i love the sunshine

Because it brings us out of our houses and in to community.

adoption: take 2 update

Well, we're chuggin' right along on the paperchase for #2 and #3 Coen. Last week we met for our first home study meeting. Tonight is meeting number two and Monday is the final home visit. We are lacking a couple of notaries and a few NC state certifications. I'm going to wait until the home study is finished so I can take everything to Raleigh and do it in one day. We mailed our I600-A on February 24, but haven't heard anything back from them. From what I understand, they will contact us with an appointment to be fingerprinted.

A lot of the adoption process is "hurry up and wait".

A lot of the life process is "hurry up and wait".

Our official request is two children, 0 to 5 years old. That could look like a lot of different things.

Isn't it exciting?

This is what I have to do when I vacuum. Silas either has to be on my hip or watching from the couch. Sophie too...

This is Silas this morning, on our way to MOPS. It's finally another beautiful day today and we both smiled all the way. One of our fave things to do on a pretty day is roll down all of the windows and let the wind blow in our faces. And then we scream and laugh really loud.

Speaking of MOPS, Silas likes it more and more each time. He sobs when he sees me come to pick him up, but I know he enjoys himself. I usually sneak up to the window to see how he's doing before he sees me. The ladies are really sweet to him and to see him enjoy other children makes me happy. And I enjoy the time with other Moms. It's a win/win. Hate to see it break for the summer.

Thanks for checking in on us! I need to go get us ready to travel for our home study appointment later.

My sweet little Coens...we're coming as fast as we can!

Aunt Katy back to Ethiopia!

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda

I see the scars that war has left behind

Hope like the sun is fading

They're waiting for a cure no one can find

And I hear children's voices singing

Of a God who heals and rescues and restores

And I'm reminded

That every child in Africa is Yours

(from Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Yours")

These pictures are from my sister Katy's missions trip to Ethiopia last year. She's going back this summer for ONE WHOLE MONTH with Mocha Club! I'm so excited for her as she goes back to spend a month in Ambo working with teachers at a school. She'll use her giftedness as a teacher to equip and encourage the teachers there and the children they teach. I may even be a little jealous that I'm not going too. Just being real. :)

She didn't ask me to post about this but I wanted to. In fact, she may get a little mad. I can take it.

I know she would appreciate your prayers for her and the entire team as they prepare to go...mentally, physically and spiritually. Spending that amount of time there is not without expense...it will cost over $4000. God will provide every penny for her as He has called her to go and do His work. If you'd like to be a part of something BIG for GOD, consider donating to her trip.

The economy stinks and most of us are feeling the pinch, but we're still richer than most of the world. (I'm preaching to the choir here and myself as well.) Let me know if you'd like to give...I can't think of a more worthy place for your money to be spent and I can't think of a more worthy place for my sweet sister to go.

That's her in the middle..my sweet sister.

a weekend away

What a fabulous weekend! We headed up to Williamsburg, Virginia for a marriage retreat at the Great Wolf Lodge. Have you been there? Sooo fun. It has an indoor waterpark, spa, Starbucks...sold. We will be going back when we have more time to enjoy Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. GWL was a destination in itself.

Don't say I never gave you pictures! Here are some highlights from the weekend...

Big boy faces forward for the first time and loves it!

Yes, Sophie has a car seat too. Safety first, safety always!

This is what Silas does when you say, "Peek-a-boo!"

It seems that every single one of his remaining teeth are coming in...right this second. Ouch!

This means "All done". "Take away the food before I throw it all on the floor."

Don't worry...this was totally supervised. He's looking to make sure I'm watching.

His new favorite thing to do is climb.

Then we headed north to see some friends in the NOVA area. Hoped to meet with President Obama, but he was busy. Maybe next time...
We headed home today in the cold, rain. We stopped in Petersburg, Virginia and saw the house that my MIL grew up in and the home Marshall lived in when he was 3. Fun day, fun weekend.

Adoption 2 update: Came home to a pile of mail. Lots of books to read on adoption, birth certificates, and reference letters. I will run those by our family coordinator and then send them off for state certification. Last week we mailed off our I600-A and state background checks. Hopefully our medical forms can be finished up this week as well. We only need about two more things before we can send all of our home study information to our social worker and get started on that.

What is Silas up to? Tonight he asked for "nana", also know as a banana, and I was totally impressed. He loves to climb and play with his toys and read his books. Loves to throw balls and tug of war with Sophie. He's on a carb kick and I think it has something to do with his teeth. Peek-a-boo and "All Done" are my current faves. I need to look up some more sign language to teach him. He is fully capable of walking and will walk with me holding one of his hands, but he will not walk on his own. I guess he has no need. He's a true joy and I love being his momma. And it's so fun to watch him be so all about his Daddy right now. He loves him some Daddy.

One more thing about our weekend...there was a family at the hotel that I noticed. It was actually a group of Caucasian women and little girl who was African American and I'd say about 3. I saw the Mom at the elevator and she said that she loves to see other families that look like theirs. Me too.

There was a conference going on for Student Pastors while we were there. I was visiting with someone in our group and Marshall had Silas. They found two families that were adoptive families. They both started their paperwork for China at the same time. One family had their 16 month old daughter home from China. The other family was leaving in two weeks to pick up their daughter from China...well the Mom was going to China and the Dad was staying home with their two babies that came after they were waiting on their referral....one biological daughter and one domestic daughter they found out about the day she was born....5 days after their biological daughter was born.

I share this, not so you'll say, oh maybe you'll get pregnant, yada yada. For me, that's actually not what I hope will happen. I'm telling you to show you what happens when we surrender our plans to the Lord. That family gave up on their plan four years ago. Now they have 3 daughters and are thinking about their next adoption....I love it!

How's this for the longest post ever???! Thanks for checking on us.