tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54382187357373961172024-03-12T20:43:21.603-07:00Under His Wing"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." Psalm 91:4Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-82317301990129546062012-09-18T06:22:00.000-07:002012-09-18T06:22:52.645-07:00Who will rebuild?In my bible time this morning I was reading Isaiah 58. I admit, I read it often as a reminder of what God calls me to, of what worshiping God really means. I urge you to read it or reread it in its entirety. <br />
<blockquote>
<b>Isaiah 58: 6
I'll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. ......</b> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>Isaiah 58: 7
Share your food with everyone who is hungry, share your HOME WITH THE POOR AND HOMELESS (emphasis mine). .....</b>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>Isaiah 58:8,9
....and the glory of the Lord will defend you from behind. 9. When you beg the Lord for help, he will answer, "Here I am!"....</b></blockquote>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 58: 12</span></b></u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets. </span></b></u><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So as I was reading verse 12, it came to me that maybe God just wasn't talking literally. That the rebuilding of houses and city walls and streets was instead an analogy about rebuilding LIVES! Now how cool and beautiful is that I ask you?! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many ways in which we can reach out into the lives of others and help "rebuild", but none so close to my heart as adoption. </span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh Lord, LET ME BE KNOWN as a BUILDER AND REPAIRER OF CITY WALLS AND STREETS! LIVES LEFT IN RUINS FOR YEARS REBUILT, REVAMPED, RENEWED! LET THIS BE MY WORSHIP! LET THIS BE TRUE RELIGION!</span></span></b></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="heading passage-class-0">
<h3>
James 1:27<b> (KJV)</b></h3>
</div>
<div class="passage version-KJV result-text-style-normal text-html ">
<b><span class="text Jas-1-27" id="en-KJV-30294"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world.</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
I ask you, will you be a builder? Will you be known as a repairer of lives? Here is one little boy in desperate need! He is on my mind all the time. My heart breaks for this little life that has been in ruin for years! Little Oliver needs his Mama! <br />
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/20206055541-Oliver-Aug-2012-2-300x246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/20206055541-Oliver-Aug-2012-2-300x246.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/32923/oliver">Olivers information can be found HERE!</a><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/32923/oliver">Oliver</a>
is five years old and was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.
Unfortunately for Oliver, he is severely neglected in the orphanage
where he resides. According to a family who visited the orphanage,
Oliver is never picked up or held, not even to be fed. The nannies
simply lean over the side of the crib to give him a bottle. He is never
moved from the position he is in, and he is often kept <b>covered with a blanket so that no one has to see him.</b> You
read that right. A five year old little boy ... you know how much
energy and enthusiasm five year old boys have! And this one, this dear
five year old, Oliver, truly never leaves his crib. His life is devoid
of even the most basic affection, attention, and stimulation. (taken from wonderofboys.blogspot.com)</span></div>
</blockquote>
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Plead with Jesus on Olivers behalf that a Mama comes soon so his life is not left in ruins!<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-62736705654637785442012-08-24T21:56:00.000-07:002012-08-24T22:11:45.378-07:00My Fabulous FamilyHere is our first "official" family photo as a family of 13!
<a href="http://kellerphoto.zenfolio.com/linn/e21a28933"><img src="http://kellerphoto.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v61/p564300083-2.jpg" width="400" height="267" alt="Keller Photography & Design: linn &emdash; " /></a>
John and I in the center, and no I won't be sharing our ages! :)
Then youngest to oldest is:
Riley, 19.............
Logan, 18..............
Nolan, 16...........
Rhynee, 16.............
Cale, 14............
Quincy, 12...........
James, 11...........
Yana, 9 [being held by red headed Cale :)]..........
Tavi, 6........
Luke, 6.......
Quentin, 1.....
.................................................
I LOVE this picture. I love the diversity of my children both in looks AND personalities! Granted, some days I really wish there was some consistency among their personalities, but they are all so very different. It is both exhausting and exciting. It sure keeps us on our toes!
..............................................................................
ps: WHY does blogger ONLY let me type as a solid block? I have it all spaced nicely when I publish it, but then it just becomes a giant block of type without spacing! ARGH!
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-76646252725312148802012-07-25T21:04:00.002-07:002012-07-25T21:06:35.573-07:00Almost A Year????I can not believe that Quentin's one year birthday is coming up in just a couple of weeks!
I still remember "the call" like it was yesterday. "Kelly, she chose you! She chose your family."
She chose us. And in the process I gained not only a beautiful son, but a friend! Blessed beyond all reason.
Thank you Lord Jesus for this precious baby!
The day he became officially ours, still in the NICU:
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July 4th, 2012... isn't he a cutie??:
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Quincy and Tavi...
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James and Riley...
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Yana and Tavi...
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Luke and Quentin...
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Yana and Quentin....
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Cale and Quincy...Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-57318297586103626042012-06-08T12:57:00.003-07:002012-06-08T13:02:06.423-07:00Age has its advantages. I never really thought much about it, and even though you are told it all the time, years of living under your belt really does tend to change, or at least mature, ones perspective on so many things.
Spiritual maturity being no different. Years of learning about praying, of relying on God, of listening for His voice and living within the desire of His will tends to start pruning ones thoughts and life of misguided beliefs, unneeded passions, wrong directions, and judgmental attitudes. Also, it helps to get rid of the subconscious "hero complex". We can do nothing apart from Him.
<blockquote><b>Without Jesus You Can Do Nothing
Luis Mendez </b>
<i>John 15:5 —
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
In the life of faith, a simple preposition determines the final result: With Jesus, everything is possible. Without Jesus, nothing is possible.
Philippians 4:13 says this positively, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” All things. Through Christ. In Jesus, everything is possible.
In John 15:5, Jesus states this truth negatively: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” The preposition is “apart” . . . from Jesus. The result is: nothing, not anything, naught, no single thing. Without Jesus, nothing of value is possible!
This is real discipleship — complete dependence on Christ in everything. Our lives should be Christ-sufficient and not self-sufficient. This is the only way to bear fruit as his true disciple.
Living in complete dependence on Christ requires great humility on our part. We must daily humble ourselves before him and acknowledge that apart from him we can do nothing.</i></blockquote>
One of the most important lessons my heart and mind have learned is that it is not my job or position to bring conviction for change to peoples lives. It is not my job to direct their steps, or place my opinion of what is important in front of them. It is not my job to dole out judgment of their worthiness, sincerity, or motives.
<blockquote><i>Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Ephesians 2:10 God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.(Gods Word Translation)</i> </blockquote>
Yes I believe there is right and wrong, and that the things that are right or wrong are not subjective, but absolute. I also believe there is a gray area. And beyond that some things that just fall into opinions. Ultimately, each decision or action must align with the biblical principals lined out in the bible and taken within the context it was intended. Understanding that God does not change, ever. He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.
So back to spiritual maturity. I have really begun to understand that living like Jesus is the absolute best way, and in a great majority of cases one might say, the only way to bring others to Christ. Jesus lived life out loud and on purpose, fully devoted to God, never hiding who he was and never being quiet about it because it was WHO he was and he couldn't be any other way. He wasn't doing anything but being who he was, which was the Son of God.
So our lives should be the same. We should live a no holds barred kind of life under the wings of God. We should not hold back speaking of our heavenly Father, but neither should we speak His name trying to convict non believers of wrong doing. IT will be our love for them, a LOVE LIKE HIS, that allows their hearts to become softened as we step out of the way and free JESUS to do a NEW THING in their heart.
<blockquote><i>2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.</i></blockquote>
I absolutely LOVE this quote by Katie Davis who is very much living out the gospel. I think it wraps up my ramblings quite nicely:
<blockquote><i>"We aren't really called to save the world, not even to save one person: Jesus does that. We are just called to love with abandon. We are called to enter into our neighbors sufferings and love them right there.". -Katie Davis</i></blockquote>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-19627753156520582272012-04-28T17:14:00.000-07:002012-04-28T17:23:41.944-07:00A Little Bit Of Luke...... and a whole lot of deep breathing for mom! Luke is my daredevil, well... one of my daredevils.
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Thankfully he is also a very capable daredevil.
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He is the boy who falls into the category of "addicted to the adrenaline rush", and he is always in a much better mood if he gets at least a couple of "rushes" a day.
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Sometimes it doesn't take much, just a lot of movement. Other times it takes higher, faster, longer, crazier...
