Check out this awesome giveaway!!!

This looks like an awesome baby carrier and I hope I win!! She has some gorgeous custom baby gear on her website! Check it out here!!

Happy Anniversary!!! 8 Years & Counting!

Wow, I can hardly believe that 8 years ago today, my husband and I were married! We had a whirlwind romance and were married exactly 6 months to the day from when we began dating! We were engaged on my husband's birthday and planned our entire wedding in just 3 months time! My husband will always remind me that I had picked out my dress before we were even engaged! Yes, it's true, I found the perfect dress and just had to buy it, knowing that I would wear it when I got married someday...I was pretty sure he was going to ask me, so it wasn't that big of a risk! We were so young and so in love...neither of us had been looking for a relationship and that is exactly when God brought us to each other. Funny timing, only God! We've definitely had many ups and downs over the past 8 years, but all in all, we are happily married and working each day to be more like Christ in our marriage. Being married is probably one of the most challenging things in life, but it's also one of the most rewarding when you are able to see things through God's eyes. I am so thankful for my husband and that he has put up with me for all these years. I think God got it right when He gave us to each other...we don't always get along and sometimes we don't even like each other very much, but in the end, we have God at the center and He always pulls us back together. Without God in our marriage, I'm pretty sure we would not have survived the test of time. It's still difficult even with God by our sides, but it would be impossible without Him!

Happy Anniversary to my honey! I cannot wait to see where God leads us over the next 8 years and beyond. He's already blessed us with 2 gorgeous girls and I know that whatever He has planned for our future will be amazing!

Here's my favorite picture from our wedding day, taken by my dear friend Christine! Her pictures were much better than our actual "wedding photographer"!

A Fun Bow Giveaway!!

I have ordered hair bows in the past from Jeanette at Sara Beth Bows and they were AWESOME! She is hosting a bow giveaway at her blog this month...go check it out here and enter to win!

Out from under a rock...

Wow, it has been such a long time since my last blog post...I feel like I've been hiding under a rock lately and life has just sort of been going on around me. Do you ever have those times in your life where you just aren't certain where you're headed or what you should be doing or how to pull yourself out of the monotonous routine that can sometimes be called life? I feel like that is where I've been in recent days, but I'm happy to say that I am no longer stuck under that rock...I feel a newly restored sense of hope and purpose and I am just so thankful for my faith, my family and my friends and I'm even more thankful that God is ever present, even when He feels far away...He's always there right next to me whether I "feel" Him or not. My goal for the coming year is to become more passionate about something and to make a difference through living out that passion. I feel like God has already revealed that passion to my heart, but sometimes it is necessary to wait for God to align the other things and people in our lives with our passion before we are able to move forward. Does that make any sense? Being patient has never been easy for me and I suppose that this is just one more opportunity for me to be patient and to wait on God...His timing is always so much more perfect that mine anyway!

So, in a nutshell, that is my reason for not blogging lately. I'm still not quite sure what God has in store for me, but I know that all will be revealed in time and I'm excited to know that my future is in His hands and I don't have to do it all alone!

I took this picture a few weeks ago while we were out enjoying the sun in our backyard...to me, the butterfly represents new beginnings and the flowers represent life and hope for tomorrow...both reminders of the beauty God has surrounded us with, everywhere we look, He is there!

A Picture Post...

I don't have time to write much at the moment, but thought I'd post a few pictures from the past month. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and many blessings in 2009!

Tis the Season...

Wow, I can hardly believe that Christmas is next week! I feel like this month between Thanksgiving & Christmas has just flown by and all of a sudden Christmas is upon us. I absolutely love this time of year and all of the joy surrounding our celebration of Jesus' birth! It's especially fun this year because both of the girls are really excited and they love to talk about Jesus and His birthday!! I love that they get it and that we are able to teach them the true meaning of Christmas from such a young age!

