Friday, April 19, 2013

Updates... How I Love Thee

We received an update on our Macy!  It's not much, a short email and one picture, but oh how it helps my heart to see and "hear".  This email shared a bit about her personality, who she is, and not just medical and historical detail like her referral.  She loves pink, and she loves to be "the princess."  I think she'll fit in just fine. :)


Sunday, April 07, 2013

Celebrating Even When It's Hard...

Our Macy (waiting in Haiti) turned three on Friday. 

Words can't begin to describe the feeling of knowing your child is having a birthday... and yet you're not with them, not even in the same country as them, and cannot celebrate or see them on their special day.

So in order to stay connected, and to help with those feelings of not doing "something" and letting the kids feel a part of the process, we decided to have a birthday party.  We invited some friends and their kids, I looked up some very fun ideas on Pinterest (of course!), and we planned!

Macy's orphanage is called Rainbow of Love.  In addition, I found a very fitting saying that spoke volumes to where we are trying to keep our heads in this time of waiting.  Combined we created the following invitation and celebration...



Cheesecake covered with frosting and then rainbow Sixlets.


Two layer white polka dot cake with vanilla frosting.






Rainbow trifle!  White cake colored purple, blueberries, Green colored cream (mix of white chocolate pudding and cool whip), white cake colored yellow, orange colored cream, and strawberries... YUM!



We had great weather so the kids were able to play outside.  It was so special to be able to share this day with some friends who "get it" and who care enough to come and celebrate with us.  If my house was bigger I would've invited even more!  (I kind of overdid it on the food!!!)  We are so blessed to have so many special people in our lives!
Saturday, April 06, 2013

Spring Break Pinterest

Over Spring Break we brought along five Pinterest recipes on our vacation, and made one at home.  Two we had made previously and four were brand new trials, LOVE THAT!

We have previously made pulled pork in the crock pot a number of times and love it!

We've also made the Hawaiian Roll Ham Sandwiches last year during my 31 days of Pinterest.  Yum!

New to us was...

A knock off on Panera's Mac and Cheese... it was good, but I wouldn't rave about it and I don't think I would put in the time, energy, and money into it again...


Toffee Apple Dip... go... right now... run to the store for these simple ingredients and make this NOW!... To. Die. For. (I think I could've eaten it with a spoon!)


Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies... YUM!...



And Egg Salad Stuffed "Carrot" Crescents... SO GOOD!  A hit with all the kids!


We had so much fun trying some new recipes!  And the kids are starting to think of Pinterest as the best recipe box ever! :)

Trackstar

Olivia has aspired to run track for a few years now.  The girl LOVES to run!  She's fast.  She LOVES to do pull ups and other athletic things she's done in PE the last few years.  When I told her what track was, she was almost panting to join asap.  The time finally has come.  Sixth grade is the year and she worked hard all year to show that she could handle middle school work which was our deal for being on the track team.  She made track and has practiced the past month.  She is in one event this year... the 100 yard dash.  Her first meet was Tuesday.


She was INCREDIBLY nervous!  But now that she has one under her belt... she is so excited and good to go!  She raced against six other runners and came in THIRD!  (She races against both sixth and seventh graders.)


After we went out to eat to celebrate and she just couldn't stop talking, she was on cloud nine! :)  She talked and talked about how to lengthen her stride so she can go even faster, about her friends, about girls she isn't crazy about being friends with, about adoption, and on and on.  It was just too cute! :)  She is truly our Track Star!
Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Easter

The end of our small vacation came and went.  We had a blessed time of family and relaxation which was sorely needed!  For Easter this year we bypassed church and headed to the zoo.  Our membership expires this month and won't be renewed for at least another year or more so we took advantage of the beautiful weather.

























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About Me

I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!


Olivia - 14

Olivia - 14

Braeden - 11

Braeden - 11

Liam - 9

Liam - 9

Macy - 5

Macy - 5

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What you should know about HIV

-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). - HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives. - People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do. Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources

Other Awesome Blogs

Orphan Crisis

• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa 
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition


Hence the title of my blog

Little Did I Know

Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong

Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow

Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom

But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you