Photography Website

After researching and soul searching, I have decided to create a photography website! Please check it out and let me know what you think. I did it myself! http://www.ramonalisaphotography.com/

Many blessings!

The Long Road

This is my 500th post. Seriously? Have I really shared that much? As I look back at the past few years, it's like a dream. We've been through so much in such a short time. Two beautiful daughters. Nine unborn angels. A new home. A new community. Basically, a new life in the deep south with incredible relationships across the country. It's crazy. We miss our long-distance friends, but we belong here in Hattiesburg. Truly.

I'm thinking about going back to the beginning of this blog to read the whole thing and see what God has done in our lives (and hopefully how I've grown). I may be the only reader, now that my blogs have dwindled from daily to monthly. My analytics program says that 40,000 people have visited this blog (which seems hard to believe), and my sincere apologies to each one of you for the cutback. Although I miss writing (and the catharsis that accompanies it), I'm also enjoying the time away from the computer. Time is precious. Every minute online is a moment of their childhood.

Speaking of which, here are my beauties in all their glory--along with some of God's amazing creation:

51 Seconds of Love

I have two precious daughters. They're my reason to fight back and help find a cure for cancer within my lifetime. If you feel led to donate, please visit http://the3day.org/goto/Ramona. I'll walk 60 miles on your behalf.

Reflections on Infertility

I've had a great deal of time to reflect on our journey through infertility and adoption. If I had it to do over again, there are certainly some things I'd do differently.

Most importantly, I would put complete faith in the Lord and trust in His provision. Although I felt that I fully depended on Him during our attempts to get pregnant, I now realize that there were times I pursued my selfish desires instead of waiting on the Lord. My yearning for a child was so profound and intense that I could not see straight, let alone make the wisest decisions at every moment.

Of course, hindsight always seems to offer a much clearer perspective than the vision that's present in the thick of emotional and physical strife. My faith was in its infancy during the majority of our fertility treatments, and now that it's growing and maturing, I have a greater ability to trust and rest in the Lord.

Looking back, I did pretty well with what I was given, but I definitely see areas in need of improvement. You live and learn. Now I am in the process of allowing that wisdom to guide us in the right direction.

Adopting is one of the best things we've ever done, and I am hopeful that our family will continue to grow by that means. I'm so thankful that God led us to be adoptive parents, even if it took many roadblocks and detours to get there. Infertility is a long road, one that we'll continue to travel for many years to come.

There is nothing more challenging and fulfilling that being a mother. Thank you for encouraging and supporting me along the way!

Dressed up for Liliana's "Buh-Bye Pull-ups" party. Liliana requested silly dress up clothes and a homemade chocolate cake. Notice the remnants on her face! We try to have fun around here!

Sole Sistas

Three weeks ago, I finished my first half-marathon. This October, I will walk 60 miles in three days.

No, I'm not crazy. I'm committed.

My family and friends have been hit hard by cancer. My father, grandfather and great-grandfather all died of lung cancer. My dear friend, Kate, is currently battling brain cancer. My training partner, Chami, recently won her fight with ovarian cancer. My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer in January, and Wade's aunt is in the fight of her life against this ruthless disease.

I hate cancer...and I want to see a cure during my lifetime!

Please support me as I take an amazing journey in the fight against breast cancer! The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. My team, the Sole Sistas, is a group of 1st-time participants, boldly hoping to raise $25,000 in the next few months. All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

The 3-Day gives me the unique opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and support the Susan G. Komen lifesaving mission by fighting back against a disease that has already taken too much.


I have been so very blessed in this life, and I want to give to others in a big way. Please help me make a difference. If every person who reads these words will pledge just $1, we can make an impact in the lives of so many women across the country. Click here to get more information about the 3-Day or donate to this cause.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support!

And the journey continues,
Ramona

FINALLY!

We are thrilled to share that Leila's adoption is final! Finally! On April 15th, 2009, our precious 9-month-old girl became a permanent member of our family. We praise the Lord for a happy ending to this part of our journey. The process was much more difficult than I can explain, and the reward oh-so sweet. Here we are in the St. Louis County family court after the finalization hearing.

Rejoicing, Ramona

Everyday Glory

God's glory is all around us. It is in the rising sun, the laughter of a child, and the tender bud pushing up through the soil. It is in the comfort of a friend and the kindness of a stranger.
His wonder is everywhere, if only we look for it.

Here are images of God's majestic creation, just outside our door...

Southern Living

The south is home to a crazy culinary event that centers around creepy, crawly crustaceans. It's called a crawfish boil, and people flock from miles around to peel and eat (and suck the heads) of these things. Saturday was our first mudbug boil as Mississippians, and it was Leila's first time seeing a crawfish. Here she is checking out the bucket of live crawfish being "purged" in salt water. Nasty! Liliana missed the critters, but had a special outing with Grammy and Grandfather. Since it included playgrounds, animals, ice cream and a Happy Meal, we're pretty sure she liked the arrangement!

