visiting orphans...

The time has come.

My bags are packed.

I've hugged my parents.

And talked to my brothers.

I smothered my little ones with hugs and kisses and tucked them into their beds. 

And I held it all together until late this evening.

As I added the last donations to my bags, I looked at the glitter stickers, nail polish, colorful hair barrettes and clips. The tears started. And just wouldn't stop.

Because all I could think of is a little girl in Ethiopia who I will someday call my daughter. Who will become a sister to Joshua, Evan and Olivia. A beloved granddaughter to our parents. A great-granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a friend.

All I could think of was that precious little girl. 

And I pray that someone is visiting her. 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27

The only thing missing around here...

is me!

It has been four weeks since my last post. Wow.

To those of you who have sent emails asking if everything is okay...

No need to worry. All is well.

I'm not sure that I can explain my absence, but I'll give it a try.

First...we've been busy. It seems like this time of year is the craziest for our family's calendar. Lots of birthdays and baseball. Choir practice and concerts for the boys. Easter. Mother's Day Tea with Evan and Olivia's preschool classes. A family day a Six Flags. And as the school year comes to an end...it's only going to get busier!

As for the adoption...I haven't posted anything about it because there's just nothing new to report. Our dossier is where it needs to be in Ethiopia. We know approximately how many families are ahead of us for the age we have requested. But we have no idea when our referral will come...or when we'll travel...or when we'll bring our little girl home. And for the first time since this journey began, I have such peace. Although I may not know the timeline going forward, I know my God's timing is absolutely perfect. So I've let go of my expectations and I've quit speculating. When the time is right, He will bring her home.

And finally...a few weeks ago, I received the official guide for my July mission trip to Ethiopia. As I read through the information late one night, I got scared. I don't mean nervous scared. I mean terrified scared. I tried to write about my fears, but it was impossible to put into words what was so confusing in my heart. How could I have such peace about the adoption and, at the same time, be consumed with fear about the mission trip? After many, many tearful prayers (and a couple conversations with a dear friend), I'm in a much better place. More on that to come.

It's almost midnight and this mama needs some sleep! So I'm signing off, but I'll be back here...soon!

exhale...

I can't really describe the relief that came when we submitted our dossier last week. Its as though I held my breath for seven months and then all of the sudden I was able to exhale.

It feels good.

You know what else feels good?

{Watching this little boy step up to bat}

{Listening to this little girl giggle}

{Riding bikes}

{Celebrating another lost tooth...and a freckled nose courtesy of the spring sun}

{Unexpected surprises...tickets to the Rangers game on a school night}

{Listening to my boys cheer as Josh Hamilton approaches the batters box}

{Family}

Paperchasing no more!

I have a very exciting announcement!

Our long awaited I-171H came in the mail yesterday afternoon AND, even more exciting, our dossier has been submitted to America World!

As soon as I found the envelope from USCIS in the mailbox, I ran in the house and started checking, double-checking and triple-checking all of the other documents in our dossier. Everything was there. Everything was in order.

So I loaded all three kiddos in the van, along with all of Joshua's baseball gear for practice. We made a quick stop at the bank to have one last form notarized and then we were off to FedEx.

Evan and Olivia sat by my feet playing games while Joshua helped me make three copies of everything. Once the copies were made, I checked everything one last time, filled out the FedEx label and placed it all in a box.

As I walked to the counter to send it off, my eyes filled with tears. I was so excited, so relieved, so grateful. I couldn't believe this day had finally come and I was overwhelmed with emotion.

{Here it is...our dossier. Seven months of hard work, tears and prayer.}

{Misbehaving children at FedEx.}

After everything was sent on its way, we grabbed a quick dinner and took Joshua to baseball practice. It was a wild, exciting evening!

When we finally made it home, I found this on the kitchen counter. A bouquet of flowers and a card from Kyle. The top of the card reads...A New Baby Girl. He gave me similar cards when we were expecting Joshua, Evan and Olivia.

{Melt.My.Heart. I love my man!}

Encouraged!

I received an encouraging email from our Family Coordinator at America World this afternoon. It did my heart good!

Here is the body of that email...

