Welcome Home Baby Lily!!!

Last Friday evening Hannah and I headed to the airport with many friends to celebrate the homecoming of sweet baby Lily! 

After their file being logged in China for more than 7 1/2 years (!!!) D and S finally received their referral call a couple of months ago and excitedly prepared to head to China to welcome home their sweet daughter! 

It was a wonderful treat to go to the airport and welcome home their sweet daughter L!

Although D & S’s file went to China only 8 months after mine, they have waited an additional long 4 1/2 years for their log-in-date to be reached.  I ask you to please pray for those many, many families who are still waiting for their children and many others who have made the agonizing choice not to continue with their adoption due to long, uncertain wait.  Others have had the decision made for them by unfair agencies and government ‘rules’ which breaks my heart!  Please pray for all of these precious families, many who still have a part of their heart in China regardless of the state of their adoption.  Thank you!

Check out that precious smile! 

Hannah took a shine to sweet L and stood so still when she played with her bows. 

We asked the kids to ‘stay in the circle’ as a good example to baby L and it was so neat to watch them play with their new ‘cousin’.   There is a group of 6 families who met many years ago as we were all waiting to become parents and the friendship we share is a cherished and precious one and feels very much like a selected family.  Oh how we love each and every one of them!!!

A family complete! Congratulations D and S!!!  We love you and are so happy for you!

Hannah’s Homecoming – 2 Years Ago Today!

Two years ago today Hannah and I began our life in Canada together!  Such precious memories of our homecoming and the many wonderful family and friends who welcomed us at the airport and at home!

We are so blessed to be loved by so many and I am so thankful for all the amazing people who are part of our lives!  You know who you are and please know…you are loved!

Denver is Home!!!

Isn't he adorable?!!

You may remember this post from a couple of weeks ago when I was asking you to pray for families in the process of adopting from Ethiopia as their Canadian agency had filed for bankruptcy leaving all of their families in limbo. What I didn't share at the time was that my precious friend Karen had already dropped everything and left for Ethiopia to meet her beautiful son Denver. She and her hubby were matched with Denver in January, had successfully gone through court in May and were now just awaiting travel approval. Karen couldn't get there fast enough and was willing to be in Addis Ababa as long as necessary in order to bring their sweet son home.

God worked miracles for this family as Karen first met Denver on Thursday July 16th and was able to have him with her for the rest of their time. The Canadian government granted all the documents required in a speedy manner and they flew home this past Saturday! God is SO GOOD!!! What a beautiful, beautiful family!

There are still many others who are waiting to find out the status of their adoptions and my heart (as do those of the Carmody family) still goes out to them. Please know that you are in our prayers and we are still fighting right alongside you to have your adoptions completed too.

Congratulations Karen and Mike!!! You have a beautiful family and I am blessed beyond measure to call you friends. Love you! xo

On a side note, I've just found out that a friend has started a website for families with children from Ethiopia or those who are adopting from Ethiopia. If this is you, you can check it out at EhtiopiaKids.com

Welcome Home Andrea, Wes and Sarah!!

What fun it was tonight to welcome home a friend and her precious daughter! Andrea and Wes arrived home with Sarah to a gathering of family and friends at the airport.

Sarah is absolutely precious and was so good! She took it all in from the safety of mommy and daddy's arms and we all gazed at her in wonderment. I've participated in 2 airport homecomings and both times taken a mylar 'It's a GIRL!' balloon which is a big hit with the little ones. I'll have to remember that little trick with Hannah. What baby doesn't enjoy something shiny that floats around?

Welcome home friends! Looking forward to spending more time with you and getting to know Sarah once you've settled in and recovered a bit from your trip of a lifetime!