2 months old, Wind, Snow, and Football

This week Brody turned 2 months old, we had WIND, rain and SNOW,

and Beau's football game! Mark and I left Brody and Brynn by a good friend, and off we went in our snow suits! It was so windy, the snow/sleet was horrible! We won 6-3 and now we travel to Harlan, Ia for a game on Monday night! Good Luck Nighthawks! If we beat, we play 1 more team for State! Harlan has a top notch team, but if our guys play well, you never know what could happen!Brody had to take a picture in Beau's football jersey, looks like he is going to have to grow a lot to fit in this some day!

We had no school today and we took Brynn and Bradyn to the movie Secretariat...It was a very good movie!
I am so excited for our High School volleyball team!! I want to shout out a huge Good Luck to our niece Kassidy who plays Tuesday night!! Sub State...our girls never have had a winning season and this year, the Volleyball girls need to win this match to go to State! Play your best Kass and know we are behind you all the way!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

God is Good!

This week we got word that our paper work has only one step left! We need prayers for the Liberian Government, President Ellen Sirleaf to proceed with the adoptions that where in process!! Little M and the other children are missing so much! Every holiday, birthday, Sunday and the fun times at home! I know our family can't wait for M to come home, what an adjustment it will be for him. The longer it takes the harder it will be for M and all the other children. I encourage you to all pray earnestly for the Liberian Government to feel the prayers and stir their hearts to get moving!!
"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16b


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Sunday, we had lots of wind, and snow. We heard on the radio that the morning service was cancelled, we were all ready, so we went ahead and decided to go to church with my parents. Half way to SC, the radio said there was an error and that church was still on! Woops, someone called in and just cancelled! The funny part is, the same thing happened at night! Not sure who is doing the calling, but sure causes tons of confusion! Here is some amazing pictures of all the snow in our backyard! Our above ground pool, is covered!







Had the opportunity to visit with other adoptive family's this past week! These 4 family's have all adopted from Ethiopia! We celebrated Lisa's birthday with cake, pizza and great conversation as well as a game of Candy Land, wiping up spit, encouragement and laughing at the children playing! No matter, what part of the adoption journey your on, it is good to sit and talk! Thanks for having us Lisa, and Happy Birthday!






Poor Miss Brynn had her 4th set of tubes in her ears on Friday!! She is doing amazing! She was so excited to get them in. I can about imagine how wonderful it is to be able to hear everything! Dr. K said she has been hearing as if we plug our ears!

Some exciting news with our Katelyn's Fund!!
2 Family's were blessed!!
Congratulation's Jim & DeAnn, Daniel and Baby Benjamin!
http://www.timmermansadoption.blogspot.com/
This weekend there was a basketball tourney and bake sale to help with expenses!! What a great turn out for the family! It was so special to see them all walk into the tourney, with their little miracle! Benjamin is absolutely beautiful, and big brother is just as cute!
The other couple I sat by at the last Katelyn's fund, they were blessed with a baby girl! Congratulations!!

"Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations." Psalm 100:4b-5


Mark and I had lunch with Brian and Donna this week, they're missionaries, and have been gone for half a year and were able to come home and celebrate the birth of their 1st Grandchild! Congratulations Grandpa & Grandma! It was excited hearing about all the travels!
http://renes-travels.blogspot.com/

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

Next week we have to update our home study again!! It is a great chance to visit with our Social Worker! We wish our original SW could come, but the distance is too far, but we are excited to have "H" come! Benjamin has to get finger printed since he is 14! Here is a fun picture of Benjamin on his birthday with Grandpa and Grandma!







I can't believe Bradyn turns 12 next week!
Tomorrow my sisters are coming to SC and we are going out for lunch and than celebrate Benjamin, Jason, Jesse and Bradyn's Birthday's with cake at my parents!! I can wait to see them all!!

Here is some fun photo's Benjamin took for his art class! I somehow misplaced or someone accidentally borrowed it out of our suburban, and I miss my good camera! Looks like we are going to have to replace it! Thankfully I have my "old" one!

Keeping Busy!

Thanks again for checking in on us! Mark thinks I am crazy to write anything on here, especially when we have nothing to write on Marcus. I tell him it feels good to type here, and tell others what our specific prayer requests are, and for my family/friends to see what has been happening in our lives!

These last few weeks, we have been finding ways to keep our minds off this adoption process. Don't get me wrong, our hearts are filled with love for Marcus, but this waiting does get to us! The not knowing is probably the hardest part!

Mark and I went on a quick weekend away with his brother and "sister"! (The "in-law" does not exist to me"!) We had a ball, ate too much, seen "The Price is Right" LasVegas style...The musical "Menopause", what a hoot!

"Look Laura, it is me and Barry!"

Outside of our hotel was Soul Weekend. The music was everything to rap to gospel! Vender's where selling all sorts of food! Had some great pound cake! I even had to the chance to buy some African clothing for when we go to Liberia! It is beautiful! This gentleman was from New York and has a clothing line! He was from Senegal, which I had to look up when we got home! I should find his business card and post it, if any of you would like to see his line!

Bradyn turned 11 on the 26th, the day we took off for the Black Hills. We had planned to leave at noon, due to rain, ice and snow, we left at 8:30am! We have had this trip planned for months, thinking we would take our little guy along, but hopefully next year!! Last year we started this tradition with Marlin & Paula and their Family. We stayed at a hotel last year and this year we rented a house together!

The house we all rented! It was so nice! We will try to stay there again!

Brynn happy to be out of the pickup! Look at the ice, and dirt on the pickup and trailer!

When we finally drove out of the snow and ice, we realized we could not drive to our place we rented! We had to load our stuff on the back of the snowmobiles, with sleds behind them!

