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We got excited about the thought of plucking Ava up from the poorest of the poor and moving her in with the richest of the rich....Just like Jesus did for us!

We in America have so much, so much that we take it for granted. Consider sharing some of your extra with someone in need.

The Urbans love orphans

We had a meeting at the Little Lighthouse tonight which will be Ava's future school. It was an informational meeting for parents of newly diagnosed children with special needs who are on the waiting list for their child to attend there.

We had to miss all 3 soccer practices tonight in order to be there. The kids were a little disappointed about missing practice, but got really excited when we told them why we would be missing practice. I told them there was a meeting at Ava's new school, and there would be childcare. Jude asked (of course it would be Jude asking), "Mom, do we get to play with a bunch of orphan kids?"

My special hiding place

About 2 or 3 months ago, John gave me a great idea. He suggested I put my purse on top of the refrigerator where Hope can't reach it, since she loves my gum and my lip gloss so much. You know, remove the temptation. So I thought this was so brilliant that I put Simeon's pocket knives, special snacks, plus anything else special that I don't want her to find.

Today when I reached up to grab my purse off the top of the refrigerator, I saw that Hope now has her own "stash" of things to protect up there. She had her little purse, a few dimes and nickels, her tiny pink Bible (thanks Aunt Donita-every one of my kids has treasured their little personalized pink and blue bibles), and her prized tube of lipgloss that she earned by sleeping all night in her own bed. I'm not sure who she is hiding these things from. I just thought it was SO funny. No wonder I keep finding the barstool right smack in front of the refrigerator!

A letter from John

This was so sweet it made me cry. John wanted to be the one who made our adoption announcement to my extended family members (by email). He wouldn't let me read it until after it was already sent. So here is what he wrote:

There is a new little Urban on the way...

We know the gender. Its a girl!

We've even seen pictures of her using a normal camera.
In fact, she's already on this earth waiting for her forever family to take her home. We even have a name for her.. Ava Alina Grace Urban.

She is a special person, but then again aren't we all.
She has some special needs, and again, don't we all.

She has a smile that just brightens the room.
She has a heart, that although may need a little adjusting, is ready to give every Rovenstine the biggest hug you've ever had.

Her eyes, needing a little adjusting, are some of the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen.

She's a gem. A priceless gold nugget that Jesus thinks is worth traveling half way across the globe for [James 1:27].
She's going to bring life, joy and great love to our home.

We hope you will welcome, love, accept and hug her true Rovenstine protocol. She's going to bless you, I promise.

John Urban - Simeon, Liesel, Jude, Hope and Ava's dad.

Scooby and "The Gang"

My Mini-Me

Missing her...

Waiting is for the birds! There is waiting with every pregnancy, but you get to feel your baby kicking you all day, and you spend your days wondering who he or she will look like, whether they'll have blue eyes or brown, or green, blonde hair, brown, or no hair at all, as was the case with two of mine, and you have a general idea of when you will get to meet for the first time.

With adoption the waiting is different. I have seen my child! I have seen her, and I have fallen in love with her, but never had the chance to hold her. I see her picture on the magnet board, in my Bible, on the phone, on the refrigerator, on the computer, I see her every day but I can't pick her up and love on her.

I used to worry about whether I could love an adopted child as much as I love my biological children, and the answer is yes. I know, because I already do! I went in to mommy mode the moment I laid eyes on her. John went into Daddy mode the very same day. There are 4 brothers and sisters here that CANNOT wait to meet our sweet Ava.

As I prayed for her tonight, I said, "Lord I just miss her! Please let us be able to go soon and get her!" And then I realized what I had said, and I wondered, is it possible to miss somebody you have never met before? I guess it is!

Orphan-eggs

I overheard a conversation today between Hope and her cousin Sebastian who is very close to the same age. She was saying, "Sebastian, guess what? We get to adopt Ava!"

Sebastian said, "Where is Ava?"

Hope said, "In the orphan-eggs".

I can only imagine what she believes this "orphan-egg" place to look like!

Something fun to do...

