Our Journey To Forever

Catching up!

2012-02-13T18:37:00.007-06:00

We have had a busy month!!!!

We started homeschooling three of the kids in January (5th grade, 3rd grade and K). Ethan is finishing up his Freshmen year at the high school. The two youngest are still in preschool. We are really enjoying homeschooling! Heidi and Isabelle even accepted Christ. What a blessing! We will homeschool Spencer and Riley next year. Ethan has not decided what he is doing yet. Here are a few photos.

Ethan is keeping busy with Scholar Bowl and Band. Ethan and Devin are still active in Boy Scouts. Devin, Heidi and Isabelle are participating in Upwards. They are learning a lot! I am playing volleyball (no pictures of that). It has been so much fun!!!!!

We took a mini-vacation to St. Louis a few weeks ago. We went to the zoo, Science Center and Planetarium. We are studying Astronomy - so the kids really enjoyed it! We loved the hotel we stayed in. We really liked the continental breakfast.

We also enjoyed the Year of the Dragon (Chinese New Year) by visiting one of our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Today was a "snow day" for Ethan! The other kids worked on a few subjects. Then we baked cupcakes for Valentine's Day. After that, everyone bundled up to play in the snow. It was so much fun! However, I didn't get any pictures because my camera decided not to work!!!

We are still waiting on our LOA from China. We are on day 50!!!

New Photo

2012-01-12T13:36:00.003-06:00

Today we received a new photo of our little guy and an update.
He likes to play with toy cars and enjoys music and art.
He goes to preschool and is social!
It also looks like he lost a tooth. Too cute!

LID!

2012-01-11T14:31:00.002-06:00

Quick update -
Just found out our dossier was logged in on 12/26/11!!! Yippee!!
We are now waiting for our LOA. This usually takes around 2-3 months and travel is approx. 2 months after that.

A memorable Christmas and recap of 2011!

2011-12-31T10:11:00.005-06:00

It is so hard to believe that this is the last day of 2011!!!

This year brought lots of laughter and tears. The kids had a great year. They are all learning so much and remain healthy and happy. Chris and I have been happy and healthy, too. We don't see our parents and family as much as we would like, but we are blessed when we are all together! This year my brother, Brad, earned his PhD. Rick was called to start a church in New Mexico (we will miss them). Jared and his wife gave birth to their little girl, Kadence. This year my grandpa passed away. This was so sad, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to have so many years with him. My uncle also passed away unexpectedly. We also made some big decisions this year. We decided to add another little boy to our family and homeschool the kids starting in January (except Ethan - we think he should finish out this year). This year a few of our friends went through very tough times, and we hope the next year brings more joy. This year also brought my friends the arrival of much prayed for children. So many things happened this year, and we are so thankful for our faith, family and friends!!!

Christmas was so memorable this year. We celebrated the Thomas side the week before Christmas. The kids have so much fun when all the cousins and grandparents are around. We just had pizza and opened presents, but it was great.

On Christmas eve we headed to The Lake. We stayed in a one room cabin. The kids thought that was the best. It was great seeing the Morrow side of the family. We ate a lot of food and had lots of fun. On the way home we stopped in Columbia. We stopped at Chris' favorite pizza place, and went to the mall. Fun!!

Finally, the last week has been unseasonably warm - so we visited the zoo with some friends and then went to the Plaza for some cheesecake. It was a little crowded - so we got it to go!!!

We are looking forward to 2012! We can't wait to see was God has planned.

Our Big News and Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-23T12:23:00.004-06:00

It has been tough not sharing this exciting news, but I wanted to wait for the right time.

Well, today is the day!

We are so excited to announce that we are adopting again.

We first saw his face last April. However, we needed to take some time to think about everything! Finally, we decided that this little boy was our son. In July, we were selected to be his family. On August 4th, China gave us preapproval to adopt him. Yesterday, our dossier went to China (DTC). Chris and Ethan should travel in 5-9 months to bring him home.

We would like to introduce Spencer. He is 6 years old, and he is from the Jilin province. He is described as smart and kind. He likes to sing! He does not walk, because he has something wrong with his knee (it doesn't flex). We are optimistic that with surgery he will be running around with the others, though.

Isn't he adorable!!!

Also, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

A birthday and some cuteness!

2011-12-07T14:29:00.005-06:00

Devin turned 11 last week! It is so hard to believe. He wanted a yo-yo. His wish came true!! He also got some money and clothes.

Riley and Ruth got some new pjs. They look so darn adorable - I just had to post their picture!!!!

Also, last Saturday and Sunday the youngest 4 kids performed in our church's Night of Praise. They all did a great job, and we were very proud of them. We didn't get any great shots of the program itself! However, we did get some cute before and after.
Enjoy!!

Thankful and Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T13:49:00.003-06:00

I am a little late on the Thankful post, but I am going to do it anyway!

*I am so very thankful for Jesus and the life I have because of him.
*I am also thankful for my husband. He takes such great care of me and our children.
*I am thankful for my children. They are the light of my life!
*I am thankful for my family. I am so blessed.
*I am thankful for my friends
*I am thankful for MOPS, Bunco and my kid's playgroup.
*I am thankful for my house and big ole' van.
*I am thankful for good medical/dental care.
*I am thankful for plenty of food.

I am thankful for my life and everything I have. I am thankful for all the experiences good and bad. I pray each day that I show gratitude for all that I have been given.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We celebrated with family, and we had lots of yummy food. I did not go Black Friday shopping until about 10:30 am on Friday! The kids had fun pretending to bargain shop. I got a couple of deals, but the company was the best.

We decided to have Devin's birthday lunch after church on Sunday. He chose to eat at Red Lobster. It was very yummy and we received the biggest surprise/gift. Someone paid for our entire meal! Can you believe that? What an amazing blessing. Sure wish we could tell them how thankful we are for their generosity. On a not so good note, we aren't sure Devin's meal settled very well. He had a rough night. Poor guy!

October 31st!

2011-11-02T12:33:00.004-05:00

Probably should have posted this a few days ago, but better late than never. Just pretend it is October 31st!!!!

Twenty years ago today, I started dating my husband. It is so hard to believe it has been that long. It has been such a blessing to grow and mature with him. He is an amazing husband and father. I admire his strong faith and how he leads our family!

Five years ago today, our sweet Isabelle arrived home from Korea. She is such a blessing to our family. She is so sweet and spunky! She is a momma's girl, and I love that!!

What a wonderful night for the kids to dress up and Trick or Treat. We had so much fun! From the amount of candy in our house you would think we were out all night! Ethan decided to stay home and hand out candy this year.
Below are a few photos of the kids...

Legalism???

2011-10-31T11:49:00.004-05:00

Legalism is something that I have heard referenced a lot lately! It has not been directed towards me or my family but instead towards others that I know. I attend a weekly bible study, and I really enjoy it. I have learned so much! However this study seems to be where the legalism debate stems from.

Those who attend the study will attest that the study does not tell you what you can or can not do. It is simply a verse by verse study of the Bible.
Many of my friends (not it the study) view this differently. They do not believe this simply because some of the people who have attend the study have changed their lifestyle. They believe the study is legalistic.

So here is the point. What if during the study or for that matter any other event in someone's life makes them realize they need to change. Is that legalism? I know when I read the bible I sometimes pull out a different message then others. Some scripture speaks to me differently than it does for someone else. God has a different plan for my life than he does other people.

There are so many hot topics (homeschool, tv, Halloween, tattoos, technology, piercings, worship music, clothing, etc.) We know families that do not allow their children to dress up for Halloween, but they have tattoos and piercings. Some people allow their children to dress up for Halloween, but don't really care for tattoos. Some people don't allow tv and others homeschool. Some people don't watch rated "R" movies and some only listen to Christian music. Still others prefer their girls to wear skirts. Whatever the case, does this mean they are legalistic or is it just their preference or what they believe Scripture is telling them?

God speaks to all of us. He is in the business of changing hearts. It will look different for every person/family. We have a heart for the fatherless. God uses other people for service, missions, hospitality, support, guidance, etc.

I don't get many blog comments, but I would love to hear your thoughts. This is a topic that I hadn't really thought about until recently. I understand that some people may very well be in a legalistic environment, but in many cases can it just be God changing hearts? I know God has changed me in the last several years!

