countin hours now

trying to find words to express the welling relief that has grown in my chest all day would be futile...the visas are actually in craig's hand.  the final piece of paper has been passed on, there are no more checks, no last steps, nothing more to accomplish...except those 19 hours and 55 mins on the plane, plus a 4 hour layover.  small feat after the trials of the last four years (i know, easy for me to say...i'm already on american soil and not traveling alone with two little ones)

painting ugandan-style

ok, maybe it's just maela-style

after 3 1/2 weeks apart (we have only been separated for 3 days since being married) we can hardly wait to be in each other's arms.  our marriage has never faced the challenges this time has delivered.  i know couples do so much more on a regular basis, and my degree of respect for them has grown, however our relationship thirsts for the intimate, soul searching, interaction that only those face to face moments can bring.  and we are longing to find space for those moments amidst the new "normal" our family is about to create.

silly faces

silas and naomi have had a long 3 weeks too, moving several times, traveling around the city strapped to daddy's back, clinging to his chest, or wrapped around his shoulders like the little monkeys they are.  they have grown closer, the three of them, and begun to understand each other in new ways.  bonds are morphing from the liquid stage to more of a jello-like consistency and they are learning that despite all the change, daddy is a constant.

noah found this little nest with two bright blue eggs

we don't know how the re-introduction of mommy, noah and maela will affect that new dynamic.  it could get ugly, it might be smooth, it WILL be hard, but we trust the Lord will grow our family, like a tree, with crooked and strong limbs, tested and challenged by the wind, rain, and storms yet to come.

two boys very disappointed to be out of the pool

if we can burden our faithful prayer warriors once again to lift up our children's hearts before the throne of the Father of adoption...there are wounds, fears, and discontentments growing despite their tender years, and if we are being truly honest our not-so young hearts are struggling in the same exact ways.  adoption is hard, and 4 years didn't prepare us for the ugly we would see welling up from the depths of our own souls.  we desire to honor the Father and direct our children towards His face.  our family is on the road of sanctification and we know He will be faithful...despite our unfaithfulness and failings.

big brother showing his siblings how to properly suck on a ring pop

just one more day apart (16 hours until they get on that plane)...friday afternoon our eyes will meet over the mounds of luggage and tufts of brown curly hair (just wait until you see naomi's baby-fro)...and finally we will be a united family, no longer struggling apart and disjointed, but together at last!

some early moments

reassuring silas around the dogs...many ugandan children are told that dogs will eat them if they are bad so most fear them with their lives, something we are working on