Two Thankful Hearts

Today I asked my daughter what was she thankful for this Thanksgiving...
"I am thankful for my mom and dad. I am thankful that I have a brother and a sister. I am thankful that I have food to eat and a home."
I am also thankful for the very same. And more than anything, I am so thankful that God, who is rich in mercy, reached down to where I was and saved me. I am so thankful that He set me free!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome Fall

Wow, so two months have passed since last post. Wow, so two months have past in like, 8 days. What's going on with time lately? Did someone press the fast-forward button? At least our hot, hot summer is over! I gladly welcome fall.
I haven't been the organized person like I usually am. Do you think it something to do with going from one child to three in only four months? Hmm..maybe. lol. But it's worth it all. I'm ready for another one. A baby preferably. Yes, I'm nuts. But don't worry, we're not getting anytime soon. I may "want" one but actually being able to handle one right now is a totally different story:)

Time to catch up...just not yet!

I am so behind keeping my blog up to date. And soooo much has happened since my last post.
1. We had our 9th wedding anniversary;)
2. My daughter started kindergarten-when I wanted to homeschool.(A whole post in itself)
3.We have answers now on our adoption story-just not the ones we had hoped for.(A whole post in itself)
4. Medical testing on our son, lots of emotions with that one.
5. His BIRTHDAY!!!!!
And tons of little things here and there, like the cute and funny things the kids are doing. By the way, our son is doing absolutely wonderful;) He has progressed so much in such short time and its looking more and more like we will be able to adopt him!!!! Yay!!
I'll have to post soon and catch up on these. I told myself when I started blogging that I would try and keep up with all new happenings so that I could print this into a book one day to look back on. But I also told myself I wouldn't blog before keeping a clean home. That ought to tell you something. Yep, you guessed it and I'm ashamed to admit it..I've been behind on housework a few weeks:( Oh well, life has kept us busy lately!!

More Winter Pictures

 "Yes, I wike snow", what she told me this memorable evening;-)

This last picture is just Mommy missing her at this age. Even though age 2 was the hardest for me, I miss her this little!

Winter Pictures..

Christmas in July!!!

My it's hot out there! Wishing for cooler days already. I love Christmastime and all the fun and happy memories it brings. I can wish for fall even, I love fall too!! Anything but this dreadful heat! I know every season brings its fruit but I can hardly stand the heat summer brings. My daughter doesn't even like playing outside because the heat makes her sick, it makes me sick too. Nausea and dizziness and all. So I thought since I can't control the weather outside, I can on my blog!
In blogland...
It's 30 degrees outside, we had a few inches of snow fall last night and it looks gorgeous in the sunshine today. You can hear the crackling in the fireplace, smell the cookies baking in the oven and coffee is brewing. Yumm..winter. I think I'll escape this way, maybe even post winter pictures this month. We'll see...

Let's be Fancy!

Yesterday evening, we had a friend come and spend the night with us. My husband was in fire training during supper so it was going to be just us girls (almost!), until he got home. So...Just like little girls like to do, we tried to keep it fancy! The giggles alone were worth it all. They were so cute! All three of us girls wore flower headbands and high heels. They wanted little brother to wear a suit coat but all I could think of was mashed potatoes and gravy with sweet peas smeared on his sleeves and everywhere else! But he did let us put a hat on him for a quick picture:-) We dimmed the lights and had dinner by candlelight (and sunshine, lol). We even used cloth napkins across our lap!  

 We talked of fancy restaurants and fancy things, fancy ways and fancies, fancies, fancies! Until, a little someones belly must have been full and he let out quite a belch! I said, "Hey! That's not fancy!!!" Uncontrollable little giggles followed...

-sorry for the blurry pics, I forgot to change my settings and had them on sports with no flash.silly me-

Fun in the sun!!

This past Saturday we enjoyed a day at home and some fun in the sun! The kids (and Mommy!) played in the water all morning then Daddy grilled hamburgers for lunch. Yum! We were worn out and ready for a good, looong nap! I wish we spent more Saturdays this way;-)

 Here's Sissy giving kisses..we can't seem to get enough

Can you tell they were getting a little tired after a few hours??

Childlike Faith

As the week goes on, and all those yucky meds have been wearing off...my memory is slowly coming back to me of things that happened last week. Mostly funnies. Like I accidentally fell asleep on the phone when a dear lady of the church called to check on me!
But one thing that touched me was one of my dear friends 3 year old little boy matter-of-factly and so sweetly saying to me something like, "If you'll go get prayed for, you'll get better". So simple. There was no doubt in his mind. At such a tender age, he already understands that when we go to God in prayer, God will do what we ask of Him. I know many of us have had our own little ones say something similar to that before, and it's so sweet.
I heard a missionary say it like this before, "If we have doubt, we have no faith. And if we have faith, we have no doubt."
Lord, let Me have childlike faith!

