Why wait?

I was on YouTube a little bit ago looking for something a friend recommended; she said it would make me laugh but I found this video instead: All I Really Want for Christmas by Steven Curtis Chapman. And I thought, oh I'll save this and post it at Christmas... and then deep in my heart I felt God say "why wait" And while I am one of the first people you will ever meet to start playing Christmas music, generally before Halloween :) I thought, nah, it's way too early for Christmas music.

But this isn't just Christmas music; it's a song that resonates deep in my soul and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Imagine growing up being one of many, never having anyone wipe your tears, bandage your knees or tell you they love you. I can't even fathom that and it breaks my heart that over 147 million children go to bed without knowing a mother's gentle touch or a father's guiding hand.

I'm not sure why God instilled in me such a passion for adoption and orphans. I feel like I need to be doing something bigger than just trying to bring a family home for myself (yes, adopting for me is also a selfish reason because I long for a home filled with love, laughter and a little chaos) but God hasn't shown me what that is yet. So for now, until I know what my 'mission' in life is besides being a wife to Matt and Mama to Gabe, I will just share my passions with this little platform God has given me through my blog. And maybe one day, I'll know what to do with my passions... what to do when I grow up!

So, I ask you, why wait?

A Baby Gaby Fix!

Summer has begun and Gabe is loving every minute of it! Gabe loves being outside and having 4 older cousins who play soccer and baseball provide us with many opprotunities to spend time outside, while watching Caleb, Ethan, Jake and Sam play ball. We actually haven't watched Jake and Sam yet because their season just started!

But anyways, if you can't tell by the pictures, Gabe loves being outside... he loves sunshine (although he rips his hat off all the time now), grass, breezes and being silly!

Isn't he just the cutest? Yeah, I think so too!

And don't forget to click here for some coffee! Yes, I'm going to continue to shamelessly plug our Just Love Coffee store! Sorry :)

Just Ordinary Life

Admist Gabe's doctors appointments, therapy appointments and doing lots of different stretches and exercises at home, Gabe prefers to lead just a normal life. Want to see?

He takes baths and looks super cute in a towel.

Gabe goes for walks in his stroller.

He goes to the zoo

and gets the 'Scoop on Poop'

He plays with and without eye patches on...

He goes to parades..

with family and friends!

Through it all, Gabe and I are usually together..

And I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Most of our hopes for Gabe involve him leading an ordinary life, just in a not so ordinary way!

Love & Blessings!

Attention Coffee Lovers and/or Adoption Lovers

As we've mentioned in a few recent posts, Matt and I, along with our Gaby baby this time, are beginning the next steps in our journey. And we are excited! We've decided, actually God sort of decided for us, that the 7,333 miles from Elyria Ohio to Addis Ababa Ethiopia is really not that far when you're thinking about finding your forever family.

Did you know that the Bible mentions orphans (and widows) over 500 times. If God is going to talk about something 500 times, it must be important and we'd better listen. Unfortunately, it is expensive to bring orphans home to their forever family, but no expense is too great when God instructs you to do something.

And fortunately for us, God has risen up wonderful people who start amazing companies to help families bring home their children. Just Love Coffee is one of these companies. You may have noticed the Just Love Coffee button on the side bar of my newly designed blog. By clicking on that link you will be directed to our 'store,' lovingly named Where Coffee Brings Family. At our store you can buy fair trade coffees and lots of other fun coffee paraphanalia to help us raise money for our next adoption. We get a percentage of everything that sells from our store: like $5.00 per pound of coffee, $1 per coffee scoop and $3.50 per shirt. Isn't that so awesome? You get to buy wonderful tasting, fair trade coffee and we get a little closer to bringing home our baby/child/children (whoever God has for our family!).

I hear that the coffee is amazing, but I'm not a really big coffee drinker. Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks or the new caramel Frappe from McDonald's - sure, but coffee... ehh, not so much! So, if you do buy some, leave me a message and let me know how it is or which is your favorite flavors. I'm thinking that this could make a nice present for some of my coffee loving friends.

So click here or on the link over in the side bar and head to our store. Make sure you read the "Our Story" tab and learn all about the Weber family and why they chose to start this wonderful business.

And if you don't like coffee... please feel free to pass along our story and our link to your coffee loving friends!

Love & Blessings,
Meredith