Happy New Year!

Well, we're enjoying another nice 4-day weekend. Yesterday we just stayed in our jammies and sweats all day - didn't venture outside once - even to get the mail. Today we went to church and then after Kaylen's nap we went to the new (actually I think it was new last winter) outdoor ice rink downtown. It was so much fun, and a beautiful place to go skating! We took Kaylen once last winter to an indoor place, but she did so much better this year. She fell down a lot, so her pants and mittens were soaked, but she was even "skate-walking" on her own (no holding on) quite a bit. Jock was right behind her to catch her when she fell though.

I think we'll have to go again in a few weeks - maybe a few more times this season, and she'll have it down in no time. If we wait until next year again, she'd probably forget it all! Besides, it's a good excuse for us to go too, right?! Here are a few pictures and videos. I literally have been laughing out loud at the videos - and probably could for hours!














Also, want to wish Erin a very happy birthday today!

Wishing you all a safe and happy new year. Good luck with those resolutions. I'm not much for resolutions, but it is a good chance to renew my motivations for some things that I'd like to be doing more of, or be more diligent with as the new year starts. May all your hopes and dreams come true for the new year!

December 2007 Tidbits

Well, we made it back to work and daycare today. I was so tired this morning - had to break out the caffeine - of which I usually have none. Funny how four days of relaxing and having run really takes a toll on you, huh?!

Thank you to those of you who sent us wonderful Christmas cards. We've enjoyed every one! It's so fun to see the pictures and hear about your families and what you've all been up to this year.

Happy 1st Birthday today to Emma!

And, I'll leave you with a few random fun photos from the last month or so...

L-The beautiful artwork on our van (the wave went ALL the way around!)
R-The cowboys (with princesses in the back right)




L-Grandma's little helper
R-an adorable picture of Kenny

Elijah & Josephine - Dec2007 Photos

We got new pictures of the babies in Haiti before we went out of town. This month we got one of Elijah & 2 of Josephine. We love them and miss them so much. We pray they are having a Merry Christmas, and that they'll be home before next Christmas to celebrate with us here!
We should also have a process update by this time next week. Praying we've received IBESR approval this month, but it could be anytime in the next few months. It's only been 3 months, and it's been running 4-7 months.

Merry Christmas

Well, it's been a busy several days, but it's been great!

Friday after work, we headed up to my dad and step-mom's. Saturday we mostly relaxed and did some food preparation for Sunday. Somehow everyone who hadn't stayed the night at Dad and Terry's made it in - after Dad plowed the snow.
We had a great time - enjoyed creamed turkey sandwiches, hamburger soup, chili, and some other family-favorite yummies. We then enjoyed opening gifts, and then playing Apples to Apples that someone had received. It was so entertaining playing with four generations - ages almost-90 down to 9, and also was very nice getting to know my step-siblings a little better. I felt so bad for Gracie and Bill - Gracie got sick at lunchtime, so Bill had to take her home. That's the worst, to be sick and miss a fun party! I sure hope she got to enjoy the party for the other side of her family yesterday and their family today!
Then everyone who wasn't staying that night made it out later after Dad plowed the rest of the snow - including the big 4- or 5-foot drift that had developed about half-way up the driveway. The wind finally died down Sunday night, so he didn't have to get out the truck to plow the drive again so that we could head home Monday morning. One of the many highways in the area that had been closed on Sunday was still listed as closed on the DOT website, but it was just fine. There were several areas where we could tell there had been huge drifts across the roads. The roads were slick, but once we got to the interstates, they were clear and we made pretty good time.

When we got home, we ate a quick bite for lunch, got Kaylen down for her much-needed nap, and got busy cleaning and preparing for Jock's family - mom, brothers, aunts - to come to our house Christmas eve for a dinner of appetizers.
We ate, visited, and opened gifts, and then we excused ourselves to attend the candlelight service. It was a bit long, but a very nice service. Kaylen even sat through the whole thing, like the big kids. When we got home, Jock's mom was still at our house, but the rest of the party had dispersed. We visited and watched most of It's a Wonderful Life with her. Kaylen had another late night, but had fun playing with a few of her new toys a bit longer, before we got ready for Santa, and sent her off to bed.

