A LITTLE BOY WHO IS SO FAR AWAY....

Our family is waiting, waiting and waiting to see God's plan! 

Waiting to see what the Liberian Government holds for the

 future of so many little ones in Liberia!  Our prayer is that God's will may be done. 

If that may be staying in Liberia or coming home to our Family! 

We are so thankful for the wonderful, 

loving, caring and God's servants who visit and love this special boy for us!  

Joni and Nikelle, you are God's Angels to our Family!

Look at one of the pictures we received this morning!

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34 

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”Psalm 37:4


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”Romans 15:13


“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer” Psalm 4:1 

BoYs

 With the week being so horribly hot, the boys didn't work so much with Mark. So I thought I could get Benjamin to pull out the dead evergreen trees with the four wheeler! Hmmm...didn't work so well, he thought he could ride them over first and than pull them out with a chain. Needless to say, he didn't pull trees out for too long!

Is this what  "Boys will be Boys" come from?

Brody enjoys putting his food through his curls!

This little boy is starting to show his true personality!  He figured out how to shake his finger at me when I say, "no no"!  He has just mastered shaking his head yes, it is so cute!  When in the car he loves to hear himself, he can just squeal and than he just giggles.Brody now has his top tooth pop through, with the other one right behind!  He is into anything and everything!  All the doors in the kitchen now have Brynn's rubber bands holding them closed! The laundry room door is shut at all times, when the door is left open I can hear dog food being thrown all over, and splashing! I come around the corner and oh man do I get a big grin! It still amazes me how boys automatically know what car/truck noises are. All the boys have made their little tongue do this cheek n tongue noise!  He also knows how to get us all to laugh during dinner! Thanks to his older brothers teaching him how to blow, his food just flies out or his milk, and we do more giggling behind our hands! I can't imagine our home with out Brody!  We just got his new birth certificate in the mail this week!!! Our little Mississippi Boy!  Hard to believe he is 11 months this coming week!! God Blessed our Family so much with this little guy! I know God has a plan for our family, and with out Liberia closing we would never had Brody in our life!
 I took Benjamin shopping this past week, and I seen a young gal pregnant, pushing a stroller. Reminded me of just about a year ago, meeting Rebekah! We have not heard much of anything for quite a while.  We just continue to pray that God is guiding her in all she does.
I ask for extra prayers for Marcus this week!  Marcus birthday is coming up too!!  Can't believe he is going to be 5!  Joni is hopefully going to go and make a visit, and see how Marcus has been feeling. Nikkel brought some goodies for Marcus, and I am SO ready for some new pictures, I am so thankful for Joni for with out her we would not hear or see a picture, and especially Nikkel (a young gal from our area volunteering for Samaritan's Purse) for bringing a love package for our little guy in Liberia! God brought this beautiful little boy into our life for a reason, and someday we will know God's plan!!  Please pray for our agency also, and those who are working out the details in Liberia regarding adoptions! 

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” 

2 Corinthians 4:1

Beau, Kassidy, Caleb and Benjamin

 This past friday we sent Beau and Benjamin off to our church's youth convention in Estes Park in Colorado!  I am excited to hear about their white water rafting went yesterday! Here is a picture of the kids before they left!  It is so great for them to go with their cousins! It is fun, Beau just graduated, Kass is going to be a sr, Caleb a JR and Ben a sophmore. and cousin Kade is a freshman! School starts August 18, which is too soon for me! Brody is going to miss the action around the house!

Brody enjoys the view from top!

 Brody is starting to notice so much! He was pretty excited to see the big bus!

Carmel RCYF

Here is the group going to ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!

http://www.synodyouth.org/Youth_Events/RockyMountainHigh.aspx
You can watch live at 7 pm! Hoping to get a glance of the boys! :)

Weird to think 18 years ago Mark and I went  with the youth group and left Beau with family!!  Praying for the kids to feel the Holy Spirit working in their hearts, and that many of them will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour! Next week Bradyn leaves for Omaha with his youth group on "Urban Plunge"!

Thanks for checking in our silly family!!
God Bless You All!

