January 1- Kitumani Children's Home opened it's doors. We were ready to take the first boy under two!! Our homestudy was done, just waiting for US approval. Here are some pics from the last year.
February brought a visit from our niece, more fingerprints for the adoption, and waiting.
March no real events, just tea parties and lots of playing, and waiting and praying for who God would bring to our family.
April always includes egg dying and the Celebration of Christ's Resurection.
May brought a answer to our prayers! Mark Joseph Layton was born, and named our son!
June began with a lot of excitement, a ton of adoption paperwork, lots of birthdays, and a great family vacation!
July, our adoption paperwork was coming to a close. Trying to figure out all the steps to finalize Mark's adoption, and travel dates for Phil to go. And of course our yearly church "Family Camp" camping trip (the highlight of the kids summer, although Adam kept asking when we were going home.)
August was the month that seemed like a year. Phil's tickets bought and ready to leave on the 27th. But in God's perfect plan three days before Phil was to leave, our sweet boy was taken from this world.
August 29, Phil arrived in Congo
August 30, Phil buries our son
September 9, Phil is scheduled to return to the US. Three days before he is to leave God gives us another son.
September 10 Phil is HOME!
September 12 we begin the whole adoption process AGAIN!
September 26 we take a emergency trip to San Francisco to get my passport renewed...fast! I spent most of the day in lines, the rest of the family got the see the sights. Adam's favorite... what he called "The Golden GREAT Bridge".
October, we are ready for Africa leaving October 2.
October 4, I get to see Matteus for the first time!
October 5 final adoption judgment
October 7, I leave Congo to return to the US, Phil leaves Lubumbashi to go to Kinshasa.
Praise God for the Greene's!!
He is ours!!
October 26, he is HOME!!!
In the two short months that Matteus has been here God has melted and melded our hearts together as a family, and has amazingly grafted him quickly into our home.
Here are a few favorite pics from the last two months...
First taste of ice cream!
The Compassion for Congo Team
And our favorite picture of the whole year...
I love this picture!
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