More of baby L's story.

Around 9 mos of age, there was a court hearing. We were all out of town. I recieved a call from the Guardian ad Litem, and she had some not-so-good news. She said that some relatives had come forward. They were very interested. We knew this could be the beginning of the end of our time with baby L. We waited months, and were told that the relatives finally passed the homestudy. I found out that these relatives were notified by the biological grandmother, who has numerous problems, and has been banned from seeing baby L. She had asked them to consider taking baby L, and knew nothing about us, or that we were a pre-adoptive home. Fast forward 6 months, and we got a call out of the blue, stating that the relative placement may happen even before the termination trial, so they wanted us all to come to a meeting. We went, and the relatives participated by phone. After the meeting we were told we would hear of the decision within a couple weeks, and we never did. I asked a few times, and was given vague answers. The next thing I knew our social worker quit, and a few months later the new one was bringing up adoption of baby L. The relatives had not made contact. The dept. was recommending she remain with us, and her biological mother wanted that as well. Within a month, we had signed the open adoption agreement, and then her mom relinquished her rights. We are now awaiting transfer to the adoption unit, which takes months. It's a miracle. We love our little baby L! Only a few more days and she turns 2! I guess we can't call her baby L anymore??! We give God all the glory and thanks for this one. We are so blessed.

Giveaway!

Raising Homemakers is having an amazing giveaway. If you homeschool, or know someone who does, or is thinking about it, this would be such a blessing to them. Good luck!

Versatile Blogger Award

Mary over at Adoption & Foster Care, my personal experience recently gave me the versatile blogger award. Thanks Mary! I don't usually accept awards, but decided to have fun with it this time. I do try to keep my blog quite versatile, as I only like to keep one blog going, so here you will find an eclectic mix of ramblings on adoption, foster care, mothering, orphans and christian issues, such as caring for orphans, and other extreme needs in our world, such as the child sex trafficking I posted about below. I also try to keep updates going about what is going on around our farm, our homeschool, and other life events. So..I do agree this blog is versatile!

The rules include linking back to the person who awarded you, which I did above. The next rule is listing 7 things about yourself, so here goes:

1) I hate working out. I strive to work out every day, and it never gets easier. I have a route I have walked for years now, and part of it is uphill. That hill never gets easier. I even change things up, and try many different ways to get exercise and I despise them all. Anytime I am working out, or exercising, there is almost always somewhere else I would rather be, or something else I would rather be doing.

2) To alleviate my pain around exercising and working out, I decided to take a different approach and encorporate my children as much as possible. Lately we have been going on walks together, they love it, and it's been much more enjoyable for me. It also helps them learn to enjoy this type of exercise in the outdoors, which is so important.

3) I despise artificial sweeteners. I learned about how poisonous they were way back in college when taking a nutrition class, and I went cold turkey that day, giving up my diet pe*psi. It only takes a few moments to do your research on the harmful affects of aspartame and sucralose. I cringe when I see someone pick up a can of diet c*oke or any other diet soda. I just want to take it from them and ask, "don't you realize what you're putting into your body?"

4) A couple years ago I was assigned to an online health coach through my health insurance organization. The woman I worked with was wonderful. To this day I still hear her voice almost every time I go to eat something I know I shouldn't. "Only put into your mouth what will nourish your cells, and bring life to your body, Michelle", "You can do it, eat what's pleasing to the Lord, those foods that God made naturally, full of life giving nutrients". I literally think of those words all the time when I make food choices!

5) I miss my grandma...the most wonderful christian woman, who introduced me to the Lord, and always spoke edifying, uplifting words to me. She was strong in her faith, and I am one family member her legacy will continue on through.

6) I need my world to be in order. Chaos, constant loud noise, and bright lights put me in a downhill spiral. I have sensory issues. Orderliness, tranquility, calming music and low lighting=peace for me.

7) Although I am teaching all the girls to take quiet time each day, I seem to only arrive at #6 at the end of each day, after the kiddos are all in bed. I am so thankful for my new master suite, where I can go to relax and recharge...I call it my sanctuary. I will be showing pictures soon, as it is almost complete!

The last rule is to pay it forward and award the versatile blogger award to 15 bloggers, however I will only be able to go with 5 like Mary did...so here they are:

Notes from the frugal trenches-a downshifting journey
Simple pieces of daily living...

Marmee's Pantry-For Such a Time as This
Muckboots-n-Aprons
2Surrender&Serve

I am horrified...

If you have not read the book "The road of Lost Innocence" by Somaly Mam...please check it out here, at Somaly's site. I think everyone should read this eye opening story of the horrors that are occuring in the country of Cambodia. They are happening right now, as I type this. Little girls, as young as 5 being enslaved, raped, used, and abused in brothels. It is sickening, profoundly sad, and profoundly horrific. Every night when I put this book down, and fell asleep, I had dreams of this, I could not turn it off. I just checked and World Vision is working there, and I will be inquiring about sponsoring a little girl from Cambodia. It is the first thing I can do. I will also be reading Somaly's site, and finding other ways I can help to do my part to end the suffering of these girls. Please, please, get this book. You will never be the same, and you will be able to also step in and help to end child trafficking and sex slavery of innocent, precious children.
{Thanks, Jennifer, for loaning me this book. I will be getting a few copies to hand out to others, as I believe everyone needs to hear this story}.

This week in review!

laughing..tickling..and playing with my babies..jumping on the trampoline with my 4 yr. old..played with a baby pony..picked tulips..held adorable baby goats..spent time with special friends..had our china adoptive families group over..kissed lots of boo boo's..studied switzerland for our country group co-op..spent "quiet" time in my new master suite reading a new book..worked with some senior citizens who needed cheering up..planned a "fun" vacation..prayed about ministries/church and unsaved family members..spent time outside in the beautiful warm weather..sipped delicious homemade "green" smoothies..planned a freezer cooking weekend..snuggled all my girls..thanked God!!!

Meet baby C!!!

She is almost 15 mos. old. Sweet, tiny, and my little cuddlebug! She follows her "big" sister around now, and I call them my little "partners in crime" because they are always together now, getting into things they shouldn't, climbing, or breaking into boxes of crackers or cereal that they were told not to. They definately keep me on my toes all day long, but I wouldn't change it for anything! I am so blessed with these little ones, and although I might collapse at the end of each day, I thank God for them.

Photo shoot!

Each year I take my girls for their "school" pictures. The place that does the pictures has been photographing my kids since Miranda was 5 mos. old. This year, we got to take the foster babies! Baby L is very photogenic. She is looking SO grown up at almost two years old! Stay tuned for baby C's picture!