Surprise!

Look what I got today... A surprise picture of my BIG boy! He looks so big!! But you have to consider how tiny the "mommas"are. He probably is not as big as he looks;) Althought I know I have to get my back into shape before he gets here!

He is wearing some close we left when were down there in November. It is actually the outfit we put on him the last day we were down there and that he was wearing when we handed him back over to his nanny. It was a little big on him when he was wearing it then, but it looks like it fits perfect now!

We miss you sweet boy! We are trusting that our God is going to bring you home very soon and in his perfect timing. We Love you beyond words!!!

Where does the time go...

2 1/2 weeks old....

Our sweet baby now...

Where does the time go... You are 7 months old today sweet boy. I can't believe it!!! It does not seem like you should be that old yet! I wish I was on a plane heading your way! We love and miss you more than words can say! I pray God will reunite us together soon baby, but until then I know you are being loved on and taken care of! We trust and know God's plan is perfect and He will be glorified though this journey.


On the other hand, it seems like time is creeping by. We have been kicked out of PGN for over a month now. We still have not heard if the lawyer has received the new BC or not. I pray he was able to pick it up last week.

Please pray that our next case update will bear good news. I am so ready to squeeze my chunky monkey again! I can't imagine how much he has grown since our trip?!?!?

It's snowing...

It's snowing...
We got out and enjoyed the snow for a little while. Brock loved it!!! He liked eating the snow balls;) The one thing that would have made it so much more fun is if Nathan was here for his first snow. Oh how I miss him!

(check the family blog later for more pictures of the snow and some other pictures of recent events)

Chosen for Us

I haven't thought much of Nathan's birth mother in a while. I have been guarding myself ever since we lost our referral of Mauro (Cooper).

When we lost Mauro, it was very difficult. It was bitter/sweet. I knew he was going back to a mommy that obviously loved him very much, but we had already fallen in love with that precious boy. Our hearts were broken.

On July 13, 2007 we received the perfect child God has chosen for us. Since then I have been very guarded and not thought much of Nathan's birth mother. But I have thought and prayed about it and my heart is changing. As Nathan gets older and everyday gets closer to when our son comes home, it reminds me that she has sacrificed so much for her child to have a life she could not give him and we are beyond grateful. I can not imagine the love she has for him, so much that she is willing to sacrifice her chance to be with him. I pray that she will somehow know that he is being well taken care of now; and when he gets home forever with us we will love, provide and care for him to the best of our ability.

I want Nathan to always know that his birth mother loved him and wants the best for him. But what is so amazing- we are not only going to try and give him the best we can- He has already given us the best!

So many times people say "It is amazing what you are doing for this child". But that is so not what is happening. I know Nathan's life will be so different her in the US compared to if he would have grown up in Mixco, Guatemala; but Nathan is doing so much more for us!! He is such a "Gift from God"(Just like the meaning of his name). God chose to bring us together as a family. I am so humbled to be called his "mommy". I am not worthy. I pray God will guide us each day as we parent him.

I am so grateful for this journey God is taken us on. I would not have it any other way. I have learned so much the past 4 years and hope to learn so much more. I am changed forever.

Here is a song. It was written by Marc Schultz.
It is a song he wrote to his birth mother...

Everything to me I must have felt your tears
When they took me from your arms
I'm sure I must have heard you say goodbye
Lonely and afraid had you made a big mistake
Could an ocean even hold the tears you cried

But you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for me
And you made the only choice you could that night

You gave life to me
A brand new world to see
Like playing baseball in the yard with dad at night
Mom reading Goodnight Moon
And praying in my room
So if you worry if your choice was right
You gave me up but you gave everything to me

And if I saw you on the street
Would you know that it was me
And would your eyes be blue or green like mine
Would we share a warm embrace
Would you know me in your heart
Or would you smile and let me walk on by
Knowing you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for me
And I hope that you'd be proud of who I am

You gave life to me
A chance to find my dreams
And a chance to fall in love
You should have seen her shining face
On our wedding day
Oh is this the dream you had in mind
When you gave me up
You gave everything to me

And when I see you there
Watching from Heaven's gates
Into your arms I'm gonna run
And when you look in my eyes
You can see my whole life
See who I was
And who I've become

You gave life to me
A brand new world to see
Like playing baseball in the yard with dad at night
Mom reading Goodnight Moon
And praying in my room
So if you worry if your choice was right
You gave me up but you gave everything to me

Please pray for a family...

