tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15372228986666134162024-03-13T01:06:50.533-07:00Lee, Me, and the Girlsleemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.comBlogger797125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-34096705291149544262017-02-07T10:02:00.000-08:002017-02-07T10:02:12.805-08:00Uganda or Bust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrY3z_MHMU6_4wTG9H_9i5LvtsYYOCwOv6JWVNKciYAGpOpUekt6zdOB2j_p_bKokIzzmOyBa07wI6GD09TlcAYQhD7bTQOlyqNdGr_SQNEVJFjXEr9qrXtWeKAcBxH1rFB1O9BtsjQTl/s1600/FullSizeRender+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrY3z_MHMU6_4wTG9H_9i5LvtsYYOCwOv6JWVNKciYAGpOpUekt6zdOB2j_p_bKokIzzmOyBa07wI6GD09TlcAYQhD7bTQOlyqNdGr_SQNEVJFjXEr9qrXtWeKAcBxH1rFB1O9BtsjQTl/s640/FullSizeRender+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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As you may have heard by now, </div>
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this girl and I, along with our friend Erin, </div>
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are heading to Uganda in May to serve with <a href="http://www.solehope.org/">Sole Hope</a>. </div>
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(You can read more about the work Sole Hope is doing and why I think it's so very important <a href="http://leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-girl-with-jazz-shoes.html">here</a>.) </div>
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And we can't wait. </div>
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But first, we've got to sell some t-shirts. </div>
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If I've learned anything in the past few years, </div>
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it's the fundraising is humbling. </div>
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It's hard to put yourself out there and ask people to join you and stand beside you while you step out in faith to do whatever it is you believe you've been called to do. </div>
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I wish you could see Libby's face every time someone places an order. </div>
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It's like you rang our doorbell, looked her in the face, and told her, </div>
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"I believe in you, and I support what you're trying to do."</div>
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If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: </div>
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If you wanna make me feel loved, love my littles. </div>
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And you guys are loving us so very well. </div>
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The love has come pouring in from all across the country, </div>
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and I seriously wish I could high five and fist bump each and every one of you. </div>
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I've been to Africa five times. </div>
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And each of those times, </div>
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Libby has begged to come with me. </div>
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But this time? </div>
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This time, she will. </div>
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And it's not too late for you to help us get there. </div>
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Simply head <a href="http://www.ugandaorbust.bigcartel.com/">HERE</a> and purchase the shirt you're loving. </div>
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And then imagine me and Libby happy dancing in the kitchen. </div>
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You only have until next Wednesday, February 15th to place your order. </div>
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So run, don't walk. </div>
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And thank you from the bottom of my mama heart. </div>
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-67616592689475145802017-02-02T18:45:00.001-08:002017-02-02T18:45:49.328-08:00So I'm taking my daughter to Africa....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you may have heard by now, </div>
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Libby and I (and our dear friend Erin) are headed to Uganda in May....</div>
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and I absolutely can't wait. </div>
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But while I'm over the moon excited and counting the sleeps until we leave, </div>
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I'm sure that a few of you will raise an eyebrow at this news. </div>
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In the six years since I fell in love with a land far, far away, </div>
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I've pretty much heard it all. </div>
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<i>Why would you ever want to go back? </i></div>
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<i>How can it possibly be safe? </i></div>
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<i>Why don't you just serve here? </i></div>
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( I won't even begin to talk about the things people have said in regards to our adoption; </div>
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that's a post for another day.)</div>
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While I don't hear remarks like these as often any more, </div>
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(Pretty sure people gave up on trying to convince me not to go back after the second, third, fourth, or fifth times....)</div>
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I don't doubt that there are people out there</div>
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(maybe even someone reading this now?)</div>
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who simply can't understand why I would take my twelve year old daughter across the world. </div>
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Where do I even begin? </div>
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I'm pretty sure I could talk about this for days on end, </div>
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but for your sake,</div>
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I'll try to keep it simple. </div>
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JESUS.</div>
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Yes, Jesus. </div>
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God has called us to serve. </div>
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He's told us to love our neighbors. </div>
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He's told us to treat others as we would want to be treated.</div>
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And I am certain that the word 'neighbors' is limited to the people living next door. </div>
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I want my children to know more than their own towns. </div>
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I want them to see the ways other people live. </div>
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Yes, materially many people we will meet will have less than us. </div>
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But do material things equate happiness? Joy? Quality of life? </div>
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I'm pretty sure you know my answer. </div>
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By seeing where and how other people live, </div>
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we can better understand and empathize and relate to others. </div>
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We become more aware of what matters. </div>
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Our perspective shifts.</div>
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Our hearts stretch just a little bit bigger. </div>
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I mean with all of my heart when I say I fully believe the greatest joy we can experience on this Earth comes from serving others, and if my daughters learn only one lesson from me as their mother, this is the one I hope they learn. </div>
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God has called us to love. </div>
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We are never too young to do that. </div>
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As long as we are capable and able, </div>
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we should serve others whenever and wherever possible.</div>
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It's our responsibility as Christians, </div>
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as families, </div>
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and as people. </div>
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I can't wait for my daughter to experience the beauty that is Uganda. </div>
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I can't wait for her to see more of this world that God has created. </div>
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I can't wait for her to step foot in the land I love so dearly. </div>
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I can't wait for to step outside of her comfort zone in the name of serving others. </div>
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So yes, I'm taking my daughter to Africa....</div>
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and I absolutely cannot wait. </div>
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-39494398110957166472017-01-24T16:25:00.001-08:002017-01-24T16:25:23.571-08:002017: Resolutions and My Word for the Year<br />
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So clearly I'm a little late to the game, </div>
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but seeing as how it's still technically January and still early in the year, </div>
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I've spent some time thinking about what I want from this year. </div>
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The past three years of my life can be summed up in one little word: </div>
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adoption. </div>
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If I wasn't crying or praying or filling out paperwork then I was fundraising or planning or traveling to Africa. </div>
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The aftermath of that? </div>
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Well, who am I now?</div>
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What do I want to do next? </div>
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How can I work towards something that will be as meaningful as that was? </div>
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We don't feel called to adopt again, at least not any time soon. </div>
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And while I would love to buy a one way ticket to the land I love, </div>
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we aren't there yet either. </div>
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And while there is a little something on the horizon (more details to come soon), </div>
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WHAT'S NEXT is still a work in progress. </div>
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<u>Here's what I do know: </u></div>
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<b><i>I want this year to matter. </i></b></div>
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Adoption (while totally worth it because EVIE) was hard and consuming. </div>
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There are things I pushed aside while spending all that time filling out forms, </div>
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and this year I am playing catch up, which leads me to my word for the year: </div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>INVEST. </b></div>
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I want to invest more in my family. </div>
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I want to invest more in my body.</div>
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<i>(You try being paper pregnant for three years and let me now how well your jeans fit.)</i></div>
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I want to invest more in my friends. </div>
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I want to invest more in my marriage. </div>
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<b><u>Here are some others things I'm dreaming about for 2017: </u></b></div>
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-More reading time and less TV time. </div>
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-More recognizing birthdays and important events in the lives of people I love. </div>
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-More date nights. (Can I get an AMEN?)</div>
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-More time in the Word. </div>
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-More prayer time spent listening and less time spent talking. </div>
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-More intentional memory making for our family. </div>
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<i><b>What are YOU resolving to do in 2017? </b></i></div>
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Do tell. </div>
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-76511843325360026022017-01-23T19:57:00.000-08:002017-01-23T19:57:06.324-08:00Eight months home. <div style="text-align: center;">
Eight months. </div>
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I can't believe she's been home that long. </div>
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It seems like yesterday when I first saw her face.</div>
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To say she's amazing would be such an understatement. </div>
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This little girl is so smart, so funny, and so perfectly made for our family. </div>
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She is our little balancer. </div>
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She brings out the best in Libby and plays for hours on end with Hollyn, </div>
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and I just couldn't be more in love with her. </div>
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I know this sounds so rosey, but she fits to seamlessly into our family. </div>
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Her English is amazing. </div>
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She said MIXING last week. </div>
