A HUGE thank you!

Wow! 

I dont' even know what to say! 

There are sometimes on life's journey when you meet people

that change your life,

you thought you were doing good -

and then God places some incredible people 

in your path -

instant friendships are made

(okay, so maybe my obnoxious snort laugh

 had something to do with it,

or maybe it was the pain meds I was on from 

my spinal surgery,

but still... )

Thomas and Kat are those kind of people -

and this week they have chosen to help us 

raise our last $9000 to bring Hagan and Griggs home! 

Check out the interview on Kat's blog:

Everlasting Momentum 

And check out their story of their newest son,

still waiting for them,

but they are working as fast as possible to bring 

sweet Jonathan home!

Thank you Kat and Thomas! 

just what I needed...

good friends,

and silly kids!

It's the best medicine for this momma

who misses 2 of her boys ohhhh sooooo much!

We met up with Heather and her kiddo's

Liyone and Kidist!

Liyone, Dononvan and Elijah are ole' friends from Ethiopia!

Every time they are together it's back to their normal,

silly, loud, crazy, friendship!

It's the best!

But getting these silly boys to pose for a photo -

forget it!

 Then we have Miss. Poser!

who is so used to crazy brothers -

this silly Liyone doesn't even phase her!

showing off her contortionist skills!

 

and this is what happens when three sweet girls 

try to get together to for a photo -

silly boy! 

What a great morning! 

And since my afternoon didn't fair so well - 

(I slipped off the curb in front of our house -

and now have a badly sprained ankle and

am on crutches for a week.)

I am soooo thankful for this time with our sweet friends!

Summer Bucket List

The little kids had summer Bucket List,
you know hope of doing certain things this summer.

And this was one of them.

Joining our friends at a neighboring beach club.

Ohhhhh so fun!

Jorja is always under water!
She's hard to take a photo of at the pool anymore! 

7 hours later -
they were still not happy we had to go home. :)
But thankfully a lightening storm was
coming and the lifeguards made us get out!

Fun times!!!

Thanks to our friends
who invited us!
We sure had a great time
and made fun memories!

A retreat!

Don't ya just hate it when you spend a terrific

few days with a very special friend,

and you forget to get a photo of yourself and your friend...

Me too!

But I did get photos of the kids!

We made a drive to see some very special friends

this week!

How fun it was for all of us!

Thank you Mark and Anita!

We love y'all!!!

Monkey see...

We were able to see our friend Liyone and his

wonderful family last weekend.

It was a short visit,

as we were rushing from soccer game to soccer game -

but since our games were in their neck of the woods -

they were willing to come visit with us during one

of the games. 

And we had a great time!

Precious Kidist and Adorable Cole!

Ohhh so sweet!

Liyone loves to climb!

(but hates to have his picture taken.)

... the other kiddo's followed!

Ohhhh so fun!

Is it really my friend?

Yesterday we a very exciting day for us! 

We were able to welcome home one of 

Donovan and Elijah's friends 

from Ethiopia!

  It was soooo cute!

At first they seemed to not believe their eyes.

They kept their distance.

It could have also been the paparazzi in attendance

to welcome home Liyon and Kidist!

 LOVE IT! 

(Baby Kidist was also adopted this trip -

but the babies are kept separate from the bigger kids,

so our boys don't remember her.)

 ohhh isn't she just beautiful!

After awhile, the boys began to relax

and Donovan and Liyon

began chatting in Amheric,

and chatting and chatting!

They shared with each other all about 

their tennis shoes.

Liyon's light up,

and 

Donovan has shoe laces!

They chatted and giggled and mommas teared up! 

It was sooooo sweet!

Even in a crowded airport the boys found somewhere to climb,

and thankfully the airport personnel who we were next too -

didn't mind.

I just love this photo, as the boys look out of the airport window,

Donovan was talking to Liyon -

Donovan told me later that he told Liyon about 

swimming in a pool, 

and about eating ice cream.

 

 

Ohhh it was a special day and we can't wait to see them

again for a play date! 

Jailyn and Jorja were there to join in the fun -

they were so excited to meet Liyon!

 

And welcome him and his baby sister!

and Jailyn, well... she tried to sneak her little self in all the 

re-union photos!

(sorry Heather!) 

Sunday Snapshot: Forever Families

What a fun day we had yesterday!

We were able to get together with some old friends,

some of who we haven't seen for about 5 years.

We were all brought together through the roller coaster ride of adoption.

We were all waiting for our precious babies  to come home.

I must admit that we did not wait as patiently as our kids waited in line.

Some of our journeys continued to China,

and some were lead in different directions.

 

 

It is amazing to see how God leads each of us 

through joy and sorrow,

ease and pain...

Yet, he still lead us to our forever family.

Thankful we were able to see each other again and

admire God's beautiful children and the families that He made!

Donovan and The Pink Flamingos!

We were blessed with a visit from our friends

from Oklahoma.

And 'cause it is sooo stinkin' hot in Texas -

there is nothing else better to do 

then go to the pool.

Jorja and Jailyn had a blast with Kaylin 

and 

Donovan had a blast with 

his posse!

They were teaching him to jump in! 

or belly flop like Jailyn likes to do!

(The girl can get some air!)

Nothing like some fun girls to help Donovan learn to trust his water wings!

Sweet Kaleb and Elijah had fun playing in the little pool!

This is as close as I could get to them with the camera,

these two are fast.

But I did get some cute photos of them separately... 

We are so thankful for the bloggy world 

as that is where we first met this beautiful family!

Thanks for coming to see us Mark and Anita! 

Love y'all!

(and next time we'll get a photo of the adults!)