Lovinsky's MN Visit!! :)

Ok it's finally time for that blog update... :) 

It's hard to believe that little man's first visit to MINNESOTA has come and gone already!! 3 years of persistence and lots of paperwork and expenses we had an amazing trip to MN for Christmas!! 

God is so good in HIS faithfulness!!

Check out a small glimpse into our visit to MN!! 

We did so many great things and saw so many amazing people we couldn't possibly 

fit it all in this blog!! 

We had a rough start with our carry on luggage being stolen from the back of the truck
 but we moved past it and enjoyed the rest of our trip! God knows.
Look this handsome dude so early in the morning ready to go!! EEKKK!! :) 

Checking out the plane! 

Future aviator?? 

Here we go!! First flight ever!!

He thought the escalators where the best!!

I'm not sure who loved this more!! :)

The cold water was a little shocking! ;)  

We finally made it!! So great to meet family in person!!
It was like they had known each forever!!

My favorite guys!!!

Cousins together!!!
The start of something great!!

These two...... :) 

Warming up by the fire...

We had lots of hockey moments!!
He's a fan!!! 

It's trickier than it looks!! 

Lots of love!!

So much fun being all together!!! 

These two are such hams!!! 

Christmas Program! 

Meeting Murphy!! :) Love these two!!

Such a ladies man!! :) Look at those smiles!! 

He had to give skating a try and realized it is HARD stuff!! :) 

So many fun new experiences!!

Making cookies!!!
Yes that is Grandpa's hand stealing cookie dough!!!
Somethings never change!! ;) 

Slumber party in sleeping bags!! Another first! ;) 

The first snow fall!!! 

He thought it was so great!!

Winters got nothing on this kid!!
Momma on the other hand likes the warm sunny weather! :) 

Working with Grandpa! 

Yep he did it!! Star Wars...he wasn't quite sure what to think...he was happy when it was over. :) 

Christmas time in MINNESOTA!!!

Such a ham! 

Sledding at Great Grandpa's

Great Grandpa! 

Love love love!!!

Love that these two are bff's!!!

Of course we had to check out the MOA and ride some rides!!
He loved it!!

:) 

Bowling!!!

Nathan is a better bowler than me!! :) 

So much fun to get the kids together!!

New Years Eve at Skyzone!!
And to think a year ago this kid hated trampolines and was deathly afraid of them!!
He has come so far in a year!! 

A wonderful New Year's Eve SURPRISE from our favorite roomie who me miss like crazy!!

This woman...love her and how she loves us so well!!

A sweet surprise at the airport on our way back home to Haiti!! 

Back together again!!!
We missed you so much sweet little peanut!!

Happy Heart!!

God is soooo good!!


We have a long ways to go on this adoption journey and but we are so thankful for what God is doing in our lives and the amazing time he gave us in MN!!!
Hoping and praying all three of us can visit MN this summer!! Join us in praying for Lydia's paperwork (birth certificate, passport and visa) to be completed and a visa be granted!! 

Donate here: http://www.rce-international.org/support-a-missionary/

YOU are GOOD

YOU are GOOD

So we have been in MN for about 3 days and I feel like we have already fit in so much and done so much that it seems like we've been here a week!! 

Lovinsky is loving every minute of it and apparently he LOVES the cold!! He is sure to tell us that every time he steps outside! I can't say the same. ;) 

We have lots of "firsts" and "ah ha" moments and it just makes me smile! 

We have fit in more hockey games in the last couple days and he LOVES it! He even had a the opportunity to put on a pair of skates today! He learned it's not quite as easy as they make it look and he took a couple pretty good falls. 

On Sunday we went to church at Plymouth Covenant and during worship they played this song "King of My Heart" and it brought me to tears. 

The chorus is what got me and reminded me that HE is good!! He is soooo good!! Everything about this trip so far has reminded me that HE is good! 

I am still amazed that I am really am in MN with my favorite little man!! I mean really!?!?? 

HE IS GOOD PEOPLE!! 

It wasn't an easy road to get here, but HE is our ANCHOR in the waves and 

HE's NEVER going to let us down! 

HE IS GOOD!! 

If you need a reminder of who HE is listen to this song! 

Just a peek into what MN has brought..

     

HE IS GOOD PEOPLE!!

GOD is sooooo GOOD!!!

Our growing family...

Understanding HIS purpose....Our growing family….

Sometimes I think about my life and where I am and never would have thought in a million years that I would be where I am today. In July of 2012 when I took that leap of faith and moved to Haiti I claimed the motto, “God doesn’t call the equipped, HE equips the called.” I still don’t think I am equipped to do what I am doing but God continues to work and provide! He is faithful!!

Who would have thought that I would be the momma of two beautiful and amazing Haitian kiddos. That alone fills my heart! I never knew how much I could love these little people in my life! They are the reason God called me here. They fill me up and give me life. They are why I continue everyday to fight for paperwork and justice.

A few weeks ago I got pretty sick and had to have some amazing friends take care of my kiddos; which I was so thankful for! My entire body hurt and I needed rest! By the 2^nd day I was thankfully feeling much better. My kiddos were still gone and that’s when it hit me; they are the reason I am here. I felt so alone without them, like a piece of me was missing! I know right sounds like the crazy mom who is too attached to her children! ;) But it wasn’t like that I swear! It just made me realize that this is God’s plan for my life. This is where God has called me to be in this season of life. They are why God chose me to step out on this journey of faith.

