tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25273711717330474582024-03-13T10:04:15.413-05:00OurTreeOfHope.comClint Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00807609666471220701noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-73655299267129177172013-03-18T16:02:00.005-05:002013-03-18T16:02:58.368-05:00Blog funkHave you ever felt like you were in a blog writing funk? Like sitting and writing is the last thing you have time for? (To all my 3 blog readers that is...)<br />
Well, that's been me. It seems that every since Lyla came home I have been in a blog writing funk. Mostly because of time.... with 3 kids, it hardly gives you time to sit down and eat a meal, let alone write meaningful posts on your blog that others will care to read!<br />
So that's where Ive been. Funk City, Funky Town, Funkville...you get the point.<br />
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Here's a little catch up...<br />
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My family is now a steady family of 5. My two step children came to live with us full time right after we got home with Lyla. My daughter is 16 1/2 and my son is 12 1/2. They are amazing children and I love them as my very own! This brought a huge change for me though. No more "ever other week" or "part time parenting" for us. It was an adjustment. One that I was happy to make though. Our lives were drama free and way less complicated now. We embraced the change and have loved it every since.<br />
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Lyla has just been grown like crazy. She is now 14 months old and is just a beautiful angel. Our family is IN LOVE with everything about her. She started walking the beginning of December (at 10 1/2 months) and now runs most everywhere. She loves to be chased and laughs a beautiful laugh when you catch her. She says a few words... mama, dada, bye, ball... we're working on expanding that vocabulary! She pretty much just has to point and we do it for her, so I'm sure she hasn't cared to learn too many words yet. haha.<br />
She has a deep love for anything Sesame Street and Elmo. She will sit and watch Sesame Street in the mornings while I get ready and we just went to see Sesame Street Live this weekend and she was in awe!<br />
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Clint and I are great. We are getting ready to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. We have really grown so much as a couple. I love seeing the areas we have grown in and areas we still need to grow in. I guess that's what marriage is all about...<br />
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The "bigger" kids are wonderful. We are currently searching for Laynie a car. She hasn't really wanted to drive, so we have put off buying one for some time now! I think we are more ready for her to drive then she is!! She's going to be babysitting Lyla this summer, so a car is a must.<br />
Blake is busy with baseball. We have been in 3 tournaments so far and they have done really great! They got first in the one this past weekend! They are both ready for school to be out. I think Clint and I are too!!<br />
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I'm still working hard at my <a href="http://www.craftycreations2.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy store</a>. I have a pretty steady line of orders. I wish I sewed more for Lyla, but it seems my sewing for my store gets in the way. I need to prioritize that a bit better.<br />
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Here are a few pictures from the past few months!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSxcnQUTj1Y/UUd-cnJX7oI/AAAAAAAABO8/6ZjuZwb3O8g/s1600/10months.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSxcnQUTj1Y/UUd-cnJX7oI/AAAAAAAABO8/6ZjuZwb3O8g/s320/10months.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Lyla at 10 months...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving (10 months)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, I did sew her 1st Thanksgiving outfit. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jt3UShVjKLo/UUd-tUlkZfI/AAAAAAAABPg/OW-h2T6R1_A/s1600/kath3_pp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jt3UShVjKLo/UUd-tUlkZfI/AAAAAAAABPg/OW-h2T6R1_A/s320/kath3_pp.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11 months</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qhadG-dxgU/UUd-6zkduzI/AAAAAAAABPo/CVIgUzjI884/s1600/6_IMG_0948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qhadG-dxgU/UUd-6zkduzI/AAAAAAAABPo/CVIgUzjI884/s320/6_IMG_0948.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Birthday Pictures. Jan 9th, 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x1ZRLcJh1Jg/UUd_At1NHBI/AAAAAAAABPw/lWS9WZmiy3g/s1600/14_IMG_0937_preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x1ZRLcJh1Jg/UUd_At1NHBI/AAAAAAAABPw/lWS9WZmiy3g/s320/14_IMG_0937_preview.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl LOVED her smash cake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18NzlMBuqT8/UUeACOHeIvI/AAAAAAAABQA/9NEGzXxJzZQ/s1600/Feb+2013+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18NzlMBuqT8/UUeACOHeIvI/AAAAAAAABQA/9NEGzXxJzZQ/s320/Feb+2013+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clint's 41st birthday was in Feb. Of course we had to get him a new OKC Thunder shirt. He's just being silly with the glasses :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVREO2ZAjtw/UUeACplltAI/AAAAAAAABQI/-Kx8wQQ1Yac/s1600/Feb+2013+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVREO2ZAjtw/UUeACplltAI/AAAAAAAABQI/-Kx8wQQ1Yac/s320/Feb+2013+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture of Lyla and "Grand" (Clint's Dad).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and his kiddos! I'm so blessed!</td></tr>
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-53528631915853257212012-11-14T16:24:00.001-06:002012-11-14T16:24:54.226-06:00Adoption Blogger Interview Project 2012<div>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was excited to be a part of the Adoption Blogger Interview Project for 2012. It just so amazing to me to see how many adoptive Momma's there are out there. I have been so encouraged by so many of these wonderful Mothers and I was blessed to get to learn a little bit more about one in particular!<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>*You can read a BUNCH of other interviews over at "Production, Not Reproduction"..<a href="http://www.productionnotreproduction.com/2012/11/adoption-blogger-interview-project.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b> </b>I was paired with Alissa from <a href="http://www.notavisitor.com/" target="_blank">Not A Visi</a></span><a href="http://www.notavisitor.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.notavisitor.com/" target="_blank">tor</a> and loved getting to know her! Here were my interview questions and her wonderful answers!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>1. What made you choose adoption as "Plan A"? Was there any "backlash" from friends/family about not having bio children first?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Andrew and I have always had
adoption on the table -but we did experiment with getting pregnant
before we pursued adopting full force. I had been told since I was a
teenager that for various reasons it might be difficult for me to become
pregnant, so it wasn't surprising to when it didn't happen naturally.
Andrew has never felt a need for biological children, though, so for him
trying to get pregnant was more humoring me than anything. What we
found out about our fertility was that if we really wanted to reproduce
biologically we likely could, but pretty serious medical intervention
would be necessary. That helped me get in touch with something I felt I
had always known in some way - that adoption was how we would find our
children. We did not experience backlash from family or friends,
although some folks have asked us if we'll ever try for a child that
shares our genetics and we just answer cheerfully that we're happy with
the family we have. All of our parents have biological grandchildren
from our sibs (Andrew and I each have a brother) so our choice didn't
deprive them of that experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>2. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about open adoption? Have you faced any of those?</b></span></div>
I think the biggest misconceptions around open adoption have to do with
pre-conceived ideas about first families and first parents as a threat
to the adoptive family. Especially when J, my oldest, was a little baby I
would get questions like "but, her birthmother can't actually <i>find</i> you,
can she?" or "What if she wants her back?" I usually explain to people
that in my view the situation is the opposite - our connection to Z, the
girls' first mom, is an asset, and the fact that she gave birth to and
made the first big choices for our girls doesn't threaten my motherhood
in any way. Her love for her children adds to the love in their life in
general, and the more connected we can be to her the better, even though
at the moment most of the communication is from us to her.</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>3. What has been the most challenging thing about raising two children outside of your race?</b></span></div>
The most challenging part for me has been the growing realization that
wonderful people do and say racist and ignorant things - and by "people"
I mostly mean "white people." I was working my own racial culture
issues (I am white) before the girls came into my life but having them
as my daughters brings out the worst in other people sometimes, and
usually its my people - the white folk - who screw up and say or do
something racially insensitive when I or my girls are around. The number
of strangers, always white folk, who have asked or tried to ask without
actually saying it out loud if my girls are "crack babies" is
astonishing to me. Equally intense are the number of times I have had to
ask white people not to touch their hair. It has been eye opening, and a
great opportunity for me to figure out how to talk to people about race
issues as well as how to communicate my boundaries to others in ways
that are compassionate and firm - the way I want my kids to learn to
respond to that stuff if they need to.<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>4.
Tell me a little about your decision to become a priest? What religious
affiliation are you a part of? I grew up Catholic and thought that
priests were only in the Catholic faith. Enlighten me! :)</b></span></div>
Great question! I am Episcopalian, and we also have priests! The
Episcopal church is part of the Anglican Communion which descended from
the Church of England - the one that started when one of the King
Henry's wanted a divorce that the Pope wouldn't grant so split the
Catholic church in England off to be under the king. Long story short - a
lot of what Anglicans and Episcopalians do with language (priest,
bishop, mass, etc) is similar to the Roman Catholics, but a lot of the
theology and dogma is less rigid. In the USA we've been ordaining women
for several decades. I decided to become a priest because I feel a deep
vocational call to do that work. Part of that call - the explainable
part - came from discerning that this is a vocation that will use all of
who I am: speaking skills, leadership ability, intellect, love of
Scripture, love of people, desire to engage in good and meaningful work.
