9 months

Time is flying......and we are having so much fun! We haven't done much this summer because of the dreadful heat we are experiencing. I think we are up to 30 days of 100 + temps! Ugh.

Last week Natalie turned 9 months. She is pure joy right now, as she is almost always smiling. She finally has 2 teeth on the bottom, and we are experimenting with some new foods. She loves every kind of baby food we have given her so far, but is not so excited about food she has to chew or should I say "gum." She has tried crackers, Gerber puffs, diced pears, and doesn't like any of it! It's just too weird for her right now. She makes a strange face as she semi tries to keep it in her mouth, then spits it out. Pretty funny to watch! 

She has become an expert at crawling (although not the normal all fours kind of crawl) and pulling up on anything and everything. She can shimmy her way down the rails of the crib, but haven't seen her do that on anything else yet. Natalie has the best laugh and loves peek-a-boo games. I have 2 weeks left before the back to school buzz begins. I will miss her, but she sure will have fun with her friend Sadie! Two peas in a pod.

In these shots I had to show off her new pig tails. This is my favorite new thing to do with her hair because it is finally long enough to do! So much fun.....until she takes it out!

This is the best shot!

 and now I'm going to eat it

 Huh? What did you say I'm supposed to be doing here?

 I'm outta here!

Adoption Conference

The 2011 Adoption and Foster Care Conference at LakePointe Church in Rockwall is September 10th from 8-3pm. I am so excited that we are actually FREE that weekend and able to go. This was the conference that started it all for Brian and I. You see, my heart was ready, but Brian's wasn't. After this conference God did a number on him and we were ready to go. Two months later we had paperwork filled out, orientation with the agency completed, and were waiting on the 6 hour orientation that would put us on our way to adopting a baby! It's amazing how God works in the heart of his people!

This year as we are planning ahead for the next adoption, I am looking forward to going to a few different sessions:
1) Trans-racial adoptions
2) Foster-to-adopt, and
3) How to start an adoption ministry in your church.

I would like to find out more about adopting across racial lines because we plan on opening up our profile to all races for the next adoption. I have made several friends (as you have seen in pictures) that have adopted African American boys and girls, and have had many opportunities to chat and read about overcoming obstacles that might bring. You see, I have always (and I do mean ALWAYS) had a special place in my heart for African American children. For whatever reason, I am drawn to them (just ask my folks if you want examples!). I focus specifically on AA because here in the south there are still many issues that have to be overcome when adopting . Other races also have obstacles, but I don't feel it is as taboo as adopting AA.

With foster-to-adopt, I am just curious to know more about how the whole process works for future-future reference.

And for the third session Brian and I have been thinking about this for awhile at our own church. Our church is large enough that we think there should be some kind of ministry for adoption. It doesn't necessarily have to be a large one like LakePointe's, but at least there should be something. We have talked to other friends of ours about joining us in the start of the ministry so hopefully this will help all of us out. We just weren't sure which direction to go first.

I am very excited about this conference!

Life Verse

About a month ago I came across a verse in the Bible that really spoke to me. It really kind of opened my eyes to living a life worthy of the calling. I try to read this verse everyday in my Bible study (I'm working hard to stick with a consistent quiet time) as a reminder to me on how I should be living my life. And so I share with you,
 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.  For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1: 3-11

I feel like I have been 'ineffective and unproductive' in my faith and knowledge of Christ so this really jumped at me to take note of the above qualities. The next part that really spoke to me was 'for if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,' meaning continuing spiritual growth which is what I have been lacking. So this is the charge I have been given by the Lord himself! No easy feat, but it is something I pray I can change about my life.

Precious!

What a beautiful picture of Heaven! Don't you think?! It just makes me smile!

Adoptive Family Play Day

My friend, Laurie, invited several adoptive families that live in the area (somewhat) over to her house for lunch and conversation, and playtime for the kids.  In her normal fashion she served up a nice little party. For lunch we had a couple different pasta salads, chicken salad sandwiches on a croissant, mixed fruit, turkey and cucumber wraps, pbj sandwiches in little circles, and a cookie cake! Yum! She is always so festive and makes me feel boring=) She remind me so much of my mom, always going the extra mile. And it is appreciated and noticed!

Just a little taste of summer...

Natalie made a new friend, Levi. They are 2 months apart. So precious!

This bounce house kept the kids entertained. Only after they added the water hose though=)

This pool is the perfect little pool size for NJ! Just enough to get wet and splash around in. Too fun!

You can't have a summer party without the Slip-n-Slide. That is just a classic!

Just a couple of bathing beauties.....the youngest of the clan today at 3 months (ish)

Our fabulous hostess hard at work on the snow cone machine.

I will have to save a copy of the whole crew together so I can post it here. It is such a neat picture. 

Stay tuned........