Belonging:)

Here is the pic of her on the way home from Peru......when SHE BECAME A CITIZEN!

cit·i·zen·ship

   [sit-uh-zuhn-ship, -suhn-]

noun

1.

the state of being vested with the rights, privileges, and duties of a citizen.

I opened the mail today and one piece was addressed to Delaney Maria Thurn.
It was her certificate of citizen ship of the United States of America.
I am reminded of the date she BECAME a CITIZEN....11.24.11 - Thanksgiving.
Another unbelievable detail of the incredible story.
In Philippians 3 Paul tells us that we are citizens of Heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Delaney's HOME on this earth.... is the United States... Missouri....Grain Valley...6214 S. Minter Rd. A place to call her own, where she belongs. A FAMILY TO BE A PART of. 4 other people to love her, uncontrollably! Not too mention countless others!
Something triggered in my heart and mind last week that the one year anniversary of her official abandonment comes around at the end of March. For some reason that brought an instant tear to my eye. I guess the visual of this precious little orphan, in a children's home, being finally "RELEASED" to come and BELONG to our family. It's part of her perfect little story. The one God designed just for her.

We are enjoying our family of 5 here at the Thurn house:) If you get a chance, ask her how many people are in her family...instantly the thumb goes up, that's daddy, mommy, "Datota", Dayton, and Delaney Maria....Pive Peetle!!

Mirror Mirror on the wall....

Pretty Girl:)

My big brother, Dayton teaches me how to do somersaults!

Proper princess attire.....

.....for working puzzles!

Like mommy...Like daughter:)

An Enchanted Beauty Salon
(a Christmas present from grandma and grandpa a couple years ago actually)

Making a Thank You card for her a friend named "Nanna" who shared her ice cream with her!:)

A visit and A SWEET GIFT from our friends, Maria Elena and Raul.
They sincerely LOVE her!:)
We are so thankful for all they have done for us and the important role they play in our story!

CELEBRATING ANOTHER VICTORY IN PERU!!

Hot Water for our friends at Nuevo Futura

Wait til you hear what my God did today!
Many of our friends and family were very generous financially for our journey to Delaney Maria:) We were in hopes that we could "pay it forward" somehow. We had asked our attorneys to find out what Pip Squeak's orphanage might be in need of. Originally, they had mentioned that they were in need of a new microwave and DVD player. So, we planned to purchase those once we arrived. Upon our arrival, they told us that actually they really needed a new hot water heater. We checked prices at a couple different stores and Larry and I looked at each other with a bit of scary looks on our faces. Yikes! We decided not to rule it out. We would wait to see how much money we had on a Mastercard "gift" card we had put some of our money on, that we got at the bank, after the "required" expenses of the adoption were taken care of.
So.....we have finished the "expense" part and I check the balance on the card, $535.
That should be enough, with deliver and installation.
Raul and Maria Elena take us to purchase it today.
THE TOTAL WAS $532!!!!!!!
People, I can't make up something this good!
All four of us just hugged each other because of what we had just been allowed to be a part of. Huge smiles and tiny tears.
There have been plenty of stories of little details that have worked out...just perfectly! PERFECTO!!!
Big deal, you might say, a water heater for an orphanage. It's not just an orphanage. It's the orphanage that houses and cares for God's children. Little ones that He has a HUGE heart for. It's an orphanage that poured 3 years of love into our little girl with people that He handpicked to be an answer to our prayers, "Lord, please let someone be loving our daughter, wherever she is right now".

So many of our prayers have been answered.

In the words of my darling Delaney Maria's bedtime prayer...."Gracias "Hey-Sus (Jesus)"

Psalm 126:2-6
We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
"What amazing things the Lord has done for them."
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
Thew weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest!!!