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Such a big word for such a little girl. </div>
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She also asked me why the snowman was wearing a hat, but that's neither here nor there. </div>
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Sharing Christmas with her has been one of my favorite things we've done so far.<br />
Although I must say, have you ever tried explaining all of the Christmas traditions to someone who's completely unfamiliar with our Christmas traditions?<br />
It's actually harder than you may think.<br />
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I'd be lying if I said it hasn't be an adjustment;<br />
adding a person of any age to your family requires making some changes.<br />
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But at the end of the day, she is one of my best YES's.<br />
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-30292623497162397312016-08-05T07:09:00.002-07:002016-08-05T07:09:36.043-07:00Welcome home, Evie. <div style="text-align: center;">
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May 12, 2016. </div>
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I will never, ever forget the day that our Evie girl came home. </div>
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After three years almost to the day, </div>
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our baby girl, our missing piece, </div>
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our Evie girl finally finally finally came home. </div>
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We are officially a family of five.</div>
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It was truly one of the sweetest moments of my life. </div>
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I was so overwhelmed with how good and big our God is </div>
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and how many people were waiting and praying along with us.</div>
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For all of you who couldn't be at the airport that day or were there and want to relive it all, </div>
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here you go: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/166639890" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/166639890">Evie | Welcome Home</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user25042785">314 Productions</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Thank you again to everyone who joined us to welcome our girl home and to <a href="http://katiekublerphotography.blogspot.com/2016/05/welcome-home-evie.html">Katie Kubler</a> and <a href="http://314productions.com/">Nicole Cole</a> for capturing these moments so very beautifully. </div>
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Welcome home, Evie. </div>
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We've been waiting for you, baby girl. </div>
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-52081459382232036712016-08-05T06:52:00.000-07:002016-08-05T06:52:01.803-07:00And then I cried. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been quiet around here.</div>
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It's not that I haven't had anything to say, but more that we've been busy. </div>
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We've been working to find our new normal and become a family of five. </div>
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Evie has been home just shy of three months. </div>
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It's funny to even say that because it honestly feels like she's always been here. </div>
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She has fit so seamlessly into our family. </div>
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But I don't want these memories to be lost-- </div>
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our first memories together. </div>
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We met on a Sunday. </div>
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I saw her get out of the van and just like that, she was mine. </div>
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Here we are within minutes of meeting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7-THIooInwxnFQhknWiBFbjY8M5FB45IF2JfcgpXgvWs-lACqBhvyFtLJaoXBk-R2dYBm57wZ3hT8vQ4XpbrR-2VFLrE0r_dhzCOkheQChR4032t7SRKf8hayg3HZK1Es4HOExrLg61X/s1600/13187931_1753235928246293_1339647847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7-THIooInwxnFQhknWiBFbjY8M5FB45IF2JfcgpXgvWs-lACqBhvyFtLJaoXBk-R2dYBm57wZ3hT8vQ4XpbrR-2VFLrE0r_dhzCOkheQChR4032t7SRKf8hayg3HZK1Es4HOExrLg61X/s400/13187931_1753235928246293_1339647847_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I won't say I was scared. </div>
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I knew that God had planned this and put so many details into place. </div>
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But I will say that I was nervous. </div>
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What if she was scared? </div>
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What if she was sad and longing for her foster mother? </div>
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What if she didn't feel like mine right away? </div>
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But my worries were for nothing. </div>
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Meeting Evie was far better than I could ever dreamed. </div>
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One minute she was a stranger, and the next minute she was family. </div>
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She was my daughter. </div>
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Our time in Congo was short and sweet, </div>
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filled with bubbles and stickers and play-doh and peanut butter crackers </div>
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and lots and lots of waiting. </div>
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And then, just like that, my lawyer showed up at our hotel with our beloved Exit Letter. </div>
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I've never been happier to see a piece of paper in my whole life. </div>
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And then I cried. </div>
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Within an hour, we were headed to the airport and boarding the first of several flights home. </div>
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I won't say that flying with a toddler was the most fun thing I've ever done. </div>
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I will say that for the most part she did very, very well and that I'm thankful for pound cake, headphones, nice strangers, and clean bathrooms. </div>
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After over twenty-four hours of travel, we finally landed in the good ole' US of A. </div>
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And then I cried again. </div>
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America, you just got a little cuter. </div>
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And our family just got a little bigger. </div>
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I'm an adopting mama no more. </div>
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-40942946646880122062016-04-30T10:24:00.000-07:002016-04-30T10:24:11.464-07:00Packing is an art. (#adoptionpackinglist)<br />
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Packing is my jam. </div>
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I love it. </div>
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The planning and organizing and strategically placing all the right things in all the right places-- </div>
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I love all of it. </div>
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Actually, I think it's the fact that I like being prepared. </div>
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<i><b>*NOTE: I'm writing this post before I bring my girl home b/c I have the time to write it now but plan on being too busy with her to write it when I get home. However, I will edit it to reflect any recommendations once we are home and settled. </b></i></div>
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This will be my fifth trip to Africa, </div>
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and I've learned a thing or two about what I really need versus what will waste space in my suitcase. </div>
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And when I did some searching for African adoption packing lists, the posts were in short supply.</div>
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This will probably bore most of my readers, </div>
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but it helps even one Africa-bound traveler or adoptive mom, </div>
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then it will be more than worth the time it took to write it. </div>
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Please note that I am not an over-packer. </div>
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I know what I can get in-country and would rather not carry things I won't use. </div>
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<u>Okay, so first here's what I'm packing in: </u></div>
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-1 large suitcase (This will weigh 50 lbs. or less and will be checked and stored under the plane.)</div>
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-1 carry-on, small suitcase (This has my adoption paperwork and enough food and clothes to sustain me and Evie should my check bag be delayed.)</div>
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-1 Kavu sling bag (This will be my personal item that will sit under the seat in front of me. It has all the things I will need on the plane in it.)</div>
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<i><b><u>NOTE: </u></b>This list will vary from one person to the next. Everyone has different food preferences, medical needs, and comforts of home. Also, the list will vary depending on the age of you child and whether he or she has any special needs or medical issues. My daughter is between 2-3 years old and has no known medical issues. </i></div>
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<b>Okay, so here's what's in each bag: </b></div>
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<b><u>LARGE SUITCASE: </u></b></div>
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<b><u>RANDOM ITEMS: </u></b></div>
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-1 roll of paper towels </div>
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-3 small washcloths</div>
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-2 towels (The towels in Africa are notoriously bad. I always take one with me to Africa and then leave it there. This frees up room in my suitcase for souvenirs.)</div>
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-1 hand towel (to use for washing my face, brushing our teeth, etc. This could also be used for cooking.)</div>
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- 2 travel packs of Lysol wipes</div>
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-2 packs of baby wipes</div>
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-1 package of disposable bowls (Bowls can be used in place of plates, but not vice versa. These are invaluable in Congo b/c the water isn't safe to drink or wash dishes with.)</div>
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- a few packs of disposable cutlery</div>
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- a few child-sized spoons and forks</div>
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-a sippy cup ( I suggest bringing two different styles in case your child prefers one over the other. Also, when I met Emily, she knew how to drink out of a regular cup and did so much better than my bio babies, but we needed a non-spill cup for when we were out and about, and I'll want one for Evie on the plane ride home.)</div>
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-a water bottle for me for in-country use</div>
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-several Ziploc bags of various sizes</div>
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-3-4 packs of travel-size disinfecting hand wipes (These are way better than liquid germ-x, as they remove dirt AND germs.)</div>
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-a blanket for Evie (She has most likely never had air-conditioning and will be much colder on the plane, etc. than I will be.)<br />
-shampoo and conditioner for me and Evie<br />
-coconut oil for Evie's skin and hair<br />
-a non-tangle brush for Evie and one for me<br />
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<b><u>FOOD: </u></b></div>
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<u><i>TIP:</i> </u>I pack anything that's crushable in tupperware containers to keep them in one piece. </div>
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-a bag of goldfish</div>
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-several squeezie packs of baby food (Even toddlers enjoy these. They don't require utensils. They're a great way to get some veggies into your kid.)</div>
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-a package of suckers (These are great for keeping your little quiet while you're meeting with government officials, etc. They're also good for little ears on airplane rides.)</div>
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-Fiber One Brownies (It's hard to find vegetables I can eat in Africa that won't make me sick, and a girl needs her fiber. This is my compromise when I travel.)</div>
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-a few packs of travel-size trail mix</div>
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-2-3 bags of beef jerky </div>
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-2-3 boxes of raisins for Evie</div>
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-instant coffee individual packets (I CAN'T STAND airplane coffee but can't stand the thought of traveling without coffee.)</div>
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-individual coffee creamers </div>
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-Propel drink mixes </div>
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-Crystal Light packs with caffeine (These tend to help when I'm feeling jet-lagged.)</div>
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-several packs of oatmeal (I like the kind with extra protein.)</div>
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- all the bars (They're easy to carry around when you're out and about, and you don't have to touch them to eat them. I try to bring some that are packed with protein.)</div>
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-several packs of individual peanut butter (These are great for little ones. They can eat them with a spoon, and then you can just throw them away. They also take a little longer to eat and are more filling than crackers, etc.)</div>
