The Zoo & Unconditional Love

Like I mentioned in my last post, we went to the zoo in Des Moines this past Sunday morning. All the kids had a really good time. And I, in fact, almost got choked up at one point 1) realizing here we are as a family of six doing a fun, family outing at the zoo and 2) seeing my kids' interest, curiosity and joy in God's creation. It was fun to see them connect what they saw with different books that we have read. As it turns out, the girls (not sure about Isaiah) went to a zoo in their birth country . . . because one of our adoption agency's staff members took them to the zoo and on a picnic during the time they were in foster care (reason #55 that I love our agency!).

First, we saw the sealions and watched them swim. 

Claire took many other pictures of animals, but don't worry, I won't bore you with those.

We let the kids ride the carousel. I had no idea they had one at the zoo and interestingly, the kids had recently seen a carousel in a book and really wanted to ride one. It might have been their highlight of the zoo!

They still talk about which animal they will ride on next time. :)

I had packed a picnic lunch and we ended up eating it at Gray's Lake. It was the perfect spot for us. An empty picnic table in the shade, right by the playground and the water. The girls were dying to swim but we didn't bring swimming clothes because we didn't plan to have a picnic there. The girls ask about every day to go back and we are looking forward to doing that.

A rare picture of just Jason and I - thanks to the girls wanting to take it!

Pictures from each side of the picnic table . . .

It was such a great morning to spend together as a family. And given that it came on the heels of big, bad behavior the night before, it was even sweeter. Thankful that my sweet RADish was willing to enjoy our time, I loved that we could lavish her with a really fun morning. God was so good to orchestrate things to create a tangible picture of His love. And it provided one more notch on my girl's "learning to believe my parents can be trusted" belt:


I was bad, but my parents (and therefore, God) still love me unconditionally.

I prayed and prayed that this truth sunk into her heart all that morning.