It breaks my heart that the both of them even need me. It tears me apart knowing that for whatever reason (which I may never know about) their Haitian mommas couldn’t do it. This is such a broken world and no child should ever have to have a “new mom” but in all this brokenness I am thankful for redemption and God’s grace. By the grace of God these two kiddos now have a momma who loves them more than they will ever know. Who will go to the end of the earth to make sure that they are cared for and loved. I’m their mom and I might be the luckiest mom in the whole world to be given the opportunity to care for these beautiful children.

I don’t know why God chose me but I am thankful He did. I love my little family more than I could ever imagine and I am thankful that God continues to take care of us; in all the little and big ways!

We give thanks to God for granting Lovinsky his Visa so we can visit family and friends in MN this Christmas. Thankful that we were able to get all the paperwork completed for this! This has been years of frustration, paperwork, money, traveling the streets of Port au Prince to get it all done, but we finally did it and it has certainly given me a new sense of HOPE in all of this!

We are beyond thankful for the new blessing of little Lydia Marie in our lives. She is full of joy and happiness all the time! She fits her name well! Lydia was my Grandma’s name and she was a woman of faith and I will forever look up to her and be grateful for the example she was to me. A woman who loved God and never missed a Sunday at church! And after sweet Marie here in Haiti who is also a woman of faith and filled with more joy than anyone I know! Marie reminds me so much of my Grandma Lydia; both spunky woman filled with the joy of the Lord and above all an amazing faith. I pray that sweet little Lydia will follow in their footsteps.

Three people that I love dearly!! 

Lovinksy and I are beyond blessed! He is an amazing big brother who loves her and takes such good care of her! He loves reading to her, singing to her, telling her stories and even willingly feeds her and changes her diapers!

 

Thank you all for loving us! We love this journey God has us on and are so thankful in the ways that God continues lead us!

My sweet little kiddos and Lydia's first Christmas!! :) 

  

 These pictures are from the very first day we meet her....my birthday!! She had our hearts from the first time we saw her and held her in our arms!! 

 To donate or support our little family through this process click here.

Our life...update in pictures..

Our life update in pictures!! Sometimes the best kinds of updates!! ;) 

God continues to bless in the smallest ways. Isn't it great that He knows our every care, our every worry, our every desire. He continues to take good care of us! 

We had a staff retreat about a month ago! After a morning of listening to a great speaker and getting filled with the spirit we were able to enjoy a day of fun in the sun! 

It was a perfect afternoon! 

                                 

                                         These two are like brothers!! They just love each other!! 

                      

Haiti truly is a beautiful place!! 

We've been enjoy lots of time in our eno!
Best purchase in a long time! 

We have a gardner on our hands!!
He currently has TWO tomatoes growing!! 

This handsome dude!! 

We have been working like crazy to get his passport done. You wouldn't think it should be that difficult...thing about Haiti....EVERYTHING is difficult!! 

Praying we get that passport in our hands SOON!! 

I cannot begin to tell you how much he has improved with his riding!! We went the other weekend and I was able to watch his entire lesson and he did so great!! He now has gloves AND boots!! What's next!?! Slowly but surely he's starting too look more and more like a little jockey! 

 The first time we went hiking in the mountains and I talked to him about riding a horse he was so scared!! I had to talk him into it like crazy! Now look at him!! 

Man I love this kid!! 

How did I get so lucky to be his momma!?!

Sometimes even I do some riding! One of those things I've always thought looked so awesome and here I am getting to do it in Haiti of all places!

I even learn a thing or two...did you know that when a horse drinks water he sticks his whole mouth and nose in the water! 

SAY WHAT!?! I had no idea! Craziest thing! :)

We even had the chance to attend the wedding of one of our friends who works at the school! All the national staff know "Kiki" (pronounced like Keekee) around campus!! Of course his favorite part of the wedding was when the kissed...not once but twice! ;) 

Some of the amazing people we get to see everyday! 

We couldn't feel more loved or be more blessed!!

This woman is simply amazing and loves Kiki like her own! 

It's good he's got a Haitian momma and 

an American momma to keep him straight! ;) 

Hard to get a picture when 

he's never standing still! ;) 

God is truly good to us! 

We don't deserve it but I am so thankful that He cares for us! 

 If you want to support us on this crazy journey (that will hopefully end one day with a completed adoption!!!) click here to make a one time donation or support us monthly. 

I can't believe it's November!!! 

We have so much to be thankful for!!

Much love from Haiti...

where the weather is always warm if you ever need to come for a visit! ;)

We did it!!

It has been a busy couple of weeks!! 

We finished two big orders with some pretty amazing companies who are also doing good in the world! 

12,000 of these little Christmas tree ornaments are done and on there way to Faithbox!! 

 Lots of tying took place the last couple weeks!! 

                  

This is why we do what we do:

The other day this beautiful girl's mother approached me and said that in order for her daughter to get into college they had to make a payment the next day. I told her I was so sorry to hear that and that I would pray about it. The next day I gave her an envelope with money in it and said this is an advance for the work that I need you to do. She was beyond thankful and told me how her daughter had given up hope and didn't think God would provide and was ready to give up on her dream. She reminded her daughter that God is faithful to those who love Him. 

Thankful that God was able to use Anchored in Hope to provide HOPE for this beautiful and amazing young girl! You are going to do amazing things young lady!

There they are!!

 11 boxes packed full with little Christmas tree ornaments!! 

God is so good!!

These were the main guys behind all of this!! 

So thankful for them and all their hard work!!

We were also able to complete our other big order with our partner Feed My Starving Children!! 

God is doing great things and we are humbled to be a small piece of the puzzle! 

Do you know of any other stores or companies that wants to purchase wholesale? 

Please contact us! 

Help us to continue to provide for these amazing men and women!! 

YOU are CHANGING LIVES!!