Z's {first}

Today was a new first.
We made our very first purchase for our new little girl!
We have been waiting patiently
(albeit painfully patient at times).

This Momma's heart has been aching for this moment. 

We're adopting a little girl that is between birth and 5 years old. 
As a mother your hearts desire is to provide and prepare your home for your children.
SOOO difficult when you simply can't.

Since I can't prepare my home, God has been using this time to prepare my heart.
I've decided to look at it as a gift. To me and my daughter.

So sweet Zefina ~ Here is our long awaited gift from us to you.

We love you Zefina!

Love, Mommy & Daddy

{anything} is possible

I overheard a short conversation between my boys last night -

It went like this:

Carter: "Did you know not EVERYthing is possible?"
Tanner: "Yes - Anything can be possible, God can make it possible."
Carter: "I'm gonna start praying that Ellie will talk."

End of conversation.

(these were taken last night :)

painting {therapy}

{Today marks a new day}

We are officially {done} with our adoption paper work.
We are now just waiting to clear immigration and then will be free to travel - we're hoping May!

{woooooo hoooooo!!!}

Man this has been a trip! I know its not over - in fact really its just beginning...but it still feels so good to be finished with the mounds of papers to be filled out, documents to be found, doctors to visit, friends & family, banks & doctors to notarize forms, shots, passports, hours of classes, fingerprinting....done.

Aaaaah :)

So, this evening I found myself in a quiet house. Boys were in bed, hubby's working, I had just sent Haley off to bed after enjoying a late night cup of tea with her.
...I was feeling like my brain was a bit fried.
With our adoption (and I would assume with most) everything must be exactly 'so'.
No: if's, and's or but's.
My time has been spent pouring over pages of directions and instructions on how to fill out a single form. No room for error. No room for mistakes.

Ugh.
All day my mind keeps going over everything I can think of -- certainly I've forgotten something...? Can we really be this close to done?!

So I picked up a paintbrush, turned on some music and refilled my tea...
I am NOT a painter. At all. But what's interesting is I had all my supplies - canvas, brushes and paint - all tucked away in the corner of my office...I must have subconsciously known this day would come and I would need an evening of painting therapy...

While letting my creativity and mind go, I couldn't help but think about my daughters and when this is finished, hanging it in their bedroom...