Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving.

I have so much to be thankful for.

When I try to stop and think about it, my heart literally feels like it swells and my eyes tear up.

This has been a year of God showing us just how faithful, loving and gracious he is.
It's been a year that we have been in a unique position to see just how loved we are by friends.
And a year of tremendous blessing.

I am thankful. I'm thankful for friends like Andrew and Michell Hunt, who wrote us our very first check towards our adoption. We were not close friends at the time, but there was a sense that we would be. We are now like family.

I'm thankful for friends like Nason and Hayley Hengst. The are some of our very best friends in the whole world. Hayley hate's the phrase "walk through life together" but that's what we do. Nason and Hayley have walked so closely through this process with us. They donated towards and helped raise almost a good bit of money. There were moments in this process I thought they might be more excited about our adoption than we even were. : )

I'm thankful for other friends like the LoSurdo's, the Seiberts, the Hemphills, the Franklins and many more like them who all gave so generously and at such perfect times. I am sure they had no idea just how God was using them to meet immediate needs, but he was.

I'm thankful for the best Real Life Group ever! We have some amazing... amazing... people that we get to hang out with every week and call our friends.

finding a new normal... (or at least trying)

It feels so strange to not write a new post every day or so. A week and a half have gone by since we arrived at the airport and I love that I get to sit here and write this post.

Just so you know, I have a few posts in the works. Some I have begun writing but haven't published yet and some are still rattling around in my head. I am still processing many things we experienced in Uganda and now that I am getting my feet back under me, I look forward to sharing them with you.

But for now, here is a quick update on how we are doing since the airport...

I keep looking at this picture of us arriving home and get teary eyed every time. Home has never felt so good. I remember that feeling so vividly yet it already seems so far away.


Jetlag has finally left our household and we are slowly learning a new kind of normal. Enock is amazing. I have no idea what it must feel like to be abandoned at 2, live in an orphanage for several month, meet a strange white family who tells you they are your family, fly on an airplane that might as well be a space ship and arrive to a whole new world of new sights, new smells, new language and new friends. I think all of that would justify a pretty rough transition, but Enock is a champ. He is adjusting better than I could ever dream.

We are still taking one day at a time, and we have had our moments, but mostly he just seems to be overjoyed to be a part of a family and we are overjoyed to have him. He and Camp love each other dearly and the best part of my days are catching them hug, hold hands, share or call for each other. Nap times have been rough, but only because all I hear in the monitor for an hour are two boys talking and playing together. Pure joy.

Jake and I are doing well but trying to keep up with life. We both started work soon after we got home and are heading into a busy holiday season. I love my husband. I love that I get to be his teammate through our crazy life. For now, we are finding great comfort in late night talks on our back porch, playing with the boys and finding small breaks in the day to sit, read God's word and reflect on his incredible goodness.

In fact, this was my last 45 minutes. It was lovely.

(Granted... I should post a picture of the giant mountain of laundry I am avoiding... but who wants to see that right?)

I have a post coming soon of big things we are grateful for, but here are a few of the little things I find myself thankful for right now...

a big ol' mug of coffee with peppermint mocha creamer
this scarf (seriously my favorite thing in my closet right now)
my planner
pandora
target (I just sighed thinking about it)
and drive thru's

What little things are you thankful for right now?

We are home!!!

We got home at 5:30pm Saturday night and were greeting by the best friends and family in the whole world! We are jetlagged, but slowly adjusting to a normal sleep schedule. It feels amazing to be in our own home and E is adjusting great.

I have several posts to come this week with a final debrief on our time in Africa, update on our new "normal" and a gushing post on just how blessed we are with friends. I look forward to writing, but for now, here is a link to a few pictures from the airport. Enjoy!

we're coming home!!!

That's right people! We are coming home THIS SATURDAY!!!

We have been praying since we were given our court date that we would be able to return by November 6th. Because of God's incredible graciousness towards us, and the generous heart of a close friend, we are coming home Saturday, November 5th! (The day before Orphan Sunday. How cool is that?!) God is so so good!

Jake went to the Embassy and picked up Enock's Visa today and we celebrated at "I Feel Like Chicken Tonight". (I'm not kidding... that's the name of the restaurant. It's Jake's favorite place in Uganda.)

They boys are doing great. Camp is now saying "motorcar" and Enock asks to thank God for "brother" every night. Here are some new pictures to tie you over until you see us in person!!!

