Remebering Ivy and Savannah-Hope Update

22 months ago today on January 5th our precious Ivy went home to be with the Lord after a difficult battle with AIDS. Because of the soil and the rainy season it is Malawi tradition to have a dirt grave for the first year to year an half. This insures that the ground is settled. After that waiting period then a cement headstone can be put in place. Last weekend a cement headstone was placed at Ivy's grave along with a small ceremony celebrating her life and her decision to follow Christ. I hope to receive pictures of the stone soon, but rejoice that the Lord provided the funding for this special project.

This is Ivy's grave before the headstone

Savannah-Hope turns 18 months old. She has been in the US with her adoptive family for 7 months!

Could she be anymore beautiful?

Savannah-Hope suffers from respiratory issues and receives breathing treatments. She is doing well though and takes her medication without complaint.

She has oodles of toys, but prefers to play with household items.

She thinks she is a big kid and wants to do whatever her siblings are doing.

First trip to the pumpkin patch

First hayride with her siblings.

And she is a superstar! Just ask her family!

Savannah-Hope still has only four teeth but that doesn’t slow her down a bit. She eats like a horse. Her newest word is "eat eat". She says “milk” for any kind of drink. Savannah-Hope’s current favorite foods are sausage, tomatoes and dum dum suckers. She also says “Dora” and can recognize Dora’s picture on clothes at the store. She says “cheese” when someone takes a picture. She loves to play outside and can climb stairs like a champ. Savannah-Hope knows what “no-no” means and will lay down on the floor and cry in response. She is a precious gift and her famly loves seeing her personality blossom as she grows and learns new things. Savannah-Hope is crying now when she is put in her Sunday School class and wants her mama. This is hard on her mom, but a good sign that she is securely attached to her family. She is a joy!