To Africa and back....HOME!

Just got back from the airport and supper. WOW! I'm overwhelmed and so thankful! I'll have to write more later but here's the pics!!!

The boys making a welcome home poster.

With balloons in hand we walk toward the arrival gate!

They're home! Two beautiful kids!!! Grandpa stealing a kiss. When Cole saw Heidi like this with Zion, he pointed and said "Jada"!! How sweet. I can't wait for that day.

Fisher warmed right up. Seemed he loved the extra attention. Even the Cubs hat. :)
Beautiful Zion.
Adorable Fisher. Love those eyes and lashes!

All together at last.

Two little gifts from God. Welcome Home!!! We love you.

Just for you Shubs

How's this for an update? :) We love you too and look forward to this weekend. A real post will be coming tomorrow night. Check back soon!

Spring break

Today is the last day of Spring break. We didn't take a big vacation but we've had lots of fun and thankfully the weather has been pretty nice.

We kicked off the week in Champaign last Saturday to watch Bart run his 12th marathon! The boys have never experienced it before and so they thought it was kinda cool and kinda long (is Dad still running??). :) Bart did great. He got a little dehydrated and had some pretty bad leg cramps which he usually doesn't deal with but he always finishes with a great attitude (and always wants to run another one soon!).

The next stop was back home. We went to my parents for Easter and then stayed a few extra days. Nonnie making popcorn. A nightly ritual. With lots of butter says Quinn!Drawing tractors with Gramps. John Deere of course.

Not far from my parents house is one of the US's biggest Diary Barns. So Bart and my dad took the kids on a tour.

Quinn milking a cow. Not a real one. He'd never get that close. :)

On our way home, we stopped at the Children's Museum. It's been years since we've been there and the kids thought it was great. Carson liked the two story free climber the best.

Kade and Cole painting. I'd like one of these at my house!

Finally home. The weather was gorgeous on Friday. The boys thought it had to be at least 80 and wondered why we weren't swimming. :)

And, major news which most of you know by now, Scott and Heidi are in Ethiopia!!!! She has emailed twice and said things are going well. Fisher is so content, happy all the time, and sleeping great. Zion requires a little more attention. :) They are so thankful to all be together and are anxious to come home. We'll meet them at the airport next week and you bet I'll have some pics to show. I can't wait! Oh and only 45 days till court, but who's counting. ;)

Court Date!!!!!!!

We just received our court date! June 2nd, 2009. Another one of those dates that will be etched in my mind probably forever. It sounds so far away. About 7 weeks till court. I'm thrilled to hear that most cases have been passing! I'm praying for a successful court date in June but know I still have to let it go. God's in control and He will determine the right time for Jada to come home. Not the judge in Ethiopia.

Good Friday

It's rainy outside and cold for mid April but it's a good day. On this day many years ago Jesus consented to the Father's will and suffered for my sake. He took my place. He was beaten beyond recognition just for me. He took every blow, every whip, every unkind word and every nail without complaint. All for me. "Amazing love how can it be, that you my King would die for me!" Thank you Jesus.

For the past week we've been telling the Easter story through Resurrection Eggs to our kids. They love it. It's a great teaching tool and makes the Easter story come alive. I got these at a Mom's conference several years ago but I'm sure you could get them through Family Life. Inside are 12 plastic eggs all w/ something inside. The first egg has a little donkey representing Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. There's silver coins representing Judas betraying Jesus, a leather whip representing the beating He took, a piece of white linen representing the burial cloths, etc. If you have young kids you have to get these!

I can't let this week go by without remembering our anniversary. Not our wedding anniversary but the first application we filled out to start our adoption journey. God had been preparing our hearts for several months leading up to April 2008. He'd been calling us, preparing the way and we were praying and seeking His will. He wanted us to say Yes. We knew that much. We weren't sure what our journey would look like at the time but we've so enjoyed watching it all come together. We still don't know what's really ahead but we're hoping it's too bring Jada home soon! We found out that the infamous piece of paper has been released. Our documents are being submitted to court and we should have a court date within a few weeks.

And since it's been a while, I can't not post some pics of my boys. :) Life is fun and never dull around here. Happy Easter!!