Thank you!!

Thanks so much to my sweet friends who left comments on my last post!  It makes me feel so much more at ease.  I have been kind of reluctant to make that post, feeling in some ways like I was letting my adoption friends down.  I know that seems funny to say, but I don't like to leave things undone or to fail at something I start.  And I know that I am not really failing, just following but still.  Anyway, thanks to my sweet friends-I love you guys!!

Hard Decision

Many of you that have read our blog for a while, know that Jay and I started the process to go back to China and adopt again before we knew about Ainsley.  And, even after we found out that I was pregnant we continued the process and were actually LID on 9/1/2009.  We knew we wanted time to pray, live life as a family of 5 and pray some more to see where God was leading our family.  This has not been an easy decision by any means.  We have gone back and forth so many times.  Sometimes me, sometimes Jay, sometimes both of us.  We both have such a heart for orphans, and have love to give.  We were actually in the middle of our home study update to update our I800 when we had to make a very difficult decision.  We knew God was showing us that the time was now to decide for sure if we were going back to China.  And for many reasons that I won't go into publically we have decided that for now our family is complete.  God showed us that we needed to get some other things in order before we are ready to bring home another baby.  Not saying it won't happen in the future, we will go where God leads but right now He wants us to focus on the 3 we have at home and on getting ourselves in order.  This has been the toughest decision we have made in our marriage.  It has been even tougher than deciding to go to China the first time, but since we contacted our agency and made everything final I have felt at peace with the decision.  I know God, has placed the world's orphans on my heart in a mighty way.  And we will continue to advocate and fight for all those left behind, that will not change.  And I think I will always feel like I left a little bit of my heart in China with those still longing for the love of a mommy and daddy.  But we have a very special little girl with us now, that needs all of the love and attention we can give her.  We are going to do just that.  We are going to pray for the 143 million orphans still waiting and we are going to get our family in line with God.  We are going to go where He leads, and are excited for what the future may hold.

Vote for my COWS!!!

I entered the girls into the Chick-fil-a Contest....if you are on facebook, take a second to go to this link and vote.  Pretty Please!!!!

Click here to VOTE!!

Sunday Snapshot {My Little Sweetie Pie}

Charlotte always introduces Ainsley as "My little sweetie pie," which is just so adorable, isn't it. She really loves her baby sister and Ainsley loves her big sis just as much. She squeals with delight in the mornings when she sees Charlotte for the first time. Next sunday I am going to try and have some shots of them together in action. But these photos I took today were too cute not to post right away. I think they really show her personality. She is full of spunk, believe me. She even has a little temper. I know you don't believe it with that sweet little smile. But she has already thrown temper tantrums when not getting her way. And she does not give up easily. Say a couple of extra prayers for me. Two little fiesty girls-I need it!!!!-HA!

Cow Appreciation!!

We had lots of fun dressing up for Chick-fil-a's Cow Appreciation Day!! The best part.....free food!

Sunday Snapshot {The Girls}

Wow, you would think with it being summer that I would have more time to blog-HA!!  I am super busy between everyone being home, camps, cook-outs, organizing VBS..lovin' it, but busy.  So, I am behind and this post is about my girls. 

Last weekend we celebrated Charlotte's 4th birthday!  I cannot believe that she is 4 already. It just does not seem possible. 

This was her first birthday that we invited friends and not just family.  She was super excited and talked about it for weeks.  We went to our local Little Gym for some jumping fun. 

Charlotte loved the "free time" but was not big on the organized game time. 

She did finally participate at the end when Nana talked her into going with her-go NANA!! 

Then we sang Happy Birthday, her favorite part, and had some cake. 

We opened gifts at home later and she loaded up on all sorts of fun My Little Pony goodies.  She is one lucky girl.

And my sweet Ainsley is changing everyday.  She is losing her little baby look and is turning into a toddler before our eyes.  She is starting to cruise on the furniture and can get wherever she needs to go. 

She is also a master at finding every little tiny thing on the floor and promptly putting it in her mouth.  She is so fast, I can hardly keep up. She is really giving me a run for my money.  She is beginning to be more vocal now and loves to babble and talk to us, and sing!! 

She also lets us know if anyone takes something from her.  This little girl can squeal like nobody's business.  But it gets mama's attention and that's what she needs.

We had a fun 4th with a neighborhood cook-out but I neglected to get any pictures-boo :(  Ethan is off to camp this week which makes me sad.  I will be without my #1 helper this week.  I will be so happy to get him home, but I know he is going to have an incredible week.  Till next time, I will try to be a better blogger, promise.  If you want to participate in Sunday Snapshot or visit some other fun blogs click on the link below!

Caring for the Orphan

Okay, so I know I am blogging about the same thing again but it is heavy on my heart right now.  Not sure why, but God knows why, and so I am going to keep sharing.  I have been reading so many blog posts about the same thing.  I really don't think everyone gets it.  I don't think they really understand how some children live day in and out.  One thing I do know is once your eyes are opened, can you really turn your back on all you have seen.  The easy answer, NO!!  Can you imagine your child spending 20 hours plus a day in a crib?  It is a reality for some children living in orphanages in the world.  Please read this post, by another adoptive mom who shares some very valuable and heart breaking insight.  Our Charlotte did not spend all of her time in a crib, I know as I have pictures of her crawling around the orphanage, but I also have lots of her in her crib. 

