Ezra is 2

Ezra making his airplane noises and sharing with his big sister.

Giving mama kiss and saying thank you for his cake.

I have loved every moment with my little boy.  I can never get enough of him.  When we sang to him on his birthday he just smiled all big and when we were done he just wanted to wrestle.  We had Chad and Meredith over and Rachel and Azariah, Holden is in Indonesia so he was not there.  Ezra loves Chad and Holden.  Ezra is a wild boy but he loves to play by himself and give hugs and kisses.  He shares well with sister and loves to sing and dance.  There is just nothing like a two year old boy.  Ezra's new thing is to often say, come, mama, come and pat his leg like I am a dog.  He just always wants to show me something and I love that.  He is going to have a blast with his new brothers.  Thank you Lord for this precious gift.  I just can't believe I have my little Jake.

It just does not feel right.

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Every time we sit down to eat, got to church, get in the car, lay in bed together, run around with the dogs, read books, or dance together. I feel like our family is not whole. We are missing three of us and my heart aches for them. I am constantly thinking about what this or that will be like with three more kiddos. I cannot wait to get my three boys in a bath together and just watch them go wild. I cannot wait for Adanech and Marya to do each others hair. I cannot wait to look them in their little eyes and tell them how much I love them and how much we want them and have been waiting for them. I cannot wait to lay my hands on them and pray for them at bedtime and to sing to them. I cannot wait to hear their little voices call me mama. I have so many things I cannot wait for. But right now, God is refining me. HE is waking me up at night, He is bringing me so much peace. I do not feel anxious. I am standing on the word of God and it is so sturdy!! I know that during this time God is preparing me, Jake, Marya, Ezra, Adanech, Abreham, and Petros to meet and become the family that God has intended. The wait is hard but I am thankful for each day as he prepares us.

Song

Years ago I wrote a song about adoption.  I cannot sing it without crying.  I just thought I would share the words.

Lead the Way

intro.

lead the way, lead the way, lead the way (repeat)

verse1

I love her yet I do not even know her

I see her face with blind eyes

She's so far away and alone now

Lord, help her feel this mothers love

Chorus

Wrap Your loving arms around this precious child

We will pray, please hear our cry for this child

We will wait, for the day we hold her in our arms

Verse 2

She's not from my womb yet she is my child

My heart aches for her touch

The name that she is give it means Rescue

Lord give her the strength to hold on

Chorus

Wrap your loving arms around this precious child

We will pray, please hear our cry for this child

We will wait, for the day we hold her in our arms

lead the way, lead the way, lead the way(repeat)

New Pictures

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Hello
We received some new pictures of the kids. We got about twenty pictures and they are so sweet. It shows the kids playing and eating and smiling a lot. It made Jake and I just laugh to see them. They have been moved from the orphanage to a transition home as they wait for us. IT looks like a nice place. We just cannot wait to wrap our arms around them. IN all the pictures Adanech looks like quite the social butterfly. She is always smiling and hugging her friends. Petros is a little ham and Abreham seems to shy away from the camera. I am sending three pics of them. If anyone is interested I can send more pics of them. Adanech is the oldest at 6 or 7 then Abreham is 4 and Petros 1. We so appreciate your prayers and support. God has been so faithful to bring His peace in the midst of everything. We need pray that the third visa for Adanech will go through fast.
love you all
Jen

Marya is 4

As we finished singing to Marya this morning she said, mom I am going to obey now, I am four.  Everything in her little heart thought that that was true.  Later in the day when she was not obeying and we had to have a spank she was crying and saying, mommy I just can't obey my heart just doesn't understand.  I said, yes baby you cannot obey apart from Christ.  You so desperately need Him.  This wild girl of mine has been such a blessing.  I have cried so many tears of love for her, tears of fear for her, tears of anger and frustration, tears of sadness.  All those tears have turned me to Christ.  Although Marya will not remember the hard years of discipline, I will.  God gave her to me to produce perseverance and I am so, so thankful.  The other night we were praying together and when we were done she looked at me and said, mom, we have worked so hard to get me to obey and I said yes baby we have, we will continue to ask God to change your heart every day.  I just love to hear her pray and ask God to give her a heart that wants to obey, it just melts my heart.  Thank you Jesus for this precious gift!!

Mother of five!!!!!

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We have been matched with not two but three children. Here is the deal. Two weeks ago our adoption agency contacted us about brothers ages 4 and 1. We were very excited but had to wait to get their medical papers to make sure they were healthy. The day we were to receive the papers and be matched their sister showed up at the orphanage. So we had to pray about the option of adopting all three or none. After prayer and wise counsel we felt that these were are children. We are overwhelmed with joy, excitement and fear. For about two days I shed many tears and felt very unable to be the mom that they needed. God has brought us so much peace. The word of God wipes out all of my fears. If I start to meditate on my fears I turn to scripture and the peace flows over me and I can breath again. God has called us down this road and i know it will not be easy but we are trusting Him. Please pray for our family that the Lord would prepare all of us for this transition. We hope to travel in about three months to bring them home. We will keep their names and give them middle names.

our daughter Adanech ah-DON-ich 7 years and her name means she rescues them

our middle son Abraham 4 years and his name means father of many

the baby son Petros 1 year and his name means rock

A beautiful day to hike in Alabama!

Don't they look happy!

My little girl loves to be outside and I love that.

Me and my best running buddies!

The boys, still having a great time.

We decided to go hike today and work off our Thanksgiving meal, it was so beautiful!!