Baby Shower-Post 3

Baby Shower-Post 2

Baby Shower-Post 1

Five in a Row: Who Owns the Sun-Post 3

Five in a Row: Who Owns the Sun-Post 2

Five in a Row: Who Owns the Sun-Post 1

We read Who Owns the Sun, a Five in a Row title from Volume 1. We also read a few books about Alabama, including All Over Alabama. We located Alabama on the map & discussed its geography and state symbols. We also discussed slavery and how it affected our country. We talked about the Civil War. We learned about Abraham Lincoln and Rosa Parks and talked about how they helped our country to move towards equality for all. We made a lapbook to showcase some of the things we learned, and we finished our unit by preparing a delicious meal of sausage gravy and biscuits. It was another great Five in a Row learning experience!

Lessons from the Journey

This adoption journey is truly one of the most wonderful times in my life, yet one of the most difficult as well. The waiting is hard...the realization of the truth that I'm not in control...the complete and total giving of everything to God and trusting His plan and His timing...just a few of the things I'm learning. It's hard to put some things into words. How can I explain the elation, yet the sadness, when we receive new pictures of our baby girl? It's exciting to see how much she's grown, yet it only reminds me of how much of her life we've missed. I have to say, though, that I've seen the heart and the face of God along this journey like I never have before. I've seen Him rejoice with me every time another milestone is met, I've felt His embrace every time we've had a setback, and I've crawled up into His lap and cried many times when I've felt that my heart was being ripped out because I have a daughter who's on the other side of the world-so far out of my reach, but never out of His. And I've seen His provision in the gracious donations made by others to help us with our travel expenses. This journey has changed me in so many ways. Yes, the journey is long and the wait is hard, but I'm so grateful for all of it. And I can truly say that I've been given treasures hidden in the dark, and I've been given joy and peace because my God calls me by name, just as he calls my daughter by name, and He is moving us closer to each other-all in His perfect plan and timing. Thank you, God, for the journey.

"Adoption is the visible Gospel."--Steven Curtis Chapman

"And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness-secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name." Isaiah 45:3

"'For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Introducing Our Baby Girl

Here she is! We are hoping and praying to travel around the first of December. We are so ready to hold our precious baby girl in our arms.

Five in a Row-Night of the Moonjellies-Post 4

Five in a Row-Night of the Moonjellies-Post 3

Five in a Row-Night of the Moonjellies-Post 2

Five in a Row-Night of the Moonjellies-Post 1

We made moonjellies so the kids could go to sleep with moonjellies "swimming" in their room. (Thanks to another FIAR mom for this idea.) We read and discussed New England, the ocean, running a small business, and so many other things. We also played a Night of the Moonjellies board game. Then, finally, we "opened" up our own "seaside diner," complete with a beach music playlist that we created at playlist.com. This has been one of our favorite "rows" so far, but I think we say that every time! LOL