Sweetness!!!

HVN & Emily playing dress up and loving time together!

Can You Say ADJUSTMENT????

On January 21st we welcomed Emily into our home. We've had great moments of watching the girls love on one another, share and play well alone. HVN has been a great little mom, teacher helper but I've also seen her cat claws come out.

It has been a blessing but also a great challenge. At 27 months old Emi knows very few words and social skills. Each day she is eager to learn and add more to the day. She loves the outdoors like the rest of us, she likes to be read to and do flash cards...but most of all she LOVES TO EAT. I think she could over eat HVN any day.

HVN has been very loving for the most part, however both girls have not had to share with anyone 24/7, so this is very new for the both of them. HVN has shared well with friends but not this new live in sister. Friends and family have all reassured me that this is all normal.

We will get through this and the girls will soon be inseparable....I hope.

God Keeps His Promises

After leaving court in May 2011 we can home, I opened the side door and saw this rainbow. While in court we were told baby Emily would not be removed from her home. After testimonies of bruises, neglect, malnutrition and more we were broken hearted and confused.
However, God reminded us that "He keeps His promises of protection and provision."
After months of praying....
Social Services called us two weeks ago and ask us to refile for baby Emily. We did, an expidited hearing was denied this past Wednesday. Again, broken hearted and confused but clinging to God's promise to us that He was working and still protecting Emily...we prayed, made calls and waited. By Thursday we were told SS went to a substititute judge and got our expidited hearing approved for this Tuesday morning. Friday they called again and ask us to come pick up baby Emily as they didn't want her at the house for the weekend.
Today, we welcomed home 26 month old Emily.
The day was almost perfect. We were so proud of HVN as we prepared her over the last couple days, allowed her to help set up Emily's room, give her toys, go through clothes and pick out her favorites for Emily and several other details. The girls were happy to be together. They played well, ate well, napped great and follwed bedtime routine perfect.
Tonight, I read to Emily, rocked both of my girls, loved on them, prayed with them, sang to them, listened as Rick read to HVN and kissed both of them good night. My HEART IS FULL. I'm incredibily thankful that God has chosen us for baby Emily at this time. Our goal is custody to Adopt if God so allows. Please pray with us on this journey.
HVN is a fabulous big sister, she has wanted a brudder and a sister for the last several months and she now sees God answering prayer. This is huge to her...and for us!

Sweetness

So hilarious.... You know we frequent one local place too often when I tell my 3 year old thank you and she responds with "my pleasure!" Then says "DA people at Chik a Lay say dat all da time!" LOL

Our 1st Snow of 2012

We love snow, pray for snow, whine for snow, can't wait for it to fall so we can PLAY in it and be stuck in together! This past Monday we had our first snow of 2012, by Tuesday around noon it was in the 50's again. Needless to say, it didn't last long. But, the fun of watching it fall, making snowflakes, going out in for Happy Toes (of course)made for a full day. We also looked up all the animals that live in cold places and those animals are now her new favorites...penguins, reindeer and polar bears. HVN says, "Mommy, I no have those....." with where we live that's a good thing!

Pray With Us, that Kindness is Evident in HVN's Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2lDqmnq2y0

Christmas Again!

We're so thankful to have been able to celebrate Christmas with all grandparents and family! HVN loves her Gpa and Mammy! Not to mention her cousins.
My dad and brother are on the bottom picture. God has blessed us with almost eight years since dads cancer diagnosis. He's doing well and I'm so very thankful for his sweet relationship with HVN. She named him Gpa months ago and its stuck.