The New Journey Begins!

                                                           

Check out our new home.. go on now..
SHOOO!

Road Less Wandered...

Coming Soon...

The New Blog...

STAY TUNED!!!

Full Circle Has Come..

... Full Circle ...

It is with a heavy heart I bring this amazing bloggy adventure to a close.  Nearly 4 years of an incredible journey... oh my goodness, where does the time go?  From our certification process to waiting on "The Call" to Jack, Jill, Mannie, Sunshine, Junebug, Little Buddy and SweetPea, our family hijinks, Matt's passing and FINALLY our best day..  the adoption!

I've made lifelong friends because of this venture and consider myself truly blessed on so many levels.  Thank you for your love, support, prayers and awesome vibes.  I will never find the right words to express my appreciation to all for laughing with (and at me-- come on now, you know y'all did!), crying along side of me, holding me (and my family) up in our darkest hours and celebrating our greatest days.

From our little home to yours.. From the bottom of my heart so humbled by all of you.. Thank you and God Bless...

Until we meet again!

XOXO,

.

My Daughter's First...

... Fish!  She reeled it in all by her bad little self. Okay, that's a stretch but dang it, she did some of the work!

To answer the burning question of the day: YES, she did touch it.

I, however, did not.

Yay, SweetPea!!

I'm A Guest Blogger...

TODAY AT 

CLICK ---> HERE <--- CLICK

(Thank you for letting me contribute, my dear friends!!)

  

For The Record..

Sister likes taking silly pictures, as well. If anything, my children will grow up not taking themselves too seriously..

And Nearly 2 Weeks After The Adoption..

I am finally posting something!  WOOT!  You would think things would've chilled and become manageable by now but noooooo.

Here's a little ditty I would like to share. Since Little Buddy was on Spring Break during the adoption, we celebrated with his class the following week. The kids (fellow students he has known for the last year and a half) all made him Adoption Day cards and read them to him. Pictured sitting beside him is his awesome Principal.. a man that came along side him his very first day, has been a wonderful role model and a good buddy.

We're blessed to have angels everywhere, let me tell ya..

After the beautiful cards were read, they sat at their tables and sang him songs.  Auntie MooMoo, Nantie (she came down from Graceland in Cheyenne!) and I sugared the kids out with cupcakes, ice cream and pop....

 Then we sent them home, teeth a-buzzin' and completely spazzed out.

It was a great afternoon!

BEST DAY!!!!!

April 5th, 2012

LET THE ADOPTION COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!

YA, BABY!

PillowTalk.. Sigh..

Last night tucking SweetPea in..

SweetPea: Mommy, me climb a tree and get Daddy down.
Me: Is Daddy in a tree?
SP: No, Mommy.. Daddy in the clouds. Me climb a tree and get Daddy in the clouds.
M: You want to bring Daddy down from the clouds, baby?
SP: Yes Mommy. Bring Daddy home.

Sigh.

Jack O' Lanterns In March...

Who Knew?

Spring Is In The Air..

13 Days and Counting!

Our Song ~ Redone Beautifully

Big News.. SIT DOWN..

Are you sitting?

Our adoption court date is SET!  Before the first week of April ends, I will officially become SweetPea and LittleBuddy's Mommy!!  Tears of joy .. gushing.  God is so GOOD!

Stay tuned!!!

I Survived Valentine's Day..

Nothing like having a big dose of reality shoved in my face. No thanks to all the jewelry, flower and card commercials.

Take that, Hallmark.. I still won.

6 Months Ago Today..

My Heart Shattered...

Today, it soared.

God is so good!

Doggie Sitting..

This past week, our little village had a new (temporary) addition: Miss Olivia. Her family went on vacation so no, she's not a foster.. LOL. She's the wiggliest, silliest pup.. and wonderful with the kids (she has three of her own at home). We call her, "Lovie" instead of Livvie.

They're not called KissABulls for nothing!

She's as sweet as she is darling!

