Sunday, June 24, 2012

Waiting Expectantly

This coming Wednesday marks 8 weeks since we first saw the sweet face of our baby boy.  In many ways, it feels like the time has flown by.  I am thankful for that.


In other ways, it feels like so much time has gone by and we still sit at the same point--waiting for our paperwork to be submitted to court so that we can be assigned a court date. 


With each week that passes, we get closer and closer to the time of the year when the Ethiopian courts close for the rainy season.  While not the end of the world if we don't get submitted before closures, it would mean at least a 2 month delay before we could travel for court--2 more months that our baby will grow and change without us.


I have been so blessed to have 5 other mommies to walk through, and more importantly pray through, this period of waiting.  Each morning at 7:30, we all join together in prayer--each of us in different parts of the country--all praying for one common desire--to have our children home quickly for the glory of the Lord.  We have seen several prayer requests answered already with one family passing court this month for their sweet baby girl!  Five of us still pray daily for the miracle of a court date to be assigned before the closures in mid August and we all pray for the US Embassy to find favor with our cases a grant speedy approvals.  


The short term desire is for our children to be with us, but we all also recognize that these 6 little ones that wait across the world are all part of God's bigger plan.  I believe each one of them have a special plan for their lives and that God has united their moms to be prayer warriors for them.  I can't wait to see what God will do with these precious "prayer babies." 


As we get down to the wire, (we really need to be submitted in the next week or two to have a chance of getting a summer court date) I am reminded that even now--what is impossible for man is possible for God.  God is totally able to move all of our paperwork into the hands of those who grant court dates in just enough time for us to all be in court next month.  We are boldly praying for this miracle and waiting expectantly!  We hope you will join us in this prayer.





In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
 in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. 
Psalm 5:3

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Our All Star

Caleb made the "A" All Star team this season which means---we're still playing baseball.

Which is awesome and we're super proud of him.

He's working hard and this past weekend was his second tournament--a state championship qualifier.

And guess what??  His team won all three of their games earning them a spot in the

 State Championship tournament in a couple weeks!

Working the out field.

cheering on the batter

Caleb's loyal cheering section--seriously,
these girls have been to some baseball games and they're almost always excited to go.

"Team Irvin"-rockin the fan shirts!

Post game review.

Celebrating! 

Caleb told his sisters, "I'm going to win you girls another vacation." That he has. Onward to our next adventure!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Another 6 Year Old

Meron celebrated her 6th birthday on Sunday. That makes 3 birthdays celebrated at home with us. Can't believe how fast time is going. She was such a baby when she came home at 3.5 years old. I pushed her in a stroller, she had a pacifier and was much closer to Colton developmentally (who was only 2 at the time). But, 2 and half years later, she's gained 17 pounds and grown nearly foot can make it through the day without a nap (now making it through a care ride is another story :-).  

She's reading books, swimming, riding a bike and dancing up a storm (her latest genre is break dancing).  She's a kind hearted girl who talks incessantly, loves to dress up and generally enjoys being pampered.  She's still not the most eager worker and is always pointing out great inventions like the automatic vacuum cleaner, the power scooter and power wheels (she'd rather not exert too much energy).  This girl keeps us laughing for sure.
She had a luau theme just like Caroline.

This was the best reaction.
Croline had received this same doll for her birthday.
You can style her hair (a BIG past-time of Meron's ) and take her swimming.

Loving her new baby.


She asked for a "brown skinned" ballerina birthday cake.


Happy birthday to our big 6 year old girl!
We love you.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Beauty Shop

I'm not the most girly of girls. I never really played dress up or cared about make up or jewelry or any of that fancy stuff as a kids. I played house--imagine that. I was very serious about taking care of my babies and would play dolls for hours and hours. I always wanted to be a mom. Well, now that I'm a mom, I have a house full of girly girls who love all of those fancy things. I decided to let them play beauty shop and paint my face up however they wanted one day  (kind of out of character for me--I'm not usually that fun--but I'm working on it :-)

Caroline got a make up set for her birthday and it had all the pretty shades of pink and purple.



Then I did the girls' makeup.



The finished product.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Swan Lake


Meron's first ballet recital.
Caroline's first ballet recital.

Ballet Sisters


waiting 


little attitude captured during rehearsal 

nervous finger biting before coming out on stage

my cuties

after the big performance


the ballerinas with their cheering section


click here to embrace the camera

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Love Wrapped Up in a Ziplock Bag

We finally have the opportunity to send a care package to our little buddy. A family is traveling to his care center in a couple of weeks, so we went shopping for a few special items to send him. The kids were SO excited--they oohed and awed over the cute little baby clothes and if I would have bought all of the things they wanted to get for their new brother, we would have needed a garbage bag instead of a gallon sized ziplock.  

We settled on a couple of new outfits (he's been wearing girl clothes in every picture but one that we've received so far--they're anxious to get that boy some boy clothes). We also sent a little picture album with pictures of or family. I'm excited for the nannies to see them as they are the ones that first took care of Rahel when she was waiting. She wrote them a little note and sent some pictures of herself as well. The kids thought he'd love the winnie the pooh lovie--his color is red after all.

love that little brother onsie

We are getting very excited around here about having a baby in the house again.


all packed up



We've learned our lesson with lovies--if they love it--buy several :-)  Of course we won't know if he loves it or not and it will probably not survive to actually come home with him, but I'm planning on taking another one when we go for court and then having a few on hand when he comes home.


Colton was hoping that one of these where for him.
He still has his beloved blue puppy.  He loved these up for his baby brother.