Our Little Miracle

I can hardly believe Brody will be 7 months old Saturday!  To see him grow and learn is so much fun! I am not sure who is having the most fun when you have 3 big brothers, 1 sister, Mom and Dad cheering you on! Brody is now crawling all over! Sometimes his body goes faster than his arms!  He is starting to say, Mama, Dada, Beau and last night Mark got him to do "hi da!"  It is so awesome to see the his face when the kids come home from school!! Oh he loves his big brothers and Brynn!   He will be busy doing something in the high chair and his arms start doing so big, of course that makes everyone giggle and cheer, which he loves.

He loves cords, remote controls and cell phones. It does not help his big brothers get on the floor and show him the cell phone and he starts a crawlin faster and faster towards them.  He is starting to notice so much around him! To see his big brown eyes lighten up, is such a blessing! He is such a blessing to our family! Brody is finally sleeping through the night! Whew....took a few nights of crying, but he is more rested and now we have to master a good nap time!  2 teeth are trying to urge their way up, so he is trying to bite and chew on anything!

I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

We are reminded every day, if Marcus would of came home when he was suppose to, we would of never received this little miracle.  Yes, Brody is our little Miracle! We are got all the finalization paper work sent in and now we wait for the day in court to say Brody is paper worthy part of our Family!

~We still do not hear or read anything from Liberia!! Our family asks for prayers, for Marcus and the Liberian Government, and don't forget our Agency! 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

There are so many Family's who are facing cancer in our area.

~Please pray for: Sondra as she continues chemo and radiation.

~Warren as he has surgery next week to remove a growth in the bladder.

~Rodney our SW brother in law who has been receiving treatments.       

~Monica who is suffering with crones flare up and surgery that set her back b/c a leak, and was septic.

~Prayers for a family waiting to get word to travel to ET

to be united with their son, with the ET government changing rules, it is scary!

 Prayers for the family who is praying their 2 home from GuatemalaPrayers for Samaritan's Purse and Joni as they are having a huge crusade in Monrovia! Prayers that many may take a stand and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour!

Prayers for Birth Mom's

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
Psalm 33:22

PRAISE:

:) Praise for 2 Family's who are home, (one on the way home) in our area that have been blessed

with little ET girls, and are welcomed home to big brothers!

:) Praise for a family who where blessed with the gift of adoption....Charlie Jace! Praying that your paper work goes fast so you can return home to you family!! Congratulations.

 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8



6 months old

Went to get Brody's 6 month pictures!! He was not to sure about or who was taking them! Little sweetheart, is starting to notice strangers!  I will share more later!

 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."    Hebrews 11:6

Baby its cold outside!

It has been a cold week here in Northwest Iowa! Blow zero wind chills! I am so thankful school is good at having activities indoors for recess! This picture is for the big game tomorrow! Needless to say, Brody is going to be a Chicago Bears fan, because his brothers, Dad, and Grandpa are all crazy, obsessed, football fans! Go Bears!

Brody is just a growing! It is so fun and such a blessing to see Brody learn, and understand what is what! Now he sees a bottle and his arms and legs just move and he makes the cutest grunts for the bottle! While you feed him you can not look at him, or you will never finish the bottle b/c he smiles and just talks! Although if he is beyond hungry, that is when you hear his loudest cry! When we rock a by, he is now starting to look over the lazy boy for one of the kids! He loves our little dog Zoey, I have a feeling, Zoey is not going to appreciate all the hair being pulled! Brody is starting to grab, and put everything in his mouth! He is not sleeping the night yet! He has mastered to rolling in the crib, and he wakes himself up! By the time you get to him, he is crying until he sees you than you see the biggest smile! He is so strong and has to stand and look around! On the floor he'll roll over, and when on his tummy he can scoot forward! On his back he can do a scoot and he will be facing another direction! He has the cutest voice, and his giggles are contagious! It is crazy how you forget all the fun little things babies learn to do! Wow, are we all in love with Brody! Over vacation he melted all the Auntie's hearts, not to mention the cousins! Brody loves his baby food, here is sweet potatoes on his face!!

