We love crafts

one of my favorite things to do with my kiddos is crafts...

it took awhile, but garyn LOVES to do crafts and gigi is my next picasso.  (she loves to paint)

without words here are my babes creative minds at work:

Our home-made Cozy Castle (combining Cars and Princesses)

Beautiful Butterflies!

We love to paint!!

 His home-made (from a shoe box) Lighting McQueen

 Her wooden flower box!

His wooden car!

His light is shining down...

Over the past few weeks I have felt the Lord's love and guidance more than ever; Alleluia, Alleluia!!!

I will begin by reminding myself (and everyone else who reads this blog) my life has been extremely blessed... I live a beautiful, full life.  And yet, He continues to shine his light on my life!!!  WOW!  How eternally grateful I will be...

His path for me...(as I know it now)

Well, as many of you already know our family has been called to adopt.  Initially, I thought the reason we decided on adoption was as a result of my two difficult pregnancies.  BUT, now as we continue on this amazing journey, I firmly believe it because of SO SO much more!!!!

Why Ethiopia?  Simply put, it is where God is leading our family.  I am fully aware of the need for domestic adoptions, and well, maybe one day we will be lead down that path too?.  But for now, our hearts are in Ethiopia and I very proud of that...

Before the start of our adoption, if asked, I would have told you my husband and I were devoted, honest, trustful people.  What I would have failed to mention was how extremely materialistic we were, slightly selfish, and completely unaware (compared to our current knowledge) of the deprivation and need for the simple, survival things....like WATER and SHOES!!!

As a family, we have immersed ourselves in the NEEDS of Africa, and as a result,  our WANTS have changed dramatically!!  We have re-evaluated our lives...  So now, if you are to ask me about our family, I will tell you we are still devoted, honest, trustful, but now completely DEDICATED to making AFRICA a nourishing continent, DEDICATED to educating our children on the injustice in ALL of the worlds, and DEDICATED to teaching our children their voices matter....so they need to use them!
For that alone, I will be forever, FOREVER merciful!!

We are using our time of waiting very constructively!  Our children are learning simple Amharic words,  are understanding (at their simple level) their privileged lives, and are anxiously awaiting their arrival of the brother or sister!!

I cannot wait for the day I hold my child in my arms, and this wait will make it so much sweeter....but in the meantime, the Lord, the Giver of Life, has yet blessed me again!  He has given me Chase!  Chase is a miracle baby, a miracle that I get to hold and love and nourish, all while he nourishes my void...

Chase was born at 28 weeks weighing in at 1lb. 10oz and 13 inches long (yes, folks he was smaller than the length of a barbie doll.)  He may have been small, but he clearly is a mighty little boy.  He flourished while spending over 60 days in the NICU.  He graduated from the NICU at 38 weeks and now spends days with me while his mommy works.

You see, I desperately want a baby, another child...and while I wait patiently for my own; the Lord graciously shined his light on me and blessed me with Chase and his Mommy, Sandy.  I am grateful to have them in my life!

It is these amazing miracles, that my faith continues to thrive and grow!

WE ARE FAMILY....

There is nothing I love more than spending time with my family....

Last weekend, I was able to spend time (like the old days--NO KIDS) with my whole family!

I love talking with my mom without interruption, 

I love being silly with my brother,

I love dancing with my dad!

I love eating nothing but Italian food,

And of course....

I love spending time with just my husband....

no kids,

nothing to do,

 but spend time together....

I know everyone is biased to their own family, and that is the way it should be,

I am sure YOU think YOU have the best family,

and YOU probably have the best family for YOU.....

So let me show you why

I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH ANYONE BETTER FOR ME!!!

We are an awesome family,

we are ALL different, 

that is why when we are together.....

it is so good, so fun, so filling to my heart!!

I am ME because of THEM.....

 Me and the love of my life!

 I love my brother!

 Why didn't we think of those...

 Doesn't she look awesome.....especially since 2 hours before this picture, she passed a kidney stone!

 My Aunt and Uncle.....

 One big Italian Family

 Besty and Bert 

 my other brother.....

 Me and my Mom!

 Pretty much my two favorite Men (plus my daddy, of course)

Daddy's Girl...

My life is so blessed because of ALL of them....

Week-End Recap

So...Here is my week-end recap....

 Starting off this week I was feeling a little under the weather...  I was pretty sure that it was because I had too much fun (which I will never do again, but that is for another post) with my family over the weekend.  However,  I am thinking now as our week is ending...it in fact was not attributed to the amount of fun had over the past weekend, I was more than likely SICK!  (that will not effect my decision to never have that much fun again though...)
Sick? Well, since Wednesday I have been taking temperatures, cleaning up vomit, and nursing sick children!  UGH!!!!

Gigi was the first to fall and now it's Garyn.....I hope that we are all back to 'normal' before the Bunny arrives...

But germs and ALL, we still managed to have a pretty fun week!!

The kids found their Easter baskets.....any guesses of what's on them???  Ding, Ding.....to NO surprise, Cars and Princess'.
We dyed and painted a few dozen eggs.

Gigi made Easter Bunny cookies and Ice Cream Sandwiches.

This is Gianna at her finest...she clearly is feeling better!
(just as a side note- she has NOT STOPPED TALKING ALL DAY TODAY....she obviously is making up for her lack of it over the past few days....)

The few activities we were able to "fit in" between the fevers and pukes were ALOT of fun!!


I hate seeing my kiddos sick....and they HATE seeing each other sick too.  If fact, they both cried when we told them they had to sleep separately... (if you do not already know, my kids have to be next to one another to fall asleep.  Usually to fall asleep, they have to hold hands or their heads have to touch one another.)  So, when they can't be together, it makes for a harder bedtime for EVERYONE!

To make it a little easier for everyone, we let them stay up and have a 'party' while the other sick one was resting....
Since Gigi was first to fall, Garyn had his party first.  We ate chips and sipped on pop (a treat in and of itself) while he experienced his first viewing of American Idol.  He had so much fun....and we did too!!  While we were watching Idol, I asked him if he would like to take a trip with just Mommy and Daddy (their own special trip) and he QUICKLY said, "What about Gigi?"  "We can't go without her."  Very sweet and thoughtful and just another example of how they cannot be separated....

And then it was Gigi's turn, we ate pretzels and juice and watched My Little Pony....she loved her 'sleep over' but definitely didn't last as long as Garyn!

Even though my heart was sad to see my kiddos each sick, I was confident they both would recover quickly... so I took advantage of my one on one time with each of them....
It was a tiring week, but a fun week too!

I love being their Mommy....in sickness and health!

Water Changes Everything.....Share the word.....

Why I love her.....

Love....just listen, listen.....