Seven years in LOVE

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

~Psalm 139:13-16

Seven years ago, in two minutes exactly, our beautiful Emilia Elizabeth came into our lives. Ever since that moment she has provided us with so much joy. Her laugh is infectious and her smile lights up her entire face. God has blessed us immensely...

Late last night I started going through photos of "Mia" and couldn't believe where our lives have taken us thus far, the things we've experienced together as a family and the greater things that are to come. God has blessed us immensely...

Emilia is our cuddle-bug and quite the homebody. I love that she still wants me to hold her all the time. The way her little hand finds mine, the sound of her voice and her heart for others are a few of my favorite things. God has blessed us immensely...

Emilia Elizabeth August 2004

First birthday party September 2005

Carving pumpkins with Aunt Beppy & Uncle Matt October 2006

Baking Valentine's Day cookies February 2007

September 2008

Christmas dance recital December 2009

At Peyton's baseball game May 2010

July 2011-Lincoln Presidential Museum

Wordless Wednesday (on a Wednesday)

Remembering ( a not so wordless Wednesday)

Nan and Emilia meeting for the first time. I love the look on her face here.

Nanny & Peyton: kindred spirits. I love the way she put her hand over his. Sigh.

One year ago, my nanny-the woman in whom I confided, spent lazy summer days with, danced with and experienced life with-left this earth. Even typing those words put something likening a ball of sawdust right in my throat 365 days later. My family and I spent the nine months leading up to her passing caring for her as she had cared for all of us. She was always quick to come take over with the kids whenever I had a migraine when they were really little, quick with a phone call or a card, and even quicker to tell me to "take care of her babies" any time Wayne and I took the kids anywhere.

I miss her. I miss the smell of her house. I miss the way that I felt as I laid with my head in her lap in the glider on the back porch. I miss her voice. And right now, at this moment, I am missing the feel of her hand and how it fit in mine perfectly.

Three years and 7300 miles

We received an update on our little guy yesterday and were thrilled to see a new photo of him (and sad because he looked like such a big boy)! After I was finished drinking in his sweet smile, every little detail of his surroundings and was satisfied with the fact that he really looks so joyful, I sat down to read the report that accompanied his photo. It really hit me yesterday that his life there is so much different than the life of his brother and sister here. I'm resting in the fact that he's happy and that he's very well taken care of at the centre where he is staying, but I want him home. I want to baby him like I did (and still do) with our other two children.

At three Peyton was getting ready to welcome his sister into our family, spent his days drinking root beer, playing with blocks and being read to constantly. He was starting to pick out his own clothes, wore his bug boots with EVERYTHING and had no worries or responsibilities.

At three Mia had her first big birthday party with her friend Laci, met her favorite princess, Belle, and experienced the Caribbean for the first time. The only thing she worried about was having her blanket "Busy" at her side.

At three our sweet little guy takes goats out to graze, feeds and waters them, draws water from a well and washes clothes. I know that this is just a fact of life there and that he's so well taken care of but it just makes me want him home that much more!!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday (on a Thursday)

Baby got bike (ie. stopped being stubborn and tried to ride without training wheels). FINALLY!!

(Thanks, Aunt Beppy!)

While we're waiting...

With paperwork completed and grant application avenues exhausted we find ourselves struggling. At least, I'm struggling. I feel like Wayne handles things much better than I and this, too, seems to be no exception. The kids are even feeling the weight of waiting with questions ("When is he coming?") and statements ("When he's here we're going to do x, y, and z. I can't wait!") that are so sweet but a reminder that we're not all together yet.

I found this video on youtube as this song has been my anthem for the past two weeks...we're waiting but we're also trusting that God's got this under control and that all things work together for good for those that believe in Him. However, I'm a stupid human and while I'm trying to hard to lay my worry and anxiety down and give it to Him, I find myself picking it all back up again and walking around with it. Ugh. We're waiting. Waiting to see his face in person. Waiting to hold him and hear that laugh that's been so sweetly described to us. Waiting to kiss him and bring him home. Waiting.

Will you join with us in prayer this week for the two things that need to happen so that we may be granted a court date happen? Will you pray that my friends (she HELD and HUGGED my little guy and then told me all about him. It was probably the one of the most meaningful moments of this process!) waiting to travel for the second time (this time to bring their baby boy HOME!!) get that information soon? Will you pray for peace and a court date for another sweet friend (and who happens to be the first person that I connected during the early stage of our process) who is ready to GO; and yet another wonderful friend (who offers me constant encouragement and support and walks through this season along side me) for their dossier to arrive and be processed? I love these women! We have been delicately knit together and our friendships have grown out of emails, Facebook chat, wall posts and our shared desire to meet our sons. God is good and they have blessed me so much these past few months!

Be blessed this week!!

Wordless Wednesday