North Carolina Trip

Micah had to make a trip to Japan for work so the kids and I went to NC to visit family for 10 days.  We took a ton of pictures so this is a small sampling.

Thanksgiving Holiday

We visited the Steeles in Illinois for the long weekend.  The St Louis Steeles and Hannah were also there.  It was wonderful as we were able to have great food, conversation, and relaxation.  (Well, minus the four preschool cousins playing WWF in the living room non stop.)  We went to Grandma Betty's house for Thanksgiving dinner and gained 14 pounds each.  It was totally worth it though.  Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn, Aunt Marilyn's homemade rolls...Mmm.

On Friday the guys set out to work on finishing harvest (this is the latest they have ever been in the field according to Rick.  It is very very wet.)  Things started out well but about the time lunches were delivered to the field the combine broke and all of the guys worked on fixing it the rest of the day.

On Saturday the situation was better as the combine was fixed and the weather was 60 and sunny.  They spent the whole day out working and Naomi and I went out for quite a while and rode along.  This was the first year that Isaiah has been able to hang with the guys all day and I hardly saw him.  He rode along in the tractor with Dad, combine with Grandpa, and also helped grandpa take grain to the elevator in the semi.  He came home both days tired and muddy.  I loved it.  He is getting so big.  Micah said he talked their ears off the whole time asking a million questions.

Baby Walker- the newest addition to the family- is such a cutie.  Naomi and Isaiah loved getting to be around him.  Naomi was super excited to be able to help feed him one day while Steph and I went shopping.

10 Years Ago

10 years ago at Thanksgiving I met Micah's family for the first time.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Harvest!

The kids and I made a trip to the Steele's a couple of weeks ago.  We love to go during harvest every year to get our combine and tractor ride fix and just enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of this time of year on the farm.  We were blessed to be able to spend time with Grandma, Grandpa, Miriam, Cora, Steph, Walker (our precious new nephew), Hannah, and Grandma Betty.  It was such a refreshing time.

Our Children Are Blessed

These are some of the kids from our small group.  Just look at those beautiful smiling faces.  I can't help but smile myself and think of how incredibly blessed they are.

How Quickly We Forget

I spent the entire last week studying John chapter 6. In case you are not familiar with it there is a part where the disciples are in a boat and caught in a storm. Go ahead, break out your bible and read it.

On to the next part of the story: we got our LOA in the mail yesterday...

I wanted that LOA and I-800 back in the mail as fast as possible. Overnight! Between organizing all of the papers, making copies, and going to FedEx I was a mess. My dear husband asked "can't it wait until tomorrow?". "NO! " I was way too stressed over this. I realized AGAIN after acting like an idiot that God knows the exact moment when Levi will be placed in my arms and that I can't control that. I asked for peace and felt amazing comfort. Silly old me realized that I was at peace and was amazed by that. Then this morning I heard a voice saying "when you let me in the boat we immediately arrived at the shore".

How quickly I forget.

Letter Of Acceptance

We got our LOA call today and we are going to travel in 10-12 weeks. Crazy! I feel like getting my suitcase out but I will wait a bit on that. I had gone to bed weary from the waiting and then had a beautiful dream about Levi that left me joyful. All day I wondered if this would be the day and it was! Yay.