April Celebrations

Hey Family all over the world


I forgot to mention last month that we got updates!

Little E's Updates

We got a first update from Tiny T who was adopted in December. She is almost walking and doing so well with her family. It was a very honest update (which I appreciate and Love) and I can tell she is so adored.

We have a second update from Rockstar! It was technically a social worker update/checkin and only three months after he has been with his family (it has now been a year) but news is news and we love updates! Not that I doubted for a moment that he  would be so happy and adjust very well and be loved so much however, hearing someone else say “hey, he is doing great” is so good for Aunties Hearts. This update was great too because there were lots of pictures! They say pictures are worth a 1,000 words. The more words the better, I say. : )

A Christmas card came to us! K’s family in Finland sent us a Christmas Card with a picture and well wishes for the Holidays. ABBA only was able to get it to us in March but we appreciate celebrating Christmas all year!

So many Updates in one month, it really did feel like Christmas in march!

In April We got 2 updated from Little E in Sweden too! We got her first update and her latest one : ) It was great to hear from my Little Miss. She still loves her purple blankie and loves spending time with her Grandpa. We got to see pictures from her Doc McStuffins 2nd birthday.  She looked super cute.    

We started a new curriculum in the house for our toddlers. We have a Sunday School lesson and then educational lessons during the week. We have been doing our own colours and songs etc but now we can all work together. Since our oldest kids do not go to preschool we wanted to add a more structural time during our days. I have been excited to put my preschool teacher skills back to work.

All of the volunteers went on a fun safari together. We went to Kruger, which is a largest game reserve in the north east on South Africa. We had lots of fun and saw lions, rhino, and lots of elephants.

Our Little L turned 2! She loved us singing happy birthday to her and really loved eating cake. She didn't get to be with her family for her Birthday but she had a fun time at her Party. *update: Her papers are caught between two courts. She has been released from the country but all she needs in one signature! Please continue to be praying for this situation. We are so thankful for your prayers around the world.

Happy Birthday to this beautiful little girl! Little L, you are smart, funny and probably the 2nd most stubborn little person in the house. You have a soft heart and a wonderful creative spirit. I love, that your favourite thing to do is to colour with markers and play with the small babies. I pray you get to be with your family soon dear one! Love, Auntie Whitney.

We started another new adventure this month. We are potty training two more of our kiddos! Im not going to lie, potty training three kids, and having 8 more causing trouble at once is quite an adventure. 7 toddlers at once and then one cries “toilet please”… what do you do?! It generally turns into quite a comedic moment of yelling to the other auntie to come watch the other six while I’m running inside with the kid hoping they don't pee on me. They are doing very well and I am so proud of them :)

Just the Other day my oldest (3) sat down next to me and asked “Where is my daddy?” I stared at him for a brief moment while i tried to process. Eventually I told him that his daddy would come for him soon. Then he quickly replied with “me and my daddy are going to drive to California.”
I hope so Buddy I really hope you do.
He is obsessed with California since he could finally understand where Nicole and I go when we go home. So every bridge is California (we showed him the Golden Gate Bridge) and I think in his understanding, that's where “Families” are. It very much breaks my heart to hear him understanding more where he is and that he doesn't have a mommy and daddy. To be honest, I don't know whats going to happen to him. Will he get a family? Will he end up in foster care passed from family to family till he is 18? I don't know. But I cling to the fact that I know that Our Heavenly Father  loves him very much. That he sets the lonely into families (Psalm 68:6) and he will be with N always (Isaiah 41:10) That day reminded me to be intentional about telling my kids that they are loved and wanted. They have not been forgotten and, they will always have a heavenly father no matter where they end up.

Please continue to pray for our babies and toddlers! Our kids need forever Mommies and Daddies!   

My Two Big boys love Each other

Little E is going to walk soon!

EJ is a heart Stealer!

Little S is always so brave (maybe not always a good thing)

Toddler M

Everyone needs an Owl Shirt!

Kisses From R! (she loves my earrings!)

The kids miss summer swimming days lol

*cue Justin Timberlake song  lol

All Cozy in their winter blankets for story time

This is the way to see a movie on our day off.  Batmanvssuperman

My Family having fun at a baseball game without me! (Dad, Noah, Megan, Mom)

Really Proud of my Brother Noah (left) His Volleyball Team made in the paper!

 Happy Birthday Month to my Little Sunshine in the Holland! I Love you!