Jellybean for Christmas!!

Oh my goodness! Remember my prayer request from two FFF's ago? My good friend, Dawnz, who is adopting a sweet little boy from Haiti, "Jellybean", had asked for prayer's for their lost USCIS paperwork in order to bring their son home. Well, earlier this week, the paperwork finally appeared and they leave TOMORROW to go pick up their cute little guy from Haiti!! This has been a long road and their first son is finally coming home to his mommy, daddy and four sisters forever!

Huge SHOUT OUT to Dawnz and her little Jellybean! Jellybean will be home in oh~so~cold Iowa for Christmas!!!

New Blog Header & ?

I have been working on a new blog header and want to know what you think. I took this picture of Bug tonight and played around with it in my new free Adobe Photoshop Elements Trial version.

What kind of Photo editing software do you use and do you like it?

F.R.O.G. & FFF #18

If you haven't guessed, I have this thing for frogs. It all started 12 years ago when Morgan started preschool as a 3 year old and the class mascot was a frog. Everything had frogs on it... the walls, the lightswitch, the nametags, the teacher's earrings, etc... and I even painted a frog on her book bag. Between she and Grant, they were in the Frog Class for four consecutive years and I was the room mom all four years. I had this unusual infatuation with frogs and slowly they began entering our home through various odd collections.

It was during this time that I was battling secondary infertility and all the ups and downs every month of finding out that you could not conceive a child among the fertility drug induced hormonal surges. I prayed and cried to God to please allow me to have another child as I knew in my heart that my dream of a third child was undeniably there. Imagine my frustration when I thought I heard the word "No"... I was not listening. My ex and I discussed adoption, but the discussion did not go far.

A short time later, I found myself divorced with two small children, ages 4 and 6. I knew why God had told me no. What was he telling me? I tried dating and found that I was finding many "frogs" and no Prince Charming and it quickly became my mantra with my friends... I eventually stumbled upon a stuffed frog that when you wound it up, it played "Someday My Prince Will Come". It had a prominent place among the decorative pillows on my bed and I would smile every time I saw it.

Fast forward a few years later, and an amazing friend of mine had a son diagnosed with cancer and started a Caringbridge page that allows families to keep friends and family updated on the course of treatment and progress on the health of their family members. If you are familiar with Caringbridge, it is easy to find yourself reaching out to many other families that post on Caringbridge. I am not sure how I stumbled upon Amazing Jacob's Caringbridge page in 2004, but I instantly found a connection to this family. Their symbol of hope and faith through their journey of battling Jacob's cancer was F.R.O.G. meaning "Fully Rely On God". There is so much more to this connection to the Duckworth family, but immediately, I knew that my frogs were a symbol of my own hope...

In December of 2004, I was on vacation in Cancun with my mother and my two kids. We had the most relaxing, wonderful time. I was beginning to allow myself to listen to Him... I felt this STRONG urge to discuss adoption with my mother while we were there. As a single mom, I did not anticipate to receive much encouragement or support to pursue my dream (which is a whole other story in itself that I will tell another time, that began when I was 16). Imagine my surprise when I was met with resounding support and excitement. My mother always knew that my dream was to adopt and that I wanted a third child. Unbeknownst to her, I had been researching adoption for many months.

The culmination of my dream happened in 2005... I knew then that God had not told me "No" all those years before, but rather "Not yet". How awesome that I learned to listen to Him... "Fully Rely On God" and my frogs were a symbol to me of His love and his promise to me. He blessed me by directing me to my daughter, Sophia, born thousands of miles away from another woman's womb but fully in my heart at the same time. He knew long before me that we were to become a forever family.

When I started this blog earlier this year, I thought about what I should call it. The frog was the easy part... it came to me that through all the years of doubting whether God heard my prayers, that I had kissed ALOT of frogs... meaning that I had endured many disappointments, many devastating losses, many opportunities not taken. However, He blessed me with fulfilling my dreams in ways that I could never have comprehended. I am not a strongly religious person, but the past three years have brought me closer to God in ways that I could never have imagined. HE was kissing all those frogs for me... helping me every step of the way.

Tonight, I went into my living room to look at the Christmas tree. On it, are some amazing frogs that I wanted to share with you...

This frog was bought when Morgan was in preschool. It was bought as her Show And Tell Frog and it decorated the class Christmas tree for her two years of preschool and then Grant's two years of preschool. I love this frog...


This is my Frog Prince... I admit I HAVE kissed him... but he has not turned into a handsome prince to sweep me off my feet!


Another little frog in my tree (I promise you I did not take pictures of them all, if I did, you would be here a long time).


