Isabella,
Today you are nine months old. Happy birthday, baby girl! We miss you so much! It's hard to put the feeling into words today. We have a count down on the calendar, and it won't be long before we see you again! We're painting your room today, and it looks SO cute!
In honor of your nine month birthday, I'm re-posting a poem I originally posted for you back on September 4, 2007. We are faithfully praying for God to care for your tiny spirit. In church during one of the worship songs, a special thought came into my head. I could see you up on the stage singing worship songs to the Lord. I started to pray in my heart that God would give you a 'special song' and that you would love to sing and worship the Lord. That's my prayer for you today, too, on your nine month birthday... that God would give you a 'special song'. I can't wait to find out someday when you are bigger what that 'special song' is. I praise God for your life, Isabella! He has such exciting plans for you!!!
I love you,
MomKISSES IN THE WIND I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams. You are here each day with me, at least that is how it seems. I know you wonder where we are.....what' s taking us so long, But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong. Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin... Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind . May God hold you in his hand until I can be with you, I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do. Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend. But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight. And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night. -Author unknown
I finally got through to PGN after 7 tries. I was told that we STARTED with the second reviewer on March 25th. Huh??? I told Laura at PGN that I was told last week AND the week before that we were already with the 2nd reviewer. I don't get it. It makes no sense to me. Laura was nice though, and told me that things will go faster from here. She says that they are "swimming in files" at PGN.
My prayer today...
Heavenly Father, in your word you say that you know the number of hairs on my head. If you know that, Father, then I'm sure you can plainly see Isabella's file among the sea of files at PGN. Lord, I pray that our reviewer will see our original entry date at PGN and have MERCY on Isabella's life.
God, I also pray for the families that I know who are still waiting to bring their babies home. Please bring their approvals quickly. Amen.
The boys dying Easter eggs- My oldest son is such a "typical male". He's got to be in charge of the T.V. remote even when it's off!
The finished product- one dozen beautifully dyed Easter eggs
My sister-in-law and I getting Easter brunch ready for the family.
The day after Easter, we packed up and headed out to Palm Springs with Kirk's parents. The boys and I are roasting marshmallows in preparation for the perfect S'mores!
I turned off my flash, tried a new setting on my camera and got some candids of the everyone making S'mores. I love the glow of the firelight.
Nana, Papa, and my three boys
The temperature was in the upper 80's. It was so fun to pretend it was summer and run around in our bare feet!
If you look closely you can see the baseball blazing through the blue sky.
Cruisin' around in the golf cart
The kids think I'm the craziest golf cart driver. To be honest, I do kind of like to "floor it" and make them scream like girls! Hee, hee, hee!
I may call PGN tomorrow. The thought of it makes my heart race. I miss Isabella so much. She never ever leaves my mind. I love to hear the boys pray for their little sister. They haven't met her yet, but you wouldn't know it from their prayers. It makes my heart so proud!
To my blogging buddies... Thank you for your prayers for Isabella. Don't stop! Our PGN approval has to be close. It is SO hard to wait, but the Lord gives me just enough hope to make it through each day.
Lamentations 3:22-23... Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I just called PGN. We are still with the 2nd reviewer. I called today because PGN shuts down completely tomorrow through early next week due to Semana Santa, or Holy Week. That means that all adoption paperwork makes no progress for about a week. Bummer! I plan to call again a week from Friday to see if we're awaiting final signature. In the meantime, on Monday we're all headed to Palm Springs to relax and pretend it's summer! We can't wait!
Have a wonderful Easter!
My sweet friend, Bethany, surprised me this morning with a new header for my blog. Am I blessed or what?! It was just the encouragement that I needed today. Bethany has the most amazing, God-given creativity I have ever seen. God seriously has given her a double portion!! Not only is she an amazing artist, she uses her gifts and talents to help others in our community and around the world. She recently spent about two weeks in Africa painting murals, encouraging and loving on what our world considers "the least of these". She sees life through an artist's eye and can turn "nothing" into "something beautiful" and make it look effortless. Thank you, Bethany, for taking your precious time to make something special for me. I'm so encouraged! www.BZBdesigner.com
Here's a little video (from our visit trip at the end of February) of Isabella being silly and happy. She just melts our hearts!
I am very grateful and thankful that my friend Melissa sent me some pictures today of Isabella at her hogar. Thank you, Melissa! However, as even Melissa can tell, the photos (not posted) are further confirmation that Isabella isn't getting the care and stimulation that she needs. It's breaking my heart! We have another visit trip planned for April, and it can't get here quickly enough!!!
Here are some prayer points:
*PLEASE pray for Isabella! Her care and health are so-so.
*Pray that we get out of PGN quickly. She needs us now more than ever!
*Pray for wisdom and guidance as I make plans to stay in Antigua to care for Bella. There are so many details to take care of, as you can imagine.
Thank you all so much for lifting us up on this journey!
Kirk really wanted me to call PGN today since we haven't had an update in about a week. I am so happy to say that we are with the 2nd reviewer. We are slow but steady! The woman I spoke with at PGN told me to call back in a week. PLEASE, PLEASE pray that we get approval next week!!! We need the Lord's help to get Bella Grace home! My heart is so hopeful I can barely stand it!
I just called PGN. It's been 17 days since our last resubmit, and we're still with the 1st reviewer. I just can't take this anymore. I'm at the end of my sanity- seriously! I'm going CRA-ZAZY!!!
Here's a very short little video. Isabella was cracking us up with her little legs swinging back and forth in delight at being carried around in the Bjorn. Everywhere we went her little legs would swing, swing, swing! I think she was having fun!
My dear friend, Brenda, called PGN for me today. Thank you, Brenda!!! She has some sort of magical touch getting through to Laura. Anyway, we are with the 1st reviewer- no forward progress, but at least we aren't going backwards! I'm thankful about that!
Would you PLEASE keep praying for APPROVAL?
Have a great day,
Stacy
On Monday the 25th, I called PGN and was told we were with the 1st reviewer. I called on Friday for an update, but I was told we are not even with a reviewer yet. The lady told me that I was given wrong information on Monday. Hmmm? Could we be going backwards at PGN?
Yuck, I feel sick.
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Big Kahuna and I have known each other since we were kids and have been married for almost 15 years. We are passionate about our family, travel and serving God. We love helping people and bringing them hope. We laugh ourselves to tears watching classic episodes of Saturday Night Live and The Office. Summer is our favorite season, and we live for warm evenings playing with the kids on the beach.
Big Surf is 14 years old. He's a voracious reader, focused, and spends hours building things. He is our resident techie and is also learning to play the violin. He loves to spend his free time playing baseball, flag football, or out on the trails by the house building his clubhouse.
Goofy Foot is ten years old. He devours his free reading books like there is no tomorrow. He is also the family comedian. If you see him, ask him to tell you a joke! He is tender-hearted, social and compliant. When he is not outside riding his bike, you'll find him drawing or writing a funny book.
Beach Bunny is three years old. She is our sunshine! She joined our family through the unbelievable gift of adoption. Beach Bunny loves to snuggle with us and carefully takes care of her baby dolls. She is super silly and must say hi to everyone! One word that describes her is "joy".
