...a little mush.

yep...this blog post might be a little mushy.  so, here's your warning in advance!  my heart is overflowing, and I would love to tell you why.

I am feeling especially grateful for 3 particular things.

1. God's provision and blessing on our lives.  we are so blessed that WE GET to do what we do for a living.  WE GET to see God move first hand over and over and over again.  WE GET to play a part in life changing experiences for people who come and serve on an 8 day trip.  I could go on and on...but I think you get the picture.  so, THANK YOU to those of you who sacrificially give so we can stay and serve in the Dominican Republic.

               (just had the sweet opportunity to host this awesome group from Carthage, MO.)

2.  My husband.  I love watching him do what he does.  I love how he serves and how he loves others and how he makes every person he talks to feel like they are the only person in the room.  I love watching him do his job.  I love how he has fallen in love with the local leaders we work with and how he empowers them .  I love watching him be a daddy (and how especially patient he is with our 2 year old who is testing her boundaries right now like nobody's business.)  I love his playful and spunky personality that keeps me laughing and on my toes.  
yes, I am definitely a proud wife who feels like I won the husband lottery! 

  (praying at the Leadership Development Complex land)

                                                     

 (there's that playful personality I was talking about, he always has me laughing.)

 

3. Jackie.  as many of you know, Jackie is the beautiful girl in the picture below.  she gave us a gift almost 3 years ago.  a gift that changed our lives forever.  a gift that came in an adorable little package with beautiful brown skin and lots of black hair!  

 

for the second time, Jackie came to the Dominican for a mission trip.  what an honor and privilege to serve along-side of her last week.  I don't think Will and I can even grasp how amazing this story is...all praise and glory to God.  can you see the  beauty in all of this?  It's a true picture of what adoption is.  we have all been adopted into the body of Christ as sons and daughters of The King...just because He loves us that much.  Jackie will forever hold a special place in our hearts.  we adore her.

 

                (working together with Jackie and her mom, Donna, at the GO Medical Center)

 

hope you are having a fantastic summer.  ours is off to a great start!

 



Mountain Dew and Doughnut Sticks.

Baby Penelope June is now three weeks old and I am finally getting a chance to document her story.  What a sweet joy it is for me to tell.  Adoption stories are kind-of my passion. : )
I would like to call this entry “mountain dew and doughnut sticks”. You will have a better understanding of why as you read on.  Grab a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea…and enjoy!

On December 23^rd, Will and I received the most exciting Christmas gift anyone could ask for.  We were sitting around my Grandma's kitchen table eating strawberry cake when Will’s cell phone rang.  After I answered it, the gentle voice on the other end said, “You and Will have been chosen by a birthmother in Kansas City.  It’s a baby girl and she is due in 2-3 weeks."  After the shock subsided, we returned to the kitchen where the family was gathering and shared the exciting news.  I saw my daddy’s eyes fill up with tears.  He must think there’s something special about having 2 girls. : )

On January 8th, we flew to Kansas City to meet Sara, the birthmother.  We met her at a restaurant for supper.  It was one of the most beautifully surreal experiences we have ever encountered.  Sitting across the table from this sweet and lively young gal, having her look into our eyes and so genuinely say, “I am carrying this baby for you,” seriously tugged on our heart strings.  We sat there for almost 3 hours and talked and talked and talked.  We loved getting to know all about her!!
The next day, we flew back to Louisville simply to await the phone call to let us know when Sara was going into labor.

January 13th, 3:45 am...the phone rang.  Startled, we both jumped out of bed.  Sara was at the hospital in labor!!  Luckily, our bags were packed and ready to go.  We splashed some water on our faces after just a couple hours of sleep and hopped in the car praying that the 7 hour drive would go by quickly and we would get there in time for the birth.  After being on the road for just a few minutes, we thought it would be smart to stop and fill the gas tank.  As Will was pumping the gas, I decided to run inside and grab a few snacks to keep us awake.  Will just looked at me and giggled as I returned to the car with Mountain Dew and Doughnut Sticks (and maybe a Bear Claw too)!  Hey, a little sugar would surely keep us awake for the long drive that was ahead.

9:35 am...we arrived at Research Medical and baby Penelope June Partin was born at 10:02.  So thankful that we arrived in time for the birth.  The nurse came into the waiting room to let us know that everyone was healthy!  Praise God!  I was able to be in the nursery with Junie while she took her first bottle and got her first bath.  What a memorable time that was for me. 

We spent the next few days in the hospital with Sara and baby June.  Those days seem to be a bit of a blur now, but looking back, they were days that will forever be etched in our minds and our hearts.  We had the opportunity to sit with Sara in her hospital room and love on her.  We laughed together, cried together and told stories.  She held baby June and just loved her little fingers and toes.  She is truly a beautiful, courageous woman who has given us a gift that we can never re-pay.  We love her so much.

God has chosen to expand our family again.  He has given us baby Penelope June through the blessing of adoption.  She is so beautiful and spunky, and she can be a little fiery at times (I bet that’s the red hair!)  God has charged us again with a responsibility.  A responsibility to teach our two girls about Jesus.  There is nothing more important than that.  He has been so merciful and gracious to us and has hand crafted this life for us.  A life we wouldn't trade.  A life full of beauty and excitement.   A life enriched with a story so complex.  A life full of joy and a life full of relationships that we never even imagined possible.  A life with 2 beautiful birth mothers who hold a special place in our hearts.

(baby June just after she was born)

 

(a photo that speaks volumes and one that will be cherished forever)

(Ruby Ann loving her new baby sister)