5 Months

Dear Emily,

Your baby is the star of the show. It's amazing what new tricks she's learning. She's actually learning a lot just from watching you. As her mom, you've taken on the role of teacher, too. So enjoy your little attentive student and keep introducing her to the world around. All babies develop at different rates. But, by the end of the 5th month, she'll probably:
Sit with support.
Transfer objects from one hand to another.
Make two-syllable sounds, like "ah-goo."


I got this in an email today and I have to say I sort of wish I hadn't signed up for this little report every month. Today it really hit me hard. I just want to be able to hold my little girl and show her the world and watch her grow. I have this overwhelming sense of longing for her. At some points I just cry because I so badly want to meet her and love on her.

Out of all the waiting we have done in this adoption, I have to say that the waiting to see if the judge has officially made your baby yours, is the hardest. I don't know if we will meet her in a month of in 2 months. I do know that God has ordained that special day and whether is later rather than sooner all of the waiting will be worth it!!!!

Our little girl will be 5 months old on the 28th!!!

Court Date Arrival

Tonight into tomorrow morning in Ethiopia is our first and hopefully only court date. It is so hard to believe that we have arrived at this point in our adoption. God has blessed us so much on this journey and I have truly come to understand the love of our Heavenly Father so much more this year than any other year in my life. I have learned how to truly step out into faith and be 100% certain that God is going to provide. This time last year was when we decided that we were not going to wait any longer and that we were going to begin the adoption process at the beginning of the year. Its amazing to think back on this past year at everything we have gone through to get us to this point. We thank you all for your support and prayers.

God already knows the outcome of court date and I am going to trust him no matter if we travel in Jan. or if we have to wait longer.

1)Please pray tonight and tomorrow for peace for Matt and I.
We will possibly not hear whether we pasted or not until the first of year.

2) Pray for all the people involved in our court hearing:
Almaz (director of Hannah's Hope)
The judge, that he would not find any reason to not approve our case.
For our little girls birth mom. Pray for God to give her comfort and peace in this time.

3) That our case does not get delayed and rescheduled to a different day.

4) That this is our one and only court date.

We worship an AWESOME God who can move any mountain. A God who gives us the desires of our heart. A God who pierces the darkest places with His light.



Thank you God for all that you have done in our lives. Please be with our little baby girl, hold her and comfort her now and forever. May your will be done today.

Floods in Ligonier

Today was an interesting day for us in Ligonier, PA. We should nomally be getting snow the week before Christmas, but today we got hit with a massive rain storm. We have a very small, peaceful trout stream that runs through our property, but now we have white water rafting rapids. This was pretty cool to see the waters running all around us, but I think I rather have the snow. Santa might have to water ski to our house this year. Below is a quick video from around our house.

Let the husband's talk

Hey guys, this is Emily's husband Matt and I'm going to have my turn on this thing. I never hear from the husbands, so maybe I'll start a trend.

I just wanted to share this video from a singer called Kim Walker. The youth pastor of our church introduced us to this song and has kind of become the theme song of our youth group. It's a simple, but amazingly powerful song. I love watching from about 3 minutes on when they start showing the audience. I run the sound at our church and I love watching people during worship. I usually will focus on the people who are so focused on God and praise him anyway they know how. I relate this song to our adoption process and how I feel that we are worshipping God by loving these special children we are bringing into our homes. I hope you enjoy!!!

Katelyn meets Santa

We got to meet Santa Claus this weekend. This man makes even adults believe in Santa. He is so soft spoken, great with kids, and such a kind heart. Katelyn wouldn't sit on his lap at first, but we told him that she was singing "Santa Claus is coming to town" and he sang the whole song to her to try and relax her. The sound on this is very weak, but Katelyn tells him that her little sister is in Ethiopia and that's who Santa is waving to.

Christmas Season

The Christmas Season is upon us. Praise God that he has allowed this to be such a busy time to be waiting for a court date to arrive. Today was our Ladies Auxillary Christmas party. My mom, sister, Katelyn, and me all attended this special party. This was Katelyn's first year and she had such a great time. This Thursday I leave with my mom and dad and head to Charleston, WV for the Casting Crowns Christmas concert. I am so excited.

Court Date!!

We have a court date, December 22!!! I am so excited. If we would pass the first time around (which we are praying for) we would travel probably by the end of January. The bad part is that we will not hear anything until after January 5th because of the holiday's. Please pray for peace and patients. This will be an exciting yet on the edge of our seats kind of Christmas.
Not much is new around here just starting to prepare for a new baby and get ready for the holidays.

Wednesday I have my appointment at the travel clinic to begin my immunizations. I talked to our health insurance company and they cover some of our immunizations under our plan. That was music to my ears. Please think of me on this day because I hate needles. I have been through 3 open heart surgery's but the thought of getting shots drives me BUGGY!!!!

I hope that everybody has a GREAT Thanksgiving!!! I will be out by 5am shopping on Friday!! Below I have listed some things I am thankful for.
1. My husband
2. My daughters
3. Our families and friends who have given us so much support through the last year.
4. The USA-we are truly so BLESSED to live in this country (economic crisis and all)
5. Having the chance to SERVE the God of the Universe. To Him I owe my life. Thank you God for all the many blessings you have given me and for that is still yet to come.