No Words....

No words can really express what we are going through today. We received an email from USCIS this morning saying that our petition to bring Naomi home has been denied. Our agency (AGCI) has already had to cancel the court hearing in Ethiopia on Friday (Jan 1st) because we did not yet have approval, which we understand. We can appeal the denial, but it can take 6 months, and we still do not have a guarantee. We know that it may be in the best interest of our child for AGCI to refer her to another waiting family, as this will take so long.

We feel like we have lost our child. Grief and tears have overcome us today. We feel despair, deeply sad, lost, angry, jealous of those who are bringing home their babies, empty, shocked, numb, and just feel like we've woken up from a nightmare to realize that THIS IS REAL.

Dawn's and my heart is breaking. We just don't understand this. Could we not just get one break? Why such hate and opposition to bringing our little girl home?

Just don't know what else to say, except to ask you to pray for us - we are both just sick and tired of being kicked in the teeth. We are tired of hearing that God's timing is perfect. We know He sees the big picture, and know He knows best, but it is not reassuring right now. We are wondering why God has taken us on this journey of pain.

One Year Ago- Bringing Jonathan HOME!!!

So we have shared some pics of us bringing Jonathan home, but here are his referral pics.

Can you believe his cuteness???? I mean....look at those eyes!!! And that cute thing with his fingers!
Yep, those are the face photos we fell in love with!!!!
Sqeezable cheeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And here he is today.....one year ago.....wobbly was a way to describe his walking, and very thin.
Now watch him run!!!! He loves it, and can walk over 2 miles without complaining.....
He is totally at home here....
This was his first Christmas home with us.....
Need I say more??? I mean.....this little man is all about being cute!!
Here is the presents we whipped out today......(we spread our gifts out so we and the kids enjoy them more!!!!) The kids are all out back staring at NEW BIKES!!
They were sooo excited!!! They have had bikes before, but with one broken, and more kids learning to ride......they couldn't ride at the same time.
They love riding together!! They say- come on....let's all ride around the camp. (This is the greatest for us as Camp Directors :) Seeing them enjoy the camp).
Of course racing is involved when you have boys!!!!
Ready, Set, GO!!!!
We also got training wheels for Sarah on the smaller bike....she is still working on the skill. Of course her posing skills are well- this is our Sarah!!!! Beautiful!!!!

Praying your day is wonderful and you all enjoyed your Christmas time!!!!

We have e-mailed & overnighted some more paperwork to USCIS, and praying we hear back soon.....like tomorrow would be GREAT!!!! We know God is in CONTROL!!!!! We also know there are sooo many prayer warriors out there & WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True Meaning & Elizabeth's 4th Birthday today!

OK so earlier in the week.....I got this Christmas present!!! Isn't he cute? He is a flat-coat retriever, and is of course a rescued puppy- about 3 months old. He is a FUZZY ball of silliness. Fits pretty well into our family :) His fur is seriously like a Persian cat fur. Absolutely love petting him- a lot!!! He will be a big dog- you should see his paws- they are HUGE! He will be our spoiled outdoor dog- the dog that gets to be petted by all the campers (fed hotdogs - secretly of course), and will be a companion to us when we spend countless hours outdoors for our job :) Love him!!! Thank you Jason!!!! (and Abigail who helped pick him out)
Look at the cheese on this face!!!
Almost a year ago- this little man screamed at the sight of us! Did not want to know us, especially me......and now he is pure cheekiness!
Happy Birthday to our little baby girl- who is now 4!!!! We met her when she was just a day old, but she came to live with us when she was 5 1/2 months old (through foster care).
Elizabeth is full on ALL the time! She is super energetic!!!! She loves to sing & talk. She has the most excellent voice!!!!! Really we are thinking - hello praise team for church!!!!!!
Daddy helping the princess put on her clothes (see Halloween has a benefit- 1/2 off makes great presents later on :)
Our princess complete with purse, beads, crown, ear rings, ring, sceptor, wings, dress, and shoes that you can't see. (I made sure to get a bigger dress so it fits for a while :)
Look at this little man- loves his horse with a little man on it......
Teddy Bear - our indoor doggy who wants to be in on the action...
Sweet Abigail enjoying the day with her new braces (with pink bands of course!!!) that she got put on - this past Tuesday! She is doing great with them!
Jonathan- again.....such a serious child- he he he he- loving the cowboy hat & pink blanket.
So all was well in princess land.....she was sitting next to the prince, with guards all around, and ladies in waiting....
look how handsome this guard is......yep, he is walking just like the guards at Buckingham- results of our recent trip to England :)
Yep, this is one serious guard, he has a foam gun, horse in his hands, and a sword in his belt.
This little guard is going to make sure you do not get in!
This is her personal guard helping her.........and then something unthinkable happens......
This crazy man.....comes in to kidnap the princess!!!!
The soldiers try to protect her......
But try as they might all the kings horses....all the kings men.....couldn't protect the little princess.
He fought them all off.......
Good thing it was just daddy playing with the kids and wanting to love on his princess!!!!!!

This story has a happy ending.......but what about your story? Will you have a happy ending? Do you know who your Savior is? Do you know who will rescue you? Christmas is about a hero who is perfect, loving, saving, caring, powerful, without end, and who loved you soo much he came to Earth to become like us to be able to lead us.