My Firefighter

One of these men you see about to crawl through the fire is my husband. These pictures were taken from another fire fighter's cell phone that didn't go in that time. They were in training so it was all contained. They had all kinds of different real life set-ups that they might have to go through one day. I wish someone had taken more pictures, I would have loved to see them but it was still very interesting listening to him describe it all. I even asked ahead of time if we could go and watch, lol. It was worth a try! Can you imagine how embarrassed he would've been with me and his daughter cheering him on in the sidelines shooting photo after photo! Give me a "D"! D! Give me an "A"! A!.. GO DADDY!!". Lol! And if you know me well, you know I would have done it too! So proud to call him My Husband!

Singing in the rain...

 You probably can't see the rain falling in these pictures, but it is. Sister has been so excited all morning knowing that as soon as brother went down for a nap, she would get to play in the rain! He couldn't get out in it since he's had a low fever yesterday and today, please pray for him. We hope he's just cutting a tooth since he also started drooling again and just started fussing when we brush his teeth. She actually didn't last too long because the rain was cold and she was ready for a warm bath and a nap herself but at least I got some fun shots!

A Special Get Well

My sweetie brought me these beautiful orchids as soon as I was admitted to the hospital last week, I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful..that's him! He often will buy me flowers. But on special occasions like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc., he likes to buy me flowers that will last. His words were that when I see them throughout the day, they would be reminders that he loves me. Might sound mushy, but it's true and it makes me smile!

Like he planted new flowers in one of our flower beds for me last year for Mother's day as a complete surprise, the whole flower bed! I was shocked when I saw it, he was racing against time while I was gone a couple of hours and had the whole thing done. I cried.

Or the heart shaped bamboo plant that's on the side of my kitchen sink he got me one year for Valentine's. And a few other's that are still around and some that didn't survive my not-so-green thumb..oops!

And it works too, every time I see these flower's or plants, I remember how sweet it was of him to get it for me and that my husband loves me. And oh, how I love him!

Orchids are kind of delicate, I hope they survive!

My daughter wrote and brought me these Get Well notes when she visited me in the hospital, which was the day after my husband had brought me my surprise. She thought of it and did it all on her own, no one even hinted to her that I would enjoy it. So sweet! Of course, it melted my heart.

Latest Happenings

Sorry I've been out of the blogging world last 2 weeks! I've been 'physically out of service', lol. But doing much better now. I just wanted to post a couple of pics and news of the latest..
We have been doing so well with our new addition, he is such a sweetheart. I could not properly express the happiness and emotions I feel over him and having him as our son, I'm not good with words and being able to express or show the true emotion I feel through words. It's wonderful! I never expected to fall so in love so quickly, I am just so happy. We are just so happy.
My daughter has also adjusted well, we were unsure how she would adapt to actually 'having' a sibling. She always wanted one but you know how that goes, once they realize they are not the only child it can be different. But she has done well. She is so proud to be a big sister and a big helper with him too. He loves her just as well. I am overwhelmed at all the emotions going through me throughout the day, when I hear them giggling, playing peek a boo, singing nursery rhymes, eating together, brushing their teeth together, just everything! When at once I thought we would miss out on these things and now it has come to pass, I rejoice and am so thankful. It's even cute to me when he gets mad at her because she's hovering over him or hugging him too much or when she gets mad at him because he won't leave her alone when she's trying to do 'important' things, like 'writing notes' (scribbling) and 'big girl things':). I know one day, I will probably tire of the sibling arguing but for now, all I can feel is happy.
He has already learned so much I think by just watching her, like how to know when it's time to pick up toys and such. We sing the "clean up, clean up.." song when we do that before nap time and before bed time.
He loves his daddy. All I have to say is "dada" and grins as wide as he can and starts walking or turning in circles saying, "dada dada dada". He also knows that daddy will pick him up. He will often go to him with his arms raised to be lifted and loved on, but has not done that once to me yet. Which is good because I can't lift him due to my back problems. But he's quick to run to me as soon as I sit on the floor to climb on my lap! He also knows that when daddy gets home, he goes to the recliner. And there go brother and sister climbing up, one on each side of him. So much for relaxing! lol. Daddy just eats it up and you know he loves every bit of it. When he pulls in the driveway, I say, "Daddy's here!' and brother runs to climb on the sofa and look out the window, just like sister used to do at that age. Now, she runs to open the door.
We have only had him for 2 weeks and you wouldn't have guessed it from the way he has adapted so quickly. We love and are enjoying him to the fullest!
Oh and also, he is a very good sleeper and eater which makes mommy happy!

