BamFam Update

I spent some time this afternoon reading my old blog posts.  Over the past several months, I have done a terrible job of documenting us.  So, I wanted to try to catch up a little....

Mary Ashtyn is in the last few months of her first year of high school.  I am still trying to figure out how this is happening so fast.  In January, she made high school majorette for her second year!!  We are looking forward to her marching for the Purple Pride again during her sophomore year.  Mash is our determined, head strong child.  She sets goals for herself and does what it takes to reach them.  Late nights of homework, hours of twirling to the point of jammed fingers and bruises all while having her phone glued to her hand!!  LOL...she is also a typical teenager!  Some days we're not sure we can put up with her another second, but other days she amazes us with her commitment to Christ and her strong convictions.

Reece will be 13 in June!!!  He is developing his own style and doesn't really care what other people think...love this about him!  Spiky hair, red Converses, anything goes.  He still has the sweet servant's heart and would do anything for his sisters.  Bless him, he's about to have one more and I know he'll be the same way with sweet Ava.  More and more often, we are seeing glimpses of the teenager that he is becoming...can we really handle two???  He's had some major changes in the last few months.  He transferred to a different school after Christmas, something he's always wanted to do.  He now gets to ride to school with his Daddy and Lily.  I have missed him horribly since he was at one of the schools that I do speech therapy, but he loves the change and I'm adjusting.

He is also NOT playing baseball this year.  Although the extra time at home is fabulous, I do miss my Reece man on the field.  Loved watching him on first base and on the mound.  Love this boy and his big heart!

Lily is now serving her second term as the Alabama Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association!!  She has the unique opportunity to meet people from all over the state and help spread awareness for Muscular Dystrophy.  It is such a blessing to be able to share her story and work with the fabulous ladies in this picture to help kids throughout Alabama LIVE with MD.

She is our Silly Lily...still bossy, sassy, and full of personality.  When I tuck her in at night, she tells me "you're the best mommy I ever had...I'm going to keep you forever".  Yep, she still melts my heart and I still have a really hard time telling her no :)

At this point, you know as much about this sweet thing as we do!  You probably haven't zoomed in on every single picture of her or watched her video over a million times like I have :)  I am longing for the day that she is ours and all my questions are answered.  If she is half as sweet as her smile, we'll be fine.

It really looks like we'll travel in early June!!  As we get closer to travel, Ava needs our prayer warriors.  Over the next few weeks, I'm going to try to post some specific things that we need you to pray about with us.  The most urgent request is that Ava will remain at the Ningbo City SWI until she is with us.  She was originally in Yu Yao and was transferred to Ningbo around 7 years ago to receive physical therapy.  Chinese policy is for the children to return to the original SWI (orphanage) before adoption.  How scary for this baby!!  She is 9 years old and will be hit with so many changes in the next few months.  We don't want her to have to leave the only home she has ever known until she is in our arms and we can comfort her.  Please pray with us that Ava stays in Ningbo. 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  (Mark 11:24)