Adoption Timeline and Update

Updated timeline, beginning with our first trip to Uganda in July 2016.

July 9th - Arrived at our hut around 12:00 am.

July 9th - Met Rose in the afternoon at African Village

July 10th - Learned that our court date was cancelled due to an emergency leave of absence by our judge (this occured while we were in transit to Uganda, so we could not just stay home and wait for a new court date).

July 11-15th - Visited with Rose and volunteered at the baby home.

July 18th - Rose moved into our hut with us.

July 19th - Received a new court date for July 28th.

July 24th - Rose returned to the baby home because of our appointment with our attorney the following day.

July 25th - We met with our attorney regarding our case and what to expect at court.

July 27th - Rose moved back in with us.

July 28th - Woke up early to prepare for court; electricity went out at the courthouse and the judge had a meeting, so he did not see us.  Our attorney was confident that he would see us the next day.

July 29th - Same as yesterday; waited at the courthouse all day with Rose in tow.  Our attorney met with the judge, and then he said he was too tired to see us, so he went home.  At this point, I was advised to go home to our boys.

August 1st - Said goodbye to Rose and Darin and began my journey back to the United States.  The judge requested another document from our attorney and then left town for the remainder of the week.

August 9th - Our judge put our court date "on notice" because he wants to meet with the principle (or head) judge prior to meeting with us.

August 11th - Contacted our agency and was informed that our judge is actually refusing to see our case because of confusion of processing cases under the old law (we were grandfathered in, so there is not supposed to be any problem with our case).

September 8, 2016 - New court date scheduled for September 29th

September 29, 2016 - Court date!

October 11, 2016 - Verbal ruling date...did not happen

October 28, 2016 - Verbal ruling in our favor!

December 5, 2016 - Received Rose's birth certificate

December 14, 2016 - Expedited the written ruling...for an additional fee (crazy stuff)

December 16, 2016 - Received the written ruling!!!

January 10, 2017 - Received Rose's passport and filed for the I-600 appointment with the Embassy

January 11, 2017 - Filing appointment scheduled for 2/13/2017, which our attorney will attend

February 2, 2017 - US Embassy moved filing appointment up to February 9

February 9, 2017 - I-600 filing appointment

March 10, 2017 - I-600 approved!!!

March 13, 2017 - Submitted DS260

March 16, 2017 - Embassy requested us to be present on the 20th for an interview - declined due to short notice

March 17, 2017 - Embassy requested us to be present on the 22nd for an interview - accepted (and then immediately ran to the main office at school to tell them that it was my last day)

March 19, 2017 - After a whirlwind two days, we departed for Uganda

March 20, 2017 - Arrived in Uganda at 11 pm

March 21, 2017 - Arrived at our hut in African Village in the wee hours of the morning, slept, ate, and then went to the baby home for Miss Rose!

March 22, 2017 - Embassy interview - approved!

March 24, 2017 - Back to the Embassy to retrieve Rose's visa

March 29, 2017 - Arrived back in the states with Rose!


Uganda does not authorize adoptions, but does grant guardianship.  Legally, we have not yet adopted Rose and have to follow Ohio law in order to finalize her adoption in the US.

Rose's first few days have been full of doctor appointments, so we are hoping for some normalcy soon.  She is sleeping well (12-14 hours each night, with a two hour nap during the day).  Now that she's feeling better, she is walking around the house and exploring.  She is also eating better and LOVES drinking warm milk.  Because she is underweight, we have to keep her on a high-calorie diet.  She loves going outside, playing with her toys, and toddling over to give hugs.  She does not like baths (read: screams bloody murder the entire time she is in the tub).  Rose enjoyed meeting our small group, many church staff members, and all of her grandparents.  We hope that she can meet the rest of her family and my colleagues and students very soon!

Behind the Mask

One hot day, the first of August, I kissed my precious daughter good-bye and watched Ruth carry her away to a taxi.  I remained strong, partly because I had to (I would be traveling for over 24 hours by myself and needed to be alert), and partly because I knew that we would be reunited come September or October.  

Fast forward to December.  She's still not home.  

I miss Rose with every ounce of my being.  Sometimes, as if out of nowhere, I begin to cry.  Even as I write this, tears stream down my face.  

But mostly, I hide behind my mask.  It's safer there.  Because if I'm honest, I am afraid to let many people in.  So few understand the heartache and many ups and downs of adoption and are seemingly unable to relate.  Some still question why we have chosen this path.  And others, I fear, may become weary of hearing about this tumultuous journey to our daughter.  

