Camping in the COLD!

We had a great time camping this weekend with our friends Paige and John.  It was VERY COLD at night, but the days were beautiful.  The boys had a blast.  They loved hiking and were really tough- wearing me out!  It was nice to have nothing to do but sit looking at the fire.  In our over-scheduled life, we don't make enough time to chill out.  Here are some pictures of our trip.

                                                         

                                   At the campground- the boys spent their time playing football,
                                         throwing the baseball, and rolling around in the dirt!

                                                   Trail mix at the top of the mountain! 
                                                   They just hiked an hour to get here.



This one's not from the camping trip, but it was too cute to leave out. 

 This is Max on his class field trip to the pumpkin patch.

YAY! The I-600A Approval Is In!

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but we have passed another little baby step toward getting our daughter home to us.  Our I-600A approval letter came on September 23rd.  So I guess my fingerprints were good enough.  Whew!  So glad to be done with that step in the process.

This form is called "Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advanced Processing for Orphan Petitioning."  It basically means that we have been approved by the US government to adopt an orphan.  When we get our referral, we have to file LOTS more paperwork on behalf of our daughter before we can travel to get her.  But this is a big step toward that goal.

I think about her every day.  I just can't believe that, all the way across the world, our daughter has almost certainly been born.  She is lying in a crib somewhere, or being fed, or being rocked to sleep in someone's arms.  Unbelievable, and yet it is true.  I am so amazed at God's grace.  He has placed a love in our hearts for this baby that we have yet to see, and it grows every day.  We are so thankful that we have this opportunity, and are praying that God will give us what it takes to be the parents that our baby girl needs.  We know that there will be so many issues (some dealing with adoption, some just with life) that we will have to help her navigate through over the years.  I feel so inadequate, but thankfully I don't have to rely on myself for this.  God is there and He will give us the words to say and the strength and wisdom to be the parents to all of our children that we need to be.  So we will continue to trust Him and to WAIT.