Funny things kids say.....

....especially in church : ) I got these cute quotes from an e-mail today that made me laugh out loud.... thought I'd spread the joy!

* 3-year-old Reese :'Our Father, Who does art in heaven,Harold is His name.Amen.'

* One particular four-year-old prayed, 'And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'

This one's my favorite ....
* A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. 'Daddy, what happened to him?' the son asked. 'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, 'Did God throw him back down?'

EASTER pictures and few others...

Our family.......almost altogether!

My sleeping beauty : )

I know my kids will hate this someday, but I LOVE matching outfits!

Both my babies..... Zachary just seems HUGE!

Bath time!

I love these boys!!

Happy 6 months Baby Girl!

Yesterday was Sarah's 6 month birthday..... I can hardly believe so much time has passed in her young life without us. I try to imagine what her giggles and even her cries are like but I know it will all be in His good time.

My friend, Diane, recently returned from her trip to Guatemala. Two days before Emily was born, she spent an afternoon at Eagles Nest with Sarah. She bought both the girls handmade Guatemalan dresses! I love them!! Thank you Diane for being so thoughtful!

As I looked through the pics she brought me and as she described her time with Sarah, I didn't get terribly emotional... just a little misty eyed.

But later, I was pouring over the pictures again and decided to go in and check on Emily. As I looked at her, there was a fleeting smile across her face. Then I looked over at the empty, waiting crib for Sarah and I completely lost it.

There is SO much joy in adoption but so much loss as well. My prayer today is for all of our adopted children and the families as we seek to glorify God in this amazing journey!

The Story of Emily

Our little Miss Emily has a significant story behind her name just like her sister Sarah : )..... but first, I want to let everyone know how we are doing.

After 3 years of longing for another child (my heart's desire was for another biological AND to adopt), we feel blessed beyond our imagination. The moment of Emily's birth was one that only the Lord Himself will know the magnitude of emotion and gratitude I had for His great mercies! She has been an absolute delight, a great sleeper, eater and we are savoring every minute!.... oh, and did I mention I get to put bows in her hair : ) !!

There is a reason why I have wanted to name our first little girl Emily since college(read the story of sarah post to find out why we named our adopted daughter sarah). I grew up in a Christian home and was a good Christian girl. However, my faith was very immature. In college, I found myself in a difficult and painful relationship with a young man who claimed to be a Christian. The Lord stepped in and rescued me.... which began a love for my Savior that has consumed my life. In those first several impressionable months of my renewed walk with the Lord, I was hired to work a summer at Kanakuk-Kanakomo Kamps in Branson. It was there that I met Emily!

Emily was my co-counselor in our "barn"( I worked at K-Kountry). She was two yrs. younger than me but I had never met anyone like her. If I could sum her up with one word, it would be JOY! She had an amazing faith for her youth, solid in doctrine, consistent in deed, and a heart that overflowed with love for others and her God. She taught me about great godly heroines like Elisabeth Elliot and Amy Carmichael. She introduced me to Beth Moore studies....which were a favorite until I started Precepts : ) The Lord used Emily in my life that summer that inspired me and changed me. After those few precious months, I hoped that if I ever had a daughter, she would be like Emily and that I would name her Emily as a reminder of what God has done in my life! When my little Emily was placed in my arms for the first time.....again, that one little word could describe her little person.....JOY!!

love to you all and a million thanks for all your prayers and encouragement, Marianne

Emily Is Born

Sorry for the delay but a down internet at our house did not allow us to put up pictures 'til almost 24 hours after Emily Anne Gross was born! But she is finally here and our whole family is SOOOOO excited. Emily was born at 8:48 pm, she weighed 7 lbs. and 4 oz, and is 18 inches long. she is absolutely beautiful especially the "highlights" in her hair. her hair is a shade of brown but the tips of her hair are almost golden. everybody is just wooing over her hair. caleb and zachary are absolutely in love. zachary is singer her "rock-a-by-baby" and caleb has won the award for holding her the most hours of anybody. we are so proud of them, they will be great big brothers. thanks you all so much for your prayers and concern over the past 6 months as we have agonized waiting for Emily's arrival. but she is here and healthy and we feel so blessed to have her as a part of our family.

And We're........

"Goin' to the hos-pi-tal..... and we're..... gonna have a ba-a-a-by"

-to the tune of "Going to the Chapel" of course : )

March Update!

I could look at her sweet face forever!

Love seeing each new expression : )




Pretty sure this is ...."you're scaring me!" expression : )




Sarah (DARLENE) and her nursery mates...her hair cracks me up!

Case Update: We were submitted to PGN on Feb. 22, got our Pre-Approval Mar. 7 and our atty. will present our PA to PGN on Monday!!!! And I thought we had to be kicked out of PGN first?!?! Do you realize what this means?? If we have NO setbacks at all, we could be going to pick up our princess FOREVER by the first week of June!!!!! Can't wait to see HIS plan unfold : )

Health Update: Wt. 13lbs. 7oz. & Ht. 24 in. "Darlene is a very happy and healthy baby girl. She is content and very smiley(I can hardly wait to see some of those smiles!) She is eating cereal in the morning and at night. She is a joy to all the caretakers there. They just love her(Tears in my eyes, gratefulness in my heart). " Thank you Lord for loving this precious child....we wait and trust on YOU alone!

Love to you all! Marianne

RECORD TIME!!!

My emotions have been high, my spirit has felt numb, and my body has just felt worn out these last few days of pregnancy. Decided to check my e-mail one more time for a health update and new pics of Sarah. I prayed as I entered my password, " Lord, I just need some encouragement today". And although, I do not deserve it, His mercies abound for His children(even when they are complaining)....... so there it was, in my inbox..........PRE-APPROVAL FROM THE U. S. EMBASSY!!!! ...in just 39 days!!!

I confess that my "flesh's" first instinct is to want to worry that we haven't been kicked out of PGN yet and we must be kicked out before we can re-enter PGN with our U.S. pre-approval. But I'm beginning to learn in my spirit....no worries!!....the Lord has a plan and I submit to it, whatever it is!

The Lord also has graciously allowed a precious friend, mentor and teacher of mine to visit Sarah at Eagles Nest tomorrow while she is in Guate on a mission trip. Please pray for her this week as she goes about the work of the Lord which includes loving my daughter in my place(that hurts just to write it). He is SO good and His love endures forever! Love to you all, Marianne

Hangin' In There!

.....this was the title of all the new monthly pictures on Eagles Nest website. And here is our smiley doll baby "hangin' in there" for us to come bring her home!! How my heart can miss someone so desperately when I've never met her is a miracle God can only create!

I loved this title because it seemed to capture how our life feels right now..... waiting, waiting, waiting!! Waiting for our Sarah, waiting any day for our Emily.... and yet, aren't we ALL waiting on something?? I pray we are waiting most of all on the Lord!!

"Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

For You I WAIT all the day."

Psalm 25:5