This morning, we got up around 7:45. Kaylen had been up for a while, but was so quiet, we didn't even hear her playing and singing in her room! She did tell us that she knew Santa had been to our house - she saw the cookie crumbs and empty glass on the table, and she saw that the stockings had been filled. Now, she's not supposed to go downstairs without us in the morning, but she said she could see all that from just going down one step. I'd believe that for the stockings in the living room. However, I'm not sure how she could have seen the kitchen table without having gone ALL the way downstairs and ALL the way around the staircase, but maybe she got real smart overnight and got out a (non-existent) really long-handled mirror to hang down over the stairway railing or something - HA! :)

We had a fun time opening the gifts that Santa got us, and that we got for each other. Jock had a migraine coming on, so he went back to bed for the rest of the morning. Kaylen had a great time doing one of her doll's hair while I fixed us breakfast. We then read/watched the Christmas story from her Children's Bible/DVD. Then she enjoyed her Barbie Island Princess movie. We then had a very quick lunch, and got Kaylen down for another much-needed nap. Jock watched his movie while resting this afternoon, and while I tried to figure out how to download the pictures and videos from my Christmas present - a new digital camera!

Later this afternoon, we headed over to Jock's dad and step-mom's house. Sandra made her famous Pisole (not sure if that's spelled right) soup, and we had fun bowling on his brother's new Wii game system. Even the kids got the hang of it after a while. I think Adrian was better than me at it. I don't think Aaron got the button-pushing down by himself, but Kaylen finally did, and even got a strike! I did too - my very last try I think!

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas! Much fun was had by us all, and amidst the holiday commercialism that tries its best to steal the show - we did manage to remember the real reason for the season. Thank you God for the most precious gift of all this Christmas - our Lord, Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas to you all!
Love,
Jock, Lisa, & Kaylen

Our Christmas Card

I told a few I'd post my Christmas photo card - it's basically a little collage of our pictures from throughout the year that I created with my scrapbooking software.

A Fun Christmas Survey

Since I read Juli's blog, I got tagged. If you read this, you're tagged now too - email or blog your answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper mostly. I like to tie ribbon on them too!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, much better for my allergies, and for not having to deal with keeping it watered & cleaning up after a real one, and don't you have to pay the sanitation department extra to haul them away? Also, who knows if/when we'd ever get a tree if we had to find time to go out and get a new one every year.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually right after Thanksgiving. We did ours on Thanksgiving Day this year, while watching the Macy's parade.

4. When do you take the tree down? I like to leave the decor up for 2-3 weeks after Christmas. The season goes too fast!

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but either in small quantities or the less thick variety - I think they call it Milknog.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I'm not good at picking favorites. I'm sure dolls or something. I have one that I still have and kept fairly nice - it a little suitcase-type case. We also got huge teddy bears one year - I was little so mine was almost as big as me. I remember getting sleds one year from Santa.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? Hmmm - it's a toss-up - probably the teen/pre-teen boys, and the adults who already buy themselves the stuff they want.

9. Easiest person to buy to buy for? Kaylen

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know really. Jock has some funny stories (for another day!), but I don't.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually too late. And I don't like fighting crowds, so that's not very good of me. I had to go out this morning, and even now I'm not quite done yet. You'd think I'd learn!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so - but perhaps, if it was food.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom started several years ago doing soups for Christmas dinner - whenever we all got together. That's really nice and easy, because you don't really want to spend all day cooking - you want to have fun with the family! Also, for goodies - frosted sugar cookies, haystacks, peanut clusters, fudge, divinity, Macaroons, Chex party mix, and pretzels dipped in almond bark.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored - with lots of ornaments.

