After the Wedding....

My oldest niece got married over the weekend. The wedding was beautiful and so was the bride. I love you Sharon Hannah .. may God kept you and your new husband and bless you.

This was my family's first wedding in a long time and the first one Reese got to see. And you know, I really believe Reese would have enjoyed it. Really she would have if it havent been right at nap time, she hadnt had to dress up, it hadnt been in a different church with a bunch of people she didnt know and if the reception had of course been first.( Cake you know cures all your ails ).

Oh my child.....my child was all over the place. Two year olds and especially tired sleepy two year olds shouldnt be expected to sit still in church and be super calm and quiet.... Oh well, thankfully it wasnt a long ceremony. And thankfully I got to sit up front and see some of the wedding. Even better for me, because I was so close to the front, I didnt have to see anyone behind me or their reactions to what Reese was doing.

But hey maybe no-one noticed. It's possible no-one saw my shoe-less daughter wiggling on the third pew. The section of pews right in line with the unity candle ceremony. And maybe no-one saw the sock foot that kept shooting up in the air or the little hand that kept trying to touch the hair-do on the lady in front of us.

In the end, my niece got married and the lady in front of us kept her hair. What more could I hope for? Doesnt Reese look innocent?

Renee, Reese, & Rhonda ( my sweet sister and mother of the bride )

12 Month Post Placement time...

Can I believe that it's almost been 1 year since baby Reese came home? No I can't. Sometime I just have to shake my head in disbelief. What seemed to take a lifetime to happen, has happened and kept on moving on as if those four years waiting were nothing. Time is funny like that.

Tonight our social worker will be by to do all the necessary paperwork for our last report and our final interview. We've reached the 12 month post placement time. Yea...

We spent some time reminiscing last night about the past year and all the changes we've seen in Reese. She is growing and bonding so wonderfully. God has truly blessed us and her. She's our precious little baby girl.

I can still remember the little scared crying baby girl in China that just wanted to go back with the only family she ever knew but you know now that is just one small memory in a list of so many wonderful ones...

See what a difference a year can make...

.....Reese in China July 2009

......then two months later at home in USA Sept 2009

.....and now just yesterday July 2010

First Fathers Day

This year was Mark's first Fathers Day. Me and baby girl gave Daddy a new watch and lots of hugs & kisses. Let's keep spending time together sweetie. We love you and Happy First Fathers Day .

How does your garden grow...

My roses may be suffering in this summer heat but my little girl is blossoming beautifully...





Some plant seeds, some water... but God makes it grow...

Readoption Day....

It's been almost one year since we first saw Reese's picture for the first time.

Today we readopted her in our state and became officially a family of three. She will now have an American birth certificate. Yeah...

She did so good, super good while mommy & daddy had to answer a few questions and get sworn in by the judge.

Reese was born in our heart many years ago.... And it's been awesome this past year getting to know the real little girl God created and placed in our hearts. We're official now baby girl..... and you know what it's a great thing.

Graduation Day....

I've had my first school graduation. Granted it was only graduating out of the 2 year old class at Reese's daycare but it was still a first for me.I know it's not too exciting for some but it was awesome for us. To watch my little girl, my daughter of almost one year, stand on a stage with her classmates and stare out at a huge crowd of strangers and then dance and clap and not cry or run was something I'll never forget. ( I just wish I hadnt forgot my camera... oh well....)

I have to tell you there was this one priceless moment when they sang " We Fall Down" and she stood at just the right moment and raised her little arms and swayed while singing "and we cry Holy, Holy, Holy," and then knelt with her hands together to pray when they got to " we fall down and lay our crowns ". I just couldnt hold back the tears from my eyes.

I could just image God looking down from heaven and smiling at his little creation and thinking... job well done.

Thank you Lord so much for this little gift....my baby girl Reese. And thank you Lord for putting me and Mark on the path to our daughter. The path wasn't always straight but the finish line sure did come with a huge reward...she's some prize.... Happy Graduation Day baby girl.

1st Mother's Day ...

This past weekend was such a wonderful weekend. Just relaxing with my husband and my daughter. A dream come true for this once broken heart. I lost my mom three years ago and still miss her each day.( If you are still blessed to have your mother, please love her and tell her how special she is each chance you can.) And it's been nine years since we lost our son Noah and then two years after that we lost our baby Erin or Aaron.

I can honestly say their have been many sad Mother's days for me in the last nine years. Some harder than others, but God is ever faithful and this Mother's Day was the best. Thank you Lord....to be Lola Reese's mother is the greatest honor I can think of. She's such an awesome little girl and I'm her mother. How awesome is that?