Our Javi is 9!!!

3 months

Seems like just yesterday we were excited and scared all at once, as we prepared to welcome you, our first child into this world. Nine years later we're decorating our house with 'Mario Brothers' stuff getting ready to celebrate your big day. Javier you are sensitive, caring, thoughful, kind, funny, creative and unique.
- I love to see you be silly with Josiah, read to him, teach him.

- I love that you like to ride with me when Jojo goes with Daddy and you say 'I didn't want you to be all alone'.
- I love that you ask 'Is there anything else I can do for you Mom', when you see me running around.
- I love to hear you play the piano.
- I love your goofy laugh.
- I love how much thought you put into your drawings.
- I love that you can't eat without first praying.
- I love that you cry when you see me cry.
- I love that you care about others and put them before yourself.
- I love that you enjoy reading so much.
- I love that you like to tell us jokes.
- I love when you look at me one more time, wave and smile when you get out of the car in the morning.
Javier Andres I simply love you for being YOU!! Te Quiero, Mami

Javi at 3yrs, 6 yrs and almost 9 yrs...

What I know at 33...

I've been thinking...there are MANY things I've learned the last couple of years I just wanted to share :) Sooo...in no particular order here are some life lessons or you know, random thoughts:

- I have to train myself to slow down and soak in life (for some of us it's easier said then done), thankfully kids help with that one
- Even though it's very hard and humbling, saying sorry is necessary at times
- I'm learning to be ok with the fact I will probably always fluxuate between size 8 and 10, and that there are worse things in life for me to worry about that!
- It's ok for me to take care of me and not to feel guilty about it (in fact, it makes me a better wife, mom, daughter and friend)
- How thankful I am for my friends (they don't realize how refreshing they are to me, truly what a blessing!)
- It's best to have less, use it often, give away what you don't need and bless someone else instead of it just collecting dust
- Andrew and I make a good team...I am so thankful for a husband who is present, always working on improving our family, and thinks outside the box
- If I don't have time with the Lord I am a mess because I'm trying to do it all out of my own strength, NOT GOOD
- I don't have to be great everything, but I can try my best, ask questions, learn...
- How precious life is and what a gift from God it is
- We all have a journey while we are here on earth and it's a beautiful thing when you live life with purpose
- Finally, I am thankful for a God who knows me better than I know myself

10 Years Ago Today...

I remember it ... well let's be honest... like it was ten years ago.

I remember the rain and the tornado

.. way too many people crammed into a little townhouse,

.. .. somebody telling stories about crazy dreams,

.. .. . a power outage and subsequent lock down at a local department store

.. .. .. .. you stranded alone... and me stranded well, with everybody

.. .. .. .. .. .. there was also this 'Lost' ring... you 'member?

I didn't sleep much that night.

You 'member the shoes and 'the funeral'

.. .. the dresses that fell apart

.. .. .. and that one time I almost dropped you ... but didn't

.. .. .. .. yeah, those were good times

You 'member how tired we were

.. .. how we forgot our passports

.. .. .. then had to chase 'Mr. Fat' in his pink Cadillac

.. .. .. .. all the way down to New Orleans

.. .. .. .. ..we made it with time to spare

.. .. .. .. .. .. well before we got stuck in Mardi Gras traffic

You 'member? yeah those were the days

We've been on tear since then. We've lived we've laughed and we've cried... well you've cried more than me, but we've cried too. It's been pretty great.

Most of all I'm honored to have spent the last t 10 years of my life with you and to have you love me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I can't wait for the what the next 10 years will bring.

I love you, happy anniversary!

He knows her name...

Today I am comforted by knowing that God is in control of this adoption process. He formed her, He knows her name. What an amazing process this has been, December marked two years we began in this journey. Sometimes it seems it will never happen. YET when I feel like that I am overwhemled with God's goodness to come alongside me to give me what I need to do the next right thing, to take one more step. Colombia is a Hague Country which means they have a framework of paperwork to ensure children are protected, given the best home and not sold or taken advantage of. This includes a list of background checks of every State we've lived in since we were 18, original Birth Certificates, Medical Exams, even a Psychology report! On top of that, quite a bit of it has to be notarized and some apostilled (stamped by the Secretary of State). Oh yes, and it all has a shelf life so it does expire. Just this last week we sent the bulk of it out, yesterday I was at the Post Office three times! I will spare you the rest of the details. Please pray for us, as you can imagined this is an emotional roller-coaster. Trying to run a home and get all of this done is overwhelming at times. I am oh so thankful for a husband who is helpful, encourgaing, and supportive. Earlier this week Andrew and I heard some stories of other families who have adopted and were comforted by each one of them. Some easier than others, but everyone has a journey. Here we are in the middle of ours. We covet your prayers. PS We do have a paper saying we were approved by Colombia for 'one little girl from 0-3 years of age' :)