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Today though, it was a mild kind of rush. And being the responsible mom that I am, I took pictures!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzFfhP-3FAtsjg8KzJlw3Zr-YUoG7q5qwJO06ixsUkoIFxNYVldUnUqEVUpRFl4jRfzx18Gn7JH3C9qGwRXfdykofIHA9gjq-yPxDCxrjgVqF_y22hNX9xHb3jWLGkBSGkV8bOGtOTlQ/s1600/P1010790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzFfhP-3FAtsjg8KzJlw3Zr-YUoG7q5qwJO06ixsUkoIFxNYVldUnUqEVUpRFl4jRfzx18Gn7JH3C9qGwRXfdykofIHA9gjq-yPxDCxrjgVqF_y22hNX9xHb3jWLGkBSGkV8bOGtOTlQ/s320/P1010790.JPG" /></a></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-6610769076810831502012-04-12T08:24:00.009-07:002012-04-12T09:04:42.614-07:00A Spirit Of Joy!(am I the most pathetic blogger, or what?) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvqMW7D35GXpQjwm9-b57km6-wb0G5OMvIT0555GcgjGCK8tq_C1pWLP4lc6thnBwCT2jtyHLDmCmPDY51rzCRoh3XlhvsGzkyiTNF6Ax7ysjX89Sa33f1RF8Rrr-wKeUKwCiuugKMI4/s1600/P1010505.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvqMW7D35GXpQjwm9-b57km6-wb0G5OMvIT0555GcgjGCK8tq_C1pWLP4lc6thnBwCT2jtyHLDmCmPDY51rzCRoh3XlhvsGzkyiTNF6Ax7ysjX89Sa33f1RF8Rrr-wKeUKwCiuugKMI4/s320/P1010505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730542573845051250" /></a><br />“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”<br />― Helen Keller<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4hDcup7s5mVcBJ8t9fVWwq981t6DEGu5whvNB89X_SbmsQbD_IErXClGAUg0neBkwA8crnSXT9Nzr2sUbRYN_eTLdOwKJSJA7sWwqedlZfF8WjzMAtyE9DGAVdgVoNo51Gzvm-Nq47s/s1600/P1010501.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4hDcup7s5mVcBJ8t9fVWwq981t6DEGu5whvNB89X_SbmsQbD_IErXClGAUg0neBkwA8crnSXT9Nzr2sUbRYN_eTLdOwKJSJA7sWwqedlZfF8WjzMAtyE9DGAVdgVoNo51Gzvm-Nq47s/s320/P1010501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730543253561371186" /></a><br />“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy..." ”<br />― Victoria Moran<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigatABjK2FOLovX-eJdpm9i1IjSPAvto24FTZAY2jHT4rxn06zxrhgfz6hwTsNYZVoaZ6qF-wDZW4beCMMlwHc62MV-YBRwtsMYPzD-WXbuwrr0EdxczgtKDj_NGVETAXyrz_RTXuYM/s1600/P1010562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigatABjK2FOLovX-eJdpm9i1IjSPAvto24FTZAY2jHT4rxn06zxrhgfz6hwTsNYZVoaZ6qF-wDZW4beCMMlwHc62MV-YBRwtsMYPzD-WXbuwrr0EdxczgtKDj_NGVETAXyrz_RTXuYM/s320/P1010562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730543833065227010" /></a><br />“...let joy be unconfined...”<br />― George Gordon Byron<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziVRSi3XmALOOup34pHX8WNzgN7hDEasUc8sy0TfyBb145RxbIevzTmmVgk2qUtXcaQ8ZkgWGNQPLkn99f2UsJIQvixH6cvrMrxHBQf3ueG1OdjXHOutL6wIyxN4gk3bixEOShWErh8o/s1600/P1010633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziVRSi3XmALOOup34pHX8WNzgN7hDEasUc8sy0TfyBb145RxbIevzTmmVgk2qUtXcaQ8ZkgWGNQPLkn99f2UsJIQvixH6cvrMrxHBQf3ueG1OdjXHOutL6wIyxN4gk3bixEOShWErh8o/s320/P1010633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730544299515314274" /></a><br />“It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlWG9J4MEnIpJaZRrbcsTwiw992Agf1VQ1r8ENSXoYAb1E-XJ6oKw3WrZ2x5IGTqwcNf1ZIHLAC862u5PERFBmK6hHwnLxHrjZVRHpHoeD81uOPcL4sqFQFNihms08NYpPf6jtGsnAZA/s1600/P1010496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlWG9J4MEnIpJaZRrbcsTwiw992Agf1VQ1r8ENSXoYAb1E-XJ6oKw3WrZ2x5IGTqwcNf1ZIHLAC862u5PERFBmK6hHwnLxHrjZVRHpHoeD81uOPcL4sqFQFNihms08NYpPf6jtGsnAZA/s320/P1010496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730544740562929250" /></a><br />“Beauty is not caused. It is.”<br />Emily Dickinson <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOFRis8xXpd1DCs096uA_Ewrx2rK-5YUJyXoW0CfXAfFQ6DInnpGd22WcVhXt32AMVrCd8vOUloSyA8_Pon7k5E_JkzPsOvfZDg-c9aW0ThOp7YXXMoRJlRIItXTgbEMUfAUS6wp-_ts/s1600/P1010502.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOFRis8xXpd1DCs096uA_Ewrx2rK-5YUJyXoW0CfXAfFQ6DInnpGd22WcVhXt32AMVrCd8vOUloSyA8_Pon7k5E_JkzPsOvfZDg-c9aW0ThOp7YXXMoRJlRIItXTgbEMUfAUS6wp-_ts/s320/P1010502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730545187014614802" /></a><br /><br />“Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.”<br />William Butler YeatsKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-63624176614499981772012-02-18T15:22:00.000-08:002012-02-20T20:03:58.750-08:00My Heart Beats Are Talking....You know what has been on my heart lately creating quite a stir? Adoption. Okay, okay I know... this surprises no one. <br /><br /><br />There are some things about the worlds view of adoption that have got me all fired up lately. More importantly, these things exist in the CHRISTIAN view of adoption. Oh maybe not in an "in your face" kind of way. They tend to exist in an "in the back of your mind" kind of way. They exist because we have never taken them out, and then stomped them to ashes under our feet. <br /><br />Let's start by tackling<span style="font-weight:bold;"> family planning </span>and the grace of God. It is at times like this that I wish I was more eloquent in translating my thoughs to the written word. So I pray that I can do justice to what needs to be said. Psalm 127:1 says <blockquote>Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.</blockquote><br /><br />I was 25 years old when my 5th biological child was born. Each of my children were beautiful. They were funny, well behaved, and as a whole family we were an eye catcher. Oh my heart (and admittedly my ego as well) would swell as the compliments came flowing in on just what a wonderfully beautiful family I had. <br /><br />Not once had I ever prayed over whether we should add another/any children to our family. I prayed for a healthy child. But I had adopted the stance that whatever happened, happened. I was a believer and obviously each pregnancy was a gift from God. Afterall, He alone creates/gives life right? <br /><br />Praise God He is so merciful. Praise God He is so gracious. Praise God He is so giving, He LOVES to give. HE IS LORD. He lavishes love and mercy on us even when we aren't asking for it. He gives grace and creates beauty, the beauty of family all around us, even when we don't ask Him for it. <br /><br />All 5 of my biological children were a specific blessing, an unparallelled creation/expression of and for God's glory. And in spite of that, I never allowed Him to be a part of it at all. I didn't NEED His help, I just thanked Him for the blessing after the fact. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain</span>... Ummm, can you say uh-oh? All that beauty, all that happiness, all that love... Was it all in vain? What was I actually doing? What had I ever done? Beauty, happiness, laughter, love... they were all there, and yet there was no room for God's glory. <br /><br />BUT I believe He knew my heart, my families heart. He knew what would be and He set the stage for His glory to shine. He blessed us, for our faith to come. All the while, child after child, blessing after blessing He continued to fullfill His desire to create a "new thing". <br /><br /><blockquote>Isaiah43:19 (ESV) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? </blockquote><br /><blockquote>Eph. 4: 22-24 (ESV)To put off your <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">old self, which belongs to your former manner of life</span></span> and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to<span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness</span></span>. (emphasis mine)</blockquote><br /><br />Created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Created after the likeness of God</span>? I WANT myself and my family to be created by, for, and to resemble GOD. THAT can ONLY happen IF GOD IS ALLOWED/asked to come in and <span style="font-weight:bold;">by His hands specifically do a "NEW THING"</span> in your "house". <span style="font-style:italic;"></span>! <span style="font-style:italic;">[It is never too late by the way! Obviously this does not only apply to increasing your family size. But for the purpose of this post, that is my focus.]</span> <br /><br /><br />My husband and I currently have 10 children. Our oldest 5 biological children, and our youngest 5 who were adopted. Words can not describe how beautiful I think my family is. It is a family specifically created by God, and sometimes all I can do is look on in awe as His glory is revealed over and over in the intimate care He has taken with building it for HIS GLORY. I do not want to ever again "labor in vain". May God build my house with His own two hands! All earthly creations pale in comparison to His. HIS take my breath away each morning! My prayer is that all of you get breathless in the face of God's creation of your family!<br /><br /><blockquote>God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Eph. 1:5 / NLT)</blockquote><br /><br />God decided to adopt us! It is what HE WANTED and it gave Him GREAT PLEASURE! WOW. Seriously, do you feel that WOW? He specifically wanted YOU! He specifically wanted ME! He not only wanted it, but His heart was on fire for us! He did it because He couldn't help himself! He loves us and takes great pleasure in claiming us as HIS! <br /><br />I believe everybody wants to matter. Everybody wants to be somebodies JOY! If you are a believer, if you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), and if you have admitted that you have sins that need forgiven (Romans 6:23)... You are a SON OF GOD! You are HIS JOY!<br /><br />"Son of God" you say? Russell Moore talks about being "adopted as Sons" in His book "Adopted For Life". Not to sidetrack, but if you haven't read it, I insist that it is a MUST READ! Now, as for adoption as sons, what about us girls? This is so cool! In the time period of which this verse was written, oldest sons inherited the fortune. They were the favored, the most important. He is adopting us equally. As oldest Sons. We are inheriting the fortune. We are the favored! Each one of us! Now tell me that is not a beautiful thing! <br /><br />God gave us the "perfect model" of what adoption is? FULLY INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE BENEFITS OF BIOLOGICAL FAMILY! ALL family is created by the hands of GOD. Adoption is no exception. In the family of God, it does not matter how a family is formed, what matters is that GOD formed it with the intimate, overwhelming pleasure in His heart! <br /><br />So to the second stirring of my heart, <span style="font-weight:bold;">adoption isn't and should never be considered a second best option</span>! It isn't something you do just because you can't have a biological child! Sometimes God uses infertility as a way to direct you down the path He desires for you to go, or He uses it to grow your faith and start the stretching process. <br /><br />I have not dealt with the heartbreak of wanting to start my family, only to find out that infertility was coming into play. I have friends and family who have, and the sadness and emotions that accompany that realization is tremendous. I am not criticizing the continued desire for pregnancy and giving birth. I am just stating that adopting isn't an "only if we can't have our own children" kind of option. In fact, I would say if that is how you feel do not adopt! But infertility can be a catalyst for tearing down barriers. It can kick start an amazing journey. <br /><br />When we adopted the first time we received many comments to the point of "Why couldn't we just be happy with the children we had?" "Shouldn't you let people who can't have "kids of their own" adopt?" "Why do you need more than 5 kids?" and so on and so on.