Happy New Year! Have you heard?

The Haynes family has officially started the adoption process!  Praise the Lord!  The wheels are in motion (albeit slow motion so far) and we are so thankful to be on the road to our family's growing in such an awesome way!




So we don't know where she is exactly...  In fact, she probably has not even been born yet...  BUT!  We do know that the LORD can "see [her] unformed substance" and in His book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for her, when as yet there are none.  Ps. 139:16   And that reality is enough to make my heart thrill at the thought of another little one in our home!!!  Another little one of our own that will giggle and drool and cry when we change her diaper and laugh when we play peek-a-boo behind her feet.

So we are waiting and working and dreaming...and it is exciting.  And we speak each word of her with hesitation in our voice...with a fear of speaking with too much certainty or too much excitement and all of the what-ifs that swirl through our minds at every turn and every signature of every official document.  And there is so much to be done to get her here!!!  Fund raising, paperwork, prayer, more paperwork, and a lot more prayer.  And it will all be worth it.  Infinitely worth it.

We love you, little goose!  Wherever you are!  We are praying for you now.  My heart breaks to think that you will go to bed many nights before you know our lullabies and love.  But, we will scoop you up soon!  And we will be yours.  

Family Photos (more to come)

What a fun time and what a blessing to mark our first year as a family of three!  Our dear neighbor does such a great job with photographing families.  We are so thankful for her creativity and skills...not to mention her friendship.  Thanks, Veronique!

Mila Daisy - Our Newest Niece!

(And, yes, she is crying.)

Happy Birthday, Dear Friend!!

While hiking on my favorite trail back around my birthday in September, we ran into one of my dearest old friends!  She and her husband got to meet Noah and celebrate a little of what God has been doing in our lives for a few minutes up at Black Balsam Knob.  What a blessing!

Noah's First Christmas Card!

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise! Ps.96

Scooting Around

Noah isn't crawling yet, but he has finally started scooting on his tummy when he wants to get to something.  It's kind of surprising to turn around and see that he has actually changed locations.  He's much happier too.  I guess life is less frustrating when you can move to the toy (or contraband object) that you are wanting.

(Hmm...notice the bizarre clothing combo.  I think those are striped Winnie the Pooh socks with a too-small camouflage onesie.  Awesome.)

Happy Reformation Day! ...or Halloween.

 
Noah's first halloween costume was a last minute ducky robe.  But it works.

 

Noah's First Solid Meal

This might be considered Noah's 2nd Solid Meal -- but since he didn't really swallow a bite of his true first meal of rice cereal (a couple of weeks prior to this), we'll call this one the first.  Rice cereal and sweet potatoes.  Lots of drooling, but on the whole, we'll consider it a success. 

"FEed mE."

6 Months of Noah

 
So far, we have tasted some solid food (rice cereal), but not much swallowing going on.  Noah is in the 50th percentile for height, weight and head size, making him wonderfully, perfectly average.  But, of course, we think he is just about the coolest baby in the world.

Loving with Actions

I saw this video this morning and read these verses.  What to DO?


Isaiah's Story from 31Films on Vimeo.

¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3)

Apples, Apples Everywhere

Notice that Dad is looking into the camera! --a rare occurrence.

We made a short visit to Sky Top Orchard during our September visit to H'ville.  Such a gorgeous day though a little warmer than our past visits to the orchard.  We bought the traditional apple doughnut for Robbie and a jar of mountain wildflower honey for me.  Always such a treat!  (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

Noah loved it too.  He told me.

A Few More Noah Favorites @ Five Months

A Preface to A Simple Thought

Here's the thing.  I have little to no outlet for some of the thoughts that run through me lately--- and the way my mind works, my thoughts want to be written out.  So, I may sometimes indulge in posting these ideas now and again.  This will not become the personal diary of Dana.  And I'm sure that sooner than I can even guess, I will be embarrassed by the simplicity of my own thinking exposed here.  But by God's grace, and by holding my own thinking up to his Word, I hope to recognize that He is growing me in wisdom.  I don't believe wisdom is necessarily complex, but many times inscribed boldly in the obvious, brightly flashing before tightly shut eyes, and screaming into ears stuffed full with desires.

So, I'll call it "A Simple Thought."  And I may be the only one who reads them, but that's perfectly fine too.  Writing helps us all to think a little more clearly, so if you don't have a place to write your thoughts, maybe you should create one too.  If nothing else, it's an exercise in humility.  Because there will always be a day when we look back at the shortcomings of our own words.  Praise God -- For His Word never fails.  Every Word proves true.  It is sure and makes wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7)

5 Months of Noah

I have a problem.  I take a million pictures of Noah at a time, and I can rarely bring myself to delete any of them.  Our computer's hard drive is nearly exhausted.  But each photo seems to capture something hilarious or sweet or special about him...and only a mom (or papa) can appreciate/love/adore/gush over every single one of them.  But, I don't care.  I'm posting as many as I want...because I can.  And it really is all going so fast.  So here are some more of my favorites from five months. 

Welcome Rosy Marie!

Another baby was born to our family! Praise the Lord!

She's a beauty.

Aunt Dana says hello.

Uncle Robbie's first time holding Rosy Marie.

Sweet Little Moose Feet

So sweet.

Moose feet!

Himself

I ran into these lyrics and had to post them here so that I could remember them.  Oh, that these words would be fully true of the Haynes family!  Especially the first stanza.

HIMSELF
 
Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the veil.

   by A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)

4 Months of Noah

I'm already 4 months old?!

Look how big I'm getting!

Can you believe it?

My monkey's eyes are blue just like mine!

Enough pictures, mom.

Really.  That's enough.  
I'm gonna have to chew this monkey's head off if you don't stop.

Noah's First Real Hike and Mama's Nasty Bite

Noah's first hike!
He rode in the jogging stroller over the rocks and roots.  Very brave.
(We decided to it was toooo hot to carry him in his carrier.)

Love these guys!
Robbie and Noah were both very patient as I got the camera ready.

First real family photo with Noah!?  

(Hard to believe!)

And -- it was probably in this sweet family moment when the yucky tick was hitching a ride on my pants...  thereby giving me Lyme Disease.  Not such a great way to end a hike, but the LORD was kind to help me identify the bite and get quick treatment, so no real harm done.  Mostly we're just glad it was me and not Noah!  I'm doing fine aside from some fatigue and muscle/joint stiffness.  We were praising God for antibiotics!  It seems I am developing quite the record for a variety of infectious bites!

I won't say who did it, but somehow Noah ended up like this in his car seat.

Ahem...  Not naming names.

hehe.  Hilarious!
Poor little guy.  Mommy laughs at him all the time!