We had some indoor winter fun after being invited to an open ice skating time with some friends!

I stayed behind the glass in the lobby where it was nice and warm, but I could see everyone the whole time.

Addie Mae pushed Eliza around the ice in her stroller – which she loved!

After Eliza was tired of that, she joined me to have snacks.

Everyone else skated to the last possible second!

David and Kayla were there too!

What a fun evening! I love seeing these kiddos get exercise while having so much fun!

We have started a trend for Saturday nights lately. Either skiing or skating!

We have some very tired kiddos today!

We are enjoying winter very much, but are starting to think about spring……

Guess what our little peanut is no longer afraid of?

Not only that, guess what she loves?

We had another snowy day Tuesday, and now we have quite a bit of beautiful snow.

The boys started to head outside to sled, and little miss started screaming “SIDE! SIDE! SIDE!”

So we bundled her up and sent her out too!

I wondered how long it would be before I heard the back door open with someone returning her to me.

It didn’t happen!

She went down the hill many, many times!

After that, she ran all over the farm while the boys built forts!

Oh Eliza Claire, you have come SO far!

We are so proud of all the confidence you have gained!

These guys were ALL outside over THREE hours. Crazy kids!

When Eliza came in and I started asking her “Did you like to sled? Did you like to walk in the snow? Did you like to climb in the forts?” she answered each question with “Uh huh!”

And then she said “I tired, Mom!”

I can’t imagine why, sweet baby! You had snow much fun!!

Thanks, Grant, for helping the kiddos have such a fun day!

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

OUR USCIS CLEARANCE ARRIVED YESTERDAY!!!!

I am very, very sad to say my faith and belief that God was approving our fingerprints and sending us immediate approval was wavering.

It had been 12 days since we were fingerprinted.

I know He wanted me to remain 100% faithful……

I am so thankful that my wavering faith in this had me keep turning to Him.

In prayer.

I kept going back to the Lord to help me have the faith I knew He wanted from me.

Our approval notice was lost in the mail.

Yes.

Lost in the mail.

The approval date on our USCIS clearance is TWO DAYS AFTER WE HAD OUR FINGERPRINTS!!

TWO DAYS, YOU ALL.

But….there was another little glitch in our clearance that arrived yesterday, as the wrong country was listed on it.

Thankfully, we were able to quickly get that fixed already this morning!!!!

Thinking about the prayers that were said on behalf of our fingerprints and this clearance brought me to my knees yesterday.

Thank you all for praying with us. Thank you. Thank you for Tate’s sake.

Our Dossier will be on its way now! Just a few stops and it will be in China!!

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3 & 4

***February 3rd is the same day we received our USCIS clearance in the mail for Eliza’s adoption last year! Her approval date, however, was January 30th, not January 24th.