I'm not a fan of seafood. I've tried every squirmy sea critter that's been put in front of me, and I haven't enjoyed a single bite. It's too bad, because we now have access to fresh seafood all of the time. So, that's my husband's department. Since I wasn't going to eat any crawfish, I decided I had to hold one. This bad boy was still alive!


After the outdoor festivities, we took it inside for a little Rock Band action. I'm a mama, so I've never gotten into any video games...but I could definitely get into this. I LOVE to sing, and I'm always too nervous to sing in front of an audience. But I did it anyway...and it was so much fun! Here are some of my fellow rockers and friends!

Home to Stay

Please forgive my sporadic posting since our move to Hattiesburg. I'm still adjusting to this new life, and my blog has suffered serious neglect. Although living in the south has come with some huge changes, I love it. Not only that, but I belong here! It seems crazy to say that, especially since I was digging my heels into the St. Louis dirt just a few months ago...but it's the honest truth. I feel it. I know it. I truly belong here.

It's amazing how God has blessed us during the past four months. He has put terrific people in our path, and we now have wonderful friends and a loving church family. We fit right in, and it's such a fabulous feeling. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us to feel so welcome!

Here are some of our closest friends at Mardi Gras last weekend. The Greers (on the left) also teamed up with us for the FPC chili cook-off in January...and we took home the big prize! The Kanes (on the right) are our mirror-image friends who live across the street. Chami and I are training for a half-marathon in April. We have so much fun together!

Above is a group of girls from the church. Most of these gals are in our Sunday School class and the Tuesday night Bible Study. I had an opportunity to share my testimony at the last study, and I was so blessed by the experience. I look forward to hearing everyone else's stories in the months to come. This was the first girls' night out, and I'm hoping it becomes a regular thing! I love my girlfriend time!

All in all, things are good. On the health front: I'm recovering from my third bout of the stomach flu, and my girls both have bronchitis. It seems like everyone I know is battling some type illnesses. Wade is the only healthy one. He just returned from an 8-day trip to Arizona and California, and we celebrated his birthday on Thursday. Happy Birthday, Wade!

Lots of love from Mississippi!

Blessings,
Ramona

Twenty Thousand Words

Photographs by Nicole Gourley http://www.spiritsbreezephotography.net

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!

Ramona

Memorable Moments

This is my favorite video clip of all time. It features my girls in one of their many hilarious interactions. I guarantee you will smile, and it's highly likely you'll laugh out loud.

Speaking of laughter, here are Liliana's latest and greatest comments...

"Mommy, I wish it was Christmas, so I could have a jackhammer. I'd use it to break up the ground and dig for worms and rocks and toys."

(When helping Leila to stand) "Just believe, Leila. Just believe. God the Father almighty will protect you!"

"Mama, keep an eye on me, because I'm doing something bad."

Hope your day is filled with memorable moments!

Blessings, Ramona

Blessed Beyond Belief

It seems that the weeks are flying right by. I've had a few bouts of homesickness, but overall, I'm loving our new home and community. We've been soaking up the sunshine and warm temps, renovating this quirky house and getting to know our new friends. While Hattiesburg is definitely trailing St. Louis in the things-to-do-with-kids category, it is not lacking in kind, caring people...and that's really important to us.

We're also thrilled about our large property. The girls play outside most of the day (left: Leila sitting in the grass on a sunny afternoon), and we are all fascinated by the wildlife. We have so many beautiful birds, lizards, chameleons, frogs and insects to keep us company in the yard. At the same time, we have met our nemesis: fire ants.

No matter what the weather is like, the girls love to keep each other company. I couldn't be happier about the way their relationship continues to grow and blossom. They absolutely adore one another. I love seeing the way Leila's face brightens when Liliana enters the room and observing Liliana's sweet words and actions. As Leila's birthmother aptly put it, "They're two peas in a pod!" (Left: sisters cuddling on the sofa, like they do almost every morning.)


Liliana is already psyched for this year's Mardi Gras festivities, which are set for the mid to end of February. I'm particularly stoked about the unlimited supply of King cakes during the next six weeks (a perk of living close to New Orleans)! Like last year, we'll be celebrating in New Orleans with friends. Our hotel is located in a family-friendly area right on the parade route. And, contrary to popular belief, the daytime events really are for families (i.e., we shout to receive beads).

This week was very momentous for both of our girls. Liliana began riding her bike without training wheels. Aside from forgetting she could steer (and trying to eat the azaleas a couple times), she was a natural.

We are thankful to have a long driveway for perfecting new skills. Each day, I grab a piece of chalk, walk to the 3/4 point of the driveway, draw a line across it's width and write, "STOP." And Liliana swipes the chalk and adds an extra line to the "P," making it an "R." She thinks it's so funny, and I think it's cool that she can write all of her letters!

Precious Leila is already six months old, and she learned to sit without support this week. On Monday, she was very unstable, toppling over every minute or so. But by Wednesday, she was able to sit for almost 30 minutes! She's a rock star!

Although getting here has been quite the journey, we are so blessed to be a family of four. We absolutely adore our precious daughters, and we thank the Lord for them every single day!