Happy 2nd birthday, sweet baby boy!

How your Daddy found you sleeping in your crib tonight. :)

It is hard to believe that today my sweet baby boy is 2 years old! While his big party will be celebrated next week with Anna Grace (her 3rd birthday), today we had a busy day. Between an Easter egg hunt with friends and a quiet celebration at dinner with Ayi, Shu-Shu, his cousins and Po-Po stopping by, he was pooped by the end of the evening. He thoroughly enjoyed digging into his birthday cupcake and he relishes being loved on by his family.

Our little AJ,

Words cannot describe how much we love you. We have been eternally blessed by having you in our lives, little man. Although it drives us crazy, you make us laugh as you run from your brother and sister screaming, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" after grabbing whatever they had in their hands, even if it's theirs. You make a thousand expressions daily on that adorable little face.

You are so darn funny, cute and everything a little boy is supposed to be made of. You love bugs, trucks, and all types of mischief. You are quicker than the speed of lightning getting into "meshes" (messes), as you call them. And, just as quick getting out of them. You light up our lives everytime you smile at us. We absolutely adore how you love to sing to us and we can't get enough of it. We love how you sound out every letter in every word when you say, "I D-O-N-'T W-A-N-T I-T!"

You captivate us with your shy smile when you know we are talking about you, yet you crave the attention, and we can't help but give it to you. Your snuggles are priceless and can melt the coldest of hearts. Thinking about you brings a huge smile to our faces and warms our heart to no end. We love you endlessly, sweet baby. Thank you for being such a huge part of our lives.

Never in our wildest dreams, two years ago, did we ever imagine that a little person could completely and totally wrap us around their finger the way you have. You definitely make our lives complete and fill everyday with an adventure in living with AJ. Yet, we'd have it no other way, even if it means that when your Daddy walks into your bedroom after you've been asleep for 2 hours to check in on you and your brother, he finds that you have stripped down to your birthday suit and have fallen asleep that way. So cute that he had to come running and say, "You've got to go look at AJ." I did and of course, I had to run and grab the camera to take a picture.

You are a treasure in our lives. There is no way that we could ever imagine life without you. We love you....we love you....we love you....as much as the whole wide world, and back again!

Happy 2nd birthday, baby boy.

Mama and Daddy

Here are a couple of videos we took today. One is of AJ singing Happy Birthday, but after spending all day singing it to himself, he thought he'd be cute and switch it to Anna when we were recording.

The other is of him eating his cupcake. Needless to say, he was much more interested in the cupcake than he was in chatting. Enjoy!

(PLEASE REMEMBER TO SCROLL DOWN TO TURN OFF BACKGROUND MUSIC.)

Reflections

We are about to exit Lent and enter the time of the Triduum (Latin for “three days”, Thursday evening to Sunday evening), when Christians celebrate the Paschal Mystery—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This Lent has been very challenging for me. It is usually a time I spend in deep reflection and prayer. A time of quiet and stillness with the Lord. And although I have, it's not been like any other Lent for me, since I began my walk with Christ.

Scott worked late last night and I had put the kids to bed a bit earlier, since it had been a long day. I started reading my favorite blogs and then, as usually happens, I moved onto other blogs that I had never visited. One blog struck me in particular. Even this morning, my heart is heavy with the words this woman shared with the world. The more I thought about it, the more I thought how opportune a time for me to come across something like this.

I no longer have the blog address, but I do have her words etched in my mind. Maybe because I heard those words so often while we were in the 4 processes of our adoptions. She mentioned something about a family being turned down for an adoption from an international country because the foreign government found out they were fundraising to bring the child home. Ironically, it was the day after I posted about William's adoption and his family desperately needing help. She agreed with the government that families should not publicly fundraise to bring a child home and if they didn't have the money, they shouldn't be adopting. In her defense, she did state that they should ask family to help, if needed.

Wow! That truly hit a nerve. (This is the point where I ask you to please take a step back so that I can hop on the soapbox.)

We lost mucho dollars in our failed adoption, and then ontop of that, we immediately adopted 3 children in less than 2 years.

Do you think that when we started any of those adoptions we had the money for it? If so, can you hear me laughing? That was always one of Scott's biggest worries. Mine too. But, we had something very powerful on our side. We knew that if it was God's will, the money would appear. It did. Every time. Fortunately, I did not have to fundraise, but thousands of families do, and praise God they do! Because children are united with their forever families everyday, from all over the world, because of people helping people. That is what we are called to do.

I don't have any idea what this woman's stance is on Christ, but I do know that it is God's heart in each and every person that reaches into their pocket and donates to help bring a child home.

I was once told by someone that she didn't donate to people she didn't know, because it was probably a scam. I thought about that, and yes, there are scams and people out there who intentionally dwell among the kindness of others to make a fast buck, but I choose to be believe that there are a lot of more good people out there. I also choose to believe that I am doing good by helping someone, when I can, and it's not my place to judge if I am being scammed. That person will have their day.

Back to our own adoptions. It was really tough for us keeping a firm grip on our faith that the funds would appear so that we could be united with our children. Yes, it was scary at times. But we had faith. Faith is what leads my life. Walking in His steps without knowing where we are going. Our Lord is our guide. Yes, it's hard not to question the what ifs. But, that's what God wants from us. To walk blindly and lean on Him for all things. I don't think we'd be able to function in this world, with all of it's chaotic diversions surrounding us, without Christ as our foundation.

