Pictures...

 We went to Stone Mountain again...the kids love it and they got a new water play area that the younger 3 loved.  Owen opted to stay dry with mom and dad ;)

 Oh my word.  All of Stone Mountain Park heard our little bundle squealing with joy.  The workers couldn't help but giggle.  So glad I captured some of the smiles...

 Her dress was sopping wet.  Good thing it was HOT outside!  It was near 90 this day.

 Owen climbed the rock wall 3 times.  He was so proud of himself and so were we!  How did he get so big?   

 The girls just love to shop.  This is Sadie trying to skateboard in the Goodwill.  Sadie is getting pretty good at staying close and not being a little "Distructo".  But lil bit is every bit of two when we are at the store.  "No mommy", "Mine", "I do it", "I get down", "OUT peas"!  She runs, she pulls from the shelves, she destroys.  Iss no bueno.  Needless to say we've had to cut our shopping time short several times lately because "someone" isn't minding the rules.  Eh-hem.  No better way to teach 'em right? 

 This is day 2 of yarn extensions.  She loved every single day of the long hair and beads.  She clicked, she clacked and she swung those suckers smack dab in her eye several times.  But yesterday we took them out because the fuzz was more than I could handle.  I was so happy they held up for 15 days though! 

 Look at her!  Friday nights are pizza and movie night and we all just love it.  It just amazes me how much Emery has changed over the past few months (notice paci on plate-still struggling with it).  When she saw the others sit down for the picnic, she put her sweet leggies out and placed her plate right on top then parked her paci safely close by.  Gosh I adore her...and that stinkin' paci. 

Notice the boys shorter hair...we did summer cuts on Wednesday and they both love their new shorter hair.  More than anything...they love not having to detangle! 

Thank you Jesus for MIL's

Oh lands. I don't know what people do without family close. Our fam has been tremendous help when they come to see us. And this week I am especially thankful for my mother-in-law who has been here since last Friday.

The minute she booked her flight she text me to tell me to schedule appointments for myself and times to be with the boys at school. Can you believe that? Man, I pray that I can be that kind of MIL to my childrens' spouses.

We are doubly blessed because unlike most situations...both sets of our parents remember this stage in our life: young kids, feeling pulled in too many directions with little time for ourselves and each other. All four of them go overboard to support us in this precious time in our lives.

So this week the boys went to Lego Land with Blake and Gigi, I have been able to spend time in the boys' classrooms reading, went on Owen's field trip and helped out with some volunteering. It's been so good for my heart! I am forever grateful because I know the boys enjoy it just as much.

Foster Care Support

Tomorrow we have our home study. Even though we should be old pros at this, I am still finding myself a little nutso on cleaning high and lo.

Our foster family got a placement about two weeks ago. We got to meet the kids the next day at the park, and celebrate a birthday with them the following week.

Wanna know how cool God is? When asking the foster mama if I could bring them some food she informed me that the little fella had type 1 diabetes. Shut.the.front.door!

We both got a little teary as I told her that I too had type 1, since I was 9. Oh it was so cool to get to talk about and answer questions and encourage both her and him. And how wonderful for her to know that she can leave him with us without having to worry about his diabetes care. We both giggled that we've never been so glad I had diabetes!!!

Back home in Oklahoma the shelters in both of the major cities remain crowded. Kids are having to sleep in the DHS offices. But I have so much hope that change is coming for these kiddos. Churches are beginning to understand the pivotal role they could have here, in caring for children.

So as Blake and I read the discipline guidelines for foster care and see that biting is not appropriate (what the?) we realize how desperate help is needed. Help with anything.

Stone Mountain Park- Part 2

The kids LOVED riding the SkyRide to the top of the mountain! Sadie said, "Issa moutin! HIYEEE moutin!" Emery's favorite thing on top was splashing in all the puddles! Our kids were quite the mess when we left, but isn't that what's supposed to happen when you play hard?

Stopping to take a peek, from here you can see downtown Atlanta.