17. Favorite Christmas song? There are too many, but here's probably a few of my favorites: O Holy Night, Silent Night, Breath of Heaven, Mary Did you Know (although I don't really care for the version on my playlist - but I couldn't find a good one!), Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World (with organ & trumpet), The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...), Sleigh Ride

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Both.

19. Can you name all of the reindeer? Yep! But I'm not going to list them here and let you all cheat. Just remember the Rudolph song - if it's a correct version, they list them at the beginning, "You know ..."

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Either is good - we have a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Fighting crowds, rushing around/busy-ness, and this year in particular - politics!

23. What I love most about Christmas? The Reason for the season, sharing it with friends and family

24. Favorite winter outdoor activity? Ice skating. Sledding is also fun, but I haven't done that for years! And caroling - in my hometown some from our church would go out - and we'd be driven around by one of our neighbors on a horse-drawn wagon.

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch!

We watched Mr. Grinch (the old version) on TV a week or two ago, and Kaylen has also watched the Jim Carey version once or twice this season now as well. It's one of those songs that you can't get out of your head, but you also can't remember any of the words. So I decided to post them here. (Note: the version on my playlist skips a couple verses.) How did they come up with all this?!

You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch - You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus - And as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch!
You're a bad banana, With a greasy black peel!

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch - Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders - You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch!
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch - You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch!
Given the choice between the two of you, I'd take the seasick crocodile!

You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch - You're a nasty, wasty skunk!
Your heart is full of unwashed socks - Your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch!
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote,"Stink, stank, stunk!"

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch - You're the king of sinful sots!
Your heart's a dead tomato - Splotched with moldy, purple spots, Mr. Grinch!
Your soul is an apalling dump-heap, overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, mangled-up in tangled-up knots!

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch - With a nauseous super naus!
You're a crooked jerky jockey - And you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch!
You're a three-decker sauerkrautand toadstool sandwich,With arsenic sauce!

Provision

A couple weeks ago, I read Natalie's post about Provision. It's excellently written, and I thought it could give you another perspective. It really makes things personal and got me to thinking.

This has specially been on my mind this holiday season. It's hard to think what Christmas will be like for the children at the orphanage and those that are caring for them. Mid-November, we sent Christmas gifts for Elijah & Josephine and one other child at the orphanage. I wanted to get Kaylen involved, so we chose a child who wasn't yet sponsored, who was about her age, to send a package to. We sent the packages to one of the people traveling there in December. Another need was for small toys or games that could be given as rewards for good behavior for the older children. Another was for baby formula. And yet another was for money to help pay the staff year-end bonuses that are required by Haitian law - equal to one month's salary - essentially doubling the payroll for December. And all this during a time when the orphanage is financially strapped already.

Then we heard that the Christmas mission trip to the orphanage is being postponed due to security reasons. Apparently the postponement of trips like this are not all that uncommon occurrences. I don't know all the details, but my limited understanding is that there is expected to be an increase in kidnappings this time of year. One of the reasons might be due to the voodoo practices in Haiti, that require sacrifices(?). That just sounds scary, and as difficult as the decision must have been to postpone, I'm sure the teams are fortunate to have the security official that is not afraid to recommended postponement if there is a greater risk. However, this just makes my heart hurt for the children. I think there is a back-up plan being organized now to get some candy and small toys sent to the orphanage in time for Christmas, and possibly funds for a nice meal for everyone.

If there is any way you can help out, I'm certain that it would be a huge blessing for management, staff, and children of the orphanage. It just doesn't seem right to have such a beautiful, rich Christmas, when there are so many who are hurting and not able to have the same for themselves. It's amazing how much this adoption journey has changed my perspective on things! I'm going to be praying about how I can help raise awareness and/or how I can help. Will you join me?