And part of her head is flat on one side, because she spent so much time as an infant laying down on a hard crib.  I know that is hard to think about, it breaks my heart to but it is a reality. 

You may not be called to adopt a child yourself, but God does call us to care for the orphan no doubt about it.  What will you do to care for the least of these?  Please share your ideas with us, it may inspire someone else to do the same thing.

Are you being called?

I know most of you that read my blog are adoptive parents yourselves but for those of you that are not, this post is for you. Jay and I have talked several times about the fact that we are suprised that no one we know has felt called to adopt. We always hope that our story and Charlotte's journey will open other's eyes to the needs of orphans not only in other countries but here at home. I guess we assumed that God would use our story to speak to the hearts of others, and maybe he has we just don't know it. But I wanted to take a second to just say that our lives have been so completely transformed since the day we set foot in that small room in China and held our Sha Sha for the very first time. TRANSFORMED!!! So many times people say, she is so lucky to have you and the truth is we are so blessed to have her. She has made each one of us better and God has used our sweet girl to open our hearts and minds to his calling. I just want to ask you, is HE calling you. I know at times so much about adoption is overwhelming, the paperwork, THE COST, the unknowns, stepping out of our comfort zone. But, do you have extra love and space in your heart...if you do there are almost 150 million orphans in the world that are ready to fill that space. I promise your life will be TRANSFORMED too. Just pray about it if you would, think about it and look at our sweet girl and how transformed she has become. There are 150 million children just like her. They each deserve a chance to have a family, to have love, and to have some one to kiss their boo boos when they fall. Is HE calling you??

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27

Hope is Fading from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Help An Orphan's Wish raise some $$

Head on over to Ni Hao Ya'll and see Stefanie's 1000th post! She will donate $1 for every comment left to An Orphan's Wish. How cool is that:)

And click here to learn more about this important ministry in China:

Just needed to write....

They last few days/weeks have been down right weird. We have some strange stuff goin' on at school, I am still working through a tough family situation, the end of the school year is upon us-busy, and dealing with some issues with our house. Yet in it all I have remained suprisingly calm, believe it or not. And this is HEAVY stuff, that I just condensed into the previous run on sentence. Now of course, I still have my moments, of frustration and wondering if I can really do this. Like last night. I worked all day yesterday, and the kids at school are READY for summer. Then was home for oh about, 90 minutes. Jay came home, only to have to head right back out to a PTA meeting so he dropped the girls at his mom's and I took Ethan to night 2 of Soccer Evaluations. Left the soccer field, picked up the girls, headed home, heated up dinner for Ethan and I and got the girls in the bath. Made a bottle and milk for the girls. Layed Ainsley down, finally got back to my dinner and then Jay was home, thank goodness because I was running on fumes by that point. Charlotte in bed, then Ethan and I fell asleep while my poor hubby was trying to talk to me. Yet, I was still able to wake up this morning and get some stuff accomplished and my to do list is long right now. So I am just writing to say, with tears in my eyes that I am so thankful I have a peace from my God today. A peace the surpasses all knowledge and all understanding. A peace that helps me get through every second of the day, knowing that HE is ultimately in control. Thank you Lord!

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Sunday Snapshot {Sha Sha}

Did not have a specific event to post about today so I thought I would take the opportunity to share some unposted pics and info about our sweet Sha Sha!  She is full of spunk I tell you, the most strong willed little thing I have ever met.  She gives us a run for our money everyday!  I know she is that way for oh so many reasons....she had to overcome so many obstacles for 16 months on her own, one of which was eating.  And she needs that strong will to keep pressing on in her biggest obstacle-SPEECH. 

It is hard for CL/CP kids to make all the ordinary sounds.  I never analyzed our language and how we speak before Charlotte came home, but I do now.  Some sounds are almost impossible for our girl, but she tries over and over.  She does not get frustrated very often, she will just try again, or give you something else to help with the context of what she is saying.  Occasionally she goes back to a trusty hand sign if Mommy is just not getting it. 

We met to evaluate her IEP (individualized education plan) this week and she has come so far.  She is about to complete her second year in developmental Preschool and she has graduated from Occupational Therapy.  That is so huge...her motor skills have now exceeded her age, and she has met all of her eating goals and mobility goals for her lip.  She is also almost caught up in her language skills, only 2 months behind peers now.  So now her hard work will be concentrated on academics and articulation.  She will have speech 3 times a week, once one on one. 

It really is incredible when you think about the fact that when she came home, she was not walking, only drank from a bottle, had no sounds at all, and was very behind in most sensory areas.  In just 2 1/2 short years she has almost completely caught up.  And really her speech delay now is due to her cleft palate.  I am so proud of her hard work and perseverance.  See, God knew this little girl had to be strong willed to overcome so much.  Now if we can just convince her that she still has to do what Mommy and Daddy say the first time :)  It will come, or she will just be spending most of her summer in TIME OUT!!!  Just kidding, we are about to implement some new positive reinforcement techniques.  I will let you know what we do and how they work out.

Wordless Wednesday