Got it!

Praise the Lord!  

We finally got our home study back... I am thrilled!  It feels like April was forever ago.  Because, well we've fit a lot in since then all the while waiting to get our hands on that completed home study.  Imagine needing to submit an application to 'start trying' in order to add another little one to your family.  And, it takes two months to get the 'ok'.  

 This morning while sitting by our kiddie pool with friends, Renee called to let me know.  She is amazing and we thoroughly appreciate all she does for our family.  

So, what's next?  Because I have to sign the home study- Wes will bring it home tonight, we'll pack it up and send all our documents for our I-600 for our immigration approval.  Meanwhile, I'll start gathering up our dossier documents.  Fancy word, but basically just a list of documents to gather up.  Not difficult and it'll be nice to actually 'do' something for our adoption.  Praise the Lord- we're on to the next step. 

THANK YOU for praying!  You have no idea how much that means to us.  Thank you for asking 'is it here yet' and talking to God on our behalf.  Thank you for coming along side and being a part of our family journey.  

God Bless... we're so thankful today.  

Just trying to pack the car...

This past weekend, I met a fellow adoptive mom.  Her little one is in Haiti and she is in Colorado.  As we were introducing ourselves, I said 'adoption is such a journey'.  And, we both smiled and understood each other in a way only those who have been there done that can understand. 

In everyday life, oftentimes I hear myself saying that getting the car packed is half the battle in getting where you need to be.  You make the list, run around finding everything and then cram it all in. And, then there is inevitably that moment where you stand by the car and say "so, where's ........"  (filling in the blank with the name of the habitual last person ready in your family).  

That is what our adoption journey feel like right now.  We started this process back in April.  We made our list of things we needed, gathered up all our stuff, crammed it into a folder and got ready for the journey.  But, right now we're just standing here saying "so, where's the home study".  It's done.  It's written.  But, it is waiting for the last hoop-jumping approval steps.  And, like most people waiting in the car for the ever tardy family member... you just want to honk the horn and eventually yell through the back door "Let's GO!".  

However, that tempting response typically ends up with everything a little grumpy and less than enthusiastic to be spending something like the next three years of your life together.  So- we're asking you to join us in a better response.  Please pray that our home study gets its final approval soon.  Like this week would be great.  This afternoon of course would be even better but, we'll take as soon as possible.  Pray for our home study to be ready as soon as possible.  Thanks so much!!  

Pizza in the Park

Last night, we enjoyed pizza in the park with some of my college friends.  It was great seeing them again and to meet their two little boys.  Its hard to believe we hadn't seen each other since Wes & my wedding.  That was pre-kids for all of us and such a different time ago.  They were in town on vacation so we met up for a fun evening hanging out together.  

 Running, running, running.  

 Tree swords = boy joy.  

(No trees were harmed in the making of this fun.  

Unfortunately, someone else had already dismembered these awesome tree limbs)

 Get them!!!  Attack, attack! 

 An open hydrant to turn on at will...what more could a pair of boys ask for? 

 The closest we got to a group shot- was a fun night for sure!  

Branding time...

Back where I come from, its a 'season' not just a thing we still do.  Branding has stood the test of time- an old timer necessity that is just as important today as it was back then.  And, its a lot of fun getting together with friends, family and neighbors too!  

 Gathering the cows... 

 The crew all ready to get to work- 

the smell of branding never gets old for this displaced rancher's daughter.  

After the big work was done and we'd had an awesome lunch- there were more chores to day.  The baby calves needed an afternoon snack.  Kaleb thought it was hilarious that 'moos' drink from a baby bottle.  Oh, how I wish we could get a transcript of his brain! 

Off to the barn to feed the calves.... 

 

 Then to the other corral to let the horses out and make sure everything was taken care of.  

 Talking with Grandpa "Got lots to do".  :) 

What a fun day!