Sunday Snapshot - 14!!

Do you remember turning 14?

I don't.

Not really.

I mean 13...

Yeeessss!!!

I was finally a teenager!  Whoo Hoo!!

15...

Yeah buddy, driver's permit here I come, followed by many sleepless nights for Mom and Dad...

Well Mom anyway:)

But 14, pretty unremarkable, right?

Well, apparently not so with my eldest who just happened to turn 14 on Wednesday.

He turned 14 and all of a sudden his voice is deeper, his face is pimplier and he actually cares about what he wears and how he smells ie: the cloud of "Axe" he leaves behind every morning!  Hehe!

14 has turned out to be a bigger deal than I remember. 

He is changing right before my eyes and I am not sure I am ready.

On some days, these changes are just so cool.

I mean we can actually have a real conversation, conversations about things other than dump trucks, Pokemon or the latest Transformer.

Well, ok maybe still the Transformer!  Heh!

We can "hang" together, laugh at the same things and talk about the future, his future, with him!

Very cool!

There are some days, however, that I really miss being able to hold him and comfort him and make it all better with a kiss and a snuggle.

When Christian was about 2 years old, his favorite thing ever was to be rocked in his rocking chair

in the middle of the night!

I will never forget being awakened every night to my sweet little boy asking to be rocked.

He had to have his pacy and his blanky (both blankies) and his 2 stuffed doggies, Bo and Ginger.

Only then, was all right in his 2 year old world

Not sure that would work in his 14 year old world!  Sigh!

We would rock and rock and as tired as I was and as tempting as my warm bed was, I tried to memorize every detail of those nights because I knew in my Momma's heart that those days would fly by...

and - they - did!

I will never, ever get rid of this chair

Clash as it might with the rest of my house, it is a permanent fixture and a permanent reminder!

So, 14???

In 14 years my sweet Christian has grown into such a responsible, compassionate, handsome young man and we are all very proud of him!

We are thinking about high schools for next year, gulp! 

He is ready...

I am not sure that I am:) 

He is playing in a U15 soccer league this year and is not one of the smallest kids on the field anymore, and is sometimes one of the biggest.

Yep, 14 is a big deal and he wears it well!

Happy Birthday baby boy! 

Sorry, couldn't help myself!  Hehe!

To read more Sunday Snapshots go here,

Happy Birthday Lisa

Mother-in-Law

Three little words that can strike fear into any daughter-in-law's heart!!! Heh!

Not this daughter-in-law, however!

I met my mother-in-law to be after hubby and I had been dating for a couple of months.

I liked her the moment I met her. We just seemed to know each other's hearts immediately and began to laugh and bond together very quickly.

I know, I know, jealous yet?? Hehe!!

Hubby always told me that we were very much a like and that we would really like each other and this is one time that I will admit that he was right!!!

Over time and a few grandkids, our relationship grew deeper and stronger and so very, very comfortable.

She was even in the delivery room when our sweet Em was born!

Picture, No pain relief and a 43 year old mom:)

Oh the memories!!! Lisa cried just as much as the one with NO pain relief!!! Hehe!

But that is just how we roll, Lisa and I!

You can usually find us blubbering away together over, well, just about anything!

Lisa just invites closeness and is incredibly easy to talk to and always interested without being terribly opinionated.

She is fun to be with and you just want her around - even in the delivery room!

Now I KNOW you are jealous!

Lisa is a friend, a confidant, a wonderful grandmother and so much more than just a mother-in-law.

She went to China with us when we adopted Lizzie.

and I am not certain we would have made it through that trip without her.

I will never forget our visit to Lizzie's orphanage when my sweet child was terrified that we were leaving her there, clung to me for dear life and screamed anytime the nannies got near her. Lisa saw what was happening and saw that our sweet Em was confused and scared and she knew (with her beautiful Mother's heart) that Em needed comfort, needed attention, needed her!!

I will also never forget feeling her hand on my shoulder after Lizzie had calmed down a bit and looking over at her, the look on her face showed me that she knew exactly how I was feeling and she knew that we were going to be ok, that Lizzie was going to be ok! She gave me a little hug and proceeded to eat a well chewed cookie that Lizzie had been sucking on, simply because Lizzie offered it to her!!

