Today We Celebrate!!!

A year ago today, Mary Kenzie was placed in our arms and became a member of our family for forever! What an amazing day that was...I can still remember the way she smelled as her foster mother placed her in my arms and we drove away from Seoul to catch our plane back home.




I remember the look of love on her foster mother's face as she shed bittersweet tears...happy tears that her sweet girl would have a forever family and sad tears as she had to say goodbye to the angel baby she had taken care of as her own for 8 months. She loved Mary Kenzie so much...she said that normally after one of her babies leaves she takes a month off to recover but that she couldn't bear to go home without MK so she was going upstairs to get a new baby to bring home that very afternoon.



Two adoptions and three and a half years after becoming a mom, I am still in AWE at what the Lord has done for me. Being a mom is miraculous to me. This year I have been studying Isaiah and so many of the passages have spoken to me and really met me where I am.

Isaiah 63:7 "I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the LORD has done for us—
yes, the many good things he has done
for the house of Israel,
according to his compassion and many kindnesses."

Happy 1st Gotcha Day, Mary Kenzie!!!

This Time Last Year...

...we were on a plane heading to Seoul to meet our daughter for the first time! Michael and I marvel at the irony that it's only been a year (feels like we've had Mary Kenzie for every second of her life) and at the same time how it can already be a year.

Time has certainly flown by and each day we have bonded more and grown to love our precious daughter.

When I hold Mary Kenzie in my arms and look at her it is still hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this beautiful, sweet baby girl is my daughter. I cannot believe that I have been given the privilege of loving her every day of her life and being her mommy. I cannot believe that God has entrusted me with such a treasure.

Mary Kenzie all snuggled up with her Grammie

Some Answers...

So, I know I've left you hanging for too long...I'm sure you've spent many minutes of your days wondering what was in the package that Mary Kenzie and Riley were holding.

Well, your wait is over

but ours is just beginning....

In that envelope was our initial application to adopt again from Korea!

We have been accepted and are planning on working with WACAP this time around. After this adoption we will have worked with 3 of Korea's 4 adoption agencies (SWS, Eastern, and now Holt!).

Right after we were accepted by WACAP/Holt the health care reform bill passed. This has thrown us for a little bit of a loop knowing that Michael's job could be impacted by this legislation. We are taking things day by day and step by step.

Our plan right now is to put our house on the market in the next few weeks and look for a house with a little bit more room for our growing family. Once we are moved and settled, then we will begin the official paperwork process.

So, it looks like this will be a fairly long adoption journey to baby #3 but we are enjoying our time with our two little ones and are hopeful that if God has a third child for us that He will direct our paths and work out all of the details!

Easter Parade

We had a wonderful Easter! The kids enjoyed several fun Easter egg hunts the last few weekends. After church, we headed to Grammie and Granddad's house (Michael's parents) and enjoyed a yummy meal with Beth (Michael's sister) and her family, my brother Ben and his family, and my sisters Kaitlin and Meredith. The afternoon was full of eating and relaxing and a fun Easter egg hunt with all of the grandkids!

It's hard to believe that this was Mary Kenzie's first Easter with us!! We enjoyed celebrating the day and remembering how close we were this time last year to traveling to Korea for our daughter.