Happy 2015!

Well, Simon is tucked away in his bed at the orphanage as I type this.  It's 2015 in his country.  We can't wait to have him join in our New Year's eve party next year.

Tonight, we had lasagna and hot fudge pudding cake.

We posed for picture ops.....

We waited patiently for the countdown to start......

And then we went nuts blowing our noisemakers, jumping on bubble wrap, and shouting, "Happy New Year!"

From our family to yours.....May the 2015 be a year filled with God's blessings as He guides you with his sovereign hand.

And, Simon.....let me just say, that by next year we will ALL know that this has all been worth the wait!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 2015!

Well, Simon is tucked away in his bed at the orphanage as I type this.  It's 2015 in his country.  We can't wait to have him join in our New Year's eve party next year.

Tonight, we had lasagna and hot fudge pudding cake.

We posed for picture ops.....

We waited patiently for the countdown to start......

And then we went nuts blowing our noisemakers, jumping on bubble wrap, and shouting, "Happy New Year!"

From our family to yours.....May the 2015 be a year filled with God's blessings as He guides you with his sovereign hand.

And, Simon.....let me just say, that by next year we will ALL know that this has all been worth the wait!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas, Simon!

As I type this, it's a little after 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve in your country.

AND, we are missing you even though we haven't even met!

Back in 2010, when we were in the process of adopting your big brother Nole',

 this song spoke to my heart:

Now, in 2014...All I want for Christmas is you--Simon!

Next year, you will be home celebrating Jesus' birth with a family that loves you.

Merry Christmas, Simon!  

Merry Christmas, Simon!

As I type this, it's a little after 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve in your country.

AND, we are missing you even though we haven't even met!

Back in 2010, when we were in the process of adopting your big brother Nole',

 this song spoke to my heart:

Now, in 2014...All I want for Christmas is you--Simon!

Next year, you will be home celebrating Jesus' birth with a family that loves you.

Merry Christmas, Simon!  

A Christmas Jar

Oh My! Kevin and I would like to share an amazing thing that just happened! Today, Nole' came home carrying a jar of change with a big red ribbon on top. On the jar was written, "Christmas Jar". After some investigating, we found out that the generous individuals were none other than the Melissa Wedar family. We gingerly opened the jar and found this note:

"What is a Christmas Jar? It's based on a book by Jason Wright. A Christmas Jar is a pickle jar, peanut butter jar, Mason jar or whatever else you have around to collect spare change.

All coins are dedicated to the jar and during the week before Christmas you carefully select someone to give it to. Was a neighbor laid off? Is a coworker struggling with health problems? Has a friend lost a loved one? Or, in our case, a special family decided to adopt a sweet boy named Simon and give him a forever home. We gathered our change and a few dollars here and there. Each of us giving a different amount. It was so special watching the kids decided how must to give. We heard things like "I wish we could bring all the kids over here and help them." "I don't know how much to give. I wish I could give more." It was fun to watch them get excited about helping someone. This will be one of our favorite Christmas memories this year."

Thank you....Lyn, Melissa, Sam, Sophie, Eil & Emma you are true angels! We are going to "adopt" this beautiful act of love next year and pay it forward! God bless you this Christmas and always!

A Christmas Jar

Oh My! Kevin and I would like to share an amazing thing that just happened! Today, Nole' came home carrying a jar of change with a big red ribbon on top. On the jar was written, "Christmas Jar". After some investigating, we found out that the generous individuals were none other than the Melissa Wedar family. We gingerly opened the jar and found this note:

"What is a Christmas Jar? It's based on a book by Jason Wright. A Christmas Jar is a pickle jar, peanut butter jar, Mason jar or whatever else you have around to collect spare change.

All coins are dedicated to the jar and during the week before Christmas you carefully select someone to give it to. Was a neighbor laid off? Is a coworker struggling with health problems? Has a friend lost a loved one? Or, in our case, a special family decided to adopt a sweet boy named Simon and give him a forever home. We gathered our change and a few dollars here and there. Each of us giving a different amount. It was so special watching the kids decided how must to give. We heard things like "I wish we could bring all the kids over here and help them." "I don't know how much to give. I wish I could give more." It was fun to watch them get excited about helping someone. This will be one of our favorite Christmas memories this year."

