When the cat's away...

...the mice daddy and daughter will play!

I went to buy IF juice last night and this is what I found when I came home...



The picture doesn't begin to show all the mud! But no worries, when Daddy's home...he's in charge of bath time!

Great pics!

Aunt K took some awesome pics of IF this afternoon!

Here's a couple...I'm saving the rest for a couple of cute posts later in the week!!

FFF-Me!

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is "me." Its a chance for all of us blogging mommas to get out from behind the camera and introduce ourselves to each other!

I don't really like pics of myself...so, on account of my extreme paleness and the pimple on my chin...yes, I've gone black and white!

You never know...

...where you'll find Isabella Faye!!!

Oreo Party!

IF and I have a favorite snack...Oreo cookies and milk. It is, in fact, the only way I can get IF to drink milk! Last night Daddy's ballgame got canceled and we enjoyed a night at home. After supper I got out the Oreos and Daddy got to share in the fun. Here are a few pics of our Oreo Party!

sharing the yummy cookies with Daddy

Yum-O!

drinking the crumb-laden milk

After eating too many cookies...you may not be able to see the crumbs on their faces but you sure can't miss sweet girl's belly!

The remains of the party! This occurred when IF was dancing with the Oreo bag. I was laughing too hard to get a pic!

More Easter Fun!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

At any cost...

I received a forward the other day with these pictures in it. I tried to track it back and give credit to whomever took the pics, but I couldn't find them. I just had to post them though.

Notice the mother squirrel attacking the massive dog to save her baby.

She doesn't pause to consider that her entire body will fit in the dog's mouth...She doesn't pause to consider that with one chomp, she's dead. She just reacts...
She fights that dog with all she has...

She doesn't give up until her baby is free!

Look at that dog's face...clearly he's not a parent!


Hubby sent me this forward and we laughed that I am like that Momma Squirrel!

It is true though, that I would, at any cost, fight to protect Isabella Faye. I would give my life for her without a thought for myself. I love her that much because, remember...she is my own!

FFF-Wet

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is "wet." I thought about using a beach pic then I remembered this pic. This is Isabella Faye after her first bath at home. I love this picture so much! For more FFF fun, check out Sarah's blog at kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com.

Our blessed Easter

We had an incredible Easter with Isabella Faye home. When IF woke up, she laid in her bed and sang and talked to herself for a while. Finally, I heard that sweet sound Momma! When I went in, she was laying in her bed, surrounded by Teddy and Bear looking with a huge grin on her face. I told her that it was Easter and that this was the day we celebrate Jesus making a way for us to live forever in Heaven with Jesus. I told her, in my best 19 month old tailored explanation, all about Easter and then she held my hand and squeezed her eyes tightly shut as I prayed and thanked God that we could spend forever in Heaven with Him.

Oh all the times I collapsed on the floor of that room and prayed and prayed for IF to come home! This day, how I rejoiced in praying with IF in that room!

Next it was Easter Basket time. IF got lots of goodies but the highlight for her was the 12 pack of mini cream eggs. She danced with them, sang to them, kissed them, and just had to eat two before breakfast!!

How well I remembered last year when I ate cream eggs to cope!! This day, we ate them together-with lots of giggles!

I fixed a big breakfast and we gathered around the table to eat and talk.

This time last year, we ate in the living room, sitting in our chairs, wishing…Now we eat, as a forever family-at the table, one of us on each side of IF’s highchair!

We went to church and IF was the center of attention with her new dress and pigtails!

And this day, unlike last year, my arms didn’t ache to hold her. They ached because she weighs 25 pounds and she’s squirmy!

After church we went to the cemetery to see the newly placed grave stone for Poe Poe’s grave. We celebrated the hope of Easter, that death is not the end. Jesus conquered death and made a way for all of us. We take comfort in knowing that Poe Poe isn’t gone, just moved on, watching sweet IF from his perfect home in Heaven.

This time last year, Poe Poe was teasing John about how life with a baby would never be the same! And, though we don’t understand why God called him home when He did, we are thankful that God sent us IF, new life…who gets her sweet sense of humor from her Poe Poe and keeps us laughing through our grief.

After church, we started the new tradition of our immediate family eating Easter lunch. Now, I’m still refining my culinary skills…so our favorite local Mexican restaurant did the cooking!

I can’t tell you the times when we would eat there and John would wonder…what would IF be doing if she was here? This day she dipped her chips in ketchup, insisted that John give her all her drinks and ate refried beans with her hands…

Next we went to Aunt Ks Mom’s house for dessert and an Easter egg hunt. IF had no trouble understanding what to do and was hunting eggs like a seasoned professional! After eating more candy than any 19 month old should have in a week, Aunt K got some great pics of her.