Now THAT is love!!!

Lisa is kind and compassionate and caring. She loves with her whole heart and is beautiful inside and out. Unfortunatley, these days we don't get to see each other nearly as much as we used to and I miss her.

It never matters how long in between visits, however, the ease of her spirit just helps you to fall right back into the comfortableness that she exudes.

We love you Marney!

Happy Birthday!

Sunday Snapshot - Blossom

This is a Sunday Snapshot that I was not really sure I would ever get to write.

This is a Sunday Snapshot that I have dreamed about writing.

This is a Sunday Snapshot that I am now writing with awe and thankfulness and praise to our Heavenly Father, who has answered a prayer, many prayers.

This Sunday Snapshot is all about Blossom.

Do you remember sweet, precious Blossom?

Blossom who has severe cerebral palsy.

Blossom who charms everyone she meets with her smile.

Blossom who now has a wheelchair thanks to you all, Blossom's New Wheels 

Blossom who....

NOW HAS A FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise the Lord this precious, perfect child of God is finally coming home!!!!!!!! 

This story, Blossom and Pam's story, is an incredible journey of faith and was truly and completely orchestrated by the Lord.

I have to tell you just a small part of how the Lord's plan began to be revealed to me and then I want to direct you to Pam's blog, Along The Blossom Trail to read the rest of the story!  Only God could weave this beautiful a tapestry!

I began to advocate for sweet Blossom in the Spring of 2010.  The more I learned about her the more I realized how hard she would be to place but I also learned how incredibly special she was and how she touched the very souls of all who met her and it made me more determined than ever. 

The families who met her stressed to me the fact that Blossom could not do anything for herself.  She could not feed herself, she could not speak, she could not walk, she could not even sit up, but she could communicate through her eyes, her beautiful eyes and through her smile that just took your breath away.  They told me that she loved to be around people, she loved music and loved to be in the center of things, to watch the world around her, the world that she just could not physically participate in.

Knowing all of this made her advocacy hard but I look back now and know that it was the Lord who kept writing those posts, it was the Lord who kept me hopeful that one day - one day, this precious child would come home. 

I had moments of doubt and moments of weakness and I prayed like crazy for Blossom.

I remember one day in particular when I was praying very hard for her.  I was praying and feeling doubtful and discouraged that she may never come home and then...

Then I heard it.  I heard Him so clearly.  I heard the Lord tell my heart that He had already chosen a family for Blossom and for me not to worry because He was already working on their hearts.  It came over me so strongly and I felt instant peace and joy and so I continued on, in my advocacy for her.

However, 3 weeks went by and still nothing.  Did I ever tell you how patience is not my thing???  Hehe!

So, I once again began to doubt and right around this time, something else happened that made me question whether or not I was doing the right thing by advocating for her.  She was in a wonderful group foster home and they really were taking excellent care of her.  Maybe she was better off there??? 

I know, serious lapse of faith.

Once again the Lord answered me LOUD and CLEAR!

One Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church, I once again began to pray, really pray.  I asked God to show me what to do.  I asked God to show me if I should continue to advocate for this beautiful child.  I just was not sure and I pleaded with Him to guide me, and you know what?

I got dressed, walked out to the kitchen, opened my computer and there it was...

MY ANSWER

There, on my computer, was the first of many emails I was to get from PAM - Blossom's new mother!!!!!

That very morning, that morning of doubt, Pam sent this beautiful email to me:

Hi, my name is Pam. The Lord has put Blossom on mine and many other peoples heart who are close to me. My children and I would like to inquire more information on adopting this beautiful and special little girl that God has created. Is she still looking for a forever family? I look forward to hearing from you real soon. May God bless you in all that you do. Thank you for your time.

I was shaking and crying and praising the Lord.  Much like when Pam called me just this week to tell me that she had PA for her sweet Blossom!!!

PRAISE GOD!

