What a blessing to finally be a family of four! Our lives are forever changed.
What a blessing to have a best friend and photographer all-in-one to help capture the memories!
Check out our family pics that Sarah took last night. I think she did a fabulous job. If you live in the area and might want to try her out for your family pics check out her photography blog by going to their family website... http://www.lifeasabaker.blogspot.com/ and clicking on the photography blog (makes sense right?).
Link to our family pic album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=sweetesttimesphotography&target=ALBUM&id=5351293915544566609&authkey=Gv1sRgCNymzpT2nYCucw&feat=email
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A Most Precious Treasure,...Please Pray!
This post is for a special couple in Colorado; "friends" I've never met, a sister/brother in the Lord, and fellow adoptive parents. But I beg the rest of you to read, be moved and pray for this family.
I have the incredible opportunity of being a part of blessing this mommy and daddy with pics/video of their precious son who is miles away from them in body, but closer than their next breath in their hearts. (I was blessed beyond measure to get to hold him and love on him, on behalf of his mommy and daddy, while we were in Taiwan.)
Having experienced both the addition of a biological child and an adopted child to our family, I can tell you that both scenarios are full of excitement, fear, joy, and anticipation. But I must say, there is something distinctly different about adoption. With pregnancy, the biological child is with you from the moment of conception (even before you know they exist), with adoption you deal with knowing your child has been born and is spending day after day away from your loving arms. God's grace is always sufficient, but the longing to hold that child and experience their first moments can overwhelm even the most trusting heart.
So I ask you to STOP, and PRAY for this family. They have experienced delay after delay in bringing their precious son home. They need a miracle. Please pray that the "formalities" will be expedited and that their son will be home, in their arms, SOON!
Here's the links to the 4 very short clips of precious Micah:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AapT1lIc4vk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1xP9Ka5y8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9pOrpL7bfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b-4J7Xe1qM
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sweetest Sibling Snapshots
Ok...I have now spent more time than I care to admit trying to figure out how to provide you all with some long awaited pics in a slideshow...obviously, that's not happening today. (Someone should feel sorry for me and teach me how!).
In the meantime, here's at least a few pics of my precious children playing together!
Little Lessons
Wow! Being a mother to two 2-yr-olds is wonderful, challenging, busy, difficult, fabulous, and above all, a blessing. So far, every day is different. We are still in the adjustment period. But, in time, I know that many of the difficulties we are now facing will be only memories. This morning we went for a walk (a great opportunity for prayer time). As I was praying my earnest request to God was that He would help me see what it is I am supposed to be learning in every situation and that He would help me to learn it!
And so I was reminded of our Pastor's message Sunday morning. Among other things he spoke of a heart that reaches the heart of God. I am reminded by these precious children today, that a heart of a child simply asks for help when needed. (Now that asking may not always include a please and may be in the form of whine, cry or desperate shriek...but the message is clear!) And so, friends, may we always remember to simply ask God for help when we need it!
I hope you enjoy this video of Faith that our pastor used Sunday morning as an object lesson for his message....
http://www.youtube.com/cartervillechristian/
And so I was reminded of our Pastor's message Sunday morning. Among other things he spoke of a heart that reaches the heart of God. I am reminded by these precious children today, that a heart of a child simply asks for help when needed. (Now that asking may not always include a please and may be in the form of whine, cry or desperate shriek...but the message is clear!) And so, friends, may we always remember to simply ask God for help when we need it!
I hope you enjoy this video of Faith that our pastor used Sunday morning as an object lesson for his message....
http://www.youtube.com/cartervillechristian/
Friday, May 22, 2009
Family of Four!
We are home!
Actually we have been home since late Monday night. But life has been a whirlwind the past couple of days and this is the first opportunity I've had to post anything. We are exhausted but the joy of finally all being together as a family of four makes it all worthwhile.
It was an ironic feeling for Phil and I as we flew back into the United States. For two people who love travel, different cultures, and dream of living abroad, we were overly ecstatic to be home. We had prepared for this moment of bringing our new child home for some time. But I don't think anyone could have explained to us the host of emotions we would experience. Our entrance into the airport was welcomed by some of the sweetest loving Faithie hugs and kisses I can ever remember recieving. Faith was so thrilled to see her mommy and daddy and within minutes had assumed the most genuine overbearing love and protectiveness for Joel. Joel seems to really be embracing her as well.
