Permanent Placement

The last few weeks have been a blur.  We have had two teams, both people we love so much.  We reached out to the children of the circus.  We continue to adjust to the new family that we are.  And finally this weekend, the girls were able to get settled with their new loft beds and dressers.  And today I began working on getting ready for school to start next Monday.  I am blessed to have almost daily conversations with Josh, which bless me so much.  Now I get why my mom loves when I call!!!

Elizabeth is a blessing in every way.  She is loved by everyone who meets her, makes me laugh like crazy, and often just jumps in and helps wherever she sees the need.  Sometimes I think God sent her just for me...but I will share her with Belize:)

Tori and Lee designed these beds and the Mennonites built them.  They turned out so cool.  So the girls have so much room now.  Each has a desk under the bed so when school starts, they can work.  It is so nice to finally have it all coming together.

The rainy season is heavy upon us.  I love the lower temps but not the humidity.  I can hang things outside all day and they are still wet.  But I still love the rain.  It is so peaceful.

Almost a year ago, the Lord asked us to do something.  And it truly was the Lord.  We were visiting the children's home here with one of the teams.  The director just happened to mention Kailey's name and Lee, Tori and I were all overwhelmed with the presence of God and moved to tears.  I felt the Lord ask us to take Kailey into our family.  It is not something we took lightly.  Obedience is sometimes costly.  But in obedience to the Lord, we experience the greatest blessings.  We have had Kailey for many weekends, Christmas, other special times over the past year.  Yet, sometimes social services has been very back and forth with her status.  It has been an emotional journey for her and us.  Last Thursday, though, we went as a family to Social Services in the city, and Kailey was Permanently Placed in our home.  It was an emotional day, the reality that she cannot go home, but also a day filled with joy that the Lord would choose our family to walk out this journey with Kailey.  We plan to adopt her once we are able to receive citizenship in a little over a year.  Please pray as we continue to adjust as a family and be sensitive to all of our girls' needs and hearts.

It was very windy by the sea, but it was important to me for us to capture this important day.

Josh is doing well.  He worked hard to get a job at Office Depot, in the printing department.  He is so excited, as he trained, this was the part he liked the most.  It is close to campus and seems to be a good atmosphere for him to work in.  In fact, Waxahachie just seems to be a great place for Josh to live.  He loves his church and is already very involved.  This is Josh sharing from the pulpit about what it is like to be a missionary.  The pastor's wife told him that he impacted two young boys as he shared.  He still has a month until school starts, but we are so thankful he is having this time adjusting to his new life on his own.  Yes, he still facebooks me about how to the laundry.  And I love every message or call I get from him.  I sometimes think about him being so far away and miss him so much, yet I am filled with such peace that he is exactly where the Lord wants him.  If you want to send him a care package, let me know and I will give you the address:)