Olivia and Honey

Well, it's happened. Honey and Olivia have become the best of friends. Olivia has never been afraid of the dogs, but now she is actually playing with the dogs. Honey (as many of you know) takes a while to warm up to people. She has finally decided that she loves the baby and wants to play with her. We took this short video after Honey and Olivia had already been playing for a few minutes. Olivia crawled all over the floor chasing her, putting her hand right into Honey's mouth, and she never once got scared about the play chasing/growling that dogs do. In fact, she growled at Honey herself. Too funny!

By-the-way, we have an appointment next Monday to have some new family photos done. So we hope to have some pretty new pictures to share shortly!

In the Light

Many of you who read this blog will already know what has been happening over the last few weeks with our new adoption. It has been a roller coaster of a ride and I, for one, hate roller coasters. We got the news last night, after I called our birth mother, that she has lost the baby. We have suspected this to be the case for several weeks now, but have remained hopeful as she recently restored contact with us and our social workers.

This news was very sad, but not entirely surprising. I can't say that it feels as bad as it did last year when our first adoption failed. Somehow knowing that baby was born and was no longer ours was harder. Of course a few weeks ago when we first suspected our birth mother might have lost the baby I felt as empty as I have ever felt. I don't know many women who have never been pregnant or given birth to a child, but not being able to get pregnant and then to lose a baby this way is an extraordinarily empty feeling. I don't talk about this much, but I did miscarry a baby once. While I have grieved over the years for that child I knew that I was not in any position to be a mother then and I also believe that child is with Jesus. Now I have feel as if I have two children with Jesus. [If you haven't read THE SHACK do so--those of you who have will understand that it gives me great comfort to think of my babies with Papa.]

Today has been a long day with lots of sleeping. We did get up in time to go to church and had a nice lunch with Granny. All I have thought all day is "stay in the light." Last Thursday we heard a great message at our casual Thursday night worship from 1 John and our pastor talked about Jesus being in the light. It occurred to me that when I feel as if I am in the dark and separated from God that all I have to do is to choose to be in the light. So today, for the most part, I have chosen to be in the light with Jesus.

This has been an extraordinarily difficult 13 months and also an extraordinarily blessed 13 months. We have lost two babies through failed adoption or miscarriage, but gained a precious daughter! We are really so grateful. Please continue to pray for us as we travel the road of life. We are likely meeting with our social worker tomorrow and/or the agency director to discuss the possibility of another baby. There is an African American mother who has just come "into the program" and is not matched, she is due right away. We don't know any other details and we don't know if this is where God is leading us, but we are open to discuss it and pray about it.

With much love you all...

Moving and Shaking

Well, this week has been incredibly busy! Andy is away at school and will return tomorrow (yay!). Mom and I have been making Moses baskets and will (hopefully) get those done Monday and Tuesday (pictures will be up next week--we are selling these to raise funds for the new adoption). I spent today cleaning house and rearranging furniture so that Olivia has room to move around in the living room. She is crawling, pulling up, and walking with support. She is basically becoming a toddler as we speak. She has gained almost 3 lbs in the last three weeks and has grown 2 inches. She has two teeth on the bottom. Olivia kept coming over to me in hopes of getting the camera. She was slightly distracted because her favorite movie (Grumpier Old Men) was playing. Olivia is a mover and a shaker!



Here is some video of Olivia doing just that...

More of Olivia--not talking

Olivia Crawling

Olivia Growling

Mixed Race Adoption

Please forgive me as I spout for a moment. I just read an article on Fox News about four groups who are pushing legislation in New York that will alter transracial adoption laws in that state and potentially in other states. In 1994 legislation was put in place to eliminate race from consideration in adoptions. This was done primarily because there are more Black children in foster care than any other race, and they stay in foster care an average of 9 mos longer than other children. Now these groups want to once again make race a factor stating that Black children raised by White parents are not exposed to their "Black culture" and suffer in other ways related to being raised by White parents. They say that the rules for placement cannot be colorblind. Being "colorblind" might be the ultimate goal (they say), but as we are not yet colorblind as a society they claim we must make race an issue in adopting children.

I am sickened by this. I dare say there are a lot more colorblind people out there than these groups realize. People who are quite willing (as we were) to adopt a child of a different race (or mixed races). We didn't do so blindly, we did so after lots of prayer, discussion, and education regarding the challenges we might face. We prepared ourselves to teach our daughter about all parts of her heritage (she is White, Black and Hispanic).

We get strange looks and sometimes even strange questions. But more often than not what we hear is "what a beautiful baby." The majority of the time we get nothing but love, acceptance, and encouragement from people we meet on the street. Our families have been supportive and loving and our daughter could not be more loved. It just isn't possible.