Random Cuteness

2011-10-11T19:53:00.004-05:00

Riley loves dressing up! He thinks he is "all that".
I just had to post a few photos of him. That boy cracks me up!
And yes, he is very ornery!!!!!
Of course, I think all my kids are adorable. I just wish my big boys would let me take more photos of them.
I am one blessed mommy.

Thanks for the memories!

2011-10-11T19:36:00.003-05:00

My grandpa passed away last week. He was 91 years old and still mowed his lawn and tended his garden. When my grandma got sick several years ago he never left her side. He took such good care of her until she went to heaven. At the funeral, the pastor said he still saved her a spot at church. I love that!!!
I also love how grandpa would still chase his great-grandchildren around and play with them (even though he couldn't hear them)!
I also loved him because he was always willing to learn new things! He would send us emails and make us cards from his computer.
When we told my grandparents about our idea of adoption - they were a bit surprised and probably, at first, not that excited. However, I remember them going home and thinking about adoption and then being very supportive and excited. They were so proud and in love with Heidi when she came home. He loved all his grandchildren!!! I love you grandpa and will miss you very much. Thanks for the memories!!

Here are a couple of photos from his 91st birthday!!

Schedules, Preschool photos and a 9 year old!

2011-09-19T13:01:00.006-05:00

I thought it would slow down once everyone settled into school. I was wrong!! Our schedule is crazy.

Morning:
Ethan catches the bus at 7:00
Devin catches the bus at 8:00
Ruth has to be at preschool at 8:25 (I take her Mon-Thurs)
Heidi and Isabelle catch the bus at 8:35 (I would prefer to take them, but they like the bus and it saves a trip. I still take them on Friday around 8:50)
Riley has to be at preschool at 9:30 (I take him Tuesdays/Thursdays)

Afternoon:
Pick Ruth us at 11:20 (Mon - Thurs)
Pick Riley up at 12:00 (Tues and Thurs)
Ethan walks home 2:45
Go to the bus stop and wait for Devin at 3:30
Go to the bus stop and wait for Heidi and Isabelle at 4:00
(Really wish we could see the stop from our house, but it is 1.5 blocks away so I don't let them walk home alone)

This doesn't include Ethan's early and late band schedule!!!!!

Enough about our crazy schedule. As you read earlier the little ones started preschool. Riley goes to a Church preschool and Ruth is going to our school district's early childhood center. It is going great except Ruth cries when she has to come home. She is not good with transitions and she hates to quit playing on the playground. I don't blame her.

Also, Heidi turned 9 years old. I can't hardly believe it. She wanted to eat at Zi*o's and have ice cream cake. She is such a sweet girl.

Home 1 year!

2011-08-28T22:00:00.003-05:00

Last year

Today

A letter to Ruth

Dear Ruthie,

It is hard to believe that you have been home with us for one year. I will never forget Daddy carrying you off the plane and seeing you for the first time.
You were so beautiful, but so scared.

This last year you have handled all the drs. appointments, therapies and meetings with such joy and grace.

You have changed so much. When you came home you were so tiny and still on the bottle. In fact, at night you would wake almost every hour for a bottle. Now you are, by far, my best sleeper. You even sleep in a big girl bed.

You were miserable because of scabies. You would also hit and scratch yourself. When you were mad you would just lay down and cry. Now you smile all the time and your joy is contagious. (You can still throw a good fit, though) LOL

You worried us when you couldn't eat solids, but after just a few weeks of therapy you started to learn to eat. Now you love to eat. You love chicken nuggets, hamburgers, oatmeal, bananas and lots of snacks. Ha! You have gained 8 lbs in the last year. Daddy thinks you are going to be bigger than Riley by next year.

When you came home we were told you were very delayed and had no words. Now you sing and dance around our house. You can say many words and even a few sentences. Here are a few things you say "I like to swim in the pool, I have to go potty, I like choo choos, want to eat." You also say "I love you."

Here are just a few reasons we love you so much.

* We love how you think you are so cute when you get your hair done.
* We love how you mimic everything (even when it doesn't make sense)
* We love how you will dance anywhere!
* We love your smile and your many expressions.

We are so very proud of you! You have such a beautiful heart and brings us such joy. We are so thankful that we are your family. We love you!!

First Day of School

2011-08-17T14:59:00.004-05:00

Here are some photos from the first day of school!
We have a 9th, 5th, 3rd, and Kindergartener. We had no tears - just smiles.
Ruth also started Speech at the Early Childhood Center today.

The 4 youngest

3rd grader

Kindergartener

5th grader

9th grader

How time flies....

2011-08-16T10:20:00.004-05:00

It has been such a long time since my last post. We have been so busy!
We did not take a big vacation this year, so we have done lots of little fun things in the area. It has been fun.
Ethan and Devin went to Boy Scout and Cub Scout camp. We also attended our adoption agency's picnic. It was hot!!!!!!!
Ethan also marched in his first parade! It was a little warm, but the other kids had fun.
School starts tomorrow. I can't believe the summer break went so fast. Last night, we all went to "Meet the Teachers". It looks like it will be a great year.
Also, Isabelle got her ears pierced yesterday. She was very excited!!!

Independence Day!

2011-07-05T20:05:00.003-05:00

We had a great 4th of July!
Chris and Ethan had to leave bright and early for Boy Scout Camp so we did a few fireworks the night before. Ruth loved watching her first fireworks and throwing poppers!!
The rest of us celebrated the evening with friends. We had hotdogs, chips, watermelon and smores - what else could a person ask for! The kids enjoyed playing outside, doing fireworks (no flames) and watching our neighborhood displays.

The big "40" and the zoo

2011-06-09T14:37:00.003-05:00

It is hard to believe that I am married to a 40 year old!! Just kidding! We all hope you had a great birthday and we love you very, very much.
Also, on Chris' birthday we went to the zoo. It was very hot, but lots of fun. We only lost one kid (just teasing honey).
After the zoo we had some K.C. bbq. It was yummy. Then the kids played in the sprinkler and had popsicles (except Ethan who finished reading the book he got the day before).
Here are a few photos from our fun weekend!

Finalization and Graduation

2011-05-19T18:06:00.004-05:00

It has been another busy few weeks!

We enjoyed a good Mother's Day despite the fact that three of the kids and I were recovering from being sick. The girls and I enjoyed a nice dinner at our church's Mother/Daughter banquet on Saturday, and the boys made me a delicious dinner on Sunday.

Last week we finalized Ruth's adoption. It is so great to be done with adoption paperwork! The court process went quickly, and she is now officially Ruth Addisyn. We are so blessed she is in our family!

Isabelle is growing up. This was her last week of preschool, and she graduated last night. We are so proud of her, and she did a great job at the program/graduation!

On a side note, Devin just received his clarinet for middle school band next year. He is very excited and can already play a tune.

Easter (a bit late)

2011-05-09T14:19:00.004-05:00

We had a great Easter! Our church celebrated together at the local event's center. Over 4,000 people were in attendance. We have an average of 1500 people in our congregation - so it was a huge success.
Then we enjoyed lunch at Bass Pro (very yummy), and visited the Easter Bunny again.
We then took a nap and colored easter eggs. It was a little late, but we still had fun.

"It is true!", the Lord has risen...Luke 24:34

Here are a few photos of the day!!

Look who's 3!

2011-04-19T21:18:00.001-05:00

We feel so blessed an honored to have celebrated Ruth's 3rd Birthday! She was so excited to have presents and cake!!!!! Grandpa and Grandma brought donuts over for breakfast, then we went to the Fort, to the buffet, took a nap and had a party!!!
She is a very sweet little girl who almost always has a smile!
She loves penguins, purses and pj's. Her favorite food is chicken nuggets, and she loves chocolate.
Enjoy the photos of our beautiful little girl.

A vist to the fort

2011-04-17T20:35:00.000-05:00

Last weekend grandpa and grandma came to town. We had lots of fun celebrating Ruth's birthday. I will post all about that soon!!
We also decided to visit a local historic fort. It was a beautiful day and the kids had lots of fun.
Then we went to a buffet and ate way tooooooooooo much!!!