PS. I don't want anyone to feel obligated to provide financial support. I think back to a spiritual gifts assessment of the different gifts that God created in each of us. When we were active members of the United Methodist Church, one of the committments was to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Not everyone is in a situation to provide their time to serve, not everyone is a prayer warrior, and not everyone is wealthy and able to provide financial support. Beyond that, even if you are blessed in one of these areas, maybe you just don't feel a calling or responsibility towards a certain ministry. That is a good thing - we can't all do the same things in the same places! I just want to put this out there to maybe plant a seed or encourage you. Maybe there is someone who will read this that has been looking for a mission to support, and this is just what they were looking for!

More ice?!

Well, last night we got back from our travels over the past week. Tonight we went to dinner at Jock's dad's house for his brother's birthday party. Tomorrow we have Jock's work Christmas party - that is, if it doesn't get cancelled because of the ice storm that's on its way. We're supposed to get .2 to .4 inches of ice, then 2-4 inches of snow on top. YUCK! Oh well, not much we can do about it but try to be smart and stay safe. Who knows what'll go on tomorrow. I see on the news a few schools have cancelled or delayed their started for tomorrow - mostly rural areas of SW Iowa though. I don't imagine the city ones will close down unless it gets real bad. It's probably too much to ask that our offices will close but they'll still have the Christmas party. Ha! :)

I just pray we don't have quite the mess that's occurred to the south of us. I heard on the news tonight that 1 in 3 households in Oklahoma is without power. I just can't imagine! I pray they are safe and warm.

Update 12/5

Thank you all for your prayers. We had a wonderful celebration of my grandfather's life yesterday. The Lord has been good to us and sustained us and given us the measure of strength and peace that we needed.

Today my dad and aunts are off to my grandpa's brother's funeral. Grandpa had 3 brothers, the other two preceded him in death, and this last brother survived him - for about 24 hours. This was also his brother who married one of my grandmother's sister. I don't think Grandma was going to go though. It snowed a few inches last night, so she was not wanting to get out in it.

We'll plan on spending some time with her today. I know she was wanting to go through some of the memorials and get started on the Thank You's before my aunt and cousin had to head back to the airport tomorrow. Kaylen is excited to play out in the snow, and with my dad's puppies. She had a little time to play in the snow yesterday at Grandma's, but not much before it got dark after the funeral and inurnment.

Update SatDec1

We have gotten word that my grandpa passed away early around 12:30 this morning. My aunt did get a flight in, but arrived at around 1:30 in the morning. We're assuming the funeral might be on Tuesday, but don't know for sure yet. We're making plans to head out of town probably sometime tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning, but it may depend on when the weather and the roads clear up, and when arrangements are scheduled.
***
Updated: I just heard on the news that the Des Moines airport is closed to inbound and outbound flights, because a plane slid off the taxiway. I'm sad that Ruby didn't make it in time before Grandpa died, but I'm so glad that she got in last night. If it's bad here, Cedar Rapids is probably struggling as well. We wanted to go get some milk this morning, but decided against it - the sidewalks and streets are pretty icy already. The stuff falling is freezing rain, and there was a tiny bit of snow before that. YICK!

Prayer Request

Hi everybody,
I just wanted to let you all know.  My sister called me today to let me know that my grandpa is not doing well.  It's not entirely unexpected, as he has been on home hospice care for quite some time.  He is almost 93 years old.  My dad and one of his sister's have been taking turns staying with my grandparents for the last few days, as he had been quite restless and sick to his stomach.  When my sister stopped to see them this morning, Grandpa was unresponsive, even when hugged and talked to.  Amy called again after my dad talked to the nurses some more this afternoon and the way I understand it there is fluid around his lungs and maybe his heart, and his heart is not pumping well enough to make his stomach work, which is why he's been sick.

Anyway, at this point, my prayer is for him to be comfortable, and for our family's strength and peace during this time.  This is going to be really hard on my dad and my grandma (who is 89) when he's gone.  My grandparents are believers - probably the best Christian role models I've had in my life - so there is peace in that.  Also, I'd like prayers for my dad's other sister.  She lives in Pheonix, and is trying to get a flight out tonight.  Apparently there is heavy rain in Pheonix now so that may cause problems for her, and with the nasty storm on its way to Iowa, we're afraid she wouldn't be able to get here if doesn't get out tonight.  She will probably be trying to fly into Cedar Rapids.
 
