Moving Time

I'm in it...last minute! I can't believe the moment is finally approaching. We move this weekend! Although I'm sad to be leaving, I'm ready to get the move out of the way. I feel like we've been living in limbo for a month. Our bags are packed, but the house isn't quite ready for the moving company (who arrives tomorrow morning to pack our stuff). So much to do, so little time! Please pray for strength, stamina, guidance and joy as we make this transition.

Blessings to you!

That's Random

Good thing God is in control when life seems out of control. I'm definitely feelin' the chaos these days. Today I'm fighting a migraine...so it looks like we're going to worship from home and miss our last Sunday at Covenant. I was looking forward to one last day with our church family. Bummer.

Liliana is a riot. She just called to me from her Noggin (TV) time and said, "Mama. I'm watching a new show about Halloween. It doesn't have any bad guys in it, and it is propiate for kids." I laughed out loud.

Here's one of my new faves, Francesca Battistelli...especially "Time in Between," "I'm Letting Go" and "Beautiful, Beautiful." A powerful voice and even more powerful message...

Leila's Big Day

Sunday was very special for us. We celebrated Leila Madeline's baptism and adoption placement ceremonies, and it was such a delight to share the blessed day with our moms, Leila's birth family and a few of our closest friends. (A magnifying glass may be required to locate individuals on the group shot.) Thank you to each and every one who joined us, and especially those who helped behind the scenes to make the event a success. With the exception of poor little Leila's sleep deprivation, the day was absolutely perfect! Thanks be to God!

Finally!

It's official! Leila Madeline is home to stay!! We are thrilled and oh-so-thankful for this precious blessing. The hearing went beautifully, and the entire courtroom rejoiced at its conclusion. The judge even gave Leila a little gift...a not-so-infant-friendly cherry Tootsie Pop. I told him that I'd save it for her--it'll be her very first sweet treat. For those interested in the legal mumbo jumbo, we now have six months of post-placement supervision until finalization (and a new birth certificate), but it's all a formality. The legal risk is over. Praise God! Let's all celebrate!

Counting Down!

Tomorrow is the big day! In less than 12 hours Leila Madeline will be our adoptive daughter. She is already much more than that in our hearts, but it will be a wonderful relief to make it legal! I feel giddy, nervous and exhausted, all at the same time...kind of like a bride-to-be. I'm going to try to sleep. Try.

Thank you for your support, encouragement and prayers! Thank you, Lord, for this child!

Neighborhood Night Out

Wade and I had an opportunity to go out with neighbors on Friday night--just the big kids. It was only our 2nd evening apart from the girls in over three months...and it was wonderful to be reminded of how much fun we have together! After hanging out with our friends at O'Charley's for a couple hours, we ventured out to Brunswick for some side-splitting bowling antics.

Left: here we are in classic bowling attire.

Below is a pic of the whole gang. The lighting wasn't fantastic, but I think each person is recognizable (with a magnifying glass). Thanks for a super send-off! We are going to miss our neighborhood family like it's nobody's business!

Family Portrait

Here we are--one big happy family! Below is the photo I mentioned a few weeks ago. It didn't scan so well, but you get the picture (pun intended) of our love for Leila Madeline!

Less than one business day 'til we break free from the ranks of foster care and becomes an adoptive family! Our hearing is Tuesday morning--and, since Monday is a holiday--this is the last day that the adoption could be disrupted. We hope and pray for an uneventful afternoon!

This weekend is an exciting one for us. Tonight, we will be "celebrating" our new adventure by going out with neighbors. And Sunday afternoon is our big celebration (notice I have decided to celebrate instead of saying "good-bye"). We are so grateful to those hosting and all who plan to partay with us! We are going to miss our STL friends so much!

Three Months Down, Six Business Days to Go!

Leila Madeline is three months old today! The time has gone by so fast--and so slow--at the same time. Our court hearing is October 14th, first thing in the morning. Only six business days to go! That's how we measure it, by the number of business days, because the courts are only open for business Mon-Fri. We heart weekends!

This is one time I'm thankful for crazy busy lives. Hopefully the days will cruise right along. This Friday, our sweet neighbors are gathering to send us off in style. And Sunday is a big farewell party (thanks, Dave & Kate!) where we'll have the opportunity to see most of our STL friends in one place. We're really looking forward to it!

Leila's baptism and placement ceremony are scheduled for the 19th, and I couldn't be more stoked! We are thrilled to share this blessed day with Leila's birth family, our family and our dear friends. It's going to be such an amazing testimony of God's grace and provision. We know that this adoption is something very rare & special, and everyone will get to see just how beautiful it can be!

Here's to the high points!

