Faithful Mommy

Visitation

I have been sitting here (well,not actually sitting) ALL night waiting for our the visit that was sure to come. I visited a new Sunday School class on Sunday - we need a class with more small children and babies now. Yes, we are going backwards. Anyway, They didn't show up! How dare they! I cleaned in preparation, I made sure the foyer didn't smell like the Great Dane, we ate dinner early. Yet, they.did.not.show.up. Now, I'm not sure how to take this. They didn't LIKE me? I smelled funny? Yes, my hair was in need of a washing,but I put it up and thought I fooled 'em. Not! I looked so Holy ,I don't need a visit? Maybe, they are waiting to meet my hubby. He was speaking at another church, so he was not with me. I thought the fact that he wasn't with me would insure a visit. You know, make sure he's not a heathen or something. NOPE. They didn't show up. You do realize that there will surely be an unsuspected visit now. Well, I'll show them. I will be prepared EVERY Tuesday night until they show and they will show. Won't they? I shoulda washed my hair. Dagnabbit!

Nemo - where are you?

Yep! We trekked it to the new Georgia Aquarium. It was awesome. Gbaby,babyA and little man had a great time. All of the little kids were yelling Nemo,Nemo at the spot where all three boys are standing together. It was so cute. It wasn't too crowded, which is good --I don't do crowds . Here are a few pics of the fun.                                       

Looks like fun huh? Makes ya wanna go doesn't it? If you do -give me a yell. We can meet up for dinner! ;D

Happy Birthday Daddy!

                       A letter for my Daddy

Dear Daddy,

I just wanted to let you know what a great Daddy you have always been. Since you were in Germany (serving your country) when I was born and for the next 15 months, we got off to a rocky start -or so I'm told. I'm sorry that it took me so long to warm up to having a man in my life. I remember the first barbie I ever got. You gave it to me the night before you left for Vietnam.  I cherish the memory and that doll. It was so hard when you left. I don't think that I understood the concept of time (that you'd be gone for 2 years), but I sure do remember mother crying for days while sitting on our porch swing. You just don't forget things like that. I loved the way that we would have a tape recorder on the kitchen table and we would talk to you while we had dinner and then you would send it back with messages to us. It was always so good to hear your voice. You were gone to Vietnam for 2 tours, which is a long time to be away from your wife and children. And for us to not have you around. You are a hero. You are my hero. I'm sorry that it took growing up to realize it. I am especially sorry for not telling you before now. You sacrificed your personal life to serve our country, to provide rights and freedoms for us.You did it proudly. I will always remember how Mother looked at you when you wore your dress uniform. She just fell in love again, every time. Our eyes just beamed at you, looking so handsome. I remember it well. When I was 16 years old and I had to come and tell you that I was pregnant - it was the hardest thing I'd ever done. I knew how disappointed you would be. You and Mother had taught me right from wrong and I had made a mistake. Although you were heartbroken, you loved me unconditionally. Just like my Heavenly Father. You had faith in me and my now husband of over 27 years. I know how heartbroken you were to have to call me and tell me that Granny had died. You knew it would rip my heart out. You have always been there through good and bad and I love you for that.

The early morning phone call that I got telling me that you had been taken to the hospital by ambulance and that you were not responding was a moment I'll never forget. I knew that you were already gone. I raced the 4 hour drive "home" praying that I was wrong and that I would at least be able to say good-bye. It wasn't meant to be. It was so sudden - no warning. I was privileged to press that dress uniform that you looked so handsome in, for you to wear for your last viewing. You did indeed look handsome in it. We were proud to honor you and your life on Valentines day 5 years ago. We stood proud and tall as the military honored your service to our country. The flagged draped coffin was regal and well deserved. The gun salute was dignified and it seemed like it announced your arrival to a better place, with our Lord (although I know you were already there). Taps, sadly playing in the distance was the mournful sound of our hearts breaking.

You are my Hero. Please forgive me for not telling you before now. I love you! Happy Birthday!