It will never be easy but it will also never be boring! (well,
sometimes the meetings are boring, but in an overall sense - the liturgy
and people sense - not boring.)</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>5. How do you decide on what to share with your readers and what to keep private?</b></span></div>
My
first rule is to only tell my story and not anyone else's. So if, for
example, I am struggling with a behavioral issue with one of my kids I
don't write about "her" problem but instead I write about my struggle as
a parent and what's going on for me. I don't want my children to look
back and feel like I was spilling their secrets or intimate childhood
moments all over the internet, but I do want to be authentically myself
in my writing. My second rule is that I don't write anything that I
wouldn't want my mother or my husband to read. Which is necessary, as
both do read my blog. Finally the stuff I write here isn't private - I
would share it in a homily if appropriate, or talk about it with someone
I didn't know well. I'm more open than many people - but for me this is
public stuff. These rules end up meaning that I generally don't
complain about the people in my life or tear down any other human beings
in what I write.<br />
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<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>6.
How did your family react to your transracial adoption? Was anyone one
way before you adopted and another way after you brought the girls home?
Meaning, did you have any "supporters" before that turned into "not so
supportive" after?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">If anything it was the
other way around! Meaning that the few "not so supportive" turned into
supporters once they met our J and saw us together as a family. My
family is different than me in many ways - the same is true for Andrew
and his family - but they are hands down one of the most loving groups
of human beings in the universe. From the moment we announced we were
adopting and how it would happen they were extremely supportive - with
one exception whose generational location among other factors
contributed to some anxiety on that person's part over the transracial
nature of our adoption plans. Suffice to say one facebook album of
photos later and all doubts were gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">It
is my experience that biases against a category of human beings (race,
class, sexual orientation,etc.) are much easier to maintain when people
don't know or love anyone who belongs to that particular category. I
want to be careful how I phrase this, because it is in no way a
justification for transracial adoption, but one of the happy byproducts
of having my girls in my life is that family members who maybe have
never had the chance to be close to and love someone who isn't white now
have that opportunity. And just that can change people. We don't have a
mono-racial friendship community, but some of our family does, and this
has been good for them. </span></div>
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Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-78336190653801532442012-11-01T10:58:00.000-05:002012-11-01T10:58:04.415-05:00Lyla's first Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-54642657833322098482012-10-22T15:28:00.000-05:002012-10-22T15:29:39.225-05:009 Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't believe our little angel is already 9 months old! She is such a delightful baby. This past month she learned to crawl, clap, dance, and pull up on everything. She likes to stand by herself and she has one tooth on the top and 4 on the bottom. It's SO CUTE!</div>
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She loves table food....has NEVER liked baby food! She prefers to drink from a cup or a sippy cup with a straw! She is 18.4 lbs and 26inches. We are just so in love with our little lady.</div>
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It seems like she does something new every day. We think she's super smart (maybe a little biased).</div>
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We took a few "Fall" pics last weekend.....</div>
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-20900287824824581262012-10-09T14:06:00.002-05:002012-10-09T14:06:50.024-05:00Tickets On Sale TODAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm really excited about the Choose Joy conference coming up. Tickets went on sale today! There are women coming from all over the country...so don't let that get in your way of attending. You never know how God will speak to you through this event unless you GO! <br />
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Tickets will be $65 through November 8th, then Earlybird Registration will be over and prices will go up to $75. There will be a BIG CASH RAFFLE at the end of the conference to help one attendee grow their family!<br />
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Go to www.choosejoyevent.com to register!<br />
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Go.<br />
Now.<br />
:) Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-90451076841182081492012-09-21T14:37:00.003-05:002012-09-21T14:37:19.325-05:00Choose Joy Event- speaking about fundraising<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I was excited to here from <a href="http://confessionsofapaperfreak.com/" target="_blank">Emmy </a>today on what topic she would like for me to talk about at the Choose Joy Event in February. I will be leading a breakout group on Fundraising for Adoption! Oh do I know the ups/downs/ins-outs of that! I am exciting that I can now start to pray specifically for what God would have me share on this topic and that he place on my heart the words that will hopefully encourage families that are financially frustrated. Been there!<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If you are walking the painful and often lonely road of infertility</b></span>, or even if you have never experienced infertility but still have a <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>desire to grow your family through adoption</b></span>, I would love for you to attend this event! Registration will open Wednesday, October 9th. Just go to the <a href="http://www.choosejoyevent.com/" target="_blank">Choose Joy Event website</a> to read more about it and register!<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-43514095701273813912012-09-19T15:17:00.003-05:002012-09-19T15:17:43.289-05:008 months, wha????<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Seriously, can you believe it's been 8 months since we were blessed with this angel? It seems like yesterday that I was writing <a href="http://ourtreeofhope.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-been-whilepart-2-call.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about "the call". The one that would change our lives forever.<br />
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Lyla turned 8 months on the 16th of September. She is still the happiest, easiest baby I have ever met...and she's my daughter!! She has two teeth on the bottom and 3 that have decided to pop through all at once this week!! She loves eating table food (girl will have nothing to do with baby food!) and drinking out of a cup (she doesn't want a sippy....how will I cope??). She is starting to pull up on stuff and would rather stand then sit. She is slowly attempting to crawl, but again...would rather you stand her up! She LOVES her Daddy. He can make her smile more than anyone!<br />
She got her first sleep cap this week and kept it on last night until about 3am! She has SO much hair that we either needed a sleep cap or satin sheets. So we started with the cap. It's pretty adorable on her!<br />
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I have yet to master a hairstyle that can "go the distance"... but I'll learn. For now the fro is what we love the best.<br />
Laynie and Blake have been great with their little sister. Blake makes her laugh and scream and she lights up when Laynie comes in the room. It's really precious!<br />
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Our lives are hectic with 3 kiddos, but we wouldn't change a thing!<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-50435371062587817472012-07-12T14:10:00.002-05:002012-07-12T15:49:07.246-05:00God, give me a platformFor those of you who are not familiar with infertility or more specifically our families story...here's a quick update.<br />
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In the fall of 2009 we decided it was time to grow our family. In April of 2010, after having an appendectomy, I was told that I had severe endometriosis and would need to have surgery to remove it before we could move on with trying to conceive. In July I had my surgery to remove the endo. I was optimistic that this was the answer and we would finally be able to move forward. After my surgery we did our first IUI. Man was I excited. 2 days later we were called up to the doctors office with news of what looked like a cancerous cyst on my right kidney. I think I went numb. More talk of what do to and now talk about the "morning after drug" were flying around in my head. It was devastating.<br />
After many tests we were told that the calcified cyst did not seem to be growing and it was something we could watch every 3 months. Praise Jesus.<br />
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Come to find out the IUI didn't take. It was then that I was diagnosed with
Premature Ovarian Failure.<br />
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Together
we had comfort in knowing that God must have something very special in
line for us.<br />
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Being a step-mom and a foster mom, my heart has experienced what is
really means to love. That love doesn’t know a blood type, or DNA.