Brynn ready to show what she learned at the Cheer Clinic!

Brynn had so much fun!


“The Lord says, ’I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.’” Psalm 91:14-16

Precious Memories...

I finally got time to sit by a good computer, reflect on the past week! You can see God's gentle hands around all involved!

I flew to Jackson, MS on Wednesday! Flight went great! I overheard ladies talking about Ben Afflect on the plane with them in the Dallas airport! I would of tracked that man down, but I was on a "Let's Go Meet Brody" mission!

Thursday morning at 5:00(yawn) I got picked up and went to help Ms. R get registered! The nurses gave us some strange looks as we checked in! The hospital Ms. R was at was not so "adoption" friendly or should I say adoption aware.
It was such a blessing to hear the Dr talk to Ms. R and the procedure. I got this great gown to put on, and shoe covers!

The nurse was so wonderful and than I got to go to the surgery room! My thoughts were wild as I prayed that God would be with the Dr's, Ms.R, Baby Brody and the whole situation!
I was expecting the "Baby Story" with the csection..Than the most beautiful little baby appeared and won my heart!
Brody Josiah was born at 7:21am, August 26, 2010! What a beautiful moment between Ms. R and myself!

 

The days in the hospital where beautiful, emotional, and every word that decibels ones feelings. I got to spend all the time with Ms. R, Baby Brody, the Social Worker and myself! Ms. R and I talked so much about how our life is here at home. We did lots of giggling, and as the days grew closer the tears came also. I know Ms. R loved Brody, so much that she sacrificed her own heart.
Here is Ms.Danita and Brody!

This verse really puts a perspective on this past week....

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3
God, has blessed us with so many wonderful gifts...the gift of His own son, and I think of Ms. R, placing this beautiful baby boy in our hands to raise, knowing we will love, nurture, and tell him of God's great love for him!

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6

 

"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

There where times of desperate crying out to God. We are waiting for the birth father to sign his relinquishment of Brody. Brody is now in our care, knowing this guy could come forward and want to try to parent. Scary...my heart broke! Mark did not get to MS until the afternoon of last Saturday! My wonderful dad took the week off of work to ride with Mark and spend time with us! I was never so glad to see these 2!
I want to thank Sheila and all those on the prayer team at Katelyn's Fund! Mark and I know you have been fervently praying for our adoption(s) process. To pray when I was so uncertain of the birth father! Scared and unsure!
God is amazing and I can't wait to show the precious pictures of our little Brody!!

1st Day of School....

It is hard to believe it is that time again!! School started today! Beau's last 1st day of High School! Beau is a Sr, Benjamin a freshman, Bradyn in 7th grade and Brynn is in 1st! All 3 guys are in the same school while Brynn travels to the neighboring town.

Brynn and Bradyn getting on the bus!

Beau and Benjamin leaving together!



To complete my morning to make it even more exciting!! Joni had a chance to go bring Marcus his Birthday wishes from his American Family!! Could this boy be any cuter!!!
How can you describe or even put in words the blessing Joni is to our family but to see Marcus' smile, God is so amazing! Thank YOU God for blessing us with Joni!! The pictures she sent to our family, is unbelievable, and to know, with the Lord's help, Marcus will be home, and to think, he will have a baby brother to come home to!
"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."
Matthew 6:21



"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

I booked my flight to Jackson, MS yesterday! I will fly out next Wednesday and Lord willing(which I seen on the schedule myself)Baby B will be born on Thursday am!! Mark will than drive out after Beau's football game Friday night! I feel bad for missing Beau's first football game being a SR, but holding his baby brother will be worth it!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him…" Proverbs 3:5
Thanks again for all the prayers! Today I am so thankful for the 4 great kids we have been blessed with! Than to see how great Marcus is doing, and to think God has a little baby planned out in MS! God is good!!!
I am so excited to think about the possibility of having a house full of boys!! Brynn is has realized, "this is just a boys life in our house, Mom!" She is so excited to e a big sister! Lord willing...

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:27, 33

Joni....A true Blessing

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colssioans 3:23-24



But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
Psalm 40:16