Sometimes, the turning points in our stories don’t announce themselves with trumpets. They arrive quietly, through an invitation from a friend, a moment of curiosity, a nudge you can’t explain. And sometimes, before you know it, you’ve said yes to something that will reshape your family, your rhythms, and even your understanding of what love actually looks like.

Last January, I received a call from a friend asking if we would consider hosting a student from Brazil for the upcoming fall. She had lived with his family years ago when she taught abroad and believed our son and theirs would get along well. It was a simple invitation, but it carried weight. It held possibilities, and it held many unknowns.

That evening, I posed the question to my family, half-expecting hesitation, but equally not surprised that before I could finish explaining, my youngest son was asking if we could host this student! Everyone said yes without hesitation.

And truthfully, that response didn’t catch me entirely off guard. When we were searching for the house we now call home, we prayed for space to welcome people whenever God opened the door. (I wrote about this years ago during our home search, linked here), and God continuously reminds me of this when opportunities arise.)

But almost as soon as the excitement settled, the “what ifs” started lining up in the background as anxious whispers. What if he doesn’t like us? What if our home isn’t what he hoped for? What if this becomes harder than we imagined? What if we’re not ready for this?

I felt the tension between the yes we’d given and the fears we were carrying. It reminded me of some important things: how God invites us into things well before we feel prepared; how He challenges us to trust before we have any evidence that things will work out.

Isn’t this the heartbeat of the Christmas story we ponder this time of year? Mary said yes before she had the full picture. Joseph obeyed before he had all the answers. The shepherds were invited in before they even knew what they were stepping into. And in a world that had “no room,” God made room in the most unexpected way. I think this same pattern plays out in our lives more often than we realize!

Love is a Choice

In May, months after our yes, we met his family for the first time. We weren’t sure what to expect, how comfortable the conversations would be, how the boys would interact, or how much of the language barrier we’d feel. Simply put, there were a lot of unknowns.

But from the moment we gathered, something clicked. The boys grabbed guitars and within minutes were strumming, singing, and learning from each other as if they were old friends. His mother was warm and gentle. His father was kind and present. His younger sister (who I always say is 11 going on 30) was thoughtful, articulate, and deeply endearing. And my friend who held the original invitation? She and her family settled right in, too. It felt less like we were meeting new people and more like discovering family we didn’t know we had!

In that moment, many of our fears dissolved. But trust still had to carry us the rest of the way. Our yes was still leading us into unknown territory come fall semester. We were stepping forward with hope, but with no guarantees. In essence, we were choosing to love before really knowing much at all. Love is a willingness to walk ahead before you see the whole road.

When Love Makes Room

As August approached and his arrival date grew closer, our house felt both very ready and not ready at all. We tidied rooms, cleared space, and shifted routines. But the real making room wasn’t logistical. It was emotional, relational, and even spiritual.

I’ve learned there is a difference between fitting someone in and making room for them. We weren’t just creating a space for him to reside, we were creating a place for him to belong. That was important to me, because I would want the same for my son. As parents, we feel this deeply. So how much more does God feel this for us, His children?

When he finally arrived, it truly felt like he was a natural extension of our family. Of course, there was adjustment, but there was also joy, connection, learning, laughter, (plus many jam sessions and an occasional dance party!) Our family grew, not in number, but in capacity.

The Love That Invites Everyone In

One of the most moving surprises was how quickly he became woven into being such a special part of our daily lives. We went to his football games and cheered from the stands. We learned his routines. We celebrated his wins.

And when his mom and sister came for an extended visit, followed by a visit from his dad, it didn’t feel like we were hosting guests. It felt like welcoming family. We shared meals, stories, and conversations that stitched our families together in ways only God could orchestrate. Not only that, but language and culture were also not barriers. God’s love and grace removed all of that.

The blessings from this invitation? Their family prays for us regularly. Their daughter captured our hearts. Their son became a meaningful part of our family. Our oldest son gained a new ‘little brother’. And our youngest son gained a brother, friend, and influence who has already helped to strengthen and shape his faith journey. Families were woven together in a story that only God could write: an invitation extended, a relationship embraced, and families joined by a ‘yes’ that none of us fully understood back in January.

We have learned that choosing love makes room for the unexpected. It welcomes, and it widens the table.

Choosing Love Even When You Don’t Feel Ready

There were moments, especially early on, when I questioned whether we were equipped to do this. Whether we had the capacity, creativity, or even patience required. Whether we’d be and do enough. But God is equipping us along the way.

Mary didn’t feel ready either. She just carried what God asked her to carry, and God met her in it. She grew into the assignment, day by day, step by step.

We have been growing into ours, too. Every week has added new layers of connection. Every conversation has built trust. Every shared moment has revealed another facet of the gift God is giving all of us.

One semester is just about behind us, but it’s clear the story is only beginning. What started as an invitation to host a student has evolved into something far richer. And it all began with one small yes.

The Best Yeses Reveal Love

Saying yes and going where God is leading rarely feels convenient, perfectly timed, or neatly organized. But it always leads somewhere good (Jeremiah 29:11). It always stretches us and teaches us more about His character. And in this case, it has handed us a story we never could have written on our own.

Hosting him has been one of our family’s best yeses. A yes that created room for joy. A yes that revealed the expansiveness of God’s love. A yes that brought two new families into our lives. A yes that continues to bless our family.

The story is still unfolding. But for now, as we enter this season of celebrating the greatest Gift from our Father who always makes room for us, I’m grateful for the invitation, the nudge, and the unexpected gift of love that showed up through the doorway of a simple, wholehearted “Yes!”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing of growing our family this year. We did not know what to expect, but You had plans for us that were far greater than we could imagine, and experiencing them as they’ve unfolded has been a great gift to our family. Thank You for your goodness and graciousness, and for this season of Advent, when we can pause and remember Your greatest Gift. You are a Good Father. I praise You and thank You in Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.