Thursday night, our Mississippi State Bulldogs hosted the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium.  Russ had to work, of course, so Millie Janalee and I loaded up after lunch and drove south toward Starkville to meet the rest of the family.  Since it was a weekday, we opted to meet at Buffalo Wild Wings for a pregame dinner/snack. 

The idea was to "white out" the stadium, so I had to get busy finding something warm enough for Millie Janalee to wear. I found this little dress from last year (It was 3-6 months) and tried it on her the night before.  It would still work as a top!  So, I ran to Target in search of white leggings.  The only ones I found were 9 months, so I picked them up hoping they would work.  I just couldn't resist the little faux Ugg boots on my way to the checkout.  She was ready for gameday!

She She, Millie Janalee, and Uncie Bucket

"This is how you ring, Uncie Bucket!"

When we arrived on campus, the weather was perfect!  A great evening for football.  It was quite evident that the crowd was a little low for this game.  It was a weekday game, and I'm sure lots of people had to work.  But it was also an SEC game, so I was a little surprised.  I mean the entire row behind us was empty and the student section was half to three-fourths full.  Maybe.

We settled in for kickoff, and we were happy to find fun pom poms in our seats.  Millie Janalee was actually afraid of the pom poms and prefers her cowbell.  Haha!  Fine with me!  She stood in her seat watching the pregame show and kickoff.  She cheered when the crowd did and rang her cowbell when we did.  It was so funny watching her ring that cowbell with all her might when she saw others doing it.  And I swear it looked like she instinctively knew when to ring it!  She seriously watches the game.  Y'all may think I'm exaggerating, but she does.

A man walked down from a few rows above us who has been watching us since last year.  He said he and his wife were having a discussion on whether or not Millie Janalee was the same little girl as the little baby they watched last year.  Ha!  Yes sir she is.  True Maroon from the age of 6-7 weeks old! 

It didn't take too long for me to pull out a warm hat for the sweet baby bulldog.  My neice, Julie, made this adorable pink football hat, and I LOVE it!  It is super soft and covers her ears so nicely.  Plus it ties so that Millie Janalee can't jerk it off...which she tried to do.

The funniest part about this is that immediately after I put the hat on her head, it's like she was pouting.  Or maybe she just got very cozy.  She started hugging and kissing me and trying to be cuddly.  She sat in my lap, and before we knew it she looked like this...

And she pretty much has no idea what happened in the second quarter...

The game was nerve-racking and not that exciting at the same time.  It didn't seem like we were playing very well, and the game was much closer than it should have been.  My sister's friend, Ally, came by our row for a visit.  She lives in Texas, so it was nice to see her.  Millie Janalee warmed up to her nicely too.

And the girl kept her eyes on the game.  At this point, she still hasn't said anything since we put the hat on her head.  Maybe she was scared it would do something to her.  Ha!  Or maybe she wasn't sure why she was cold. 

By the fourth quarter, Millie Janalee was bundled up and wrapped in blankets snuggling with Auntie Kristin as she watched our Dawgs defeat the Wildcats 22-28.  It wasn't all that pretty, but a win is a win!

Our next home game?  Alabama.  Are you ready for that?

God Gave Us Love {The Agency's Story}

I am so happy to share today's adoption testimony from a dear family friend and "angel" in our own adoption journey.  Karen was our adoption worker during our wait for Millie Janalee.  It wasn't until Millie Janalee was born that my heart really understood how precious the work is of our agency.  What a special calling!  I am honored that Karen agreed to share her own testimony of her life and adoption.  Please take a moment and read a perspective on adoption from the agency's viewpoint.  Share with others.  I love how she ministers and sees God move through the heartaches and joys of adoption on a daily basis!

One advantage to getting older in life is the opportunity to look back and see how God has woven together so many details throughout the years….

My first recollection of adoption was in elementary school. A family lived across the street in my neighborhood - a mom, a dad and a three year old little girl. I don’t know how I knew but I knew she was adopted. One day, a woman came to our house and talked with my parents. After she left, my parents told me she was from an adoption agency and our neighbors wanted to adopt another child. I have wondered since then, if my parents were listed as references or if the social worker interviewed all the neighbors!