Birthday x 2

2011-03-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

This week we celebrated two birthdays!! Izzy turned 5 and Riley turned 3! I can't hardly believe it!
Isabelle got a kids MP3 player, ball glove, outfits and some money. Woo Hoo!
Riley got a ball glove, toy backpack, outfits, pjs and some money. Yippee!
They were so excited for their big days. Isabelle said "I am so proud that I am five". I told her she should be, because she fought really hard when she was a baby!!

Riley says he is so, so big and will go to school. He is also 90% potty-trained!!

I will post more photos from the big party at every kids favorite pizza and play place!!!!

Hands and Feet of Jesus

2011-03-22T14:49:00.001-05:00

Please consider helping this amazing family serve the orphans and children of Guatemala. I have known Amy for 8 years when we were both adopting from Guatemala. Since that time, we have both adopted several other children. She has been a great friend and supporter through all of our processes!!! The Block family truly has a heart for the orphan. Please watch this wonderful video and pray for them as they prepare to move to Guatemala.

Tax deductible giving can be made at:
Commission To Every Nation
Todd and Amy Block
P.O. Box 291307
Kerrville, TX 78029-1307

Follow their story at http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/

#14, 6 months and Blue & Gold

2011-02-28T19:03:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Ethan's 14th birthday. He is such a great kid! He loves his brothers and sisters and is always willing to help out. He is very funny and always makes us laugh. He is also a wonderful student and friend. He enjoys reading, Scholar Bowl, playing with his I-pod, playing the trumpet, shooting baskets and Scouts. He wanted Pizza* Hut for his birthday, and then we went out for some yummy dessert.
(On a side note I was very proud of Devin, Heidi and Isabelle for giving whatever money they had to Ethan as a gift.)

Saturday was the Scout Blue and Gold banquet. Great job Devin and Ethan for all your hard work. The little ones sat very quietly during the 1.5 hours so we treated everyone to Star*bucks. The little ones had vanilla steamers, and Ethan got to have a Caramel Mocha. They all enjoyed their "coffee". It was cute to see them all sitting around the tables sipping their drinks.

Today, Ruth has been home 6 months. It is hard to believe! She has come so far in such a short time. She was so much like an infant and now she is a crazy toddler. She is learning English, but still only says a few words. I think it is taking her a little longer because she had to learn to do so many other things (like eat). She is such a sweet little girl and we are so blessed that she is in our family.

What have we been doing?

2011-02-24T10:59:00.000-06:00

Wow! It has been a while since my last post. We have been busy!

Let's see since my last post we have had:

*blizzard-like conditions (went a little stir crazy - please note Riley is a boy)

*the flu x2 (Ethan was sick on Valentine's)

*Valentine's Day

*Ethan signed up for his classes for highschool (can that even be possible?)

*our 3rd post-placement visit for sweet Ruth

*a few days in the high 60's (loved those)

*a computer problem (so glad I have a hubby that can fix things)

*Scout Sunday

*our bird die (RIP Caspian)

*Isabelle's preschool chili supper fundraiser

*Bunco with my friends (woo hoo I finally won!)

*Upwards basketball and cheerleading (only video of Devin playing - he's very quick)

*Went on a small hike

*Volunteered at Winter Jam for Holt International Child Sponsorship (great concert with a great friend and helped by getting three kids sponsored)

I know more has been going on, but that is a brief rundown. Hope to post more soon. We have lots and lots of birthdays in the next month.

We can make a difference!!!!!!!

2011-01-28T17:23:00.000-06:00

Please read the following post from my friend Amy!!! Let's make a difference.
Also, to learn more about my friend and her awesome family visit her blog at www.buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com

One Day~One Lunch
“There’s a young boy over here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” John 6:9

Often times we are guilty of doing nothing because we can’t do it all. Often times we excuse ourselves from doing God’s work because we don’t believe we can make a difference with the little we have to offer.

On February 3rd marks 100 days of my 15 year old daughter, Addisyn, eating a small bowl of soup and piece of bread for lunch, like the children at the feeding program receive. Addisyn decided to do this so that she can donate her lunch money to Lifesong for Orphans for the children at the Adami Tulu preschool. You can read about what God taught Addisyn through our trips to Ethiopia here and here.

What to some may seem a small gift, God see’s the heart behind her efforts. He sees a child who is willing to give up the little she has for others who have nothing at all. He sees a child who did something for them- and in essence-did something for Him- with what she’d been given. Through a simple bowl of vegetable soup God has taught Addisyn so many lessons- in sacrifice and in integrity. He also blessed her efforts through a friend who decided to join in- doubling the gift.

As I was praying the other morning and thanking God for working in Addisyn's life- God brought to mind the little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish…. and how He took that child’s gift of giving what he could and multiplied it.

If you are reading this today- yes YOU… I’d like to ask you to be a part of something big. God usually preferred to work through His people. People just like you and me-and my 15 year old daughter. You have two choices right now. You can click off this page and pretend you didn’t read this and go on with your everyday life- or you can choose to see that God brought YOU here- to read this- for a purpose- to be a part of something big.

Do not worry, I am not going to ask you to do something you can’t- I am asking you to do something you can. The Average American spends between $2.00 and $8.00 a day on lunch. If everyone who reads this blog post would simple choose- on February 3rd to give up their ‘lunch money’ and then donate what they would have spent on lunch that day to Lifesong for the Adami Tulu preschool - can you image what Jesus could do? A mere $3.00 feeds a child for ONE MONTH. Can you imagine the impact we could make- simply by giving being willing to make a small sacrifice for someone else?

But more than that… can you imagine how it would affect those around us as we say ‘enough’. Enough of over abundance. Enough of the waste. Enough of going on with our lives like we are the only ones that matter. Enough of turning our back to the needs of others in this world. Enough of pretending we don’t know what to do. If a 15 year old can think of something to give, then so can you and I. No more excuses- all it takes is one day and one lunch.

So mark your calendar for Feb. 3rd and spread the word about the One Day- One Lunch Project. Put it on Facebook, add it to your blog- ask your friends, coworkers and church family to join in. Let’s make a small sacrifice- to make one big difference.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
~ Mother Teresa

Online donations: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/donation.html
**indicate for the Adami Tulu Preschool.

Mail checks to:
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
For the Adami Tulu Preschool

Two more makes Seven

2011-01-09T21:05:00.000-06:00

I want to tell a little story...
Once there were two families who lived in different states. One family was in the process of adopting a little girl from China and another a little girl from S. Korea. Well, as they were waiting to be matched their agency sent an email stating that they had two toddlers waiting for families in Guatemala. Both these families decided to switch to the Guatemalan program and adopt these toddlers.
The families were told the girls should be home in 4-6 months. Unfortunately, the process dragged on and on. These two families connected with each other since they were using the same agency and the girls were in the same orphanage. It started as support, but quickly grew into a friendship. This friendships is one of the biggest blessings to come out of our crazy Guatemalan adoption!!!!
Our girls came home just over 5 years ago. At that point, we were pretty sure we would never adopt again. We were emotionally drained, but God had other plans. Five years later we went from 3 kids (our two bio boys and their bio girl) to 11 kids (Guatemala - 2, Vietnam - 1, S. Korea - 3, Ethiopia - 2). We are truly blessed, but the story doesn't end there.
While our friends were in Ethiopia adopting their infant son, they met two special girls. These girls are around 8-9 years old and deaf. They couldn't get these beautiful girls out of their mind! So...they are bringing them home. They are now waiting for a court date in Ethiopia.
Adoption is expensive, but so worth it. In order to help out with the costs they are selling t-shirts. Please consider being a part of bringing these precious girls home.
Here is the letter I received from them:
As you know, my husband, Al, and I have both been blessed with big hearts for orphans. While in Africa this last year, finalizing the adoption of our new son,Will, Al and I had the opportunity to meet and spend considerable time with two young girls living at the orphanage. These two girls are older (estimated to be 7 and 9 years old), they have no known family and they are both deaf. These two girls are also both bright, in need of a family to love and care for them, a home to call their own as well as the appropriate educational resources.
In an effort to raise some much needed money to help with the cost of bringing these girls home and - at the same time - raise some awareness about the simple things we can all do for orphans every day, Al and I are selling t-shirts. Please see the information attached and consider buying a shirt . . . or two . . . or three . . . We expect to mail out shirts for delivery in time for Valentine's Day!

