Announcing our SONS 2/2007

OH BOYS!!!
Dear Friends:
We missed the Christmas season letter, then New Years, so Happy Valentine’s Day! We waited partly because we knew we would have some fabulous news to share.
2006 was filled with fun family times. Lily continues hold our hearts with her contagious laugh and love for life and people. She loves the outdoors, anything sports related – including watching endless hours of football while eating popcorn with her Daddy, time with Gran and Papa who are also entertained by her every move, working puzzles with Aunt Bebe, and visiting cousins which happens frequently with Lisa only an hour away. J We had some special trips in 2006 with both my sisters adding sons to their families and my Dads surprise 60th. Noel is busy growing his business. It is awesome to watch him live out his passion for people and improving their health and function through exercise and Physical Therapy. He has long hours with boot camps in the morning starting at 6am, but I never hear him complain…he truly is doing what God created him to do. I continue to work my one day a week in the emergency room and recently took a nurse manager position for our local Crisis Pregnancy Center. We are beginning to offer Ultrasounds to pregnant women and prayerfully will have more women choose life. It is exciting to learn something new and to be a part of helping women through the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy.
Is the suspense getting to you yet? We’re expecting! Yes those 2 absolutely adorable boys on the front will be in our arms - hopefully - by the end of 2007. The latter part of 2006 can be summed up in one word …GRACE…God’s free and unmerited favor. We had been waiting to start the adoption process again. In August, we received a call from our good friends who also have adoptive children. They called to tell us that a good college friend who was adopted as a child would like to “give back” and help a family adopt a child financially. After many tears and lots of “I can’t believe its,” we were generously afforded the opportunity to bring another child into our home by this gracious family. God is GOOD! Wishing I could sit and tell this story to each of you in person – it really is a miracle. OH – I should also mention we put a sign in our yard on Labor Day. We had decided we really wanted to live in the small town where Noel’s business is located to raise our family. We sold our house that day and moved to the quaint little town of Siloam Springs in November, just 3 minutes from 3DPT and walking distance to schools. We love it here. I tell Noel it feels like life is just a little simpler, which at this time I really enjoy.
Just before Christmas, God had one more surprise for us. Our adoption agency called and asked us to consider bringing 2 children home. They mentioned there were a lot of sibling groups. We got attached to the idea of having 2 quickly which still makes me laugh. Our boys are not biologically related, but brothers to each other and Lily just the same. So that brings me to the present – which truly is a gift – expecting 2 sons from Haiti. Who would have thought? Well, One knows all, and while I don’t understand His ways much of the time, I am so thankful that He has chosen this time to show us how much He loves us – His children. And in turn we can’t wait to show our sons how much we love them. Please pray for these boys as you feel led…for them to have the nourishment, attention and care they need and for God to miraculously speed up the process in Haiti to bring them home soon. The conditions in Haiti are less than what we desire for our children, but we do trust that they will be protected. I always love to talk about adoption and my current passion for Haiti, if you know of anyone interested in adding to their family.
Thanks for sharing your family news over the holidays and for sharing our joy today. May God fill your hearts with love and your home with laughter in 2007!
All our Love,
Lori, Noel and Lily