On the way to our house we rented this is what we saw! This is only a few, times there where 15- 20 deer! The location was spectacular! It reminds us of God's beauty all around the world!

Driving the sleds with all our supplies to our house we rented!













Sledding down the driveway!

Getting ready for a day on the snowmobile!

Brynn was such a trooper, we went for 5 hours the 1st day, which it only got up to 13 degrees outside! Burrr!

The next 2 days we put over 175 miles on the sleds! The weather was absolutely perfect! What fun! We all did more giggling, and where just amazed at how beautiful and peaceful it is in the mountains!

Our Family

Some of the group manage to climb up to Custer's Peak! The pictures where just breathtaking!

<-Bradyn relaxing!

Benjamin enjoying the sunshine!->

<-Beau & Brynn

It was so good for me (us) to get away and take in family time!

Now it is good to get in the swing of things at home again!! I really am starting feel sad for wanting our little boy home! I know I have to give it to God! I know this is all God's plan, God's timing, yet I still ache for our little boy! I never dreamt that it would take this long! I sympathize with other parents/families who wait like us!! I can now relate, and pray some more!

Tomorrow I am going to help my sister get some wedding plans made! :)

This weekend we are meeting Julie's future Family! :) I am so thankful God has brought Jason into her life, she is so happy!!

Beau has a Show Choir competition Saturday am! Good Luck BHS!!

This morning this devotion hit home! It is going on the fridge door!!http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

Prayer Requests:

*Please pray for little Caleb! His Mommy is a friend of my family! They're family could really use some prayers! Caleb will be 1 in a couple of weeks and is in need of a kidney!! Caleb is just a miracle, God has such a plan for this little boy! He has touched many lives already in his short little life! We seen Caleb a bit ago! Love this little guy! If you have time, please pray for them, and you can check his caring bridge site!


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebsybesma


*Today, families around the United States are praying Liberian Children home to their adoptive families! Join us!
http://respondinginfaith.wordpress.com/

*Today J & L are leaving for Ethiopia to pick up their son!! God Bless You with safety and tons of bonding love with your baby boy!! We are so excited for you! L's mom, was Mark's chears nurse, Our Angel, who lives in heaven! I am sure she is rejoicing for you both!!

http://jonlizmoss.blogspot.com/

*Prayer of praise for a family who have an embassy appointment to bring home siblings!!! Yeah!!
http://www.journeytojaden.blogspot.com/

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

9 months Pregnant!

Brynn has been enjoying the nice weather!

Sliding down the mound of snow!

Lately I am reminded how I felt being 9 months pregnant. Although I can sleep all night, still receive the kicking from some little girl who sneaks into bed with us. "I can't figure out how the angels carry me downstairs?" I hear, "Your still here?" "When are you going?"! Yep, 9 months pregnant. I don't think I am as crabby, it could be coming!

We are still waiting for the picture Trokon had taken a week ago! We received a bit of information the other day, but it really does not make too much sense!

I might take some advice from another adoptive mom who is waiting for a court date and has starting making brownies, often!

Tonight we took the snowmobiles to Sioux Center to McDonald's! What fun! I had Brynn with me, it was a nice ride! The groomer had just made a nice path for us! Perfect weather also! :)

Tomorrow night we have our Music Booster soup supper! I will be so happy when I can put all that paper work away!

Have a terrific weekend!

God Bless You All!

Snow, Snow, Snow!

I was trying to think what rhymes with, no, no, no news! I look out the window and see snow, snow, snow! Yesterday it was blizzard conditions here, and we are expected to get 2-3 inches more later today. Not to mention how darn cold it is it, a whopping high of 0! The wind chill is below freezing. Why do we live in Iowa?

Needless to say, you can read we are a bit frustrated waiting for an email, an update anything!

Today we are going through all the documents to pack, we are copying everything to have extra copies. Trying to figure out the 874 and the DS-230. Yup, frustrated! With all the unknowns in our journey, I am so reminded about God's will be done! This is all in His hands!

Power Verses:John 16:33,

"'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'"

I Peter 4:12-13,

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Instead, be very glad”for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

I know God has been guiding us along this journey. It has been awesome to see His hand in all this. Mark and I are moved to tears when we think back at the times we have seen God's hand.

One that is really been freshened our hearts is when Mark had his accident, this April will mark his 15th anniversary. We were so blessed to have this "Angel" come into our home every day for about a year.

Our "Angel" was Mark's chears nurse, she was Grandma to Beau, marriage counselor, friend and mother at times to us. On this journey, we found out that that this young lady who is working for Samaritan's Purse, who is helping us with accommodations, and guidance when we arrive in Monrovia. Joni, is a niece of our "Angel". When we found this out, having lunch over Christmas break, our hearts were filled with joy! God decided also that she was an Angel and took her home some time ago.

God Bless You All for checking in on us!

Winter Already

Snow has made it's way into Northwest Iowa!
Slick roads, huge fluffy snowflakes and great snow balls!
Had lunch with a wonderful friend, picked up B2 to get the rest of the braces on the bottom. Will head back to Sioux Center for dance after school, and than quick make hot fudge for church meeting tonight. Where does a person's day go. Looked at the calender and B1 has a Dr's appointment in S.Falls in the am. What a whirl wind of activities.
We have not had any updates on the adoption front. Trying to figure out these Visa forms for DH, B1 and myself. Will get those in the mail in the morning!

Wanted to make mention of Veteran's Day today! Thank You to all those who have and are serving in the Military! With out you we would not have our freedom. Please pray for those serving our country! God Bless America!

I ask you all to say a prayer for my Aunt Grada who will have surgery this Thursday! She is so special to me and my mom! I love her a bunch and pray that God will be with the surgeons and her family during this scary time!