 Blowing kisses before going to his first church service, it was the thursday after he came.

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 Brother and Sister walking to his first sunday service, sunday school on Father's Day.

 Learning how to give offering, Penny March.

This was this morning during their playtime:) I love it!!

New Court Date

Just FYI. The new court date is July 8. Let's pray it doesn't get rescheduled again!! Thanks!

Chips Ahoy!

Just FYI, we are on our last package of cookies and I'm trying to figure out how to make them last..
They didn't even make it one month! I'm really going to miss those guys!!
:(

Our Adoption Story...last chapter

In January, we had a dear lady from another church in another state ask us if we would be interested in adopting two children. She knew of them and that they were going to be up for adoption soon and the foster family was looking for a good home for them. The foster parents are in their 70's and couldn't adopt them themselves but they still wanted to know the kids would be placed in a safe home. WOW! God, you really wanted us to do this,huh? He has been so very good and patient with us, He laid them on our lap as my husband says. I am so thankful for that. We prayed, sought counsel from our pastor and prayed some more. We began the process and little by little we more sure that we were in His will. After a few weeks, He confirmed it to us.
The kids are ages 6 and 7. My daughter is 5. One lesson I learned is be careful what you ask for, you just might get it:) I had always said I wanted my children to be close in age. I don't know what I was thinking,lol. We've met the children, and have fallen in love. Now we just have to wait. Good things come to those who wait, right? I know it will be worth it all!
And this is how our Adoption Story began, we'll see what else is in store for us. The rest is to be continued...

Our Adoption Story,Ch 2

I really need to finish this story before I have something new to add to it yet again!

Okay, like I said, I felt like God was dealing with me on adoption and I tried not to think about it. Mainly  for fear of the unknown. And then there were times when I thought, "Me? Us? No way! We're not cut out for that".  And again, I just tried not think on it. One morning I read Psalm 113:9
"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of childREN. Praise ye the Lord."
That's the way it looked to me, childREN. "Umm, like, you meant, umm, more than one!?!" It stood out to me in such a way that I laid my bible down and began to tell the Lord all the reasons why I couldn't possibly risk having more children. Funny how I ask God to have His way in my life and I'm willing to do what He ask of me, and then try and reason. I had even asked before for more children! I had read that scripture before and it was special to me, I knew He made me to be a 'joyful' mother. But just hadn't noticed it was more to than only 1 child. I immediately thought of two other ladies in our church who were expecting their second babies after having a hard time conceiving. Then I went about my day trying not think about it. I couldn't risk it! Later that night at church, someone told me they dreamed about me that morning. They dreamed I was expecting twins. Twins! Oh no, not twins! I couldn't carry twins! Scary.. And I was reminded, again, about adoption. Oh well, maybe one day...maybe
This was just one of those reoccuring instances where adoption came to mind but we still didn't pursue it. I'll leave you with one more scripture God gave me. I believe it's talking about us being adopted into the body of Christ, but it what was at the end of a children's book I read to my daughter.
 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."  Ephesians 1:5

But they that wait upon the Lord

 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."    Isaiah 40:31

Well, we're not getting the baby. And I thought of posting this scripture.
When I found out that court wasn't done the first time it actually took place and it would be another waiting period before we had news on the outcome with the kiddos, my daughter was in the hall restroom looking in the mirror playing dress up. She didn't see me and was watching herself quote the above scripture. It was a much needed reminder and strength to me that came just in time. I had just hung up the phone with the foster family and could've, could've, gotten discouraged easily.
The scripture came back to mind yesterday evening. The agency called and said placement wouldn't be happening. They didn't get the baby after all. Long story. At church last night, the preacher quoted this scripture above. God is good. I don't know what lies ahead, what He has planned for us. But we'll continue to wait on Him:)  One good thing that came of this is that we know now that we are willing to open our hearts and home to another child that needs us, that God sends our way.