Just off the gondola, sorry you can't see the incredible view behind me but I had to brighten the exposure of the picture so you can see my sweeties! This is a constant struggle we have with all of the different shades of brown in our family. I have to edit almost every picture of Emery to get her beautiful features to appear. Perhaps I need to save up for one of those fancy shmancy cameras? I have become quite good at editing and adjusting the exposure/contrast and all. This is the SkyHike. Its a family ropes course...here Sadie is dangling off the zipline! She loved it!!!

Cooper on the zipline. Shocker that Owen sped past me so I missed his photo op!

They had SOOO much fun and wanted to race through the course again and again. Insert a sweaty mom needing a ponytail holder!

Stopping for a little picnic.

Some more putt putt. It's quite a funny game. Somehow we have raised 4 extremely independent children. I have no clue how. Couldn't be that we are a wee bit stubborn ourselves. No. Not me. Sadie loves to play putt putt, but doesn't want to recieve instruction...she wants to do it Sadie style. Oh how redonkulous we look, I am sure. But we just giggle.

The kids at the lake. Emery wanted IN the water. She got so mad that I wouldn't let her in. A poor older woman was watching us from her car. Bless her heart she was terrified. From where she was, what I was allowing my kids to do looked terribly dangerous. And here I was encouraging it and photographing it. She got to hooping and hollering at me, but I couldn't understand a darn thing she was saying. Her daughter kindly explained she was worried about the kids. What do you say to this? I don't feel like I should apologize for letting my kids play on the bank of a lake. Aye yi yi. The awkward moments in parenting...

This was the second time this happened while we were at Stone Mountain Park. The first time a lady was grossed out because Emery had a messy face. Mkay people. For real? We are at a park, PLAYING. So what if she is covered head to toe in mulch and sand. She is exploring, learning and developing her senses. If this is not how you let your children grow, no problem. But don't judge me for letting her get into it. I watched parent after parent scowl at their kids, even yell at them to not go near the sandbox. I realize I am from Oklahoma, and I am a lil bit country. But while I am not forcing your kid to play like mine do, don't force me to clean my child up while she is playing so that you don't have to see it. This lady wouldn't let it go asking me if I didn't have tissues or wipes. "I have some. They are in the car." She offered to give me some. "We are good, but thank you." She wouldn't give up and proceeded to dig hers out and hand me one telling me to wipe her face. If it's not obvious I struggle with mommy guilt and self-esteem. The fact that Blake was gone and I had these two situations happen within hours of one another, I found myself stewing over them. Maybe they are right? Maybe I should be more cautious. Maybe I shouldn't let the boys climb and jump so much? Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Lord help me to follow you and only seek your approval. Please break me of my pride. The gap between what kind of mother I want to be and that which I am seems to be GAPING wide and overwhelming. Thank you for standing in that gap and using me just how I am...country and all. Thank you for trusting me with each of these angels. May I remember daily that I cannot be enough for them and that I must constantly teach them of their need for YOU. Help me to tell them of my mistakes as a mom and daily talk about needing You to live in me. As other moms give me advice help me to have patience and not be so dang prideful. Thank you for being my Savior and filling my heart with JOY.

Happy 6th Birthday Owen!

Oh my word...I miss these days when he used to snuggle me so! Not that I don't enjoy the toots and belly laughs of my now 6 year old though! Oh my gosh...look at him. Such a heart breaker already, huh?

This is one of my all time favorite pictures. I love how real those smiles are. These two could not be more alike. I know I have said it before, but it's almost weird how much they are like each other.

And now he is 6! How did that happen?
Our precious families had sent packages with his wrapped gifts last week. So when he woke up (at 6 am!) he had a table full of gifts and balloons. He gave some to Cooper and Sadie to open...he is sooo sweet.

I love my "job"! I got to take cupcakes to school today for Owen's class. It was so much fun to get to see the kids that he talks about all the time "his very best friend ever". His friends were so sweet. Several of them told me they wanted to come to our party too! Ha...whoops. We already had the party kids.

At 7:15 this morning on our walk to school. Poor Emery always gets plucked straight out of bed to walk with us. She is always so chipper about it though.