During my elementary and junior high years, I was a GA in my Baptist church. We often studied about missionaries and, more than once, God tugged on my heart to be a missionary.

When I was a senior in high school, my mom died from cancer and 18 months later, my dad died. And even though I had parents who loved me and had grown up in a family, the grief of suddenly not having parents and not knowing where I would be at Christmas, was difficult. My pastor and his family “took me in” and gave me a home.

When I enrolled in college (Mississippi State – Go Dawgs!), my major for three semesters was that most popular one of incoming freshmen, UNDECLARED. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life! However, after a discussion with a friend in the dorm one evening, I entered the major of social work during my sophomore year…………..

My first job in social work was with the Mississippi Department of Human Services – first with the county system and then in the adoption unit placing children, mostly older kids, from foster care into adoptive homes. During those years in the adoption unit, I worked with the adoptive parents and with the children but not with the birth parents. After seven years, I took a break from social work.

Visiting an orphanage in Africa with Bethany Christian Services

In 1987, God gave me the privilege of beginning my work at Bethany Christian Services. What were the requirements for the job? A degree in social work, experience in the field of adoption, an agreement with the agency’s Statement of Faith and a love for God and ministry!

At Bethany Christian Services, I have had the privilege of working with all the members of the adoption triad – the birth parents, the adoptive parents and the children. At Bethany, I have seen the grief and the joy of adoption. At Bethany, I have seen young women devastated by an unplanned pregnancy and Christian couples struggling with the grief and pain of infertility. I have seen birth parents and adoptive parents experiencing the same emotions of anger, guilt, and confusion. I have prayed and cried for and with birth parents and adoptive parents as they walk this path. And I have seen God in His great wisdom weave all of their lives together for the benefit of a child.

Millie Janalee's first visit to the agency after her adoption

Just as every birth of a child is a miracle of God over and over again, I believe that every adoption is His miracle. Those involved in the adoption process – birth parents and adoptive parents - are my heroes. Birth parents love their children and their gut wrenching decision for adoption is an act of love. Adoptive parents love and appreciate the gift of their children and also love and minister to their child’s birth parents.

Karen recognized as an "Angel in Adoption" (pictured with her family and Thad Cochran)

So, as I look back, my life experiences helped prepare me for the work of adoption. And that tug on my heart to be a missionary? For me, that did not mean going overseas to live in another country – it meant sharing the love of Christ and ministering in my home state. In fact, early in my Bethany career, I spoke at a church during their missions conference and my photo was displayed with all of the guest missionaries that week!

My OWN adoption helped prepare me for this work. There is an entire book written about my adoption. My adoption was expensive; it cost my Father everything –even the life of His Son. For I am adopted by the greatest Dad of all – my Heavenly Father.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received

the Spirit of Adoption. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Showering Miss Ruthie

We've had a busy couple of weeks around here involving travel, parties, showers, ballgames, fall fun, and a birth!  I feel like I have so much to blog about.  Last weekend, I was honored to join other sweet girls to host a beautiful shower for Jamie's baby girl.

It was such a nice shower!  One of the girls' mother-in-law's was kind enough to offer her home, and it was stunning.  Obviously, she entertains a lot.  Because every detail was perfection.  Not to mention the weather was wonderful!  We left the doors open, and the crisp air traveled through the home as the guests sipped on a delicious punch and lots of finger foods mostly made by the hostesses.  It was  a pleasure to get to know these girls better and learn each of their story of connection to Jamie.

For those of you who don't know, Jamie and I met in college.  We both graduated with a degree in elementary education and taught in the Jackson area.  She was the bride proxy in my wedding, and I stood beside her as bridesmaid in hers.  Then, Russ and I moved here for his residency and I was able to work for Jamie in her gift shop while we waited on our placement...which would be Millie Janalee.  I have no doubt God orchestrated our friendship because he knew how our journeys would cross one day, and I am so thankful she was there through our adoption journey.  It has been a privilege to call Jamie friend.  And I can't wait to meet little Miss Ruthie!

Millie Janalee also can't wait to have a little playmate before the big move next summer!

Toddler Time Tidbits

I've had some readers ask about the "curriculum" I use for Millie Janalee's Toddler Time.  Some of you don't have an email address connected to your account, so I can't reply.  I thought I'd give a little rundown here for you.  I use the word "curriculum" ever so lightly!  Please know that this is nothing too structured. 

