First, I apologize to all of those who have been checking my blog.  I simply have had no time to write!

Well, Sunday night was the hardest day of my life.  Leaving Livia and Parker was so hard.  They are so excited but just did not want us to leave them.  I didn't want to leave them at all.  I was very mad at myself.  I really wished one of us would have stayed home with them.  We have called home several times and of course they are doing fine.  But we all terribly miss each other and we can't wait to get home!

We arrived in Kinshasa on Tuesday around 2:00.  Pastor Loma picked us up and drove us to the guest house.  The boys arrived a few minutes after we did.  I was so overwhelmed with emotion!  My boys were right before my eyes!  I could actually hold them.  I held myself back for a few minutes and talked to them.  Ian came right to me.  He is so adorable.  I then passed him on to Jamey were he fell asleep.  I decided to spend all of my attention on Chad.   Chad would cry everytime I looked at him.  I believe they had been preparing him for this day.  He knew what was going on and he did not like it.  My heart broke for him.  Pastor Loma and his family stayed with us for probably 45 minutes.  I finally decided to hold Chad.  He did not cry and hasn't ever since.  When I finally gave him to Jamey, he fell asleep too.  Daddy seems to have the magic touch.

We all slept together in a king size bed surrounded by mosqito netting. Using a flashlight, I felt like we were camping.  Couldn't help but think that Livia and Parker would really like it!  Wednesday we took the boys to the clinic.  It was probably only 5 miles away, but took about 2 hours to get there.  The boys were wonderful.  The trip was a very long one still.  With no air, high tempeture, high humidity and 11 people in a  mini-van it sure was hot and sweaty!  The boys only got blood drawn and will have a thorough examination next Monday.  They had a very hard time finding a vein on Ian.  It was very hard to see him in pain.  But he was over that very quickly.

Ian has bonded with me very quickly.  He wants to snuggle and give me kisses all the time!  Yesterday, he would fuss if I was not next to him.  He would cry and stop as soon as I picked him up.  He is a very happy baby!  He laughs and smiles and coos a lot and sings a lot too.  He is also very active and jumps on me non stop.  He's sort of hard to hold.  He is very strong.  Jamey found a scale here at the guest house and he weighs 11# and Chad weighs 19#.  We aren't for sure how accurate the scales are, they appear to be very old.  But they both are very small!  Ian has been wearing 3-6 month clothing and some 9 month old.  The clothes I packed for Chad 18-24 months  have been big on him and he has been wearing Ians 9 month old onsies.  I have a feeling both of the boys will be growing very quickly.  Ian takes lots of formula and Chad is eating all of mine and Jamey's meals (at the guest house we are served our meals and only a small amount is prepared)!  We are so excited that he has such a good appetite.  He had been eating mostly bread.  So, I am so pleasantly suprised that he likes green beans, greens, chicken and meat.  He just will eat anything so far.

Chad hasn't cried at all.  But he is not himself yet around us.  When we are with Pastor Loma he lights up and his personality comes out.  He smiles and talks (French and Lingala)!  With only us he still talks, unfortunately we cannot understand him.  He is much more subdued.  It is such a big change for him and he has been through so much already.  But he does love to snuggle!  Will stand and try to walk with assistance.  But he tires very easily.  He had Malaria and I don't think he has ever recovered his full strengh since than.  Well, they just rang the bell so I've got to go feed him some lunch.  I will try to right more the next chance I get.

Well, I am back.  Well fed happy babbies!  They are both so easy.  They never cry.  Ian cries only when he is hungry and has as I mentioned cries when I leave the room.  But he has started being fine with Jamey today.

 Oh, and did I mention how cute they are!  Here are some pictures!  

Chad looking at a book.

Ian giggling!

Ian kissing Stori

Ian and Stori

Chad asleep on Jamey

FINALLY!!!!

WOW!   I can't believe the time is almost FINALLY here!  I am so anxious, nervous, happy, prepared, yet unprepared.....I am just feeling so many things right now.  Packing has been my biggest stress this week.  How do you fit everything you need for two weeks for two babies and yourself in your carry on's?  It seems to be an impossible task!  I am finally almost finished with it : )
 
I am not nervous about our trip at all.  I am very nervous about leaving Livia and Parker.  I am going to miss them so much!  I cry thinking about it.  My outgoing little Livia is excited about all of the adventures she will have while I am gone.  Parker on the other hand would rather stay home.  He is very, very sad we are leaving.  It just breaks my heart to see his tears.  Although, yesterday, I said we would be leaving in 4 days,  he actually replied, "I am so excited!"  Of course, not because we were leaving, but because he knew he would soon finally have his brothers home!  I am so lucky to be blessed with children with such big hearts!

Today I am asking all of my readers to pray.  Pray for my babies I am leaving here.  May they have fun with grandparents and cousins and be comforted in knowing I will be home as fast as I can.  Pray for my new babies as they make such a big transition.  May they find comfort in our arms as they are taken from anothers arms.  Finally, pray that we all make it through the big transition when we come back home!  I just can't wait for that first family hug!

