Pack out dates!!

It seemed like it may never happen, but we were finally able to schedule our move yesterday. We are confirmed for the July 11th flight to Jacksonville! Our furniture however, will be leaving well in advance of us, as it takes 60 days to return stateside. Thus, our pack out will be May 21st and 22nd for our large shipment. We also get a express shipment which is suppose to take 30 days which will contain kitchen items, linens, Joy's crib, etc. which we have scheduled for the 15th of June. Don't worry we won't be sleeping on the floor! The military supplies us with "designer" (LOL ) furniture until we leave. Mark will be coming back with us to help find an apartment/house. He will then return here to finish out his tour. Fitting that as he closes out his 20 year career, he will be back in the barracks just like the good ole days! So begins, the sorting and dumping that comes with every move. Joy's room is already half packed with yard sale items!

Mother Daughter Tea

Ready for the Mother Daughter Tea

My Beautiful Girls

Finished At Last!!!

There is reason to celebrate in the Ivey household. Mark has finished his Master's in Science in Information Technology with Information Assurance Specialization from University of Maryland University College! We are so very PROUD of him and his many years, 11 to be exact, of working diligently to earn his degrees. Can you tell he is ecstatic??? He received his grades today for his last two classes-both A's! You are the GREATEST DADDY OF ALL TIME-Love your wife and kiddos!

Matt and Grace practicing baseball on our new astro turf fields. Looks great right? What you can't tell from the pictures is that standing on that field is about 15-20 degrees hotter than standing on the pavement beside it. Which doesn't sound bad accept it was 92 degrees off the field!!! Sometimes new and improved isn't always better. Andrew is playing T-ball and hits quite well. Games begin this week against the other team. Yes~ there are only 2 teams for each age group!

6 months Home!

Our little sweetheart 6 months ago

The new improved Ivey clan

Joy's first moment with Daddy
Six months ago (October 13th), a scared, sick, precious ,little girl was placed in our arms for the very first time. Instantly, our hearts we knit together as one. Time has flown by over the last few months as we have welcomed Joy into our family. Looking back at our days in China, it is amazing how much she has grown and developed. Of course, good nutrition and stimulation play a key role in her great strides, but we know it is simply the love of a family that has allowed her to blossom. There are so many children just like her who yearn for the love that only a family can give. My heart breaks for all the children who still wait around the world and in the US for such a basic need-LOVE.
I am overjoyed to report that our sponsored child, referred to as H in earlier posts, has found her forever family~CONGRATULATIONS BAKER FAMILY!! Through the amazing www we recently connected with the Bakers who have also been sponsoring Holly at PHF since 2007. They began looking for Holly's file last fall, but were told she was already being adopted. When the adoptive family disrupted, they were notified by a friend and immediately began the search for Holly. I wish I had words empowering enough to share how God has worked to bring Holly, whom we now call Ava, into this family. Please feel free to check out what God has done not once, but soon to be 5 times in the Baker family at www.bakerssweets.blogspot.com We are praising God for answered prayers for little Ava! Please pray that they will be able to bring her home very soon.

Easter

Of course, we are biased, but aren't they

fine looking kids!

All dressed up to honor our Lord's Resurrection

Dad raced for the golden egg at the Easter egg hunt thinking he would win a great prize.
Unfortunately, he just won an inappropriate movie that we didn't want! Last year they gave
away Ipods and 100.00 gift cards- the Recession has hit us!

The Birthday Girl

Notice the grass on our golf course- can anyone say drought!

She loved her lamb "stuffie".

We enjoyed a JOYOUS Resurrection Day and our dear Joy's 2nd birthday. We had a very busy weekend filled with egg hunts, block parties and church. In the Ivey tradition, I made Joy's cake, a bunny, of course. She loved the jelly beans more than the carrot cake! We pray that each of you had a blessed Easter too!

Eggstra Special

Our Eggstra Special Girl's birthday is fast approaching on April 12th- Easter! What a special day to celebrate our Lord's Resurrection and Joy's entrance into the world. This week my mind and heart are filled with thoughts of her birth mother. Joy was found outside the gates of her orphanage (Guiping City SWI) when she was 3 weeks old. Her birth mother cared for her during these first few weeks and I know in my heart she agonized over her decision as she tearfully placed her daughter on the ground. Did she really have a choice? Was she young and unmarried without a birth permit? Was she forced by someone? Was she a second child? All these questions mill in my mind. We will never be able to answer these or other questions Joy may have as she grows older. But this she will always know- her birthmother gave her the gift of a little note on which she scribbled her birthday. This may not seem like a lot, but to Joy it is a gift only her loving birth mother could give. I believe she is half a world away, wondering and praying for her little one as her birthday approaches. I envision her purposefully passing the orphanage glancing longingly for a glimpse of Joy's sweet little face. I pray for her that some how our Heavenly Father will draw her to Him, that she and Joy may meet one day in the glory of heaven. Till then, I pray that He will whisper to her heart that her baby is being loved by a family that can't imagine life without her. She is healthy, smart and beautiful.