Family of 5 for ONE Year

I am feeling very sentimental about August 5th. In fact, not sure if we celebrate the day Scott and I picked up Abby on July 31 or Aug. 5. You see....on August 5, 2009, we found out about our Abby! It was the day we first saw her beautiful face!!! The day that we had been dreaming of for a year (and little did we know that we would have another year before we got to hold her)!

I'll never forget when this picture came up on my computer! Seeing that she had a BUTTERFLY on her dress (when God had been speaking to me through butterflies all year) was amazing!

Then on August 5, 2010 our dream of being a family of 5 came true! We were united at the airport and it was a beautiful celebration with family and friends! This year has been so wonderful and I just wanted to attempt to put a video together (quickly..just started last night) to document our year together! 

Our 1st Year as a Family of 5 from Jennifer Needham on Vimeo.

GOTCHA DAY!

I CAN'T BELIEVE it's been ONE YEAR!!! Today was the day our precious gift, Abby, was placed in our arms! After waiting a year from the first time we saw her pictures, it was surreal to finally see her in person! I just couldn't believe that I finally got to HOLD HER!

Scott and I had an on-going joke about who was going to be the one to have to "rip her away" from her Ayah (caregiver) and potentially be the "bad person". It was so amazing....we were not expecting the CEREMONY that the orphanage staff put on for us. They had children come out and place flowers around our neck and even had a special prayer time (I so wish I knew what he was praying...but I knew it didn't matter...God knew!)! Then the ayahs brought her out and she actually smiled! She had a little bit of a "what in the world is going on look" but she was just so amazing to sit in our laps right away. It really was an answer to prayers. The ayah even said that it was "a miracle...because she has been really fussy the last couple of weeks!"

We have been talking about "one year ago" all day today. We took a family bike ride to Subway to celebrate. :) Looking at pictures, we said we just hardly recognize her! She was only 15 lbs. and wore 3-6 mo. clothes. She actually is just in 24 mo. clothes and weighs 24 lbs. now. She has grown and changed SO MUCH!

When I think back to all she has gone through this past year, I am amazed! So thankful that she is doing so well now and progressed so much. She has speech twice a week and is talking so much better. She is getting some of her explosive sounds, /b/,/d/,/p/, etc. and even said puPPy this week and is starting to put 2 words together. We are praying she will learn to accommodate despite the cleft palate opening through her gum and get the sounds out her mouth and not her nose. She is also learning to blow air out her mouth and not her nose.

I never dreamed that one little one could add so much JOY to our family! She lights up our home! Her daddy and brothers are CRAZY about her and shower her with love and attention all the time. She loves to laugh and is just fine being the center of attention! :)

July 30, 2010

 I'll never forgot seeing the sign that I'd seen in pictures and then the gate opening and seeing the orphanage for the first time! It was just so amazing to finally BE THERE after 2 years of thinking about it!

 The ceremony prayer time. It was actually so hard to keep my eyes closed when I just wanted to SEE ABBY and HOLD HER!!!!

 We loved that they place her in our arms. She sat in daddy's lap first. What a special moment. Really felt just like the time I got to hold my baby boys after giving birth. Heck...she just weighed a few lbs (ok 7 and 8 lbs) more! ;)

 I couldn't get over how tiny she was! 

 THE SMILES SAY IT ALL!!!!

 Getting to travel with the Leslies was so amazing! Tara and I talked almost daily praying each other through the adoption hurdles! So awesome to share this day with them and their precious Sanjai!

 The day wouldn't be complete without mentioning that while this was one of the BEST days of my life, it was also one of the hardest. See the faces we left behind. These are the faces that drive me to STILL CARE about orphans and DO SOMETHING! While I may not be able to help these kiddos (and THANKFULLY two are in families now), I am able to respond to what the Lord is calling me to do. More on that later!!!

 ONE YEAR LATER!!! A couple pictures that I took on my phone tonight while we attended a benefit for a friend. Yes...she has grown and changed a ton in one year!!!!

Abby's Haircut and Life!

When your hair looks like this most of the time...it's time to CUT! :) While I loved pulling her hair all up in ponies, she wouldn't leave them in, resulting in lots of big hair for a tiny face!

So yesterday, we headed to Kids Hair, where she could be strapped down and entertained...LOL! So worth the extra price as she didn't even cry (I was shocked). She had ELMO (Elmo and Abby are all time favorites!) on TV...

A slinky:

AND bubbles for this adorable new cut! Laughed when she put in ponies which the holders (what are they called?!) ended up on her TOES as soon as we got in the car! :)

SO CUTE and SO GLAD I cut it! I have always had short hair and I think I just may be a mom who keeps my daughter's hair short not too.

