Did 6 months really go by?

It's a breath and an eternity at once. Much has happened, but with Facebook, who really needs blogs? However, I've been asked to update this so here I am (sorry it took so long.). Since Michael's graduation in March...

Sammy turned 5.

Sam is our spit fire fella. He is amazing in every way and teaches me much every day.

Quincy started services with wonderful therapists at Easter Seals and he is moving and grooving in leaps and bounds. The legs that didn't work so well are holding his cuteness up and he may take that first step in the next couple months.

We have happy news from the judge on Sept 1st.. Quincy is free and clear for adoption. That news hasn't sunk in yet. We are thrilled to tears! Now it will take about 12 to 18 months for the adoption process, but we know he gets to stay. On Quincy's note, Olliver his bio brother was born on May 1st. He has some problems, but is doing well. Now, we wait for his court date. Keep him in your prayers for us.

This summer we were blessed to have an "extra" son at our happy home. Matt (our babysitters fiance') stayed with us for 3 months before entering the Marines. We are so proud of him and so happy that he stayed with us. We love you Matt.

Today our sweet Makenzie and family moved to San Francisco. We are grateful they touched our lives and pray for them to make wonderful new friends and a happy life in their new home.

In may Sully turned 7. He loves to read and beat us all at rummy. =) As you see here he has lost his 4 front teeth. Sully asked Jesus into his heart on August 5th.

In June our oldest, got older.. 20 years old to be exact. YIKES! Where did those years go?

Michael has so many projects going. He stays busy on man work and family matters. Michael is simply amazing.

Kasey turned 13 in July. I love teenagers! They are like little adults. Kasey is still taking care of the farm animals and teaching his siblings all about fun. He still wants to be one of 20 kids. =)

You can hardly find a photo of Kasey without one of his brothers or sister.

We had another fun visit with Emily this summer. Her mama came too. That was special. Michael, Emily, Makenzie and Matt went to Hoover Dam.

Lake Mojave.

We have had so much fun this summer playing in the sun in Palm Springs. Daddy has had lots of work there and we are so grateful.

Love this precious man. xo Just when I thought I couldn't love him more, I live another day with him and wow!

Mattie's heart is still doing fine. She sure loves being the little mommy =) and cooking in the kitchen.

Mother's Day gift 2010. Kel flew my dear Caryse and her sweet Krista to visit us. Love this special lady beyond words. xo

The summer was filled with many goodbyes. Grandpa Art blessed our lives for one short year out of his 98 of them. We miss you at water park Grandpa Art, but will see you in Heaven.

Friends who have moved this summer. The Ross-Smiths and the Dormans. Kasey's friends Callie and Kasey. You will be missed. Thanks for all the sleep overs and late late nights of fun.

A summer wouldn't be complete without an appendix removal. Kelly had emergency surgery and did very well. Praise the Lord for the doctors and nurses and St. Rose.

We have enjoyed several shows with our friends Nancy and Brad who enjoy visiting at Child Haven with our beautiful children also. Thank you Nancy for going to "Child Haven Starbucks" with me. You make this process more bearable. xo

Viva Las Vegas... for now.. ;)

Little Josiah, is not so little.. He's 22 lbs and so close to taking that first step. He can stand without holding on, but as soon as he realizes it, he sits down. I love a cautious boy =). He had his circumcision last week and did really well. Next step is to adopt him here in America. We welcome your prayers for that as I hear it will be costly and time consuming. All part of this beautiful journey to family. I love my career..

Thanks for reading and praying.. Love to you all. xo

Happy St. Paddy's 2010

Our happy family... Many people met Josiah for the first time here.
We finally celebrated Michael's Dec. 2008 graduation =). We are so proud of this young man.

St. Paddy Daddy's first annual game show. Notice this prize was corned beef, cabbage and a sack of potatoes.

We sang, danced, laughed, ate and talked all night. Praise the Lord for the gifts and blessings He gives us.

Thank you for blessing our home and our lives.

We love you Miss Cathy. Thank you for the clothes for the little ones. Mattie keeps asking every time I put any outfit on her.. "Miss Cafee get dis for me?"

Pastor Russ, you are so special. Thank you for marrying us, blessing all of our children, supporting us through it all and making this happy home =). Love you always. xo

The Twins

Quincy and Josiah love each other so much. Josiah told me today that he is really gonna like it here. =) We are so happy to be his family. I have to pinch myself when he looks at me, I can hardly believe he is really here.

