Miss Sassy Pants Would Like to Announce...

Maggie's LOA came this week, along with a letter from her teacher, pics that she colored, an update, new pics of her sweet face and a video - and all in the same day!!!!

I can hardly take so much excitement in one day - but will!  

Just look at that sassy-ness y'all!!!

Yep, she is gonna fit in quite nicely around here! 

Apparently she likes dogs (thank you Lord), trying on new dresses makes her happy (hubby needs a raise), the dark scares her (Lizzie too), fav colors are pink and red (Em is happy) and she does not need a walker, only an adult to hold her hand on long walks or bumpy roads (I think we can handle that)!!  

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Her teacher wrote that because of  her CP, she cannot write but did color us some pictures!

She said that FuFu is active, outgoing and sensible and that she misses us!

 We miss you too dear one!

Praying for the Lord to prepare our hearts for all the sassy-ness that is coming our way.

I am ready!

I think!  Hehe!

Praising the Lord for our 2 newest precious daughters - sassy-ness and all!!!!

Sunday Snapshot - Mother's Day

Funny how the Lord uses difficulties for good.

As you might imagine, finances for us right now are rather tight.

Not much extra in the old budget these days...

and for good reason...

However, as I contemplated this upcoming Mother's Day and what we could or should I say could not afford to do, one idea kept tugging at my heart...

so I called Hubby, while he was 3 hours away, in a nice quiet house, with no screaming children or barking dogs in sight and asked if I might be able to spend Saturday night with my Mom...

all by myself...

no kids...

 

just my Mom and me...

and 2 of the dogs - hehe...

 

and he said YES, cause he is awesome like that and cause he was (at the time) in a nice quiet house with no screaming children and no barking dogs.

 

Last night, however, he was in the midst of the screaming children and barking dogs (I didn't bring the barkers - heh) and - I - was - not and it was such a perfect gift for my Mom and for me! 

 

 

We talked, uninterrupted, shared a fabulous meal, uninterrupted and just spent time together, uninterrupted!

 

 

Thank you Hubby!

Spending time with my Mom is always so great!  The love that she has poured into me throughout my life has remained a constant and I cannot imagine my life without her.

 

Being able to spend this time with her, in the same house that I grew up in, sharing beautiful childhood memories,  pierces my heart for the millions of precious little ones who have never and may never know this kind of love.  

 

 

So many beautiful children go to bed at night scared and hungry and so completely alone.  I pray that next year on Mother's Day, many of these waiting ones will be able to make their very first Mother's Day card to give to their new, forever mommas.

 

 

If you haven't already, please join my advocacy site,  Wonderful Waiting Kids to see, pray for and possibly consider giving some of these precious children a momma of their very own.

Also on this day, when I think of bringing Lizzie home and waiting for 2 more beautiful daughters it brings to my heart their birth mothers, who are missing out on this kind of time with the children they gave up.  Yes, they gave them up but they did give them life and for that I will be eternally grateful. 

 

 

We pray for them every night, that they might have peace.

So, here I sit, once again in the middle of screaming kiddos and barking dogs and it is the perfect way to end my very quiet Mother's Day, the last one without Lucy and Maggie.

 

 

I wonder if, next year, with 2 extra kiddos, Hubby will so readily agree to my nice, quiet gift?

*grin*

 

Please go here on Stephanie's wonderful blog to read more Sunday Snapshots

 

All in the Name of Education

Really!

Yep, home school has it's ups and downs, but today...

 

 

was definitely an UP day!

My awesome friend, Kim, over at Barrels of Blessings arranged a home school field trip today.

It was the yummiest field trip ever cause it was a field trip to KK doughnuts!

I mean seriously, is that not the best field trip ever!

Caleb sure thought so as did my other 4 who somehow scored doughnuts hand picked for each of them by their loving bro!

 

 

Thanks Kim, I suddenly feel the need to learn all about ice cream!!!

Hint Hint!

Sunday Snapshot - Sweet Surprises

When you are in the middle of an adoption, there is just nothing better than surprise pictures!

We got them with Lizzie

and we got them with Lucy

y'all remember that incredible God story, don't ya?

If not, go here to read all about that crazy miracle!

And now...

 

 we have those sweet surprise pics with Maggie!

They are not the clearest of her beautiful face...

but we don't care.

It is another incredible glimpse into our sweet child's life, another wonderful connection with the Mom who sent them to me, who just happen to recognize our dear Maggie in the birthday pictures she got of her precious daughter and once again...

I find myself thanking the Lord for His sweet surprises.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16 

To read more Sunday Snapshots, go to Stefanie's wonderful blog here, 

Sunday Snapshot - What Could I Say...

but thank you.

Ya see, I am not what you would call an avid gardener.

I did not inherit my Momma's green thumb and in fact, I would go so far as to say that my thumb is rather brown!

Heh!

So, when we moved into this house, I was excited about the beautiful Irises that the builder had planted in the yard.

Not excited enough, however to actually take care of them so after a while, they just stopped blooming.

Sigh...

However, every year, one or two determined, stubborn Irises would pop their pretty blue heads up as if to say, 

"It's ok, we understand.  You are a very busy person."

or possibly...

"You will not defeat me!"

Yeah, so, this year, there was only one lone survivor who was, in the end, too enticing for sweet Em.

My precious one just had to pick that flower for her Momma and while I hated to see this tenacious flower get picked...

What could I say?!

To read more Sunday Snapshots go to Stefanie's wonderful blog, here,

3 Little Letters...

That mean so much!!!!

LOA

Yep, we got LOA for Lucy!!

It was exactly one year ago this past Friday that with great excitement and peace, we sent off our LOI for this sweet girl, our sweet girl....

and now, after a very long but very purposeful year....

we finally have

Now we are waiting on our sweet MAGGIE to get caught up which shouldn't be too long!

Yep, you read that right - we have a name!

Fufu will now be Margaret Strobel...

or Maggie....

or Maggie Fu if she is in trouble!

*grin*

Both Margaret and Strobel are family names and when we looked at her sweet smile and called her Maggie, it just felt right! 

Thank you Lord! 

Lucy and Maggie won't be waiting much longer and I am thinking that we might need a bigger fridge...

not for all the food but for all the pretty pictures we are going to have from our newest additions!

Password is victoria3

Victoria 3 from Lifeline Children's Services on Vimeo.

I can't wait to hang their creations on the fridge where their "waiting to come home" pictures used to be!

Sunday Snapshot - BFF's

Evie (on the right) was our Lucy's sweet friend at the CP hospital where they were cared for... until Evie was adopted home by her wonderful forever family back in January.

 

 

The above picture was taken by another traveling family who so wonderfully offered to check on both girls for us and for Evie's family.  When they tried to talk to Evie, she ran to Lucy for comfort.

Aw!!!!!

Fast forward to yesterday...

 This picture captures the moment when Evie saw the picture (on the left) of Lucy for the first time!

 

The best part...

 

Evie's beautiful family lives only about 4 hours away and when we move...

2 hours!

God is so good!

Praying Lucy home - in Your time, Lord!

Thank you sweet Sharon for making that incredible picture that just made my day!

To read more wonderful Sunday Snapshots, go to Stefanie's amazing blog here