Blessings of a year!

Adoption Announcement Picture

One year later, what a difference!

On February 26, 2006, a special gift was placed in our arms. It was an unimaginable gift. It was a gift from God. I can not believe that today marks the one year anniversary of Eleenah joining our family. I still stand in awe of our adoption process. I have never in my life known so clearly that I was doing exactly what God had intended for me to do. I remember just being at peace as we were walking into the civil affairs office. I knew through my prayers that no matter what happened that day, that God would be glorified. When the nanny turned the corner with Eleenah in her arms, I did not recognize her. I only knew it was her because she was carrying a bear we had sent her. As they walked across the room towards us, she held out her arms for me, and never looked back. She was home at that moment. She was everything I had prayed for, and more. Over the last year, we have watched Eleenah change so much. She has gone from a shy child to an outgoing one. She has gone from sickly to healthy. She has gone from 16 pounds to 22 pounds. She has become one of us. I can assure you that the adoption experience is the most amazing experience of my life. I am so glad that God adopted Paul and I, without him this miracle never would have happened.

This is Ernest

In 1996 while traveling down a rural road in Beauregard, Paul and I passed a small country church. I looked at it and commented on how cute the church was. As we were traveling back to Auburn, we passed it again. I looked at Paul and said, "I would like to go there some day." I couldn't get that little country church out of my head. So, one Sunday, we rode out there for church. We were greeted first by Ernest Whatley. He was wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt, suspenders, and cowboy boots. He also had the wildest mustache I had ever seen. We talked with him awhile, then we went in to find a seat. We were then greeted by each and every church member who were all thrilled that we were there. Ernest waited outside til the service had started, as he was waiting to greet anyone else that might come in. Once we sang a song or two, he made his way to the front pew. When the sermon started, he took off his boots to reveal his red socks with a hole in the big toe, and stretched out his legs. By the middle of the sermon, he was asleep. Every once in awhile, he would let out a little snore. When the sermon ended, and it was time to stand up and sing the last hymn, Ernest's wife, Jean, poked him in the side and he stood up, put his boots on and headed to the back door to say good bye to everyone. That day, we fell in love with Ernest and his family. Not only that, but we fell in love with Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church. Over the next two years, we made that our church home. We got married there, and were showered with love and kindness from everyone. All those people are still precious to us. We did eventually leave PCUM because we were the youngest people there by about 20 years. We new we needed to find a church where we could make some younger friends. However, we still love those people. We will never be the same Jean Whatley, Ernest's wife is one of the finest examples of a Christian woman. She is truly amazing and to me is a Proverbs 31 woman. I am amazed at how God brings people into our lives that will forever shape who we are. The Whatley's have a picnic each year where probably about 300 people stop by. Today was the day for their picnic. We had a blast, and it is always great to see all those precious people who helped us make our house a home.

Pinata Party!

What do you do with a crazy group of college students on a week night? If you're us, you throw a pinata party! I don't think I have ever laughed so hard. I don't know why, after watching this, that we generally reserve pinatas for kids parties. They are definitely more fun with big kids! After DJ finally busted Superman, we then had a baseball game in the front yard using Supermans head. There's nothing like your neighbors looking outside at 10 o'clock to see a bunch of college students beating a pinata, then playing baseball. I tell you, we really enjoy these guys. We are so blessed to get to be a part of their lives while they are in school. We love each and everyone of them, and feel like they are our children too. I know it is our job to minister to them, but I often times can tell they minister to my heart. They are determined to keep me young, and hip! They have taught me all kinds of things like how to look at the cute guys they like on myspace or facebook. I have also learned how to speak in the latest lingo, I've learned some moves to some funky dances, and they are my technology guru's. I think it is really neat how each of them seems to fit into our family so well!

This is Tricia, she knocked him down, but didn't bust him open, so we hung him back up by his neck

This is Becca, she was funny, she laughed the whole time

This is DJ, we told everyone to get their candy bags ready when he stepped up. He missed with his first two swings, but he knocked him good with the 3rd

Here's LeeLee, notice the tootsie rolls unwrapped and in front of her. She was actually swaying on top of them. It was cute! She loves her candy!

this is superman head baseball! It was alot of fun til his head got hit on to of the roof.

Beach Painting

I have had several friends and customers request to see the beach painting I did of the kids, so I thought I would put it here to direct people to it. I was excited with how it turned out.

O-R-E-O

How do you eat a stolen oreo?

If you are Eleenah, you try to look like royalty, and know that you will not be blamed, the shelf was definitely to high!

If your Hunter, you down the oreo, then say "Oreo? I didn't have an oreo," with the evidence all over your face!

If you are Noelle, you get that smirk on your face and enjoy your oreo, knowing you've been caught.

So who do you think looks like the quilty party? One child passed out the oreos to the others. Guess which one.

Hunter & Rags on Bissell Website

The Hunter and Rags story just seems to get more amazing everyday. They are becoming famous. They are now on the Bissell website http://www.bissell.com/NewsLetters/ListArticles.asp?Page_id=27877&Article_id=494 Petfinder has been bombarded with emails about Rags. He is one of a kind and so special to Hunter. We are truly blessed!

