What Empty Nest????

The big news in the Humphrey household is that there are going to be 2 more of us!!  Two brothers, ages 9 and 6 will begin transitioning to our family this week and will be full-time Humphrey kids by early summer.  We aren't able to share names or post pictures yet and probably won't until the adoption is complete, but suffice it to say that they are cuties. 
We feel so blessed to be used of God to provide a loving, safe home for these boys and look forward to what He has in store for all of us!  Ian is very excited to have more brothers but is a bit confused since they aren't living here yet and will be very sad when they have to leave every weekend. 
Everyone asks how this happened and the best answer is one word:  God!  His heart for the fatherless is so very clear in His Word and He has given us an increasing burden for children in the foster system who are older, and therefore considered 'unadoptable'.  We have been licensed foster parents for over 2 years, but have never had a placement for one reason or another.  The logistics just never worked out.  So, we began praying in earnest about the possibility of adopting.  We believe God has directed this decision and are looking forward to how Ian might be a blessing to these boys and they a blessing to him.  The road will not be easy, but we are committed to making this a 'forever home' for these boys who have been through some rough times. 

Spring Break

Ian is on spring break this week so we are taking advantage of the time and doing some fun stuff.  Yesterday, we went to Danville with Elizabeth and Brenna to visit Mamma (my 90 year young grandmother, Ian's great-grandmother and Brenna's great-great-grandmother.) 

 Today, we went bowling with Ian's good friend, Drew Bear and out to lunch.  Fun, Fun!!!

Tomorrow, we might stay home......maybe.

We're back!!!!

I finally have the blog working again and did several posts to catch up! Check it out!  And....keep watching.  We have some exciting news coming up.  :-)

Weekend in TC

We had the awesome privilege of going to Traverse City last weekend to visit some dear friends who moved there last year against God's will.  Just kidding!!!  We miss them but know they are serving right where God wants them - as associate pastor (Ben, that is) of an awesome church.  They also happen to be the son and daughter-in-law of our pastor and his wife.  We all drove up together (with Ian in the back pointing out every semi we passsed and reminding us to put our seat belts on constatnly). Tom and Don spent time with the leadership of the church at a retreat, Don spoke Sunday morning and then, Tom and I got to share our Ian Adoption Story.  What a blessing it was for us to recall all the ways God worked in bringing Ian into our family and some of the many ways he continues to be such a blessing to all of us. 

 Ian, playing the piano at Ben and Janet's

 Ben and Ian, playing a duet.  Ian was absolutely beside himself when Ben started playing a jazzy tune with him!

 Latest addition to the Whipple family is little Micah, who is adorable!

 Those eyes will melt anyone!

 Isaac entertained us by singing "I've got the joy, joy, joy...."and dancing - soooo cute!!

 Isaac and Daddy, Ben

BWhips - all 4 of them!

Babysitting Brenna

Tom and I just never cease to marvel at the fact that God has given us the 2 most beautiful grandaughters in the universe!  I just can't seem to get enough of either of them.  And, thankfully, they are both used to having a camera stuck in their face.  I was able to get some "Brenna time" last week and of course, had to get the camera out.  She is a sweetie and so very patient while Grammy takes picture after picture!!

This one is my favorite

Problems at School

It's been awhile ago now, but we've had some issues with the school lately.  Ian jumped so high one day that he got his head stuck in the basketball net and he had to wear it home.

 On another day, they sent the wrong child home.  Billy Bob (with long, brown, curly hair) got off the bus instead of Ian.

 The next day, we got a wizard!

 and, this was our happy St. Patrick's day boy with the hat that one of the paras at school gave him.

I just never know what I'll find when I open that bus door!

China

Tom had to go to China on business a couple weeks ago for 9 loooonnnnnggggg days but to make the time easier for Ian, he recorded messages for him to listen to each morning and evening.  Ian loved  them and we had to listen over and over and over and...... His favorite was on Sunday morning when Tom started the message by singing to him. 

 We went to the airport to pick him up and Ian was anxious for him to get off that plane!

 He made a sign at school to take to the airport and one for the door at home.

 A DAD sighting!!!!!

We were both very thankful when he got back on American soil and we could take him home!!!!

Issues

I'm having issues with my blogger account.  When I get it figured out, I will have several posts!  I know you're all waiting with baited breath!

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

On March 8, 2008, Elizabeth officially became part of our family.  I like to think I had something to do with it because Drew called home from college one evening and asked my advice (a very rare occurrence!) about asking her out. I told him, "Of course you should ask her out!!!!!"  However, we all know God had it planned all along and we are so thankful for it!

At DePauw

At our old house - summer of 2007 (?)

After graduation celebration

Crested Butte, CO - it's a wonder she married him after spending a week with all of us!

No explanation necessary

Christmas 2009

Thanksgiving 2010

And, the very best part of our kids getting married is that besides adding more children to our family, we get GRANDCHILDREN!!!! 

Happy Anniversary, Drew and Elizabeth!!  We love you!!

Mom and Dad/Tom and Angela

Ronald and Ian

We don't usually go to McDonald's because there isn't much that Ian can eat.  However, last Saturday we met friends at a McDonald's that has a play area  and Ian was captivated at watching the kids crawl around the tubes and tunnels.  This lifesized Ronald McDonald fascinated him and he desperately wanted to sit on his lap.  It turns out that it was a perfect fit for him and was positioned in a way that allowed him to sit without additional support from us.