<br /><br />To share some of God's intense desire to do a new thing in our family, after child number 5 I could no longer have biological children. That is such a huge praise for me now. I might never have stepped into the challenging journey of adoption if the "easier option" of giving birth had been available. So yes, PRAISE GOD that that door was closed! <br /><br />After that first adoption, I grew so much in my faith! It all started to "<span style="font-style:italic;">click</span>". No longer was I seeking to just grow our good little family and celebrate the joy of an adorable little baby once again. Instead I prayed to be the hands and feet of Jesus. How I cringe when I think back to when child rearing, bearing and adoption was all about me and creating what I wanted! I want to live out of God's will, I want to be a mom to God's glory, I want to be breathless! I told God He had my YES, and just to point me in the right direction! <br /><br />I have never regretted it! He is so much greater! His imagination so much grander! His love so much more intense! His idea of family so much broader, so much more specific, so much more perfect!! <span style="font-weight:bold;">The boundaries of this world weild no power over HIS declaration and creation of family! </span> How could I ever say NO to that!??? How can you?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pray that God takes your breath away as HE reveals His plan for growing your family! Pray that He is the one to build your house!</span><br /><br />Lastly, I want to touch on international and transracial adoption. Oh my goodness, you may well be amazed at the number of people who have intense opinions on these things. Opinions usually not based on fact, but just spur of the moment reactions. Along with the opinion of if these things are in any way acceptable, there are also the comments that come across as abrasive, tacky, and down right rude. <br /><br />It amazes me that anyone who is not legally a part of the process would think to play God to such a degree as to state that this child or that child should not be joining a family. As if God is bound in anyway by things like distance, race, culture, money, time, or numbers? <br /><br />Today I read Acts 17: 26-28a. Let me write a disclaimer that I am definitely NOT a theologian. But I do admit when I read this verse I wanted to pump my fist like Arsenio Hall and go "wah, wah, wah!" (hope I'm not showing my age there :)). <br /><br /><blockquote>26 From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live.27 He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us;28a as someone has said,<br /><br /> <br /> In him we live and move and exist. (from the Good News Translation)</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">He created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would livE??</span> Did you catch that? <span style="font-weight:bold;">HE CREATED, HE SPREAD THEM THROUGHOUT THE EARTH, HE FIXED BEFORE HAND THE <span style="font-style:italic;">EXACT</span></span> TIMES AND HE DECIDED THE BOUNDARIES OF WHERE THEY WOULD LIVE! <br /><br />This child in Romania would come to live in the United States, this child in Ghana would come to live in the United States, this child in Bulgaria would come to live in Sweden, this child in Ukraine would come to live in France. He knows when, who, where, and how each child joins their family. <br /><br />He has a specific reason for what He does. <span style="font-style:italic;">He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him</span> If God knows it and has ordained it, you can bet He has an incredible reason for doing so! Do you really want to stand before Him one day and question it? Is any explanation even needed? <br /><br />And if He ordains it and sets it into motion, <span style="font-style:italic;">..God is actually not far from any one of us... In him we live and move and exist</span>. HE IS THERE, in the midst of it all! <br /><br />What a beautiful verse. I am a woman, and maybe that is why I am a sucker for romance and tender love. I admit, I LOVE witnessing the details of Gods heart as He places a child through adoption into a forever family! I love seeing a couple welcome a child through birth. It is all amazing, and makes my heart overflow with JOY. <br /><br />Adoption really is so much bigger than you and I! Family is so much bigger than the boundaries that the world would place around it! <br /><br />So once again, my prayer for you as you walk away from this post is that you would allow God to make you breathless as you watch HIS plans and heart unfold in the context of HIS plans for your family!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-40195192692403859992012-01-23T19:31:00.000-08:002012-01-23T19:35:07.780-08:00Want to know what really sucks.....?It sucks when you have those days where you realize that even though your almost 9 year old daughter has been out of the orphanage and in a loving family for 1 1/2 years, she would fit right back in like she never left if she was placed back there. Yes, that really sucks :(Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-28588078928550599732011-12-17T20:11:00.000-08:002011-12-17T21:00:05.100-08:00Her Second Tree....Last Christmas Tavi was still learning what it meant to be a part of a family. This Christmas, she's got that part under her belt. Now she is learning to really celebrate, and decorating the tree proved to be quite entertaining for her. I think you will see the JOY that radiates from her smiles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKtq0-mBi5nNt4lKbVeCGfCCM1K5JoVRFpUJyS5RWQhjWsERIP1fEFuGk5MFOkrnbYrMynehEadgxTPoFAyvnZ1QjPbOXIYac_rb3ATARquuOdKIIKvzzlJKP5J92zjl0kPCxZcCiMWo/s1600/GEDC1190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKtq0-mBi5nNt4lKbVeCGfCCM1K5JoVRFpUJyS5RWQhjWsERIP1fEFuGk5MFOkrnbYrMynehEadgxTPoFAyvnZ1QjPbOXIYac_rb3ATARquuOdKIIKvzzlJKP5J92zjl0kPCxZcCiMWo/s320/GEDC1190.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687328470481942642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo8VOQ7hrYztuToZ0XzX_qGiFc7RYOQN8U9-NmZEvV57CurTa9ZwlOL7x_Z5OEvVnXM17uLfe5iEMuUUfnzEaGJk5JDFJMAHjbDq8_apkg4lanPAnLiQFWFhWfOpAo6XFUMpMiQBxyf8/s1600/GEDC1192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo8VOQ7hrYztuToZ0XzX_qGiFc7RYOQN8U9-NmZEvV57CurTa9ZwlOL7x_Z5OEvVnXM17uLfe5iEMuUUfnzEaGJk5JDFJMAHjbDq8_apkg4lanPAnLiQFWFhWfOpAo6XFUMpMiQBxyf8/s320/GEDC1192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687324881722112322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SNIKsBjNyzZp49XmUbGvoj8DT8NcBeB401O9H5ijtjubYu88yam9o2ecJoGpd0onIdNfjNrP1gZ9slWwfLO8gE3_TCgmK955xJpRpbfY7e3086MEaLCW5MKHIN2yzgQVYp2vqlrfGi4/s1600/GEDC1186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SNIKsBjNyzZp49XmUbGvoj8DT8NcBeB401O9H5ijtjubYu88yam9o2ecJoGpd0onIdNfjNrP1gZ9slWwfLO8gE3_TCgmK955xJpRpbfY7e3086MEaLCW5MKHIN2yzgQVYp2vqlrfGi4/s320/GEDC1186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687324874210260690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrWhdMTWEk6Ck7UT4htWFuLJnzJ9PJBxm0LeKoQ3TNy3RzdCcuufSSzIAbII6I4b6tDGg-JXHtZAoSLfh9KNw0hmg5aaTqZ76qfDExTa3t_pjYW9UfHE-KQLvrwZDw7v654f26xUiY_w/s1600/GEDC1193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrWhdMTWEk6Ck7UT4htWFuLJnzJ9PJBxm0LeKoQ3TNy3RzdCcuufSSzIAbII6I4b6tDGg-JXHtZAoSLfh9KNw0hmg5aaTqZ76qfDExTa3t_pjYW9UfHE-KQLvrwZDw7v654f26xUiY_w/s320/GEDC1193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687324886031394802" /></a> <br /><br />There are times I forget that she is completely blind. I love that. I do not think she will ever lose the JOY she has within. Praise God for protecting her heart for the first 4 years of life! And praise God for letting me share in nuturing this precious heart for the rest of her life!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-87037279144136803922011-12-08T17:44:00.001-08:002011-12-08T19:00:46.438-08:00The Many Faces Of Baby QQuentin's personality just cracks me up! He makes the funniest faces, so each picture of him turns out a bit different... <br /><br />To prove my point I thought I would post one of our impromptu photo sessions :).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aH1c-0oqwcvtpu-Z_DKw9_A1BL3zEtAxKrrk2-5RML5DtGuGNJjy0NNLHzgGzKddhgBZhEuASQuueOazXUbgqlOVevwcOvaefe3g-U68_6TEtvsguuMd32ejrOwJfXQOivt3DJOXYa0/s1600/GEDC1112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aH1c-0oqwcvtpu-Z_DKw9_A1BL3zEtAxKrrk2-5RML5DtGuGNJjy0NNLHzgGzKddhgBZhEuASQuueOazXUbgqlOVevwcOvaefe3g-U68_6TEtvsguuMd32ejrOwJfXQOivt3DJOXYa0/s320/GEDC1112.