So I hide.

But today, today I am removing my mask for a moment...

Decorating for Christmas was bittersweet.  Darin and I loved watching the boys decorate the tree, but missing Rose prevented us from truly enjoying the moment.  We embraced and cried quietly as our boys worked around us.  

Jonathan is struggling; he longs for his sister to be home.  Sometimes he has a far away look in his eyes, and we know he's thinking of her.  Sometimes he cries (but don't tell him I told you so).  He and Owen pray for her daily and don't understand why she's not home yet.  And really, I don't either.

The monthly progress report today said that Rose is standing and trying to take steps.  I never even saw her crawl.

Worse still, she had pneumonia and had an IV for five days.  And I wasn't there to hold her and comfort her.

And then I read that her attachment to her nanny continues to grow, and that they have a beautiful bond.  I witnessed this connection between them, and the excitement on both of their faces when they saw each other.  And I love it because I know how well Rose is loved and cared for at the baby home. But it breaks my heart to know that soon I will take her away from all that she knows and from the amazing woman who has been a mom to her since she was two weeks old.  I know that Rose's leaving will devastate her nanny.  And that causes an overwhelming amount of grief to well up in my soul.   

I know that if I had the opportunity, I would choose adoption all over again.  Because no matter how difficult the journey, adoption is beautiful.  Messy, but beautiful.  

And so tonight, I weep.  For Rose.  For her nanny.  For our family.  And for the brokenness of the world. 

But I will once again put on my mask and hope for an ounce of normalcy as we pray and wait for Elizabeth Rose to be home.  For good. 

The Perfect Fall Day

On a beautiful, unseasonably warm fall day, we headed to our favorite pumpkin patches in Ross.  

Our First Pet

Meet Elizabeth "Lizzie" the cat.  Our friends moved to Indiana, and we adopted their cat.  It's pretty obvious that Lizzie is well-loved by the boys.  Both love to snuggle her and feed her, and Owen thinks it's awesome to check for poop in her liter box each day.

New Court Date - Hooray!

Late Thursday evening we received a new court date for September 29th!  So in about two weeks, Darin will get to see our daughter again!  This is the moment that we have been praying for, and yet we find that our hearts are guarded.  Please continue to pray for the judge and the legal system in Uganda, and of course, our precious baby girl.  

Adoption Timeline and Update

Many have questions about our adoption, and I can not recall whom I have discussed everything with at this time.  Here's a brief breakdown of what occurred in Uganda and where we're at now.

July 8th - Arrived at our hut around 11:00 pm.

July 9th - Met Rose!

July 10th - Learned that our court date was cancelled due to an emergency leave of absence by our judge (this occured while we were in transit to Uganda, so we could not just stay home and wait for a new court date).

July 11-15th - Visited with Rose and volunteered at the baby home.

July 18th - Rose moved into our hut with us.

July 19th - Received a new court date for July 28th.

July 24th - Rose returned to the baby home because of our appointment with our attorney the following day.

July 25th - We met with our attorney regarding our case and what to expect at court.

July 27th - Rose moved back in with us.

July 28th - Woke up early to prepare for court; electricity went out at the courthouse and the judge had a meeting, so he did not see us.  Our attorney was confident that he would see us the next day.

July 29th - Same as yesterday; waited at the courthouse all day with Rose in tow.  Our attorney met with the judge, and then he said he was too tired to see us, so he went home.  At this point, I was advised to go home to our boys.

August 1st - Said goodbye to Rose and Darin and began my journey back to the United States.  The judge requested another document from our attorney and then left town for the remainder of the week.

August 9th - Our judge put our court date "on notice" because he wants to meet with the principle (or head) judge prior to meeting with us.

August 11th - Contacted our agency and was informed that our judge is actually refusing to see our case because of confusion of processing cases under the old law (we were grandfathered in, so there is not supposed to be any problem with our case).

Thankfully, our attorney has a positive rapport with the principle judge and is hopeful that he will see our case and grant us guardianship.  This has only happened to one other family, and the judge did grant the guardianship (the attorneys that worked that case are also our attorneys).  Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if our adoption case will be accepted before the judge.  The process could take weeks or months.  

