A fun trip to the zoo!!

The day is off to a great start! Micah was great AND Brock was feeling great!!!
We went to the zoo and saw lots of beautiful and strange (strange out numbered beautiful)
animals. Micah, I would say did not like it that much(he was a sleep) . Mom and I thought
the animals were very close to us. So close that we thought the CATS could have run and
jumped over a ditch and a slanted fence.
From:Erica
A.K.A Up Down

We think we are on the mend!

Everyone seems to be feeling better this morning! An answered prayer!! Thank you, Lord, for that!! Micah slept very well last night (best night yet! 9:00-5:00 without a single peep!) We may be headed off to the zoo here in a little bit...pictures later!!!!

It was bound to happen....

Earlier in the day, we were worried about how Micah was feeling. This evening, he seemed to turn the corner. He is still not eating great at all, but was much more smiley again!

Brock and Erica swam ALL day...they have made some friends (another adoptive family with kids about same age...I will let them share that later) and loved hanging out at the pool with them! Chad and I took turns early in the day, but by afternoon, Micah was at the pool with us. He even went for another swim and definitely LOVED it again.

But then there is the rest of the story...

Tonight Brock was complaining of a stomach ache (can we all say "uh-oh"??) and then got sick...and I mean really, really sick! He is alseep now, and we are praying that by morning EVERYONE is feeling much better!

Please be praying for us tonight and tomorrow. We REALLY want Guatemala to end on a good note for everyone!!! Maybe this is the Lord's way of making sure we REALLY want to come home soon, right??? We are certainly getting anxious to see everyone!

The pictures are obviously of the "high points" of the day...there are NO pictures of the low points!! =)

We survived the U.S. Embassy (but barely!)

We have returned from our US Embassy appointment. It was everything we had heard it would be....CROWDED room, hot, noisy, long wait! And, to top it all off....We had to wake Micah up this morning and when we did, he vomitted a couple of times again and had a fever AND a rash!!....YIKES!! All things considered, the Embassy appt really went pretty well. Micah was fussy but slept off and on the whole time (and did not vomit on the US Embassy floor!). Ashley (our representative from All God's Children) walked us through the whole thing...she had hoped we would be done by 10:00 am...we were actually BACK to the hotel by 9:30 ...so thank you to everyone who was praying for today!

We really think Micah caught a little virus...I was afraid it was from me (I was seeing a similar virus before we left, and was a little sick on the trip here---virus or nerves??) , but then one of the other couples said their baby (also from Hannah's Hope) had the same rash. ANYWAY...the cute boy still musters up some smiles and seems to be quite the little trooper. He just took a good bottle and went down without a fuss for a nap, so hopefully he will wake up feeling much better.

We have no pictures to post right now...we could not take a camera into the Embassy. So, we will post some pictures later!

SO.....DO YOU ALL REALIZE THAT THIS IS IT???? All of the paperwork to bring Micah home is DONE!!! Abel (HH's driver) will pick up Micah's passport and visa tomorrow for us....then Friday we are headed home!!! Can you believe it?? Praise God!!!

A Happy 4th of July!!!!

As you can see...we had a GREAT day with one of America's newest citizens!!

• We had a wonderful time at Hannah's Hope...seeing Micah's special moms again (and telling them over and over how grateful for the LOVE they gave Micah for 8 months!!!!!!!) and taking pictures for some of our "adoption friends."
• Micah took a nice long nap while Chad watched the World Cup AND Brock, Erica and I went for a swim.
  
• Micah went for his first swim!!! He absolutely loved it. He smiled tons while in the floaty thing...then he floated on his back in my arms and was SO relaxed!
  
• We had a nice dinner by the pool
• Brock and Erica went for an evening swim while Micah watched (with envy, I think)

It was a great day....especially considering how last night ended...Micah had a major spit-up...then ran a fever (102) for a couple of hours overnight and first thing this a.m.! Not sure what that was all about...but he sure bounced back quick and seems fine now!!! He went to bed without a fuss. We are praying for a good night's sleep for everyone because we have our U.S. Embassy appointment early tomorrow (we are to be in the lobby at 6:30 am to meet our driver).

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO EVERYONE!!!

We are a family of 5!!!!

OOOOPS! We realized we had not sent a "family of 5" photo!!
We are off to Hannah's Hope!
More pics and details later!

No eye has seen...

No eye has seen, No ear has heard, No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for those who love Him!
1 Cor. 2:9

I certainly never could have imagined....