                                                                 February 25, 1934

             February 12, 2001

Thirteen Things about being MIA 1. Being Mia (grandmother) to my Gbaby and my BabyA is too sweet for words. Who knew it would be this good  2. I was all tough at first and said I would be able to discipline them. RIGHT. I kills me to see my daughters do it.  3.I love the way that I can look at the babies and see their mothers in them. It's like seeing my little girls all over again.  4.It really is great to be able to relax and know that I am not in charge of things for them. Which means of course that I do not have to lose sleep at night worrying about how I've damaged their emotional and mental futures.  5. Of course worrying is my forte', so I can always lie awake wondering how my daughters are damaging their sweet little lives.  6. Because I AM their photographer, I get all the pics I want and don't have to settle for what someone else chooses for me.  7. I get to kiss those pudgy little faces,but give them to  mommy when they are dirty  little faces. 8. I can buy them LOUD toys and not suffer the consequences. 9. I get to watch my beautiful girls mother their little ones and it IS a sight to behold.  10. I even got to see these little angels come into the world. What a miracle.  11.I get to hold their little hands and remember when it was their moms hands I held. 12. I get to brag mercilessly to all of you. 13. I get to fall in love with my husband all over again every time I see him loving on these little babies. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Computers must be male...

... or at least testosteronized in a BIG way. Basically, my computers and I have a love - hate relationship. I love them-they hate me -which makes me hate them back ---more! It is ever so obvious that I have some really weird electromagnetic force thingy, that electronic gadgets Do.Not.Like. This is too bad, due to the fact that at my studio alone, I have 4 computers -3 stereos-a traveling ipod-many digital cameras-and too many printers to count.  They.do.not.like.me. You think I'm paranoid. I can tell. Well,even my employees won't let me get next to (don't even think about touching) the main printer. Hello! I bought 'em! Anytime an electronic sort of mishap occurs --they all look at me and roll their venomous pretty little eyes. I remind them of who writes their paycheck,then it's all giggles and grins. But really, at the current moment ,I have one computer down (I replaced another one two weeks ago),an ipod that doesn't and a fairly new camera lens that goes -nnk nkkn nnk nnk. You get it don't you? The force is with me alright -the negative force that sucks my toys dry of all their fun and usefulness. I'm going to pout in the corner now. SHHH-don't tell  my daughter I'm using her computer.

Happy 1st Birthday

We had a wonderful time at  little man's birthday party. He looked so cute. He was a bit overwhelmed at first, but finally warmed up to the idea of guests.

This is him in his Birthday outfit (it's a southern thing).

Just thinking about getting into the cake.

MMMM - good.                              

                      Just a cute little birthday boy

           The cake was good, but the drool started when the presents did . ;D      Is he kissable or what !!!                                                                                                                                       

A few things I've learned in a years time ...

Part Two

...So there we are with this caseworker, asking questions, shooting the breeze and inside we are about to bust with excitement --- we are about to have a baby. Sorta. Well, Melissa (not her real name, duh!) was about to have our baby. The caseworker said she'd call us the next morning when it looked like the birth was imminent. We were getting ready for her call, when she called and said "get here quick". We've never moved so fast! We got to the hospital and waited for about 30  min. Our beautiful baby boy was born @ 8:00 A.M. on February 17th, 2005. What a wonderful world! We were called into the nursery, where we saw him for the first time. We were able to stay for his first bath, measuring,weighing etc. It was incredible.                         The next few days were an emotional roller coaster. *Melissa, was crying (hormones ya know) off and on. We were afraid she might change her mind. We prayed and prayed. For her, for us and especially for that precious baby boy. * Melissa would say that she wanted to meet me,then I would get to her door and she would tell them "not yet". This happened many times. It was emotionally draining(plus, I fixed my hair and put on lip gloss every single time so that I would hopefully win her favor - go figure -nerves). I really did worry that I might say something or do something that would change her mind. OR - what if she just. did. not. like. me.? Well, she finally felt the time was right and had me come in. Oh my, Time stood still for about 15 minutes that day. She cried the whole time. I cried the whole time. It was sad. It was beautiful. I saw before me a young woman with so much love in her heart for this baby, that she would sacrifice her own desires for the best interests of this child. It was a beautiful portrait of sacrificial love. I'm at a loss for what to say next. I'm crying as I type this -do you see the smudges-they're here. I am so thankful for that young woman every day of my life. When I look into my child's eyes or see his incredible smile, I am so humbled that God has allowed us to parent him. When we hold him,and tickle him and kiss him and just breathe him in -- we are so thankful for his birthmom -- the vessel that God chose to bring this child into this world. I am so thankful that she loved this baby and was willing to choose an adoption plan rather than abort. I cannot imagine this world or my life without this amazing little baby boy in it.

                Happy 1st birthday baby!

P.S. yes, there will be pics from the party on Sat.

