and a few more

Just some more pictures

6 Months and counting

Hi All
We had a 6 month "checkup" with our social worker today for Sammy's adoption. Of course I cleaned like crazy all morning, but aside from that all went very well. It was nice to reminisce about the past six months and how far we have come. It seems like just yesterday we were in China waiting to come home. Caitlin and Sammy are really close. Theyare playing together and seem to really enjoy one another. I think this summer will be wonderful. Caitlin is reading constantly, writing 2 to 3 sentences on a topic and just being generally amazing. Sammy is learning her shapes and going to school and daycare. She is working in potty training and loved basketball season and going to the big gym to see all the kids and family there. I am counting down the days until Summer Break. One more week until Spring Break ad its all down hill after that thank God. Pat and I even went out on a date this weekend. Amazing. So here are some recent pictures. SOme go back to Feb and Sammy first day of school.

Sometimes Our Prayers Get a Little Out of Hand!

Just thought I would post some new video...enjoy

A New Year

Hi All
We had a fabulous Christmas this year after which we celebrated Sammy's Birthday. It is the first year Caitlin has really gotten into the whole Santa thing and looked forward to Christmas morning. I still had to wake her up though. The Christmas season lingered as we did not do our school winter celebration until last Friday due to school closings. Caitlin sang with her class and had fun. She told me next year I have to let her wear a short sleeve shirt though because she was "Sweaty". It does get a tad hot with all those kids and parents. Anyway, I am back to work and overloaded as usual. Pat is pluggin away looking forward to all of you buying Fritos for the Superbowl and we are just hanging out here in the snow. I am joining our Church's Missionary Committee as this is an area of interest for me. We just signed up to sponsor a baby from Sammy's Foster Home and there are others that do not have sponsors yet if anyone is interested. Here is the babies home page: http://www.hopefosterhome.com/babies/index.htm
Our baby's name is Lilly (my favorite flower) An Faith.
I went to a presentation last night for teen moms. I was asked by a teen mom who is a friend of ours. It was a courageous and giving thing for her to sit in front of our community and speak to her experiences. I was there to support adoption. The emotions were raw and many tears were shed but it was a healing and restorative session. I would love to be involved in the future and help take this young woman's message further. To other towns, other faces, other lives. God's presence surrounds this family as they heal and I am honored to have been allowed to have a very small part in that process. Here is a passage I have kept near and dear through our adoption process: Joshua 1:9 (I opened up to this page in my Bible the morning we left for China so I wrote it on the lip of an envelope and stuffed it in my passport holder)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."