Family is what you make it. I discovered that in a whole new way.<br />
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One day, after our fostering journey had ended, I was alone in my car
driving. Suddenly I was overcome with this feeling... my God, the God that I know and love, and
that knows my hearts desires to be a mother, was telling me that I
would never be able to have children. What? Yes, that’s right. It was
the one and only time in my 31 years of being alive that I have ever
been so overcome by God’s word. It was so plain, so clear. Me? Never to
be a Mom? No way. That just couldn’t be what I heard. After confiding
in a few friends about it, I (along with them) quickly brushed it aside
as just the “aftermath” of feelings since our foster son had recently
left our home.<br />
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Fast forward a year and a half….there we were, with every door closed,
with every doctors appointment left in tears, with all ideas of becoming
a mother by way of my husband and I was never to be. It was a surreal
moment. One that still makes me shake my head in “awe”! God WAS speaking
to me. He WAS
telling me that I wouldn’t bare children of my own, but that it didn’t
mean I wouldn’t be a mother.<br />
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I knew this was it. It was my “AH-HA” moment. One that has left me with more clarity then I have ever experienced in my life.<br />
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We were being called to adopt! That was it! That was what God was saying all those months ago!<br />
Since our “Ah-Ha” moment we have been shown time and time again that
this was the path we were supposed to be on.<br />
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“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish
the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus Christ has given me- the
task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24<br />
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Fast forward about 2 years and here we are, with a precious baby girl and an amazing testimony to the faithfulness of God!<br />
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I have prayed many times for the way in which God would have me share our story and give hope and encouragement to those who feel alone in their infertility or in their adoption journey.<br />
A few months back I was looking around on Instagram (I LOVE that app) and I'm not sure how, but I found Emmy. She is a sweet Momma of 2. One bio son and one adopted chocolate baby girl. I quickly started following her pics because I loved that she had a chocolate daughter too. One thing led to another and I found myself reading her blog, and she was also reading mine!<br />
She has such a wonderful story of how they grew their family through adoption and about how God really "showed up" in their time of financial need!<br />
<br />
She recently asked if I would speak at an event that she was heading up called the "Choose Joy Event" in Laguna Hills, CA. <br />
I was honored to be asked and of course I said, "YES".<br />
What an answer to my prayers. To be able to speak to other women that are going through what we went through and to be able to share with them how God's plan is SUCH a mighty one.... I can't wait!!<br />
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So, I hope to be back blogging much more between now and then. Little Lyla has just cut her first tooth (yes, at 5 1/2 months old) and she also just learned to roll completely over... she's growing WAY too fast.<br />
She is still just a precious little doll and one of the happiest babies I have ever known!<br />
With my big kids home for summer break, it's been a little busy around my house. No excuses though. I love blogging and really need to get back to it!<br />
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So stay tuned!!!!<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-51976342797603685702012-06-07T14:46:00.000-05:002012-06-07T14:46:00.996-05:00Picture Overload :)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfcEl7JMVsc/T9ECzg2C5JI/AAAAAAAAA2s/F03lUwA5n4g/s1600/May+2012+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfcEl7JMVsc/T9ECzg2C5JI/AAAAAAAAA2s/F03lUwA5n4g/s320/May+2012+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Lyla's "scream with excitement" face!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves her jump-a-roo....and loves to chew on it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melt my heart!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyla, 4 months</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to my bosses lake house and Lyla had fun in her sun hat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4f7IL_FC9M/T9EDXcX5PxI/AAAAAAAAA3w/WFEegyHNz0U/s1600/May+2012+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4f7IL_FC9M/T9EDXcX5PxI/AAAAAAAAA3w/WFEegyHNz0U/s320/May+2012+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the golf cart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7JeuCbMyts/T9EDdqr3GFI/AAAAAAAAA34/j1ofyPJKDgc/s1600/May+2012+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7JeuCbMyts/T9EDdqr3GFI/AAAAAAAAA34/j1ofyPJKDgc/s320/May+2012+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So big! She lifts up really well. She would rather be on her back when she's awake, so she quickly rolls over.</td></tr>
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-38618892796460811272012-06-07T14:20:00.002-05:002012-06-07T14:20:59.291-05:00Hair Everywhere!Oh my sweet, sweet girl! She is growing so much! 12lbs, 10oz and 23.25" to be exact.<br />
Last week, with the temps getting into the 90's here, I decided that it was probably time I tried a hairstyle on her. It would allow her scalp to breath a little and give her some much needed relief from the heat. She has the THICKEST hair I have ever seen. Beautiful tight curls and LOTS of them!<br />
So after consulting my friends at <a href="http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/" target="_blank">CHVC </a>(Chocolate Hair, Vanilla Care) I decided to just try some box puffs. WOW....was I thankful that my sweet Lyla is SUPER patient and sweet...she just sat and enjoyed a few toys and a little "Doc McStuffins" on the iPad.<br />
My sweet friend Kerri helped me too! <br />
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Yes, it took 4 hands to start....... oh us beginners! ;)<br />
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You can't really tell, but there is our first puff....<br />
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Isn't she the cutest!?<br />
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The princess teething ring was a necessity! <br />
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We finally got the top one and side ones done. She was SO good. The parts were fairly easy to do and I can't tell you how much I LOVE "Kinky Curly, Knot Today". It's a leave in conditioner and it's wonderful...and smells great too! Oh, and you can find it at Target!!!<br />
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Working on the back...<br />
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Pardon my face in this picture...such concern. I really didn't want to mess up!<br />
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So here was the finished product. I was fairly pleased with it being my first time. At least I know she will sit still and really let me work on her hair. Now I just do the 4 puffs in the front... the back got WAY too messed up during sleep time!<br />
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We are still just amazed every day at the blessing God has given us. Lyla continues to be such a sweet girl. She giggles, screams (with delight) and loves to play with toys. She chews on EVERYthing!<br />
We got the green light to start cereal and veggies....I can't believe it!<br />
She will be 5 months on June 16th. Holy cow.<br />
<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-29865027486909597472012-05-18T10:32:00.001-05:002012-05-18T10:32:15.644-05:00Life in the Fast Lane!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's crazy how life is moving so fast! Lyla is now 4 months old and just as precious and wonderful as day 1! The big kids are busy with sports and end of school activities. Clint is the family sports chauffeur.. every single night of the week! I am busy with Lyla, our household, my <a href="http://www.craftycreations2.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>, the big kids, work and oh yes, being a good wife ;)</div>
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I just realized I didn't post for Lyla's 3rd month! It's crazy because I used to blog all the time. Now it's only on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays when I am at work and have the time to do it! Ugh.</div>
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At 3 months Lyla loves to chew on everything, especially her hands. She loves to scream and make lots of noise! She loves read books and has started to show a lot more of her cute/spunky personality. Clint always said that she's going to talk our ears off when she learns how! I agree!!</div>
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At 3.5 months I decided that getting up at 2am for a feeding needed to come to an end. I took the weekend to try it...and it worked. I had to go into her room a few times to give her her paci back, but overall it went great. She now sleeps from 8pm to 6am! YAHOO! </div>
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Lyla also learned how to roll from her stomach to her back at 3.5 months. She is a PRO at it now. Bad thing is is that she is a tummy sleeper....so there are many times that she gets mad because she can't get back over in the middle of the night, so I have to go assist! We are working on rolling the other way now! Here she is at 3 months. CUTENESS!</div>
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I LOVE this picture of her and Elmo. She's looking over at Laynie (who can always get her to smile big)<br />
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I can't believe i'm posting about 2 months at a time, but oh well. I do what I can! ;)<br />
This week Lyla turned 4 months. She is such a happy baby!<br />
She has really mastered swatting at toys and grabbing for things. It's SO fun to see her grow and learn new things! Makes me so proud!<br />
She loves to scream and talk...especially when you lay her on her changing table. It's the funniest thing. She will be silent...but as soon as you lay her down on the changing pad, BAM... she's screaming and laughing like crazy. She's done this since she was like a month old! Here she is trying to master the new sippy cup/bottle. It's a bottle, but with handles to teach them how to old on! Genius! She did pretty good. <br />
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I love her hair after a bath. I lather her up with coconut oil. Her curls are SUPER tight and thick. I can't wait to start doing some actual hairstyles! ;)<br />
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Our adoption is getting closer to being finalized. We are praying like crazy for the obstacles that have come up to just GO AWAY. We know that God has built our family exactly the way He wants it, so we just pray that everything goes through and we can move forward! We have court on June 28th.<br />