....Purchase a wheelchair for a person who is bedridden in Guatemala! I have been following

THIS MAN'S BLOG

for several weeks now, and I have been amazed, touched, inspired by what he is doing for disabled adults and children, many of them orphans, in Guatemala. I was born in Guatemala to missionaries, so maybe that is also why this is so dear to my heart.

Our finances are tight right now, as we are saving up for adoption travel expenses coming up soon. But I believe what this man is doing for the needy and hurting people of the world is true christianity. I am totally excited about helping to provide a wheelchair to someone (like the 12 year old boy who has never walked and can't leave his bed). What a mission, and what a beautiful demonstration of the love of Christ. I am hoping someone who reads this post today would be inspired to do the same!

When you have writer's block....

Just post a cute video of one of your kids!

Some of my favorite families...

I always thought computers were from the devil until I discovered the wonder of "Yahoo Groups". There is a little Yahoo group called Reece's Rainbow, a group of families who have adopted, are considering adopting, or are in the process of adopting a child or children with Down Syndrome and other special needs. I LOVE THIS GROUP! (I wish someone could invent a way to get us all together for a cup of coffee too). Some of these moms I just know by name, and some by their pictures and names, and I have a feeling one day soon I will get to meet a couple of them in person. It is through the courage of these moms, some of whom have multiple children with DS, that our family has been inspired to adopt a child with special needs. These are just a few of the families that I have pictures of. There are many more in the group. Aren't they beautiful?

Here is a link with pictures of other children and families who have recently adopted or been adopted. These pictures always bring tears to my eyes, considering the would-have-been fate for many orphans with disabilities in other countries. These kids have families now! Forever families! So take a look and enjoy these sweet pictures as I have many, many times. I like to imagine what our "Family Homecoming Picture" will look like on this very link in just a few short months!

Thus saith....Hope

Hope has picked up on my tricks. When I need her to do something, say brush her teeth for example, I'll say, "The dentist said that the moms have to brush the toddlers' teeth for them." When buckling her in the car and she doesn't want to sit in her seat, I blame it on the policemen. At the grocery store I blame the Walmart lady, and most everything else....Jesus. :)

So last night when I was tucking her into bed, telling her she is going to sleep ALL night in her own bed, like all the animals do, she said, "But Mom, the dentist said that Moms and Dads need to let their toddlers get in their beds."

Pretty clever! Reminded me of the time 4 yr. old Simeon opened the Bible, pointed to the page, and said, "Look Mom. The Bible says: 'Moms and Dads, let your boys play in the mud.' "

I have tried using prizes to get Hope to stay in her bed. Her favorite, lipgloss. I promised her pink lipgloss if she slept in her own bed all night. She was so excited, she said she PROMISED she would sleep in her own bed all night. About 3 am (I guess I was too out of it), John said she climbed up in bed, kissed me on the cheek, went to the kitchen and got a drink, and then came to inform me that she didn't care about the lipgloss anymore. She preferred sleeping with ME over having her very own tube of lipgloss. Imagine that. I am loved.

Oh well, I have to admit she IS pretty sweet and snuggly, and she doesn't snore, so I'm not sure why I'm complaining. Like they say, I'm sure when she's 13 we won't be having this "problem" anymore.

Buddy Walk

There are many things I never knew before becoming the soon-to-be-mother of a daughter with Down Syndrome. One of those things is that the month of October is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. There are many ways people celebrate National DS awareness Month, and one of those ways is the Buddy Walk. The Buddy Walk helps to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with DS, and helps to raise funds for education, research and advocacy programs for people with DS.

So our family participated in our first Buddy Walk today. What a beautiful celebration it was! We only wished that our "buddy" was there to walk with us (I wish she could walk, for that matter!). We pinned Ava's picture to our shirts, and had some opportunities to pass out Reeces Rainbow cards.

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness month, I am posting links to two businesses that are operated by young people with Down Syndrome. One is a company that makes quilts and blankets, the other sells individual packages of ready-to-make homemade cookies. We have hope for Ava's future when we hear stories like this. Please take a look:

Simply Adorable Blankets

and

Creekside Cookies and More

Maybe you can think of some Christmas presents to order from one of these great businesses!!