What else have we been up too? WELL...baseball is in full swing and both boys are playing traveling which keeps me BUSY. Keeping Abby entertained so I can attempt to WATCH the game is also an art! :)

Unfortunately most of the games have been played in weather like this:

Thank goodness we bought a tent/awning thingy last year! Spent too many games getting wet and it was the best $50 we have spent at Wally World! :)

Home Plate was in a PUDDLE!

Luckily, Abby was with Dad at this game. Dad was going to take a turn with Abby at a tournament because it was closer and easier than Sam's. Well, Josiah's got cancelled and so daddy didn't get to do the chase after all...HA! He got to have Abby home and on a day like this, that was perfect!

I don't even have a picture of them playing! No time for the camera this year! :)

The other fun thing is Josiah chose the Alto Saxophone for band next year. I was surprised as he is a drummer. He has drummed in a band since 2nd grade and we have a full size trap set for him, so when he came home with the saxophone news, I was a little perplexed. BUT...I use to play the saxophone and immediately called the guy who had bought my old sax! :) Josiah said, "Your old sax? That thing must be RUSTY and OLD!" Thanks, honey! Well, he was sort of right, the lacquer on it is in rough shape. But, we have it at the shop now to get all fixed up and shiny with some new pads. I think it's fun to have him learn on the same one I did!

My other news is that I have FINALLY started exercising! I am actually on Week 7 of a walk to run program and have been consistent with my work outs! I got a jogging stroller cheap and Abby and I have been exercising about 3 times a week. I never thought I could be a runner because of my knee issues. Taking it slowly and taking my Arbonne Joint/Tissue Supplement have worked great! Speaking of Arbonne...I also joined a 30 Day Fit Challenge at the beginning of April. These products are AMAZING!!!

Not only have I lost the weight I wanted to, I have my energy back!!! All the vitamins are making such a difference. They have a product called, "Fizzy Tabs" that have replace my Diet Coke COMPLETELY! I get a good 4-5 hour, much healthier boost from these! I also gave up COFFEE and drink the Detox Tea instead. So great to have the energy to KEEP UP WITH ABBY! Having a toddler and turning 40 were BIG motivators for me! My next goals are to run in race (something I have NEVER even wanted to do but now am excited): 1 mile in June, 2 mile race in July and then my ultimate goal... a 5K (w/out stopping to walk is my goal)!

Oh..and I am now an Arbonne Consultant! :) Selling enough to afford the products for my family has been my goal and so far it is working! This business would be an amazing way for adoptive families to earn extra cash! Email me if you are interested in learning more! I am having so much fun just sharing the products that have been an answer to my prayers!

Well, that is all the news I have time to share for now. Abby is wanting me to do a puzzle! 

Free to Live Tour!

The facts: This is a night of worship, speaking, a call to action and an opportunity for you to become part of the family and movement to protect victims of the awful sex trade industry.  More than ever, the attention to this mass atrocity is bringing pressure to the criminals who participate in this and more importantly young girls and boys are being rescued from this life of lost hope and complete hell. This is a free-ticketed event, and at no cost to you, however there will be an opportunity to give in a love offering and to participate in the call to action. Participants: The critically acclaimed Colorado worship leaders and writers Jon Egan / Desperation Band and worship leader Meredith Andrews team up with speaker, author and international child advocate CEO of Children’s HopeChest, Tom Davis for the Free to Live Tour this May and June visiting both the East and West coast of the United States. Check out the Free to Live Tour for more details! 

DATE	CITY	GET TICKETS!
May 11, 2011	Louisville, KY	Information and Tickets
May 12, 2011	Decatur, (Atlanta) GA	Information and Tickets
May 13, 2011	Weddington, (Charlotte) NC	Information and Tickets
May 14, 2011	Madison, (Huntsville) AL	Information and Tickets
May 15, 2011	Alabaster, (Birmingham) AL	Information and Tickets

I am so excited about this tour and what God will do through it! Had to post it for all my Southern blog friends...you won't want to miss it! Hoping to get them to MN too!!! :) I actually had the privilege of having lunch with Tom Davis a couple weeks ago. We are planning some really amazing things for orphans that I am SO EXCITED about!!! HopeChest is going to be an answer to our prayers for the ministry that we will be starting, I believe! Those of you that have followed my blog, know that I love Tom Davis' books and especially the novels. His book, Fields of the Fatherless was the FIRST book I read when I returned from India where God gave me this passion for the orphans. So OF COURSE I asked him to sign that book for me! :)

Adoption Day!

What a relief it is to have made it to this day...Abby's officially a NEEDHAM! :) My mom made the comment that it doesn't feel any different because she has felt like ours since we saw her first picture...so true! But, to me who's done mountains of paperwork, this feels like a big relief! I was especially relieved to be able to complete her adoption without an attorney!

