Dip In the Water

Today marked our first "purposeful" time in the water this summer. We plan for many more!

A Hint of Color

Mary Katherine loves playing in my make-up when I'm getting dressed. Come to think about it, she's enjoyed doing this since she was around 6 months. Early on, it was more about exploring what was in the bag. She would take each item out, examine it, put it in her mouth, then go on to the next item. Now, she likes to rub it on her face. Luckily, she doesn't know how to unscrew or open the items. The other day, however, she did get open my eye shadow. When I looked at her face, this is what I found...

I know. It's not much this time. Just a little color on the chin. I foresee a BIG mess one day. (But it will make for some great pictures!)

Expressive?

Expressive? Is my daughter expressive?

YES. SHE. IS.

(see pictures below for confirmation)

My daughter's reaction after I took away the dog's water bowl from her.

Child abuse, you'd think!

Recent Happenings

No matter how hard I try, it seems that everytime we go outside this is how we end up looking--mud from head to toe! This girl LOVES water, dirt, and MUD! Last night as I was watering the garden, MK was in the middle rolling around in the mud. It honestly reminded me of a pig's wallering. She still continues to find dirt and mud as edible greatness! She licks all water she finds off the ground!

What am I going to do about this girl?

There's a good chance my neighbors think we're a little bit crazy!

It's with great excitement and THANKFULNESS that we can share with the world MK's new joy in walking! She's (supposed to be) wearing splits that the physical therapist made for her with supportive tennis shoes that will help her keep her feet from rolling in. It should be a fun summer of high tops for MK! Do you think it would be too much if I did a little be-dazzling and cut out the toe of the high top to make it a "tennis sandle"?

We actually have been pretty good about wearing the splits when we're walking around, but this morning we were getting out of the car from an errand and didn't make it back inside before we found water!

goodbye sleepless nights?

Yesterday we said hello to ear tubes and (hopefully) goodbye to those nasty ear infections that have seemed to plague us now for several months! Along with this, mom's hoping for better nights and less antibiotic treatment. Stuffing medicine down this girl is NOT easy! As usual, we had to travel a little (as we do for anything we do). We went down the night before and stayed with my Aunt and Uncle. Their house was about 30 minutes from the hospital. It's such a beautiful, peaceful place as well.

We started the evening with some time on the trampoline.

Following this, we played outside for a while.

We even attempted a family photo using the self timer.

The next morning we woke up at 5:30 to make it to the surgery center by 6:30. The operation went quickly and very smoothly.

After an hour in recovery, we paid a nice large sum and walked out the door with a new woman.

Incredible blog, incredible woman!

Since making the decision to adopt in Uganda, I've found several blogs and other amazing things that people are doing there. You have to check out this blog! http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ This incredible 21 year old moved to Uganda when she was 18. You really, REALLY have to read her blog!

Mud pies anyone?

This afternoon we walked over to our neighbors house to play with our friends in their backyard. MK and her friends once again found mud and boy did they have some fun! Follow this link to see the rest of the pics! www.catphotography.zenfolio.com

We know how to have FUN!

Today was garden planting day for us! I think I've bragged enough on last year's garden that I better have some good fruit bearing plants again. I'd hate to eat my words. Not that I've ever done that in the past. :)

I've posted before that MK loves to get dirty. Today was not an exception. She found some mud puddles and in just a few minutes was completely drenched from head to toe in a mud/grass/water mixture. I'd be lying if I told you it was her first time to be like this!

Here is MK--mess and all!

Absolutely LOVE this smile with one side of her nose squinched up!

"Seriously, mom, how many more times do you need me to cheese?"

Tell me this is not about the cutest girl you've seen?!

Around 10 years ago...

God gave me the desire to adopt. I remember in college telling some of my friends I was going to adopt a little black baby. This desire remained in me through school and I remember talking to Roger before we were married a few times about the desire to adopt. He never shot me down. Looking back, I think subconciously I believed this would probably never be a reality but more of something I'd just talk about. The only adoptions I knew were those who had fertility problems. And did I really want this?

So anyway...Roger and I made our plans that we would have 3 or 4 biological children and then we'd adopt our last child. Child number 1 came pretty much like we planned. She wasn't anything like we planned, but she did come in our timeline. Then pregnancy #2 came at a great time we thought. Thank you God for going along with our American family dream. And as you know I miscarried 3 months later. Wait...that wasn't part of the plan. Roger and I had several discussions at this time questioning if maybe we should adopt now. (This was around 3 months ago.) We decided to go along with the plan of biological children. But the whole time, I wasn't settled with it. God kept using scripture, people, and circumstances that made me question if we were being obedient to God. BUT I contined to go along with what seemed to make sense to me...biological children now. This past month I definitely had figured out my ovulation time, we were going to get pregnant and then what...I started menstrating the next day??? Still haven't figured this one out.

So all of this leads to the decision we've now made...ADOPTION...and NOW! God has called Roger and I to take care of the orphans and poor. And He's convicted me that He didn't ask me to do it in 7-10 years, but now. His plans are not our plans, nor His ways our ways. It doesn't make sense financially or in so many other ways, but we're okay with that. Will it drastically change our life? Yes! Will it be comfortable? No. Looking back now, I see so many circumstances that has gotten us to this point and I feel confident that this is where God is calling us as a family. (And just to set this straight, we are not doing this because we feel like we can't have biological children. I do believe that we still may have more children in this way.)

So what now? Yesterday we filled out the paper work for initial application and today I mail it with the first $250. No turning back. And now to answer the question I know many (or the few readers I have) of you are asking...where? Uganda. Some research and other experienced adoptive parents led me to Lifeline Adoption Agency. I've always had the desire to adopt from Africa. Probably due to media, but when I picture my children I see the homeless, hungry orphans in Africa. Uganda happens to be the country that this agency uses. Uganda also happens to be a more affordable country to adopt from and the process is shorter as well! And now to reveal perhaps the biggest excitement....we want siblings...2 or 3! The timeline shows an average of 9-12 months. CRAZY...in 9-12 months our family may grow from three to five or six! I can't wait to see how God continues to reveal His plan to us! We also ask for prayer as we know we will SOON be experiencing some of this uncomfortableness and craziness that will accompany us in following His will. But oh the joy and, finally, peace in making this decision!