And just like that... she is 8!

Anna and Hope June 2011... Awwww... where has the time gone?  

And just like that, our Hopie girl turned 8! 

            

HOPE: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence... to expect... 

When we were waiting for a child after Samuel died... We were grieving with Hope... waiting with Hope... and Waiting for Hope!   We were expecting that if it was in His will, the Lord would add to our family through adoption and He answered with our Hopie girl!

She is full of spunk... and a whole lot more... Raising her has taught us a lot and taught us that there is so much about parenting that we don't know or understand...

She were able to spend her birthday with out of town relatives so that was especially fun for her!

We are so thankful that God chose us to be her family!  Adoption is such a gift and has changed our family in so many ways.  We are in awe of all that He has done for us and through Hope's life so far.

 Our prayer for her is that she will seek HIM always, that she will follow him closely and know that she is deeply loved by him and us... That she will always know her life has great value,she was created with a great life purpose, and that she will trust him with her future!

How did we get here so fast??

A few weeks back we took Caleb to visit the University that he hopes to attend... Concordia University in Wisconsin... Never in a million years would I have thought we would have any kids that would attend the college we met at... but here we are...

More importantly... HOW ON EARTH DO WE HAVE A CHILD THAT COULD LEAVE FOR COLLEGE IN THE FALL!   

I am totally heartbroken (that our time with him at home is coming to a close:( and...

TOTALLY thrilled and excited for him all at the same time.  We are super proud of him!

We are still waiting on financial aid numbers, but do 100% feel that this could be a great fit for Caleb.  He is currently working really hard taking 3 dual credit classes online through CUW right now so he is getting a good taste of what it will be like:) 

He met with the soccer coaches and hopes to be able to play for them just like his dad:) 

All in all, we would be thrilled with him being in a safe Christian environment and his very best friend just got accepted and we couldn't be more thrilled with the 2 of them taking this journey together! 

Most likely he has another really good friend, a couple seminary friends and His partner in crime, his cousin Callie, who will be there also!  I know they are going to have too much fun!  I am so excited  and happy for him... The time has passed entirely too quickly for this mama!

My sweet friend Katie lives nearby so were able to meet for a super brief visit just one day before her new little one arrived.  Katie and I met because her daughter Emily is probably hanging out with Samuel in Heaven. 

 Wow, what a full circle moment for us... I tearfully prayed for the safe arrival of her little man in the parking lot.  There is just something about these HUGE life events that are FULLY understood by one another because we both have lived through the loss of baby, that just can't be denied.  We rejoice that he is here safe and sound... and is downright precious!  We are thanking God for Jonah's safe arrival... something that is never taken for granted by us! 

Life is moving at mach speed... So I hope to be a little better about updating... mostly for my own families sake as in the years ahead they may like to look back upon their busy life growing up:)