Joy and Faithfulness

Well stopping to write isn't as easy with 4 children.  It's amazing how adding 1 more can make such a difference.  Joel and I feel like we have quite the entourage everywhere we go, but love it.  Each one of our sweet kids bring us "joy" and so has the last 54 days as a family of 6.  Joy has been the word that has been brought to our hearts over and over as we have journeyed through becoming a family of 6 and soon will be our sweet girl's middle name... Savannah Joy Boone.   As I reflect on the month of December I am reminded again of the Lord's faithfulness.

December Memories...

Savannah was officially freed for adoption on December 13!  Forever and ever she will be ours, but her official adoption finalization date will be sometime in the summer.  Looking forward to that celebration...

Decorating for Christmas was extra special this year.  Savannah glowed as we hung Christmas lights, put the blow ups on the front lawn, hung stockings (this year we added a pink one), and decorated the Christmas Tree.  She loved the tree!!!  All four kids put on all the ornaments and I restrained myself from adjusting any of them.  Every ornament hung where a sweet hand placed it.  Some branches had up to 4 ornaments!  It was beautiful!   We also enjoyed cookie baking, gingerbread house decorating, the Nutcracker (Savannah couldn't stop talking about the ballerina's), present making, angel tree, packing food baskets, Christmas Eve church, eating a happy birthday Jesus cake and visiting Santa.  We have faithfully taken the kids to see Santa every year since they were newborns.  It's a bittersweet moment when I unpack the pictures each year and see how fast the years have gone by, yet so fun to watch them grow.  Happy, sad or screaming... I get the picture.  Gavin and Merek smiled proudly this year, Eiler snuggled his blanket and Savannah screamed at the top of her lungs.  Poor Santa!

The final week before Christmas was a trip to San Francisco to be with Uncle Todd and Aunt Tatyana filled with special outings.. ice skating, Christmas lights, special dinners, a sleepover and a reservation at The House of Air (Gigantic Trampolines and Bounce Houses).  God adjusted our plans and so our trip to SF lasted about          1 1/2 hours before Gavin broke his leg at the House of Air.  Instead of all the other outings we got an ambulance ride, an evening at SF general hospital and a 3am arrival home.  Gavin got a cast, some crutches and a new ride (his wheel chair that he uses proudly).  All the kids have been such good troopers!

Needless to say, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was at our house.  Gavin on the couch and chaos all around, but memories were definitely made.   There is nothing quite like Christmas morning... Savannah was the first one downstairs and the fascination on her face as she saw the presents and her "New Hello Kitty Bike" was priceless.  Joel and I had smiles just as big.  Our favorite moment with her was when she gasped and said "Santa brought me a bike and a house!"  Her bike and doll house were put together ready to be used and she went straight for it.  The boys came down shortly after and one by one they glowed.  Gavin got an electric guitar and amp, Merek an air soft gun and Eiler his very own teddy bear (that's all he wanted from Santa).  It was a special family time as we enjoyed one another and the sharing of gifts.

The month of December has been full of anticipation as well as the unexpected and unforgettable moments.  In every moment of joy, laughter, fun and tears we thank our Savior for His FAITHFULNESS!  My prayer is that in 2011 our family would continue to be willing to be used for His glory.

Prayer.. what a gift!

Above our lil' ballerina's (what she pretends to be) bed reads...

Before I formed you, I knew you

Before you were born, I set you apart

The Lord created sweet "S" for our family... a Perfect Fit!!  It's been 17 days since we saw her for the first time and what an amazing time we have had as a forever family of 6.

The power of prayer has been so evident in the transition of our sweet daughter into our family.  I continue to be blown away as she runs, giggles, laughs, plays, jumps, sings, hugs, kisses, calls me "Momma", tackles her brothers, tickles her Daddy and sleeps peacefully in her own bed all night long.  It's definitely a God thing!  Thank you, Thank you,  and Thank you again for praying.  

The opportunity to adopt has been a gift to our family and I love how the Lord has allowed us to be used in this beautiful way.  For so many years it was a dream and today it is a reality... and daily He is giving me opportunities to share our journey, which I pray brings Him honor and gives Him all the glory.  My 4 precious children are Yours and I pray Lord that you would continue use our family to be light in this world.

A Forever Family of 6!!

