ONE YEAR AGO TODAY

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY WE LANDED ON U.S. SOIL AFTER BEING IN GUATEMALA FOR 8 LONG BUT REWARDING MONTHS . THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF AND REQUESTED WAS:





FOOD FOOD AND MORE FOOD


HEAVEN ON EARTH

MY DAD COOKING

MY MOM AND ARIANNA

A VERY TIRED BUT HAPPY ME WITH MY BOYS

IT IS COLD HERE

MARK AND MY DAD CATCHING UP

MY SISTER KRISTIN

MY SIL CAMILLE

TAYLOR AND BRAYDEN

ANGELIKA AND BRAYDEN



MORE TO COME .....

FFF

Me with my handsome boys

My darling nephew

TAGGED

I have been tagged by Holly and Lou .

The rules are to link the person who sent this and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours~Post the rules on your blog~Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself~Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and link their blog~Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


I read magazines backwards


I hate walking on snow ...... the crunch - crunch gives me the chills


I do not like sweets ... I would way rather eat a pickle over chocolate


My family calls me the "hispanic stalker" when we go to walmart :)


I hate the feel of socks and NEVER wear them .... not even in the winter


I am very claustrophic and will NOT go in carwashes EVER


I sleep better on the floor than in a bed




I tag
Amy Lisa Donna Teresa Amy Natalie Kristy :)

A greater purpose

I want to thank everybody for there awesome responses regarding the birthmother search. I read them all and am going to really think and pray about this. I will keep you updated.

During our adoption I always knew I would feel called to Guatemala forever. I had visions of going back and doing mission work and giving back. I do plan on doing that someday .. but for now I have been called to helping the Hispanics in our area and what a mission that is. You can never imagine what is in your own backyard until you look.... and you don't have to look far. I have seen that same desperate look that I never thought I would see again after I left Guat. I laugh though 'cause my bad spanish doesn't get me to far !! .... Anyways my point is that I have been so blessed by these people and in a way feel like it is very healing (after "seeing what I saw" in Guatemala) to try and give back to the culture. The adoption of the twins has a greater purpose and I am excited .... watching it unfold.

Now on to the silly twinsies.

First french braid

Growing up to fast ..

Brayden and his friend Yael from Mexico .... don't they look alike !!??

Brayden telling me off for some reason :)

Anyone wanna see my belly

Arianna the bag lady

Birthmother Search

To search or not ...... that is the question !!?? What do you all think ??

FFF

PART ONE

This is where I found the twinkies ..........

Having so much fun ......... UNTIL

mean mommy came and shut off the water ...

PART TWO

Angelika headlocking Taylor -- you go girl !!

Dads home :) Welcome to the chaos !! At this point I usually say ADIOS and go on my mini -ever so relaxing - vaca to TARGET .

Sneaky Sneaky

shhhhhhh............................. Don't tell Taylor

Here I am sitting in my favorite spot in his room digging in his stuff

You see if he finds out I will be in BIG trouble .....

I am talking HUGE trouble .......

And then it will be ALL over .......all over :)

This and That

Brayden is looking at me like I am crazy . Maybe 'cause it is still winter and they are in short sleeves ...... I went to Gymboree and couldn't resist . Is anyone else ready for spring !!??

Arianna and her brown belly :)

Brayden and his beautiful eyes :) The eyes is always what got me when I was researching Guat adoptions .... and they still do !!

Dig in

Mr. Latin lips is back :)

Who needs a straw ??

They have different sour faces :)

Wow ... after watching Dateline last night I tucked the babies in a little tighter and thanked God a little more that they are home safe and sound. It truly is a miracle that I will try to never take for granted. And of course I will be saying extra prayers for all the in process families .

PS Has anyone ever had Mexican Meatballs ?? My sister made them tonight and they are so good. I will post the recipe tomorrow.

Help a family

Go visit JuJu's Crew to see if you can help a wonderful family !!!

FFF - SISTERS

This picture is so funny because growing up I was always the peacemaker between my two sisters ....... looks like I am still caught in the middle !! :)

Ms Independent in her element

HI , mom I don't need help and if you try I will scream :)

I can take them off BY MYSELF and put them on by myself and undress myself and make a HUGE mess all by myself :)

Tasting her food--- hope its not made in china . How do you keep track ?

She loves her kitchen but is momma bear if any one else tries to enter

Singing away as she cooks :)

It needs a little cheese ~~

Today my mom took the twins for a few hours ..... SO nice. I even got to eat and enjoy it. I ate a bagel and had time to put butter AND jam on it !!! OH ..... the simple things in life !!

Journal Entry #1

Going back and forth in my mind from this (pure heaven on earth) ..........

to this ( pure he**) has left me a little distraught.

I am going to try to start writing about my experiences so maybe then I will have peace in my mind and be able to sort out my feelings . Right now I just feel like my mind is one jumbled mess of emotions.

Dear Country of Guatemala ,

First off I want to thank you for giving me the 2 greatest gifts -- for that I will never be able to repay you. But I do have to tell you that living in your beautiful country for 8 months has left me with a great deal of turmoil and sleepless nights. Your people are some of the most beautiful people inside and out that I have ever met ... have you forgotten about them ?? The look in there eyes of PURE desperation will never leave me and has left me feeling very unsettled. Please bring it all back to whats most important ... your people. Yours Truly, a forever changed , forever thankful , sleepless , adoptive mom .

Braydens Self Defense :)

The boys scheming

**Brayden is making much progress is this area :)

** Taylor watches this and is very PROUD , he says he taught this to Bray .... sound effects and all :)

**In the beginning you will hear Arianna say she is 2 then she says "mala" cause she knows that it is my next question:)

** Her shirt is off and Braydens came off a few minutes later cause they got "wet". They get one little drip on themselves and they have to be changed :) OH the drama !!!!

ORANGES

FFF - FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Boy , it looks like we have alot of kids :)