15 years!!

John and I celebrated 15 years this summer! Can't imagine loving this man anymore than I do already, but I will say as the years go on, it just gets better and better! We were blessed by Grandpa and Mimi to a 3 day get away and we had an amazing time!! Here are some pics from our very relaxing and fun trip!

Endalk's Adoption Day!!

Just one year ago today, we heard the judge say "He is yours" :-)

Happy Adoption Day Endalk!!!!

Summer Fun!

Nationals done!!

Bethany won the silver medal for speed!!
Missed U.S. National Champion title by just .05 seconds!
Even though she missed the finals for sport, she got 'er done in speed!!
Winning a spot on the U.S. Team as well!!




Here are some of Bethany's biggest fans :-)


Coach Kyle

Aunt Debbie

Mimi and Grandpa

The sibs (very patient and supportive)

Daddy and Mama

Team Texas!!

Here are her speed videos:

Speed Qualifier (7.36 seconds)

Speed Semi-Final (6.97 seconds)

Speed Final (6.40 seconds)

Divisionals done! On to Nationals!

Bethany placed 2nd in speed and 4th in sport to head herself on to Nationals!

Sport Qualifier 1:

Sport Qualifier 2:

Sport Finals:

Speed Qualifier:

Speed Final:

Our sweet teenager's birthday!!

We recently celebrated Bethany's 13th birthday!! Happy Birthday big girl! We are so proud of you and the young lady your are becoming!!

Regionals done...it's on to Divisionals!

Whohoo! It's on to Divisionals!! Bethany placed 4th in both speed and sport this past weekend at her Regional Competion. 15 girls competed and the top 8 qualified to move on to divisionals! It came down to the last route for the top 5 girls. They all made the first 3 routes. Just a few holds between them made the difference. I'll try and get videos up soon!

Proud of you baby doll!

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

Route 4:

Chloe's Adoption Day and a new haircut!

We recently celebrated Chloe's 4th Adoption Day!! Notice the 2 cakes in the background. She had a choice between (2) one layer cakes or (1) 2 layer cake. She opted for the 2 cakes so she could get one vanilla and one chocolate (cause she knows her big sister Gabbrielle loves chocolate!) This the heart of Jesus our precious Chloe has!

We love you big girl!
(or my little C-weed as I have lovingly dubbed her) :-)

And Mr. Endalk has gotten a new do!

Before:

After:

Family is everything...

I just read a post from another blog that so shared my heart, I just had to share it too!

http://sandersonadoption.blogspot.com/2011/04/pawlos.html

To summarize...Often the question gets asked, why are you adopting a child from Ethiopia? Wouldn't all that money be better used to help many? It's a good question... but family really is everything.

She talks about witnessing a transformation when a child is loved on by his Daddy....for even just a few days......She also mentions that these children that are living in orphanages are often well cared for....clothed, fed, bathed, changed, held and even loved on, yet they often don't come alive. We witnessed this very same transformation with our own sweet boy. These were some of the pictures we had of Endalk prior to him being a forever part of our family.

We were told he was very serious....that he never smiled....then God put us together and in just one day this is what we witnessed....

A caregive (from the foster center Endalk stayed at) happened to be at the guest house this first evening babysitting one of the other little boys and she told us "In all the time he was with us, I never saw him smile and I never heard him laugh."

Well....anyone who knows Endalk....knows this kiddo smiles and laughs alllllll the time!

"God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6

Thank you God for such a gift! He makes us smile! :-)