3 Days!

We are on pins and needles here waiting (im)patiently for miss Luda's arrival this Thursday.

Here she is, third from left, flashing her "peace" sign.

Reading a book on the orphanage steps.

Really can't wait to see this smiling face again.  And have a little fun!

So far my list of "stuff to do" includes the usual summertime fare... movies, the pool, ice cream (of course), the library, a play, lots of arts and crafts, a pedicure day, and some shopping... naturally  ;)

Ahh, giggly girls.  Who couldn't use a few more in their house, right?? 

Can't wait for Thursday!!

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Finally... Our Gotcha Day Video!

I wanted to create this video ever since we arrived home almost two months ago, but alas, once you are home with your children there is very little time for making videos! 

 :)

But finally, it is finished!  

So without further adieu, may I present Charlotte and Atticus Rowe in

 "Gotcha Day" - May 14, 2012

Children Are Children No Matter Where They Come From

I wanted to post a link here to the "No Greater Joy Mom" blog because today she touched on a topic I find especially important. I think her post was so eloquent and thorough that I couldn't have said it better myself so you can just read it from her here.

Her post is about adopting internationally.  Many times people ask the questions or make the statements..... "Why don't you just adopt here in the US?"  "There are tons of foster kids available"  "Shouldn't other countries take care of their OWN children?"

Well, our family HAS adopted from the US foster care system, until that system told us we had too many children to adopt any more.  But others feel lead towards international adoption exclusively, and I agree with her main point, you have to go where GOD leads you.  Children are children and need love and families no matter where they are.

So please read her post, especially if you are one of those who has ever wondered WHY people would choose to adopt from a foreign country instead of here in the good 'ole USA.  I think she has it in a nutshell.

Happy Birthday Atticus!!

Today is Atticus's 2nd birthday, but his first as Atticus Grant Rowe.  

His first outside of an orphanage.  His first with a Mommy and a Daddy.  His first with cake, and a party with friends to come. 

 It might be a celebration of his second year here on this earth, but oh, there are so many firsts associated with this day.

Happy Birthday to my sweet little man, and his Daddy's little buddy.  

We love you with all our hearts and are SO glad you are finally home with us, where you belong.  Here's to many birthdays to come... all to be celebrated with LOVE.  

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Happy Fourth!

Yesterday and today have been wonderful and emotional for me.  Today was Charlotte and Atticus's first Independence Day.  They can both now say that they are American citizens.  They will reap the benefits in their future of being an American-- the freedoms, the opportunities, unlike that of any other country.

Most importantly they are FREE in another way... free of the cribs, of the bars that held them in for so long, of any injustice and mistreatment, of being looked at as second class citizens.  They have been given a new life, a life beyond all that, where they can be respected as human beings, as individuals, as children of God.

I am so thankful today for our country and its freedoms.  I am thankful for all those who have given their lives-- both in death and in service-- so that these freedoms may be preserved.  I pray for our leaders, for the choices that are being made, and for the decisions that will affect us all in the future.  I hope that others pray for them as well, whether they agree with them or not.  They need prayer.

I am grateful today for my children, that they get to grow up in this great country.  That they don't hunger for anything, that they have a home, that their daddy has a job so that he may provide for them, that they have both a mother and father who love them and are together in the home to nurture and protect them.  I am grateful that we have the freedom of religion, to worship as we wish and the opportunity to raise our children to love the Lord without fear of persecution.

I was blessed today by a comment from another woman as we got into our car after watching our local town parade.  She complimented me as a mother, and my children for their good behavior, and told me how lucky and blessed I was to have ALL of them... a large family.  She told me how she wished it had been her, and how grateful I should be that my husband agreed to a large family, because if her husband had agreed she would have had many children too.  Her compliments and encouragement through our conversation together reminded me just how blessed I am, and that I shouldn't ever take it for granted.  Even on the stressful days, I should always be thankful, because there are others out there who would love to have the life that I do.

So on this Fourth, I am reminded to contemplate all these blessings.  I pray that your lives are blessed, that you never take your freedoms for granted, and that you USE those freedoms to work at doing good in this world.  And always remember those who helped us get to where we are.... from the Declaration of Independence onward, freedom has never been free.

The Good Ole Summertime!

Summer is officially now here, but it started off with a bang for us back in early June.  First, Georgia's soccer team Galaxy won their championships!

Way to go girls!!  They had an amazing season, not losing one game and only tying one!  Congratulations!

Then....... Schuyler and Kierstyn's team did the same thing!!!

Woohoo!  All my soccer girls were champions this season!  Yeah girls!

Then we had Father's Day, which I never unfortunately got to dedicate an entire post to as I should have.  But it was a fun and relaxing day nonetheless, with Daddy/ Baba/ Papa surrounded by his 8 incredible blessings....

His Father's Day gift, with all 8 kids' handprints  :)

A hug from his girlie

Just love this one, albeit blurry... Charlotte reaching out wide to give her Papa a hug!  Melts my heart.

His Daddy's Day cake!

My sweet honey!  A great husband and daddy!

Next.... we were on to Georgia's birthday!!!  Big number 11!  She and I celebrated her special day by going out for breakfast together to the Sweet Pickle Bakery.  They serve amazing breakfasts and lunches, as well as creating some mouth-watering pastries and cakes!

The sweet birthday girl!!

Georgia and Mama out in front of Sweet Pickle!

Her birthday fell on a Wednesday, so that following weekend she got to have a sleepover with her friends, and might I add, some of the most wonderful girls I have ever met.  So thankful that ALL my kiddos are surrounded with such amazing friends!  It is easy to have a passle of kids over to your house when you love all of them!!  :)

All the friends... and of course Charlotte was in on the whole thing the entire night!  The girls were SO sweet with her!

Pizza, watermelon, cherry limeade and of course cupcakes, were on the menu!

Gotta get a crazy face picture too!

Caroline, Kilen and Georgia in the headbands Caroline made for them.  So sweet!

Adela and Georgia, bronze beauties!!  :)

That weekend, we also had some visitors come to see us.  Grandma and Grandpa stopped by before their long journey out west to see our beautiful 50 states!  Just in time for Georgia's birthday, and for their first meeting with Charlotte and Atticus as well!

The gang, minus Evan and Kierstyn who weren't feeling well that day.

We all got to go do some blackberry picking together too, one of our favorite things to do in the summer!

Ready for berries!!

Don't eat 'em all first!

Our harvest!!

And another fun thing that week...... baseball!!!!

The boys got to have a "boys' night out" and take in a game the evening of Georgia's sleepover.  Much more fun for them I think!  

So all in all, it has been a fun and relaxing summer filled with life's little pleasures.  Add in some sprinkler fun..

And some pool fun too.........

And some frozen yogurt....

And you've got just about the perfect summer!  So I hope you and your family are out enjoying life's little pleasures this summer.  Have a great one everybody, and try to stay cool!!!  

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