Last year, her Easter Basket sat in her room, untouched. This year, she happily filled that same Easter basket, three times!

Later we went to John’s families for Easter dinner. IF got a new slide from her aunts and she and her soon to be cousin La La and cousin Jaz spent most of the night sliding, hiding and dancing!

Oh the family dinners spent trying to explain yet another setback, seeing that look in their eyes. That look that says they wonder if it will ever happen…if she’ll ever really be home. This year, all eyes twinkled with amusement as IF sang and did hand motions to the Itsy Bitsy Spider and Pat-a-cake Cake.

That night, worn out from her day, Isabella Faye fell asleep snuggled against her Daddy on the couch. As I watched her sleep, God reminded me of this song:

The lyrics were written by Elvina Hall and the tune is by John T. Grape. The tag was added later by Kristian Stanfill and is incredible.

I’ve shared it before on the blog, but indulge me!


Jesus Paid it All


I hear the Savior say

Thy strength indeed is small

Child of weakness....watch and pray

Find in me....thine all in all



Lord, now indeed I find

Thy power and Thine alone

Can change the leper's spots

And melt the heart of stone



For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy grace to claim

I'll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calvary's Lamb



And when before thy throne

I stand in Him complete

Jesus died my soul to save

My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin hath left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead!
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead!

This time last year, things were bleak…Kicked out of PGN, there was no end in sight. This time last year, God reminded me of this same song. God reminded me that though I’m not strong, HE is. He reminded me that the adoption, that Isabella Faye was safely in His arms. He reminded me that His power alone would bring IF home…that in good and bad, I must praise Him. Because His will would be done in Isabella Faye’s life-that His will is perfect. And even though I didn’t know if she would ever come home, I trusted Him and on that Easter, with renewed hope I sang

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin hath left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead!
O Praise the one who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead!

This year, with unadulterated praise I sang it again!

Oh praise the one who saved me…
Oh praise the one whose love and grace and mercy are unconditional…
Oh praise the one who brought my baby home…

Happy, Happy Easter!

IF's First Easter Home

Yesterday we celebrated IF's first Easter home. It was an amazing day. I have much to say but I'm still marinating... For now, here are some great pics of our day.

Sharing Traditions (title stolen from Aunt K!)

My incredible mother died when I was young. Many holiday traditions in our family died with her. One of those, was a big Easter celebration. I'm so thankful for Aunt K who has made every effort, even before IF, to include me in her family's traditions.

Here are scenes from coloring Easter egss Friday night, before making the trip to a wonderful Good Friday service at her church.

Oh how sweet it was to begin this tradition with IF! I am such a kid! I think I loved it as much as they did!

For more pics of painting fun, check out Aunt K's blog, 3xtheblessings@blogspot.com.

Happy Easter

Today we went to a local bank where they were offering free pictures of the Easter Bunny. My fearless baby was none to fond of the big white fella...so Mommy had to join the picture!!

Just a couple sweet pics I've taken lately...

Favorite Foto Friday

This week for Favorite Foto Friday didn't have a certian theme so we could choose any favorite photo.

Yesterday I went to (confession time) get my eyebrows and upper lip waxed. Hold your laughter, you all know you do it too...or need to! :-) Anyway, IF usually plays around the salon while I get this done, but yesterday, she was very interested in what we being done.

As she sat on my lap, I couldn't help but laugh and I asked a nice lady who was waiting to take a couple pictures.

Oh what a nosey, oh...I mean curious girl...just like her Momma!

For more FFF fun, check out Sarah's blog at kissthefrog4me.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.

FFF-The chase

I'm a little late on this week's Favorite Foto Friday post. The theme this week was the beach. This was perfect becuase we just spent Spring Break with the softball team Daddy coaches playing ball and playing on the beach.

IF loved everything about the beach...but one of her favorite activities was chasing sea gulls!

IF spots the prey!

And she's off!

Running, running, running!

Still chasing!

After the chase! She was never able to catch the sea gulls but she didn't seem to mind!

Spring Break 09 more pics...

At the beach...COLD!

At Stan, Stacha, Denzil, Carolyn, Cade and Cody's condo after taking a bath to rinse off the sand!! (She left with a bottle full of juice and a baggie full of animal crackers!)

Getting ready to souvenir shop with Daddy.
Enjoying an Adirondack chair at a yummy restaurant that was right on the water!

I LOVE RANCH DRESSING!!
CHEESE!!
Loving cousin Paige!