life has changed...

Well, it has been over a month since Cooper has become our son. Life has definitely changed. What a wonderful change it has been. Words can not describe. My love grows for him more and more every day.

Through the past month I have learned so much. Being a transracial family has forced us to learn a lot! I am so thankful. I have learned so much about myself and about the God I serve. God has given us discernment, knowledge, grace and mercy up to this point and I am believing He is going to be with us each step of the way.

I was just telling a friend the other day how thankful I am that God chose this path for us. I am so thankful for adoption. I am so thankful God chose to bring our children to us through adoption. I am so thankful.... God chose Nathan for us!!! God chose Cooper for us!!!

The funny thing is... people still ask, " how many children do you want to have?" I just laugh! HA!! As many as God would like to bless us with! Does not matter how they get here or how far we have to go to bring them home. They are OUR children chosen by Jesus.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

(Cooper pics to come when we are ready)

New addition...

Most of you know that God has blessed us now with two sons.

We recieved a call on Thanksgiving day that we had a new son.

After much prayer and thought, we started a process for a domestic adoption in June. We did not expect the process to go quickly, but God (as He always does) had other plans. Needless to say, we were very shocked and surprised.

We brought our son, Cooper, home December 8th. He was about 2.5 weeks old. Life has been much different since bringing him home. I am a full-time mommy to a newborn. Never thought there would be a chapter in our journey written like this. I am so thankful for this little miracle... this wonderful blessing!

We wish nothing more than for his big brother, Nathan, to be home with us all. We continue to pray for a miracle for him to come home forever. Nathan is our son and we love and miss him!

We are waiting to post pictures of our newest addition, so you will have to continue to wait just a little while longer before you see his sweet face. Trust me, I have plenty of pictures to catch you all up on the first weeks of his life:)

I plan to post mostly to our family blog (allumsfamily.blogspot.com), but any adoption related isssues or news, I will post here.

I leave you with a picture of our brave little boy....

John Piper on Adoption....

Orphan Sunday November 8th, 2009

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

getting so big... i miss him.

God is our hope...

I sit here thinking what to write when there really is nothing to write....

I think about whether or not to continue this blog, what to say, how long with this blog be needed??

As far as our case of adopting Nathan.... we need a miracle. Things are not good, we have not recieved good news in a long time. What if we never recieve good news??? Is God still good? Is He still in control?? Is God sovereign?? YES!!!! God is our hope! BUT, that does not always make this easy... it is never easy.

Nathan is good. Nathan is happy. Nathan is loved. This is God's plans for now. Where will God take us?? Where will God take our family? Only He knows... my prayer is that we continue to follow.

Thank you for faithfully praying for Nathan, our case, and us. Please continue to pray. God knows. God can move the mountains....

Our sufferings can't compare with His glory....

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

God has a purpose in our sufferings.....

" And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called accoding to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whome he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:28-30

July.....2009

My little pointer.... He loves to point at the camera then see the picture you just took of him. He will love my camera then, I have it all the time! In these pictures, he is wearing an outfit and shoes that we sent down with his birthday package. Thanks Lisa for delivering it!

All the boys.....

Ashley said Nathan loved this dog.... Gives me hope that he will love Brock and Graycie!

The picture is foggy because of Nathan's little finger that touched the lense:)

He looks like a little man in this pictures:)

This is Nathan with a wonderful woman named Ashley. Thank you Ashley for all you have done for these children, the mamma's and the people of Guatemala this summer. You are a true blessing!

"DO NOT TOUCH MY COOKIE!!!!!!"

My handsome boy..... he is perfect!!!!

How can you keep this precious gift from us?!?!? Lord, bring him home!

Nathan's stats:

Weight-35.6 lbs

Height- 35.5"

Head -20"

Foot- 6.5"

He is a healthy little boy!

He is starting to get really active and speak a lot of spanish, which means we need to improve ours!

Below is what the mamma's had to say about Nathan this month:

He likes to eat by himself, but he does not do a good job using at spoon. He is learning to color, paste pictures into shapes. He still gets mad as other pass him by.( I think what they are talking about is when he is on a tricylce)

He is going to be my little leader! I can't wait!!!!!!

Nathan's Special Day....

God is my provider.....

God provided for Nathan and for us today on Nathan's special day today.

See how Nathan celebrated with his friends, old and new.....

http://www.john-oursonshine.blogspot.com/

Thank you Preiss Family..... You will never know the gratitude I feel towards you!!! You are a true blessing to me!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Boy!

2 weeks .....

1 year....

Our Sweet 2 Year Old Baby Boy.....

Our baby boy is being loved on by precious people today and this week. I am so thankful for these blessings......

We love you baby boy. My heart breaks knowing we can't be with you on such a special day, but the peace I have knowing how much you are loved and cared for gets me through.