Very Important: Jimmy Wayne LIVE at 1:55 CST Today

Foster care survivor, country music singer/song writer and champion for children in the foster care system, Jimmy Wayne, will be speaking today on the floor of the Tennessee General Assembly.  It is regarding a bill that would extend the age of children in foster care from 18 to 21.

Click Here:  Watch Live 

This is a big deal.  It will allow young adults more time and access to services that can help them transition to adulthood from state custody and has gained national attention.  Please take a moment to read a letter sent in support of the bills: 

Click Here:  Written By Michael Reagan (you may remember his father)

If you can't watch, please say a prayer for Jimmy and all involved.

SuperBowl XLVI

Our reaction to Brady's second sack:

Heh Heh Heh...

Reason # 7...

Being Single Sucks...

Terrible 2's?

Hardly.

After I tucked my angelic 3 year old in bed last night (and checked on her a couple times thereafter) is apparently when the party really got started. Before heading to bed myself, I peeked in one more time and discovered this:

Lights on, room trashed, curtains pulled (rod bent) and yes, that's her passed out on the floor.

Turd.

A Birthday Celebrated ~ A Birthday Grieved..

All in a 24 hour time span..

Yesterday, my darling SweetPee turned, "FREEEEE!!!"  As sassy and tantrum-filled as this time in her life is, dang she's adorable.  Tonight we will have a small family party in which she plans to, "Open pwesents, bwhoa out candles and eat cake.. blue cake..."

God, I love that girl.

Today would've been Matt's 49th birthday.  I'm trying to push past the gloom of sadness, not dwell on memories of the last 10 birthdays we've shared and really try to focus on the joy of living.  I cannot allow myself to get swallowed up by grief and truly look forward to our little gathering tonight. 

And the Merlot.

This Many...

This Week!

My SweetPea .. not a baby anymore.. sigh..

Full Circle Flashback ...

3 Years Ago Today:

Jack and Jill moved in...  Our beautiful 4 1/2 year old twins and first foster placements..

Oh my, what a ride that was.. seems like 100 years ago and yesterday..  No, we are not in contact but yes, I do happen by their neighborhood every now and again running errands.

And I still pray for their safety and well being.

Although We Didn't Win...

It was still a HECK of a great season!!

GO RAVENS!!!

My Mostest Favoritest Thank You Card..

EV-ER

Pay Attention!

Because a minute ago she couldn't talk..
And now she jabbers up a storm.

An hour ago, he would explode over anything,
And now he says, "Yes Ma'am" and "No Ma'am" .. taking things in stride.

A day ago she hummed her ABC's.. 
And now she's almost got them mastered.

("...ELEMENOPEEEE!" sung the loudest)

A month ago, he struggled to read...
And now he's so confident he is teaching baby sister.

Try not to look away, it passes so quickly..

Do not take it for granted.

2011 taught me what a precious gift time truly is..

Try not squander it.

Tomorrow = Orange Friday 2.0

Sport your Orange tomorrow..

Because Mayor Hancock SAYS SO!

BIG NEWS From Our Friend SocialWrkr24/7!!

Sometime back I called on my awesome prayer warriors and positive buddies to hold my dear friend up as a cancer diagnosis had come from out of the blue. 

Please check out the latest in her post:

Spreading The News

God is SO GOOD!

Ultimate Girls Day Out...

So yesterday, we went there...

Cheered like maniacs from here...

(No lie, my voice is SHOT)

Had a few of these...

AND WE WON in OVERTIME.. We're Headed to New England, Baby!

But best of all, I got to spend the afternoon with one of my besties.. much needed, might I add.

A PERFECT GIRLS DAY (for Broncos fans.. Steelers fans?  Not so much..) 

:-)

Eyes In The Back My Head?

Maybe..

Maybe Not..

Now THIS Is The Way...

To Start The Day!!!

Actually, a heck of a way to start the YEAR.. Great first post of 2012, if I do say so, myself.. 

(Little Buddy couldn't quite get "Thankful" to fit... LOL)