Our lives will never be the same. Truly. We are loving ever minute of our time together as a new family of four. We laugh at our naivete as we reflect each day how different even bringing home a second child is than bringing home our first. I covet the idea of "sleep when they sleep", but then remember just because one of them is asleep doesn't mean they both are....especially when one of them thinks 2:00-6:00 a.m. is the perfect time for play! :-)
But really, in all seriousness...we want to thank you all for your prayers while we were away... God's grace sustained us through the unforseen difficulties of our travel and has provided us with more reasons to rejoice than we can count. We are a grateful people!
P.S. I will try to post some "at home" pics soon. In the meantime, Sarah Baker posted a great slideshow on her blog of our arrival at the airport...you might check it out... http://www.lifeasabaker.blogspot.com/ (Her son is in the first pics with Faith,...Joel comes later in the brown-striped shirt).
Actually we have been home since late Monday night. But life has been a whirlwind the past couple of days and this is the first opportunity I've had to post anything. We are exhausted but the joy of finally all being together as a family of four makes it all worthwhile.
It was an ironic feeling for Phil and I as we flew back into the United States. For two people who love travel, different cultures, and dream of living abroad, we were overly ecstatic to be home. We had prepared for this moment of bringing our new child home for some time. But I don't think anyone could have explained to us the host of emotions we would experience. Our entrance into the airport was welcomed by some of the sweetest loving Faithie hugs and kisses I can ever remember recieving. Faith was so thrilled to see her mommy and daddy and within minutes had assumed the most genuine overbearing love and protectiveness for Joel. Joel seems to really be embracing her as well.
Our lives will never be the same. Truly. We are loving ever minute of our time together as a new family of four. We laugh at our naivete as we reflect each day how different even bringing home a second child is than bringing home our first. I covet the idea of "sleep when they sleep", but then remember just because one of them is asleep doesn't mean they both are....especially when one of them thinks 2:00-6:00 a.m. is the perfect time for play! :-)
But really, in all seriousness...we want to thank you all for your prayers while we were away... God's grace sustained us through the unforseen difficulties of our travel and has provided us with more reasons to rejoice than we can count. We are a grateful people!
P.S. I will try to post some "at home" pics soon. In the meantime, Sarah Baker posted a great slideshow on her blog of our arrival at the airport...you might check it out... http://www.lifeasabaker.blogspot.com/ (Her son is in the first pics with Faith,...Joel comes later in the brown-striped shirt).
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Pics
Daddy and his boy!
Transportation Taiwanese style!
Tuckered out!
Here are some pics and video. Fewer than I'd planned to post, but our connection is slow.
Oh well, just 3 days and we'll be home, then you can see us in person!
Faith honey, mommy and daddy can't wait to hold and hug you and kiss you.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Words are not enough to express the joy, relief and gratefulness to the Lord we feel in this moment!
The last 4 days have been some of the most trying of our lives. Within just 2 short days of having our long awaited and prayed for son in our arms and experiencing all the love and overwhelming emotions of that, we faced the uncertainty of something we could never have planned for. Sunday evening we came across some medical information regarding Joel that was unknown to us or anyone here at THOGL. We never could have imagined the 14 short words within that document could possibly so drastically change our life. For the last 4 days we have been through an emotional rollercoaster. Never doubting that God was in control, but knowing that if this diagnosis was correct we were facing decisions and a future that would challenge us beyond measure. We cried out to the Lord for his peace and a miracle, trusting that he would give us strength to face whatever results may come and knowing that nothing could change our love for Joel, but could drastically change our life!
Today, we got news of that miracle! Joel has a clean bill of health! Great is our God. He hears and answers prayers in a personal and powerful way. Lord willing, Joel should live a happy, healthy, full life.
Thank you Lord!
***long overdue pics/video promised tomorrow Lord willing!
The last 4 days have been some of the most trying of our lives. Within just 2 short days of having our long awaited and prayed for son in our arms and experiencing all the love and overwhelming emotions of that, we faced the uncertainty of something we could never have planned for. Sunday evening we came across some medical information regarding Joel that was unknown to us or anyone here at THOGL. We never could have imagined the 14 short words within that document could possibly so drastically change our life. For the last 4 days we have been through an emotional rollercoaster. Never doubting that God was in control, but knowing that if this diagnosis was correct we were facing decisions and a future that would challenge us beyond measure. We cried out to the Lord for his peace and a miracle, trusting that he would give us strength to face whatever results may come and knowing that nothing could change our love for Joel, but could drastically change our life!
Today, we got news of that miracle! Joel has a clean bill of health! Great is our God. He hears and answers prayers in a personal and powerful way. Lord willing, Joel should live a happy, healthy, full life.
Thank you Lord!
***long overdue pics/video promised tomorrow Lord willing!
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