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!!!

Lifeline Picnic...

I am quickly becoming known for doing five or six different posts at one time! Things sometimes just pile up on you don't they? Anyway, here we go! At the end of June Grace and I, along with Sonya and Katie Lin Hodge, as well as Melissa, Steven, and Thomas Ross attended the Lifeline Picnic. It was sponsored by Lifeline Children's Services, the adoption agency who helped us bring Grace into her forever family. We all piled up in our van and headed to Monte Sano State Park for some hot, summer fun!

Here we are on our way...

Here is Katie Lin with her mom...

Our beloved Karla...

Karla was our social worker when we were working to bring Grace home. She endured many phone calls, crying spells, and yes, even fits from me when I wasn't understanding God's perfect timing! All the time being patient and encouraging me to hang in there. Hopefully, whenever we decide to do this again, Karla will be willing to put up with the same!!! We love you Karla and you will always hold a special place in our hearts!!!

I love this picture of Grace... This is Steven with Grace...He is such a great helper with her and treats her just like his little sister. I keep telling Melissa that he's going to be a great big brother one day. Hint, Hint, Hint...

For some reason, this picture makes me want to call him "Turkey Thomas". Generally, we just call him "T". I can't believe I caught him still long enough to take his picture!

Katie Lin kept wanting to climb this really tall jungle gym and Sonya wouldn't let her!!! Doesn't she look like she wants to climb it really bad?

More posts to come!!!

Father's Day...

My two loves... Brandon and Grace. It has been amazing to watch Brandon grow into the father that he is. Grace wanted nothing to do with him when we first got her and it hurt his heart. After all, we waited so long for her we wanted her to want us too! Boy has she changed! She loves him with all of her heart, and when he's home she's quickly on his heels wanting to do everything he does. We got him a sprayer for the four wheeler, and Grace picked him out a hat for him to wear while he mows our grass. Happy Father's Day to Grace's favorite man (even though it's late!)

Meet Reynolds Warner Ratliff...

This beautiful child was born June 16th, at 9:26 P.M. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and has beautiful hair! Reynolds has been prayed for about two years now. Her mom, Amy, is a good friend of mine and we belong to the same prayer group. Reynolds is a daily reminder, to her parents and anyone else who prayed for her arrival, that we serve an awesome God who always shows up right on time!

By the way, when we left the hospital, Grace looked at me and said, "I want one of those!" Hmmm.....

Know, Speak, Live-God's Unshakable Truth!

This past week was VBS week at our church. The theme this year was, "Outrigger Island". We had an absolute blast! Whitney, our children's minister, did a great job of getting this together. I helped a friend of mine with preschool snacks. I've never actually "constructed" snacks before but I might start now! It was really fun getting to see the kids faces when they showed up at the "snack shack" for their snack for that day! Grace particulary likes the VBS music! It sounds very Hawaiian, and we have been listening to it now for almost two weeks. Lifeway always does a great job putting the music together, but this year they outdid themselves! The verse this year was Psalm 86:11 which says, "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you."

Here are Whitney, Anna, Briley, and Madison getting ready to lead worship during the worship rally...

Sarah and Abigail helped too...

It looks like Grace is having a blast!

My nephew, Joseph, went with us this year...

One of our "constructed" snacks! We followed this with a fruit kabob that had bananas, grapes, and marshmellows, along with some pretzels. They had lemonade to drink!