Adoption Social Network

If you have a heart for adoption, I encourage you to join Adoption Voices by clicking HERE. It's a new social networking site specifically for those in the adoption community.

There are general areas for discussion and support, and many groups are being set up that are related to specfic countries.


Also, if you join, be sure to become our friend (our name on the site is DoveFamily).

Fun Weekend!

This past Saturday & Sunday we went out of town with my dad and his wife, Lori. They treated us to a trip down to Valdosta, Georgia, home of Wild Adventures Amusement & Water Park. What a cool place! They have theme park-type rides, carnival rides, a water park, and lots of animals.

As soon as we walked in on Saturday, William got to hold a snake and a cayman...










The first ride of the weekend was also William's very first "roller coaster" (a kiddie coaster). It took us around twice. I had to keep my arm tightly around him and he kept asking if we were going to fall out, but by the second time around he was smiling a little. We got off and he said it was fun, but he had no interest in riding again.










Our crazy fam...









William got to feed a giraffe. The guy asked him how long he thought the giraffe's tongue was, and he guessed 16 feet. Close, but it was actually 18 inches. Wow!









This 'lake' was full of fish, including what Zack said were the biggest brim he'd ever seen.





















Riding the kiddie log flume...










This one was called "Bug Out" and was a roller coaster, but very odd. I didn't particularly enjoy how it jerked us back and forth so much, but was glad William was brave enough to try it (although you'll probably notice the death grip he has on the handle!). Before every ride, he'd ask how fast it went. I'd usually say "slower than the first one we rode".












William had never seen a ferris wheel. Again he wanted to know how fast it would go and if we would fall out. He sat with my Dad and held on to his shirt as tightly as he could until we made a few rounds, then realized he was safe.



















William & Lori feeding the birds (unfortunately as you can see in the picture, this bird gave Lori a little gift while he was perched on her head).










On Sunday, we spent several hours at the water park before heading home. We found out that when it comes to water slides, our boy is fearless. He was just barely tall enough for most of the slides, but after getting measured each time he eagerly rode every one there, and loved them.

Thanks to "Pawpaw & Grandma" for a fun weekend!

William is 7

Okay, so I'm very late in posting this, but I wanted to share with everyone that our [not-so-little] boy turned 7 on May 24th!!! We had a great weekend celebrating our anniversary, his birthday, and Memorial Day.

Since his birthday fell on the holiday weekend, we didn't do an actual party this year, but we certainly celebrated. We asked him what he'd like to do on the actual day, and he said he wanted a day together with just Daddy & Mommy. Easy enough! We slept in, opened presents, went out to breakfast, and then drove to Atlanta for a Braves game. This was William's first major league game, and it was definitely a good one. We had great seats (and the fact that they were free made it even better!!), William got his face painted and enjoyed lots of stadium food, his favorite player hit 2 home runs, and the Braves won BIG.

We ended the day with hot dogs on the grill and a yummy cookie cake. I can't believe our boy is already 7 - time is flying by! He's such an awesome kiddo and we're so thankful for him.

We're really enjoying the summer so far. William has VBS this week. My Dad & his wife are taking us to an amusement park this weekend (William's first experience with real rides, he's only done carnival rides once). Then it's soccer camp next week, and vacation with our friends in early July. Lots of exciting stuff - hopefully I'll find some time to blog about it all :)

Slava Bogu! (Praise God!)

The vote in Ukraine that was scheduled for today is no longer on the parliament's agenda. No one knows for certain if it will come back up for discussion and vote, but it does not appear to be in the foreseeable future. And for that, I rejoice!

I rejoice for the families that are in Ukraine right now, awaiting court dates. I rejoice for those that were scheduled to travel soon. I rejoice in a God who is Father to the fatherless.

Yesterday, today, and forever, God is in control! Praise Him!

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;tell of all His wondrous works!

Psalm 105:1-2

Please continue to pray for Ukraine, the children there, the facilitators and translators, and for all the families in the process of adopting from there.