Family Life is the Best Life....

Its so easy to get swept up in the busyness of life that you forget to stop and just take everything in. Tonight as my not so little family sat around our dinner table eating tacos, I just sat back and looked at all of my kids. Each has their own personality and yet all share a common bond. They are growing and changing so much and are really such amazing little people. They are world changers. They are going to make a difference. They ARE making a difference. My kids make me want to be a better person and work harder. I love seeing the world through their eyes. Tonight I loved laughing with them and sharing just sweet moments with them. I sure feel blessed to be entrusted with them. I don't deserve such goodness.

We had such a fun summer and beginning of fall! The 3 boys have enjoyed playing soccer and we have enjoyed watching them. Carrson scored 18 goals last weekend. Granted, there are only 3 kids on his team and one sweet little boy sits in the grass most of the time, but he's still our superstar. Kelcie is playing Varsity soccer for the high school but her season doesn't start until spring. She has enjoyed working for a local teen magazine and is so talented. She is starting to drive and I can't believe my tiny baby girl is this old. She went to two homecoming dances and looked absolutely breathtaking. Mayah is enjoying learning and playing with Mrs. Sharon everyday. She's such a God send to us and loves Mayah so much. We are blessed.

I started teaching again this fall. I have some great students and I really enjoy being back in the classroom. 8th graders are so funny. You just never know! We absolutely love our church and our town. It feels like home to us and we love living life here.

So adoption updates... If you have been around this circus for very long you know that it has been one crazy roller coaster. We finally made it to the very end... Visa... kids coming home.... and you guessed it.... Haiti required something else. When the adoption laws changed in Haiti, we were grandfathered in under the old law. When US immigration started going through our file to issue the visa, they asked for clarification and with all of that our family along with hundreds of others are having to add the word "plenary" to our paperwork. Thousands of children have been adopted from Haiti without this word on their paperwork, but we have learned that when Haiti says jump, we jump. London and Sam are worth every single bit of it. Our attorney is really great and is working so hard to get it all done. We do not have a timeframe yet but what we have learned over the last 4 years is that if Haiti gives you a timeline, ignore it completely. One of my dearest friends, Jordan, sent me a bracelet last week. It says "Faith in God includes Faith in His Timing". No truer words have ever been spoken. I am sad that the kids aren't home yet but I am at complete peace that they are coming home and all of this heartache from waiting will be a distant memory. I so look forward to the day that all 7 of my kids are under the same roof!

God is so awesome and our adoption plus plane tickets are 100% funded. I can't believe I can even type that. The amount that we have had to pay throughout all of this is mind boggling and I can't even believe myself that its paid for. The only expense we have right now is the kids monthly care fees at $600 per month. We are planning one more auction that will take place in a couple of weeks so be on the lookout. Those are always so much fun! We also have a gofundme account set up if you are interested in helping out with their care fees. https://www.gofundme.com/5x45wk We are blessed that they are in such a wonderful place filled with love. You can check out the work that this organization does at www.haitipoverty.org
They are amazing!

I will leave you with some pictures of my beautiful tribe. So blessed to be their mama.
Much love to you all!!
xoxo