Big Orange Adoption Story

Back in October I posted about University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton and his family's adoption story (here). 

I just saw a video that was produced for an orphan crisis fundraiser event held in Knoxville, and focuses on the Hamilton family.  Please at least take the time to watch the first 3 minutes or so, as it is an awesome story of God working in this family and burdening them with the James 1:27 call. I especially appreciated how Mike likened the adoption decision to standing on the edge of the pool...
But I won't share more, you'll just have to watch for yourself!

The furniture is here!!!

As expected, Saturday was a CRAZY day.  William played in most of his basketball game, then changed uniforms and played in his soccer game.  He did well in both, but it is obvious that his favorite is soccer! 

Thanks to my awesome MIL for staying at the house in the AM for the furniture to be delivered while we were at basketball.  We got back from the games and were very pleased with the furniture.  It looks so good, and I can't wait to see our Solnyshko enjoying it!

I thought about posting photos, but decided to make you wait.  Tammy is coming over Thursday & Friday to do some cool decorative painting, so I want to wait until everything is finished before 'unveiling' it to our blog friends.

We also had fun on Saturday at the Lady Vols SEC tourney game against Vanderbilt.  It was a W for our team, and advanced them to the championship game on Sunday (which they won!).  We took lots of pictures, but I don't have any of them on my computer. Will have to post later.

Hope everyone is having a great week.  Less than 2 months until we get to submit our dossier!!!

Go Vols - Mike Hamilton & Adoption

Just when I think I couldn't love the University of Tennessee any more than I already do, I read THIS story about UT's athletic director!

And I was able to find their blog, too - click HERE to read all about God's provision for them in bringing their children home from Ethiopia.

Our second-favorite team

Anyone who knows us knows that we are UT Vols fans first and foremost. We all (including Adie) wear our orange jerseys on game day, and surround our big screen with a UT helmet, a statue of Smokey, and various other paraphernalia. I've even been known to plant orange & white flowers around the mailbox when there's a big SEC rival game coming up.

But as long as they're not playing each other, we also cheer for the University of Georgia. So on Saturday we drove to Athens with Eric & Michaele (they're both UGA alumni) and went to the Bulldogs' game against Central Michigan. Zack's been to one other UGA game, but this was the first time for William & me.

It was lots of fun, but extremely hot. We ran into a ton of people we know, including the Taylors (they adopted Madelyn about a month before we adopted William).

William had a great time and made it through the entire game. So he has officially been introduced to the craziness of college football in the south. If you're not from the south/don't live in the south, you can't fully appreciate college football mania like it is down here!




William & Mommy at The Arch. Eric says this will be a great pic when William is a student UGA... in 2021!










William & Daddy at The Hedges







Knowshon Moreno dives in for a touchdown








Fourth Quarter









Madelyn, Zachary & William







Post-game family photo op

The little ladies' man

Monkeys and Golf

On Tuesday William made his big stage debut in his preschool's production of Noah's Ark.

And he was the cutest little monkey ever!

We bought the costume a couple of months ago, and as you can probably see, he's gotten taller since then :)

He also went to the Par 3 course with us yesterday, and had a great time. I think we might have a little golfer on our hands!

Here's a little clip from Tuesday's program (you may want to go to the bottom and of the blog and pause the music before playing this video)...