When the butterflies all fly, we are on our way.....

We've been very blessed to be able to send S and V e-mails and pictures.  We are trying to share with them pictures of our home, yard and us to help them become "familiar" with where and how they will be living in a short time.  It has been such a treat to send them notes, telling them how we love them and how precious they are to us and explaining some things we will do together when they are home.

We came up with the idea of a way to count the days until we see them.  Ellie, Nate and I made butterflies out of coffee filters and will hang one on the ceiling every day. Once they are all in flight, we  will fly to see the girls.  We want to take a picture of the butterflies, both those waiting to fly and those "flying"  for the girls and include with each new note we send so they can tell how long it will be.

Fly, butterflies, fly!

We're coming girls!

Thanking God for a court date and flights booked!  The wait to see our sweet girls is almost over!

We are beyond thrilled and have many lists to prepare for our journey.  Praying that the time will go quickly and that God is preparing us and S and V for the changes in their lives.  Praising Him that we know when we will meet them and for good flights and accommodations during a busy time to travel.

The countdown has begun............

Mother

Such a special word to me in so many ways.

I'm blessed by the best mother any one could ever ask for---truly blessed!  Mom is such an amazing woman---a woman whose faith is as strong as she is, who lives out a life of giving to others, who is the most supportive person I know, and who has taught me more about love than anyone.  God gave me a wonderful mentor in Mom--a woman who has "showed" me how to live out all the fruit of the spirit---love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control.  As we've read about parenting an adopted child, we have seen the importance of thinking through your past and dealing with things you need to heal.  I was so blessed to have been brought up in a home in which I was truly loved for who God made me to be (even in the early years when I cried a lot to get attention and in my teen years).  I thank God for parents who built a home that we always felt loved, safe, taken care of, and treasured.  I thank Him for the many sacrifices Mom and Dad made for us, most of them which were unnoticed and unappreciated.  I thank Him for an amazing friend in Mom---a true gem and gift from above.

And a fun Grandma--playing baseball with the kids up north.  I couldn't find the one of Mom playing football with Jack and Joe (at night in November under the yard light).

                          

So many, many wonderful memories--

Ellie's first birthday (she was a little under the weather)--

 A trip to Old World--Nate didn't think it was too much fun!

A birthday card that was really funny!

Fun at the firepit--notice Jack had a plan for the smoke that came his way.

I thank Him for the gift of motherhood---for the precious children He has blessed us with, for the years of joy that I have had seeing our children grow and mature, for the many answered prayers, and for the gift of the two newest children I have, sweet S and precious V.  I thank Him for the model I had in Mom---being raised in a home where children were more important than any item or activity.  I thank Him that we will be able to meet our newest daughters soon---and thank Him for teaching me so much through the wait even though my heart so longs to look in S and V's eyes and hug each of them and not let go.  I thank Him for a husband who shares a love of children and a big family and finds so much joy in the little things ---and puts up with lots of noise, messes and craziness.  I thank Him for helping me to realize that the time we have with our kids in our home is short and helping us keep the right perspective about things.

My days are full and my heart is too.  Thankful today for the gift of Jenny, Jack, Joe, Nate, Ellie, S and V---

Children are a gift from the Lord.  Psalm 127:3  

A great day today enjoying the weather together---

Preparing--

We are getting closer to the end of this process, hoping to get a court date assigned in the next week or two!  We are so grateful to be at this point and have our trip to get the girls becoming more of a reality.

So as we get closer, we begin to prepare---

A friend hosted a garage sale for us which was a great success!  Thanks so much Laurie!

Ellie and Isabella sold out of their baked goods before the day was over on Friday and sold many Rainbow Loom bracelets.  Thank you girls for all your hard work!  And thanks Hazel for donating the Rainbow Loom gymnasts---they were all sold by Saturday noon.  And a final thank you to the many people who donated items to sell and to Tammy for letting us take over her garage.

Bill and his brother started to put together a swingset---what fun all the kids will have on this!

 Many hands make light work.  This is a "puzzle project"---a custom made swingset with no directions and only two pictures to work off of.  Thanks Jim for your help in figuring it out!!

And we've had some fun finally being outside---what a long winter!

And made lots of art items--