Final Milestone in our Journey

Yesterday marked the final milestone in this journey called Adoption. We completed our Final Post Placement Visit with our Social Worker. I can't believe it has been almost 1 year since she came into our lives - 2 1/2 years since we began the process. We have crossed many hurdles, faced many challenges, gained friendships, learned many things about ourselves, traveled around the world, grew closer to GOD and increased our faith in Him throughout this amazing journey. I wouldn't trade a moment! We are looking forward to celebrating, in Grand Portie style, Maddie's Gotcha Day on January 24th.

Now to decide if we pursue Adopting another child. Be praying for us as pray and seek God's guidance.

Christmas Day

Christmas was such a blessing. Just having all of my children together to celebrate the birth of our Lord was a joy and warmed my heart. Thinking back to the Christmas of 2009 and the absence of Maddie from our family at that special time only made this 1st year with her that much sweeter. I was truly Happy and Content, unlike I have ever been before.

This Christmas morning was so fun! Maddie was so excited to see what Santa had left for her! The panties left in her stocking drew an excited squeal of delight and a joyful dance. (the little things excite her so much). The new bicycle was also a huge hit. She couldn't wait to ride it. She quickly got the hang of peddling and rode initially in the kitchen around the bar. The next day was a bit warmer so she was able to take it outside and ride it around the neighborhood. WOW can she peddle fast! I have to run to keep up with her. I quickly realized that Santa should have bought a helmet as well.

As of today (1/7/11) Maddie still has 3 presents to open. I guess she will get to them sometime this year.

Lizzy always has such a priceless reaction to her gifts. Squeals and screams of delight accompany every gift she unwraps to admire.

Christopher is a little more understated in his reaction. An under the breath declaration of "yes" and a clenched fist of victory shows how excited he is at his gifts.


The kids enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. After their gifts were all open - I had one final surprise for them - A treasure hunt throughout the house to find their final gift. They each had to solve a riddle and figure out where the next present was hiding. It was great fun watching them run around and find their gifts only to open it and find another riddle to solve. Taylor Swift concert tickets were Lizzy's "Big" gift and Basketball Tickets to the Hornets vs. Lakers were Christopher's surprise gift at the end of the Treasure Hunt.

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2011! I hope Christmas brought each of you and your families peace, love and joy - it did mine!

Christmas Eve

Lizzy opening her presents at Nana & Poppy's house (my parents)

Christopher opening his presents

Maddie enjoying tearing the paper to find Kung Fu Panda movie.

Dinner table at my mom's. She is famous for decorating at Christmas time. She hasn't done this in many years but now that she is well and feeling much better we got to enjoy it.

Part of the day was spent with Keith's family.

Dressing up in her princess clothes her Granny gave her

Getting ready to leave Santa some cookies and milk

Lizzy and Maddie baking cookies for Santa

Before bed she had to dress up one more time.

The day after....

The day after Thanksgiving hold many family traditions. Putting up the Christmas Tree, of course is the first thing that happens as we prepare for the Christmas Season. Again, this is another first in Maddie's life. We have been trying to prepare her for all that Christmas has to offer. She really is only interested in the Christmas Tree. She ooohs and ahhhs over the Christmas tree at Wal-Mart and the Mall. She has been asking all week for a Christmas Tree at her house. We bought a real tree this year to celebrate Maddie's first Christmas tree. We all pitched in and decorated a beautiful tree with colored lights. She loved hanging the ornaments!

All of us picking out the Tree.

Maddie hanging the first ornament

Decorating....

The finished product!

Another tradition that we started several years ago was baking Christmas cookies. We research new cookie recipes and bake our favorites as well. Some years we have help from Lizzy's friends but this year it was just the Portie girls. What fun....

A good day.... Lots of fun.... Dozens of Delicious cookies to eat.... Yum!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for. Wow! what a difference a year makes. So many things have changed and I have been so blessed this past year.

My mom is finally well and is my "mom" again. This is the 1st Thanksgiving in many years that she was herself and actually helped in the kitchen. I am just so thankful that I have her back in my life. She is such a good mom - I almost forgot how nice it was to have her around. I am thankful that GOD has allowed her more time on this earth and that she can share my life.

