More Pictures

I apologize these are not in order. I need to have someone show me how to move them.

This is a relieved lady...moments after the Adoption is final.

The next one is a daddy skipping with his Adopted Daughter...ours forever.

And those mints were "Life Savers for the waiting time...."

The last pic is Erika on the wall of Justice...Thank you Lord for allowing us a government that sometimes is a blessing like allowing us to raise this beautiful child!!!

PARTY

Last night was our Adoption Party/Dedication for Erika. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by church family and friends. My friend, Courtney, has just begun cake decorating and she made the BEST cake for the party. It was beautiful and delicious. I will have more pictures later. Chris took pictures and here are some from the courthouse on Wednesday. There are some posted on Facebook as well. What a blessing. She truly caught the emotions of the day: anxiety, nervousness, relief, pure joy, hoping Erika would behave, overjoyed that she did, etc. We were so blessed to be surrounded by our family as we stood in court.

At the party, we shared the reason we changed Erika's middle name to Ruth and everyone prayed over her. It was awesome. I also shared our journey of adopting Erika and how God has had His hand on this entire process. I wish it had gotten videotaped. I think some of it was. Just an amazing evening, though.

Oh, and by the way, I am using Tori's laptop she got for Christmas. I have put in my order to Lee that I want one for my birthday. I love it....

Adoption Day

Yesterday was an incredible day for our family. It started with a yummy breakfast. It was such a long time to wait to leave at 12. You would think we would just take advantage and relax. But it w a s

h a r d

t o r e l a x.

We just wanted to get the day started. We curled Erika's hair, straightened Tori's hair, and still it was only 10 am....

Finally, it was time to get dressed and ready to go...

Then, of course, you get to the courthouse and have to

Wait

Some

More

Then about 1:30, it was our turn to go before the judge. We had so many people there...I felt bad for all the other families that had noone...There will better pictures better as Chris Buchan blessed us by photographing our special day...I will post those soon.

As the attorney asked , "Do you feel you have bonded adequately with this child to raise her as your own?" I just cried, Yes...if she only knew. I bonded with this child immediately. Of course it has grown over the two years, but even the first time I met her, I never wanted to be away from her again.

Then of course we celebrated at a special place for Erika...Rainforest Cafe. She had a blast, but her exhaustion was beginning to set in. We came home about 4:30 and Lee, Erika and I napped for a couple of hours. The emotion of the day, the relief, just came over us. And I thought that I am so glad the celebration with the whole church is Friday...I was so tired.

About a year ago, Erika asked to get her ears pierced. Thinking adoption was just around the bend, we told her, "When you get adopted, we will..." Well, it has taken awhile, but we needed to fulfill our promise to her. So about 6:30 after a busy day, I began to call places. Noone had two people on duty (so we could get both pierced at the same time.) So Tori and I decided to take a chance, praying on the way, and went to Claire's with Erika.

The first one went great, but she was done...Thankfully, the Lord gave us a very patient young girl and after about 30 minutes, we got the other side pierced. We went to the church to show everyone and did not get home to late, so here is a picture from this morning.

Isn't she cute? Couldn't wait to show more people this morning.

It is amazing, I want to add, how the sealing of the documents of adoption brought such a relief to Lee and I. We feel like Erika's real parents now. I don't know why it took the ceremony, but it really did change us...although we cannot put it into words.

I am so thankful to all my friends and family who have walked this journey with us.

We close this chapter on this adoption, but it has forever changed me. I will always encourage people to experience this miracle for themselves...it is amazing.

Preparing for the long awaited day

I would love to say that there is complete unity in our home as to how to raise the kids and dog. This picture communicates a lot. I do not want the dog on the couch, but Lee says it is okay...So this morning, I was just having a sweet morning with Erika. I got home late so I bathed her this morning, and blow dried her hair. She was just so cute. Erika was watching QUBO, her favorite thing to do in the morning, with her doggie. Although I really do not want the dog on the couch, I thought this moment was incredibly sweet.

