Our final post.....

First of all there is an invitation for our open house at the bottom so scroll down after this post!

So here it is.  I have mixed emotions when I write this as this blog has been a significant part of my life the last 2 years.  I've met incredible friends through my blog and lifelong relationships with other adoptive families.  My friend Monica that came to Uganda with me I met through my blog! 

The last 2 years has been quite a journey for us and I love to write how God's will has worked through our lives as he's woven the fabric of our family together. This will be my last post today.  Jason and I have loved sharing our story with everyone and are amazed that our blog has been visited almost 20 thousand times covering all 50 states and over 20 countries.  That is incredible.  I've gotten words of support and prayers from perfect strangers that I will never know or meet. 

It is time for our lives to return to a more private status.  Jason and I feel FILLED to the brim with the Holy Spirit and we have big plans for our family in the future in the name of Jesus Christ.  For now, we are going to love life, love our family and enjoy all that He has provided us with.  We are so incredibly blessed.  People ask us all the time if we are done having children or adopting.  My answer to that is when you give your life to the Lord you let Him decide that.  So we will wait on Him for that.  I will say that for now I'd like a small break. :) 

I am taking a mission team to Uganda in the next year.  I plan to take a team down to do ministry in the prisons there as well as my friend Solomons school for 10 days.  It will be incredible to be able to go back to the country I love so dearly to help and not have to be caught up in adoptions!  I have spent 5 months out of the last 15 months there so I'm a little attached to Uganda. :)  Then in the months after, Jason will go to do mission work with a team.  Destination is still in the works.  We will continue to sell beads to benefit those who need it most.  We've seen what real need looks like and we are committed to doing all we can.  Someday, we hope to live in Uganda, if, when and how God provides that is in His time.

I hope in our journey we have been a "light" to others.  I learned that the Holy Spirit can and will work through you if you simply step up and allow it to.  I learned what complete faith and obedience mean and as well as total surrender.  I have an amazing husband to be on the journey with and we couldn't be happier.  Everything we need we have been blessed with, we are rejoicing.

So here's to my incredibly HUGE God who provided a testimony of his love and faithfulness through a simple family like ourselves.  5 years ago I didn't know who Jesus was and my life was ravaged with sin.  He took an imperfect soul like myself, showed me grace and allowed ME to be a vehicle to his awesome works. 

Where will you find us?  Chasing Him...:)

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

You are Invited!!!

Celebrating the arrival of Rebekah and Elijah Osborn

An Open House to meet our new family!

July 24, 2011, 1:00 – 3:00pm

Our house 

Bring a lawn chair!

No RSVP needed and NO gifts please!

Our Announcement!!

Girls Day :)

 Elijah wanted to participate to :)

We were due for a deep conditioning on the African hair and nail treatments so the girls took some good ol fashion time for some pampering at home. :) 

The boys.....

Ohhhh how Elijah loves his big brother.  And Nolan loves BEING a big brother, the bond thats forming is simply magical.  I asked Elijah to love on his brother during pictures at time squeezing his face so hard!  Just wanted to share :)

Pictures

Well I could NOT resist taking the camera out for photo opportunities this morning.  I LOVE taking pictures of the kids. SO fun. Nolan was at a Dr. appointment so I just have the 3 kids so far, more to be posted later with Nolan! These were all taken in our yard, Elijah wasn't so sure about going in the woods behind our house so it took a bit of convincing!

This is my favorite pitcuture, the girls are just playing in the lawn.  See how they are the same size?? 

Thank You!

I can't even begin to thank everyone for the endless love for our children.  Over the last 4 days we've had countless friends and neighbors calling, Skyping, emailing, and stopping by just to celebrate our joy with us.  It has been AMAZING and overwhelming at the outpouring of love for them.  Our friend Ashley brought us dinner on Friday so I didn't have to cook which was incredible!  Cooking takes on a whole new meaning with 6 of us now!  Thank you for loving our children and our family and for the countless prayers over the last few months.  Rebekah and Elijah made their first appearance with our church family today and they were hugged and kissed more than any two kids I've ever seen.  There is lots of tears and what an awesome testament to Him it was for us today. How blessed we are to have our church family for them to grow up with.  They have been our rock of support. 

Thus far transitions have been REALLY great, both kids are sleeping through the night, even getting up to the bathroom during the night by themselves! Elijah is doing well in his OWN big boy bedroom and they've been having a blast playing.  That's all the kids have been doing for 4 days is playing.  Nolan and Abigail are THRIVING in their big brother and big sister role.  Nolan even rocked Elijah before his nap yesterday. :)  I couldn't ask for an easier transition as of yet  The sandbox has been a huge hit!  I DID make a big mistake, I went to the grocery store while the kids were napping and Rebekah was upset to wake up and I wasn't there. :)  She missed mom.  :)  So here's to an incredible 4 days as a whole family!  I LOVE IT!

Blessings!  Here is some more pictures!

 sandbox fun!

 Elijah LOVED it, he was SOO dirty!

 Big brother rocking Elijah before nap. :)

 My beautiful princess before church....

And my handsome prince.....the bow tie was crackin me up!

 Nolan and Abigail waiting VERY patiently :) 

 Everyone had a hard time sleeping last night so we were tired.....

 Abby too!

We waited over an hour for daddy and the kids to get through customs.....it was a LONG wait for the kids

 ahhh.....still waiting :)  Those doors couldn't open soon enough :)

When the doors finally opened Rebekah and Elijah came RUNNING as fast as they could right into my arms.  It was an AMAZING moment as a mom. :)  The video of it is priceless.

They're here!!!  I love this picture because everyone is hugging someone :)

 First family photo!  PRAISE GOD!

 Elijah was ready to role in his stroller!

 Family picture with Ken and Connie (our pastor and his wife)

 4 kids = 4 car seats!  THANK goodness for our Pilot to fit everyone. :)

 Elijah loved all the balloons!

 Rebekah LOVED her room and bed.  THANK YOU MOMMY she kept saying :)

And Elijah did THIS on his first bed.  I love it!  He just flopped down on it!  He's never had his own bed.

I love this picture.  My favorite.  It was pajama time!

Sweet sisters with their satin caps ready for bed.  They are EXACTLY the same size.  It's crazy.

On the Plane!!!!

Skype is a really amazing thing.  I got to see my kids prior to take off. :)  They were SOOO excited to be on that airplane!  The picture is hard to see but it's PRICELESS!

This is what we saw from Michigan via Skype!

Pictures with their visas!!! YEAH!

Meanwhile my kids are here on homecoming duty!  Decorating with balloons and banners!  They are SOOO excited!

It's official! They're coming home!

116 days after our arrival in Uganda our kids are coming home!  Visas were approved today and they leave for the United States on Wednesday with dad arriving on Thursday.

I arrived back home one month ago today and I can hardly WAIT to hold them again.

Giving ALL Glory today to God for this incredible journey.

PRAISE HIM!