Bringing Home Claire

Claire is growing up so fast!

2008-12-07T22:11:00.001-05:00

The Summer went way too fast!

2008-08-31T06:31:00.002-04:00

More Summer Fun!!

2008-06-29T19:26:00.004-04:00

Summer Fun!!!

2008-06-29T19:17:00.003-04:00

Claire's big day in court

2008-05-27T13:24:00.004-04:00

Claire is gearin up for the summer!!!

2008-05-06T09:53:00.001-04:00

2008-04-13T21:34:00.002-04:00

2008-03-29T16:18:00.004-04:00

ClaireBear had a great week. She got to hang out with both Grandma's and Grandpa's. She also visited the Dr. this week and he told us how great she is doing. She is such a blessing!!!

Claire is celebrating Jesus this Easter!

2008-03-22T22:32:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone,

We have been a little busy lately but I finally am finding some time to update this blog. Claire is doing great...she is walking and talking a mile a minute. God is so good. She adjusted from the minute she arrived home and knows no strangers. All of us are celebrating the risen Jesus Christ this weekend. We thank Him everyday for our 2 wonderful kids.

Claire is a big Sister

2008-01-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

Claire is adjusting great to her new home. She quickly took over the place and now enjoys family, cousins, and friends when they visit. She is also very excited about her new baby brother Zack. She is very curious when he is in the room and she has even given him a few kisses.

Claire's first morning at church
Claire meets Zack

Claire on Christmas morning with Dora

Claire's 1st Birthday

Claire, Alivia, Grandma & Grandpa Buetner

Claire & Grandma Zerbe

Claire, Dylan, Daulton, Alivia, Brey, Baylor, & Brodey

2007-12-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

Family & Friends,
Claire is home! We flew in Wednesday, December 12th around 11:40pm at the Columbus Airport. My laptop got fried on the way to Guatemala, so I was not able to post any pics, news, or even check my email. It was a bummer but overall it was a great trip. Now she is home and had a great first day. She loves her Mommy and even had some fun tonight with Aunt Tara. As soon as I get some free time, I will post some pictures.

God Bless,
JZ

2007-12-03T10:02:00.000-05:00

Claire will be coming home Wednesday, December 12th!!!

2007-12-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

Claire,

The time is coming when we finally get to meet you! I am so happy that you are the new member of our family.You are so beautiful and I could not be any happier to have you as my niece! All I want for Christmas is for you to be able to spend it with your new family! I hope to see you in the next few weeks.

Love Always, Aunt Tara :-)

2007-11-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

Claire,
We are so excited for your soon to be HOMECOMING!! We have watched you grow through many pictures over the last year and we can't wait to meet you, and give you long awaited hugs & kisses! You are absolutely adorable!! This Thanksgiving we are so thankful that God is sending you to become a real part of the Buetner family. We love you bunches and pray for you everyday!!

Love, Uncle Josh, Aunt Joy, Daulton, Dylan, & Alivia

PS Livie can't wait to have a tea party with you!!

HOPEFUL Holiday Family Event

2007-11-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Come join us for the HOPEFUL Holiday Family Event. We are having a chili pot luck on Friday, November 30th @ 6:00PM in the Journey Building at Lima Community Church. If you have a favorite chili recipe, bring and share. If not, please bring a side that will compliment the chili.

Guatemala Trip - June, 2007

2007-11-21T22:38:00.001-05:00

Mommy & Claire

2007-11-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

Video for The Source

2007-11-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

HOPEFUL Adoption Group

2007-11-21T20:31:00.000-05:00

To provide encouragment and support for families who have been impacted by adoption and to create a safe environment where they can ask questions, share stories, or seek information and assistance through the power of God's love.

Hopeful_Adoption@yahoo.com

Meet 4th Thursday of the month @ 6:30 PM in The Journey Building at Lima Community Church.

2007-10-19T07:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
Today was a good day! God answered our prayers - we heard that our case was PGN approved. The process is almost over. In a short amount of time, you are coming home! It feels like a dream come true.

I love you!
Mommy

2007-08-23T07:19:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
We have run into so many obstacles in getting you. Today are case was kicked out of PGN. That means we have to wait another 2 months to get approved. We are still praying for you, we don't understand why this is taking so long, but we will not lose faith.

2007-06-07T07:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
I'm laying here in bed just watching you sleep. I am amazed at you: how beautiful you are, how easily you came to me, how perfect the sound of your giggle is, how good you feel in my arms, how much love I feel for you after just meeting you, and how I could lay here forever and just watch you, especially how much it already hurts knowing in a few days we have to leave - without you.

Your daddy is so taken by you. He keeps describing you as perfect. He's right. I always tried to imagine what this moment would feel like - it is so much better than I ever imagined. I feel so humble and blessed that God chose us to be your parents. I pray we can be the parents you deserve.

