Heart

I just had to share with y'all this photo of my beautiful daughter!

To think she was orphaned because of one minor medical issue,

that her birthparents could not afford the surgeries she needs.

What a beautiful little girl she is ...

inside and out!

Our social worker calls Jailyn, 

the poster child for Special Needs International Adoption

and this just might be the poster we use!

Thank you Laura for capturing her amazing spirit!

Thank you Jesus for bringing her home to us!

We love you Jailyn Hope!

and the winner is...

Congratulations Pam F!!!!

Please email me your address so I can send you

your very own copy of 

Jesus Calling.

I know you are going to love it!

And for those who shared with me that you are specifically praying this month 

and asking,

What does God want me to do in the life of an orphan,

please know that I am praying for you daily,

sometimes two and three times a day. 

If you have any new specifics you would like to share

as we continue to pray, please feel free to let me know.

  

Busy, busy, busy...

We had a wonderfully busy weekend! 

I love weekends like this! 

Busy and all together! 

(well, at least most of us together)

We got to see Donovan play in three soccer games,

we got to hang out at the soccer fields and make 

some crafts and have our faces painted,

cleaned up from soccer at a nearby splash park,

we watched movies at home,

we went to church,

enjoyed an ice cream party with Jorja's soccer team,

and 

watched Jailyn preform with her team 

at gymnastics.
and then I even got to go have dinner with some fun gym mom's!

Busy, Busy Busy...

Fun, Fun, Fun...

and so sad that I forgot my camera all day on Saturday.

Bad Mom! 

But got some cute photos on Sunday. 

Purple ice cream that make tongues purple is always fun!

Jorja got the Fast Break award for her 

speed on the soccer field! 

Well deserved Jorja!!

And Jailyn lovin' being at her gym!

I just love how she looks up to the older girls!

They are such positive role models!

And remember - today is the last day to put your name in for 

the give-a-way of the devotional 

"Jesus Calling"! 

 
Hope y'all had a great weekend! 

Give A Way!!!

Just because we I love this devotional book,

and I'd love to share with someone!

So, 

if you would like to put your name in the hat for this 

devotional -

feel free to leave a comment here or 

on my fb 

or just email me

before Tuesday May 21st,

and I'll add your name and I'll put your name 

in the drawing!

Beyond measure

My boy has endured more pain then any one should endure.

 My boy hides in his quiet world.

 But, when he is ready to love and be loved 

he knows that he can lean on his family.

Grateful to God today that my baby boy is in our arms

and will grow knowing that he is incredible, amazing,

special, and loved beyond measure!

Missing eggs?

Where should a momma look

when she realizes there are two eggs missing.

???????

To the backyard of course!

Sweet Elijah just loves spring time and
 is bound and determined to

have a pet birdie!

Ooops one egg got stepped on by the dog -

guess we learned why birds build their nests 

high in the trees.

The hardest part of obedience...

I have struggled with obedience to God in many areas,

but in one specific area I have tried, 

things have gone okay -

and then I have given up and gone back to disobedience.

Why?

Why?

Why? 

Cause I only gave it to God for that moment in time. 

I had my way and told myself that was all God was asking of me.

Only now,

God is speaking soooo loudly to me and to hubby,

I'm thinking if we don't obey we may get struck by lightening.

(just kidding but you know what I mean!) 

The hardest part of obedience is to admit I am disobedient.

To admit that I am not in control 

and that I need to humble myself and truly let God us me

in this way that HE is asking.

To totally sacrifice what I think I need in my daily life for HIM.

I would be glad to share more soon - 

but hubby and I have a lot more praying to do -

guidance to ask for,

peace to receive

and joy to be found. 

I Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, 

that HE may life you up in due time. 

 Cast all your anxiety on HIM because

 HE cares for you.

Brothers...

Cause I just love these boys!!!

Amazingly grateful to be called "Momma"!

Mother's Day...

Remember when Mother's Day was the one special day

of the year,

the kids would let me dress them matching,

we would have steak and potatoes at a restaurant!

(cause I'm a meat and potatoes kinda' gal)

Wow! I remember that!

