A MOUSE for CHRISTmas!

After the stockings were removed from the mantel...

This is what was left. A note for the 7 Littles.

A puzzle actually that they QUICKLY put together..

FROM A CERTAIN MOUSE...

IT IS ON to PREPPING the fishing poles and packing up for a LONG WINTERS TRIP!

We have 2 sets of matching shirts packed to wear.

ONE while at our Day at Magic Kingdom (compliments of Grandma).

ONE to wear everywhere else..(that I designed)

We snapped right back from CHRISTmas to packing for 30 days on the road!

SUCH AN EXCITING ADVENTURE!

BRIGHT ORANGE for the obvious reasons!

  

THE CAPTAIN has a 50 day VACA and we plan on taking FULL ADVANTAGE. Neither of us is a huge fan of the cold or winter so we are HEADING SOUTH! It's taken a TON of logistical planning. I hope all runs smooth!

We are SO BLESSED that friends GAVE US, YES GAVE US Magic Kingdom tickets for one day. For our tribe, this would normally be around $1000 for JUST ONE DAY! There was no way we had this in our budget but God provided through our fabulous friends! THANK YOU SO MUCH! This WONDERFUL COUPLE also gave us their 50% discount at FORT WILDERNESS!

Our first stop will be THE SAINT LOUIS ARCH..

Join us for the next 30 days on our ADVENTURE.

The CAPTAIN got me a new laptop so you can all follow along!

I will admit, I'm a BIT nervous to be gone that long.. "Did I pack everything I need?" "What if this or that happens?"  I know God's got us covered!

We have some SUPER FUN STUFF planned and I think it will be a trip of a LIFETIME! 

YES, We will be HOMESCHOOLING on the road! 

NOW is the time I could USE THESE GIRLS with their MAD PACKING SKILZZZ!

PS-don't try to rob us while we're gone, we've got special people staying at our house too! :)

MERRY CHRISTmas!

May CHRIST fill your homes this CHRISTmas!

And may MANY children find their forever families this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Strike a POSE..

THERES NOTHING TO IT

"VOGUE!"

What BEAUTIFUL BABY!

The VIEW-Birth Siblings and visits..

MY VIEW that is :)

As an adopted child, I was SO BLESSED at the age of 25 to learn that I had 4 birth siblings. I was the oldest-the one given up for adoption.. God's plan for me.  My bio mother then went on to marry my father and my sister was born just over a year after me followed by my brother a year after her.  They divorced and she remarried her current husband and they had 2 more girls together.

So lets get this straight..I have 2 FULL bio siblings and 2 1/2 sisters.  I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH and over the last 16 years, we have grown extremely close.

I had NO sisters growing up. I had 2 great older brothers (both adopted also at separate times.)

This whole "NEW FAMILY" has posed a whole new set of circumstances. More people to love really... :) It took me a while to adjust but I don't know what I would ever do without my sisters now. We are so close.

This summer, my sister got married and FOR THE FIRST TIME, 2 of my sisters and I got to be ALONE, to TALK, HANG OUT and BOND in as we met in Chicago for her bridal shower. It was such AN AWESOME WEEKEND!

Me, My 3 GORGEOUS sisters and my Birth Mom. 

My brother and I...

There are times however, that I feel "CHEATED". CHEATED OUT OF KNOWING MY BROTHER AND SISTER.. MISSING OUT on all the time we lost together growing up separately.

But I must go back to this verse...You know the one..

"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

AND THIS VERSE...

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

I KNOW this is God's plan for my life and there is nothing I can do to change it. I WOULD NOT TRADE my upbringing for ANYTHING but at the same time I have cried many tears at the loss of SO MUCH time with my brother and sisters. It's a very strange place to be but there is no sense or use dwelling on it for I trust that GOD knows what is best for me and my entire family..

It is MY UPBRINGING and NOT knowing my birth siblings growing up that makes me want to keep my kiddos in contact with theirs IF at all possible. I know many of you do not have this opportunity of openness with your internationally adopted kiddos or even kids born here. I understand it may not be safe to be in contact with some birth families. For us it works out great. This is God's plan for our family, not everyones. We see birth siblings and families whenever possible.

We had 2 very special visitors over the last couple of weeks.

I just KNEW we had to get MyMy & Bits sister here after THIS POST.

She visited for the day one day...

These 2 were "physically touching" the entire time.

The Love and connection is magical!

Then she came to stay over night!

THAT WAS AWESOME!

They fell asleep INTERTWINED..

PRECIOUS..Sisters

AND THIS WEEK..Bean, T and WyWy's sister came for a visit!

She is DEFINITELY T's "MINI ME!"

A great time was had by ALL!

We are very blessed to have all of this "extended family!"

And we believe that EVEN THOUGH the 6 kiddos above have 2 moms in prison, its OUR JOB to keep them seeing one another. It's not any of their fault. They were born and are all precious in HIS SIGHT!

Have YOU been thinking about birth family visits?

They are TRULY a beautiful thing!