Friday morning as Joel and I looked out the window of our hotel room, this was our view.  It was absolutely breath taking and a reminder of our Perfect Creator.  The day had finally arrived... we were taking our daughter to her forever home.  We would no longer have to say good-bye to her at bedtime... tonight we would get to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.

Our special day continued....

Besides that our little girl was a trooper as we traveled home.. her brother's got to meet her for the first time.  They were so excited and the smiles on their faces when they saw her sweet face were priceless.  Finally, the sister they had prayed faithfully for was home to play.  Within minutes the legos were out and all four of our children were building, smiling, giggling and enjoying one another.  It was awesome and my heart was over flowing with joy.
It has been 8 days now since we saw our daughter's beautiful face for the first time, yet in such a short time she has fit in perfectly.  We know that the Lord has given her heart the peace that we have been praying for.  Thank you to all of our friends and family that have been faithfully praying for our family.  It has been a total blessing!!

We look forward to sharing her sweet face with everyone when the time is right...

We Are Going Home

What an amazing week..  We are absolutely in love with our daughter!  Her beautiful smile and sweet giggles are precious.  Thank you Lord Jesus for our priceless gift and faithful friends and family that have been praying for all of us.

Well today is the day... we get to bring her home!  Joel and I are so, so thankful for this past week, but "wow" three days of preschool exhausted us. We are ready to take our daughter to see "my new house" "my room" "my slide" (her words) and her brothers..  The boys can't wait to meet their sister!

Please pray...
- As we say goodbye and gives hugs
- Travel home
- Meet brothers
- Our daughter's heart

Thank you so much for praying... our family is so blessed!

We Held Our Baby Girl...

Today, Joel and I met and held our sweet daughter for the first time!!  She is absolutely adorable and so precious... full of giggles and smiles.  The moment of walking through the door and seeing her for the first time was amazing.  A day we will forever remember.  We were able to give her a pink "build a bear" from her new brothers along with a little photo album of her forever family and forever home...  it was a special time.  Joel and I are filled with joy to finally be with our daughter and look forward to spending the rest of the week with her before bringing her home on Friday.  

Please join us in prayer

- pray for the new relationship we are forming with our daughter

- pray for her heart 

- pray for our boys who are home and waiting anxiously to meet their sister

- pray for all of us as we become a forever family of 6

Thank you for your prayers and support as we enjoy this amazing time!!

The count down begins...

Our meeting for "S" was moved forward a day, so it took place this afternoon.  Joel and I leave Monday to go meet our daughter!!!!  We will stay in the area she lives till Friday and then we will bring her home with us!!  Our family is so excited... after all these years of prayer this is the little one God had waiting for us.  We can't believe that in 9 days she'll be in our home!  Thank you Sweet Jesus for blessing us with a baby girl.  Please pray for "S" as we bring her home to her forever family!

She is Adorable...

The last 48 hours in the Boone home have been special.
Thursday night...
We decided it was time to share with the boys that sister was coming home.  I wish I could of got a picture of each of their faces when we told them.  They were so excited that God had finally answered their prayers. (The boys have prayed faithfully for baby sister for months)  It was a very special moment.  All we could tell them was her age, name and that this next Thursday (28th) we would get her picture and find out when we get to meet her.  That was enough information for them.. Gavin thought it was extra special that the meeting is on his birthday.  He said that is the best birthday present ever.  It was so adorable!
Friday brought a surprise....
The boys were all out of school and Joel was off work.  We had 2 extra kids over and we were getting ready for Gavin's 9th birthday party.  We were having a fun and busy day.  I went up stairs to check my email and there was our Surprise!  Joel and I got to see our daughter for the very first time!!!  I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream, I wanted the whole world to see her!!!  She is absolutely precious!!!  We called the boys up to see their sister and smiles filled everyone's face.  An unforgettable moment (just like when you see your baby born for the first time)!  Unfortunately, we can't post her picture at this time, but if you see us we will have one to show you:).  Gavin showed all his friends her picture at his party, Merek tells everyone he talks to how he loves his sister "S" and Eiler calls her "banana". (It's close to her name)
Her picture is framed in our house and we printed copies for all of our family.  Needless to say, We are just a tad bit excited!
Thank you for all your prayers and continued prayers as we now look forward to holding our daughter for the first time.