Rough Week

I miss my girl!!! I have felt emotionally drained this week. Every morning I wake up run downstairs and check my email to see if the Embassy has cleared our case. It has been 5 weeks since our paperwork was submitted and so far NOTHING!! I email them every week for an update and the generic response I receive in return is so depressing. I'm ready to pick her up, hold her and have our family together.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Tonight is the Daddy Daughter Dance at Northland Church and this is the 3rd year Clay has taken Lyla Grace. This event is etched in her mind as the best night of her life. She told me earlier this week "Mommy at the dance I get to eat junk and be with Daddy! I can't wait!" Part of the excitement during the week is picking out her special dress (this year my mom made 2 to pick from) and talking about how she is going to wear her hair. My cousins wife shared a picture on Facebook about a month ago where she had curled her daughters hair with Bantu knots. Well I googled it and found out how to make it happen :) It was so easy and her hair was in beautiful ringlets (for 2 days). Here it is before she went to bed.

Here is her hair after

 She was so excited to have curly hair!!!!

All of the dads and girls went to eat pizza before the dance.

 Lyla Grace dancing with her friends

 Three besties!!

Nice Serve

Every 3 months our church serves the people of Orlando alongside organizations in our community. Today we teamed up with Greenup, an organization that helps keep the community parks and other public areas clean and usable. Almost 2,000 partners at our church went out and served this morning. Our kids loved helping and it was great to be able to serve together as a family.

So fun

Over the past couple weeks I have been able to go on 2 field trips with my kiddos :) I know this doesn't seem like a big deal but to this momma who has felt like I have missed out on my kids school life lately it is a very big deal!!
I went with Mason's class to the Orlando Science Center and had so much fun getting to know his little friends.

 Mason got so excited touching the snake that he almost walked off with it...until the lady used her stern I don't think so voice. The funniest part about it was that he was shocked she wouldn't let him actually carry it around.

 This week I went to Green Meadows farm with Lyla Grace's class.

 I was so surprised to see how much she loved the animals. She is usually such a girly girl and doesn't really like to get dirty. She was running around catching ducks, chickens and bunnies.

 Lyla Grace and her sweet friend holding a baby duck.

 Milking a cow

After working part time last Fall I am so appreciative of the time I do get to spend with my kiddos. Thankful God was able to teach me the lesson that every moment spent with them is a gift!!!!

Happy and Healthy

 We received an update from a friend in Ethiopia that Ada is happy and healthy :) Love hearing that she is being loved on and is feeling good!!
We were also notified by the US Embassy that they need more information from our agency. I guess this is what "they" do before her case is sent to Kenya for further review. Well at least that is what has been happening to most cases before being cleared for a visa. A little frustrating but also exciting that they are actually doing something. Each day I feel like we are getting a little closer to bringing her home :)

Happy Valentine's Day

I feel so thankful for all of my little Valentine's today!! I mean aren't they just the most precious things you have ever seen :) 

 Look at that mouth full of teeth!!

 So thankful for her and thanking God that we listened to his call...just think we could have missed this!!

Wanted to capture all of my Valentine's before we piled in the car for school (we were late because of this...oops) but well worth it because it is so hard to get all of them together. Lyla Grace wanted Ada in the picture so she held up the Valentine she made her.

Most of all today I am thankful for God's love for us!!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Teacher in Training

I love my sweet girl Lyla!!! When she comes home from school she counts down the minutes until Tate's nap time so she can play "baby class". She makes name tags to place on the carpet for "Circle time", she says the pledge, reads them a story and they sing songs...everyday for the last few months! Sometimes they even do art projects. I'm so thankful for her excitement and enthusiasm!!!