We are writing to update you on the current situation in Ethiopia.  While meetings between Ethiopian government officials continue, we have seen positive steps.  Within MOWA, there have been significant and positive personnel changes which have resulted in overall staff turnover and changes in the adoption unit.  This unit is now called the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA).  We are hopeful and expectant that the new leadership will not only support processing an adequate number of favorable recommendation letters, but also implement policies that will best serve the children.  Due to the staffing changes, we anticipate much transition over the next few weeks.  However, we expect that once everyone is settled into their new positions, MOWCYA will work to process a higher number of recommendation letters than they currently are able to process.  

We have continued to receive optimistic feedback and have seen how the Ethiopian government is very committed to adoption.  I hope this information is an encouragement to your family.  We will continue to update your family with any confirmed information we receive. 

So many of you have come along side us and joined us in praying for our adoption, our daughter, Ethiopia and the orphans there. Thank you, precious friends and family! God has heard our prayers and He is responding!

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

In the day of my trouble, I will call to you for you will answer me.

Psalm 86:7

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

Psalm 116:1-2

While I'm waiting...

I have cried many tears this morning. Letting go of my own plans...my own timeline...is not easy. It's difficult and painful. 

So as I let go of what I thought I knew, I'm holding on to what I know for sure.

I know...

God called us to adopt a child from Ethiopia.

He is in control.

His timing is perfect.

His word commands me to wait for him.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14

And through tearful, tender moments with God today, I'm beginning to see that He has plans for us even as we wait.

The lyrics below share my heart better than anything I could ever write.

While I'm Waiting 

by John Waller

I'm waiting 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
And I am hopeful 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
Though it is painful 
But patiently, I will wait 

I will move ahead, bold and confident 
Taking every step in obedience 
While I'm waiting 
I will serve You 
While I'm waiting 
I will worship 
While I'm waiting 
I will not faint 
I'll be running the race 
Even while I wait 

I'm waiting 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
And I am peaceful 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
Though it's not easy 
But faithfully, I will wait 
Yes, I will wait 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve you while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Please, please join us in prayer!

The following alert was posted on the the U.S. Department of State's Intercountry Adoption website today. You can view the site by clicking here.

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA)  will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011.  Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing.  The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures.  We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent.  If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays.  It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches. 

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.

I initially learned about these changes last Saturday morning. At that time, it was just a news article. And though there was a lot of chatter about it among different adoption groups, it seemed to be unconfirmed information.

Still...I was heartbroken. 

I cried. I asked God all sorts of questions. And briefly...I doubted. So I asked God to once again give me clear confirmation that this is His plan for our family. He is so good, so patient with me. He answered my prayer and sent His confirmation through the words of another adoptive mother. This is what she wrote to me in an email...

"Remember that God called you to this adoption when He wanted the timing to begin, and He knew all along about this announcement and He sees into the future and knows what He has planned for you. Just remember His heart is for the orphans and He will not let His plans be undone by the enemy...But regardless of when you come home with your child, the timing has been ordained perfectly by Him. It's tough I know, but it's the same timeline God knew when He called you, this isn't a surprise to Him."

If you read my posts from last Friday and yesterday, you know that God has continued to provide that confirmation through His incredible provision.

I have no doubt that this is God's will for our family and that in His perfect timing we will bring our fourth child home from Ethiopia.

In the meantime, will you join us as we pray for the nearly 5 million orphans in Ethiopia...including our precious daughter?

Pray for the Ethiopian government as they work to improve the process within their country.

Pray that this situation be resolved quickly.

Pray for the orphanages and transition homes as they care for the orphans.

Pray for the many, many needs of the orphans.

Pray that the enemy would be silenced as he attempts to frustrate, confuse and hurt adoptive families and children with this information.

Thank you, sweet friends and family! Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. We are so blessed to walk this journey with you by our side!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you.

Isaiah 26:3

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Extra, Extra...read all about it!

Look who made the front page!

Our family has been blessed with the opportunity to share our adoption story with our community! The local newspaper featured an article about us this week. The writer is actually the pastor of a church in our town, so when I told him that this adoption is a God thing...he got it! He did a wonderful job of telling the story for God's glory! We are so grateful.

And we have more BIG news on the adoption front!