Tomorrow is our long awaited Adoption Day. I never imagined the journey would be so long. But I am thankful for the things the Lord has taught me along the way. The most important being that He is a father that loves me and wants to bless me with good things...like a precious little daughter. He put that desire in my heart, and put people in my path, but I had to take steps to see this dream come about. He has given us His favor, but that does not mean that we have had not had our trials along the way. But after a very long journey, I would do it again to have Erika.

I have everyone's clothes ready for tomorrow. I envision a day of just enjoying my children. We will sleep in a little, I'll make a big breakfast, there will probably be some nerves in my tummy, maybe a little arguing among the kiddoes. But it will be a perfect day with my very real family. I think that is one thing about being a mom that I have learned along the way. Being a mom is the most awesome amazing thing that can happen to a woman, but also the hardest. There is always so much to do, we are always so torn between the many responsibilities we have, and the worry... But I would not trade it for a second. I am fixing to go on a trip for two weeks. I know I will so enjoy the quiet...at first. I know I will enjoy taking my time getting ready and not doing chores and dressing a little one...at first. But then...I will not know what to do with myself. My life revolves around taking care of my family. And I am so thankful to have a family. And I am so thankful to be adding a little girl to our family permanently at 1 pm tomorrow afternoon.

Busy Day

Yesterday was one of those days...here is how it went.

Woke up around 6 to shower and get dressed.

Started cleaning the house for home visits today (foster care). ( we have already had two this week from CASA and Lea's CPS worker)

10 til 7 Lea is picked up 10 minutes earlier than normal, so had to help her rush to get out the door.

7 Took Josh to Jr. High, stopped to get gas on the way home.

Came home, got Erika dressed and breakfast, still working on cleaning.

8 Took Tori and Emily to Elementary school.

Came home, rushed to finish cleaning, Lee leaves for work, need to get makeup on, hair done for the day.

9 Erika's CPS worker arrives and stays for about 30 minutes. Goes over what will happen in court on Wednesday at court, etc. Erika demands my attention the whole time, but does go sit on the lady's lap for half a second. This lady will be with us in court next week.

After she leaves, go to Walmart to get stuff for Nursery meeting this morning and Kelly's birthday.

10:30 Throw an impromptu party for Kelly, our children's minister with staff at the church. Set up some things for meeting today. Erika is happy to see all the staff...hugs everyone.

11 Need to hurry and leave to pick up lunch for older kids (all the while, pulling a 3 year old wherever I go:)

11:30 In line at High school to get Lea. Get phone call from Methodist home...Can she come now instead of at 2 to see Lea and Erika? I say Sure...as soon as I get kids, I will come home.

11:35 Lea gets in car, we rush to Jr High to get Josh...they are both happy I brought them cheeseburgers...they scarf it down as I drive home.

12:00 We arrive Home. Erika has fallen asleep in the carpool lines. I try to get her to stay asleep, but it doesnt work!!! She is not happy. Doorbell rings. Caseworker visits with Lea, while I try to make Erika happy and feed her.

12:30 Caseworker discusses Lea's future with me, while Erika fusses on me. Tori comes home from school (thank you Bianca!!)

1:30 We leave again. We spend about 45 minutes at Academy and then stop at Plato's Closet. Rush to hair cutting place for 3:00 appointment.

3:00 Hair cutting place is buzzing. Erika is excited to get her hair cut. We have one lady I prefer and have already called her and said all 4 kids and I need cuts for adoption day. Her previous appt is late and has backed up things. Josh goes and gets his hair cut first...looks good. Lea goes to a lady I don't normally use. I tell the lady..just a half inch...that is all. Keeping Erika entertained, realize there are 5 inch pieces of hair all around Lea on the floor. I go over to the lady and say she just wanted a little...thinking Lea is going to be so mad!!! The lady ignores me..I stew!!! Tori gets her hair cut by our lady...She looks cute. Lea comes over...turns out, she asked the lady to chop it all and give her bangs. She looks beautiful. I feel better. Erika and I go at the same time and get our hair cut...Erika is very good so that is a blessing. When she is done, kids try to keep her with them...as I finish. I go to pay...there is a little discrepency...a lot of money to have a whole family hair cut!!!! But one thing marked off my list for Wednesday.