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-canned chicken with pop-top lids </div>
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-rice (I usually bring instant b/c it's easier to cook if you simply have access to hot water.)</div>
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-instant mashed potatoes (also good with just hot water access)</div>
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-tortillas (easier to pack and last longer than bread. Plus, I actually LOVE the bread I've eaten in African countries, so I try to buy some when I can. These can be used with peanut butter or chicken.)</div>
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- a can of Pringles (comfort food, and the can helps keep them in tact)</div>
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-Belvita breakfast crackers (Blueberry is my favorite.)<br />
-two pre-packaged camping meals that one require adding boiling water<br />
-some candy and chocolate (Comfort food :) )</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>MEDICINE: </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- tweezers</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-band-aids</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-toddler safe Vapo-rub stick </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-toddler tylenol (chewable)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-toddler benadryl (chewable) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-toddler cold and cough medicine (chewable) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Lotrimin for ringworm</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- a lice kit<br />
-precription cream for Scabies</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-children's Pepto</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-children's Bonine (for motion sickness)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Neosporin</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-adult Advil</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-adult Pepto</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-immodium (I've taken this every time and never had to use it, but better safe than sorry.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Cipro (prescription antibiotic I'll take if I have stomach troubles or anything else until I can get home to a doctor)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- prescription malaria meds (I prefer Malarone.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Melatonin (adult and children's for the trip home for Evie and for me as needed)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Pedialyte drink mixes (These are for Evie, but I'll use them if I worry about being dehydrated.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-bug bite itch stick </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-travel size essential oils (Thieves, Lavender, DigestZen, bug repellent oil, Tea Tree oil to repel lice)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-adult cold and sinus meds</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Vitamin C chews for the plane</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-adult motion sick meds (Again, I've never had to use these, but better safe than sorry.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-sunscreen (Whether or not you wear in at home, you will want sunscreen when you meet the sun over Africa.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-razor</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-q-tips</div>
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-bar of antibacterial soap</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-small pair of scissors</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>CLOTHES (Mom): </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
--1 pair of flips flops (I can wear these in the room or to step outside, etc. But be careful about wearing flip flops in villages; there are many parasites in African countries that enter the body through the feet.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-1 pair of Converse (which I'll wear on the plane and everyday in country. Any closed toe shoes that you prefer would work though if you're not a Converse fan.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-2-3 long skirts ( You actually don't have to wear these in bigger cities, but I think they're cooler than pants.)</div>
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-5 t-shirts</div>
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-1 nicer shirt that I can wear if I have to go to the Embassy</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-2-3 pairs of pajamas (I always pack something I can sleep in and wear around the hotel, usually Nike shorts and a pair of leggings and t-shirts)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-1 pair of socks in case it's cold at night (I don't wear them with my Converse.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-1 rain jacket (I will wear this on the plane coming and going.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-1 pair of jeans (I will travel in these.) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-unmentionables (Don't forget these, as you'll have a heck of a time finding them in country!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>CLOTHES (Evie): </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-10 pairs of panties (You can't have enough of these.)</div>
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-5 pair of socks </div>
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-3 pairs of shoes in different sizes, since I'm not sure what size she'll actually need</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-7 outfits (a mix of dresses, leggings, and tops. I think I know her size, but I'm not sure, so with a mix, I'm more likely to be able to make it work.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a sweater for the plane ride home</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a few hair accessories</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-5 pairs of pajamas</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>SMALL, CARRY-ON SUITCASE: </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Adoption paperwork</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-neck pillow for the plane (I highly recommend this. Sleep is precious on an airplane.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a converter and phone charger</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-my DSLR camera and charger (don't forget your memory card!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a change of clothes for me and Evie</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a hairbrush</div>
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-a quart size Ziploc bag of liquids (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, contact solution, mouthwash, travel size container of coconut oil)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a Ziploc full of a few diapers (for bedtime and travel home) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-my make-up bag (for the trip home) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Evie's Ergo (I'm packing this here instead of my suitcase b/c I can't replace in country if my bag doesn't arrive.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- a thin diaper changing pad for the plane ride home with Evie</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>KAVU SLING BAG:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-my headphones (the airplane ones are terribly uncomfortable. Mine are comfortable enough to sleep in and help block out the unwanted airplane noises when I'm sleeping.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a pair of compression socks (These are one item would NEVER leave behind! They are such a game changer for long flights!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-all the snacks (Airplane food is lame.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a sleep mask (Again, sleep is at the top of the priority list on an airplane.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-my I-pod</div>
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-a black ink pen to fill out my customs info on the plane</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- small notebook with the address of where I"ll be staying inside of it (also for customs info)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-chapstick (Another item I'd NEVER leave behind!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-meds (Melatonin, malaria pills, Advil, sinus/allergy/cold meds, Vitamin C pills)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-travel pack of Kleenex</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Germ-X</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-antibacterial wipes to wipe my seat tray, armrests, and hands with on the plane (In real life, I'm not a germaphobe AT ALL, but put me on an airplane, and it's a totally different story.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-my cell phone (and a USB cord in case I can charge it on the plane) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-gum</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a small toothbrush and some Wisps disposable travel toothbrushes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS FOR EVIE: </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a small backpack in my suitcase for her to carry on the way home</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a small container of play-doh</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-stickers</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a package of pipe cleaners</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a small toy car</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a Barbie doll</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-a small baby doll</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-balloons</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-some volume control headphones (I normally wouldn't encourage my toddler to watch TV, but when you're traveling for about thirty hours, you do what you have to do.)<br />
-crayons and a coloring book<br />
-magie wonder markers and a magic wonder coloring book<br />
-some Silly Putty<br />
-a ziploc full of little plastic toy animals<br />
<br />
On the way home, I will use her backpack several changes of clothes for her, diapers, a pair of pajamas for the plane for her, and as many snacks for her as I can fit in it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I hope this is helpful to someone one day. And if you're an African adoptive mom who has any additional tips, please leave them in the comments!</i></b></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-79161067027888285342016-04-30T10:19:00.001-07:002016-04-30T10:20:04.089-07:00Sometimes love wins. <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><b>There are so many things to say, and I've been having ALL THE FEELS lately, but let's just sum it up and start at the beginning, shall we? </b></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #494949; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Three years ago, we answered God's call to adopt a little girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We knew this process wouldn't be easy, but we NEVER imagined it would be this hard...or this good.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">In September of 2013, we saw the face of a beautiful little girl, and we just knew that she was ours. We accepted her referral and began the court process for our Emily. And in January of 2015, I went and spent ten days with her. Loving Emily was so easy, and we were blessed to call her our daughter for eighteen months. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">On May 19th of that same year, we lost our beloved Emily when she was reunited with her birth family. That phone call knocked the wind out of our chests. It was so unexpected. It was so out of the blue. It was so painful. And it was so good.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Good, you say?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Yes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 24px;">Good.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">On May 19th,2015, in the same minute that we lost Emily, our agency told us about another little girl in desperate need of a family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Another little girl?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">What?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #494949; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Another little girl. </em></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Even though this certainly wasn't our plan, it wasn't really a question of IF as much as WHEN.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">God didn't call us to adoption because of Emily;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">God called us to adoption because there is a little girl out there in need of a family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We still have room in our home; we still have room in our hearts; we still have room in our family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And there is still a little girl in need of a home. None of those things have changed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We aren't going to lie or sugarcoat it; saying yes to Evie was HARD. While we felt so blessed at the opportunity to say yes, it would have been so much easier to say no. What if someone heard our story and was too scared to yes to adoption? What if we couldn't love Evie the same way we loved Emily? What if she NEVER comes home? What if we lose her too? It was, to put it mildly, a lot. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We had a choice to make. And in August of 2015, after taking some time to pray and seek God's direction for our family, we said yes to Evie and accepted her referral. Evie wasn't our original plan, but God has confirmed time and time again that she was ALWAYS His plan. And we know without a doubt that His plans are ALWAYS better than anything we can attempt to come up with. During these past twelve months, we have fallen so in love with our Evie. Her name, Evelyn, means 'longed for child', and that is nothing short of true.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">During the past three years, a lot of people have told us how admirable we are or how wonderful we are. They've thrown around words like brave and bold and awesome. While those words are very nice, and we recognize that they are coming from a place of love, we have simply been obedient. We turned away from what would have been easy and safe and said yes to Jesus instead. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We don't feel brave. We don't feel awesome. We certainly don't feel like heroes. We feel BLESSED. We get to be a part of God's beautiful story of redemption for this beautiful daughter of His. We get to be her mother, father, and sisters. We get to call her OURS. WHAT A GIFT IS THAT! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">God is so much bigger and better and mightier than we can even begin to understand. And we have seen His goodness in all things. Even in the loss of time and energy, even through all the tears and frustration, even through the heart-ache of losing one daughter to gain another, He was there. He is so immensely good. But please hear us when we say that even if our story never has a happy ending, HE IS STILL THAT GOOD.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #494949; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And it's with the biggest smiles on our faces and hearts FULL of joy that we can say that God has made a way through what has seemed like an impossible situation for so so long; OUR DAUGHTER IS COMING HOME....SOON! He has moved mountains to get her here, and her coming home is nothing short of a miracle.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #494949; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">We literally went from wondering if she would ever come home and thinking that our adoption journey might never have the happy ending we so long for to be packed and ready for a call to travel in three weeks time. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #494949; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Needless to say, it's been a little crazy around here---in literally the best way possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">MY DAUGHTER IS COMING HOME!!!!!!</span></div>