Since we have the funds needed to submit our dossier ($7700), we are now saving for the fees that will be due when we accept our referral ($5650). This will be when the agency sends us information about our daughter and we say, "Yes! That's our girl!".

As of Thursday morning, our savings looked like this...

Fundraisers


Update  Fundraiser Thermometer Here

But Thursday afternoon, it looked like this...

Fundraisers


Update  Fundraiser Thermometer Here

We received four donations to our adoption fund. Together they totaled $1530!!!

Three of the donations came from people that Kyle and I do not even know personally. They heard our story from someone else and gave. Unbelievable! Kyle and I are so grateful, so overwhelmed, so humbled.

When we started the adoption process, we stepped out in faith. We did not have the estimated $30,000 that would be needed. We were beyond scared, but God asked us to obey him despite our fear. Though at times it has been difficult, we have learned to trust Him like never before. God has been so faithful to provide exactly what we need exactly when we need it. We stand amazed!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:4

Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this.

Psalm 37:5

fingerprints...check!

{source}


Good news! Kyle and I were able to get fingerprinted yesterday morning...13 days before our scheduled appointment!!

We took a chance. We knew that we may be turned away and told to come back at our scheduled time. Our paperwork had to be reviewed by a supervisor. We waited for over an hour. Finally, he agreed to fingerprint us and gave us a stern warning about not doing this again in the future.

Whew!

So now we wait for an approval letter from USCIS (I-171H Form). Once we receive it, we'll add it to our dossier, make copies of everything and submit it to our agency. The agency will then send it to the embassy for translation. After that...it's off to Ethiopia! The paperchase will be over and the official wait for our daughter will begin.

We are SO excited! So VERY excited!

One more thing for today...

Don't forget to buy your Go.Seek.Love. t-shirt! We are the partner family for the month of February which means you can help us bring our daughter home just by purchasing a t-shirt! Thanks so much for your support!

Look what He can do!

I am so overwhelmed by God's goodness. We have seen Him move in incredible ways over the past couple of weeks. I'm still taking it all in. I've started half a dozen posts, but haven't finished a single one. I struggle to find words that adequately share everything.

So what has God been up to? Here's a brief update...

He has met the financial need for this stage of the adoption (dossier submission). Wow!

He is already meeting the next financial need through the GO.SEEK.LOVE. t-shirt fundraiser.

He has encouraged us through the support of so many people who have purchased GO.SEEK.LOVE. t-shirts, asked their friends and family to purchase t-shirts and prayed for our family.

Through the unbelievable testimonies of others who have been touched by our adoption journey, He has strengthened our faith and reminded us just how GREAT He truly is.

He has provided an opportunity for us to share His love, the blessing of adoption and our story with a larger audience. (More on this soon!)

And when the enemy has attacked...attempting to wound us, frustrate us and distract us, He has comforted us and reminded us that His truth, His might, His power are steadfast and strong!

We just can't wait to see what He does next!

I put an emphasis on He because it really is all about Him and what He can do, not us. He doesn't need our help...that has been a big lesson for me throughout all of this. I'm so grateful that He has been patient with me as I've learned.

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
Jeremiah 32:27

Just 13 days left...

Only 13 days left to order a GO.SEEK.LOVE t-shirt and help bring our daughter home from Ethiopia!

There are other BIG ways to help too!

#1 Pray for our family, our daughter in Ethiopia, her birth family and our adoption.

#2 Share our GO.SEEK.LOVE. t-shirt fundraiser information with everyone you know!

Thanks to so many of you who have loved and supported our family  during this incredible time!

My first GIVEAWAY!!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, this has been an incredibly blessed week for our family!

Why has it been so special, you ask?

First, just a little something fun...my blog's hit counter rolled past 5000 hits earlier this week. I know, I know...this is small potatoes for many bloggers. I think it's a fun milestone though and certainly a reason to celebrate!

But now for the BIG news!
Very soon it will be time to submit our dossier along with a payment of $7700. We have been praying and waiting for the Lord to provide the funds we lacked.

