Oh, my sweet baby girl!! I look at your face so many times a day, I feel as if I have memorized your eyes, your sweet smile. It makes me smile through tears of joy to look at you!
I can't believe in less than 2 weeks you will be in our arms for almost a week!! Oh how the excitement builds!
We are finalizing all our plans and beginning to preliminary pack. I am sooo excited we leave next Saturday, but can't believe it is still so far away!! Your big brother is a trouper. He wants to come see you sooo badly, but understands why he is staying here and waiting for our return.
He had your picture in his hand last Sunday and was showing everyone. I glanced over when we walked into the coat closet and he had your picture held close in his hands, leaning over it saying, "I love you, I love you, I love you." Then he leaned into my phone and gently kissed your face on the phone. We are all sooo very excited to begin the journey to bring you home.
Hang in there baby!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Gotcha Day Number Four
Ok- for those of you wondering how we told Eli about his new baby sister....
Thursday night last week, as I was tucking Eli into bed, I mentioned that maybe we would get a call about his brother or sister the next day. He sat up quite excited and said, "Mommy!! It is going to be tomorrow!! They are just waiting for my Gotcha Day!!"
Sure enough, the next afternoon, a few hours before Eli got home from school and we were going to celebrate Gotcha Day number 4, we received "the call."
Our adoption specialist returned our call at 4:30 and we formally accepted her by 4:45pm. So, after supper, we pulled out his ice cream cake, lit the candles and sang Happy Gotcha Day.... Well, a picture is worth a thousand words.... you can see for yourself...
click here for video
Thursday night last week, as I was tucking Eli into bed, I mentioned that maybe we would get a call about his brother or sister the next day. He sat up quite excited and said, "Mommy!! It is going to be tomorrow!! They are just waiting for my Gotcha Day!!"
Sure enough, the next afternoon, a few hours before Eli got home from school and we were going to celebrate Gotcha Day number 4, we received "the call."
Our adoption specialist returned our call at 4:30 and we formally accepted her by 4:45pm. So, after supper, we pulled out his ice cream cake, lit the candles and sang Happy Gotcha Day.... Well, a picture is worth a thousand words.... you can see for yourself...
click here for video
America World Blog
We just sent in a brief article about our BothHands project for our adoption agency's blog. Thought I'd share here:)
As we prayed, a friend pointed us to a great book called Adoption Without Debt. An article about a “fund-raiser” in that book was life-changing for us. It is called BOTH HANDS and is a project that would be similar to a charity Golf outing, or a walk-a-thon. But the big difference, and the one that pulled us immediately on board, was that, instead of doing a one day project just to raise money without any other lasting benefits, this is a one day project that is life changing, community building and affecting lives, literally, around the world.
About a year ago, we felt God tugging on our hearts to begin
pursuing our second child. I struggled with this, wondering how we would raise
the necessary finances, wondering if we were supposed to do something, or a lot
of things, or if He wanted us to sit back and see what He would do. But God’s call was clear, as was the strong
assurance from Him that He would provide all we needed to bring this child He
had placed in our hearts home.
As we prayed, a friend pointed us to a great book called Adoption Without Debt. An article about a “fund-raiser” in that book was life-changing for us. It is called BOTH HANDS and is a project that would be similar to a charity Golf outing, or a walk-a-thon. But the big difference, and the one that pulled us immediately on board, was that, instead of doing a one day project just to raise money without any other lasting benefits, this is a one day project that is life changing, community building and affecting lives, literally, around the world.
Here is the premise.
An adoptive family, desiring to bring home a child, yet lacking finances
to do so. A widow or widower, trying to
hang on to their house, but unable to make needed repairs. A group of friends coming out to work on the
house, along with those behind the scene folks that helped procure
supplies. A whole host of friends and
family willing to “sponsor” the adoptive family and friends for the day. We
later found out that donations can be accepted on our child’s behalf up until
the child comes home!!
In the end, the widow is blessed, a large group of workers
meet and make new friends with each other as they create much more of a sense
of community around them, local businesses become involved, and ultimately,
others are given the opportunity to be a part of helping a widow and knowing
that they were able to help bring a child to their forever family.
James 1:27 tells us “Pure and genuine religion in the sight
of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and
refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
To see more details, including a short video of the day (a
picture really is worth a thousand words!!) check out our page at www.bothhandsfoundation.org/tim-and-debbie-swingle.aspx
So thankful that our project brought in about 20% of our total adoption costs!! Yeah God!!!
