Before I forget....

2 Months...a few days late

And just because this one was too cute not to share:)

One month

I can't believe how time has flown by!

I have been working on my unfinished projects that I keep saying I will show you.  Here is one of those projects, I started this chevron quilt a few months ago.  I would have finished it before he was born but I couldn't find a backing material that I liked.  Finally a few weeks ago I found this cute whale material and thought it was sweet, plus the colors were just what I wanted.  This was my very first quilt, there are tons of imperfections but I still love the way it turned out:)  I used this pattern here.

I was inspired by this chevron quilt I found on Pinterest a few months ago.

(Source)

We are getting back into a schedule now that the kids have started school.  We have five in school this year, 5th, 4th 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten with two at home with me.  They are all getting so big!

We celebrated Avery's 8th birthday on Friday.  I have also been working on our adoption paperwork for court.  If I am being realistic I don't think we will be taking our second trip until the beginning of the new year.  We just had to have our homestudy updated because it was going to expire, so we had our social worker over last Thursday to get that done.  We are waiting on our FBI background checks because those expired as well.  We also found out last week that Russia is now requiring 80 hours more of adoption education, I am trying to figure out where we are going to find the time to figure that all out.  I just don't see us getting that all done before December, which for that whole month Russia pretty much shuts down so I don't want to get stuck over there during the holidays.  We are getting very close to hitting the two year mark of our adoption process, what a journey it has all been.

Reflection

I'm sitting here late in to the night nursing the sweetest baby boy and recapping the days events.  My birthday has officially come and gone again, already past midnight I'm thinking how quickly time passes.  And it makes me snuggle Radley a little closer.  I want to soak it all up, memorize everything about this moment.  His sweet breath, his little grunts and squeals, and his soft baby cheeks that are getting chubbier by the day.  Already he is ten days old, it just goes so fast.  I told my husband the other day that in two years we will have a teenager, wasn't it just yesterday that Prestin was in my arms and now he is almost up to my chin.  I wish I could make time stop, or to at least slow down.

I bought this book a few weeks ago, and I am probably one of the last people to have read it.  But that's okay it has come into my life at the perfect time.  She writes like a poet, a modern day C.S. Lewis if you will, and the words seem to come so effortlessly for her.  She talks about slowing down and seeing all the Lord has to offer, all the gifts He bestows on us daily.  And in those moments of seeing His grace having thanksgiving in our hearts.  She started acknowledging all these gifts by writing each and every gift, no matter how small, into a journal.  And that is what I have started to do as well.  I can't stop time, but I can at least savor in the moments and reflect back as I read over them and truly see how much the Lord does bless us with on a daily basis.  How much He loves us and wants so much for us, if only we would take the time to slow down and pay attention.

I don't want to miss a thing!  I don't want my life to be a blur, I don't want to get so wrapped up in the piles of dishes and mountains of laundry that I miss out on the little lives that are right in front of me now.  So this is where I'm starting, to be more thankful and more joy filled.  I'm excited to have my eyes wide opened!

And just because I wouldn't want to disappoint you all:)  Here is Radley dressed in his Sunday best for his first time to church.

Also be forewarned that I am going to be that annoying mama who shows off her baby whenever I get the chance:)  Goodnight!

One week old

Feeling blessed.

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend Natalie and her family.

This lady has a beautiful heart for the Lord and for her family, and wants to use her blog for a greater purpose...to serve others. Love, love, love this lady's heart!  October is Down Syndrome Awareness month, so for the whole month she will be doing posts answering any questions you may have regarding Down syndrome.  She is also giving away a beautiful handmade hair accessory of your choice with a $25.00 donation on her blog.

So pretty!  All the proceeds will go to help get these three boys home to their mama's who are aching to hold them.

Sergey for us, Davis for the Jupin family and Isaac for the Kelley family.  So go visit Natalie's blog to see and learn about the beauty and blessing of Down syndrome and if you feel led please consider donating.  It would mean so much to me.  Thank you Natalie for being such a wonderful example of Christ's love by serving in such a selfless way.  We are so humbled by your compassion and willingness to go out of your way for complete strangers.  Many blessings to you:)