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leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-53266687929197079592016-01-12T14:57:00.001-08:002016-01-12T14:57:44.198-08:00And then she was two. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, </div>
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on the other side of the world, </div>
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my daughter I have yet to meet turns two. </div>
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It's such a strange feeling, </div>
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loving someone so much whom I've never actually met. </div>
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It's also hard for someone who loves birthdays as much as I do to think about the fact that there will be no cake, no presents, and no one celebrating her today. </div>
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My arms literally ache to squeeze her. </div>
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I can't wait until her birthday will involve candles, cake, and all the presents. </div>
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But, so much bigger than that, I can't wait until I can tell her just how happy I am that she was born. </div>
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I can't wait to be her day-to-day mom and do all the things that come with that--</div>
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the good, the bad, and the messy. </div>
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The way my heart longs from her--</div>
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I remember feeling this way when Hollyn was in my belly. </div>
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There was one night towards the end of my pregnancy when I just cried and cried. </div>
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I was SO ready to meet her and just wanted to hold her. </div>
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(I was also obviously very hormonal. Bless it.)</div>
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That's how I feel now. </div>
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I WANT her. </div>
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I can't WAIT until she's here, with her family, in her home. </div>
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My most precious Evie girl, </div>
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YOU are celebrated. </div>
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Happy two years, baby girl. </div>
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And while we can't celebrate this one together, </div>
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I pray that we will have many, many, many birthdays to spend together celebrating the gift that is YOU!</div>
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So, instead of focusing on the sad and allowing this to be a hard day, </div>
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I'm instead focusing on the fact that this birthday you have a family who absolutely adores you and is praying for you and loving you and celebrating you from afar. </div>
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I love you all the way to Africa and back, E. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-61212637126954491162016-01-07T08:51:00.000-08:002016-01-07T08:56:40.537-08:00And If Not, He Is Still Good<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
This is me, writing a blog post.</div>
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I know, I know.</div>
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It's somewhat of a {post} Christmas miracle. </div>
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So, where have I been? </div>
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What have I been doing? </div>
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Why haven't I been blogging? </div>
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2015. </div>
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That's why. </div>
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This year was something else. </div>
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It was one of the worst and best years of my life. </div>
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It was a year of loss, heart-aches, and new beginnings. </div>
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And as hard as this year has been for our family, </div>
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God has used this year to reveal Himself over and over again. </div>
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He's used this year to remind me that He sees me. </div>
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He sees us. </div>
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And no matter what happens or doesn't happen, He is still good. </div>
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He is still in control. </div>
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His plans are always better than mine. </div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>And right now, it seems as if He has another plan for our family.</i></b><br />
<br />
On May 19th we lost our beloved Emily.<br />
That phone call knocked the wind out of my chest.<br />
It was so unexpected.<br />
It was so out of the blue.<br />
It was so painful.<br />
And it was so good.<br />
<br />
Good, you say?<br />
Yes.<br />
<b>Good.</b><br />
<br />
On May 19th, in the same minute that we lost Emily,<br />
our agency told us about another little girl in desperate need of a family.<br />
<br />
Another little girl?<br />
What?<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Another little girl. </i></b><br />
<br />
It wasn't really a question of IF as much as WHEN.<br />
<br />
God didn't call us to adoption because of Emily;<br />
God called us to adoption because there is a little girl out there in need of a family.<br />
<br />
We still have room in our home; we still have room in our hearts; we still have room in our family.<br />
And there is still a little girl in need of a home.<br />
None of those things have changed.<br />
<br />
So, we prayed.<br />
And we waited.<br />
And we prayed some more.<br />
And on July 20th, we said YES.<br />
<br />
Everyone, I'd like to introduce to our newest addition:<br />
<br />
EVIE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFgj85xMCqGRF_DTCFOeZHeIcY3d83gWqcLvo8pvnbwjJvyuWrd2Bwo1oWIleL4FOItS0_ek-ZIclPI61DQsYkqSYnVS11d35XXi3YRerjWtTWKs897SOtZvNRqtmxlN5_1xMkYT_pDjb/s1600/IMG_6457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFgj85xMCqGRF_DTCFOeZHeIcY3d83gWqcLvo8pvnbwjJvyuWrd2Bwo1oWIleL4FOItS0_ek-ZIclPI61DQsYkqSYnVS11d35XXi3YRerjWtTWKs897SOtZvNRqtmxlN5_1xMkYT_pDjb/s640/IMG_6457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And by OUR, I literally mean OURS;<br />
we passed court, making her legally our daughter.<br />
BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT I'VE EVER RECEIVED.<br />
<br />
God is so so good.<br />
This wasn't my plan;<br />
but it was His.<br />
<br />
She is ours.<br />
We have a daughter.<br />
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<b><i>AM I SCARED? </i></b><br />
<br />
I'm terrified.<br />
Losing Emily hurt.<br />
It was so hard. And if we're being honest, it still hurts every day.<br />
What if I fall in love with Evie, and we lose her too?<br />
Well, that will be awful, but not following God's call?<br />
That would be MORE awful.<br />
I'd be lying if I said I didn't view adoption differently now.<br />
I have seen another side of adoption now than when I was waiting for Emily.<br />
With her, I never ever doubted that she would come home;<br />
I never for one second entertained that idea.<br />
With Evie, I know better.<br />
It's not about my plans.<br />
I can make them all day long, but in the end, God's plan?<br />
It's the only one that matters.<br />
So with Evie, every single day that I get to be her mother is a gift.<br />
Every day is a blessing.<br />
SHE is a gift, and being her mother?<br />
What an honor.<br />
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<b><i>AM I EXCITED? </i></b><br />
<br />
I am very, very excited.<br />
The more I learn about her, the more excited I get.<br />
I can't stop staring at her little face and dreaming about the day she'll be here,<br />
in her house with her family.<br />
I don't love her less because I lost Emily,<br />
the same way that I don't love Libby more because she was first baby.<br />
This heart of mine?<br />
It's big enough for them both.<br />
She's not our second choice or our plan B.<br />
She is our DAUGHTER,<br />
and we are thrilled beyond thrilled to welcome her into our hearts and our home.<br />
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<br />
<b><i>WHEN IS SHE COMING HOME?</i></b></div>
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<br />
Do you know?<br />
Because I certainly don't.<br />
We are still several steps away from being ready to bring her home, and on top of that, her country is still under suspension and not allowing anyone to come home right now. So, I'm trying very hard to view it in terms of, "she'll come home when God is ready for her to come home", and not focus on the fact that this whole thing is scary and hard. One step at a time. So, today I'm focused on praying for the speedy arrival of the documents we need to file for our I-600 application. So, if you see me out and about and want to talk to me about how cute she is but don't bother to ask us when she's coming home, that will be fine by me (and I may hug your neck. Consider yourself warned).<br />
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<br />
<b><i>HOW CAN YOU PRAY FOR US? </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Pray for Evie.<br />
Pray for her foster parents, her health, and her little heart.<br />
Pray for paperwork-- all the paperwork-- to go through at a speed so fast I get a little whiplash.<br />
A little whiplash sounds awesome right now.<br />
Pray for my girls; waiting for your little sister is not an easy thing to do.<br />
Pray that 2016 brings Evie HOME.<br />
<br />
We've been in the adoption process for almost three years.<br />
I'm tired and weary.<br />
But Evie?<br />
She's worth pushing on for,<br />
and I'm believing that 2016 is our year.<br />
<br />
And yes, today is my birthday.<br />
Happy 36 years to me.<br />
I can't think of a better to celebrate than by sharing all that God is doing in my life.<br />
If you need me, I'll be busy stuffing my faee with tacos, laughing, and staring a hole into Evie's smile on my phone.<br />
<br /></div>
leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-78586142331917386852016-01-06T20:11:00.000-08:002016-01-06T20:11:02.834-08:00And then she was six. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDZByWObkXjvUr7g0SwTEcxdbMD4q6HsnSg9ddlMDqGfOzEE91pqNrU3ZaJsT5cC3MqG8i_RnfJUIGqswVrIkQ6sXFSBhwO8ZllJI3KCAiQnDu660H7RZD00h_lwRwgXavyCchTjRhUPp/s1600/HOLLYN+WALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDZByWObkXjvUr7g0SwTEcxdbMD4q6HsnSg9ddlMDqGfOzEE91pqNrU3ZaJsT5cC3MqG8i_RnfJUIGqswVrIkQ6sXFSBhwO8ZllJI3KCAiQnDu660H7RZD00h_lwRwgXavyCchTjRhUPp/s640/HOLLYN+WALL.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Yesterday, my baby turned six. </div>
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While part of my thinks this is just downright rude of her, </div>
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the other part is too busy being thankful for her and all that she adds to our life to be anything but crazy grateful. </div>
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She's our sunshine, </div>
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our peace-keeper, </div>
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and has more friends at age six than I've had in my whole life. </div>
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Everyone that meets her loves it,</div>
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and it's so easy to see why. </div>
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Her little heart is so so good. </div>
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She loves deeply and is crazy funny. </div>
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I literally can't wait to see what all God has store for her, </div>
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and I will thank him every single day for the rest of my life for choosing me,</div>
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of all people, </div>
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to be her mom. </div>
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Happy birthday, peanut butter cup. </div>
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I love you all the way to Africa and back. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-58130186984911903212015-09-09T06:08:00.001-07:002015-09-09T06:08:24.074-07:00Eleven whole years. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQyxjCg8YQ3eAFEhr7J5u10yqrOQv4p9SG0XdplgFZfRczH44EiQkUZOlCBJwhE90geQNs_zEc57m0D84Eoo9vESpu5ijSxet8Cvz6XMqp_i_KsctfVuWEZf9izhsyWTibzM_1a77iSjA/s1600/Libby+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQyxjCg8YQ3eAFEhr7J5u10yqrOQv4p9SG0XdplgFZfRczH44EiQkUZOlCBJwhE90geQNs_zEc57m0D84Eoo9vESpu5ijSxet8Cvz6XMqp_i_KsctfVuWEZf9izhsyWTibzM_1a77iSjA/s640/Libby+11.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This girl of mine is simply amazing. </div>
