The Last Update!

We just got word that we our travel approval is on it's way!
Yippee Jesus! 
We have requested our travel times and dates for our CA!
We seem to get Thursday CA appts
every time...
Hopefully this time we will get a
Monday,
Tuesday or a Wednesday!

We have also received our last pics and updates on the boys!
Joseph is 3ft 4in and 31lbs at 5 yrs 3 months old!

He is almost 4 months older than Luke and a half inch shorter and 4 pounds lighter.
I think Joseph will have lots energy!
We are so excited to get to know him and love him!

And here is Benjamin!
His orphanage offered us to Skype with him!
Since we are now in the country our internet is extremely
ssssslllloooowwww.
No high speed stuff here ;-(

Has anyone else ever skyped with their child before gotcha day?
How did you communicate?
How did it go?
Are you glad you did it?
Are their questions we should ask him/ them?

We may be able to go to hubby's office and try it from there!

Ben is 7 yrs 5 months old. He is 4ft 1in and weighs 50.5 lbs!
Ben is 3 months older than Sam and 2 inches taller!

We are so excited to bring these two treasures home!
I will post travel dates and information once we have it!
Jim and Mark will travel and I will stay home with the children.
Our older son Billy and friend Karen will help us out at home!

WoooooHoooooo!
Soon they will be with their forever family and soon we will have more sons!


Praising GOD!!

Happy Birthday Mia!

This is Mia's first Birthday at home!

(She chose a gumball machine).

We were unable to celebrate it in our traditional way sooooo...

 we got creative!

And visited a local pottery painting store!

This is one of the many perks of homeschooling!

All of the children picked out a bank to paint!

Melissa has a tiara!

Ava has a donut!

And Sam has a monster truck!

Abby has a crown!

And Sarah has an ice cream sundae!

Ellie chose a hamburger!

Luke has a motorcycle!

And Anna has a traditional piggy bank... that happened to play in the mud!

When they were all done we placed them on a center table...

it was my job to make sure no one broke any of them!

Success!

They were all intact when we left!

They will be glazed and ready for pick up in 2 weeks!

We ate lunch out and hung around home...

until Daddy got home 

with...

Mia's Birthday gift!

She was so thrilled!

 I am thankful to have gotten these pics!

She was truly surprised and very happy to have her first(very own) bicycle!

Our dear children have no idea how to accept a gift and then how to treat it once they have received it.

Sadly, they feel undeserving...

I remember everything we gave Sarah she gave to someone else.

They have no idea how to appropriately thank someone for a gift. 

And they do not know how to use it or take care of it once they have received it.

We actually role played how to say "thank you".

She did a good job throughout the day saying thank you but after her birthday forgot that she even had a bike.

In the evening we went to our very favorite restaurant!

Once we adopted more than 4 kiddos we stopped going here- so for most of them, this was a new experience! 

It was Japanese food cooked on the habachi grill!

It was quite the show and very funny!

Happy Birthday Mia!

We are so very happy to be your parents!

So sorry, big kids... we forgot to tell you we were going to your favorite restaurant!

We'll do it another time ;-) !

Happy Birthday Johnny!

This was the last family gathering at the "old place"!

It was such a joy to have so many family members there!

Our family has been amazingly supportive and helpful!

We are feeling so very blessed!

Johnny turned 20 yrs old!

I really can't believe that my baby from the first bunch is that old!

He was only 12 when we began this journey of adoption!

Thankful for the energy of the older sibs!

And the joy the older and the younger bring to our family!

Blessed by a wonderful girlfriend that we adore!

Obviously this was taken before the packing began!

It was the next day that God impressed upon our hearts that NOW is the time!

These two sweeties where a huge help in the kitchen!

Thank you Ellie and Mia!

Due to all that is going on the birthday boy -

received many homemade cards and a shopping outing with MOM!
(Plus books from his big brother Billy, who thinks he needs to read more!)

Hey, a Mom's gotta do what a Mom's gotta do!

And anyway I can spend more time with my boys is a good thing!

Awwww, they are so cute together!

We couldn't have asked for a better celebration!

Happy Birthday Johnny!

You were never meant to be the youngest!

You are a wonderful big brother!

Good job Sarah, lighting the candles!

Hoping your wish comes true!

Mark has a special bond with Mia, Melissa and Madeline since he was in China with us.

I am sure he will have that too with Ben and Joey!

Thank you God for all the great celebrations and for the wonderful memories!

We look forward to moving on and to many new memories and joyful family times!

All praise and Glory go to HIM!