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God continues to bless us and show us how faithful He is. We are SO thankful.<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-17277894542310402182012-04-19T15:40:00.002-05:002012-04-19T15:47:02.805-05:00Lyla Video<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40680656?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="400"></iframe><p>This video was taken just a week or so ago. So she was 2.5 months old. Our pediatrician says that she is a "mover and shaker", and she IS! She kicks those legs so fast!</p><p><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></p><br /><br /><br />This video was taken at 12 weeks. She loves this "Sing-a-majig".<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40680601?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="400"></iframe><p><br /></p>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-90551480891251755822012-04-19T15:19:00.004-05:002012-04-19T15:35:13.569-05:002 months<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-twk4G20Fcyo/T5B0LFWfrfI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ojVIN5FEkC4/s1600/2%2Bmonths.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-twk4G20Fcyo/T5B0LFWfrfI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ojVIN5FEkC4/s320/2%2Bmonths.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210059406552562" border="0" /></a>Lyla had some precious "firsts" at 2 months!<br /><br />First coo/big smiles at Daddy when he walked in the room: March 1st<br />First laugh out loud at Daddy: March 4th<br />Cooed a lot and blew a few spit bubbles at Aunt Kerri: March 11th<br /><br />At 8 weeks she started cooing so much more. She loves when you make noises with your mouth/tongue. She is a TUMMY sleeper. I know, bad mommy, but I can't help it. The girl LOVES to snooze on her belly. Little rebel! :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13u1thfygD8/T5B0ZqGl8iI/AAAAAAAAA0A/kF_TL798vTw/s1600/First%2Btime%2Bto%2Bchurch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13u1thfygD8/T5B0ZqGl8iI/AAAAAAAAA0A/kF_TL798vTw/s320/First%2Btime%2Bto%2Bchurch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210309790134818" border="0" /></a><br />On March 12th, my sister and her family came up from San Antonio to meet little Lyla. My neice Izzy (7) and my nephews Luke (5) & Matthias (4) just LOVED all over Lyla. I loved hearing little Matthias say Lyla (Little "Wy-Wa"). I loved seeing them with her. She is so loved and that just makes my heart so happy!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmbayqTgPsE/T5B0MQYU-OI/AAAAAAAAAzo/a1YzTTV9tl4/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B220.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmbayqTgPsE/T5B0MQYU-OI/AAAAAAAAAzo/a1YzTTV9tl4/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210079546898658" border="0" /></a>My sister and Lyla.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8lhWswzfDsQ/T5B0MPInCII/AAAAAAAAAzc/kllf6R6qZUY/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B219.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8lhWswzfDsQ/T5B0MPInCII/AAAAAAAAAzc/kllf6R6qZUY/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210079212537986" border="0" /></a>Izzy and Lyla.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heOs5pSntEU/T5B0LllxUnI/AAAAAAAAAzM/20XXkfs2iRs/s1600/March%2B13th%2B2012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heOs5pSntEU/T5B0LllxUnI/AAAAAAAAAzM/20XXkfs2iRs/s320/March%2B13th%2B2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210068060557938" border="0" /></a>We also go out and enjoyed a nice day at the Zoo. Another first for Lyla!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e902sf5l1AU/T5B0M9WkPvI/AAAAAAAAAz0/j_E9fOS5OtI/s1600/First%2BFamily%2BPicture%2B2%2B27%2B12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e902sf5l1AU/T5B0M9WkPvI/AAAAAAAAAz0/j_E9fOS5OtI/s320/First%2BFamily%2BPicture%2B2%2B27%2B12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733210091619106546" border="0" /></a>We celebrated Clint's 40th birthday on Feb. 27th with a surprise birthday dinner. Lyla had her special "I love Daddy" onesie on.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MnS5zXdhcQw/T5B2cpyP_mI/AAAAAAAAA0U/bcdc5ga2J2A/s1600/photo%252896%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MnS5zXdhcQw/T5B2cpyP_mI/AAAAAAAAA0U/bcdc5ga2J2A/s320/photo%252896%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733212560267673186" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45uU4gr0mfs/T5B2cTMJhpI/AAAAAAAAA0M/T7FLEZ9-p8o/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B196.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45uU4gr0mfs/T5B2cTMJhpI/AAAAAAAAA0M/T7FLEZ9-p8o/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733212554202285714" border="0" /></a>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-1489716345791562412012-04-19T14:36:00.003-05:002012-04-19T15:19:52.931-05:001 month<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06vk-nD_dbQ/T5BzGD8Z6LI/AAAAAAAAAy4/nkMvy_Jhd0I/s1600/1%2Bmonth.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06vk-nD_dbQ/T5BzGD8Z6LI/AAAAAAAAAy4/nkMvy_Jhd0I/s320/1%2Bmonth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733208873617713330" border="0" /></a><br />From the time we got home until Feb. 16th (Lyla's 1 month birthday) went by super fast. Lyla grew so fast, yet was still such a tiny little beauty! She was 8lbs 7oz at her first doctors appointment. Still such a joy. Always so content and wide eyed.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPXQmPZ7LHE/T5BqN2juosI/AAAAAAAAAyg/qfrsnPDaITE/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B143.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPXQmPZ7LHE/T5BqN2juosI/AAAAAAAAAyg/qfrsnPDaITE/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733199111858856642" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9RhpOXRftbk/T5BqNgyL5JI/AAAAAAAAAyU/9FZlPDz_cws/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B153.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrrL77uX_RE/T5BqNfYgWpI/AAAAAAAAAyI/I3A6ObZVtlk/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B189.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrrL77uX_RE/T5BqNfYgWpI/AAAAAAAAAyI/I3A6ObZVtlk/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733199105637767826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_UMdzIih-8/T5BqONoRLJI/AAAAAAAAAyo/lGEJqC30Kh8/s1600/Lyla%2BV-day%2B12.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_UMdzIih-8/T5BqONoRLJI/AAAAAAAAAyo/lGEJqC30Kh8/s320/Lyla%2BV-day%2B12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733199118051912850" border="0" /></a>We just count our blessings every day that Lyla is our daughter.<br /><br />Our God is faithful!Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-45512200434909793082012-04-05T13:56:00.003-05:002012-04-05T14:35:48.385-05:00Coming home to our new life with LylaIt almost felt like we were dreaming... boarding a plane after 9 days... with our precious girl in tow. You can imagine the looks we got. Not only was she outside our race (that will get you enough looks as it is), but she looked like she was just born like 5 min before! Super tiny and sweet!<br />It was a later flight..6pm. We were exhausted, but had just enough adrenaline to get us home! Lyla was the perfect passenger! She ate when we first boarded, but then slept pretty much from then on. It was awesome!<br />Flying with a baby was surprisingly easy too. We didn't have to wait in the long security lines and we got to preboard! ;)<br /><br />I cried on the flight home. It was just overwhelming. We were finally taking our baby home!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qaH3rA-rzFM/T33vI5MGSpI/AAAAAAAAAxk/pH9XwgJWQEk/s1600/photo%2528115%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qaH3rA-rzFM/T33vI5MGSpI/AAAAAAAAAxk/pH9XwgJWQEk/s320/photo%2528115%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727997237154695826" border="0" /></a>Here we are... tired, excited, overwhelmed, overjoyed!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPwqKnLVtQg/T33vH--pn0I/AAAAAAAAAxY/CSqwt1dLoiM/s1600/photo%2528113%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPwqKnLVtQg/T33vH--pn0I/AAAAAAAAAxY/CSqwt1dLoiM/s320/photo%2528113%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727997221529034562" border="0" /></a>So happy to be holding my baby... in the airport... on our way HOME!<br /><br />We didn't get any pictures of our arrival. To my sweet friend Kerri's defense, it was like 11:45pm and we were pooped and forgot to ask her to take some pics! I'm sure she was too excited to see Lyla to care about pics! ;)<br /><br />Only by God's amazing timing... at midnight on the night we arrived (Tuesday the 24th) time had elapsed for the birthmom to change her mind.<br />Talking about watching our clock as we sat and waited on our luggage! Thank you Jesus..we could breath a little easier and enjoy being home that much more! God is Good!<br /><br />Over the next few weeks we settled in as a family of 5!<br />Lyla continued to be the PERfect baby. I had 3 more weeks of maternity leave, so it was wonderful to get that time at home with her.<br />We were blessed by all of our friends and family to come home to a spotless house, a week of hot meals and LOVE...LOTS of LOVE for Lyla. That was the best part.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZq4IdAOIq4/T33vJsSR-SI/AAAAAAAAAx8/tUPSr_NO88M/s1600/photo%2528117%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZq4IdAOIq4/T33vJsSR-SI/AAAAAAAAAx8/tUPSr_NO88M/s320/photo%2528117%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727997250870835490" border="0" /></a>Our sweet friend Kerri and her girls loving on Lyla.... I love this picture!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xdv5_M4rEhA/T33sflEkMYI/AAAAAAAAAxA/3xFCMa08z3k/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xdv5_M4rEhA/T33sflEkMYI/AAAAAAAAAxA/3xFCMa08z3k/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727994328356499842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hh_TayMFOro/T33semIJfxI/AAAAAAAAAwo/fybA805oK50/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hh_TayMFOro/T33semIJfxI/AAAAAAAAAwo/fybA805oK50/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727994311460093714" border="0" /></a>Grace and Caroline were so excited to get to meet Lyla and hold her.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OuD8GCaHtOk/T33sfDi854I/AAAAAAAAAw0/MUxa5C_Ptlg/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B086.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OuD8GCaHtOk/T33sfDi854I/AAAAAAAAAw0/MUxa5C_Ptlg/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727994319357142914" border="0" /></a>Big sister Laynie got to meet and love on her on Wednesday night.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXemNFcrCJo/T33sgELQ2dI/AAAAAAAAAxM/mn_znLhFUlk/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B087.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXemNFcrCJo/T33sgELQ2dI/AAAAAAAAAxM/mn_znLhFUlk/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727994336706091474" border="0" /></a>One of the sweetest times was when my Dad met Lyla. He was super smitten. It melted my heart. You pray and pray for everyone to love and accept your adopted child as much as you, but you just never know... and that's scary. I am more than proud to say that we have felt nothing but LOVE and Joy and Peace and acceptance since we've been home. Our families and friends have been so amazing and it really does fill our hearts with joy and happiness. Lyla is SO very loved.