Right Outside My Window--April 9, 2015

After losing power through the night because of snow and ice....

We woke up to this.

The power came on some time during the night.  It is more ice than snow....sugar snow.  

Sugar snow....named for maple sugaring season....prolonged by our chilly nights and warmer days.  Hoping it is a good crop for those with sap buckets still up.  We have seen sugar shacks with the steam pouring out as they boil this NH treat.

Easter at Our House

We started our morning off at a local Easter service where the music and message were wonderful.

We then continued our tradition of heading to Cracker Barrell...seeing some of our usual waitresses...it Is fun to be remembered especially when they tell us how well behaved our kids are!

We then headed home for our usual egg hunt in the front yard with a slightly new twist--snow still in the ground. You better believe those colored eggs showed up well in the snow!

We then spent time playing games, checking out our newest addition-12 baby chicks, and then having snacks later in the day together.

We love special family days...a gift from the Lord on such a special rememberance of his sacrifice for all of us!

Adoption Update--home study

After too many delays, despite us trying to crank it out fast....

Our Home Study is done.

We received word late Friday that is was complete and being notarized Monday.  We asked to pick it up where we will drive it straight to our state office to have the seal placed on it.

We feel like we are in the ball game now with having this important piece done.  Now the paper chase between agencies starts....hoping we have it all together!

On a good note, we are having a picture book put together to give the boys in China pictures of our family....we are excited for this to happen so they know we are coming for them!

We know this is all in God's timing...trusting Him for all things this Easter Sunday!

A Visitor

I am a bit late running with my posts but last weekend we had a dear friends visit....

This is Vince in the middle of our crew....

Vince went to college with Darrell and I.  We were in campus ministry together, did missions trips to Appalachia, played pinochle together, and hung out together.  Our lives took us different paths and it has been fun to catch up together now and then....this time it wasn't in Pennsylvania but in NH!

He plays in one of the famous Mummers bands from Philadelphia.  They were invited to Manchester, NH to play in a St. Patrick's Parade...a few days after St. Patty's.

It was fun to catch up....he met all the kiddos....most for the first time,  the last time he saw Michaela and Jess they were around 6 and 4 years old....it has been awhile.

We sure did enjoy your visit Vince!

Funny Faces

Sharing my silly funny faces....

They were caught entertaining one another while we cleaned out an attic space that just didn't fit everyone!

Don't you just love the swim googles?

Silly sisters....

Quick Adoption Update

Our home study paperwork was waiting on our last criminal background checks from NH.  For 2 1/2 weeks, we asked if it was done and were told to sit tight.

We were notified last Tuesday that it had been misplaced.  We were out of state and came home ready to hit the road running to resubmit the paperwork. When I called our state office to ask a quick question, I was told that they were taking care of it because of our long history as Foster parents and turned it around in a day to get it to the next level. The next office then turned it around in a day and now we are waiting for our agency to review our home study for any changes.

Meanwhile, we realized a big mistake that we never had the state seal put on our birth certificates and marriage license...the kids, our dog and I dropped everything, jumped into the van and traveled down to NJ and then Delaware yesterday morning--an 8 hour trip to get this done.  It has been a long 2 days.  We picked up our NJ paperwork on our way home today).  it cost $500 for a 2 hour turn around or $1000 for a one hour turn around).  We opted for the next day turn around for $40. 

The kids did great and got to spend some time with Oma and Opa Fitzgerald. We then met Oma Lowman and Aunt Suzy for dinner.  It was all an unexpected treat.

Darrell did the MA seals yesterday on his lunch break. As soon as the home study is done, we will do the NH seals.

I am extremely tired.  Tomorrow will be another adventure on our way to get out boys.  Hoping soon to report our dossier is in process.

One More Tender Heart

This is our daughter Jess....amazing singer, blacksmith and farrier, fun loving sister.

She has watched her brothers and sisters come into our family through adoption...she has helped feed bottles, change diapers and babysit.

She loves to lavish on them.  It is exciting when she comes home on the weekends.  She takes the older boys on farm calls with her and let's them hold horses while she does their trims or shoes their feet.  She french braids the girls hair.  She likes to bake yummy desserts to take to church or share at home.

She also has a heart for her new brothers and has sweetly donated towards their adoption.  We are grateful for her taking steps towards bringing them home.

I am sure she will have them out holding horses and teaching them to ride when they come home.  Fun times to look forward too.