We're still here...

Yes, we are still here.  Yes, I have lots of pictures to post and news to share.  Yes, I just now unpacked the stuff I need to upload pictures.  No, I just don't have it all together right now!

Why didn't someone shake me and tell me that moving our family and downsizing by 1/2 would not be the smartest thing I ever did, less than 2 weeks from leaving the country to bring home our next child!  I have decided I am not superwoman and should not act like it!  For some reason I thought this wouldn't be too bad but then Jason said, "You need to get rid of about half of your clothes!"  And then I realized I'd have to get rid of a bunch of stuff or else we were going to live in nothing but clutter.  So while unpacking each box, we are going through and getting rid of a bunch of stuff.  So maybe that's why this move seems harder than the last, it hasn't been unpacking and everything having a space, it's been going through every. single. little. thing.

Hopefully I will get Heath and myself packed by tomorrow.  Of course, Casey, is already packed.  But this is typical of us!

Yesterday Hudson told me that he pretty much already missed me and I wasn't even gone.  He couldn't wait until Heath was home and when he sees us in the airport, he's going to run as fast as a jet and give us all 4 big hugs a piece.  I'm pretty emotional at this point, so I'm pretty sure I let some tears roll.

Hollynn on the other hand picked up a wooden spoon a few days ago, looked at me, shook it a little and said "You hear me?"  several times!  Then just busted out laughing, it was hilarious.  I'm pretty sure she has only seen me do that a couple of times! HA!

Okay, lots to do, and when I get to Russia I'll do lots of updates since I don't sleep much while I'm there and I have pics from Hudson's baptism and Beth Moore :)  

My specific prayer that I started praying yesterday is "Lord, this is the absolute busiest season of my life, so while I feel covered up with things to do, please cover me with peace."  I don't want to feel overwhelmed with this move, packing, etc.  Please pray for us, all of us, especially the transition Heath will be making in several days!   

Hudson Luke Carney...

Yes, that name was just written down in heaven, because he just asked Jesus to be his Savior.  I am a very proud mama right now.  Although he did just tell me I'm now his brother in Christ!  Ha! So maybe I'm a very proud brotha! 

He has been talk about this for some time now and here lately he has brought it up almost daily, and totally on his own.  We wanted to be sure he understood everything so we have tried to talk with him every time he brings it up do be sure he did.  Tonight when they were reading his Bible story, it was about Jesus being the Living Water and he told Jason he wanted to be saved.  So again, we talked to him, and tonight my sweet boy prayed for Jesus to forgive him for his sins, professed that He died on the cross and conquered death, and thanked Him for saving his soul.  And he just squeezed my neck when I told him that angels were singing in heaven and his name was being written down.  He threw his arm in the air and in total excitement said, "I get to go to heaven!"  Yes, buddy, you do, and a prayer I have prayed since before I ever saw his sweet little face, was answered tonight!  Can't wait to see the things God has planned him, cause you know they are great :)

Last visit until Forever...

So these are all from our last day of this past trip.  Looking at these, I wonder how can 17 more days seem soon yet so stinkin' far away?  I'm trying to balance moving, homeschooling, working, chasing my 21 month old, and nesting.  And really, all I want to do is jump 3 1/2 weeks from now when we are all together.  Don't worry, I'll stop whining when he gets here :) 

I am LOVING homeschooling Hudson!  I know it's only been a week, hopefully I will still feel this way in 39 weeks :)  I think this summer has been so crazy busy that just hanging out with him like this is great.  Hollynn LOVES to draw, or shall we say "dall").  So in the mornings when we do some of his work she is also enjoying herself.  We are doing some work in the mornings and some at nap time. 

I am going to do an entire post to this, but I have to tell you I not only met Beth Moore this past weekend, but I think we are best friends ;)  Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it b/c I'm pretty sure other than marrying Jason, and the first day I held my kids, this day goes right under these! 

Birthday Boy

Saturday we celebrated Hudson's 5th birthday by going to the back to school bash, then off to Monkey Joe's, and then finished up with some pizza and swimming with two of his best buddies Ethan and Lucas.  They had a BLAST!  And Hollynn did not miss a beat in keeping up with them!

I'll have to post pictures from Sunday.  Hudson chose Japanese food for his birthday lunch and since our life is constant motion we didn't have a family birthday party but did get together for lunch at Fuji's.  Casey made him a really cool dinosaur cake.

I can't believe he is 5 today.  I am up way too early to go to the barn and get work done so I can be here for breakfast to stick 5 candles in his waffles!  FIVE!  Where is time going?  I am so thankful for Hudson Luke.  He is so kind, funny, smart, and I love that he still cuddles with me :)  What an honor that he calls me Mom!

Plane Ticket & Baby Pic.

 This arrived in the mail yesterday :)  I'm counting down the days...29 left til we take off!

This was the baby picture of Heath shown to us when we accepted his referral at the ministry.  The only picture we have of him before we held him in April.  I only have the picture in my head of what Hudson looked like as a baby.  Long, skinny, and a head full of hair.  He was laying on his stomach asleep.  I had no clue then, that you could go online and get that picture.  There is a website where they have every child available for adoption in Russia and once they are adopted they come off that site.  So if you are in the process of adopting from Russia, please e-mail me and I'll send you this info.  What I would give to have known this 4 years ago!  Thanks Heather for sending this to me!  

