Playing catch up!

SHAME ON ME!!!  Can't believe it's been over 2 months since I've last updated! 

 Just goes to show we are loving our summer break! 

~Here are a few of our summer highlights so far~

 We kicked off the summer with a trip to the family cabin outside of Eureka Springs.  We visited our favorite theme park: Silver Dollar City and had a blast!!  While Turner loves to ride all the rides.....

 Sis prefers to eat popcorn, drink sweet lemonaide and people watch- just like her momma!

Turner's favorite part of the park - the water park!

 Striken a pose at the park

 Turner got a kick out of this coffin

 This is how you could most often find sis....waiting for Turner with a pretty smile on her face!

 BFF

 This summer Lydia has learned to ride her scooter and she is almost as fast as her big brother

 And, with no "pushing" from me or John, Lydia is potty trained!  It has been a piece of cake!  One weekend she showed an interest in it, so we went to the store and she picked out all kinds of pretty panties and voila!  She is even waking up dry in the mornings!  So proud of my sweet girl, she is growing up way to fast!

 Well of course when we returned from our fun Arkansas adventure, we instantly began playing outside enjoying this wonderful mild summer weather

 Turner in action: Juming over both the sprinkler and Lydia :)  Pretty talented if you ask me.  And I about died at Lydia's reaction...she's closing her eyes and I'm certain she's praying he doesn't kick her in the face

 Turner also go a "summer cut" and is loving it.  So much cooler

 This little sunshine brightens my day!

 We had a wonderful Mother's Day...and as usual, John & the kids spoiled me rotten

 Turner picked me out the most beautfiul diamond heart necklace!  He was so proud of himself as he should be.  My favorite gift to date

 This was the 1st year Turner got to attend VBX at our church...the theme was Superheroes.  To say he had a blast would be a huge understatement!  He LOVED it!

 We also got to help Uncle E celebrate his birthday! Making silly faces before blowing out the candles

 Turner had an awesome Gotcha day filled with cake, presents, and a family fun day

Looking all pretty for "Jesus' Church"

 We have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful small group focused on adoption and fostering. 

 It's awesome doing life with those who have a passion and heart for adoption

And last but certainly not least, Jordan got to spend a week with us before he left for the summer to see his dad.  We love our time with Jordan and already miss the little stinker like crazy!!

I am absolutely loving this stage in our lives.  The kids are such a blast and I love my sweet John more and more each day!  So incredibly thankful for the blessings God has given us over the last few months.  

Easter 2013

We had a blast going to Perryton for Easter.  It was just the right medicine! 

 Before we headed to Texas Jordan got to spend a few days with us

 We were so excited that Grandma Judy came with us- she made the trip extra special! 

 Turner loves to tell people about Easter.  It's amazing how much he understands.  Wish I would have recorded it but in a nutshell, he says:

"Easter is about Jesus dying on a tree, then coming back alive with human blood.  And now Jesus lives in Heaven and in our heart."  

 I pray he always knows Jesus is in his heart

 This is a little out of order, but on Saturday we went to the land in Oklahoma and shot hand guns and rifles. 

I'm certain this isn't a proper "stance' but oh well...not too shabby for my 1st time to shoot guns EVER.  I'm actually looking forward to our next trip out west to go shooting again :)

 Aunt Rindy & Aunt CC put on one GIGANTIC Easter egg hunt....I swear there were over 300 eggs filled with pennies and candy! 

 Lydia was so intrigued by the eggs.  She would shake each egg to make sure there were "goodies" inside!

 This was no ordinary Easter egg hunt...there were some serious egg hiding going on in Mema's back yard! 

 Sis wasn't too excited on Easter morning...but this pitiful frown quickly turned into a gorgeous smile!

 One proud mommy!

 He's a pro at finding the "hard to find" eggs

 We love our grandma & Lolly!

 And we are crazy about Aunt CC & E

 Sis was refusing to smile outside

 but was all smiles inside!

Oh how I adore this little angel

 She is such a little ham

 She certainly knows how to work the camera...here she told me she wasn't ready to smile

 warming up that smile

and ta da: A gorgeous smile that lights up a room and melts my heart!!

We had a glorious weekend celebrating the life, death, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so unworthy of his grace but so thankful he loves me!!

I look to you

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Well this verse took on a whole new meaning the last 2 weeks.   

