Catching up...

Cristian came over to play yesterday!

Zack...kicking Cristian.

Cristian...defending himself.

Zack was SUPER wired today and was bouncing off the walls. I thought it'd be nice for him to get outside and play, so I plopped him in the yard with a hose. He's never played in water like that before, so it was very intriguing to him.

"Uhm, I'm not too sure about this, Mom. It's pretty cold water."

Memorial Day BBQ...

We had a Memorial Day BBQ at my brother and sister-in-law's today. The timing was perfect because it started to rain just after everyone finished eating.

Zack, Tara, Cal and (naked) Kasey.

"High 5, Uncle Clint!"

Cal and his Daddy, Clint.

"Here, Cal...go play with Zack."

"Oh look! They're playing so nicely together!"

Zack: "No, Cal! I'm playing with it!"

Clint, Cal and Kasey. Needless to say, Kasey is a little attached to his Uncle Clint.

Uh-oh!...

The other day, I took Zack to a local antique shop to look around. When I walked in, pushing Zack in his stroller, the little old lady that ran the shop said to me, "Look at that hair! Do you put hot rollers in HER hair?" Although HE was wearing overalls and a dark blue shirt, she was still under the impression that HE was a SHE because of the huge pile of curly hair on his head. I decided right then and there that we just had to do something about it. Today, Rich and I sat our sweet boy down and shaved his head. That's right...the afro is no more. His "soul patch", however, is more noticeable than ever now!

"BEFORE"

We cut off enough hair to make a sweater.

"AFTER"

He looks like a toddler!

Everything...

As I drove home from a friend's house in Roseville today with my sleeping child in the back seat, a song came on the radio that caught my attention. I looked in my mirror to see the precious gift that God has given us sweetly sucking on his paci without a care in the world...and the song said it all...."Would you tell me how it could be any better than this?"...

"Everything"

by Lifehouse

Find Me Here

Speak To Me

I want to feel you

I need to hear you

You are the light

That's leading me

To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.

You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.

You are the light to my soul.

You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.

You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.

You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.

Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need

You're everything,everything

You're all I want your all I need

You're everything, everything.

You're all I want you're all I need.

You're everything, everything

You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Vroom Vroom!

I caught Zack playing with his ride on car making "vroom vroom!" noises tonight. It was the funniest thing, so I snuck up on him and got it on tape. (Make sure to pause the music player on the page before pressing "play" on the video.)

Adoption party...

On April 28th, we finalized Zack's adoption. Our friend Rebecca came to our adoption party at the park to take some professional photos for us of the big event. She did a fantastic job! If anyone is interested in contacting her about her work, please visit www.myspace.com/soulfocusphotography .

Inspecting every blade of grass.

I LOVE this picture!

Logan chillin' in his stroller.

I am humbled...

Today, on Mother's Day, I am humbled. I am humbled to be the one chosen to care for such an amazing and beautiful work of God's hands. I am humbled that several people were willing to sacrifice their own wants in order for me to be a mother and for Zack to have a different kind of life. I am humbled that such an attentive, loving, comforting and compassionate husband was chosen to be at my side. Today, I am humbled.

Thank you, Jess, for the ultimate sacrifice you've made. I think of you and pray for you every day in gratitude for what you have done. You have changed our lives forever. I honor you and thank you for this gift.

8 months ago today, our son was born...

Jess, looking more beautiful than ever.

The first picture taken of me and Zack.

Zack when he was just shy of one day old.

Sisters for life. Zack has two women who love him more than anything in the whole world. It doesn't get any better than that.

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make yours one.

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first gave you life and the second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

One gave you up ~ it was all that she could do,

The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you;

And now you ask me through your tears,

the age old question through the years;

Heredity or environment ~ which are you the product of?

Neither my darling, neither ~ just two different kinds of love.

Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone ~ nevertheless my very own

Never forget for a single minute, you werenʼt born under my heart but in it.