New Blog

We have decided to close this blog upon the completion of our first year as a family of six. It is a good time to wrap up our adoption blog and move onto a family blog.

Here is the link.

This will be a private blog, but we would love for your to be able to read it if you are interested. If you would like an invite, just shoot me an email at whitndan at aol dot com or leave a comment with your email to let me know you would like to be included.

The plan is to leave this blog up to allow people to read our story and be encouraged at what God has done.

The Lord has truly used the last few years and the powerful circumstances around our adoption in so many ways. Thank you for your encouragement when I was struggling and for rejoicing in our blessings. To God be the glory, GREAT things HE has done!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY

I am stunned it has already been a year of having Ellie home with us! In some senses, the sting of the wait with its ups and downs is still there, yet it seems, too, she has always been a part of our family, as she is so deeply entrenched in our hearts. We have seen some amazing changes in her (and in me!) over the last year. In meeting with our caseworker today (for the last time), we talked about how Ellie is improving so much in her ability to speak, her "recovery" time is quicker when she melts down, and she is responding to correction so much better. It is delightful to watch her little personality blossom!



We are seeing His hand working on her heart and pray fervently for the salvation of all our children. There is so much more I could write on how the Lord has used this last year and a beautiful little girl to change my heart and refine me. As I see other precious children the Father has brought into families through adoption, I am so grateful for my own adoption and I know Ellie has been this encouragement for others. We love her dearly, and though the year has not always been an easy one, the Lord continues to grow that love every day. Our church observed santity of life Sunday a couple of weeks ago. Here is a song that was sung...it is pretty powerful!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Happy Birthday AUSTIN

My little boy turned SIX on Monday for the few in the continental US that have not heard about it. (He told EVERYONE we ran into how many days till his birthday, it is his birthday, or it was his birthday!) We had a few little guys over for a Lego party last weekend and celebrated as a family on Monday. He spent most of the day on the phone with out of town relatives. :) Our computer hard drive decided to bite the dust last week, so that is why I am late in posting. I am so thankful we have managed to only loose 6 months of pictures rather than 6 years as we first feared!

We love you Austin and pray the Lord will be glorified in amazing ways through your life this next year!

Favorite Foto Friday

Ellie's First Christmas

Okay, so I am way late, but better late than never! We had a great Christmas with my parents and grandparents this year. Hannah spent the season saying, "This is Ellie's first time to see lights, first time to have buckeyes, first time to make gingerbread houses...". We had a lot of fun and made lots of memories. Our first Christmas Eve service at our new church with my FOUR kids tucked beside me was precious. I am so thankful for this amazing year we have been given from the Lord!

Our Christmas breakfast


Pure excitement over a box of animal crackers! Love it!

Noah's favorite pose.

Ellie being silly with Daddy.

Gran is sporting the reindeer antlers that Noah picked out for her.

Hannah on the pogo stick she asked for. She has been reading lots of books written in the fifties lately and it was reflected in her Christmas list: pogo stick and roller skates. : )

We loved having Grandma Jean and Grandpa Bob this year!

Ellie spent lots of time combing Grandpa Bob's hair with a toy spaghetti server.:)

Gran made the girls matching aprons.

Bein' goofy as normal :)