Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March.... So Far.

So far.....

Mustache day. :)



We don't know what this was about. We asked Ella, and she just got the giggles. :)


DC in the Spring.





The circus. They have no memory of us taking them two years ago. They won't forget it this time. :)







For those that don't know, this is a huge thing. Macie drew this one night after she went to bed. The sun is directly behind the tree and in full, happy force. Her tree is full of life and fruit and EVEN has  bird on it! This is HUGE!!!!! Such an amazing morning to wake up to. It's on the fridge and will remain there for a LONG time!

This is another big one. It's ME- MAMA- with lots of hearts and love and a dress and high heels and even a heart shaped nose and a smile! IT WAS/IS A HUGE DEAL AND WILL STAY ON MY FRIDGE FOREVER!!!!!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Gutsy Ella


Ella is loving skateboarding time with Daddy. Yesterday she decided to get creative. Pretty impressive, I think. :)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

The ONLY family? REALLY?!?!?!?!?

Just spoke with Ms. C.  who had NT do a seminar in her area of the country last weekend.

NT has worked with hundreds of thousands of families. Ours is the first and ONLY sibling RAD family that she has seen remain intact throughout the process of healing. We are IT and we continue to work on things EVERY DAY.

I am shocked and humbled. I knew the statistics were low. I didn't know we WERE the statistic!

Please- if you know an adoptive family- make sure you encourage them to research RAD and it's effects on the family as well as sibling adoption and the risks.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

January

My life has been changed in more ways than you can imagine. The last year has been the most painful and frightening of my life. My children lacked a sense of safety, of hope, and of connection. It put our family at the severe risk of being divided. Our lives turned upside down for these girls, so that they might begin to believe in a love they never knew as infants. It was the most isolating year of my life. I lost relationships I never imagined I would. I gained friendships I will have the rest of my life. 

My definition of motherhood has changed. My definition of love has changed. My understand of what it means to have strength- well, that's changed too.

My family is not the same. My marriage is not the same. I am not the same. Six months of a family divided and one week of intense work and healing brought us back together. The intensive was the only hope we had left of keeping our family together, but we never expected all that we received. 

It is with a humble heart, I thankfully share that we are all home and we are all healed FAR beyond what I EVER would have thought imaginable. I wish I could express what it is to be a part of this family now, transformed in so many ways. I wish I could share the humility we feel to be the exception to the sibling RAD rule. I wish I could share it- but I will fail no matter how I try. 

It was the miracle we prayed for. It was what we were told NOT to expect. 
Our family is the exception.
With humble gratitude, we move forward united.




















Our Family Thread

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.
-An ancient Chinese Proverb