Adoption Journey Update + Little Light Randomness

We'll start with a few pictures of the little Taylor lights and then on to some updates! Enjoy!

Noah David's baby, Ham, needed to wear a hat this day. And change them all day. And have his diaper checked all day. And sit at the table with us with his own bowl and cup with whatever we're eating. I am a grandmother to this doll. Seriously.

Noah David has discovered his voice when it comes to dressing. This particular day we were home all day, so I gave him all the freedom he wanted and he INSISTED on my batman shirt, Daniel Isaac's gym shorts, his favorite old DI crocs on the wrong foot and multiple hats. Bless him.

Upside down baby beauty.

I finally figured out how to get my big boy into footed p.j.'s again...SUPERMAN!

Noah David spent almost all day last Saturday in these sunglasses.
I mean, who doesn't bathe in their orange sunglasses, Mom?

The past two weeks have been the-good-kind of overwhelming! From the time we announced our decision and calling to embark on this beautiful adoption journey a couple weeks ago, we have hit-the-ground running in fund raising and experiencing "our village" begin to come together and build on behalf of the baby the Lord is knitting together for us. Not a day goes by that I don't think of the birth mother who is potentially already carrying our baby, her family, what she is experiencing, the growth and formation and creation of the child within her and what she will go through. While I am so eager and ready to have our baby in arms, in family, in village, my heart breaks for her and is begging our Lord to take good care of her and provide her with His peace that passes all understanding. Please join us in praying for her and for baby. That means the world to us. You know what else has touched us to the core? The encouragement, excitement and support given to us by each of you. This child's life is already being celebrated and prayed for, and he/she is going to have one heck of a story! I can't wait to tell him/her about the generous donations poured in on his/her behalf, on our Adoption Aprons (see our Etsy shop link in the side bar) selling out the first day, the people from Africa who have been placed in our path just this week and other children from Uganda...the Village is being built. And what a loving, safe, warm village he/she will arrive in and grow up in. So thank you. Thank you for loving us and for loving our boys and for loving our baby!

Our application to Lifeline was accepted at the beginning of January, so our next step is to get our home study done. The only part of our adoption that Lifeline cannot do is our home study since Daniel is an employee. SO, Catholic Social Services in Montgomery will be doing it for us. They boys and I went to Montgomery Tuesday afternoon to pick up our application and talk with our social worker. They will hopefully be able to begin the home study at the end of February, but we have plenty of "homework" and paperwork to complete in the meantime. AND, the $1500.00 to raise for our home study fee to them. Depending on how quickly our fingerprints and Child Abuse/Neglect clearances come back, it should be around 3 months for our home study to be completed. We are moving along and trusting the Lord every step.

NOW for the DI FUNNY!
Daniel Isaac says at least one thing a day that makes me laugh hysterically and run to write it down. Today, though, I was in the car when this one happened, and I'm still giggling....

We were getting ready at home this morning, and Daniel Isaac was complaining about having to run an errand before going to the park. I told him that if he did not complain and argue that we could get a special drink from Sonic to have with our picnic at the park. Well, he continued to complain and fuss...about his shirt, the lumps in his socks, having to run errands, etc. So we passed up Sonic much to his dismay and confusion. I told him, "Daniel Isaac, we don't get to get a treat because you didn't obey Mommy. I told you that you couldn't complain and argue if you wanted a treat and you continued to complain and argue all morning, so you don't get one. Next time, make a better choice to obey Mommy, ok?" He very earnestly began his litigation..."Mommy, you see, that lady in the garden Eve was made from Adam's booby. (Pointing to his upper rib to show me) And they made a bad choice and ate the fruit when God told them not to and turned back into dust. So, I can't be good allll the time. I just can't." Well, if that's not trying to apply Scripture then I don't know what is. We still didn't get Sonic and instead had more discussion about asking God to help him obey and do better next time. :) So just in case you ever wonder, "that lady Eve was made from Adam's booby and when they died she went back in there and he turned into dust."

Happy Weekend! Stay tuned for more apron designs and postings on our Etsy site and facebook!

We're Going to AFRICA!!!

Unzipping our coats, revealing our Africa shirts and yelling, "WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA!"  Then our eyes darting to Daniel to complete the announcement with, "And bringing home our baby!" had to be one of our most exciting and memorable family moments.  Daniel Isaac then wanted to relive it over and over by re revealing his shirt and yelling, "WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA!"

"Maama", "Taata", and "Mukulu" is on our shirts...Luganda for "Mama" "Daddy" and "Big Brother"

The Lord placed Uganda on my heart long ago, and after much begging and pleading to my dad my freshman year of college to be allowed to go there on a summer mission trip, he stuck to his answer, "No." Instead he sent me on many very meaningful, wonderful mission trips for which I am very thankful for.  Then Daniel's first trip with Lifeline was to none other than Uganda!  I was jealous but mostly extremely excited and eager to hear all about it.   And ya know what?  Even better than if I'd been granted my wish my freshman year of college...I get to go to Uganda for the first time with my husband, two boys and return home with our baby!  Talk about abundantly more than I could ask or imagine!

Our application has been accepted with our wonderful agency (www.lifelineadoption.org), and we will begin the home study process with another agency (Lifeline can't do our home study since Daniel works there) within the next few weeks.  HOPEFULLY, around this time next year we will be traveling as a family to meet and bring home our baby.

Daniel Isaac is super excited to become a big brother, super excited to fly on an airplane all the way to Africa, and super excited to teach Noah David how to be a big brother.  Noah David obviously doesn't understand everything that's going on, but he knows it's exciting and he knows he's a part and is happy about that!