Off to clean the parsonage today to get it ready to move in, but not before I look at this sweet face!

My last big push to sell our remaining shirts, I have in Blue 1 youth small, 1 youth large, and 2 adult mediums.  In orange I have 1 youth small, 3 youth mediums, 3 adult Large, and 1 adult XL.  $15 per shirt to help us fund Heath's adoption.  Message me if interested.  We will have our drawing for prizes in 2 weeks for those of you who bought 4 or more shirts or donated $50 or more.  THANKS SO MUCH!!

Pics from Tuesday

 I think you can actually hear him giggling just by looking at him!  Trust me, it is music to my ears :)

Sorry I am just now posting.  We had a wild trip home!  Made it to Washington Dulles only to have our flight get delayed until they finally cancelled it and told us they couldn't get us home until the next afternoon.  But we could take a taxi to Reagen and fly out the next morning.  We met two other people desperate to get to Nashville, shared a taxi with them, figured instead of a hotel we would just sleep in the airport since a hotel would have put us over budget.  Got to Reagan around 9:30, went to get our tickets for the next day and she said, "We have a 10:00 leaving for Nashville, want me to get you on it?"  YES!  So we hustled through security then they started calling our names to board immediately.  All 4 of us sprinted through the airport like wild people, but we made it.  Got home after 1 a.m. but got to see my babies.  I picked Hollynn up while she was sleeping at Casey's and she opened her eyes and said, "Hi Mama" then fell back to sleep.  Hudson struggled more this trip than last.  He had one night where he cried cause he just missed his mama.  Tore. Me. Up.  He curled up with me on the couch last night and fell asleep.  Hollynn has kissed me ten million times.  It's rough when you have to leave 2 to get to 1 and vice versa.  But only 34 more days and we fly out.
This coming week I am going to give the parsonage a scrub down and start moving things in.  I want to move things slowly and put them in their place instead of moving everything all at once and being overwhelmed with boxes.  We had 2 showings yesterday and have 1 today so maybe something will come out of it.
I'll try to post several times this week since I have a ton of pics of our trip!

Giving Thanks (2nd post today, scroll down for pics)

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.  -Psalm 105:1-2

Thank you, two words that hold more emotion than I could ever express! Thank You Lord!  I just want to shout it to the Lord!  Three times He has made me a mother and He is filling my man's quiver!

Court was a breeze compared to our first time through when they drilled us because we were so young.  The judge did not seem like a happy person but then did crack a smile when she saw the pictures of us with Heath.

We went today for him to get his passport picture taken.  Hung out this afternoon.  I hated saying bye but I believe God can do what we prayed over Heath.  To keep him safe and to have a very easy transition.  I pray he remembers us since he has really come out of his shell in only 3 days.  I keep saying it, another Mama's boy, woohoo!  Does anything melt your heart like two tiny arms reaching up for you!  And then he lays his cheek up against mine, I love it!

Since today is a double posting day, I'll keep it short.

I have been overwhelmed by your prayers, support, and encouraging words on here, via e-mail, facebook and fb messages.  What a blessing to my heart!  Thank you so much :)

This is a link to a video Jason made of our first trip, it is so good, watch it all the way to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfhUtnNP1TA      I'm not sure why it is not where you can click on it so just copy and paste it, you know I'm not very computer savvy!

Drumroll...

I'll post about court later, this a post I prepared before court to share our little man with the world.  I also have several fantastic videos to post!  These are all pictures of our time with Heath on Monday.  All seriousness when they first handed him to me.

 But then the wall started to crumble!

 He just wanted his toy, and honestly, I was glad he let the tears come on out that I knew he just wouldn't let go of earlier in the day.  The start of him realizing, someone cares, someone loves you, someone will kiss you and comfort you, and that someone is your MAMA!

 Loved having them all crawling all over me and playing with us. 

 Never too early to learn how to dribble!
And below...our last picture on Monday, Dad was cool and not so bad after all :)

GREAT DAY...

Tuesday was a great 2 visits with our little man.  We heard endless giggles and had some great moments.  I think I have another mama's boy on my hands, WOOHOO!  He watched me constantly and cried for me at one point.  He even started reaching out for me.  He loves his caretakers, he lights up when they come around, but when it was time to leave at the end of the day and she came to get him, she took him and we were telling him bye and he stuck his arms out for me and leaned over to me, it even surprised her!  We have some great video I can't wait to post after court. 
He warmed up to Jason and they played with a truck and train for a while.  They had some fun times today too.  I told Jason today, it won't be long before there are three running to the door when Daddy comes home, full of excitement!
Now to you prayer warriors...we will be in court at 10:30 Wed. which is 1:30 a.m. CST.  So before you go to bed tonight, please pray for our judge, our interpreter, us, and everyone involved in this process.  I will talk first then Jason.  Pray that we will have wise words to say and that the judge finds favor with us.  I am praying the next post on here is pictures of Heath which means the court has declared us his parents.
After court we will go get his passport pictures made then go hang out with him before his supper.  Then it will be off to dinner to meet another couple who is here.  Their little girl is in a different orphanage so we haven't met them yet, but we are looking forward to it!