At all.

It is simply a list of things to do throughout each given week.  If we have time for everything, great!  If not, that's fine too.  I did lots of research, and I got advice from my sister-in-law, who is pretty much an expert on all things children!  I used A Letter A Week Nursery Curriculum as a foundation.  Then I tweaked it how I wanted.  I have been using the reading list.  I added Songs from Saplings scripture songs...both the letters of the alphabet and the numbers.  I also use some of the Tot School ideas here and there as I want. (You can find lots of Tot School ideas on Pinterest.)

I hope this helps those of you who asked.

Last week was so busy and full of travel that we didn't do much "Toddler Time" at all.  Besides, the best learning is real life learning anyway.  We read lots of books, ran lots of errands, got shots, waited on the birth of our cousin, went to the pumpkin patch, and visited with lots of friends and family.  All after attending and watching MSU beat Kentucky.  Then, yesterday we traveled again to have family pictures taken.  That's a story in itself.

We did manage to get a couple "structured activites" in.  Ms. Linda, a kindred teacher heart, encouraged me to purchase the multi-sized pack of pom poms for Millie Janalee to manipulate.  I certainly had plans to do this later on with tongs, but I had no idea they made pom poms so big.  I just knew all pom poms would go straight to Miss Priss's mouth, but these huge ones are perfect for her age!

You can see how excited she is to play with her new pom poms.  Ha!  I separated all the sizes into separate Ziplock bags.  Then, I found the best container I could for her to stuff the pom poms into and try to fish out.

It was a hit! 

I recommend this for a quiet activity if you need one.  She worked on this independently, and only needed my help to fish the pom poms out.  Ideally, I wanted to use an empty puffs container or skinny pitcher.  But, I had neither.  If the opening was a little bigger, she could have done it all on her own.  We took this little activity with us to the doctor's office too.  She played a little on the exam table while we waited on the doctor. 

We also completed a little Halloween artwork.  I'm a sucker for anything involving baby handprints.  Can you tell?  Itsy Bitsy Spider is one of our favorite songs right now, so we did some art in honor of the cute song.  I was very pleased with the cuteness!

Other than that, we played lots of princess in the castle with her Little People Princess set, hugged our baby dolls, and she enjoyed dancing and singing while her Daddy played the guitar some this week.  I suppose all our extracurricular activities could be categorized as social studies (traveling and running errands), music (guitar, singing, dancing), PE (football game), library (reading books), and science (birthing a baby, shots, and pumpkin patch).  Haha!

15 Months of Precious Life

**Note: I wrote this last night, so the 'time words' are gonna be off.  For example, it was last night instead of tonight.

Y'all.  My itty bitty babe was FIFTEEN MONTHS OLD on the 18th.  How did that even happen?  When did it happen?  I've held on so tight, so I'm not sure how I could let that time slip by like this.  Ha!

But it happened.

And it will continue to happen I pray.  My heart is so very heavy for a college sorority sister tonight.  I just got word that her precious angel baby boy tragically left this world early in the week.  My heart is broken.  My stomach is in knots.  And I'm on the verge of tears.  Russ and I both.  My prayers are with this sweet family, and I'm sure I'll be up all night lifting them up.  I just cannot imagine.

Life is so precious. 

So I pray that Millie Janalee's months continue to slip by.  I pray for her tonight while she sleeps.  As I'm sure I'll keep a close eye on her monitor tonight and the nights to come.  I pray that she grow and play and live full of gladness and thanksgiving for her sweet life.  Because so many are already so thankful for it.  She is precious.  An angel sent from God's arms.  She is mine only for a time, and I pray for wisdom as I guide her through the years of life.

Millie Janalee and I faced the notorious fifteen month checkup today.  And that means shots.  And a flu shot.  Yucky!  The appointment was right at her naptime.  I scheduled the appointment at her one year visit, and her naptimes have changed since then.  So I packed my bags with an activity, juice, and snacks to try and bide the time.  It was a much more active visit than those in the past.  You know, trying to keep her from touching anything and all.  I'm one of those who feels covered in germs after leaving the doctor's office.  Especially during flu season.