Also, I have this form in pdf format that I can email to you if needed. The shirts are nice, and I can't wait to get mine.

So cute!

2011-01-07T15:18:00.000-06:00

Three of my kids are doing Upwards at our church. Two are cheerleading and one is playing basketball. They are all having fun and working hard.
I was never a cheerleader! I played sports throughout school and even college (ie. volleyball, basketball, softball, track, etc.) So I wasn't sure about the whole cheerleading thing, but I have to say I think my little cheerleaders are the cutest and my basketball player is very handsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Year

2011-01-04T14:10:00.000-06:00

Well, it is hard to believe that it is 2011!
We are looking forward to all that God has in store for us this year.
The holidays were very enjoyable! We had family over on Christmas eve. It was so fun. We just had pizza and opened gifts, but it was nice to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Christmas morning was spent opening gifts and just relaxing. We then headed out to visit more family that afternoon.
On Sunday morning, we were blessed to hear Chris' brother preach about compassion. Then we went to his house and spent the whole day with the rest of the family.
Chris has been home most of the time the kids were off - so we had a lot of fun together!
Yesterday we went to the movies and watched Megamind. I wasn't sure how Riley and Ruth would do, but they did just fine. Riley ate a majority of the popcorn. The boy loves to eat.
Ruth did great during the holiday considering she hasn't been home too long. She had a few meltdowns, but did way better than expected. She loved being around all the family.
Enjoy a few more photos from our Christmas celebrations.

Christmas Programs

2010-12-16T21:49:00.000-06:00

We have had our share of Christmas programs in the last couple of weeks!
Ethan had a band concert and Isabelle had her preschool program on the same day. Chris went to Ethan's concert and said it was very good. I went to Isabelle's and Chris and Ethan joined us towards the end. Isabelle did a great job singing. She also had a speaking part - she was so adorable! I am a little biased!

On Sunday, Heidi sang with the choir at church service. Then in the evening, Heidi, Isabelle, Riley and Ruth were part of the kid's choir performance at church. They all did an outstanding job, and Isabelle was part of the live nativity. She was an angel. Ethan was very sad after the program because he forgot to push play on the video recorder. OOPS! Luckily, we can get a copy from someone else
.
Tonight was Devin's school concert. He was really excited about it. It was very cute, and he did a great job singing.

Also, Heidi and Isabelle started Upwards cheerleading. It was so cute to watch. Devin should have started basketball, but it conflicted with the school program tonight.

I will leave you this little story: Isabelle's teacher asked "Why do we celebrate Christmas?" Isabelle said "because Jesus love us."

Look who is 10!

2010-12-04T22:02:00.000-06:00

I can't believe Devin is ten. It just seems like yesterday he was a tiny baby.
We celebrated on Tuesday, but tomorrow he is picking where we eat after church. He still hasn't decided where it will be.
We are so proud of you Devin. We love your honesty and how you always say what you think! You are a good student, and we hope you continue to love learning.
Here are a few photos of the birthday boy!

A must see video!

2010-12-02T14:46:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T10:17:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it is already Thanksgiving!!

I really enjoy this holiday. It is a great time to reflect on all the blessings God has given me and give thanks to Him.

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who works to hard to provide for our family and loves me so much. He is also a great father who loves spending time with our kids.

I am very thankful for my children! I still can't believe that God has allowed me to parent such beautiful and wonderful children. They are definitely blessings from above.

I also really enjoy getting together with family. It is so much fun to see everyone!! I am thankful that I have such an awesome, supportive, and loving family.
This year we are thankful for two new additions to our family. My brother and his wife just had a beautiful baby boy. He is definitely a blessing to our family.
Of course, Ruth is getting to spend her first Thanksgiving with us.
I know I have said it before, but she is just an amazing little girl. I can't believe all she has accomplished, learned and accepted in 3 months. We are so very proud of her.

It has been busy around here. I had a Thanksgiving lunch at school with Heidi and Devin. I also got to enjoy a Thankgiving feast at Isabelle's preschool.
Ruth was dedicated at Church on November 7th and that same day we celebrated Riley's two year "gotcha day". Riley sure keeps us busy, but he is extremely sweet!!!

Also, I went with the 4 biggest kids to see the musical "Grease" at the high school. It was a lot fun.

Here are a few recent photos!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

National Adoption Month

2010-11-04T14:18:00.000-05:00

I have been pondering about what to write about for National Adoption Month. We have a small adoption/orphan care ministry at our church, and we usually have some sort of spotlight. This year we are going to do it in the spring so I don't have anything ready, yet.

Adoption and orphan care is our passion. My husband and I truly feel that God has called us to be a voice for the fatherless. This is not how we envisioned our life, but it is way better and blessed than we imagined!!!!!

We have done about 5 spotlights on adoption and orphan care, and several general presentations. We spend many hours trying to find the perfect words to promote adoption/orphan care, make the best heartfelt video and information sheets - you get the idea. We go in on Sunday morning, and we are pumped. We know that this time we are going to change lives! However, each time the group or church body tends to honor us. I want to scream that it isn't about us!!!

It is about 147 million children who may never experience a family!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong - our family, friends, church body love our children! It doesn't matter what they look like or where they are from. They are treated with lots of love and respect. We are so blessed. We just want them to know what we know. That, yes, these children need homes, but they will change your lives more that you will change theirs!!

What I can't understand is why Christians are not standing up for these children and making a difference. I seriously don't understand!
There are so many verses in the bible that reference orphan care/adoption. If Christians are using the bible as the guide for life then why are there orphans and children dying from hunger, disease, etc?

If 7% of professing Christians adopted a single child, there would be no more orphans.

Can you imagine?

Yes, adoption can be expensive! It takes a lot of budgeting, creativity and prayer. There are also adoption grants and low-interest loans.
I think we are just an ordinary family. My husband works two jobs, and I get to stay at home with the kids. We live on a pretty tight budget, and we do not and have never had a huge amount of money stashed away in savings (that would be nice, though). We do not own a huge home, but it works for us! The kids do not have their own rooms. They have everything they need and most of their wants, but also have learned to save their money for expensive items.

Did you know God uses ordinary people? He used us. He could use you, too! We had never considered adoption prior to a 20/20 documentary, but it has changed our lives. Not only do we have 4 beautiful children through adoption, but we learned about what was most important in life. We learned that fancy cars, houses and clothes were not that important. We learned how to budget better, trust more and love unconditionally. We have learned more about our world and our family. We also made some very special friends!!! God used adoption to teach us more about Him. Our faith has grown and our family is stronger. So many lives changed - WOW!

This month, think about what God has in store for you! Everyone can make a difference. What will you do? Foster care, adoption, sponsoring a child, donating to an orphanage, taking a mission's trip, praying daily for waiting children, helping out at a Boy/Girl's club...there are so many ways to help!

Several years ago, Steven C. Chapman made a video about the adoption of his daughters. In the video he said something like "the thing that scared him the most is that he almost missed it". He worried about so many worldly things that he almost missed the blessings of his daughters.

We can not imagine our life without any of our children. They each have added so much laughter and joy to our family. So many times we doubted our choices and worried about finances, room in our house and vehicles, what others would think, and so much more. We are so so so glad that we decided to trust God, because what we would have missed is beyond words.

Are you missing it?

Happy Halloween and 4 years home!!

2010-11-01T14:20:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend dressing up for Halloween. On Saturday we went to the school's Haunted Hallway and on Sunday we went to two Trunk or Treats!!
You would not believe how much candy we have - it fills a paper grocery bag!!!!!

Not only is October 31st special for Trick or Treating, but Chris and I started dating on Halloween 19 years ago!!

It was made even more special 4 years ago when our little Isabelle arrived home from Korea! She is such a special little girl, and we are so happy that God placed her in our family.

So Funny!

2010-10-19T20:40:00.000-05:00

I just watched the funniest video. It was on a blog that I love to visit. Anyway, it is a little video about large families and adoption. We have heard almost every comment. Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJojUMl3OWc&feature=player_embedded

Bike Day and cute hair

2010-10-17T12:51:00.000-05:00

Isabelle's preschool had Bike Day this week! She had so much fun riding around the parking lot. Ruth and Riley also got to be part of the fun. The weather has been so beautiful this week.

