phew....we are recovering!

wow...we are in recovery after our long trip!
the boys and i went up to Bible camp.
mr L was so excited to be a first time day camper.

as we arrived (with our friends, the caulks)...things were not
what we had been told. it was truly awful. awful.
toilet did not work...only cold water...the smallest mini fridge in the world...
so hot....very dirty..and NO lock on the any of the doors. you could not lock them.
if you we camping, you might have been prepared, but
we were not set up with 3 kids to camp.
we somehow managed to stay there one night. (ick)
the next day mr L went to his first day of camp and we
went on a mission to find a new place to stay.

and we did....thank you Lord.

the first picture is a view from the deck of the house
we were able to stay in for the rest of the week.


lots of days spent at camp on the beach....


so thankful for time visiting with great friends.
one of my best girls from college adopted a little boy...
he is sugar...once mr Z accepted the fact that he was a baby,
he decided to play. (he does not like babies right now)


the camp had a bmx bike trail for the campers.
oh my.
you should have seen mr L's face when he got off of
the track. i think he found a new hobby.


this was mr L's counselor (mr jett)....oh my...he was popular
this week. rumor has it the boys tried to wrestle him in the
pool....the girls were in the shallow end and the boys are
wrestling on the other side..totally forgot was swimming
was like at camp. :)


oh the fun we had....these are my friend jessie's kiddos
and they are great kids. we spent 3 days with them and
had the best time.



a huge thank you to my friend DANA for being
such a wonderful host...

she hosted the first adoption trunk show!
i am beyond thankful for her heart and i was blown
away by the whole night....

THANK YOU.


seriously? look at the cupcakes she made...
so fabulous.


when we were driving, i took this picture.
it is simple, but it is a reminder of our life right now.
a journey.

where's she been????

oh everywhere. really.

mr L went to camp last week. his first time.

so, mr Z and i went in tow....to visit some friends of old.

*notice i did not say old friends....i am becoming sensitive about that :) *

this past week, we were in the UP of michigan....my husband's parents take all of us

on a fishing trip every few years and this was the year....

oh, the boys. they had the time of their little lives.

it was such a welcome break for us.

the day before we left we finished our home study!

now....we wait...on the final paperwork. we have already applied to our agency.

now, we begin the international paperwork stage.

i have lots and lots to share.....can't wait to load the pictures.

*more later*

These pendants are designed to raise funds for our upcoming adoption.
To purchase them, please click on button below them and
you can make the payment via paypal.
The pieces will be mailed to you.
If you would like to purchase them another way,
please contact me at amymichellebell@yahoo.com.


We all can make a difference....one life at a time.

(side one)

(side two)

$20.00

The next pendant has a vintage map piece of Africa on one side.
Did you know most children do not live until their 5th birthday?
We all can make a difference in giving and caring for them.

The other side of this piece has a vintage dictionary page..
featuring the word hope.

(side one)

(side two)

$20.00

Did you know...worldwide...there are 147 million orphans?
an unbelievable number.
This piece has 147 million...a reminder to pray and help...
the other side is a patterned paper.

All proceeds from the sale of this piece goes toward our adoption.
We hope to bring a home to 2 orphans from Africa.

(side one)

(side two)

$20.00



The pendants are ready to ship!
You can find them on the right side of the blog
under the button "shop for adoption".
Thank you!

the story

in my last post i mentioned an announcement. i thought that i needed to share soon. :)

trent and i began dating in 2000. we both knew when we were dating that we were someday going to marry. after 11 months, we were engaged. during our engagement, we talked a lot about our future and what we hoped it would look like for us. as a couple, one of dreams was to adopt.

in our first year of marriage, we got pregnant. it was a great surprise...and the timing was funny and perfect at the same time. mr L was born.....2 years later we had another surprise and our incredibly funny mr Z was born.

we never felt our family was complete. however, medically we were not able to have any more kiddos. we began to talk more and more about adoption. after the earthquake in haiti, we knew that the time had come. if there was one thing we took away, it was our call to adopt.

at first, we thought our call was to adopt from haiti. we chose an agency with orphanages in haiti. however, time revealed that adopting from haiti would take years and would be hard for us with biological children. we began to pray about giving waiting children a home soon. our criteria for a country had always been need. i know...need. need is present in every country.

