Lola Joy's First Birthday!!!

This is long, but I just went with my heart. There are lots of pics near the end:)

Approximately one year ago, a baby girl was born in Ethiopia, Africa. She was very much loved. Loved by her birth-mother, her family, and most importantly loved by her heavenly Father. Tonight, that baby girl is sleeping in her cozy bed in the United States of America in my home, and forever in my heart. This day I have been flooded an array of emotions. I have thought of Lola Joy's Ethiopian Mommy. I know she is thinking of the baby she carried in her womb for 9 months and hoping and praying she has a better life than the one she felt she could give her. I wish I had a photograph of her to give Lola Joy when she asks me, "Mommy, who do I look like?" I will tell her I am sure she is a mirror image of her Ethiopian Mommy. ( Even though her Daddy swears she has his "hair"! ) Her Daddy also says she has my personality.:) I have been having flashbacks of the first word we recieved about her. From that moment, Kalkidane became our daughter...no matter what. No matter what her medicals showed, Doug and I knew she was our daughter. I remember the day we received our first pictures of her. We laughed, we cried, we squealed, and smiled. Our hearts were full. She was OURS! NO MATTER WHAT. I have been thinking back to our trip to Ethiopia, and how eye-opening that was. And thinking of THE MOMENT...after all of the praying and waiting....she was in our arms and our eyes LOCKED. I cannot explain the feeling in my heart. A MIRACLE that ONLY MY GOD could do transpired. OUR HEARTS WERE ONE. I would swear by the feeling in my heart that day that I carried her my womb those 9 months, but you know... I did...I carried her in the womb of my heart. Loving her. Praying for her. Caring for her. Hoping for her. Dreaming big dreams for her, hoping someday she will change the world and do BIG THINGS for her Savior. Just like I prayed her for brothers when they resided in my womb. The miracle hasn't ended there. God knitted our hearts together before we met and the bonding and attaching has been building with each new day. Lola Joy has been SO TRUE to her name and GOD has been so faithful and so good to us. Lola Joy touches the lives of EVERYONE she meets and I'm so thankful. Our prayer was that she God would use her for HIS good. Looking into Lola's eyes is like seeing God's heart. He lives among the needy, the orphan, the broken. And that's where we'll find Him. I keep thinking, "What if we missed it? What if we missed this gift God has given us, because we decided to give into those fears that gripped us in the beginning of this process?" THANK YOU GOD for keeping your promises. Kalkidane means, "God's Promise". I know that no matter what this life brings, the good, the bad, and the ugly...God keeps His promises. He was blessed us with three incredible children who we couldn't love any more if we tried. All we know is they are OURS...NO MATTER WHAT! Thank you LORD FOR YOUR INDESCrIBABLE GIFT!!!!

There is a book that my parents got for Lola Joy for Christmas that I would like to share with you. It's titled, "I love you through and through" by Bernadette Rosetti-Shustak

It sums up how we feel about our daughter.

I love you through and through.I love your top side.

I love your bottom side.

I love your inside

and outside.

I love your happy side,

your sad side,

your silly side

your mad side.

I love your fingers,

and toes,

your ears

and nose.

I love your hair and eyes,

your giggles,

and cries.

I love you running

and walking,
silent

and talking.

I love you through and through...

yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too!!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE!!!

We love you precious LOLEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

If you have ever have questions for us about adoption, we would be happy to talk with you. Please, consider adopting one of HIS children~:) If you have a question and do not know us personally, you can leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" after this post. If you do not have a blog, you can comment by clicking on comments, then anonymous. (Just be sure to leave your name.:) )

One year on the waiting child list for China Doll

Just a quick post. Today marks one year that we switched over to the Waiting Child List for our China adoption. Our original log in date is 10-9-07. We began the process for China a LOOOONG time ago. When we first began, we were requesting a healthy, infant girl. As time progressed, God softened our hearts and opened our eyes to HIS plan, not ours. Although the road wasn.'t easy, in hind sight we are sooo happy we had to wait, as if we had not, we would not have our Lola Joy. Last year on Feb. 23rd we submitted our medical checklist to our China agency. We prayed about the special needs that we felt our family would be willing to handle with God's help. At this time, the wait for a child with special needs is about 1 year on the average. We know that it will probably be about 20-24 for the special needs and age we chose. We are open to a child up to 36 months. We are sooo thankful and blessed with the three children God has CHOSEN and PLACED so specifically in our lives, and we eagerly await our fourth blessing from Him. God never said life would be EASY, but He simply promises He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. We are standing on HIS promises and looking forward to walking closely with HIM in raising all 4 of our children He has/will so graciously loaned to us. Please keep our China Doll, Lily Hope in your prayers. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't pray for her and think of her.
Blessings!
Julie

Georgia on my mind! Boys' and Darci's Party

Today we celebrated Bryson, Brennan, and Darci's birthday with Doug's side of the family. At every family gathering, however, there is something missing...our GEORGIA family. Doug's Mom has a sister that lives in Georgia with her beautiful family. There isn't a party or holiday that goes by that they aren't missed. This post is for you guys in Georgia...WE LOVE AND MISS YOU!