First and foremost, please pray for Rose.  While we are confident that she is being well cared for in the baby home, it's not the same as being raised in a family.  Please pray for our hearts in all of this. We don't understand everything that is happening, but we are caught in the middle of a battle within the judicial system.  And it hurts.  In the bigger picture, we are in the midst of a spiritual battle.  It doesn't help that Darin and I are on different continents at a time when we need each other the most.

However, I believe in the power of prayer.  Our God is bigger than this and desires for Rose to be home with us.  If you feel so inclined, you may join me in fasting as I dedicate time to prayer.

NEW UPDATES

September 8, 2016 - New court date scheduled for September 29th

September 29, 2016 - Court date!

October 11, 2016 - Verbal ruling date...did not happen

October 28, 2016 - Verbal ruling in our favor!

December 5, 2016 - Received Rose's birth certificate

Heart of a Child Baby Home

I can not even begin to describe how amazing the baby home is where Rose resides.  It is enormous and on beautiful grounds.  The baby home is very clean and organized - quite impressive with so many little ones!  The directors, Ken and Cathy, are followers of Christ, and this is reflected in all that they do.

The baby home is referred to as a "transition home" rather than an "orphanage" because many of the children are not actual orphans and may be reunified with their families/relatives.  When families are in transition and seeking employment or struggling with other things, the baby home cares for babies and children. For example, there are triplet girls at the baby home right now, and they will eventually be reunited with their mom, who is currently working and saving money in order to support her girls.

Employees
There are eight full-time nannies, most of whom live at the baby home.  Unlike other baby homes, their nannies only care for the babies and children (each nanny is assigned 4-5 babies/children).  They do not have to do clean up or cook meals, which allows for them to spend more quality time with the babies and children in their care.  The baby home employs three full-time women to take care of the laundry. Currently, all laundry is hand-washed and hung on lines outside to dry.  There are also two full-time cooks, as well as two males (guards/larger cleaning jobs), who reside in a small facility behind the baby home.

This is only SOME of the laundry done each day.

Drying socks in the window.

Babies and Children
The baby home currently has about 30 babies and children (one little girl, Rose's "sister" and friend, was joyfully reunified with her mom and grandfather while we were there), ranging in age from infant to nine years of age.  They are joyful children, which speaks volumes about their care.  Always willing to play, they will run up and pull on your hands, legs, clothes, etc., just to gain attention. They LOVE visitors and are incredibly welcoming.  When I would sit on the floor, I often had children behind me playing with my hair, children/babies in my lap, and children resting on my legs.  I left each day exhausted (and covered in urine, dirt, sweat, and drool), but filled with this indescribable joy.  Side note: I have a TON of pictures, but can not share most of them due to confidentiality reasons.  No faces permitted.

These babies are drinking a high-protein porridge from LARGE cups.
Surprisingly, they never spill!

The sweet little girl is one of the triplets; she was playing with my hair
while the little boy slept in my lap in a seemingly uncomfortable position.

Funding
Heart of a Child Baby Home is operated by Nightlight Christian Adoptions (NCA).  As per their agreement, NCA does not provide payment to the baby home for adoptions (this is becoming more and more common, as it prevents "quick" or "illegal" adoptions).  Instead, the baby home is funded by donations from families and churches.  Currently, they are not fully funded.  If you would like to assist the baby home with a tax-deductible donation, please contact Nightlight Christian Adoptions.  Even better, why not prayerfully consider visiting the baby home and volunteering your time?  Or perhaps considering adoption?

Needs
I am working on compiling a "Wish List" of items that the baby home needs in order to operate.  In addition to my suitcase, I will be taking four cases of donations when I return to Uganda in the coming months.  Unfortunately, items can not be mailed to the baby home.  Even if they did make it (which it is highly unlikely that they won't), the baby home would be taxed a large sum on the packages.  Many have already agreed to donate formula and medication - thank you!  Another huge need is "plastic pants" or cloth diapers.

We're Here!

Travel
We left Dayton at 1:20 pm on Thursday, July 7th. We landed in Minneapolis with just enough time to get to our next flight…6 concourses away. (It didn’t help that Darin had already taken his sleeping pill. He was practically falling over.) We had to talk to someone before entering the plane. Kind of like border patrol, but not sure who they were. Having been prepped for this already, we knew what to say. Simple, one word responses. But Darin forgot, and had a conversation with the guy. Sigh… Our flight to Amsterdam left right on time. We were fed well, and watched movies. Neither of us could actually sleep on the 8 hour flight because we were so excited. We had a five hour layover in Amsterdam, so we had Starbucks to help us stay awake and walked around the airport. While waiting in line to board our flight from Amsterdam to Kigali, Rwanda, we saw a plane on fire! That flight was about 8 hours, with a one-hour stop in Kigali to refuel, and then another hour to Entebbe. We went through immigration, which was a very easy process. All the Ugandans were so helpful and kind. We then found our luggage (everything made it, which was not what we expected!), and then went outside to find our guide. Hudson held a sign with our names and then directed us to his van. It was about a two hour drive to the village where we are staying, but Hudson drove quickly, so we arrived sooner than anticipated.

