Undefeated!

Maddie returned for another soccer season this fall on a new team.  A team of 7 little 7 year olds.  What we knew from the last 2 sessions of soccer is that she was very good at it.  This season revealed just how good she really is.  Maddie is actually unbelievably talented in this sport.  When we arrived at the very first practice - the other parents were high fiving each other when they realized Maddie was on the team.  From there and throughout the season referees, opponents parents, our team parents approached us after each game just in awe of how good Maddie is.  She was scoring up to 18 points each game -  with ending scores for us in the double digits and the opponents team with single digit scores - sometimes scoring nothing at all against us.  Maddie led our little team of 7 year olds to an undefeated season!  It was amazing to watch her!!!!




When I think of this season there are many things besides just kicking a soccer ball that come to mind.  For me, I see a little girl who has a spirit of determination, one that drives her to be the best - to overcome obstacles both on the field, in the classroom and in life.  I see someone who GOD not only blessed with an amazing athletic ability but a dynamic sense of strategy and the ability to apply those strategic goals in the game.  I think about a small baby girl abandoned with medical issues, living in an orphanage that rose from the bottom to her forever family - UNDEFEATED!

You cannot say the word undefeated without thinking about a Savior, who died, rose from the dead for our sins - HE IS UNDEFEATED.  As his children, we are undefeated.  Although Maddie had an undefeated soccer season - her savior continues to prove that he is UNDEFEATED and hence so will she be undefeated.

I revel in the fact of how amazing our GOD is.  I am excited each day to see Maddie grow into the person that GOD intended her to become.  I am truly blessed to be her mom!  What a journey.....

1st day of 1st Grade

Today was Maddie's 1st day of 1st Grade.  She has been excited about moving up to the "big campus" at school and wearing a uniform like the other big kids, and she was so cute wearing it.

Maddie spent the summer being tutored on her reading and spelling skills so that she didn't lose any of that before starting 1st grade.  She is a hard working little girl who is determined to conquer all that stands in her way!  I know that she will have a great year!

As she exited the car this morning - the song that spoke most to my heart while waiting to travel to get Maddie was playing - "Mighty to Save".  One of the lyrics say "He can move the mountains".  It just reminded me at that moment the mountains he moved to get this special little girl home to her forever family.  He has something special planned for her.

Mia insisted that even though she didn't start school until tomorrow that I take her picture too!  Tomorrow is her BIG day in Pre-K3.  Her teacher better get ready! lol

Just Thinking....

There are some days when I am just in awe that GOD chose me to be the mommy of my two precious baby girls.  I sometimes wonder why he connected me with them, what is his plan for these girls and what can I do to help them see GOD's plan for them.  I have learned that GOD sometimes chooses people who are just willing to step out in faith, not always the ones that have everything figured out - THAT's ME!

Recently, Maddie is becoming increasingly aware of conversations around her and about her.  Of course, when we go places with the girls we garner the usual stares, sometimes questions but mostly nice people just commenting how precious my girls are.  This past Sunday, while at lunch, we had 4 different people comment on how sweet and precious they were.  Maddie finally looked at me when we were walking out the door and asked -"I wonder why everybody thinks we are so special"
I had to chuckle and as to not call attention to what is so obviously the reason people are commenting - I responded to her (what I have always told her) is that "they see the same thing GOD sees - that you are a special little girl!"

A customer recently came into my Furniture store when Maddie was there and was enamored with her and promptly asked her - "Oh!, You are so cute - where are you from?"  Maddie quickly quipped back - "Louisiana"!  I think her answer left the customer a little taken aback.

Another of Maddie's observations about our family and who she is - The other day she commented that we have a big family to which I agreed.  Her next statement was a window into how her little mind is working out all the details of who she is and how she came to be in this family.  She said - "Mommy if we buy another kid, we will have to get a bigger car because we don't have any room left."

I say all of this to say that I am finding that the older they get the more they are piecing their story together.  As a parent, I want that journey to be one of understanding and peace - for them to be okay with who they are and know that they are special.  I want them to see that GOD had a plan for their life - that they have touched people and families through their story.  What an amazing parenting journey GOD has me on.  When I look at them I not only see their beautiful faces, I see GOD's handwriting all over them.  It's quite amazing!

