4 years ago...

4 years ago 

we met these two incredible boys!!

Wow!!!!

How our lives have changed!!

They have changed us forever!!!

It was an amazing week that we were able to spend with them,

getting to know them just a little more every day!

Never did we image what God had in store for us 

over the next 4 years -

but we are incredibly thankful to have these incredible boys 

call us "family"!

Unfortunately, 

we had to leave them for 2 months

but we got back to them as soon as

our paperwork allowed!!! 

Spring Break 2015

After snow/ice days weeks before -

I, personally, wasn't ready for Spring Break...

but the kids were!!

We had a nice time at home just hanging out and 

doing a few things around town!

Here's just a snippet of what we were able to do!

Jailyn attended the local SPCA camp!

(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

She loved every minute of it!!

And we were strong - and don't have a new puppy!

Though it is hard to say "no"!

Jailyn wants to be a foster momma - 

maybe one day,

but right now, I'm not ready for that,

but I love her heart!!

We went to see Paddington with our friends Jackie and Joshua.

and lunch too!

What a great movie!!

Jailyn was at her camp,

and disappointed that she missed the movie - 

but reassured when I told her that we would 

by it when it comes out in DVD!

Even Conner had noting but good things to say about the movie,

and he is our movie critic!

Elijah was doing so well that he was rewarded with his own 

play date with his buddy Joshua!

I love these two!!!

Donovan and Jorja love art!

We were able to get them into an art class!

They sure loved it and are very proud of their work!

Great job Donovan and Jorja!!!

Between rain days, we were able 

to get in a park day with friends!

We love our park days!!!

Jailyn has been wanting to go ice skating -

and was able to go with some gym friends!

Happy Birthday to our friend J!

one of the best things about our gymnastics team -

is the sweet friendships they have all made!

S was a good skater and helped Jailyn!

It was so sweet to see these two sweet girls!

Along with making many, many creatures and projects 

from old boxes and construction paper -

Hagan and Elijah's favorite thing to do 

we all had a great 

 Spring Break!

We are incredibly blessed

and thankful to all of my Plexus business,

without Plexus we would have been stuck at home -

not being able to afford any of these fun things!

Incredibly grateful that Plexus supplements

make me healthy -

but the business opportunity allows me to afford to 

to give my kiddos things that I couldn't otherwise!!

Incredibly blessed! 

1. 
   

Texas in March???

Who would have thought that we would be 

pulling out our snow gear again!!

Some very happy faces!!!

Best snow day!!

special time

We were blessed to have our amazing social worker 

join us at our local adoption meeting...

she asked me a question that really hit home,

(she is always good at this!)

She asked me if it's easier for me to make sure

I give special one on one time with my kids 

who have attachment issues,

and am I spending time with the "easy" ones.

Wow!!

I thought I was! 

But, when I really think of it -

we are often in crisis mode 

with some of our kids

and this takes time away from the "easy" kids.

I am so thankful that this question was asked of me,

and remind me to take the time every day...

even with the "easy" kids!!

Even if it is homework time,

or doing my daily chores!

Donovan loves to cook!

I do not like to cook! 

I love the help! 

and really he'll be teaching me soon!

See what I mean,

we are always learning and I am always apologizing to my kids!

Thankfully they are very forgiving!

Chinese New Year

The year of the horse!

We had fun last night celebrating Chinese New Year - 

kinda low key -

but the kids loved it!! 

Elijah, Hagan and Griggs helped me pick out 

food and some fun treats at the local 

Asian market! 

And though I didn't know how to cook it -

it ended up tasting pretty good! 

Dumplings, Potstickers, spring rolls! 

Happy New Year!! 

It's a stage, right?

Please tell me that this is just a stage... 

you know, 

the one when a young man wont let you take 

a nice photo of him...

and gives you a goofy face -

every stinkin' time!

and then when you try to take 

a few cute photos of my beautiful daughter...

...photo bomb! 

Sooo, you try again...

Finally, you give up and try to capture
one adorable 5 year intensly watching
his best buddies soccer game...

ohhh, boy!
Photo bomb again!

I guess Hagan will have to take him down...

"Stop getting in my photo!"

and the winner is...

Congratulations Pam F!!!!

Please email me your address so I can send you

your very own copy of 

Jesus Calling.

I know you are going to love it!

And for those who shared with me that you are specifically praying this month 

and asking,

What does God want me to do in the life of an orphan,

please know that I am praying for you daily,

sometimes two and three times a day. 

If you have any new specifics you would like to share

as we continue to pray, please feel free to let me know.

  

what a difference a year makes!

Look at these scared little boys!

I barely recognize them...

because the love of family 

has allowed them to grow into this!

Thank you God for this amazing year 

of growth for our entire family!

Thank you for asking us to parent these

two precious boys -

though we were unsure of our abilities to parent these 

two precious boys we 

thank you Lord for guiding us 

and hold us

every step of the way!

Absence

Please excuse my absence from the bloggy world 

for the last few weeks.

I've missed y'all 

and will be back on regular schedule soon,

very soon! 

But for now,

I have to clean my house 

and get papers in order...

our social worker is coming tonight!

YAHOO!!!! 

Let's get this Home Study finalized! 

And just cause I love y'all so much -

I'll leave you with these sweet photos!

Remember these?

  

This was last year when we "passed" court 

in Ethiopia 

and were able to celebrate with our sons!

Donovan mentions those streamers 

all the time! 

And reenacts that day 

whenever he can!

It's a great feeling to actually belong to someone!

Older child adoption

I've been asked to do a blog post for 

tlcfortlz.blogspot.com

a wonderful blog that in a few days 

will be holding an online silent auction 

inorder to raise grant funds for three very special boys 

in Ethiopia.

"Older Child" in the international adoption world 

includes kids 3 yrs and older.

So today,

I thought I would highlight my son Donovan.

We went into our Ethiopian adoption and paperwork thinking we were going to adopt

a child or two under 3.

But, then...

we saw this photo.

And our life was changed!

Honestly, we were scared of this little face.

We worried about the hurt that he had endured,

 Would he accept us as his parents?

Would he accept our other kids as his siblings?
Would we be able to help him through this hurt? 

When other parents returned from Ethiopia,

from visiting their children,

we were continually told how quiet and shy he was.

He would keep his distance, in the corner with his soccer ball.

When we arrived in April for our Ethiopian court date,

and to meet our boys.

Donovan kept a wall up with us

he was still quiet and at times would be distant.

But, when we traveled again in June to bring him home,

he was a different child,

he was more then ready to leave with us.

He opened up more and more.

A week later when we got home -

he was ready to be part of his new family.

He has a sweet heart and is funny, funny, funny!

He loves to learn,

He loves being a brother and teasing his sisters,

He loves playing with them 

and playing with his big brothers and sister!

He loves having a mommy and daddy
and reminds us every day how truly blessed we are.

We can't imagine life without him.