This was Maddie's first Thanksgiving and although she was feeling a bit under the weather, she still managed to enjoy herself. She was a big help in the kitchen and provided some much needed assistance with the green been casserole and carrot souffle. She loves to help cook and bake.

I read my Thanksgiving post from last year and remember that feeling that something was missing but I was so thankful for what was to come. GOD was so faithful to us during our journey to Maddie. I had a feeling of indescribable JOY for this Thanksgiving Holiday that all of my beautiful children were with me and were healthy and happy. It is so hard to describe that feeling in words.

As I reflect on this past 12 months, I am most thankful for:

- The gift of motherhood - this is the most important job to me and I love each of my children more than they know. I thank GOD for each one of them and all of the special moments and blessings they bring to my life.

- My mother and father - they do so much for me and my family.

- All of my wonderful and beautiful friends - they enrich my life!

- The many trials that this year has brought and the many triumph's.

- I am Thankful for Clarity and Purpose in my life - sometimes it comes when you least expect it.

- I am thankful that GOD is ever present and has a plan for me and my life.

I hope each of you had a Happy Thanksgiving....

Trick or Treat

Maddie & Halle (Cousin)

Hannah, Maddie, Lizzy, Lilli & Hailey (dressed & ready for the EDS Halloween Dance)

Maddie's First Halloween was so much fun. More fun than I remember Halloween being with Christopher and Lizzy or maybe I am just more "in the moment" than I was when I was much younger.


For about a week before Halloween, Maddie's school had been preparing the class. She learned the three steps to Trick or Treating.... 1) Knock, Knock, Knock (on the door), 2) say Trick or Treat and 3) after the treat is given say Thank You.


She chose her own costume, at her sisters dismay. Lizzy wanted her to be some cute ladybug or princess and Maddie wanted nothing but Minnie Mouse. Her costume was so cute on her and fit her bubbly personality!


Halloween Night, she was ready. Lizzy and her friend Lilli helped Maddie and participated in the festivities.

By the end of the night her bucket was FULL and too heavy for her to carry. After each trip to another house, she would pass her bucket to Nana to hold and look to Poppy to carry her to the next house. We walked and walked - she did not want the night to end.

Good Times....

Happy Birthday to Maddie

Happy Birthday to me - Maddie says. She has been so excited about her birthday. And in "Grand Portie style" we did Maddie's birthday!!! Birthdays are very important at our house and the normal birthday just will not do. Following that same philosophy we planned Maddie's birthday celebration.

- Homemade birthday cake and a test run of blowing out her birthday candles on the eve of her birthday. She was a pro at blowing out the candles

- Cupcakes for her class at school on her Birthday - October 18th., made with love by her Mommy!

- Followed by a birthday trip to Chuck E. Cheese with us and my parents. She quickly realized how much fun Chuck E Cheese was and decided to forgo pizza and just play. She eventually would snag a quick bite of pizza and then run off to play again. She had a grand time. We closed the place down.

- Birthday party for her friends and family at our house. Complete with a Space Walk/Slide combo, cake and ice cream and lots of good snacks. She had a grand time. Her big present was a swing set that Keith built the night before the party (that's usually how we operate - wait until the last minute to do something) . The moment she noticed that she had a swingset in her backyard she wanted nothing to do with the Space Walk and Slide. She played on the swing the entire day. We made her get off to come and sing happy birthday to her and open presents. After singing happy birthday to her she waved the candles out instead of blowing them - I guess the practice run earlier in the week was enough candle blowing for Maddie. Then on to the "Presents". You would think that all kids love this part of the party. Not Maddie. She opened a couple of presents and loudly stated - "I'm done with that" as she marched off to the swing set. That was yesterday morning and all of her presents are still not opened.

My sister got her a little kitchen set and we did open that for her and put it together . I have eaten more imaginary hot dogs in the past day than ever before. She loves that present!!!

I am so happy, beyond words, that I was able to spend her birthday with her this year. And a little sad that I missed the 2 before. She is such an amazing little girl. I look forward to many more birthdays with her. I did take a moment the morning of her birthday to remember the mother, in China who was undoubtedly thinking about the little girl born on October 18th, 3 years before and prayed for God to give her peace and comfort.

As the days have past since Maddie's birthday, I know she can't wait until next year, she absolutely loved her birthday and we loved celebrating it with her!

Just wait until she experiences Christmas!!!