Random

• Twins are potty training. Today makes day 6. I've not left the house since Saturday. I've worn non-pajamas one time in four days.
  
• My girls will be 2 in less than a month. Time flies when you're having fun. Or should I say, time flies when you're losing sleep! :)
  
• My new niece should be here sometime in the next two weeks. I might die from anticipation.
  
• Our home study is scheduled for this Friday night. Wow. I cannot believe it is finally here. I hope that our home will be open soon. I cannot wait to have a little baby in this house again.
  
• It feels a little selfish to want another child so badly when I've been so blessed with our three.
• Sometimes I love being a mom so much that I just have to pinch myself.
  
• Potty training is not one of those times.
  
• In an attempt to avoid going to bed, my sweet four year old son came to me and said, "I feel unwell. I can't take it anymore. I don't want to lay in my bed because it makes my tummy hurt. When I lay in my bed, my tummy tells me to lay in your bed."
• I have new pics to post, but haven't quite figured out a quirk with my computer.
  
• Babies climbing on me. Bye!
  

Update on Foster Care and Adoption

Yesterday at noon we submitted every last bit of paperwork needed to open our home to foster and adoptive children through the state. We are waiting on a call from a social worker to schedule our first home study. After our first home study, the social worker may give us a few things to do to the house or our paperwork, and then schedule a second home study to officially open our home. As soon as our second home study is complete, we will be ready to get a baby! YAY! I am so relieved to have all the paperwork submitted. Now we wait. Justin and I are both a bit anxious. Pray for peace for our family. Please pray for the little ones the Lord has in line for us to love and nurture. Pray for Gramm, Vivi and Brook during this time.

Will keep you all updated as we know more.
Love to you all.

Haiti

I have been following this blog for a couple of years now. The writer, Jaime, is a friend of a friend of mine from Nashville, TN. Jaime and her husband have a heart for adoption. They have one biological son, one domestically adopted son, a daughter adopted from Haiti and a son they are in the process of adopting who still lives in Haiti. Their little guy who lives in Haiti is living in an orphanage outside of Port Au Prince. He is doing fine as well as the other children in the orphanage. You can read more about the orphanage here. The orphanage is run by Christians who care for the children and offer medical care to the surrounding community. While looking at the pictures of all the damage in Haiti, I was overwhelmed with a desire to help. I am sure many of you feel this way as well. If you would like to help financially, the orphanage mentioned above has a donate button on the right side of their webpage. Donations can be made through paypal. There is also an address on the page if you would like to mail a gift the old fashioned way. :) Keep in mind that several of the pictures on the page may be a bit graphic.

Praying for hope for the Haitian people.

Happy New Year

Brooklyn, Vivian and Gramm
Gramm
Brooklyn
Vivian

Our Year in Review

It’s been wild,

It’s been fun

Our baby girls turned ONE!

Sleeping through the night was a welcome change,

And Mommy and Daddy were much happier in exchange.

The girls love babies, blankies and big brother’s toys,

They enjoy dancing, snuggling and reading picture books with stories.

Gramm is our big four year old who loves to run and play,

He’s had a very busy year filled with preschool, reflux, and parents to obey.

His reflux is on the mend and his beautiful voice is raring to go,

His favorite song, “Oh how He loves you and me!” is now frequently sung with gusto.

We praise the Lord for these precious gifts,

Our children who bring joy to our hearts and sweet kisses to our lips.

With a home full of love and lives saved by grace,

We’ve decided it’s time to share His love with children who need a place to stay.

With confidence we pray for our home to be open this Spring,

to whatever children the Lord will bring.

Adoption and foster care are on the table

As we trust in our God who is able.

Please pray for us as we take this step,

We need faith, wisdom, patience and lots of help.

Our hearts are at peace, our life is good,

Happy New Year, friends, we hope you enjoy 2010!

Feeling fine and 29

Saturday was my 29th birthday. It was a great day. And, since I'm a big sap, I'm going to list 29 things I am thankful for in random order. :) Call me Pat Sayjack, would ya.

