Happy Mother's Day!!

What a Mother's Day it has been!!  We participated in our church's Parent Child Dedication today; publicly dedicating ourselves to raising Daniel and Lydia in a home that they will come to know Jesus personally and live for Him.  All of Jay's family was able to come and we taped it to show to my family when we see them soon :-)!  It was so special to have them all there and the joy Daniel and Lydia had seeing their cousins!  They love them so much and repeat their names over and over.  What a blessing it is for them to not only have an immediate family that loves them but an extended family on both sides that loves them so much.  They have a total of 20 1/2 cousins!! (My younger sister is expecting their third in September) We are also blessed to have so many families in our church that support and love us as well. After reflecting on the day, I was struck at all the support we have and all the love that Daniel and Lydia are experiencing from so many people.  As I was contemplating the day, I couldn't help but pause and pray for Daniel and Lydia's birth moms.  I don't know where they are or even if they are alive, but I can't help but feel that in some way I am stealing their blessing.  I get this incredible privilege to be called Daniel and Lydia's mom.  I get to listen to the giggles and watch them explore the world with awe.  I get to see them look for the pictures of Jesus in the Bible and say his name.  I get to see them blow bubbles and think it's incredible every time!  I get to experience the first morning hugs and hear them say "thank you, Mommy" when I hand them their food. There was a recent story from the BBC that stated the Congo as the worst place to be a mom due to the danger and malnourishment.  I can't imagine what their birth moms had to endure and the sacrifice they had to make to give our babies life.  I am so grateful for them wherever they are and want them to know that we don't take this privilege lightly.  These little ones are loved beyond measure!  We pray every day that they will be used to do great things for God's Kingdom!

We have entered into our busy season as a family, attending baseball, softball and soccer games as well as the occasional track meet.  Daniel and Lydia have taken it all in stride.  I usually pack a dinner for them to eat during the game and a few toys to play with.  Inevitably there are some wonderful kids hanging around the ball field watching one of their siblings and they play with Daniel and Lydia, keeping them occupied and wearing them out.  It is WONDERFUL!!  They love to be outside and will occupy themselves for hours.  Daniel loves balls of all kinds and is working on learning how to pedal.  Lydia loves to push her baby around in the stroller and drive around the Little Tykes truck.  They are both talking all the time now.  They know their colors, can count to 10, and have almost mastered their shapes.  We are also a part of  a wonderful playgroup every Tuesday morning.  It is a life line for me. Several of the moms also have adopted children so they are a great sounding board for me.  Daniel and Lydia really love their little friends and say their names constantly.  What's cool is that they get to see them on Sunday morning too, which makes them love going to church!

Daniel is now potty trained....YEAH!!!  and Lydia loves to sit on the potty pot and once in a while she surprises herself and does something.  She is so funny because she squeels in delight and kicks her legs.  Now if she could just figure out how it happens!  Healthwise both kids are doing well.  Daniel's liver counts are improving, which means his liver is repairing itself.  He has grown over three inches since he's been home and has already on his third pair of shoes.  He's jumped two sizes in clothes too.  I can hardly keep up!  Lydia is growing like crazy as well.  It is amazing what love and good nutrition can do.  It's like their bodies were just waiting to grow.

Please pray for the mothers in the Congo trying to do the best they can for their children.  Also, we have been told by our agency that Congo adoptions are on hold due to a UNICEF investigation.  We are so grateful we got Daniel and Lydia home when we did as well as our dear friends the Loethers who were able to bring their son home a month after us. I can only imagine what the families are going through that have children waiting to come home. The wait is so long as it is, to add on an indefinite amount of time would be so difficult. There are so many orphans and children desperate for families in the Congo.  We pray this investigation takes a short amount of time!

Well, I hope you all had a great Mother's Day.  While I never imagined I would say this, I am overwhelmed at the blessing of having six children....and I am exhausted!  Good night!

Daniel's dedication verse: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

Lydia's dedication verse: The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17