Adoption Update

There is no substantial news to report. It is amazing how much there is to do. Lee Ann is doing a wonderful job with everything: from coordinating appointments for our shots to ordering birth certificates and proof of insurance policies. We have felt that our life has been reduced to nothing but paper work over the last month.

I certainly don't mean to complain, the fact that there is a little girl on the other end of this is motivation enough. However, we don't expect any big news until after the home study is complete - and we are about half way through with it now - and that news will most likely be that the agency has matched us with our little girl. That amazing day will probably be a couple of months from now. After they have made the match and she has been at the orphanage for three months, then we should be able to go to Ethiopia and bring her home.

Hiding Out

Here is where we found ACD the other day. Her sister must have helped but by the look on her face she seems to be enjoying her time in the cupboard.

The Silver Lining

JRD is in the midst of bad allergies or a small cold and this is the conversation we had about it last night...

JRD: Daddy, I can't breathe through my nose 'cause it's full!

DADDY: I am sorry sweetie. We've already taken some medicine for it.

JRD: Well, my hands are happy because I get to pick my nose.

Birthday Blues

Birthday presents are always fun... unless they aren't for you. On the right is JRD with the little kitten we got for her birthday and on the left is ACD after she had to give it back to her sister.

Happy Birthday JRD!

Our little girl turns 4 today. When we found out we were pregnant with her we had only been married 10 months, been in Philly 8 months, and were starting the second term in seminary. Our world pretty much crashed in on us... everything changed! But now we can say that those things changed for the better.

She is our fairy princess. She is a caring big sister. She is sensitive, thoughtful, and introspective. She is an artist to the core. She is truly beautiful.

Who knows what life will hold for this little girl but these first four years have been the best of our lives. Happy birthday sweet girl.

A Baby on the Way!

We are not pregnant. But it does feel that way. The doors have been opened for us to pursue our third baby girl... we are going to adopt from Ethiopia!

This journey began with our conviction that God has given us this great family for a reason - we felt called to share that family with someone who didn't have that blessing. We have always wanted to adopt but those dreams were always somewhat foggy. But this summer it became obvious (through many different things) that now would be the optimum time to pursue this desire.

Adoption is expensive, and yet anybody can go get a loan for $20,000; Lee Ann and I are impatient enough that we almost did just that. But we felt that if God wanted us to have another baby he would open some financial doors to get the ball rolling. We put our beloved Prius up for sale and we looked for potential financial help. And it came! We got a call this morning that someone wants to pay for all of our adoption expenses!

We barely have words. We have prayed so hard and felt the barrier so great. And yet the money has been provided. We thought God might just crack the door for us to walk through; we had no idea that he would blow the door of its hinges. So with this news we find that all our dreams have become concrete. The "ifs" have become "whens." It is as if Lee Ann just showed me the positive pregnancy test and we are starting that dizzying but fun journey of bringing home our newest little girly swirl.

We'll keep you posted.

Complete Opposites

These little girls are total opposites in almost everything they do. From these two pictures you can see how they typically approach life. Notice JRD's lips are even pursed as she perfectly paints her birdhouse, while ACD has somehow forgotten about the birdhouse entirely because of the joy that can only come from painting one's face. And this is NOT an age thing - they have been opposites from the womb.