Well, that He did! Just a few days ago, Kyle and I received an AMAZING gift. It was a donation to our adoption fund in the amount of $5000!! We are so incredibly grateful. We're grateful for the generous, obedient hearts of the people who gave us this gift. And we're beyond grateful for our God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)! Isn't He amazing?! Don't you just love it when He shows off?!

And if you read my post yesterday, you know that I received a very special surprise gift in the mail!

What a week...let's celebrate with a GIVEAWAY!

I'm giving away a few of my very favorite things.

#1 A book that changed the way I look at the gospel and thereby changed my life.

#2 This CD...love singing along to this {loudly} in the car. Track 2 is the best!

#3 A $10 Starbucks gift card. I love my Hazelnut Lattes and I love enjoying them with a friend!

There are three ways to enter...

#1 Leave a comment telling me what you would do with $5000. Would you put it toward your own adoption costs? Would you save it? Would you take your family to Disney World? There's no wrong answer!

#2 Become a follower of this blog.

#3 Tell your friends about this giveaway by making a post on your own blog or Facebook.

Simple as that...there are three ways to enter and each one gets you an entry. You can choose one way to enter or all three! Just leave a comment on this post letting me know how you entered. 

We'll draw for a winner (as demonstrated by my silly kiddos in the picture below) at 12:00PM (CST) on Saturday, February 12th. You have until that time to enter!

Hope you'll join in on the fun! Enjoy the rest of your week!

A Gift!

Look what I got in the mail today!

This beautiful necklace! 

As you can see, the outline of Africa is stamped on the charm. It hangs on a silver chain along with a freshwater pearl. Isn't that just precious?! I love it!

It came from The Vintage Pearl, but I have no idea who ordered it for me. I'm just blown away! Whoever you are...THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Your generosity made my day and touched my heart!

We've had quite a week so far! I can't wait to share some incredible news with you...but I think I'll wait until tomorrow. I'll give you a hint though...

5000

Maybe we'll have some fun and incorporate our first GIVEAWAY into this exciting news!

And finally...there are only 19 days left to order your Go.Seek.Love. t-shirts and help us bring our little girl home! Thanks so much for your support!!

All I have needed Thy hand has provided...

Another trip down memory lane today. 

Here are two more posts from the beginning of our adoption journey. These are about  God's incredible, gracious provision...

Provision

He Goes Before Me

Have a wonderful weekend!
And don't forget to visit the Go.Seek.Love T-Shirt Store where you can buy a t-shirt and help bring our daughter home! 

THANK YOU!

Kyle and I are blown away by the response we have gotten to our Go.Seek.Love t-shirt fundraiser! 

Friends and family are buying t-shirts. And they're helping us out by forwarding the fundraiser information to everyone they know through email and Facebook. So now we're getting emails from people we don't even know saying..."I bought a t-shirt and I'm praying for your family." That is an incredible blessing!

THANK YOU!

As a result of all the emails and Facebook posts, I've seen an increase in traffic to my blog. I realize that many of those readers are here for the first time...curious about our family, our story, adoption. So I thought I'd share a little about us by linking back to a few of my first posts from this journey we're on. Here they are...

Our Adoption Story-Part 1

Our Adoption Story-Part 2

Why Ethiopia?

Another adoptive family put together a great video to answer that question...Why Ethiopia? I thought this might be a good time to share that as well.

Enough about me!
Leave a comment and tell me about YOU!
I'd love to get to know you.

GO.SEEK.LOVE.

A couple of weeks ago, Kyle and I received a very exciting email! It said something like this..."we would like to partner with your family during the month of February."

The email came from Daniel and Sarah at GO.SEEK.LOVE. and it was a direct answer to prayer!

That's right...

we are the GO.SEEK.LOVE Partner Family for the month of February and it all starts today!

When we said "Yes!" to God's call to adopt, we didn't have all the answers...or all the money. Along the way, we've had to trust God for every payment due, every fee. It hasn't always been easy to trust like this, but we're learning. We're learning to ask Him for what we need...to trust Him to provide...and to wait on Him.

God has been so faithful...He has provided for every need as only He can. (See for yourself...check out Our Adoption Timeline in the sidebar.) And now He is providing again through this fundraiser. We can't wait to see what He does!

We're so grateful for Daniel and Sarah! They have such a heart for the fatherless and for helping adoptive families.