Eleenah's Quilt

Thank you for all the emails and phone calls letting me know that you will be sending a quilt square for Eleenah. I am really excited about this project, and I'm glad that so many of my family and friends want to be a part of it. You all are the greatest. I'll hold off sending her quilt off til the end of March to give you all time to get your fabric and make your wishes. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Daddy Daughter Dance Night

The city of Auburn hosts a Daddy Daughter Dance every year, and this has to be Noelle's favorite night of the year. Noelle has been going since she was 2. She loves it! She gets all dolled up and heads out for a night on the town with daddy. Last year, we almost had to send a substitute for Paul, because the first travel dates for China that we were given were during the dance. Noelle was pitiful (even though my dad would have taken excellent care of her.) She just really enjoys this time with Paul. Several of the other little girls from her Sunday School Class will be there, and from what I understand, they really get out there and cut a rug. I must say though, as I look at these pictures, it is the first time I can see myself in Noelle. I know Michelle, you have been telling me this for years. But, I must say, she is much prettier than me!

At our house when Noelle gets dressed up we say "Introducing Noelle........."Here is Noelle giving the "Look at me I know I'm cute look" Here is Noelle practicing her dance moves And by this time, she's tired of the camera and ready to go the dance with Paul

Sick Day!

My sick baby!

What a day! Hunter and Noelle are both sick. The picture above of Noelle shows her position for most of the day. She curled up in my chair and if she was awake, she had a dazed look on her face. Sick days for the kids have gotten really hard. Eleenah was sick last week, and she is still getting over it, and now with Noelle and Hunter down, there isn't enough of me to go around. Hunter is very mommy oriented, so he wants to be on me. I have no pictures of him because of this. Hunter also gets whiny. Hunter's need for me creates a problem with Eleenah, who doesn't really need me right now. If Hunter needs some mommy time, then Eleenah gets so jealous. And as you can tell from her picture, she has some "attitude". She is very sassy. Now that everyone is in bed, I have had time to reflect on my day. Most of the day, I was frustrated because I couldn't tend to everybody. Then, I realized that I needed to change my attitude. I needed to realize the awesome privledge that I have been given to care of these precious sick children. And the privledge of teaching LeeLee that she is not the center of the universe. God is so good, even when my kids are sick!

One sassy kid!

100 Good Wishes Quilt for Eleenah

I have been collecting quilt squares for the last two years for Eleenah. In China, there is a traditon where family members collect 100 pieces of fabric from family and friends of a baby, then a quilt is pieced together out of the pieces of fabric. In English, this is known as the 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I am finally getting close to having enough squares to do Eleenah's quilt. I would love to include quilt squares from all of our family and friends. If you are interested in sending a square for Eleenah's quilt, then please send a piece of fabric, that is 8x8. Also send your wish for Eleenah. The wish can be a note, scripture, prayer, poem, etc. Attach a small piece of the fabric to the wish. All of Eleenah's wishes are going in a scrapbook and she will be able to look at her quilt then match up each square with a wish. If you would like to participate, and have any questions, then please let me know. We truly cherish each wish she has received. I can't wait to make her quilt so we can see all of the beautiful wishes pieced together. Thank you in advance helping to make Eleenah's quilt so special!

I can't believe Noelle has 6 candles to blow out! Sydney, Anna, Tori, Alli, and Lucy hanging out in the bouncy house and below is Noelle and one of her best friends, Celeste

Poor Noelle, she had to wait til January to have her Birthday Party. December just got extremely busy for us. With it being the first year of my photography business, I didn't want to turn anyone away. And by the time we knew that Auburn would not be playing in the SEC championship game, it was to late to plan for that weekend. It worked out really well though. Noelle picked her theme right after her 5 year old party. She wanted an Auburn party. All her friends showed up in there Auburn clothes and we made Auburn jewelry using shrinky dinks. All the kids got an Auburn stamp set to take home. Noelle had a blast, and she racked up on craft projects. I love birthday parties! Noelle already has her 7 year old party all figured out. Hunter is right behind her, and has planned out his 4 year old party for May. He also wants an Auburn Party, but we won't be making jewelry, we are going to play football and stuff some baby tigers! I can't wait!

Hunter & Rags on Petfinder

Hunter and his dog, Rags, have been on the homepage of Petfinder for a while now. Hunter has been so excited to see himself on the computer. We love petfinder and what they do to help unwanted animals find homes. If you would like to go there, I'm incuding the link, http://www.petfinder.com. I wrote Hunter and Rags story for them because I was trying to win a 6 month supply of frontline. Instead of winning the flea control, they put his story on the front page. Petfinder has gotten alot of emails showing interest in Rags. I have been in contact with alot of families all over the US trying to help them find dogs that look simliar to him. Paul and I have laughed alot as we think about the fact that Rags sat at PAWS and no one showed any interest in him. Now that he is "famous", everyone wants him. Rags and Hunter have also been invited to the PETCO-Petfinder.com conference this summer to promote adoption success stories. What a hoot!

Our January

I am running behind on my blog, so I will try to catch up. The first pictures are from the kids playing in the front yard. Our weather was great and they spent every waking hour playing in the yard. Hunter is loving his spiderman bike that Santa brought him. He rides it, but he loves to jump off of it too. We just recently got Noelle's barbie jeep out of storage. I can't believe I left it at the warehouse for 2 years. Eleenah is in love with it. She looks like such a big girl riding around in it. After two years of storage, I had to buy a new battery for it. The battery was almost as much as the jeep was (we bought the jeep from a friend for $60). The warm weather was great while it lasted!