Just a few pics for now...

Welcome to the world, baby boy

Trent David arrived on the scene late Thursday night.  Both birth parents have already signed consent, so we are 99% he is our love bug forever.  More to come when we get home tomorrow, but as for right now, we are beyond excited and thankful to God, the giver of all good gifts!

Racer

This does not bode well for the future.

Worn Out

I think we wore them out today in Gatlinburg...

A day at the park

Isn't she just beautiful!!??!

Kites!

It might be a tad bit chilly, but it is perfect for a kite-flying day!

Easter Morning

Thankful beyond words that we were able to celebrate the Good News of Jesus this morning with friends at Harvest!  So thankful for our great church and our brave Savior!  Oh, and the kids are cute too!

Airports Stink

Welcome to my Friday night. While others are at home, playing with their kids, I'm watching a dude clean up vomit in the Gainesville, Florida airport. The wife called...'buy a book' she said. Oh, but if I could. All they have are magazines, most of which feature a rapper or Kardashians on the cover. No thanks. I'll watch the vomit dry. Long, cynical night ahead. Be warned. My flight is delayed...connections missed. Spending the night in Charlotte. Daddy. Is. Grumpy.

Spring Break

Words of wisdom: Avoid playgrounds in parks over spring break!  They are CRAZY!  You know where to find empty playgrounds?  Schools!  We even had a teacher volunteer to give us an hour long private tour of the outdoor education center near the playground!  Fabulous!

Who is protecting you?

Geocaching

We have become quite the little geo caching family.  The kids love it, a modern day treasure hunt!  I like it because it's free... and we get to spend the entire day outdoors!

Adoption News and Thoughts

Adoption is a crazy world.  It doesn't matter if you decide to adopt domestically or internationally; it doesn't matter if your process is carved in stone or a complete roller coaster, adoption is a beast unto itself.

For example, adoption is always a choice.  No one in the world of adoption accidentally ends up in line.  There are no birth control malfunctions.  Adoption, for adoptive parents, is a choice.

For many people, adoption is a scary choice.  These people are usually grossly misinformed.  There are plenty of avenues in adoption--both domestic and international--where the paths are wide and marked in neon.  You pretty much know what you're going to get--or strangely enough, choose what (read: whom) you're going to get.

If and when Bret and I return to China for another child, the path will be wide.  It won't be easy, as anyone who has filled out the paperwork for China will tell you, but it will be expected.  But, even then, you're faced with the daunting challenge (the "God, I could really use some wisdom now" challenge) of deciding what type of special need is right for your family, which in a weird way means saying "no" to certain children.  That's a strange moment, but it is still a moment that makes you keenly aware you are just one person looking for one child.  And, you have to wait, which is hard.

So, yeah, adoption is a strange thing.  It's a beautiful thing, torn right out of the pages of scripture.  For me, nothing has opened my eyes more to the amazing grace of God than adoption.  I understand what it means to be a child of God at a new level.  I understand what it means to be grafted in to a family.

And, as we wait for baby #3, we are keenly aware--more so with this adoption than ever before--that God has the right child for us.   Losing Nadia was more painful than I could have imagined--still is.  I think about her every. single. day.  But, I know that God has a plan.  He has to... he just does.

So, as we wait (baby boy is due on April 24), we wait cautiously, keenly aware that we have chosen this path.  We didn't end up here by accident, and we aren't going to accidentally end up with a child.  And there's a lot of relief, even amid all the chaos and unknown, that I don't have to control this outcome.  A deep sigh to that!

Swim Lesson Time

My two little swimmers are at it again!  Grace did the backstroke by herself the whole length of the pool today!  Grant, too, can swim all on his own.  Proud and thankful!

IU game plus cheesecake factory

Equals coma!

Backyard fun

Yep, that is a sprinkler going in the middle of March!

Fun times

Here is Grant hanging out at Papaw's house.  And, yes, that is a gun!

Sunday at dusk... and we are still at the park!

Sunday at dusk... and we are closing down the park!

Grant's Pizza Fieldtrip

Playing outside and pizza preschool fieldtrips!  Is there a better week?

Glorious, Glorious

Today was gorgeous.  Like live in San Diego gorgeous.  And, it's the middle of MARCH!

We climbed trees, headed to our creek, took a bike ride, and took a swim at the local Y.  Now, the kids are digging up worms before I grill steaks!

A near perfect day (only made better by Bret being home!).

Grant's Note

The first word is "Dear."  Can you read the rest from my funny boy?