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNDQjejavMc/T33vJTh9gBI/AAAAAAAAAxw/PNobJ5-nuIY/s1600/photo%2528116%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNDQjejavMc/T33vJTh9gBI/AAAAAAAAAxw/PNobJ5-nuIY/s320/photo%2528116%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727997244225716242" border="0" /></a>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-38552529052683220732012-03-30T10:25:00.008-05:002012-03-30T13:36:35.120-05:00Our 9 Day Stay....The next day we got to have a "private" hospital room where we could snuggle with Lyla and take care of her most of the day. It was so nice to be alone with her. She just slept and ate.... we never heard a peep out of her. She was SUCH a good baby!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8uGML_W0ms/T3XRfWHya8I/AAAAAAAAAuA/yMj0c_u7Sic/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8uGML_W0ms/T3XRfWHya8I/AAAAAAAAAuA/yMj0c_u7Sic/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725712837715848130" border="0" /></a>Daddy getting some snuggle time with Lyla on Tuesday the 17th.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHEPGEiZADM/T3XRe1kRkaI/AAAAAAAAAt0/XIZR9waOpts/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHEPGEiZADM/T3XRe1kRkaI/AAAAAAAAAt0/XIZR9waOpts/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725712828976959906" border="0" /></a>Mommy holding Lyla. She was such a sound sleeper and it was really sweet to just sit there and hold her! That's what we did for most of Tuesday. On Wednesday we were pleasantly surprised to hear that we could take her "home" (to the hotel). It was a little scary and surreal, but we felt SO good getting to leave the hospital with our daughter!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_K1zg_FS8M/T3XRhId8o6I/AAAAAAAAAuY/KVLJ_vBVQQo/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_K1zg_FS8M/T3XRhId8o6I/AAAAAAAAAuY/KVLJ_vBVQQo/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725712868410434466" border="0" /></a>She was SO tiny in her car seat!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9kuUXmmfE8/T3XRf3LT5pI/AAAAAAAAAuM/XfNCGuOnE1I/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9kuUXmmfE8/T3XRf3LT5pI/AAAAAAAAAuM/XfNCGuOnE1I/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725712846588995218" border="0" /></a>It was pretty cold... so Daddy dropped us off at the door.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-_JJHLOTes/T3XRidaRRTI/AAAAAAAAAuk/0KsfKmlLfLo/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-_JJHLOTes/T3XRidaRRTI/AAAAAAAAAuk/0KsfKmlLfLo/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725712891212023090" border="0" /></a>Here she is in our hotel room for the first time.<br /><br />She was such a perfect baby from the start. It was fun to get her out of her car seat, lay her on the bed and just take some pictures. No nurses coming in, no questions to answer, no worries.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GCZoEy3iH4/T3XVxwPb-MI/AAAAAAAAAuw/bVqEAc4BRLQ/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B046.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GCZoEy3iH4/T3XVxwPb-MI/AAAAAAAAAuw/bVqEAc4BRLQ/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725717552011409602" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMppDrisV_U/T3XVyOIFOYI/AAAAAAAAAu8/wpJhDemwSwQ/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B047.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMppDrisV_U/T3XVyOIFOYI/AAAAAAAAAu8/wpJhDemwSwQ/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725717560033622402" border="0" /></a>I LOVE this picture of her sweet little smile. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCZBxL8994w/T3XVzPSJ7rI/AAAAAAAAAvI/CZM9ywc2PXE/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCZBxL8994w/T3XVzPSJ7rI/AAAAAAAAAvI/CZM9ywc2PXE/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725717577524178610" border="0" /></a>Her first bottle with us at the hotel.<br /><br />The next 6 days feel like a blur. We had to wait for our "release" so that we could bring Lyla home. Every day was about the same. We would sleep/nap/get ready and then get out of the hotel around lunch time. We HAD to get out every day. It was hard being cooped up in a hotel room day in and day out for 9 days.<br />The weather was cold and rainy most days. We would go to the mall or to some random shopping center. Anything to pass the time. We did LOTS of eating. I think I gained at least 5lbs while we were there!! Clint was in heaven because there was BBQ on every corner!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyNfH8xNu8c/T3XaJSxL0yI/AAAAAAAAAvU/nnhnGeIL-QU/s1600/photo%2528104%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyNfH8xNu8c/T3XaJSxL0yI/AAAAAAAAAvU/nnhnGeIL-QU/s320/photo%2528104%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725722354463265570" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8l5dutdHxkc/T3XaKH2HcTI/AAAAAAAAAvo/2K2GL-DFXsc/s1600/photo%2528107%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8l5dutdHxkc/T3XaKH2HcTI/AAAAAAAAAvo/2K2GL-DFXsc/s320/photo%2528107%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725722368711029042" border="0" /></a><br />Of course we spent lots of time taking pictures of our sweet girl and updating friends and family on our "coming home" status. Here were some of my favorite pictures:<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3qaDrKhReY/T3XbUaW7SwI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZTxRtTXByoA/s1600/photo%2528111%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3qaDrKhReY/T3XbUaW7SwI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZTxRtTXByoA/s320/photo%2528111%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725723644990802690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-loICBS98t_s/T3XbU0vOsuI/AAAAAAAAAwc/ezF7wFNyqxs/s1600/photo%2528110%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-loICBS98t_s/T3XbU0vOsuI/AAAAAAAAAwc/ezF7wFNyqxs/s320/photo%2528110%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725723652072059618" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBIS47G9VwE/T3XbT9UL0OI/AAAAAAAAAv4/o659ZA41Pls/s1600/photo%2528108%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBIS47G9VwE/T3XbT9UL0OI/AAAAAAAAAv4/o659ZA41Pls/s320/photo%2528108%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725723637194674402" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0pqpRsLynU/T3XaJ5AYZXI/AAAAAAAAAvg/25F_NwG62bI/s1600/photo%2528105%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0pqpRsLynU/T3XaJ5AYZXI/AAAAAAAAAvg/25F_NwG62bI/s320/photo%2528105%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725722364727551346" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVIcWv0l_wc/T3XbUE3nIDI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Ly3qvHuk9tI/s1600/photo%2528112%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVIcWv0l_wc/T3XbUE3nIDI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Ly3qvHuk9tI/s320/photo%2528112%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725723639222313010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had so many ups and downs during our stay. It was exhausting, overwhelming and frustrating... the paperwork issues, not Lyla of course. As each day passed with no word on when we could go home, it was hard not to get discouraged. One thing that was keeping me going was that we had our daughter....there with us.... in the same room....<br />It wasn't just a "Bold" prayer anymore, it was real. The Lord was faithful and answered our prayers and in such an amazing way...2 days before my bold prayer "deadline". :) He knew.<br />We trusted in the Him. That's all we could do. We felt helpless, but we knew that this has been God's story for our lives since we started.<br /><br />Each day we fell more and more in love with our little Lyla. She was SO very good and such an easy baby! She slept well and ate every 4 hours. She was such a little peanut at 5lbs, 14 oz. It was easy to "get to know her"... she was so lovable and cuddly.<br /><br />The weekend came and went... still not home... still in a hotel room. We were really starting to "feel" it. We were antsy... especially as Monday came and went!<br />On Tuesday we ventured out for lunch at 5 Guys Burgers (or as it should be called...Burger Heaven), on the way there I had a little melt down with our home study worker and our attorney. I remember saying, "I'm about to start getting ugly and say a bad word". ha.<br />They were just waiting on a phone call from the courts to tell them that we were cleared to travel.<br />So as we sat and ate, we waited.... and then at last... the CALL! We could GO HOME!<br />We rushed around and got back to the room around 1pm. We made very last minute travel arrangements and were able to get on the last flight out of there at 5'something. Whew!<br />So there we were, getting to go home with our daughter.. 9 days later.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-53099916397741432252012-03-29T15:00:00.010-05:002012-03-29T17:03:42.813-05:00Answered Prayers- Meeting Lyla- Day 1Wow.. what a FULL 2 months it has been for us! I have wanted to blog a million times, but for some reason I always had an excuse not to. Not sure why... because I love blogging about our adoption and our lives.... We'll just say we have been busy falling more and more in love with our sweet girl!<br /><br />I guess I should start back at the beginning!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jan. 16th, 2012... Martin Luther King Day:</span><br />I had the day off of work and the kids were home from school. Clint had to work.<br />I love days off... means sleeping in, running errands, and just doing whatever you want! This one would be different!<br />I was asleep, with my phone on silent, when Clint came in our room... frantically trying to wake me up. I was in a daze. I wondered what in the world he was doing at our house at 8:30am waking me up on my day off!<br /><br />"Our daughter was born this morning. Our caseworker just called and Lyla was born! Get up, we have to go get her!".<br />That was the start of a total crazy fit....<br />I wasn't ready<br />I wasn't packed<br />We were supposed to drive<br />No money for plane tickets!<br />What is going on<br />breathe<br />breathe<br />I remember running around my room getting clothes together, but really not doing anything at all (I would regret that on day 7 when I had NO CLEAN clothes to wear!). My sweet friend (and neighbor) Kerri came over to help get things in order with me. Man I love that girl!<br />I took a shower, ran around some more, packed a little (and I mean a little) and started to get travel plans under control.<br />Sweet Kerri sat in my room with a notepad and pen taking notes on what all had to happen since we were leaving 2 weeks earlier than expected. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends!<br />We managed to book a flight out that afternoon at 3:15 that would arrive around 11pm! It was going to be a long day of flying! We had to book a rental car and move our hotel dates around... but somehow (well, we know how...with GOD) we were able to get everything done and walked out the door for the airport at 1:15!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3k1g4hvQJE/T3TCwPXZZ0I/AAAAAAAAAsI/EwWGeOIZJys/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3k1g4hvQJE/T3TCwPXZZ0I/AAAAAAAAAsI/EwWGeOIZJys/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725415160308918082" border="0" /></a>Yes, that's us.. at the airport.. with our empty stroller/car seat and the look of excitement/fear on our faces (and my unfixed curly hair..cause who has time to fix their hair when they are hurrying to go get their baby!?)