Easter Fun!

We had such an amazing Easter weekend, but it FLEW BY. Time flies when you're having fun. Here are some pics of our fun times. (I got so many great shots..but I am sleepy..and need to go to bed!)

Papaw Bob stole Lily Pie. And it all began with a kiss...


Little Hopers

She had a BALL!

It didn't take her long to get the hang of it!

Little Joy Joy

My little Sunshine!

She thought it was funny to drop them out and pick them up again! :-)

Mamaw Jean decides to give the girls a sucker.

The girls were in deep thoughts...hey...wanna trade?

Baby Boy!

MOM! My basket is too small!:-(

I could barely get the boys to stop and pose for a quick pic...

you'd think they'd know the drill by now! ha..

Brenny D

One handsome dude!!

We were so thankful the weather finally broke to have some fun...boys will be boys!

WOW! Go Spenc!!

We came home and the boys tossed some ball..in the rain...

The girlies were SO tuckered out that they were ready to sit in their new chairs from the Easter Bunny, eat a snack...and catch a chick flick!

Hope you enjoyed your Easter...remembering that Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Be the HOPE 4 Orphans,

Julie

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Today was my sweet Hubby's 35th birthday!!! All he wanted was... his favorite dinner!

Salmon Patties, fried potatoes, and corn bread...that's it!The boys were supposed to have baseball practice, but we were rained out..so...lucky for us we got to enjoy time with Daddy!!! We headed out for a walk!

Well, I know I'm so not worthy to be married to such an amazing man. It has given me such JOY to see Him transform over the last few years into such an amazing man (And he was already amazing you guys). God has broken this man's heart for the orphan. I LOVE to hear him telling me about sharing what God has done in His life and advocating for the Fatherless. I love to hear him dreaming of what God has laid on His heart and how we will serve the Lord together now and in the future. I love to hear him sharing the story of adoption with random people that ask. This man is incredible. I am so thankful to be able to walk alongside of him on this amazing often crazy ride. I am so thankful to be his "bride".

Love you forever, Doug!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Be the Hope 4 Orphans!

A day without shoes...

Today, thousands of people went to work...without shoes. TOMS shoes at http://www.toms.com/ hosted "A Day Without Shoes" in order to raise awareness for the MILLIONS of children that are forced to travel by barefoot, suffering injuries, getting infections..all because they do not have a pair of shoes. I wasn't sure how people at my workplace would react...I think some of them thought I was crazy....and I am. Many of them asked...and I SHARED a simple message. If you missed it this year, you can still get on their website and purchase a pair of shoes. For every pair purchased, they donate a pair of shoes to people in developing nations! I LOVE this cause!!

Be the HOPE!

Julie

Spring Break Fun

Last week was our Spring Break!! It was a MUCH NEEDED break from it all! Doug works so hard...and when he isn't working, he is busy coaching the boys in baseball. So, needless to say, it was SO NICE to have some DADDY time!!! We went to Tennessee for a few days. We weren't sure how the girls would do, but they were AWESOME! (As were the boys!) The girls slept in the car there and on the way home. We were worried about how Lily would do in the pool. When we got home from China, this little girl HATED water...HATED a BATH!!! We wondered if she would EVER want to get into a pool...well...check out this little sweetie now!!! She had a BALL!!! She was jumping in to her Daddy. Love her face in this one! LJ LOVED it too. They kept Daddy, Uncle D and the bros busy!!

LJ was getting more confident with big bro bren coaching her on!

Bryson cuttin' loose and havin' a blast!

Doug's sister and bro in law were able to come down as well..that made it all the more fun! Here are the twins (separated at birth...two mommies 5 days apart)

Brennan and Darci

Derek Andrew was being his silly self!

We were able to get a day with 65 degree weather, so we went for a hike! I didn't get any good shots of the girls..they were in the stroller as it was dangerous. We did let them out one time and they were running from us and it made me nervous!

Brennan Douglas

Bryson Quinn

Darci Renee

Derek Andrew

I LOVE this pic of four of my fav kiddos in the world!!!

Here's a great pic of Doug's Sis and her beautiful family!

Darryl and Deana

Rare photo of me and my sweets!

One blessed Momma! So thankful to have the time to slow down and enjoy the amazing blessings God has given me. So not worthy!