I bet your wondering --HMMM, what is it that you've learned in a years time (the title)? Don't worry - it's coming.

A few things I've learned in a years time...

Part one

... pertaining to adoption. We have had quite a journey since Jan. 1st of 2005. That is the day our adoption journey started. We met with our adoption consultant for the first time. It was New Years Day and boy did we start it off with a bang! She explained what she could do for us and shocked us with the news that we could have a  baby within weeks. WHAT ARE WE THINKING? That thought went through our minds, given the fact that we had 4 grown children and 2 grandbabies. Well, where the Lord leads we follow -so away we went. We started by getting our homestudy under way. Okay, that is quite an undertaking. We answered so many questions (many at least 1000 times each) I thought my eyes were gonna bug out.  WE had to make a profile ,which is basically a picture book of our family. In it ,we also told a little about ourselves and our family and where we live etc. We were fingerprinted and fingerprinted again. We were looked over by the doc (to make sure we weren't gonna croak anytime soon -as if they really know). We were questioned. Our childhoods were questioned. Were we spanked? Are our parents still married? What position were you in in the birth canal just prior to your birth? Okay, maybe not that one,but I don't know why they left it out.We gave tax records. We pulled out birth certificates and marriage certificates and and and -- the list goes on and on. We were only in this process for 3 weeks when we got "THE CALL". Ohmigosh - now what. We have no nursery set up,no idea what we are doing!!! Well, you guessed it. They sent our profile to the birthmom and she actually thought we would be good parents for her precious baby. WOW! He would be born on Feb. 17th 2005. She was to be induced so we knew the exact date. Everything went into extreme mode. Get baby furniture. Get baby clothes. Get baby gear. This was fun, I will admit. Things have changed alot since our other children were little. One word for ya'll --BABIES-R-US. Oh my word!!!!!! Our homestudy was complete -1- count it -1 -day before we were to leave to go get our baby. Our grandson's 1st birthday is on Feb.15th so we left on the 16th (couldn't miss that big day) and headed for parenthood (again). It was a 12 hour drive to the beginning of parenthood and it was full of anticipation and excitement and of course worry. When we first got there we met with the birthmoms caseworker to sign some more papers. It was neat, because here we were talking face to face with someone who has spent a good bit of time with the birthmom.

This is my "word cloud".

Interesting --I  thought "poop" would have made a bigger statement! ;O

You can get yours at  snapshirts.com

Ya'll - I feel a little guilty if I don't buy a shirt! After all, this is my very own CUSTOM word cloud and all. HMMMM. $18 I'll wear mine if you'll wear yours! :D

Give me a sign...

... American sign Language please. My valentine and I are learning ASL as a second language and we are teaching little man too. ASL is the language that Deaf people use to communicate. Signing with babies has become somewhat popular over the last few years. Babies can sign before they can speak , so the goal of some parents is too do away with the squealing and pointing that goes on before a child can speak. Most parents and babies will learn some basic signs (more,please,milk,thank you) and then when the child learns to speak they will no longer sign. There's nothing wrong with that, however, we are planing for ASL to be our child's second language.On a side note -- not all signs that people are using is actually ASL. Anyway, it has been so exciting to see our little man sign. ;O. As of today, he can sign : milk,more,please,thank you,all done,hat,dog,sign language,ball,eat,sleep and he recognizes many more (especially NO). He sees that one alot. We really believe that God has a plan for us as we are learning this new language. There are deaf and hard of hearing people all around you, you just don't realize it. There are times when these folks need help in communicating -we are hoping to help. My husband goes to a jail ministry once a month and the last time he was there, sure enough there was a deaf man there. He was thrilled beyond belief (and shocked) that my husband could communicate with him. My sweet husband was able to share Christ with this man (even as new and slow as we both are) in his language. What an amazing blessing -for both the man and my husband. My grand babies are also signing. The 2 year old knows approx. 30 signs and uses them in sentences and the 15 month old knows approx. 15 or so. I am so excited about this language, so I wanted to share. The babies learn ASL from watching us of course, but at this point they are soaking in the Signing Time videos. I put a sample of one in my sidebar, so you could just see the cover. I have purchased all of mine at www.signingtime.com . We have all 9 DVD's from the original series and we have the 2 Baby Signing time DVD's as well. The baby series is designed for infants and toddlers,although they are all intended for children. We love them and the children beg to watch them. So, have I explained the joys of ASL?  As the signing time videos say --"coooome sign with me"!