Jordan's Summer ~ Drum Corps Style!!!

Practicing in the Parking Lot....I LOVE the smile on his face in this photo!

Jordan on the far right playing the quads (4 drums)



That's Jordan in the center

So very happy that he has had this adventure for the summer.  It has been A LOT of  work...and we are VERY PROUD!!!

Cool

So MUCH!!!!

WOW...half way into August and the days have been so busy! I feel like I hit the ground running every day. And it has been like that since the end of July. But aaaah...we are starting to slow down a little now (at least I am believing that).

The end of July took us from the fair straight into the busy days of August. On August 3rd, our 7th year of Brandon living in his eternal home waiting for us brought some emotions bubbling up a bit harder this year than in years past. BUT it is GOOD! We had a fun day at a drum corp show in West Chester, and it was so fun laughing and spending the day with some of my favorite guys. The "little"s stayed the night with my parents...and apparently they got started on a special project (more on that).

Then on 8/5...of all weeks to have to be at AI DuPont hospital, I had to take JD up for his post op appointment. And YES...that was very hard! BUT GOD!

8/9 was JD's actual appointment for the tubes to be placed in his ears. Steve prayed us through that, and just when I really thought I was going to "loose it"...the "silly juice" that they gave JD made him silly x's 10! We were laughing so hard at him we had tears running down our cheeks. So yes...even in that...BUT GOD!

Then the very next day on 8/10 I went away for the BEAUTIFUL ONE conference that my sweet husband blesses me with every year. I am so overjoyed to have a husband that shares my heart and the direction that God wants to lead us as a family. That he is able to take the time to be the one there for our children, and has learned how to do his little princess's hair! And I am so thankful for my mom that helped him out when things got a little hectic, and then they could all have a yummy dinner at her house! I am SURE Steve liked that as well! (smile)

And then my sweet husband and good friend Chuck (Laurie's husband, and Hannah's dad) had a most wonderful meal prepared for my friend Laurie, Hannah, and myself when we got home on Saturday evening! And THANKS to CHUCK...I found out my husband could cook A LOT more than SOUP! So you know what that means! haha.

And then there was Monday, 15, August 2011. The "Little's" are now a FOREVER part of our family. It was our ADOPTION DAY!!! It seems so surreal but yet purposed all at the same time. We have a new son...Jedidiah Joel Hastings, and daughter....Desi Michele Hastings. WOW...we truly know that Brandon had MORE THAN a vision for our family when this thought entered his heart and mind 8 years ago. And we fully believe that God surely let him see his new sister and brother. We are so amazed and humbled by all of God's faithfulness in our continual journey of life. As i sit her typing this, I am reminded that LOVE ALWAYS WINS!
Thank you God for LOVING US THIS MUCH!

Love,
Steve, Dawn, ^I^Brandon^I^, Jordan, Seth, Joel, & Desi Hastings

New Year ~ New Adventures

Hmmm....wondering what God has in store for our family for 2011. The last part of 2009 & all of 2010 brought about significant changes for all of us. The Little's arrived near the last part of 2009, they have now been a part of our family for 16 & a half months. Jordan is now living on the west coast and attending Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Seth is a junior, driving, and just got elected into the National Honor Society, and is busy with swim season at this time. Steve is steady busy with work (thank you Jesus that construction has not slowed at all for the company he works for), and I have been trying to find "my place"....the place that I know that I maintain in our family....but mostly the place where God wants me.

I feel a big shift is about to happen yet again in our family & life.....as if the arrival of the Little's was not big enough. But this one involves more stretching, more trusting, and a willingness to take another HUGE leap of Faith...yes God is shifting us. And that is Good....so with a readiness to listen, learn, & obey, we wait with anticipation & excitement! Won't you come along!

~ It would be so cool if God would give us the "big picture"...one that Brandon no doubt is in on, and excited for the things of God for his family. I can just picture that smile! :-) After all....God knows the plans for our family...plans that include HOPE and a FUTURE...his book (Bible)says so!

Happy New Year & New Adventures to YOU!
LOVE,
Dawn & Family

This SON!!!

22 years ago today, God supremely blessed me with another wonderful son...JORDAN! He has always quite literally marched to the beat of his own drum, and we are so proud of that. He is so much fun to hang out with, and I am enjoying and soaking up these moments before he is off to his next adventure in California! I love that while he may be a little anxious...he hears God calling him, and is always willing for that "next adventure". He has had his ups and downs, and has had to deal with things that I never had to at his age. But through it all (the good and bad), he has survived, thrived, and desired to make and enjoy his life! Jordan, your dad & I love you so very much and we are so proud of you. And yes like I have told you...I am VERY JEALOUS of this new adventure in California...but then again...YOU are going to be able to impart into me what God is pouring out into you! Thank you so much for listening to that "still quiet voice of the one who loves your heart and soul". We are proud, Seth is proud, the Little's are proud, and Brandon is REJOICING with you!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! xxooxxooxxoo
And like your mama always reminds you....JORDAN, can do ALL THINGS through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS him!

More NEW STUFF

Wow! What a busy month, starting with our "Celebrate Brandon Day", me away for 5 days at a Women's Conference....can I say AWESOME....God is sooooo good! AND now is the time I can finally share the next new thing God has for our family. This actually goes back to a dream & desire Brandon had for our family over 6 years ago. At the time, we just could not, then after he went HOME...I just couldn't imagine, but after God letting it being "put on hold" for a while, he started to bring it to us over the course of the last year and a half.

First little nudgings, and then finally the BIG NEON SIGN from God. Sooo Steve and I started to pray about it, talk to family about it, obviously talked to Jordan & Seth, and then decided as a family to "take the leap of FAITH"...whew...that is a lot to type.

But here it is......we now have 2 precious little ones living with us for a while. We have no idea how long, but we are taking this time to love them, nurture them, and fill them with the love of Jesus. They both will be ATMOSPHERE CHANGERS! We are also praying diligently for mom & dad to find the strength and ability to make their life better, and then be able to be the mommy & daddy that they are meant to be. I know you all will join in, in praying for this family (ours too) as well.



We are thanking God for this opportunity, and desire to hear..."Well done, my good and FAITHFUL servants".....we also have to smile to think that this is part of Brandon's dream...and perhaps he knew the 2 that would be sent into our home.

Love,
Steve, Dawn, ^i^Brandon^i^, Jordan, Seth, & those 2 little ones

...and in the night his song shall be with ME and my prayer unto the God of my life ~ Psalm 42:8