We've not been up to much lately, other than preparing for Christmas, decorating our house and tree, wrapping gifts and shipping packages to our family out-of-state! We are looking forward to the New Year and all that it may bring and we are looking to God to direct our family in the way that He would have us go.

In other news...Savannah potty trained herself almost 2 months ago!! I LOVE that she did it all by herself and I will admit that I was dreading having to potty train her...it's just not the most fun part about parenting and something totally out of your control. So, we are thankful that Savannah did it all by herself and has only had a few accidents since then!!

A couple of the pictures below are when Mackenzie decided to decorate the tree all by herself. She placed ALL of her little stuffed animals ALL over the tree and she was so proud...she couldn't wait to show her daddy!! It was really adorable and I felt bad that we had to take them down eventually, but we did replace them with our traditional Christmas bears!

Here are a few pictures that were taken recently...the first one is hilarious...Savannah giving Newman a good night snuggle! Then there are a few of the girls by the tree and the last one is just perfect...Savannah was totally posing...I love her glasses and her pouty lips!

HOPE Giveaway!!

Please visit Jacob & Carrie's blog, Signs of Hope, to read about her "HOPE Giveaway"! They have such servants hearts and are serving China's orphans in amazing ways! Please go check out her blog and I promise you will be forever changed!

You also have an opportunity to enter a giveaway of a beautiful sterling silver Chinese character necklace that means "HOPE"! Please spread the word on your blogs and raise awareness for the amazing work they are doing on behalf of China's special needs orphans.

Home For 18 Months!

Wow, I cannot believe I missed posting on Saturday!!! November 22nd was a special day for our family because it marked 18 months since Savannah came home to us from Guatemala!! Wow, I can hardly believe that she's been home with us for 18 months! In many ways, it feels like she's been with us since day 1, but then I realize that we missed out on her first year of life. I do believe that God had a special plan for her days in Guatemala and I love that she was able to spend almost an entire year in her birth country. We are still in touch with her amazing foster family and we will always treasure them...they took such good care of our girl until we were able to bring her home...their love for her is genuine and pure and will live on forever! We have been so blessed to know this family!

Wow, it's really hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week and the Christmas season is fast approaching! I do love this time of year though...even with all of the craziness, it just brings about such special memories and serves as a reminder of what we were put on earth to do...to bring glory to our maker!

Yesterday, we had the most amazing church service...a man from Sud@n was speaking about suffering for the sake of Jesus and about the persecution of Christians around the world. No matter how much of a bubble we think we live in, there is very real suffering going on in the world just for the name of Jesus. Most of us cannot even comprehend that type of oppressed life...we just don't get it. All I could think of yesterday during the service was, wow, this is just wrong...why do I struggle in the most simple decisions like which church should I attend, should I go to this one, or to that one? I should just be thankful that I have the right to go to church, to any church, without risking my life and being persecuted for my choice to follow Jesus.

I think we all need to be more aware of what's going on in this world and not just sit back in our comfortable bubbles and ignore the suffering and persecution that is taking place every day. It's too easy to just go on like nothing is wrong, to continue living life in our happy little world, without really taking any responsibility to make a difference, to step out in faith and trust God to lead the way. Maybe He is asking you to do something that you don't feel comfortable with or equipped to do...but the truth is that if He has called you to go, then He will provide you with what you need.

Okay...I'm way off topic now from my original title for this post...but I do think it's all relevant to our decision to adopt. We took a leap of faith and jumped in to our adoption without knowing all that it would entail, but God truly blessed us for that decision...He gave us the most beautiful little girl to raise and to love. Despite all of the trials and difficulty we faced along the way, we would do it all again for the reward of being Savannah's mommy & daddy!

This morning I am just thankful for the many ways God has blessed our family this past year and for the freedom we have to choose Him daily. Happy Thanksgiving!!