He could pull out of this - he's surprised us several times before, but this is seeming much more serious - his lows have just kept getting lower the last year or so.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  We just spent time with my grandparents over the holiday last weekend, and with the storm coming, we are not planning to travel right now.  We'll let you know if anything changes.
Thank you,
Lisa

Nov07 Pictures are in!

The pictures were posted yesterday. I found Elijah's picture right away, but had to go through a second time and look at the names to find Josephine's. She looks so different every month - probably because she's younger, and maybe because she'd been sick. Also, she has her hair done up now - it looks so cute! They're not the best pictures - Elijah looks dis-interested, as usual, and Celena looks very tired and squirmy. It's so nice to see their pictures each month though. It's one of the only connections we have to them right now.

We should have a process update by this weekend, although I'm not expecting a lot. We've been in IBESR since late September - two months - and it has been taking 4-7 months. We're praying they're out of IBESR by Christmas!

What kind of pie are you?

I found this quiz on Heather's blog. Now, since they only ask about 5 questions, so sometimes these are way off - but this one seemed to work pretty well. Here were my results:

You Are Apple Pie

You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional. You prefer things the way you've always known them. You'll admit that you're old fashioned, and you don't see anything wrong with that. Your tastes and preferences are classic. And classic never goes out of style. Those who like you crave security. People can rely on you to be true to yourself - and true to them. You're loyal, trustworthy, and comfortable in your own skin. And because of these qualities, you've definitely earned a lot of respect.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Here's what Jock's results were:

You Are Mud Pie

You're the perfect combo of flavor and depth. You are overpowering and dominant - and that's what people like about you. You bring energy and a new direction to most interactions. People crave you in a serious way. You're that important to them. Those who like you give into their impulses. You don't represent reason. You represent pure temptation. People get addicted to you rather easily. You offer people a dark side that is very hard to resist.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

So much to be thankful for!

This morning, we talked about what we were thankful for. Kaylen's list was much the same as what she told me earlier this week in the post below.

I'm thankful for the same things, and much, much more. Too numerous to list here, but here's a sampling:
- I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who stands with me through thick and thin
- I am thankful for my beautiful daughter, who has brought so much joy into our lives for the past couple years
- I am thankful for my two babies that we are in the process of adopting, for those that are caring for their every need right now, for those that are working towards us bringing them home with us, and for those supporting us through this journey
- I am thankful for my parents and grandparents, for the model they lived for me these last 30 years
- I am thankful for my siblings, and for the fun and laughter, sadness and tears that we've shared with each other over the years
- I am thankful for many friends that we've shared great experiences with over the years
- I am thankful for a God who is loving and forgiving, for His grace and mercy in Jesus Christ
- I am thankful that I live in a beautiful home in a place where we are free from persecution, where we are able to live safely and comfortably, with proper nutrition & medical care

On this day, I also pray for those that don't have so much to be thankful for. May you have a blessed day of giving thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving 2007!

What a fun holiday. It actually started for us last weekend, and continues through this weekend.

For the last several years we've gotten together with some college friends for a "Friends' Thanksgiving". Three years ago, Jock started making Turducken for this gathering. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it is a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken, with layers of stuffing in between. It's a lot of prep work (about 3 hours), and a long baking time (10-12 hours) with all that meat and stuffing, but the end product is so good!

Here's the turducken preparation process:
- Thaws out the birds, cuts them open down their backs and lays them out flat.
- De-bone the chicken and duck, except for the legs, and de-bone the turkey except for the legs and wings.
- Put it all together: turkey, stuffing, duck, stuffing, chicken, stuffing.
- Fold it all back together, hold it in place (this requires an assistant), and sew the turkey back together so it looks like a really big fat turkey.
- Place cut&sewn side down in a rather large roaster pan with a rack, bake for about 12 hours at 200-250.
Here's a website with the more detailed instructions we use if you want to try it yourself.

