Awesome news!

Congratulations MSgt Joel!!

We are so proud of you! We love you!

It all began just about 3 1/2 years ago...

for me anyway :). Mom and Dad had been praying for more children by birth since 1999. After two reversals, God decided not to bless them in that way but had a totally different plan. As the years went by, the prayers still sent, and many tears cried, they came to the decision of adoption after God laid it on their hearts that getting pregnant is not the only way to grow your family. Mom was deeply encouraged by another soon-to-be-adoptive mother at our previous church. Mom and Dad became more excited with the idea of adoption, and began seeking more resources. Through a mutual friend, Mom meet Jeanna Smith and hit it off quite nicely. Jeanna worked as an adoption consultant. Which basically means she matched babies with waiting families. Dad was set to deploy to Iraq in just two months, and we wanted to bring a baby home before he left so Jeanna got to work. God prompted a man to go to Iraq in Dad's place and his deployment was cancelled.(praise God) 90 days after we met Jeanna we got the amazing and challenging call. Jeanna said that there were four situations that we could consider. We were drawn to one particular situation, a African American baby girl due the next day in VA. Wednesday evening, Oct 17 '06 we gathered around the coffee table to pray and seek God. We called a few close friends and family to ask them to pray as well. After about an hour, We decided that this was indeed the child God had for us to raise and nurture. after crying, laughing, singing, dancing, freaking out, and everything else, we calmed down (as much as we could) and went to bed. The next morning was quite hectic. We packed, we called, we got calls, and lovely dear friends came by to give us a car seat and clothes. We didn't finally leave till like 1:00 pm. Dad had left that morning to go TDY...so he wasn't with us :(. The first thing we did when we got to VA was run to the hospital to see the brand new baby girl that was soon to be ours. We had to stay there for ten days because of interstate compact laws and such :). Our church was such a blessing to us and paid for our hotel. We got to bring Bella to the hotel when she was 2 days old...and waited out our ten days. My aunt Lydia and her two girls got there just a few hours after us, and my grandma and her sister came the day after Bella was born, they all left after a few days. We were all quite joyed to have this new little one. What a wonderful addition to our family she has been.

yes, this one is quite photoshopped...probably the most out of all ;)

one of Mom's favorite...

this ones for you Willie...for grins and giggles :) (only few select people will understand)

K.K.M.D

James 3:8

Jacksonville zoo...

Last Tuesday we went to the Jacksonville zoo. We met up with my Grandma (who goes by Nana :), my Aunt Ashley and her little boy Ladainian, and my Aunt Tiffany...all on my mom's side. We had a lot of fun being with them and hanging out...looking at and adoring God's animals.
He was pretty creative with some of his creations! ;)

Bella-boo enjoyed the little 4 year old company ;)...they were cute! Ladainian would pick her flowers (out of the zoo garden...he didn't once his mommy saw him and told him that they weren't to pick) :)...but Bella was pleased with them :)...they had a blast!

aunt Tiffany helping Bella and Dain identify all the birds...she is really sweet with her little nieces and nephews ...she has her own little one on the way :)...her husband is deployed for awhile :(..

..he left pretty soon after they were married :(

our little group from behind :)...(I'm pretty sure you could have figured that out though) :)..

(she kinda cheesing it here)but whats the fun in a normal smile :)...sweet little Bella-boo!..we are so thankful for such a sweet little girl. God blessed us tremendously!

my cutie little cousin Dain...he is so funny! he wasn't to happy to say "bye"...when they left Ashley told us that they were in KFC and out of the blue he says, "I love Bella"...he's one cute little boy :)

crazy kid!!...he's been around all the animals to long :)..but we love him :)

having a edifying conversation on creation theology...informing the serpent that he was in fact
created not evolved...
"score!"...he was looking forward to the lemurs all day ;)

everyone was informing us that the bird did in fact peck people....Ashley totally keep her cool...while Dakota was grabbing the babies and running :)...well not exactly he was just keeping K-man safe :)

our group on the benches...waiting for the train

Bella enjoying the elephants :)

Dain looking at something :)

and end it with a cool bird pix :)...I loved my signature that I figured out how to do on Photoshop...but I had to blur out my last name :'(..but it's still cool and i still feel...professional :)...

that evening we got to meet up with daddy for dinner. We kinda splurged and got Italian pizza at Pompei. It was pretty close to real Italian...they had an open fire oven which is one of the keys. :)

K.K.M.D

Revelation 1:8

Our Mother's day :)

For our Mother's day Dad came home...we were so glad to have him here for a day!...he just left about an hour ago :( but for the day We went to a local state park. we walked a trail, had a picnic lunch, and talked Calvinism at lunchtime..seriously :)

I have such an incredible mother! I'm so thankful for a Mom who loves all of us equally. A Mom who serves self-lessly. A Mom who takes the time to teach us all skills of life. A Mom who follows contently behind Dad and loves him to pieces ;)

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children" Elaon Heffner

we are all happy to have Dad here...even if it's only for a day. K-man was quite pleased to have his Daddy!

Walking the trail....

"...I think I've just been peed on!" ...but thank goodness it turned out everything was just fine back there :)

sweet Bella-boo!...she loved being outside exploring. I guess we were all talking or something because Bella goes, "quiet...so we can see some animals" she is too cute!

Mother and her dear 2!

Drum roll...

getting some nice rays here!!

doing stunts while Mom takes care of K-man :)...

high school musical!

"...just a second and we'll be through this in no time.."

oh yeah...caution tape doesn't stop us!!

other tactics :)...

I love that guy!

K.K.M.D

Psalms 141:1

have a great week!!

Morton's party...

The Mortons are so much fun! They love to throw parties..and always have a great party atmosphere! We watches "Homeschool Dropouts" and talked and talked and talked afterwards :)

It was indeed a fun evening! (Thanks Mortons!)

The Men's Corner ;)...they sounded like they were having interesting conversations! Homeschool Vs. Public Education....

Those blue eyes are gorgeous! and the blue shirt really makes them pop. :) He was so cute...when he saw me and the camera looking at him....he hammed up :)...he sat there still with his hands in his lap and feet perfectly together and adorable :)

This is what I got when he was asked to smile :)

Cleve

still talking :)...

like his shirt? ...I did that...on purpose :)..it's bleach tie-dye :)

from above :)...*note: Dorothy and Dakota* there must have been something funny because a lot of them are laughing :)

...

Martha, Angela, Dorothy, and I played Nertz (pretty much like Dutch Blitz) long into the night...no injuries occurred :) Sugar, the late night, and a somewhat competitive game all added up to a lot of fun :)

K.K.M.D

1 John 1:9