So it begins, but first... ABOUT US

We are adopting again! Ok, so it's not actually official yet but we just have 1 more visit with our social worker before she will type up our approved home study!! We can't wait to add to our family again! So I'm going to start off by telling anyone who doesn't know us personally a little bit about ourselves :) Jeff and I were High School sweethearts and got married in 1996. We've had our ups and downs in life but are so thankful to God for ALL of our challenges because our marriage is now stronger than even! Jeff is a well known Chef in Cleveland and is great at his job. I'm so proud of his accomplishments! I am a registered nurse but currently staying at home to be more available to my kids. I'm so happy and blessed to be able to do that. We have 5 kids right now... Our oldest, Jordan, is 18 years old and is enlisted in the ARMY. We are EXTREMELY proud of him in chasing his dreams of being a soldier, even when it was hard and when the future was unknown at times. He made it :) Right now he is in Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC and will be graduating soon and move on to his Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Eustis, Virginia. We miss having him home so much but couldn't be prouder of him!!

Jonathan is 16 years old, driving, playing any sport they will let him play, and HAS to be busy AL OF THE TIME!! He loves his friends and is a great brother. He has a heart for kids and adults with special needs and spent part of last summer volunteering for Camp Echoing Hills in southern Ohio, which is a camp for people with disabilities. He looks forward to returning this summer as well! Jonathan played Waterloo varsity football this past season and is on the basketball team.

Jacob is 13 and also has a heart for kids and adults with special needs. He loved Camp Echoing Hills as well, and can't wait to go back! He made a great friend named Kevin and is so anxious to be able to see him again <3 Jacob also likes sports, mostly basketball and baseball.

In 2008 we adopted Jasmine from Jiangxi Province, China. She is now 9 years old and LOVES (ok, maybe is obsessed with) gymnastics ;-) She is good at it too! Jasmine is legally blind, is an early braille reader, and does great in school. She loves her friends and spending time with them. Although neither of them would admit it, her and Jacob spend a lot of time together as well :)

Jewel was adopted from Fujian Province, China in 2010. She is 6 years old and is the sweetest, happiest, most loving person I have ever met. She was born without eyes/blind and has multiple other disabilities as well. She loves to laugh and has worked very hard to come so far, from being tied in a crib in her orphanage to where she is now... walking with a walker and climbing all over the furniture in the house. We can't imagine life without her.

That's our family <3