This is about to get real. (Meet my People)

I was single (6 ft tall and very dateless) once.  I know exactly how that season feels.  I also know what fun it can hold and how we truly should embrace our girls’ nights while we can.  But, after 3 rounds of dating the same man, a new adventure was sparked and the insanity, now affectionately known as “The Yoders”, epically began.  These are my people.

Stephen is my rock of 18 years.  He isn’t here as I write because each week he packs up and travels promoting the Biotech company of which he is the CEO in Munich, Germany, and Boston, MA.  He’s sort of super intelligent and still highly likable.  He has the kind of charisma that can’t be trained, but many aspire towards.  He speaks Spanish and German, studied Molecular Biology & Patent Law, cooks like a Michelin starred chef, oozes whit and loves God with his whole heart.  I’d go anywhere he asks.

The Only Offspring That Looks Like Me:

Brenner (Brenner Bear)  is our first-born son.  He’s 9 now, but on day 5 of his life we found out his aorta had a closing which restricted blood flow to his lower body.  Without this diagnosis, followed by surgery the very next morning in a heart hospital filled with the best of the best in Europe, his organs would have begun to shut down and he would have died in a matter of days.  His story deserves much more than this measly paragraph.  To know more about his special start read: Suffering Produces Perseverance.  For now, you need only know that he is the picture of health & energy and plans to, one day, be a rock star who leads people to Jesus. 😉

He’s Probably Crying On The Floor Somewhere:

Sawyer (Soybean/Soymaster) is 7 and a miniature version of his father.  Plus, he is dramatic.  Oh so dramatic.  He eats turkey sandwiches for breakfast, wears bow ties by choice, and if you could use a drop added to your bucket, take in this video gem below.  He’s pictured here, at the edge of our driveway, trying to collect money for an X-Box One.  He currently only needs $499 of the $500.

My Most Faithful Friend:

Fintan (Baby Fin),  is nearly TWO.  I ugly cried for the majority of my unexpected pregnancy with him.  You can read about the honest start of that journey in Thy. Will. Be. Done.  And then he came, and my organized world indeed got turned upside down and, along with it, the greatest rush of complete happiness I’ve ever known.  The Father wanted this child for me before I wanted him for myself, and with that hindsight, I am capable of trusting Him with exponentially more than I ever have. He was so right.

These are my people.  And I thought you should know them because our story is as dramatic, unexpected, painful, hilarious and ordained as yours.  My heart pursues ministry because we’ve got to share the authentic version of how impossible marriage and parenting can (hourly) be, in order to hard-fight, using those very muscles we exercise daily, against the lies of an enemy who would prefer we feel entirely alone in our mess.  Fundamentally, I hold resolute in my conviction that Champagne and Jesus are always going to be a good idea.

It’s a start.