We had a big moment of Celebration last night in this long process of adopting our son through Haiti. You see this paperwork below? Big news… It’s out of IBESR.

I’ve celebrated with other families as they have been informed of the progress of their papers. And I must say I underestimated the pure screaming joy and what it would feel like to be personally told the same news. I could not stop running around the house and screaming. Then the girls started screaming. And then we hit the play button on our favorite black eyed peas song and danced away. Then facebook and texting and phone calls. Whew! what a time.It’s just one small step but it’s a huge step. Momentum can to do the heart good. So we celebrate answered prayer. We now change our prayer from getting our papers out of IBESR to getting them into MOI. And most important of all we keep praying for our dear friends who are still waiting to get their papers in the system. My heart continues to break for them as they wait. But I know I will be celebrating with them one day soon where this same news that we got yesterday will penetrate their hearts and bring them so much joy…. and we’ll continue to celebrate each step.

My dad just called and asked what my news was.  I’m very sorry I’ve kept delaying things.  It’s just a time issue and I’m at work right now and am slammed and need some more time to get my post ready.  And I hope it will live up to all the excitement…. now there is way too much pressure….

Do you know what my dad thinks my news is?  He said, “are you pregnant?”  Um, NO DAD.  That is not my news and I think I hollered in there somewhere. ARE YOU CRAZY! 

Look for it this weekend.  Regardless it will be up by Monday for sure.

Much love to you all.  Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!!!!

My announcement that is.  Was supposed to share news yesterday but I’ve got to catch up from Izzie’s birthday party that we had last night.  Sorry there has been delay. Look for a post tonight on what is coming next for me…..   I’m very excited about it!!!!

(I’m still waiting on Wendy to get me a picture of us together when she downloads it.  Until then this one will have to do.)

This past Saturday Wendy and I completed our half marathon that we’ve been training for the past few months.  It was a good race.  I felt really good.  The anticipation and then the actaul training for one is what actually does me in.  We had full steam crossing the finish line which I give credit to the Jeff Galloway walk run method.  It was hard to make ourselves walk the minute during the first 4 miles because there is such momentum going but it was so funny because at the end, the last few miles we were passing people left and right with a shocking pace.  Felt good.

So now what?  Glad you asked.  I’ve got some more shocking news coming that I’m going to post tomorrow.  I’m even shocking myself with what’s next.  If you have heard my voice over the past month you would know that the shoes were to be put up after this race.  A much needed break from running and planned run schedules.

And then you hear a whisper.  An urge in your heart that let’s you know you are not done yet.  Maybe this “year of running” was meant for something more?  That maybe these runs have all been part of a bigger picture that is being created but it’s just not done yet?  No, I’m not running a marathon.  Maybe one day.  Although I highly doubt it. But I do think what is next is so fitting for me personally and on my journey.  I can’t wait to tell you about it.  Keep posted!

Wiggle, Jiggle, Snore Cow Moo.

That is the title of the book Emma wrote a few weeks ago.  She came home from school one day earlier this month and proceeded to sit on the kitchen counter working on a masterpiece!  At one point she came and asked for a stapler.  I was occupied with getting some work done so I found one and handed it off without really paying attention.  Then she comes to me and says, “mom, I just wrote a book.”

I must say it is the cutest children’s book about a farmer who has a cow who wiggles, jiggles, snores, and moo’s and keeps the farmer up and all the other animals.  It put the farmer in crisis mode, and well you’ll just have to read it to find out what the farmer does.  I was so surprised when she first read it to me and to see her story unfold in her eyes.  Unhindered by her parents or others correcting her.  It’s raw and it’s brilliant.

The best thing about this book for Emma is that she took it to school and read it to her teacher.  Then her teacher said she must read it to her principle and then the principle said she could be on the morning show and read it to the whole school.  That is happening today.  I’m not kidding when I say she popped up like it was Christmas morning and told me she must get to school early today.