1. My Mom, now known by some as "Pork Chop". Graduated first in her class from nursing school Friday night.


2. Ann Taylor LOFT. I am shallow. Love that store.
3. My husband...he always smells good.
4. Our garage. Did I mention that we have been renovating? Almost two months without my garage was killing me. I am now officially parking in the garage again.
5. My son asking me to sing, "Oh how He loves you and me" over and over and over. He sings along. :)


6. Vivi's scrunchy smile.



7. Brooklyn...the Mama's girl. She wants to snuggle a lot these days.
8. Nativity scenes that remind me of our Savior.
9. Gramm's school and his great teacher.
10. My man's 'rents. I have always been blessed with a good friendship with them both.
11. Warm shoes.
12. Sr. T's cheese dip and quesadilla rellena.
13. Folded laundry on the kitchen table...Thanks to my man. :)
14. Christmas cards.
15. Babies sleeping through the night. Don't try to tell me I don't have babies anymore. I might die.
16. Friends who write me sweet notes.
17. My hilarious sisters.
18. Love handles...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!
19. Toys in my living room floor.
20. My dad and step-mom who took the kids for 24 hours this weekend so J and I could be ALONE!!!!!! It was wonderful.



21. My nana and grandpa's dog, Gracie. She once was lost, but now she's found. Sweet story I will share later.
22. U2
23. Local farmers who sell me good meat....haven't had a good burger in months, but I will very soon thanks to Petit Jean farms!
24. My son's mohawk...can't get enough of it!
25. Six months of being debt free aside from the house. Praise the Lord!
26. A clean bedroom.
27. Christmas music.
28. Vivi yelling "Hell-O, Mommy! Hell-O Daddy!" from her crib in the morning.
29. God's grace...new every morning. Thank You, Jesus.

Giving Thanks

As always, an eventful Thanksgiving was had by our family. Gramm puked his little guts up on Thanksgiving Day and had to sit out the evening festivities. I was already at Shermee's house with the twins when the aforementioned illness took place. It was not fun being away from my boy when he's sick. Daddy took excellent care of him and Gramm was feeling better in no time. The rest of our weekend was wonderful and we had some fab family time and lots of laughs.



The girls are really into climbing right now. Our sweet friends gave us a slide and the girls have had so much fun climbing and sliding on their new toy!

Vivi front and center.
Brooklyn sliding.

In other news, both babies are officially weaned. I know, they are nearing two. I know they are not babies anymore, but I am still sad! I love nursing my babies. Vivi weaned herself a few months ago, but little Miss Brooklyn was holding on. It's been two weeks since I stopped nursing her and she still asks to nurse when she's upset. Somebody help me, the child breaks my heart!

I am working on this advent calendar for my boy this afternoon. Since I am no longer nursing a babe, I have a bit more energy and am trying to give up my afternoon nap. :)

Hope you all enjoyed a weekend with family. xoxoxo

Gift from my son

My sweet Mom took my son on a little date last week. During the date, my Ma had Gramm pick out a necklace to give me as a present. Gramm presented the necklace to me with great joy and I proudly wore it last night. As I was tucking Gramm in at bedtime, he commented on how good the necklace looked and said I should wear it everyday. See, I have a teensy tiny problem with that. I love my son. I love gifts. But I don't do gaudy jewelry. And, the necklace, as pretty as it is, resembles a purple and silver dream catcher.

I was thinking over this situation today and the Lord taught me a little lesson. There are lots of things I don't "do". For example, I don't do shoulder pads. I don't do spandex. These things are just not my style and I choose to avoid them. My propensity toward being opinionated flows into other areas of my life as well, sometimes good and a lot of the time not so good. Many of the things God has chosen for me are choices I would never make for myself, but they are all good because they are from Him. It's never been my "style" to have a large family. Here we are with three little ones with foster or adoptive children to come. I don't "do" strong-willed children. I don't "do" apologies to other parents for the random acts of unkindness my child(ren) has committed against their little cherub. But, these are all things I've been blessed to receive and experience from the hand of our Father. He has chosen this place for me. This is a pleasant place and I am immeasurably blessed. Though my personality and my inflexibility may disagree, the Lord of my heart tells me this is His best and it is good. I will choose to embrace these blessings and learn from them and not wish for anything else. God, please mold me.

And, I will wear the necklace.