FAQ

I think the most asked question of the past 3+ weeks has been...

"How does it feel to finally be done with this whole adoption process?"

To which I answer, "This is just the beginning..."

To 'Santa' or not to 'Santa'..that is the question...

Everyone does Christmas differently...
Open presents Christmas Eve? or Christmas morning? open just 1 gift on Christmas eve? eggnog or hot chocolate? go out of town or stay home?....

I know several Christian families that would argue to do the whole Santa Claus or not...and would probably argue with each other *smile*....

Whatever your family does-I hope it was great! I am not judging you, we don't do Santa and it works for us.

We don't pretend Santa and never have...we don't speak against it, we just don't incorporate it in our big festivities. As all mom's know "mother's guilt" is a ferocious beasts. I had really struggled with what should we do....

Christmas Eve Primo got up and noticed that there were many more presents under the tree...she looked at them in wonder and amazement....then she leaned in to me with both hands on her hips and as her head bobbled back and forth she said, "Mom, Is Santa real or isn't he? Cause you said he isn't, but there are a lot of presents here, where did they come from, did you lie?"

I replied, "Primo remember who Saint Nick was? Mom and Dad, family and friends put the gifts under the tree. Santa isn't real, we didn't lie."

I paused-wondering if I had just destroyed her innocence, knowing there was no room for back pedaling now.....

and Primo sighs loudly, "What a relief because Santa Claus only comes ONE single time a year and you guys are here EVERYDAY! That's MUCH better for me!"

A Thinking Man's Game....

I think I might have done it...I think I might have gotten the perfect gift for Ashley...ok, so it isn't the new IPOD loaded with music for his next deployment, or an exercise bench for the garage...a little more in our price range....

He loves puzzles, he loves hard, difficult, make-your-eyes-go-crossed puzzles....so I found the perfect one at Wal-mart. It is called "vanishing act" and it is a picture of a large group of zebras. There is nothing but black and white stripes across the whole puzzle, you can't tell where one zebra ends and the other starts.

100 cool points for me!

Christmas morning!

Thanks for all the great gifts Brandy, 'Great', Pat, Big Momma, Grammee, Mamaw, Popple, Kimberly & Sean, and Jennifer!

Cake and cupcakes!

Ashley and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary just a few days before Christmas. Our anniversary is on December 22nd. We had to plan a time he could come in from California for a break, so we got married right before Christmas! We got married in our hometown in Tennessee and honeymooned briefly in the mountains-celebrated Christmas with family....then headed west to California. Driving! We had a blast.

On our Anniversary we had a "love and family" cake and told the girls the story of 'us' and how we built our family. Primo was of course MOST INTERESTED in where she was born, how she was as a baby...she loves to hear those stories.

Christmas Eve, Big Momma (Ashley's mom) was able to come up and be a part of our "Happy Birthday Jesus" party with the Bible story, cupcakes, and songs!

December recap....

Primo the Gymnast

Primo got to attend a friend's birthday party a few weeks ago...it was hosted at the local gymnastic center...talk about bringing back some fun memories! Primo was a hoot!....

Missing them at Christmas...

Quotable Quotes

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not on this earth for eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake."

Marie Beynon Ray (Adapted)

And the winner is.......

The winning quilt raffle ticket number is....

132061

Please email me if this is your ticket number!

So we can get this beautiful quilt to you or a loved one!

Morning Greetings...

I heard this beautiful sound this morning....

"ees, ni-ni ish, ni-ni aa one, oop, ees"

Scherzo trying to make a sentence, not just a word, not just her ever cute "mommmma" that she says for everything....

"please, night night finished, night night all done, up, please"

She woke up and wanted out of the crib.

Yay! Speech therapy! Yay! Phrases!

Primo says....

Primo: I am all done with my thank you card. It is ready to be mailed!

Jillian: Great! I will write Aunt June and Donna's address on the envelope.

Primo: NO MOM! The thank you card isn't for them!!!

Jillian: They mailed you and Scherzo the books that you love, the one about the weather being food falling from the sky and being in a silly mood. They mailed them to you from Texas.

Primo: I KNOW!

Jillian: We need to write them a thank you card for the books they mailed.

Primo: I will! But the FIRST Thank you card is to the GREAT state of TX for giving me Aunt June and Donna. The second thank you card is for Aunt June and Donna!

It finally happened!....

Silent Night, Holy Hands...

In the Jacksonville area?...

Silent Night, Holy Hands

will be held on

December 21st at 6:30pm.

This is a Christmas celebration in American Sign Language! There will be beautiful Christmas songs, scriptures and more-presented by Deaf individuals, Interpreters and signing students!

You don't want to miss this FREE celebration!

Thanks to Centerview Baptist Church for hosting this event!

http://www.centerviewbaptistchurch.org/

Email or call me for more information or if you want to be a part of this unique experience!

**Voice Interpreters and ASL Interpreters provided!**

Deaf, Hearing, Hard of Hearing-doesn't matter-there is something for everyone!

Belly of Love...

There is something about this picture of my friend that is just so pure and honest. A mother's hands in love and anticipation. The bond before ever seeing her child, the hopes, dreams, fears before ever meeting her little miracle.
There is a mom adopting from Ethiopia and on her blog she tells of putting the care packages together to get sent over to her waiting children. She writes that she shouted into the the bags "I LOVE YOU" 100 times. I laughed when I read it. A week later I formed my hand carefully, making a fist-releasing my pinkie, my pointer, my thumb...to form the handshape "I love you" and I placed it inside both care packages for a moment....now I am as silly as I thought she was...but it didn't feel silly. It was an act of love, just as this mom wraps her hands to feel her child inside and let her know she is safe, she is loved, she is treasured and whatever the future holds...her mom will still be there, with love on her hands and in her heart. Whatever unexpected surprises we find once our children come home to their forever families-they are loved, they are treasured and they are wanted beyond measure.
This picture reminds me of the simplest things in life: love and survival. It also reminds me of some of the most complex things in life: love and survival.

Thankful Thursday!

You guys know that we have very grateful and thankful hearts for every one's love and support through the adoption process! I wanted to point out a few special groups that have supported us in this wild adventure! (Just the beginning of a long, long list...)

Compassionate Hearts-
Kelly Kimble

LYDIA Fund-
http://www.lydiafund.org/

Shaohannah's Hope-
http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer

Tidal Creek Fellowship-
http://www.tidalcreek.net/

CBC: World Missions/Adoptions-
http://www.cbcofbeaufort.org/page.aspx?ID=141667

Berry Island Cafe:
http://www.berryislandcafe.com/

Water's Edge:
http://www.watersedgesc.org/

Ridgeland, SC- Middle and High School Band Programs:
http://www.jcsd.net/teachers/teacher-of-the-year-district.php

Centerview Baptist Church
www.centerviewbaptistchurch.org

Home Sweet Beaufort...

The recent trip to Beaufort did our hearts a world of good! We miss you guys! (Thanks Grammee for the matching dresses and thanks to Big Momma for the balloons!)