By the time the doctor came in, I had rocked her to sleep.  While she was sleeping, the doctor and I talked about her measurements and he checked her breathing and heart.

Her stats:

• Weight: 22 lbs 1 oz (25%)
• Height: 31.75 in (75-90%)

We woke her to check her ears, belly, teeth, and throat.  She woke up talking up a storm.  She and Dr. Phillips had a great big conversation.  He speaks "15 month" he said.  Then it was time.

Shots.

I'm not real sure how to even begin this description.  My girl has been known to cry so long that she doesn't breath.  It scares me to death.  And now that she's older, it scares her too.  A great deal.  The first time it happened, I thought she had a seizure.  Completely panicked!  Russ wasn't there.  It hasn't happened since until lately.  It's happened twice in the last couple weeks.  So I was nervous about these shots and told the doctor as much.  Dr. Phillips assured me that these "breath holding spells" are completely normal and nothing to worry about, even though it can be incredibly scary.

So.  The nurse comes in with three needles.  Do y'all already know my aversion and fear of needles?  If not, let me say that I am terrified of needles myself.  So I completely empathize with my sweet angel when it comes to shots.  Motherhood makes you suck it up and take care of business...even shot duty.  We lay her down as I hold her arms.  This is the usual routine.  I begin singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" in her ear as the nurse begins her swift poking.  Right leg first, then the left.  All was fussy, but okay after the first leg.  But the second leg did her in.  It started and I knew it was.  I continued my song as my heart raced and I watched my baby's face become blood red, scrunched up, and unmoving.  She was crying a long silent cry by this point, and I knew she needed to take a breath.  I picked her up and hugged her saying in a calm "singing" voice, "Breathe.  Breathe."  The nurse joined me at this point.  It lasted forever, it seemed.  Until she passed out in my arms.  Immediately after, she stiffened up and jerked a bit (just as the doctor told me she might) as the bluish color begins to fade.  I took a breath when she did and hugged that girl so tight as she screamed in panic herself I'm sure.  I picked her up and looked at the nurse...WHO HAD ONE MORE SHOT TO GIVE!  Are you serious?!  I think I even asked her that.  She said, "Yes.  Just one more in the arm."  THE ARM?!  WE'VE NEVER HAD A SHOT IN THE ARM.  {The words in all caps are what I said.  Out loud.  To the kind nurse who at this point looked a little shaken herself.}  I gave Millie Janalee some juice.  Remember I came prepared for this.  She never stopped crying, but the shot must be given.  It was the flu shot.  So I grabbed that sweaty head in a bear hug against my chest and continued to talk to her as the nurse poked once more.  And it was finished.

The shots were given.  We survived. 

But just barely.

I was sweating.  Seriously soaking wet.  And she was still crying big crocodile tears...holding me tight so that I wouldn't lay her down for another shot.

It is so scary and heartbreaking to see your child struggle when there is nothing you can do.  Although it may be "normal", I'm quite sure it's nothing I will get used to.  There are so many things out of our control, and I have to hand it over to Him. 

It's hard to imagine that God loves my daughter so much more than I ever could. 

It is amazing.

So, in case you are wondering or sitting on the edge of your seat, we got home and I put this beauty in bed to nap.  She napped for 3 hours...an hour and a half of that was in my arms.  It felt good to hold her.  She's back to her happy go-lucky self and we are passing out the Tylenol as a precaution.  Prayers for a restful night.

Fifteen months of precious life.  Unbelievable how sweet it is!  I love this girl to the moon and back.  And back again!

God Gave Us Love x 2 {Marcie's Story}

I am delighted to share Marcie's story with you!  Marcie and I "virtually met" online.  I found her blog during the beginning of our adoption journey, and I recognized her from the Waiting Families site through our agency.  We kept up with one another and encouraged each other as we waited.  I was thrilled to see "Placement" come across their online profiles!  When I heard from her, I found out the big surprise!  God gave them love...twice over!  Be blessed by this story of trusting God to build a family.

