Hidden Treasure...

If you are the parent of an adopted child you will certainly understand what you're about to read. Unfortunately, children who are institutionalized in an orphanage or even still in foster care are terrified of what I call "not having". Not having enough to eat, not having enough babies to love, not having anyone to love them unconditionally. We have struggled with some of these issues with Grace. Even though we have had her for two years, we're just now seeing the light at the end of some of these "not having" issues. Our biggest "not having" issue was with food. When we first came home with her, Grace would hide food. Behind the toilet, the curtains, in her bed, in her toy box, in the dog's bed, it just went on and on. At the beginning of March I was cleaning her room when I stumbled onto something interesting. I can't tell you the joy that filled my heart when I realized that Grace was no longer hiding food, but she was now hiding her treasures!

Notice the stool on the floor beside her bed...

This is what I found under it! This picture was taken around March 5th. She had these pumpkins for her birthday party. On October 16th. That pumpkin had been there a long time!!

Notice the green pillow...

This is what I found inside of it! She is on a mermaid kick lately. Everything we get has to be a mermaid or mermaid related. She even wants to name her sister (who we will begin the process of adopting in August! Woo Hoo! Yea!!!) Ariel. I haven't found a way of breaking the news to her that it's just simply not going to happen! Hopefully, she will forget about that by the time we travel. She has about a year to a year and a half to forget!

Notice the curtain...

This is what I found behind it! It's the pig that Grace bought with her $5 budget she had at Wal-Mart. It actually cost $3.50.

This fear of "not having" is something that we have always dealt with. I feel like the hard work has been done in this area although I feel like it will never be completely gone for Grace. I know repair work will need to be done periodically, but I am so glad we have turned the corner!!!

Snow! In March!?! Only for Like the Second Time EVER!!!

I love this picture....

We tried several times to get her to come eat breakfast, but she did not want to leave the window! She said she was scared it would stop snowing when she wasn't looking!

The dock and the pond... Trying to hit daddy with a snowball...

One of Grace's MANY snowballs...

What's more fun than just throwing snow up in the air? Not a lot!!

I've Changed My Playlist!!!

Okay, most of you who know me well know that I love music! My seasons of music change as quickly as the weather does. My closest friends will tell you (including my husband) that I can listen to the same song 100 times!!! Over, and over, and over again! I am a firm believer that God speaks to us in individually and specific ways. Music is my way. I can study my bible and the same passage for months on end and still struggle with its content. Boy you put that same content in a lyric and set it to music and I've got it!!! Right now, the Lord is really using the music that Chris Tomlin has written to speak to my heart. As it says in the hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (which is my favorite hymn by the way!) my heart is prone to wonder. Moreso these days than others. The music you will find here helps refocus me and bring my heart back to where it needs to be. Enjoy!!!