10 Years

Today is our 10th anniversary! It may be cliche, but I am married to my best friend and the love of my life. Although it has been ten years, (I barely recognize Kenny in this picture without his goatee - and we won't EVEN talk about me) I still remember being the girl in the picture. Excited about our new life together, crazy in love, and thinking 10 years was so far away and I would be so old by then. :) We have had a great first 10 years, sprinkled with trials, but many more blessings!! I can't even believe how much life has changed in 10 years and how much I truly love him more every day! I wouldn't want to be on this journey with anyone else!

My Fancy Nancy

Tonight, we had girls' night and my mom and I took Isabella to Barnes and Nobles for a Fancy Nancy "party" (After the kids book - I'd never seen it before but it was cute.) It was another part of their storytime and they said to dress up in tiaras, boas, sunglasses, and more --- and that we did! (Well just Isabella :) As you can see in the pictures, I believe Isabella played the little diva quite well.

Love Thursday

I was just reading Sylvie's blog and she was joining in on something called Love Thursday - which is basically just showing a picture or having a thought that expresses love for today. Well, just Monday night I had taken the picture of Kenny and Amelia (bottom left) . It was so sweet how she was just reaching up and grabbing his face. But I thought I couldn't just post that picture, so I made a little collage of pictures of my hubby with our girls as babies. There's just something so sweet about watching how much he loves his girls and how much they love their daddy already!

We had a little photo shoot with the girls last night, so I thought I would share the pictures. I was trying out some new lighting, although I believe I failed in that area. But, as always my girls are still as cute as can be. Needless to say, Amelia was way to wiggly and wouldn't stay how I "put" her, and Isabella was way to impatient - she kept jumping up each time the flash went off and saying, "All done." I honestly do not know how people with more children get a picture of all their kids even sitting and looking at the camera, not to mention smiling. Its still fun though, I didn't get the pictures I was aiming for, but I did get some photographic memories - I will look at these and remember the stage my 2 girls were in. Amelia is definitely in the wiggly stage, she is now rolling over both ways and "rolling away" and Isabella is way to busy to want to sit down for alot of pictures and is still trying to figure out how to give me a good smile without scrunching her nose. The good news is I didn't have to pay for any sitting fees!

"As treasured keepsakes warm the home,

cherished friendships warm the heart."

My treasure for today is that I was able to spend a few days doing girl things with friends! My friend Becky (holding Isabella) came down to visit her sister Krissy (holding Amelia) and me - or at least to see my girls. :) There are certain people that come into your life and bring so much joy, encouragement, and yes, alot of silliness. And these 2 were definitely that for me!! (Although I do believe most of the silliness comes from Becky!) I am so thankful that the Lord has brought good friends into my life - even if we don't get together but once every 6 years. And for your sake I won't get sappy, but I just wanted to tell you both that "You are SOOO Kronk!" :)

For more Treasures go to Faith's Blog!

5 Months

Amelia is 5 months old today! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home and now she is such a happy sweet beautiful little baby. She has the cutest little smile, which she readily gives to just about anyone. She also has this funny little throaty giggle when she laughs. And yes, I did put the huge flower on her head and I thought she looked adorable!! I said that if she is going to be stubborn about growing her hair, she is going to have to suffer the wrath of hairbands. :) These pictures were taken this weekend at a family reunion. Amelia was able to meet lots of family that she hadn't met before. Other than fussing for a little while when she was tired (to which she decided to give Papa some baby love by cuddling on his shoulder and finally going to sleep) she was a good little baby. We also found out that we will be finalizing her adoption in 2 weeks!! Yeah! We are not having to go back to Florida as we can do it telephonically, which is good financially, but the pictures won't be nearly as memorable. So, we are trying to think of something fun today to celebrate. For Isabella, we had to fly back to California and then went to Rainforest Cafe for dinner -- we don't have any restaurant and neat as that here so we are trying to think of something -- I realize she's only 5 months, but we want it to be special so that later on she doesn't feel like we did something special for Isabella but not her. Any suggestions?