Riley started running a fever on Wednesday, but seems to finally be feeling better today. He seems to be catching all the viruses the last few months.
Most of our family got to enjoy the great weather at the Renaissance Festival yesterday. They said they had tons of fun. I stayed home with Ruth and Mr. Sicky! I did not have tons of fun. Ha! Ha! They did bring me home a Reuben sandwich - that made me happy. Lesson learned: Don't buy tickets to any event in advance.

Also, I been trying new styles on Ruth's hair. This is one of them. I thought she looked adorable!!!

Branson and Noah

2010-10-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we had an exciting adventure to Branson. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma M. the whole clan was treated to the musical Noah! It was a wonderful show, and it was so neat to experience it with the whole family.

The Whole M Clan

On the way there we stopped at Lambert's. This is a very yummy restaurant, and the kids had a great time watching the waiters toss the rolls. Too funny.

We stayed at a hotel that had a waterpark indoors. All the kids had a great time, but Ruth loved it. She went up and down the toddler waterslide non-stop. Finally, we had to get her out of the water because her teeth were chattering.

On the way home, we stopped at the Bass Pro in Springfield. We also drove through Warrensburg where we bored the kids by telling them all about our college experiences and how we met. It wasn't near as exciting to them, but I loved reminiscing!!!

Feeling Good!

2010-09-28T16:37:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to report that we are ALL feeling better. That was one contagious little virus. Ruth completed the illnesses by getting an ear infection that turned into an infection of the lymph nodes. It is good to see her happy and feeling good again.
We had our first post-adoption placement visit last week. It went well! Ruth continues to thrive and be a happy little girl.
Here are a few recent photos. There are always more photos of the little ones since the older one are at school!!

Look who is 8...

2010-09-18T17:38:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to our sweet Heidi! We can't believe you are already 8 years old. You are such a sweet girl with a big heart, and we love you very much.
For her birthday Heidi went to American Girl with her sister, Isabelle! She also decided to eat at Applebee's and had her usual (Mac and Cheese).
It was a great day!

Ruth continues to do great! She went to the OT this week since she was unable to eat solids. We have a little bit of work to do with her, but she is already eating graham crackers. Wow!!! The reason she had issues with eating is because she had been on the bottle for so long she never learned how to move her tongue. She only sucked back and forth like a baby will do with a bottle. So we were taught how to stimulate the tongue to go side to side and to start weaning her off the bottle. She has been a great sport, and we feel so blessed that she is our daughter.

First Day of Preschool and more

2010-09-08T21:20:00.000-05:00

Isabelle had her first day of preschool this year. She is in the 4 year old room. She said she had a great time, but couldn't do math yet. I said that was ok - that is why we go to school. She is so funny!

Devin came home from school sick, and Riley is recovering from his Labor Day weekend illness! I am hoping it doesn't work itself around the whole family.

Ruth is doing great. We have seen a lot of improvement in her attitude and behavior in the short time she has been home. She can keep up with the rest of the kids and is trying new things all the time! We are very proud of her.

She is Home!

2010-09-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

Chris arrived home Saturday evening with Ruth. He said she did a great job on the trip! Thank you Chris for traveling and taking such great care of our little girl. You are an awesome husband and father.

She was greeted at the airport by Mommy, Ethan, Devin, Heidi, Isabelle, Riley, Grandpa and Grandma M, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Kim and several of our friends!!! It was such a blessing to have so many people that we love and care about be a part of our big day!!!!
Ruth looked so much bigger than I expected getting off the plane. She clung to Chris for a while, but finally came to me. By the time we left the airport, she was running around and smiling.
She is getting more comfortable everyday. She is very sweet! However, she does have the temper many reported. She likes to scratch and hit, but we are working on it.

Our main focus right now is to get her comfortable in her new surrounding, but we have already made an OT/PT app't for her at our local children's hospital. She will only take a bottle or eat baby food. She is 2.5 years old. She doesn't seem to know what to do with solid foods. We know that they had a tough time with her eating in Ethiopia, too. So it isn't a huge surprise.
She will also go to the International Adoption Clinic for an appointment in the next few weeks.
We are so glad that she is home. We feel like she is perfect for our family. She is also a good sleeper - Woo Hoo!

He Met Her!!!

2010-08-24T14:24:00.001-05:00

Today was the big day! Chris met our little girl for the first time. She went right to him, but was a bit shy the whole day. I guess she is usually quite outgoing. He said she loved to swing and let him know that she didn't want to stop. LOL He said she was quite a bit smaller than Riley and very cute. He also said that I am going to be very, very busy. Thanks babe!
Tomorrow is the Embassy appointment. Chris is looking forward to seeing more of Addis Ababa. He hasn't had the opportunity to get out yet. He said the weather was absolutely beautiful today, but it has been chilly at night. He said that he has slept well, but has a little bit of altitude sickness.
We are doing fine here. I took Riley to the doctor yesterday, because he ran a high temperature the night before. The Dr. thought he just had a virus. He feels much better today.
I can't believe she will be home this week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to School and leaving in 3 days!!

2010-08-19T15:13:00.001-05:00

The kids started back to school yesterday. I already miss them being home!
This year I have an 8th grader, 4th grader and 2nd grader. They grow up so fast!!

However, I have been keeping busy packing my hubby up to leave on Sunday for Ethiopia. I can't believe our little girl is finally coming home. As I mentioned before, a good friend of ours visited their little boy in Ethiopia a few weeks ago. While there she took photos and a great video of Ruth! We couldn't believe how much she had changed since the last video. She seems so sweet. Although I think I am going to be extremely busy chasing my TWO 2.5 year olds around. LOL

Update and photos

2010-08-03T16:54:00.001-05:00

Our really good friends went to Ethiopia for their court date last week. We are so excited to say "they passed"!!!
Anyway, while they were visiting their adorable little boy...they took the time to give our little girl some loving. It was so great to hear more about her personality and development. They reported that she is very beautiful, sweet and cuddly, but has a temper!!!
They also took some photos for us. Thanks guys!!!
She sure looks happy!

Bulgogi and friends

2010-08-02T19:51:00.000-05:00

Last Friday our adoption group went to our annual luncheon at a great Korean restaurant. A majority of the children in our group are from S. Korea, but we also have a few from Vietnam, China, Guatemala, and soon Ethiopia!!
We have a fun group and the food was great. Our family really likes to eat Bulgogi. I couldn't get over how well everyone ate.
Here are a few photos...

Riley and his buddy, Luke

An attempted group shot!

Made me think!!!

2010-07-31T11:39:00.001-05:00

My husband was listening to the radio in his car the other day, and he listened to an interview with Francis Chan (author of the great book - Crazy Love). He said that Francis Chan gave this as an example. I didn't hear this interview. I am just paraphrasing what my husband told me, but it really made me think - so I wanted to share it.

Francis Chan said imagine that you told your child to go clean his room. So your child went to his room for several hours and then came out and said...
I thought about cleaning my room. I understand what you would like for me to do, and I have read about cleaning my room. I have told my friends about what you said. We are going to study all about cleaning the room. Then you go to the room, and it isn't clean. Is this what you wanted? No, you wanted the child to listen to you and take action. You wanted the room clean.

Think about God's word in this way. You read the bible, you study the bible, you tell your friend's about Jesus, you go to Church to learn more about it. It is wonderful to do all the above things, but are you taking action? Are you living what you have learned, read, and studied? Think about it!!!!

Travel Date!

2010-07-29T14:02:00.000-05:00

We found out today that we have an August 25th Embassy date! It won't be long now. This adoption journey has definitely had its ups and downs, but we are so excited to finally bring her home.
We also received her birth certificate today. There has always been some question about her age so we were very anxious to find out what she would be given. We think she is a little younger, but her "new" birthday is April 9, 2008. That date makes her 11 days younger than Riley - too funny!!
Our good friends are visiting their little boy in Ethiopia this week. We hope to have updated photos of Ruth very soon. I can't wait to hear what they have to say about her.
Please keep our little Ruth in your prayers!

