Miscellaneous May

It's hard to believe that May was already two months ago! 

Here are some random photos from my camera and the promise of a more cohesive post next time concerning Grandma Janice's visit!

 For Christmas, my mom got the kids this game of Wall Coaster (sticks to the wall and you can build your own rollercoaster-ish playground with marbles) -- the kids went through a phase where it was the ONLY game they could play... :)

We had to be careful that Ithan didn't grab the marbles, though... notice his little head down in the bottom of the photo?  He would just stand there and try to grab the marbles if the older kids didn't get them first!!!

 As a family we went out to watch Diego's horse-riding lessons -- the van's back door popped up and everything... ;)

 I have no idea... 

He's a lovable goober, though!

 Our boys all reading on Sunday morning!

 Eric checking out Grandma Jeanne's polka-dot blouse!

[he doesn't use this as much anymore to look at... now he just likes to grab it and chew on it!!!]

 We let the boys sleep on the trampoline one night, so Candi got to sleep on the "special couch" -- not quite the same as the trampoline, but she had fun anyway... ;)

 Even though it was 95+ degrees outside, they still had to have all their blankets -- the better to attack one another with, I think!

 Aron finished these two paintings for Ithan's and Eric's rooms... aren't they great?!?

Thanks to Miss Frank for her help with these!

 We had to go to Nogales one day for errands and swung by Safeway where they had this great little cart -- I was more enchanted with it than Ithan, I think!  Joel finally gave me a look as I kept taking pictures of him pushing the boys... so I stopped!  ;)

 Just one more shot!!!  :)

 Crazy, crazy hair in the mornings -- this kid rivals Calvin for hairstyles!

 Drawing together...

 ... and more together-time playing with Legos in the bathtub!

[Although I'm pretty sure that Aron is pulling Ithan's hand away from one of his Lego boats in this photo!]

 Did you know that sidewalk chalk has more uses than just on the SIDEWALK???  ;)

The week before last we went to an inauguration of the new adoption agency for the local DIF where the kids were able to talk with our lawyer about where we are in the adoption process.  He told them that Marcos and Candi's birth certificates are in Caborca awaiting the return journey to Magdalena and that when they return he has the paperwork ready for taking away rights.  We pray that this is correct (he estimated two to three weeks until they were back at that point) and that the paperwork can be started soon!

At the end of our conversation with him, Candi gripped my hand and then shyly told him, "We want to go visit our family."  And I'm just crying as I write this because we ALL want to go visit our families -- and it's been such a wait for our children.  BUT -- I am so thankful that our kids desire to go see our families and even moreso for the lessons God is teaching us as we wait... and then learn to wait some more.  After all, how many missionaries through history have NEVER seen their families again -- not until they are together in heaven?  More than we can count. 

Bill told us the other day that he's cried more in the last year (with he and Joan's adoptions) than ever before... and that we should read and take comfort in Psalm 56 (God keeping track of our tears in a bottle).

I think maybe I'm going to need a bigger bottle... :)

I long to see our family, to visit the places I grew up as a child, to let my grandparents see our two little ones as well as how much our older kids have grown -- and it hurts, no lie.  BUT IT'S NOT THE END.  God has so much more planned and I trust Him, even when I feel weak and tired and lonely and (sadly) hopeless.  We are never hopeless if He's in control... and if I believe that, I see a light in the darkness.

Would you please pray with us for our adoptions and for the next step in the process to be started (especially for our lawyer's desire to be on top of the paperwork)?  Would you please pray with us that we can take comfort knowing God is in control and that we can surrender our agendas to His timing?  Would you please pray with us that we would have grace and strength and endurance -- no matter how long the process takes?

Thank you for your prayers!