Covenant's baby pictures

As you can tell by my header picture, my amazing & talented friend Taryn has been at it again...she never ceases to amaze me!  She is able to capture children & families with such ease and patience that she makes an ordinary family like ourselves stand out...great job Taryn!  We love Covenant's baby, er 6 week, pictures!

Read more about our shoot here: http://tarynphotography.blogspot.com/2014/05/covenant.html

G-S-F

G = Garage

S = Sale

F = Fever

It's that time of year again!!!!

Got garage sale fever?!?!
So do a neighbor and I...hope to see you there!
Pictures will be coming later in week...due to large number of families participating, I'm requesting no early sales.  Inquiries welcome.

Multi-family Garage Sale
4/24 Th. 2-6; 4/25 Fri. 8-5; 4/26 8-12
Pheasant Ridge Subdivision--Normal
1711 Beech – HUGE garage sale!  Gymboree, Justice, Aero, Gap; girls ( 3-junior M) & boys (N-size 8); Jeep stroller; umbrella stroller; bikes; outside play toys; books; games; household items; storage bins; car bra

400 Plumage Ct. – 6-family garage sale!  girls clothes (0-12mo; 2T-6); boy’s (12mo-5T); name-brand adult clothes- GAP, Loft, JCrew, BR, Polo---men’s (S-M) & women’s (XS-L); maternity (S-L); car seats; Carter girl’s crib bedding; cradle; small computer desk; Pottery Barn art easel; Fisher Price Loving Family house; kids books, puzzles, games & toys; lots of misc. household & kitchen; “Our Father” framed antique art; ceiling fan; kitchen hardware; vanity lights with bulbs; adult books & HS Social Studies teaching/travel posters; wooden antique butter churn; small computer desk; Help bring our Ugandan daughter home!

Happy Easter!

From our family to yours...Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Thankful to celebrate our Savior and his resurrection [Luke 24:5-7].

And very thankful...it's not about a bunny :)

introducing Covenant

One week ago.  That's how long our "little" blessing has been with us in person.  Looking back on those seven days (specifically labor & delivery), I'm humbled at God's grace, provisions & His ability to encourage when the pain/labor seems never ending.  Sparing you my labor & recovery story, let's suffice it to say my Type-A, driven personality is extremely discouraged when any large amount of pain is involved. 

And then God gives you a moment like this...

Covenant Dean Miller was born at 9:45am on March 26.  Weighing in at 8 lbs 10oz. and 20.5 inches long, he was bigger than even my OB expected and thus the complications of my small frame & his large head/body.  His name means "promise" and while used frequently in the Bible, it's not necessarily a name.  Covenant is to honor our great God's promise of provision, strength & peace regardless of outcome or circumstance.  Unbeknownst to us until we researched, Arlan also means "promise" and thus Covenant is named after his Daddy.  Dean was my Dad's middle name and thus we honor Verlyn through little Covey also. 

heading to the hospital on Tuesday (3/25) arriving about 7:00pm...note, I'm still somewhat smiling as contractions are about 5-10 minutes apart.

When they first placed him on my chest, my OB was convinced he was "a good 7 pounder"...

the scale showed otherwise :)

Dr. Kindred with his newest baby & one very proud Daddy

Everyone wanted to know what Haven's first thoughts were...well, she literally said "Look Mom, he's finally out of your tummy & I can have your lap back!"

Covenent meeting G & G Miller for the first time...they were troopers, keeping Haven for most of the rest of the week for us.

Covenant meeting a very special great-aunt Vera

"Uncle Rich" & "Aunt Vicki" stopped by to meet Covenant

Aunt Amber stopped by on her lunch break

Right before we headed home...such a big yawn!

We were discharged on 3/27/14.

Covenant's first ride in the van

Finally home!

Friday's Funny: sing-a-long with Haven

Father Abraham

Praise Him, Praise Him All Ye Little Children

Adoption update...we are MUCH closer!!!

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

~ James 1:27

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 ~ James 5:16b

This past week has been one of nesting at our home...getting the nursery ready for baby boy Miller, washing some baby clothes, disinfecting pacifiers, re-cleaning car seats, packing bags (we plan on delivering in Peoria, so we feel the need to be "extra" prepared)...and when we get updated Keziah news, it makes us even more excited to add to our family and "double-nest"...our term for preparing to add two children to our family! :)

Last Friday we received an update that our investigations for Keziah in Uganda are finishing up and we will then enter the final stage of paperwork before we travel.  The lawyers overseas will compile all necessary documents (parent death certificates, family consent forms, Keziah's birth certificate, any more medical documents, etc) before they pass it along to the court system in Uganda and we receive our court dates.  

The exciting news?!  

Court dates=travel dates! 

Travel dates to Uganda means each of us: Arlan, Katie, Haven, baby boy all pack our bags for an extended stay in Uganda (probably around 5-6 weeks total) until Keziah is able to travel home with us!  Folks, this means we prayerfully are getting MUCH closer to bringing our 2.5 year old daughter home with us.  Folks, this also means that our timeline has been moved up significantly.  Our expectant wait till we travel (while they finish up the last leg of paperwork) is anytime from one and half months to the more likely three/four months...we are expecting our estimated travel time to be by middle/end of summer.  We also received more pictures of our daughter this past week and it makes it that much more real to see her in her homeland, wearing her little shoes & darling dresses as we wait to meet her, love on her, touch her and bring her home into her forever family. Oh how I wish I could show you her beautiful face!

Can you sense the need to pray for us?!  Please sense YES!!!!
And here is how:

• Pray for the healthy & safe arrival of baby boy Miller as we "patiently" await meeting him.
• Pray that labor would go as naturally & smoothly as possible.  We know the details of timing with baby boy being born & us receiving our court/travel dates are ALL in God's hands and He uses this to build our faith & draw us closer to Him.   
• Pray that our need for final travel costs/expenses would be placed into God's hands as only HE can provide for this quickened time table.
• Pray for our discernment regarding what vaccinations to give our children & the final paperwork portion/details we are responsible for.
• Pray for Keziah's caretakers, investigators, lawyers & judge[s] that her case will come before.
• Pray for transition as we prepare to welcome 2 children into our lives in the next few months & transit one little 4.5 year old to the concept of siblings :)
• Pray that we continue to hold our daughter (& children) loosely as we realize they are a blessing from God, given to us for a time to raise & teach...all for HIS glory!

Thank you.

Thank you in advance for praying and supporting us.  We have felt your love & blessings on this journey thus far and have greatly appreciated you partnering with us to fulfill James 1:27 and James 5:16b.

If you'd like to take a trip back memory lane with our adoption thus far, below are the links:
January 2014 adoption update-click here 
December 2014 referral post-click here
January 2013 post-click here 
August 2012 post-click here 
Beginning of our journey [May 2012]-click here

Kayleigh Jill

Congratulations to my sister Emily & her husband Mike on their new bundle, Kayleigh Jill.
She was born 3/7/14 and weighed a whooper of 8lbs. 14oz.
Anxious to meet her within the next few months...but first baby boy Miller needs to arrive!