2016 in review...

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

 

Here is what Mary-Lynn got...

 

 

We still do not have our No Objection Certificate. Please pray we get it next week!! As soon as we have it our case can go to court in India.

 

Matthew has been talking about his baby sister almost non-stop the past few days. I hope that is God preparing his little heart for Mary-Lynn coming home soon!

 

2016 has been a busy year...praying we will have Mary-Lynn home with us in 2017 to celebrate her 3rd birthday in May, to go to the beach with us this summer, to enjoy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with us! I can't wait to have her in my arms and to start making memories with her!!

 

Here is a picture review of 2016...

 Eli turned 8, played his 2nd year of Upward Basketball, and buddies.
 

More basketball, and celebrating Papa and Cousin Ty's birthday.

 

Matthew's 1st dental visit, TB skin tests for the adoption paperwork, Easter, and trip to Hammond to meet Cousin Asher. 

 

4 kittens, our 1st and 2nd adoption yard sales, and finally finished all the adoption paperwork/dossier.

 

Another adoption yard sale, fishing, wedding, Mother's Day, Rock n Jump, and end of the school year parties and awards.

 

VBS, North Carolina with Britt for his doctorate class, Grandmomma's birthday, Father's Day, Lake, and Beach.

 

Beach, Lake, 4th of July, rainbows, my cousin's wedding, girl night, and MATCHED with our DAUGHTER!

 

Cousins' visit, Caleb's 13th birthday, started homeschooling Caleb and Eli, Matthew's 3rd birthday and moved to a big boy bed, more rainbows, i800a approval, and new pictures of our girl!

 

Started our puzzle fundraiser, got Mary-Lynn's original documents with a baby photo on it, and Homecoming parade with friends.

 

Another adoption yard sale, pumpkin patch, Cotton Fest craft table with Eli, Cousin Zoe's 1st birthday costume party, visiting with family, Britt left for India on 10/31, Halloween, and a turkey peaking in our window! Haha

 

BRITT MET & HELD OUR DAUGHTER!! Fort Toulouse, Alabama National Fair, Britt in India, Dixie's 14th birthday, and Thanksgiving.  

 

i800 approval, Article 5, Christmas tree lot, Eclectic Christmas, Christmas pajamas, Santa, Elk is finally here and up in the house, Granddaddy, Candlelight Service, Christmas with family, Asher LOVES his Uncle Britt, smiley's on our fingers like Granddaddy has always done, Caleb was a pallbearer, and Calloway Gardens with MawMaw and cousins.

 

(Whew...Oct., Nov., & Dec. make me tired all over again just thinking about it!)

 

 

 

Praying our sweet girl is home to make memories with her family ASAP! Praying we all have a blessed 2017!!

 

 

 



Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve last year was my very first adoption blog post! You can see it HERE.

 

 

Since last Christmas we finished all the paperwork, did our 2 homestudies, raised funds needed, and best of all we were matched with our daughter!!!

 

Mary-Lynn was born in May 2014

 

We have been matched with our sweet Mary-Lynn for 5 1/2 months now. We still have no timeline as to when she will be home. We did sign a power of attorney this week that allows the orphanage director and advocate/lawyer to go to court in our place. As soon as we get our No Objection Certificate (NOC), our case can go to court.   

 

I have wondered all day if her orphanage does any thing special for Christmas or not. I know they do not celebrate the real reason for Christmas, but I wonder if they at least get something special to eat or celebrate in some sort of way. It breaks my heart! I wish she was home with her family already. Santa will be leaving her a few things at home tonight that we can use when we travel to get her.

 

 

Apparently she has been on Matthew and Eli's minds today too. When I was bathing Matthew before our Christmas Eve service tonight he said, "I wish baby sister was home with us." Then we were eating supper after church and Britt's phone rang, Eli said, "Man, I was hoping that was the orphanage calling." Break my heart!! We are all missing her right now.

 

Part of Eli's Christmas List this year
 

Please pray we get our No Objection Certificate soon, and that our orphanage director and lawyer go in to court fighting to get our baby girl home to us ASAP!

 

Pray for my Nanny and family also. My Granddaddy will be celebrating his first Christmas in Heaven. They were married for 68 years! My Nanny is where we got Mary-Lynn's middle name from. You can read about that HERE.

 

I just have to share these sweet pictures of my Nanny and Granddaddy through the years...

Please remember her in your prayers!

 

 

 

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

 

From our family to yours...

 

 

    

Article 5!!!

We have Article 5!!!

