Celebrating!!

We had a blast celebrating our little boys adoption with family and friends! He is a treasure and we wanted to celebrate BIG because it was such a complete blessing to be able to have him become an official part of our family. 


My friends, Cara and Paula, helped me with the food and planning. Thankful doesn't quite express my deep gratitude to them. Every time I say I'm throwing a party or I have an idea, they just get involved and make things happen. We actually didn't do any of it together, but somehow it all came together. 


My sister-in-law drove herself and the two babies in from St. Louis and helped me out quite a bit too!! I couldn't have gotten everything done Sunday morning without her.


I did an open invite because so many people have supported us, encouraged us and prayed for us along the way. It was hard to know who might want to come. It was fun to have our foster care trainer, Braxton's CASA worker, and several other foster family friends there. 


We had planned to have the party at our house and were working on several projects in preparation. We had our floors refinished and a wall put up in the basement along with some new stairs. When I am wanting to get things done around the house, I have learned that throwing a party usually gets the job done....if you get my drift ;)! As the RSVP's came in, I realized our house wasn't big enough so we reserved our local community center which worked out great!


I rented some fun things and hired a balloon artist and he was a hit with the kids. All around, it was a great day! We had lots of balloons because Braxton LOVES some fun balloons. He was in heaven and as he and my Dad let some go afterwards he yelled, "BYE, loons!" So fun!!


My friend, Kate, took pictures for me which I will cherish because I didn't get a single one! Proud of myself for thinking ahead and planning for a photographer to come. It was great to not have to worry about documenting the day myself. 

It was a WONDERFUL day celebrating this thing that only God could do. Who ever would have though that our son would be born 20 minutes from our home ??? We thought for sure our 4th child was in El Salvador, but God had other plans. It took us 4 long years, but it is good and we are crazy thankful that we get to be his parents.