Last Day of Summer

Yes to summer!

Good Bye Summer....

My Guy's and Princessa

We celebrated the last day of summer at the Big Lake today. We are sad to see summer go, but looking forward to a beautiful fall. The boys are already asking when we can get out the Halloween decorations.

Bella is showing signs of becoming a toddler, and I am totally not ready for it. I remember celebrating every accomplishment with the boys, eager to see the next one, but this time, its different. I am so conscious that this time is short, soon the word "Mama" will become "MOM!" (hear that yelling behind this word). I am not ready to give up the bottle or stop picking her up. I'm not ready for the infancy to be over, but she's growing...and gaining her independence and she is letting us know. A high pitched scream lets us know when she is not happy when you take things away from her like the remote control or my cell phone, at her brothers when they are constantly in her face wanting to kiss her or pick her up, or when I sit her down on the floor and she wants to be held. Today, for the first time, she wanted to play at church and walk along the chairs, needless to say, I enjoyed my first service ever in the back vestibule watching the service on tv. This is all minor to the absolute joy this sweet little girl brings us not to mention laughter. She loves to read books, dance, play in the tub, ride on her brothers shoulders, be held by Mama, and kiss her Daddy. She does not like getting dressed, having her hair done (she pulls out every bow and pony tail within minutes of me getting it in) or her diaper changed . She doesn't flinch at the constant "rock band" of her brothers going on all day long but covers her little ears every time the garage door goes down when were coming in the door. She wants nothing to do with vegetables now that she is on table food. She lights up our world...all 22 pounds of her.

Thank You Stacy and Isabella for the "Thankful Thursday" pic!

Today I am thankful for:

1. It's clear blue skies and 77 degrees! Gorgeous fall day.

2. That even with the "predictions" on the news, I live in God's Economy and not in this worlds! Therefore, I have no fear and live an abundant life in Christ!

3. For the soon to be homecoming of SOPHIE! Our friends David and Sissel received their daughters Mixco BC and she will be coming home in about 4 weeks or less. Praise the Lord!

What are you thankful for?

Catching Up!

"I'm riding in my PINK Cadillac"

What, where's the "junk in my trunk"

My Mom got Bella this outfit for her birthday, its so cute.

Grandma, Grandpa, Bella and cousin Max

Bella, Her Boys, and Max

Bella and her arranged marriage partner, Josh at the AGCI Picnic

Very special friend, Jenifer and Ana

Friends at Hannah's Hope Orphanage and in life

Sissel and Tiffany at the cottage after the Picnic

Our ND cheerleader

Let me just start by saying "How great is our God!". No other reason than to praise Him. To give Him glory, that's always my number one goal....all of Him, none of me.

So this is my effort in getting caught up on my blogging of Bella. Thankfully, it was a busy week in Real Estate and I chose to give my free time to my sweet family.

We had one more birthday gathering for Bella with Dave's parents. They purchased Bella her first set of wheel's....I have to say, this was one of my favorite gifts. There is a PINK car in my garage! How fun is that?! Bella is now crawling all over the place, going up and down the stairs, walking along furniture, standing and squatting with out support, she could totally walk if she wanted, but she doesn't. She now weighs 22 lbs and is 30" long, in the 75% on the US charts, so I have a BIG Guatemalan, however, she is still in size 2 shoes, boarding size 3, she has the tiniest feet. According to her Pediatrician, she is ahead of schedule with her development and is now starting to say several words and associate them appropriately; Mama, Dada, Boo (book), Ba (ball), she say's Mmmmm for Moo like a cow, can point to pictures in a book when I ask her "where's...." and my favorite new Bella thing-she is giving kisses! Oh my heart...she just lays her little head on our shoulder, puts her arm around our necks and gives us pats on the back and then looks at us and gives us kisses. Its just the best.

The boys are really taking off with their music, in case I have not shared this yet, Nate play's Electric and Acoustic Guitar and JAke is on the drums. Sam is just learning Piano. The neighbor boy plays base, so I have a constant rock bond going on at my house, its a little loud. They are really quite good, they scary part is that I know their music. They are playing songs from "Guns n Roses", "Metalica", "VanHalen". Fortunately, they do not sing or know the words, but they love the Rock. I am holding out for a little Christian Rock and believing it will come in time. I would love nothing more than to see them playing in our church's band.

