Playtime Fun

Here are a few random pictures of gabe and Eden playing. We are so excited spring is here!

The Twins' First Birthday

We decided to have a big first birthday party for a number of reasons. The first reason being that since we weren't with them for their birth, we wanted to really celebrate this milestone.


We gathered with friends and family at New Friendship Baptist Church on Saturday, January 15th for the party.

Eden's first bite!

Gabe has now figured out that he doesn't like it on his hands!

My mom helped me make these posters for remembering how much they've changed each month. The picture I put for their birth is the only picture I have for January 2010. Those pictures were taken by our social worker, Angela, and emailed to us the day their tribe decided we could adopt Gabe and Eden.

Eden, at 11 months, started taking her first steps. She loves to dance to music and crawl all over the place. She has discovered how to shake her head "no" and she loves her juice cup. She babbles all the time and always has the last word.

Gabriel, is laid back but all boy. Gabe can spot a ball from across the room and loves to rock his body to music. He loves to drink milk and his favorite word is "Uh-oh." Gabe has learned how to clap his hands to "Patty Cake" and he's a snuggle bug,

Our Very Merry Christmas

The best part of Christmas? The gifts. I know that may sound worldly but our family chose to do something different this year. Instead of giving gifts to each other, we sponsored a family for Christmas. The twins received gifts but I was completely content with imagining this family open the gifts we bought for them. I hope our family keeps this a tradition for many years to come.

Mission Update

We are excited to have an update on our missions adventure. After much prayer and research we have decided to use the mission board, World Venture. We feel as though this mission board completely aligns with our beliefs and the vision God has given us to serve him.

We are currently pursuing two opportunities in South America and Daryl and I hope to take a short vision trip in the next few months. Please continue to pray for us as we are really digging into the application process and trying to decided where, specifically, God will have us go.

www.worldventure.com

THANKS-Giving

As I reflect upon the twins' first Thanksgiving I don't remember anyone asking us what we are thankful for. It goes without saying, that we are thankful for God's love. Without God's love we are nothing and we would have nothing. The year 2010 will always be very special and memorable but God has great things in store for our family in the years to come.

For Sale

Two and a half years ago, Daryl and I had this house built. We were able to make several memories in this house; the most significant being the adoption and arrival of Gabriel and Eden. It was not as hard of a decision to sell the house as it was to leave it. I constantly had to remind myself that this is how we get to the mission field. I did a lot of praying and God gave me peace. He helped me understand that it's not the four walls around you that make a home but the love you carry in your heart.

We are very blessed to have wonderful family to live with while preparing for the mission field. It may not always be the most comfortable or convenient but this house is our home and it is filled with love.

Abram - the newest addition to the family

Abram Panya Spangler arrived in the US on November 4th, 2010.

My brother, Jonathan, and his wife, Kori, have been long anticipating the adoption of their son, Abram. Both Jonathan and Kori were able to share the experience of traveling to Africa to pick up their son and bring him home. He is a joyful little boy with the sweetest personality. We are so blessed to have Abram in our family.