Welcoming Mark home from Uganda!

What a cool weekend to be at an adoption Airport Homecoming!! I can't imagine anything better than welcoming a precious child into a family for the first time, especially one I have already met! Charles Tucker and Mark were buddies at his babies home. One of the first days I was there, sweet Sara texted me in Uganda to tell me they just received a referral for a precious child named Mark. I was so excited to take pictures, video, and love on him a bit while I was there. The mamas there called him "the giggly baby". He always had a smile on his face! So this is super special to be welcoming him home.

All of us waited anxiously for them to arrive...

Sara and Judah waiting for Daddy and baby Mark...

Sweet Sara has been waiting for them to come home for weeks while she held down the fort at home with Judah (2) and new baby Kyah (2 months). Yes, Sara will have three children under 2! God must love her so much to give her three precious blessings all at once. This mama is meeting her child for the first time at the airport...Wow, that is a lot to process...

So glad Amy Levy was there to meet Mark for the first time, love hanging out with her family...

Amy brought home Sarah from Uganda a little over a year ago. Sarah has come a long way in a year. She is blessing to us all. Love that girl. She is still having some medical problems, so please pray that the Lord would heal her and give the doctors wisdom in how to treat her. What a cutie...

Henry loves Sarah's brothers...maybe a little too much. And Mary Taylor seems to have a crush on Tyrese. She kept trying to hug him the whole time. It was precious. See her searching for candy in the background of this picture...Where there is candy, there you will find Mary Taylor...

Actually both were hugging him and driving him crazy...

Charles Tucker is waiting for his buddy Mark to arrive...

Sara and Jeremiah just moved from Las Vegas a couple of months ago to our neck of the country. So cool to meet someone in the blog/facebook world and then to have them move near you. Pretty Amazing! And to think our boys will grow up together and always have Uganda and their babies home in common. Only God could orchestrate something so prefect.

Can't wait to know your sweet family more over the years as we watch our children grow up. So excited to be doing life with you. Congratulations on becoming a family of 5 today!! I know you are on cloud nine.

What an amazing way to spend Easter! Thank you Lord for new beginnings!!
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We're HOME....Ringing in the New Year at the Atlanta Airport

I am blown away by such a great support of friends and family who welcomed us home at the Atlanta airport New Year's Eve. Before we arrived, this is what was going on....

I was told, Sweet Sarah and Mary Taylor were so excited to see each other...giving one another a kiss. How precious are these two??? Sarah Levy is a precious child from Uganda too. Her story was such an encouragement to me through my wait to Charles Tucker. Her mother Amy is an amazing lady. She posted about our arrival HERE.

I could just eat her up!!

Mary Taylor seems to really like this teddy bear Sarah brought to her...

And Henry seems to be interested in the toy the Levy boys picked out for him. Sweet Neema thinks it's pretty cool too!

Little bitty Neema is from Tanzania, who belongs to Heath. She is Henry's age and full of life!! So glad they are both living in America for a while...I have loved getting to know these two... How precious is her sweet face?? Follow their journey HERE.

Oh, and then there is Isaac....wow has he grown since the last time I saw him...Isaac Young was adopted six months ago from Ethiopia into a family of three older siblings. His mother Andrea and I go way back to college when we spent a summer in East Asia, in one another's weddings, couples bible studies, and now on this adoption journey together. Love doing life with this family...they're pretty cool...Andrea took some great pictures of our Homecoming HERE.

Laney is also part of the Young family...

Can't wait for this family to get a referral and head to Uganda sooner than later. Yes, the Gilberts are ready to see a picture of their baby and get this show on the road, but they are patiently waiting on God's timing...which is not easy. Love you guys!! Thanks for cheering us on this whole time while you wait on the sidelines. Can't wait for it to be your turn!!! Follow their story HERE.

Even Teddy and Kenser came out to cheer us home!!

Miss Jenna... Great to see your face!

I have such an amazing church community...so many came out to the airport to welcome us home...Loved seeing you all there!...Hannah, Elie, Beverly, and Jenn....

Ahh...Caroline and baby Liam...this was my first time to see this precious face. I feel like I missed a lot these past five weeks...Love this picture!

 Speaking of pictures...Along with Andrea...Elisabeth (pictured below) and Shelley did such a great job capturing this great event through photography...I am forever thankful to them...such a gift! Elisabeth gave an amazing account of our adoption journey on her blog, Growing Home...you can read that post HERE.

A new friend...Joy Harty also came out to the airport for the second time in two days to welcome home orphans from Uganda. The night before, Dan Owens with Joseph and Hannah arrived home to be united with their whole family. Joy is such a sport to come out again...along with the Levys and the Youngs...you guys are committed!! Joy also posted about our homecoming HERE.

Sweet Caroline waiting for us..

Jenn and Elie...

So glad to see my brother Nathan and my sister Amelia in the crowd too...

Wow...I am impressed...I wonder how long Henry sat here like this?? My guess is thirty seconds...

We arrived a little later than expected...so "pretty pretty" might have been getting a little tired...


t looks like everyone had a good ole time catching up while they waiting for us to arrive...

Charles Tucker and I finally arrived at 7:30 p.m., New Years Eve to this crowd of amazing friends and family who welcome us home after 32 days in Uganda!!!! What an honor to see all their faces when I stepped off the plane. It was a joyous celebration of which I will never forget!!

I was overjoyed to see my family..

Charles Tucker went straight to Daddy...

So many of our friends and family were there to greet us...We felt so blessed by each of you being there to welcome us home!

Charles Tucker's first time to meet his cousin Dexter...

The other photographer, Shelley and her husband Eddie meeting CT for the first time...

So good to see my sweet sister Amelia...

My first and second babies...

and my now my third..

From orphan to a son...

I am overcome with thankfulness...

My twins...

  Our first family picture all together on American soil...

The Lord has done great things for us..in this I rejoice! All praise to our father in heaven.

***We are adjusting quite well...pictures to come of the last week and half, as a family of five. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement throughout this year. We seriously could not have made it this far with out your constant love and support. Love you guys!!!