Happy 10th Birthday (yesterday) to Andrew James Wright!

 Here's his present!  The only thing he plays with now!!!!  My lego boy :)

 Opening cards...

 He he he....that expression is priceless!  He has many different "Andrew Faces"  :)

 Oh and a Star Wars chapter book!  Because the other thing he loves is READING!!!!!!!!

 My crazy birthday sings ;)

 He wanted a yellow cinnamon cake- and we put cinnamon roll frosting on it! 

 IT WAS YUMMY!!!!  Great choice Andrew!

 My baby.......who had colic and was totally cheeky is now 10!!!!!!!  HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!!!!

 You know every year we go through this "thing" with me and the kids.  I tell them they are not allowed to grow and they say, but mommy your mom let you grow up.  And well....what do you say to that?  But I say it anyway because I really want them to grow up I LOVE IT, but I also miss all the little things they used to do.  You know.   It is sooo hard.  We have a book called Let Me Hold You Longer- makes my cry, but oh so good!!!  AND TRUE!!!! 

 I know I know- you are thinking - Dawn don't stress you have many other littles.  This I know.  And I love them all in the different stages.  And well......hello my name is Dawn and I am addicted to my children!!!!  It's a great problem to have!!!!  ***Note I am say this after a crazy day with rages and ADD craziness!  I just can't help it. 

 I mean how could I not just blow up with LOVE from this crazy face?   Andrew you are a compassionate and sensitive leader!  You love reading, legos, and helping your younger siblings.  You have mood swings like no other (well except me), and you act just like some one I know....hmmmm.....stubborn and yet just so cute!  When people ask - genetics vs. learned behaviors- look no further!  This child is proof- learned behavior is HUGE!!!  :)  he he he he he he   LOVE YOU ANDREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And here is my handsome man who loves our babes as much as I do!!!!!  Couldn't do it without you babe!!!!!

How we decorate and my newest nesting project

 This is our tree........  LOVE the HUGE ornament in the middle :)

 No fireplace this year, but bookcases will do the same thing.....

 Of course we have 2 of them......guess we'll have to make room for more....for next year!!!!! 

 lighting it up....

 You LIGHT UP MY LIFE BABY!!!

 Oh no- they are kissing again :)

 Awww....LOVE....

 Some more love going on here....

 Yes, this girl was born knowing how to pose so cute!!!!

 WOW- a bit up close and personal with that camera Matthew.  Oh dear now everyone will definitely see that I don't wear make up.  Sorry folks!

 Play time.....

 Dance time....

 hey, we love to dance!

 Oh dear look at this child.  He may seem a bit to himself, but look at how he plays with his little sibs! 

 He is a GREAT big brother always wanting to play!!!  He says he wants LOTS of children when he gets older- he will make a great daddy!

 Our manger scene to play with.

 And some silly kiddos in santa hats....

 Jonathan fake sleeping ;)

 sqeeze!

 Rock out!

 Joanna dancing with her tree limb

 Andrew telling everyone what branch "color" is next.  Hmmm.......the leader and soo much like someone I know???

 Oh Jonathan.....is he cute or what???  Just thinking that in a couple of days - 3 years ago we passed court!!!  And the day after Christmas we flew over to get our baby boy (who was 18 mo old at the time).  So thankful for our late Christmas present!!!!  (***this was before they required 2 trips)

 Cheese- do you think she has her picture taken often???

 OK for my latest nesting project.  I cleaned out the garage!  Why?  Because eventually I want to completely redo this garage into a huge open play area!!!  :)  So why not start at least using it for a fun indoor area the kids can run around in to wear off some energy!!!! 

 I can see it now.  Our 2 sets of stackable washer/dryer sets (I can dream right?), cupboards along that wall with tools along the top and toys down where they kids can reach, tiling, possibly getting rid of the garage door and putting in a wall with a bay window?  outdoor/indoor toys to play with especially for those rainy days when you can't go outside!  :) 

 Oh and here is our professional peeler!!!

OH YEAH!!!  WE LOVE TURKEY so why would we only want it on Thanksgiving?  I bought 4!!  Hey it was cheap and WONDERFUL!!!!!!

Join me in prayer for a little boy who has a family, but needs a foster family while his family gets the clearances back!!!  THANKS &.......

Still thinking and praying for this little guy!!!!!  Please join me in prayer and petition for him to find his family!!!!!!!  :)

Sewmehon

Male, DOB: April 16, 2008

Also known as Simon, Sewmehon is estimated to be three years old. He has been reported to be a smiley little boy with a sweet personality and was admitted into the orphanage in October 2009. His birth mother has disappeared and his birth father is unknown.  

