Annual Halloween Party 2008!

Our annual childrens party went off great as it does every year! I'm so glad the weather held out for us, we even saw the sunshine a bit!
I have to admit, I was a bit sad a month ago thinking about putting this party together again, b/c I remember last year hoping Sophie would be here this time this year and she would be part of all this...
But, as it turns out, it is what it is, and actually I didn't feel sad at all, I felt overwhelmed with joy that our lives are so richly filled with such good family and friends AND...most of all, we now know 100% Sophie will be here at next years party, without a shadow of a doubt...and last year I could not have said that.
Speaking of Sophie....we will find out any day now how many more families were matched with babies this month....we are praying that they get to the end of Feb of 06, if not close to the end....we are getting so close my sweet Sophie Ruth!!

Fun filled day at the pumpkin farm

Fall brings with if such thanksgiving, and this past weekend was one of those times that I felt so filled with thanks...
Thanks for this beautiful earth we live on, the fall season, and all the glorious colors
Thanks for farms, esp pumpkin farms, that house tons of family fall fun!
Thanks for my family, my awesome husband and precious little boy
Thanks for Sophie Ruth, who I KNOW has been born in China, and is just months away from us
Thanks for the faith, hope, and assurance from our Lord that she WILL be with us at
this very same pumpkin farm next fall

We had such a great weekend spending time together, picking pumpkins, drinking apple cider, jumping in piles of hay, laughing together and loving life.

My sweet Sophie, your brother Charlie already has plans for you next fall, and told daddy and I today that he will be the one to take you on the barrel choo choo ride he rode on today, next year!! I can't wait to post pictures of that!!
We love you my sweet baby girl to be!

Our Rock Star Uncle!

Our very own Uncle Kevin, Jeff's baby brother, is on his way to stardom(well, he already is actually a star to us!)but he has made his way out in L.A and started with a band called The Marcus Eaton Trio,(you can view him and the trio online at:www.marcuseaton.com)
He is the drummer and so amazing! We got to see him play live last weekend, he is currently touring the east coast, and is opening up for Alanis Morriset in New York in a few months!
Charlie had so much fun hanging out with his Uncle and the band all weekend, they are all amazing musicians and guys!
We love you Uncle Kevin and are so very, very proud of you, your hard work and determination!

Art from the Heart, by Charlie

Above is a picture that my sweet Charlie boy drew for me last night..and here is why...
For the MOST part, getting pregnant and having a baby is easy-I've been there, done that. And in 3 years, stood by and watched many family members and friends do just that.
But having a baby born into your heart and soul two and a half years ago and having to wait an endless amount of time to get to her, that's NOT easy.
This journey to Sophie has not been easy at all, nothing about it, and most obviously, this wait. It has tested my patience tremendously and brought me to my knees in tears, many more times than I care to admitt.
And Charlie too, at only the sweet age of five, is tired of waiting for his baby sister to come home. But this picture he made me is an example of the love and suppport and encouragement he reminds me to have, to trust God and have faith that Sophie Ruth will one day come home.(Imagine that from a five year old, but it's true!)
This picture was made for me out of love and hope from Charlie, it's a picture of a family of four, OUR FAMILY OF FOUR, drawn by him, and when he gave it to me last night, he said,"mommy, don't be sad, Sophie is going to be in our family and then there will be the four of us!" And in that moment, my five year old son gave me more hope, and support and encouragement than I could have gotten anywhere else....and we all know where he got it from...God is so Good!!
Charlie mommy loves you more than you'll ever know, to the sun, and the moon, and the stars and back and back again...
And Sophie, we ALL love you already very much...to the sun and the stars and the moon (and China!)and back and back too!!
Here's to our soon to be future family of 4!!!