My new favorite quote:

"How can I be the superhero God wants me to be when all I can think about is chocolate?!" (Larry Boy)

"Oh Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom you have made them all." (Psalm 104:24)

Although I do treasure this picture of Mt. McKinley/Denali, the real treasure for me is what this signifies for us. Five years ago next week, Kenny and I took a trip to Alaska for our 5th anniversary. No, we didn't take a cruise (which is what everyone asks) we flew into Anchorage, rented a car and did our own thing, 2 nights in a bed and breakfast and the other 8 nights camping or staying in little cabins. We had planned our trip out and had thought we were going to spend a few days down in the Kenai Peninsula. We spent 1 night and a half a good day there and then found out that even our 1/2 day of sunshine was a gift because it normally rained there every day during that season. Rather than camping in pouring rain, we packed up and decided to find somewhere else to go. At first, that would seem discouraging, but God had even that planned for us. The places we found for the next few days gave us so much. We were able to find some fun hiking trails, be about 20 feet from 4 bull moose on just an everyday nature trail, and were able to hike on a glacier -- all the nature we were hoping to enjoy!! I won't go through our whole trip, but it was amazing and God was so good to give us daily blessings while we were there. For us, one of the biggest blessings was to see Mt McKinley. We actually got a glimpse of it from Anchorage (hours away!), then saw it again at Talkeetna, then when we took the bus into Denali we were able to be closer - that's where the above picture came from. When planning our trip, we had seen all the amazing pictures of Denali/Mt. McKinley and didn't even think twice about seeing it. Once we got there, we found out that the likelihood of seeing a grizzly in Denali National Park was about 80%, but the likelihood of seeing the mountain was only about 20%. When we got to the point of seeing it (I can't remember how many miles away we were) we were amazed at how magnificent it was and how great our God was to create such beauty. Then within a half hour - it was gone - covered in clouds. We definitely realized that even that was a blessing from God and that He was good to think of our small desires. This trip gave us that extra little boost we needed and is yet another reminder that God's timing is perfect. We had already been trying for children for a couple years at that point, but we are so thankful that God gave us that time together just as a couple, not just in Alaska, but all the other things we were able to do and the time we were able to enjoy each other and to learn the things He wanted us to learn. One of these days, we hope to go back to Alaska - hopefully taking our girls with us and hopefully they will come to enjoy God's creation as we do.
Here's an extra picture - of us hiking on the glacier -- you'll have to excuse the pictures, I didn't have a digital camera at that time, so these are pictures of pictures that are already in a scrapbook album. :)

If you have a treasure to share today be sure to link to mine or visit Faithful Mommy's blog.

Prayer

Thought I would post what I read today in a book about prayer. I remember reading this book and this quote before God gave us the desire to adopt and it was encouraging then and it is just as encouraging now to think about God's plans for all of our lives.

"If Jacob's desire had been given him in time for him to get a good night's sleep, he might never have become the prince of prayers we know today. If Hannah's prayer for a son had been answered at the time she set for herself, the nation might never have known the mighty man of God it found in Samuel. Hannah wanted only a son, but God wanted more. He wanted a prophet, and a saviour, and a ruler for His people. Someone said that 'God had to get a woman before He could get a man.' This woman He got in Hannah. Precisely by those weeks and months and years there came a woman with a vision like God's with tempered soul and gentle spirit and a seasoned will, prepared to be the kind of a mother for the kind of a man God knew the nation needed. " (W.E. Biederwolf)

Wow! Isn't it exciting to know that God is in control and He has a reason for everything in our lives. Even if we don't understand He has a plan for it all and in it all He is definitely wanting to mold us to be the person He is wanting.

