GOTCHA, Forever

Monday was the 3-year anniversary of Isaiah and Laila joining our family. There were lots of days we could choose to celebrate from the 5 week time period 3 years ago that we spent in Africa going through their adoption process. Because the process was challenging in country and we weren't sure when we would all be together as a family again, we choose to celebrate the date we were finally all together. I wasn't convinced until we made it through U. S. Immigration that they were finally ours forever.

I will never forget this moment:

We were so weary from the battle we had just completed. We were exhausted physically from over 24 hours of travel with 2 children that did not speak or understand English. We were exhausted emotionally from the 5 weeks of ups and downs in the adoption process in a culture that does things very differently than ours and from being away from Lauren, Abby, and Sam for so long. We were exhausted spiritually from the warfare that is involved in rescuing orphans from the enemy and giving them a family forever.

Our family went from this:

To This:

Isaiah went from this 3 years ago:

To this today:
Laila went from this 3 years ago:
To this today:

When looking at these pics, Abby said, "Now I call that an Extreme Makeover!" I would agree. What a difference a family can make. What a difference they have made in our family!

We celebrated throughout the weekend. We started with some swimming, one of their favorite activities.

Pizza dinner
Maggie Moo's Ice cream
Yep, her poop was blue the next day!

I am so glad we could match her tongue to her shirt.
He looks like he ate a Smurf!
Blue teeth
Cody had green ice cream, but absolutely did not want me to see his green lips, teeth or tongue in the picture. Yes, he is a teenager.

I can't believe it has been 3 years, but I absolutely cannot remember life without them! I am so thankful for the blessing of adoption and the impact it has made on our family!