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She's so brave and bold. </div>
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This past year she's learned a lot about what it means to be a friend. </div>
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And she's growing up. </div>
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I'm noticing it more and more in everything she does. </div>
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Slowly but surely she's becoming the girl God made her to be. </div>
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And even though she knows how to push my buttons more than anyone else, there is NO ONE I'm more proud of. </div>
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I feel like I'm just sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see all that life holds for her and all the ways she will make a difference in this world. </div>
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And even though if it were up to me, she'd be five indefinitely, </div>
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I sure am enjoying the adventure that is Libby. </div>
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Happiest of happy birthdays to the girl who made me a mom. </div>
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I pray that your eleventh year is nothing short of amazing. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-29474013372177430512015-09-08T07:39:00.000-07:002015-09-08T07:39:10.833-07:00The beach life is the best life. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend was just what a needed. </div>
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Four days at the beach with my girls, my mom, my sister-law, and my nieces. </div>
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It was simply simple, and that happens to be my favorite way to spend a weekend. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FGe_tcERXKujqRyyumfUQHY21Ij2lKtdYchCu99Sq1tNSUomPQcUGFu9wyadUhA-mxujnjYRLD4H0HK3fGJAVNQATzQy_-aiatdcH8Kc6-WivVLBlERdAEd5haB7o5HBWBjsfCqAvBQr/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FGe_tcERXKujqRyyumfUQHY21Ij2lKtdYchCu99Sq1tNSUomPQcUGFu9wyadUhA-mxujnjYRLD4H0HK3fGJAVNQATzQy_-aiatdcH8Kc6-WivVLBlERdAEd5haB7o5HBWBjsfCqAvBQr/s640/IMG_0090.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The girls boogie boarded until they all but fell out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO92FPtNiqK0nzdupiaDYtKfQe-veFuNLydP4FGGZkdGEe12NYZp29bW_FdCraT4Ye3BQCTNJxyWteflvJUV6O9s1wJd5b4P_dFl-VJ0J_xDx6qt_ctlT0t8IhdvwuobBOAxdYMtgL_ytz/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO92FPtNiqK0nzdupiaDYtKfQe-veFuNLydP4FGGZkdGEe12NYZp29bW_FdCraT4Ye3BQCTNJxyWteflvJUV6O9s1wJd5b4P_dFl-VJ0J_xDx6qt_ctlT0t8IhdvwuobBOAxdYMtgL_ytz/s640/IMG_0092.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The waves, sun, wind, and sand were practically narcotic. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw-gVo9-MDN7OExmrh1pvaJudsCUSrLeXPZzZWgFeNCSFj0bQDbOIjIKm6zt8bsghPL_6zkmgZ28o4ptmPbtTZT9Tdf4NncJpTCy2cQB7Pocl7JMDqK0ZpzWeEgVglNN4KPrx80d6Ly5e/s1600/11934645_392752264263865_1334123240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw-gVo9-MDN7OExmrh1pvaJudsCUSrLeXPZzZWgFeNCSFj0bQDbOIjIKm6zt8bsghPL_6zkmgZ28o4ptmPbtTZT9Tdf4NncJpTCy2cQB7Pocl7JMDqK0ZpzWeEgVglNN4KPrx80d6Ly5e/s640/11934645_392752264263865_1334123240_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And Hollyn swam floatie free for the very first time. </div>
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Also, I was able to cross #3 off of my <a href="http://leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com/2011/01/30-in-my-30s.html">30 in my 30'</a>s list. </div>
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I'd say this weekend was mighty fine indeed. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-40952453748591150782015-08-28T11:39:00.000-07:002015-08-28T11:39:12.676-07:00Five things on Friday. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Friday, friends. </div>
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Here are few things I've been thinking about this week: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYwI3mRn7QC_83SE_AOF_2AzRgGMw0pN6aXwYg_7cdH9OKTrqKOePii4CEhIyPWcUn0NmY1AkE1FC9egIt1u2pGd-Ia9_JArLAdhOAyvQYAIj1ne9wU72DjH8_7mkCF4gTzgKE3fbD2sN/s1600/11313576_1049738538393934_218009681_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYwI3mRn7QC_83SE_AOF_2AzRgGMw0pN6aXwYg_7cdH9OKTrqKOePii4CEhIyPWcUn0NmY1AkE1FC9egIt1u2pGd-Ia9_JArLAdhOAyvQYAIj1ne9wU72DjH8_7mkCF4gTzgKE3fbD2sN/s640/11313576_1049738538393934_218009681_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. I got a <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3071902">Stitch Fix</a> today. </div>
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This one was extra special because it included elephants and was styled by sweet friend Andrea. </div>
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Seeing as how my work wardrobe consists of t-shirts (one of my many job perks), it's fun to pick up a piece here and there that I LOVE. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4426c36w9MF8Q_o3z3JGlZ-ly1ZRgStYtfAYL9pwixSgTkEJcHELNQR7ojcBa7UhU28mRyL4T1rbfnHXdGkJ_RKfiM-7T9juwL-XwupPF7WA7mitu9rfwDmmcFHEl7RaWfH_xD4xORO0/s1600/11363753_1690739407826937_868675931_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4426c36w9MF8Q_o3z3JGlZ-ly1ZRgStYtfAYL9pwixSgTkEJcHELNQR7ojcBa7UhU28mRyL4T1rbfnHXdGkJ_RKfiM-7T9juwL-XwupPF7WA7mitu9rfwDmmcFHEl7RaWfH_xD4xORO0/s640/11363753_1690739407826937_868675931_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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2. Libby is about to be eleven. I can't handle it. I'm not ready. Somebody hold me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12NqEKrDum7Yv916PiZsluRlx6kRg4sxhkNYwzCiT-gGnNoVj8SvRSfGZWGDSRJuS3oEEwqm5Sy3R7ddfEzxok9Om4NdxRNUW_m7Br-4Zj3bSB_XJRZHSQKeZTh5l1uL_QfhJrw8mAMDJ/s1600/11351823_1638881096350892_2033748522_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12NqEKrDum7Yv916PiZsluRlx6kRg4sxhkNYwzCiT-gGnNoVj8SvRSfGZWGDSRJuS3oEEwqm5Sy3R7ddfEzxok9Om4NdxRNUW_m7Br-4Zj3bSB_XJRZHSQKeZTh5l1uL_QfhJrw8mAMDJ/s640/11351823_1638881096350892_2033748522_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. Hollyn is seriously rocking this whole kindergarten thing. </div>
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It's been the most natural transition for her, and the girl hasn't missed a beat, even with missing three days two weeks ago to have a second set of tubes put it and her adenoids removed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zzhDMooSbJuOUiB0K9gtCwj0SOGfn7SOdEkVi_JUKWBSHluBgWI74ZZ4B2dz-OGPkXJiyWhXDr7DzNY36zdTuEV5Jgv4A2Z-jWMkyXpSFlDZ0yfMZK4EIO2f-Thydc1-KEYm9bbH9F7N/s1600/11426653_822564721184811_1380823279_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zzhDMooSbJuOUiB0K9gtCwj0SOGfn7SOdEkVi_JUKWBSHluBgWI74ZZ4B2dz-OGPkXJiyWhXDr7DzNY36zdTuEV5Jgv4A2Z-jWMkyXpSFlDZ0yfMZK4EIO2f-Thydc1-KEYm9bbH9F7N/s640/11426653_822564721184811_1380823279_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. Our new house-- to put it mildly, WE ARE LOVING IT. </div>
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You know when a house just fits your family? That's how I feel about this one. Throw in the fenced backyard and awesome neighbors (including FOUR other kindergarten kiddos-- how does that even happy?!?), and I'd say this is just about as good as it gets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6vv6CezicndvB3cjZ_s4YZPdItP8Tz7isGKOOeiAZzyqDI8lJo5ztbxsbJPynD3JMNeS4PfsV0DmRpwmn_CyUtClipuwN65NVBDheM2KaRHxv-YJH7LRCKTOYAljQhV3T8oiN1krxJab/s1600/11909385_1456124731382909_1190851465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6vv6CezicndvB3cjZ_s4YZPdItP8Tz7isGKOOeiAZzyqDI8lJo5ztbxsbJPynD3JMNeS4PfsV0DmRpwmn_CyUtClipuwN65NVBDheM2KaRHxv-YJH7LRCKTOYAljQhV3T8oiN1krxJab/s640/11909385_1456124731382909_1190851465_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. I finally finished <i>Gilmore Girls</i>. </div>
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*Insert a moment of silence.*</div>
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Loved it and will probably start rewatching it after Labor Day. </div>
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Yes, I'm serious. </div>
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Here's hoping you have big weekend plans. </div>
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Lee and I are hitting the road to do a little post-birthday, no kids allowed celebrating. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-89291252370927067742015-08-27T18:18:00.001-07:002015-08-27T18:19:26.457-07:0030 in my 30s: #8 GO CAMPING AS A FAMILY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summer camp is my jam. </div>
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I loved it as a kid and love it still. </div>
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And although this <a href="http://leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com/2011/01/30-in-my-30s.html">30 in my 30's</a> goal didn't turn out quite the way I planned, what DID happen was way better than anything I could have imagined. </div>
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We went to camp for three weeks this summer. </div>
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<b><i>Yes, I'm thirty-five years old, and this summer I: </i></b></div>
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-stuffed my face with s'mores</div>
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-swam in the lake</div>
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-dominated at chubby bunny</div>
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-sang all the camp songs</div>
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-sat on a sit-upon</div>
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-anxiously awaited the daily mail call</div>
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-wrote lots of letters</div>
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-wore a uniform</div>
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-saddled lots of horses</div>
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-fell off only one horse</div>
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-ate my weight in popsicles</div>
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-realized that being a camp counselor is a lot harder at 35 than it was at 19</div>
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All of that was everything I'd hoped it would be. </div>
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BUT, watching my kids do all of that (and more) was SO MUCH BETTER THAN I HAD EVER DREAMED OR IMAGINED IT WOULD BE!</div>
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Here are a few of our favorite camp moments: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsZ4-gt5mR0nHd5Zy1ajQDSr3WdpGBPru5lkIVfdMtfsvihsatsExL8NzhotzxW_UxePuoCk-JyVmKmGaNdG4D96xAMNxmLrTmPWS2xsfEHecwQfyblj1H-epXxswN12YXyqmG3kGzoQJ/s1600/H+cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsZ4-gt5mR0nHd5Zy1ajQDSr3WdpGBPru5lkIVfdMtfsvihsatsExL8NzhotzxW_UxePuoCk-JyVmKmGaNdG4D96xAMNxmLrTmPWS2xsfEHecwQfyblj1H-epXxswN12YXyqmG3kGzoQJ/s640/H+cakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVTe4-LAg9vLYeRJvf5tGHYJ7aOvYm6DMaDbwcA0ne3ZxH16k-pvmlpa6tx6EIW-Vdpvnh0BFLAFmJNXD6FQsT4o287KGReXB6aKpc_zpQUv3r5YA2vzZK25sfoHZGj3v2M5YOo18ZyGx/s1600/H+Ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVTe4-LAg9vLYeRJvf5tGHYJ7aOvYm6DMaDbwcA0ne3ZxH16k-pvmlpa6tx6EIW-Vdpvnh0BFLAFmJNXD6FQsT4o287KGReXB6aKpc_zpQUv3r5YA2vzZK25sfoHZGj3v2M5YOo18ZyGx/s640/H+Ride.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxPFTZdcjjuVagzzbVWINUM3BqQRDdz4ACZJECH7_QRwEfzI5YxqffS1Q0iYZ43oVrWPMbMA61m-Yg9GpNt6MSkYOL5uJ4sXWrHEyMT9Mt928GJBrSPzt0I-uda1uRWqgdZFoWatcXe6z/s1600/IMG_9656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxPFTZdcjjuVagzzbVWINUM3BqQRDdz4ACZJECH7_QRwEfzI5YxqffS1Q0iYZ43oVrWPMbMA61m-Yg9GpNt6MSkYOL5uJ4sXWrHEyMT9Mt928GJBrSPzt0I-uda1uRWqgdZFoWatcXe6z/s640/IMG_9656.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Watching my girls step out of their comfort zones and try all the new things, from foods to tennis to holding snakes, was truly one of my most awesome mom moments. </div>
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They came home more confident than ever before, and I couldn't be more proud of them. </div>
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And even though our expected eight week stay turned into a mere three week stay, </div>
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those three weeks were crazy good and filled my adventure tank up to the tip top. </div>
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Cheers to lake swimming, canoeing, s'more eating, and stall shoveling... well....maybe not stall shoveling. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-84722635328700895502015-08-24T18:07:00.000-07:002015-08-24T18:07:58.729-07:00The letter in my Bible. <br />
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There's this letter in my Bible. Tucked away somewhere in the book of Proverbs, written in my sloppy handwriting, a combo of cursive and print. I remember the day I wrote it. So full of hope and longing for her, my daughter. I'd seen her face, but we hadn't met yet. I knew we would meet though. That feeling of belonging, of motherhood, of hardcore deep-rooted, unexplainable love, I've had that feeling since the first time I looked at her. Even from the very first time I saw her face in a random email on a random day in September, she has looked like MINE.<br />
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<b><i>"My dearest Emily, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>You are desired, baby girl. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I want to hold your little hands and kiss your little cheeks. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I want to watch you sleep and lay with you when you're sick and hold you when you cry. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I want to smile with you and laugh with you and watch you live a world full of firsts........"</i></b></div>
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I'd almost forgotten about the letter, the one I wrote to her at an adoption retreat when I was supposed to be listening to the speaker, but instead was day-dreaming about all the days to come with my daughter. I knew when I wrote it that no matter how honest I was and how hard I tried to express to her how much I adore her and love her and longed for her, there would never be enough words to express to her the depth of my feelings. Words like that simply don't exist. And then yesterday, it all but bit me like a snake in the grass when I was sitting in church and happen to come across it. I have the letter, but I will never have her.<br />
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<b><i>"....I want to walk through hard places with you and remind you that you were never forgotten. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>You were never alone or forsaken. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>God was there, baby girl. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>He was holding you when I could not. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>He was comforting my heart while I waited for you......"</i></b></div>