For the past many years, including this year, one or two of the kids have played 

in a soccer tournament on Mother's Day weekend...

which still isn't bad for me -

relaxing on the sidelines, not doing laundry...

no problem!!

But, Mother's Day brings deeper conversations with our adopted children.

I want to use this day to show our kids that we respect their biological families,
especially their mothers.
And I hope this will help their hearts that need healing.

I decided to ask our little ones to begin a Mother's Day journal.

I am asking them to write a letter, 

 a poem,

a story,

or even draw a picture

for their biological moms. 

(Donovan is the only one who really knew his mother-

and his memory of her is fading.)

I know this will be harder for some of my kids then others,

but I think as the years go on -

they may appreciate re-reading the thoughts they have had.

At least I pray they do. 

For you other adoptive momma's...

do you do anything special to honor your children's birth momma

on Mother's Day?

Hagan's recovery

The reason why we first went to an ENT with Hagan was 

because at his pre-school evaluation he failed his hearing test.

Though we hoped it was just wax in his ears - 

we weren't going to take any chances.  

He was tested twice by ENT audiologists and yes,

they agreed, 

severe hearing loss in the left ear,

and moderate hearing loss in the right ear.

The ENT's thought tubes would be the best bet, but no promise.

The fluid in his ears have been there for a loooonnnngggg time.

Good news they knew that his inner ear was working it was just

the ear drum that wasn't moving. 

(sweet volunteers who stopped by to play and sing for Hagan)

When we discussed Hagan's snoring and possible sleep apnea,
that is when Doc checked it out and

 added the removal of his tonsils and adenoids

(he loved the music!!!!)

and y'all know how surgery went...

The morning after the surgery, 

a cart was rolled down the hallway outside our room,

Hagan looked at me, put his hands over his ears and said, "Ooouuu!"

Hallelujah!! He heard that!

Thank you Jesus!

(day 2 feeling much better)

Yesterday we began working more intentionally with him 

on his speech. 

And he is able to mimic me much more clearly now! 

(Waving to the camera with his purple glove balloon!)
(photos taken at the hospital - we are home now though)

We are so excited!

Again, a whole new world is opening up for our little man! 

Doing what's right...

Doing what is right or doing what is easy? I am usually one to go for the "easy" path. But when God asks us to follow HIM that doesn't equal an easy life. Infact, I think following HIM means hard times. Not because HE wants us to suffer, or struggle to prove our love to HIM, but rather because the evil one will hit hard. Hit hard to try to sway us from following Christ and living for HIM.

 I apologize if you get tired of me talking to you about the orphan. But, there are over 147 million children who's voices go unheard. And though I can't bring all of them home, I know that I can speak up for them. So, no matter how hard our daily life can be, with lots of laundry, lots of cooking for kiddos, lots of arguments to work through, and lots of healing, emotionally and physically to walk through with my children - but their smiles and joy are priceless.

  

 When I tuck my babies in at night - my heart is at peace.

 

 When my babies say "Momma! Momma! Look..." and they show me their newest creation... priceless. 

 

When my babies argue about who gets to sit on my lap, or brush my hair at bedtime story time... priceless.

 

 

I wish more then anything that these babies will one day know what a family is. 

    

These babies need to know they are loved,

  

 and that they are important, 

 

and that they are loved unconditionally. 

  (all of these children are listed with Lifeline Children Services)

 Y'all know that I don't believe in sugarcoating adoption. It is hard... it is hard for the child, it is hard for the adoptive parents, it is hard for the other children in the house... but hard doesn't mean wrong. God doesn't ask us to take the easy path - HE asks us to believe HIM, and HE will carry us through. Even when I am having a bad day, or frustrated about how my day went - there is nothing I have experienced that compares to the loneliness, or frustrations that 147 million+ children experience e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.

I think of the Boston Marathon bombing, I picture the people who ran towards the danger. They ran toward uncertainty to help another human being. Another person that they didn't know, people they had never spoken too, but they knew they needed help. Do we run to the orphan or do we run away? Do we worry about what they would do to our lives if we invite them in, or do we ask what can we do in their lives to show them the love of God?

