms and as I prepared what I wanted to say I thought about what we have learned along this journey, adventure or craziness as others call it.  I kept thinking about all the people who have come along side of us and became our "village."  I then was reminded of my favorite lines from the movie Frozen.  When the trolls are singing their Fixer Upper song the mother troll sings these lines....

We're only saying that love's a force that's powerful and strange
People make bad choices if they're mad or scared or stressed
But throw a little love their way, and you'll bring out their bestTrue love brings out the best

Every child who has come through our home has been a fixer upper (and to tell you the truth, aren't we all fixer uppers).  But Buck and I are blessed to have so many love them and help them bring out their best.  To our friends whose kids befriend the kids in our home, to the family who love them as family while they are here, to the foster parents who understand our struggles and see us as "normal", to our friends who don't have kids but love on ours, to our caseworkers, lawyers, and Buckner workers who work hard for our kiddos...I want to say thank you.  Love really is a powerful thing especially when that love comes from God.  


Now to the real reason for this post....last week we welcomed the newest member of our "forever family" into our  family officially.  As we traveled from state to state this weekend and to house to house for graduations and just to hang out, I realized (again) just how blessed our little ones are.  I cannot wait to see how they grow up, how those who surround them with love help bring out the best in them and to understand with grace when they mess up (remind me of this again later).  So without further ado I introduce James Daniel Baskin (and some of his village/entourage)



And to those not pictured we love you as well but most of the pictures are on Buck's computer and he is not here right now :)