Home Study Update

So at this point in the process we have to do a home study update.  Not only has it been about a year since we finished our home study, but we have also added another kid to our clan (Mary Clair!!).

Here she is, the newest addition,  in all her glory!

In the next couple weeks we will meet up with our case worker.  She will come to our home and kind of do a re-check on how things are going and meet our sweet baby girl.

Honestly, it has been a little hard for me to get back in the groove of the adoption process and mindset.  Lately it's been survival mode and learning how to parent two kids.  (Prayers would be appreciated on that note...)  Now that we are two months out from Mary Clair's birth, it's time to hunker down and get the ball rolling again!  As far as receiving referrals, we are still on a long waiting list and we are also in our 6 month "time out" period after having a baby (but we still move up on the list, thank the Lord!).  We need to get this home study updated so we can also get back to applying for grants.  Hopefully we won't be waiting around too long for an update!  (More future posts to come on grant stuff...)

Signing off for now......

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, 

continue to live your lives in him,  

rooted and built up in him, 

strengthened in the faith as you were taught, 

and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

Progress

Well, we are moving ahead on the waiting list!  Last month we were 118th and this month we have moved up to 109th!  Now, we know that next month we could only move up one spot, ten spots or none at all.  But let's just rejoice together in this little bit of progress, right?!

Can't you sense the excitement!?  (They have no idea what's going on...)

Our Newest Addition

Well, our second born has arrived!

May 27 at 10:36 am, Mary Clair Parham was born.  She was 8 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long!
She has already stolen her daddy's heart.  Her brother's favorite thing to do is "pet her" and kiss her.  I am enjoying another girl around the house and can't give her enough kisses on that cute face!

Yesterday marks four weeks already.  Can't believe how time is flying!  We love her and are so blessed to have her in our family.

Our first moments as a family of four.

Asher loving the fact that he was holding his sister.

Sleeping Beauty.

Mary Clair was not so excited about getting her SS number/card.

Moments when you just have to laugh when everyone else is crying.

Happy Father's Day!

Is This Really Happening?

"Is this really happening?"
This is the question I keep asking myself.  (And not far behind that, "Are we crazy?!" ha ha)

Well, that question popped in my head again today as I read an email from our adoption specialist with Lifeline.  She informed us that our dossier is on it's way to Ethiopia!!
I read and re-read the short email...then read and re-read the Fed-Ex tracking information.  Hopefully by next Friday it should be on the ground in Ethiopia...the country that our CHILD currently abides in. (I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this if you couldn't tell.)  wow.

And speaking of children, we are just 21 days until my due date for Parham Baby (yes, we don't know if it's a girl or boy...exciting times!).  I am eagerly anticipating his/her arrival.  And while the baby incubates, Asher gets cuter (and more frustrating...welcome to 2 years old....) and Jake works hard at the farm (it's strawberry season) and I grow more and more uncomfortable (prayers would be much appreciated).

So many surreal happenings in our life right now.  Pray for us to have strength and take things one step at a time in the Lord's mighty strength.  (I need to be reminded of his power and the power in me!)

More updates soon.
Thanks for all your support and prayers!!

"Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor,

serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer."

Romans 12"11-12

What a Blessing! (Cornhole Tournament)

A couple days ago was the long awaited Cornhole Tournament.  After weeks of preparation, we had the most beautiful spring day with friends and family.  Not only was it fun, but we also raised a great amount of support from all those who came out (and some who couldn't even make it!)....but more on that in a minute....

The teams of two for cornhole came out with uniforms and great names.  Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions, I did not get any pictures.  But I would like to share the team names with you:

We So Corny

Whither Thou Goest

Team Elite

The Hole Burners

The Drainers

Sarah Redemption

The Neighbors

AbJo

The Titans

Jaguars

The Blackbirds

Savory Slices

Fighting Camels

B.L.T. (Bethany and LaDelle Tossers)

L.A. Baggers

Here for Laughs

The Irish Imps

As you can see, the fun started even before the games began with these hilarious names!

