One year with Aiden!

Today marks our one year anniversary with Aiden.  It's hard to fathom that one year ago today we  became parents to a 5 1/2 year old and now, we have two boys.  I am in love with my boys.  Parenting has it's challenges, but I can't imagine life without these little guys.  In fact, being a parent is one of the hardest things I have ever done! 

Aiden has grown so much in the last year.  His speech has improved, he passed Kindergarten, he is more confident, and I truly believe he understands that this is forever.  His foster parents, Mike and Deena, were here over the summer for a short visit and it was good for Aiden to reconnect with them.  Hidden Treasures Home was a very positive time in Aiden's life and he needed to rekindle some of those very wonderful memories.   His foster parents are some of our greatest friends and will always be apart of Aiden's life. 

Over the years of pushing forward to start our family, we have had many opportunities that have changed us forever.  We pushed on many doors for adoption and tried for years to get pregnant.  We had a failed adoption in China, which broke my heart.  We kept getting pushed off the list for Korea, because of finances.  But we persevered and I am overwhelmed at times thinking about how God has poured out such a blessing of children in our family.  


Tomorrow night we are going to celebrate and Aiden got to pick what we are having for dinner.  You guessed it, Chinese food!!

First time holding our baby boy, Ethan Matthew

Boys meeting each other for the first time.

God's blessings!

Quickly becoming a Florida boy!

Ethan

Time....where does it all really go?

It has been six weeks since we came home with Ethan from Taiwan.  I am in disbelief of how the weeks have gone by so fast.  Ethan is doing fabulous, just absolutely wonderful!  He is my sweetness and I could not imagine life without him.  He is truly a gift from God.  He turned 8 months on Monday.  When he came home he was not sitting or crawling, because his muscles were tight from little use.  Now, he is crawling, sitting, and trying to stand up wherever and whenever possible. Can't he just stay small and tiny for me? ...please?  I love, love, love him!!

Aiden is doing well as a new big brother.  There's a big age difference between the boys, so I look at that as a factor with Aiden, but all in all he's adjusted well with our new little addition.  Bringing Aiden home in August and Ethan home in May has totally rocked our world for the best!  Don't get me wrong, this Mama could use a break right about now, but I'm strong I can take it.  Haha!

This is just a little tiny update from all that has happened in the last six weeks.  We are good and lovin' life!!  Please pray for us as it looks like we might be getting closer to finalizing Aiden's adoption!

Need Sleep,,,,,

We leave in 3 hours to head to the airport and make our way to Taiwan.  I am so excited about visiting a new country!!  It's late and I'm exhausted, so I don't have much to write and even if I did I don't think my mind would be working at it's highest potential. ;)  I am overwhelmed by the fact that on Sunday morning I will be holding my second son.  God is wonderful!  I mean that, not because of the blessings in my life, that I know can only come from Him.   I would serve Him and surrender my whole life to Him just because of the gift that was given when Jesus hung on the cross.  However, God is such a good Heavenly Father that His love is so great for all His children.  I know that when I am holding my son and Dave and I are in the moment, God will be in that moment with us.  He will be with us looking with eyes of delight for His gift in our lives.  The Word says, that He delights in the prosperity of His servant.  I really believe.  I delight in giving gifts to Aiden, I can't imagine the joy the Father has with us.

Well, I am off to try and get a couple of hours of sleep or I wouldn't be a very good "travel buddy" for Dave.   I hope to post pictures from Taiwan.  

Thank you, Jesus

I have made it a way of life to always be in remembrance of what my Savior did for me, for us, for the world. However, during this time of year when we celebrate the Resurrection, when we celebrate when the Veil was torn....I am in complete awe of my Father and the the sweet love of Jesus.  We have this weekend to celebrate, because of Love.  He is love and all that the Father has done for us is because of Love.  It is really overwhelming when we actually sit and meditate on it.  The whole cross experience was look at with joy and a deep love.  

So, as you celebrate and have fun dying eggs and creating Easter memories, celebrate like you never have on this Resurrection Sunday!!