What is "favorably determined" you might ask? Well, yesterday we received a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to notify us that they have "favorably determined that we are able to furnish proper care to an orphan as defined in Section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act." This is a huge deal and we are so glad that we have this important documentation! It was the only thing we were waiting on (in terms of paperwork) and we must have it in order to accept our referral! (Which gets closer each day!) As far as we know, we are still sitting at #12 on the waiting list for our son! This important piece of paper cost a lot of $$ and a trip to Atlanta for fingerprints, but it is all going to be worth it when we get to see our little boy's face! Just wanted to share our good news and keep you updated! I am so humbled when I think about how I have been adopted into God's family, not because of anything that I have done, but because of His glorious grace and amazing love. I know that God has so much to teach our family through this adoption and I anticipate each new lesson with great expectation. I want to share a verse that I was recently reminded of that speaks so beautifully to how believers have all been adopted. John 1:12-13 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband's will, but born of God."
Thanks for your continued prayers! We are so honored to be joining God on this journey as we walk out His plan for our family!
Sean is Beckett's coach again this year! He has a lot of dads who have been great help. It is definitely a team effort to get the boys in the right place at the right time! Here they are before we headed to the field.
Here is a picture of Helen with Gracie who is a sister of one of the players. I love how she is checking Helen out! We are going to have a long (and expensive!) season with Helen! All she wants to do is visit the concession stand. I'm going to have to remember to pack lots of snacks this season! Granbob kept her in hot dogs and chips today!
Here is Beckett at bat. He had three hits today. This is the first season that they have kept score and had three outs. In fact, there are several new rules. The last two years he played in the instructional league. This year, he is in machine pitch and there are a few new things to get used to. He hit the ball well today!
Here he is playing third base. He made a great stop at third today, but didn't know that he had to tag the player. He stepped on the base and his mom thought that should have been enough, :) but evidently, there is some rule that you have to tag them when some other combination of events has happened! That sure seems like a lot to keep up with! He has a lot to learn defensively this year! (and I do too!)
Here is "Coach Harper" with the team after the game. They lost their first game, but they all had a great time! 
My mom and dad (Grankaki and Granbob) came over from Brentwood to watch the game. Nana came too, but I didn't get Beckett's picture with her. Thank you all for coming to watch Beckett play! He had quite a cheering section!
