Gavin turns 7

October 28th....I'm a little behind.

My silly Claire Bear!

I just love this girl!!!

Since we have shared our news on adoption we've gotten a huge spectrum of responses and questions. We realize that this is quite a shock for some and honestly doesn't make a whole lot of sense for others. Yes, we do have three children already of our own and yes we are very happy and content with our lives right now. The only way to describe it to others is that God has put this on our hearts as His desire for our lives. Taking on an endeavor that costs thousands of dollars that we don't have and bringing a child that we've never met from across the world that's of a different ethnicity seems crazy to most. I understand that but I can't turn a blind eye to God's command and to all those beautiful children that need love and attention. My husband knows that if I had the chance I would bring every child that I could that was hurting from this country and around the world home with me if I could. I'm not the best mom around, we don't have a huge money tree in our backyard and our house isn't a mansion but we can help at least one. There can be one less that sits alone in their crib all day, that cries but no one cares to pick up and hold, that always longs to be in a loving family of their own. I don't know how we are going to do this or what the future holds but I know that my God is bigger than all these questions,worries, and concerns. I know that He alone can do this and that He has for some reason chosen us to care for the one special child. What a blessing! What a time to build our faith and trust in Him.

Adoption

Well, we are very proud to announce that we are indeed adopting! We have decided on the lovely country of Ethiopia to bring a little girl home from. Many have asked how this all came about for us and it started around 2008. The year before we had lost our twin babies in a miscarriage and really came to the realization that all life is so precious. There were friends of ours that were adopting and we got to see through them the whole process. It was so exciting but yet full of its own ups and downs. God at this time planted a seed in us that this might be what He wanted for us, too. Stepping out in faith we sent in our preapplication and shortly after found out that I was pregnant so this abruptly stopped any ventures into adoption at that time. We were told that once the baby was 9 months old we could procede again. The thought of adoption never really left our minds and really intensified within this past year. When we first started the process we were thinking of going the domestic route but I really felt a pull towards international. Through lots of prayer and research we decided to put Ethiopia down for our first country of choice and the US for our second. In October of this year we were approved for Ethiopia and thus starts our journey. We are very excited but also completely trusting God because we can not do this on our own. The expenses alone are overwhelming and seem impossible but I am reminded over and over again that "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. " Matthew 19:26. In saying that we have until January 19th to come up with our first installment of funds to really start this process. We are doing some fundraising to help us out and have already been blessed beyond measure by the outpouring of love and blessings by others. Please feel free to follow along with us while we start this awesome adventure to where God is leading.
Please visit our Fundraising Page above and notice the paypal on the right to get your Tie Fleece Blankets!

Brodie's 1st Day of Preschool.

Brodie's 5th Birthday!

Claire's 1st Birthday!