I will say one of our friends got to our house Friday night just as he was layering it, and she thought it was rather disgusting to see all that raw meat laying there. But it's so good! The duck provides a good flavor for the meat, stuffing, and drippings for gravy, and it also keeps the turkey from getting all dried out (no basting required!) as is usually the case with just a baked turkey.
...
This morning we slept in, had a late light breakfast, and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since we don't do Thanksgiving at our house, we decorated for Christmas. It's so fun putting up the tree, setting out the santa and snowman decorations, and getting out the nativity set. I love this time of year. Also, this year is the first that we've had a full-size Christmas tree. We've only had a 4-foot tree since we've been married, so now we actually have two. We have yet to do any outdoor decorating. We didn't do any last year other than hanging out a wreath, as we were so busy in November with Kaylen's adoption and then the holidays. We're hoping to still get some done this year, but we'll see. We got an early snowstorm this year (about 4 inches yesterday!) and it's mighty cold and windy today, so that put a kink in our plans. Who knows...

This early afternoon has been kind of lazy, except for getting some laundry done, and Kaylen is taking her nap while Jock's playing a computer game, and I'm blogging. Later this afternoon we're going over to Jock's dad's house for the traditional Thanskgiving meal.

This evening we'll come back home, get a good night's sleep, and then in the morning we'll take off to spend the weekend with my family. It's been so long since we've been up there - usually we see them about one weekend every month or two. It's been since early August - too long! We're going to drive the long way around, so that we can stop off to have Karen cut Jock's and my hair. Then we'll have a quick lunch and head up to Dad and Terry's. We started a couple years ago going to a movie one night with all the adults and kids. This year we're still deciding what we want to see Friday night. Then Saturday we're going to have our Thanksgiving meal. A couple weeks ago, my sister said that we've talked about turducken so much but we'd never made if for them, so Jock's going to make it for my family Friday night/Saturday morning. It should be a fun weekend.

I'll try to post some pictures early next week of all our fun. We'll be back home Sunday night to get back into the grind - work, daycare, and the normal insanity of our lives. At some point I'm also going to have to start my Christmas shopping too! YIKES! It always comes up on me so fast. But I refuse to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Nothing against those of you who love it, I just don't enjoy the crowds - the deals aren't worth that to me. If I didn't have plans for tomorrow morning that required me to be away from my laptop and internet, I might do some online shopping though. Maybe next year.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

What are you thankful for?

Wow! Kaylen just told me something she told her daycare teacher. Her update sheet said they read Thanksgiving Day today. Apparently the teacher then asked the kids what they were thankful for. Kaylen said that she's thankful that "I have a Mommy and Daddy, and for love in my heart, and for Jesus and God." And she says it so certain of herself, it's just awesome!

I'm thankful for my family and friends, for my daughter and for the love she has in her heart for Jesus and God. Where would we be without all that?!

NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY 2007 – NOVEMBER 17

The following is from the National Adoption Day website:

ABOUT NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY
National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.

National Adoption Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. For the first time in 2006, National Adoption Day was celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In total, more than 250 events were held throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of more than 3,300 children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt.

To learn more or to find an event in your area, check out the website. If there is an event in your area, I'd encourage you to attend. The courtrooms are off-limits to the general public (except for adoptive families and their invited guests), but there usually is a speaker, adoption workers available to answer questions and talk with families, and of course one of our family member's favorite part - treats!

This day is special to us for this reason:
Kaylen's adoption was final on National Adoption Day, November 18, 2006.

As you can see a bit from the photo above, they made it a lot of fun for all involved. Really there were stuffed animals, beenie babies, and balloons everywhere. Kaylen got to keep a stuffed animal of her choosing. She could have chosen a large stuffed animal, but she found a pretty little angel beenie baby that she fell in love with. They also let my 5 neices and nephews that attended each take a beenie baby. Kaylen pretty much wandered the courtroom - sat on our laps while were giving our "testimony". When it was all over, the judge let us come up behind her bench for more pictures, and let Kaylen pound the gavel.