<br /><br />Our flights were uneventful and we were holding it together quite well. When we got there it was a little past10:30pm and we had to go get our rental car and pray that the hospital would still let us come meet our precious girl even though it would be well after 11pm when we got there.<br /><br />When booking a rental car, I wasn't thinking "size"... I was thinking "cheapest". So there we were, trying to CRAM all of our stuff in a little Ford Focus. Super cute car...but not sure how people with children do it! We wondered how we were ever going to make it BACK to the airport with everything PLUS little Lyla! We got a good laugh and we needed it! Here is the back seat of the Ford Focus! The trunk was completely packed as well!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASSM_CzZVLc/T3TJqZ2rEEI/AAAAAAAAAtk/MbMb2d9HB2E/s1600/photo%2528101%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASSM_CzZVLc/T3TJqZ2rEEI/AAAAAAAAAtk/MbMb2d9HB2E/s320/photo%2528101%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725422756626632770" border="0" /></a>Around 11:30pm we arrived at the hospital. It wasn't far from the airport and was only 5 min from our hotel. I can't even put into words the feelings we were having walking up to the hospital.<br />When we got to the labor and delivery floor, there was a small group of nurses there. We explained who we were and why we were there and they were expecting us (thank you God)! I have to add: the little old nurse that walked us down the hall toward the nursery thought she needed to share .... so she said, "Were you not able to have children of your own?"....<br />Ummmmm, nurse lady..that's totally inappropriate and none of your business!<br /><br />She continued on to say, "Now, do you all know that she's dark?"<br />HuuuuuuuuHhhhh? What???? My baby is dark...? NO WAY!? LOL<br />Come on old lady.... just hush it and GO GET MY BABY!<br /><br /><br />We could see through the window that they were just finishing up her first bath. They took us into a small room and had us wait for her there. Soon, they wheeled her in.<br /><br />She was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen. She was TINY and precious. The nurses went on and on about how sweet she was.<br />They placed her in my arms and it was amazing. Finally, we were there.... holding our baby girl.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o37_PRXnFhw/T3TFZ2xPefI/AAAAAAAAAsU/7Hylu5aGhcE/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o37_PRXnFhw/T3TFZ2xPefI/AAAAAAAAAsU/7Hylu5aGhcE/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725418074284194290" border="0" /></a> We got to feed her.....<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqONbGmBcMA/T3TFaevSKFI/AAAAAAAAAsg/ikzutl7o60w/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqONbGmBcMA/T3TFaevSKFI/AAAAAAAAAsg/ikzutl7o60w/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725418085013399634" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gV6IXGe4uc/T3TFa3GzloI/AAAAAAAAAss/Hq3YLzuFN74/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gV6IXGe4uc/T3TFa3GzloI/AAAAAAAAAss/Hq3YLzuFN74/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725418091554510466" border="0" /></a><br />And just sit and take it all in....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9jCydAI7DY/T3TIihHb0PI/AAAAAAAAAs4/tGbHRg7FUzg/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9jCydAI7DY/T3TIihHb0PI/AAAAAAAAAs4/tGbHRg7FUzg/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725421521625403634" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChLz0m-_7ms/T3TIyTEQkVI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/m9e46rQPwTQ/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChLz0m-_7ms/T3TIyTEQkVI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/m9e46rQPwTQ/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725421792731894098" border="0" /></a>We couldn't believe how much hair she had!!!! She was BEAUTIFUL!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17bypEvAR5A/T3TJqMbkEWI/AAAAAAAAAtc/DrLKGq8Ncig/s1600/photo%2528100%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17bypEvAR5A/T3TJqMbkEWI/AAAAAAAAAtc/DrLKGq8Ncig/s320/photo%2528100%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725422753023267170" border="0" /></a>Before we left for the night (it was past 12am!) a sweet nurse came in and asked if she could take our first family picture....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MnL_3o1OH3M/T3TIjPs07VI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Xx_OLgpRq8A/s1600/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MnL_3o1OH3M/T3TIjPs07VI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Xx_OLgpRq8A/s320/Jan%2BFeb%2B2012%2B022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725421534130269522" border="0" /></a>That first meeting was so wonderful and felt like a dream! We were finally with our daughter. God had this planned all along... and I trusted Him, and He didn't let me down!Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-24776998761280706652012-01-06T09:00:00.004-06:002012-01-06T10:00:05.372-06:00It's been a while...Part 2, the CALL!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, December 23rd, 2011</span><br /><br />Friday I had to work until noon. I didn't mind.<br />My office was quiet and I made lists of things to get done before my sister and her family, along with my little brother, were to make their way into town from San Antonio that night. I was exciting to see them for Christmas and I knew it was going to be a very full weekend!<br /><br />I emailed with our caseworker a few times. She mentioned that there was a birthmom in North Carolina that they would be presenting us to. I knew not to get too excited. #1, it was Friday...#2 it was the Friday of Christmas weekend and #3 I knew that they would have to overnight our profile and letter....so that was already putting us at Tuesday.<br /><br />I decided that I wasn't going to get sad or upset that my BOLD prayers were not going to be answered yet again. I thought about my new BOLD prayer and what that would be. Maybe I would pray to know something in the next month, or two.....or three.<br />I just knew that I couldn't focus on that. I needed to focus on the excitement of Christmas and of Jesus' birth..and of all my family being together. I knew I had to "let go" of the BOLD prayer I had prayed for so long.<br /><br />I was oddly okay.<br /><br />I left work at noon and hurried around to get things done.<br />That evening we went to my Dad's to greet my sister and her family and my little brother. We ate, played with the kids and enjoyed being together. Lots of laughter....lots of playing....<br /><br />Around 7pm we got in the car to go home.<br />I did my usual check of my phone.<br /><br />I had an email.... from my caseworker..... that said "URGENT" in the subject. My heart skipped a beat.<br />I opened the email and read that my caseworker needed me to call her on her cell, asap.<br /><br />I was getting more and more excited. Clint was his usual calm, together self. :)<br /><br />I called her.....and she said, "I have some exciting news for you guys. You were MATCHED with the birthmom from North Carolina".<br /><br />I think I peed my pants a little.<br /><br />We were so excited. I couldn't stop squealing and laughing and carrying on. I'm sure our caseworker thought I was coo-coo.<br />She gave us all the details and I scrambled around to take some notes.<br />She said that our baby is due via c-section on the 23rd (since then, it's been moved to the 30th) of January!!<br />Seriously, I had a permanent smile on my face and so did Clint.<br /><br />and just like that..... MY BOLD PRAYER WAS ANSWERED!<br />God waited until December 23rd, at 7pm.... Just 2 days before Christmas! He knew I would grow so much in those last few days. He knew that my faith would be tested and that I would grow in my walk with Him.<br />He KNEW.<br /><br />We were so excited to be able to call family and close friends and share this awesome story.<br /><br />It was great to have my family in town. To be able to celebrate with them, face-to-face!<br /><br />Christmas was filled with so much joy and thankfulness. It was such a testimony to God's faithfulness. We were just so amazed by His love for us.<br /><br />Since Christmas we have been in overdrive! Clint has worked SO hard on the nursery and it looks awesome! We have the paint done and now just wait for the carpet to come in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nO9-Lh761UA/TwcVll6vkRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/V96l-RwxAiw/s1600/Jan.%2B2012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nO9-Lh761UA/TwcVll6vkRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/V96l-RwxAiw/s320/Jan.%2B2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543989411123474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgFRDGcURgA/TwcVlQuZYMI/AAAAAAAAArw/bIY_eDhohYI/s1600/Jan.%2B2012%2Bpaint.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgFRDGcURgA/TwcVlQuZYMI/AAAAAAAAArw/bIY_eDhohYI/s320/Jan.%2B2012%2Bpaint.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543983722193090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rM0Xe3ABygM/TwcVbRvNUmI/AAAAAAAAArk/EHcEvJkZzy8/s1600/Jan.%2B2012%2Bpaint%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rM0Xe3ABygM/TwcVbRvNUmI/AAAAAAAAArk/EHcEvJkZzy8/s320/Jan.%2B2012%2Bpaint%2B2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543812195340898" border="0" /></a>I have done a little sewing too. Since we don't know the gender, I have been a little limited on my fabric choices.... but that's ok! Lots of cute polka-dots!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ioXknSEQx00/TwcVaKwwN1I/AAAAAAAAArA/5SoG85iDDqI/s1600/Jan.%2B2012%2Bsewing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ioXknSEQx00/TwcVaKwwN1I/AAAAAAAAArA/5SoG85iDDqI/s320/Jan.%2B2012%2Bsewing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543793142904658" border="0" /></a>Ive made seat belt strap covers... and paci clips.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4P733qwYco/TwcVaSEyUGI/AAAAAAAAArI/EvXa9oqk0e8/s1600/Jan.%2B2012%2BBoppy%2Bcovers.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4P733qwYco/TwcVaSEyUGI/AAAAAAAAArI/EvXa9oqk0e8/s320/Jan.%2B2012%2BBoppy%2Bcovers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543795105976418" border="0" /></a>My sister bought us a Boppy while she was here, so I sewed a few covers for it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pd2X8gAagfw/TwcVau3d87I/AAAAAAAAArc/_zrROZmP4Bg/s1600/Jan.%2B2012%2BPenny.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pd2X8gAagfw/TwcVau3d87I/AAAAAAAAArc/_zrROZmP4Bg/s320/Jan.%2B2012%2BPenny.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694543802834744242" border="0" /></a>Penny helped me put together the bassinet. Then I tested it out on her. hee hee.<br /><br />I have been making a lot of travel lists! We plan to drive to NC, leaving on the 28th. We will probably be there a week (or more). Depending on court and our attorney.<br />Just praying things go smooth.<br /><br />We can't wait to share more pictures of the nursery and preparation!<br /><br />And of course, pictures of our sweet gift from above!<br />Lyla Rose or Oliver Robinson!<br /><br />God is Good!Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-81728394433287427052012-01-05T15:21:00.003-06:002012-01-06T09:00:35.365-06:00It's been a while.....Part 1I know, it has been like 2 months since I last posted. Partly because I didn't know what to say and partly because I was afraid to say it. Silly? Yes.<br /><br />Back in November we were given some updated wait times for the Congo. We were now being told that the wait from referral (remember, we still didn't have a referral and were at #5 for a month) until travel was looking more like 12months or longer! That's a whole year AFTER seeing your precious babies faces until you go pick them up. We were sad about the news and felt that waiting another year (or more) wasn't for our family.<br />After talking with our agency (more than once) about their domestic program, and learning that there is a great need for families who are open to adopt outside their race.... we knew this was it.<br /><br />After some paperwork updates and a little shuffle...we were now in the domestic program with One World.<br />We were happy to stay with our same agency because we really liked working with them and I felt comfortable and confident in the service they had already provided to us.<br /><br />We had to make a family profile (talk about intimidating) and write a birthmom letter (even more intimidating) and then wait.....<br />and pray.....<br />and wait some more.<br /><br />Many times I have talked about BOLD prayer on my blog. BOLDLY believing that God will move mountains in our favor. BOLDLY believing that this is EXactly what God wants for our family. BOLDLY believing that we will have a baby by adoption and that we will also have an amazing testimony to what God has done for us.<br />Many times I have stepped out in faith and said, "ok, I am BOLDLY praying that we receive our referral by the end of September." or "Ok, I know September wasn't in God's plan...so i'm BOLDLY stepping out in faith and saying October."<br />I never gave up on my BOLD praying. Even when they weren't answered. I had FAITH that this is what God wants for us.<br />Many times I sat in tears and felt the devil trying to get me down. He tried to tell us that maybe adoption wasn't what God wanted. Maybe you aren't even supposed to be a Mom at all. The devil tried, and tried, and tried. Sometimes I had weak moments and would "give in" to the pity party and think that this was never going to happen. Thankfully I have amazing sisters in Christ that stood by me and lifted me up....and reminded me of God's amazing faithfulness and love for me and for Clint.<br />So..... my BOLD prayer became that I would know "who" my baby is by Christmas. Either I would see their faces (Congo) or I would know something about a potential match with a birthmom. Just SOMETHING.<br /><br />My faith stayed strong... through every "dangling carrot" moment, through each birthmom rejection....I had faith in God. Faith that he has known since the beginning of time...who my baby is and how we would become a family.<br />My anthem became the song, "God is Able" by Hillsong <span style="font-size:85%;">(i listen to it as I type this now)</span>. <span style="font-size:100%;">The words spoke straight to my heart...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"God is ABLE, He will never fail.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> He is ALMIGHTY God.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Greater than all we see,</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Greater than all we ask...</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">He has done great things.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Lifted up, He defeated the grave.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Raised to Life...Our God is Able!</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">In His name, we overcome... for the Lord, our God, is Able"</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That song was on constant repeat on my ipod. I had it on in my car, in my office...everywhere I could. I knew God was able... I knew He would never fail us.<br />So I continued to BOLDLY pray....."Lord, please, by Christmas"...<br /><br />On Thursday night (December 22nd) we went to the Christmas service at church (Lifechurch.tv). There weren't many people (because our church does a bunch of services for Christmas)... so we were able to sit up close. Next to our friends, Jeff and Kerri....and right up close to the band.<br />I felt like the wind was starting to die down in my sails....like I was moving closer and closer to Christmas, and further and further from my BOLD prayer.<br />God knew this.....<br />The last song we sang before sitting down was, "God is Able". I looked at my friend Kerri with tears in my eyes and said, "I love this song".<br /><br />While I sang, I felt like God was renewing my hope. As tears rolled down my cheek, I felt like it was my prayer....my cry out to the Lord.<br />"Lord, I KNOW you are able.....I KNOW you are ALMIGHTY God....."<br /><br />The song ended and I wiped my tears away.<br /><br />The next day was Friday, December 23rd....<br />(to be continued....)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-45665154143301600892011-11-07T15:28:00.002-06:002011-11-07T15:38:45.802-06:00Stir Crazy!So I have officially become "stir crazy". I thought with how busy at work I've been, and how busy my <a href="http://www.craftycreations2.etsy.com">Etsy shop</a> has kept me..that surely I would just stay focused and not even think about the "wait" and then one day...BAM.... we'll be at #1 on the list and just waiting for our phone to ring. UGH..... why isn't it happening that way?<br /><br />Today in my Jesus Calling book it said, "I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of it - abundantly".<br />It went on to say, "Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or <span style="font-weight: bold;">in things going your way</span>. I am training you to <span style="font-weight: bold;">depend on Me alone</span>, finding fulfillment in My Presence."<br /><br />Well isn't that the truth!? God is sure training me! Amen to that!<br /><br />It's the same thing over and over.... have patience, trust in God's timing, depend on the Lord through your wait..... SO MUCH EASIER to say, then to DO!<br /><br />I have been praying that we see our baby's faces before Christmas. We are still at #5 on the list. It's not looking so good.<br />I am still believing that God can move mountains and connect us with our children. I know He can. I hate to put a time limit on it.... but at the same time I know that my God is an ALmighty God and He answers prayers!!!! So I will cling to that.<br /><br />I'm going to continue to stay focused. One day at a time. One week at a time. One month at a time.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-28218628384497659102011-11-03T09:05:00.002-05:002011-11-03T09:10:35.480-05:00"How to Be The Village" by Jen Hatmaker!<a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village#.TrF5RXe8KZc.facebook">Jen Hatmaker</a>, oh how I love you!!!<br /><br />A few days ago, Jen wrote a blog post titled "<a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village#.TrF5RXe8KZc.facebook">How to Be The Village</a>". It was so much of what I have been thinking....and more. PLEASE take the time to read it in it's <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village#.TrF5RXe8KZc.facebook">entirety</a>. If you know someone who is adopting, plans to adopt, is home with their precious kiddos.... <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village#.TrF5RXe8KZc.facebook">PLEASE read</a>!<br /><br />Here is an excerpt of the post. The one that spoke to me the most (because it's where we are right now). Amazing Jen....<br /><br />And thank you to my little "village" of supporters. You have NO idea how much it means to me! I love you all...and thank you for loving us!<br /><br />Ok......here it is....<br /><br /><br /><u>Supporting Families Before the Airport</u><br /><br />Your friends are adopting. They’re in the middle of dossiers and home studies, and most of them are somewhere in the middle of Waiting Purgatory. Please let me explain something about WP: It sucks in every way. Oh sure, we try to make it sound better than it feels by using phrases like “We’re trusting in God’s plan” and “God is refining me” and “Sovereignty trumps my feelings” and crazy bidness like that. But we are crying and aching and getting angry and going bonkers when you’re not watching. It’s hard. It hurts. It feels like an eternity even though you can see that it is not. It is harder for us to see that, because many of us have pictures on our refrigerators of these beautiful darlings stuck in an orphanage somewhere while we’re bogged down in bureaucracy and delays.<br /><br />How can you help? By not saying or doing these things:<br /><br />1.<span class="ws"> </span>“God’s timing is perfect!” (Could also insert: “This is all God’s plan!” “God is in charge!”) As exactly true as this may be, when you say it to a waiting parent, we want to scratch your eyebrows off and make you eat them with a spoon. Any trite answer that minimizes the struggle is as welcomed as a sack of dirty diapers. You are voicing something we probably already believe while not acknowledging that we are hurting and that somewhere a child is going to bed without a mother again. Please never say this again. Thank you.<br /><br />2.<span class="ws"> </span>“Are you going to have your own kids?” (Also in this category: “You’ll probably get pregnant the minute your adoption clears!” “Since this is so hard, why don’t you just try to have your own kids?” “Well, at least you have your own kids.”) The subtle message here is: You can always have legitimate biological kids if this thing tanks. It places adoption in the Back-up Plan Category, <i>where it does not belong for us</i>. When we flew to Ethiopia with our first travel group from our agency, out of 8 couples, we were the only parents with biological kids. The other 7 couples chose adoption first. Several of them were on birth control. <i>Adoption counts as real parenting</i>, and if you believe stuff Jesus said, it might even be closer to the heart of God than regular old procreation. (Not to mention the couples that grieved through infertility already. So when you say, “Are you going to have your own kids?” to a woman who tried for eight years, then don’t be surprised if she pulls your beating heart out like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.)<br /><br />3.<span class="ws"> </span>For those of you in Christian community, it is extremely frustrating to hear: “Don’t give up on God!” or “Don’t lose faith!” It implies that we are one nanosecond away from tossing our entire belief system in the compost pile because we are acting sad or discouraged. It’s condescending and misses the crux of our emotions. I can assure you, at no point in our story did we think about kicking Jesus to the curb, <i>but we still get to cry tears and feel our feelings, folks</i>. Jesus did. And I’m pretty sure he went to heaven when he died.<br /><br />4.<span class="ws"> </span>We’re happy to field your questions about becoming a transracial family or adopting a child of another race, but please don’t use this moment to trot out your bigotry. (Cluelessness is a different thing, and we try to shrug that off. Like when someone asked about our Ethiopian kids, “Will they be black?” Aw, sweet little dum-dum.) The most hurtful thing we heard during our wait was from a black pastor who said, “Whatever you do, don’t change their last name to Hatmaker, because they are NOT Hatmakers. They’ll never be Hatmakers. They are African.” <i>What the???