I love Ice Cream!!!

Valentine's Day!

For Valentine's Day IF got a heart-shaped box of Play-Doh...fun and tasty!! We are trying to teach her not to eat it!

The Zoo!!!

With the high in Nashville on Monday 77, Aunt K and I decided to take the kids to the zoo.

We had the best time! I often had a lump in my throat and had to fight tears of joy and relief. I kept thinking about all the times I we had gone to the zoo or done something else fun in the 15 months we waited for IF. We would always talk about her and plan for the day she would be home, but the pain of missing her and not being able to share our fun with her was terrible for not just me but Aunt K and the boys. They spent those 15 months sadly waiting and praying too! I praised God continuously that day, thanking him that I was pushing my squealing daughter around that zoo! She loved it! Her favorite animals were the meerkats and she came home with a stuffed one who she named "me-kitty." His poor fur is usually damp and matted from her kisses...but he is well loved!

Party Bag!

BFF Alex celebrated his 2nd birthday this weekend. It was too cold for IF to travel after her sickness and the weather was a little unpredictable so we had to miss the party. We were very sad but will be going to visit very soon, baring gifts and cake and we will have our very own celebration!

Aunt Betsy mailed IF's party bag. Here are some pictures of her happily devouring the candy that Aunt Betsy packed!

Ice and no power...and introducing Aunt K!!

Last week we had a terrible ice storm and we were out of power for a day. Thank God it wasn't any longer and we had a warm and fun place to stay with Aunt K and the boys!

Aunt K FINALLY allowed me to keep a picture of her. (Usually she makes be delete them!) She and Isabella Faye were enjoying a glass of V8!

We had a wonderful time at Aunt K's and I must admit were just a little disappointed when the power came back on at our house!!

Happy Anniversary!!

This past Sunday, February 1, marked the anniversary of the day I met Isabella Faye. What a wonderful day we had playing and celebrating. So many memories flooded my mind and heart. I have copied and pasted what I blogged upon returning home after that visit.

After marinating in the memories of the experience of my visit trip to Isabella Faye, I think I am ready now to share.
Meeting Isabella Faye for the first time was the most glorious, amazing, life changing moment. At first I was frozen. I just stood there, stunned. Then sweet Isabella Faye's understanding foster mother gave me a kind smile and a slight nod and I took my baby girl into my arms. I just stood there for a few moments, my eyes transfixed on her. I inhaled her smell, kissed her sweet chubby cheeks...more than once! and whispered "I'm your Mommy!" Oh the emotions! My heart, cold and cynical from months of waiting and worrying melted. My knees went week and I had to sit down! My heart had been aching, oh so aching since we were kicked out of PGN but now it was full! I was overwhelmed with love like I'd never known-peace that couldn't be explained-joy that would rival that of all the angels in Heaven singing praises! My daughter was real! No longer a picture! No longer a DVD-but flesh and blood in my arms.
When I got to the room sweet Isabella Faye, frightened from all the changes, began to cry. I did all the logistical stuff-changed her diaper, tried to feed her, gave her gas drops...then I called my husband. "Let me talk to her!" He said. So, I put the phone to her ear. So gently he talked to her, telling her how much her Mommy loved her-how much he loved her and so on. While they "talked" I prayed. I prayed that God would let Isabella Faye know how much I loved her. Then, right as I said AMEN, there came a knock at the door. It was my dear new friends and their precious children come to check on me. Midway through our conversation I realised someone was cooing. I looked around at the other babies, all smiling, not cooing, and then looked down to see my sweet girl, a smile on her face, and drool on her chin! And then she was mine and I was hers and the fun began!
I had the most incredible time playing with my baby girl and visiting with new friends Betsy Stevens and Alex, Lori and Ron Radosta and Rocco, Stacy and Mark Gabbard and Raelynn, Sue and her friend Kathy and so many other wonderful families, a couple from CCI and some from other agencies. I made forever friendships that I am honored to possess and I saw, truly saw, how much Sue loves our children and us.
I amused many Guatemalans with my poor Spanish...okay, the truth is, I have no Spanish! And had the opportunity of being the minority (A valuable lesson for us all.) I grew to know mine and Betsy's toilets a bit better than I'd hoped: ) and say God's "little miracles" every day.
What God taught me in Guatemala:
To not be afraid. I am now free from fear of failure and self doubt! To stop reading so much and worrying about it! Sue can do that for me! :) Seriously though, Sue is keeping up with all of this, and I trust God to equip her for the task! I trust her to keep me informed. To let go. The house doesn't have to always be clean (you should have seen my hotel room.) You don't have to be involved in everything. Sometimes its more important to stop and PLAY! That peace and sadness are possible at the same time and that the peace tempers the sadness. That peace is available if you're willing to accept it.
Call me Pollyanna but while in Guatemala-praying like I never have before (listening more-talking less) God gave me PEACE! Isabella Faye is coming home! I don't know when but I know how-through the power of Jesus Christ!
Don't get me wrong, I am in pain...deep, dark pain-because I miss my daughter more than words can say. I think of her every moment. I am grieving her absence...raw, honest, sobs from your belly grieving that she's not home...but I still have JOY dispute all the sadness. I have PEACE in the midst of the tears! My baby girl is real and perfect and loved and she will be home-through the power of our real and sovereign Lord.
A little lost in the wonder of it all... joy and sadness, grief and peace.
This visit has changed me. I am not the woman I was before. I am stronger-more courageous! I am the MOTHER to the child of my dreams and I am the DAUGHTER of our perfect Father God...and He has made my family complete!

There are no words to describe my love for Isabella Faye or my gratitude to our Great God for bringing her home. She is our joy and our dream come true. She is our reward. She is so funny and sweet and full of life and personality. I just love her more every day.

Here are pictures of me and her on our first meeting and now.