Our weekend

On Friday, we added a new member to our family. This is Henry and he is 4 months old. He has quickly learned that with a little squeal he will get picked up and also receive a carrot.:)


Hey Jimmy!:)


A pic of Elijah getting his breathing treatment. He's such a big boy. I just love his little mask.:)



My Dad came over and visited with us on Sunday. We had a very nice visit and Caleb spent a lot of time on Papa's lap.


We concluded our Sunday with Caleb and his pal George saying their bedtime prayers. We continue to pray for dear sweet Kristen (whose button is at the top right side of my blog). Kristen is battling leukemia for the fourth time (yes, I said fourth). We pray that she will become healthy and free of it once and for all. Please click on her button and visit her blog. Please pray for her too, won't you? We have also been praying several times a day, for Chrissie who has been fighting for her life for the last week. She was born with a severe heart defect that should have taken her life at just a couple days old, but Chrissie has lived four years so far. After being adopted six months ago by a wonderful and faithful family, Chrissie had heart surgery last Monday. Chrissie is very sick and in need of our prayers. God has brought Chrissie back after dying twice during the last week. Please pray for this precious little princess. You can also visit her blog by clicking on her button (right under Kristen's button). God Bless you and have a wonderful week!

E is for Elijah

I can't tell you how much JOY Elijah has brought us! He is just so cute and we have so much fun with him each day. He is quite a character and has such a great sense of humor! He is also very smart! Right now, he has started pointing to and saying the letter E whenever he sees it. He gets very excited like he's thinking "Wow! Check out that E!" He knows that E is for Elijah and also for Elmo. So it must be a very important letter, right?!:)

Caleb is reading!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Power Brushing

Both Caleb and Elijah received battery operated toothbrushes in their Easter baskets this year. I wasn't sure how Elijah would like it since he is fearful of new things. He was hesitant to try it, but once he saw Caleb use it, he was convinced that it was "cool"! They have always enjoyed brushing their teeth, but now they come running into the bathroom when I say "It's time to brush your teeth!"

Gotcha Day, a year later

It's been a year since I walked out of the orphanage with my newest son in my arms! It was nothing less than miraculous! Elijah was a hidden angel, no one had met him, he wasn't on any photolisting, and he was all alone. But God knew he was there.....and He had a plan for Elijah much bigger than the four walls that Elijah saw everyday through the bars on his crib. Most of you know my story. Elijah was a blind referral that I received only 3 days before I was to travel to meet him. Nervous? A little. Exciting? Yes! I almost cried when I saw his precious photo for the first time! Less than a week later, I was holding my little angel in my arms for the first time.

This is Elijah's referral photo. It's also the first picture I ever saw of my peanut.


This is the first time I saw my little guy. His caregiver handed him to me right after I took this picture. I was already in love!



Special Firsts after coming home!Elijah's walking now!


Elijah on his 1st vacation with our family!:)


Elijah's 3rd birthday and first birthday with his family.


Elijah's 1st day of school!


Elijah a year later!


I love this little boy so much! He has stolen my heart with those beautiful eyes of his and his sweet smile, his cute little giggle, the way he puts his arms around my neck for a hug, the way he backs up and sits on my lap, the way he gets excited when I give him a cookie, the way he runs to get his shoes when he knows we are going somewhere, the way he lays his little head on my shoulder when he's tired and just wants to be held, the way he says "no!", the way he dances when the music comes on, the way he giggles and lights up when we play Elmo songs in the truck, the way he races up to Caleb's bed to wake him up, the way he jumps up and steals Ben's spot on the couch when Ben gets up and can hardly stop laughing as Ben tickles him for taking his spot, and the way he says "Mama" just melts my heart! I could watch him as he is sleeping all night and I can't wait to kiss his sweet little face in the morning! Thank you God for the gift of Elijah! It is an honor to be his Mama!!

Happy Birthday Ben

Today is Ben's 19th birthday. Wow! Where has the time gone? He's all grown up! Back when Ben was little and learning to read, I would send him to Jimmy (who is 4 years older) when he had trouble with a word. I helped too, but I thought it would be a neat thing for Jimmy to be able to help Ben. Soon though, Ben passed Jimmy both academically and cognitively. In a way, he became the "older" brother. Ben has stayed sensitive to Jimmy's feelings with this and has made sure that he doesn't "boss" Jimmy, but behaves more like they are of equal age. Ben is a caring brother to Jimmy, Caleb, and Elijah. He has really bonded with Elijah and Elijah just thinks Ben is the greatest! Caleb stills call Ben "Bun" which I think is so darn cute! So Happy Birthday Ben, we love you!!
Ben and his friends putting together Caleb and Elijah's Christmas present!

Happy Spring!

Yesterday was pretty mild and sunny so we spent some time outside. Caleb just LOVES to be outside so he was excited! Elijah loved blowing the bubbles all by himself.:) We had some exceptionally warm weather last week (close to 70 degrees) and Caleb was able to spray his water bottle outside. He loves to do that! So this weekend when the temps dropped again, he couldn't understand that now it was too cold to play with the water outside. Crazy Michigan weather!:)