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I miss her. Terribly. Awfully. Fully. I miss her every single day. My girls miss her. My husband misses her. She's everywhere, engrained in every aspect of our lives and our home and our hearts. She's there because she belongs there. After all, she's our girl.<br />
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<b><i>"....Emily, you are so much more than what has happened to you and what you have endured. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>'Orphan' is not your identity. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>It's not who you are. It's not your defining characteristic. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>It's simply a part of God's plan; one chapter in your story. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>And right now, we are in a hard part. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>We are loving you, we are waiting for you, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and our family won't be complete until you're home with us. ..."</i></b></div>
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And yet, she never coming home. It's so hard, the unknown. I find myself worrying about her. There's a measles outbreak in Congo right now. Did you know that? I did. And I find myself worrying about her. I want to protect her from all the things, including the measles. But I can't. I can't today. I can't tomorrow. I can't ever. And that's hard. There will be no updates, no news to come. Nothing. Just silence and the unknown. And that's hard too.<br />
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<b><i>"...You are not forgotten. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>He is there with you in Congo. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>His hand is at the center of our journey to you. </i></b></div>
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<b><i> And as heartbreaking as adoption is and can be, He has a plan, and His plans are always perfect, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>even when we don't understand them. "</i></b></div>
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She's my daughter, and yet she's not my daughter. That's such a hard thing for my mind and my heart to understand. I love her so deeply, and loving her feels so right. And yet, she's not coming home. I need to move on. I need to let go. I will never stop loving her. In fact, I'm pretty sure I couldn't stop loving her if I tried. But I can't stay here, in this place where there's still an open door. This place is too hard. It hurts too much to long for this child who will never be mine. I need to let it go and move past those dreams. I need to focus on the new things God is doing in our lives and the plans He still has for us. But it's hard.....like really, really, really hard. How do I just turn my heart off like this? One days she's mine and the next she's not, and my heart just doesn't know what to make of that.<br />
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<b><i>"....Waiting for you is hard. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>It's hard to know that there are people who know you more than I do. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>And as jealous as I can be, more than jealous I am thankful. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I'm thankful for your middle mamas, the people God is sending to take care of you until I can..."</i></b></div>
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I stand by what I said before ---- we prayed for this little girl to have a family, and she does.<br />
THAT is worth celebrating! Just because God didn't answer that prayer in the way I wanted Him to doesn't mean that He's not good. I don't doubt for even one second that His way will ALWAYS, WITHOUT QUESTION be better than mine. And I don't struggle with why her family came back for her after almost two years. I can't blame them in any way for loving her and wanting her. That is actually the part of all of this that makes the most sense to me; it's so easy to love her, after all.<br />
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<b><i>"...I've been dreaming of you and longing for you and desiring you since before you were born. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>You, my precious girl, are so so loved...."</i></b></div>
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There is one part though that I struggle with-- if she was never meant to come home to us, why did God allow us to have such an immediate, undeniable connection? I don't understand that yesterday or today and can say with confidence that when I'm old and grey I still won't understand that. However, while I may not know why I don't understand or why God allowed things to happen the way they did, I also know that I don't have to understand. Even though it's the most confusing thing I've ever had to deal with and even though it makes no sense to me whatsoever, <i>God knows</i>. And that's enough. It has to be. He knows His plans for our precious Emily, and that gives me more peace and comfort than anything on this Earth ever could.<br />
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I don't wish I hadn't had this time with her. I don't regret even one minute of the eighteen months I spent with her as my daughter. I don't wish I'd never gone to Congo. I don't wish that things were different...even now...even without her. How could I? I would never wish for someone to miss and long for the girl they love. I would never choose for someone to feel the way I feel now. Loving her WAS and IS a gift. And even though the gift wasn't what I expected and even though the gift didn't last anywhere near as long as I prayed it would, I will never ever stop being thankful for the gift that was our Emily.<br />
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<b><i>"...I love you and won't stop counting the days until you are home--- no matter how long it takes and how hard it is and how hopeless things may seem at times. Being your mom is already such an honor, a gift, and a priviledge. We are so very blessed by you, our sweet Emily....."</i></b></div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-72533073067451770662015-08-17T07:53:00.001-07:002015-08-17T07:53:48.693-07:00This time it was intentional...kind of. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It occurred to me the other day that I never posted my word for the year. I had big plans for a post. I even had it almost entirely written in my head.<br />
And then life happened.<br />
Somehow, this post just never got written.<br />
So, here it is, my word for the year of 2015:</div>
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<b><i>INTENTIONAL</i></b>. </div>
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2015 was going to be the year I was intentional; intentional with my time, energy, words, and actions. So, while this year has turned out nothing like I thought it would, at least I can say that my lack of blogging since February was just that-- intentional. </div>
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<b>This year has been hard. </b></div>
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<b>In fact, I can honestly say it's been the hardest year of my adult life. </b></div>
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<b>I'll be blogging about this more some in the days and weeks to come, but here's the gist: </b></div>
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*<b><i>I left Emily</i></b>. I left her in Congo amidst the political drama and the chaos and the hard life that faces women there each and every day. And it was awful. Loving her-- one of the easiest, most natural things I've ever done. Leaving her, however, challenged me in every possible way. I'm a protector at heart. It's just what I do for my people. And Emily? She's more than my people; she's my daughter.<br />
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* A few weeks after returning home from Congo, we received some horrible news regarding our adoption. I can't go into many details, but we found out about some serious injustices that had occurred in regards to our adoption and the adoption of several other children. We lost a lot of money and had to change agencies. I was heartbroken. Devastated. Literally sick about the things I learned. Emily was fine, and there was no reason to believe she wouldn't come home, but this grave injustice--I talk about justice a lot with Noonday. I work to help artisans and their families around the world gain freedom from the injustices they've oftentimes encountered. <b><i>And now, injustice was in my home, in my life, and surrounding my precious daughter.</i></b> And it hurt me more than words can describe.<br />
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*That was on a Wednesday in February when we learned about what was going on with our old agency. Then on that Friday, just two days later, I got a phone call. <b><i>My grandmother was dying.</i></b> I needed to come and say good-bye. And I did. To say that she was my very best friend simply isn't enough. I can't even write this one little paragraph about her without balling. I said good-bye that night and kissed her forehead and thanked her for loving me so fiercely. And early the next morning, she went to be with Jesus. I don't even know what to say about her death other than to say that as long as I'm breathing I will still be missing her.<br />
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*March and April came and went like a blur. <b><i>The one really positive thing I can say about these two months is Jesus</i></b>. Jesus was using this time to open a new door that would lead to my dream job and an awesome move. More to come on this soon, I promise.<br />
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*Then came May. We had changed adoption agencies. We had just sent another package to Emily. We were about to 'celebrate' eighteen months of staring at her beautiful face. And then I got another phone call. <b><i>Emily had been reunited with her birth family</i></b>. This is such a beautiful thing. I said it that day, and I still say it now. We prayed for almost two years for this beautiful girl to have a family, for there to be one less orphan in this world. And there is. And that is worth celebrating. However, that's only half of my heart. The other half....well....the other half is broken. Completely and totally and utterly broken. My daughter will never come home. She will never sleep in her bed. She will never leave cookies out for Santa with her sisters. I won't kiss her the day she starts school or goes on her first date or leaves for college. There will be no bedtime stories and snuggling on the coach and listening to her laugh. The dreams I had for her will never become reality. She will always be my daughter, and yet, she will never be my daughter. I can't even understand how I feel myself, much less attempt to fully explain how I feel to anyone else. But it's hard. And it hurts. And it's lonely. And it's been really, really, really confusing. I still don't understand what God was doing there. Why did He allow us to have such an amazing bond? Why was it so easy to see where she'd fit into our family? I'll probably never know the answers to these questions. And I don't have to. There are a lot of things I don't know, but God has made it really clear to me that whatever He is doing and has done and will do with our family and Emily wasn't about us. It was about her. I will never know how she's doing or where she is or what's going on in her life. But I do know that for a brief while this beautiful, bold, brave, crazy smart little girl was ours. And that is a gift I will never stop being thankful for.<br />
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*About two weeks after we lost our Emily, the girls and I left for camp. That's right-- I said camp. The plan was to spend seven weeks at camp where I worked in college. Libby would be a camper, I would be on staff, and Hollyn would be really cute in her camp uniform. It would be how we spent the summer without Emily....until there was no more Emily to wait for. Then it became our way to move on and start fresh. Oh, and did I mention we were moving? While we were at camp? Our life is lots of things, but it is very rarely boring. So, we packed up (for camp and to move. Just call me an over-achiever.), kissed Lee good-bye, and left for seven weeks at camp. At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, after just three weeks, Libby developed a highly-contagious skin infection, so home we came....except we were currently in betweens. So we spent a few days quarantined in a hotel room before heading home to our NEW home....four weeks early.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Which bring me to now</i></b>. Things are getting settled. We are finding our new normal. I'm working my way out of the drama and the cloud I've been living in for the past few months. And I'm finding my place in my dream job. There are things to be said. I just haven't been ready to say them until now. And some of them I'm still not quite ready to say. This blogging break was intentional, even though the chaos was not. But here we go. Get ready blog world....because I'm back. </span>leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-3975827498947340952015-02-16T07:34:00.002-08:002015-02-16T07:34:35.371-08:00Life Lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things have been kind of crazy lately-- </div>
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no normal routine for us. </div>
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<b><u>I'll give you the short and simple version: </u></b></div>
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-Have you ever had a double ear infection for over a month? I have. </div>
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Here's to hope the third round of antibiotics is where it's at. </div>
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-Adoption paperwork schmaperwork. It's basically all a blur at this point. </div>
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-Hollyn went on a day trip with my mom last week to see Jake and the Neverland Pirates</div>
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(and all of his friends apparently) on stage. </div>
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Note: If she tells you she likes cotton candy, she's lying. </div>
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- The new <a href="http://www.mccallaldridge.noondaycollection.com/">Noonday Collection </a>line launches tomorrow, and I'm all kinds of excited about it. </div>
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-Nothing says HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY like a giant box of peppermint coffee flavored K-cups, am I right or am I right?</div>
