Before and After!!!

This is the picture we fell in love with!! It is hard to believe that she was this small. The moment I saw her face on my computer....I instantly knew she was our daughter!!



Here she is at 8 months old!!! She looks like a little girl.....we are in love! We will see Eliana in 10 days!!!!!! Don't worry....we will take TONS OF PICTURES!!!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

Aunt La-Loy!!

We got a great surprise two days ago......my middle sister Lauren is now going to Guatemala with us in a week and a half!!!! Eliana can't wait to be held by her Aunt La-Loy (that is what Annalise calls Lauren....she is the little girl she nannies....and is in the picture). Thank you Jeff for letting Lauren go.....and for paying for her flight!!! HOW MUCH FUN!!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

P.S. Eliana is going to really miss her Aunt Leah and Uncle Bulldog!

Fashion with Compassion!

I have to begin this blog by telling each one of you how much your words and e-mails have meant to me. I have not been able to respond.....but trust me, I will. Each person's words were just what I needed to hear.....they were literally gifts from the Lord! Thank you Lord that your mercies are new every single morning!! I am choosing to trust that.....keep praying for me though. I really need it.

In the midst of a lot of NOT FUN things going on......we had a really FUN thing to go to tonight. It was a fashion show from a very cool guy here in Nashville and one of my favorite stores Philanthropy (clothing line is called Prophetik.....check it out.....I love his clothes and t-shirts!!). All of the proceeds went to Aid Sudan. I couldn't think of anything better....fashion and orphans....Chris said I should start a blog called "ilovefashionandorphans.blogspot.com"! We had a blast!!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. I finally got to meet the incredible Ali Tanner!!!! She is going to be working with Aid Sudan in May.....what a heart for people this girl has!! I have decided she is going to be my new best friend. :-)

Gettin Ready...

I can't wait to get to Guat! We got a few new pics today and they're just making me more and more excited to go see this sweet "thang"! I feel like she's pretty excited to see me too...just look at those eyes!!! Is it just me or do those eyes just make you melt?

From a Daddy who can't wait,
Chris

P.S. Many of you have sent my wife very specific and deeply heartfelt encouragement & pryaer...THANK YOU! It means a ton to her and to me.

Why can't we live at Disney World?!

I didn't know what picture would go well with MAJOR SPIRITUAL ATTACKS!!! So, I decided to post a picture when life was pretty simple for 3 days (us at Disney World). The last month has been hard....pretty much an understatement. I can't go into details (if you would like to hear a longer version....send me an e-mail). I have been hit from all sides. Please pray for my health. Pray for strength for me. I continue to realize that Satan does NOT like the idea of adoption....and orphan care. So, he has decided to bombard me with a lot right now. I have spent hours crying....but now I'm mad. HE CANNOT KEEP ATTACKING LIKE THIS!!! We are going to see our precious Eliana and Xiomara two weeks from tomorrow.....and I feel desperate for prayers. Oh....here is a small attack...we have ZERO cars in our driveway right now. Chris's car was totaled over a month ago (and we still haven't found a replacement)....and mine is in the shop with a thousand things wrong with it. Yikes!!! Notice that I said this was a small attack.

But, I need to mention a fun praise.....Eliana is in family court!!! I keep praying that she will make it to PGN in lightening speed!

I love you all,
Lindsey

Please Lord.....

....let us see this bed when we go to the orphanage!

My little friend Pablo.....

I have been looking through pictures all night....and have to post about sweet Pablo. I can't even tell you how much I love this precious little boy. I remember the first time I walked into ADN, I noticed him immediately. He can't walk....he can't talk....he can't see. But, he loves to be held. My favorite times were holding and just touching his sweet face and talking to him. He loved it. Sweet Pablo was abandoned in a box on the street....and was found by the police. Thank you Lord for creating such a precious little life. Please heal him.

Pablo, I can't wait to hold you soon!! Love you.

Lindsey

A BIG THANK YOU!!!!

I wanted to give a quick update on the story behind our plane tickets! My sister is a nanny to one of the greatest little girls of all time....named Annalise. She really is like part of our family...we love her so much!! Her dad heard that we were going on this trip....and told Lauren he wanted to pay for my mom's plane ticket!!!!! Thank you so much Jeff....it means the world to us. What a gift you gave to us!

Then, we were able to use my dad's frequent flyer miles....let me tell you (for those of you that don't have frequent flyer miles)...it has to be a MIRACLE to actually use them)!! I spent a few hours on the phone back and forth between Delta and AMEX...and IT WORKED!! THANK YOU SO MUCH DAD!!!! We couldn't have gone without these.

So, LET THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUE........19 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! I already cried last night thinking about having to say goodbye. Yikes....I need to focus on the positive....we will be there soon sweet baby!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. HAPPY 8 MONTHS SWEET GIRL!!!!!!

A few of the reasons I am counting the hours until Guatemala.....

Beauty for ashes.....

Well, some of you might be wondering why I have not posted a lot in the last few weeks. It has been a really hard few weeks. But, even in the midst of trials...I continue to feel the Lord revealing His love and mercy to us over and over again. Last night, Chris and I had a few exciting things in the mail. We had an envelope from Shaohannah's Hope (Steven and Mary Beth Chapman's ministry to help families that are adopting). WE GOT A GRANT!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!! We have had the honor of being a part of the Shaohannah's Hope banquets over the last few years. It is literally our favorite night of the year. We have gotten to celebrate with families as we watch their adoption stories unfold. Last year, we had no idea we were going to be one of those families. Thank you Lord.

The next envelope we almost threw away thinking it was junk mail. It was Eliana's DNA Results....AND THE PICTURE OF HER WITH HER BIOLOGICAL MOM!!!! I just stared at it. Chris just stared. Then, again we felt so compelled to pray for this woman. We will pray for her the rest of our lives. She looked so sad...I can't imagine the pain. But, at the same time....I felt a huge peace that Eliana has been given to us by God to be our daughter!!! I love her. Thank you Cristina for giving birth to the most beautiful creation. Thank you for having the strength to give her up. Thank you for giving the gift of life. I am praying for you sweet Cristina. We will tell Eliana all about you.....and how strong you must be!

I love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. Please pray for us.....pray for strength and health. We are heading to Guat 3 weeks from tomorrow!!!! :-)