Welcome home Josiah

After 2 years and 4 months God placed this beautiful baby boy in our arms tonight. He is so peaceful, happy, lovely, smart, strong, cute... I could go on all night and I have only known him for 7 hours. We are so in love with him and praising our Lord for delivering. How honored we are that He trusts us with His orphans. James 1:27

Thank you for your wonderful prayers. We could not have made it through it all without them.

Pray for Haiti

http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28413264/haiti-adoptions-high-priority-for-u-s.htm

Our Hearts in Haiti

So much pain, suffering and need... It's overwhelming. If you can help go to www.forhisgloryoutreach.org for one of our adoption agency's orphanages that was destroyed.

Our adoption agency has put out a call for any currently licensed foster families to open our homes to refugee children. We have put our name in. This is God's home we pray for His will to be done.

Pray for peace to fill these children and families and an abundance of His healing and light to shine over that land.

Coming Home

It is with great thanks to our Lord and amazement we announce that our sweet Josiah will be home on February 2nd at 5:30pm. Thank you for all of your continuous prayers and support.

Mattie's heart

Praise the Lord! The cardiologist said the tissue has not changed and does not affect the flow of blood through her heart. We will go again in 6 months. What a beautiful miracle every day is with this sweet little girl. Thank you for your prayers.

Sweet baby Jojo

Got our 171-H today =).. That means we now put the adoption paperwork with the orphan paperwork and send to the Embassy with another form (I600) and Jojo will be issued a visa and passport and be on his way home.. Possibly by the end of January, but probably sometime in February.

Happy Birthday my precious husband

Today is an official holiday at our home as we celebrate the life of our wonderful Kelly. What an indescribable gift he is to so many, especially his family who adores him.

I love you my sweet man.. Happy Happy Birthday to you. xoxo

Meet Josiah Jackson

Our little man from Ethiopia is officially ours. A bit more paperwork and many more prayers will bring him home hopefully by February 2010. Sometimes all I can do is just shake my head in amazement at what God can do.

Court Date

Our court date is set for December 2nd. This means that if Josiah's paperwork "passes" court, he will officially be ours. =)

Then, we pray for the rest of the paperwork to get done quickly and our escort to be available as soon as our papers are.

For now, pray for Josiah to pass court. I believe I may post photos of him once this is final.
Thank you all for being such an important part of our journey. xo

Wonderful News

Just got the word that our papers were submitted to court and that it looks like we will get a court date by the end of November. Then we get our little Josiah about 6 weeks after that. =O

This means he could be home in January. Yippee!!!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Quincy's bio mother is scheduled to relinquish this sweet baby to us tomorrow. She is due with the next baby May 1st. Pray for her and the baby's health with me.

In God's grip..

It's a BOY!!!

What else would it be for us =) ???? We are thrilled and he is absolutely adorable. He was abandoned in Ethiopia and is about 3-4 months old now. Not only do we get to pick a name, but we also get to pick a birth date for him. Our dossier arrived in Washington DC today and will be authenticated and translated and in Ethiopia within 2 weeks. The courts in Ethiopia close for the rainy season and have not opened back up yet. I am almost certain that he will be home before he is 1 yr..

We are advised to not post photos until our children are home and we will abide by that, but look out once this beautiful baby gets here. =) I believe we are entertaining the name Josiah. It means "God Saves".

We have watched many children come home within 6 months and some even sooner from Ethiopia. It's so encouraging, but sad for my friends in Haiti who still wait and wait and wait. Pray with me for those precious families to come together sooner and sooner.

Happy Birthday Pastor Russ

Our dear Pastor that married us, loves us, and supports who God made us blessed our home this week with a visit. He had a nice chat with Quincy on their first meeting.

Sweet Cathy, pastor's wife, loved the baby too.

We thank God for your beautiful life and loved celebrating with you. Thank you for blessing our lives with your wisdom, guidance and friendship. Happy Birthday Dear Pastor Russ we love you so much.

Camping September 2009

Going on a camping trip.

Our little animal whisperer. That's a grasshopper on his finger. Kasey convinced Mattie to hold the little buggy.

Buddy Dog was so happy. He ran after us on the quad till his tongue was coated with dirt.

Michael, my outdoors man. He can pack, fix, set up, undo, haul, drive, shoot, etc.. anything.

Mattie and her buggy.

The Happy Home Camp..

Mama using the sun oven. Baking the best banana bread ever.

Mama and baby Quincy on a hike.

Oops, =D

Yes, we even had a potty tent. Daddy couldn't find the TP.