Pam is such a wonderfully faithful mother of 4 who loves Blossom completely and was ever patient and true throughout the incredibly LONG wait for her file to be updated and resubmitted.  Pam works with adults who have very similar if not worse health issues so she knows what lies ahead for Blossom and for their family and she just cannot wait to love Blossom and care for her, forever.  Her children are teenagers and older and are all so excited about Blossom.  They have also, all agreed to be there for Blossom - forever! 

Pam's wonderful sis-in-law (who had emailed me that wonderful day as well and is she, herself, bringing TWO home from China) is a physical therapist and was the channel through which the Lord spoke to Pam's heart for sweet Blossom. 

There are so many "God" moments in Pam and Blossom's journey.  You have got to here to read the rest of the story!

Thank you Pam for having such a heart! 

Thank you Pam for loving precious Blossom enough to bring her home and be her Momma!  The love that you already have for her just feeds my soul.

Thank you Lord for bringing this family to this child and in the process bringing me closer to You!

To read more Sunday Snapshots, please go here

Mei Mei Shirts

You have GOT to check out these adorable shirts!!!

These precious Mei Mei shirts are made by my dear friend, Sharon.

Sharon is sewing to bring her beautiful baby boy, John Wesley home!

Please go to Bloom Child Bloom to order one of these wonderful shirts!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Awwwww!

What it lacks in quality, it makes up for in cute!!!  Hehe!

Sunday Snapshot - The Burden

Tonight as every night, there are children on my heart...

tonight, however, my heart feels heavier and burdened a bit more than other nights. 

Why tonight, I don't know for sure.  I have my suspicions but the reason does not matter because I do know that the Lord is the one who placed this burden on my heart so very long ago and it is the Lord who has prompted this post tonight.

Of course my heart is full for my own children who are all at this very moment peacefully sleeping in their warm, safe beds dreaming of what tomorrow will bring and every tomorrow after that.  They have dreams and hopes and a future.

but tonight the children who are on my heart are all those beautiful, precious children who wait

who have no hopes

who have no dreams

who have no future

who have no family.

These waiting kiddos are on my advocacy site but y'all they are only a small fraction, a "snapshot" of the children around the world who might never, ever know the love of a family or worse, will be preyed upon and victimized by the evil that is a part of our fallen world.

It - breaks - my - heart.

I think of my children who are surrounded by love, who are surrounded by family, who are protected and cherished and who know that they matter, that they have a purpose in this life.

and then on nights like tonight, my thoughts and my heart turn to Evie with the wonderful impish grin

who wants to be a doctor but will  never be a doctor in China.

and Cherrie who was abandoned when she was 4 years old - 4 years old! 

She "sings to the young children in the institute songs she learned. She likes most to sing the 'Mama hao' (good mother) song and can keep her clothes neat and clean even after one or two days."  One or two days.

and Allie who is listed as having "blind eyes."

This is what her caregivers wrote about her, "Lovely Allie can not see the colorful world now, but her physiological defect does not influence her personality development. We can still hear her sweet laugh every day, see her active body. We sincerely wish her to have opportunity to see the light and have parents loving her and staying with her, sharing with her the warm and happiness of a family."

and Tiana whose plea to her hopeful family is, "I like you if you like me? Although I am not perfect, still sing and dance, Everyone says, standing on the stage I laugh very beautiful"  

Her wish:  "To go out to play."  Sigh!

and Tessa who, "when younger siblings fall down or are in danger she will call aunt loudly to stop that happen. She is like an angel, protects younger siblings, but this angel lost her wings" 

Tessa has arthrogryposis and has limited use of her arms. 

and Wendy who is described as, "an active little girl, happy and curious, sweet smiles on her face all the time."

When asked if she would like to be adopted, she replied, "I would like a family. I would like to be fostered (adopted) and I want my own father and mother."

and Monica who has spina bifida and has lived at the SWI for about 2 years, since her aging grandparents could no longer care for her.

