Our First Trip to Disney World... 12/2012 with video

She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the Disney Princesses... uhh... you kinda have to if you live in our home... She walked up to the princesses and the costumed friends (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, etc... learning all their names before we left the parks) She loved getting their autographs, hugging them, playing with their nose (if they were an animal), and getting her photograph with them... her smile often faded though as my ever-so-slow camera finally captured the moment. 

All I Want for Christmas

If you had asked me when we started our paperwork officially in June 2012 for Gia, Mia, and Annabella, BY FAITH, I would have told you that at least Gia would be home by Christmas.

Fast forward 6 months, and I realized as I was driving to the airport with my good friend Cheri, to celebrate the homecoming from China of our good friends April and Patrick and their two new kiddos, that I no longer have a timeline for when our girls will be home. Because we have not yet been matched, even if we WERE matched this December, the earliest we could be in China would be Easter... this certainly wasn't my timeline.

I have come to accept that it isn't my timeline anyway... it truly is the Lord's timeline... He knows who our girls are and when their files will land in our hands.  

Oh how I long for the day that we will finally know who we will bring home and when and what their names will truly end up being. 

Thought I would post our first Lolly Wolly Doodle outfit that arrived last week for the 4 girls... I wasn't brave enough to have their names embroidered on their shirts, but I look forward to the day that I can have that done. Oooh I love this website!

JAMES 1:17 (NIV)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

Practicing posting

Attempting to practice the arduous task of blogging with a princess in my arms and using my phone keyboard as we get ready to travel.

RE-Adopted!

November 9, 2012

November is National Adoption Month

...it's a time to help the outside world see inside ours (those of us who have adopted); but, more importantly, it is a time to show the outside world how many millions of children are living and breathing without parents. Did you know that there are...

Jason and I have known for almost 20 years now, that we would parent at least 2 little girls that would not be birthed by me. In 2009, the idea of a third little one was birthed in both of our hearts. Fast forward to 2010 or so, and we decided we ought to have even numbers... so, a fourth was birthed. Since 2011 we actually were pursuing the adoption of THREE little ones... one can never fully understand how your heart can long for and love a child you have never met and never held (although Jason had met 2 of the 3 new little ones)... it just happens.

Once a face is put to a name... once you have experienced the joy of adoption... you wonder how you ever could have lived without that little one. 

Today, we are re-adopting our second little one. Amaris has been in the United States for 112 days... although you would never know it. While in China her story was a bit different... but, from the moment she came home, she was confident, outgoing, entertaining, engaging and just a true joy to behold. She's one of those kids anyone can love. 

JoAnn wrote our homestudies for Amaris and our next two girls... 

She has also helped us re-adopt both 

Gabriella (in November 2011) and Amaris (November 2012)... 

we LOVE her!

Amaris was quite a character... she actually walked up to the commissioner and started talking to her (without ANY of us with her)... she heard her name and confidentally approached the stand. That is probably why she made the front page of their newspaper!

  

She was so proud of Adoption Bear... 

she just held passionately on to her. 

Looking out at the water!

Amaris and Gabriella holding Adoption Bear... 

a gift given to Amaris!

Gabriella got her bear last year... but, 

she is in a safe place hibernating and we haven't found her yet!

The name Amaris means "God has promised".

Her middle name "Nanette" means "grace and favor"

Even her Chinese name: "Nan" means "grace and favor"
For her adoption, this is what I prayed... 

that God would give us "grace and favor"... He took me literally!

God truly has given us a piece of grace and favor and 

we will forever be grateful for this promise.

My First Disney on Ice... Dare to Dream... TANGLED!

November 1, 2012

My first year at Disney on Ice... 
This is Gabriella's third year.

Amaris has now been home 4 months and 
she absolutely loved it as much as Gabriella has. 

The girls are sitting with "Nanny"... our personal assistant 

who will travel to Disney World with us in a month!

Princess Amaris (the littlest princess) with Princess Gabriella

Awaiting the princesses with their new necklaces on. 

Gabriella announced that Santa was here... 

If only he knew... 

Who wants to see the princesses?

Princess Tiana and her prince... didn't like this show at all... 

it was very dark and evil, just like the movie. 

But, Cinderella came out and made it all worth while!

It was really fun sitting so close to the action... 

Flynn Rider is trying to convince Rapunzel of something... 

We sang along to most of the songs!

And, we also knew most of the words the characters said... hmm!

We love our princesses!

 

The lanterns were fun... wish they could have flown more though!

Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse hosted our show 

with their favorite friends!

The grand finale dance with all of the princesses was just magical. 

I was surprised that people didn't realize the skaters 

were the princesses until about the 4th princess.

You would have thought the crowd would have erupted 

in clapping and cheering... but, they didn't. 

That's okay, the Fouts girls did!

Our two princesses... waiting for two more to join us in 2013!

Princess Gabriella (age 5, Cinderella) 

and 

Princess Amaris (age 2, Aurora)

And we lived Happily Ever After!