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-Road trip planning is my favorite, and the girls and I are gearing up to head South in just a few weeks. </div>
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-Speaking of road trip, we have something big in the works. More to come on this soon, but let's just say the girls and I will be anything but bored this Summer. </div>
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Here's to hoping your Monday is all kinds of fabulous and filled with hot chocolate, a movie that makes you laugh out loud, and snuggling with the ones you love. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-29892549539689350152015-02-12T10:10:00.000-08:002015-02-12T10:10:19.344-08:00Feed their tummies. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been so amazed throughout our adoption process at the ways God has worked to connect me to others with a little one in Congo. But, I can honestly say that no one has blessed me more than my friend and mentor <a href="http://www.blessingsandraindrops.com/">Jenny</a>. Jenny's daughter came home this past summer, but Jenny's heart is still yearning to do more for the children in the DRC.<br />
And I'm so glad it is. </div>
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Jenny and her husband are the founders of <a href="http://www.feedtheirtummies.org/">Feed Their Tummies</a>, a program that works to provide food for orphaned children in the Congo. </div>
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And a little over a month ago, Jenny brought tears to my eyes when she suggested providing food for Emily's orphanage while I was in country. </div>
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I cried happy tears that day,<br />
but I cried so many more on the day we were able to deliver the food to those most precious babies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXThshL6GzgMc7Q0Re4-S4RLP1qS7Y_RnyTz_xmD0Bos8Z44pV29HDGpSWQjs-DJtrkU-5bIL2gGrRY84AOOYA69h8sB1XnO7q1Mnhgk439uzIRo20VSAAg3KCjVY8vuyG8Kuk0231Eu-/s1600/IMG_3722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXThshL6GzgMc7Q0Re4-S4RLP1qS7Y_RnyTz_xmD0Bos8Z44pV29HDGpSWQjs-DJtrkU-5bIL2gGrRY84AOOYA69h8sB1XnO7q1Mnhgk439uzIRo20VSAAg3KCjVY8vuyG8Kuk0231Eu-/s1600/IMG_3722.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have to be honest and say that food is something I often take for granted.</div>
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I've never gone to bed hungry or known that heartache. </div>
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But, I see food differently now. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXohAiQLJwIo5wfEfyu4ECJinK_rBWNqzq3tONZTE04bGVFrX9rnajuqgtPIuQHQyxkl0Crh8zpuGRCje41O2KlTkkBScMDBXg121QoXpiEnNbt_Lf5vngwDYTp4GH7kMWnSUQ7nMA5YZD/s1600/edited+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXohAiQLJwIo5wfEfyu4ECJinK_rBWNqzq3tONZTE04bGVFrX9rnajuqgtPIuQHQyxkl0Crh8zpuGRCje41O2KlTkkBScMDBXg121QoXpiEnNbt_Lf5vngwDYTp4GH7kMWnSUQ7nMA5YZD/s1600/edited+1.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Food is life-giving in so many ways. </div>
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A warm meal is good for the body and soul. </div>
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Food brings comfort. </div>
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Food heals wounds. </div>
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Food helps us grow. </div>
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Food refreshes us. </div>
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Food gives us energy. </div>
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Food creates hope. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkiLEFFaKkaVc1mrnFBc8pRk6gVioEa0_4NPpna469oSmMvDuj9nI3AeqX98w2otHlKApjX-DJCvdnn0j-GowwYX5nFzYzkbCiXnSW9_bO4KFMOcf0csX87Zw3RTksfqDJX8VO2ydUW2K/s1600/edited+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkiLEFFaKkaVc1mrnFBc8pRk6gVioEa0_4NPpna469oSmMvDuj9nI3AeqX98w2otHlKApjX-DJCvdnn0j-GowwYX5nFzYzkbCiXnSW9_bO4KFMOcf0csX87Zw3RTksfqDJX8VO2ydUW2K/s1600/edited+3.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And these babies can't grow without it.</div>
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Having access to good nutrition-giving foods can literally change their lives.....</div>
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and save them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGsTAPepMgwZ37XkaPO0j5aXPmUZCFuF8eK-hZ9uoi6Jaoo__TPR_VPZZ9X2beJ-_JAoWbAMzjko2cuw2IjysSiH1wd_tEN1dRkLWs9sgP5GDsaKaY_1dHNHnbwrDXC1jG39mLndP_GtT/s1600/IMG_3709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGsTAPepMgwZ37XkaPO0j5aXPmUZCFuF8eK-hZ9uoi6Jaoo__TPR_VPZZ9X2beJ-_JAoWbAMzjko2cuw2IjysSiH1wd_tEN1dRkLWs9sgP5GDsaKaY_1dHNHnbwrDXC1jG39mLndP_GtT/s1600/IMG_3709.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Want to get involved with Feed Their Tummies? </div>
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Please do. </div>
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<a href="http://www.feedtheirtummies.org/">Visit their website</a>, learn more, donate, and change the life of a child in the DRC. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoUaXNX0z-9BHv2OfVrTgHkOkR3Q8gsh_7K7d-pEL5zh-NOlemzpcWg8yMIKhuME4NsPSFxrxSQXUkE8pxHsXKNkkel6A3pCKqNpWa4fsTUFp2YFzDa3ZsR_pa6NGKLF8jb4__Qd2_eaP/s1600/10876922_10205910453945045_1423373098_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoUaXNX0z-9BHv2OfVrTgHkOkR3Q8gsh_7K7d-pEL5zh-NOlemzpcWg8yMIKhuME4NsPSFxrxSQXUkE8pxHsXKNkkel6A3pCKqNpWa4fsTUFp2YFzDa3ZsR_pa6NGKLF8jb4__Qd2_eaP/s1600/10876922_10205910453945045_1423373098_o.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-30066382064836921922015-02-02T06:50:00.001-08:002015-02-02T06:50:09.945-08:00Thank you. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZdTkWY2QRSY2Oq2h33SS5b2OzaAe_sb0eKYERow62l8SSMetcIzj_iQYiNDl29mqlVu22lOrufmFvZGfn5Zt9lzYSzePCd9kaF3u-tzzXWO1UEbnSozoGadfc7w0tVb6V149kuPzXtXV/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZdTkWY2QRSY2Oq2h33SS5b2OzaAe_sb0eKYERow62l8SSMetcIzj_iQYiNDl29mqlVu22lOrufmFvZGfn5Zt9lzYSzePCd9kaF3u-tzzXWO1UEbnSozoGadfc7w0tVb6V149kuPzXtXV/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been home a little over a week, </div>
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and yet I still don't feel ready to share all that in my head and on my heart. </div>
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Some things I want to keep within our family, </div>
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and other things-- well, I'm still searching for the words. </div>
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But, one thing I'm completely ready to say is thank you.</div>
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I asked on Facebook for people to donate formula, cloth diapers, and other supplies to the orphanage. </div>
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The response was overwhelmingly wonderful. </div>
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Nothing blesses me more than to see people blessing others. </div>
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Nothing. </div>
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I was so thankful to get to help deliver the donations to the orphanage. </div>
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I felt like we were delivering pounds and pounds of hope and life and love to these precious babies. </div>
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I can say without a doubt that these donations are LITERALLY changing the lives</div>
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of these children. </div>
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Lord willing, these orphans will all have families one day soon. </div>
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But for today, we, the body of Christ, are their family. </div>
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And being able to see the smiles on their faces and sleep tonight knowing that </div>
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they will have diapers and medical supplies and formula today</div>
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is a moment I will </div>
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never forget. </div>
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Thank you to all who gave. </div>
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-20071165268027401222015-01-30T05:37:00.001-08:002015-01-30T05:51:59.474-08:00Twenty months, some thoughts, and getting back to the beginning. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are now officially twenty months into this adoption process, </div>
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although it feels like so much longer </div>
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since we spent close to two years reading and researching and praying before we officially started. </div>
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As I look back on this time spent waiting, it's easy to see the peeks and valleys. </div>
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There have definitely been some valleys on this journey.</div>
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Last Fall (Fall of 2014) can basically be summed up by saying 'adoption is hard'.</div>
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My heart was so broken for my girl, her mother, and the miles that separated us. </div>
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I selfishly wanted her home, but more than that, I wanted this little girl to have a family. </div>
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And now, twenty months later, we're still waiting, but I have a newly restored hope. </div>
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God has used this process to teach me and mold me and move in my heart more than I ever imagined, and no part of me doubts that HE WILL BRING EMILY HOME TO US. </div>
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We still have absolutely no idea when that may happen and still have some very important steps in the process that we are yet to complete, but I may or may not have just washed everything from my trip and repacked it in my suitcase. </div>
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I am literally packed and ready to go get my girl.</div>
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A little premature? Probably. </div>
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Preparing for rain? Definitely. </div>
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I don't want to wait even one minute longer than I have to to bring her home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNqj2TQ-Ci9qusYxH-3Exo7I5HQKbMQ_i44FHUyVUA-FYVGfxpZoCpsEDDDt5Ngm790zwBFEhxa7GMQKjYpW5uGEU1nF30udPvUbJ1VtgjnOZVYmlGad7rImWZMTLqg2A2nngaQqp2aCU/s1600/10933834_712795865843_7415439950172621110_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNqj2TQ-Ci9qusYxH-3Exo7I5HQKbMQ_i44FHUyVUA-FYVGfxpZoCpsEDDDt5Ngm790zwBFEhxa7GMQKjYpW5uGEU1nF30udPvUbJ1VtgjnOZVYmlGad7rImWZMTLqg2A2nngaQqp2aCU/s1600/10933834_712795865843_7415439950172621110_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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And once again, for I pray is the last time, I need your help. </div>
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We are estimating that we still need about $10,000 to bring her home. </div>
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I say estimating because the longer it takes, the more it will cost. </div>
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Home studies, fingerprints, and government forms expire and are renewed with a fee. </div>
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We also are paying monthly foster care fees for our sweet girl. </div>
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And then we'll have to travel. </div>
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So, we are going back to the beginning. </div>
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Our first (and most successful) fundraiser was selling t-shirts. </div>
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You may remember them. </div>
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You may have one. </div>
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But, I'm crossing my fingers that you may need another. </div>
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So, I give you these little beauties: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMUiFjYHQ9jIUKJIp-01e10sl-gSGgn3_gNjX0IRzAGrU6LfyCjprFkeBPBIIv8DCcxiyD7h_y1igbccst3Z6IyU2HrpU1SkqtM5sqAaOM2GBH1BFSUs7xR_AGI0KuojNET-0yM32Y5Vi/s1600/T-SHIRT+COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMUiFjYHQ9jIUKJIp-01e10sl-gSGgn3_gNjX0IRzAGrU6LfyCjprFkeBPBIIv8DCcxiyD7h_y1igbccst3Z6IyU2HrpU1SkqtM5sqAaOM2GBH1BFSUs7xR_AGI0KuojNET-0yM32Y5Vi/s1600/T-SHIRT+COLLAGE.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com/">www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com</a></span></div>
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Your grace abounds in deepest waters. </div>
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This promise is so dear to my heart. </div>
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I cling to it. </div>
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And I find so much hope in it. </div>
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These shirts were designed by sweet, talented, beautiful friend Monique. </div>
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You can find more of her work <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFancyTypeCo?pnref=lhc">here</a>.</div>
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You may be familiar with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QR2KGmL50k">this song</a>, but in case you're not, my precious, crazy-talented, oh so silly, former student turned grown-up friend, Meredith, recorded her own version for me to share with you: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="333" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/118132493" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/118132493">SDV 0344</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user18481993">McCall Aldridge</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money. </div>
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But God is not intimidated by those zeroes. </div>
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And we shouldn't be either. </div>
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My happy thought these days consists of a group of smiling faces waiting for us at the airport, wearing these shirts, welcoming Emily home. </div>
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That will no doubt be my happiest of happy days. </div>
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Next Thursday, February 5th, my little girl will turn three.<br />
And although I'm sure to spend that day crying and stuffing my face with all the M&M's,<br />
we will still be celebrating our girl and another year of her life.<br />