(We crack up every time we look at this photo.)

Here are a couple of things to pray for...

1. We have been told that airport officials have been known to give you a hard time leaving the country with an adopted child. Please be praying that we can leave Entebbe Airport smoothly!
2. Our layover in Dallas is 1 hour and 45 minutes. This will be our first port of entry into the U.S. and they will need to go through all of our adoption documents. Please be praying that they can do this quickly and that we don't miss our connecting flight HOME!

Thanks everyone!

{One last thing... turns out I love to celebrate with giveaways! Take 2 seconds and head over to my friend Katie's blog here and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Noonday Collection!}

a much needed break

We are finishing up our weekend over here.
The boys are in bed and I am giving you a quick update on our little family!

I am so thankful for my husband.
When I get overwhelmed with what needs to be done and saving money, he is always good at recognizing when we need time away.

We took a break this weekend and it was much needed.
We booked 1 night at the Speke Resort here in Kampala.
It was hands down the most beautiful place Jake or I have ever been.
Our room had 2 bedrooms and a wrap around porch.
All of the exterior walls were sliding glass doors and it was breathtaking.


We went swimming, took a boat ride on Lake Victoria, the boys rode horses and we slept better than we have in weeks.




I even had about an hour to lay out by the pool and read a magazine.
I know... I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
It was splendid.

E did amazing.
It was his first time in a pool, first time on a horse and first time in a boat.
He was uncomfortable at first, but always warmed up and had a blast.
He is starting to really look to Camp for cues.
As long as his brother is having fun, he has fun as well.
I love that.

We are ending this weekend feeling thankful, rested and ready to start a new week.

(Well, Jake and I feel rested. I think we wore the boys out today when we decided to skip naptime and go back to the pool!)

Tomorrow is a big day for us.
Hopefully the last big day in this process.
We will show up at the Embassy at 8:30am our time in hopes that they have everything on their end complete for us to do our Visa interview.
We are nervous, but hopeful.

I have been reminded lately just how much God calls us to remember.
You see it all throughout scripture.
God is faithful, he calls us to remember how he was faithful.
So when that time comes and things are hard and we are nervous, we can remember what he has done and be at rest.
During my quiet times this past week I have been writing down all of the many ways God has been faithful to us in this process.
I still have many more to write down.
We are remembering.
God has been faithful and will continue to be.

We hope to come home in a couple of days.
There are many things that need to line up for that to happen.
Please be praying with us that we can come home this week and start this new chapter of our lives.
Thank you all again for your many messages on this blog and on facebook.
They seriously mean more to us than you will ever know.
They make our days brighter.
They make it easier to see God work.
They warm our hearts and calm our spirits.
Thank you for that.

We hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday.
Enjoy your day with family and friends and take time today to remember the many ways God has been faithful to you.

Family Time

We are currently being serenaded by Celine Dion karaoke as we are writing this post. Needless to say, our life here is different, but proving quite memorable.

Well, we had great plans and pictures for this post, but the power is out once again! We do not have enough battery life to upload new pics from the camera, so here is a video to tie you over!
This was taken one week ago today. They boys have continued to play hard together ever since!

Today was our first day as an official family of 4. We went to a large market here and ate at a great restaurant for lunch. It felt great being out and being all together. We moved out of the orphanage and into another house last night. They boys are sharing a room and loving it. We are glad to be in a new house and trying to find a new normal for our last two weeks here.

Once again, it was so much fun for us to read all of your comments on our blog and facebook. It's hard having something so monumental happen and not be able to celebrate with friends and family. So, it is such a blessing to read your messages and know that you are celebrating with us half way across the world!

Tomorrow we hope to post some "brother pictures" and some pictures/video of our new crib! Hope you are all doing well! Until tomorrow...

a day to celebrate...

*4 years ago today I wrote this post. 

I feel similar butterflies in my stomach as we celebrate again today! 

Enock, I am so thankful that God made you a Box! 

You are such a gift my sweet boy! 

I love you,

Mom

Introducing...

Enock Austin Box

We are overjoyed to share that we received legal guardianship of "Baby U" today! We head into the weekend looking forward to good family time as a family of 4! Thank you all for your prayers and support! You have had such a huge hand in bringing our son home. There is no way we can thank you enough for that priceless gift!







Next step in the process is to get our little man a passport! We love you guys and will post again tomorrow!