Accommodations
We are staying in a tiny hut that is built to accommodate four families. There is a bed with a mosquito net, a large shelf, and a small sitting area. Including our bathroom, our room is about 250 square feet. Quaint, but nice. Today, a little lizard took up residence in our shower. Within the village is a pottery shop, beauty salon, bakery, internet café, swimming pool, and restaurant. We have eaten well all day. Egg whites and bread for breakfast. Rice, beans, and beef for lunch. And dinner consisted of the most delicious zucchini soup, rice, cooked vegetables, and fish.

Meeting Rose
We were told by our guide that Miss Cathy, the baby home director, would be here to get us “midday” to take us to the baby home to meet Rose. Knowing that Ugandans are laid-back, we were not sure when to expect her. Miss Cathy arrived with her daughter and Rose around 3:00…which was a huge surprise! We had been expecting to meet her at the baby home, but this was so special. I carried her down to the bakery and café and we just sat with her and snuggled her. She wanted to chew on our room key and play with her ball. She made little faces at us and blew raspberries. Miss Cathy bought her some sweet bread, which she loved. She is so special that Cathy takes her home on the weekends. There are no car seats, so when Rose left, she sat in the lap of Cathy’s daughter. This was scary for us, but we are not here to pass judgment or change how things are done. Next Steps Tomorrow, Cathy will pick us up to take us to church with Rose. On Monday we will meet with our attorney at her office and discuss the case. Then we will go to the baby home and meet Rose’s nanny, Rashida, and all of the children. We have been told to not devote all of our time to Rose because all of the children will want extra attention. On Tuesday, we will go to court. If all goes well, we will get to keep Rose with us for a few hours on the weekends. Please pray for us.

Adoption Update

So we left our babies (and our hearts) in Indiana yesterday.  Darin and I cried like babies when we drove away, and I cry every. single. time. I think of my babies.  Jonathan did not cry.  He said his eyes were just itchy as he rubbed them like crazy....  Owen told us to get back in the car and come with him.  Their grandma told me that they did great last night (no tears!!!) and woke up happy this morning, so that is a huge relief.

We will embark on our journey to Uganda...to our precious daughter...tomorrow afternoon, and should arrive around 10:30 pm in Entebbe on July 8th.  Our guide will meet us at the airport and take us to our "home" in Kampala, about an hour's drive.  Hopefully, we will get to meet Rose on Saturday morning!  We will also meet with the orphanage directors and our attorney, and receive guidance as to what our court hearing will entail.  Adoptions are not being processed quickly right now; most families are making two trips, and some court dates are being rescheduled once families arrive in Uganda.  This may not seem "fair" to Americans, but it is the norm in Uganda, so we plan to go with the flow.  Right now, we are scheduled to arrive back in the U.S. on July 27th, but have packed for longer, just in case we get to stay longer and make only one trip because the process moves more swiftly.

Please pray for our travel, our babies and their grandparents, Rose, and the court hearing.  Thank you all for supporting us on our journey to Rose.

Counting Down!

We are now in the single digits...nine days until we board a plane for Africa!  We are so grateful for our friends, colleagues, church family, and family members.  Our adoption would not be possible without so many following God's leading and supporting us prayerfully and financially.  Elizabeth Rose is very fortunate to have so many who love her already!

We Have a Court Date!

On June 1st we received the phone call that we have been waiting for...we have a court date!  We will be leaving for Uganda to meet our sweet baby girl in July.  At this time, we do not know when we will be coming home, or if we will be making one or two trips.  Please keep praying for our journey to our daughter!

No Court Date Yet...

While we have not received our court date yet, we are remaining optimistic that we will hear very soon.  Fortunately, the sweet family from Kentucky (that is in Uganda now) has been sending us pictures of our sweet baby girl.  :)  Those precious pictures invite us into her life from thousands of miles away.  Each time Jonathan sees a picture of his sister, he pretends to pinch her little cheeks. Owen has been praying for her at every meal.  Both boys have shared what they want to teach her: how to fart, how to crawl, how to fight bad guys...  She is so much a part of our lives already, and we cannot wait to hold her in our arms for the first time!