Beautiful Boys, Beautiful People

I was pleasantly suprised to get two more new pictures of my beautiful boys.  They have no idea how many people here are loving them, praying for them, and waiting to hold them.  I am just so overwhelmed by all the support we have gotten.  I knew I'd have the support of all those close to me.  But I am suprised by all the other people who are praying, donating to the orphanages, and offering their help in any way the can.

These people have kept my hopes up when I saw my boys starving.  They helped hold my heart together when we lost Linda and Dokta.  They helped keep my mind together when our trip was postponed over a month.  These people have donated over $1500 towards supplies and have given many supplies for the children we must leave behind in the D.R.C.  These people are just AWESOME!   Thank you!  I love you all! 

Let the Sun Shine!

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Parker.  It is a month before his birthday, but we will be coming home with two little ones the week of his birthday.  Didn't know if they would be ready for 12 kids running around.  So, Parker happily agreed to an early birthday party. 
After what seems of a month of clouds and rain,  the sun shined for his party!  We had scavenger hunts, roasted marshmellows,  went on a hay ride and found pumpkins and did a lot of swinging!  Then Parker enjoyed a slumber party with his wonderful cousins!  I think it was a pretty good day!

The Crazy Gang!

Parker swinging with his buddy Koby.

Livia and Jonathon......cute, cute, cute!

Parker with his spider cupcake!

There is also a lot of good adoption news to share! We recieved news that the Terry's got their referral picture!  I am so excited for them!  The Solberg's paperwork is moving along really quickly!  And we recieved new pictures!!! 

Chad.  Can't wait to see him smile : )

Ian is sitting up all by himself!

Mama Josephine giving my babies some love : )

By the way, we leave in 2 weeks! 

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Sour Cream!

While I was cleaning our refridgerator, I realized we had some sour cream that needed to be used.  Instead of it going bad and throwing it away, I decided to put a dallop on each of our bowls of rice and beans.  It was amazing what excitement that brought!

We are ending our second week of beans and rice.  Unfortunately, we haven't ate beans and rice everynight.  We have had previous plans with others.  But normally on busy weeks like we have had I would be picking up fastfood every evening (costing about $20.00 a evening).  But with beans and rice already made it is very easy and simple.  I am amazed by the money we are saving!  I actually have only bought beans at the store.  We had quite a supply of different types of rice in our pantry.  We are still deciding on whether we should start our own fund for adoptive families or add it to others who have already began funds.  Either way we are adding up money a day at a time. 

This is really making us appreciate the food we are eating.  We also pray daily for those who would love to have rice and beans to eat, but have only empty tummys.  We have started saying the same prayer every night before our rice and beans.  It is such a simple prayer that still deeply touches out hearts.

A cup of rice, a cup of wheat

For every hungry child to eat

And more we ask you, Lord above,

For every child, a home of love.

Finally We Meet!

This evening we had the opportunity to listen to a great band Point1Zero and enjoy beautiful weather on the Ohio.  But we also were able to meet another couple who are in the process of adopting from the DRC!  I have formed great friendships with so many people who have or are in the process of adopting.  It is so comforting to talk to people who know exactly how I feel, who has felt my frustrations, helplessness, who can speak the words that my heart feels, and understands the strong bond that amazingly has happened even before I have met my babies in person. They have all been such a support to me.  Thank you all!  Unfortunately, I never get to meet them in person.

One of these great friendships is with Megan Terry.  We met the Terry's at a benefit for Darfur at King Fish on the River.  Kamron Terry is a member of the band Point1Zero (it is a great band with awesome songs).  Our kids had a blast playing.  It was wonderful to meet Megan in person!  Now I just wish we lived a little closer!  We aren't to far away from each other though.  I am hoping for some future playdates with all of our new little ones. 

Earlier this week we were able to meet Suzanne.  She is the MCC rep in the DRC.  She is the angel who provided the boys with formula and us with priceless pictures.  We have emailed back and forth for months and she has shared her own adoption experiences.  It comforted me to be with someone who has held my boys, fed my boys and rocked them to sleep.   It somehow made me feel a little closer to them.  She shared a lot about Kinshasa and I feel much more prepared for our trip.  Just wish it would get her already!  We were able to bring Suzanne a suprise.  Two of her friends who she hadn't seen in years joined us.  Making the night even more special.  Thank you Miningers for joining us!  She also gave us a gift that was made in the DRC.  Something for me to hold onto until I get to hold my babies (in 41 more days).

So, this week has been a week blessed with opportunities to meet wonderful people : )

A Travel Date!

Bittersweet.
Sweet....we actually have a date!
Bitter......it is so far away!

Our official travel date is October 27th.  The US Embassy has agreed to see us on the 29th.  We will see them again for an interview on Nov 3rd (Jamey's birthday).  We hope to be back home on Nov 7th.

It feels so great to actually have a date to plan for!

God Keep Me Safe

I know it's been forever since I have posted about our adoption. I just am having a very difficult time right now and it is much easier to write about the good stuff. People like to read about the good stuff and the cute pictures, but lets face it, it's not all good. We had hoped to be going to get the boys on September 22nd. But the US Embassy in Kinshasa is not ready for us yet. So......we wait some more. It is most likely now going to be the end of October. It is just so heartbreaking to be here with all of our luxuries while my babies are so far away with very little. I know that Papa L's family is giving them lots of love. But you know that mommy's always feel no one can take care of their babies the way they can. And it is hard to take care of them from half way around the word!


