Saturday, June 24, 2006

DATE: 11/10/2005 07:58:37 PM
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BODY:
Noah was in the bathtub tonight and said "Mommy, how do they make chicken nuggets?" (How that topic came up in the bath, I have no idea). I told him I wasn't sure and he said "I bet they take some chicken and wrap it up in crunch and that's how."

We told Lucas the other day that next month he'd be going to the dentist. Our last visit to the dentist with him (at the age of 2 1/2) was horrible (thanks to the dentist scene in the movie Nemo). He came downstairs today and told me "when I think about having to go to the dentist, it just makes me want to cry all day!"

Anything Jacob says is funny, so there's not enough room here to write them all. The one thing he consistently says that's not so much funny as sweet.....anytime we're out shopping and he's in the shopping cart, he'll reach out his arms and say "I need hugs, Mommy." Everyone together now...."aaawwwwww"
DATE: 10/17/2005 10:12:12 AM
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BODY:
Just an update. The boys are doing so well with Ellie. We were really worried about Jacob's reaction. He has been the baby and is very......shall we say.....well, let's just say he enjoys his position as the youngest Brogdon boy. He has been nothing but loving towards her, though. We do have to watch him so he's not carrying her around by her hair or some other body part!

Right now they are playing indoor soccer together (the boys, not ellie!). They play so well together. It's days like this that I love having them so close together. They are the best of friends, and Kyle and I pray that it stays this way forever.

Kyle is loving his new job. In his entire history of careers, however, he's never had to really "dress up." Golf shirts and khakis were about as dressed as he got. Now, he sports dress slacks, shirts, and ties everyday. I kinda like it :) He's getting used to it. Although, we have to find a dry cleaners now. It's one thing to iron my clothes in 2 minutes and quite another to starch and iron men's dress clothes.

Enough of my ramblings. Our camera is broken so as soon as we get it fixed, I promise to have more pictures posted! (Just for you, Alison!)
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DATE: 10/05/2005 01:06:56 PM
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We made it home Friday night. The flight home was exhausting. I do not recommend traveling with a 3 month old alone! What a trip. But, we're home and doing well.

The weekend was a zoo. My parents were here staying with us, company in and out, the boys had soccer games Saturday......it's no wonder that Ellie cried 90% of the weekend.

Life is beginning to get into a normal routine now. My parents left on Monday and Kyle has this week off before beginning his new job. So, we are trying to get a schedule down before I'm left alone with them all! We're also trying to potty train Jacob, which isn't going too well. He's soooo strong willed! I thought he'd be easy, but he's proving to be the most difficult one so far!

Ellie is doing better. We changed her formula yesterday and that seems to have helped some. She does sleep all night, but doesn't sleep much in the daytime. Unless she's in her swing, then she'll sleep for hours on end. I'd leave her in there 24/7 if I didn't think that'd cause a whole new set of problems!

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Here's a picture of her at home. We haven't had the chance to take very good pictures yet, but you get the idea of life with 4 kids!

Ellie coming home 192.jpg


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DATE: 09/29/2005 03:23:20 PM
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Kyle has been interviewing with the hospital system for a public relations job for a few weeks now. His last interview was well over a week ago, and we had heard nothing from them, until yesterday.

Kyle begins working as Public Relations Coordinator for the local hospital on Oct. 10. We know that God has blessed him with this position. He is very excited about it and it is a HUGE salary increase (which we need to help pay adoption expenses!) We are very relieved that our life seems to be settling down. I will get home tomorrow night, so the adoption process will be over. Kyle will have a week, then begin a job (that we hope lasts a LONG, LONG time!)

I feel a huge weight off my shoulders! Now if tomorrow would just hurry up and get here!


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DATE: 09/28/2005 12:43:34 PM
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Ellie and I went to the US Embassy with our agency rep this morning. We breezed through in a little less than 2 hours and she was approved for her visa. We will get the visa about 5:00 tomorrow and then on to Atlanta on Friday. I still can't believe that she actually gets to come home with me!

After talking with our agency director, I see God's hand in our entire adoption. Ellie's case has gone quicker than anyone's that they've done. As our case progressed, it seemed that all of a sudden things would happen more quickly than they had been happening. For example, to enter the Guatemalan equivalent of "DFACS" (family services), you have to have pre-approval from the US Embassy. That usually takes about 7-8 weeks from the time the DNA testing is done. However, for a small window of about a month, they were getting these out within 4 weeks. Ours was in that window of time. It is now back to 7-8 weeks.

Just little things like that that others may see as "luck" I see as God's hand on our case all the way through. Then, with the events of this week, I can see God orchestrating everything.



Yesterday I read a verse that I know very well, but it took on a whole new meaning for me....Romans 8:28

"And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him"

It sure doesn't promise that everything will be easy, but He does promise that He will take all the good and all the bad and make it into something good.

That something good is coming home with me on Friday.

And all I can do is say Thank you, Lord.

happy.jpg
DATE: 09/27/2005 10:00:47 PM
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We got our pink slip today, and, after 30 minutes of what seemed to be "going nowhere" pleading by our agency with the US embassy, they finally conceeded to allow us to come tomorrow.

I'm going home Friday!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for praying. God is good.
DATE: 09/27/2005 02:30:00 PM
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I know all my entries lately have been requests for prayer, but this one is a huge need. Praise God that today we will be issued our Pink slip. However, the embassy is now saying it may be next week before we can get in to get the baby's visa. Our agency is pleading with them to allow us to come tomorrow so we can go home on Friday. Please, please pray with us that God will soften their hearts and allow them to make an exception for us.

Thanks! I'll post an update tonight.