Here Am I, Send Me

Whew--it's been a wild week! We've been preparing to move, planning a birthday party (which was wonderful, by the way) and getting ready for Leila's baptism & placement ceremony. In the midst of this controlled chaos, we received word that a spot opened up for Liliana at the PCA school in Mississippi. As a result, we will be moving three weeks earlier than originally thought (we were going to stick around St. Louis so that she could stay in school). So, our crazy lives just got a little crazier. In less than a month--we'll be 600 miles away. I can't believe it!

I have a peace about relocating, but it's more bitter than sweet right now. I'm so sad to be leaving our treasured friends and twelve years of connections to the St. Louis area. We have created a lovely little nest here--in a neighborhood with many of our best friends, and our church has become like family to us. It's hard to leave that behind.

Then again, I know that God is leading us to Mississippi...and I look forward to seeing what he has planned for us. I was driving home from the hospital today (more health concerns--I'll elaborate later), I heard a song that perfectly articulated the way I feel about this time in our lives. Here are the touching lyrics and a link:



Downhere - "Here I Am"
From the album Ending Is Beginning

Sometimes Your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze
You reach for the deepest hope in me
And call out for the things of eternity
But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan,
Here I am.

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands
Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand
I know that You will finish what You began
And these broken parts You will redeem
Become the song that I can sing

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness
And the fear that I'll fail You in the end
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together, but You can

Here I Am, all my life an offering to You,
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan--
Here I am.


"...here am I, send me." Isaiah 6:8

Important Dates

Four years ago today, our miracle child was born and we held her in our arms for the very first time. What a thrilling memory, the first of countless precious moments with our angel. Happy Birthday, Liliana! We adore you!

I'm happy to announce that another important date is finally on the books! Less than three weeks from today--October 14th--is Leila's TPR hearing, after which she will officially be a part of our family. Although the adoption won't be final until April (yes, three months longer than originally expected--long story), the wait is mostly a formality. More hoops to jump through, thanks to Missouri law. And it'll be worth every moment.

God willing, everything will go smoothly between now and then. If so, Leila's baptism will take place on October 19th. We are really looking forward to celebrating her life and our faith with our friends, church family, her birth family and our extended family...all of the people who love Leila and have prayed for this adoption.

All in all, lots of good things going on. We are exceedingly blessed!

Two Blessings

I'm in love with my girls. Here are some highlights of this week. Above, Liliana recites a Bible verse and sings "Amazing Grace." She is such an independent, loving 3.99 year old...and I'm proud to be her mommy!

Below, Leila displays her growing repertoire of expressions and vocalizations. She's such a sweet, happy girl...and I feel blessed by her presence in our family.

Tribute to Liliana

This is Liliana's birthday week (we celebrate for a full week in our family). Last night, we went to Dave and Buster's to kick off the celebration. Here's Liliana with the prize pony she chose at the end of game time. Big surprise--it's pink--perfect for her new bedroom in Mississippi.

As soon as we got home, she jumped on Bubble Gum (it's new name) as started riding around. All of the sudden, she jumped off, grabbed her yellow hard hat from the toy basket and put it on her head. She climbed back on the pony and started swinging the hat around, yelling, "Yeeeee-haw! Yeeee-haw!"



























Not only does Liliana have serious equestrian skills, but she has also become quite the little artist. Above is a drawing of "Miss Shelly," our Parents As Teachers specialist, who came to visit earlier that morning. Notice the curly hair and earrings. Miss Shelly will be so proud! Even at almost four years old, Liliana is still ambidextrous. She writes and plays equally well with both hands. It's actually very cool to see. I hope she will continue down this road. The opponents won't know what hit 'em when she bats or dribbles with her south paw! And, she so active that she's bound to break a hand at some point!



Speaking of which, watch our little monkey in action on the elliptical machine. She uses it for exercise, climbing and gymnastics!

Who Needs A Pool?

Liliana is hilarious. Every day, she has us laughing out loud at her silly antics. A couple days ago, I was on the sofa feeding Leila, while listening to Liliana play on the deck. When it got quiet, I quickly got up to check on her. This is what I found: princess Liliana seated on a plastic throne in the middle of her sandbox, which was filled with rainwater and toys.

She looked so pleased with her perch as she poured water all over her legs and arms (dispite Mommy's one request that she NOT get her dress wet). So much for that! You'll see her tough, independent side in the video that follows. I love parenthood!

And The Plot Thickens...

Great news! It looks like we're less than four weeks away from our big day in court. The TPR hearing has been tentatively set for the morning of October 14th. This waiting period has been long and emotionally challenging, and we look forward to the glorious day when we know that Leila is home to stay!

As our adoption drama unfolds, we find ourselves in the midst of another unexpected, life-changing situation. About three weeks ago, Wade received an impressive (and very unexpected) job offer. He was asked to become the Director of Business Operations for the behavioral health division of a major hospital in Mississippi--in the town where Wade grew up & his parents still reside.

