????Snow!!!!!

We had a snow day here today. Our neck of the woods doesn't usually see snow but it was just beautiful this morning and so much fun to play in!

Long awaited post!

We are here! We are alive! I think we are finally turning the corner and starting to live again. We have had some very hard changes in our lives in the last few months but God has sustained us through it all. Ethiopia was more than we could handle.....a precious little deaf child is more than we can handle.....a move to a new place, with new people is more than we can handle. Fortunately, God can handle all of those things!



We are settling into our house here in New Mexico. We finally have our things and actually put our Christmas tree up extra early this year. We are very excited about the holidays and getting to spend time with our family. Our new church here is more than we could ever ask for. They have embraced us from day one. They have prayed for us, prayed with us, provided meals for us, provided money for us and so many more things. We miss all our friends in Texas but are very thankful that God has moved us to a church that is so supportive and loving!


Sena is doing fabulous!!! When we went to Ethiopia, we experienced something we never expected. We were scared, confused and at the bottom of a very deep hole. We have never felt that desperate before. We cried out to God every day just to get through the day. The day we took Sena from the foster care we thought that there was no way that we could bring her home.....but God provided. Each day was a new day. It has been a looooong, hard road but when we look back, we can't believe where we have come from! Sena is a precious, loving little girl who just needed some guidance and direction. When she came to us, she knew 4 signs....3 of them "self made". By the time we left Ethiopia, she knew about 8 ASL signs. She now knows and understands about 120 signs, is attending special preschool for 2 1/2 hours every day, is wearing hearing aides that help her be more aware of her surroundings, is sitting still and quiet during church every week and is sleeping in her own twin sized bed in a room with Kennedy! She is an amazing little girl that shows us each and every day what unconditional love is! She loves each and every one of us (some more than others! :)). She is very smart and learns very fast. She has her own personal interpreter that attends school with her every day and he also teaches the family sign language two nights a week. We have been so blessed with all the help that we have received here. Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us!! We know that your prayers helped us make it through the last several difficult months. God is faithful!!



The other kids are doing great! They love their new sister like she has always been here. They are a perfect example of the love of Jesus! Brady will be turning 12 soon, which I can't even believe! They all played Upward flag football (except Kennedy, she cheered!) and they are all going to play Upward basketball. The boys are looking forward to the spring when they can get back into baseball and Kennedy can't wait to play soccer. They are very glad that we are finally in our own place and have our things here! They missed their beds and their "stuff"!


I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I could not have made it through the last few months without them, especially Sean. He is and always has been my best friend and has supported me through anything and everything that has come our way in the last 15+ years. I can't wait to see how God uses each and every person in our family for His kingdom!

Please continue to pray for us. God's not through with us yet!

I can't do it.

I can't bring myself to relive the Ethiopia trip. To be honest......it was the hardest thing we have EVER done! We are so thankful to be home! Maybe some day.....

Sena is doing great! She loves Sean and I and the kids. She loves American food. She loves sleeping (10-12 hours at night and a 1-2 hour nap in the afternoon!). We are hoping to get her in to the doctor this next week for a thorough check up and to have her hearing tested. She has learned about 10-15 signs since we got her and is doing well "communicating" with us.

Our life will certainly never be the same but we believe that God led us straight to her and will bless our family because of her! We can't wait to see how God will use Sena for His kingdom!

New Post Coming Soon!

Still suffering from some major jet lag and getting used to 5 kiddos! Updates coming soon! :)

A blog worth visiting

I have been following www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com for quite sometime. She always has great and challenging things to say and seems to be such a genuine person. Her post titled "Elizabeth" today just brought tears to my eyes! THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING TO ETHIOPIA IN ONE WEEK!! To give a child a mommy, daddy, brothers and sister and to share the love of Jesus with her. Please be in prayer for us as we go and be in prayer for Sena that she will know how much we love her!

Introducing..............

Our precious little girl!!! Sena Anne Paul!!!



We will be traveling to get her at the end of August! We can't wait to meet her and bring her home!

!!!!!!WE PASSED!!!!!!!

We passed court on Friday and will be traveling soon to get our little girl! We are so excited! Please be in prayer as we travel. We will post more as we can.