I love those girls!!!!!

Summer Fun and all the rest....

Summer is officially here and activities are in full swing.  There is so many dynamics going on in my house it's hard to keep up.  The older kids are in a different phase of their life than the little girls, which leaves me juggling.

Christopher is home from college and is working full time for our Construction Company, whose schedule is 7 - 12's.  He had quite an adjustment figuring out what extracurricular activities he could fit into an already long work day.  After a couple of weeks of trying to work 12 hours a day and go out with friends, he realized that sleep was more important and the money accumulating in his savings account was better than hanging with his friends.  He has a list of things he wants to purchase with his summer earnings.  I think he finally has realized that he is growing up and that with that, work is a large part of it.

Lizzy and I went to Destin, Florida for Cheer Camp and Competition.  This is her last cheer camp of her high school years.  It was bittersweet as the journey through senior year has already begun.  From cheer camp she went straight to Camp Champions in Marble Falls and will be there until July 3rd.  I must say at least 3-5 times a day - "I sure miss Lizzy"!!!!  When she returns, her and I will take a quick girl trip to Cancun and then back for Senior Pictures.  I'm soaking up every moment with her that I can.

Maddie likes to be busy - so busy she is.  We are continuing her tutoring for reading and spelling over the summer.  Two days a week she is working hard to maintain and grow her skills that she worked so hard for in Kindergarden.  She recently participated in Basketball camp.  The camp held a small showcase game for the Kindergarden students attending the camp to play and show off their skills.  Not surprisingly, Maddie scored 4 of the 8 points our team made, had 2 steals and was the only girl that could dribble and work the court!  If anyone knows me - they know I am over the moon excited that I might have another basketball player on my hands!!!!  Soccer camp was next and she didn't disappoint!  She was the youngest and 1 of only 3 girls in her age division and that did not stop her!  She ran, she kicked, sometimes was knocked down but got up and kept playing.  She's tough and you can see the true uninhibited love of soccer!  She has 2 more soccer camps planned for the summer and she can't wait.

Mia, sweet Mia.  She is just enjoying sleeping late and getting to take our time getting to daycare.  She will attend swimming lessons next month and I was worried about how she would fare or more importantly how the swim instructor would. She has been reluctant to swim in our pool until recently.  She would cry and want you to hold her while in the water.  Then she had a breakthrough.  A well-fitted floaty device, a few minutes getting used to it and she is a swimming fish!  Both girls spend many afternoons playing across the street at my parents house in the driveway.  Chaulk drawings are scattered all down their driveway and my mothers flowers are often picked and worn as hair decorations.  They are having a blast.

Enjoying a little slower pace than during the school year.  Happy summer everyone.

Character....

When I was young and a new mom, my initial thought of my parenting responsibilities were that of making sure that my babies were fed, dressed and went to school when it was time.  I have learned through many years of parenting, parenting teens and adoptive children, that my job is so much more.  At times, it involves guiding my children through some of life's most difficult moments and helping to shape their character.

Recent events have made me think hard about my character as well as my children's character.  One thing I have discovered about myself is that I am secure about who I am and who the Lord has molded and shaped me to be.  I hold firm to my beliefs in the Lord and rely on his guidance to direct my path.

Each one of my children are so different in their personalities and their character develops as they grow into the person GOD wants them to be.

Christopher is an adult - at 20 he is navigating college life and figuring out what his life path will be.  I stand back and look as he makes decisions that affect his future and although he has had some missteps, I am one proud mom and feel confident that he is heading in the right direction.  Over dinner recently, we had a discussion of how he would discipline his children (when that time comes) and it remarkably  aligns with how he was raised - Oh to his dismay....  As a 12 year old I can remember him saying he would do things so differently when he was a grown up.