This frog joined us last year... he is just blown glass and is so funny, something that makes me smile.


Finally, this little frog is so tiny and hides among the branches. My best friend, Susan, gave him to me a few years ago. I love it that she prays for me to find a prince among all the frogs in the big pond of life!


And, of course, His promise is on Sophia's stocking. She is His precious miracle that He shared with me.


These frog symbols started with Morgan and Grant and ultimately led me to Sophie. How awesome is that?? I am so incredibly blessed with my three miracles! Here is my Favorite Foto Friday for the week!


F.R.O.G. with all your heart.... He may surprise you with what He has planned for you. I can guarantee you one thing... His plan is perfect.

Love and FROG!!!!

Sarah

PS... Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF post this week!

Sabra & Caleb the Diaper Dancer
Rachel with Sabrina
Steve, Amy, Ethan & Mia
Kerri & Ruby
Katie & Brayden with is Papa
Dawnz's Christmas Miracle - Jellybean!
Julia & Her FFF shout out!
Krystal's shout out to Lucas's Christmas Miracle
Laurie's Christmas Miracle - Joe is OUT of PGN!!
Holly, Gia & Nino (private blog)
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Lisa & Sophia
Robyn & Gabriella
Becky & Juliana
Tracy & Brenda
Christina & Aiden
Becca & Myles
Alleen & Gabriella
Shannon & Analise - HOME FOREVER!!
Gerson, Lucas and David Shout Out!
Corey, Gabe, Lily and Sophie
Stephanie & Maya
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo

Favorite Foto Friday #17

It is already Friday again! Wow! Where did the week go? Please see the updates on last week's post to all the prayer requests and shout outs!

For this week's FFF, I am posting pictures of Sophie and Olivia. Some of you know the incredibly story of these two little girls... born one week apart in Guatemala and living the first months of their lives as sisters in the same foster home. Both babies came home to families living less than 30 minutes apart in KY! Olivia's mom and I marvel all the time how wonderful God was to match these little girls up with the perfect families!

Olivia is spunky, happy and very outgoing and has curly hair just like her mommy. Her family is loud and fun and rambunctious with three big brothers that just love to throw her around and hear her squeals of delight. Sophie is tranquil, sweet and shy and loves being treated like the princess of her castle. One of her favorite things is to crawl up into your lap and read a quiet book or play with a toy and sits back to take everything in.

We love getting the girls together and love that God gave them this special connection. I know it was all in His plan all along, we are blessed to have been recipients of these miracles. Here are a couple pictures of the girls from this week when we got together for a little playdate and to exchange Christmas presents.





Be sure to leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF post this week!

Steve, Amy & Ethan
Rachel with Sabrina
Stephanie & Maya
Farrah & Madisyn (private blog)
Julia, John-Bryan & Abby Grace (in her debut FFF!)
Lisa & Sophia
Christina & Aiden
Kerri & Ruby
Corey, David & Luke
Krystal & Brayden
Holly, Gia & Nino (private blog)
Heather & Allie
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Kelli & Kaleb
Ellie & Angelena
Tracy & Brenda
Mandy & Jadon
Nancy & Victoria
Becca & Ella
Alleen & Gabriella
Robyn & Gabriella

Favorite Foto Friday #16

I so enjoy FFF each week and getting to check in with all my friends and see their happiness for the week! As I took Christmas pictures Sunday night of my kids, I was looking through the lens and my thoughts were completely about how lucky I am to be the mom of those three smiling children. I know we all know how that feels... the smile and the look in their eyes shows that they completely trust, love and are most familiar with YOU! Those perfect smiles aren't captured by a stranger behind the camera, they are captured by somebody who revels in the beauty of the most beautiful creatures on earth... your own children.

So, with that being said, here is my FFF for this week... my pride and joy! A few outtakes from our photo shoot as I can't reveal the winner just yet!

Nice electrical outlet placement!


Cheesaroonie!!


Do you hear what I hear??


Just take the picture, mom!


Bug was completely over it and not too fond of being up there, either!


Please add some blogger friend to your prayers:
*Corey has been waiting on a birth certificate from Mixco for her beautiful baby daughter, Sarah, for way too long. Please pray that the civil registry releases her (as well as many other children's birth certificates) so that their children can come home!!!
UPDATE on Corey's BLOG - AWESOME NEWS!!! Sarah has her BC!!
*Sarah can use our prayers as she and her family deal with the loss of a little girl, Christella, they sponsored to come to the US from Haiti for life saving surgery. They just got word that their "Ella" passed away in Haiti just two months after being returned to her family. Prayers for the baby's family in Haiti too... I just cannot imagine the pain of losing a child.
*Michelle can use our prayers right now too.
*Wendy needs our prayers for her little Peri Brynn to be released from PGN so that she can get the medical care she needs at home!




