National Convention 2007

We are back home once again - and boy does it feel good! We've spent the last week in Little Rock for the National Free Will Baptist Convention. I've got to brag on my little guy for a minute. He is the BEST traveler. Both days we were traveling he did wonderfully. He even behaves while we are hanging out in the airport! He just had a couple not so great moments in the middle but nothing too bad at all.
We took five students with us who were competing. We had a Bible Bowl team, a monologue and a solo. The Bible Bowl made it to the semi-finals but got beat. Eryn placed second with her monologue!
We helped work a blood drive at the convention on Wed. Daniel didn't like that too much. He hates needles. He disappeared quite often.
The highlight of my week was going to a presentation for The Hanna Project. Looking at the pictures of the people that they ministered to in Africa brought tears to my eyes. There was even a 72 year old woman that went with them on that mission trip. That is amazing! It is my hope and prayer that our denomination will support this work and that it will reach many souls around the world.
It other news - We have a contract on a house to buy. We should close in a couple of weeks. Please be in prayer about that.
Our adoption agency - Dillon International has done some amazing work at Luke's orphanage. Click on this link to check out all the renovations.

Down and Out...And Elmo!!!

I thought that I would share some things that Luke is doing with you guys! Pretty much all day long I am hearing "Need Down", "Need Out", or "Need Elmo". He generally uses the down and out when we are holding him and he wants down or if he is in his booster seat and he wants out. We hear "Need Elmo" when we turn on the TV. A couple weekends ago when we were at my mom and dad's mom turned on the TV to find Luke a cartoon. He didn't approve of the cartoon and informed his Nana that he needed Elmo. He is just so cute!
Another new thing that he started a couple of weeks ago was getting in a football position. This is totally untaught by Daniel. Luke and his dad have had fun tackling each other in the living room floor. Really it is just Luke tackling Daniel. After Luke tackles Daniel he goes and helps him up. So cute!!
We caught some fireworks tonight. Luke loved them! I tried so hard to get a good picture of Luke watching them and got a whole bunch of funny ones instead. It was so dark outside and the flash was so bright we were making funny faces in all of them. I'm posting the picture of me and Luke making funny faces, but Daniel says I can't post the ones of him and Luke. They will count as bribery in the future though!Before the fireworks started there was music playing so of course our little man was dancing! That kid has rythym! Well, I guess that is all for now!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

We had a cook out and swim party tonight with our youth ministry. It started out really hot and we had a great time swimming. Luke swam for over an hour. Then the thunderstorm rolled in. The rain cut the swimming short. We didn't go watch the fireworks tonight since it was kind of nasty outside. A small town next to us is having their fireworks Sat. evening so we may go then. Luke saw some as we were leaving tonight and liked them so I think that he would really enjoy them!

Our 2nd Week of Church Camp

We just got back from our second week of church camp. This week was wet, rainy and cold. Daniel was the evangelist and he did a great job (at least what I heard!). I was only able to sit through a whole service on Thursday night when Luke fell asleep. All the kids had a good time. They all really enjoyed playing with Luke. Daniel sings Luke an Elmo song that he dances to. By the end of the week all the kids were singing Luke's song.

The highlight of the week was last night when a little girl came up to Daniel and told him that she wanted to be saved. If only we all could have the faith of a child.

It was a great week but we are VERY glad to be home!

A Dillon Vietnam Day!!!

We had a great weekend! We got to meet lots of our adoptive family friends today. It really feels like you know them already after going through the adoption process with people so it was great to see them in person. There were lots of very cute kids there also!! We met up with our travel buddies - Jeff, Erin and Selah. It was great to see them again after 10 months! The kids have grown so much. We look forward to lots more reunions in the future.

Lukas is officially Lukas!!!

We had our court date this morning to refinalize Luke's adoption and to legally change his name! Finally!!! Last week was our 10 month anniversary. Luke has now been with us for as long as he was in Vietnam.
Nana and Papa came in last night so they could go to court with us. It was quick and painless and we even got a copy of our adoption decree today! Daniel couldn't have asked for a better Father's Day present!
We are so blessed to be Luke's parents! Thank you, Lord, for this precious boy.

Teen Camp 2007

Whew! We just got home from an amazing week at teen camp. This was our first year to go to camp with our current youth ministry. Camp always proves to be an awesome bonding experience. We all had a great time in fellowship and worship. The Justin Cofield Band did music. We got to know them several years ago at camp. They are great people. Afshin Ziafat was the speaker. He has an awesome testimony and did a great job speaking. We had two salvations in our group. Several students also committed to dedicating this upcoming school year to winning their schools for Christ. It was awesome!
Luke had a great time. He had 35 baby sitters all week! The guys thought that he helped them pick up chicks. Nana and Papa also were at camp. They enjoyed being able to see Luke for a week. Luke loved being pushed around in the stroller. Thank goodness for that stroller! I only had to carry him up the hills twice all week and I thought I was going to die by the time that we got to the cabin!!! Pretty pathetic, I know! Luke also loved pushing the stroller. That would keep him entertained for quite a while.
Well, lots to do now! Laundry, catching up, etc... Hope y'all had a great week!