Oh, How Time Flies {David Day}

I can't believe it's been 4 years.

Four years since I pined for a baby to love and care for.  Since I longed to be a mommy.

Four years since I first met that sweet baby.  Since we met eyes for the first time and I held his chubby little baby body in my arms.  It felt so good and so right to wrap my arms around him.

Four years since we brought that precious boy to our home.  His home.  Since we bought a crib and clothes and pacifiers and bottles and everything we thought we needed for our new little bundle. 

Four years since mommy and daddy woke up several times each night to bottle feed a hungry little baby.  Since we rocked a fussy infant and gave him all the love we could muster.  And then some.

Four years since the first bath in his new home.  Four years since his first smile in his new home.  Four years since we first cuddled and slept beside each other.

Four years....

And now, we have an energetic, percocious 4 year old.  And more memories to be made....

  

Home just a few days.  About 4 months old

Adoption Day!  2 years old

Everyday misadventures.  4 years old

Thank you God for this blessing I call my son.

To My Son on His Birthday

My dear sweet David, I will always love your birthday because it marks the day you entered this world. I wasn't there when you took your first breath, but I prayed for you. I didn't get to change your first diaper, but I wanted you. I didn't get to take you home just days old, but God had a plan for me to be your mommy. You see, your birthday is not just a special day for you, it is also my day. It is the day I got to be your mommy. It is the day that you would forever be mine. It would be the day that all my dreams came true. You changed everything for me. Some moments have been hard and some I wish had never ended. Every good and bad and every moment in between have been worth it all. I thank God for you and for making me your mommy. You will always be my baby....

Happy 4th birthday my sweet boy!

My Cup {Heart} Runneth Over

I'm full of emotion today.


I have been very pensive about my son the past week or so. His birthday is coming and that always makes me thoughtful. I not only remember what a big boy he's becoming as he turns a year older, but also that his birthday marks the day he became our son forever through adoption.

Today I visited his school and observed him (through one way windows...if he had seen me, there would be nothing to observe!) as he interacted with his peers, sang songs, did little dances, and was just a cute little boy at preschool. He has come so far in the past year since he has been at his school. He's doing and saying things he couldn't do before. Part of it is that he's getting bigger, but a lot of it is that he has an awesome teacher in an awesome preschool program. My little boy is growing up! The same chubby baby I held for the first time one Thursday afternoon in the local CPS office. He was prayed for and God was faithful.

After the visit to David's school, I did a little check on Facebook. Two different status updates from two separate friends brought tears to my eyes.

One friend posted about the 15th birthday of her twin sons whom she lost at birth. Today was their birthday. Fifteen years ago she was overwhelmed with joys of birth and pain of loss. All on the same day. Now, this beautiful, strong, loving woman has a very active pre-teen. But, she also longs for a sweet baby girl to call her own. We spent some time last week talking about foster care and adoption. Two things very close to my heart. And hers. My heart ached for her today as I could only imagine the heartache she must have been feeling. However, because she has the hope of Jesus Christ, she knows she will see her babies again one day and never have to let go of them.

Another friend posted how she met her 3rd child today. You may remember my friend Lara. I have mentioned her before on the blog, but more recently I asked for prayers for her family as she and her hubs were going to Uganda to adopt a precious boy from an orphanage there. She and Jon arrived at the orphanage and were escorted over to their new baby (really he's an adorable 4 year old!) Read about it here. But, fair warning, you will need some tissues as you read Lara's account of that morning and their meeting. Again, God's grace is evident as people all over the world (literally) prayed for this little boy and this family, and for them to be united. My God is big and faithful.

The circle of life. Two angels are in heaven and two boys are hugged tightly here on Earth. God's grace and faithfulness are evident. Matthew 19:14 says, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Those twin boys will celebrate this birthday in heaven and their sweet momma will join them one day. Another promise is made: I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him (1Samuel 1:27). My son and my friend's son, and many others, are prayed for every day.

My heart is full. I'm sinking in an ocean of His grace.

Inquiring {Toddler} Minds and a Prayer Request

So I read recently that a toddler asks an average of 437 questions a day.  If this is true, and I am sure it is because I read it on the internet, my kid is above average.  Waaaay above average.  I think he is able to be such an overachiever mostly beacuse he likes to ask the same question more than once.  Like nineteen more times.

Here is an example of what I hear....

"Where's Daddy?"

"Am I going to school today"

"Is the bus picking me up?"

"Can I have a snack?"

"Can I watch Calliou?"

"Can you start it from the beginning?"

"Can you get me dressed now?"

"Where are you going?"

"Are you done?"

"Is is time to go now?"

"When is Daddy going to be home?"

"What time are you picking me up?"

Mulitply each of those questions by about 20, and we have covered the first half hour of my day.  To say he's curious and inquisitive is an understatement.



Now it's my turn to inquire of you...

