prayer requests

Right now we have friends in three different countries, bringing home their kids.

5 kids!!!

Uganda, Russia and Ethiopia.

So, for our prayer warriors out there, please lift up the Osborns adopting their daughter and son...the Hendriksens adopting their teenage son... and the Larsens adopting their daughter and son.

The Osborns and the Hendriksens both have many weeks ahead of them in country. Prayers for their loved ones and children who wait here in the US. Prayers for God's hand to lead, bond, protect, guide.

I love how God builds families.
I love it when His Hand is so clearly seen leading.
It just blows my mortal brain.

Finances...resources...these become the terms we get caught up in just trying to become a family. Which leads me to another thought.

Our church has an adoption ministry that help adoptive families financially. The "Sam and Ellie fund" will be having their annual Easter Flower Fundraiser starting soon. The flowers are great, but the kids it has helped come home are far greater. So, to the KCC families out there, I hope you'll help bring more babies into our church family =)

It helped us bring two of our kids home, and we will forever be greatful. Now I just want to help others do the same. It's not like spending money on STUFF...
It's LIVES of children.
People are willing to stretch their finances to very creative levels just to bring home their kids. And that is financial planning that I believe the Lord blesses.

Eight is Great!

Cole

Warren

Bronkema

"co-co"

...Playing with our colorful flame candles on the little cake the restaurant gave us at breakfast.

Cole's balloons had lots of character thanks to Lyric and her marker.

Lazer tag

games

pizza

friends
fun

Sassy and Six

I had no intention of this photo being first.

It won't delete.

It won't move.

It's frozen my computer twice.

I think it's meant to stay.

...Mical, less than two years ago.

Our little peanut.

Mical

Ruth

Fatuma

Bronkema...

today

Miss sassy pants =)

God's got big plans for this little lady.
She might not be big in stature, but don't let her size fool you.

Mical and her friend, Ruby, at our pool par-tay!

We love good friends...

bye bye tooth

Today in Haiti, our niece celebrates her 10th birthday...

Today in Byron Center, we have a lovely snow day...

Today a certain someone also lost her top front tooth...

It is a perfectly good day.

thanks for the love!

Thank you Uncle Tim, Aunt Mindy, John and Jacob!

We love packages...

We love you guys!

the snow we been a waitin' for

Three of the Bronkema kids...literally "chillin out" on the deck as the storm rolled in...
diggin' out...

Last year he hated walking in it, but this winter
Moses has grown to love the snow.


Eskimo girl...not as much.
(Her momma only got out in the snow to take pics)

January 5

On January 5, we celebrated the birth of our sweet, Moses.

3 years ago, a woman I will not be able to thank in this lifetime, labored to bring a beautiful baby boy into this world.

Our son.

We will forever be thankful.

There are no adequate words for such a gift.

On January 5 we also said "goodbye" to Cory, Kris, Eli and Anna, as they traveled (safely...yea!) back to their home in Haiti. We will be looking forward to more time with them in warmer weather this summer!
And today, with them, we remember Haiti and all that the country has gone through in this past year.

Our prayers will continue for the healing and hope that can only be found in Jesus.