Given the complexity of this little boy’s medical and developmental considerations, he has spent most of his time lying in his crib. He interacts with people and other children living in the orphanage although his movement is extremely limited. He is able to utter sounds and cries but is not able to say meaningful words.

Sewmehon is reported to have global developmental delays, spastic cerebral palsy, and possible encephalomalacia. A CT scan of Sewmehon’s brain revealed a large porencephatic cyst on the left side of his brain from possible encephalomalacia. The doctor has reported that these health issues have most likely been present since Sewmehon’s early infancy and that he would greatly benefit from an evaluation by a neurosurgeon. 

Even with his needs our staff have shared that Sewmehon has so much joy in his soul and his eyes. It is believed by the doctor that Sewmehon has potential for improvement given adequate medical care and stimulation. We believe a special family out there is able to meet these needs and help Sewmehon to thrive and have life to the fullest.

***If you feel this is your son or just want to learn more PLEASE contact  egranath@allgodschlidren.org  or go directly to allgodschildren.org and fill out a free pre application!  PLEASE SPREAD the word and help find his family.  He needs them!!

Our Daily Bread

 Yummy!  I LOVE HOME MADE BREADS and DESSERTS!!!! 

 As in I could totally eat them all day long!!!!  But these past couple of weeks I have been thinking about daily bread in the Lord's Prayer.  Give us this day our daily bread.  When you think about it in the terms of people used to make bread daily you think about how this refers to those days.  You know before preservatives and store bought bread :)  (hey, don't think we don't buy bread I am NOT that talented to make bread every day, but I try).

But then it hit me that really we are asking God for our needs FOR THAT DAY!  Not for the whole year, not for the whole week, not even for today and tomorrow.  Then remembering the Isrealites wandering around in the desert.  How God said don't take more than you NEED for today or it will spoil.  And I am sure there were people who tried it!  Just being honest- I WOULD!  But it spoiled.  UNLESS it was for the Sabbath- then it wouldn't spoil!!

So where I am going with this is that sometimes it is hard to see what tomorrow is going to bring.  It is hard to know about what our needs will look like tomorrow.  For us doing adoptions right now- we WANT TO KNOW NOW LORD who our child/ren is, what do they look like, what will they grow up to be.  Some of us with children with attachment disorders ask ourselves daily- Lord will they every choose to love me back?  Will they ever __________?  OR if you have other special needs in your child- Will they ever grow up to ________?

I think this is completely natural.  God made us to think and dream!  AMEN!  But we have to know that FOR TODAY HE GIVES US STRENGTH!  FOR TODAY HE will help us get through.  FOR THIS MOMENT that your child is raging- HE will give you grace to handle it.  FOR THIS SECOND when you feel rejected for the millionth time- HE gives you peace.  FOR THIS HOUR HE gives you peace to wait for the next step in the adoption process.  FOR THIS MORNING HE will allow you to find joy in the small things when it seems your life is soo upside down.

For today we have enough to eat, and some to spare.  For this time we have plans and hopes for our children's futures.  For now we can choose to be happy about where God has us......and TRUST HIM for the DAILY BREAD for tomorrow- Tomorrow.  Trust HIM for that strength when we need it.  Trust HIM for the money for the mounting things that need to be fixed or for our next adoption- when we need it.

I pray all of you can find that DAILY BREAD when you need it.  I am learning and I have such a looonnggg way to go that I have to rely on HIM - EACH DAY, each hour, each minute, and each second..........

 OK something amazing happened- I did a craft with the kids.  SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Seriously- I don't do crafts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don't know why....ummm...I just can't, won't, don't- whatever. 

 But the kids love it!  And well- that smile is worth more than any amount of mess!!!! 

 Matthew- even when thinking of "snow" pictures he still made an Iron Man :)

 This is a White out!

And this is Jonathan and I's snowman :)  he he he- yeah!

***Don't forget- if you are local here are some GREAT FOOD GIFTS- pies, cookies, fudge, bars, etc.
 ****If you aren't local- don't forget to go shopping HERE!!!!!  Portions go to our adoption!!!  YEAH!!!
******Or buy a What is Good Shirt from our sidebar- just put the size and color in the comment section on paypal or email/facebook us and send a check!
 ********And don't forget the SCENTSY!!!!!!  Talk about some yummy smells!!!!  :) 

THANK YOU for all of your support and prayers for our next child/ren!!!!  WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!