Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Gifts are opened, food was eaten, hugs and kisses were given abundantly and I am winding down from all the events of the last few days. It is a busy time for moms, hu? I am exhausted. But I could not go to bed with out typing out some of my thoughts.

First of all, I feel blessed. More than I deserve. I have five of the most beautiful treasures and a husband that just so happens to be my best friend.........I am not worthy of these gifts. They are gifts.

The gift of Jesus. He is my hope.

These gifts have been given by God through His love and grace - I am thankful. I am praying this next year that I love the Lord with all my heart - serving Him and the ones He has entrusted me with passionately!

Merry Christmas - God is good!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Be Blessed - I was!

This video was made by the beautiful children in our church. I love all these beautiful faces, esspecially one handsome adult shepherd and 5 little angels and shepherds! :) Enjoy and be blessed!!


(Please pause the music on the bottom to hear their little voices read God's word!)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Where did she go?

Are you wondering where I went? Are wondering if the five children have me tied up somewhere? Or are you wondering if I just ran away to some white beach with a cool drink in hand and......... ? :)

Hehe - no I am here, but having 5 kids and it being the holiday season and still tying up loose ends from being gone so long has been keeping me VERY busy..... and I am loving every minute of it. I collapse in bed and sleep very hard.

Isaiah is doing great. He has been to the Dr. and dentist and he did amazing at both places. I am very proud of him. He still has little issues - he hates having water on his face, cats are still really not cool and if he gets too much attention when we are out he checks out (we call it his happy place). I told Justin that sometimes I feel like a rehab center with him. We are trying to teach him to express his feelings (he has never been asked what he wants, so he does not have an opinion), we are teaching him that if he put a toy down or takes his clothes off that they will be there later, we are teaching him animals are good and a lot of other little things we take for granted with having a child from birth. He has come a long way and I love watching the improvement!

Well the dish fairy never arrived like I was praying for so I guess I better get to the dishes! I hope all my bloggy friends are enjoying the Christmas season with their family and friends!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

I love these people!

Cousins!!!

I was blessed to have my sister and crew here for a quick visit! I love, love, love them and was thrilled to introduce them to Isaiah. This is my sis that took care of my kiddos while we were in Africa for 2 weeks - what a blessing to us all - we could not have done it with out her and her awesome family.


Checking out the tree!


Reece checking out Isaiah's food!

Isaiah (and all my kiddos) are blessed with wonderful cousins!

I love my Sis!

~Thank you all for coming down - it was short but VERY sweet~
*We missed you C, L & K - guess you will have to come down again....soon :)*

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

It bothers me...


I have been very bothered these last few days. It bothers me that, had Justin and I not heard the cry of the orphan, sought God's heart and will for adoption (in The Bible) and moved forward in it ....... we would not have Isaiah - and that bothers me.



It bothers me that we may not have know his eyes. If you have met him you know what I mean - he has eyelashes any woman would die for - they melt me.



It bothers me that he would have just moved onto another institution - soon.



I bothers me that he would have never experience a bubble bath - he giggles even when there are bubbles in the sink - he is a bubble freak.



I bothers me that no one may have cared that red is his favorite color - he points it out everywhere.



I bothers me that I may have never known that he has a huge desire to please. Days can be frustrating - teaching him a whole new world but he has a HUGE desire to please his mommy and daddy - HUGE - it can cut the most frustrating of moments.



It bothers me that no one would give him music lesson that are sure to come - he drums in the air and has rhythm at 2!



It bothers me that no one would have rocked him to sleep - ever.



It bothers me that my other children my have never know him.



It bothers me that I would have never heard him and Lily giggle at nap time for 15 minutes straight (what they were laughing about, I could not tell but I was loving the sound).



It bothers me that he may not have had an opportunity have an education. He loves to learn - this kid LOVES to learn.

It bothers me that all of my fear about the looks I would get in public having a black child on my hip have been unfounded. In fact I get smiles and encouragement. I have seen a few judgemental looks - very few - and those are the same people that glared at me when I walked in with 4 small children.

It bothers me that people felt the need to tell their horror stories that they have heard of from some newspaper in Southern California 10 years ago (you get the idea). What those people don't know is.......that I have never been discouraged by anyone that has adopted - not once - and trust me, I have asked for the truth (and A LOT of people). To every horror story that is out there I have received 3 times as many success stories. Some have been at the most divine time - I will share that story soon.

It bothers me that Isaiah may not have been around our Thanksgiving table this year - that makes my stomach turn.

It bothers me that had I let the world corrupt me (see the end of James 1:27) I would not have known Isaiah and been his mommy for the last month - and now I cannot remember life without him.

(This is a pic - of not one mommy but 2 - just ask her - helping Isaiah to feel better)