• How Brock and Erica would love getting to know Micah...and fast they would learn how to get the quickest "belly laugh" out of him!

• How healthy and happy this beautiful boy would be! (and how fun it would be for me that we could go as a family to his appointment with Dr. Avilla)

• How helpful Brock and Erica would want to be!

• How 30 hours with our newest child would feel like it had been forever.

• How amazingly faithful God was in His plan and His timing (even when it did not appear that way 4 months ago)!!

• How much we would appreciate the love of family and friends "back home" praying for us!

TODAY WAS A 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 DAY FOR ME!!!

Morning Report...

Micah slept great...from 9:00ish to 5:30. He has eaten well this morning and had a quick bath! We just got back from a "big adventure" to the Econo (grocery/general store)...we assume it was Micah first trip ever to the store!! Micah and Erica are sitting on the floor playing and giggling (picture)...and soon it is nap time!! We will check in later...things are going very well!!

An Amazing Day!!!

I do not know how to even describe this day!!!!

We arrived in Guatemala right on schedule, and the kids did great flying. As promised, we were taken straight to Hannah's Hope. Micah was asleep when we got there..but not for long! he was asleep on his tummy...I rolled him over and he woke up with big eyes! We were at Hannah's Hope for a very brief time (but we made plans to go back on Tuesday to spend more time with the other babies and children...esp your sweet Katerine, Stephanie!) and after a tearful good-bye to Micah's special moms, we were off to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel, our room was not ready yet, so we decided to grab some lunch in the hotel restaurant. Micah fell asleep on my lap, and the rest of us had a great lunch...marveling at this baby and the change in our family! When we got to our suite, we had some good bonding time with Micah...he was VERY playful and laughing so much! Erica helped me feed him the first time. And Brock could not get enough of making Micah giggle! Erica started "making home" of our suite, starting of course with Micah's things!! Then (while Chad grabbed a much needed nap) Brock, Erica, Micah and I headed to the pool. Brock and Erica had a great time swimming...and Micah fell asleep in my arms. After dinner, Micah fell asleep in his crib after only a few seconds of fussing. He has cried out once since then (about an hour after going down) but only for about 2 minutes and then fell back to sleep on his own. We are anxious to see how the night goes!!

Tomorrow afternoon, we will take Micah to his last doctor's appointment. That should be a fun adventure for all of us!

We continue to be amazed at God's blessings! I do not think this day could have gone any better!! Thank you, Lord!

Stay tuned....we will do our best to post each day! Thank you all for sharing in this journey with us!!

Check back soon.....

We just wanted to let everyone know that we are here...and Micah is wonderful!! We will post a little later with pictures and a "full report"!!!!!!!!!

Chad, Michelle, Brock, Erica AND MICAH!!!!!

PACKED AND READY!!

We have had a fun (and amazingly peaceful) day of packing and preparing! Brock and Erica have had tons of quesions and I think it has actually "sunk in" that we are headed to bring their brother home!!!

I am off for a jog, then a quiet time, then an early bedtime! We are hoping to be on the road headed to the airport by 5 am.

Guatemala, here we come! Thank you, Lord.

A grateful heart...

A day so full of excitement and emotions as we pack for Guatemala....
A day so full of joyful tears, I could hardly talk about our trip without tearing up...
A heart so full of gratitude...

Thank you, Lord, for trading in our sorrows! Tonight we are rejoicing! And I continue to be grateful for the way that you have "held" our family through the last year of ups and downs. You are good, and you are faithful...and we are very, very grateful for the blessings you have showered on this family!

It just keeps getting better!

I just felt like the good news was "sinking in"...when the good news got even better! Naomi called earlier and told us that we would actually be able to go to Hannah's Hope as soon as we touch down in Guatemala!! We will have Micah on Sunday, instead of Monday!!! Then, on Monday, we will all go with Micah to his final doctor's appointment in Guatemala City!

Yipppeeeeee!!!

We are incredibly overwhelmed with joy right now! My heart has not stopped skipping beats since yesterday!!

PRAISE GOD FOR PINK!!!!!!

WE ARE PINK!!!!
WE ARE PINK!!!!
WE ARE PINK!!!!

We are praising God tonight for a little piece of pink paper!!! Earlier this evening we received the long awaited call telling us that we can BRING MICAH HOME!!!! I cannot describe the joy in our hearts!!

