Monday, June 28, 2010




As we all took the weekend to get better from the lovely summer virus that invaded 3 out of 4 of us, I must admit the downtime was nice. NO plans - except one. Joel and Nate joined the rest of the family to celebrate his MawMaw's 84th birthday. She is such an influential part of Joel's life and means the world to us. Isn't she just glowing in these pictures? She adores her grandkids and great-grandkids. Nate goes just about weekly to visit her and help her out. It's precious to see his heart for her and recognize her needs.
We are all on the mend now and are hoping to get out of this house very soon!! I am finishing up the girls' room this week. It is ALMOST done!! Pictures soon :)
Today our Article 5 was picked up and now are on the FINAL wait for our TRAVEL APPROVAL - then we BOOK OUR TICKETS!!!!! Can you believe it, the final stretch........before you know it, we'll be posting FROM CHINA!!


posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 10:18 AM | 0 comment(s)

Thursday, June 24, 2010




a low key week....
we are on the mend around here right now. Some horrible bug has invaded 2 of the 4 of us and it has yet to leave fully. Hopefully we'll be better very quickly and back to normal....we, whatever that is.

In adoption news - this coming Monday, June 25, our Article 5 will be picked up and then the process begins for our TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!!!! It looks as if we are about 6 weeks or so from travel - give or take. Cannot believe it.

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 8:52 PM | 2 comment(s)

Sunday, June 20, 2010


Happy Fathers Day!!!
We have had a wonderful weekend. Friday night the kids and I gave Joel his gifts, as it was hard for the kids to keep it on the downlow. We were excited to give him some framed photos that we took last week and a few shirts for work. It was fun to see how excited the kids were!
This weekend has been low-key and relaxing. Friday night I went to a surprise shower for our dear friend who is traveling with us to China. They are adopting a precious little girl (from a different province) who will be 2 in September. We told her it was a sleepover and when she walked in we all surprised her!!! It was a great night and we were able to encourage her and love on her. Can't want to meet her sweet Mei Mei!!!
Saturday we went to our local farmers market and walked around. The kids love the samples - I think they think that's all there is to it!! LOL Nate enjoyed an afternoon with his SueSue watching the new Toy Story 3 and we got some things done around the house and even sat and watched an entire movie (The Boys are Back)!!
Today we spent the morning at church, in an incredible worship service then had lunch with Joel's mom and his sisters and our sweet nephews. Tonight we had my dad over for dinner and a little golf watching.
AHHHH. (big sigh) Now we start a little bit of a busy week ahead. Nate is attending a VBS and I have an ever-growing list of errands and things to do. Starting that desire to nest a little. I need to get the girls' room done and go through all their clothes and I want to call our doctor who will be involved with her surgery when we get home - just to touch base and figure out their process. It's beginning to FEEL REAL!!!!!

Have a blessed week

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 8:25 PM | 1 comment(s)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

K-LOVE - Selah "Unredeemed" LIVE

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 10:26 AM | 0 comment(s)

Sharing some amazing truth this morning. Words I needed to hear and absorb as I wait on His timing for Norah:
The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Selah

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 10:23 AM | 0 comment(s)

Sunday, June 13, 2010


June 8 would have been Naomi Gould's 6th birthday. We celebrated BIG - with all 6 (7 actually) of the babies that have come home through Naomi's Fund. Our dear dear friends, Andy and Julie, threw a big party (along with our friends Brent and Hollie and their awesome pool) and we had a fabulous day. Don't let the picture above fool you - Naomi was happily floating around in her little ring and swimmies and we ripped her out of the pool for a "quick picture" and she wanted nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with it. She wanted back in the water, where she swam for 3 more hours. The sweet boy in the front is home from Taiwan, just 4 weeks ago. His mommy and daddy are smitten for him and now we are too - after hosting them for the weekend. He was all smiles and happy all the time. He has adjusted so beautifully and thankfully is healthy and happy.
Each one of our 3 adoptions have been so different. I guess it is similar to pregnancy - where each one is simply not the same. Nate's was beautiful and very quick and the excitement was enough to carry us through the home study and legal matters. Not to mention his birthmom and family were incredible and the blessings that came from that (and still do) are more than I can put into words on a blog. Naomi's was wonderful in it's own way -the anticipation of a girl, the excitement of being matched and then traveling and her almost immediate bond to us - incredible. Norah's process has been the hardest. We were matched 3 weeks into the process and with the new Hague requirements in place, we cannot hop on the next plane and bring her home. 7 months later we are still waiting on paperwork and will be waiting for several more weeks. Though we are in the final stretch of waiting, it has not been easy. But in all 3 journeys to our beautiful children, God has been there and sanctified us. We know this is His will and we rest in that. When days are hard and sad and frustrating - we rest in His promises and lean on Him for a new day. Our new day, becoming a family of 5, will be here before we know it. For that we are grateful.

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 9:35 PM | 1 comment(s)

Friday, June 11, 2010


We are still in vacation mode around here.Our trip to Fripp Island was absolutely the most relaxation we have had in a long time. It was a blessing that we are still hanging onto.
In adoption news, we are well on our way to our TA (travel approval) which is what we need for our CA (consulate appointment) in order to book our tickets and get our Sweet Norah Lei. Our dear friends (who we are hoping to travel with us) got some updated photos of their sweet daughter this week, and it got us all pumped up and WE ARE READY!!! Soon and very soon (likely still August) we will be on that plane. :)
Have a blessed weekend.

posted by Joel and Lee-Anne at 2:55 PM | 1 comment(s)