So go check out their website. Make a purchase. It's a great deal...you get a cool t-shirt and a little girl gets a family! How can you beat that?!

Adoption Update...

Our day started with a wonderful lesson and powerful worship at church this morning.

After that, we met Kyle's parents (Mimi and Papa) for lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.

Now that we're home, Kyle and Olivia are napping. The boys are giggling and playing games. And me? I just finished a great read...

THE DRAFT OF OUR COMPLETED HOME STUDY REPORT!!

Wooohoooooo!

I read it, made a few small corrections and quickly sent it back to our social worker.

So what happens next?

First, our social worker will send us several notarized copies of the completed home study. One of those will be included in our dossier.

Another home study, along with an application and more documentation, will be mailed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Once USCIS processes our application, they assign a date and time for Kyle and I to be fingerprinted.

After we are fingerprinted and approved, we will receive an I-171H form which will be necessary to bring Rachel home from Ethiopia someday.

We'll add the I-171H to our dossier and send it off to our adoption agency.

It will then be reviewed and translated. 

After that, it will be sent to Ethiopia and we will be added to the wait list!!

That may sound like a lot, but it's really just a couple more steps. We're nearing the end of our paper chase and we are thrilled! 

He surrounds me.

Not too long ago, my parents cleaned out their attic. Their loss was my gain as several boxes of baby dolls, Barbies, school work, trophies, keepsakes and more found their way to our living room.

In one box, I found dozens of birthday and Christmas cards from my parents and grandparents. Many of them were from my Grandma, who my children now affectionately call "Grandma Dink". When I opened one of the cards to read it, a couple sheets of folded paper fell out. I unfolded them to find a poem written in Grandma's handwriting.

The poem is hers...written by her about her own journeys, both physical and spiritual. But I certainly don't think it's a coincidence that I found it when I did...shortly before God set us on this incredible journey of adoption. I find such comfort in the words.

I wrote in my last post that sometimes the process of adoption hurts. There will certainly be more hurts, more heartaches ahead in this journey. There will also be warmth and beauty. And I know we will see His handiwork every step of the way because He surrounds us. In the end, I pray that the One who planned it all will be glorified and honored.

He Surrounds Me
(by Grandma Dink)

I've sailed the wide Pacific blue.

For weeks I've been at sea.

When the mighty wind drove waves aboard,

I knew His hand was holding me.

I've walked the streets of Suva

On Fiji's tropic strand

And watched the palm trees gently sway

On that warm and far off land.

I've strolled along a lonely beach

To find a shell so rare

Where the Indian ocean flows.

And yes, my God was there.

I've crossed the lonely Mullabar,

A long and dreary ride.

But I saw His presence everywhere

On Australian's western side.

I've been dampened by the pouring rain

As it soaked Samoa's land

There I felt the warm and balmy breeze.

In this, God had His hand.

I've sailed the frigid water

Of a place called Glacier Bay

And watched the glistening icebergs

As they drifted on their way.

I've flown above the billowing clouds

And watched a sunrise there,

More glorious and more beautiful.

My God is everywhere.

I've gazed across the emerald hills,

For the Maori's home is here

On New Zealand's northern shore.

I knew that God was near.

I've traveled to a mountain top

On Maui's isle across the sea

And stared into a crater wide.

And lo, God was there with me.

I stood upon a tropic shore

Down the warm Caribbean way

And felt the gentle waves

As they licked my feet at play.

All these things I've done and more

And there's one thing that I know.

This is my Father's world,

For I see His handiwork-no matter where I go.

With His love, He surrounds me.

It hurts...

I haven't posted anything about our adoption in a while. Maybe a quick update here and there in December, but nothing substantial.

It's not that I haven't wanted to write about it. I have. And I've started several posts. I just haven't been able to finish any of them.

Why?

Because it hurts.

This journey started with a rush of adrenaline. Hearing God's call...saying "yes" to Him...sharing our big news with family and friends...submitting the application and being accepted to the Ethiopia program...the paper chase. There was so much to be done. It was all so exciting!

Then somewhere around the time of our home study interviews, everything slowed down. The documents had been gathered and neatly organized. There was very little left to "do". The pace of the process slowed and the reality of the wait ahead of us started to set in.