Family Night

Tonight we had a fun little family night. We had actually had this one planned for a couple weeks. At one of the Barnes and Nobles here in town they have storytime on Friday nights (which is great for me, since I would have to get the girls up early to get them ready for the morning story time.) Anyway, I noticed on their schedule that tonight they were going to have Clifford the Big Red Dog in "person". So after Isabella woke up today, I told her that tonight when Daddy got home we were going to go see Clifford the Big Red Dog. Her first reaction - a big surprised sigh and said "A BIG Movie... Eat popcorn!" :) I then of course had to explain to her that no it wasn't a movie we were actually going to meet Clifford and she could give him a hug. She was so excited, although I was wondering how she was going to react - she had kept saying things like "Give Clifford a BIG hug" "I want to ride Clifford" "I take my water to Clifford" (She took her water cup in just in case Clifford wanted water) Then she was so cute when we got there. The story teller had all the kids yelling for Clifford to come and then he came bounding in and for a few seconds Isabella was a little scared, then when Clifford went the other way she said "Come back here Clifford" (Yeah, you could tell she has a dog) She was so excited to see him and kept saying "Look Mommy Clifford" -- In the second picture she was getting Clifford to sign her book. Then the bottom picture, she had fun giving him five - and as much as she kept saying "I hug Clifford" - THIS is what she did when it was her turn to get her picture with him. Yeah, treated the poor dog like he had cooties touching her shoulder. :)
Then because the weather was beautiful we went over and sat outside to eat while there was a jazz/blues band playing - which Isabella loved and kept getting up to dance. Then she decided that she liked the guy next to us better and tried to go sit with him (as a side note, this guy had not even said one word to her, but she decided she was going to go sit with "people" - as she calls anyone if she doesn't know their name.) Sometimes I think she is going to be shy - other times I think I'm going to have to keep her on a leash from making too many new friends from strangers.

We then headed over to Whole Foods Market for a couple things, where Isabella gets to push her own personal little shopping cart and she didn't want to just push it she automatically started putting things in it.

Of course Amelia didn't get into the action much tonight, but from these pictures you can see she didn't seem to mind at all. She was content to suck her thumb, be carried around by daddy, or just grin at everyone that stopped to look at her. All together it was a rather fun family night --- a couple weeks from now, at least Isabella and I will be heading back to storytime for a Pajama Parfait party where she gets to wear her little tiara, boa, you know play dress up. I'm not sure if it will top Clifford, but maybe the promise of a parfait will help!

My Cutey Patutey

I heard Amelia waking up this morning (if 11:15 is still considered morning) and when I walked in there, this was what I found. Isn't she just the cutest, I could just eat her up!!!

As every good southerner knows, at various points in your life (almost on a daily basis) you will be called, sweetie, honey, hun.... by total strangers. For me, it is normally at Wal Mart and normally by a older true southern woman. This is something my Yankee husband had to get used too. I believe it is a little early for this, but Isabella has decided that she likes this habit. Over the last few days, her new name for me (when she's trying to "make her case") is Hun - Any other time I'm still mommy, For example, just a few minutes ago we finished lunch and she ran back into the kitchen. I asked her what she was doing and she said "I get more apple" -- I then told her I didn't think she needed anything else to eat. To which she responded in a sweet little voice "I hungry ...... Hun" (drawn out with a little southern accent.) She's too cute! **Oh and just for the record, that Yankee husband I was talking about, said "Ya'll" from the church pulpit yesterday with out even realizing it. He truly is converting! :)