Here are the details: We will fly to Guatemala this Sunday....yes, THIS SUNDAY!!!! We will go to Hannah's Hope first thing Monday morning, and Micah will be placed in our arms forever!! We will celebrate July 4th in the hotel! Our U.S. Embassy appointment is on Wednesday. We will pick up Micah's visa on Thursday. AND MICAH WILL SLEEP IN HIS CRIB ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!!!!

Can I just say it all again?? Fly Sunday, Get Micah on Monday, Come home on Friday!!!!

God is so good! But understand this....God was just as good 3 hours ago (before THE phone call)...even in my discouragement, God was good....He has "held us" through a very long journey, with many heartaches and disappointments...but God never ceased being good!!!

My heart is about to explode!!
Thank you so much for continuing to pray with us...

"Like cold water to a weary soul,
is good news from a distant land."
Proverbs 25:25

What color comes before pink??

Pink-ish??
Pre-pink??
Ante-pink??

Well, whatever color comes before pink....that is us today. Believe it or not (and at this point, who wouldn't believe it??) we received word that we will not get our pink slip today, but that is it supposed to be ready tomorrow. If you are thinking "we have heard that before"....well, that is the same thing we are thinking!

Please pray with us that tomorrow will, indeed, prove to be a very pink day for us. (It seems funny thinking about pink so much for a baby boy, doesn't it???)

Until then, we will do some more packing-list-making and we will go this evening to pick Erica up from church camp! Next thing we know, it will be tomorrow!

The silence is deafening....

Our adoption agency received no word from Guatemala today...so we do not know if we got our pink slip or not........sigh!!!!!! Hopefully we will get word tomorrow!!! If not, this family may just go ahead and go to Guatemala with our own pad of pink paper!! Check back in tomorrow!!! and please keep praying!!

Erica is off to church camp!!!

An interview with Erica...

What is your favorite thing to do at church camp?
Go swimming! and eat breakfast!

How long will you be at church camp?
2 nights, 2 days and 7 hours and 3 minutes (????)

What is your favorite thing you are taking?
My pooh blankie!

Did you remember your toothbrush?
Yes!! (with a laugh)

Do you want to get mail?
Yes!!!!!!

Please join us in praying for Erica over the next couple of days as she has FUN IN THE LORD!!!

I just can't stop...

I just can't stop posting pictures of Micah!!

This picture was just taken yesterday by an American college student named Ashley who is spending time in Guatemala--staying at the House of Hope with some of the birthmoms. She has a wonderful heart for the Lord and is witnessing to these girls/women(the birthmoms and the special moms who take care of all the babies and children)...she is introducing them to the love of Jesus (by her words and by her actions!) If you have a chance, visit her blog at: www.xanga.com/L2ashbash !!

This picture really touched me because Micah is cuddled up next to the stuffed giraffe we gave him last November! We had put a ribbon with this scripture on it:

"Now then stand still and see
this great thing the LORD is about to do
before your eyes."
1 Samuel 12:16

The Lord has certainly been busy doing a great work in our lives...and we are excited to see what He brings next...

My choice...

We received an email, and then a phone call, from All God's Children today...to let us know that we will not receive our pink slip until next Monday!

At first I felt VERY disappointed...even shed a few tears! If you have been following along, we have been expecting this pink slip for the last 2-3 weeks! And now, another weekend without a travel date. THEN....then it really hit me...I have a choice today. I can choose to focus on this "delay," OR, I can choose to focus on these beautiful pictures that we received today. Micah is obviously happy and healthy and doing very well.

Tonight I am choosing to PRAISE GOD for His faithfulness in taking care of Micah...and I am choosing to PRAISE GOD that in just a few more days we will have our travel date! It really is my choice...and today I choose PRAISING over pouting.

Stay tuned.

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven..."
Eccl. 3:1

On this day I married my best friend...

"This is my beloved and this is my friend..."
Song of Solomon 5:16

Today Chad and I are celebrating 14 years of marriage!! I am so grateful for the man that God chose to be my husband...I am thankful for his faithfulness, for his strength (physical and emotional), for his unmatched devotion to us (the kids and I), for his work ethic, for his sense of humor, for his kindness to others....and for so much more.

14 years ago we could never have imagined what the years would bring...and I am so glad to have shared them with my best friend (the highs AND the lows)!!

Chad, I look forward to the years ahead...and to sharing them all with you!!