The Journey Begins

We. Are. Getting. A. Baby. Today!!! It's a shock, I know. It was to us too! How did it happen? Well... Our adoption agency called us yesterday and asked us if we would be willing to take an 11 month old babygirl in our home for foster care. I asked, "What do you mean? We are waiting to adopt our 2 kids already, is our home certified to also have baby?" The lady that called said she hadn't seen that on our profile, she accidentaly overlooked it. I told her if it was okay with us still getting our kiddos that I would be glad to have the baby and I would call her right back after I spoke with hubby. Hubby's response? Yes, definately! We'll take her! You see, we just 'so happened' to have disscussed this possibility last week, from A to Z. When we found out that the before mentioned court date (in The Waiting Game) was rescheduled again, we were dissapointed but also began to seriously consider fostering. What if this was God's will for us until our adoption takes place with the 2 we are waiting for now. We thought about calling our agency and letting them know we were up for fostering. Our final decision was not to call, not to push things and wait on God. In my husband's words..God laid these 2 children we are waiting for on our lap, we didn't ask or look for them. If God wanted us to foster, He would do the same, bring a child to us. That was exactly a week ago. Do you see what I see???
And so a new, unexpected journey begins...

Trying to Eat Healthier...

But I can't pass up a good sale!! These were $1.67 each and they can run up to more than $3.00! So I HAD to stock up, right? And they don't expire until October so they should last a while... Only thing is, there are already 4 packages missing from this picture! What to do?!?! We can't stay away from them!

The Waiting Game

Court involving the adoption has been rescheduled again... but not an actual date is set yet. Grrr. I'll keep you posted as soon as I found out. This makes it the fourth time this has happened:( It's hard to wait! I'm comforted knowing that God's timing is always right. I'll keep you posted, they can't move in our home until after this very important court date is finally over.

Our Adoption Story,Ch 1

How do I begin? I guess from the beginning!..
I will give as brief intro as possible. My husband and I (seems that I always start this way, lol) will be married for 9 years in a couple of months. In that 9 years, we have had three pregnancies. Two ended in miscarriage and the middle pregnancy is our miracle, 'Miss 5 yr old'. If you have ever desired a baby and not been able to concieve, you know the grief, dissapointment, impatience that goes with it. Or maybe it was just us. Anyway, a couple of years ago I had some health problems and with the doctors advice, we decided to stop trying. We had such a peace about it once the decision was made that I felt it was from God. A peace that I can't describe, and almost a feeling of relief also. We still believed and still do that God can heal me and give us another baby, just like before. But the desire was gone, and so we were satisfied with the fact we had our one and at least we got to experience it at least once. There was just one thing, I had a hard time knowing that our daughter would grow up an only child. Not that there is anything wrong with being an only child, I just knew the longing she had for a sibling and I wished many a time for a playmate for her. So, I tried to look at the bright side, all the benefits of having an only child. Only thing is, all the benfits seemed to be for me and not her. Like no more sleepless nights, only 1 child to bathe, feed, clothe, etc. I even tried to read books encouraging families with only children, but none of what they said made sense to me! And I still had no desire for a baby. We had discussed adpotion before, even before having our own child, but we never pursued it. It was always a thought of maybe one day...maybe
Then last year, God began to deal with me on the issue. Embarassed to say, I tried not to think about it. It was too scary to acually think about...

An old unpublished post

I found this old unpublished post of Little Miss' preschool year:)

Easier than I thought

This is turning out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. I can upload pics or type in between chores or lessons. We are learning about the 7 days of creation right now, fun and interesting. I just hope I keep up with posting!

 We have just recently started using an actual curriculum and this one began from Genesis. Each day as we learned what God created, our study has been on that. Now that we are done with the 7 days, we will go back to the 1st day of creation and study that for 10 days, 2nd day of creation for the next 10 days and so on. It includes science, math, writing, art and whatever else we decide to incorporate in it:)

 This was on her 6th day. She made a drawing for each day and now has her own 'book' on creation

 This is Adam and Eve:) She added a few animals after I took the picture

 This is what we've pretty much done prior to this. Painted, colored, explored the outdoors, did fun little hands on projects and read tons of books

It's Official!

Well...It's FINALLY official! What's finally official?? So glad you asked! WE ARE!! OUR HOME IS!! We signed our final papers last night at the adoption agency that certifies us by the state to foster/adopt;) We are finally done! And so glad to be done. We went to 13 classes of training for this, had to leave our daughter at various babysitter's each time(thanks you guys! you all are wonderful!), and prepared our home to meet state requirements for children to be placed in it. And all it cost us was time well spent, lots of energy, and even, ahem, a 'little' stress sprinkled with some tears. We even have a fancy certificate that we have to frame and has to be in clear view in our home. No problem with me! I will be proud to hang it in our home! I would've posted a pic of it but, umm, it has way too much info on it! lol. I will keep posting about our adoption story and how we made it to this point. So glad we are done with this part, still a long journey ahead..

Some camping pictures

                                                           

                                          Bike riding with Daddy

                                          Enjoying time spent with friends!

                                          Daddy teaching her how to fish

                                                      

                                             

                                    I could sit and listen to the to the sound of the river for hours..

                                          On a nature trail