Owen, buddy. You're heart is gold. You live life with a sensitive old soul yet the energy of a spider monkey. When you get excited, you can hardly contain yourself...and you don't. You bounce off the furniture and let our your voice box rattle. That reminds me of myself. I often joke we need to build a house with foam floors and mattress covered walls and you'd be in heaven. YOU ARE ALL BOY. Until you dawn your sisters' dress up clothes and that's just about the funniest thing ever. You'll kill me one day for sharing that. But at least I don't have pictures!

It's so fun to watch you grow up into a young man and experience life with you. What an honor to be your mom. I pray that you see and feel the love of Jesus through your daddy and I. In this last month I have so felt a huge gap between the mom I want to be for you, and that which I am. I have so many moments when I feel I am letting you down. Then I remember that the best mommy I can be for you, is only when I let God stretch his arms across that gap of my deficiencies. Thank you Jesus for using me just as I am. Happy birthday pumpkin!!!

Black Baby White Hands

If you haven't read this...please do.

Even if you are not or will not adopt transracially, please read it!

I felt extremely well educated and prepared about transracial adoption through our incredible agency.

This book has rocked my world in so many ways.

I could go on and on.

I have learned I have said the wrong things already to my kids. **sigh**

I have learned that this is so much bigger than I ever could wrap my head and heart around.

It has shown me that, yet again, my God is the only one that can carry our children through this journey...and He's CHOSEN Blake and I to walk this with them.

I am so thankful this book has given me such priceless insight into a world that is often not spoken about.

I beg you, if you have a relationship with my children, please read this. Please.

I wish I had read it sooner.

Back to new!

So, we've been home for a couple of days and are getting back on schedule.


I've so enjoyed trying out the "5 Love Languages" on the kids, and whoa. This is AWESOME! We are not back to "normal" but have a new style at home! Even discipline can be wonderful!


There are so many things that I've learned that are easy to do, I was just rushing myself through discipline and not planning it out and therefore making some rather big mistakes.


For example, my Owen loves quality time (what child doesn't?), so he asks for it lots. As you can imagine there are times he misbehaves because he is needing my attention, and when I discipline him for his poor choice, I put him in time out in his room. This devastates him and is not necessary for the "crime". For him, a simple positive guidance (kindly reminding him of the rules) would work and maybe some thinking time in a chair (but not isolation). It's simple stuff, and makes lots of sense, and it's made a world of difference!!!


Our little Sadie bug gets OH-SO annoyed being in her car seat. She can't even last 15 minutes anymore. I have come to find that it might just be she loves physical touch. She wants to be in my lap! So when she starts her hollering in the car, I've started just touching her leg or holding her hand. Yes, this is a bit of a challenge in the car, but it's TONS better than hearing loss! And I am telling you that nothing else has worked!


One thing the book is quick to point out is that all children need all 5 types of love, but typically one speaks louder to them at different points in their life. I am just sad I didn't read this earlier!


So I found my cord to the camera and downloaded our pics. I found this city to be so relaxing. Blake and I could not be more blessed than to have been given the opportunity to go! He is now officially finished with interviews and we can't wait to see where God takes us next year! We will be truly blessed to be at any of these programs.

I am not sure how anyone could not believe in God when seeing this!!!

It was beautiful weather this day, nearly 50 degrees while we were walking on the snow covered beach!

A guy offered to take a picture of us! How cool! Poor Blake had to put up with all of my pictures since the kids weren't there!

Taken by the timer! These rocks were incredible. We drove to this area and climbed and walked a bit to get closer to the water.

Then its started snowing! It could not have been any more perfect!

Can you see the water back through the trees?

Another one by the timer! Sorry again Blake!

I have to get running! We went on a play date this morning with some good friends, and this afternoon are meeting Momma G (Sadie's birth mom) for a date! We haven't seen her in so long and are so excited to squeeze on her!

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Adoption update: we now have our background checks, abuse and neglect checks running (our fingerprints are still good for another 4 years) and our pastor letter of reference in. We are waiting to receive our second application forms in the mail!