On a side note...I am praising God this morning for Gracie's successful heart surgery! Gracie is an orphan living in China and she just had heart surgery late last night (our time). This morning I found out that everything went really well! This little girl has absolutely captured my heart...she is adorable and
I would bring her home in a heart beat if it were allowed! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for her life, for her hope and her future!!

Another Amazing Giveaway!!

Check out this amazing blog...I've been following her blog for a little while now and it's great fun to read and I especially loved reading her journal entries while she was in China volunteering at N*ew Da*y. She's hosting a giveaway in honor of her 100th post and I cannot wait to see who wins!!!

To China For Owen...

You may have noticed that I added a new button to my sidebar..."To China For Owen." This button will stay in place until November 13th. Click on the button to go directly to the site where you can enter to win some AMAZING prizes in a fundraiser designed to help this family bring their son, Owen home from China! What a great idea!

The Time of Your Life....

I found this posted on another blog and it absolutely hit home...I wanted to remember it always, so I had to post it here. My blog is my journal in many ways and I love to look back and re-read posts from months past. It's amazing to have a record of God's blessings in my life and to witness His hand in all I do. Please read the below entry with an open mind and an open heart...it really does make sense in so many ways.

The T*ime of Yo*ur Lif*e
by R*ic*k W*ar*ren

Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Ephesians 5:16 (MSG)

*** *** *** ***

Why is it that time drags when you want it to pass quickly and flies when you need more of it? It’s not very cooperative!
Time is the great equalizer. We all have the same amount of it. The difference between successful people and average people is this: Achievers manage their time wisely. Rather than wasting time or spending time, they invest time. They make the most out of each moment.

In these difficult days, people are realizing that time is more important than money. Money is a renewable resource - there are always places to get more of it.

But time is a limited resource.

You only have a certain allotment of time in your life. When it's used up ... that’s it! YOUR TIME IS YOUR LIFE.

When you give someone your money, you’ve given them something that you can replace. But when you give someone your time, you've given them a part of your life. This means time management is really “life management.”

The Bible has this to say: “Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants” (Ephesians 5:15b-17 MSG).

You could summarize these verses this way:
1. Analyze Your Lifestyle. Be aware of where your time is going.
2. Utilize The Present. Make the most of this moment.
3. Recognize What’s Important. Focus on priorities that last.

A question to consider throughout the day: “How much of what I’m doing right now is going to count ten years from now … 50 years from now … or for eternity?”

You have just enough time to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

If you can’t get it all done it means:
1. You’re doing things God never intended for you to do, or
2. You’re doing the right thing in the wrong way.

Prayer: “God, help me to manage my time wisely this week.”

© 200*8 P*urp*ose D*ri*ven L*ife. All r*ights re*served.

The Adventures Continue...

We've been camping the past 2 weekends in a row and have had such a wonderful time as a family...needless to say, there have been a few stressful moments (especially at bedtime & trying to get Savannah to sleep in her "bunk"), but other than that, we've made some great memories together! I am actually surprised at myself that I've enjoyed camping so much...I even survived this past weekend of "primitive" camping out in the middle of nowhere! All I could think of when we got there was I sure hope we don't have any surprise visits from bears or cougars!! It was that remote...definitely animal territory. What in the heck we were doing way out there I'll never know...but thankfully we weren't by ourselves...or should I say obviously! For anyone who knows me, they know that I do not like the "unknown" and this camping trip definitely classified as "unknown" in my mind. My idea of camping is at a "real" campground with actual campsites and actual picnic tables and bathrooms! Well, it couldn't have been that bad because we did actually survive and managed to have a nice time despite all of the dirt, rain, and freezing cold weather! Our little tent trailer makes a nice and cozy little home away from home! Small but perfect for us!

Here are a few pictures from our past 2 weekends of camping. We'll be taking a little break from camping...we're so excited to go back to church...we absolutely miss it when we are away!!

First weekend...our first solo camping trip as a family! Nice weather, nice campground!
