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683956445498692098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-b-CHFENIWAR42eIiGQgVm29C0MZsXvJ-F35VqK2jUVOIB6XuW6SbUTM8lpKssnwD81tvzEDJkvNDP3rmycKSbsViF-hzgFNskNp0hT19rBkJRcYtAtUPCeYtip5B07xOBxdKxOR_UQ/s1600/GEDC1104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-b-CHFENIWAR42eIiGQgVm29C0MZsXvJ-F35VqK2jUVOIB6XuW6SbUTM8lpKssnwD81tvzEDJkvNDP3rmycKSbsViF-hzgFNskNp0hT19rBkJRcYtAtUPCeYtip5B07xOBxdKxOR_UQ/s320/GEDC1104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683956439334850642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMbIyLPr3ly9Si4NHEw8ipCbJ283sAFAGf9E4DMV-xqolq9e75xrgx3hoW_9PXmQg3O21kkJOUuvDhhwMpgHvu0L1W16PuDw0icMrUL8YtT9hXsAxznMZs3ibOnvO5ZZdxbjChIjr2eE/s1600/GEDC1140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMbIyLPr3ly9Si4NHEw8ipCbJ283sAFAGf9E4DMV-xqolq9e75xrgx3hoW_9PXmQg3O21kkJOUuvDhhwMpgHvu0L1W16PuDw0icMrUL8YtT9hXsAxznMZs3ibOnvO5ZZdxbjChIjr2eE/s320/GEDC1140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683956453145342626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4GoKiuUyF30D3F0xNWcreDN4G8skTvhWuompGtgSWmeIyfdr2Lrt_HtQswuEbORmHsqNGphQJDp_bklEaL92HVdURUAWK1iG2bRhGPoQePC0ZBkF5fMaC5R8aMNJRYFaRm-e6JzINZE/s1600/GEDC1086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4GoKiuUyF30D3F0xNWcreDN4G8skTvhWuompGtgSWmeIyfdr2Lrt_HtQswuEbORmHsqNGphQJDp_bklEaL92HVdURUAWK1iG2bRhGPoQePC0ZBkF5fMaC5R8aMNJRYFaRm-e6JzINZE/s320/GEDC1086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683950013523903826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYzLrqGLypxGIEYCVw6m9zGgh4JDLuECEa7AoDOkFxC-t1YrkntBKgQEFcLho2Bx0U6DJgyrsqHh8T2sFUKP5LQTddh934RUl0iX9cFdoKT9SIyofbRI3kGj2OEj2jmhRQZhK-iFhAnI/s1600/GEDC1081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYzLrqGLypxGIEYCVw6m9zGgh4JDLuECEa7AoDOkFxC-t1YrkntBKgQEFcLho2Bx0U6DJgyrsqHh8T2sFUKP5LQTddh934RUl0iX9cFdoKT9SIyofbRI3kGj2OEj2jmhRQZhK-iFhAnI/s320/GEDC1081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683950007690708002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOODbCI7TY5G390zV07rISQKkSYoIEM7N2RiZn3XQlG6q-8jCVQXMDCO9iInz6uavS_5cwZFJl7MtGIACOXF3DHlcAxBfWLsIXvUXpovY28Lh6lh_hl0o6e13BZxEplym3g7RwQRzJyo/s1600/GEDC1080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOODbCI7TY5G390zV07rISQKkSYoIEM7N2RiZn3XQlG6q-8jCVQXMDCO9iInz6uavS_5cwZFJl7MtGIACOXF3DHlcAxBfWLsIXvUXpovY28Lh6lh_hl0o6e13BZxEplym3g7RwQRzJyo/s320/GEDC1080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683950001966240818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII_Fx2Txgzz73kAbVyfnb7_eHQx1GHxMDgfy7qIBtbpkI4G0giT-OcDAolxVL03mRcg5U4tKGv8eaQWabOJDClRMy6NRCQMk0AguGWUHels9gjYYh6BEf5boVA8C5bRfdIebNTG9O-Oo/s1600/GEDC1089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII_Fx2Txgzz73kAbVyfnb7_eHQx1GHxMDgfy7qIBtbpkI4G0giT-OcDAolxVL03mRcg5U4tKGv8eaQWabOJDClRMy6NRCQMk0AguGWUHels9gjYYh6BEf5boVA8C5bRfdIebNTG9O-Oo/s320/GEDC1089.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683950022018902082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVjs1QfrXM43Rsgu7FPdb6zewfKjxDw0cr48gUrpUlOst1ZcHidCbOH8_fencquH5x5tgyLvx8LyGIKNemD_Y2WKby3pVpcCIFLnZXHfGOUqWF7jlCAWel1jJen12OiybcX8vfk9fjA4/s1600/GEDC1073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVjs1QfrXM43Rsgu7FPdb6zewfKjxDw0cr48gUrpUlOst1ZcHidCbOH8_fencquH5x5tgyLvx8LyGIKNemD_Y2WKby3pVpcCIFLnZXHfGOUqWF7jlCAWel1jJen12OiybcX8vfk9fjA4/s320/GEDC1073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683946347482660306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8DGJPdD9O7WUWcrYeefOlLWRCzweMIGXVX2cvN97D9pLduHGg-Gsl98oE1c4YW_-eW8sqi8pi2vIqAxMAm6B6TQDMW2JH6RmrgJk2zNN-z8OPxoUcZvS6pHiTU2PuzQpQIc68MMmDg0/s1600/GEDC1070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8DGJPdD9O7WUWcrYeefOlLWRCzweMIGXVX2cvN97D9pLduHGg-Gsl98oE1c4YW_-eW8sqi8pi2vIqAxMAm6B6TQDMW2JH6RmrgJk2zNN-z8OPxoUcZvS6pHiTU2PuzQpQIc68MMmDg0/s320/GEDC1070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683946339648524834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII5bItEOgqqQB0hjR2I7s_vqaLRJ8ubHRXBDi98ohDMpUYMVYMNg8jp9T9ClPBsybM-WYWW-Xyx3UKLMkV237boHOLbROeI16ZLEU2fmicPC_YoXm1RGpdfCbkIX4yth_8pHaPKctHWY/s1600/GEDC1068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII5bItEOgqqQB0hjR2I7s_vqaLRJ8ubHRXBDi98ohDMpUYMVYMNg8jp9T9ClPBsybM-WYWW-Xyx3UKLMkV237boHOLbROeI16ZLEU2fmicPC_YoXm1RGpdfCbkIX4yth_8pHaPKctHWY/s320/GEDC1068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683946334242246978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUQv1leHdZlc8I8OiXBuAj78pzLCv5ZUBf1s2K8Mojr_FPAyKqXTeSDTzE_QYDkqRp1plyRaJNOHu1nvwHzV9ia9SK-vM8QJLedH_UH39oDxd2_A4Gdy5Lu6gn_G4sDGCZzcnYDEEKF8/s1600/GEDC1076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUQv1leHdZlc8I8OiXBuAj78pzLCv5ZUBf1s2K8Mojr_FPAyKqXTeSDTzE_QYDkqRp1plyRaJNOHu1nvwHzV9ia9SK-vM8QJLedH_UH39oDxd2_A4Gdy5Lu6gn_G4sDGCZzcnYDEEKF8/s320/GEDC1076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683946355395590978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYFlXniJxsn2ozmynsm11_9p0FaZNCUWzKLeASUIM2LlOIbuHUUwCRVi3jKca7ZhM4-BFA2xGK0dT5eukyu8XwomC6lRUd6_Flxl9n5EYggJvN-SqbDM3RdRv5pAGmS36Nfvos-AKre0/s1600/GEDC1043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYFlXniJxsn2ozmynsm11_9p0FaZNCUWzKLeASUIM2LlOIbuHUUwCRVi3jKca7ZhM4-BFA2xGK0dT5eukyu8XwomC6lRUd6_Flxl9n5EYggJvN-SqbDM3RdRv5pAGmS36Nfvos-AKre0/s320/GEDC1043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683944002091654722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJVJCGlrR8CON1y3pf8fCo6gKNfIa3F3bs-RH05UdfhaaYqsDdg8C-JIfokDxe49AridOVWxAOfgfsm99Smp0Uz6PjC9DAGcMIKIaYhFYQZyxhIM5owmarQjYUgeYr4Fdkrz8wknFE-c/s1600/GEDC1028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJVJCGlrR8CON1y3pf8fCo6gKNfIa3F3bs-RH05UdfhaaYqsDdg8C-JIfokDxe49AridOVWxAOfgfsm99Smp0Uz6PjC9DAGcMIKIaYhFYQZyxhIM5owmarQjYUgeYr4Fdkrz8wknFE-c/s320/GEDC1028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683943997131480434" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-34247976474828803412011-11-20T16:46:00.001-08:002011-11-20T17:01:29.908-08:003 MonthsQuentin turned 3 months old on the 9th.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_00ViPm0OtRrBzdLT7xf_ETW79nGaadYH1gee9ffDHPL8DY4A7Jv_7PNxCFOHyWGeSff_JIEbf8e_x-FjR7vvIKcoo4330hy5mGnHNPj_kn6c-9gKVbiEDDeey7_kd6aT2uMy9WW1Ts/s1600/GEDC0851.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_00ViPm0OtRrBzdLT7xf_ETW79nGaadYH1gee9ffDHPL8DY4A7Jv_7PNxCFOHyWGeSff_JIEbf8e_x-FjR7vvIKcoo4330hy5mGnHNPj_kn6c-9gKVbiEDDeey7_kd6aT2uMy9WW1Ts/s320/GEDC0851.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677246357366612146" /></a><br /><br />Where has the time gone?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaD7zwQMRcIqzBIrRbbhALUn4yH7Q2QJEG26dyskoYSNFqsYryfY9PBavCszgBJ1CRKBiVLG0kTKysdnYd8pOMFw5eLLNc5NB8YJ5IWfjXsUcQbAtnWMIF2B23ja_ziNWWyB_49YVXlU/s1600/GEDC0858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaD7zwQMRcIqzBIrRbbhALUn4yH7Q2QJEG26dyskoYSNFqsYryfY9PBavCszgBJ1CRKBiVLG0kTKysdnYd8pOMFw5eLLNc5NB8YJ5IWfjXsUcQbAtnWMIF2B23ja_ziNWWyB_49YVXlU/s320/GEDC0858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677246360333493746" /></a><br /><br />Life is adjusting to the "new normal". Quentin has become a very happy, and fun baby. He is still a highly sensitive and reactive baby. But I am understanding him better, and he has found that as long as he is held his world is a great place.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-51358769718449363372011-11-14T10:12:00.000-08:002011-11-14T10:40:24.233-08:00Happy Birthday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAI_R5-LHnyJFH-AUL_WqCVPQeaQi27aLXnyLLtAqeerDjeerHUqJcnXfO6vK0_FWn5tBWUgg_Ln_gweKnqFVY4p2w7xVxbZUdOnS_6DVXd7oOYHtbY6IXtV6ghHjrnSlXEht78_jwYs/s1600/GEDC0784.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAI_R5-LHnyJFH-AUL_WqCVPQeaQi27aLXnyLLtAqeerDjeerHUqJcnXfO6vK0_FWn5tBWUgg_Ln_gweKnqFVY4p2w7xVxbZUdOnS_6DVXd7oOYHtbY6IXtV6ghHjrnSlXEht78_jwYs/s320/GEDC0784.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674922889191926434" /></a><br />6 years ago, a tiny little baby girl was born in Bulgaria weighing just under 1 1/2 lbs. She was born to a mama who couldn't keep her, maybe because she was the 5th mouth to feed or maybe because she was so premature, just 27 weeks, that this mama knew she had to let her go to let her live. <br /><br />God's plans are perfect, and in His perfect wisdom He helped this tiny little baby girl to fight, and to survive not only such a premature birth in a poor country's hospital, but also 4 1/2 years in an orphanange that was understaffed, underfunded, and under educated on the needs of children with special needs. <br /><br />Today Miss Tavi John is celebrating her 2nd birthday with her forever family, her 6th anniversary of her birth. The day I met her I knew in my heart that God was right there in the room watching THIS mama meet her little girl for the first time. He was witnessing first hand the the fulfillment of His plan for Tavi to get HER family. As it says in Psalms 68:6 "He sets the lonely in families..." <br /><br />But that was not the end of Tavi's story. Rather it was just the beginning...<blockquote>For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11</blockquote><br /><br />We love our little Tavi. She is nutty, stubborn, musically gifted, smart as a tack, and fits in so beautifully with our "little bit crazy" family. I used to worry that bringing a blind child into our chaotic, loud, messy, crazy, big family might be an extremely hard adjustment. I can't imagine living in this household without my sight, but Tavi thrives in our family like she was born to it! And in fact ... SHE WAS. God's perfect plans, His careful attention to detail, He loving hands guiding us each step of the way on our journey to each other... Yes, she was born to be in our family.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Happy Birthday Little Tavi!!!<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEunH0YjhXnIji8NkuLoutR6lnOvWDWCCgn5zR8ialzPEu_kuoa_lRwyCKP9Z6W4zsySAhyew8by_P4jQ48o__qKRQuHmSY-C8xLzU5Y0WYsXhJyH-qwU0xdTFj3xG-ONc4WzP9jcd1Fc/s1600/GEDC0785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEunH0YjhXnIji8NkuLoutR6lnOvWDWCCgn5zR8ialzPEu_kuoa_lRwyCKP9Z6W4zsySAhyew8by_P4jQ48o__qKRQuHmSY-C8xLzU5Y0WYsXhJyH-qwU0xdTFj3xG-ONc4WzP9jcd1Fc/s320/GEDC0785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674920298255975506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3gpbSodV4hIwEKG9_jX_lh-hCVGqs2JzrIjIceH0BNV2HHxDRjEb2vm5G-EgfM8AUBlB3RGj8p6XnfU3uc6rbirgJDMsXlxieaSmA73aUtEH1t8ilocn5rzbhQZz2pCtk3X7TTlCNmA/s1600/GEDC0867.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3gpbSodV4hIwEKG9_jX_lh-hCVGqs2JzrIjIceH0BNV2HHxDRjEb2vm5G-EgfM8AUBlB3RGj8p6XnfU3uc6rbirgJDMsXlxieaSmA73aUtEH1t8ilocn5rzbhQZz2pCtk3X7TTlCNmA/s320/GEDC0867.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674920300666746514" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-90989960370256058682011-11-03T18:21:00.000-07:002011-11-03T19:17:32.381-07:00How Long Must I Wait....How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? <br /><br />It takes just over 46 hrs. to drive from Los Angeles, CA to Portland Maine. The Earth takes a year to go all the way around the sun. An Elephant is pregnant for 22 months. It takes an average for 5 years for a college degree. <br /><br />How long does it take for a child with Down syndrome, who lived the first 7 1/2 years in an understaffed, under funded orphanage to start acting like a typical almost 8 year old child with Down syndrome?