Most of our photos turned out blurry or dark - probably because our automatic-focus cameras focused in on stuffed animals instead of the intended targets, but that's OK. We did get a beautiful professional photo that day for free that we have hanging in our living room.

After we were finished having our snacks at the courthouse, we went back to our house, and finished preparing for our party. We had invited lots of family and friends to come celebrate with salads, appetizers, cake and punch. Our house was packed, as it gets a little chilly in these parts this time of year, but we had so much fun, and were so glad so many came to celebrate with us.

I can't believe it's already been a year. Where has the time gone?! It's been a wonderful year. We love you Kaylen, and always will. You're our little princess forever!

Can You Hear...?

**Turn off my playlist first (in left margin) to listen to this beautiful song.

Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light

Crying Jesus, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take

Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day

Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm

Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands

Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you're near,
Bringing peace again

Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation:
'Can you hear all the children's prayers?')
Can you hear the prayer of the children?.

Encouragement

Thanks, Kayla for posting this today! It's just what I needed after a very long stressful couple of weeks. It's from Hebrews 10, and is also applicable to most everyone - whatever challenge you are going through...

"So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. For you need endurance in order to do God's will and so receive what is promised."

Don't pass over it quickly or lightly…even if you heard it years ago. Absorb what it's saying. God has made us certain promises that we will only see fulfilled on the other side of a demanding climb. We're going to have to sweat this one out and feel the burn in our limbs but the reward is going to be "great." There is something God wants to give you, Beloved, but He's purposely requiring tremendous perseverance from you in order for you to have what it takes to receive it rightly. Humbly. You will need ENDURANCE to do His will in this particular situation. It will not come easy because it's too good to come cheap.

In order to try to stop you, Satan is attacking your confidence. Making you feel stupid. Ill-equipped. Or just plain ill. DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE. Without Christ you can do nothing but, with Him, you are capable of things you've never dreamed. All surpassing power abides in your jar of clay. Do not shrink back. The God of the Universe looked the world over and found you.

Creative ways...

... to keep from getting really annoyed at having hair in her eyes. Daddy convinced her to want to grow out her bangs. So, Saturday I braided the back half, leaving a bit of the others, since they curled up a bit. They stayed in really well until her shower tonight. I didn't think to take pictures until I took it out - we all laughed so hard at her "wrinkled hair":











And, Today's new 'do:

Halloween Pictures - Take 2

I just realized I didn't post any pictures of Kaylen in her costume! (It's been a long week.) Here's our ballerina princess - and make sure if you talk to her about it you don't leave off either word - she'll be sure to correct you! :)

Halloween Pictures

Finally getting around to posting some pictures... Cleaning out pumpkin guts is kinda disgusting:









But the result is some pretty neat pumpkins:

Our IBESR Numbers

I found out our IBESR Numbers. They are 15780 and 15781.

October Adoption Process Update & Josie Better

Well, not really much to update here on the adoption process though. As expected, we're still in IBESR, although I was hoping to find out what our file numbers are. For those of you unfamiliar - it's kind of like when you're waiting in line at the DMV, and you have to take a number. They do process them somewhat in order, although not all are adoption files - some are other social services type files. We've been in this step for about a month, and it can take 4-7 months. Although this year we've heard it's been closer to 4 months. We're praying to be out of IBESR by Christmas - that would be 3 months. God's bigger than the historical figures, right?! :)

Also, Josephine is doing much better now. She has been released from the hospital and is back at the orphanage now. Praise God! Thank you so much for your prayers. There are still others that could use your prayers, as whatever she had is going around. I haven't heard any more updates on Duckenson, but I know that little Brayden is very sick as well. I'm sure there are others that I haven't heard about as well.

Happy Halloween!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween. We did. Kaylen loved being a ballerina princess - don't forget she wasn't just a ballerina or just a princess - she was correcting people all night. :) She scored big on the loot (I think all that candy will last until at least parade time comes around next summer), and we met some more of our neighbors, which was great.