Scout Camp, photos and more

2010-07-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy week! The whole family is so excited that we are all together again.
Ethan did great at camp. He earned 7 merit badges including the infamous "swimming" merit badge.
It was so great to see them on Scout Sunday but we were quickly escorted out around 2:00 pm because of severe storms. So fun!!

My mom came for a visit last Monday and Tuesday. It was a marathon shopping spree, but it was so nice to visit with her.

Once the boys arrived back home from camp they took a nap, and then we went out for a nice dinner!

This weekend my mom, aunt, and I went to a baby shower for my brother and his wife. They are expecting a baby boy in September.

Then we attended our adoption group picnic. Can you say hot!!!! It was lots of fun with great company so that made up for the heat.

Today at church, Devin won a Quantum leap pad for answering questions about the Armor of God. We are so proud of him!

Well, that is a quick recap of recent events. We are hoping to confirm Chris' travel plans for Ethiopia on Tuesday, but it looks like he will have an Aug 11th Embassy date. Yippee!!

Please continue to pray for our little Ruth!!!

New picture

2010-07-07T17:05:00.001-05:00

I love getting new pictures. It makes the wait so much easier!
We are so thankful for the other families who take the time to take photos for the families that are still waiting for their child/children to come home.
This photo was taken last week. I love this photo because she is holding a pen. This is special because you will seldom see our 4 year old without a pen in her hand.

In the midst of all the good news, we do have sick boy. Devin was diagnosed yesterday with Strep. He has been so good even though he doesn't feel well. He is trying so hard to be the man of the house, and he is doing a great job. We are also missing Dad and Ethan. We can't wait to see them on Scout Sunday.

Introducing...

2010-07-06T08:59:00.000-05:00

We found out early this morning that our case was approved in the Ethiopian courts.
We would like to introduce Ruth Addisyn.

First photo - October 2009

April 2010

We hope to have her home in 6-8 weeks!

Happy Independence Day and Webelos Camp

2010-07-04T16:40:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th of July! We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday.
God Bless America!

Well, the 3 boys are home from camping adventure #1 (Webelo's camp). They had a great time and the weather was very nice. I am so glad to have them home for a day.

We will post court results tomorrow!

Summertime fun and quick adoption update

2010-06-29T15:25:00.000-05:00

We have been keeping ourselves busy! We have been having a ton of fun at the park, spray park, Worlds of Fun and just hanging out at home.
At the end of this week, the big boys and Chris will leave for 3 days for Webelo's camp. They will come home for the 4th of July and then Chris and Ethan will leave for 10 days for Boy Scout camp. This is great bonding for them, but I sure do miss them!!!!!!!! At least we can visit on Visitor's Sunday.

Yesterday, Ethan received two merit badges and received the rank of Star. Great Job!

We finally received good news about our adoption of "R". The letter we have been waiting months for was received yesterday (not in time for court, though). However, our new court date is July 5th! Our agency seems to be optimistic that our case will pass on Monday. We sure hope so. We want our baby girl home!!!!!! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We can definitely use them.

Here are a few pictures of our fun...

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T10:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband. Our family is so blessed by your strong faith in God, your great sense of humor, and your hard work in supporting and leading our family. Thank you for all that you do! We love you very much.

Happy Father's Day to my dad and father-in-law, too. Thanks for always being there for us! You are great dads and awesome grandpas!!!!!!!

Home from VACATION!

2010-06-16T21:49:00.000-05:00

We had a great time on vacation!
Our first stop was the grandparents in Oklahoma. We spent the night and headed to San Antonio with a quick stop to visit Uncle Brad, Aunt Dawn and Dylan.
We then got back on the road and landed in San Antonio! The next day we went to the Riverwalk and the Alamo. We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and then did some swimming!
The next two days we spent at Sea World. It was blast for everyone. The kids really enjoyed feeding the dolphins and playing at the waterpark!
On Thursday morning we headed to S. Padre Island with Uncle Brad, Aunt Dawn and Dylan. We spent several days playing in the sand, boogie boarding in the ocean and chasing crabs. It was an amazing trip with great company. The kids really enjoyed playing with their cousin. The last night we were there we went to a great buffet with great music. The boys got to eat crab legs and Heidi learned she was quite the hula hooper. We also had great accomodations thanks to Aunt Dawn!!
The kids did an amazing job traveling. The only glitch was getting stuck in the Oklahoma floods.
Enjoy a few photos of the great week!
For those following our adoption we didn't pass court again. Our new date is June 28th!

The Good, The Bad and The Cute!

2010-05-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

The Good!
We had another award's ceremony and Heidi and Devin did a great job this year. Heidi read all the required reading each month this year. Way to Go!
Heidi and Devin both received ribbons for participating in Rocket Math. Devin also received the Presidential Fitness Award. Great Job! Also, Devin was promoted to a Webelo at Cub Scouts.

The Bad!
Unfortunately, we received upsetting news from our adoption agency. It seems that the paperwork discrepancy from Jan/Feb is still delaying us. We are waiting for a piece of paper that requires a 3 month waiting period from a region that is notorious for being slow! Which means...we have no idea when our little girl will be home. We are hoping and praying that the piece of paper will arrive in time for our next court date, but it is not looking very promising!!

The Cute!
We received some new photos of "R", and she is just as cute as ever.
Also, below are some photos of the kids from the last week.

So sad!

2010-05-21T16:05:00.000-05:00

We didn't pass court again! So bummed - still missing MOWA letter. This is starting to remind me of Heidi's crazy adoption process. It is so emotionally draining.
We love you "R" and pray everyday for you! Hurry Home!!!!!
The new court date is June 7th!

Lots to celebrate!

2010-05-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

The school year is coming to a close, and we have had so much to do! Ethan had a band concert and several band competitions. He was part of a trumpet trio who received a 2 rating at one competition. Great Job! He also received several awards at the annual awards ceremony. Prior to the ceremony he emceed the student/teacher academic bowl and played the trumpet in the Fine Arts open house. We are very proud of your hard work!

Also, Isabelle had her Preschool Promotion. She did a great job. It was so cute. We are very proud of Izzy, too!

Weekend Fun

2010-05-10T08:38:00.000-05:00

We had a fantastic weekend! We worked outside on Saturday, and then went out for some yummy dinner! Then on Sunday we went shopping after church. Chris and the kids bought me an outfit and took me to Applebee's for Mother's Day!

I am so blessed to be a mom and have such great kids!!!! I am also blessed to have a wonderful mom and mother-in-law. What great examples they have always been to me.
We are now preparing for a busy week. Gotta love the end of school events.

Try, Try Again

2010-05-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Well, we just found out that we did not pass court again for R! The next court date is in 2 weeks.
Please continue to keep our family and our little girl in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, Riley had a follow-up appointment for his injury and is healing just fine. He has to be on a "soft" diet for another week. He saw some chips yesterday and started crying because he wanted one so bad - Poor Guy!

Cousins are fun...

2010-05-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

We had a nice weekend visiting with family! We celebrated an early Mother's Day and the kids played and played. The "triplet" girl cousins put on several plays (see photo)!
We also had the opportunity to visit "Cowboy" church. It was a nice service with great country gospel music. We all enjoyed it. I did miss nursery a little bit. We kept Riley occupied with snacks most of the service.
Afterwards, 8 adults and the 10 kids went out for pizza. It was yummy - thanks grandma and grandpa!

Of course, what is a trip without drama. We had only been home about 10 minutes when Riley decided to lacerate his soft palate. He was not goofing around, it was just sort of a crazy accident. We spent the evening and early morning in the E.R. He had to have a couple of stitches. I think it was harder on us, because he has been as crazy as ever since we got home!!!!
We are just very thankful that he is ok.
We will post our court results for baby girl on Friday. As usual, we appreciate all your good thoughts and prayers.

Raingutter Regatta and more

2010-04-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

Devin was the overall winner for the Raingutter Regatta. We are so proud of him. He made his boat all by himself!!! Ethan helped the regatta run smoothly. Great job Scouts!!!
Here are a few photos of the big event!

I just had to add this photo of Isabelle. Chris said the 80's are definitely back.

New court date - again!

2010-04-26T14:37:00.001-05:00

You would think we would get used to the emotional ups and downs of adoption, but we don't! We just want our little girl home. We thought she would be home by now, but that is what we get for thinking. LOL

We just found out that our case will be heard again on May 7th!

