Summer at a glance....

Jett Turner loves fruit.....eating grapes in Arizona!
Madison Grace in Covered Wells during a community block party!
Jett loves Mrs. Sandra and her cooking.....she spoils him and he loves it!
Autumn (Ottaman) and Jett pretend to be monkies in Arizona.
JT, Kaitlyn, Jett and Madison pose in Indiana...what a great trip!

Our summer has been filled with mission trips to Arizona and Indiana. Tomorrow we are leaving for South Africa/Zambia/Swaziland for 2 weeks. Here are a few photos to tie us over until we return.

We celebrated 6 months with Jett while in Arizona and are so amazed by his progress. Here's an update on our little man:

1. He uses big words like suggestion, actually (that's his favorite word) and inquisitive.

2. He just lost his front two bottom teeth (and explained that the fairy teeth came and got them).

3. He has eaten watermelon for the first time this summer and loved it!

4. He loves to tell pilots that his name is Jett and watch their reaction.....

5. He now tells people that his mommy and daddy came to Guatemala to get him from an orphanage and he now lives in Alabaster, Alabama. He's very proud to tell his story to anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest (and to those who don't as well).

We'll catch up more details when we return. Thank you all for your prayers!

Mission Trips Galore!

As I write this entry, I am sitting in the offices of Bible Baptist Church in North Vernon, Indiana. I have Madison and Jett with me here taking morning showers. JT and Kaitlyn are in Arizona taking teams to the airport so that they can depart this morning. We have spent the past 3 1/2 weeks in the soaring heat of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. What a blessed time we have had. We have seen God show up and show off in numerous ways!

Now, we will spend the next week here in Indiana leading VBS in the morning and afternoons in eight different communities. What a joy to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in conjunction with a local body of believers.

We will finally be home on July 12th and look forward to a week at home before traveling to South Africa! The kids have done so well during the past month. They have adjusted well and have been so flexible....we are so proud of them. We will post pictures after we return from Indiana....still praying for all of you stuck in the system. We feel your pain and we are eager for your babies to come home!

Prayer for Chapman Family

We were all blown away by the news of the death of Maria Chapman yesterday. As many of you know, she was the youngest daughter (5 years old) of Steven Curtis Chapman. The Chapman's adoption organization, Shaohannah's Hope, provided us a grant that helped our adoption journey tremendously. Our hearts ache with them during this great time of loss. Please join us in praying for them.

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

Paperwork Has Been Completed!

It's official...well, almost. While Jett is not a US citizen yet (that takes 6-12 months for all of the paperwork to go through), he does have his new Social Security card and US passport. He will be making his first trip out of the country to South Africa and Swaziland this summer!

The kids are all doing well. We are busy gearing up for our "go" season full of mission trips. We are traveling to AZ at the end of this week and then return home for 4 days. We go to a wedding in Georgia and return for another 4 days. Then, it's off to Arizona for 3 1/2 weeks, Indiana for a week and then home again for 6 days. Then, we leave for Africa for 2 weeks...whew! What a whirlwind...it's exciting and scary all at the same time.

We will try and update the blog as we can but it may be "iffy" for a while depending on internet service. Please continue to pray for the adoptions in Guatemala right now....we are heart-broken over the situation there and pray that all of you will have your babies home soon!

Friends....

The bride and groom to be - Beth and Brady!
Our friends, David and Michelle from Georgia.
Our great friend Natalie in her usual stance at our house....braiding the girls' hair.
David likes to dance to entertain us all!
Jett decided to lead a puppet show and gave Michelle instructions to hold up the baby blanket as his stage.

Our great friends David and Michelle came over this weekend along with their daughter Beth, her fiance Brady, and Natalie. Beth and Brady are getting married in June, and JT is officiating. So, they spent some more time in marriage counseling this weekend. We totally enjoyed our time together immensely.

Jett adores Brady and we all find him pretty funny too! It was a great time to enjoy their company, laugh and laugh some more.

Jett is finally recovering from his surgery. All of the paperwork for his re-adoption is complete meaning we have sent away for his passport, changed his name on his social security card and completed all of the citizenship requirements. Whew....what a relief!

Lifeline Picnic

Today was a big day for our family, as we were finally able to meet other Lifeline families who have followed via the web but never met in person. While Jett was naturally wary of other children from Guatemala in the beginning, he warmed up quickly. He made quick friends of A and J. And, the adults had a great time talking. It feels like we've known them forever as we journeyed through the adoption process for a similar time period. Those who have walked that journey have a unique story that only others on the path can fully understand.

We met several families who we won't name for their privacy. We've learned that the web can be a dangerous place to post names, so you know who you are. What a joy to see all of the children playing together in Alabama!

Jett is recovering well from his surgery, and has even prayed for his healing. Okay, I'll spare you the details of his prayers, but let's just say that the family has been laughing lately during the blessing and prayer times. Blessed are those who have to sit near us in public when Jett prays.....

We officially sent in all the paperwork for the citizenship documents today and sent off for Jett's passport. Only one more item to tackle....a trip to the Social Security Office tomorrow should take care of that. And, then it's OFFICIAL...no more paperwork for the adoption!!! I'll be SO relieved!

What a blessed day...thank you all for your support and encouragement along this journey. Please pray for those who are still waiting. Our hearts ache for you...we've been where you are, and we are here for you if you need anything!

Surgery Today

Today was Jett's surgery (a circumcision) at Children's South, and he is handling it just fine. Of course, he was in some pain and said he cried a little with the nurse (while we weren't with him), but he's being such a trooper. No more pokes, shots, etc. for a while!

I know that you come for the pictures so here's a few more of our favorite Jettster in Arizona. He loves our friend Morgan from KY and wanted to constantly play with her. He also enjoyed the inflatable barrel from a past VBS curriculum...he called it John. Poor John had an accident and couldn't be repaired later in the week......

Jett is progressing well and he is learning so much every day. This Thursday will be a family picnic with Lifeline here in Birmingham. We are looking forward to meeting other adoptive parents and seeing Jett interact with new friends!