This time off really got us excited for the relaxation of Summer!!!

Be the HOPE 4 Orphans!

Julie

Lily Hope Jiatong- Home 6 months!!

6 months ago today...

I held my Lily Hopers and brought her home to the U.S.

She was one scared, but PRECIOUS little girl!!




6 months later....
She is full of LIFE, LOVE, and JOY!!!
Lily Hope Jiatong, I'd choose you again...

And Again...
Again....

And Again!

Here are the girls on their first stroller ride together shortly after returning home from China. They weren't sure about each other...one minute they were fine...the other minute Lily was kicking Lola and vice versa.

Here they are today!!! (NO KICKING and a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE!)

Little Miss Lily has made AMAZING strides in the last 6 months. As I think back to our first moments with her, I am simply amazed and so thankful for the progress that has been made. Lily was SUPER QUIET...I'm talkin' barely EVER made ANY sounds...no babbles, no coos...NOTHING...for a while. And today, she is repeating everything we say. (Is it clear enough for everyone to understand...BY NO MEANS!) Lily receives speech therapy once a week. We partner her words with signs. All 6 of us are learning to sign together...and we love it! Lily had her cleft palate repaired in November, but developed another hole in the roof of her mouth. She will have another surgery to repair this, but our surgeon would like to wait until she is three years old. He says we will be able to do a full speech and language eval at this time and see if she'll have to have this other surgery...so he'd rather do them both at the same time to save her from another traumatic surgery. We're totally fine with that as well. Lily has truly blossomed and is the silliest little one in our house. She now has a ready smile. She says mmm mmm and squeezes us to hug (this didn't happen in the beginning! She didn't want or really know how to be held, hugged, rocked, etc.) She says "Luh Muh" for LOVE YOU...but I know what she means!!! It means the WORLD to hear these to words come outta her sweet little mouth!!! Lily is a great eater. She loves to read books and play with her big sis. Their new thing is to hold hands and sing" ring around the rosies". LOVE IT!!! In the morning when I walk into Lily's room she says a quiet..."hi!". All I can say is, I am SOOOO thankful for my sweet, long awaited Lily Hope.I am so proud of her for learning to trust...to hug...to snuggle...to love and be loved!
Praise be the God for His INDESCRIBABLE gift!! We LOVE YOU Lily HOPE!!!

Love you FOREVER!!!

Happy Birthday to my biggest boy and prayers for Ethiopia

11 years old!!?? Where has the time gone!!??




Brennan Douglas!!
Just typing that brings me to tears. ha..I'm so mushy! I have to say, I LOVE ALL FOUR of my kiddos so much! They are all SO different, so unique, so talented, and that's what makes them so special! Bren, you have a heart of gold. You're a go getter! Mr. Hustle. You give everything your all...110% Super athletic. Daddy's stand in when he's working or out of the house. You're an amazing big bro. The lil' sis' have you wrapped. And although you may not want to admit it, you and Bryson are inseparable and lost without each other! Your heart is so big. Your heart aches for orphans, the poor, and your newest endeavor CLEAN WATER! Love it! So proud of everything you stand for! I know God is going to do big things in you, He already is!
Love you forever!!
Momma
Oh..and that charity:water update...well...I promise it's coming. I can't wait!!!! AAAHHHHH!!!!
Have you given get??
www.mycharitywater.org/stanleycharitywater

Prayers for Ethiopia
I would like to ask for special prayers for Ethiopian Adoptions. My heart aches tonight in light of hearing of some changes that could be taking place as early as March 10. Last week, the Ethiopian Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) announced their intention to reduce inter country adoptions by a staggering 90% beginning March 10, 2011. Having been to Ethiopia, adopting a child from there, having friends who are currently adopting from there, and LEAVING behind little faces...ugh ...this news is truly breaking my heart. BUT...I have HOPE. My HOPE is not in the Ethiopian Program, it it NOT in MOWA, it is not in the people at the Embassy, but my HOPE is IN HIM. Jesus!!! Jesus, who IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. Praying on behalf of the Orphans who wait. Praying for the family's whose hearts ache. Praying that the people who are making these decisions become broken and SEE the faces of these children at night in their dreams. Praying that Satan takes a back seat, and that OUR MIGHTY GOD WILL INDEED....BE MIGHTY and SAVE!!!!