Fullness

Two of our pastors are preaching on adoption during the month of October! I am so excited that they are doing this and that we belong to a church family that values orphans and adoption! I am really looking forward to hearing what they share with us.

We are also hosting a one day seminar in November for people who are interested in learning more about adoption. Let me know if you are local and would like more information! We'd love to have you!

This fall is looking very, very full! We have a lot of fun things planned! In a couple of weeks my sweet cousin Allison is getting married and Riley is the ringbearer and Mary Kenzie is the flower girl! We can't wait to be there for Allison's big day.

We also have some fun concerts coming up, and we're surprising the kids by taking them to a Veggie Tales Live show! They are huge Veggie Tales fans.

So many "big" things to look forward to but I also want to enjoy the little moments in each day.

Like when the kids hear Michael come through the door after work and go running full speed into his arms to greet him like they haven't seen him in weeks.

When Riley says, "Hey, Mommy...I love you!"

Mary Kenzie who randomly breaks into "Holy, Holy, Holy" throughout the day.

Kaitlin who jokes about how she's becoming a football expert now that she lives with the football guru. And, for me, just knowing that I get to spend my days with these precious ones that God has blessed my life with and an incredible husband who I've been able to lean on more than I ever thought I would need to.

Life has definitely not been without its hardships and tragedies but God is here. In the midst of chaos and despair, He is here and has provided so much joy and peace despite it all.

Settling In

We have now been in our house about a month. We are settling in...learning all of the sounds and how things operate...all of the things that go on with a "new to us" house. The kids have settled in very well. Mary Kenzie got to move to a big girl bed the night we moved in. She has done great in her lower bunk.




And, Riley has loved sleeping in his top bunk.


My sister, Kaitlin, lives with us and has gotten back into the swing of things for her senior year of high school.



Now it's on to preparations for when baby girl arrives sometime in December/January. I will be 26 weeks along on Friday. It is very fun and surreal to feel her kicking and moving around inside of me. So far I have felt great! Now if we could just agree on a name....

Picking Apples

Last weekend we took the kids to an apple orchard about an hour outside of town. We had the best time! There were tons of yummy apples available for picking. There were plenty of branches low enough for the kids to be able to pick, too. We will definitely go next season. Now my garage refrigerator is full of delicious apples for the winter!

Riley's 4th Gotcha Day!

How can it be that my sweet Riley has been home already for four years?!? Amazing! I still remember the moment he was placed in my arms and I became a mommy. I can still remember the overwhelming feeling of joy that God had given me more than I could have asked or imagined.

We had a very fun day...making airplane cookies and reminiscing. Riley chose spaghetti for our dinner and he ate 2 huge bowls!

Riley, you are such a blessing to our family and we cannot imagine our lives without you in them. You have become such a little man of God in the last few months. We are so proud of you and how we see God using your life already in big ways at only four years old. I love to hear you pray and to hear you talking to God in such a natural way.

You will always be my sweet baby boy no matter how old you are, and September 13th will forever be one of the happiest, happiest days of my life!

The Night Riley arrived


4 years later!