however, through a series of events, we have chosen to adopt from an african nation! we have almost finished our home study and sent in our initial contract with our agency. our heart's desire is to adopt 2 children that are either siblings or from the same area. as a part of this exciting news, i am launching a new line of jewelry this week in honor of and to help fund the adoption process. also, i will be available to do trunk shows in homes for the first time. if you would like to support our adoption, would you consider hosting a trunk show for your friends and family?

we are also excited about an upcoming auction on my blog. all the proceeds go to the adoption fees. i can't wait for you to see some of the things we will feature!

thank you for being a part of our journey. thank you for being a part of my neighborhood as crystal from little bit funky said last week (if you have not read her series on "why blog", it is a must) we look forward to sharing this scary and exciting adventure.

last week i read a post about a family who was going to adopt from africa. they had not yet told the child (5 yrs old) they were adopting. in their last visit, the mother was skyping with the father so he could visit with the child. the parents had been working so hard to adopt him and still not told him. the child said "now you will come to fetch me". tears came to my eyes. my thoughts exactly.

....now we will go to fetch you.......

here we are!

*celebrate*

oh....the fishers freedom festival.
we look forward to it every year.


really?
what is a parade in indiana without a race car?
it is not one...i tell you.

this boy hunted and hunted for his hat.
"mom, i have to wear my john deere hat....for the combines!"
the hat was found. the combines were seen. one happy boy.
really? i just want to bottle up these moments. they are precious to me.


one more picture for good measure....do you see the steam coming
up from the pavement? yep. it was hot....


we went into the tents for some family fun.
not sure how much you can see...but this was
actually a "dunk the cop" activity.
oh dear. hope he doesn't remember us.


this man "dennis" is a genius. really.
boys were flocking to the tent to buy marshmallow guns and
rubber band guns. we came home with 2 rubber band guns.
i am not sure who is happier...dad or the kiddos. :)


seriously. rubber band guns are a serious business.


guess who is riding his bike all around?
oh, he is proud. look at that smile!
this was the last picture we took before we told him he had to
put the helmet on his head. i think the coolness factor went down...
but, you know....safety first. *i might add here that i am so glad i did not
wear a helmet as a kid* phew. got that out....


8 years...i cannot believe it has been 8 years.
this week i have a special announcement.
stay tuned.

the goings on....

we have been working away at our swimming lessons.
mr L is sometimes a fan.
yesterday, at breakfast, he told me that he might throw up
and needed for me to cancel the lesson because he is sick.
when we got to swimming he was healed. he swam like a fish
and even did his dives.

this little cutie loved his lessons and is swimming by himself.
he had a rough first day, but he is learning fast.
maybe he will end up in the big pool?
i had to take this picture...i think he looks like a real live
bobble head.


i had some errands to run yesterday and came across an auction.
the auction is actually on the 26th, but you may remember who it is even
if you are not from indiana. remember marcus schrenker? the guy
who swindled millions from people? 20/20 did an investigation
called "flying high at cocktail cove"....all of his earthly belongings
are being auctioned off next week. i did take a peak inside.....phew.
lots and lots of stuff....(the auction is by the best buy in castleton if you would
like to attend)


and lastly...saw this book at goodwill.
just look at the cover.
i have to admit....i only felt that way a couple of
days so far.....but wonder if it has any helpful hints? :)

off to swim....and tomorrow....
TOY STORY 3!!!
(a BIG event in our house!)

the girlies...

girls weekend this past weekend...so celebrate sweet baby oliver.
so much fun to catch up!


off to a movie...oops...had to walk out. it was so so bad.
on the way out....took a picture by the poster for the movie.
eeekkk...we needed to wash out eyes out....


getting ready for the shower!
my girl jodi is the BEST cook. really.


the glowing new mama.
so so sweet....only a few weeks to go!
the party was hosted by the fabulous kimmy....see her in the background?
she prepared a wonderful day.


love opening presents....my girl jesse always wraps things
in baskets....love it. such a fun thing to do!


the kiddos had so much fun on the trampoline...playing
all together....


you can't get much funnier than this lady.
with nicknames like the arm crosser and the ranger?
she is sugar.


sweet jaren....she is one of my personal heroes.
such a strong lady.
so wonderful to see her....

can't wait to visit again soon.
i miss them already.

p.s. all pictures taken using the hipstamatic app from the iphone.
so worth it.