Things I've Learned...

Things I've Learned

 

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles 3 things: A rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas trees lights.

 

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same as making a "life."

 

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back.

 

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.  But, if you focus on you family, your friends, and the needs of others, your work and doing the best you can, happiness will find you.

 

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

 

I've learned the everyday, you should reach out and touch someone.  People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

 

People will forget what you said...people will forget what you did...but people will never forget how you made them feel.

2013...

"Already in my heart, someday in our arms."
I saw this quote on the one and only Pinterest (LOVE that website) and it really hit home.  When you go through something as infertility/adoption you truly love the child that is going to come to your home long before you actually get to hold them in your arms.  The problem is that it sucks waiting to get to meet them.  We pray and pray every night that a little miracle will join our family.  And that we will be ready when the opportunity come up. 
I have never really been one that reads Horoscopes but for some reason I read my 2013 overview and I am extremely hopeful! It says its the year of fabulous expansion of sweetness and love galore.  So listen up 2013,  DO NOT LET ME DOWN!!!  Please be our year...please give Mady a sibling,  she needs one in a really bad way. Please give us a baby to hold and raise and take care of.  So I guess if I have to say my actual New Years resolution's they would be:

• Lose the 10 lbs I have been wanting to for the last 5 years ( problem is, I don't do anything to help this.  So they will be there next year I am sure of it.)
• Be more positive
• Don't feel sorry for us.  Yes Infertility is hell but, it lead us to Mady and I wouldn't change it for the world and it will lead us to our next child.  It is a nasty blessing.  Nevertheless, a blessing.  And our situation could be so much worse.
• Enjoy the little things more. 

I was going to upload a couple of Holiday photos but surprise, it won't let me right now.  So this will be a picture-less post. We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season, we did.  We were very blessed to get to spend it with our families and loved ones.  Christmas has always been special to me but when your kids are old enough for it it really kind of rocks!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!  We love this time of year.  We are very blessed and extremely fortunate.  We would just like to wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a very Merry Christmas.  May you be blessed!

Happy Holidays!

We just wanted to wish you all a very Happy holiday season.  I love this time of year, the lights, the music, the smells, the shopping, the family parties, the giving, the service, Holly (our elf on the shelf), the snow-when we get it, and most of all the spirit that we get to feel when we remember the true reason of Christmas.  It truly is a wonderful and magical time of year.
Oh yeah and we are still partially patiently waiting for a very special gift.  Hopefully this will be the last year that Mady gets WAY too many presents, because she will have someone to share them with!  She will be THE BEST SISTER ever.  I know she tells me every day :)

Thankful...

On good ol' Facebook everybody posts everyday something they are thankful for, but me.  I like it but it seems like all of the answers are the same, don't be offended. But I do love this time of year.  I love that Halloween is over ( least favorite holiday). I love the change in the weather and the leaves.  I love all of the family parties and get togethers.  I love ALL of Christmas time and decorating for it.  And I love Thanksgiving. I have ALOT to be thankful for.  So here is my list:

Our family

MADY

Our home and the things in it

Our friends

The fact that Pat has a job and he loves what he does and that he can NEVER be fired

Our health

Those who sacrifice to keep us safe

Skype

Our community and country

The fact that we can give gifts to those in need during the holiday season

Our trials

Our church and the leaders

Doctors and medicine that are continuing to try and help us grow our family

Mady's birth mother...

And her mother

 Cell phones so that I can talk to my sister all day, everyday

That Mady LOVES LOVES LOVES all of her Papa's and Grandma's

That we got the opportunity to take Mady along with the extended family to Disneyland.

On the days that I have myself a little pity party wondering why me I need to remember all of these things that I have I realize that I have a WONDERFUL life.  I just hope that we can all enjoy the up coming holiday season and be safe and healthy with our loved ones.  We are still waiting for a special connection with somebody and pray that you will all come into our lives soon.



Yep...

we are still here and still just waiting. WAITING for someone to feel a connection with us.  To be blessed with a tiny little newborn that will be loved more than imagined.  To have a relationship with a wonderful birth family, one that only a small hand full of people on this earth have GET to have.  To LOVE a complete stranger for the AMAZING opportunity they give to us.  To be super tired because I was up feeding and cuddling.  To have little onesies that have spit up on them. To not buy baby clothes and in the back of my mind wonder if it was a waste of money.  BUT... in the MEAN TIME  I will continue to explain to Mady that we are waiting for Jesus to send us a baby before we buy diapers, and bottles, and binkies.  I will hold babies of family and friends and cuddle them as much as possible and tell myslef soon, soon it will be our turn. I will kiss and hug and tickle Mady. Laugh at her dancing. Count down the days until she can be the greatest big sister EVER.  And be SO very GRATEFUL for her and the BLESSING that she is in our lives. Think about her wonnderful birth mom that gave us something that we couldn't give ourselves.  In the mean time we will just be happy with the lives we live and the blessings we have, we are fortunate.  We will just keep waiting...

House Pictures

Sorry I could not get this to turn right, the kitchen.

Our bedroom

Formal living room

The babies room, just waiting to paint it either blue or pink:)

Mady's room

The view on our back patio.