Friday, December 31, 2010

Bring.It.on!

Looking forward to 2011!
2010 will go down as a "learning and growing" year.
There have been moments of great joy and moments I would like to erase.

I am sensing that this coming year will hold great change for our family.
I am pretty excited about it.
At moments scared to death of it.

[excited]

2011....
Bring.It.On!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Love!

When I am loving something I start taking [lots] of pictures.
As you can see there has been a lot of lovin' going on.
Enjoy.
I am.

[Pics. before the candle light service]

 [tradition here = clam chowder by candle light]


[Daddy telling the story of our Savior coming to Earth - as he does, each child places their part of the Nativity scene]
 

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!

God is so good.

What else can I say?

He sent His Son to earth.

For me.

For you.

Words escape me.

What a reason to celebrate.

Merry Christmas.
 
May God's amazing gift of His Son overwhelm you this season.

Monday, December 13, 2010

She is beautiful......

On the inside AND out!

Today #1 cut her hair for Locks of Love.





                     [before]                                                                                [after]

We have been talking about unique ways to give, to celebrate the season of the most treasured gift we have been given, Jesus Christ.  One night we were talking about giving out of what we had.......and she has hair.....lots of it!  Today, after never, ever cutting her hair, she cut 10 inches! 

What a doll!  Long, short or no hair ...... this girl is beautiful!



Sunday, December 12, 2010

Are we going to adopt again?

With the Uganda trip only 50 days away [yes 50!  Ekkkkk.....] I have had people ask if I am going to "bring another one home".  Let me start by clarifying for those that may not know....it is NOT that easy - wouldn't it be great if it was?  :)  But I get what they are asking.  And this is my not-so-short answer:

As the Lord leads!

Let me explain.

After # 3 we were pretty comfortable and thinking we were done. 

Surprise!

#4 was on the way. 

After # 4 we made it so that we were done - biologically at least.

Surprise!

God birthed adoption in a BIG way!

# 5 was on the way!

While in Uganda we asked to adopt a sweet girl.

Door closed.

As you can see we have learned through this journey to remember that His ways are higher, His plans are better [waaayyyy better] and our job is to abide in Him and He will lead and .........

Be ready!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Final

I can not explain the joy I had on Dec 1st.  What a way to kick off the season!





Isaiah's adoption was finalized!




I expected it to be routine but it was much more than that for me, on that day.

My computer was not working, so my "to do" list was mostly cut [a gift from God for sure]. 


I spent the morning giving long baths filled with bubbles, to the top, for "the Little's," followed by long massages.

We had Christmas music playing all day and it was just a sweet day.

Really hard to explain but I will try.

This adoption was a whirlwind for me.  From the time God birthed adoption in our hearts to Isaiah coming home, was right at a year.  

One very awesome CrAzY year, filled with major emotion.

Then he was home.

Now what? :)

Learning to parent in a whole new way. 

Learning 

Growing

Crying

Restoring

and a ton of prayer!

How fitting the Lord would choose to ordain Isaiah's finalization after a year of healing. 

Bringing all of us to a place of being a "whole" family.

I would love to introduce........

Isaiah Ryan Muwanguzi Vaughan



~

Here is how it went down:

We drove out of our driveway, greeted but this rainbow, directly in front of us.  Surely the Lord was reminding me of His faithfulness!


Then we waited.....


Friends, that are more like family showed up.......


Then court was in session!



Then after a bunch of questions that we could confidently answer "YES" to......

It was finished!



Time to celebrate with people we hold so very dear that words can not explain how I feel about them.  These people have been our cheerleaders, mentors, counselors, family and so so much more.  I love them so much!  Thank you Ron, Renee and Teresa for holding this family up in prayer and love through this journey.



Blessing to you all this Christmas Season. 

God is good!
 
God is faithful!
 
God is worthy of all our praise, all our lives!