We got an unexpected call from Deaconess about a sweet baby girl who was born at 34 weeks and in NICU at the local hospital.  She was needing a forever family- and since we had never told our agency we were or were not planning to adopt again, they felt like the Lord laid our names on their hearts...so they called to see if we would be open to meeting her birthmother. 

A little back story, we had recently joined and began mentoring  a new adoption small group at our church.  We had begun a Bible Study titled Circle Maker.  In a nut shell, it's 21 days of intense and intentional prayer about very specific things in your life.  Among a few other things, praying how God would use our family thru adoption was our biggest "thing" we were praying about.  Did God want us to adopt again, maybe foster, or what??? John & I had both begun to feel a tugging but not sure what it really meant- so this Bible study and our new friends came at a perfect time.  We knew our adoption agency was swamped and in need for more adoptive families but we told them we were praying about it and would touch base in "21 days"  Well literally a few days later is when we got "the call" ~ I think we knew what God was telling us :)

So we agreed to meet the birthmom, "B." And just like all of our other birthmoms, we instantly fell in love with her.  She is such a sweet and gentle spirit who loves the Lord and wanted to make the best decision for her new child.  After meeting us, she had complete peace for the 1st time in months.  So she agreed to place sweet baby girl with us. Literally we left the office and went straight to the hospital to pick up "Naomi A.  Rose" She was perfect in every single way.  Just like a rose, she was delicate and beautiful. 

The next week was really kind of a blur.  "B" continued to struggle with her decision and was torn.  But we believed with all of our hearts, and still do, that God had a very special plan in this journey and that regardless of what "B" decided we would see the goodness of The Lord.

The kids fell in love with her FAST!! Because we knew it was a high risk placement we choose to tell them we were only keeping her for a few days and we needed to pray for her and for her birthmom. Turner loved to feed her and Lydia loved to burp her.  She was a tiny little bundle of joy weighing less than 6 pounds but was gaining weight very fast as she loved her formula.  My work was amazing and again I am so blessed to work with such wonderful people that picked up my slack so  I could  focus and love on this little angel for as long as we had her. 

A week after we picked her up from NICU we got another call that "B" had changed her mind and 2 hours later we were handing her back to her forever mommy.  Heartbroken, hurt, discouraged, angry, confused, raw, and overwhelmed BUT prayerful is how I felt that day and the days following.  

A sweet adoption friend, who has faced more set backs this year than anyone else I have ever known, sent me this link -and it has turned my tears into JOY and my discouragement into HOPE 

I look to you by Selah

 

  I had been dreading yesterday since it marked a week since we held sweet Naomi.  To my surprise it was a really good day.  God filled my heart, soul and mind with such peace. All day long dear friends sent me sweet emails, encouraging texts, and heart felt phone calls.  I even mustered up the courage to find a rose charm in honor of her to put on my necklace (see the above picture).  Then last night John & I had a date night aka cooking class.  We had this class planned for months, but I believe God had orchestrated it all along. 

 

So now what?  That's the million dollar question.  We are clinging to the truth that this heart ache is going to make us stronger, kinder, more compassionate, and faithful.  While I may never fully understand why we were chosen to experience this painful journey I do believe with all my heart that  I serve a mighty God who  loves me more than I can ever imagine.

 

"The Lord my God in the midst of me is mighty.  He will save, He will rejoice over me with joy, He will rest in His love for me, and He will joy over me with singing"

Zephaniah 3:17

Joyful, Prayerful, & Thankful

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

 for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This  year I have committed to being obedient to the verse above.  I want to be extra intentional about rejoicing, praying and giving thanks in ALL areas of my life!

So for  today- I'm rejoicing for the privilege of being the mom to these two little love bugs!

 ~Rejoicing that sis is ALL girl and loves her some sparkly lip gloss~

 ~Rejoicing that Turner & Lydia love to play dress up and be silly together~

 ~Rejoicing for bath time that allows me to get ready while the kids play in a bath full of bubbles~

 ~Rejoicing for fun snow days~

 ~Rejoicing for snow ball fights~

 ~Rejoicing for the opportunities to take the kids to OKC Thunder games~

 ~Rejoicing for Lolly's crumble soup when we're sick~

 ~Rejoicing for technology so Turner could watch Scooby Doo on the ipad when he had the stomach bug~

~Rejoicing for "Spa" days when we paint toes~

This just scratches the surface of all the things I'm joyful for :) 

~So very blessed~