The holidays kept us busy...and distracted. But then something happened on Christmas night.

Prayers were said before dinner and, as usual, our Ethiopian daughter was included in those prayers. We ate. The kids got restless and left the table to play with their new toys. Kyle and I sat at the table tired and quiet. Then he asked me, "Where do you think she is?"

My heart instantly ached. My eyes burned with tears. I shrugged my shoulders and imagined out loud all the places she might be...a hut in rural Ethiopia? a crowded orphanage? or maybe cradled in the arms of a young mother who desperately loves her but cannot care for her?

Because of the age range we have requested and the current wait times, we can assume that our fourth child-this sweet girl of ours-has already left her birth mother's womb and entered the world. 

We're here and she's there...clear over there. So far away from the family that will love her, care for her, help her heal, tell her about Jesus.

That hurts.

I hear Kyle's question...Where do you think she is?...over and over. As I kiss the kids goodnight and tuck them in their beds. As I place a bow in Olivia's hair each morning. As we drive to church. As I fold little socks and sweaters.

It hurts.

And that's why I've been quiet about the adoption lately. I just couldn't make my way from the ache in my heart to the "publish post" button. Until tonight.

2010..A Look Back

{January}

Olivia started the new year with a new love...mommy's shoes!

And poor Evan started the new year with this...a black eye!

He insisted that it was the result of a fight with a Dallas Cowboys player {????}.

The truth is...he slipped and collided with a wooden step stool.

{February}

The second month of 2010 brought lots of snow...which is rare for our neck of the woods.

We LOVED every minute of it!

{March}

In March we celebrated Kyle's birthday.

And then two days later, Joshua's sixth birthday...

at Medieval Times!

The month ended with the sweetest celebration...

Joshua's profession of faith and baptism!

{April}

We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

And baseball season began!

Time for another birthday party...Olivia turned 2!

We partied Dora the Explorer style!

{May}

Evan is 4!

We celebrated his special day with pizza and games!

Later in the month, we visited the zoo!

My little monkeys loved watching the giraffes.

{June}

In June, we enjoyed an Ice Age exhibit at a nearby nature museum.

And the kids attended Princess Prep School and Warrior Prince Academy at our church!

And Joshua began looking for ways to earn money for his VBS mission offering.

We decided on a bake sale.

And "Cookies for Sudan" began.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

June was a big month for us...this is when God began calling us to adopt.

I researched adoption, read blogs and cried many tears as God stirred my heart.

We prayed and prayed and prayed.

{July}

We had lots of fun with cousins on the 4th of July!

We took the boys to their first Rangers game!

We said "YES" to God's call to adopt our fourth child from Ethiopia.

And we started our adoption fund...

{August}

Lots of swimming...

And hanging out by Grandma and Peepaw's pool...

A much needed beach vacation...

Where we wrote our fourth child's name in the sand...

{School also started in August, but I can't find any pictures of the first day.}

{September}

Time for fall sports...

Joshua was our football player...

And Evan played soccer for the first time...

And this became my companion...our adoption paperwork file!

{October}

We began the month with surgery...

Evan had to have a hole in his ear drum repaired.

The adoption paper chase continued and we got our passports!

We had fun carving pumpkins...

On Halloween, Kyle and Joshua watched the Rangers play in the World Series!

While Evan, Olivia and I had lots of fun trick-or-treating in our neighborhood!

{November}

So much to be thankful for...we enjoyed lots of good food and fun times with family!

We decorated for Christmas...

 

And enjoyed watching Evan's Christmas choir performance...

 

{December}

December brought another choir performance...

this time it was Joshua who sang.

We celebrated Christmas with all our family.

When it came time to buy a gift for their great grandmother, the boys chose a pink Snuggie.

 

We had a wonderful Christmas morning!

The kids became iPod junkies!

The boys love playing games on their iPods.

Olivia can't stand to be left out...so she plays on mommy's phone.

 

And finally, we celebrated my birthday on New Year's Eve.

My sweet family gave me an incredible day!

 

In 2010, God blessed us in ways that I never could have planned or even imagined.

I can't wait to see what He has planned for 2011!

Happy New Year!