New Pictures

Finally I have been stressing because I couldn't get my computer to pull up my new precious pictures but Finally after never given up here they are.
Josie's First Haircut by mommie

Life with a 2 year old

It's obvious that I don't have much free time on my hands anymore. I read a e-mail the other day and one persons advise to waiting parents was to try not to focus so much on the adoption and just spend your time in-waiting just trying to get things done that you have put off around the house, baby-proofing, deciding on a pediatrician or child care, and most of all get all the you time in that you can. Well she was right if there was anything I would change it is that, I wish more than anything that I could have spent less time stressing and more time just enjoying my big kids, and just enjoying the journey the Lord was bringing me through but I do know that if anyone would have told me that then I would have said I know but I can't help it, the same way when people say all the time, it will happen in the Lord's time, well there right but when your in the middle of the wait it sure doesn't make your feel better to hear that expecially when your not seeing anything happening!, but it just a good thing that is the truth and that he knows we feel that way but he also sees to the end and it Will happen in his time. And when it does and he shows himself let me tell you I have experienced God's Grace and Blessing and it will blow you away.
I want to share something i heard in a song at a concert the other night that I thought was so simple and exactly true.
It said something like... Our GOD IS SO GREAT, HE IS BIGGER THAN ALL THINGS SO WHY IS IT WE TRY TO MAKE HIM SO SMALL!!
well that is exactly what we do! i have been reading about all the trouble still going on and to our eyes only getting worse in the adoption world in Guatemala and my first thought is I am so glad to be out of there and done and not want to ever have to do that process again in Guatemala, then I think about everyone else left in the process and I am so sad but Thats the problem we make God small with our worries. He will always carry though and no amount of ugliness or corruption can beat him So for those of you waiting if God called you or just led you to your child there in Guatemala he will move the mountian and bring them home. Just wait and see what God can do!.

To Kathy and Izzy...you will be home soon!!!
Brian and sweet little Kobe..
your are 2 special guys your the perfect match and its obivious God is in your adoption so hang in there.

just a little note

i just thought this was worthy of posting just to share about Josie's adjustment at home. Each day she is making so much progress. each day she learns a new word and understands something new that I say. It is really just unbelieveable it is true what they say about children being a sponge if only we could have learned spanish that easily. But today for the big progress that I just sit around and think wow! that was neat. She became very territorial today, and even though it wasn't very nice behavior it was neat to watch her,she didn't want her cousin Gracie to have her princess cup, she didn't want her to touch her chair, and she didn't even want Aunt Carla to touch her cabinet's!!! She realizes this is her home and her things and well that made my day. It still is wierd to watch her playing here i guess although I knew the day would eventually come its the real deal now and I guess were still just soaking it all in.

Well we survived our doctors appt. but it wasn't fun. Josie is going to have to repeat all of her shots so she got 4 today. But i will say it was the best shot experience though because we had 2 nurses given shots two on each side at once so it was at least quick. We had to give blood too though and that took 4 adults to hold her down to do so to say the least we were all in tears maybe even Dad alittle.
I would just have to whip anyone that would hurt my child on purpose. The doctor felt though that she was doing great he saw no issues but did refer us for speech and motor skills evalutation. He also gave me some advise on her bottle so will see when I get my nerve up and know i will stick to it.
Overall it was a great doctor experience I do believe we found the best pediatrician I have ever seen.
Here are some pictures of my little gap doll!

Moving on to things left undone

i can truely say that i finally feel as though life is getting back to normal. I don't feel like I my might go off and leave josie somewhere since I wasn't used to her being here (i know that sounds crazy but that's just me crazy). I haven't posted very much since we have been home I guess I just needed a break but today we got started back on our yard which since we started the adoption process that was just put on the back burner because for those of you adopting know by the time you pay all the lovely fees it is about all you can do just to finacally get your child home.
We are all doing great though. Tommorrow we go to our first US doctors visits though I am not sure how fun that will be but it feels good to be at the step and can just take her in as her parents and that's it.
Christian and corie are doing great getting adjusted to be back in school and thankfully were not behind and are doing so good it is just as if we were never away.
what a journey! what a blessing! Our cup floweth over!
And to top of this wonderful journey... We were recepients of the Shoahannah's Hope grant! So we are living proof God will always take care of his children and provide for their needs you just have to trust and go for it when he calls.

A Special Thank You

I would love to tell everyone that attended our Meet & Greet how much we appreciated all you generousity and love. We had a great day sharing Josie with you and she had a great time making so many new friends. The support we have had during the process is amazing and is definatly a God thing. I want everyone to know we couldn't have made it without all of you. My prayer is now that one more of God's children will also find his or her way to their forever family. I just couldn't imagine our life without its blessing of bringing Josie home to our family.

Josie's Homecoming

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Amazing

We have had the most exciting weekend. Everything is going so well although I will say we do miss Guatemala alot. We have been very busy though catching up with all our family and friends. i am about ready for some down time now though. Today was a expecially tiring but a absolutely wonderful day. We got to attend our home church today with Josie which is something I have dreamed of for a long time and then we had a very successful meet & greet party today for our family and I can't tell you what it has meant to us to see all the support and love that has gone out to us. And after today I will say josie is hooked up with lots of fun things. She is such a doll baby and was absolutely wonderful all day today but after no nap at 7:30 she is sacked out and I will say I am kindof grateful because mom is very tired too. I will be looking forward to tommorrow when the big kids are back in school and we just have a quiet day at home tommorrow and my messy house happens to be calling my name as well.
I will post pictures as soon as I can. Thanks everyone for your gifts and love. We are so grateful!

We are Home

Well we are home and settling in great. Josie acts as if she has just returned to the home she has always lived in and in a weird way it seems she always has to us as well. We had a great day of travel she slept both flights and our time at the airport flew by so we had a great experience with that. Then we when we flew into the U.S. and landed in the housten airport she started getting so excited and then I wanted to cry because she was seeing the united states for the first time! Then I can't tell you how fast i wanted to get across that airport and see my family that I knew was waiting for us. I figured I would cry but it was overwelmingly emotional. Josie was such a social bug though and loved to give hugs to everyone. I think she is used to people making big deals about her!!Then to my HUGE suprise I was completely humbled to look down the stair way to see my dear friends Laura, Charles and Caroline,(who came home from Vietnam while I was gone), Laura and I withstood the very hard wait for our girls together, and then almost half of my church family was there. I can not tell you what that did to me. I know they had to take off work and make special arrangements to be there and to be honest we were a little embarrassed (in a good way) but that they would go through so much trouble for us. but how special the love we felt coming back home and being welcomed by all the people that mean the world to us. I could never forget that moment for the rest of my life. Josie loved on them all so uf course that made us some pretty proud parents.
And now she is still snuggled up in my bed and its my birthday and I couldn't imagine anything better in the world than the sight I see laying there so snuggly and safe and sound!

This is it!

Well today is our last day here in Guatemala. What a awesome time we have had.
To our family and friends: see you tommorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its finished!

Thank goodness we are done! Our adoption is finally official and complete. we had our embassy appt. this morning and it went very well. I just cant tell you how good it felt to get sworn in and them tell us congradulations your adoption is complete!!!!! Josie was such a sweety too so now after a nap we are off to have some fun and take our first family trip to the zoo.
we only have 2 more days until we are home and I just cant believe it. It is crazy how when it is finished you think, well that wasn't so bad.
anyway we are just so happy and relieved and just can't wait to begin whatever the Lord has for us next.