The brackets were made (after some help from the internet on how to set up an odd number of teams and brackets...) and the games began!  Some games were close and others a blow out.  None the less, everyone was enjoying a good time.

While people enjoyed some delicious snacks and drinks (thanks to friends and family for help on that one!) and watched some intense games of cornhole, they were also checking out the raffle baskets.  The gift baskets were as follows:

Chick-fil-A (gift cards, coupons, stuffed cows, balls, etc.)

2Story gift card, coffee treats, and hand thrown mug by my sister

Gardening box: lavender, rosemary, trowel, shovel, flower seed assortment

Fresh roasted Ethiopian coffee from 2Story, shortbread cookies, and another mug made by my sister

Movie basket: lots of candy and popcorn with a RedBox gift card

Washington Farms bucket filled with 3 types of jam and tickets to the Strawberry Festival

So after a couple hours, we were finally at the last game of the afternoon...it was a pretty even match and could have gone either way (I was on the edge of my folding chair).  The crowd was getting into the game by doing the wave, tomahawk chop (yeah, nothing to do with cornhole), and pretty much any other type of ball game cheers you can think of.  My dad gave corny commentary (no pun intended).

Finally, we had a winner.....

1st Place--Savory Slices

2nd Place--Whither Thou Goest

3rd Places--Team Elite and L.A. Baggers

Following the awarding of our winner(s), we pulled tickets for the gift baskets.  I think there might have been more tears over who won (or didn't win) the gifts than who won the tournament!  Then to conclude the night, we had some more hang out time with pizza.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.  We were totally blown away by all the people that came out.  I personally was soaking in the most beautiful day of the year so far (Thank you Lord!  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.).  And as always, it's so nice to be surrounded by people you love.

So, now the moment you've all been really waiting for....how much did we raise?....drumroll please.......

$1394.79!!!!!

Wow!!  Praise the Lord!  Thank you all for being so generous!  I am humbled at what wonderful friends and family we have been blessed with.  It's gonna take a village to do this adoption thing, and I'm glad that you all are part of that village.

Stay tuned.  Apparently everyone had such a fun time, they want to do it again!  So look for another potential tournament in the future....  :)

"Give thanks to the LORD,

call on his name;

make know among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name; 

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his strength;

seek his face always."

Psalm 105:1-4

Details for the Cornhole Tournament

We are looking forward to this Saturday.  Lord willing the weatherman is right and we will have just a perfect spring afternoon to play!
All the details and loose ends are coming together and I think it's going to be a good time had by all.

Here are the details......

Where: Our house (I can email you our address if you don't know where it is)
When:  March 16th (this Saturday)
Time:  3pm

If you want to play:
~$20 suggested entry donation per team (there are 2 players per team)
~Winning team will receive a restaurant gift card (if you are playing with a friend, don't worry, we will have two separate gift cards for each of you :) )
~Runner up will receive a special prize (don't worry, it will be a good treat)

If you DON'T want to play:
~Please, still come and cheer and enjoy the afternoon with us.
~We will have a few gift baskets for raffle (still undecided on what exactly they will be, but it will be worth coming to check out!)

Please invite friends to come and play and support our adoption! Looking forward to it!

This is a family friendly event (AKA: if you need to put your kid down for a nap, there are plenty of places to do so :) )

Hope you can make it!

"I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil."

Psalm 119:162

Cornhole Tournament!!

Well it's finally been decided....March 16th is the cornhole tournament!  The fun will begin around 3pm at our house.  We will have the cornhole tournament going on as well as some other fun activities to raise support for our adoption.  I'm excited to see how God provides and looking forward to spreading the word about our adoption (and adoption in general).
If you would like to participate in any way, you can contact me on facebook or post something to this blog (and I guess you can call me if you have my phone number :) )

(Check out my facebook page for more details on the tournament.)

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold 

from those whose walk is blameless.

O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."

Psalm 84:11-12