Thank you....Lyn, Melissa, Sam, Sophie, Eil & Emma you are true angels! We are going to "adopt" this beautiful act of love next year and pay it forward! God bless you this Christmas and always!

Happy 5th Birthday, Simon!

Happy Birthday, dear little Simon!

This will be your last birthday as an orphan!

This year.....cake in your honor.

Next year....you will be the guest of honor.

Happy Birthday, sweet Simon!

Happy 5th Birthday, Simon!

Happy Birthday, dear little Simon!

This will be your last birthday as an orphan!

This year.....cake in your honor.

Next year....you will be the guest of honor.

Happy Birthday, sweet Simon!

"Pick Me" Continued.....

We were blessed this last week by another family who is in Simon’s country adopting their little boy with Down syndrome. This new adoptive mama was able to take a few photos to share with us. However due to security reasons, I can’t show them to you just yet--but he is certainly a little treasure!

As a follow-up to Kevin's previous blog post entitled "Pick me, Pick me", we also received this wonderful description of him from the adoption attorney there in his country:

“May be you could share with Simon “mama and daddy to be” some info.
Simon really all the time comes with his hands up – “pick me up”, very jealous if someone gets extra attention and this is not him. Smart – can do everything what would be asked. I saw him today taken to speech therapist. He has to wash his hands, but first to open water, to take soap and then only wash – did all as was asked.
When new family arrived first time to orphanage to meet their new son, all kids got so loud that we went to the bedroom and caretaker locked the door. She also carried to us chairs. We turn our faces and saw Simon with his own little chair near the door sitting and waiting to let in.  All guys get always much more attention. Looks like that Simon craves for men.
Simon eats very nicely by himself. Finishes all food and would be able to eat all kids food – but he is under control not to act so.”

Oh my heart! Won't he fit in nicely with Kevin and Nole' as they reenact WWE in our play room?

Also, we are overwhelmed by the gifts of love that so many of you have given through Reece's Rainbow to help us bring him home. The total cost of this adoption will be $30,0000 and we have received a little over $6,000 from friends, family, and a donation from our church. We are eternally grateful for them and acknowledge God's hand in it all... He is using us all in different ways to be able to answer Simon's plea to not only "pick me" but to also "pick me up" and into a forever family--OURS!

"Pick Me" Continued.....

We were blessed this last week by another family who is in Simon’s country adopting their little boy with Down syndrome. This new adoptive mama was able to take a few photos to share with us. However due to security reasons, I can’t show them to you just yet--but he is certainly a little treasure!

As a follow-up to Kevin's previous blog post entitled "Pick me, Pick me", we also received this wonderful description of him from the adoption attorney there in his country:

“May be you could share with Simon “mama and daddy to be” some info.
Simon really all the time comes with his hands up – “pick me up”, very jealous if someone gets extra attention and this is not him. Smart – can do everything what would be asked. I saw him today taken to speech therapist. He has to wash his hands, but first to open water, to take soap and then only wash – did all as was asked.
When new family arrived first time to orphanage to meet their new son, all kids got so loud that we went to the bedroom and caretaker locked the door. She also carried to us chairs. We turn our faces and saw Simon with his own little chair near the door sitting and waiting to let in.  All guys get always much more attention. Looks like that Simon craves for men.
Simon eats very nicely by himself. Finishes all food and would be able to eat all kids food – but he is under control not to act so.”

Oh my heart! Won't he fit in nicely with Kevin and Nole' as they reenact WWE in our play room?

Also, we are overwhelmed by the gifts of love that so many of you have given through Reece's Rainbow to help us bring him home. The total cost of this adoption will be $30,0000 and we have received a little over $6,000 from friends, family, and a donation from our church. We are eternally grateful for them and acknowledge God's hand in it all... He is using us all in different ways to be able to answer Simon's plea to not only "pick me" but to also "pick me up" and into a forever family--OURS!