The Time Has Come

The time has come to end this blog. We accomplished what we had set out to do; walk in faith as our Lord brought our precious daughter to our lives. My heart sings with joy when I think about all He did to bring Liora to our arms; how He prepared our hearts, how He provided financially (especially when Corey was out of work for three months, due to tearing he's Akilies Tendon), His perfect timing for when we started the adoption to when Liora was born and so many other details that He took care of that brought the whole thing to be. He knew before the creation of the world that Liora would be our daughter, and I am so thankful! She is more wonderful, joyful and like us then I ever could have hoped for. She's running now, and singing, and has more words then I can remember. I am amazed how fast she learns and has already grown up so much in the eight months we've had her home. Yep, she's been with us longer than she was without us. The bounds of love I have for her are limitless, and it is an amazing example of the way the Lord feels for us as his adopted children.

Thank you for being a part of our journey in faith. We hope the Lord will use our blog for His glory and help you find the joy and call for adoption. We will continue to walk in faith as we raise our daughter and grow with the Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the precious gift you gave us when you entrusted Liora to us. Help us to raise her in a way that is pleasing to you. Please reveal yourself to her with your overwhelming love. Thank you Lord for hearing my cry and making me a mother. Thank you for the joy and purpose she brings to my life, and I ask for your strength, as I daily look to you, to care for my family in a way that will honor you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I pray. Amen

Summer Already?

Things here have been crazy. With the remodel, my brain has been on hold for well over a month now, and if it was not for Kimmie's post on her summer dreams, I probably wouldn't have realized summer has arrived.

The finishing touches on the kitchen are underway, and I hope to have it all done next week. I can't wait to get everything back in it's place and start baking and cooking again. Once It's done I promise to post on the remodel with some before and after pictures.

Liora is doing wonderful. She is such a happy girl. And she's walking!!! Last week she would take six steps, drop the floor and crawl to where ever she was going, but not anymore. How she's walking! With her hands out in front of her, taking staggering steps, she looks like a little Frankenstein. And boy is she determined. Now when she falls, she laughs, gets right back up and keeps on going. Some more words have reached her vocabulary...balloon and kitty. A friend brought me a balloon bouquet for my birthday, and I've tied them to a chair in the living room where Liora plays. She'll point up to them and say "bo-ooon". But she seems to be even more impressed with herself when she recognizes our cat meowing from the next room and says "ti-tee".

I dream that soon, my kitchen will be in order allowing my home to follow next, to have the weeds pulled and shurbs trimmed in the yard, and to refelct on what my dreams for this summer are and to make a post about it.

Thanks for taking the time to read up on how things are going here at the Banfield Family. I hope all is well with you. May the Peace of the Lord be with you. ~A

Liora's FIRST Birthday

Photos by Nick Hepziban

After the party we went to the zoo.
What a fun day!