Introducing the NEWEST member of our family!

Yep! Here she is! Linnie the Hamster!!
Drew had to work hard to earn her and then began the long search for the "perfect hamster" (aka one that could withstand the torturous handling of a 5 year old!)!
We are really enjoying this newest addition and it's been a fun little adventure. Last night I went into the kitchen and found her just sitting on Drew's little table. Before going to bed, Drew had left the top door of her cage open! She happily took the opportunity to explore! We had some fun letting her climb around on the train tracks last night!

AN ANSWER TO PRAYER!

Hard to believe that I JUST completed that post with prayer requests and then moved on to check my bank statement. I was really only trying to find out if Dan deposited his paycheck yet... Last week I checked the account hourly to see if they had put the charge through for our DNA tests. I was so desperate for them to authorize those before the embassy closing on 3/9. It didn't happen. I had to work through the wait emotionally and RELINQUISH again. Still hoping for a miracle and just yesterday reminding myself that God can do ANYTHING! But in truth, I gave up expecting.
GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!! The charge for DNA is pre-authorized on my card!!!! That HAS to mean that we actually DID get the approval we needed before embassy closed and no one knew about it!!!
PRAISE YOU, LORD!!! How sweet is the loving kindness of our Lord... whether we were waiting or not!!

Prayer Requests for March

For March we need prayer for the following items:
1) Carrie's safety and well-being in all areas of her life!
2) Our sanity as the US Embassy is closed 3/9 to 3/26 for any appointments--leaving us unable to get the authorization for Carrie and her birthmother to undergo necessary DNA tests until after they reopen.
3) For all of Carrie's Guatemalan documents to be ready for embassy when they re-open!
4) Blessings on the foster family who is taking care of our little girl while she is not with us!! We LOVE these people!!!
5) Patience for Drew. He is handling all of this as well as an anxious 5 year old could...but it is hard at times.

It's Just the Beginning!

Welcome to the blog we're creating for our daughter, Carrine Renee, better known as "Carrie"! It's partly to keep you informed, give you our specific prayer requests and show off her photos... but probably more to serve the purpose of keeping our hope alive that she will get here (despite what some may say are increasing odds)! We love her and want to honor her in some tangible way since we cannot be there to physically care for her in all the normal ways one would care for their infant. Also, this will probably be less expensive than the retail therapy we're otherwise reverting to!

The name Carrine is a combination of our mother's first names (half Carol and half Catherine) and Carrie was Laura's great-Grandmother's name. That Carrie lived over 100 years and Laura enjoyed the times she got to spend with her! We have a baby blanket for our daughter that great-Grandma crocheted and gave to Laura many years ago in anticipation of a daughter that might come along. We can't wait until our daughter is home snuggling under that blanket!
The name Renee means re-born or born again. While it holds NO family significance whatsoever, it has significance in the family of God and represents our desires to see her walk with Christ throughout her life!

So, we welcome you to join us on this rollercoaster ride they call adoption. We welcome you to do it with us internationally... which makes it more of an upside-down coaster with a breath-stealing g-force!!! And we're only at the beginning, so it may be a longer ride than any of us would choose! There are scenic peaks which feel glorious, and there are dips which feel like they reach the earth's bottom (& maybe lower)... but at the end of this ride awaits a beautiful little girl who needs us as badly as we need her!