Monthly Update

We received an update on our precious girls yesterday. I always get so excited to hear about them and see new pictures of them. They are so beautiful--they are perfect! I can't wait to hold them and tell them how much I love them.

Ironically, these updates also bring with them a little sadness. What are our little girls thinking? Do they understand what is going on? Do they know they have a family here that loves them so very much already? We've told them in our letters, but what does that mean to them?

My dear friend, Kristy, is taking a package to my daughters for me this week. I know she'll give them hugs and kisses for us and will tell them about us and how we love and care for them. Will they understand or will it just be more toys and pictures from someone who says they'll be there soon?

My prayer today is for them. God bless them and give them peace and joy!

Another year of school

It has been a whirlwind of a first week of school. Both of my baby girls have had their first day of school. My oldest baby girl had her first day of college!!! What? Is that possible? I know it's cliche, but, oh well---she has grown up so fast!
We have a tradition in our family.....pictures on the first day of each year of school. The kids secretly love this! (o: Here's Kayla...

Another tradition we have in our family is...save money when possible. Thus, Kayla has decided to live at home and attend the college where her daddy teaches. One of the benefits of teaching college is that any family member can go for free! Kayla is taking advantage of this--that's my girl!!
Our other baby girl had her first day of preschool. After watching her sister and brothers (and daddy! ) head out to school every day for the past 3 years, she was so ready! She did not cry as others did and was confused as to why I kept hanging around! Get a life, Mom! Here's Emma....





I can't leave out my most handsome sons! Derek started his first year in Middle School and Nathan returned to High School without his sister there to help him (a mixed blessing, I'm sure)as a sophomore.

I am enjoying this time to catch up on house cleaning (ok, maybe not!), but I am catching up on the adoption blogs! I've enjoyed watching all the families travel and bring their children home to be with their forever families! Still praying for those waiting families and children!

New Court Date...

Along with many other families, we heard from our caseworker that we have a new court date. It will be October 17th. If we pass on the 17th, we'll be able to travel 2-3 weeks later. Until then, we hope to send the girls lots of presents, pictures and letters with other traveling families.

We are excited to get updates and pictures (and maybe even video) of our girls! This will help us make it through until we get to go and see them in person. That will be a VERY special day indeed!

Random stuff...

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who left a comment on my last post. It was comforting to know that I had so many people who care about our adoption praying for us! It means a lot! We go an update on our girls. It breaks my heart that we won't get to meet them and give them hugs until November/December. That seems so far away!

Since we won't be traveling to Ethiopia anytime soon, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures that we had taken at the wonderful Ethiopian restaurant in Oklahoma City. We had such a good time there and wish we could go more often!

Below is a picture of me with my wonderful husband, and 2 of our children, Derek and Emma...

This next picture, I love! Can you tell that Derek is thinking, "I hope you know, you're buying me a pizza after this!" He wasn't as fond of the Ethiopian cuisine as the rest of us were. (o:

I also wanted to share some pictures of the most recent addition to our family....

This is Babs (our daughter named her Baby, but I think Babs is more fitting!). Kayla has always wanted an English Bulldog, but I refused to let her spend lots of money on a dog. I know, I'm a meany! But, this dog has a story.... The state raided a puppy mill and rescued all the dogs (around 200, I think). They were dispersed to different humane societies around our state. Since Kayla works for a vet, she was able to hear about the opportunity to adopt one early on in the process. So, for the price of adopting a dog from the Humane Society and the cost of getting her spayed, Kayla got her English Bulldog. I have to admit, our whole family loves her and thinks she's cute....what do you think?

It has been really neat to see her go from being scared and barely able to walk around to being playful and active! She's also really good with Emma---very important!

No opinion.

Well, they did not issue an opinion on our case, so it looks like we'll have to wait until October for our next court date. I choose now to believe that my girls are in God's hands. His plans are not mine...obviously.

Pray for Good News!

We are really really really hoping and praying for good news this week! Please pray that all goes well and we (along with many others) will make it through court this week! This will be our last chance before the courts close for the rainy season. If we don't make it through now, we probably won't be able to travel until November or later! Ugh--I don't know if I could handle that!

In other news....
Our son Derek is in Wyoming on a youth trip this week. He will be gone for 8 days total. It was very difficult for him to leave, but we hear he's having a great time! I, on the other hand, miss him very much. He's my little buddy who's always around. Kayla said today that it seems like he's been gone forever.
Kayla is leaving tomorrow to go to a game in Kansas City with a friend. She'll only be gone for 2 days. She's 18 and I still worry about her!
Nathan started band camp this week at school. Oh my gosh, is it actually that time again! The summer flew by! That surprises me that I feel that way since there were many days that d-r-u-g by!!
Emma's still as busy as usual. Her most recent accomplishment is being able to pump her legs and swing all by herself. She had to show everyone in the family--she has quite a large audience!