Care Package

We sent a care package to Jada with Ann at Red Thread - and yes, she is wonderful!! She sent us 10 new pictures of Jada today - how fun to wake up and find those in your inbox! So I'll share a few!
The care package we sent:


My first "Mom Thought" on this one was - "Oh please no more cutting her hair!!" And my second "Mom Thought" was Jada better not have colored on that wall!!! (Couldn't resist!)
This one's for Jill and Jamie - our friends that LOVE all things Harley's!!

Kindermusik

Kindermusik is again done for another semester - I can't even tell you how funny it is that Chloe leaves class and is already asking when next semester begins! She just LOVES this class. Mrs. Heidi is wonderful ~ can't say enough good about it!!

(Messing around with my Lightroom Download - so excuse my amateur settings here just thought it would be fun to do something different!!)

LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, you are seeing correctly - that is Jada's sweet face in the header! We got our LOA today - Letter of Acceptance - from China so now the countdown begins!! We aren't sure of an exact timeline - our agency said possibly July or August - someone else got their LOA today with our same agency and they were told 5-8 weeks to travel - so whatever it is - we are thrilled and waiting!!

Band for Aaron

Aaron 5th Gr. Band Concert - May 2009 from Becky Bilby on Vimeo.

I know, other kids' concerts aren't all that exciting - but I just put one song on here. We are proud of Aaron - he chose trombone this year as his instrument for band and he has just done a great job! He practices without being reminded and he is doing SO well!! We are proud big guy!

Tulip Time is Over for Another Year

We had fun but now it's done. Tulip Time is over.
We painted pottery:

We rode rides:

We saw Grandpa and Grandma.
We got sunburned.
We have blisters on our feet.
We ate cotton candy, funnel cakes, ribbon fries, fudge puppies, poffertjes, let's just stop there! :)
AND -
We now ALL know Caleb's band songs BY HEART!!!
It was fun.

6th Grade Band

6th Gr. Band Tulip Festival from Becky Bilby on Vimeo.

Pride of the Dutchmen Band

Sometimes pride is ok - these guys have worked HARD. (Believe me, I know, I drive him back and forth everyday to practice!!!) For a sixth grade band, we are impressed. They march in two parades a day today through Saturday. We will ALL be tired!!

Gotta love how the shortest kid gets the largest instrument!! Go Caleb!!!He was hot after playing in a LONG parade but he looks good!

Jada Is 3!!

Today would be SO much more fun if Jada were home - OR even if we could send her a package - but since she isn't - and since we can't - we'll just have a little party here for her! We are going to make some cupcakes, light some candles, and start celebrating May 13th in this family as Jada's birthday! Our little bug turns 3 today. That hurts a momma - I sure wish we were together - I think 3 LONG years, I know she's been in great care, and I know it's God's plan, but a part of me really thinks that 3 years is a long time without your family. We are SO anxious to get our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) and then our TA (Travel Approval) but so far, neither are here. So we wait - and we sing "Happy Birthday" to our daughter and sister clear across the world. Happy Birthday Jada - we love you.

We want to say a HUGE thank you to the many that have given to the Jada Fund through our sidebar or through our church. I can not tell you how blessed we have been by that. God is providing in ways we never imagined. People ask us - are we at our total yet? No, to be honest, thousands left, but God is good and we know He will provide. We are still applying for a couple of grants to help us finish out our adoption. We show our kids every time someone gives - it is God providing and it blesses us all! Thank you for your kindness again - you are just helping us answer God's call - to take care of the orphans.

I had someone ask for our church address so they could mail a check so I will post it here again:
New Hope Evangelical Free Church
Attn: Lisa Leusink
718 Florida Ave. SW
Orange City, IA 51041
(In the Memo Line just note "Bilby Adoption")

From the Mouth of Chloe

Ok - so you asked what Chloe said and we asked her:
What ingredients are mothers made of? Skin :)
What kind of little girl was your mom? One with puffy hair.
What's the difference between Moms and Dads? One was a little boy and one was a little girl.
What does your mom do in her spare time? Plays with me! :)
So there you have it - Chloe's wisdom - what she was willing to share - some of the questions she just looked at me funny. Oh well, who can blame her when you already know the answers!!!
This was from our photo shoot tonight - trying to capture Chloe in the tulips but it wasn't SO successful! This one made me laugh, however.....

Tribute to Moms

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Happy Mother's Day to you all - Moms are such a great gift! I praise God for women that strive to follow Him ~ Enjoy your special day!!