The grant committee reviewed our application (we have been waiting to hear back for nearly three months), and sent us a denial letter today.  (This was for a scholarship to help fund our adoption.) While we are devastated to hear this news, we continue to trust God that He will provide for our every need.  

Please continue to pray for our family.

If I'm Honest...

I like to plan ahead, I do not like surprises, and I love having a routine/schedule to follow. Unfortunately for me, adoption is full of surprises and is anything but routine.  My life feels a bit really out of control right now, as we await our court date.  I feel as if I can not relax because my mind is going in a million different directions because of so many unknowns:  

• When will we be traveling?
• Will I need to take time off of work?
• Will our adoption be fully funded?
• How will our boys cope while we're gone?
• What if something happens to them while we're out of country?
• What if something happens in Uganda to stall or stop our adoption?

See, if I'm honest, I don't have it all together.  I am struggling internally with so many things, and the only thing that gives me peace is Jesus.  Because no matter what happens, He is for us.  So in my darkest moments, I imagine His arms wrapped tightly around me.  And just when I need it, someone will ask how I am doing.  They will invite themselves into my life and just listen.  When I am wondering how we will fund our adoption, a special someone shows up with an encouraging letter, and sometimes a donation.  These people are showing me God's grace and love, even if they don't realize it.  Thank you for allowing me to be honest.  And thank you, my dear friends and family, for loving me, especially when I'm at my worst.

Adoption Update

We received word that the two families who received their referrals before us have received their court dates and will be traveling to Uganda soon.  Thankfully, one of the families will get to meet our daughter, and will be taking a care package to her from our family.

Although we still don't have a court date, we are anticipating traveling soon.  Once we receive a court date, we have very little time to get to Uganda.  The boys are feeling anxious about us being away from them for such an extended period of time.  Please keep them in your prayers.

We can't wait to meet our sweet angel.  The update that we received today said that she is now sitting up independently and she's eating soy porridge.  I wish we could share her picture and more specifics, but we are not allowed to do so on social media.  If you are around and ask to see her picture, I will be sure to share it with you.

Blessings,
Shana

To Elizabeth Rose on Easter

Dearest Elizabeth Rose,

Today was your very first Easter.  But you didn't get to come to church with us to celebrate the risen King.  There were no pretty dresses, and your Easter basket sat empty in our room.  Our hearts were heavy today because you weren't with us.  But sweet girl, we shared all about you with anyone willing to listen.  You were on our minds all day as we wondered what special things you might get to do with your nanny at the orphanage.  And we smiled, knowing that although this is your very first Easter, it is also your very last one without your mommy and daddy.  This time of waiting is hard for all of us, but God is preparing our hearts and our family and friends for something big.  Because you are amazing, sweet girl.  God has big plans for your life, and we can't wait to bring you home and see where He leads you.

We love you so very much,

Mommy and Daddy

...And We Have a Referral!!!

So our world fell apart on Friday, March 4th when we learned about the Ugandan adoption changes. On Monday, March 7th, I had a text on my phone to call Darin about a referral for a precious 8 month old girl (since that time, we have learned that she is actually seven months old).  Our agency contacted Darin first thing Monday morning with a referral, and explained that because of the recent passage of the Child Act Bill, agencies were rushing to match families with as many precious children as possible.  The hope is that families with a referral in hand will be grandfathered in under the old law if/when the president signs the bill.

We have been extremely busy since learning about our daughter.  Vaccinations (six apiece!), a phone conference with an amazing doctor from the international adoption medical center (who, by the way, believes our daughter to be one of the "healthier" children she has seen from Uganda), travel plans (we will be traveling for a minimum of eight weeks) and more paperwork...

Although the doctor shared that she believes that our daughter is extremely healthy, we decided to sign our paperwork committing to her prior to the doctor's review of her medical records.  A risk, for sure.  But we believe that God chose this little girl for us, and nothing that is deemed "wrong" according to medical standards will deter us from adopting her.

Our paperwork has been filed in Uganda, petitioning the courts for adoption.  So now we wait.  And it is agonizing.  It's so hard to trust others to care for our daughter each day until we can bring her home.  But ultimately, every thought of our daughter brings our hearts to God and causes us to put more and more trust in Him to care for her.

