Catching Sunshine

Would you pray for us?

We are waiting for the state to approve all our adoption paperwork so we can keep Miss E here all the time.  Right now we get to keep her for long weekends, but we always have to take her back for at least 24 hours out of every week.  All the switching back and forth from house to house is hard on her and us.  But the times when she's here are so fun, whenever we think of her we smile.  She is a precious girl.  In the photo above she is trying to catch the sunshine, so sweet!  We'd appreciate your prayers that the paperwork would come through soon, thanks!

And my God will meet all your needs 

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

What if I'd said, "no!"

(I know this kitty looks a little worried, but it did survive Miss E's loving!)

Back in August of 2012 I wrote this in my journal-

"A while back I saw a photo listing of a 2 year old special needs

girl, named Emily, who needs adopting.  I haven't been able to get

her out of my mind since!  She's in Arizona and people from out

of state can't adopt her yet, but it seems like God is trying to open

our hearts to the possibility of adopting a special needs child.

Honestly, it scares me to death!"

Now, two years later, it scares me to think of what would have

happened if I had said "no" to God's urging us to adopt again.

When I wrote that in my journal Miss E was already growing

inside her birthmother's womb, and God was finding her a home,

even though she hadn't been born yet.  I'm so glad we said yes

when God asked us to adopt through the state.  It definitely

hasn't been easy, and we're not done yet, but Miss E is worth it!

And although she had some physical special needs at the beginning

of her life, she is doing much better now.

If you are feeling like God wants you to do something hard,

don't hesitate to say yes!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Weekend Visit

Miss E is here for the weekend, and we are having so much fun!

Here's some tidbits from the last couple days--

Miss E loves our horses, she is always pointing toward their pen, wanting to go over there when we're outside.

She loves to run up to her brothers and tackle them!

She likes to ride on things, like she had AJ pushing her around and around the yard in a toy car this afternoon.

Other than the horses, kitties would be her second favorite thing to check out outside.  

Miss E said "mama" to me today for the first time!!  ( her foster mom never called herself mama to Miss E, so that I would be her first mom)

Her first hair-do by me was a big failure- it looked like something from Hunger games according to PD...  I think I figured out pigtails now though!

It just seems like she fits just right in our family, and we are feeling so blessed!

In order for her to move here permanently, we are waiting for the state to return some paperwork, then we can sign the adoption placement agreement and bring her home to stay.  It should be anytime now.  Thanks for your prayers for us, we are so thrilled to have Miss E in our family!!

Finally a day at home

Wow, the last week has been busy!  Last Thursday my mom and I, and SJ and AJ all went up to see Miss E, and take her to her doctor appointment.  Poor little girl was scared to death of the doctor and nurses, so she had a rough afternoon.  But she had a good report from the doctor so we are thankful for that.  Then we hurried home for PD's first football game.

 

Then the next morning we left for a weekend vacation to Colorado, to see Andy's parents.  We met at a vacation log house, and it was just so beautiful!  We were able to do lots of fun things, like seeing the Royal Gorge, going on a hike, riding go carts and playing laser tag, and the boys climbed the mountain next to our cabin.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Miss E could have been with us, we were missing her the whole time.

 

After getting home from Colorado late Monday night, SJ and AJ and I loaded up in the suburban again yesterday morning for another visit up to see Miss E.  She is just so sweet and lovable!  (See her toes, below!) This time she came running out of the house to see us, all smiles, so she is getting more and more comfortable with us.  We went to the zoo and had lots of fun, even though it was very hot and muggy.  On Friday we get to go get her and bring her home for the weekend, yay!

 

Now today I'm back to the routine of doing laundry and homeschool.

Miss E

We just spent the most fun weekend getting to know our new daughter!

After meeting her last week, we had to decide on her name,

and after much consideration, we came up with one we could

all agree on!  But on the blog she will be known as Miss E from now on.

On Saturday we were able to bring all the boys up to meet

their new sister.  It took her a little bit to warm up to them,

but then she started having fun- giving them hugs and smiles.

We went swimming, to the park, and played in her foster

family's backyard.  She is just so so precious. (:

We are all smitten with her!

Everywhere she goes her entourage follows her around,

attending to the "princess's" every need!

I'm sure that won't last forever, but we do all

love her so much and think she's just perfect for us. (:

Then on Sunday after church somebody said,

"I wish we could go see Miss E again."

So, on the spur of the moment we all hopped

in the car, drove the 2 1/2 hours to get there,

 and spent some more time with her!

She is getting more relaxed and comfortable with us

all the time, smiling, laughing and talking more and more.

Of course, all our boys had to give her a proper

introduction to our family, so we went to Cabela's. (:

We also went to the park and out to eat.

It was so much fun and it was so hard to leave!

Hopefully she will be home to stay in a few weeks.

And YES, those two years of waiting were worth it!

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5