I have to share with you all this amazing family.  I met them while we were in China adopting Finn and they were adopting their beautiful daughter Maylie.  

We have stayed in contact ever since. Meeting them and their daughters made a big impact on Marc and I.  One thing I know for sure is that they are amazing parents of 4 beautiful, sweet, poised daughters who all have a huge heart for Jesus.    Now they are thrilled to be adopting their 5th daughter in the coming months!!

This precious child has been through WAY too much for any 4 year old to bear, more than even the typical orphan which is overwhelming enough. Her story has touched me deeply but I will keep it to myself as the details are not mine to share.  I am so humbled that my wonderful friends have stepped up to become her family.    They have stepped out in faith financially in a big way as well, and they are holding a raffle for an Ipad and some other fabulous gifts.  Would you please consider helping them bring Lily home and getting a chance to win the Ipad!    You can check out all the info on their website by clicking here    

And please know that I 100% can attest that they are a wonderful family that truly does need us to rally around them to help bring this precious child home! Please check out their blog, donate and help us spread the word!  Thank you sooo much!

summer slammed

I am laughing at myself right now because a few weeks back, before summer started, I was sooo worried about entertaining the kiddos during the long slow summer days. I purposely tried to pack the calendar so we wouldn't get bored. I'm an idiot.

We are going a mile a minute around here and it is just now slowing down, but only for a short while.  Marc and I did go on our  little getaway courtesy of our family no spend month of February...  We were looking forward to spending 5 days on the beautiful beaches of Mexico and that we did, at least for the first 2 days.  Then the rains came and hovered, tropical depression style right over our slice of heaven and we ended up spending the remainder of our trip in classy places like this....  

It may sound like I am complaining, and yeah I was a little bummed.  Blue sky and sunshine are the keys to my happiness, but I am so thankful that I got to spend a few days alone with my favorite person on earth. :)  

Every other waking moment of the first month of summer was spent poolside for the kids swim team.. holy cow what a time sucker.  but they had fun...

Finn even has her own personal time out spot on the pool deck..

4th of July was a hit as usual.  The kids love decorating their bikes and going to a little hometown parade. 

And then this week Marc, Collin, and I hopped in the car for parent/child orientation at NC state.  Such a beautiful campus, so overwhelming to think that my baby is grown and leaving home, even though I know he is ready for it.  It is surely bittersweet. From the way I see it they are going to make it easier on him than he's got it around here.  Amazing opportunities ahead for this kid.  He has made us so proud.