It was a very special day! The boys were excited to get out of school. Their dad told them it better be the ONLY time they ever have to go to court to appear before a judge. Josiah says, "What if I adopt some day?" OKAY...that would be awesome and you could go to court for that Josiah! I just LOVE his heart for orphans!

We were joined by Grandpa and Grandma and Scott's sister, Kitty. We went to Perkins to celebrate this special day! OUR ABBY OFFICIALLY ON PAPER!

Abigail Anjana Needham

 Proud Daddy and Big Brother!

 The judge wanted to hold Abby and she wasn't too happy about that (thus the serious look)!

 Scott's Sister

 Abby decided that she wanted to be a judge today and went running behind his desk. Good thing this judge had a great sense of humor! :)

Abby's Grandpa and Grandma (my parents) 

Elder Retreat 2011

This year I had the privilege of going back to the North Shore on our annual Elder Retreat for my church. I think this was my 8th retreat....4 as a Vision Board member and the first four from when I was on staff for youth and family ministries. It was BY FAR my FAVORITE retreat. Not just saying that cuz I was part of the planning team <wink> cuz I have planned them before. This was NOT a working retreat (which 6 of them have been), but a time for the leaders of the church to go to the "mountain top" and be in the presence of the Lord. And you know what...more "work" and more "vision" will come from this trip because of the time we spent WITH the Lord seeking HIM! We also had a ton of joy and laughter...unity is stronger than ever and I know that God's hand is upon our church. We are not taking that for granted and our speaker was INCREDIBLE in reminding us what we have and how to move forward seeking God's direction. He is originally from Ethiopia which stirs my heart for the Hosanna, Ethiopia mission that our church has started and I just love his anointing for equipping leaders. SO much more to say...I had a personal word from the Lord through Gemechis that blessed me in ways I am still processing! 

Here are some fun pictures: 

Our Lead Pastor Bill and our good friend, Kingdom Expansion Pastor Tim

 Our churches AMAZING worship leader, Chris. Wow...what a blessing to have him lead us in worship on the retreat. 

 To be able to worship at the lake this year was a desire of my heart. Lake Superior is still really cold this time of year and the weather is not always very nice. This year...while it was chilly, the sun was shining down on us and we were able to! It was such a gift to me! 

Love my VB friend, Jennifer

Gemechis...what a blessing this man of God is!

BEAUTIFUL scenery!

We had a golf theme to go along with what the Lord had showed us for the retreat. Fun and symbolic to have Pastor Bill "Tee it Up!"

This is the Vision Board...wish we would have taken a group picture with the Lead Pastor's Team too.

This is such a fun group! Part of the reason I love our church is the leadership team knows how to laugh and have a good time!

While I literally got a stone to always remember this moment with the Lord, I also took a picture. God met me in a powerful way by the lake on our personal free time. As I was seeking direction and vision for orphan ministry, I looked down at my bag and noticed the 3 words within "147"...Feed, Water, Meds. It was a moment that words can't explain.

While being away was so refreshing and wonderful, coming home to my boys and this adorable little girl was the best!! :)

Adoption Tax Credit Update

I am seriously bumming about this slow down in the gov't issuing the adoption tax credits. Has anyone gotten yours back this year? I think we need some serious prayer around this!

Here is the update I received from my social worker today:

Update on the Adoption Tax Credit

In the last few weeks, NACAC has gathered information about what’s happening with the adoption tax credit. Almost all of the parents we heard from had not yet received their adoption tax credit, although most have received their regular refund. We have also heard reports that the IRS is reviewing up to 90 percent of the adoption tax credit filings, although we do not know if this number is accurate.

A few families have reported to us that they received their refund with the adoption tax credit. Although this was a very small proportion of the people who responded to us, it is heartening to know that the credits are being paid.

For those who are experiencing delays, there are two different situations:

• The IRS is informing families that the credit is under review and may take 45 to 90 days to process.
• The IRS is requesting documentation of the adoption. In most cases, families sent the correct documentation with their return but it has somehow been separated. Please re-send the documentation, being sure to include your name and social security number on each page.

Unfortunately, the current IRS documentation notice says that everyone has to provide documentation of expenses. We are working closely with the IRS to correct this error. Families who adopt a U.S. child with special needs do not have to document expenses. We are recommending that you send a letter with your documentation explaining that expenses are not required for special needs adoption and that you have included documentation of the adoption and the child’s special needs. If you get another request for expenses, get the name and ID of the employee. If you share it with us, we can try to help the staff member better understand how the credit works.

If you haven’t received your regular refund, we recommend that you contact the IRS and ask why this part of your return has not been processed.

Anyone who feels like they are being treated unfairly or who has a financial hardship can consider contacting their taxpayer advocate.