 

We received an e-mail on Tuesday morning from the US Embassy in India (the ones who issue Article 5). They were needing clarification on her birth date. My first thought was, "Oh no, this birth date thing is going to slow us down again!" And of course God put this in my path...Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Phil. 4:6. And the day before, I saw this...The only way God can show us He's in control is to put us in situations we can't control. And boy does adoption show you how much you are not in control and have to trust God!

 

I had a little cry, prayed, let it go into God's Hands, and prayed some more...today when I woke up we had Article 5!

 

Another cool God thing...that birth date...it's now May 14...guess what this coming up May 14th is!?

 

It's Mother's Day! My baby girl will turn 3 on Mother's Day. I'm praying she will be in my arms that day!!  

 

My new favorite ornament from a sweet friend at church!

 

Now we are waiting on the No Objection Certificate...it comes from CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) in New Delhi, India. Please pray we get it quickly!

 

Once we have NOC, our case goes to court. The judge has to give verbal orders and then written orders. Once we have those the orphanage will apply for our baby girl's passport. When we have her passport (and I think also her birth certificate) in hand we will travel to get her!

 

We have no way of knowing how long any of these next steps will take.

 

So we are just praying!

Praying Mary-Lynn will be home with us before her 3rd birthday!

Please pray along with us!

 

We took the boys to see Santa tonight...I can't wait to see Mary-Lynn added to this picture!!

 

And just because this is such a cute, sweet picture...

And all he asked for was candy! HaHa!!

 

 

In His time for His glory!

 

 

 

i800 Approval, Finally!!

We are moving again after 2 months of waiting on our i800 approval.

Her birth date was the main hold up. Hopefully we have that all settled now.

 

So what's next?

1. Her VISA application (DS260)...which leads to #2

2. Article 5 - when the US Embassy in India basically puts their seal of agreement on the fact that she's going to be our daughter

3. No Objection Certificate (NOC) - once we have Article 5 the orphanage applies for NOC...the governing agency that oversees adoptions in India (CARA) reviews our dossier and her file and agree we are fit to be her parents

4. Court - once we have NOC the orphanage will then register us in court

5. Once we pass court the orphanage will apply for her passport. When we have her passport in hand we will travel to get her!!

 

Please pray all the approvals come quickly, we pass court quickly, and for all the remaining paperwork to go smoothly!!

 

 

Just a few more little things to do, but mostly her room is finished...

 Mommy made the bow holder. I figure she can use it to attach pictures to when she is older.

 Daddy bought this in India for her room!

 

 

This is the bed she sleeps in at the orphanage...

Most likely she will sleep in our room for awhile after she gets home. She is use to sleeping in a room with about 2 adults and 8 babies. I'm so ready to get her home!!

 

 

A sweet friend passed this down to us! Perfect for our household, haha!

 

 One word in her paperwork stood out to us...Bold! So when I saw this on Etsy I had to get it for her and Matthew! They are 8 1/2 months apart. I'm sure they will keep us on our toes (although Matthew does that well all by himself!).

 

 

 I am definitely missing her! Thanksgiving, going to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree, the Hanging of the Greens service where we walk as a family to hang an ornament on the church tree...all these things get me emotional wishing she was with us.

This was to the side of Eli's Christmas list...

I mean talk about bringing on the tears!

Just in case you need translation, it says "Miracle Christmas List"!

 

 

I love music! God has always used music to speak to me and encourage me. He has definitely been doing that lately. I wanted to share some of those songs with you and hope it encourages you in whatever you are going through...

 

"Unstoppable God" - Unstoppable God let your glory go on and on, Impossible things in Your name they shall be done. (sung by Elevation Worship)

 

"God is Able" - God is able, He will never fail, He is almighty God. Greater than all we seek, greater than all we ask, He has done great things. God is with us, God is on our side, He will make a way. Far above all we know, far above all we hope, He has done great things. (sung by Hillsong)

 

"Miracles" - I believe in You, I believe in You. You're the God of miracles. (sung by Jesus Culture)

 

"Not For A Moment" - You were reaching through the storm, walking on the water, even would I could not see, in the middle of it all, when I thought You were a thousand miles away, not for a moment did You forsake me. After all, You are constant. After all, You are only good. After all, You are sovereign. (sung by Meredith Andrews)

 

"The Lion and the Lamb" - Our God is a Lion, the Lion of Judah. He is roaring in power and fighting our battles...who can stop the Lord Almighty. (sung by Big Daddy Weave)

 

 

 

And this has been so me this week..."The devil cannot stop God from answering your prayer, but he can stop you from praying those prayers; Don't let him!"...the devil definitely has me all kinds of distracted this week. I needed to be reminded to not let him.

 

 

Here is a video of Britt's trip to India! Enjoy!

 

 

Please continue to pray we get our baby girl home soon!