And I'm hoping you'd like to join me in celebrating.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">So, in honor of Emily, I'd like to sell THREE HUNDRED SHIRTS by her birthday. </span></b><br />
That's 300 shirts in seven days.<br />
That's over forty shirts a day.<br />
And about two shirts per hour.<br />
It's a big goal, I know.<br />
But God has taught me to not fear big goals.<br />
It won't be all that we need to meet our long term goal,<br />
but it will certainly be a big step closer.<br />
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So, who's ready to help bring our girl home?<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can purchase your shirts <a href="http://aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com/">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<i>Have questions about sizing or colors or anything else? </i></div>
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<i>Ask them in the comments and check back soon for a response.</i></div>
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<i>And please feel free to share, share, share about them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, your blog, or anywhere else. </i></div>
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Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for helping to bring our girl home to us. </div>
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Nothing makes me feel more loved than when people love my children and follow God's call to take care of our neighbors, even when our neighbors live half way around the world. </div>
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<b><i>Adoption takes a village, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and I am so glad you are a part of mine.</i></b></div>
leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-75312875943567523832015-01-27T06:45:00.002-08:002015-01-27T06:45:53.244-08:00That's my daughter. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8D1mM41ZQEVMlF5J5_VJoHZI8rW1cwT2WmGAh0ei3uWDAGcdHKKD8_B0svJomxScRjw191ur665jzzmJlNwWelEhqzENch5SbMXfj5qsK4j3rIFsmrtBYwcpzcc6tQ3QRp2zPU8uPWKc/s1600/IMG_3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8D1mM41ZQEVMlF5J5_VJoHZI8rW1cwT2WmGAh0ei3uWDAGcdHKKD8_B0svJomxScRjw191ur665jzzmJlNwWelEhqzENch5SbMXfj5qsK4j3rIFsmrtBYwcpzcc6tQ3QRp2zPU8uPWKc/s1600/IMG_3567.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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God is so good. </div>
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That's really all I know to say. </div>
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He has knit our family together so perfectly, and this girl is the icing on our cake. </div>
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To sum up my time with her-- </div>
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God used each and every minute to confirm over and over and over again that she was made for us. </div>
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It's painstakingly obvious that she belongs with us. </div>
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Every little detail-- they just fit. </div>
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Our bond was instant, as if it had always been there. </div>
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I guess you could say that's because it has. </div>
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God knew long before I did that she was ours. </div>
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And I will never, ever stop thanking him for the gift that is our Emily. </div>
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I am so in love with this little girl. </div>
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And while my head is still spinning, jet lag is still kicking (hello, 4am wake-ups), and my heart is still racing, one thing is for certain: </div>
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I CANNOT WAIT for her to come home. </div>
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Every day I spend longing for her is one more day that she doesn't have a family. </div>
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And even one more day with no family is too many. </div>
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Will you please join me in praying that she comes home soon? </div>
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Pray that God will move mountains and bring her home sooner rather than later. </div>
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As of tomorrow, we officially began our adoption process twenty months ago. </div>
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But my heart has been longing for her for so much longer than that. </div>
<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-74117435545171719102015-01-13T06:30:00.003-08:002015-01-13T06:30:57.888-08:00Tomorrow, you're only a day away. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After waiting and stressing about paperwork arriving in time, </div>
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I am officially headed to Congo tomorrow to meet my daughter. </div>
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It seems like a dream. </div>
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I've waited so long to see her and hold her and love her in person. </div>
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I keep seeing us meet in my mind over and over again like a movie. </div>
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Will she like me? </div>
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Will she be scared? </div>
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Will she let me hold her? </div>
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We shall see. </div>
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I can't imagine what she's been through in her short little life. </div>
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So much heartache and loss and hurt, I'm sure. </div>
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My biggest prayer request for this trip? </div>
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I don't want to bring her even one minute of hurt, heartache, loss, or fear. </div>
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I want our time together to somehow take the place of all the days she's lived without a mother, without a family, without security, without the comfort of a family. </div>
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I know that it can't. </div>
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There's no way a week together can make up for all the time she's spent without all of that. </div>
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But God is good, and thankfully He is in control......always. </div>
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<u><b>Here are some thoughts/ questions people have asked/ things you might be wondering:</b></u></div>
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*I'm almost all packed and ready. All I can say is, I feel like I deserve some sort of prize for all the things I've managed to fit into my bags. I'm bringing close to 100 pounds of donations for Emily's orphanage--- formula, cloth diapers, medicines, etc. I've also somehow managed to pack all of what I'll need and all of what Emily will need in my carry-on. I'm also bringing all of our food (minus water). I see lots of ramen noodles, beef jerky, rice, and peanut butter crackers in my future. Please pray that all of my bags (two checked bags, one carry-on suitcase, and one personal item) make it safely to Congo. I don't want to be distracted by anything during my time with my daughter. </div>
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*<b>Will I have Wifi?</b> Not sure. Maybe. We shall see. I'm praying that I do so I can send pictures and videos home to Lee and the girls and so they can send videos to us. HOWEVER, whether I have Wifi or not, <b>I will NOT be posting pictures of Emily's face</b>. While I'm dying to show you just how adorable she is, I'm not legally allowed to do that until she's home. But don't worry-- I'll do what I can and promise to post pics as often as I can. </div>
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*<b>Am I nervous?</b> Probably not in the way you might think. Africa, traveling to Africa, and being in Africa-- these are a few of my favorite things. I feel so comfortable there, and there is literally nowhere else I'd rather be. And traveling? Yes, please. I love flying. I love airports. Even though this is my first time traveling solo, I'm not nervous. I'll be fine and have no worries about that. I'd say my nerves all come from worrying about her--- I just really want this time together to be a time of peace and comfort and joy for her. I want to be able to meet her needs and for her to begin to view me as her mom. I want her to trust me and for communication to just naturally happen. </div>
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*<b>How old is she? Does she speak English?</b> She's about 2.5-3.5 years old. However, I've been told she's tiny, so we shall see. Hopefully I'll have a better idea about this once we've spent some time together. And English? That would be a no. The national language in Congo is French, but she speaks a tribal language called Lingala. I do have a cheat sheet ready with some key words and phrases, but we shall see how well that goes. Lingala is hard, y'all. </div>
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*<b>How am I gonna leave her?</b> I don't know. All I know to say about this is Jesus. Just Jesus. I have never been more sure about anything in my life than I am that Emily is my daughter. God's got this. He is in control. Does that mean leaving won't be hard? Oh my gosh, of course it will be awful. How am I supposed to say good-bye to my toddler daughter I've just met and leave with no return date in sight? I have no idea. But Jesus is good. And He will take care of me. </div>
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*<b>When is she coming home? </b>I also have no idea about this. We are still waiting to pass court (this is month ten). Once we pass court, she will legally be our daughter, and we'll start making steps towards her coming home. However, Congo still is not issuing exit letters (the final piece you need to travel with your child). Again, God is in control. Does it stink that she can't come home today? Absolutely. Every child deserves a family, and no child should have to continue living without a family when she has one waiting for her. However, let me say it again-- GOD IS GOOD. We saw her face for the first time the day before they announced they were putting exit letters on hold. I fully believe that that was God's timing. He will provide. He will take care of her. We're living in His timing, not our timing. </div>
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That's all for now. </div>
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Finishing up the last few things I need to take care of before I say good-bye to my family and head to a dear friend's house later today. </div>
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She will drop me off at the airport in the morning, and I'll be off from there. </div>
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Prayers are greatly appreciated. </div>
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I'll be meeting my daughter on Friday. </div>
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!</div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-38913943519803860292014-12-30T17:32:00.003-08:002014-12-30T17:32:47.152-08:00It sure was merry. <div style="text-align: center;">
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You know it's time to blog when your husband mentions you haven't posted anything in a while.</div>
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The truth is-- I've been enjoying. </div>
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All the time together, games played, present discovering, family togetherness---</div>
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I've been enjoying all of it. </div>
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This Christmas has been one of the best we've had in a long time, if not ever. </div>
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Between the good news we've received for family members in sticky health situations</div>
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to the way the girls played together ever-so-sweetly</div>
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to the upcoming trip to meet little sister--</div>
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it truly has been the most wonderful time of the year. </div>
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I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537222898666613416.post-24646592395594167112014-12-22T11:07:00.001-08:002014-12-22T11:07:15.046-08:00'Tis the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, hello there!</div>
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Guess who forgot she had a blog...</div>
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Okay, that's not true. </div>
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What it is true is life...just life. </div>
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Things have been crazy busy here lately-- like far more crazy than the normal crazy we typically beat to around here. </div>
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Several extended family members are battling some pretty big stuff health wise. </div>
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That combined with adoption, Christmas, and the busiest time of the year Noonday wise have left me with no time to spare. </div>
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AND-- did you hear the big news????</div>
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I'm headed to Congo to meet our daughter in January!</div>
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She won't be coming home with me (still no idea about when that might happen), </div>
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but I will be meeting her and caring for her and loving her like crazy next month!</div>
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Needless to say, there's a lot that goes into a trip like that. </div>
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More to come on this soon. </div>
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But for now, I just wanted to leave you with a picture of Hollyn </div>
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from last week's preschool Christmas program. </div>
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Is there anything cuter than a group of preschool kids singing Christmas songs? </div>
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I think not. </div>
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<br />leemeandthegirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513387025154758107noreply@blogger.com0