As a little girl I dreamt of becoming many things- a nurse, a teacher, but I always knew that first and foremost I wanted to get married and have lots and lots of babies! I grew up dreaming of who my hubby would be and what my children would look like, always writing and scribbling my future baby names in my notebooks and diaries. I always assumed that my life would go just the way I planned. It took me a while to realize that God had greater plans for me.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

John and I knew from the day we married that we wanted children immediately. We were so ready to have our little family and we couldn’t wait to tell everyone we were expecting!
We knew after our first year of marriage that something just wasn’t right. Time went on and still no baby for us. By this time all our friends and family had at least 1 baby, some 2 or 3! After being referred to a reproductive endocrinologist we were told that our only chance of conceiving would be IVF (invitrofertilization).

I was heartbroken and hopeful all at the same time. I wanted to immediately begin the process. I could already smell the aroma of baby lotion filling our home. After 3 unsuccessful IVF cycles we were still childless. These were the hardest months and years for me. I felt as though my body had just completely let me down and nobody understood me or what I was feeling. I know everybody looks at things differently but at each cycle, each embryo that was created was MY baby. So after each failed attempt I mourned the loss of our babies. This was usually followed by crying all the time and being withdrawn from family and friends. I honestly don’t see how John toughed it out and lived in the same house with me! After each failed attempt, my heart broke more and more. I didn’t understand why this was happening to us. What had I done to deserve this? Here we were, had already spent a small fortune and had nothing to show for it but heart break. I couldn’t tell you how many times I questioned God and yelled and screamed “why me?”

Infertility just plain sucks. There is no other nice way to put it. But, I am also thankful for it- my marriage is stronger, my walk with God is closer, and I have the most perfect little girls because of it.

Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

I can’t really tell you the day that our hearts were led to adoption. I would love to say that we had talked about it before marriage and it was something we always wanted to do, but that wasn’t the case. John and I just finally came to the point that we just could not and did not want to persue treatments anymore! We wanted to be parents and that was the most important thing to us. I think I had gotten so tied up with the dream of being pregnant that I forgot pregnancy doesn’t make you a mother. So, we began to pray and pray some more for God to lead us in the right direction. I know this will sound so cliché’ but God led us straight to Bethany Christian Services.

John, my Mom, and I attended informational meetings that Bethany offered and began to talk and pray with our pastor. We also began to talk with other couples that had already adopted. This was all foreign water to us, but we felt such a peace about it all. We just knew that this was how God would build our family.

Then the real fun began- paperwork and more paperwork! To put it plainly it was very discouraging at times. We actually felt one step closer to our baby with every application that we submitted. It was during these years that we began to worship during the wait. John and I both began to see things so differently. We were finally having fun with each other again. Our lives didn’t revolve around doctor appointments or shot schedules. We learned “together” that no amount of money or medical treatment would bring us a child; it was all about trusting in God’s perfect plan.

 I remember our first home study. I was so nervous. Would our social worker think we would make good parents? What would she think of our home? I knew she would think it was clean since I had worked on it all week long. I prayed the bleach fumes wouldn’t knock her out when she walked in!
Finally after our mountain of paperwork, doctor physicals, fingerprints, drug tests, interviews, and home study we were approved and considered a waiting family. Those words never sounded so good! And then the real wait began…

Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Close to our one year mark, Bethany invited us to an adoption meeting at Belhaven College. That was such a special day for John and me. I believe that God spoke to us directly through another couple who are now our close friends. It started off as small talk. They had already adopted two children from Bethany and we enjoyed hearing their stories and advice. We were talking about paperwork and how some pages were just so hard to fill out especially those that you have to check yes, no, or maybe. Then came the words that struck our hearts like a ton of bricks… this guy looked us straight in the eye and said “What if you are marking NO to the child he has for you, what if you are boxing God out?” John and I talked for days about this one comment that was going to change our lives forever. We prayed and talked with our pastor. Our one year renewal paperwork was coming up and we couldn’t wait to share with our social worker what we were being led to do. We decided to let God work in our lives. John, Mrs. Peggy, and I went over everything that day in October sitting around our kitchen table. We made the decision to mark “Yes” on everything and the baby HE wanted us to have we would joyously accept. We were humbled. We made plans for how we would care for a child with a mild or moderate birth defect or handicap, and how it would affect our family if they were boy or girl, Caucasian or African American. The year before was so different. I marked those boxes a year ago and never thought twice about it. It’s amazing to look back and see how God worked in our lives that year. Once we let God in and let him have complete control, things instantly changed.