The birthday kiddos!Mamaw and Jaden snuggling on the couch.

This cracks me up! Lotta love in this family!
I told Darryl and Tim to get together and show some love! Love it!

Then the silliness continued! Dennis (Doug's Dad) and Doug

Beautiful ladies! Caitlyn with her Momma, Linda.

Derek hangin' with Momaw Donna

Doug's big sis, Deana. (I was taking her pic at the same time.)

Doug's Aunt Linda and Tyler

Nothing like a Mommy and her baby boy~

Aunt Linda and Lolee

Derek having some Lola Joy time:)

Silly Nay Nay!Mamaw Edith and the Gang!

We were singing Happy Birthday to Brennan. Think he was embarrassed?

Darci making a wish! May all your wishes come true, my sweet~

Near the end of the party we got lazy!

Uncle Doug and Niecie Darc!

Cozying up

One big, happy family!

Again, love and miss you Georgia crew! Come and see us soon!!!

So super blessed to have the most fun, and loving family!
God is soooo good!!!!

Check out these new reads I picked up!

On one of our snow days the kids and I decided to venture out. One of our stops was at the local Family Christian Store. I was eager and thirsty for a new study. I knew what I was looking for...here's one of the books I got. Just starting to read the first couple of chapters of this has already challenged me to the CORE! WOW! I think everyone needs to read this. I pray that it doesn't just challenge me, but it CHANGES me! I want to SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FEAR!! Check it out!

I also picked up this little very simple daily devotional. Sarah Young, the Author, has written daily messages from Jesus' point of view. Here is an excerpt from Feb. 15th.

"When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you; therefore, you needn't be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening--even dangerous, the safest place to be is in My will."

Love this book! Go get yours!
Here's a book my BFF and I are going to study. We were desiring a small group study of sorts and our churches weren't really offering a whole lot right now, so we decided to start up our own SMALL group of sorts:) I believe we can ALL relate to insecurities! After all, I think we women invented it! I know I have my share!

Blessings!

Julie

Referral for our dear friends!!

We are so happy for our sweet friends, Scott, Emy and their son Ben upon the referral for their daughter! She is approximately 20 months old and is residing about 3 hours outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We've been so blessed to see this family on their journey of faith, as this road to their 2nd child has been a long, bumpy one to say the least! I am sooo proud of them and would LOVE it if you would hop over to their blog and give them some bloggy love by leaving a comment! Please keep this family and their sweet baby girl in your prayers! Go to http://www.bigbrotherdreams.blogspot.com/. We love you Emy, Scott and Ben!!

Family Birthday Party Madness:) LOVE IT!

This past Friday night we had the boys' birthday party with my side of the family. So, SO blessed to have such an AMAZING, SUPPORTING, LOVING, and FUN family.

Let the pics speak for themselves!!

Mamaw Jean started the party off right by bringing my boys' FAVORITE..

Chocolate covered strawberries! YUM! They disappeared VERY quickly!

Here's my mom and my niece Morgan! So much fun!
Papaw Bob and my sweet Lolee Joy!
Dustin, Jason, Brian, Brooklyn, and Brennan
These guys can rock it out on rock band!

Morgan, Jason, and Brooklyn
LOVE THIS PIC! TOO FUN!

Lola Joy and Uncle Brian havin' some lovins!

My niece, Madison and Me

You 'n your sis are so beautiful!

(tears:( these girls are growing up WAY TO FAST!)

Love the Kiss rocker face Morgan!!!

I was being attacked by Brooklyn and Spencer! Ha!

Family pics.

The boys with my Mom and Dad

The boys with Brian, Kim, Madison and Morgan

The boys with Dustin and Brooklyn

(We missed Beth and Baby Jaelyn)

Jason and Spencer gettin' rowdy!

The boys with my Uncle Mark, Aunt J, cousin Jason, and Spencer

The boys with Popaw Bob and Mamaw Jean

This shot is hilarious! (Side note: Lola Joy was extremely fussy at the party and she really never fusses. That night she didn't sleep.

Took her to the dr. Sat. a.m. and she had a double ear infection!!:( Poor Baby!

Yay! Hollie and Chad were able to make it and hang out!

Hollie and Lola Joy right before my Mom put her to bed:)

Bren acting like his uncle Bobbo and Jason! (We missed you Bob, Jona and crew!)

Here's Jason trying to talk Brennan into sticking his face in the cake!!

Brennan thought about it, but didn't...this time!

You're lucky Jas!

Thanks to our BEAUTIFUL family for making this birthday an awesome one! It wouldn't be the same without you guys!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

ps. Looking forward to our next party with Doug's side of the fam!!!