Ah, June

A couple leftovers from Memorial Day:


"Oh, Papa, could we just throw one rock into your pond?"

The Ultimate Frisbee players: Brian, Kevin, T.J., Chad, Megan, and Ellen

H's tenth birthday party included the Birkland cousins, Gram and Papa, Grandma Wee, Gammy and Papa, Nana and Papa, Aunt Meg, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Ellen. Aunt Meg sent the kids on a treasure hunt.

The Spore family's Fifth Annual Last Day of School Breakfast on the Deck

Happy Father's Day to the Wrangler of the Bathtub Bandits. Love you, Honey!

H turns ten! I think that officially makes us old.

June is my favorite month of the year. With the end of school, ripe strawberries in Nana's patch, birthdays, Father's Day, ballgames, and swim meets, we have stayed busy...... a good kind of busy. It's the kind of busy that acts like an epidural for the labor pains of international adoption.:)

We would love to hear something from the Ministry in Rwanda this week, giving us official approval to adopt one or two of their country's treasures. At that point, we will know that our paperwork has been sent to an orphanage where they will match a child or children with our family. Please pray for favor for the Spore family in the eyes of the Ministry and for our child/ren in Rwanda ....for their safety and that someone would be loving on them tonight.

Memorial Day Very Much Belated

These pictures are from our Bradfield family get-together over Memorial Day. The Pennsylvania Baileys came, too!


Micah, Ethan, Jack, and Kayley were the sandbox kids.

C, Jared, C, and H were the pool cousins (in extremely cold water!).

Papa had fun pulling his "train".

All the cousins minus Baby Jenna. In the next few months, the Baileys will add one (Natalie Kate) and the Spores will add one or two to this bunch (wish we knew:).

Beautiful Baby Jenna and C

Spore Adoption Fundraiser

During our adoption process we have been so blessed to have the support of our families and our church. Last weekend Chad's sister, a professional photographer from Kansas City, came to Iowa to do a photography fundraiser for us. She charged her regular sitting fee, took photos of eight families from our church and community, and gave us the sitting fees to go toward adoption expenses. Her generosity and the generosity of the families who were photographed overwhelmed us, humbled us, and will probably pay for our child's flight home from Rwanda! Heather hopes to have a sneak peek at some of the photos by June 15, so keep checking http://heathernelsonphotography.wordpress.com/

Yesterday, Chad and I visited an occupational health clinic to get started on our travel vaccinations. We took the two boys along and left the girls with my friend, Suzanne. (Have I mentioned how blessed I am by her friendship?) It was a long appointment, and trying to decide which shots to get and which to decline was difficult. We decided on Tetanus for me (Chad was current), Hep. A for both of us, a polio booster for both of us (have to go back for that one), and Yellow Fever (required to enter Rwanda). My arm is sore today, and we both felt a little junky yesterday, but we're doing well today. Typhoid pills will have to be started soon....and I'm dreading it. A fairly large percentage of people get really sick to their stomachs after taking them.

I'm enjoying having all the kids home for the summer. We are staying busy with softball, baseball, swimming, swim-team, and staying in our jammies until 10:00. And, since it's 9:52 and Hayden and I aren't dressed, I'll sign off.:)