Happy Memorial Day!

Well, I have decided that the next best thing to having family leave is getting a day off for a holiday soon after!!! I am so excited to have Monday off with the kiddos! Gina was kind enough to take a couple of pics with me in them today! I have made some final decisions regarding the pics for their "announcement" cards, and I will be sending them out next week some time. If you would like one let me know! If I work with you, I'll deliver it. If I don't know your address, feel free to send it to me via email at dmrgirl85@yahoo, and I'll happily send you one so you can have it as a reminder of the miracles God does when we are willing to step out in faith.

I have thought much about the "stepping out in faith" part of adopting Zack and Sophia. Sometimes when I look at it all on paper, it seems like an insane venture. I wonder how I got through all of the paperwork and "Russian hoops." I wonder how God will pave the path ahead of us. I wonder where He'll lead us, and how He'll care for us. Faith is a cool thing. It is so invisible yet made up of so many tangible pieces.

When I look into Zack and Sophia's eyes and see them smiling from their very souls, I am reminded of the burden of emptiness they carried when I first met them. I am often reminded of the blank stare Sophia had. She seemed so void of feeling - so afraid to smile. And, Zack eager to see me but clearly so apprehensive filled with the fear that I wouldn't return for him. Now, those fears are gone and that burden has been lifted. They can smile instead of carrying the weight of the world.

As I seek to carry that weight for them, I covet your prayers. I want to be the best mom I can be. I want to give them a well rounded upbringing. I want them to love with all of their hearts and to live for Christ and as a byproduct experience true joy.

I have never before noticed how much marketing is geared towards children! Within two weeks, my kids knew Sponge Bob, Dora, Shrek, The Incredibles, Spider Man, Superman and Hello Kitty to name a few. I realized this as I would walk through the market, and they would yell out the names of these American characters. They would want the crackers, cookies or cereal just because of the picture. Well, to be fair these pictures are even on yogurt and string cheese now!

This is not a huge issue for me, however, it definitely made me very aware of the influences that creep in unexpected. I'm not one to say no to cartoons or to throw out the television, but I am one who wants my kids not to be controlled by the media.

What brings me joy is not the tube teaching them English. It is the sound of the harmonica Sophia is playing right now. It is the sight of Zack finishing a 300 piece puzzle. It is a colored page; a sand castle built; a splash in the pool; a kiss on the cheek; the hug of an uncle; the snuggle from grandma; the tickle from an auntie. Kids are kids for such a short time. I hope to protect that as much as I can while enabling them to be socially skilled.

Oh, the wonder of it all. I could go on and on today. It is just one of those thinking kind of days.

In the words of Zack and Sophia, "See joo later"!