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.

The Best of 2011

Christmas....

We woke up to a reminder on our gifts, the manger scene. Santa was sure to remind us not to overlook Jesus' birth on this day. HVN was quite surprised that he played with her toys while here. She had ask Santa for Princess toys and he delivered. Her favorite gift was a Belle doll that reads to her and shares stories. Her daddy even gave her a Princess ring with a crown on it....He knows her well. Santa left her a Princess Tiana dress and crown hung on the fireplace. Another gift she loved was matching nerf guns, one for her and one for daddy....its no fun if both don't have them. If you look below in the pictures....you'll see her #1 gift, or so it seems on her face....CHOCOLATE! The afternoon was spent with MaMa & PaPa and cousins!!! It was a great day that blessed us all. My favorite part was watching HVN smile, laugh and give lots of hugs, kisses and "tank you's" for all her presents!