Spring Smiles

Daddy's Girls

Easter

M loves all things princess and dresses so in her easter basket we gave her a princess /ballerina PJ.

The girls decided they wanted to pretend to be flowers for their Easter pose.  

We celebrated Easter this year with my parents, my grandma and my uncle over at our house. 

Some quiet time after the festivities of the day.

Even though U was not with us on Easter this year, we bought him an easter basket for next year.  One day he can look back at this picture and know that even though he wasn't with us we were thinking and praying for him and wishing like crazy that he was here with us.  

Happy Easter!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him hall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Our Victory

It's a boy!!

Aaaaahhhh!!!!  We have a son!!!  

R and I are elated to announce that we have an adorable 10 month old baby boy waiting for us in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  We know very little about him but one thing is for sure he has a big family who loves him like crazy cakes and a mama over here that misses him more than one heart can seem to handle. He has big, rich eyes and chubby little cheeks just like a little guy his age should.

U, or as I affectionately refer to him as, Mr. U, is further away than we had originally intended but in a way I think my heart has known since November that he is where he is. We were anticipating a child from the far west part of Congo and instead U resides on the eastern border of Congo. Based on the new laws in the DRC (which are actually really good!) we will not go and meet our little man for roughly 8-12 months.

U is surrounded by a strong, resilient group of people who will care for him the best that they can.  He has a church family in Congo who is looking out for him.  He will have food and shelter and hugs each day.  He lives among green lush mountains and valleys.  I know that and am so incredibly thankful for that but...still...

Our son is across the world from us.  He is not home cuddled up with his daddy and mommy and crazy big sisters.  He doesn't know about his grandma, grandpa, nana, papa, aunts, uncles and cousins that can't wait to play with him.  Instead he is in the second worst place in the world to live. He is three hours away from a vicious war and in the heart of a community overflowing with starvation and illness....but...still...

I don't worry about U.  I have a peace only God could give. I miss that little guy in a way that I don't quiet know how to process. I know God is with Him and so I rest in that truth.

We celebrated Easter yesterday.  In the songs that were sung, in the scripture that we read, in the words that were spoken, in the silence of the day I was reminded that God loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us.  If  Jesus can come back from death. If He can forgive our sins so that we can be with Him in Heaven. He can protect U and bring us safely home together as a family.

In the area of Congo that U lives names are given based on meaning not on whether someone likes the name or not. U means Victory. My sister, H, gave R and I these verses to cling to as we wait for the day that we can hold our baby boy in our arms:

He shall say: "Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be faint hearted or afraid;do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you VICTORY." Deuteronomy 20:3-5

God is going with us on this journey to bring us our victory, Mr. U.