She is described as "smart, though a little behind in school; she is a big sister to the younger children at the orphanage; and she loves Jesus." 

and Mason who is slowly going blind and there is nothing that can be done about it

"He loves being active with his foster brothers, and has a great sense of humor. He likes playing sports, and also enjoys going to school."  I pray he finds his family while he can still see them.

and sweet Noah whose foster sister was just adopted

This little boy was very sad when his foster sister recently left to be adopted. His foster sister is 7 years old and they were best friends. The sweet little adopted girl also misses him and has been told her that her new mama will try and find him a family. 

and wonderful Drew who has Cerebral Palsy and cannot walk without crutches

when asked what he liked to do, he replied, "that he liked to play racquetball.  The nannie asked, ‘How do you do that with your crutches?’ and he told her that he used to play it before he had to use his crutches.  Drew dreams of playing racquetball but never has.  My heart aches for him to be able to realize his dream, to be able to play like every other child.

Please, please take a moment to pray for these wonderful waiting children whose greatest wish in life is just to be loved, to have a family, to have a Momma and a Daddy to walk them to school and tuck them in at night, to be there for them when they fall and to praise them when they succeed.

Pray for their families to answer that call.  Pray for their families to bring them home!

To read more Sunday Snapshots please go here,

OOPS!

I don't know why I was surprised???

I mean this is our house...

So why would I be surprised..

That this child

brought this home

Meet Oops the turtle

I think this is the teeniest turtle I have ever seen

Christian named this teeny tiny turtle when he almost ran over him with his bike. 

He carefully picked him up and carried him, where else,

HOME!

Now you all know that I love animals

Really love animals

I mean I don't eat meat and all

Even bacon!

I really love animals!

But turtles???

I just don't do turtles, but...

He was very cute, so...

We borrowed our neighbor's aquarium and got him all settled in for the night.

Unfortunately, little Oops was either too sick or too little or we just didn't know what the heck we were doing and little Oops didn't make it through the night.  Sigh...

I think I will stick with animals of the furry kind!

Although he was awfully cute:)

Sunday Snapshot - Boo!!

No, I don't think that it is Halloween yet, although the kids would really like it to be

and no, I am not trying to scare you, cause I don't like anything scary!

I am wondering, though, if you might remember this time last year as Halloween approached and the neighborhood tradition of Boo'ing each other was in full swing?

Well, if you are having a little trouble remembering, you can go here, Boo'ed to read about what happened last year when I sent the kids off to go Boo our neighbors and ended up getting quite a "Boo" myself!  Heh!

Yes, last year just about this time, my wonderful children came across a cute little kitten, a kitten we assumed was a stray, a kitten we promptly named "BOO." 

Well, as the story goes, the kitten actually belonged to one of our neighbors and sweet Boo was returned.  Sniff Sniff.

So, we go on with our lives, I mean with 5 kids, 5 dogs and one crazy cat, it's not like we needed another mouth to feed, right???

Right????

Well, apparently Mr. (not Miss - told ya I am terrible at the "guess the gender of the kitten" game - and again, you don't want to know - heh) Boo had other plans. 

It took him about a year to find us again but when he did, there was no going back.

He had decided that the day or so that he spent here was dabomb and he was not to be deterred!

Sooooo

Without further ado and with his former owners' permission, may I introduce you to our new "another mouth to feed!"

Yes, almost a year to the day that we found him last year, Boo has found us again and is NOT leaving this time! 

He looks pretty comfy

and I don't think the 5 kids, 5 dogs and one crazy cat

bothers him one little bit!  Hehe!

Welcome home Boo

We missed you!

Oh and for those of you who remember the cute little stray kitten we found

Well, he found a wonderful new home and doesn't even seem to miss the 5 kids, 5 dogs and one crazy cat!

Go figure!  Hehe!

To read more Sunday Snapshots go here,

Oh If...

If I had this energy

If I had this energy, I could, well...

RUN!  Heh!!

Christian is a bit like his Momma in that he (dare I say it), he actually likes to exercise. 

His sister, on the other hand is a bit more like her father

In that she considers exercising about as much fun as...

well, exercising!  Hehe!

The other day, the exerciser decided that his sister,

the non exerciser needed to work on her speed.

It was going great and she was having fun, until...

she figured out

that she was exercising:)

No worries though

The exerciser just got to exercise a bit more by

running with a weight:) 

That's my boy:)

Worked out great for them both!  Hehe!