Wow!  I can't believe that it's been over 6 months since I posted!  Life has been crazy, full of ups and downs and as I've mentioned, it's just beyond challenging some times to get a post off. lol  But, thought I'd take a moment to drop in and at least say hello.  Not sure if anyone reads this anymore, but for anyone who does...here's a blog post so you know I'm still alive! :)

I was thinking the other day, it's been 5 years since we were planning to move to KC,  almost 4 years since we had our first foster child, almost 2 years since we moved back to Iowa and met Emma, and almost a year since we added a baby to our life.  Needless to say, it's been a crazy few years!!! :)

This morning, this verse is so real to my heart:

  “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hand.” Ps 31:14-15

I am more aware than ever, that we make our plans, we think we know what's right, but the Lord is in control.  I NEVER could have imagined all that has taken place in the past 5 years!  Some amazing things, some very difficult things, but all things the Lord has used to change us, mold us, and disciple us more and more into His image and likeness.

Thus, I want to start this blog back up again and just share things as they come and share what the Lord is doing in our hearts.  I have missed all this.  So, for anyone still reading, I am 'back' and will be sharing more as I have time......but, definitely more than 1x in 6 mos! :)

Let me know if there's anything you want me to write about or share....and I'll see what I can do! :)

For now, here's a few pictures of the kiddos.......


Brennan is now 17 1/2 and dances to the beat of his own drum! lol  He likes to come up with crazy combinations for clothing. :)  Here he thought it just might be fun to throw on some suspenders.....my grandpa would have been proud! lol  Since Bren graduated early last year, he's been working full time and taking some courses at DMACC.

Brennan did give us quite the scare this Spring.  He got a really bad eye infection and we had to take him to the emergency room, a Specialist, then they sent us to Iowa City, and then back to a Cornea Specialist.  It was so very scary to see him like that and we spent more time at eye specialist appointments than either of us care to ever spend again!!!  SO GRATEFUL, though, that his sight returned and he is even back to being able to wear contacts!!!  Yay!


One thing we've been conscious of lately and trying to do more is spending time alone with just the boys.  They are at such a different age than the girls and we just realized we needed to carve out time for just the big kids.  So, our last time was grabbing a movie and some ice cream together.  We're trying to do every other month, or once a month, when we can.  Really think this is important.  They are amazing boys and have really jumped in and said 'yes' to foster care and adoption and we want to make sure they also get undivided time and attention with us!  We so enjoyed our time out with just them and I think it filled all our love tanks! :)





Nate will be 15 this summer!  How crazy is that?!  He is homeschooling again this year and does well!  He is anxiously awaiting August and starting football again!! :)  Nate is absolutely amazing with Emma and Roo.  Emma adores him and they have the same quirky sense of humor and laugh a lot together! :)






Emma turned 6 recently!  She has lost 2 teeth and is growing up so much!!  This year has been full of major ups and downs, but we are in a great spot at the moment.  She struggled a lot for awhile with school stuff and the transition to all day Kindergarten; however, the teachers and principal have been amazing at helping us help her!  We also got connected to Post-Adoption support, through DHS, and the lady with whom we work has been a God-send!  She's adopted a lot of kids, several through the foster care system and 'gets it'.  She's been a wonderful advocate for us through the school system.  Emma is really beginning to get the hang of reading and loves it!  She is also becoming so much more secure in our family, knowing she won't go anywhere, and is settling down and learning to love and be loved.  It's been fun to watch her grow this year! :)

 She definitely also dances to the beat of her own drum and likes to come up with all sorts of crazy clothing combinations for school.  This picture does not do justice to just how bright this outfit was! lol  So fun!

 We had fun for Em's birthday.  Met up with her two bio sisters and took them to a nearby salon for some 'pampering'.  Got their nails done, toenails, and hair and 'make-up'.  They LOVED it and it was so fun to see them be together and get all 'dolled up'.  It's certainly been a new experience to have a girl in the house, and it's so fun to watch her enjoy all things 'girly'!!! 

As for the baby..."Roo"......we still have her!  CRAZY!!!  They'd originally asked us to take her for a week, and here we are almost 11 months later and she's sitll in our home!  In fact, things have changed so much that we now have a Termination of Parental Rights hearing next week!  Then we wait to see what the judge decides.  Could take up to 6 more months! :/  IF rights are terminated, we plan to pursue adoption of Roo, as everyone in our family loves her, and after 11 months, she is already such a part of our family.  NEVER could have imagined having a baby in the home again, but God has other plans! :)  So, we wait....we love deeply, knowing that we risk losing deeply if she goes home.  But, she is worth it......so we love and trust Jesus with our hearts. :)