Fun Fall Updates!

Wow!  It's been almost 2 months since I've had time to update the blog!  Life is full these days taking care of a family of SIX!  But I absolutely love it, and wouldn't trade it for anything!  I am taking a quick break from the laundry and to-do list to catch up on some FALL FUN!!!

Caroline Faith is growing and thriving and we really feel that her attachment is very secure right now.  That is HUGE progress from where we were this time last year!  She has been home for 13 months, and is doing so so well!  She is a very busy, hilarious, active, cute and full of LIFE (just like her Ethiopian name!) little 2 year girl!!!

We are beyond blessed and thankful for all that the Lord has done to heal her sweet little heart over these past 13 months of her being home with us!  Here's some pics of our fun we've had over the past couple of months!

 A fun Labor Day weekend beach trip with friends!  

 Celebrating Gotcha Day!  We gave her a cute little zebra toy we bought her in Ethiopia!

 CG making the "Gotcha Home Day" cookie cake just a few days later! Sweetest big sister!  Don't know what I'd do without her!!!

 Happy Gotcha HOME Day, baby girl!!!

 Ole Miss Football game!!!  CF loves going to the games this season!  And she's the cutest little Rebels cheerleader! :)

 And this cheerleader is just PRECIOUS!!!  Love her!

 Carson was so excited when Game Day came to the Grove!!!  Of course he was there with his sign!

 Mommy & Daddy loving being back in the Grove together!  This is where we got engaged 15 years ago! :)

 The biggest smiles!!! :)

 We won!!!  Victory dance!

 Our little guy is old enough to play tackle football this year!  He is loving it, but Mama still can't believe he's old enough for this!!!

 Caroline and Daddy selfie!

 On the football field with the Packers!

 The cousins waiting on the Walk of Champions at the Ole Miss/Auburn game!

 Our first cold weather of the season!  We got out the coats and boots!  But no worries, it's back in the mid-seventies today! Deep South life! Ha! :)

Seriously, could he be any cuter!?!  Love this boy!!!

 A coffee date with Mommy!  Like a true Ethiopian, she loves her coffee!!!

And Happy Halloween 2014 from our Fancy Peacock, Ole Miss Rebels football player, Disco Queen and Tiny Strawberry!

I am just so THANKFUL for this fun crew!  They keep me busy, but in the BEST way!  Hopefully, I'll be back to blog soon on all God is teaching me during this season of staying home with 4 kids.  I am learning to savor the moments. forget the messes, and depend on Him for everything...including extra energy on the busy days! :) 

Thankful for abundant life in Jesus Christ!!!

"I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the FULL!"

John 10:10

1 Year "Gotcha HOME Day" Anniversary!!!

On this very day last year, God gave our family a huge MIRACLE!!!  Our prayer we prayed for over 3 years was answered...our daughter was HOME!!!  Life as a family of six was just beginning, and our hearts were (and still are!) overflowing with JOY!  Thank You, Jesus!!!  

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles!"

Psalm 77:11 

1 Year "Gotcha Day" Anniversary!

One year ago today on September 4, 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  we walked up the winding staircase of the baby house at Hannah's Hope and scooped our daughter back up in our arms!    Gotcha, Caroline Faith Letehiwot!!!

Only by God's grace and strength had we made it through those long 6 weeks in between our trips to Ethiopia.  Finally our daughter was in our arms, and this time for good!!!

My heart was so peaceful and content with my daughter snuggled up next to me, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.  My heart was settled and at rest.  The long adoption journey was coming to an end...or rather it was all just beginning! :)

God writes the BEST stories!!!  We will celebrate her 1 year Gotcha Day Anniversary tonight with a family dinner and a gift that we bought her from our first trip to Ethiopia.  My heart is still so peaceful and content.  One year with her in our arms and there are days still when tears fill my eyes as I kiss her and hold her.  God's goodness and faithfulness continue to overwhelm me.  Just so thankful for this past year.

Happy 1 Year Gotcha Day, Konjo!!!  We love you, baby girl!!!

"They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness!"

Psalm 145:7

11 MONTHS HOME!!!

This past Thursday was a BIG day at our house!

August 7, 2014 marked exactly 11 MONTHS HOME with our precious Ethiopian daughter, Caroline Faith!  It was also our 1 year anniversary of being submitted to the Embassy!  

And it was also the day that these cute kids had their...

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Can't believe that we have a 5th, 3rd, and 2nd grader this year!!!  Plus one really precious little 2 year old! :)  We are starting to get back into the swing of things a little bit, and hopefully I'll have time for more blogging now that summer is over! 