This Christmas the Greatest JOY you could ever hope for....comes from SALVATION!!!! Do you know HIM as your personal savior? He didn't just come for Christmas....He came to die for YOUR sins. He came to show us how to obey, love, and care for others.....If you don't know Jesus as your savior here is a prayer to lead you to him this Christmas! All He asks is that you confess your sins to HIM - don't worry, He already knows everything and has been waiting patiently for you.....and will until the end of time......because HIS LOVE is that REAL! John 3:16 "For God SOOO LOVED the WORLD that HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!"

Dear God, please forgive me. I know I am a sinner, and I believe Jesus Christ died and rose to heaven so I could be forgiven of my sins and live forever with you. I accept your gift of forgiveness. Thanks you for loving me. From this day, I'll do everything I can to follow you. Amen!

If you want to know more you can click and e-mail me privately, face book me, or if you e-mail I will give you my number and I would be more than happy to talk with you........as Christian Camp Directors......our joy of what we do is to see others know HIM personally! That is a gift that doesn't cost anything, but more valuable than the most expensive jewels we saw at the Tower of London :)

May all of you who know Christ and those who may be still wondering....praying that you will SEE HIM this BLESSED CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Update: We still haven't received word yet if we are approved or not, but guess who will be checking her mail box- ASAP tomorrow, and every delivery day until we do know. Although we know it could be a big struggle, or it could be immediate relief.......either way we will be PRAISING GOD!!!! Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things NOT seen."

We could never think of walking this road alone- Thank You ALL sincerely from the bottom of our hearts to you for your prayers, kind words, encouragement, and support. You are true brothers and sisters in Christ!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May YOU KNOW CHRIST this season!!!!!!!!!

Prayer NEEDED please!

Here are some fun times we have had in the last week as we prepare for Christmas......







Christmas crafts....and yes my husband is wearing a winter cap in the house
Matthew's Adoption Day home made apple pie that we enjoyed last night.

Our PRAYER NEED: We found out that if we do not receive our USCIS approval before the 29/30th we will have to reschedule our January 1st court hearing in ETH for Naomi! I can't tell you how much this rips my heart out and stomps all over it. Just wanting to be honest!

We are praying that we get APPROVAL ASAP!!!!!!!!!!! We know that we will NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR NAOMI!!!!! We would do WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!!!!!!! HOWEVER LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because she is our daughter, but we are pleading and begging that we would be able to pass and go pick her up sooner rather than later! Because she needs her family!!!!

We are trying to relax and enjoy our family time, but it is hard when your heart is in pieces.

People are serious when they say praising God in the hard times- is hard, but we will continue- NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebrating 6 years of Matthew's Adoption Day

This is my little man......ohhh......we were privileged enough to meet this little guy the day he was born. He was very little- under 6 lbs! We took him home from the hospital 2 days later- and he has had me around his finger ever since!
One thing now.....that has me a little sad is that this was my little guy who loved Thomas the Tank Engine- you know all the little songs....awww..... Now it is anything to do with soldiers! What happened. I mean I am not opposed to it, it happens as they grow and have different phases they go through, but how could he have grown that much?
I you haven't seen our previous posts on Birthdays or Adoption Days- our tradition is that we get up early and come out in our pj's and open presents. All presents are theirs for the day with no one else playing with them.......for the day. After that if it isn't in their box (which only holds so many toys) it is a free for all. We of course have a big sign made up on the white board (that we actually use mostly for school work), balloons, and sometimes little gifts of some kind like poppers, or pens, etc. for everyone.
He is loving the see through foam dart gun! He LOVES to see how things work so this was a perfect gift!
Treasuring memories in my heart of all those years that seem to go by sooo quickly! I mean it was 6 whole years ago that we went to court with our 3 child and said- YES!!! We want Matthew Joseph Wright to be our son- FOREVER- THANKS!!! OK so we may not have said those words like that, but that is what we emphatically said in our hearts.

He is ..........funny- loves to make you laugh :), loves to see how anything works- and will take it apart if at all possible- or if not possible too, he is sensitive sometimes, still little for his age- (which is good because most of our children are tall for their ages), loves his siblings, wants to be a train driver when he grows up, hates the "bad" people in the movies, still loves trains & soldiers, loves to play pranks, wants to be just like his big brothers and hates to be left out, loves to cuddle with me, strokes my hair when I tuck him in at night, is sometimes shy (he doesn't usually go forward for children's sermon & takes time to get to know you), and is an incredible little man. I am sooo excited to see God's Plans for you Matthew! I am sure they are amazing!!!!

On the home front- well.....thought we may have some news from USCIS today, but they are keeping us in suspense and said we should know before January 1st- which is our date for court in Ethiopia. We are thinking positive, knowing that the God we Serve- has placed Naomi in our family! We know without a shadow of a doubt that she will be a part of our family, and the fact that they are being silly over technicalities will NOT ruin our season of JOY!!!!

We APPRECIATE your prayers over this situation soooo much because I KNOW that because of those many, many, many prayers We have been filled with HOPE! Hey, isn't that what this season is all about?

Praying you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!