One year...

One year ago today we woke up super jet lagged across the ocean in Uganda.  One year ago today we met the little girl we had been praying over for more than 2 years.  One year ago today we held our sweet Kenzi for the very first time!

What a year it has been!  So many first moments!  And so, so many smiles!  You are so full of joy sweet Kenzi and you bring such brightness to our family!  Here is a look at your last year as a K-crew member!

We are so thankful for you Kenzi!  We can't wait to see what God has planned for you!  We love you and can't imagine life without you!  I can't help but be teary eyed as I watch you eat your breakfast this morning and think of how far you have come and how much you have blessed our family in the last year!  The saying is true...adoption rocks!!

Happy Birthday Karter!!

How is it even possible that this fiery little guy is 6?  The last year has flown by!

Of course we carried on the Lorick birthday tradition with birthday donuts!

Followed by presents...

This year since Nathan was in Israel we decided it might be special to let Karter miss school and go to the place of his choice.  He chose Lego Land!!

He was beyond excited and had the best time!

Although the birthday money in his pocket was burning a whole...he couldn't wait to get to the gift shop to buy some Legos of his own.

We had lunch together in the mall afterwards...I love what he said..."Mommy, this is really fun, spending time just us...but you know what is better, family time"!!!  I love that this little boy loves being with his siblings and his mom and dad!  All the way home he talked about what Legos he was going to share with his brothers!

Dear Karter,
This year has been full of change and new things.  Just the other day you asked me why you had to keep doing so many new things!  You are so much like me...change is often hard and not my favorite thing either.  Even though there have been some rough moments getting adjusted I am so proud of  you Karter!  In the last year you have moved to a new city, embraced a new sibling, started and finished pre-school, joined a new church, moved to a new class at the church, visited numerous churches with daddy, started Kindergarten and so much more!  You are doing great, Karter!
You are such a fun little boy and you always keep us laughing!  You have a huge vocabulary and love to tell me about the new words you are learning.  You are learning to read!  You still LOVE all super heroes and legos are now coming in at a close second.  You are rough and tough but still tender hearted enough to think of others and their needs.  You are a great helper and most everyone comments on how polite you are!
We continue to see evidence of God's hand working in your little life.  You have such a passion for Him and you love to learn about the bible!  You are always on the look out for someone new so that you can ask them if they know Jesus!  We can't wait to see what He has planned for you sweet boy!
Happy Birthday, Karter!!!

Love,
Mommy

This Man...

This man is the man of my dreams!  He is everything I ever wanted and more.  He is everything I didn't even know I needed.

This man brings me my favorite sweet tea "just because".


This man sends me flowers from across the world.

This man has watched thousands of chic flicks just to be with me.



He is a lover of Jesus, who faithfully proclaims the gospel to people any and everywhere.

He is an amazing dad.  Our K-crew is one blessed little bunch.

He is a great friend.  I often hear him calling others just to check on them or to encourage them.  His phone is full of texts to friends old and new with words of affirmation.

He is a wonderful son and brother.  He calls each of his parents on a regular basis just to check on them and he does the same with his siblings.

He is a hard worker.  I am not sure his mind ever shuts off.  And if he tells you he will do something you can count on it getting done.


He is a man of integrity.  A man of his word.

There are so many things I could say about this man of mine.  But what stands out the most is the way he loves me.

I have heard it said that marriage is a picture of how Christ loves the church.  I see this daily in Nathan.  In the past 11 1/2 years I have learned more about Christ's love for me through the way my husband loves me than I ever knew before.

Like Christ, this man of mine pursues me.  He pursues me on good days and when I look cute and when I am sweet.  What reminds me of Christ is the way that this man  pursues me even on my worst days. He pursues me when I say hurtful things (I totally have the spiritual gift of spitefulness and if you make me mad there is no telling what I will say to get you back).  He pursues me when I do
everything I can think of to push him away.  So much like the way my heavenly Father loves me even
when I am so completely unlovable.

This man of mine also sacrifices daily for me.  Sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ways, this man gives of himself every day just to make me feel loved. He has worked so hard to make my dream of being a stay at home mom come true.  He could probably have all the toys and hunting leases he has ever wanted but instead he has made my dream a reality... a constant reminder of the way that my Saviour sacrificed his very life so that I might have life abundantly.

This man of mine is faithful.  I know that I can count on him and that his love for me is true. I can trust this man to cherish and protect my heart.  His steadfast love for me reminds me that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ.

I am so thankful and blessed to call this man my husband!!

Our marriage may not be perfect.  We have had our share of ups, downs, arguments, and hard times.  But I know that this man and I are in it for the long haul...for better or for worse.  I am my beloveds and he is mine!!

I love you, Nathan!!  Thank you for being Christ like!  Your love makes me better each day!