Lizzy is beginning her senior year and as we all know girls can be mean and unchristian like and she is dealing with some of those challenges with her friend group.   She is also navigating those same friends heading down a dangerous path that she knows she does not want to be part of.  I continue to encourage her to be true to herself and to follow what she knows is the right thing.  I see her making difficult choices - but always choosing the right path.  I want her to know that GOD gives us life to live it abundantly and that no one person or group of people should be able to steal her JOY.  That challenges and struggles mold us and shape us into who GOD wants us to be.  I trust that through the next year she will be redefined, molded and shaped into the young lady that GOD wants her to be as he prepares her to go to college.

In previous posts I have referred to Maddie as tenacious and determined.  I pray that those qualities continue to shape her character.  As I listen to her through day to day conversations and interactions I hear a little bit of "her story" coming out as she claims it as her own.  Recently she was talking with her cousin, who is the same age, and Maddie told her that she lived in China when she was a baby and that I had to take 3 airplanes to go and get her".  That's the first time I've heard her put what she understands of her story into words.  I know that as she grows she will continue to communicate her story and as her understanding grows she will have more questions about it.  I continue to pray that GOD helps me know the right answers to her questions and when I don't have the answer, he will give me the tenderness and compassion to help her deal with the void.

Mia sweet Mia.  Mia has such a sweet and loving character to her.  I am anxious to see who she will become but want to treasure each moment of her being little that I can.  One thing everyone knows about Mia is that she loves her Momma!!!!  and her Momma loves her.  I think all moms treasure the youngest child - as they know it is their last, the last time you get to rock someone to sleep, the last sweet baby kisses, the last "first steps", etc.   She is growing up too fast!

Officially a 1st grader, Junior and a Senior

A measure of how quickly time goes by is marked by all the milestones that my kids are passing in their lives.  As in my last post, Mia turned 3 years old.  But inevitably that means that my other children are growing up as well, and too fast I might add.

Maddie has successfully finished Kindergarten and is moving on to the First Grade.  She has struggled this school year with reading and has shown her tenacious and determined spirit and mastered that that was holding her back.  She is a hard worker and more determined than ever to master whatever is thrown at her at school.  She is growing into a beautiful young girl..

Christopher finished his Sophomore year at college and is home for the summer.  He ended this semester again on the Dean's list with a 3.89 GPA and has landed an internship with the Universities' Marketing Department in the fall - when he returns for his Junior Year (OMG!)  He has given up playing basketball for the school, much to my dismay, and is focused on school and career.  I guess since we aren't going to the NBA that it probably is time for him to lay that down - lol.

To top all of that....  Lizzy is officially a Senior!!!  Today was the ring ceremony at school and as her class marched in together and were announced as the Senior class of 2015 - I cried....  Everything in my being screams  - I'm not ready!!!!  I don't want her to grow up and leave me!!!  I know its a selfish thought but I love having her home with me - We are so close!  This ceremony marks the beginning of the end of her high school days.  All the "Lasts" that she will experience - her last high school homecoming, her last high school cheer competition, etc.  Senior year is so bittersweet - I plan on soaking it all up - every last moment of it.  

Christopher presenting Lizzy's ring to her.

Christopher placing a loving hand on her head - messing up her hair as she walked back to her seat

Its official - Senior 2015

Mia turns 3

Time goes by so quickly.  You see how quickly it passes when you have something to measure it against.  It feels that Mia just got home and now she is already turning 3.  She has grown up so much over the past 2 years since coming home.  She is talking so well!  She jabbers non-stop now!  She is fully potty trained (thank goodness) and has just recently reached another major milestone - she is sleeping in her own room!!!!!!  Her personality is coming into its own and is a vivacious, funny and loving little girl.  Can't imagine life without her!  She keeps us in stitches.

Maddie Before & After

In March Maddie had a lip and nose revision at Texas Children's Hospital.  Her surgeon felt that her initial revision now has caused her face to pull to the side and her nose to have an exposed artery which is super sensitive and will free bleed at a small tap.  Revising her lip and nose now has lessened the revisions that will need to be made later on in her teenage years. So drumroll please.......

Before

After surgery Maddie was very hard to wake up from Anesthesia.

AFTER......

WOW - it made a huge difference!  And ...  No more nosebleeds!