Second weekend...thankfully not a solo trip, fun, dirty, freezing, remote! Savannah literally fell asleep sitting up next to me while Trevor and I were playing cards! Funny...she was awake one minute and literally passed out the next! The second night of our camping trip, our brand new battery gave out and then our heater didn't work all night long! It was beyond FREEZING! Thank you Jesus for warm sleeping bags that kept us toasty at night...in the morning on the otherhand, it was very difficult to get out of that warm bed! It was so cold in our trailer that you could see your breath! Yes, it was that cold!









**Oh, and you might notice that we have yet another new background! I just love those free backgrounds and to be honest, I didn't really like our last one...but since Kenzie picked it out, I had to keep it for awhile! Just for her! I LOVE the new background though...it's so much more ME!

EDITED/UPDATED: A Family For Grady...

Every child deserves a home and a family to call their own. This post was inspired by my friend Jeanette and parts were taken from her blog, Blessed By Baseballs & Bows.

EDIT/UPDATE: For a video of Grady singing, click on this link.



This is Grady. He turned 13 years old on June 3rd of this year. On June 3rd of next year, he will age out of China's adoption program and will no longer be eligible for adoption. Sadly, his SWI just submitted his paperwork 2 months ago -which doesn't give him much time to find a family.

You can't see it in this picture, but Grady has scoliosis. It is so severe that is has caused him to be much shorter than he would have been. Apparently he has to place all of his weight on only one of his legs -and we've been told that he cannot feel that side of his body. He walks with crutch like canes....but LONGS to be able to run and play just like other boys his age.

For more information on Grady, please visit Jeanette's blog for details! This little boy has really touched her family and they just feel compelled to pray for him and advocate for his adoption into a loving family of his own!

Time for a new post...

Last weekend, we had a fun surprise when our friends Gregg, Jerin, Olivia, & Noah came to stay with us for a few days! We hadn't seen them since we moved here 4 years ago and it was so great! They are the type of friends where it doesn't matter how much time has passed between visits...you still feel like you've known them forever and we just have a special bond! We're so much alike in very many ways...especially Jerin & myself! Funny! Anyway, we had an amazing time with them and just wish they lived closer. The kids got along so well and it was so sad to see them have to leave...Kenzie was heartbroken for days after they left! Well, we'll definitely have to plan another visit soon...maybe a family vacation together in the near future! Unfortunately, we didn't take a single picture with all of us, but we did get some cute pics of the kids and of Jerin holding Savannah!

Let's see, what else...oh, Savannah finally fits into her new pair of princess light-up sandals! There are a few pics of her showing off her new shoes, and a few of her with a hilarious wink...not sure what that was all about, but it was too silly not to share! She LOVES them and I found them for an amazing price too! I almost always buy things on sale...I seem to find the greatest deals and most people who know me well are shocked at what I can find! Not sure it's much of a talent, but I view it as more of a blessing...it's amazing what you can find if you are patient and keep your eyes open!

Oh, and lastly, there are a few pics from last night at bedtime. The girls were really having trouble falling asleep and Trevor and I heard some movement in the dining room...this is what we found...2 little princesses laying on their blankies together. Kenzie had made them a little bed to share and it was ADORABLE! As frustrated as we were that they would not stay in bed last night, I had to run and grab the camera because it was just too cute! Needless to say, after about an hour of Savannah coming out of her big girl bed, I finally set up the playpen and she fell asleep immediately and slept soundly all night long, and actually slept in like she used to do pre-big-girl-bed-days!! There is definitely something to be said about the confinement and security of a crib. We were very ready to move her to a big-girl bed, but sometimes we wonder whether she was ready yet! She was happy as a clam in her crib and probably would have slept there for another year, but at least we have a playpen that can easily be set-up for those sleepless nights!!

We had a really relaxing weekend as a family and we're looking forward to going on another camping trip this coming weekend! Stay tuned for more pictures...I promise to actually use my camera this time and we're praying that it doesn't rain all weekend!