U2!

Saturday, Matt and I went to see Snow Patrol and U2 in Chicago at Soldier Field with our good friends Doug and Mara. I have been to see many concerts in my life that I can't even remember them all. This one I will NEVER forget. It was absolutely mind blowing. The stage was enourmous, the lights were spectacular and the sound was fantastic. We had awesome seats and the weather was perfect. You really couldn't have asked for a better night.

Here is a video that Mara took. I hope it works! Enjoy!

Families in Rwanda

There are currently 3 America World Families in Rwanda picking up their children. It has been so awesome to follow their journeys. Because Rwanda is such a new program, there just isn't the amount of information out there that we had when we were adopting from China. It has been really helpful to follow their trips and begin to piece together what the trip will be like for us when we go get Jack.

If you would like to follow along, here are their blogs!

The Limmer Family is adopting a baby boy, Moses- http://limmerfamilyadventure.blogspot.com/
The Higgins Family is adopting 2 boys, Zeke and Etienne- http://higginsadoption.blogspot.com
The Himes Family is adopting 2 girls, Maya and Keira- http://lifechange.typepad.com/lifechange

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Ross!

Today is my dad's birthday! Happy 56th!

We are speding a couple of days in Trufant to celebrate Labor Day. Friday night is always the Kiddie Parade. A few hours before it started, my grandma asked if Emma was going to be in it this year. We hadn't really even given it a thought. Matt said that he would walk with her so we got out one of Jade and Sidney's old Halloween costumes and Princess Emma was ready to go. When she looked in the mirror she said, "Emma Butterfly!" and smiled.

yes...she is still into making sad faces.

Emma with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Hubbard

B-O-O-T-S In my yellow boots

When my niece, Jade, got to be a toddler my mom started buying rainboots for her to wear around the lake. The cabinet in the garage is full of rainboots to fit kids from 2-10. Jade, Sidney and now Emma love to splash in mud puddles, wade in the streams, and run through the fields in bright yellow rainboots. Today, Emma decided to help Grandma water the flowers. At least her feet stayed dry!

Sad Face...Don't laugh, Don't laugh

Right now Emma is into making sad faces. She will make what she thinks is a sad face (I just think it's cute) and then we both say, "Don't laugh, Don't laugh!" until we both laugh. She could play this game for hours.

Don't Laugh!

Also, the adorable dress is from Panama! David and Heidi brought it back...along with a diamond ring...from their trip this winter. Isn't it awesome!

Corn is Good!

Emma and I spent the day freezing sweet corn with my mom, grandma and grandpa. I remember when I was a kid we used to do this every August. My brother and I would help husk the corn out by the garden but our favorite part of the day was eating the "corn logs." Those are the bits of corn that are left in chunks when you cut the corn off the cob after blanching it. Yum Yum! Today we froze 54 quarts of sweet corn. My grandpa said it was a record for him. So that must really be a lot. It was so fun for me to have Emma experience this with my grandparents. Growing up in the country, things like this were such a big part of my childhood. I love that Emma got to experience it for the first time this summer. She had so much fun husking the corn. She picked every little hair off the ear. Of course, she really loved eating the corn logs. She also snuck over to the raspberry bushes for a mid-morning snack. I must admit that I couldn't resist the little red jewels myself. It was a great day that we can remember every time we pull out a bag of great-grandpa's juice sweet corn this winter.

Emma and Great-Grandpa picking the corn

Corn is good!

Emma with Grandma Ross...again eating corn.

A Miracle...and his name is Jack!

This spring, Matt and I began to consider the possibility of adopting again. After several weeks of research, prayer, number crunching and more prayer, we decided that it just wasn't going to happen. We came to the conclusion that by the time we could a) afford another adoption and b)wait for the process to happen Emma would be about 7 and there would be too large of an age gap between the kids. We decided not to adopt again and eventually became at peace with the fact that Emma was going to be an only child. Emma is our miracle and we would be a happy family of 3.

Then this week, God did another miracle. He has put it on the heart of another to provide the funding for an adoption. I almost fell off the couch when I was told the news. I can only imagine that it was like waking up one morning and discovering that you are pregnant. I was in complete shock! This was not even on our radar and now we are going to have another child.

Matt has always wanted a son and since going to Malawi in 2006 he has had a desire in his heart to bring that son home from Africa. So, that is what we are going to do. We are going to adopt a baby boy from Rwanda. Unfortunately, Holt does not work in Rwanda at this time but America World does. It is kinda funny actually. Back in 2005 when we were first looking into adopting from China, America World was our agency of choice. It is also the agency that our dear friends Craig and Julie used to adopt their little Ivy from China. We know that we will be well taken care of through this brand new process. There have only been a handful of adoptions from Rwanda in the past few years so this time we are helping to blaze the trail.

We are hoping to submit our initial application in the next week or two and then begin the paper pregnancy all over again...this time the wait is only 12-15 months though! At least it better stay that way!