Please pray for a family who is hurting right now. I can not imagine their pain.
http://www.adoptingariana.blogspot.com/

Waiting...

Case Update: "They are still waiting on the birth certificate from Mixco. They hope to get it this week.”

PGN is not allowing any cases that are KO to be resubmitted right now. The lawyer for EN is planning to register all his cases with the new Central Authority on Wednesday (January 16, 2008). Please pray with us that all goes well and that the Central Authority is ready to work on Wednesday.

Pray that the birth certificate is ready this week so once we are registered we can be back in PGN so we can 'get this ball rolling again'.

Waiting is not getting any easier. Nathan is getting bigger. Time is going slower. I am getting tired. I miss my baby. I just pray that I will continue to allow God to teach me and show me His plans and purposes in the midst of this journey.

Thank you for all the love, support and prayers for us and our baby boy. We could not do this with out all of you by our sides. I can not wait to share with Nathan one day all the people who helped pray him home! Thank you!


Nathan, we love you and long for the day to hold you again in our arms. I pray it is a short time away. Sweet dreams baby boy.
Love,
Mommy

My Boy is getting SO BIG!!

6 months old

We got his health update today. He weighs 18.11lbs and is 25.7in tall. He is getting so big!
Comments were" He is well. Rolls over in crib, and plays." They also promised me they would not cut off his Beautiful curls! He and only one other baby has curly hair.

We have not gotten a legal update as of yet. Our social worker was hoping to here something by tomorrow, so we will see. Continue to pray he will be able to get the new BC so we can be resubmitted back into PGN.

As far as the new process goes, there is still a lot of unknown. But we will probably have to register with the Central Authority before we are resubmitted, which has started to be created. Who knows when cases will be able to register?? so many unknowns!!!!

Please pray for us as each passing day goes by. There are good days and there are bad days. I just want to hop on a plane and go be with my Nathan. There is so much we are going to miss due to this major delay, but I am trusting the Lord knows best and His plan is perfect.

I know this will all seem like a dream once he is in our arms forever. Oh, how sweet that day will be...

Nathan's First Christmas

Practicing his serious look...

Who could resist those beautiful big brown eyes?? I miss him so much. I pray he had a wonderful first Christmas. I know he got lots of lovin'!! I can not get over how big he is getting. Nathan, please stop growing!!!!


God is teaching me so much through this journey and I am thankful. I am thankful that I am learning now. A precious friend reminded me this week that Nathan is God's child and He loves him so much more than we ever could and He knows exactly what he needs. I completely trust the Lord and once again give Nathan back to Him.


I found out last night that it is a small world at times [unless you visit outside the country to a place like Guatemala;)]. We went to a shower at my mother's house and met a couple named Ashley and Matthew. They saw all the pictures of Nathan plastered around my mom's house. Ashley recognized his pictures and said she had been following our story through the blog and praying for us. She is friend of Sarah Beth's family. How neat is that?!?!?! God continues to show me his mercies daily and I am so very thankful! I am so undeserving.
(It was so neat to meet you Ashley and Matthew!! Thank you for your prayers!!! We feel them along with all the others!!!)


Please continue to pray for our case and for adoptions over all in Guatemala. Things still are uncertain. There is still many unknowns. Just pray. That is all we know to do. It is completely out of our control.


"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4

"Blessed in the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he had stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
James 1: 12

Thank You

Thank you for all the phone calls, emails, comments, thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed to have so many friends and family praying us through this journey to bring our baby boy home.

It has been a hard few days and continues to be. We do not understand all of this and probably never will. All that is getting us through this journey right now is seeking Him and His direction.

It is hard to always remember that this journey is not about us or bringing our son home, but it is about a God who loves us. Our goal is for our lives to bring honor and glory to Him and we fail at that everyday.

We know God has a plan to bring Nathan home to us. Pray that we will accept his perfect timing.

Please join us as we pray for these things:
~ Nathan's health, and for God's provision over him
~For Nathan's Birth Certificate to be corrected quickly
~ to be resubmitted to PGN soon and to have a quick and final trip in with no more KO's
~ for peace and direction during this journey

"...in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory.."
Romans 9:23

"The heavens declare the glory of God."
Psalm 19:1

Our prayer is that somehow God is revealed in your life through our journey.

We Love You All,
Stephanie and Casey