<br /><br />You can find the answers to a whole lot of "How much time..." questions by using google. But no one can tell me how long it it going to take Yana to reach even simple developmental milestones. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiSq8KLiNiyPsh0aOrdfUXxkLbaMDSF-nqJOqw1Sl8D4tQHT6MRkCERh_ywwtG8-RgpYdDcTsUR_pjcr8LGt48xfuVG1LCXOHTzc2JX20gdO24RrrGxt52by4Mc6nDnCnWK-ppPTGu-w/s1600/GEDC0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiSq8KLiNiyPsh0aOrdfUXxkLbaMDSF-nqJOqw1Sl8D4tQHT6MRkCERh_ywwtG8-RgpYdDcTsUR_pjcr8LGt48xfuVG1LCXOHTzc2JX20gdO24RrrGxt52by4Mc6nDnCnWK-ppPTGu-w/s320/GEDC0020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670947897306216482" /></a><br /><br />Yana has been home for 16 months. It is hard most days for me to see how far she has come. Progress has been slow. So very, very, very blessed slow! <br /><br />She definitely has learned some about how to play one on one with another person. That has really helped her personality to shine through. She is willing to explore her surroundings on her own, and to search out a toy. Those are both things she would not do the first few months home. She open doors, climbs on furniture, and makes messes. She will give me "a big hug" or lean in for "kisses". She now makes some consonant sounds, but will not mimic. She has gotten much stronger and moves more purposefully. She has gone from weighing 24 lbs. to 35 lbs. She has been doing these things for a while now.<br /><br />She seemed to me to have plateaued. And I have found the waiting game, the game where I wonder "Is this all that is in store for her?" to be especially difficult. No one can give me the answer to "IS this it?". <br /><br />There are days I hate this journey. I love Yana, but I hate some of the issues we deal with in regards to her. I get so frustrated wondering just what expectations I should have for her on a daily basis, let alone for the future. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykgGX-lcKaP_tnzJT53Y3BE7dOgOm4hdX4ojvnE0F70nSPTblTqGA9YP_BQW96aNQ1J7fg3imXJ0Ja6gcnPzTItsepvC5OJwyhhL7_nEW_xlI7X334n0BejP_XH1tHzdudjmrQAubp50/s1600/GEDC0107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykgGX-lcKaP_tnzJT53Y3BE7dOgOm4hdX4ojvnE0F70nSPTblTqGA9YP_BQW96aNQ1J7fg3imXJ0Ja6gcnPzTItsepvC5OJwyhhL7_nEW_xlI7X334n0BejP_XH1tHzdudjmrQAubp50/s320/GEDC0107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670950437423069218" /></a><br /><br />Yana likes to make noises. Throat clearing, tongue clicking or sucking. Spitting "raspberries". Licking a toy or banging it on her teeth. After 10 hours of this each day on her "bad" days, I start feeling a little crazy. I end up so angry at her. WHY? WHY does she do this? EVEN when I sit and play with her she will continue making these noises. I can get her to quit with a firm "NO" or tap her on the mouth and she will stop for a short time only to come back with these noises with a vengeance. It drives every one of us crazy after a bit! Sometimes she goes to bed a lot earlier then the rest of us. There's just nothing else we can do. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwqhB9_lu5SXZfvO0bLjdWwso1s-wthxGXlZGKlZxSomjuBLCUCTt8-qFeEB_GOEkY3WFls-fi6tiwJXD_OEFTJ1sR2O9ZOB-BUJ3_R6y9RH-odCN_rfJEqhD_gX-M4FDSTfpzY2reao/s1600/GEDC0175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwqhB9_lu5SXZfvO0bLjdWwso1s-wthxGXlZGKlZxSomjuBLCUCTt8-qFeEB_GOEkY3WFls-fi6tiwJXD_OEFTJ1sR2O9ZOB-BUJ3_R6y9RH-odCN_rfJEqhD_gX-M4FDSTfpzY2reao/s320/GEDC0175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670952065825539922" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've been at my wits end lately with her. The "plateau" has loomed large and ominous before me for a while. There is some good news though. The last few weeks, baby steps have been made. My almost 9 year old daughter can now:<br /><br />1. Push large buttons or easy levers to make a toy work.<br /><br />2. Play pat-a-cake clapping her own hands or "Clap" when asked to as long as I touch her elbows.<br /><br />3. She can now wave BYE-BYE in response to someone saying it and waving as long as, again, I touch her elbow or arm.<br /><br />4. She can pat her head when asked "Where is your head?" most of the time. She can also "find" her nose about 70% of the time and can "blow kisses" about as often on command. Again, I have to touch or hold her arm. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq5dERtcPmwtrpO516vLRWcxT4g-urRGbQ0gheeT6co2AhLBIAqD31k2eHlhc9evVE08d0lPJPFSv8XyZmk9gieX1xmGvVTSX0FaycTmzEhWRO0WgWOANKntPXw27dsVUZVUWenHIVwU/s1600/GEDC0437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq5dERtcPmwtrpO516vLRWcxT4g-urRGbQ0gheeT6co2AhLBIAqD31k2eHlhc9evVE08d0lPJPFSv8XyZmk9gieX1xmGvVTSX0FaycTmzEhWRO0WgWOANKntPXw27dsVUZVUWenHIVwU/s320/GEDC0437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670953838514682354" /></a><br /><br />Progress has been made. They are all really good developmental steps to have reached... IF she was 1 or 2 or even 3. But she is almost 9. It took her over a year to learn how to clap her hands with me touching her elbows the whole time. OVER A YEAR. <br /><br />So how long will it take her to be even remotely close to age typical development? At the moment I would take her having all the skills of a 3 year old! Will she ever even reach a 3 year old level in all her skills? I really don't know. But I know that aiming low will not serve her well. <br /><br />She is my daughter. I try hard to not compare her to others that have come from her background. She seems some days to be alone in her fight... IS anyone out there struggling like my little girl? <br /><br />How long must we wait for things to turn and start moving more quickly? How long must we wait before she stops acting like she is mentally insane and trapped inside herself just because we go to the grocery store? How long must we wait before people stop assuming she is deaf and or blind because she will not acknowledge them? How long? How long? How long?<br /><br />How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? It is just a simple sucker. It's not even that big. How hard can this be to figure out? The best information I could find on Google was between 150 and 411 licks. I guess if they can't figure out an exact number for this question, then I'm not going to find an answer to my question of "How long will it take Yana to ....". <br /><br />Hope is a beautiful thing. So I hope. Each day I hope, because one day I might just have my answer!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk30KSb4wV87bXKCAqiUQy1AdcQ3ymkCExWkCfOridukkhyVSY4c5bifAt1bKqOiNGPppO_5oZHyxXhSwwiZAkKtbhNFzuG2FP0LKcV7_QGsusBUu1gdLj-5R0e-n9lzv-X97eB5MSgg/s1600/GEDC0645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk30KSb4wV87bXKCAqiUQy1AdcQ3ymkCExWkCfOridukkhyVSY4c5bifAt1bKqOiNGPppO_5oZHyxXhSwwiZAkKtbhNFzuG2FP0LKcV7_QGsusBUu1gdLj-5R0e-n9lzv-X97eB5MSgg/s320/GEDC0645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670957305055222882" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-44124893966245339322011-10-25T12:08:00.000-07:002011-10-25T13:45:05.572-07:00I Desire To Say Yes Each Morning....I always admire the bloggers that can share a peek into their lives with honesty. It is hard to put yourself out there, to let yourself be judged by people that have never met you, and even some of those that have. <br /><br />I have come to this blog many times in the past month or 2 typing out a post only to turn around and delete it. Honesty is important to me, and I am finding it easier to just smile and say nothing rather than throwing out the general "almost lie" of "it's all good."<br /><br />Right now life is hard. It's exhausting. And quite frankly for me and my personality, it's mind boggling! I can not wait for my head to hit the pillow at night so that for just a few hours I do not have to think about everything that needs thought of! I would saying I am headed for a mental breakdown, but who has the time for one of those? <br /><br />Some of the struggles I am facing are just a part of life, of kids growing up, of living in the world today. Some are more unique. I find myself not wanting to share too much. There is no one "safe" to share it with. No one that I know well enough that would really get it. So as a result I find myself desiring God more, turning to God more. HE is my shelter, my protector. I can hide in His shadow as I tell him everything, as I finally let myself have that well deserved mental breakdown. <br /><br />Strangely enough, or mayhap not so strange, that is a good thing. I NEED to seek God! I NEED God! I know God is not safe, but I know GOD'S HEART IS GOOD! I don't want safe anyway when it comes to GOD. I need someone bigger than safe. I need a fighter, a hero, a savior, a commander, a defender.... No safe is definitely not big enough! <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Some days having 2 kids currently requiring almost total care and facing a large number of unknowns in their future, <br /><br />an almost 6 year old that does not speak conversationally yet even though she's been home 15+ months, <br /><br />another almost 6 year old that is HYPER all the time and is ultra interested in cuss words, boy/ girl relationships, and back talks like a problem 16 year old, <br /><br />having my 17 year old son drop out of highschool because he just "can't do it anymore" and convincing/ forcing/ begging him to stick with the GED course he is taking and hating, <br /><br />my husband being extremely busy and working 12 hour days 6 days a week, <br /><br />my oldest a freshman in college and me trying to stay involved in her life so that she knows MOM is still there for her and that she will always belong here, <br /><br />my house is a mess, my yard is a disaster, my laundry pile is breeding, and so on and so on.... <br /><br />Life! It's going to kill me. [<span style="font-style:italic;">But I guess that's that point.</span> :)]</span><br /><br /> <br />So when I get asked the question <span style="font-style:italic;">"Do you think you guys are going to adopt again?"</span> Instead of a quick "probably" or a "We just finished our Homestudy.", as used to happen, there is a pause as I consider my words carefully. Yes, life is CRAZY. Yes, my mind might explode. Yes, there are inklings [okay, more like nuclear bombs of desire] for the easy road. Yes, I am constantly saying I can not fit one more thing into my days right now. Yes, I might forget that my youngest ones haven't had a bath in over a week. Yes, we might eat McDonalds or Ramen noodles more than I am willing to admit. Yes, there is enough dog hair on my wood floor to warmly stuff a comforter cover for the coldest winter on record. And so on, and so on.... And still the answer that comes out of my mouth...is YES. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">YES! YES! YES! YES! </span> Now, don't get excited. Let me qualify that answer. That YES is for GOD. Not long after we adopted Luke, in talking to God, I promised Him that my answer would always be YES. Whomever the child, whatever the situation, my answer is YES. My home, my heart, my arms will forever remain open. He gave me a mothers heart, and I am so very, very thankful for that. <br /><br />IN the craziness of life I can lose sight of all that though. Lately the things I am reading, the sermons that I hear, the quotes that I find... they all come back to the fact that GOD called me onto the mission field of being MOM. He is talking to me, He is rejuvenating my tired heart. He is reminding me of bigger pictures and grander plans. I need HIM so much, and He loves me enough to make it obvious. ;). <br /><br />Trusting Him with the outcome, I say YES each morning. <br /><br />.............................................................<br /><br />ON a side note, Quentin is doing fantastic! He is growing so big! He is rolling over. He is sleeping at night like a champ! He is happy and healthy. He brings me an overwhelming amount of joy each day. I could brag about him for hours! <br /><br />Here he is at about 2 1/2 months old:<br /><br />He is very strong for 2 months!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK9vJu1GUQGyolUVVSYE8C96wvzVcibF9z42px3Bc9YsiYM_QJ_eqCZD-4jaVNizdIFK7i2MeQukCc5N_D4Gb_5Ui8FErrdwPP0UkaGx14jaNbgayeA6o1wDHnlGa0QVDPfa7_69JVbc/s1600/GEDC0755.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK9vJu1GUQGyolUVVSYE8C96wvzVcibF9z42px3Bc9YsiYM_QJ_eqCZD-4jaVNizdIFK7i2MeQukCc5N_D4Gb_5Ui8FErrdwPP0UkaGx14jaNbgayeA6o1wDHnlGa0QVDPfa7_69JVbc/s320/GEDC0755.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667528249147767506" /></a><br /><br />His shunt has finally stopped looking like a vienna sausage on his head!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJe_UuCpv3RLqTi8hy1odsEoa-Ge0l6gcUht7cqCXZ0iAPrkjjQN30c5Gil8dKOfbKso-V9gLlxKdhUBVmoKrsCACLoWCfHJbtiClKUVa-pE_dLz7MQwI9HStFZDSJrR-gGp7ZBQyoFQ/s1600/GEDC0752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJe_UuCpv3RLqTi8hy1odsEoa-Ge0l6gcUht7cqCXZ0iAPrkjjQN30c5Gil8dKOfbKso-V9gLlxKdhUBVmoKrsCACLoWCfHJbtiClKUVa-pE_dLz7MQwI9HStFZDSJrR-gGp7ZBQyoFQ/s320/GEDC0752.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667528238999105378" /></a><br /><br />Isn't he just adorable?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCos2aDsbai2ttB9QXWF-b7j5b0CdnPMTIr44Cxs1T_hg_77kawHHYH5FdTuQtoYdXsSiHwqcddnun0IQkSdty4eC-F25MSnRrQbEbJyGh_MsNp06VeFTlCiTyJZS6WyxN9kh1I3eRlw/s1600/GEDC0721.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCos2aDsbai2ttB9QXWF-b7j5b0CdnPMTIr44Cxs1T_hg_77kawHHYH5FdTuQtoYdXsSiHwqcddnun0IQkSdty4eC-F25MSnRrQbEbJyGh_MsNp06VeFTlCiTyJZS6WyxN9kh1I3eRlw/s320/GEDC0721.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667528232822300162" /></a><br /><br />A rare smile. He'd rather talk to you then smile at you. And this crooked little half smile? It's going to melt some girls heart someday. It's already melted mine. :) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMb6w0Tq-_2I-0NDDk0BmP7rRjmJ-F5_rNa6g1UzOlPb4D6xTlAcJlbCXFkZWsFciod2XjJELKE5zGTsfYtDfybh87V6TXdiUpwh_s9dIZZZf83VlMaTRbvYty6Egw3uLPBqGj3-FWD5Q/s1600/GEDC0708.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMb6w0Tq-_2I-0NDDk0BmP7rRjmJ-F5_rNa6g1UzOlPb4D6xTlAcJlbCXFkZWsFciod2XjJELKE5zGTsfYtDfybh87V6TXdiUpwh_s9dIZZZf83VlMaTRbvYty6Egw3uLPBqGj3-FWD5Q/s320/GEDC0708.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667528229859816802" /></a><br /><br />Here is his back. It is healing slowly but surely. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1zo77na-2XxE5GJOiLn2mAANEwxdGi-segZeCkibmVtkg9Ss4RJcn3BbHwrvez5favPnISczbpywlyLv33f70S7QRwnzwEl_mN_wAIMWUWUc7gXySGyRswIxDlxZlL5jhzkE1yAyjjA/s1600/GEDC0707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1zo77na-2XxE5GJOiLn2mAANEwxdGi-segZeCkibmVtkg9Ss4RJcn3BbHwrvez5favPnISczbpywlyLv33f70S7QRwnzwEl_mN_wAIMWUWUc7gXySGyRswIxDlxZlL5jhzkE1yAyjjA/s320/GEDC0707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667528271053427474" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-39156652511053568752011-09-05T09:42:00.000-07:002011-09-05T10:18:26.679-07:00Number 10!Wow, talk about a dead blog! Life has just been so busy, I have hardly had time to organize my mind enough for a decent post. Admittedly, I have found Facebook a much quicker and easier way to keep everyone updated [because I know that they wake each day filled with excitement at what my witty or interesting status will be! .... NOT!]. <br /><br />But for those of you that are not on Facebook and have been wondering about my family, I have the best news to share with you! Yes, we have adopted again! A little boy, making our family a mix of 6 boys and 4 girls, currently ages 18 years - 4 weeks. :) NEVER in my life did I think I would say "I have 10 kids!". But I am so happy that I can say that now! <br /><br />Quentin was adopted domestically. We were matched with him on the 18th of August and he came home on the 31st. He spent his first 3 weeks of life in the hospital because of being born with Spina Bifida. He is home now though, and is doing so well! <br /><br />Are we intimidated? Yes. But not so that we are staying up all night worrying. I firmly believe God led us to this little boy, and I firmly believe whatever challenges we meet, He will be surrounding us with his strength, love, and compassion. <br /><br />It's beautiful, God's hands in adoption. I have never been able to, nor do I want to, separate God and adoption. It is the culmination of all the love in His heart! A perfect picture of a perfect love! <br /><br />There is more to share about how Quentin is a part of our family. But I am not ready to share all of it just yet, I find I am wanting to hold that in my heart and reminisce with my Heavenly Father about it some more. There is much there, and it is worthy of sharing. But not yet...<br /><br />So here he is! Our little boy! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Quentin Tristen Thomas Mayden</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HbxCYydFEutoc4o1IbNT7MSstWY8BGi7jxbkv_5CJj9h_Vb76RRexRLbT2b_pDUAzIwoLn57Mex-nCvyg6YzodpMd_V2fw53qZpay3Ow_ugVxbISX13FFEUhw5iqAb5zWmp5qpZiyM/s1600/GEDC0511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HbxCYydFEutoc4o1IbNT7MSstWY8BGi7jxbkv_5CJj9h_Vb76RRexRLbT2b_pDUAzIwoLn57Mex-nCvyg6YzodpMd_V2fw53qZpay3Ow_ugVxbISX13FFEUhw5iqAb5zWmp5qpZiyM/s320/GEDC0511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648923427507517602" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5W8N9kzWAHlpjOqGWsr22IMf5g25fxW_29Q1o9lm3VjbGZ0YE_hcZ_PBL4eC_bqLirZBbaCqNFoceOj6AQ9BDThOQlrrDuq3xosrskOFzsrdoLBtsP_75KRBYyVPZWcVOtEUlA7_rSs/s1600/GEDC0528.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5W8N9kzWAHlpjOqGWsr22IMf5g25fxW_29Q1o9lm3VjbGZ0YE_hcZ_PBL4eC_bqLirZBbaCqNFoceOj6AQ9BDThOQlrrDuq3xosrskOFzsrdoLBtsP_75KRBYyVPZWcVOtEUlA7_rSs/s320/GEDC0528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648923431352169154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_r7hyphenhyphenUl-aOWtsNw9MsDh7Fus6c3OJkHW8bOzUHiNs01HUAEMkeCSNkE-0AyUjkmMLfUl8_BUJZaESzfb4moodjqAR_PjdryNYKlkXR4IUrsuQgkjSwKxRRpfDO9bo-I2aFVWxAodaPM/s1600/GEDC0519.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_r7hyphenhyphenUl-aOWtsNw9MsDh7Fus6c3OJkHW8bOzUHiNs01HUAEMkeCSNkE-0AyUjkmMLfUl8_BUJZaESzfb4moodjqAR_PjdryNYKlkXR4IUrsuQgkjSwKxRRpfDO9bo-I2aFVWxAodaPM/s320/GEDC0519.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648925522272574194" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-41444676064056848912011-05-05T12:06:00.000-07:002011-05-06T20:38:03.212-07:00Come The Spring...Yana was born in winter. It was March 20, 2003, but for her there was no coming thaw. There was no first flower of spring. There were not fresh rains washing the cold and dirt of winter away. There was no warm sunshine on her face, no gentle breeze blowing her hair. <br /><br />For Yana there were the four walls of a crib. There were bottles hastily shoved into her mouth from out of no where. There was crying out for attention until hope was lost and she was silent. There was no familiar face, there were no recipricated smiles. <br /><br />There were just the same four walls of a room she very rarely left, most of the time was spent in the same four walls of her crib. There was no variety in her diet, just like there was no variety in her life. It was stale, dark, cold,[or very hot], and silent. <br /><br />Death permeated the air. The death of hearts that had given up or become hardened. The death of hope as no child's cry was answered. The death of joy as there was nothing to look forward to. The death of little souls as they waited for their savior who sometimes only came in the form of a lonely, and sometimes painful death. <br /><br />Let's face it, winter sucks for the young when there is no hope of spring, no hope of sunshine on their face, no hope of a gentle snow to cover up all that has died and become stale and ugly.<br /><br />But there is something amazing that is happening. Yana doesn't live in a winter atmosphere anymore. The ugliness has been replaced. There is sunshine, and gentle breezes, joy and hope, smiling faces that always answer a cry or a need, and there are celebrations all day long!<br /><br />Spring has sprung, and like the grave could not hold my savior, winters shadows can not hold my Yana. <br /><br /> <blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Blossom by blossom the spring begins"<br />Author: Algernon Charles Swinburne </span></blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">So many blossoms on my beautiful Yana flower!<br /> <br />blossom #1. She constantly seeks attention. You can not sit down w/o Yana crawling over and up into your lap. She then proceeds to make herself comfortable and often is very demanding in you paying attention to her. All this from a child that you had to all but beg to interact with you.... All this from a child that showed no independant thought.