I'm not only upset because they aren't in my arms. It is much more than that. At church Sunday we sang a song called "God Keep Me Safe". I prayed Chad and Ian would be safe. That God would keep us safe on our journey to the DRC. But mostly I thought of all the orphaned children having that hope that God will keep them safe! I immediately started crying. It's just to overwhelming! What can we possibly do to help that many children.



I recently read some statistics. There are appoxiametly 145 million orphans in the world. Most of them have very little food and no one to care for them. Sounds hopeless, doesn't it? How could God allow for all these children to have no one to care for them? That is not the question to be asking though. The question is: How can we allow all of these children to have no one to take care of them? I am not trying to say that everyone should adopt a child, but these children should easilly be cared for. God has gave us enough food on this earth to feed everyone. There are over 2 BILLION Christians on earth. God has taught us to take care of these children. If only 7% of the Christians would take care of one child then all of these children would be cared for.

I have been thinking of ways I can help. Taking two home and leaving the rest behind will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I know a lot of people have been called to adopt, but are scared of the cost of adoption. So, We've decided to help fund another's adoption. We actually have recently put this in our will that we would set up an endowment fund that would help with adoption costs. But then I thought, why am I going to wait until I am dead to do something to help. So, we have began having rice and beans for supper. We plan to keep this up until we bring the boys home. Of course, we already have a few days we know we will break this due to outings we had already planned with other people, but other than those few days, we will be having rice and beans. Not only does this save us lots of grocery money that can be donated to this cause, it is a daily reminder to us all to pray for those who would love to be able to eat beans and rice.

So, if you feel God has called you to adopt. Please do not be scared. These children need you. Or if you have the funds donate to a mission to help feed these children. Or help fund someone's adoption. Or simply encourage other people to help however they can. I"ll end with a prayer I actually read on another blog and wanted to share.

An Orphans Prayer

I am waiting...somewhere far...far away on the other side of the world. I may not know who you are or what you look like, but somewhere deep in my heart I know you are out there. That one day you will come and find me. It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier. But I know the ones that come for me will not count the cost. They will only see the joy in finding me. For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless. Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else? Asking why my life couldn't have been different? It is so lonely. Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know that something is missing...I know in my heart I need a place to call home. My arms long to be wrapped in a fathers embrace...I long to be saved by a mother's love...Gazing out the orphans window, I offer a prayer of hope, "Oh God please help them come quickly." Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear, I am not alone. Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart. The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call. He whispers His promises in my ear. I listen with hope to His voice. But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me. The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth. I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found? Yet He calms my heart and assures me He will find you. That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly. He has promised me that he will make a way through the fields, that He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door. My prayer is....When He speaks...Please don't forget to listen...When He calls don't be too afraid to go. For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far away on the other side of the world to come home.

Author Unknown

Three Day Weekend!

We had a very fun Labor Day Weekend! We had game night Friday. On Saturday we went geocaching for the first time. We never found the box, but we still had a blast hiking! The hike made me remember how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful place! We often get so busy that we forget to stop and just take in God's beauty. I have a feeling this will be a weekly activity from now on. Sunday we went to my cousins wedding. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding. And thank God no rain! We all danced the night a way! Monday we stayed home, had a cookout and swam.

Livia and Parker just hanging out on a vine! Vines are one of their favorite things in the woods!

Ahhhhhh...Ahhhhhh......Watch OUT for that Tree!

A box turtle, one of Parker's many finds in the woods.

Toby, our little Cavapoo, came along for the hike.

Parker and Livia hiking up to the cave.

After a big hike up the rocks, the kids enjoy a cave. But still no box! We later found out that my cousins hid this geocache box and it was down at the very bottom where we started!

The kids ended the hike with a swim in the creek. Sorry, Livia. (She thought no one was going to see her in her panties!)

My beautiful mom, better known as "Tatu" (which must have meant wonderful grandma to Livia when she was 9 month old), and Livia and Parker. Actually Jamey jokingly started calling her Grandma Cuckoo, because she has a Cuckoo Clock in her living room. Livia soon started calling mom Tatu and we had no idea why. Until one day when the little bird came out and cuckoo'd and Livia started yelling, "Tatu, Tatu!" So now everyone calls her Tatu! She looks to young to be called grandma anyway! Don't you think?

Me and my little man along with my mom and brother were the first to start the dancing!

We also found this cute little kitten under our deck. She is now living in our house, but we hope to find a good home for her soon. Isn't she precious? Any takers?

Give them Hope

Here is a video that Carrie and Brian put together. They are a wonderful family who adopted Haven in May. This video shows exactly where Chad and Ian are coming from. A lot of the pictures are of the orphanage they were in. Just click to watch Congo Orphans- Give Them Hope.

There are still babies there that are in the process of making it to the Pastor Loma's family for foster care. Please keep praying that this happens quickly and please pray for all of the other children left behind.