Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Hope this holiday season finds you healthy and happy. We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends. I am still not done wrapping and I have only baked two kinds of cookies - so I have some work to do today!

We are so excited that Big A's file is moving along the pipeline in the adoption process. We are through Parquet and awaiting his adoption decree....it will be wonderful to have that document!

Little A's process is also moving along nicely. One of these days I will be able to post about that as well - but for now I will keep you in suspense. I will give you one hint. She is from Asia......just not the part of it we had anticipated!

Love to all in this wonderful time of year. Thank God for your blessings and celebrate life....K

IBESR exit!!!

We are officially out of IBESR November 29, 2007. Next step Parquet - and an official adoption decree is next.

We are getting there - but still have a very long way to go. But our boy is healthy and happy and safe and we thank the Lord daily for that. An adoptive family with our agency picked up their daughter this week and took some amazing pictures of our sweet man. He is just a beautiful child and we are blessed.

What an amazing weekend this was. Truly a moment in time that will always be a special time for every one of us. Prayers are being answered - miracles do happen.....just when you least expect them.

Thanksgiving and The Journey

The Journey by Max Lucado



I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab. A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his. A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. Both demand patience, a good sense of direction, and a driver who knows that the feast at the end of the trip is worth the hassles in the midst of the trip. For me, six hours on the road is a small price to pay for my mom’s strawberry cake. I don’t mind the drive because I know the reward. I have three decades of Thanksgivings under my belt, literally. As I drive, I can taste the turkey. Hear the dinner-table laughter. Smell the smoke from the fireplace.I can endure the journey because I know the destiny. For some of you, the journey has been long. Very long and stormy. In no way do I wish to minimize the difficulties that you have had to face along the way. Some of you have shouldered burdens that few of us could ever carry. You have bid farewell to life-long partners. You have been robbed of life-long dreams. You have been given bodies that can’t sustain your spirit. You have spouses who can’t tolerate your faith. You have bills that outnumber the paychecks and challenges that outweigh the strength. And you are tired. Let me encourage you with a parallel between your life’s journey and the one our family took last night. It’s worth it. As I write, the Thanksgiving meal is over. My legs are propped up on the hearth. My tablet is on my lap. I have every intention of dozing off as soon as I finish this chapter. The turkey has been attacked. The giblet gravy has been gobbled. The table is clear. The kids are napping. And the family is content. As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. No one mentioned the requests I didn’t honor. No one grumbled about my foot being on the accelerator when their hearts were focused on the banana splits. No one complained about the late hour of arrival. Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy. God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right … and best. He’s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll close my eyes. I’m a bit tired from the journey, and it feels good to rest.

November 21, 2007

My devotional calendar for today:

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

The past few days have been extremely discouraging - but I am reminded that we are not alone in this journey to our children. We have been called to these kids and we will persevere. Our path may change - but that may be part of the bigger plan for us as well.

Next week we could sure use extra prayers if anyone out there is a person of prayer. Next week looks like it is an important week for both our adoption processes......our Haiti director is in Port au Prince next week and will be tracking down our file. She has power of attorney for us - so we are praying that she is able to get answers and hopefully get it moving through the process a little quicker. China has indicated they are now approving concurrent adoptions - but there are some new restrictions and procedures that concern us greatly dependent upon when we bring Big A home. So definitely be in prayer for our China process as we find out what our options are with that situation.

Blessings to all during this wonderful Thanksgiving season!

October update

Update from the creche in Haiti.....

"Our little man is incredibly sweet, so easy to love. He's very easygoing and laid back, laughs easily and loves to play and be silly. He gives great big bear hugs and loves to snuggle. He enjoys looking at books, and is interactive with them. He can point to his head, ears and nose when you ask him. He is one of two kids in the Boat Room that can do a somersault by himself, and he only learned to do it a few nights ago. He weighs 25 pounds 9 ounces this month."

We cannot wait to get this little one home. Sometimes the wait weighs heavily on us - but most of the time I am comforted knowing he is in a safe place and he is being held and loved while waiting for his family!

We traveled to Nebraska this weekend to lay our sweet Grandpa to rest by his beloved wife. It was sad - yet comforting to know he is no longer suffering. I miss them both. It was nice seeing family and friends.....and after all these years - going through northeast Nebraska still gives me a sense of "coming home". A big thank you to all who helped make us the wonderful lunch and made us feel so at home. We love and miss all of you!

The kids

I love these kids so much!

Sara Groves,

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace

fun stuff...

Roxie really likes A's room - she thinks his bed is very comfy...and is impatiently waiting for him to come home!

September 25, 2007

Today we lost a dear person - a father, grandfather & great grandfather. Grandpa W was such an interesting man....a brilliant man.....full of ideas and inventions. I know he was lonely these past few years without his Joy by his side...we all miss her so much....but it was a time I will not forget....as I got some wonderful hugs......and I will forever treasure those times he and I had together just gabbing about nothing. I am sad neither of them will get to meet our new daughter and son.....for we are all better people for knowing them both. I love you Gramps....

