Yummy Thanksgiving at home

Each year we travel to my Grandma's and Hubby's Moms to celebrate thanksgiving. But, now that we have baby girl, I wanted to start a tradition at home. So, we invited Aunt K and the boys and prepared a feast!

Thanksgiving Morning

IF was up most of the night before Thanksgiving. (She doesn't rest well these days.) Daddy hoped she could rest in his lap. Sweet baby slept two hours there. Poor Daddy sat so still worrying he would wake her!

FFF-Thankful

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalms 69:30 TNIV

We will sing, sing, sing
And make music with the heavens
We will sing, sing, sing
Grateful that You hear us
When we shout your praise
Lift high the name of Jesus

What's not to love about You?
Heaven and earth adore You
Kings and kingdoms bow down
Son of God, You are the One
You are the One we're living for

You are the love that frees us
You are the light that leads us
Like a fire burning
Son of God, You are the one
You are the one we're living for

Sing, Sing, Sing ~ Chris Tomlin, et. al

Oh Christmas Tree!

Forever Family Day 2009

Children are a gift from God.
Psalm 127:3-5 NIV

November 13, 2008

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
~Matthew 18:10-14

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. ~Matthew 18:1-6, 10-14

November 13, 2009

Happy Forever Family Day little one.
There is no end to our love for you.

We Packed for Home

We Packed for Home.

HOME

where Daddy waited.

Praying for Poe Poe

Isabella Faye's grandfather

Hubby's Dad.

As his life with us was ending

Isabella Faye's was just beginning.

Grief stricken

shell shocked

beside myself with

joy

jubilation

relief

gratitude

fear

bitterness

love

laughter

peace...

we packed for HOME...

One Year Ago Today: Nana

This post is from one year ago today.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Much on my heart...

Today we went to Antigua (which I love) with our wonderful angel Henry (more on him later) and Nana Janeth, Jenifer and Abby. We had a wonderful day! We saw a coffee plantation and learned (from the owner!!) all about the process. Grammie and Nana sampled some coffee and I took their word for it!! (I don't like coffee!) But, we got Daddy some coffee and we can tell him just how and where it was made!

Then we went to the market! Oh...the market! It is wall-to-wall stuff! We got some souvenirs for friends and family and I learned a thing or two about bargaining!

After that we toured two amazing churches. Both were damaged by earthquakes. I love church buildings. I know that God is everywhere...but there is just something sacred, holy and right about a church. Oh these two, even in their altered states were exquisite. There was much on my mind today. I think almost constantly of my father-in-law so very, very sick and getting worse with still no diagnosis, so no real course of treatment. I think of my husband, who needs us to be home, with him...to comfort him. I think of Nana and her family as they have to say goodbye to Isabella Faye, who they love like their own. I worry about how expensive this adoption has been. I think of this journey...all the angels along the way. From all my dear new friends, to the bond that has grown even deeper with old friends, to all the miracles along the way, the ups and downs, the tears and laughter...and I am overwhelmed. So, in one of the churches, in the sacred home of countless worshipers, believers in our great God and his miracles, as the others looked around, I took a quick moment to ask for a few of my own! To the Lord I said, "please fix it all."
In that simple prayer, I asked for healing of my father-in-law on this side of Heaven, for my husband to feel my love and strength from afar, for perfect peace that passes all understanding for Nana and her family, for financial blessings to pay all this off and forgiveness for any financial shortcomings in our life, for blessings on all who have made this adoption journey easier, for my daughter, my laughing, smiling, high-tempered, energetic, funny, ketchup-eating daughter, named for my Mother!

I am forever changed by this day, which was so much more than just a site-seeing adventure. I thank God for Nana and her family. I got to watch Abby and Jenifer today with Isabella Faye and they adore her. They are so kind and respectful, caring and funny. I wish I could take them all home with me! Watching Nana and the girls with Isabella today, I found myself thinking of what it means to be a Christian. Surely giving her whole heart to a child you know is leaving, knowing your heart is gonna break but with reckless abandon loving them anyway, is what Jesus had in mind when he taught about love. I am in awe of their selfless, perfect love for my child. May we all strive to love with their abandon.

My dear friend Amy left this comment that day:

As I read your post, I thought of a new song out by Big Daddy Weave, "What Life Would Be Like." The chorus says...

He made the lame walk and the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits while His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus life thru you and me

Today, Jesus lived through you and through Nana as you shared a day in the life of your daughter, named for your mother. What a beautiful picture. Praying you all the way back home!

I miss Nana Janeth and her family so much. I think daily of them as I know they are missing Isabella Faye. One year later, I still haven't been able to formulate words to describe the level of my gratitude to Nana for all she did for my sweet girl, and for us, with her constant contact throughout our process.

Like the words of the song above, Nana let Jesus live through her in all she did for Isabella Faye and for us. Bless this precious woman and her family.

Embassy Day Anniversary

One year ago today, Isabella Faye and I got up early, dressed in new outfits, just for the occasion, and headed to the US Embassy in Guatemala to complete the final paperwork making her adoption complete!

FFF-Black and White Beauty

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is Black and White Beauty.
This first picture was taken on one of the very best days of my life. It was my second visit trip. Isabella Faye had arrived early that morning and we had spent a wonderful breakfast together, I had given her a bath and we had played together before I rocked her to sleep. I remember that morning like it was yesterday. Oh the love and gratitude I felt! She was so soft and cuddly! I love this picture so much and when I read the theme was black and white, I immediately pictured this image in my mind and turned it black and white for the post.



This pic is from this summer but I love how it so captures sweet girl's spirit. She is such a precious gift from my Father...a constant reminder of His unfailing love.