20 years ago, on June 28th...

...our first baby girl was born!  

Happy Birthday Kayla!! 

We love you so much, more than words can ever say.  We are so grateful God gave you to us and what an honor it is to be your mom and dad!

Sad day

We just received the 'final' word from Andrea, the director of Reece's Rainbow, that the country our girls are in will not issue new travel dates to families to adopt their children until after the closure.  The last families allowed to travel are those families who had their paperwork submitted prior to June 1.  Our paperwork was submitted June 2.  We missed the cut-off by two days.  Two days.  

Our facilitator in country had been trying to negotiate travel dates, but evidently was not successful.  It is estimated it could be about three months before we are allowed to go get our girls.  It could be shorter...it could be longer.  


We are devastated.  

The thought of our girls having to lay alone in their cribs for who knows how long is enough to bring a grown man to his knees. 

So, we wait.

Please keep our girls in your prayers, that their health holds up until we can get there.  That their spirits remain strong.  That they are fed, and changed, and bathed until we get there. 


This closure and delay is not a surprise to God.  He has known of it since before time and He knows the outcome.  We will rest in that and will continue to praise Him in this storm...

From Casting Crowns:

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
 
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

Fathers Day ~ 2011

We had a nice simple Fathers Day this year.  This was Michael and Matthews very first Fathers Day and oh, what a joy it was to celebrate this day with them because now they have a daddy of their very own!!  Jeff had to work all day so that gave Holly and Rachel a chance to run into town to pick up a gift and bake a cake for him.  I called my daddy and talked to him and my mom for a little while and Jeff called his dad..had to leave a message...but wished him Happy Father's day just the same. There are no pictures of Justin with Jeff because he was soooooo tired and we went ahead and put that sweet baby in bed before we thought to grab the camera. After we got Justin settled, we celebrated:

Happy Fathers Day, Jeff!!!

Rachel made the cake ~ it says, Happy Fathers Day Dad!  I love you!

Please PRAY!

The country our girls are in just announced that it will CLOSE their adoption department July 11 and will remain completely closed for at least three months while they switch to another department.


What does this mean for us?


It means that we MUST get our travel date, get an official referral from the Adoption department that is closing, meet our girls and then get permission from the Adoption Department to go to court....all before July 11.


PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY FOR US that we will be issued a travel date and complete all the necessary steps before the closure.  Please pray for all the other families in this process.  

Precious lives are on the line.

25 years ago today...

...God blessed Jeff and I as we gave birth to our first child, Wesley.   How can 25 years have already gone by?!?  We are so proud God picked us to be your parents.  You are an amazing young man.  I look forward  to see where He leads you on the rest of your life's journey.

 Happy Birthday Wesley!

SUBMITTED today!!!!!!

We just received the news that our dossier was submitted today to the adoption authorities in the country that our girls are in!  WooHoo!!!


Now we wait for our appointment to go visit with the authorities and receive their official adoption referral for our girls.  We expect to travel within the next 3-4 weeks...again, WooHoo!

God is so incredibly good to move us along so quickly.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank YOU!!