Waiting on God

Our Pizza Ranch fundraiser last night was something we do not ever want to forget. It was so awesome to see our friends come out - get dressed in cowboy outfits and sing cowboy songs in front of others. Then, on top of that, it was awesome to see them serving others in the community and doing it with joy. I just think God the Father had to be there with us with a BIG smile on his face as he watched. The adults set an example to others and then especially to the kids. Then, even thinking of the kids. How amazing to see a group of teenage boys have such a blast serving others with jobs such as cleaning dirty dishes, wiping tables and such. The boys set such a good example that other boys who just came out to eat wanted to get up and help as well. I heard one boy begging his mom to help because one of the other boys recruited him. Then to watch Colton pick up a rag and spray bottle to go around and wipe off tables. To see even the little ones like Caeleigh, Maria, Elizabeth and Chloe walking around to all the adults handing out mints. Even to have one adult station himself in a position so he could catch when a group left so the kids could go over and clean it off for the next group. Others handed out pizza orders like regular Pizza Ranch workers!! Even our trusty greeters!! There was just so much going on and all ages were able to get involved. Basically I just think it was amazing and I am so grateful to have friends that would even consider helping us with this. What a blessing last night was.

I just wish there was some way to let Jada know how much she is already loved. She has a huge family here in Iowa working to help us get her here and I just cannot wait until she can join us. So many people from church, work and then contacts through the library and the community at large came out. It is just beyond words. Even to have a business such as Pizza Ranch that provides opportunities for this type of fund-raising is amazing. What an incredible blessing!

Bilby Tidbits

Three years ago today I posted our first "And Chloe Makes 6" post - and here it is, three years later and we are now "And Jada Makes 7" - amazing what God does! Had to share the "blogoversary" though!!!!

In other news - Robin at Red Thread Stitches is having an auction for a WONDERFUL item this month and all proceeds go to our family. Robin is a dear - she has been so encouraging to us during this whole process and her own story is powerful as well. We are grateful for her in so many ways.

Our Pizza Ranch fundraiser is tomorrow night in Orange City - we are so excited, grateful, and waiting to watch God work. He never ceases to amaze us.

Lastly, my blog business - Busy Mama Blog Design - is featured today on Give Away Today - another great blog that focuses on online businesses and helping them spread the word.

Oh - can't quit now - I must share such an encouraging phone call from my morning - our local elementary school speech pathologist called me this morning - she is just such a blessing to us - she has worked with two of our boys with speech issues and now is so helpful in preparing for Jada to come home. She was telling me that the school is ready and willing to assess Jada when she comes home so that they are able/ready to help her in the fall. They so graciously offered to stop by when we get her home and are adjusted and play with her a bit to see in what areas they will be able to help her. I just see that as another God-thing - we are a homeschooling family - and yet they bend over backwards to make sure we know we can get any help we want or need. I feel truly blessed by that - it's just another thing that God does to show us his "Smile." He truly cares. Do I know best how to care for Jada or what she will need? No - but God does and He is clearing the path for her. I love that.

Conferences

Sometimes God just makes it SO clear that He is FOR you. And that is just what He did for me this past week. I was out of town at a library conference from last Sunday until Wednesday and then left Thursday with Joe to head to another conference - this one for our church position. The Children Desiring God Conference was absolutely amazing. What God is showing me over and over lately is that Jada is truly His plan for us. He confirms it almost daily for me. So we go to Minneapolis for our conference and out of all of the sessions that God could have planned for us - He planned one on disabilities/special needs and their place in the Bible. I have to tell you - it was another eye-opening 60 minutes for me. Jada, and all of these children with special needs, were planned just like any other children - "knitted together in their mother's wombs" (Psalm 139) and they are here for the same purpose that we all are - to give God Glory! I was blown away at the number of times blindness/eye conditions are mentioned in the Bible AND was so touched by our speaker's words - having a son born with, among other things, no eyes. This father poured his heart out to us - he shared so many of the emotions he has gone through with his son and family - and his amazing heart for God. As I sat and cried through the whole session - I just praised God for giving me another reassurance of His plan.

Please pray - we were hoping to travel yet this summer - but the crazy Swine Flu may change that for us. So we are just asking our friends/family to petition God on our behalf - and Jada's as well. We want to go get our little girl and bring her home - it's all in God's timing but after waiting three years to see Jada we are, truth be told, a little antsy!!