I really want to say to anyone out there wanting to bring home a child and you don't have the funds....Pray. Pray hard. If the Lord speaks to your heart that a child awaits your family, move forward. He will provide. Whether through public fundrasiing, loans, friends, family or the money falling from Heaven as the manna did to the Israelites, He will provide if that is His will. (Stepping off the soapbox now.)

As we approach Easter Sunday, I reflect on my own life and where I stand with Christ. I believe that He has called me to be a witness and share with others the miracles works he has bestowed upon my children, my family and my life. I believe that there is nothing I could do to earn my way into Heaven. Why? Because although I try hard to be obedient to Him, to be kind to others and do as is expected of me as a Christian, I am a sinner. I always have been. I always will be. Yet, even with all of my shortcomings, I firmly believe that Father God, the head of the Trinity, gave His only begotten Son for me to have eternal life. (John 3:16) Wow! Is that the most amazing love or what? Are we worthy of that love? No. But, does He loves us just the same, unconditionally and never changing? Absolutely!

Jesus willingly accepted those nails to be hammered into his hands and his feet. He willingly was humiliated, spat on, tortured and ridiculed. He did this for me, for you, for all of us. So that we may have eternal life. There is no sacrifice in the world that we can do for a loved one that could ever compare to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

My Easter wishes these next three days, as we lead to the celebration of Christ rising from the dead, is that you believe with all your heart "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Roman 9:10.

Don't be afraid to give Him your all, He certainly gave us His.

Happy Easter and God bless you.

Can you search your hearts....once more?

I know that I haven't been posting a whole lot on here lately about the Bombardier kids and I intended to tonight, but I was asked by a friend to see if I could help this family in some small way.

I sat down at my computer and the first thing my eyes went to when I opened my blog was the biblical scripture at the top of my sidebar.

"...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."

(Proverbs 24:12)

I know that often I ask for prayers, whether for our own family or for others, and this time is no different. Prayers are powerful and God listens and answers. But, this time, I am asking for you to please read the above scripture and then search your hearts. Can you please donate to help bring little William Home?

This precious angel sits in an orphanage in Liberia waiting to come home to an amazing family. But, he sits with many medical conditions, including a severe cleft lip/palate,and missing a limb, that need to be addressed....soon!

I will write a bit of what his Mom, Jen, has stated on their blog (which I barely got through because of the tears flooding my eyes) and then I challenge you to please visit their blog and give up your coffee money, trip-to-take-the-kids-to-McDonald's money, gather up the spare change we all have laying around, whatever it takes. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP BRING WILLIAM HOME.

His family has created the ONE DOLLAR ADOPTION. If you can give $1. PRAISE GOD....I know many of you could probably spare $2., $3. even $5.00. They've already raised almost $8,000. of the $15,000. goal they need to be united with William. I have faith that through the power of prayer and each person reading my blog, their blog, and each of you posting this plea on your own blogs, with every person donating even $1.00, the difference that they are missing can be raised with ease. I just could not stop thinking, what if this were my child?

Thank you and may God bless you abundantly for helping one of His babies. You can visit William's blog by clicking HERE.

I leave you with his Mom's words:

ONE DOLLAR ADOPTION..We need YOU!!

"Hi guys,

As you may know we have to raise $15,000 for our adoption of William. His adoption was unexpected as we had adopted our daughter from Liberia last year and thought we would wait a while to adopt another child.

When our agency sent out the plea to find William a family I could not help but inquire about the little guy. Other families had interest but later decided his needs were more than they could handle at this time. We have a small ammount of savings but nothing near what our adoption and travel fees are. So we are asking for your help. We are asking if it at all might be possible for each person who reads our blog to search their hearts and pray and decide if William's adoption may be something you might want to donate towards.

We are not asking for much. If each person who reads out blog would donate a $1 and then pass our story and blog address on to their family and friends and ask them to do the same, and with the Lord alimighy's help we may be able to do this. Please condsider our little guy!

We are forever grateful for your donations, love and especially your prayers. Prayer is SUCH an amazing force.

If you would like to send a check please send it to Acres of Hope, Liberia, Inc 29525 Four Corners Store Road Mason, Wisconsin 54856

Please make checks out to : ACRES OF HOPE LIBERIA AMUNCKIN ZOGAR ADOPTION(this is William's current name)

Also please feel free to call AOH and ask about us. They can be reached Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm central time. Their number is 715-765-4118.

We want you to feel comfortable donating to William's cause. This is why we ask you make checks out to our agency. If for some reason you would like to send a check directly to us, please email me at WilliamAlan07@yahoo.com and I will give you the info. If you prefer to use paypal we have set up an account for that as well."

Love is Eternal

My sweet "Abuela Fefa"

Six years ago today, my loving grandmother went home to be with our Lord and Savior. It was her 90th birthday. The picture above was taken at the last big event we shared, our wedding, 9 months prior to her passing away.

I am so thankful that I have my faith which allows me to believe that I will be reunited with her someday. She's been gone for six years and there's rarely a day that I don't think about her. I very often think about how much she and my grandfather would have loved our new little ones. My heart believes that she is smiling from above at their antics and sharing in our joy.

She was an amazing lady who catered to my three older babies as if they were her own. They, too, cherished her.

Oh, how I wish that Kai, Anna Grace and AJ would have had the chance to know this remarkable woman. I look forward to sharing my stories about her with them.

Abuela, Happy 96th Birthday! I know you are celebrating with Jesus, pain free and surrounded by more love and joy than you could ever receive in this earthly world.

I love and miss you!