First Day of School

So much has happened in our family since my last post! I've missed several birthdays, our 15th wedding anniversary, Chad's kidney stone drama, a major storm in our little town that caused lots of damage, all the work we've done on finishing our basement.....the list goes on and on!

I have been hesitant to share some adoption news because of its sensitive and unpredictable nature. What I can share right now is that, Lord willing, we will be adding a three year old boy and one year old girl to our family in January. We are so excited to meet them and learn how to love them. If you'd like to pray for us in this process, please pray for favor for our family with the judge to whom we will be assigned. You can also pray for our little guy as he is really scared of the dark and of being alone at night. We're so excited that he will have two brothers in his room with him at night when we get him home. (And, if that's not enough, we're getting pretty used to having a makeshift bed on the floor next to our bed for whichever kiddo is having nighttime issues.)

Ok, on to the title of this post. We sent four little ambassadors off to school today: a seventh grader, a fifth grader, and second grader, and a kindergartener. We really didn't anticipate sending our five year old this year, but class sizes were really small and he is ready. So, Cooper and I will navigate the homefront battles on our own for a few months. He seemed pretty lost without his playmate today, but I was able to spend some special alone time with him.

Happy Birthday, Hallie!

As Chad and I were talking through our day this morning, we couldn't help but remember what we were feeling twelve years ago on this day. It was a Wednesday, and I was very pregnant with our first baby (due the day before, in fact). I had resigned myself to being pregnant for at least another week. Chad had just returned home from his third day of working for John Deere in the Quad Cities. I had the table set, potatoes in the oven, and hamburgers on the grill. As I was flipping the burgers, I felt the now familiar, then terrifying, drip of amniotic fluid down my legs. That was the beginning of the excitement, and it hasn't stopped since.

Hallie was born the next morning, just before lunch. She has been a joy since that day. Compassionate, verbal, and artsy are a few words I would use to describe her.

Happy 12th birthday (tomorrow), Hallie! We love you!

Times, They Are A Changin'

This post has been a few months in the making. We wanted to share but just wanted to be sure. Sure of what God is calling our family to next.

It seems we've seen the ultrasound, heard the heartbeats, and we're ready to share a small piece of what God's been up to. The Spore Seven is on its way to becoming.....The Spore Nine.

We can't share much right now except that we have accepted the referral of two little treasures in East Africa. Our little guy is one month older than Cooper (think 2 and 1/2 year old twins!) and our little girl just turned one.

We are not deluding ourselves. This is a life changer. Our ministry opportunities will largely be to our seven (yes, you read that right...seven) children. There will be days when I will need to be reminded of what God has shown us. He has shown us the relationship between parent and child has the most profound influence in a person's life. How blessed are we that we get to invest in the lives of seven people in this way?! To God be the glory for all He has done and will continue to do in our family!

One last thing. Could you pray for a court date still this summer so we can bring home these two precious ones before January?

Cooper's Citizenship Ceremony

Sunday was a really special day for our family. We attended a citizenship ceremony for 92 Iowa children. They came from all corners of Iowa, and before that they came from all corners of the world. All the rights and responsibilites of a United States citizen were bestowed on these kids, many of whom will never remember this day. Governor Brandstad and former Governor Ray shook each child's hand. Cooper even gave Gov. Brandstad a high five!

We're thankful to have finally received Cooper's certificate of citizenship. We now have to apply for a passport and social security number, and then I think we will finally be done!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was such a fun time shared with both sets of grandparents and siblings! It always goes much too quickly. I couldn't let the season totally slip by without including some of my favorite pictures. The first two are tradition at our house. The kids pose at the top of the stairs before coming downstairs to look for the baby Jesus figure. The second picture shows the kids after they've found him. It's been a fun way to remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. After he is found, we place him in the manger scene and read Luke 2.

Picture three is the extended Spore family. We had a wonderful time in their cozy home in the woods while the snow fell outside like a snowglobe.

Picture four is almost all the cousins on the Bradfield side eating at the kid table. Kayley is sporting a whipped cream mustache.

Happy Birthday, C Girl! (a month ago)

Am I the only mom to make promises I know I can't keep? Seven years and one month ago, I held our beautiful new baby girl in my arms. I promised her and myself she would always have special birthdays, even though it was less than two weeks before Christmas.....that her birthday would be no less of an event than her siblings' summer birthdays. Most years I have failed miserably to keep this promise. Despite that, this sweet girl always shows sincere gratitude for whatever store bought cake and fast food lunch we can muster on the day we celebrate (usually the same day as the Sunday School Christmas Program). This year was no exception.

C, you are such a special gift from God. Daddy and I love the way you have taken Cooper under your wing, playing with him, reading to him, and cuddling with him. We love your tender heart, your hilarious sense of humor, and your ability to make us all laugh. Happy seventh birthday, our dear sweet girl.....very late, but no less sincerely.

Homecoming

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