Reptiles!

Today we got to go and see Reptile Man at the library. As you can see Ethan got right into it.



In this picture you can see the back of Emma and Faith as they pet the python.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever!

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" Ephesians 6:4

Thanks for teaching us about Jesus!

Our Favorite things about Dad:

Ethan: He plays football and video games with us.(and he's a stat nerd)

Emma: He's fun to play with.

Faith: He likes to play with us and he pretend wrestles with us.

WE LOVE YOU, DADDY!!!!!

Eliza's Room

From the time we started this process we debated about when to set up the baby's room. We thought we were close to getting her picture a few months ago so we went ahead and set her room up. It turned out we were wrong about getting her picture but it has been nice to be able to spend time in her room praying for her. The girls have been known to go in and play with her toys. They say they are practicing for when she comes home.

The lady bugs and vine around the room were all painted by Toby. How special to have a room painted by Daddy! We put our family on a red thread in the windowsill because of an ancient chinese proverb.

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circimstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."

Lucy & Sisko

What better to get your mind off the wait than a new puppy? We already had one dog, a Lhasa Ahpso named Sisko, but the kids really wanted a dog they could play ball with. {Anyone familiar with Lhasas knows they just don't like to fetch.} After much consideration and begging--we got Lucy, a sweet Airedale with tons of personality. She is now eleven months old and a great fit for our family. Sisko and her are very close. She loves to snuggle even though she is pretty big. Any time one of us is laying on the floor it doesn't take her long to come and "spoon" us.

Ethan, Emma, & Faith

As you can see we have three beautiful children. They are also anxiously awaiting their new sister. They have been unbelievaly patient so far. She is never very far from their thoughts. Faith is very excited for the day when she is finally a big sister.

Where We're At In The Process

Two years ago in March we started our "paper chase". In December 2005 our dossier was sent to China (DTC). It was officially logged in on December 26, 2005 (LID). This is an important date because that is essentially our space in line. The CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) matches families to babies in the order they are logged in unless it is a special needs adoption or you are of Chinese heritage. As of today the CCAA has matched families logged in up to November 7, 2005.

We do not have a match to a baby yet (a referral). We don't know how soon we will get a referral. It's hard to predict how fast or slow the CCAA will go. Lately it seems like they are going slow.

I guess it's a good thing God is making us wait longer or we wouldn't have time to do this blog.

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" Romans 11:33

How it all started.

To say that the desire to adopt started when we filled out the paperwork two years ago would not be true. We have found that God started working in our hearts to adopt (specifically from China) before we even had biological children. I don't pretend to understand the ways of God. All I know is the more I get to know Him the more he changes my heart.

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

The more time I spend getting to know my Lord, I find that my selfish desires give way to desires that only could come from Him. I love that He doesn't just take away those desires and leave me out there searching for new ones that are just as sinful--He gives me new ones that are pure and good.

Not only has He planted the seeds of this adoption; He has also knit Eliza in our hearts. She is not born of our flesh but she is born of our hearts. Only God can touch a heart this way.

Can you tell I'm amazed by Him? My prayer is that you will be too.