Oh the laughter we have enjoyed. AT her and WITH HER!!:) And her little joyful heart, singing a new song (Barney theme song, twinkle-twinkle, choo-cha-waa)! A shy meek little darling has been transformed into a chattering/singing hilarious bundle of joy!
Oh the AMAZING THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE!!!
WE ARE THANKFUL-----SO VERY THANKFUL!!!!!

Burger King...Tons of fun!

We had a ball with the sweeties from Hannah's at Burger King, celebrating Milogros's Birthday!

You knew it was coming......

Oh Yesssss....PINK PIGGIES!!!:)

Just a few apple stickers:)

Chau Chau Papa!

Smooooooooooooch for the road:)
See you soon!

Oink oink! says the pig!

Goofy Goofy girl!)

Play-Do time:)

It's not Creative Images...But it'll do!!

We had to De-Mullet-ize just a smidge:)

No longer an orphan:)

Deuteronomy 10:17 & 18 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that ORPHANS and widows RECEIVE JUSTICE.....!!!!

Wooooooooooooooooooow!!!

Ok so we were just sitting here minding our own business when Maria Elena called and said, very quickly, "BE READY IN 10 MINUTES, WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU!!" Of course, we said 'OK!' Crazy driver, Raul, zoomed in on 2 wheels and barely stopped while we jumped in the door and buckled up! They had received late notice this afternoon that the Adoption resolution was ready to be signed, BY US!!!! Woooooooooooooooohoooooo!!! So, we took care of that and a couple of other technicalities, and came back 'home'. Ms. Jabberbox, chattered all the way! She is hilarious. Mostly with her kitty cat, gato, imitation. Meeeeeeeeeeooooowwwww!
Then, the best part of the whole day was she was looking through the photo album I made her and pointed to daddy and said, "Papa" and to me and said, "Mama"!!!!!!! Coincidence that happened on this day????? NO WAY!!!! Living a dream!!
GOD IS SOOOOO GOOD !!!!!

Beautiful Flower!:)

Well look at the MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER THAT BLOOMED at the exact same place the seed was planted, Hogar de Ninos!

'twas just like GATEWAY in Peru!

Can I just say WOW!!
We went to church this morning, the one the Gateway group goes to while they are here. We had heard so many great things. We were excited to see for ourselves. First off, we notice the gym, just like worshiping at home! Relaxed atmosphere, check. We couldn't understand all the words to the songs but knew that Jesus' name was being lifted, high! Beautiful voices praising his name! Then, we put the head sets we were given on and listen to the pastor speak briefly and introduce the guest speaker. THE GUEST SPEAKER SPOKE ENGLISH FOLKS!!! Yes!! Larry and I just looked at each other in disbelief! Imagine that, a worship service tailor made for us! Then, his message was about the importance of "being the church"! Not just "showing up" on Sundays but being involved in God's work. Sound familiar Gateway family????:) The "GREETER TEAM" were a FINE replica of Gateway too! Oh, and the pastor also started off with how the church is involved in all sorts of outreach programs, a women's home, children's home, garden, financial peace & marriage enrichment! Truly unbelievable! I seriously had to control myself from full on tears 4 or 5 times and Larry agreed. Especially as I looked to my right to the most beautiful Peruvian Princess, that we have waited so long for, coloring in her Strawberry Shortcake coloring book. She was an angel:)
Although we miss home horribly, God surely gave us a taste of it today, in His own comforting sort of way!
Love to all!
Laci & Larry:)

Not much going on here in Peru today. Pip squeak has watermelon in her mouth in the bottom pic! She was riding some rides at the kids area at the mall last night! Soooo much fun! Seems to be "chattering" more and more.....But when we look or ask "what?" she stops.. Silly girl!:)
Missing our our friends and fam at home! :0) love you!!!!

Delaney Maria and Daddy

Sweet pic of her and her daddy but inside I am laughing because she runs like George Jefferson. In the cutest possible way. Those little arms go flapping back and she's smiling and giggling all the way. Ha!:)

Dare Devil ...enjoying some park time:)