We now have proof....

.......that Hannah is a citizen of the United States of America!!!  Hannah's Certificate of Citizenship came in the mail today!!! :)

YAY!

checking to make sure everything is correct ;)

Even though Hannah officially became a citizen when we went through the airport in Atlanta on the day we arrived home, it now seems OFFICIAL.

Thank You to everyone for the continued prayers and support!!

God is Good!

My First Mother's Day.....

.......as a Mama of three, and Hannah's first Mother's Day with a Mama!!!!  :) :) :)  And what a FABULOUS day it was.

Today was also Hannah's Dedication at Church. 

(what a great Mother's Day gift :)

We were surrounded by Family

and friends

It doesn't get any better that this!!!!

Thank you Lord again and again.

 “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

Peace

Before we went to China, and while we were there, my prayer was for Peace.  I prayed for peace for my heart....I knew it would be hard to leave MK and Deacon for two weeks, and I knew we would face challenges with a two year old who's world was about to be turned upside down (and I knew I needed it for the plane rides :).  I prayed for peace for Mary Kathryn and Deacon.....that their little hearts and minds may be at peace with what all was going on.  I prayed for peace for Hannah......that her heart would be at peace and ready to receive her Mama, Daddy, and new family.

Now that we are at home, I pray for peace for Hannah's birth-mother.

When sharing about our adoption and orphans in China in general, we often get the comment, "how could anybody just abandon their baby" or "I just don't see how any mother could do that"  Both of these are thoughts that I have had myself, and honestly I still don't understand, but I PRAISE THE LORD everyday that Hannah's birth-mother had the courage to let her go.  I believe in my heart that Hannah's birth-mother somehow felt the calling of the Lord that the baby she had given birth to was not her own.....the calling to give her up, and because she acted upon that calling I am able to kiss MY daughter goodnight each night and wake up to her smiling face each morning. :)  Because she listened to a God that more than likely she does not even know, Hannah is where God intended her to be when she was created.  That is the birth-mother we will tell Hannah about one day.

Tonight I pray for peace for Hannah's birth-mother.  I pray that she has peace in her heart and knows that the daughter she, unselfishly in my eyes, gave up is now HOME!

And now..........

here are a few pics of life as we have come to know it :)

Everyday when MK does her homework, Hannah whines and cries and hangs out around the bar until I put her in her booster seat so she can do her "homework"/coloring sheet too!   

I made white chocolate covered strawberries and little sista LOVED them. :)

more ballgames

and playing with friends

Isaiah 26:12

"LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have 

accomplished you have done for us."

Time Flies.....

....when you're having fun!  Today marks one month that our little Hannah Grace has been in our arms.  Wow!  What a great month it has been.
I love........
* the way she grins at me when she catches me just staring at her,
* her "squeezey" hugs,
* the way she bows her head and puts her hands together when we say the blessing and prayers at night,
* that she will cuddle with me more and more,
* the fact that she is showing us her personality more and more :)
* and most of all, that I can call her mine!

 To celebrate today, we had a little photo shoot this morning ;)

  

Proverbs 24:12 (New Living Translation) " Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done."

I continue to praise the Lord that He opened my eyes to adoption and put that upon my heart.  He knew what I knew, and he didn't give up on me.  We have been blessed beyond measure!

 

We had our one month "check-up" with our social worker from the adoption agency yesterday, and all went well.

And now for a few more random shots of our life. :)

Ready for Church :)

Hannah's 2nd Birthday "Party"

(and by party I mean cake after Sunday lunch :)

I  have to brag on one of my big babies....... Monday while Hannah was napping, Deacon came to me and said he was "ready to ride his bike without training wheels,"  and boy was he ever.  After a few attempts, he was off!

(yes, he is on a pink bike.....Mama couldn't get the training wheels off of his "boy bike" :)

I am one proud and Blessed Mama.