</i> I wonder if he’d launch the same grenade if we adopted white kids from Russia? If you’d like to know what we’re learning about raising children of another race or ask respectful, legitimate questions, by all means, do so. We care about this and take it seriously, and we realize we will traverse racial landmines with our family. You don’t need to point out that we are adopting black kids and we are, in fact, white. We’ve actually already thought of that.<br /><br />5.<span class="ws"> </span>Saying nothing is the opposite bad. I realize with blogs like this one, you can get skittish on how to talk to a crazed adopting Mama without getting under her paper-thin skin or inadvertently offending her. I get it. (We try hard not to act so hypersensitive. Just imagine that we are paper-pregnant with similar hormones surging through our bodies making us cry at Subaru commercials just like the 7-month preggo sitting next to us. And look at all this weight we’ve gained. <i>See?</i>) But acting like we’re not adopting or struggling or waiting or hoping or grieving is not helpful either. If I was pregnant with a baby in my belly, and no one ever asked how I was feeling or how much longer or is his nursery ready or can we plan a shower, I would have to audition new friend candidates immediately.<br /><br />Here’s what we would love to hear Before the Airport:<br /><br />1.<span class="ws"> </span>Just kind, normal words of encouragement. Not the kind that assume we are one breath away from atheism. Not the kind that attempt to minimize the difficulties and tidy it all up with catchphrases. <i>We don’t actually need for you to fix our wait.</i> We just want you to be our friend and acknowledge that the process is hard and you care about us while we’re hurting. That is GOLD. I was once having lunch with my friend Lynde when AWAA called with more bad news about Ben’s case, and I laid my head down on the table in the middle of Galaxy Café and bawled. Having no idea what to do with such a hot mess, she just cried with me. Thank you for being perfect that day, Lynde.<br /><br />2.<span class="ws"> </span>Your questions are welcomed! We don’t mind telling you about the court system in Ethiopia or the in-country requirements in Nicaragua or the rules of the foster system. We’re glad to talk about adoption, and we’re thankful you care. I assure you we didn’t enter adoption lightly, so sharing details of this HUGE PIECE OF OUR LIVES is cathartic. Plus, we want you to know more because we’re all secretly hoping you’ll adopt later. (This is not true.) (Yes it is.)<br /><br />3.<span class="ws"> </span>When you say you’re praying for us and our waiting children, and you actually really are, not only does that soothe our troubled souls, but according to Scripture, it activates the heavens. So pray on, dear friends. Pray on. That is always the right thing to say. And please actually do it. We need people to stand in the gap for us when we are too tired and discouraged to keep praying the same words another day.<br /><br />4.<span class="ws"> </span>If you can, please become telepathic to determine which days we want to talk about adoption and which days we’d rather you just show up on our doorstep with fresh figs from the Farmer’s Market (thanks, Katie) or kidnap us away in the middle of the day to go see <i>Bridesmaids</i>. Sometimes we need you to make us laugh and remember what it feels like to be carefree for a few hours. If you’re not sure which day we’re having, just pre-buy movie tickets and show up with the figs, and when we answer the door, hold them all up and ask, “Would you like to talk for an hour uninterrupted about waiting for a court date?” We’ll respond to whichever one fits.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-82730720572069856732011-10-31T13:49:00.003-05:002011-10-31T14:03:20.898-05:00Golf Tournament Success!This past weekend we joined with the <a href="http://www.ourmissinglinck.blogspot.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Linck's</span></a> and the <a href="http://www.jleinen.blogspot.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Leinen's</span></a> for the 2011 Birdies For Babies golf tournament. John and Jennifer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Linck</span> did this last year and now have decided to bless other families by putting it together every year. This year we, along with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Leinen's</span>, were able to benefit from the golf tournament and raised over $2600! That's $1300 for our family!!!! What makes it even greater is that we get to send that money in to Hand In Hand to go towards our matching grant!!!!! Praise God!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFLsu9HlKJ8/Tq7ukyNI8jI/AAAAAAAAAq4/M8LeFZltDXk/s1600/PA299417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFLsu9HlKJ8/Tq7ukyNI8jI/AAAAAAAAAq4/M8LeFZltDXk/s320/PA299417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669731296625619506" border="0" /></a>Here's the group. Julia & Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Leinen</span>, John & Jennifer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Linck</span>, and myself and Clint.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgaljvRp968/Tq7ukn27FnI/AAAAAAAAAqc/YriRWcoV9lM/s1600/PA299385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgaljvRp968/Tq7ukn27FnI/AAAAAAAAAqc/YriRWcoV9lM/s320/PA299385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669731293848082034" border="0" /></a>Nice <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">squinty</span>-eyed pic of me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2VMBAVks4Ss/Tq7uki77knI/AAAAAAAAAqk/n9gIrG9BDEE/s1600/PA299340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2VMBAVks4Ss/Tq7uki77knI/AAAAAAAAAqk/n9gIrG9BDEE/s320/PA299340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669731292526908018" border="0" /></a>Julia, Jennifer and me.<br /><br />We had a great time and are so appreciative to all the golfers that came out to support our families.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-60063051496667806632011-10-24T15:05:00.002-05:002011-10-24T15:36:19.638-05:00Days Go ByI've been meaning to post. Really, I have.<br />I'm not sure what keeps me from it. Maybe I dont like to blog when nothing has happened. It's a reminder that we are still waiting for our babies. Still at #5 on the waitlist.<br />I think I have gotten better at waiting to ask for updates, so that's good.<br />Oh, but time..... time just seems to move so slow sometimes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wwc0DTBf2WA/TqXG61XqXsI/AAAAAAAAApw/VgX6-xPwSi4/s1600/AAAAAmd8ZhAAAAAAAMfp8g.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 217px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wwc0DTBf2WA/TqXG61XqXsI/AAAAAAAAApw/VgX6-xPwSi4/s320/AAAAAmd8ZhAAAAAAAMfp8g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667154420176674498" border="0" /></a>This clock made me think of how I see our wait at times. Distorted and blurry.... fun, huh?<br />I wish I was blogging more about how wonderful this wait is and how glorious everything seems. Maybe today just isn't my day for that. I do have those days though....really, I do.<br /><br />I always know that God is in total control of our adoption. Maybe that's why it has become a bit easier to sit back and not obsess about the waitlist numbers, or referrals, or $$. I have given this adoption to God because I have faith in Him. He's brought us this far.....<br />I know that we are on the path God intended for us. There is a LOT of peace in that.<br /><br />So I will just hold on to the fact that it wont be long before we see our babies faces and know their names. It wont be forever....it may feel like it, but it wont be. Thank you JESUS for that!<br /><br />In the meantime we will continue to prepare (I need to post more pics of the nursery and my decorating ideas). We will continue to enjoy our family time with just the 4 of us. Continue to love sleeping in, sewing until 12am, running to the mall on a whim, etc....<br /><br />Also, we will continue to fundraise to bring those babies home!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCDJe4GM4rg/TqXG7GWTW0I/AAAAAAAAAp4/JKCSYaz5m0M/s1600/golf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 201px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCDJe4GM4rg/TqXG7GWTW0I/AAAAAAAAAp4/JKCSYaz5m0M/s320/golf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667154424734374722" border="0" /></a><br />This coming Saturday is our Birdies For Babies golf tournament. We are excited to join with <a href="http://jleinen.blogspot.com/">another One World family</a> for this awesome event. We have golfers and hole sponsors....we are thrilled beyond words for all the support!<br /><br />So if I can just stay focused on the golf tournament, <a href="http://ourmissinglinck.blogspot.com/">Jennifer's</a> baby shower, kids and holiday gatherings, work, sewing for <a href="http://www.craftycreations2.etsy.com">my Etsy shop</a>, and the nursery.... before you know it we will have our referral!!!! Sounds easy enough, right?Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-2653640125881637632011-10-17T10:26:00.000-05:002011-10-17T10:27:44.274-05:00This song speaks straight to my heart.<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bb7TSGptd3Y" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527371171733047458.post-75872020540799745982011-10-13T10:36:00.004-05:002011-10-13T10:53:18.595-05:004 months<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTfkf5HvLZ4/TpcFk1UI0wI/AAAAAAAAApk/dONlBM1Akh0/s1600/30_four.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTfkf5HvLZ4/TpcFk1UI0wI/AAAAAAAAApk/dONlBM1Akh0/s320/30_four.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663001186786661122" border="0" /></a>So we have been on the DRC waitlist for 4 months today. In 4 months we have gone from #18 to #5 and we are SUPER excited about that!<br /><br />Over the past month or so referrals have slowed down. Booooo. We were on such a roll, but I know that it's ok and it's going to keep moving. It just takes TIME.<br />So we will remain patient and secure in knowing that God is working out the perfect timing for our family. We stay focused on the lives we are living right now, and dont worry about the future. Easier said then done!<br /><br />I feel like when I just take it one day at a time, or one week at a time, that it really helps my mind and heart from focusing so much on our adoption wait! Looking forward to small things in our family helps SO much.<br />It doesn't hurt that I have very active step-children who are 11 and 15...and are involved in sports and clubs, etc.... so that keeps everyone busy.<br /><br />Sure, there are days when I get down about the wait. Wondering if we will see our babies sweet faces before Christmas (which is my prayer) or wondering if we will travel in the Spring or will it be Summer or Fall? Wondering when the call will come. When the list will move. When? When? When?<br />I try not to go down that path. It just leads to anxiousness, sadness and discouragement.<br />So I stay focused on our blessings...every day, runOthemill, exciting or not....BLESSINGS. There are so many of them that God has poured down on our family! Keeping our eyes on the Lord. That's what it takes to ride this roller coaster!Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109490340383591926noreply@blogger.com4