Some thoughts...

IF is sleeping and the house is mostly clean so I have a rare moment to not just post pictures but to share some of what I have been thinking and feeling over the last few weeks since IF has been home.

There were those times during IF's adoption process that we trully did wonder if she would ever come home. There was so much I kept to myself, not wanting to worry anyone-not wanting to bear the looks of doubt and pity. There were days that I literally fell to the floor in complete, utter hopelessness. I would scream and cry and beg the Lord to interviene until my voice went and a peice of my heart died.

There were days didn't want to get out of bed and nights that I feared sleep. I dreaded leaving the house becuase seeing other people out and about with thier children was almost too much to take.

I just can't describe the pain strongly enough.

But I surivived! With the strength of my Great God, I made it! With the loving help of friends, family and blog-readers, I was victories! Now, as I type and my beautiful little bundle of happiness and spunk sleeps on my couch with a slight smile on her chubby-cheeked face, I can smile and say that God brought me through a stronger, kinder, more patient person with an iron will and mended heart. He healed my brooken heart-restored my weary mind and everyday He works to help me shead the bitterness that I hold toward those responsible for our delays. Everyday, He fills my already over-flowing cup with more joy and more hope and more peace!

My miracle, my dream come true is home and safe and happy! And I am not the person I was when I started. I am stronger. My marriage is stronger. My relationships are tighter and healthier.

My calling in life, to me a wife and mother-is being fullfilled everyday.

There are struggles, ups and downs, but at the end of the day, as I rock my sweet girl to sleep, I just kiss her brow and praise my God with all my heart.

Thank you Lord for answering my prayers, for allowing me to be your little masterpiece Isabella Faye's Momma.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is Hubby's birthday.

He is such a wonderful husband and amazing father. We love you so much John/Daddy! We thank God for you every day!

Happy Birthday!

The best Christmas ever!!

Reception

We had a wonderful reception on Sunday honoring those who helped in IF's journey home. Unfortunately, I was so busy visiting, I forgot to take pictures. So, here is one of only two pictures that, thank goodness, Aunt K had the presence of mind to take!

IF's Shower

John's coworkers and a few of mine hosted us a shower yesterday! He has a great group of friends that he enjoys working with.

We got some wonderful presents and are so thankful!

Here are some scenes from the shower...more to come!




Here's all of us with the shower cake which was YUMM-O!!!




Here's IF with her new friend Morgan. She is also John's coworker Paige's daughter and our neighbor. She and IF have already made plans for a dress up playdate and making a snowman on the next snow day!




IF and Cake...a very happy friendship!



Is cake a food group? She sure thinks so!



I LOVE CAKE!!!

Daddy and me!

IF's first trip to the Olive Garden!

Aunt K and the boys and I have a tradition of going to the Olive Garden for celebrations...and we have been known to make up celebrations just so we can go eat there!

This past Saturday, we celebrated a birthday, a salvation and IF's homecoming.

IF was very good expect for narrowly missing a man with her ketchup bowl and putting a ketchup hand print squarely on our waitress' stomach!!!

Here are pics of IF from our great day filled with bread sticks!

Thanks Aunt Betsy!

Aunt Betsy recently sent IF some pretty new clothes to wear during the holidays.

IF had a big time opening the package and has bugged me so much to wear the clothes! I tell her we are saving them for our Christmas services at church! Finally I had to hide them!

I can't wait for Christmas for lots more package opening!

I love my bears!

When I was a little girl I had quite a teddy bear collections. Recently I asked my Grandma whatever happened to two of my favorites. Thankfully she had kept them and we have given them to Isabella Faye.

Isabella Faye She loves them! They are almost as big as she is!

Here are a couple of pictures of her with Bro. Bear (I always wanted to be in church work!) He and I held lots of revivals!

I think its so neat that she loves these bears that brought me hours of enjoyment when I was little!

Rocking and coloring

Here are a couple of scenes from today!

She loves the rocker Uncle Cecil got her! She rocks like a wild woman!

She also colored a picture for Nana and her family today. She only ate a little but of crayon!!

FFF-Cake

Well, I am finally back to Favorite Foto Friday. For those of you who don't know, it all started with Sarah from kissthefrog4me.blopspot.com who posts a suggestion each week and a bunch of us bloggers post pictures based on that theme on Fridays.

For a while toward the end of IF's adoption I was just too sad! Now that she is home, she does not like me to be on the computer! So I am stealing a moment while she is asleep to post.

This week Sarah is bustling around preparing for a mission trip to Guatemala so we get choose our own theme. Please pray for her and the entire group she will travel with.

This week my FFF is Cake!

Here are pics of IF enjoying birthday cake at Grammie's birthday party.

Fun, fun, fun!

Isabella's toys

Nana kept telling me Isabella Faye could make anything a toy! Boy was she right!

These pics were captured last night as she played in our newly emptied storage ottoman!

Someone PLEASE nominate me for a design show so I can get some storage she CAN'T open and destroy!!!!

She is just the silliest girl! We love her with all our hearts. I was playing with her yesterday and I said to her daddy, "how did we ever make it without her?!"