We will keep you posted, but please keep our little girl in your thoughts and prayers.

90th birthday, yard work and more!

2010-04-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

My Grandpa turned 90 last weekend! He is a wonderful Grandpa and has a special connection with all our kids. My parents came into town for the celebration and brought their new Yorkie (Molly). The kids loved the little puppy - no surprise. We also got to see Aunt Roberta and Cousin Jamie and his family. It was a lot of fun.

We also started working on our deck. We were just going to put a new railing up, but when we started the project we found out it needed to be torn down. It is back up except for the railing. The kids were very helpful, and I think we wore the little ones out.

Riley started feeling sick on Monday night. He is now almost over Hand, Foot and Mouth. He didn't feel good at all. Poor guy, but he looks happy at the doctor's office.

Finally, Sunday night while we are sleeping our case for R will be heard in Ethiopia. Our agency should contact us on Monday to let us know how it went. Please pray that we pass!

New court date!

2010-04-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

We are happy to announce we have a new court date. It is April 26th! We would appreciate your thoughts and prayers that we pass!
Also, we learned today that R finally started walking. She took her time, but we are so thankful for this milestone.

We are the Truth - Adoption Blogger Day

2010-04-15T07:11:00.000-05:00

From the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JSCIS):

We Are The Truth

A Campaign and Call to Action

The outrageous treatment of Artyem by his adoptive family has rightfully resulted in outrage by the Governments of Russia and the United States and all who care about children. The tragedy has cast a light on intercountry adoption that says it is not safe, the system failed and adopted children cause insurmountable problems. The heartbreak of Artyem Saviliev’s abandonment has once again elevated a singular incident to a level which may result in the suspension of intercountry adoption. Suspending adoption, even temporarily, will only cause thousands of children to suffer the debilitating effects of life in an orphanage.

Today is Adoption Blogger day. So below is the truth about our adoptions. It is a very abbreviated version because words will never express all the blessings we have received from adoption and our children.

We started our family with two "homegrown" boys! We learned about the plight of orphans and felt that it was the perfect way to grow our family.

So we added a little girl from Guatemala. She was 3 years old when she came home. She is now a beautiful, smart and loving little girl.

Next, we added a baby girl born in S. Korea to our family. She was born very prematurely, but now is a bright, sweet and amazing 4 year old.

A few years later, we felt like someone was missing. This time we added a baby boy born in S. Korea. He is the busiest, funniest little 2 year old I know. He is also a great cuddler.
!

We are in the process again. We are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. She is around 2 years old. We can't wait to bring her her home.

This is our TRUTH about adoption.

Our family’s like a patchwork quilt,
With kindness gently sewn.
Each piece is an original,
With beauty of its own.
With threads of warmth and happiness,
It’s tightly stitched together.
To last in love throughout the years,
Our family is forever.
-author unknown

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T15:04:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful day it is!
We went to Saturday Easter Service so today we got to celebrate all day with the kids!
We had Easter baskets, Easter egg hunt, brunch, bike riding and more fun to come.
We are so thankful for Jesus and the life we have in Him!

Catching up - again!

2010-03-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy few weeks. My sweet Isabelle turned 4 and my baby boy turned 2! They just get big so fast!!!! We are so thankful that God chose us to be their parents. We are so blessed!

We also received updated pictures of our little girl in Ethiopia. She looks a lot bigger in the new photos. A visiting mom described her as "a firecracker...who loves attention and knows how to get it". Hoping to get a court date soon so she can come home. I think it is going to be interesting to watch our "twins" fighting for attention. Hurry home baby girl!

Adoption update!

2010-03-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot happening on this front! Our case was to be heard on Feb. 25, but there was a paperwork discrepancy so it was never heard. We found out yesterday that our case was resubmitted to court on March 17th. We are now awaiting another court date.
There is also talk of some big changes in the Ethiopian adoption process. While we understand why certain things might be implemented we would prefer to not have to worry about it. Please pray that our case will be processed quickly!!
We also received new photos. She is starting to look more like a toddler than a baby. She has all her little baby teeth now. She is adorable.
We can't wait to get her home. If things go well, she should still be home this summer.

Ice Skating Fun

2010-03-03T15:00:00.001-06:00

We had a great time at the ice rink last night. The kids did an amazing job, and Chris and I didn't fall. Yeah!!!
Everyone but Riley skated all by themselves. Riley decided he needed to be a bit older. Ha!

Teenager in the House!

2010-03-01T14:51:00.000-06:00

Well, the time has come. We now have a teenager. It doesn't seem possible! Ethan turned 13 on Saturday. We celebrated with friends, pizza and a movie.
Ethan we love you, and are so proud of the young man you have become. Have a great year.

Court date rescheduled

2010-02-22T19:48:00.000-06:00

We found out today that our court date in Ethiopia for R has been rescheduled! We will be sure to update when we find out our new date! Pray it is soon.

We have a court date!

2010-02-17T16:52:00.000-06:00

We are excited to announce our court date will be February 25th in Ethiopia! We are praying that R will pass court and be in our arms soon. Then we can show everyone our beautiful little girl. Here is a little glimpse of her!

Mizzou fan

2010-02-02T13:50:00.000-06:00

R received her gift bag from us. Here is a photo of her in the little onesie we sent her. She is so sweet!

Group A

2010-01-26T18:47:00.000-06:00

We just found out the R's case was submitted to court in Ethiopia on January 15th. We now wait for our actual court date with the rest of the families in Group A. It should be in the next 8 weeks. Yeah!
Until next time...

What a wonderful surprise!

2010-01-23T10:47:00.001-06:00

The agency we are using for our Ethiopian adoption is Adoption Advocates International. They have a Yahoo group for only those families who are adopting or have adopted Ethiopian children from AAI. Recently, many families have travelled to pick up their children and have taken photos of other child/ren in the orphanage. Then they post all the photos to Snapfish so other families can check (obsessively) for new photos of their child/ren. Well, last night we received new photos and there was a post on Yahoo about a little girl in the orphanage. It happened to be our little girl. This family was on a return trip to Ethiopia. Here is a little bit from their blog

"I was asking John on the way home from the airport if Sue had any life changing moments from the trip. He said she had a great time, but asked what I meant by life changing. So I said, "For instance does she want to go back and volunteer now?"
Yes, she just may. But she would have adopted a child as well if she had the financial means to. One child in particular spotted her, held out her hands, and said "mama". Of course Sue was in tears, took the child and enjoyed holding her for a bit. When they were ready to leave the child followed her and didn't want Sue to go."

Isn't that sweet, and also sad that she didn't want her to leave. I just love that other people are able to give our little girl some love and attention until we get to bring her home. This young lady would like to keep in touch with us - I think that is so great!

Until next time...

So Excited...

2010-01-18T15:53:00.000-06:00

We just received over 20 new photos of our little girl in Ethiopia. There were several families that took Christmas to her orphanage and also took great photos. We feel very blessed to have so many photos so soon.

Since this is our first post about our daughter...here is the important information. We found out about her right before Christmas and accepted her referral on Jan. 6th.
She is around 2 years old and beautiful! As soon as we pass court we can give you more information and lots of pictures. We hope she will be home this summer.

Attached is a photo of some of the things we sent to her (Mizzou onesies, photo album, blanket and toy). She should get it this week.

My cute kids!

2010-01-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

My sweet girls! We were at Bass Pro.

I love Riley's new face! I don't think he wanted to be at the doctor's office again.

Ethan is really into cooking! He is really good at it, too.

The shirt says it all - just ask Devin.

He must have loved dinner!

Snow Snow Snow

2010-01-15T14:54:00.000-06:00

We have had a lot of snow. The kids almost got an extra week of school off for break. They loved it.
Here are a few snow photos.

