Show me your funny face. . .

This great face along with climbing on chairs are just a few of my new tricks.

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An over due THANK YOU

Gift cards and gas cards

diapers, wipes and new clothes

toys and Elmo dolls

princess hair supplies and pretty clippys.

 Soft fuzzy blankets and wonderfully delicious meals.

For money so graciously given to help bring her home.

Phone calls to check up on us

For dozens of prayers sent up to an all knowing father 

on our behalf we thank you!

We can't put into words the generosity we have felt from all of you in this season of transition.

We thank God for you!

A month in pictures

It's hard to believe we've known this sweet face for one whole month and one week. It seems like she's been part of us for a whole lot longer. What a blessing she is. Here are some of my favorite pictures taken in the past month that I haven't posted yet. They are in no particular order. Some are my favorites because they're really great photos, some are my favorite because they captured a memory even thought they might not be the best picture. Many of the pics are thanks to my great sister-in-law Shannon.

To try to "delurk" some of you. If you are reading this I want you to leave a comment and vote for your favorite photo. I can't wait to hear from you all.

God is good!

Right now high in the sky, I have a dear friend who is bring in her baby girl home. I can't stop thinking about them and the journey they have been on to get her. (And I don't mean the 4 day stay in the south). My prayers go out to them that they will travel safe and then that they will transition "safe":) With the miracle of adoption so fresh in our house, I just can't help but tear up when I think about the first time she will carry that sweet baby into her house, the first time her other children will meet their new sister and the first time she cries for her mama. Whenever a family adds a member it is special and changing, but I can now say with adoption there is an added dynamic. It's hard to explain in words but it is there.

I pray for my friend today and the fresh emotions adoption brings. I thank God today for her and the faithfulness she has showed me on this journey called adoption with. What a blessing! I can't wait for the day when I can post a picture of us and the babies we prayed for, for so long! God is good!

"How's it going?"

I've heard this a lot in the past couple weeks. And I don't always know what to say. I"m not one to hide my feelings very well so sometimes I'm overwhelmed, and sometimes I'm in awe, and somtimes I'm joyful, and sometimes I"m just plain tired. I think this is all normal. Huh, "normal" that's what we are most trying to figure out. What is our new normal?

One thing is for sure, "T" likes us, in fact the way she has bonded with us is one of the biggest miracles I've ever been part of. I kept praying the week before we met her "Lord please prepare her" and He answered b/c it's just like she knew who we were from day one. I am sooo thankful for this and pray that she continues to trust us.

Another thing that we know is we are adjusting. Despite the dishwasher breaking, the house being a disaster and a baby who doesn't really like to sleep during the day, but needs to we are adjusting. Everyday, we are one day closer to knowing what a family of 5 --our family of 5 looks and feels like. This has been a little difficult for the former baby of the family. After all it's hard to have 2 princesses in one house.

One more thing we know is T is still getting on a schedule. Sleeping is tough sometimes and eventually we'll figure it out, day by day, we'll figure it out.

So how's it going? Good mostly, if you happen to think of us you send up a prayer for the adjusting and you send up a praise for our how faithful God has been to us. I know this is all sort of random but that's as good as it gets these days. And just to make you smile, here is Daddy's newest favorite Bison fan.

Chapter 3 Just like camp. . .

This post is dedicated to the wonderful foster family who cared for princess T. I can't say enough good things about them and I think Aaron put it best "you don't meet people like that every day." They were kind enough to let us stay at their house, they helped us get around and most importantly they loved on little T in a way that has truly made her bloom. I could go on and on about John's sense of humor, Mary's kind heart, Laura's great laugh and Carol's sweet spirit but really I'm just full of gratitude for this wonderful family.

The night before we left to get her, Aaron was a little worried about staying at someone's house, being at our daughters birthday party who we just met, basically living with strangers. I had talked to Mary (foster mom) a couple times before we left and knew we would be fine but just in case I prayed that it would be like Bible camp. You know you get to camp and maybe know 1 or 2 other people and by the end of the week the whole cabin feels like family. (Luckily I've usually had positive experiences at camp!) It's one of those miracles that can only be explained from God. Anyway, that's exactly what happened. We always felt so comfortable and welcome. These people demonstrated the gift of hospitality.

a quick one

I have 5 minutes before I have to pick up the kids from school but I needed to send a big Thank You out to my favorite sister Jessie for redoing my blog page so it's a bit prettier and had some great tunes on it.

THANK YOU!

Chapter 2 Fairygod Mother

I am happy to say that God blessed princess T with many people to love her in the 12 months before we could bring her home and one was her fairy god mother. I get teary-eyed just thinking about this woman. She took time with T and her foster mom every other week and they did her hair. Now you may say, "HAIR" is that really that important, well the foster mom didn't know how to fix T's lovely locks and this women gave of her time to spend time and love on T. I had the priveledge of meeting her and she gave me my own crash course in doing T's hair. I know this fairy God mother prayed for a family for T and continues to pray for her. She is a very special lady.

Yesterday, I took my own stab at doing her hair. It took 1 hour to take the braids out and then another hour to put them back in 5 different sittings. It really was an all day afair, So with the help of Aaron and our favorite furry monster Elmo we did it! And here are the pictures to prove it