Project 365 week 4

Favorites is the theme for this week. I have many favorite things, but here are just a few.

Sarah Faith was sick and Abby laid down and got her to sleep. Melt my heart.One of my favorite moments since Micah has been home was made this week..we went to "Junkie Jeeze" as he calls it for the first time. He was amazed at how great it is. AND he doesn't even like pizza!

My two girls again. This time playing around before Abby's basketball game.

Sweet sweet Esther. She is by far and away my favorite 1o year old. :)

I went to Georgia on Thursday and there was a Publix on the way to the Lodge. I bought my very favorite sandwich ( A cuban) and some Publix birthday cake. I then checked into the Lodge and ate my dinner in bed watching old Friends episodes. It was a happy night.
This was my view the next morning. I could easily make the Legacy Lodge on Lake Lanier one of my favorite spots to be.Love the hearts of the women at this retreat. This was our prayer wall. Everyone picked three request to lay hands on and pray over. Sweet time of prayer.My AWAA girlfriends. Some of my favorite women. Love their hearts for God and adoptions.

Created for Care

I was blessed (So Blessed! Thank you husband!) to go away to Georgia this past weekend to the Created for Care retreat for adoption mamas. It was at the Legacy Lodge on Lake Lanier and it was beautiful. Last year there were 250 of us that met, this year there was 430 with an additional retreat in March. It was crazy wild to see that many moms that God has called to adopt all in the same room worshipping together. We were welcomed to the lodge by beautiful signs, goody bags and lots of smiles.The view was beautiful too..Here was one of the main sessions. We had three main sessions, many breakout sessions, a movie about Uganda, an adoption & chocolate time.. It was pretty awesome

Here are two of the reasons I look so tired in the photo above! My roommates for the weekend Candy and Erin. Candy is an adoptive mom to three and brought her little girl home this summer just a few weeks after we came home. Erin is #2 on the list for a baby boy! We are expecting that exciting phone call for her SOON! We had a great time staying up LATE talking and laughing.
This is part of the America World family. There were a few other AWAA moms there, but this was Sunday morning before we all left and a few were not around. It was such a blessing to be around these women and feel the passion and excitement for adoption and orphan care.

I drove back home on Sunday to a clean house, happy kids and lots of hugs...( have I mentions Greg Mullis might be Superman! ) Cant wait to go again next year. Thanks so much Andrea and your team for putting on the best retreat ever!

Adorable clothes give a way

Want a cute spring outfit for your little princess?? Check out this give a away going on here...... So CUTE!!!

Project 365 Week 3

This week, the theme is FUN.....

Sunday.

I was able to take pictures of my BFF since forever and her boyfriend, Scott. How fun to take shots of new love!!
Monday.

Monday was MLK, Jr. day While not really fun to remember this time in US history, I love this quote and how well it relates to the photo of my boys.
Tuesday.

Mac baby got a new bed! His birthday is next month, but my big 3 year old lab is no longer in a crate! He is a free man now!
Wednesday.

Esther had a friend over for the day. Her and Kierstyn played barbies, American Girl, dress up, crafts..they had a blast. They also decorated some cookies and I loved hearing the conversation as they worked. :)

Thursday.

Abigail found these adorable cloth flowers on Pintrest and is making and selling them to raise money for her mission trip to Ethiopia in April. She had made about $75 in a week! They are so cute and fun!
Friday.

Lunch date for me and sweet Esther! After having a terrible December ( Mono, strep throat and Scarlet Fever) She is finally beginning to feel good again. We needed to go out and buy a birthday gift for a party she is going to Saturday and so we had a Mommy/ Essie day. Here we are at The Loop enjoying some yummy lunch.

Saturday.

My boys are on the same basketball team for Upwards this year. I love watching them play together. Micah is actually pretty good for an Ethiopian that knew nothing about basketball 6 months ago!

So there is my FUN week in review. Hope yours has been fun too!

One year ago today...

One year ago today, I met two of my five children for the first time. I remember being so exhausted. We had traveled all night, arrived in Addis Ababa, showered, unpacked and left for lunch at Metro Pizza. The longest lunch ever! I was so anxious to get to the transition home!

As we pulled into the gates of America World, I remember feeling like I would never get to this moment. I was shaking with excitement and nerves and was so thankful that Greg and Abby were there with me.How it works is each family takes turns waiting on the porch and the nanny will bring your children out to you as flashes are going off and cameras are recording. It is a little awkward, but you need to capture the moment....so it is what it is....

This was the first time holding Sarah and Greg hugging Micah. Sarah Faith was so sick, she was on medications, feverish and glassy eyed. I was so happy to see her but so sad for her to be sick. After the cameras were collected and we found a quiet space to sit, it was when it really began to feel like we were a family. Our first family photo. Again, I am so glad we allowed Abby to go with us. It was a good thing. It was good for a 13 year old to see how others live and it has given her a heart for Africa and for missions. ( She is actually trying to raise money to go back in April!)

One of the things I loved about the week was being able to log into Facebook and my blog to share and journal about our day. To hear the encouraging words and prayers from so many of our friends and family stateside. To feel like we were not in this alone , but that God had placed so many encouragers in our lives. Those that loved our new children already.

The next 6 months after leaving them in Ethiopia was probably the longest of my life. And the next 6 months having them home have probably been the fastest of my life. ( To say 2011 was a crazy year is an understatement!) Adoption is hard. The waiting and the uncertainty and the paperwork and the cost....it is all really hard. But so so SO worth it. We have been so blessed to have had Micah and Sarah join our family. Our 5 children love each other well. We are a family and we are blessed indeed.