Tuesday's Treasure

After doing some "blog searching" mostly through searching for adoption blogs, I came across one called Faithful Mommy (hopefully I did that link right, its the first time) and she has something called Treasure Tuesday where she as well as others talk about something they treasure each Tuesday. So, today I thought I would do this - hopefully I can keep it up. I saw her blog last week, so I started thinking of what would be my treasure for this week -- I thought of all kinds of things that I am thankful for (I guess I will share them later), then this morning at 5:00 I got something that may seem silly to some, but that I treasured. It was 15 minutes of cuddling with Amelia. I realize you may think - WHAT? She's 4 months old, you can cuddle her all the time. Not so, this child is not a cuddler. She cuddled some as a newborn, but I don't know if sleeping constantly counts as cuddling - no matter if she is in your arms. I'm sure that someday I will be thankful that she loves to be in her bed, to play by herself, and that she is "inquisitive" (nosy) to the point that she wants to be held facing out so she can see the world around her, BUT I crave the cuddling! Isabella was and is my cuddler - from the day she got out of the hospital, she would rather be held by us, would cuddle up on daddy's chest, wanted to be rocked and sung to sleep...... not Amelia. And that's Ok, I love to see the different personalities they have and think of who they will be become and I love them Exactly the way they are, but as a mommy I so enjoy rocking them and holding them close. Plus, although we've had her since day one - sometimes with adoption you start worrying "maybe she's not bonded, etc". Anyway, this morning for some reason Amelia woke up at 5 am -- since she was a 6 weeks old, she hadn't woke up in the middle of the night - EVER (maybe that should be my next treasure.) I heard her stirring in there and thought she would probably go right back to sleep, a couple minutes later she started crying - whimpering actually. I went in, she gave me a big smile and then it quickly turned into a pout and a cry. So, I picked her up, took her over to the rocking chair and she had one little hand around my neck, curled up against me and just cuddled. I was in mommy heaven! She just cuddled up against my chest, not even sleeping and loved on me. I know it may seem silly, but I was missing having a cuddly baby, so it was nice that she gave me 15 minutes today! Which in no way changed who she was because when she was ready for her morning nap, she once again had no desire to cuddle, but fell quickly asleep in her crib. I take what I can get!!!

First Friends

About 6 1/2 years ago, we had some people show up at our house during a blizzard (Ok, so it wasn't a blizzard - just barely over a dusting, but when it snows in the south people always act like its a blizzard) They decided rather than knocking on our door and asking us to come out to play, that it would be more fun to snowball our house!! Somehow, we still decided to be friends with them. :) They actually became very dear friends of ours who have been alot of fun to hang around as well as a great source of encouragment in our lives. Not long into our friendship we realized their love for Ireland and they were hoping to be able to go there as missionaries. Well, its one of those things you pray for - but secretly hope it will never happen. :) Ok, not really, but the time for them to leave did seem to come too quick to us!! A little over 3 years ago, Cindy called me and told me that they were pregnant, we were so excited for them, but at the time were struggling with infertility and it made us sad thinking that it wasn't happening for us, but how fun it would be to have children at the same time as our friends (actually most of our friends were pregnant at that time.) Then you pretty much know the rest of the story, God gave us the desire to adopt, we signed up, and a month later we had Isabella. A month later, they had Briana. It was fun that God had given us girls at the same time. So for Isabella, Briana was her very first friend!! It has been fun to watch the girls play together and build their own little friendship. Then at the end of last summer, Kenny and I were with my parents at the beach and we got a call from them again saying that they were pregnant again. We were again excited for them. We really had no intention of adopting soon, so we weren't planning on providing a little friend for this baby. :) Once again you know the rest of the story - if not you can go back to March's archive and read it. Amelia was born in March and a month and a half later, they had Sheridan. Joel mentioned that we had once again beat them to it -- I told him that was our total purpose, that once the first adoption fell through, we called agencies and said, just make sure you get us a baby before Joel and Cindy! Well, sad for us, but praise to God for His faithfulness, a week and a half ago they were able to leave for Ireland. We really have seen God answer so many prayers for them to get them over there and we are so excited to see how God is going to use them! These pictures were taken 2 weeks ago just a few days before they left!! We definitely will miss them, but we're thankful that God is using them in Ireland. And we feel truly blessed to have them as friends!! (Despite the snowballing, prank phone calls, making fun of our name.... I hope the people in Ireland have a good sense of humor or they are in real trouble!)