The Haircut

Mr. A had never had a haircut and in July - he recd his first!

Sorry we had to take these pictures off - we will post them again when he is HOME!!!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend - we tiled, concreted, shopped, and gardened!!! E's kitchen got an artisitic remodel and we got her back yard fixed so that Claire can't dig holes big enough to hide in against her foundation!! It was fun to get so much accomplished and still have one day to relax at home....it was very fun to hang out with K and S too!

News from China today is sad - only referring through the 25th of November 2005 log in dates this month...so the wait continues.

Maybe we will get good news from Haiti this week....keep those prayers coming!!!

News from the orphanage is that Big A is walking everywhere - and beginning to show his personality in a big way. He is a very happy little person and his nannies love him.

Faith

The past couple weeks have been very difficult for all of us....worrying about Hurricane Dean and our precious little man......worrying about political issues and a rogue orphanage in Haiti.....worrying about paperwork expiring again if our wait for China goes into summer 2008......sometimes it just seems so overwhelming. But we will continue to wait and pray because we know that these two children are meant to be part of our family.....and it is not our timeline.....


On a pleasant note - S has enjoyed the first week of school - I love it that he can drive himself!!! E has started her new job and is doing amazing things just like we knew she would. Sh and I are planning a weekend away to Atlanta in September - so we are looking forward to that.

July updates

Can you believe August is already here and preparation for school has begun? Where has this summer gone? Hard to believe we really thought we would have little people running around in our house this time LAST summer and here we are still waiting. I will tell you that this process for our two little ones has tested our patience - but has also allowed us to grow in our relationship with one another and our two "older" kids. E's house has been so fun to work on and we are so proud of her as she finds her "spot" at her new job! S has had a wonderful fun action packed summer at the lake - and now I anxiously look forward to school starting so we get to hang out with him! We have missed him this summer terribly! I will be posting pictures from big A's birthday and July update throughout the month. We sent a birthday package to his orphanage and they took pictures of him opening everything - and he had the biggest smile I have ever seen in every picture. We have decided that if he cannot come home before Christmas - we are going to Haiti for a short trip.

China is still looking like spring of 2008. Things are moving slowly along and we continue to move up the list. Wonder if our little A is finally born? I have thought she was at least twice- but I was wrong!

Enjoy these last days of summer!

Birthday!

What a fun day - turning 1 year old (May 30) and being the center of attention - every picture we got has the hugest smile anyone could possibly have. What a wonderful blessing during this wait to know how well taken care of and loved our little man is!!! Hurry home little man- lots of people are impatiently waiting to kiss your chubby little cheeks!

Haircut

Teeth

Good news from Haiti - our dossier is definitely in IBESR (and has been for a couple weeks) - which is the Social Welfare Department part of the process. It has three signatures it needs while there and after that it goes to Parquet (courts) and our little man legally becomes a part of our family!

I painted furniture for Big A's room today! That was fun - we haven't done anything except buy carseats, a stroller and a few clothes - so it feels good to do "something" for our boy.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and fabulous 4th of July!!

Summertime

Well our little man celebrated his first birthday on May 30!! He had cake (he loved the icing) and had a wonderful time opening the gifts we had sent down for his party. Wonder what he thought when he looked at the pictures of his crazy BLT family?

Big A is pulling up - but not walking yet. He was a late crawler too - sounds like he doesn't rush himself - but just waits until the time is right!

Exciting news on the homefront - S started his summer job today at the POLO store! Congratulations to our favorite young man!

E is taking a quick vacation to North Carolina to visit a friend next week - one last hoorah before Cerner start date of July 9.....Have FUN E!

Hopefully the next post will be very soon with new update photos from June!

Cap Haitian

One of the first pictures we received of our sweet "Big A" was his "trip to town" picture. Cap Haitian is about 7 miles away from his orphanage and the drive is not an easy one - taking about an hour. He enjoyed the ride in - taking in the sites and weighed in at 23 pounds at his doctor visit! He also got to try his first bite of ice cream.. (might be his first - but it surely won't be his last in this family!)

First Post....

Another Monday in our crazy wonderful life here on the good ol' BLT! Hay season is in full swing...with rain immediately coming in large quanities as soon as it was cut!

Our wonderful son "S" is having a fabulous time on vacation in Florida - and caught some amazing fish in the Gulf of Mexico today!

Our wonderful daughter "E" worked a long hard day at a job she will be glad to be done with soon - looking forward to some time off before starting the "real thing"!

We impatiently wait for news each month on our process for our sweet baby girl....
Little A......travel to China looks like it will be summer 2008.

We are moving along nicely in the adoption process for our sweet baby boy.....Big A.....Praying for a trip to Haiti before Christmas to bring him home.