Merry Christmas! ... Miss you Silas

I love Christmas!

And this year has been especially wonderful with Kiera ... she gets it now
She has fun at the parties, playing with cousins and opening gifts. And she loves looking that the Christmas lights and singing carols, especially Away in a Manger.

It is fun to experience Christmas through the eyes of my precious girl.

Stitched Memories Christmas

Shop our unique collection of photo Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

And then I think of Silas ... we are so close to having you home. But I wish we didn't have to miss you this Christmas.

We have gifts for you under our tree.
 I want to see your face as you open your first gifts (and as your sister tells shows you how to use them)

I want to kiss you good morning on Christmas morning.
I want to see you follow your sister around to the stockings and presents under the tree.

I want to tell you about Jesus birth, this amazing gift from our God.

I want you HOME!

... soon my sweet son ... we will be together soon. And then you will never want for kiss, hugs and love.

Until then, you are in the hands of our wonderful Father God! Feel his love and peace this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Joel, Mandy, Kiera and Silas

Final Steps

Happy greetings family and friends,

We have some great news...
Silas' file was submitted to the US embassy in Ethiopia for review.

This is the final step for the approval of our adoption. After the embassy reviews and accepts our file, we get to bring Silas home.

This could possibly take 2 weeks, or if they find something more documentation they want, it can take another month or two.

We know Silas is in God's arms and he will be in ours in God's perfect timing. Please keep us and Silas in your prayers as we wait and prepare to be all together as a family.

We are also preparing for the last financial contribution (i.e. flights, lodging, fees) toward our adoption. We are asking for you to prayerfully consider sponsoring a puzzle piece in our Puzzle Fundraiser.

Thank you and have a Merry Christmas!
God Bless!

Joel and Mandy

"Nothing you can do to love me less"

So, we just finished our bedtime routine, brushing teeth, potty, hair, story and prayers. As is was leaving her room, Kiera stopped my heart by saying ...

"Nothing you can do to love me less mommy"

This is her version of a phrase we use often, 
"There is nothing you can do that would make me love you less."

But coming from my 2 year old, it is the sweetest.

{Well,that and when she says ...
"Your my best friend ever mommy" with all the drama and voice inflection she can put in it}

I am so happy to hear Kiera verbalizing the most important things that we have been trying to teach her...
... that she is our daughter and nothing can change that
... that even if she does something wrong we will forgive her and continue to love her more than we can say
... that our family is held together by love and forgiveness, just as God loves us and forgives us through Jesus.

I love my sweet girl!
We are so blessed!