Funny how with each passing year, we are taking on more of each other's personality traits. We have always worked good together as a team. Scott often talks to the kids about our family as "Team Crawford". We are definitely stronger and better together than apart. Scott is my best friend and love of my life. Words cannot express my gratitude for all Scott does sacrificially for our family.
We have been home with Jansen and Luke for 3 weeks now. We have had some incredibly wonderful times and some not-so-wonderful times. The boys fit right in to our family. Granted, they are louder and more rambunctious than we were used to, but the attachment and love is already visible and we are all growing together. God has miraculously completed our family with the addition of these two little ones.
The girls finished school on last Friday, so we are excited to be home more and are going to the neighborhood pool every day. I cannot say enough about how wonderful the girls have been with their little brothers. They have played with them and loved on them. They have done more chores than ever before. They have shown grace and love in a way that is an example of how I should live. And they have been a testimony to their friends, neighbors, and classmates to God's love for the fatherless. I am so proud to be their momma and cannot wait to see how God continues to work in their lives.
We have been to the pediatrician. Luke weighs 20 lbs at 28 months old and Jansen weighs 28 lbs at 47 months. They are teeny tiny, but are cute as a button. Early intervention comes tomorrow to evaluate Luke for services and we have many medical appts lined up for the boys in June. Luke will have an EKG, hearing tests, bloodwork, and probably an MRI, as well as seeing the ENT specialist at Brenners. Luke is making great sounds and a lot of baby babbling. He is such a pleasant baby. We pray that if it is the Lord's will, he will be able to get some hearing and learn to speak. Jansen has some speech delays that will be evaluated, as well.
We have been blessed by family, friends, and neighbors in so many ways since we have been home. This has been such a help as we transition. Visits from parents nearby and out of state, a welcoming party at the airport, childcare for the girls, transportation of the girls, gifts, meals, emails, calls, and prayers are just some of the ways we have been cared for. For this we are forever grateful and thankful. You know who you are. God knows, too, and I pray each one of you are blessed in a special way for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
A special thank you goes out to Jim Woodward, Vickie Turner, and Vonnie Bishop from Christian Adoption Services who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help us navigate this new world. A special shout out also goes to Nikki Esquivel and Laura Cross who have shown so much love and support to our family and have sweet blessings from the Philippines in their families, as well.
In just a few weeks, we will have the privilege of seeing face to face our sweet adoptive momma friend, Tanya Robinson, in the U.S. visiting from Italy. What an unexpected, joyous surprise!
How can one count all the blessings the Lord has bestowed on lowly me?
Jo Anna
Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message) "I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."
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