What makes me so sad about this news in New York and possibly other states as well, is how many Black children will languish now in the "system" over some rule that says only Black people make good parents to Black children. If you ask me it is rules like this that continue to build walls between races and discourage the very "color blindness" we should all seek to develop. Race will be an issue in this country as long as we continue to make it an issue.

We love you Skeeter!
We pray you will be happy and healthy!

The two fisted approach to Cheerios.

Well, it has been a good week, but a hard week as well. On Wednesday we said goodbye to Skeeter, out littlest Chihuahua. Skeeter is being adopted through the local Chihuahua rescue group. We weren't able to find anyone to take him. We found homes for Larry and Honey, but not for Skeeter. This has been a very sad process. It has been heart breaking to think of him going off alone to strangers, but it had to be done (for our move to NZL). The up side is that being placed through a Chihuahua group should ensure that he goes to a home where the people want a Chihuahua and understand their special personalities. This group checks personal references, vet references and records, and does home visit before placing a dog. We pray that all of this will help Skeeter get a good home. Now, if we could just think happy thoughts and quit crying...soon.

Olivia is doing great! She is pulling herself up at the coffee table and at her play station table. She is eating cheerios as fast as she can pick them up. She had her first overnight visit to Granny's house last night. Mom babysat so we could go to the movies. We saw TWO--the new Indiana Jones and Prince Caspian (both were excellent). Olivia did really well, didn't cry, and had fun playing! What more could we ask for?

The Sound of Laughter

This has been a week of lots of laughter. I had my birthday. The official answer is "30!" And I had my first Mother's Day all in one week. What a glorious time this has been.

My birthday celebration started the week before with a combined party at Granny White's house. Then on the actual day Andy, Olivia and I went to Barnes and Noble, found some new books, had some Starbucks coffee and just generally wasted time. It was lovely! Susan took Andy and I out to eat for dinner, complete with "cheesecake Olivia" from the Outback delivered by singing waiters. While Granny was still babysitting Andy and I went to see Ironman. What an excellent movie--if you haven't seen it, go NOW. It was great. All-in-all, the perfect day!

A few days later was Mother's Day--another perfect day. We went to church Sunday morning to see Granny White, followed by lunch at the Crocketts. It is just so nice to have loads of family around to celebrate. It feels as if we celebrate all the time! Sunday night Granny took us to dinner with Christina, Olivia's birth mother. She is doing well and is busy between work and school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. We still don't have news on the new baby. She was not able to see her doctor on Wed. Those OB's are so undependable (is that a word)--he was off delivering a baby. So, we wait for news about when (exactly) and what (boy or girl).

I am busy making moses baskets, among other things, to sell at Annual Conference the first week of June. We are raising money to support this new adoption. I am also working on a newsletter/update to send out regarding Olivia and our new adoption--look for yours in the mail soon! Take a look at the basket I made for the new baby, it matches their nursery sets (still working on those). The ones to sell will be different fabrics, but similar ideas--some will be fancier with skirts too!

Please continue to pray for our adoption, our well-being and peace of mind. We are trying to wait peacefully for the new baby and the move, but that is harder to do than it sounds!

By the time we got to church on Sunday...
Olivia was fast asleep and missing a shoe.

Olivia loves her standing/sitting activity table!

The only problem is sometimes a dog comes
along and smells your diaper...how rude!

Olivia Laughing!

Andy was feeding the dogs Olivia's left over cheerios. He was throwing them and they were catching them in the air, which (as you can see) Olivia thought was hysterical! I think she thinks her Daddy is the funniest guy around (next to Uncle Lance).

New Developments

Olivia has had a really good couple of days since we went to the doctor on Tuesday. I think the increase in her reflux medicine has meant she is feeling better! Yesterday we had a joint birthday party with me, uncle Lance, and Colleen (who turns 10 on Sunday). Olivia had a great time and fell asleep with Granny in the rocking chair. Today she has just been in the best mood and has been practicing her walking, crawling and clapping. She would much rather walk, but she is attempting to crawl too.

(Please excuse the mess, we have had a busy couple of days...)

Olivia Walking

Olivia Crawling

Olivia Clapping

Please continue to be in prayer for Olivia's birth mother. She continues to struggle with life. Just lift her up, Christina, whenever you have a chance. She is trying to make decisions that better her life and that of her son who lives with her, but it is hard when you live far away from family, have little support and limited means. Her doctor's appointment for this week was rescheduled, but she is going next Wed. So we continue to look forward to that and hope to find out the sex (and health) of the new baby. Only three more months until the big day!