God's Word

"Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord,

and this is your kingdom.

We adore you as being in control of everything.

Riches and honor come from you alone

and you are the ruler of all mankind.

Your hand controls power and might,

and it is at your discretion

that men

are made great and given strength."

1 Chron. 29:11-12

Many are the plans...

"Many are the plans in a man's heart
but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21

Last night we learned that our case will not be submitted to the US Embassy until Monday. So, that means our pink slip will not come until next week. We were disappointed, but trusting that God has a purpose in this and is continuing to arrange the perfect travel for our family. We will tust in His purpose and lay our own plans aside!! Stay tuned...when we get our pink slip, it will have our travel date on it.

How cute is this baby?? This picture was taken just 2 days ago!! Thank you, Lord, for keeping Micah happy and healthy while we wait!!

The reason for the smile...

might be..."the joy of working!!"

Brock has been blessed this summer to have the opportunity to work several hours in "the trophy shop." My parents started the trophy business when I was in grade school, and I remember many summer hours working in the shop. My brother, Tim, has taken over the business and has offered Brock his first "real" job.

Brock is enjoying having some spending money. And Chad and I are enjoying the opportunity to teach stewardship. Brock has his own checking and savings accounts---each payday he deposits the money into his checking...then does a worksheet. He calculates a 10% tithe, then writes his first check to our church. He calculates 40%, then writes a check to deposit into his savings. The rest is his to spend. We let him spend it as he chooses, hoping that he will learn to spend wisely (rather than us controlling how he spends it). We have had this "system" with both Brock and Erica for awhile, but Brock's increase in income is really giving him the opportunity to put it into practice more...with money he has WORKED to earn!! We are grateful that he has this opportunity!

Thanks for the job "Uncle Tim" ...Brock says he likes working with you...the only downside is that is not a FARMING business!

"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,
who will trust you with true riches?"
Luke 16:11

A Season to Remember

At the beginning of softball season this year, Erica was NOT enjoying herself. This year was just not the same as past years...she seemed to dread going to practices and games. We had several discussions about not quitting something in the middle of it...if she chose not to play next year, that would be fine, but she would be finishing THIS year.

Then something happened...her coach decided to try her at catcher. I was a little surprised, given that Erica seemed a little timid about it (and given the fact that the percentage of balls that were going past her seemed a little high to me!)

BUT, she persisted and I am so glad! We could not be more proud of our little catcher... for sticking with it and for the way she improved. I have no idea if she will want to play next year or not...but I DO know that this season taught her some lessons for life.

James 1:3 "...because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Psalm 19:1-2 "revisited"

Top picture: Sunset on our gravel road last week
Middle picture: Rainbow behind our house a couple of months ago
Bottom picture: Sunset in Guatemala last time we saw Micah!

I am a sky-watcher...sunsets, sunrises, rainbows, clouds...I find the sky to be breathtaking, and I never cease to be amazed at the beauty of our Creator. My family often hears me say "Guys, look at that sky!!!!"

Yesterday's verse was a reminder to me. Here it is in the NLT translation:

The heavens tell of the glory of God.
The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make Him known.
Ps 19:1-2

I love the way that God's creation constantly sings His praises...the beauty around us is amazing, if only we stop to take note!!

Something else just crossed my mind, too...as a "sky-watcher", I am in good company:
Acts 1:11 gives us a picture of a whole group of sky-watchers..."Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And, someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!"

Yep, that is just another great reason to watch the sky...one of these days, the clouds will be rolled back like a scroll...and on that day, I want to be they first to get to shout..."Guys, look at THAT sky!!!!!"

By the way...

The verse of the day:

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

This verse gives me goosebumps every time I read it! It is the verse that I had read and prayed the night before Brock pointed out the "I AM" in the sky to Erica and me!!!! Most of you know this story by now, if not, check back in...I will have post about it here soon!!! What a great verse to be reminded of on this happy day!!

One step closer!

Hi everyone! Good news from Guatemala today! They are translating Micah's birth certificate...so we are officially out of Civil Registry! We had thought we were out almost two weeks ago when they found a minor error...now we are DEFINITLEY OUT!!

So, what does that mean?

They can now get Micah's passport and then submit our case to the U.S. Embassy (which should happen in the next couple of days)....THEN the Embassy will a couple of days to approve it. Once they do, they will issue our PINK SLIP with our travel date on it...If eveything goes "quickest possible" we could be in Guatemala within a week....If things go the slower route, it could be two and a half weeks....EITHER WAY....WE ARE GETTING SO CLOSE!!!!!