We had our Adoption Agency's picnic last weekend, it was so wonderful to meet all the families and to see old friends again. We spent last weekend at the cottage with our adoption friends and then said good bye to the cottage for the season. Sad.... We love that place so. We can head up any time, but its just not the same with out the whole fam, both cottages lit up and "Jimmy Buffet" playing. I miss you fam!

This weekend was quiet and wet, my goodness, it has been raining for 3 days and many areas of town are flooded. Cant even imagine what it is like in Texas. On a fabulous note, Notre Dame beat Michigan this weekend, Go IRISH!

May the Lord bless all of you, here is to a wonderful week full of joy.

A Few Birthday Pics

I had every intention of creating a birthday slide show, but not time. Way too busy. So here are a few pics of our Bella girl.

Happy Birthday Bella!

Referral Picture

Bella on her 1 yr. Birthday

One year ago today, at around 8 pm, Dave, the boys and I gathered around my computer to capture the first glimpse of our daughter....Elisabella. We waited 9 months to receive our referral...funny....pregnancy is 9 months. I remember sitting down at the computer after receiving the call from our case worker and being nervous to open the email. Dave and the boys were anxious and saying "hurry up, open it"....and I said "this is it". The second I opened it, I burst in to tears. Not only did we wait 9 months for the referral, but we waited 7 months to come up with the initial payment to start the process. And in all that waiting, I would pray daily "may she beautiful to our eye's". In that very moment, I seen my daughter for the very first time, and like the boys, she took my breath away. I couldn't stop the tears, the boys were squeeling "she's so cute" and my husband said "yup, she looks like one of our's".

As I look back at the last 2 years and 4 months....I am amazed at our God. I am always amazed by Him. I stand in awe of everything, even the little things. I miss the quiet physical dependence and closeness I had with him through the process waiting for Bella and bringing her home. But I rest in my spirit knowing that we have never been closer.

Bella's birthday was August 28th, and of course, we will always celebrate that as her birthday. But quietly or with a loud bang or even in my quiet time with God, I will always celebrate this day as her birthday. This is "our gotcha day" as they say in the adoption world. Most would say that's the Embassy Apt day, but not for me. This was when I gave birth, this is when the Lord revealed His promise to us. This "was the day the Lord had made". And we absolutely "rejoice and are glad".

We love you sweet girl, you are a joy, delight, and gift to all of us and we celebrate in the gift of you.

P.S. Slide show of her birthday to come...I'm working on it.

Another summer has come and gone

The cousins cheering on the cousins skiing!

The Babies (all cousins) of 08'. Joe Joe, Bella and Donnie

The Boat...for the first time, it never broke down! AMEN!

The Cottage!

Annual Cousin Picture taken the last day of summer vacation.

My son the snake charmer.....yuck!

Nothing better than big brother

Lovin the little sister.

Daily cousin fun, they think of something different every day.

It's hard to say goodbye to summer. We are fortunate and blessed to live our summers at the family cottage. For us Midwesterners, summers are magical. For 3 short months, life comes to a complete halt and we do our very best to abandon structure and daily life to enjoy the great lakes, beaches, boating, camping, etc. For winters are long, and spring is brief. For my family, it means life at the cottage...surrounded by all my siblings, parents, nieces and newphews, friends and extended family. My kids experience their cousins in ways most people cant even imagine. For 3 months, we eat, sleep and drink family, and amazingly enough, we all get along and are generally sad when its over but celebrate in the time we enjoyed.

We spent the last 2 weeks at the cottage beaching it, skiing, tubing, bonfires, cooking, catching snakes and frogs, laughing, making new memories and taking endless photos. There are not enough words to express what my family means to me. This was a summer of challenges, change, transition and joy and they were there for our family through every step. My heavenly Father, thank you for every one of them....all the way down to the youngest, Joe Joe. I love you all so much and I treasure you always.

We celebrated Bella's 1st Birthday on August 28th, I plan to post photos and updates Friday as that is our "Referral Day" and in my eye's, her Birthday. For she was born to our family on that day.

So on to Fall! We love fall and Halloween is on of our very favorite holidays! It's just so much fun to be someone else for a day.

Blessings!