So full of love...

Our hearts are just so full of love this week. We wanted to get on here quickly today while both girls are napping, just to keep you in our lives and of course, to stay updated on the cutest girls ever! ;)



See I'm right, aren't I???

It has been a fairly good time so far in our household. I will say little Z has been struggling. If any of you care to, we would appreciate prayers that her adjustment period would go quickly and that we would have the love and patience parenting her that she needs. Meridian is a very sweet, easy going baby. Many have told me, that is just how all newborn babies are. However, we really prayed over my whole pregnancy that the new baby would be an easy adjustment and be an easy baby. So...we are choosing to believe that this is how God created her, just for our family! :)

As soon as I am feeling better physically (which really hasn't been too awful by the way), we will be in contact with our social worker to finish the updating and to get our home study out there. We still haven't heard back from the last of those applications, but I know that will come in His time.

Two quick things that we feel the Lord is leading us to ask you to pray about. With the addition of Meridian and the adoption, we are going to need a stroller. If any of you know us, you know we LOVE to walk! Seriously, I walked with Zoelle any day that I could in pretty much any weather. Being that we will have 3, we are going to need a triple stroller...which can be very expensive. Here is the one we have looked into getting: http://valcobaby.com/products/strollers.html?tx_productcatalog_pi1%5Buid%5D=4 Yep expensive, but it's the only stroller that will fit 3 toddlers (because our children will grow up sadly) comfortably. Could you be in prayer that we could find a great deal on this??? Secondly, we need a bigger vehicle. Our little car has been an amazing car, but it will not fit 3 car seats into it, plus any luggage if we travel. We are looking into getting a van, and aren't picky. We just are asking God to bless us with a great vehicle at an amazing price! He can do all things!! Thanks for praying. I look forward to updating with God's awesome provision to us.




Who can resist one more pic, because after all...aren't they adorable?!?

It's A Girl!

Meridian Piper was water birthed after four quick intense hours of labor on May 19, 2009 at 5:56 a.m.

She weighs 8 lbs. 5 oz. and is 21 inches long.

Her, mama, daddy, and big sister Zoelle are doing great. We will update more as time goes on.

Our Little Girl Is 2!!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Zoelle Grace! You have been such a joy for us to parent. As first time parents it has been a scary, exciting, nerve-wracking, and humorous journey! What a journey it has been. You have gone from this:



to this:



in what seems like an incredibly short amount of time. Everyday I am filled with awe and wonder of why God would give you to me. We have had two amazing years together sweet little girl-just you and I (and daddy too). Even though things are changing now and you are about to become a big sister twice, we will continue to be amazingly blessed by you.

May God continue to guide your little heart. To soften it and mold it to His will in the years to come. We look forward to continuing on this journey with you sweetie.

I love you! Happy 2nd Birthday sweet little one.

Love,

Mama

Sorry for those of you who came to read for the adoption...it's not totally adoption related, but I had to post it. It sort of is though, as she is a part of this adoption too! ;) Anyway, wish our little Z a Happy 2nd Birthday today!

The Cost of Adoption

"God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ...and it gave Him great pleasure...He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His son..." -Ephesians 1:5,7

Today God challenged me to pick up my Shaohannah's Hope devotional book that they gave us while we wait to hear from them. As I paged through, I came to a devotional in which the above verse was quoted. It struck me that our adoption by God cost us nothing, yet it did cost God something; it cost Him His Son. Yes adoption is costly, yet God was willing to undergo it, and undergo it with joy!

We want to do the same with our adoption. The adoption journey has not been easy. There have been many tears, sleepless nights, hours of toil, obstacles encountered-all are but a shadow of the price that God paid for us.

God certainly lead me to the right devotional to read today. You see, we have come to a decision. Chris and I realize that it is time to undergo everything, and undergo with joy. What does that mean? It means that we are going to be having our social worker submit our home study to agencies. Are we financially ready? No, not really. However, we know God is! He has the perfect adoption out there for us and knows exactly what we need. It is such a leap of faith, yet as we have discussed this past week, we have such a peace about it, and a deep joy. It is great knowing that we have done everything we can (submitting grant applications, saving money, etc.) and now God does the rest. Well, who am I kidding, he has done it all! :)

As our supporters both financially and prayerfully, we just want to thank you for your continued support and prayers. Please pray for us that God would guide us in His wisdom in making any decisions that come our way in the future regarding this adoption.

You can also be in prayer for me as I prepare for the birth of another child. I am two weeks out and feeling very good (Praise God). Just pray that God would give me the strength, both physically and emotionally, to get through whatever time I may still have left.

Blessings to you all...keep watching for updates on both the birth and the adoption.