Selection Committee Letters Sent!

It's been a very long time since we've updated anyting on this blog, but because not everyone is on Facebook, thought we'd try doing it here. It's been just over a year since we've had our foster daughter, and between 12-15 months, the state has to decide a permanency option for her in the case that parental rights are terminated. Although rights have not been terminated yet, we have chosen to move forward as a permanancy option for her, along with another family member. Today, we sent in letters of recommendation that will be forwarded to the Selection Committee to review before next Friday's Selection Committee's meeting. After the family member shares what they want to, Josh and I will stand before the committee and share our story and pictures as to why we want this amazing little girl to become a forever part of our family. They will then deliberate and come to a decision between us and the family member. It is obviously a big day for all of us, and although we absolutely know that the Lord has already gone before us, any prayers are welcome! We would love more than anything to call her our own daughter, but ultimately the Lord knows and has a plan for her life, and if that just means that she was to be with us for this season, then we have to trust that. If she is to become ours, then he will prepare us for what that looks like as well. Please be praying that as the Committee receives and reads the letters, that they will have wisdom from the Lord to determine the best option for her. Thank you so much for all your prayers thus far in the journey though! I know we wouldn't be where we are without them! "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

Let the Journey Continue...Waiting for #3!

Well, after several years of silence on this blog, but much activity within our home, raising our two beautiful and energetic daughters, we are excited to announce that we are starting the adoption process and search to make the girls big sisters! That's right, baby #3! Although we don't have any prospective birthparents at the moment, we feel like it is time to see what additions God may have in store for our family. The girls have been asking for a baby brother or sister for several months now, and although I, Michelle, am always up for the adventure, Josh, the logical one in the family :) kept us grounded and able to survive that last several years! However, after talking, we are ready to move forward and enlarge our family if it is God's will. Within the next couple weeks our home study should be updated and we will be "paper ready to go"! Yay!

So, please join us in two ways...first, and most importantly, PRAY! Not only that God would lead and direct us, but that the process would go smoothly. We have been so blessed by Julia and Aliyah's birth families, and it can be scary going into it again having such great experiences...but knowing He is before it, we can walk in faith and trust him! Secondly, keep your ears open and let us know and/or pass our info on (by FIRST name only to protect our privacy) if you should hear about a potential birthmom looking for an adoptive family.

Our story has been an amazing one that has given hope to many, and we are excited to see what the next chapter holds for us!

Praise Him in the Storm

Well, I had hoped this post would be a little different, but God had different plans...

A couple weeks ago we found out we were pregnant! After 8 years, God made the puzzle pieces fit and we had conceived! Unfortunately our excitement quickly turned to sadness last night as I miscarried at 7 weeks. :( It was a very hard night, but God is so gracious and faithful. This morning I chose to start it out and let God be my strength and am doing good...His peace is amazing! I am definitely going through the range of emotions, but am feeling God's presence strongly through it all. Josh is doing well too. It sucks and we are sad, but we are trusting that He has a plan and that this will bring him glory. I've asked the questions of why in many forms, but the main one...why after 8 years of barrenness, do I conceive only to miscarry? I don't have an answer for that. But I do know that God does and we will find out when we get to heaven. I also know that our little precious baby is with Him in heaven and never has to feel the hurt and pain of this world. They will only know the presence of GOD in a very real and tangible way! This video will bring tears to your eyes, but it so powerful and speaks truth! Please continue reading after it...



If you are asking the questions of why, and might be struggling with how God does things, please continue to seek Him. He is a GOOD God who has our best interest at heart, and loves us more than we will ever know. We can only see a small fraction of our life, the moment we are in right now, but he has the whole view from heaven and it is perfectly laid out to bring Glory to His name. The whole reason we were put on this earth was to bring Him glory and praise his name, so when moments arise in our life that raise the question of why, choose to Praise Him in the Storm..He is worthy of it!



We are so thankful for our friends and family who have supported us throughout our whole journey. We have 2 amazing little girls that blow us away every day. Their smiles and energy definitely keep us going...God handpicked them for us and we are forever grateful. And someday we will get to meet their little brother or sister, and be together as a family! :)

We love you all...J, M, J, A

We'll be home at 6:55am tomorrow morning! :) yay!!

Still waiting...

This is so frustrating! I still haven't heard nor has our attorney. I JUST WANT TO COME HOME! It's so hard to be patient when all I am waiting on is a phone call of approval! I already bumped my flight to one leaving later tonight, and hope I can catch it. Hawaii time is SO frustrating sometimes. Don't they realize I want to come home and have been here for OVER a week?? :) I'm trying to have a good attitude, but as time ticks by the thought of having to stay another night away from home makes me so sad. PLEASE pray that SOMEHOW God will get these Hawaiians in gear and have them call TODAY for goodness sake! I feel like I am never going to be able to come home... Ugh...waiting isn't fun. Sorry for the downer post... :(

Packing & praying I get to come home tomorrow! Pray I get the phone call in the morning that all is approved so I can have peace of mind!

A ticket home!

Sorry for the delay in posts. Its really hard to do from my phone...or rather not convenient. :) But I am visiting with Lana and her family and they let me use their computer so I could get my itouch working...and while that is downloading, I figured I'd post a quick update.

All is going great. :) Aliyah is beautiful and a great baby so far! Our attorney went to court this morning and we have legal custody of Aliyah! He received all paperwork needed to submit to Hawaii's interstate adoption dept and also made the fed ex deadline to get it out today, so Hawaii will receive it tomorrow and the hope is either make same day approval or Thursday morning! My cousin checked flights to Seattle for the next couple of days and after Thursday there were ZERO seats! So I booked a Thursday afternoon flight, praying and hoping we'll have approval! Our attorney seemed to think I was fine, which made me have a little peace of mind. :)

But being here has been as good as it could've been. We've been able to spend time with Lana and her family every day and its been so good for all of us. She is truly an amazing woman and I have treasured every moment spent with her. Got to spend some time on the beach today as well...that was fabulous! I am so glad we now have a reason to come back here...why have I waited so long to come to paradise??? It's definitely a different life here, but I can imagine vacationing would be good here. Island time is definitely a true thing!

Well my itouch is ready to go! Yay!! See you all soon!!! Thank you so much for all your prayers for our family while we were apart...it has been weird being away from Josh and Julia so long, but on the other hand I have loved the "somewhat" uninterrupted bonding with Aliyah.

See you on the mainland soon!!