I hear Little Miss waking up and the big kids will be home on the bus soon!!!  Thankful we are celebrating some really sweet milestones!  God is so good!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday,Caroline Faith!!!

Two years ago today across the ocean, a tiny baby girl was born in a rural village in northern Ethiopia. Her beloved birth mother was there to love and take care of her as best she could even though her physical health was failing. I can only imagine the love and adoration in her eyes as she held her precious daughter. The baby girl was named "Letehiwot" which means girl of LIFE. God had given this young mother a miracle with the birth and life of this baby girl.

One year ago today, the baby girl crawled around on the wood floors of Hannah's Hope in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She had been taken care of there for the past 9 months, and she was loved and adored by her special mothers. Just 4 days earlier her adoptive parents had an early 1st birthday celebration for her before they went back to the US...without her. God had given these new parents a miracle that Letehiwot had been officially declared their daughter by Ethiopian law. They just awaited the final step for their daughter to be granted a visa by the US Embassy to come home.

Today in Mississippi, this adorable 2 year old toddler is home with her family! They celebrated her birthday over the past weekend with a fun splash party with her best friend, MoMo, who was with her for months at Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia! Caroline Faith Letehiwot is loved and adored by her family and friends, and they are so thankful that she is home! God has given this family a miracle of redemption and restoration in the joy-filled smile of their baby girl!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Caroline Faith!!! We love so much!!!!

"Meetcha Day" Anniversary!

One year ago today we landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and entered the black gates of Hannah's Hope to meet our baby girl for the very first time! These are the "good" pictures from that moment. Let's just say that Caroline Faith Letehiwot and I were BOTH crying when I held her for the first time! This adorable, but terrified 11 month old sweetheart had just met her new parents, and she was not too sure about us!  We asked ya'll to pray for her heart, and we saw God begin a miracle in the days ahead. Even through all the tears, this was a sacred and precious moment that we will never ever forget! We were living what we had prayed for and dreamed of for over 3 years, and it was completely surreal and amazing to see God's plan unfold as we finally held our daughter in our arms!

Happy "Meetcha Day" Anniversary, Baby Girl!

1 Year Ago: Travel to Ethiopia Day One!

Just one short year ago, we were finally on our way to Ethiopia!!!  A day we had been praying for and dreaming of for years!!!

Today I am sitting here typing and watching all three of our girls stunt and tumble up here in our playroom!  I have even spotted a few stunts! Haha!  And yes, Caroline Faith is only 23 months old and already loves to cheer and tumble (she loves her front rolls)!  No surprise...she just wants to be doing whatever her big sisters are doing!! :)  It's so fun watching them playing together!

Hard to believe that a year ago, we were just days away from meeting our baby girl!!!!!

"Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies!"

Psalm 36:5

1 Year Since the Travel Call!!!

One year ago today on July 15, 2013, we got the call we had been waiting on...we were going to ETHIOPIA to meet our baby girl!  We finally had a court date, and we needed to be on a plane to Africa in just 3 DAYS!!!  To say we were excited is a huge understatement!  We were ecstatic, giddy, joyful, and so

thankful!!!

  

It's one year later, and the girls and I were doing a little shopping at some of the summer sales this morning, when we saw this outfit on sale.  It was too perfect to pass up for Caroline Faith!  I know most of ya'll remember how special bluebirds were to us on our long adoption journey.  God used them as a sign to remind us of His faithfulness through the years of waiting.

And I just love that this little bluebird is singing away!  I think he is singing praises to Jesus, just like we are!  It's going to be really sweet and special over the coming days as we remember where we were just a short year ago!  Going to re-post some travel days of meeting our daughter!  Can't wait to look back!!!

We've come so far in just a year, and we are singing of His faithfulness just like the bluebird! :)

"I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."

Psalm 7:17

10 MONTHS HOME!!!

Monday, July 7, 2014 marked exactly 10 months HOME with our Ethiopian princess!!!  It's been a great month filled with lots of summer fun at the pool, baseball field, vbs, playing outside, a trip to Tupelo, 4th of July fireworks, and occasionally falling asleep watching Barney! :)

We are just having so much fun with our almost 2 year old!!!  She has a really big day coming up this month!  It's her second birthday, but her first birthday to be home with us!  Can't wait to celebrate!  This 10 months home is a special milestone because she has now been home with us longer than she was at Hannah's Hope (her transition home in Ethiopia)!

Our hearts are full and thankful to the Lord for all that HE has done!  Great is His faithfulness!!!

Happy 10 Months Home, Baby Girl!  Love you MUCH!!!

"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds."