<br /><br />blossom #2. WE have language comprehension!!! Yana literally had NO language, Bulgarian or English. She understood nothing and it meant nothing to her. Now I can definitely say that is not the case. I KNOW she understands at least 7 questions/phrases. I am sure there are more coming, but she is getting it! And I am putting the phrases/questions to actions/signs on her part so she can start to show me what she wants! <br /><br />blossom #3. She LAYS her head down on my shoulder as I sing her songs before tucking her into bed! I LOVE IT! <br /><br />blossom #4. She CRIES many mornings when she is awake and will break into smiles and giggles when I come into her room! <br /><br />blossom #5. Eye contact, eye contact, eye contact.... it is happening more and more!<br /><br />blossome #6. She loves to crawl quickly to the door if someone goes out of it and tries to go out herself. :) <br /><br />blossom #7. She shows a MARKED preference for her family. AND shows an interest in where they go if they leave her. <br /></span><br />So many things are happening... she knows so much more than she did just 9 months ago. Within the love of her family, she is aware, alert, interactive, purposeful, and communicative. She is blossoming. <br /><br />Winter has lost it grip. Spring has come!<br /><br />I could watch her all day long! Enjoy some spring blossoms with me. :) <br /><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yGWBx3gm4IE?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-3275667091006400432011-05-01T12:38:00.000-07:002011-05-01T12:46:40.725-07:00Featured Child....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Rita01-1-225x300.jpg.pagespeed.ce.FWwxWkWKBW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Rita01-1-225x300.jpg.pagespeed.ce.FWwxWkWKBW.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/bethany">BETHANY</a><br /><br /><blockquote>December 2006<br />Osteogenesis Imperfecta<br /><br /> <br />From volunteers who met her: This radiant girl lives in a Russian orphanage. She suffers from OI, Group 3. She was bedridden for the most of her life; until she was almost 4 years old she could not sit and could not turn over. She had multiple bones broken by simply moving around in bed. Only one year ago volunteers found her in a cast from head to toe. They have begun raising money for her rehabilitation in the American Medical Center in Moscow. As a result, she is now sitting vertically first time in her life. The first time she was able to look out the window, she saw the bleak Moscow landscape of late November and there was no limit for her joy! She takes such pleasure in being able to see that the street cleaning guy has a “soft” hat and that birds are “fuzzy .” Despite having such a handicapped childhood, Bethany is unbelievably bright. At three and a half she knew all colors, 1 to 10 numbers, could recite many children rhymes, and she has a perfect music pitch! According to the nurses, Bethany radiates positivism and humor to such degree that children from the hospital gather in her room for a good laugh, a song, or a story. When it was time for her to leave the hospital and to part with the nurses, she broke down crying for the first time, despite all the physical pain of the hospital procedures. She desperately wants to belong, to be part of a family.<br /> <br />More information is available for interested families. Potential families must have good medical coverage and be comfortable financially.</blockquote><br /><br />**** Where is her mommy? I can just imagine the bright light of her soul locked inside a body that is not getting the help it needs? Where is the family that will set her free?Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-38483163562692263892011-04-23T13:24:00.001-07:002011-04-23T13:31:26.064-07:00Hugs and KissesI LOVE this little girl!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybwkxMOVyxk1vlNYtItX6vgFR0WdVyBpX9uKi2fpPqdxic8r7WOlFrOREoM_Tyt320y0ynrgk-LAXhe3m4l9jVmLcJVSvwyM3vJitgMqm0Kbo_Y_gw-4jb9YoxKIfUGYreVkOqdHqk0A/s1600/100_4240.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybwkxMOVyxk1vlNYtItX6vgFR0WdVyBpX9uKi2fpPqdxic8r7WOlFrOREoM_Tyt320y0ynrgk-LAXhe3m4l9jVmLcJVSvwyM3vJitgMqm0Kbo_Y_gw-4jb9YoxKIfUGYreVkOqdHqk0A/s400/100_4240.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598877918284622114" /></a><br /><br />NO matter my mood, a hug or kiss from Yana and I am always just a little bit happier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGm05VO8tMnxbY5KWTdmtzasDdlIAMZLUeYHUUqlgdL6TUg3iyLDExCHbbJM8zGVZCk0Cm_B3bvKGz6CHajSwpwNtINEjGOQFlTvjl6ZvSrf2b_je2iqOhvzCNUfzffp_kIxCIpMEWJA/s1600/100_4239.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGm05VO8tMnxbY5KWTdmtzasDdlIAMZLUeYHUUqlgdL6TUg3iyLDExCHbbJM8zGVZCk0Cm_B3bvKGz6CHajSwpwNtINEjGOQFlTvjl6ZvSrf2b_je2iqOhvzCNUfzffp_kIxCIpMEWJA/s400/100_4239.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598877912429752194" /></a><br /><br /><blockquote>"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him."<br /><br /> Pablo Casals</blockquote>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-29183385302011324292011-03-28T10:30:00.000-07:002011-03-28T11:36:43.153-07:00Adoption 101Spend time teaching your newly adopted kids. It is all to easy to get caught up in the caretaking aspect, and forget the mommy aspect of knowing what makes your kids tick. What they really enjoy, and what they don't. <br /><br />You need to spend time becoming their mom which means that you are on the floor figuring out what is going on inside their mind and how to get in there. You deserve to know your child better than their therapist, their teachers, their Doctors or specialists, their paras, and so on. <br /><br />It will take time, and lots of trial and error... but to really feel like and be "mom" you have to be fully committed, fully involved, fully engaged, and then when your 8 year old daughter with Down syndr, who came home not knowing anything but how to survive, touches her nose in response to your question "Where is your nose?" for the first time you will be<span style="font-weight:bold;"> over the moon happy</span>! You will KNOW that you are beginning to figure her out and that you are her mom because there just isn't anyone as giddy about it as you are in that moment! <br /><br />************<br /><br />And just for fun, here is a pic of my girls, Riley 18, Quincy 11, Yana 8, and Tavi 5. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbLi8ohqdPGcT7QpgRgu6R-1CMNEPDYMIQ63CsQ6LWwJaSpB8fvHgXh7bnewzrVAV_mCa_ywIWkF2CUQsBgdby1p-A_sVe4YMuyTDKRpYD8YeD1FOQUgP6Ipz_jdN8785Avf-vZNlGu0/s1600/dsc00660.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbLi8ohqdPGcT7QpgRgu6R-1CMNEPDYMIQ63CsQ6LWwJaSpB8fvHgXh7bnewzrVAV_mCa_ywIWkF2CUQsBgdby1p-A_sVe4YMuyTDKRpYD8YeD1FOQUgP6Ipz_jdN8785Avf-vZNlGu0/s320/dsc00660.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589201215497845314" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-12148829748385968052011-03-27T17:38:00.000-07:002011-03-27T17:56:48.088-07:00My Heart Hurts....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nathaniel-4-225x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nathaniel-4-225x300.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Boy, Born August 2010<br /><br />Goog grief, I do not know why they must leave these children left to suffer like this! Maybe they do not feel comfortable enough with their own surgical expertise, but this child needs surgery and a family of his own, and NOW! <br /><br />From his medical records: hydrocephaly<br /><br />More photos available, married couples only. </span></blockquote><br /><br />My arms are aching to hold him and bring him the care and help he needs! He is in Eastern Europe. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Jesus, please send his family now! </span> <br /><br />If you are his mama, please visit this link! <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/nathaniel410">NATHANIEL</a><br /><br />There are no words in me at this moment, only prayer....Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-64247945859507672322011-03-21T12:09:00.000-07:002011-03-21T12:18:42.594-07:00It's A Celebration!<span style="font-weight:bold;">My little Yana turned 8 years old yesterday [03/20/2011]. And today is World Down syndrome day! Thank you Jesus for bringing this little one into our lives! Our family is better for her being a part of it!<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaoKLBjAYyetUzfSSU8V71nf1v-0Nk7RRM15R-RBn1OUd7byLTKBbQO99u8Wna46SfkgScCmyfMHPlduqBDahGpW8ciVjsNJ_NlfcUdkVGwovadM9fvJxbCTmAdZ2qxOd1xlSIRJEYio/s1600/dsc00684.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaoKLBjAYyetUzfSSU8V71nf1v-0Nk7RRM15R-RBn1OUd7byLTKBbQO99u8Wna46SfkgScCmyfMHPlduqBDahGpW8ciVjsNJ_NlfcUdkVGwovadM9fvJxbCTmAdZ2qxOd1xlSIRJEYio/s400/dsc00684.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586613506631052290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqojrq_XKI99ILcVBH6pfI-iqer9-_vZxLPPpPfNMcV0eNcaNLcCcj23r21c9-X6Yafl5DuMU-q2QooF-sdBWnuKFgaTxEjo4xXZDEBeyWPgEVe6U3xMBqnSzsDbtt__7MXqA9WOTcEw/s1600/dsc00710.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqojrq_XKI99ILcVBH6pfI-iqer9-_vZxLPPpPfNMcV0eNcaNLcCcj23r21c9-X6Yafl5DuMU-q2QooF-sdBWnuKFgaTxEjo4xXZDEBeyWPgEVe6U3xMBqnSzsDbtt__7MXqA9WOTcEw/s400/dsc00710.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586614654555260370" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-53228731374388718072011-03-09T11:27:00.000-08:002011-03-09T12:46:56.200-08:00Lets Keep It Real....Honesty? Bleck... I hate keeping it real on this blog. To many people read it that I probably put up a pretty good front for. Well, actually I guess it is not really a front, it is just a matter of only sharing and showing the good stuff. And the good stuff is real, but so is that hard stuff, and that is what I don't like to share.<br /><br />But sharing the hard stuff is important. It is important because I have found it is all to easy to feel isolated in the struggles one has with raising kids, let alone raising children adopted from orphanges over seas and those same children with disabilities that make progress even harder, and ever sweeter! [Was that a run on sentence? ;)]<br /><br />The girls have been home from Bulgaria for 8 months now. Lets start with the GOOD, well the <span style="font-weight: bold;">FABULOUS</span> really. <br /><br />Miss Yana is doing amazingly well! I mean, truly, sincerely, completely, and honestly WELL! She has my heart and I feel like I am almost at 100% of having that genuine "mommy" feeling towards her at all times. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTP3zCf1L3RLL7CNg65QJubEbC70ZJ8NmsB763IEKhvfg5AtET9X8pFdIwp1C9e5uTNy-RfTq7mHB3OS5DpdLngQ3NI8kTXEXt2bGiQh2k7t8G4_5K6_OAynqVY2SUz4w6yNlXr75PZM/s1600/dsc00567.