4:30 Come home, put stuff on budget, clean up kitchen, get snacks for who wants it...

Lee comes home early

5:30 Leave for Tori's school carnival with Tori and Erika...Bigger kids go with Lee to youth thing at church

Craziness at carnival...too much to go into, but overall a fun time. I am so relieved when Lee finally joins us at 6:30 Oh, and we met Courtney and the girls there, so that was fun.

8:30 Home, help Lee switch over our monthly budget, then leave to finish setting up for this morning and pick up Josh and Lea.

9:30 Home and get everyone ready for bed...finally go to bed around 10:30....

And this, my friends, is a typical day in my home...now do you see why I always look so tired?

Finally....

We just got "the call" we have been waiting for. We will adopt our Princess next Wednesday. We have had her almost two years. And now, even though she is adopted in our hearts, she will finally be legally our daughter. God has taught me so much about his love for us, His children, during this process. And it has grown my faith in my Daddy God so much. We really needed this adoption to happen this week at the latest. Why is it that it seems God is never early, but rather right on time? I think it is so we can see His Hand on the process and give glory where it is due.

There are so many things racing through my mind. I have planned in my mind for this day, but I want everything to be perfect and special. I know all the details will come together. The most important thing is that Erika is going to be ours...forever!!

Here is a picture the second time we met Erika. The first time we met her was in March 2008. I remember on the way to that meeting (with her first foster parents), telling the Lord to please let me "know" if this was my baby. And He did. She toddled over into my arms and just lay her head on my shoulder. At that meeting, I did not want to let her go. There was an instant connection for our whole family. Then we visited her at her foster home, then she came to our house for a couple of weekends until she was our foster child. It was the most natural thing in the world. The first time she came to our home, she just made herself at home. We never had any trouble with her eating or sleeping. That was a God thing.

I have always known that the Lord gave us this child, but that does not mean there have not been ups and downs along the way. Adopting through foster care is risky legally. Anything can happen. But we have definitely felt the Lord's hand of protection on us every step of the way.

We know God has big plans for this tiny little girl. She has been a fighter since day one. She was born at 3 lbs with her intestines on the outside of her body. And spent her first month in the NICU. But God had me praying for her even then...and I did not know her or anything about her at that point. God told me specifically to pray for my baby in December of 2006, and I didn't realize that timing until she had her second birthday with us. God has protected Erika from so much and we are so thankful for He has good plans for her.

I will post pics of our exciting day and share my feelings until then :)

Starting a Blog

We are just having a great family weekend and I told my husband I always have wanted to start a blog. I love reading what is going on in other people's lives, so we will see if other people are interested in reading about our life:) My kids always say and do crazy things (including the biggest one), so this will be a way for me to express the joys of my home.

Pictured above is my Awesome Family. This picture was lots of fun...A friend from church blessed us with a photo session. The youngest did not want to cooperate until it was all about her, then she became a little model.

Life is never boring around here. We have a preschooler, elementary, Jr High and High Schooler. It is very different having a 3 year old in my ummm...thirty somethings versus my twenties. Those ten years make a difference. I am so much more uptight about her safety, what she eats, who she plays with, but so much more laid back on keeping to a schedule, where I buy her clothes, and leaving her with her grandparents. I just know now that she will be okay. I have such a deficit of energy now though. That is where the older siblings come in handy. After I feel that I can no longer chase her, they help me out. It is so nice to have help to entertain her. But there are more things for her to get into having older siblings. We have a bigger home now for me to keep track of. And I work two days a week outside the home. I was home full time when the other two were small. She picks up the good and bad around the older kids. But that also seems to make her smarter. I am amazed at the concepts she gets at 3 years old. Her interest to sit and do a craft because of her older sister. She can operate an ITouch without any help because of her older siblings. I also find that I appreciate the little things more now. I know now how fast they grow up. I can't believe my sweet little boy is already a teenager.

Well I have a three year old who has just woke up from a too-short nap. Now onto our Saturday night prep for Sunday.