Christmas - A little late as usual

2010-01-15T14:42:00.000-06:00

It was an awesome Christmas. We left on the Wednesday before Christmas to visit Debbie's parents in Oklahoma. So glad we did, because on Christmas Eve (Thurs.) the Oklahoma blizzard started. It was a whopping 14.3 inches!! We had a great time with Grandpa and Grandma T., Uncle Brad, Aunt Dawn and cousin Dylan. They played games, watched movies and even had a tea party!
Then we left on Saturday and headed to Chris' parents. The roads were decent (except for Tulsa). We then celebrated Sunday with grandparents, great grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and lots of cousins.
It was a great holiday. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

A few photos from Halloween

2009-11-13T15:17:00.000-06:00

We had a great time! We went to a church trunk or treat and to a friend's house for some more fun. Also, notice the cute pj's from Grandma T. The kids loved them, and I thought they looked very cute!!!!

Long overdue update!

2009-10-13T15:29:00.000-05:00

It has been crazy around here! We are all doing great.
The kids are enjoying school.
Ethan is preparing to take the ACT (Yes he is only 12), but his MAP test scores gave him this opportunity. He is pretty excited. He is also playing soccer and camping out a lot for Boy Scouts.
Devin is also doing well in school. He stays after a few days a week for Chess club. He is also playing soccer and has scored several goals. He is in Cub Scouts.
Heidi is working hard in school. She celebrated her 7th birthday and her 4th Gotcha Day. She is playing soccer and also singing in the kid's choir at our church.
Isabelle started preschool and loves it. She has had a Bear parade and Bike Day. She is also singing in the kid's choir. She is getting so big.
Riley is still a crazy man, but he is so loveable. Definitely a momma's boy! He talks a lot and still amazes me with some of the things he says.
Chris and I are keeping busy, too. Chris has been camping with Ethan and we have been rearraning the house. That is one big task. We are also preparing for Orphan Sunday (Nov. 8th) at our church. These pictures are from Labor Day. The big boys didn't want me to add their photos of them on the horse.

Trip to Oklahoma

2009-08-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago the kids and I took a road trip to visit Grandpa and Grandma in Oklahoma. We had a great time!!!!!! We went to a fancy arcade, mini-golfing and the zoo. Grandma also made me get pulled over by a mean ole cop (no worries - just a warning).
One evening we went to Bricktown to visit our good friends from Tulsa. Their youngest daughter lived with Heidi in Guatemala! We enjoy hanging out with them because they are as crazy as we are!!!!!!!!!! We went to a restaurant with 9 kids and 3 adults. I think the waitress was a little scared, but they did great.
Here are a few photos from our trip:

So Funny!

2009-08-07T15:42:00.000-05:00

Riley is a very bright and busy little man for just 16 months old! However, a few months a go when he started pointing at the back of his diaper to go to the toilet and more recently saying "poop" - I was a bit surprised.
I guess he wants to be big really fast - but seriously he is too young to wipe by himself.
Here is a couple of photos of him in action. (FYI - he spilled a drink on the front of him). I also added a cute photo of him and one of him doing his stretches.

Pictures

2009-07-18T15:12:00.001-05:00

I haven't added photos in some time. Here are some photos of Boy Scout camp and the kids in general.
Enjoy!

A New Look!

2009-07-07T16:52:00.001-05:00

I was feeling like my blog was a little boring! So with a little help from a friend (Thanks Amy) - I gave my blog a facelift!
It was a lot of fun and challenging!!!!
Anyway, I hope to post some new photos soon.
Take care,
Debbie

Job Well Done

2009-05-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

We are so proud of E. for receiving the Presidential Academic Award last night. Only 5% of his grade received this award!
He celebrated by going to Barnes and Noble and getting the new release book he has been waiting for.
Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Birthdays!

2009-04-06T14:02:00.000-05:00

March is a busy month for us!
Here are a few photos of the birthday kids (sorry it's late)

Finally an update

2009-03-19T14:55:00.001-05:00

It has been a while since the last post. We have been doing great, but have been very busy. Ethan turned 12 years old a few weeks ago, we had our 15th wedding anniversary, and I turned (well old enough)! Ethan saved his birthday money and purchased an I-Pod. I ate out alot!!!!!!!!!! I also got a cool flip video for my b-day.
We had parent-teacher conferences the other day for Heidi and Devin. They are both doing great. Riley is starting to take a few steps, and he and Isabelle have big birthdays next week.
I will post some photos and more video soon. Until then, here is a quick clip using my new present. Izzy singing the abc's. Enjoy!!!!

New addition and more

2009-01-16T09:30:00.000-06:00

We are excited to announce our new arrival. His name is Leo and he was born November 18th!

He is an Australian Shepherd, and we are all enjoying him!

Also, I got a new gadget for my camera. Here are a few photos I took.

More photos!

2009-01-13T10:16:00.001-06:00

Below are a few photos from Christmas. I guess better late than never!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

2009-01-13T09:34:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since my last post! Unfortunately, most of the family had the flu over the Christmas holiday. Bummer!!
However, we did have a nice time visiting our family and friends.
It was exciting to have Riley home with us for Christmas. I think he enjoyed himself.
Also, over the holiday Heidi decided to get her hair cut and donate it! Here is a before and after shot. We think she looks very cute!!!!!

I will add some more photos in the next post!

A bunch of little performers!

2008-12-19T11:27:00.001-06:00

We have had a busy few weeks!
Ethan had his Fall band concert. He plays the trumpet!
Heidi and Isabelle were in our Church Christmas program. Heidi had a speaking part -she did an amazing job.
We were very proud of them!
Here are a few photos. (Both of the girls are in the first photo, and we have a group photo at the bottom)

Getting back to normal

2008-11-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

Things are going great! Riley is starting to sleep and that makes for a happier family. The other kids continue to have fun with him.
They are all wonderful helpers!!
He is very, very busy! He smiles all the time and loves to play with toys.
He was dedicated at our church last Sunday, and he also visited with Grandpa and Grandma M. who came to meet him.
Below are a few photos. I will try to post more often.
Until next time...

He's home...

2008-11-09T21:22:00.000-06:00

and he is beautiful and perfect!
At 7 months he is crawling, pulling up to furniture and trying to stand by himself!
He is almost 19 pounds and loves to be held.
His foster parents took a picture of him each day and made us a beautiful scrapbook. They took amazing care of him, and we will be forever thankful.
I will post some more when I have some sleep. That is something he doesn't care much about right now.
We are so blessed!

Travel Call!

2008-11-04T12:38:00.000-06:00

What a surprise!!!!
Here is the scoop. I called DC to verify that his visa was issued, and it was. So I decided to go vote, run to Walmart and get my free Chic-fil-A for voting.
I had just pulled out of the drive-thru and was sorting the food for Izzy and the little girl I babysit when the phone rang.
I saw that it was Holt, but I thought they were just verifying that we received the visa. The lady asked how I was doing, and I said fine and I asked her how she was doing. When she said "not as good as you are going to be doing - your son is coming home"! I was shocked, and just couldn't believe it. An even bigger shock is that he will be home on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so much to do, but I am so excited. I can't wait to tell the kids when they get home from school.
Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts for this adoption. They have meant a lot to us.
Until next time...

VISA!!!!!!!!

2008-11-04T08:55:00.000-06:00

Riley is ready to come home!!!
Now we wait for Holt to call us and tell us when he is coming home. As long as Holt can find an escort - he should be home by Thanksgiving.
We will keep you updated.
Hurry home Lil' Dude.

Until next time...

Happy Halloween and more

2008-11-03T11:21:00.001-06:00

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Halloween! We did, and the kids got a lot of candy.
Here is a photo of the day!

We also remembered the 2nd Gotcha Day of Isabelle. We love you baby girl, and are so glad that we are your family!!!!!

Finally, we found out today that Riley's visa interview is scheduled for tomorrow. That is the last step. We are now waiting for Holt to find him an escort home.

Until next time...

No News!

2008-10-29T14:08:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the P3 to be sent back to the Embassy. It is hard to say how long this will take. It usually takes about a week, but we have now waited two weeks!!! We are starting to get anxious, but we know Riley will be home soon.
Check back soon for our Halloween photos and Isabelle's 2nd Gotcha Day!
Until next time...

P3 sent

2008-10-15T13:50:00.001-05:00

Yippee! One step down and one more to go. Once Holt Korea sends this package back to the Embassy in Korea they will schedule the visa interview. That is the last step until we receive the travel call!
We can't wait to meet our baby boy!

Also, Congratulations Jeff and Kim! We are so happy for you guys.

Until next time...