John and I both realize that there are people who do specify certain things and we are not condemning that. We believe each family has to make the best decisions for themselves. We are simply speaking about our journey through the adoption process.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will walk and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

As we began to tell our family of our decision to accept ANY child God sent our way, we were met with some questions, but mostly open hearts and understanding minds.

We made it through another Thanksgiving, Christmas, and rang in the New Year still as a family of two. Not knowing or having a clue that this year would be the greatest of our lives.

February 16, 2012

We received the long awaited call! The best call ever! Our social worker began to tell us ever so calmly of the situation. She however failed to mention until the very end of the conversation, that we weren’t adopting one baby girl but two! We were having TWINS! The following weekend was chaotic as we began to prepare our home for two newborn girls.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16

February 20, 2012

We met and brought our precious babies home! I would like to say that it was love at first sight, but I was so in love long before I ever laid eyes on either of them.

These two wonderful, precious, perfect gifts from God are our children. They are the ones who were meant to be with us. It just so happens that they are of a different race, but it doesn’t make them any less our daughters!

God’s plan was so much better than my own!

The More You Read

Our latest obsession is and has been BOOKS!  Millie Janalee loves to read to herself, be read to, and turn the pages.  She loves the sounds and the motions and the rhyming and the acting.  On days that we spend at home, she will bring books to us 2, 345 times a day. 

And it is a joy to read to her!

After all "the more you read, the more you know.  The more you know, the smarter you grow.  The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice when speaking your mind or making a choice."  Didn't we all learn this from our elementary school librarian?

I thought I'd share some of our favorite book collections.  Now, please note that we have MANY many favorite single books, but I am just gonna share a couple of our favorite collections...and stick her all-time current favorite in there.

I absolutely adore Karen Katz books!  First of all, they are super cute and colorful.  The stories are also very fun.  We have several "Where is Baby's..." book.  These books have flaps that you lift to find various things: baby's hands, baby's feet, baby's Easter eggs, baby's Valentine, etc.  She also has a super fun Baby's Numbers book that is a favorite right now.  There is one baby on the number 5... "5 busy butterflies" page...that Millie Janalee leans in to kiss.  Every. Single. Time.  It's hilarious, and we have no idea why she does it, except that it's the same baby as the little stuffed baby she has shown above.  It came with one of our books when I ordered through Zulily.  The Babies on the Bus is our newest Karen Katz book, and I love it!  So fun to sing the song all about the babies.  It really is cute.  I certainly recommend these books...especially if you have a little girl.  A favorite of mine.

Boynton books are great too.  Roan gave us our first set of these books for Millie Janalee's first Christmas.  They are sweet little rhyming books that are short, easy to read, and fun to read.  Snuggle Puppy is one of our favorites, because I read it in song form.  It's pretty funny.  All of these books are really fun and silly reads for little ones!

At this moment, Millie Janalee's all-time favorite book is Snuggle Wuggle.  When I started Toddler Time, I created a collaboration of ideas from various places.  Our readings all came from the same place...actually a one year old "curriculum".  Snuggle Wuggle was one of the first books on the list, so I found it on Amazon.  The book goes through various animals and shows how they hug.

Millie Janalee and I act out every hug, and she looks up at me while I'm reading pretty much the whole time waiting on the actual hug part.  We've taught her Daddy the different hugs too, so he can enjoy reading this book with her.  Ha!

The last page asks "How do you hug?"  Millie Janalee points to herself, and I grab her up for a big hug.  It's a sweet book, and I love sneaking hugs in with every turn of the page.  I definitely recommend you find this book!

Like I said, we have lots of favorite single books.  These are just a few of our favorite board book collections.  What are your favorites?  I'm always open to adding to our book collection!

She's a Happy Girl

 "He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 8:21

 "...Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." Luke 6:21

 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

 "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'" Psalm 126:2

"Let everyone stand in awe of Him." Psalm 33:8

Thanking God for these giggly times with our 15 month old angel sent from Him...and always for the privilege of being chosen as her Mama by another selfless, loving couple.  Life is so much better than I deserve and incredibly sweeter than I ever imagined!