Scenes from the beach

It was windy on the beach today but that didn't stop IF from having a wildly good time playing!

IF's huge family!

If has some very special folks in her life that you often read about-Aunt K and family and Aunt Betsy and family, which are sort of my side of my family. But, she has some special folks on Daddy's side. Below are pics of IF with Uncle Jack and Aunt Sherry. They are Daddy's long-time friends. (Daddy and Uncle Jack have known each other since 5th grade and Daddy and Sherry have known each other even longer!)
I don't have much family-its mainly just me and my Grandparents. When I married John I found myself surrounded by lots of family... 2 sister in laws, 2 brother in laws, a nephew and soon to be niece and a wonderful mother and father in law, uncles and aunts and cousins galore! I love this big family of relatives and friends that are like relatives...In the Bible, God promises to care for the orphan. He certainly did that for me in a mighty way. When I lost my Mom, there were my grandparents, when I longed for a sister, there was Aunt K. When I needed that favorite aunt, there was Betsy. When I needed to be surrounded by kids and laughter, there was Hubby's huge family of siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins! Now, Isabella Faye, once an orphan too, has a huge, loving, generous family. God is so good!

USS Alabama

This morning we went to the USS Alabama. Here are some pics of our morning. History buff Daddy was loving it and IF was too! She was enjoying serious Daddy time!!
You may not know this about me but I have ALWAYS wanted to go on a submarine and I got to go on the USS Drum. It was awesome!!

I LOVE THE BEACH!

Today we went to a park for lunch that had a small beach. I couldn't get IF to look up from her playing for a picture!!

Scenes from our Spring Break Trip

We embarked yesterday on a trip with the high school softball team that Daddy coaches to a beach town.

Favorite Foto Friday-Unique

Unique is the way I loved Isabella Faye the moment we chose her, having only seen a picture.

Unique is the way she wrapped her arms around me like she had been excitedly awaiting my arrival and knew just who I was when I arrived on visit trips.

Unique is the way, with a huge smile on her face, she reached her chubby little arms straight up to her Daddy the moment she met him.

Unique is the way she greeted her cousins, like they had played together just the day before.

Unique is the depth, the profoundness of my love for her.









Join the fun at Sarah's blog...kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com.

I LOVE PASTA!!!!

Everyone is always saying oh, IF loves coffee because she's Guatemalan... oh IF loves chocolate because she's Guatemalan or oh IF loves black beans because she's Guatemalan...so, how do you explain her love of all things pasta?!?!?!?

Favorite Foto Friday-Green & IF's new word!

This week's FFF theme is Green. I know this was because of St. Patrick's Day but Daddy thought it would be fun to take a different spin on green.

Here's IF being green by choosing reusable water bottles instead of plastic water bottles!! :- )

Thanks Daddy for your help with FFF!

For more Favorite Foto Friday fun check out Sarah's blog at kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com

Also, be sure to check out Aunt K's FFF fun and her post about IF's TOTALLY PRECIOUS NEW WORD!!!!!!!!!!!! 3xtheblessings.blogspot.com

My Own

As I was rocking Isabella Faye recently, she reached up and wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek. Then she just lay there like that, her cheek on mine.

It is my tradition as I rock her each night to pray. I pray for a multitude of things but my prayer always begins with thanks to God for her. That night as she lay so sweetly hugging me, I thought about all the people who have asked are you going to have one of your own?

Now I know most don't mean anything by it. What they are asking is will we attempt to concieve biological children but it pains me everytime I hear it.

Then the other day we were shopping and a lady said "so is she your for real or is she adopted?" I was stunned, sickened, furious...I had the compulsion to cover IF's ears when I remembered that, for now, she doesn't understand...

Oh, she is every bit my very own, through adoption, I replied.

Now I know what she meant was, did you give birth to her or is she adopted, but the way people word that question, hurts me every time.

Isabella Faye is every bit my own. She is my miracle, my gift from God. My love for her is tangible. It is deep, profound and unconditional. I could love no one more, besides my Heavenly Father then I do Isabella Faye. (I'll put in a plug for here for Daddy! I love him in a different way.)

Long, long ago he (God) decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) ~ Ephesians 1:5 The Message

God is the creator of adoption. All that are Christians, that have accepted Jesus as their savior, have been adopted by God! Through God's supernatural power, We are all His very own.

God's supernatural power soars through all adoptions. God weaves His supernatural power through the hearts of adopted children and thier parents. This power binds us just as strong as biology and blood.

The broken camera

Well, IF broke one camera and I have hidden the other one from myself. As soon as I find it, you'll get some mighty cute pictures!!

Favorite Foto Friday!

It has been a while since I've posted a FFF. Isabella Faye keeps me BUSY!!!! But, with Aunt K starting her new blog (3xtheblessings.blogspot.com) I thought it would be fun for us to do FFF together. You may remember Favorite Foto Friday was started by Sarah at kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com. Be sure and check out her site for lots more FFF fun.

Today's theme is Then...

I took that as Then and Now!



Here's IF last March at the beach with her wonderful foster family.



Here's IF this March showing her precious smile!

As I think back to last March, my heart aches and tears spring to my eyes. How vividly I can recall the pain of waiting then. But praise God that now she's home and filling our lives with laughter and joy!

Aunt K's new blog!

Aunt K has started a blog! Everyone be sure to check out Three Times the Blessings at 3xtheblessings.blogspot.com.

Fun at Aunt K's

Monday night I did something very uncharacteristic! I sent IF home with Aunt K and the boys for some play time. I have been having a terrible time with my back and have had trouble sleeping because of it. I desperately needed a nap! So, with Daddy at practice and IF at Aunt K's, I took a long nap! I woke up much refreshed and ready to play with my sweet girl.

It is so hard for me to leave IF. But, I'm a better Mommy when I'm rested and I'm thankful for Aunt K and the boys who play constantly with her and love her like their own.


IF eats Aunt K's yummy potato soup.

IF and Aunt K fold laundry...

If unfolds laundry...

If and Basketball Boy are TOO COOL!!

Shopping with the girls!

IF and I had the joy of meeting Aunt Betsy and Annie for some shopping on Sunday. We had a wonderful time together. Aunt Betsy bought IF a beautiful Easter dress and a few other goodies! We ate and shopped and laughed! After all the times we had visited and shopped as we painfully waited for our children, and all the prayers that sweet Annie had lifted to God for IF to come home, it was a dream come true to be shopping with Betsy, Annie and my precious IF.

Silly Pics

Sorry I've been so behind in posting! My home computer crashed and I reserve posting a work for when I'm eating lunch and lately...I have had to work and eat!

Here are some silly pics of IF and a couple of "the boys."