New Favorite Quote...sums up what I've learned over the past 4+years!

"Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things-with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope." -Corazon Aquino

so I fell upon this quote while rereading one of my latest fav books..and I sat there and read and reread it, and was overcome w/how much this quote sums up my feelings and experience the past 4+yrs and what I've come to learn a/b faith and hope.
I feel like I used those two words so loosely prior to our journey to Sophie....I mean, I knew on some level what it was to have "faith" and to "hope" for something...but until I had to endure a very long, hard, painful wait for my daughter, did I really come to appreciate what faith really is, and what having hope can deliver to you.
And as this book I'm reading goes on to say: " Hope" "is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered, and unknown futures unknown. Hope makes you see God's guiding hand not only in gentle and pleasent moments, but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkeness."

My reward in this adoption journey was not only my precious baby girl, that's a given, but my reward on a deeper level is my relationship w/God, what He taught me through those years, what He showed me I am capable of, what He brought to me while I suffered, and what He gave me after I came through it....

I've learned that although we will all question hard times we go through in this life, we can never question whether or not God knows our hard times or sufferings, but rather on some level, find a way to thank Him for it, because once through it, whatever it may be, the rainbow you'll have in your heart, is immeasurable!!!!

And the pic above I should not even be posting, b/c I look horribly sleep deprived ..but whatever....I wanted to show it b/c my sweet girl is back in her carrier, the same one I first carried her in in Ch*na! She was so fussy the other day, at dinner time of all times, so I had had it..and I thought I'd try it out..and she LOVED it! I sware she recognized it from back then and snuggled rt up to my chest while I made dinner, happy as can be!

And the snow keeps fallin!!!

Daddy, Charlie and the neighbor boys sure had fun out in the snow, despite the fact that C's bday party had to be canceled and rescheduled because of it... :( He was such a good sport a/b it though... :)
Mommy and Sophie are just southern girls at heart...we stay in when that snow comes a fallin!

7 yrs ago today, a tiny angel was born to me!

On February 4th, 2003, we were beyond blessed with the gift of our Charlie Douglas! 6lbs 9oz of pure bliss! A day I will cherish as one of the best days of my life! He has filled the past 7 yrs with more joy, love and happiness than I ever dreamed possible!
And here he is now..7yrs later, a big first grader, who continues to fill our lives w/more joy, love, happiness and endless laughter! And who I can't tear away from his Wii as you can see here!
He is such a wonderful son, big brother, and friend to all who meet him!

Charlie, mommy and daddy couldn't be prouder or more in love with who God made you to be!
I love you to the sun, and the moon and the stars and back and back and back...pieces and parts..parts and pieces...:) (inside joke..lol)

Happy, happy birthday to you! Love, Mommy xoxoxo

Our Second Angel! 14 mo's old!

Yesterday, G and I took our girls to a fun photo shoot! I know I've said this a million times..but G and I say this EVERY time we get the girls together...."I can't believe they are here w/us"!!!!! It's so true...very surreal after all those yrs we waited!
But anyway...as usual..Miss Sophie Su took forever to warm up...she does not like getting professional photos taken the three times we've taken her....and funny..Charlie was this exact same way at this age!
But after 20min's or so, she warmed up and didnt look quite so terrified!
Love these girls to pieces...check out more of photo shoot in slide show below!

Photo Shoot of Sophie and Jaden February 2010!

Six Months Ago Today!

I can't beleive it..but it's true...6 months have gone by since the day I stood in China, and the most precious gift was just handed to me...my sweet Sophie Su Ruth!

There are no words to put down on here to truly describe how my life has changed since that day.....

There are so many times...almost daily, usually when she is fast asleep at nap in my arms, that I stare down at her angelic face and am overwhelmed w/emotion....I don't even feel worthy enough to have received her at times....the fact that God just picked her..and made it possible for her to enter my life is a gift I will NEVER take for granted, a gift I will thank Him for DAILY, a gift I am FOREVER grateful for, this small ray of sunshine(my second ray of sunshine of course:))has made me happier than I ever thought possible!

I know so many out there still waiting...who will still wait probably a long time more until the day their own rays of sunshine come into thier lives....so I want to say to all of you, I promise you I would have waited 10 yrs if asked, just to get my girl...the four we waited were torture at times, brought me to my knees more times than I care to share, but if asked, I'd do it all again, and again times 100, just to receive my precious gift from God!

Happy 6 months home w/your forever family my sweet baby girl, mommy loves you more than you'll ever know..times 100!!!!!

"pre" bday celebrations for our sweet Charlie boy!

Although we did it a bit early, we celebrated Charlie's birthday this past weekend with some very good friends and family! Our plan was to stop at Chuck E Cheese for some pizza and fun..but OMG..the line was out the door w/a 45 min wait....so, we ventured to Dave and Busters to find much of the same..busy, busy, busy..but Charlie and daddy, Austin and Aunt Jodi, did manage to play a few fun games! Then we headed back to Gramma Jeans for some pizza and cake with everyone!
Thanks to all of you, "up" there that took time to come celebrate my precious baby boy...who is definetly no longer my baby! How he got to be 7 yrs old, I'll never figure out.... how it went so fast...so bittersweet...