Happy 16 Years!!!

Wow, I can't believe it, Greg and I have been married 16 years. It seems like just yesterday we were exchanging glances of new found love. I am so in love with this man and I am so grateful to be his wife. It is hard for me to fathom, but I love him more now after all of these years. After all we have been through together my love for him is so deeply rooted within my soul. You are my best friend making me the luckiest girl in the world. Thank you for giving me 16 wonderful years. I can't wait to see what the next 16 will bring us!!!!

He Has Risen!!

This Easter was extra fun being that we had Parker and Helena here to celebrate it with us. In addition Greg played one of Jesus' disciples in our churches Easter show that morning. To know Greg this was something out of character for him, but we all truly cherished seeing him up on stage. He thought when he signed up it was just to help set up the stage not be on it. The day was filled with laughter, food, laughter and some more food. Needless to say we were all looking and feeling like stuffed bunnies by the end of the day.

To share this day with Parker was amazing to say the least. He is at the perfect age to comprehend it and he was so open and full of questions wanting to know it all. On Good Friday we watched "The Jesus Story" a children's version of the passion. It was told through a child's eye making it very easy for all the kids to understand the just of what God and Jesus did for us. Surprisingly, Parker had seen this movie in Ethiopia when he lived with his mom, but did not understand it because it was in English and at that time he didn't know English. He asked so many wonderful questions about the trinity, heaven, baptism, and the biggest question "why". I am so grateful for the opportunity to share Christ's love with him!

Father God, thank you for sharing your son with us and for your ultimate sacrifice. That by your sacrifice we may be forgiven and someday walk among you in the kingdom called heaven you have created for us. Father, I give thanks and am humbled every day for all that you do and all the ways you love us. My days are filled with mercy, grace, joy, hope and wonder!! Father, I pray that you fill me with your words as I teach these wondrous children you have placed in my care about you and your ways. Help me to guide them and help draw them closer to you. Help me to light a fire in them for you, so that they may thirst for you as they grow in body, mind and soul. Give me the words to express your truth and share my passion for you with them!!! It is in your precious and Holy name I pray, Amen!

Reagan's Sweet Inspiration

Or rather God's perfect timing and plan through Reagan's sweet inspiration.

I had called my dad on Easter to wish him a happy one and see how he was doing. We chatted about many things including the idea of him coming to Texas during the summer to visit. We talked about all the fun things we could do. My dad is very involved in Florida where he lives and both my brothers as well as uncles live in California so he is a busy, no popular man with many places to go and people to see. Nothing was firmly decided but he said he hoped he could come.

Then Monday after school Reagan came to me and asked out of the blue came "Mommy when can I go to Florida and spend time with Grandpa like Blake got to do when he was 9 with Grandma Mott?" I told him I would need to talk with Grandpa and I would let him know.

Today I called my dad to ask him about Reagan, hoping I would not make him feel obligated. As usual we talked about many things including God's perfect timing in our lives. After about an hour I finally remembered why I had called him in the first place. Just as soon as the words left my tongue my dad asked "What time on Monday did Reagan ask?" When I told him it was after school around 3 or so he said to me "Guess what I was looking at and thinking about right at that same time; a letter mom had written asking if Reagan could come to Florida and stay by himself, the same way Blake had gotten to stay with his other grandparents when he was 9." My heart totally fluttered with excitement and tears quickly welled up in my eyes from knowing it was one of God's perfectly timed moments.

My mom went to be with the Lord almost exactly 2 years ago, (April 19th) so she has been on my mind a lot this week. My father had read me the letter when I was in Florida helping with her memorial but the pain was too fresh making it not the right time. I had totally forgotten about it until he read it to me today. I totally believe this to be one of those awesome perfectly timed moments pressed on by sweet Reagan's spirit led question and so perfectly executed out by God . My dad and I were both blown away and taken with emotion. We couldn't help but think that my mom was up in heaven bringing the note she had written right before she passed to the surface of my father's ever so full desk. Making sure that her wish was fulfilled.

Thank you sweet Jesus for your perfectly timed promptings and for the cherished memories that this special time will bring. And Mom even though you may not be here on earth, I know you will be with Grandpa and Reagan enjoying every giggle and every minute with them!!! I know you are up there watching over all of us- I love you, miss you and think of you everyday!!!

Baby Einstein!!!!

Need I say more!! :)

Before- when she woke up and we took her braids out

After we have spent a few minutes wetting down and spritzing!!

