They have a family now...

We just got these pictures in our e-mail today. We've been praying for the day that Lovette and Yekekou learn about us. We've known about them for approximately six weeks, and in that short time we've already incorporated them in absentia into our daily routines. We pray for them. We talk about them. We look at pictures of them. We make plans for them.

Peyton and Reagan have been absolutely wonderful about this. I'm sure it's hard for an 8 and 6 year old to fully contemplate the magnitude of the change that's about to occur in their lives. We're doing what we can to prepare them, but until they have these new siblings in the house 24/7, they won't fully understand just how much things are going to change.

These pictures are special to us because now our children know about us. They know that they have a family. I remember hearing how Yekekou understood why she and her sister were at the orphanage and how she would ask if she had a family yet. Now she knows. I hope that finding that out brought her as much joy as we have in anticipating their arrival into our family.

Add-on
OK, I have to add to this because I'm in awe. I'm sure a lot of you may not get it, but I get a lump in my throat every time I look at these pictures. Here, half way around the world, are two girls holding a book that I arranged for them. And in the book are pictures of our family. And on the page that they are looking at is a picture of me. And they have just been told that I am going to be their daddy. Isn't that amazing!