I love this picture of him he has such a sweet face.

This is some of what was told to us about our little man.

Ivan is a good-natured,affectionate boy. He goes on well with otherchildren. He is very happy when he sees them. He is sociable with adultstoo. He eats and sleeps well. He can drink himself from a kids' cup, he can eat himself holding food in his hand. He is now being teached to use aspoon. He can fix his attention on certain things, manipulates objects purposefully. Gets hold of small objects. Can sit down himself. Makes attempts to stand up. Can walk with someone's help. Changes expression ofhis face. Knows his name. Performs simple commands: come here, give me atoy, etc. Repeats simple syllables.Positive dynamic is stated by the doctors.

PICTURES OF OUR FAMILY

getting the first few things sent off

we are almost done with getting all the stuff together for our home study just need to finish the autobiography and make a few copies of things. We are going today to get birth certificates. We went yesterday and got our fingerprints for the back ground check. It's funny I feel like where ever I go I need to tell people our story and about Josiah. I find myself already talking like a proud mama about him. like how the DR say he manipulates objects for a purpose. Meaning he can do things like put cups inside each other stack blocks so on, and how he is friendly and gives good eye contact.My kids talk the same way about him probably because they hear me. Amelia tells her friends all about her new little brother, she calls him our baby brother. She tells how we are adopting him and that he can't walk yet but we are going to teach him. It is so cute to see her and how proud she is of him, She loves to look at his pictures.
So we are finally sending off the $1,275 to Reece's Rainbow so they can set up our donation page. We will also send off the home study application and copies of everything along with the $300 as well as the application to the adoption agency and $375 so they can get us going on our Dossier. We had that money saved well I did anyways.. Mike was surprised when I told him I had all that. A lot of it was from the doll show I did in February, the girls and I got a booth at the doll show where you sell dolls and teddy bears and I sold a bunch of my collection and dolls I had made. The rest of the money I saved a bit here and there and my birthday money too, it all added up to be just what we needed. We have not gotten any donations yet. we are trusting in God, he said not to worry about the finances.So I will do my best to trust and listen and not worry. After we get the home study done we can apply for grants but before then we need $1,600 to pay for the home study.
I just keep thinking wow by next Christmas we will have 7 kids! I hope it is a lot sooner then that but it gives me a realistic goal.

Exciting news

WE have some exciting news! We are adopting a two-year-old little boy from Eastern Europe he has Down syndrome! and no that is not a bad thing or even a scary thing it is who God made him to be. Those of you who know us know of our love for children. We know we can give this little guy the loving family he needs and that he will give our family joy beyond belief. The Lord has been putting adoption on my (Katrina's) heart for awhile now. As I looked into it, nothing seemed to be just right. I looked into different ways, like foster adoption or even just foster care. But they just didn't seem to be right. Then I was led to a special website, http://www.reecesrainbow.com/ . As I was looking thru the many pictures of children with Down syndrome, I came to one and my heart stopped. God said, "He is yours." I didn't really listen; I sorta just kept on looking at the pictures, but went back to his picture many times and each time God said, "He is yours." Finally, I stopped and looked at his picture for a long time, and God said, "This is your son." Two days went by as I would go to his picture many times each day and pray asking, "Is this really you, God?" I had never thought we would adopt from another country. I thought it would cost way too much. And we would have to travel there. It just always seemed to be too much for me to think about. But God had different ideas and plans. Finally,

I text Mike the picture and said, "He could be ours.

" He text back, "Who is that?"

I text back, "He's a baby up for adoption.

"He text: "Oh."

I text: "He can be ours; what do you think?"

He text: "OK."

I text: "Are you kidding?"

Mike text: "No, if God told you he is ours then he is."

I text: "He is in Eastern Europe; does that change anything?"

Mike text: "No, why would it?"

I text: "He has Down syndrome; does that change anything?"

Mike text: "Nope, he can still play Little League baseball. If God is telling you he is ours, then he is ours."

Mike is like that, just so to the point, if God say it will be so, then it be so. It's nice having Mike there for the times I have all my insecure moments and over-guess and over-think everything; he is always there to set me straight.

So now we are off on a journey. It may be hard. We know the process is difficult and daunting, but I have learned that it is during the hard times that God teaches you the most. We have already seen God's hand in this as He has done some wonderful things to set the path for us. Our eyes were opened to a world we never knew existed! Hundreds and hundreds of children with Down syndrome (and other special needs) are left in orphanages across the world because there is no chance for them to live a valued life in their own country. No medical care, no therapies, no place in their society. Many of these children, when they turn four, are transferred to institutions, where the majority of them are tied to their cribs all day long and die within the first year due to lack of care, nutrition, and attention. Once God opened our eyes, we could not turn back.We will be traveling to Eastern Europe to adopt our little boy. We have chosen his name: Josiah Paul, Josiah means "God will save," Paul means "small." We didn't know the meaning of his name until after we had chosen it. We are so excited and want him here NOW! but we are hoping, if all goes well, that he will be home in six to seven months! Please keep us and Josiah, in your prayers! We are so happy to have your support! We are not usually ones to ask for anything, but we really could use help from you all, big or small. Every penny will help to bring Josiah home. It's going to cost us around $28,000 in all, and we are trusting in the Lord to provide every step of the way.
"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." -Proverbs 24:12