Wow....life!

It's been a pathetically long time since we posted last. Blah, blah, blah...there's my excuse. Elijah is doing amazingly well. He still has rough days, but all things considered he is thriving. Short of the chronic diarrhea that we are still dealing with, he is healthy and growing. Language is coming along well. He still has some definite speech delay, but he understands everything and communicates very well once you decifer what he's saying. He loves to ride in the van and go to the store with Daddy on special trips. He just got done singing "I Love You, Lord" to me when he woke up from his nap. Holy cow, the kid can sing on key! He'll be the first in our family where that comes naturally. He loves playing baseball in the backyard, and hits left-handed. Daddy's got big plans for him! His brothers love him like he's always been here...and pick on him like he's always been here too.

FACES, the Adoption and Orphan Care Ministry we have started at our church is growing. We have had a few "Adoptive Mom's" groups and did a group study on the book Fields of the Fatherless as well. We are planning an "Evening of Prayer" for foster and waiting children, hopefully to happen in June. We have many at our church that are excited about what we are doing, and I am confident that we can start affecting the culture of our church and making it a light in the community for orphan care.

With all those things going well, it wouldn't be life without some struggles. Right now we are dealing with the fact that the County of San Diego is taking our home to make room to widen the road in front of our house. We have anywhere between 9 months and a year until they come with their offer. In the meantime, we pray and wait as we decide what next step to take. It is not easy to think about the house we've lived in for the past 8 years being leveled by a bulldozer. It is a very modest home, but we have poured our blood, sweat, and tears into it. It is the only home that any of the boys remember, and it is Elijah's first home. It saddens me that we are going to have to uproot him so early in his time with us. Please pray that the transition for all of us will be smooth. We are confident that what God has in store for us will be better than what we've had before. Happy Easter to all. I will try to post pictures of Elijah's first Easter as soon as I have them.

JP