enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts!

So, I have made an internal commitment to self to write here.
More often.
MUCH more often than I have been the past 2 months.
Especially now as we are headed back to mother India…
We want all of you, the world over, to feel connected and aware of all that is happening.
For so many of you have been a part of our son’s life.
And you will continue to be;)

We are back in Jacksonville, Florida.
My (Jessica’s) family is here and we are making residence here until May 7th.
Yes, that is right.
May 7th is our departure date to India.
So, until then, we are spending time with people and packing and making sure all loose ends are tied up well.

A lot of exciting news lately:
Adam passed his swallow test!
So he has tasted pears, bananas, and formula all by mouth!
We give him as much as he will take (up to 10 bites so far) and then make up the rest thru his gtube.
He gets a bit fiesty but does not spit it out or choke, both good things;)

ADAM’S EYES CAN SEE!
That is a huge praise, as many of you remember the first few days…ulcers, corneal transplants, redo on making eyelids, questions of future blindness, lubricating every hour, etc etc.
Dear ones, “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind as conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”…the Word says it and I have seen it like wooaah these months.
I have especially seen it with my son’s eyes;)
Thank you for all your love and support.
He is following voices a lot more, making eye contact, holding toys, watching and observing SO MUCH

For those of you who missed it…Adam is a big brother!
Yep, its true.
Our Lord is full of surprises these days;)
But we are quite elated to welcome another bird into our nest;)
We find out next week if it is a boy or girl birdie;)
We will keep you posted.

So as we are overwhelmed with gratitude, I thought I’d share some great pictures from these past weeks as we met and said goodbye to precious ones from this season;)

For…
“There is no event so common place but that God is present within it,  always hidden, always leaving you room to recognize Him or not to recognize Him.”

I pray we can each recognize Him today.

Thankful for hospitality and families who have cared for us;)

The Senior family who has graciously hosted us these months in Chapel Hill. Dr Senior/Brent is not here in the photo:( From left: Rebecca, Grace, me, Anna Banana;), Raja, Adam, Benjamin, Mother Dana

Thankful for doctors who step out in faith

Dr Van Aalst and his wife, Cindi. Dr Van Aalst was the first doctor we corresponded with at UNC and was the Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgeon who repaired much of our boy;) His wife is a precious encouragement as well;)

 Thankful for how God orchestrates things beyond what we could imagine!

I met Brooke, far Right, 3 years ago, at a MTW conference in Mexico. We have stayed in touch and she was the original connection to UNC Chapel Hill!

Adam’s in love;)

How rich is anyone who can simply see human faces.

Corrie Ten Boom

Thankful for faces that, though once foreign, are now like family and so loved by us.

New friend, Brittany, loving on Adam

Raja, Anna Banana, and Adam

Savannah;)

Brittany…such a joy radiator

Savannah loves her Adam

This girl is beyond me. Sarah loves us soooo well. Crazy connection there;)

Twila- heard about Adam thru online prayer emails thru Covenant ; Paige- read about Adam on facebook and found us;); Lori- Adam’s specialized care coordinator!

Dear sister, Ashley, who I have known for years…little did we know we would live so near one another again!

This is Troy and his beautiful daughter Mikasae…you can read about those 2, their beautiful mama, and Mikasae’s beautiful redemption story here: http://welcomeblessings.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/first-family-vacation/ We were sooo blessed to drive thru Charlotte so we could meet them;)

The lovely Sarah whom I met in India in 2009. She has been an encouragement throughout our time with Adam and set up a home for us in Charlotte to stay in for the night;) And she and her precious mama spent a few hours one evening with us celebrating our Abba;) Adam fell asleep on Sarahs arrival-both times….she just is that calming!

I have known this beautiful momma for a long time! We worked at the Cove Camp together years ago and I do just adore her…she did an interview on her awesome blog a few months ago of us with Adam http://www.melodyjoy1983.com/2012/01/interview-with-baby-adam.html And we got to drive thru Columbia, SC to visit them! She just made this beautiful post about our little one…http://www.melodyjoy1983.com/2012/04/meeting-baby-adam.html Thankful for He Who makes ALL THINGS NEW and who “places the lonely in families” (psalm 68.6)