 I challenge you to take the rest of this month and seriously pray, ask God "What do you want me to do for the orphan crisis." Print off one of these photos of these precious children, ask God, "What do you want me to do for this child?" ask, "Is this my child?" Don't be afraid to ask, we've asked this many times and God has told us "no". But we need to be willing to ask and if the answer is "yes" we need to be willing to move. I will be spending this month focusing on this prayer also. If you would like me to add you to my prayer list, I would love to pray with you. Feel free to leave a comment or email me. (soccermom@tx.rr.com).

A bright and sunny morning...

This morning I am so very thankful that our little man 

is in my arms, where he should be. 

I am so very thankful to all of you who helped us bring 

Hagan and Griggs home.

Hagan slept well last night,

though he had to be put back on oxygen as his levels continued to drop

throughout the night.

(thinking it's his sleep apnea - makes me wish I had an oxygen tank at home!)

We had an ultra sound done yesterday afternoon

but Doc wasn't happy with the results so he ordered a CT scan...

radiology didn't agree,

so our precious nurse Stefanie went back and forth 

and back and forth a few hundred times

with Doc and radiology...

needless to say -

we don't know what we are doing today. 

So, Hagan and I will sit here snuggling together

for as long as they let us! 

Cause we are kinda enjoying our one-on-one time.

Hagan's tummy has not been able to tolerate any food yet,

praying he will be able to keep something down today. 

Hagan got to say goodnight to the rest of the family last night 

on the phone.

Sweet boy misses everyone at home sooooooo much!

Thank y'all for your prayers!

We are so thankful our Doc doesn't see every surgery as routine.

And even more thankful to know God is in control -

and that HE is not surprised.

HE created Hagan's little body perfectly!

I am amazed daily!

never in 33 years...

Today began bright and early,

or rather dark and early for Hagan and Mom. 

Off to the hospital to get his tonsils and adenoids out

and ear tubes put in. 

All was good, Hagan did great getting settled in 

and took the silly juice great.

He relaxed and went back to the OR with no problem.

Sweet sweet boy!

I waited, pretty relaxed, in the waiting room.

After about 20 minutes the surgeon came out to me,

had a seat, 

and said, "Well, we've had some complications."

Breathe.

As he proceeded to tell me that the tubes are in and the adenoids,

that were huge, are out...

the tonsils ... well, they aren't coming out.

??????????

Well, it seems that Hagan's Carotid artery is in his tonsil.

What????

Yep. 

I asked if he had ever seen that before -

he looked at me and said, 

"Never in 33 years."

So, since Hagan still has his tonsils we are not in PICU,

but are spending the night in a regular room.

We are also supposed to have an ultrasound this afternoon 

to see what this artery is doing. 

And what it means.

That is our update for now.

Hagan is finally resting and ate a bowl of jello.

Thank you for your prayers!!!

I guess when we get home we will all be having an

ice cream, jello, pudding Welcome Home party for Hagan,

since he wont be recovering from a tonsillectomy. 

A first!

Adopting older kids there comes a 

grieving time for us parents,

we missed feeling their first tooth come in,

we missed their first steps,

we never heard their first words.

But, today I was here for him, 

well, not really...

Kinda funny situation.

It was a late night with Hagan not sleeping,

he lays quietly in his bed,

who knew the absence of him not snoring would keep me awake.

More then usual, we were rushed this morning,

getting kiddo's off to school and all,

then we rushed getting Elijah, Hagan and Griggs 

dressed and ready to go to Elijah's dental appointment. 

I normally brush their teeth but this morning I 

handed the toothbrush to the boys 

to brush themselves.

Anyway, 

not until we had gotten home,

they had a mid-morning snack,

and I was getting Elijah and Hagan ready for school

did I notice the whole in his mouth. 

For a second I thought,

"there was a tooth there - wasn't there!"

(again, late night last night - like 2 hours of sleep max.)

I asked Hagan,

"Where's your tooth?"

He just smiled and giggled.

And stuck his tongue through the hole. 

I went to his bed and found the tooth on his bed. 

He and Elijah ran around the house giggling!

Silly boys!  

Hagan has another loose tooth 

and Elijah has four loose tooth. 

Looks like the tooth fairy may need to take out a loan!