She also wore her costume to daycare today, so that was fun for her. They had a big party at daycare - I made cupcakes, lots of other parents supplied treats, and I think they watched movies all day - sans naps (not that she ever sleeps anyway though).

I'll post pictures later. It's been a long day (actually a long week - even though it's only Wednesday), and I need to get to bed. I'll try to download a couple tomorrow evening. We didn't get many - just a couple before we went out. She was in a big hurry to get out there and start collecting her candy! We did a few pix of pumpkin-carving that we did with Jock's family over the weekend though too.

Josephine getting better

We got a new updated today on Josephine.  She is doing much better and is getting stronger.  Please continue praying for her.  I do not know yet if she is out of the hospital and back at the orphanage, but she is at least getting stronger.  That's such good news to hear.  Please also continue to pray for the other children - Dukenson who was also very ill (I haven't seen another update on him yet), and for the others to stay healthy.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

God's Mission: Adoption

by Max Lucado

When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God's justice and love are equally honored. And you, God's creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn't end with God's forgiveness.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:15–16 NASB).

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4–5 NASB).

It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.

Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don't mean to offend any biological parents—I'm one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I've heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I've never heard of an unplanned adoption.

That's why adoptive parents understand God's passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God's ardor for his children, it's someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.

God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.
 
*Thanks to Linda for sharing this with the FHG Yahoo Group!

Baby Rosenie

We got an update this afternoon that baby Rosenie had passed away. Please pray for her birth family, and the staff and children at the orphanage. We do not know if she had a family that was hoping to adopt her.

Sick Babies

No update yet on Josephine, but we have heard that two other babies are sick and in the hospital. The pediatrician is very concerned for little Rosenie, who has pneumonia. Dukenson is the other who has been sick. Please pray for all the children - this time of year when the temperature drops is hard on the babies. I checked Port-au-Prince, Haiti's weather forecast for this week, and it shows highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-60s. Granted the temps don't change as drastically as they do up north, but in relation to their usual temperatures it's still a drop. In case you are interested, I found some graphics on weather.com showing average temps by month, and average precipitation by month (you can click on them to see them better):

Haiti:

Iowa:

Please pray for Josephine

I just got an email that our adoption coordinator sent late last night:

Celena is in the hospital. She is dehydrated and is running a high fever. The pediatrician is running tests. The good news is that she is stable now. We will be praying with you for a quick recovery. I will let you know as soon as I hear something new.

That's all I know right now. Please pray for her quick recovery, and for God's hand of comfort and healing on her right now. Pray for those caring for her as well. I'll let you know when I hear any more.

Updated... I asked if Josephine has been sick, and if there was anything we could do. Here's the response I just got back from Cate:

I don't know how quickly she got sick. They will try and treat the babies at the orphanage so they can be in their own environment but sometimes they need to go to the hospital. It is not uncommon for many babies to be sick this time of year. As a mom of a baby that was in the hospital several times, I absolutely know the ache in your heart to be the one to comfort her right now. Please know that one of her nannies will stay by her bedside while she is there. The best and only thing you can be doing right now is praying. I will let you know as soon as I hear something.

It's comforting to know that one of her nannies is staying with her in the hospital. I know of at least one other baby from our orphanage that had been sick and in the hospital in the last week, but I believe he is back at the orphanage now. Please also pray for the health of all the children.

More Pictures...

These are from back in August. There were a few that we weren't sure if it was Josephine or another baby girl. There are also some that I pulled from a video, which showed Elijah crawling - he was very mobile, and then standing up next to the nanny. I'm sure he's probably walking by now - early three months later. I took some print screens in progression - you'll just have to imagine the crawling in between, because the video is too long for me to post.









This first one is of Josephine that I pulled off the video. In the others, Josephine is sleeping in a bouncy chair during playtime in the baby room. Look carefully - she's in the background in a couple of them, but I thought you might like to see the other babies playing too.