Psalm 36:5

Happy Father's Day 2014!

Happy Father's Day (just a little late!) to this amazing Daddy! We are beyond blessed that God gave us you!!! We love you so much!

"The righteous who walks in his integrity- blessed are his children after him!" 

Proverbs 20:7

9 Months Home!!!

Saturday, June 7, 2014 marked 9 months home with our Caroline Faith Letehiwot!!! She loved going to the beach for the first time! Loved the sand, ocean, pool...everything except sleeping in the pack 'n play! haha! She is a little fish for sure, and has no fear of the water! Gotta teach this little baby to swim this summer!  It was so amazing having her with us on our family vacation this year! Still feels a little surreal! Thanking Jesus every single day!!!

Happy 9 Months Home, Baby Girl!!! We love you so much!

"May my lips overflow with praise!" 

Psalm 119:71

One Year Referralversary!!!

Exactly 1 YEAR ago today on May 23, 2013, we got THE CALL that we had been waiting on for almost 3 years...the referral call for our baby girl in Ethiopia!!!  And of course, it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT when we saw the face of our adorable 9 month old daughter, Caroline Faith Letehiwot!!!  We had prayed by name for years for our daughter, and we finally had a PRECIOUS face to go with that name!

I can't even express the joy that we felt that day as we watched the faithfulness of God and the goodness of His timing unfold before our eyes!  It was truly one of the most AMAZING experiences of my life!  Exactly 6 months to the day of our daughter entering the gates of Hannah's Hope in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, God gave us a true miracle...her paperwork from Tigray (the region of Ethiopia where she was born) was finally signed and released and she was ready to be referred to her family!!!  I feel like God reveals to me more and more each month what a true miracle this really was!  She was an orphan no more!  Our lives changed forever on that beautiful afternoon in Fairhope, AL as we learned all about our sweet Caroline Faith!

After she woke up early this morning, I put her in the bed with me and just snuggled with this little love whispering prayers of thankfulness to Jesus.  Even a year later, the tears are still flowing as I think of all that He has done for us!  Thank You, Jesus!!!  And Happy 1 Year Referralversary to our little Konjo, our beautiful girl of life!  We love you SO MUCH!!!

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."

Psalm 16:11

8 MONTHS HOME!!!

Today, May 7, 2014, marks exactly 8 MONTHS HOME from Ethiopia with our Caroline Faith!!!

She has had lots of adventures this month with Easter holidays, walking in 2 different 5K's with Mommy (well, she really rode in the stroller!), eating her first donut, going to lots of baseball games to watch Carson, staying in the church nursery, and yes...jumping in the bath tub with all her clothes on!  There is never a dull moment with our active little toddler in the house!  And we LOVE it that way!!! :)

Happy 8 Months Home, Baby Girl!  We love you, and we're so thankful you're HOME!!!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Easter 2014!

It was such a BLESSING to sit in church on Easter Sunday with all four of our children as we praised our risen Savior!  Caroline Faith loved her first Easter home!!!  Lots of family, friends, sunshine, playing outside...and chocolate!  Some of her favorite things, for sure! :)

Happy Easter from our family to yours!!!

"He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."  

Matthew 28:6

Spring Fling!

I truly have the best intentions to start blogging regularly again, but the time factor in which to do all that blogging just never quite seems to happen!  Imagine that! :)

So, this will be a "Spring Fling" on some pics of what we've been up to the past couple of months!  So, in random order, here a few highlights! :)

 All Caty wants this spring is her 2 front teeth!

Phone booth fun on the Oxford Square! 

 Davy Crockett and his Daddy!

 Mommy and the big girls cheering for the Bombers!

 The Ole Miss baseball game put Caroline Faith right to sleep!

 Cheering at half-time with the Ole Miss cheerleaders!

 Watching the Ole Miss first baseman...

 And then playing first base!

 Nothing more fun than jumping in the tub with your clothes on! :)

 Brand new "family size" box of cheese crackers! 

 Family movie night!

We broke our original "rule" and let Caty get her ears pierced for her 7th birthday!!!

 2nd place at Orange Beach competition!

 Stunting in the pool!

 This smart little thing is figuring out so much...like how to get outside even when the doors are locked!

 One of her favorite things to do is watch her sisters cheer videos!

 Lots and lots of baseball!

 Intense cheering at the Ole Miss basketball game! :)

 Chocolate milk at Big Bad Breakfast!  Wow!

CF meeting the Black Bear for the first time!

 Loving the pizza at church!

Hope your spring days have been BRIGHT and SUNNY!!!! :)

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation!"

Psalm 95:1