Please pray for our precious daughter, for her nanny and other caretakers, for all of the orphans of the world, and for God's continuous provision for our adoption.  We are hopeful that we will receive the grant that we applied for in February.  We are praying that the Ugandan courts will find favor with our family and that we will be able to travel to bring her home soon.  And we trust that God will meet all of our needs.

Ugandan Adoption Law Changes

As some of you may have heard on the news this week, the Ugandan Parliament passed a law this week regarding foreign adoptions.  We are not sure what this means for our adoption at this time.  Many tears were shed today as we tried to process what this could mean for our family.  These are the facts that we received from our agency today:

• The new Children Act Bill was passed, however, the requirement of foreign families living in Uganda prior to receiving guardianship of a child was reduced from 36 months to 12 months
• There was debate about not requiring families to remain in Uganda for the full 12 months, but instead to travel back and forth for bonding over the process of one year
• Guardianships may continue as is until this new law goes into affect
• The President has not yet signed the law, and may not sign it at all

At this time, we have been advised to be prepared for a lot of unknowns.  We will continue to follow God's plan for our family.  Please be in prayer for the Ugandan government, adoptive families, and especially the orphans.  

  

A Tribute

There is this incredibly special lady in my life, and I am certain that without her following God's leading 17 years ago, I would not be who I am today.

This amazing lady fostered my love for the Lord, and she lovingly held hands with me as I accepted Christ into my life as a freshman in high school.  That moment in my life paved a path for my future that I would not otherwise have found.

Fast forward 14 years, and a friendship that had been lost (as time, education, work, and families kept us busy and moved us around) was restored.  For two years, this special lady helped raise my boys daily as Darin and I worked.  Homeschooling three of her own boys, along with Jonathan, and two other little ones running around was likely exhausting.  But she never complained.  Not once.  She shared her home, her family, her wisdom, parenting advice, and resources to help our boys develop a love for learning, getting dirty, and of course, the Lord.  And she prayed for our family and looked for ways to be a blessing to us.  When Jonathan was struggling with fine motor skills and sensory integration, she offered suggestions to help, and did her own research on ways she could support him at her house.  She gladly incorporated ideas from Jonathan's therapists into her daily lessons.  Noticing that he was exhibiting signs to begin reading, she began teaching him to read when he turned four.  Now in kindergarten, Jonathan is reading on a 2nd grade level.  Because of her.  She deserves much of the credit for how well Jonathan is doing in kindergarten this year, both socially and academically.  

Beyond all of this, rather than take a raise during her second year of caring and educating our boys, she and her husband reduced their daily rate for an entire year.  They did this in hopes of helping financially with our adoption (and at the end, they contributed nearly $1,000).  This was a huge sacrifice for her family, but she sacrificially gave to us because her love for our family and our new addition(s) is huge.

This special lady no longer cares for our boys on a regular basis, but has taken care of them throughout the school year whenever we call upon her.  And we always pay her, even though she asked us not to.  Last weekend, I had the opportunity to return the favor by caring for her boys all day. And when she came to pick them up, she handed me an envelope with "Uganda" printed on the front. Inside the envelope was all the money we paid her this year.  She had saved every penny for our adoption.

And when I shared with her that we are now the #1 family on the waiting list, she immediately shared in our joy.  She said, "Praise God!  We are ready to help with the boys however/whenever you need us!"  And she means that.  This incredible friend shares in my joys and sorrows and always has my back.  She will help care for our boys while we are away, no matter what she has to sacrifice in the process.  Because she loves Jesus and follows His guidance.  And because she loves my boys.  And I love her and am incredibly and eternally grateful for her friendship...and for that moment 17 years ago when she wasn't afraid to witness to me and pray with me.

Thank you, Colleen.  I love you.  You are more dear to me than you will ever know.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Thomas 2015

After celebrating Christmas at our house in the morning, we head over to my dad's house.  My dad makes eggs and bacon, and we have fresh fruit, donuts, and pastries.  Then we stack piles of presents for everyone around the room.  We typically sit in the same spots year to year, but since our family keeps growing, we have to adjust a bit.  Presents are opened one at a time according to age.  It takes a looooonnnnngggggg time, but it's so worth it to be able to see each person enjoy the gifts they open.

Eating a donut on the floor...because it's Christmas.

Boston cream...Jon's favorite.

Love this one!

Because what two year old doesn't need a giant container of sprinkles?

Love that grin!