Go Time

Hello all! We got some big news yesterday! We found out when we will next see our boy!!

We're going to transition over to a private Facebook group to update everyone from now until our adoption is final (and safe to discuss publicly). We'd love to have you all join us, so just let me or Drew know if you want to follow along during this time.

We are so excited! And our to-do list is a mile long!

We can't wait to see you, sweet boy!

Waiting, Preparing and a Birthday

A little family update for anyone interested -

September:
Our house was overwhelmingly quiet the first month after O had to go back. It made us miss him all the more. Drew had a rather hectic work schedule with the start of football season. At the beginning of the month, I traveled to Michigan to help clean out and pack my Grandpa's stuff to move him down south to be closer to my parents. We also managed to complete all of our adoption paperwork and send it over to O's country to be translated and submitted to the government.

October:
Our paperwork was submitted to the government! This puts us on a timeline to hopefully travel in December or January to finish the adoption. My mom published her first novel, which would make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer! ;) We started working through Jen Hatmaker's 7 Experiment with our Life Group and we're loving the challenge and growth!

Today:
Today is our Little Man's birthday. We never could have imagined all of the challenges and changes we would face during the past year. It was sad to know that no one was celebrating our boy as he turned three, but we were buoyed by the thought that it would be his last birthday without family. And now, the reality is that we do not know when or if we will ever be allowed to bring him home. We still pray for our Little Man daily and know that God loves him more than we ever can.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE MAN! WE LOVE YOU!

Saturday (11/9/13):
Our sweet Life Group is hosting a Garage Sale to help raise donations for our adoption. They all bonded with O this summer, and it's such a blessing to know that they already consider him to be part of our family! Short notice, but if you're local and have anything to donate or would like to come by to say hi, just let us know!

Ps. Feel free to have some guilt-free cookies, ice cream, brownies, cupcakes, or candy in honor of Little Man's birthday!

Thoughts and Pictures

Our crazy, sweet boy is hating counting down the days until he goes home. After a conversation last night about this week's schedule he asked, "Tuesday at 2 bye bye home???" ...It just breaks our hearts that we have to say, "yes".

This parenting is hard

and exhausting

and frustrating

and sometimes seems impossible,

but God has built us to push through and love well. He loves this boy more than we ever can, and we are blessed to share in that.

Yes, O, Tuesday you will have to leave home, but it IS your home. This is family. And you are forever loved. Home is us. Home is all of your new friends/family. (And Major, of course.) Home is arguing with parents about bed time. Home is baking cupcakes and going camping. Home is singing at church and little foam stickers. Home is the special healing powers of Mama kisses. Home is piggyback rides with Papa. Home is everything you need and so many things you have never had.

So on Tuesday we will all have to say bye bye to home. And we will celebrate the day that we are all together again. All HOME.

Baking Cupcakes:

 Trampoline Park during our visit to GrandMary and GrandWilliam's house:

So proud of the American Flag cup that GrandMary got for him:

Going to church:

Visiting Gamie and Gandolf's house:

J and O go to school together and both love swimming!

A normal morning doing sticker art:

 Playing on the football field:

 Visiting the children's museum:

Wearing Drew's childhood pirate costume (modernized by his addition of the fedora and aviators):

 Visiting generous new friends:

O told us that night that when he turns 18, he is going to have a baby deer. ;)

First ever camping trip (more like "glamping"):

Water, Music and Baking

We've been having fun around here!

Wednesday morning we ventured outside for our first group swim. It went well, and we only needed a few reminders about keeping the hose aimed into the pool. (Next time I'll plan a little further ahead so that I have time to get E in a swimsuit!)

We went to eat with our life group on Wednesday night, and O did really well. When we got home, we decided to show him the keyboard. Our sweet friend, Courtney, knew we were looking for musical instruments and was so sweet to bring us her childhood keyboard! O absolutely loves it, and has been making songs and recording himself all day! Thank you so much, Court!!!

This morning, E helped with the laundry before her nap. Then she decided to use the basket as a reading nook.

This afternoon I got O to help me make cupcakes! It was really fun, and we will definitely do it again. He was so excited to help - especially with the egg cracking!

Mmmmm! Cupcakes! (Sorry I didn't get a picture of the finished product! But you've all seen a cupcake before anyway!)