catching up

*Sigh*... I've done it again.
Waited too long between posts and now I'm having a hard time knowing where to begin to get caught up.
This happens a little too often and usually it results in me putting off blogging even longer.
But I am determined that this time it will be different!
So please bear with me, it may turn out a bit pieced, chopped and jumbled, but if you manage to make it through to the end you may get an overall idea of how life has been around here.

I guess I'll start with our friends Pete and Lori moving and taking one of Bella's best friends along with them in the process.
We offered to keep sweet little Lilli, but for some reason they didn't take us up on it.
Lilli was feeling awfully patriotic on this day, saluting everyone in sight...I'm quite impressed with her training.

We all really miss you guys, God bless you as you start over in your new home!
And if you ever do change your mind on Lilli...well, you know where we live!

We will miss you

Our 'lovely' sister

CHARITY ELIZABETH

So Charity is taking off in a couple of weeks.
Headed off to Rosedale Bible College again.
Why?
I don't know, it's not like we don't love her here.

But off she goes, so in her honor, I am posting my favorite photos of her taken over the last several years.

Enjoy with me the process of a cute little girl blossoming into a beautiful...*ahem*...sweet...ahh...lovable...eww...uhh...(thinking, thinking)...aha!...MEMORABLE woman.

Cute, no?



*Sigh*... growing soo fast


hitting those awkward teen years... cultivating her inner beauty


Always Usually with a smile upon her face


she and Faith, so close


Charity, life is going to be a little more boring, a lot less exciting with you gone.

We're gonna miss you!

AAAAAAHHhhhhhhhhhhhggggggggggg!!!!

So, the new court date isn't Jan. 1st, it's Jan. 21st.
An innocent typo from the agency, but disheartening news for us!
I suppose we will survive, one day will pass and then another, the days will melt into weeks and the weeks will blend into 6 and I'm sure it will go quicker than it feels like right now.
I just REALLY hope and PRAY that we do pass next time- I'm not sure how much more my poor heart can take!

Damian celebrated his 12th birthday last month.
12...where has time gone??

Unlike his brothers and dad, Damian is a night owl and will gladly stay up as long as I let him. He takes after me that way and it's kinda fun to finally have someone to share a bowl of popcorn with 11:30 at night.
Damian also has a thing for birds. We'll all be outside and I'll notice that he is standing perfectly still, listening, and then excitedly pointing out a parakeet, or hawk, or some other flying creature. I'm loving the innocence- it won't be too much longer before all that thrill will be coming from pointing out members of the opposite sex-yikes!-and I am in no hurry for him to grow up!

May God bless you and keep you,Damian, may you live your life fully for the One who created you. I am forever blessed to call you my son!

Disappointment

Well, we didn't make it.
I guess they are requesting more information from the orphanage where the boys are at.
This wasn't the best news to be hit with first thing in the morning, to say the least, but I am extremely grateful that we already have a new date assigned- Jan.1st.
And I'm grateful that this is a very busy time of year and therefore lots to keep me distracted with!
So we wait and pray some more and hopefully, hopefully Jan 1st will be our lucky day. I am so ready to hold those little ones in my arms!

Court Date

Two more days.
I have been trying to put it out of my mind and just focus on what's keeping me busy here, but of course I'm not having much success with that. Oh well, what happens, happens, and all the fretting in the world will not change a thing. I do know that God has planned my boys' lives from the very beginning and He's not about to abandon them now and so I (try to!) place all my fears and worries at His feet.
If you think of us please keep us in your prayers- the hard thing about not passing is that since the courts are so backed up it could easily be another 3 months before we bring them home.
I am so glad I didn't know when we first started our adoption process how long this was going to take- we've been at it for nearly 2 years now- and it is so exciting to finally see an end in sight.
I am really hoping that that end will be sooner rather then later!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards