Meet our newest friend...

Charis is HOME with her forever family!!!!! We have never met her, but we already love her so much...she has been up on fridge's world prayer map for many months...we are so thankful for God bringing another precious orphan HOME!!!! check out Ben & Kristy's blog at http://kccommunicationwiththeoutsideworld.blogspot.com/

She's been home...

Ellyana's been home with us longer than she lived in Ethiopia! Our precious baby is growing up so fast! As we passed this milestone, we are so thankful for the beautiful country & people from which she came & we are so thankful that God gave us the perfect girl to be in our family...we love her so very, very much!
The 1st picture is our referral picture of her, Feb 2009...

These are 2 of her in the orphanage & care center before she came home.
Here's mommy picking her up...

Our very HAPPY FAMILY DAY!!!! We have celebrated lots of 1st's...1st teeth... 1st beautiful Michigan fall..1st Halloween...

Celebrating her beautiful Ethiopian heritage...1st birthday...
1st steps...
1st Christmas...
1st Michigan winter...

1st Valentine's Day...1st Easter...
1st vacation...

1st T-ball season (lots of snacks ;)

And here she is our beautiful girl, inside & out as we like to say...and as we see her grow we are reminded of the song that gave us her name...

“Elliana’s Song” by Watermark

Baby woman, tiny in stature now
But your heart is a treasure
Little princess come follow behind me now I am reaching for you
(chorus)
Elliana, God has answered my prayers
Elliana, God will conquer my fears
To mother a daughter, to look you in the eye
To know that I had everything, to walk with you in life
To give you to Jesus that He would impart
The wisdom that I'm longing for to mother your heart
Elliana, God has answered my prayers
There will be others to lead and to guide you girl
But only one you'll call Mother, the honor is all mine
To show you what a woman's like I'm so glad you're mine
(chorus)
Tenderness of God is twirling around In our living room tonight
Lighten up your daddy's eyes
And know that he just wants to freeze you in time
(chorus)