A Favorite Thing Post

Here are a few of my favorite January things

1. My new Keurig beverage maker. Oh my! I bought it with birthday money and I am loving it. Love it. And I am not the only one..Greg and the kids are enjoying the yummy spiced ciders and hot cocoas it will fix for them. I really can't believe I waited so long to buy one. Especially as fond of coffee as I am.

2. Yesterday was Micah's 6 month doctors appointment. He had to get 4 shots and blood drawn. When we were talking about it, I told him he could take his iPod to listen to music or his build a bear to hug. He said all he wanted was his brother to go with him. Melt my heart. Nathan went and held his hand for all the shots. I took them to the "Big M"( McDonald's) after.

3. My new Schoolroom ( Den) I LOVE having another room in the house that is comfy to go read or be online in. And the best part is there is no tv in this room. Therefore, I do not have to listen to sponge bob or Pokemon.

4. Downton Abbey. Oh My! Who knew PBS could be so wonderful. If you have not watched this show, you are missing out. So good! If you have netflix you can stream season 1. And you can watch season 2 on PBS.

5. Vacation Planning. We are going to Florida the end of February. I love vacation planning. I also love that Micah ( and Sarah too) are going to get to fish, ride in a boat, see the ocean and ride a horse for the first time.

6. Created for Care. I cannot wait. Simply too excited for this retreat. 9 days!!

7. Winter. I am a big fan of this season. really, I am. I know I am in the minority, but I cherish these cold cloudy stay home in your sweats kinda days.

8. Love. I am getting to watch my very best friend fall in love with a great guy. To say I have been rooting for him for a long time is an understatement! Every time I see them together, I about burst!

9. Ethiopia. It is never far from my mind. The sights and smells and people. Greg, Abby and 3 others from our church are going for 10 days in April. I wish I was going too. We talked about me going instead of Greg, but just don't feel like I should leave Sarah for that long right now. S I will collect donations and help with the planning and praying for them all.

10. Words with friends. It is a silly little free app for my iPhone, but it is so much fun to play. I go back and forth between proud and embarrassed that my 14 year old is beating me in our ongoing game. :)

So that is my top ten thankful things this morning. I hope you are stopping to be thankful too. It helps your day go by so much better when you give thanks!

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Created for Care merchandise

I have had the opportunity last year and again this year to go to an amazing retreat for women who have adopted or thinking about adoption. Of all the ladies retreats I have ever been to, this one was the most needed, most enjoyed, most special - God is in our midst - retreat I have ever been to. It isn't just a retreat that I enjoy because I get to get away, but I get to go to! Here is my account from last year.

In order to keep the costs low for ladies to attend, they are selling merchandise. Really Cute stuff. Here is the link for anyone that would like to do a little after Christmas shopping and help a good cause!

Project 365 Week 2

Week 2 of project 365 is DETAILS.

Sunday.
Most every morning, one of the first things I do is light a candle. I love for my house to have a sweet smell as everyone wakes up. It makes me happy. My favorite ones are Pumpkin Pie and Christmas Cookie from Yankee Candle.

Monday.

I love this picture of Esther Hope doing her school work. I love the details of her face in concentration and her sweet little freckles. I am so thankful she is feeling better this week and is able to do school.

Tuesday.I had birthday money to spend and bought myself a Jewel Pop Ring, I love all the pops you can collect. I told Greg that now he had a perfect "go to" gift for me when he needed it.

Wednesday.

The perfect cup of coffee.In my very favorite mug. (A Starbucks China mug my sister brought me back from her trip) I seriously do not think I could go a single day without coffee. I love it so. I use to keep clippings from articles about the nutritional benefits of coffee so I could defend my addiction when called on it. :)

Thursday.I had the experience of eating the best slice of red velvet cake I have ever had. In my whole life. ever. Our church has a group called the Keenagers ( the seniors) and once a month they have a potluck. Being the pastors family and home schooled, we all go to lunch. I was eyeballing the cake the moment it was brought in the door. And trust me.... it did not disappoint.

Friday.

Bathtime for my baby girl. Love those sweet brown fingers.

SaturdayMy big blue eyed boy. Love him to pieces. Cannot believe he is gonna be 12 this year. Holy Moly.

* If you click on the photo, you can see it bigger. And if anyone knows how I can change my blogger settings to make my photos bigger, I would love to know how!

Sarah Faith at 14 1/2 months

Saturday was Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas and it was also 70 degrees in NC, so Sarah and I played dress up with her traditional Ethiopian outfit that swallowed her when she came home in June. This was my favorite photo
Here she is calling for Mac. :) (our dog)Having a bit of a meltdown. Mama didn't realize that acorns are not suppose to touch a princesses feet!

Sweet baby girl! Sometimes, I still can't believe she is home!
Melkam Gena! ( Merry Christmas)

Micah's friends

I am working on this collage for Micah's room. He is asking me all the time where his friends live. So I made this to frame and hang in his room to remember to pray for his friends and to know where they are at. I am so thankful for cell phones, Skype and Facebook that allows us to keep up with one another.

Project 365

April at My Captivating Images has a project that I have joined. Every week she will pick a topic and we will take a picture relating to the topic. The first week is NEW. Here is the LINK if you would like to join in the fun. I am hoping I can see improvements with my photography as the year goes on.Here is my NEW for the year. Our learning room. It was a disaster before ( See the below iPhone pictures). We decided to make it more of a learning space that can also be a den. So we purged our books and scattered the desks and now it is so comfy A great place to read or study. We left two desks in there for computer stations and testing, but we have lap desks, couches and chairs to curl up with a good book on... In fact I rarely go into the living room now. ( That is where the tv is and I prefer the quiet of the learning room. So that is my NEW in 2012 and I love it.Here is my new curl up with my Mac and coffee spot. :) The before desk..
the other side of the chaotic room.