Praise God for the good news!!
And we are praying to get our PINK SLIP this week!!

PRAY FOR PINK!!!

We will keep you posted!!

Anticipation...

noun. the act of looking forward, specific: pleaurable expectation.

Yep, that's it. Anticipation!! It is tempting today to feel disappointed...we had hoped to be traveling this weekend to bring Micah home...but we are not. We are probably still a week or two away. It is tempting to focus on the "what could have beens". But there is much more joy in continuing to wait in hopeful anticipation (as opposed to sadness, anger, resentment, frustration, etc.) . It has been a very long wait, and we look forward with "pleasurable expectation" to welcoming Micah into our arms.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This has been, and will continue to be, a verse I cling to as we wait upon the Lord.

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

World's Best Grandparents!!

Brock, Erica (and Micah, too) are so incredibly blessed to have grandparents that are very involved in their lives! Chad and I are blessed, too! Papaw, Gummie, Paps and Nana....we love you dearly!!! You are there for birthdays, ballgames and all the big stuff...but what we love even more, is that you are there for so much of the normal, everyday events in our lives. The time, energy, and LOVE that you invest in your grandchildren makes such a difference in their lives.....yet another thing that we are praising God for today!! We are trully blessed!

"Dry Bones Dancing"

"I will put my spirit in you, and you will live..." Ezekiel 37:14

One of the books I will be reading for the next several weeks (we will be studying it in our Sunday School class) is titled DRY BONES DANCING...by Tony Evans. It is based on the passage in Ezekiel 37 where God resurrects an entire valley of dead/dry bones...it is a picture of His desire to resurrect the spiritual passion of His people.


I am one of His people that needs some breath breathed into me...and God is the only one who can do it. After the last year of ups and downs, I have grown greatly in some areas and I seem to have drifted in other areas. I desire (more than anything else in life) to have an active, passionate relationship with my Savior..and as a result, a passion to serve others in His name. The last year has "drained" me in some areas, and I am ready for some revival!!

I commit tonight to being more faithful in the study of His word..."His word that is active and sharper than a two edged sword...His life giving word" and to being more faithful in my prayer time. I have been careless in my quiet times and have been neglecting my need to be deeply into Scripture.

Hold me accountable.

Blogless today!

Thank you for visiting our blog today! Unfortunately, I am feeling to tired to be creative, reflective, instructive, or any other -IVE. Maybe tomorrow!! But hey, check out that scripture verse over there to the right...!!!!

The roller coaster ride goes on...

Another quick update on bringing Micah home...
We were disappointed to learn today that we will possibly be in civil registry until this Friday. We had thought we might get out last week, but that did not happen. Please continue to pray for these final steps...we are getting so close to bringing Micah home...the anticipation is overwhelming at times. This weekend is looking very doubtful (but we know that is when God does His best work!!) ...next weekend is still a definite possibility!!! Please continue to pray with us! We will keep you updated as we get more info!

Extreme House Makeover....but SSSHHHHH don't tell!!!!

What a day!! Today our good friend Mike left on a mission trip with the high school youth of our church. He and Sheila have been planning to paint their house for awhile...boy will he be surprised when he gets home!!! It was like an Amish barn raising...."Sheila and friends"....what fun to be able to work side by side! God blessed us with great weather, the day went fast, and the house is almost done!! But SSSSHHHHHH!! We want Mike (who was actually on the phone with Sheila several times today...and had no idea that we were all at his house painting!) to be surprised when he gets home next Saturday!!!

We love this boy.....

Here are some new pics from Guatemala!! We think Micah is about the cutest baby ever!! (maybe we are biased?!?!?) Although it has been hard to watch him get older...we continue to be very THANKFUL that he is so healthy and happy! God is so good!

Have you heard this song???

I was reminded again today how much I love worship music!! One of my favorite songs currently is "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin...Have you heard it?? Here are the lyrics...if you know the tune, you can sing right along...if not, I hope you will be so blessed to get to hear it soon!!!

The splenor of a King, clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice

All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice , and trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me

How great is our God, and all will see

How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands

and time is in His hands

Beginning and the end, Beginning and the end

The Godhead, Three in One

Father, Spirit, and Son

the Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names

Worthy of our praise

My heart will sing ...How great is our God