Birthday Wishes for My Girl

Eight years ago today I became a mommy!  It seems like a lifetime ago.  I remember heading to the hospital, freaking out that the time had really come.  I was about to meet my baby for the first time.  "It" was going to be either Samuel David or Adelina Mae.  I secretly hoped to have a girl.  :)  I knew I would be happy either way, but I longed for a girl.  When they announced "It's a girl!"  My life was changed forever.  

I love all my kids deeply.  Of course I do!  But I'm telling you, there is just something special about my firstborn.  She's my treasure, my guinea pig (so sorry Addie!), my little sidekick, my mini-me.  She's the most like me of all my kiddos.  Sometimes that works against us, but most of the time it's wonderful.  We "get" each other. 

So, today my Adelina Mae turns 8 years old!!  

Cheerios- special birthday breakfast request.  Why yes, she is very easy to please!!

For her birthday Addie has 3 wishes.

Wish #1- for her and Havalah (3 yr old little sis) to go together to get their ears pierced.  Granted!  We're off to the mall as soon as it opens.  Wish me luck!!! 

Wish #2- a sleepover. Granted.  Little friends heading over this evening for giggles and pillow fights.  

Wish #3- Now this is where it gets tricky.  In order for this wish to be granted I'll need a little help from my friends.  YOU!  Addie would love love love to see this little one's grant grow! 

  

This sweet little baby is "Kelsey".  Her real name is confidential to protect her privacy.  Kelsey lives in Eastern Europe and is available for adoption.  Here is what Reeces Rainbow has to say about her: 

Girl, born October 2011

"Kelsey is a sweet baby girl with Down syndrome.  She does have a heart condition but her medical records indicate she should not need surgery.  Kelsey knows her caregivers, smiles at them and plays with toys.

Married couples only, older parent and large families welcome, travel required."

Isn't she beautiful?  Addie scrolled through all the pictures and this is the little one she chose, "because she's so cute!"  

Today Addie is being celebrated by family and friends.  Would you join with our celebration by giving to Kelsey's grant today?  Any money you donate will go directly to a fund that will help get Kelsey home once she is chosen by an adoptive family.  Adoption is a HUGE expense, so if these kiddos have money in their grant it takes some of the burden off of the family that goes to rescue them.  

If you would like to donate to Kelsey's fund go here.

 No amount is too small!  Every drop helps fill the bucket. 

Even if you can't give money, you can still help.  Share this with your friends!  What if someone you share this with is meant to be Kelsey's mommy or daddy??  What if? 

Now that would be the ultimate birthday wish come true! 

Happy Birthday my sweet Adelina.  I love you more than pickle-berry pie.

 

One Step Closer!

Yesterday we got some adoption news!  We hadn't heard any news in months.  I was starting to imagine our paperwork was actually lost in the abyss of the state offices.  We got word that we have an Adoption Coordinator assigned to our case now.  I have no idea what an Adoption Coordinator does, but hey, it's more news than I had last week...so I'll take it!  Supposedly once they process those forms everything moves really quickly.  I really really hope so!  

Here's a sneak peek of the cuteness.  He loves all things chicken.  The Little Red Hen, the real hens in our backyard, toy chickens, and yes- chicken as food. :)

 He decided his toys needed to take a swim...

We also have good news about our April trip!  We were finally able to make contact with a couple that we most wanted to meet with in country.  This is the couple who's work initially drew us to wanting to save up all our pennies to fly across the world.  From what I know about them it seems they are doing exactly the type of work that we are passionate about.  Even if we couldn't make contact with them we were still making plans to go and meet with others, and we were happy about that, but the blessing of being able to meet with these specific people just about triples our excitement about this trip.  WAHOOOOOOO!! 

I'm slowly, and steadily making a bit of progress on language learning.  OH MY WORD.  Why can't they speak Spanish where we're going????  My brain feels a bit foggy with doing Spanish studies with the kids in the morning for their class, then doing my language study in the afternoon...I just know when we get there I'm going to be thinking in Spanish...or Albanian.  Ha!  My in-laws live in Kosova, so they speak Albanian there.  It's not like I'm fabulous at Albanian (not even semi-fab), but you know how international travel goes,  your brain reverts to the last non-English language you learned.  But, it's not like we have a translator meeting us at the airport, so I better get my rear in gear!!  I've been pretty faithful in my studies since the new year started, so Lord, please bless my efforts....HELP!!!!   

On a less scary note, here's some cuteness to sum up January. 

Ez and Mommy had a date night

 

Our most awesome bunny was accidentally locked outside for the night.  Oh the drama!!  

We found him the next day, alive and well.  Now that was a miracle!

 

Mommy put the kids to work.

 

Ezra took this picture of Havalah.  She's going to love this one when she's older!!

WE HAVE TICKETS!!!!!

Mildly freaking out here.  

WE BOUGHT OUR TICKETS!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGH!!!!!!!

Yep, we are officially going to Eastern Europe.  We aren't just talking about going, we forked out the cash and have 2 non-refundable tickets to show for it. 

This is really happening.  

We are about to see with our own eyes the things God has laid so deeply on our hearts.  

I have no idea what it this trip will look like.  

I have no idea what to expect.

I have no idea.....

But God knows, and He's called us, so here we go!!!

3 months + 1 day from today and we're leaving on a jet plane!

Twice during this past year of God awakening our hearts we've been given verses 2-3 from Isaiah 54.  I love to read it and just imagine and dream about what God is up to:

“Enlarge the place of your tent,
   stretch your tent curtains wide,
   do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
   strengthen your stakes.
 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
   your descendants will dispossess nations
   and settle in their desolate cities." 

The version from The Message is pretty cool too:

"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
   Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope,
   drive the tent pegs deep.
You're going to need lots of elbow room
   for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations;
   you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed.
   Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short."

So, this is our act of thinking big, stepping out and not holding back.  Should be (already has been) and exciting ride!!!