2007-05-19T07:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
This weekend was very important and exciting. We got our pre-approval from the U.S. Embassy to bring you home. Monday was the hearing appointment with your birth mother, the social worker, and your new foster mother Julia. We are counting the days. I dream about you at night and pray that God will prepare you to come home.

Love, Mommy

2007-03-12T06:54:00.000-04:00

Your birthmother, Olga, held you in her arms while both of you had your blood tested to make sure she gave birth to you. I can't imagine what she must have been feeling as she was looking at you and seeing how precious you are. We prayed for her all morning.
This is the information we were given about Olga: She is 28 years old, she lives with her other two children, boy and girl, she works at a coffee "finca", which we found out means a farm, she is very humble, hardworking, and honest.
Your birthmother loved you so much that she chose to give you life and then because of her situation she made a very difficult choice, she chose to give you a better life than she could offer you. We thank God for Olga everyday that she loved you enough to let you go. You have 2 mothers that love you!!!

2007-03-06T06:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
What a busy week for you! On Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa Zerbe suprised us with a beautiful armoire for your nursery. Grandma and Grandpa Buetner brought over your crib. They had to drive to Ft. Wayne to get it. I am sitting in your pink rocker, we can't wait to hold you in it.

2007-02-19T06:47:00.000-05:00

Claire,
Yesterday, God gave me a verse that I believe was meant for you. Pastor Dan has been teaching on the power of Jesus called "Dunamis". In John 14:13-14, Jesus says "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

I can't wait to hold you in my arms.

2007-01-23T06:45:00.000-05:00

Claire,
When I got to work this morning, there you were on my computer. I was so excited to see you wide awake and healthy. We love you!

2007-01-13T06:45:00.000-05:00

Claire,
There are so many people praying for you to come home!

2007-01-11T06:43:00.000-05:00

Claire,
We got a new picture of you and your looks have changed! You are such a beautiful baby. Daddy couldn't keep his eyes off you. Neither can I.

Love, Mommy

2006-12-01T20:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
Today is a very big day. I mailed our Dossier today. It took almost 2 months to finish it. I just knew when I left the post office, our world was about to change and become very exciting. It is so exciting to know that you may be born this month. I spent all lunch praying for you. His timing is perfect....don't ever forget that!

2006-11-30T20:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
"Aunt" Erin sent some encouraging words today.

"God's gifts are never late; they are always on time and far beyond what we could ever imagine."

2006-11-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
At 10:30, Daddy and I set forth to Cleveland. Our appointment was at 2:00, we had plenty of time....2 hours later, we were a little lost from the trail. We were starting to worry that we would miss our appointment. We looked around and we saw a sign for Route 51, which took us right where we needed to go. Route 51 was nowhere on the map. We decided that God had made that road right then and we made it to Cleveland just in time. While looking for a parking spot, we looked up and saw a sign....it said "St. Claire".

God Loves You!

2006-11-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
Grandma Zerbe gave me the names of 2 families that brought their babies home from Guatemala. Maybe we will meet them someday. Aunt Tara sat beside a special family on her plane ride home. They had 2 sons they brought home 5 years ago. They told Aunt Tara how much they loved those boys. God is bringing people into our lives who are helping us to understand how love is created in different ways.

2006-11-01T20:34:00.000-05:00

Dear Claire,
Darlene called today and told us that our homestudy was done. This means that we are closer and closer to coming and getting you.

2006-10-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
This morning at church, Pastor Dan spoke about remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy. He explained that it isn't just about one day but an attitude - being able to rest knowing that God is being God.

There was a verse that came to my heart. John 14:27 - ...may peace I give you...

I needed to hear those words and be reminded that God has this all planned out.

2006-09-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
Today was a very good day! Some very important things happened this week. That means we are getting a little closer to you coming home. There are so many people who are excited to meet you: Grandma & Grandpa Zerbe, Grandma & Grandpa Buetner, Uncle Bradley & Aunt Brittany, Uncle Josh & Aunt Joy, and Aunt Tara. Even friends and strangers are wanting to meet you. You are already very loved!

2006-09-05T19:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
We sent in our application today. It is starting to become a little more real to us. We are already loving you and praying for you and worrying that you would be born so far away from us and that we won't be able to wait. We know that God loves you more than we do and that He will be watching you until we can. You have no idea how long we have waited for you, and how we long to bring you into our family.

2006-08-26T19:49:00.000-04:00

Dear Claire,
Today we went to Columbus to learn about adoption. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. That was when me met Grace. She melted our hearts and all of our worries. As I sat there, I started imagining meeting you for the first time and bringing you home. Today is the day your daddy and I fell in love with you.