5 Incredible Years Ago.....

November 19, 2005 we were standing in the Portland Airport waiting for one of the biggest gifts God has ever given us!!!!

The day our family of 5 became a family of 7!

Meeting your children for the first time in an airport terminal, is not really the way to go!

But it is the way God orchestrated our story!

They were so tired and so scared!

We were ecstatic!

Hannah screamed with me, but thought her was, okay at least.

She was so small, sick, weak and scared.

It was hard to see. Then she finally rested against---Dad---something she had no memory of---a Father!

Such a treasure.

Impossible to describe the feelings! Caleb, our little charmer from moment one.

Always has his hood on, even now:)

Was liking his new toy.... But as you can see still very hesitant and unsure.

Unbeknownst to us at this point, Caleb had a fear of 'big boys'.

They had beat up on him at the orphanage and refugee camp.

He was not so sure of this 'big brother' yet.

Interestingly, Caleb is now wearing the sweatshirt that Drew was wearing in these photos. We took the kids to the van in the parking garage and put some skin medicine on and some Pj's for the long ride to Eastern Oregon for Drew's first elk hunting season!

Hannah gave us her first smile when we put her cozy little slippers on her feet.

At almost 3 they were the first time she has worn more than flip flops.

She thought they were pretty cool!Then the incredible happened, she allowed me to hold her for the first time without crying!

This picture brings tears to my eyes every time.

To precious for words. And the bonding had begun.

A unique family formed by God's amazing hand! Praise His Name for His love is everlasting and His blessings more abundant than we could ever fathom!