Laura Update

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Laura and Inese are being hosted this summer by a family in North Georgia. I have spoken with the family several times over the phone, had countless emails regarding Laura, and pretty much convinced her that she MUST host these girls this summer! They are a wonderful family, and although Inese had a very difficult time at first, they are both doing great now.

Families all over the nation host with Project 143, so we were so grateful that Laura ended up with someone in Georgia so we could go see her! She has grown so much and just looked beautiful. We had a great visit with her, Lucy and Laura ran off immediately and started playing as if they were best buds. Inese was very attached to her host mom but very sweet and gave me a big hug before we left (which was huge....because she doesn't usually do that...) Laura was, of course, sweet and affectionate too.

We have been praying earnestly for these girls ever since we had to put Laura back on that plane. I knew the Lord wasn't calling us to adopt them, but I also knew our role wasn't finished and that He had a future and a hope for them beyond what an orphanage in Latvia could offer. We had several families interested in them while they were here, and the family hosting them now has had several families interested as well.

I am so thrilled, humbled, and thankful to say that a family in Florida has started the adoption process to adopt Laura and Inese!! Adoption is a huge black pit of unknowns, as we have learned with the little exposure to it we have had, so of course nothing is certain, but this family is committed 100% to these girls, and if all goes as planned then they should begin their first trip to Latvia in November! As hosting rules require, the girls don't know they are being adopted yet, and I'm not sure when they will know. Please pray for this entire process, that it goes smoothly, that the girls transition well, and that this family's needs will be met.

If you want to help financially towards their adoption please let me know. We will be trying to raise money to help out the family and I will probably be doing at least one fundraiser at some point.

Thank you for everyone's support when we hosted Laura. We are so thankful we were able to be a small part in these girls' journey to find a family and pray that the Lord continues His faithfulness towards them and finishes the work He began.

Praise God!

Some rainy day fun....

Lack of an update

This is a lack of an update...really because nothing out of the ordinary has been going on. Out of town family is back home, we have no lessons or activities to go to, and for the most part we are finally settling into a lazy summer routine. Too bad summer is almost over :(

I have been miserably dizzy and tired lately. I took my blood pressure at work on Saturday and it was 90/60. Hmmm...probably why I'm feeling so terrible. I tend to run low blood pressure when I'm pregnant anyway, but I don't think I've ever seen it that low. 12 more weeks to go....I hate to complain because we really are just so thankful to be blessed with another baby, but this pregnancy really has been the worst ever, and probably the most physically and emotionally challenging thing I've ever had to go through. She better be a good baby. Just kidding.

I haven't really taken any pictures lately since we haven't done much...but here are two to get you to the next update.

Family pic at La Parilla before the Sias fam had to head back home. I swear I'm not that big...for some reason I look hugely pregnant in this picture.

Mark took Lucy on a date a few nights go so Annie and I got to hang out for the evening. It was nasty and rainy and she kept running back and forth from the kitchen to the front door windows to watch the rain. I love her little crossed feet :)

So that's all I've got for now. Pretty boring, I know. But I'm thankful for the peace and calm.

Lately

I can't believe I haven't posted these yet, but Lucy got her ears pierced for her birthday (I know her birthday isn't for a few more weeks but she has literally been begging since she turned 2, so last Sunday Mark and I caved and took her. Atleast it was her birthday month...)

I told her it was going to hurt, so she knew this ahead of time. 

Before:

After:

After the after:

Aren't they cute?? But can we say DRAMA??! She's pretty tough so I'm surprised she cried that much. After the initial shock of it wore off she was fine and she absolutely loves them now.

We spent most of the week with our favorite cousins. Mostly we swam, played, and ate. And ate some more. We so enjoy spending time with family. The kids turned into little fishies with all the swimming. I can't believe how far Lucy has come this summer.

Babies lounging in the pool...

Here's a video of Lucy jumping off the diving board by herself. She later jumped in without the noodle, but I made her use the noodle since I wasn't in the pool with her. She's gotten so brave!

And just because she's so stinkin sweet...

This summer is flying by! Lucy's 4th birthday is right around the corner, and we are only 13 weeks away from meeting our third baby girl. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? P.S. we still need a crib, and need to completely move Annie into Lucy's room. If anyone has the energy to do those things for me I'll reward you with....well....a pat on the back. And maybe a yummy dinner if I'm not puking that day and am able to cook. Any takers?? No???

July 4th

Blog Fail again on my part. I can't seem to keep up.

In the past few weeks, the girls have finished swim lessons, we had pictures taken of the four of us (mainly the girls since poor Annie has zero pictures in our entire house), our favorite (ok....our only) cousins came to visit, and I'm growing bigger by the minute, wondering how I'm going to last through this 100 degree summer. Oh, did I mention our AC went out for a few days? Yeah that was awesome. It's going to have to be replaced, which wasn't in the budget for this summer, but is just one more reminder that no matter how much we think we are in control, we're not.

We had a fantastic 4th of July this year, celebrating how we always do, in Peachtree City with family. I stinkin love this holiday and I'm really not sure why. It's crowded, hot, humid, and we're all exhausted by the end....but we keep coming back for more :)

James and Lucy at the parade....we left the babies at home again this year to nap. I'm glad we did because it was hot and I'm sure I would have had to hold Annie the entire time, which would have just doubled my already-doubled body heat.

James super excited waving to the firemen.

After the parade we went back to The Campbell's for swimming, lunch, naps, and dinner.
Sweet babies eating across from each other.

Thunderstorms? Lightning? Intense rain? No problem. We're still gonna go to the fireworks. No question. Fortunately the storms stopped just in time for us to finish dinner and head to the golf course for our fireworks stakeout.

Cursing my Nikon for the blurriness.....

Our mandatory annual family photo. Please ignore the frizz on Lucy and I. It was crazy hot and humid.

Lilly and Lucy. So glad the Barnard kids could come join us!

The sparklers were a huge hit!

Happy 4th! We are home recovering/sleeping today....well, kids are sleeping. I'm blogging to avoid folding laundry.

Last Days

Our last two days at the beach were a lot of fun. There was no more puking, thank goodness, and we could not have asked for better weather.

I finally found a way to keep the princess happy....not sitting directly on the sand. I think she's more of a chair in the shade kind of girl. By the last day Annie really warmed up to the whole beach scene.







Me and the girls at dinner one night. I could eat seafood everyday.




Lucy had so much fun playing in the ocean. She's already asking when our next beach trip will be.







We got a little pool time in too, and turns out Annie likes her float, and Lucy likes swimming to it and hanging on it.






So grateful for this opportunity to take the girls to the beach. Thank you Grandma and Big Daddy!!

Beach day 2

The day started off great...we all had a good nights sleep after a long travel day yesterday and the weather is perfect here.

Annie poolside...she still isn't sure how she feels about the pool and the beach.



We went out to eat for lunch....Grandma was a trooper and rode in the back of the van :)



Dancing Annie




Just playin some air guitar...



After lunch and naps we headed back out to the beach. All of these pictures are from my phone but I did bring my camera out to try and get some good shots of the girls. I'll have to upload them when we get home. As you can see, Lucy adores the ocean.












We ended the day with Lucy running out of her room at 10 pm and puking all over the hallway....and then slipping and falling in it. I then gave her her third shower of the day and tucked her back in bed. Why do these things always happen on vacation?? Hope none of us get it...

Up until that point it was a fabulous day :)