Red Thread Session

There are a number of photographers around the country who have made the decision to donate their time and talent to capture newly formed families through adoption.  I contacted Emily shortly after we came home from China.  Due to some technological difficulties we never connected.  Finally, in February through a very round about way that some would call a coincidence, I would call a God moment, we were able to schedule our Red Thread session.

I am so happy these were not taken when I first contacted Emily but, after we had been home for a year.  Olivia is a different child than she was back then and these photos truly capture our family.  They are a treasure and I am so very thankful.

I am so thankful for Emily and all of the Red Thread photographers who offer this invaluable services to families. 

First Crush

Not too long ago Brad came home with a bouquet of flowers for me.  Brooks asked if he could give someone flowers some time.

Little did we know that he had a certain some one in mind and asked every day for over a week when he could give her flowers.

One day, just before it was time to go to the bus stop, his sweet daddy brought some flowers home so Brooks could make his big delivery.

Oh how I love this shy little face.

We need to work on the whole "you don't just hand them over and run away"

He was so embarassed but so happy at the same time.  Sweet little face.

Brookie looks pretty happy herself.  Brooks sure chose a beautiful girl with a very sweet heart as his first crush.

James 1:27

This is a story I have never told.  I don't know why.  For some reason I needed to keep it tucked in my heart over the last year.  

Last year on Easter I held Olivia snuggled in the ergo only home a few short weeks. A segment of the "Passion" was shown on the big screen. At that time Olivia turned, pointed at the big screen and said "Jesus".  This tiny girl with no English knew HIM.  If I ever doubted that our Heavenly Father heard my prayers while we waited, I could doubt no longer. He did what he calls all of us to do. "To look after widows and orphans in their distress" James 1:27

What are you doing to live out James 1:27?

Thank you Lord for taking care of our daughter in China and now.  

This story my friends is a story of our Living God. He is Alive and he is Real.  

It Clicked

Here's the thing about kids.  They keep you on your toes.  

Here's the thing about kids from hard places.  They keep you jumping from toe to toe minute by minute. 

With Olivia, one day we will be smooth sailing and the next I am analyzing each moment to try to figure out 1: Is this because she is 2? or 2: Is this because she is processing and that darn implicit memory is being triggered and painful feelings of her past are being stirred?

We have had a rough couple of weeks with our girl. She has been clingy, not sleeping and going back to feeling insecure unless she is in my arms.

Finally while sitting in church this morning, all of the emotions we have been seeing in our girl clicked. 

Rewind two days ago.  Brooks, Olivia and I joined some friends for a day trip to the zoo.  We loaded into our friend's van, started talking about the animals we would see.  Olivia was quiet and minutes after we turned onto the highway the waterworks started. My friend Ali knows Liv very well because she watches her while I work. She looked at me and said "I have never seen her like this".  When asked what was wrong, Liv said "teeth hurt" which is her go to when she is upset. We stopped for Motrin as we didn't wan the zoo trip ruined by a teething 2 yr old.  The second the Motrin was in her mouth, the crying stopped.  

As you can see we had a great day at the zoo. 

                             

                             

                             

The next two nights proved to be some of our hardest yet.  Olivia I screamed in terror all night. Sweated through her Jammie's and trembled in fear each time I left the room.  We finally ended up sleeping together and she wouldn't stop tossing and turning until she was cradled in my arms. 

So, as I said, in church it clicked.  Driving to the zoo, in someone else's van, without her daddy and big sister for a very long time, our girl was terrified. You see, a year ago, a very special caregiver put her in a unfamiliar van, drove her three hours and left her.  Although she may not have realized WHY she was scared.  Our girl was petrified. My stopping for Motrin was just letting her know I am meeting her needs for now and for forever. 

That same moment in church I looked at Brad and said, "it's time for a big girl bed. Her crib is bringing up memories".  He agreed and by nap time she had a toddler bed.  

                           

                           

I could look at these pictures all day. This smile.  It's a genuine smile. It is saying "You get me.  You understand me". She has spent the last few days giddy with excitement and full of giggles. 

Don't get me wrong, the girl is two. She doesn't want to go to bed at night but, she is no longer fearful, just feisty. 

Thankful for that Sunday morning revelation. 

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go for to you I entrust my life" Psalm 143:8

35

Brad turned 35 this week.  The kids had so much fun celebrating their Daddy. 

At one point during our celebrations, I looked over at Olivia who was showering her daddy with "Happy Durthday" (Oh boy do I love how all of my kids have said "Durthday" when they are little) kisses and said, "Man, things have changed in a year!"

Last year, we came out  of our jet lagged, post adoption fog to muster up enough energy to eat some cake and sing Happy Birthday.  At that point, Olivia still wasn't too fond of her daddy and barely allowed him within five feet of her.

This year, she has fallen completely head over heels in love with her daddy.  Their time together while I was at the Created for Care retreat last month did these two wonders.
This year we were well rested and spent the day taking daddy out to lunch, shopping, baking him a special treat and even enjoyed a pizza and movie night at his request.  It's amazing what a full night's rest allows you.

                                   

Happy Birthday to an amazing husband and father.  We love you!

Small Things

Olivia and I spent the morning at the pediatrician's office. Unfortunately due to illness and other priorities she still isn't fully caught up on her vaccines from China. Today was two down and two more to go!

After leaving the doctor we had about twenty minutes to kill before picking Brooks up at school.  I decided to stop at a little park for some play time.  As Olivia ran through the gates, I suddenly realized the last time we had been to that park was two weeks after we got home from China. Kyrie's class was there in a field trip. 

At that time, Olivia was mostly in her ergo or in my arms.  When she did get down, she couldn't even navigate the small toddler slide without help. Today, she ran around like she owned the place.  

It's moments like these that make me realize just how far our little monkey has come.  

                        

                        

The Great Southern Snow Storm of 2014

Since moving to the Carolina's nine years ago we have never had more than a couple of inches of snow.

 Starting last Tuesday, the snow started and didn't stop until well into Thursday afternoon.  Altogether we had about 10 inches, three and a half snow days off school, three very excited children and two worn out parents.

At 1:00 pm school was called and by the time Kyrie got off the bus their was a nice dusting of snow on the ground.

The kids couldn't get outside to play fast enough.  Brooks and Kyrie were anxious to build a snowman and much to their dismay, Olivia preferred knocking it down.

We made so many memories with hours of sledding, snow man buiding and a huge family snow ball fight.  The were worth every second of "my toes are cold", "I'm bored", "I need a snack" or "when can we go back to school?" that multiple days snowed inside can do to you.

By the end of day 3 the mommas were DONE.  We sent the kids out to sled on their own while we made Snowrita's.  YUM!