Our last day on base was filled with beauty as Kacy Chaffin told Mama Charity and her five sweet babies that thy are getting a house!!! 
This is family! Kacy is single and is trying to adopt Lifa. Mama Charity is a woman who's had a hard life and five beautiful children. For two years Mama Kacy, yes that's what the children call her, has been loving on and speaking life to Mama Charity about the goodness and the love of God. For two years Mama Kacy has been doing family...whether it's Sunday lunch or going to the hospital to visit Given after he was burned...they've been doing family.
For so many, family are only your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. However! If we believe in Jesus, then we are all a part of the family of God.
Throughout this year I've watched Kacy be Mama Charity's family. I've watched her weep over Given, for too many reasons to tell here. I've watched her laugh with joy at the beautiful kids at Sunday lunch. I've heard the stories of baby poop all over her, heading to church, with nothing to change into. I've watched her do family when she had nothing left. Her capacity was shot. Her heart was broken and she was just plain tired and questioning her calling. AND YET!! Through all of it, she's leaned into God. She has leaned into Psalm 68:5-6 That days that God IS A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His dwelling place. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing.
Yesterday, I was invited into the family. I know I could have walked in at any time, because the door is always open. However, I just didn't. I was going to stand in the background as a piece of artwork for Mama Charity's new house was being painted. I was going to just stand back, and allow the moment if being told she's getting a house, be between Mama Kacy and Mama Charity.
In the depths of my heart I wanted to put my handprint on that artwork. I didn't want to stand back and watch, but I wanted to be invited in and I was. Kacy asked if I wanted to put handprint on the picture. Not until she asked did I realize this desire. That's the way it generally is, you don't realize how much you're missing out on something until you get to be a part of it.
So I got to be a part of the announcement that Mama Charity is getting a house. I got to be a part of a dance party to celebrate. I got to be FAMILY. 