An actual conversation with my son (age 9)

Son: "Mom, do I have a bruise on my back?"
Mom: "Yes. Why, what happened?"
Son: "Noah threw a rock at me."
Mom: "Why did he throw a rock at you?"
Son: "Because I threw a rock at him."
Mom: "Why did you throw a rock at him?"
Son: "Because it's fun! It was a rock-throwing contest. We were trying to see who could throw the hardest."

(I will never, ever EVER understand what could possibly be "fun" about a rock-throwing contest. I guess that's why I'm a girl.)

A joke that Liesel (age 7) made up

What do you call a mystery that a bed needs to solve?

-A pillow "case"

HA HA HA HA HA! I don't care who you are, THAT was funny!

You might be a redneck if.....

Your kids drag a mattress from the garage to the front yard to do flips on for Fall Break entertainment....then chase Walmart bags around after letting them go into the wind.

GOOD NEWS-Dossier on its way overseas!

Our checklist for adoption:

1. Choose child-DONE
2. Get passports-DONE
3. Complete I-600A (orphan petition through Immigration)- DONE
4. Complete home study- DONE
5. Federal fingerprints- DONE
6. Complete dossier (all the collected forms and paperwork, plus official application to the foreign government)-DONE
7. INS approval received-DONE (This means we have passed the test, and we have been approved to adopt internationally)
8. Apostille (fancy term for official certification) dossier, and mail overseas-DONE
9. Wait for in-country appointment date
10. Travel to meet our Ava!

Another special girl

When we asked for donations for our adoption fundraiser garage sale, people were so generous! We made over $2,000 in one Saturday! I am attaching a couple of pictures from our garage sale, so you can both laugh, AND rejoice with us for God's blessings. We also had a couple of people, including neighbors, who gave us monetary donations, even though we had said all along we would trust God for the finances WITHOUT asking our friends for money! And, out of the blue one day we received an email from some people we did not know, nor had we even heard of them before. They had heard about our plans to adopt a child with special needs even though we had none of our own. This couple felt led to bless a christian family who was taking a step of faith in the area of adoption, and donated $4,000 towards our adoption!!! Talk about answers to our prayers. We really had thought we would have to sell a vehicle, or downsize our house, or have John pick up some extra hours, but none of those were the case. We were so blown away!

I said all of that to say this....I have heard several people comment that they have considered adoption, but "couldn't afford it". We have witnessed firsthand that when you do take that step of faith, even though you have NO idea where the money is going to come from, but you take the first step, KNOWING God will provide....HE WILL. Every day since we have said 'yes' to this wild adventure He offered us, called adoption, we have sensed His goodness, His pleasure, His guidance, His peace, and His provision...and we have never been more fulfilled. We truly believe with all our hearts that He wants His followers to care for His sheep (Remember, Jesus repeated Himself three times to Peter?), and I believe orphans are a large majority of those sheep. If you can't adopt or don't feel "called" to adopt, at least consider helping another family who is. Adoption can be messy, and expensive and frankly downright hard, and what better way to cheer someone on than to support them with your finances.

To the upper right there is a "button" with a little white and grey monkey on it. Another family in the adoption realm that I have gotten acquainted with (via world-wide-web) is in the process of adopting a little girl from the same country where we are adopting from. The Cornishes are a beautiful little family with two children, the younger of whom has Down Syndrome. They are in the process of adding their third child through adoption. Her name is Aleksa, she is 5, and she has Down Syndrome as well. (If you scroll way down to the bottom of their site you can see her). If you spend any time on their blog, their love for Jesus is evident, and their joy in being obedient to Him. Please take a look and purchase one of these adorable monkeys.

Maybe I shouldn't mention that I have entered a contest to win one of these darling little monkeys for Ava (of course she'll want the cute little pink one to go with her pink headbands). I don't know how Meredith is picking her winner (Pick me! Pick me!), but help the Cornishes, and help Ava's chances...by buying one!!

I love pink!

As soon as I can get my hands on that girl, she'll be out of that red and black boy's jumper and covered in pink from head to toe. Does anyone know how to make pretty head bands and hair bows? Some instructions please? At least until she grows some hair on that pretty little head of hers!