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTP3zCf1L3RLL7CNg65QJubEbC70ZJ8NmsB763IEKhvfg5AtET9X8pFdIwp1C9e5uTNy-RfTq7mHB3OS5DpdLngQ3NI8kTXEXt2bGiQh2k7t8G4_5K6_OAynqVY2SUz4w6yNlXr75PZM/s320/dsc00567.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582171979296395842" border="0"></a><br /><br />I know we all like to think that in adoption, one that we worked so hard to make happen, and waited so long for, that that "mommy feeling" is immediate and overwhelming and solid. <span style="font-style: italic;">Well, are you sitting down? </span> Because I am here to tell you "that ain't the way it is!". <br /><br />You see, first it starts with a overwhelmingly tender feeling every time you dream of your little one or look at their picture. Then you meet them, and most times you still have the feeling. Then you have them home and it is one moment at a time... sometimes you love them so much it hurts and sometimes you feel like you are babysitting someone else's kid and truth be told, a really strange and unlikeable kid at that! [And that is just the highly condensed version!] [<span style="font-style: italic;">I will add that this was with the adoption of the 3 that were older. Luke, adopted as an infant, took all of about 5 seconds to win 100% of my heart. That is the blessing of newborn adoption. </span>:)]<br /><br />Relationships take time. Building good memories to get you through the hard moments and days and weeks takes time. Getting to know someone, knowing them in a way that someone else doesn't takes time. Letting love grow from a choice into a genuine feeling takes time. <span style="font-weight: bold;">And to make things harder yet, there is no time line for how much time it takes! </span><br /><br />Now back to miss Yana. I love this little girl!! Her smiles make me smile, her joy fills my heart with joy, her achievments no matter how small make me want to shout and do the Arsenio Hall "Wuh, wuh, wuh" with my fist. <br /><br />I find it amazing that this little girl, who had NO ONE for 7 1/2 years, who attached to no one, who had no communication besides crying when hungry is following her MAMA ALL OVER THE HOUSE. She wants attention and she wants it now! If mama isn't home, then she will find someone... usually her big sister Quincy who is a sucker like me and picks her up all the time! :)<br /><br />She is getting so strong. She now will slap our hands to play pat-a-cake and other games. No more wimpy, half hearted attempts. She crawls very quickly and does not seem to tire easily. She is learning to be pulled to a standing position by bending her knees! That is huge! I am trying to teach her to bounce, but she doesn't seem to have the knee muscles yet... She will stand for just a couple of seconds, sometimes as much as 10 if she doesn't realize it :). Her personality is jsut growing by leaps and bounds. She makes eye contact, demands engagement, and knows what she wants. She will crawl to her highcghair when hungry. She will search for a specific toy, even remembering sometimes where she last saw it! She is making many letter sounds, and almost has me convinced she says her name. She did not make any sounds beside hissing and spitting and grunting when she came home except randomly on accident it seemed. <br /><br />Our little girl who had no personality, no opinion, no autonomy is becoming an assertive, engaging, opinionated ball of joy within the safety and love of HER family! She is alive and loving it!!<br /><br />She has such a long way to go though. She still only eats from a bottle. She needs to learn to walk. Potty training ... well we don't need to discuss what isn't happening do we? ;) The fact is she is doing great, and while occassionally I still get worn out with all the annoying, and sometimes embarrassing orphange behaviors... She is my daughter in my heart and I find her amazing. It seemed like a long road to this point, but looking back it seems to have flown by. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8wMCjxiqAZSRCZiguWujdkbgYU1LFzzeZDGVgtypMmIjBJ5GugI2f_-zXFi-xTkMIZB0Wxqwi1PZUl-zxO-ptzKhCuOfE970EDiNZBhbau8K3hMJinicuUXTpYXCmL-yt9d1NjEy9wE/s1600/dsc00557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8wMCjxiqAZSRCZiguWujdkbgYU1LFzzeZDGVgtypMmIjBJ5GugI2f_-zXFi-xTkMIZB0Wxqwi1PZUl-zxO-ptzKhCuOfE970EDiNZBhbau8K3hMJinicuUXTpYXCmL-yt9d1NjEy9wE/s320/dsc00557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582171979919387858" border="0"></a><br /><br />............................................<br /><br />Now for the hard. Little Miss Tavi. I will start by saying things are going well. And maybe if I didn't have the twin process of Yana to compare it to I would even say things are going great!? But I can't say that for sure.<br /><br />The thing is Tavi was "supposed" to be able to bond better. At least according to all the text books and articles I read. She did have a special caregiver. She was favored by orphanage staff, adored by some. She received better nutrition, was in a good group of kids, and got around very well. <br /><br />But she is not bonding well. Her emotions are not engaged. Oh she shows happiness readily enough. She even cries sometimes. But not really when she should. If she gets "yelled at" or "in time out" or some other thing that conveys displeasure she appears clueless.... sometimes she will draw into herself a little bit, but not much. If she gets hurt she will occassionally cry, or laugh, or hit herself and laugh... but that is the exception not the norm.<br /><br />She appears to LOVE everyone. She is so exicted to be picked up by someone new. She does not like coming back to me. I know that some people take this as she loves them to pieces, and I like to see Tavi happy, but I do get irritated to and want to say "You know, she really doesn't care about you at all..." <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I CRAVE a sincere emotion from my 5 year old daughter. I CRAVE REAL interaction from her. My heart is longing for her to see me as more than the constant care taker who represent sameness, boring routine, been there done that kind of things.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I dont' care if it is extreme dislike, I just want it to be genuine.</span> <br /><br />She is still living in her shell, and I am constantly brain storming and searching for a trigger to let her break free. She is a sensory addict. She craves tactile input. She loves to be thrown in the air, spun around, wrestled with, snuggled up tight, rocked, carried around like she's riding a pony and so on. <br /><br />She is obsessed with that stuff so much, from absolutely anyone, that I am developing an aversion to interacting with her like that. How's that for real? :( <br /><br />It is such a hard thing to figure out. I know the rules of no holding or hugs except from immediate family... but when you can not see, and your eyes are your other senses, esp. touch... what is the answer? <br /><br />Part of me knows I just need to give it more time. I really hate that word! How many times do we have to "give it more time" in the adoption world?! <br /><br />She is a brave and independent little girl. She will roam around most new places securely figuring out her environment. But then, if you put her on the potty, or in a chair or on the floor in a way that conveys "break time" she will sit frozen and I am guessing for HOURS! The most I have given it is 45 minutes! I just want to scream at her sometimes to "be normal". But again, I know to "give it time." <br /><br />Now just let me say, my heart loves her dearly, but the fact is choosing to love her happens still more often than being overcome with that "mommy feeling" towards her. I don't like it, but that is the way things are. <br /><br />And I am confident that time will work things out. I have been praying about the relationship Tavi and I have often lately. I am confident that God is not only listening, but working things out for the good of my family! <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />I am her mommy. She has me for life.</span> I guess you could say she "had me at hello". She will find herself someday. She will have her whole family behind her every step of the way! <br /><br />Love is growing, it is just still under construction. The paint is still wet. The Lord just isn't finished yet. <br /><br />Being confident of the outcome can still leave me quite emotionally spent in the process though. So in an effort to encourage others, in an effort to encourage international adoption, in an effort to communicate real struggles I decided to share a bit of my heart. <br /><br />But even with all my scattered emotions, Tavi John still does amaze me! So here is another piano concert for you all to enjoy! :) <br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sVDMz7tV-TY?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sVDMz7tV-TY?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-70959726890183081452011-03-04T13:49:00.000-08:002011-03-04T13:55:23.040-08:00You can't keep him tied down....Luke is my free spirit. My go getter. My child without an off button. He has been this way since he was born. He has got to move, sitting still just doesn't agree with him. <br /><br />He turned 5 on February 28th. I really don't know where the time has gone. It seems to have moved as fast as he does. <br /><br />He is the spoiled little brother of many older siblings. We are all guilty of it. We just couldn't help ourselves. :)<br /><br />But he is a mighty little boy, and each night he has me pray for him to have good dreams, and to ask God to help him become a mighty man of God who is bold in his love for God.<br /><br />Watch out world... Luke is coming!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwl1j1uZUBfnGfPhmNY0LOnij2uCjyG4Lwl0180kI5Xs12NjEZLXqIF0zyfRjVr71fpUSrAcmZzUMW9_Pk81Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438218735737396117.post-679623169939393542011-02-25T15:23:00.000-08:002011-02-25T15:26:03.939-08:00How Did I Miss The Point?!If you have a couple minutes, please read. Forgive me God, I thought it was about spiritual and tangible gifts, selfishness, greed.... I didn't understand you were showing me your hearts desire!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=2%2F25%2F2011">http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=2/25/2011</a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780602398588917246noreply@blogger.com0