Initially, we were stunned. Then, we protested. After that, excitement began to build. And after careful and prayerful consideration, we are now confident that God is calling us to accept this position and begin the next season of our lives.

This is a bittersweet time for us. We absolutely adore our lives in St. Louis—especially our church family, our neighborhood, Liliana’s school and our summer pool community. Yet, we are also thrilled to be with family and close to the beach! Most importantly, we desire to be faithful to God’s plan for our family. As we furiously prepare our home for the move, we are also preparing our hearts and minds for the changes ahead and grieving the impending separation from the people we love.

Although the timeline is still uncertain, we estimate that Wade will begin the job in late October. We want to maximize Liliana’s academic experience, honor prior commitments and spend more time with friends before we leave. Once in Mississippi, Wade will have a couple weeks to prepare our new home (the house that belonged to Wade’s paternal grandparents) before he starts the new job. We plan to keep our St. Louis home and transform it into a rental property...so, if you know a family in need of a good home, let us know!

Of course, we will visit St. Louis often and nurture our beloved relationships from afar (thank goodness for modern technology). Although we’ll be living elsewhere, our ties to St. Louis will always remain strong. We are so thankful for our years here and the lifelong friendships and memories we’ve made. We truly appreciate your support, encouragement and prayers as we make this transition.

Much love from our family to yours,
Wade, Ramona , Liliana and Leila

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Leila "talks" to me...

Liliana talks to God...

The Longing in Our Hearts

Today was our first formal photo session as a family. Seeing our family of four in a portrait really moved me. I didn't expect it, but a whole host of feelings arose. One of the images was so beautiful that it almost brought me to tears. The photographer captured it as I held Leila in my arms and we all looked at her with adoring expressions. (The company seemed to appreciate our story & even asked permission to submit the photo in a portrait competition.) It seems that every day brings an experience like this--a situation that reflects Leila's permanent place in our hearts and our aching desire to have it secured in the courts. God willing, we'll be able to set the hearing date this week.

Praying that our sweetheart is home to stay!

The Wisdom of Children

Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.

A little girl said, 'I know all about adoption. I was adopted..'

'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked another child.

'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'

Two Months

One of the things we often hear is how Leila Madeline fits right in with our family, and how she resembles Liliana as a baby. Here's Liliana when she was Leila's age. Although Liliana refused to show her sweet dimples, it's clear to see the similarity between the girls. One major difference: Liliana had a three-pound head start!

Yesterday was Leila's 2-month well-baby visit. Our pumpkin weighed in at 10 lbs., 13 oz., despite the recent increase in projectile vomiting. Due to a concern that Leila may have pyloric stenosis, the doc ordered an ultrasound at St. John's Mercy. Just three hours after her exam (and four painful shots), poor Leila had to undergo another round of poking and prodding.

Suffice it to say that there was a great deal of crying and screaming. And that was just my part! Seriously, though, Leila raged so hard at the hospital that we almost took her to the ER. After an hour of trying every soothing trick in the book, she finally calmed down enough to take her home. Sweet girl was so exhausted...and so were we!

Throughout the rest of the evening, Liliana held Leila's hand and kissed her on the head while saying, "It's alright, baby Leila. You'll feel better soon." Oh, they're so adorable together! I think they're going to be the best of friends!

I digress. So, a day of drama to determine that Leila has severe acid reflux and a spasming pylorus (no stenosis, praise the Lord). We had the opportunity to watch her organs function as the doc performed the ultrasound...which was pretty cool, but not worth a moment of our sweetie's suffering. We are now waiting to hear from the pediatrician to discuss how to proceed with Leila's treatment. We're praying for an effective strategy to alleviate all pain and discomfort.

Well, that's our Monday. Hope your week is terrific!
Blessings,

Leila at Two Months

Leila is two months old! She smiles all of the time, and she is an absolute delight! Now, if only her acid reflux would disappear--the symptoms increased dramatically this week, and (despite the changes we've made to help decrease it) the poor baby has been throwing up after almost every meal. We're praying that the doctor can give us a solution Monday morning.

Here's Leila Madeline in all her glory. She is so very loved!

Frustrated By the Process

Well, what was originally supposed to be a 60-day process has now stretched to 100+, and I am frustrated! While I haven't forgotten that we are blessed to have an adoption in progress, I find this process to be less than palatable. We've experienced delay after disappointing delay--and it feels like our risk period will never end. At this point, our court hearing will be around October 15th. When every day seems like a week, that date appears to be far in the distance. Please pray that this adoption will be protected and that we will have patience and strength as we wait for God's perfect timing.