Janie loves Ms. Gaye......

So ever since I adopted Janie, I have been asked "who keeps her during the day"? Well here is the story.....wwwwaaaaaayyyyyy back when in 2008 when I received the referral of my Vietnam princess, I began researching child care. I would love to stay home with my child(ren), but obviously being a single mommy--I must work. Luckily since I teach, I have great working hours as well as lots of holiday breaks...but, I still needed child care.

I thought about an in-home caregiver but knew I could never afford a private "nanny" and I was leary about sending my child to someone's private home unless I really knew them well.

So, I began visiting local day-care centers. I chose one and waited...then lost the Vietnam referral. After receiving Janie's referral from Taiwan, I re-visted the day care and decided on it.

Then after I got home from Taiwan a dear friend told me that her in-home provider had an opening....WHAT??? This was AMAZING news to me!! Here is why:

Janie stays with the WONDERFUL Ms. Gaye!!! I coached her daughter in cheerleading when she was in middle/high school. Her parents attend my church. I have known her for years!! She is so amazing with her little ones!! She keeps children of teachers so she works on our school schedule. Currently she keeps Janie, a precious little guy named Charlie, and 2 beautiful sisters Molly and Ivey. They are all 4 such good little friends--it's so cute!

Charlie is 2 and his mommy teaches with me at my school!

Molly is in kindergarten and Ivey in 3rd grade (so they come after school) and their mommy teaches at the middle school.

I couldn't be happier! Ms. Gaye has kept so many children over the years and I just love, love, love her! So does Janie!!! She plans to keep Lexie too!!!! 

Here is a picture of Ms. Gaye reading to Janie and Charlie! 

Here is Charlie, Molly, and Janie at Charlies birthday party back in May!

Janie has so much fun each day, sometimes this is what she does when she gets home!! 

My tired princess getting her beauty sleep!

Random Sweetness!

Just some random sweet pics of a few special days recently....

A few weeks ago, Janie and I went to visit a dear friend, Mandy. We planned to have lunch, go to park, and then go meet Elmo.....yes, Elmo. He is a huge celebrity in our household!

We decided it was way toooo hot at the park, so we left an went to play indoors at

 the Learning Express toy store! 

Then it was time to see Elmo! Well, let's just say Janie was not too sure of this Elmo. He was much, much, much bigger than the Elmo on Sesame Street or any of her Elmo toys. When she first saw him from a distance she was excited and saying "Melmo, Melmo" but the closer we got, the bigger Elmo got and Janie wasn't so sure anymore....

Janie and her Gramps being silly!

This past weekend was Family Movie Night at the church. Janie and Mimi enjoying the fellowship before movie time!

The children's movie was "Up" and Janie was beyond excited about the balloons!

She loved the balloons so much, she was able to bring them home!

Have a great week everyone!!

18 months today!

Janie is 18 months old today...so hard to believe! Where has the time gone? It is also so hard to believe that next month she will have been with me for 1 year!!!!! What an amazing gift God has given me in this precious child...

Court update!

Today was the scheduled court hearing for Lexie. Well, bad news and good news. First the bad news, it was rescheduled for Sept. 2 because social worker report was not complete (boo). And birth mom did not attend. I was disappointed at first to hear that because she attended Janie's court hearing. I say "at first" becasue I then was told that after Deana got back to the office the birth mom called saying she was so sorry-she had overslept and felt very bad about it. So, she came into the office and it sounds like the social worker came over and finished the report today. So, it sounds like it is done and maybe then Sept. 2 will go well. So at least some kind of progress happened today. And then I heard something that made me swell with emotion. Birth mom was able to see some updated pictures of both Janie and Lexie. She expressed how comforting it was to see them both so healthy and happy. She spent some time looking at thier similarities and differnences--so sweet. And apparently she expressed her gratitude to me for adopting both which is allowing them to be together. This brought me to tears--for so many reasons. How can I ever thank her enough--she gave my daughters life!! She gave me a precious gift in Janie and now again in Lexie. I remember for 7 long months only getting to see pictures of Janie. Not being able to hold her, kiss her, snuggle her, feel her, smell her.....and now I am blessed to have her in my life while her birth mom can now only look at pictures. This hit me pretty hard today. You know as you begin to educate yourself on adoption and the adoption triad, you learn about the loss associated with adoption. I felt that for her today. I am grateful and thankful every second that I have this precious child in my life and that I will soon have her sister as well--but I have to be honest and say my heart went out to her birthmom today in a big way. I always include her in my daily prayers...but today was a little more intense. So now, I wait for Sept. 2..... Hang on sweet Lexie---we're coming!

Tonight is the night!

Court date for Lexie is tomorrow (Aug. 12). Because of the time difference, this will be happening tonight while I sleep. Please join me in prayer.....

Dear Heavenly Father, tonight when I lay my head down to rest I will be wishing I was in Taiwan. On the other side of the world a court hearing will be going on for Janie's sister, Lexie. Lord please place your hand on the hearts of all involved and create a smooth path to unite these beautiful girls. I trust in you and will always follow your lead. Amen

Happy Monday!

Just a few random photos of Janie to start off the week! It's my first full week of a new school year! Janie has adjusted back to her in-home day care with Miss Gaye and all her little friends. I think she really missed everyone. She went 2 mornings a week in the summer so her transition wouldn't be too hard. She comes home exhausted so I know she is having Fun, Fun, Fun. 

Can you believe she is almost 18 months old???? I can't!