Oh, Baby!!
Oh. My. Goodness!!!!! We are so incredibly excited and overjoyed!!! We got to see our sweet little girl's face for the first time last Friday. March 16, 2012 at 1:30 in the afternoon "the call" we had been waiting for sooo long finally came.
Oh Sweet baby!! we can't wait to see you and are counting down the minutes until we fly out to finally hold you in our arms. You have been in our hearts for so very long!
Lael Ksenia Swingle. We call you our own and we love you so much already!! Big blue eyes and fluffy red hair.
We leave in 2 weeks, just in time to celebrate Easter in Russia, Tim's milestone birthday with his sweet little girl!!
Oh Sweet baby!! we can't wait to see you and are counting down the minutes until we fly out to finally hold you in our arms. You have been in our hearts for so very long!
Lael Ksenia Swingle. We call you our own and we love you so much already!! Big blue eyes and fluffy red hair.
We leave in 2 weeks, just in time to celebrate Easter in Russia, Tim's milestone birthday with his sweet little girl!!
Monday, March 12, 2012
He is Soooo Faithful!
My sweet baby, never doubt for one moment that God is truly in charge. And even more than that HE. LOVES. YOU!! So many times as we are waiting on an official word for you, my heart feels as if it might break. That sneaky voice inside says it will never happen, just give up and enjoy what you already have.
Oh, how I do enjoy all that God has given us!! But He also created in our hearts a place just the right size for you. You have been firmly implanted in my heart for over 17 months now. How I long to hold you and share this amazing love for you that God has already blessed me with!!
Last Sunday, Eli and I were pulling into the parking lot at church. The song playing was perfect!! Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. Our God, You reign forever!! Our God, our strong defender!!
This song was such a strength giver when when we were waiting for Eli to come home, it felt like a great big hug from God, reminding me that He has it worked out and it will be done in His strength.... How awesome!!
After a great service, we headed back out to the car. Eli rode home with Daddy, so I was in the car by myself, and, don't you know, that same song was on!! Reminding me how the strength WILL rise as we WAIT upon the Lord.
As I was mentally noting that so I could pull on it during times when I might feel discouraged, the next song came on. It was a song we did a long time ago- but so perfect. I was so touched and felt so loved, it was almost as if God Himself were in the car sitting right next to me, placing His arm on my shoulders, infusing His love deep inside me.
Here are the lyrics for that song:
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength
For each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way
By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today
Thank you, God, for holding us up when we are weak, drawing us close when we are torn, and loving us so thoroughly every minute of every day. Thank you that You are going to bring our child home on that exact day and giving us peace in our hearts to know that it will be done and in Your perfect time. Thank you. May you be glorified in all this Lord, may our actions be such that we shine You instead of trying to draw energy from others, draining those around us.
Oh, how I do enjoy all that God has given us!! But He also created in our hearts a place just the right size for you. You have been firmly implanted in my heart for over 17 months now. How I long to hold you and share this amazing love for you that God has already blessed me with!!
Last Sunday, Eli and I were pulling into the parking lot at church. The song playing was perfect!! Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. Our God, You reign forever!! Our God, our strong defender!!
This song was such a strength giver when when we were waiting for Eli to come home, it felt like a great big hug from God, reminding me that He has it worked out and it will be done in His strength.... How awesome!!
After a great service, we headed back out to the car. Eli rode home with Daddy, so I was in the car by myself, and, don't you know, that same song was on!! Reminding me how the strength WILL rise as we WAIT upon the Lord.
As I was mentally noting that so I could pull on it during times when I might feel discouraged, the next song came on. It was a song we did a long time ago- but so perfect. I was so touched and felt so loved, it was almost as if God Himself were in the car sitting right next to me, placing His arm on my shoulders, infusing His love deep inside me.
Here are the lyrics for that song:
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength
For each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way
By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today
Thank you, God, for holding us up when we are weak, drawing us close when we are torn, and loving us so thoroughly every minute of every day. Thank you that You are going to bring our child home on that exact day and giving us peace in our hearts to know that it will be done and in Your perfect time. Thank you. May you be glorified in all this Lord, may our actions be such that we shine You instead of trying to draw energy from others, draining those around us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)