*Please pray for Robyn's Grandmother. She suffered a fall this week and her health has deteriorated rapidly. Many prayers needed to pray her into Heaven if that is His will. UPDATE... her grandmother is doing better over the weekend. Keep her in your prayers. UPDATE 12/4 - Robyn's sweet Grandmother went to Heaven today and is at peace and is reunited with her beloved husband. Please say many prayers for the family she has left behind.


Also, a shout out to my friend, Alma (who does not have a blog - tsk tsk), who just returned last week from a visit trip to sign POA for her new baby girl, Natalia, born October 27th! Many of the Guatoberfest people remember meeting her in Atlanta with me. She just LOVED loving all over our babies in preparation for her to become a mom for the first time! Natalia is just gorgeous! Please pray that she has a smooth process to bring her daughter home with all the uncertainty with Guatemala adoptions right now. UPDATE - DNA was done TODAY on Miss Natalia, please pray for a speedy PA!

More shout outs!

*Cameo is home with her baby Valentina - Yippee!!!
*Shannon is awaiting PINK for her sweet Analise!! Come on PINK! UPDATE: Analise is coming HOME! Embassy appointment is 12/11 and they are leaving to go get their sweet baby girl forever!!
*My great friend, Dawn is waiting on word to pickup her Jellybean from Haiti very soon!! UPDATE: Jellybean's original immigration paperwork has been lost. Please pray that the National Visa Center will allow copies to be submitted for the lost originals so that little J can come home!
*Cheri is back in PGN after being kicked out for 11 1/2 months for an unsigned cedula. Prayers that Eliana is released soon!!
*Shannon is a mom! She received her referral for Emily from China and is awaiting Travel Approval to go pick her up! UPDATE 12/3: Shannon received her TA and is leaving THIS SATURDAY 12/8 to pick up Miss Emily forever!!
*Missy arrived home today with her precious little Will!
*Sharon is home with her beautiful Olivia!!

Finally, my friend Heather, who brought home Allie this year, is once again collecting items for Jacob's stocking. One of her triplet sons, Amazing Jacob, passed away last summer after his courageous battle with cancer. To keep Jacob's giving and loving spirit alive, they are collecting donations of gift cards and books to donate to the children still battling this horrible disease. Jacob will never be forgotten!!

Oh, I am updating my blog roll, if you want me to add your blog, please let me know!

Here is a link to our FFF friends!!

Corey & Sarah!!!
Holly, Gia & Nino
Mandy & Jadon
Becky & Juliana
Sabra & Caleb
April, Riley & Mia welcome home cousin Allie!
Krystal & Parker Gabrielle
Lisa, Frankie & Sophia
Christina & Aiden
Alleen & Gabriella
Amy & Jonathan
Katie, Angelika, Taylor, Brayden & Arianna
Kerri & Ruby
Kelly & Kemry
Robyn & Gabriella's Grandma
Ellie & Angelena
Rachel with Camille & Cyryl
Laurie, Kari & Mindy
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin & Jacob
Becca, Myles & Ella
Sarah, Micah, Zech, Alec & Aidan

Sibling Love

Each sibling relationship is unique. This weekend, in an attempt to get some Christmas card pictures of the three of them together, I happened to get some pictures that I love showing the specialness of each sibling set.

Sisters forever...


Big brother and little sister...


And the rarest of all... brother and sister at peace and not at war...

Favorite Foto Friday #15

My FFF for this week is of my little Sophie~Bug in her huipil and corte that I bought in Panajachel. Well, the huipil (pronounced "wee-peel" aka blouse) was actually bought for Morgan, but I loved the color so much, I had to try it on Bug. It is very big on her, but she was in such a crazy mood that day and her smile was so contagious and even though I did not chance fixing her hair and spoil the moment, I just love how she looks in her traditional Guatemalan outfit. Does anybody know how to put the cortes on right? She was like a little burrito and walked like a little geisha girl... I obviously did not wrap it right - LOL!




Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF post here on my blog. To my friends that I have linked before, if I happen to find your FFF and you have not left a comment, I hope you do not mind that I link it here again. I love checking in every Friday for new pictures of our friends!!!

Tracy & Brenda
Becca with Myles & Ella's Uncle Dan
Alleen & Gabriella
Steve, Amy & Ethan
Stephanie & Maya
Holly, Gia & Nino
Corey, Gabe & Lily
Kerri & Ruby
Krystal, Gerson & Elviz
Laurie & Mindy
Robyn & Gabriella
Becky & Juliana