I’m thankful for Emma and her imagination and for her love of art and drawing. Thankful for people who encourage her daily to use her imagination to dream and create.  I know we wish that for all of our kids.  Just celebrating today with her on something she’s so proud of.  Anyone know how to get these kind of books published?  I think she may be on to something!

Till Dave and I are in Haiti and spending some time with Frankie!  Can’t wait!

I guess that means I better get my game plan together for who is watching the girls while we are gone.  That probably would be a good thing to do.  Any takers?

Today was a great day.  Woke up in NC to a pot of coffee brewing and then to breakfast made for us by my sweet sister-in-law and brother-in-law.  I’m sitting in the back seat of the car between my 2 girls heading to a museum in Raleigh. (did you know that all of them here are free?) The girls LOVED it and so did this mom.  It was such a happy day.  Many times today my mind drifted towards the Ivey family.  Story came home yesterday.  As an adopting parent in the process of a Haitian adoption I just really can’t describe the joy there is when you get to see and know that one of the families in this process… their children come home. No words really.

Aaron said this on his blog last night…. (and I had to post the pictures he posted below.  Just so priceless!)

thanks to my brother TIM for some amazing photos at tonight’s Homecoming in the Austin airport.  Jamie & Story arrived in the airport at 7pm to a crowd of 35+ friends with balloons, posters, and tears.  What a picture of the Church!!  wow.  I’ve posted a few of Tim’s pics on the blog… and you can visit his site to check out his other great shots.  and thanks to everyone that showed up at the airport tonight to welcome Story home!

a bit of UPDATE about her health..
Jamie took her to Dell Children’s ER. as soon as the ER heard the context of adoption, 3rd world, sick, etc… they immediately took her in. this was about 2.5 hours ago (9pmCST).
doctors are concerned about odd symptoms in relation to unknowns of where she’s from.
they took her to a room immediately.  the doctor came in and said, “are you Aaron Ivey’s wife? i know your story and we’re going to take really good care of this little girl.” turns out, he goes to The Stone.  what a Divine action to allow someone who knows us be caring for our daughter the very night she comes home with sickness.
they are running all kinds of tests right now…so many unknowns…checking for spinal meningitis…xrays…etc.  so far, no results…or thoughts on what might be wrong.  she has a fever, very lethargic, has slept 20 hours a day, can’t use her legs, screams because head hurts.

she’ll be there for a while.  i’m glad some of Jamie’s friends are hanging out with her tonight.  and my brother is texting me play-by-play from Story’s hospital room.  i’m counting down the hours to when i get on my plane home tomorrow.

Praying for Story as the doctors figure out what can help her get better.

Came downstairs today to find this.  Looks like she is following in her mothers footsteps!  But maybe she’ll decide to actually teach once she goes ahead and gets her degree!

Thankful for our amazing public but oh so private like school and it’s teachers who are investing so much into Emma’s life.

This past week I did something crazy.  Something that I should not have done.  We got home late one night and Emma was asking if she could get her hair cut shorter.  It’s been getting a bit long and a bit stringy looking.  So I told her to head to the back porch and I would “trim” her hair.  OK, I can’t even believe I’m about to admit this next part.  Anyway I proceed to chop off a good chunk of the back of her hair and then I go on to Layer her hair and give a short style.

Here is the big problem.  I don’t cut hair.  I’ve never really cut hair and here I go chopping off my daughters beautiful hair and act like I have some sort of degree in cosmetology.  What was I thinking???

The good news is that I believe it turned out ok.  It actually looks pretty darn cute.  If you think it looks chopped up or you may think you have a comment about it… can you just lie to me and tell me you love it and think it’s way too adorable?  So there you have it.  Who does this kind of stuff?  Apparently I do.  I’m crazy and there is a little part of me that thinks I’m losing my mind.  It will grow back…  that is the good news.

Before: (by the way this was picture day at school and I spent 40 minutes curling her hair for her) just some info so you don’t think I was totally crazy for cutting her hair off.  Here hair was getting long and stringy looking.

After: (Again no comments unless they are the positive kind)