Fitting Right In

For three weeks our new little guy has been figuring out how this crazy house works; where his seat at the table is, how to climb in his bed, where to put his shoes and dirty clothes, etc.  He's been a quick learner and has absorbed much of the culture shock without missing a beat.

To give him a true taste of the East Tennessee culture, we thought a trip to Dollywood was in order.

Turned out to be a huge hit with all the little people in our family. We also got to spend a day with some very dear friends from from South Africa.  They really helped us feel at home while in South Africa by checking in on us and hosting us in their home for several meals.  We got to show them the sights of Knoxville and let the kids get a little wet as well.

Journeying On,

Homecoming

Finally Home!!!
We've been imagining this day since June 2011 when we completed our initial adoption application.  Little did we know that our boy was just a couple months old then and living in the loving care of his foster mom. But God knew exactly where he was and the exact day that he would come finally come home....

Special signs made for Daddy and Elijah

Very excited big brother and big sister

 Seeing their plane land

lots of amazing fiends and family waiting in anticipation

 

finally home!

no hesitation to shower baby brother with hugs and kisses

**A huge thanks to Mitzi for capturing so many special moments at the airport!**

The first week home has been great for Elijah.  He's been playing lots, eat and sleeping very well.  So far, we think he likes us:)  Ethan and Addison have done well taking on the role of 'big brother' and 'big sister', showing him around and helping adjust to our routine.  We've had some extended family parties and he's been a trooper meeting so many new people.

 trying out the zipline

 with Nana

with great grandma Bo 

with uncle Bear and aunt Joy

getting a little faster at the bike riding 

Journeying On,

Good Bye G-tube!!!

After 3 years, 4 months and 29 days this girl said goodbye to her gtube today!!  Addison has gone over three months without using it all and has had adequate weight gain, which are the only requirements for removal.  We weren't sure that it would be removed today, so I told her we were just going to talk to the doctor about it.  But when she heard they were taking it out she was beyond exciting declaring she was finally a big girl:)

Many tears, hours of therapy and many meal times have helped get us to this amazing milestone today. However, I'm convinced that God heard our cry to heal our girl of reflux, oral aversion and gtube dependence.  Not only does Addison eat now, she enjoys eating.  That is so like our God....he didn't just heal the way we prayed, but far beyond our prayers. More abundantly than anything we've asked or thought (Eph 3:20).

PS-I have a post stirring about our new little man, I just have sooo many pictures to sort through first:)


Journeying On,

The Picture We Wanted

The day before our twins were born, we heard lots of statistics and scary medical conditions. I remember desperately wishing that we could have this picture...

Wishing for just a snap shot of the future.  For just a small window into what their lives would be like and desperately wanting to know that they would be okay.

While the Lord gave us peace long ago that everything would be okay, today we got to see that picture. A perfect picture of his faithful goodness.

They walked into school like they owned the place:)  They played, laughed, talked, learned and even ATE on their first day of preschool.

And to top it off, they did an art project with hand prints on their first day. As soon as I saw their big toddler hands stretched out on the paper, my mind went back to their tiny feet and the precious keepsakes we have to keep us humble, thankful and fully dependent upon him.

And this is only because "(He) is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us; to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!"-Ephesians 3:20-21

And best of all, Daddy got to be a part of the special day 

from the other side of the world!

Journeying On,