Just over 5 years ago, my family set out on a journey way crazier than the World Race could even began to compare to. They began a process that would forever change their lives and the life of another person in this world. A journey that carried a weight far heavier than anyone could have ever imagined. Let me explain.
When I was 16, my parents decided they were going to share the love of Christ through the ministry of doing foster care. When our family began this ministry, after going through a class, and all of us giving our fingerprints to the feds, forever barring me from a life of crime, they had the thought in mind of doing short term care for children whose regular foster parents were out of town on vacation, and the kids needed a place to stay.
Through the years, we had many kids come through, some for 2 days, some for 2 years. It was a trying ministry that had more difficulties than anyone could have ever imagined, up to that point.
So 5 years ago, right after I began college, the county called and said they had a child on the way who needed what they expected to be a permanent placement. This was a huge thing for my parents to take on, but the Lord spoke to them and told them to take this baby in is something He wanted them to do. So, September 21st, 2006, Tristan came to stay with my parents. A child who was thought to have the possibility of mental handicaps, and not being able to walk until a late age.
It was an event that would forever change our lives, and having Tristan come to our family was one of the biggest blessing, but also opened us up to vulnerability I never thought I would go through. He is not my kid, but the closeness he has in my heart is way greater than i could have ever imagined it would be.
I have experienced so much happiness and so much hurt at the same time with him. And not hurt in a bad way, but a hurt when he hurts type of thing. I have experience him laugh and fart from when he was a baby. I have watched him get his fingers shut in a car door, and felt a pain deep inside me when I heard the painful scream that came from his mouth because of it. I have gone with him ice skating, I have been annoyed at the constant questions asked on a multiple hour road trip. I have watched him fall down the stairs, expecting him to burst out crying, but instead laughing and just continue on his walk. I have played Xbox with him, even though he has no idea what hes doing.
I have shared a room with him, taken naps with him, experienced the pain of having to punish him, "camped" in a tent with him, watch him ride his bike of the edge of a river bed, crying because of pain, but saying, "daddy, save my bike!"
Ive had him cheer me on for a marathon, have him ask if he could run with me. Had him ask why I had to run another 13 miles, because I had already been gone for so long. I have crossed a marathon finish line with him right beside me. I have wiped his butt and back from poop being squished all over the place, even in his hair. We have stood next to the ocean and watch dolphins jump in and out of the water
Ive played in a fake wooden car in our backyard, doing the same exact thing for hours at a time. Ive heard him ask me multiple times when im coming home to New York, so he can hang with his brother. I have had to swim for what seemed like 4 days at a time, because this kid cannot get enough of the pool. He can be blue to the bone, and want to go swimming. I have had to tell him hundreds of times to leave the dog alone, cause as much as Tristan thinks Stubby likes his tail being pulled, he really doesnt. I have had him ask if i can build him a bike jump, cause he wants to mountain bike like daddy and evan.
Ive been so annoyed with him that I didnt think I could take another minute of it, until he smiles and asks if he can play xbox with me or watch Dora with him, while he cuddles up on my lap and watches.
Needless to say, I have experienced every part of the emotional spectrum with Tristan, and I dont think I or my parents had any idea what we were getting ourselves in to when we started this journey, but its changed my heart and my families hearts and lives forever. There has been many tears shed, many laughs had and many long days as well as thousands of dollars spent in the last few years to try and make Tristan a permanent part of our family.
But God is good, and God heard our cries, known that Tristan is a blessed child, where he stands in our hearts, and the love that pours out of my parents, my sister and me for him.
So, with all that said, today is the day we have long been waiting for. its the day we have prayed for, fought years for, spent all the time and money on. The day we have poured our hearts in to. Its the day we looked forward to after we dove in to a situation where we had no idea the implications that would become of it.
Today at 9AM, my family in NY had the final hearing to make Tristan a permanent member of the Kinney family. Its the moment all of you have been praying for for so long. Its the day that begins the rest of our journey with a kid who changed my life and many lives forever.
So, without making you wait any more, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Kinney Family:
Daniel Tristan Kinney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or as he likes to say, Daniel Tristan Kinney-Bob
go ahead. Jump up and down, cry, praise God, scream, join me in all of this as we celebrate the day we have long prayed out to God to happen!! Thank you all so much for all your prayers!
