Hopelessly Out of Date

I admit it. My blog is out of date. Of all the things on my to-do list, updating the blog isn't one of them. So it has grown old and dusty.

Until now. Big things have happened in our home. Including the addition of one sweet little surprise we have named Lyza.

At 19 weeks now, she is learning and growing daily. Just this morning I was sure I heard her say "mama." And those cheeks!

Moses and Judah keep us on our toes. They are true boys. It's cars, trucks, planes, balls, *fighting*, wrestling, choo-choo trains, *arguing*, running, jumping, guns, *more fighting*. You get the picture. Never a dull moment in our home. We wouldn't have it any other way.

While I never planned on having a large family, I wouldn't change a single thing. Well, maybe just one thing...........

You see, we're missing one little Dominguez. One sweet little boy waiting on the other side of the world. Waiting for a mommy and daddy. Waiting for brothers and sisters. Waiting for security, comfort and help. Waiting for LOVE. He doesn't know it yet, but in just one more day, his WHOLE WORLD IS CHANGING. You see, his Daddy, my husband *sigh-I love that man!*, is on the way to get him. So is his big sister, Chloe and big brother, Max. They boarded the plane yesterday and landed safely. Tomorrow is sight seeing and a train ride. Day after tomorrow is THE DAY! I am beside myself with joy waiting to skype and see our JOSIAH. I'm not lying, I WANT to be there. I *really* want to be there. But our God, who knows better than I, had other plans this trip and my heart rests in that.

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The descendants of Abraham My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,

‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

17 “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none,

Their tongues fail for thirst.

I, the LORD, will hear them;

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in desolate heights,

And fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,

The myrtle and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine

And the box tree together,

20 That they may see and know,

And consider and understand together,

That the hand of the LORD has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

The New King James Version. 1982 (Is 41:8-10,17–20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

My prayer for you, Josiah, is that you would see and know, consider and understand it was the Lord our God who brought you out of the orphanage and set you in our family. His hand has done this; He has created our family!

Amazing!

I know.........

I've been a VERY bad blogger.  No updates for months.  Here I announce we are adopting again and nothing after it.  

We've had some big things happening in our house and I can hardly wait to share.  We just have to get past some hurdles, then all will be revealed.  I'm hoping we will even be able to post pictures of our newest additionS.  :)  Until then........

Details, Details!

By now, most of you have heard the details, but to make it official:

Yes, we are adopting AGAIN.  Yes, we are heading to China AGAIN.  Yes, it is a boy AGAIN. 

Our sweet boy is 4.  He fits right in between Moses and Judah.  I can hardly wait to see how the boys interact.  Oh the excitement!!  I was hoping to have our LOA by now so I could publicly share his pictures but that will have to wait.  Things have slowed down and we are praying next week will be OUR week to move forward.  This may be adoption number 3, but I am still not good at waiting.  

I did say additionS in my last post, didn't I?  Oh for more information and with that update, pictures!

Brushing Off the Cobwebs

It's been a long time since we've updated the 'ol blog.  Much has happened.  We've had our sweet Moses for a year now!  We've had birthday celebrations, 2 years with Judah, visits to the beach, a missions trip to Uruguay and hundreds of days in between with just the every day chaos that is our lives.  If you've read any of my blogs, you know they start with a new adoption and end shortly after coming home when time is at a premium and personal time, non-existent.  Go ahead and connect the dots..........

So, here we are dusting off the blog, blowing away the cobwebs and preparing for our next big adventure.

Trip to the Zoo

Picture Warning! There's ALOT in this post.

Thanks to a phone call from Mario's Brother, we took a trip to the zoo. Moses and Judah's first trip to see the animals. (No, we don't count China's zoo. We enjoyed the pandas but looking at chickens and raccoons in a cage just doesn't compare to what we have here in the states.) Seeing the zoo through the wonder and amazement of little ones again made it a new experience for all of us.

I think Moses could have watched the ants for hours. :)

My great niece, Bella, is in the back of the egg. Isn't she sweet?

My great nephew, another cutie!

Giving Uncle Richie the 'rock'.

The baby elephant was one of Moses' favorites. Can you see it in his eyes?

My biggies were so patient with all the animal watching. Especially considering it was nearly 100 degrees the day we were there. Having friends with us helped our attitudes.

It didn't take long, however, for boredom to set in. I mean, how many animals can you see in one day?

Two of my most favorite people in the whole world. My BFF with her hubby. Thanks for coming on our impromptu trip. Lynnette, you can pay me later for not posting the 'pretty' pictures of you cooling off. No, I am not above blackmailing you. Maybe you should pick your friends better.

Judah's excitement level picked back up with the last visit of the day, the monkeys.

Heat aside, we had a great time with friends and family. Lynnette, the check better be in the mail. :)

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

1 Peter 4:8- Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Oh what HOPE is found in that little scripture in 1 Peter!!! That a little boy can go from this............

A little boy leaving an orphanage and every thing he knows, scared, crying at every thought of sleeping, speaking only when told to repeat, nervously running from distraction to distraction, unsure of what to do with himself, repeating negative behaviors learned from children not taught differently....................... TO........................................

a little boy living with his family, genuinely happy, loving to entertain those around him, laughing, talking, playing and sharing, growing taller, getting stronger, singing songs, learning to live within a family.....................................

communicating his needs, a happy and sometimes mischievous twinkle in his eye, spontaneously sharing love in the form of hugs and kisses, and oh so happy to sleep in his own bed.

Look what *LOVE* can do! God, Your works are amazing!!! Who is there like you?

MRI

On June 23rd, Moses and Mommy were off for the first of his necessary testing, namely his MRI and bloodwork. He did great, loving all the attention and the personal TV. He did great until it was time for the IV. My poor little guy was so scared. Then they took him down for the MRI and that was about all his little heart could handle. They sedated him while he sobbed in my arms.

The procedure took about 40 minutes. (double the time it should have) After that we were just waiting for him to wake up and drink a little water so we could go home. He looked so sweet, lying there with his teddy bear. This sweet little boy has the biggest heart. After all he has been through -he still loves, still hugs, still kisses. I am constantly amazed by his abilities and joy.

Often when I am out with the kids shopping or running errands, I will have people come to me asking about the boys. Are they brothers? Where are they from? The conversation always seems to end with a "They sure are lucky to have you." No. It's not true. They are not lucky. They were chosen by a God who loves them to be a part of our family. We were chosen to share in their lives, to teach them and train them. While the obvious part of their story says they have benefited from being pulled out of an orphanage, out of an institution life, out of the darkness of being abandoned and left to their own devices,-the truth is, we have gained more than our boys have. We have hugs, kisses, laughing, cuteness, playtime--I could go on. Luck has nothing to do with our lives. It is not by chance that Moses and Judah are a part of our family. It is all by design of our wise Creator. Oh, how thankful I am that His ways are not my ways.