Coincidence or God's Anonymous Miracle

I am currently participating in a Beth Moore Study on Esther and all I can say is I love it, love it, love it!!!! I think every women should be so blessed to experience it. I have taken several Beth Moore studies but this one is a must. Every week is so enriching; especially being a women!
The idea that we are all created for our "just for this moment" in our lives. The big life changing ones, where we are faced with; our worst fears, colossal challenges and tragic moments. But to know that God has prepared us for them all along and if we just hold on to him and move forward in our faith we will achieve greatness~ HIS WILL BE DONE!!
In the first week, she recited a quote "coincidences are merely God's anonymous miracles in the making". That thought has stuck with me since. I believe all things and all people in our lives happen for a reason. Nothing or no one God puts in our path is by accident or coincidence. It is all part of the big picture; his big picture. Even the bad experiences and bad people who are dropped like bombs in our lives. At the time we think, why me, but when we take a moment to think beyond "me", we realize there will be a time, a place and someone that this experience will be of GOOD use to. For the better, even if not our own.
When I reflect back throughout my life and think of the major life changing moments and who played a part in them, I feel confirmed they are not without purpose. For example, Reagan said to me the other day "mommy why did you leave California?" To him, who was born and has lived all his life in Texas, it seemed so sad that I left California, away from my family to move to Texas. But thinking of the big picture, I explained to him that it was all a part of God's plan. Because had I not left California I would have not met daddy and he wouldn't be here. He looked at me and laughed and said "oh that's a good reason, I am glad you left." I think he got the idea.
I couldn't help but think further on that time in my life to the detailed path along the way and all of the hard times, heart aches, and the darkness that I went through to get where I am today. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't encountered every one of those BIG life changing moments, both the good and the horribly painful ones. I am so grateful for them all. For I have been healed and restored by God's love grace and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams.
Our adoption was no different. God had perfectly placed each person and led us to them in order to adopt. From our family (Greg's cousin Ben), to friends and neighbors (the Manteis) , to co-workers of Greg's(Don Osborne) to mommies of Caitlin's dance classmates (Cristie Martini). All who were themselves adopted or had adopted from all over the world. Even now I see him working his miracles by furthering our works in the adoption world as we are stopped by people we cross paths with who want to know our story. We are all fine tuned tools God has formed and sharpened just waiting to be picked up and used to help others do God's job.
Father God thank you for all your anonymous miracles in our lives. From the smallest encounters we experience during the hustle and bustle of our day to the great big life changing moments we experience that stop us on a dime and make us question our existence or rather yours. It brings me so much peace to think that you are watching over us and guiding our every step. To know we can find the strength by trusting in you in every situation. To know that no one or nothing is by accident but by your mighty hands in the works in our lives. Father God I trust in you and all that you do in our lives knowing it is for your will and the greater of all mankind!!! I embrace all the anonymous miracles I have witnessed or been part of and look forward to every one that is yet to come!!!

Free to be Me-Parker

Since coming home 7 months ago it has definitely been a world wind roller coaster for Parker but his ability to adjust continues to astonish me. Right off the plane he came open arms and open heart to his siblings and them to him as well. It has really been nothing short of a miracle to witness such instant love and acceptance. I give thanks everyday for God's grace over all of us and this life altering transition.

We were told by so many how difficult and how much trouble it would be to adopt an older child. That his might have a lot of "issues", but we have not seen any such "issues". He is a happy go lucky, well adjusted 9 year old boy. His smile is the real deal and it is so contagious!! To be around him you can't help but laugh, usually because he is always putting on some sort of show for us all.

The biggest part of the adjustment for him was his admitting he was from ET. After reading many books on adoption I knew to expect it, but to watch it in person was very heart breaking at times. He simply had to set his memory of ET , everyone and everything he loved out of his mind while he adjusted to his new life. So when asked by anyone "where are you from" he would reply "Texas!" We would try to ask questions about ET and he would simply turn away and say he didn't remember.

Within the last couple of weeks he has opened up about his life back in ET, which has brought us all so much joy. It is as if he finally trusts us enough to let us into the secret places of his heart. And since we are all family it is as if we are learning a part of our life as well. At first it was just a comment here and there about food, nothing to do with people. Then by last week he began to tell us stories of his life, where he lived, how he lived, the things he did. The biggest break through came last weekend when he opened up to me about his mother. We were talking about how big he had gotten since coming here and he looked at me and said" my ET mom, she small like you mommy". He went on to tell me she was very pretty, but wasn't a good cook. In fact they ate out most of the time or he would eat at his neighbors house a lot. He said she was very sweet and he loved her a lot. Not wanting to shut him down, I didn't ask him a thing I simply let him tell me as much as he wanted. It was everything in my power not to ask a million questions or not to break down and hug him tight. I can't wait for the next treasured memory he will reveal to us.

It brings me so much joy to see him not only happy to be the Texas Parker, but also free and proud to be Sofonyas from Ethiopia.

Thank you Father God protecting Parker's tender precious heart and allowing us into that special place. Father I am so grateful, thankful everyday for this fairy tale dream come true and for all the priceless joy and memories that come with it!!