Un Año Loco! 2009 (A Crazy Year)

Last October we packed up our house and put things in storage, packed our bags and left for six months. It was crazy, amazing, hard at times, wonderful most of the times, a life changing experience. Andrew decided we needed to take a Family Sabbatical to South America. In Colombia we met up with a missionary family, Jorge and Ginny and their little girl Matilde. It was so humbling to see how they live every day life serving, being available, totally other'focused. Most of their ministry at the time involved reaching out to children in the neighborhood and orphans. We also were able to spend time with my extended family for a couple of weeks who lived a plane ride away from Bogota (where we stayed for our sabbatical). We spent last Christmas with our old friends who I had not seen for over 13 years! It was a quiet, sad, joyful, sweet and simple Christmas we'll never forget. When we came back in April we definitely had culture shock. I remember Josiah being SO excited for warm water to wash his hands :) Living in Colombia for six months changed our lives in many ways. We realized the boys were absolutely happy and content with the toys they had in their backpacks. They also found joy in sharing those with kids who had none. We were convicted about how busy our lives had become. We learned that God wants our family to live life, and minster to people as we go about our day. There are plenty of opportunities to reach out to others in very simple ways. To not just have stuff, but use it, take care of it, share it, or give it away. There are so many things we have some people wish they did, and we complain about it! We are forever changed by each person we met and all the wonderful things we were able to experience in another country.

Well around here the boys are usually playing pretend with their friends (aka stuffed animals), doing a craft project, wrestling daddy, or chasing each other around the coach in the family room. Javier was accepted to an Arts Charter School, he's in third grade now. He is still very much our 'artsy' child. He had his first musical this Fall and did awesome. Javi enjoys playing the piano, reading, writing, and drawing. He's a great big brother and very patient with Jojo who is usually following him around the house. I would describe him as sensitive, kind and sweet. Josiah is going to Preschool twice a week and loves it! He's very interested in letters and numbers and very much a hands'on type of boy. He likes to figure out how things work and doesn't like it when things are broken. Jojo loves playing with cars or his soft animal friends. I love that he speaks Spanglish ('Mamita, I want some lechita con chocolate please'). I would describe him as intense, thoughtful and energtic.

We want to end this newsletter by saying THANK YOU to all of our family and friends. For everyone who helped us pack and unpack, brought a meal, took us to the airport, watched our house, emailed us, prayed for us, helped buy bedding for orphans, visited us, met us somewhere for dinner, on and on...we are so grateful and blessed. Gracias y Feliz Año!!!

Four wonderful years!!

Boy how time flies when you are having fun! Seems like just about every evening Andrew and I are standing in our family room smiling as we watch our boys run around to music, dance, or play pretend. It is busy, full of energy, crazy and wonderful. God gave us Josiah to bring more laughter and joy into our lives! Just the other night he said, 'Jesus, let it be morning time, let it be morning time'...I asked him why he was asking for that, 'cuz I don't wanna go to sleep'....ahh, our Jojo. What is he up to lately? He's discovered letters and numbers. I love that when he spells his name he does it in Spanish. When called, he also answers in Spanish, and Andrew is known as 'Papito' and me, 'Mamita'. He calls Javier his 'best brother' and has a hard time saying bye to him EVERY morning we drop him off at school. Josiah also started calling us (his immediate family) 'wubby'. If you know him you know how much he loves cars, monster trucks, motocycles, and well, anything extreme! Oh yes, recently he's into mismatching his socks. Here are some pictures from then and now.

Josiah George weighed 9lbs. 2oz.!!

First picture with Daddy!

First nap with Javi, check out his smile :)

Mom came out to help care for him and me :)

Grandma Bec and Jojo, check out his socks :)

Josiah and his 'best brother' Javier....

Family Pictures

These pictures were taken last month at the Boise Train Depot. Our friend, Bridgette, did a wonderful job capturing 'us'. Things going on this Fall include: Javier going to Christine Donnell School of Arts and enjoying every minute of being 'artsy'. Josiah going to preschool twice a week and being schooled by mom the other days. Andrew working lots, brainstorming on his next new thing, taking care of all of us. I am trying to be purposeful this season of life getting projects done around the house. Oh yes and enjoying my Kitchen Aid. We are also finishing up paperwork for our little girl :) We still don't have a timeframe, but we are filling out the last package of paperwork called our 'dossier'.