Where' s Sydney?

I bet I say those two words twenty times each day.  Our little busy baby is always into something.  As a general rule:  if we can hear her, she's fine;  if she's quiet, you better start hunting her.  She is such a curious child and loves to get into everything in the house, causing mommy to run for the hair dye explore.  Case in point, we were getting ready for bed the other night, and I realized a certain quietness.  "Where's Sydney?"  We didn't see her but did see the couch cushions were all off the couch again and all unzipped again (hair dye).

However, upon closer inspection, I found this:

Sound asleep inside the couch cushion. ~sigh~

And just so you don't think that my other two girls are innocent bystanders:

Ashlyn walked in with this very innocent look on her face.

Where's Sydney?

They are nuts!

Fruits of our Labor

Since it is Labor Day, I thought I would share with you some fruits of our company's labor.  We own a construction company that does mainly recreational construction for parks or schools.  Most of our jobs are far from local, from Virginia Beach to Montana.  However, our itty bitty school was able to get a grant to make some much needed building improvements and install a new playground!!  Wayne had to drop by to check out some things, so we thought we would check out a few things too! 

Sydney sometimes is hesitant to play in new situations.  I think she either is afraid, she doesn't know what to do, or she is overwhelmed with the whole thing.  So, at times, Mom and Dad have to make a total fool out of themselves show her that it is safe and fun.

And I have the knot on my head and the skinned up elbow to prove it!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl

(Thank you MM for the pic)

Today is your 13th birthday. 

In America, you would be thrilled that you are finally a teenager.  You would be thinking of how much older 13 sounds than 12.  12 year olds are children, but at 13 you are a TEENAGER! 

Is that how you feel today? 

Or is this birthday bitttersweet? 

This is your last birthday before you age out of the orphanage.  Are you wondering if someone is coming for you?  Are you thinking about all the others who have turned 13, then at 14 left, not to be seen again? 

Will you get any presents at all? 

The only gift I can give you this year is this:  WE ARE COMNG FOR YOU. 

We will not leave you as an orphan.  We will not let you age out and live as an adult at 14.  We will come for you and take you into our family to heal, to reclaim your childhood, to love, to protect, to provide for, to comfort, to become our daughter.  

We promise. 

Home Study - Check!

I just received a blessed emailed stating:

Your Home Study is complete!

One step closer.....

Only God

Isn't God amazing?

He is so personal.
 

He is so precise.
 

He is so intimate. 

What He is to me, is different than what He is to you, but He's also the same. 

He leads each of us on our little journey through life knowing exactly what we need and where we are going next.
 

I remember when we felt the tug to adopt Sydney.  We waded through the mounds of paperwork.  Then when we saw her face I was amazed that this adorable creature had been in existance for over a year, and yet I knew nothing of it. 

She instantly became very precious to me, yet the week before I did not even know she existed.

 For. Over. A. Year.
 

That feeling has been very present with me again. 

Yes, again. 

Only more so.

For almost 13 years, a very precious girl has been in existance.

On the other side of the world.

Only I didn't know it yet.

And she is now so very, very, precious to me.

Yes, she is my daughter.

I hope to see her by summer.

So precious.

So amazing.

So precise.

So God.

Back to School

These were taken on the first day of school. Every year I send them off and then miss them terribly. I have absolutely loved being with them every day this summer. I hate to see summer end.

Still here...

Hello all. Thank you for your prayers and patience as we walk through this difficult time. It still at times feels a bit unreal. My Savior, however, has been right beside me thru it all. I cannot tell you how much he has carried me these last few weeks. And the lessons learned are too numerous and too complex to ever articulate. It feels at times that he has completely dumped all of myself out and is replacing it with a new me. He has such a patient and loving and personal way about him. I will forever be grateful and full of praise to him for all of this. I do not understand why this had to happen to our family. To be perfectly honest, I do not even like that it happened. But I want his way more than my way, and therefore I will continue to seek him with every fiber of my being.



A few months ago, Gwen recommended the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I bought it right before Derrick's accident, but I did not read it until this past week. This is a book written directly from and to my heart. I just kept reading passages to Wayne and he would say, "That's what I've been trying to say." Suffice it to say, God is definately beginning another journey for us. More details later. And if you haven't read this book, read it now! If defines the core of our purpose. It explains the purpose of our being. If you have ever looked at God and said, "Is this really all there is to it?", read this book to hear HIM answer you. Seriously.



Please continue to pray for our family as we situate ourselves into this new normal. We will not fall, but the walking is tough some days. We love you all!