I am asking for prayer for my friend Lara.  She kissed her two little baby dolls goodbye for a little while as she departed on a flight for Uganda this morning.  She and her husband are traveling there to bring home her third babydoll, a precious boy they are adopting from a Ugandan orphange.  I am asking for prayer for Lara and Jon as they travel across the world, for their two children being cared for by loving grandparents here in the U.S., and for their soon to be third child, A.  If you are mom, you can imagine how difficult it is to leave your babies.  As she follows God's calling, Lara is clinging to these words from Matthew 10:37-38....

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

You can read more about Lara's righteous and radical journey here.  Please lift this family up in prayer.

Girls Only Project

My friend Lara over at The Farmer's Wife Tells All is a mom of two lovelies and is expecting another from Uganda pretty much any day now.  She has a huge heart for the widowed and orphaned around the world and she recently came up with an awesome project to help young orphaned girls with something most of us ladies may take for granted.

In much of the developing world disposable sanitary products for menustration are not practical or just not available.  Some girls even use trash during their periods, or they miss school all together because they have nothing to use.  Cloth pads are a desparate need for these young women.  This is what Lara's For Girls Only Project is all about.  She is trying to get cloth pads (in addition to bras, panties, and some other essentials) into orphanges and remand centers in Uganda.  Lara is recruiting her friends, family, anyone, and everyone to make pads and/or make donations to put kits together for the young women.  The plan is to put 5 cloth pads, 3 pair of panties, and one bra in each kit.  You can read more about Lara's project here.

Well, when she put the call out for help, I fired up the ol' Singer.  Using fabric I had in my stash (fleece and jersey knit for the padding and 100% cotton for the lining) I whipped up 20 pads.  Also using fabric scraps I sewed up 4 zipper pouches (for girls to keep their cloth pads in).  At Target I found cotton panties on sale (8 pair for $8) and some bras on clearance ($3.50-3.98).  All told, I spent $36 to make 4 kits (panties: $12, bras: $16, zippers for pouches: $8).  Doing the math, that's only $9 per kit (making drawstring pouches would make it even less expensive).  Not really a whole a lot for a young girl's comfort and hygiene.  Four kits may not sound like a lot, but it will help.  Lara's friends have stepped up and many more supplies have been donated to make the kits for this incredible project.

Here's the bounty I am donating....

Read all about this project, her adoption journey, and more on Lara's blog.

S.O.S. {Your Help is Needed!}

Hey lovelies, I want to elicit your help today.  My real-life friend Lara @ The Farmer's Wife Tells All is doing a Girls Only Project today and needs our help.  Follow the link over to her awesome blog and please consider helping!

Happy Friday :)

Three Years Ago Today...

A little blue-eyed, blond-haired bundle of chubby baby-ness came into our home for the first time.  Nothing has been the same ever since.



Then: February 2008

Now: January 2011


Happy David Day!



Kill Two Birds

WARNING: This blog does not condone violence against or harmful treatment of birds. My apologies on the morbid blog title. It was a poor attempt at being clever. Read on, I promise it will make sense.

Attention multitaskers: I have a special opportunity just for you! Do you or does someone you know drink coffee? Are there people in your life you need to buy a gift for (Hello! 24 days till Christmas!)? Do you want to support a wonderful cause like helping an orphan become adopted from Ethipoia into a loving family here in the U.S.? If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, do not hesitate, do not pass go, do not collect $200...Follow this link to purchase Just Love Coffee! For each bag of coffee sold from the Dinsmore's link, $5 is donated to their adoption. Read about my friend Lara and her family's journey to adoption. But, please, buy the coffee first!

Stop & Shop

I have mentioned before in my blog my friends, the Dinsmores, and their journey to follow God's calling for them to adopt a child from Ethiopia. Well, I'm gonna mention them again.

There is a cool event happening on Friday, November 5th, 6:30-9:30pm at the Yuma Civic Center. The event is called 'Stop & Shop', where participating businesses will gather in one place, friends, family, and neighbors will come and shop, and a portion of each business' profits will be donated to benefit the Dinsmore adoption.

The hubs and I are even participating! I've talked him into sand-blasting some river rock with decorative or inspirational designs. Then I recruited my friend, Brandi, to help me hock our wares at the event. It's gonna be epic!

There are only 67 days until Christmas, there is no time like the present, or better yet, November 5th, to get your holiday shopping done. Tell your neighbors, friends, even random people you meet on the street. Come one, come all...shop and be fruitful!

Buy a Toy, Drink a Cup of Coffee, Save a Baby from Ethiopia

My friend, Lara Dinsmore, and her hubs, Jon, are embarking on the journey of adoption, and are hoping to bring home a sweet baby from Ethiopia...SOON!

This adorable, young family (Jon and Lara have 2 biological children: Cade, 4 and Ellie, 1) are taking a leap of faith in following God's prompting for them to expand their family through adoption. Being an adoptive mother myself, I know the pure joy of adopting a child and what a special blessing it truly is!

Because of the tremendous cost of an international adoption, the Dinsmores are doing some good ol' fashioned fundraising. Visit Lara's blog, buy some toys, buy some coffee, and support the Dinsmore adoption. You will help a baby come home from Ethiopia.