I aim to post here regularly with updates on our adoption process.  We beg for your prayers with us on this journey!  We have about $30,000.00 to raise and will be posting more information on fund raisers and such.  We eagerly anticipate walking this road together, as a community and finally getting to hold and forever cherish our baby.

WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!

So excited we're silly!!!!

Pictureless Posting

I've written at least a hundred posts in my head these past two weeks.  Moments of every day happen.  Memorable ones.  And when they do, I think, "Register this in the permanent memory index...never ever forget how this feels."  The delight of my boys.  My heart growing when hearing my big boy tell me he really doesn't want anything for Christmas.  Hours of late nights and long hours on homemade gifts and gift-wrapping and really loving it.  Getting to spend the 21st surrounded by my family...laughter, joking, smiles, delicious food...and love all exchanged in epic proportion.  Then moving to the 23rd at Daniel's grandparents and his mama's side of the family.  Daniel Isaac sweating profusely within an hour of arrival, delighted to be able to have his two big cousins to wrestle with.  Noah David going back and forth between his daddy and me....getting down some to giggle and try to pitch in helping fight off the big cousins with his brother.  Granddaddy, nearing 90 years and the depth of his beautiful heart and soul, sharing with us before eating a huge Grandmom-made feast, the love and pride he has for his family.  Taking one of those pause moments when Grandmom and Granddaddy were sitting next to each other as gifts began to get opened...looking at the light in their eyes, the hard work that has come from their hands, the wisdom that pours from their lips, and the vast love they have for one another and their family.  I've stolen one of my all-time favorite Granddaddy phrases, "If Mama (that's what he calls his lovely bride, Grandmom) ever leaves me, I told her I'm packing my bags and going with her!"  That's right.  We're sticking together....forever.  Then we had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner in pajamas with Nana, Pops and Grandmother...and Christmas morning was just divine.  It started slowly like my favorite kind of mornings do, and then we had a breakfast picnic in front of the Christmas tree.  Hot chocolate and marshmallows covering the front of ND's belly, and coating the chin and lips of DI.  Then Daniel read us the Christmas story, we prayed...giving so much heart-felt thanks for all that the Lord has given us and done for us...and for who He is.  Then the boys got to open their presents from us.  It was slow and special and just us 4.  I cried at the gift Daniel gave me...more on that later.  Christmas Day lunch with Nana, Pops, and Granmother...more deliciousness.  Then a heavenly looong afternoon nap for all 4 of us.  In fact, I had to wake up Daniel and Daniel Isaac at 5:15 to go to our bffs the Cannons for more celebrations.  They had prepared a feast of prime rib and succulent potatoes and this awesome salad I will get the dressing recipe and post, and I'm not a recipe-poster, but it was just that good.  The kids got their very own "kid table" and were up playing with new toys in no time, but the grown-ups got to sit.  Sit for a meal...with 6 kids aged 5 and under all playing gleefully and running through the house together.  It was awesome.  It feels so very good to share such closeness with such dear people.  The grown-ups and the kids.  More gift exchange...and lingering.  I didn't want it to end.  But ya know what?  Christmas doesn't end...it keeps on going.  And it has.

We also got to visit Daniel's Dad's mom and family for a wonderful afternoon-evening of Daniel Isaac completely disappearing to play with cousins and devastation when we left and Noah David just glad to be right there with us, alternating snuggles and play.

I photo documented Christmas better this year than any other, but my tech-man Daniel (thank God he is so tech savvy and takes care of all of our electronic happenings!!!), already moved the pictures to an external hard drive.  I'll get 'em back some time, but these words couldn't go another moment trapped in my brain.

More will come, pictures to be included...for now, enjoying all that celebrating Christmas brings.  And really really enjoying having Daddy around with our two little lights.

Our hearts are brighter.

Reminded

In all the running to and fro and wrapping up the last gifts and stopping to play with new toys and trying to figure out how to transform transformers and stooping to hold a 28 pounder or the 37 pounder and trying to remember to kiss my main man even in the absence of mistletoe and watching the laundry and dishes pile up and vacuuming up more pine needles from the dying yet beautiful Christmas tree and just wanting to soak in the moments and not forget the wonder and beauty of this season....I keep asking myself, "How do I really get back to the Heart of why we celebrate Christmas anyway? How do we still enjoy giving gifts and receiving from those who want to give without it becoming about the stuff? How can I instill in the hearts of my children a love for giving and a heart of gratitude?" I mean, right now, any time Noah David sees a baby lying in anything, he points, smiles and says "JeeJee". He's getting it. And Daniel Isaac continues to report that he just doesn't want or need anything for Christmas. We talk about Jesus constantly...not just at Christmas time, but it's just normal. But me, how can I regain focus? I love to give....I love making gifts...I love wrapping gifts...I love it all. More than anything and more than all of that, though, I really love The Gift. And Dad brought my heart back to where it needed to be tonight...as he read after the last gift was unwrapped [a pitiful summary compared to what Dad really read to us that he'd prepared, but this is the main part and what stuck with me]...

Christ made a lot of claims to be....
...the living bread (John 6:51)
...the light of the world (John 8:12)
...the gate (John 10:9)
...the good shepherd (John 10:11)
...the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
...the way the truth and the life (John 14:6)
...the true vine (John 15:1).

And He is. He is all of those things to me, and oh how my heart will burst even more if my boys, my little lights in training, could grasp those. If we can all grasp that all of this joy and fun and gift-giving and laughter and light is all because of Him....

Merry CHRISTmas.

I'd gotten off track and distracted by my to-do list that was post-poned a day and an evening with some terrible side effects of food poisoning (yeah, bad timing, eh?), but my heart has been lifted and my eyes readjusted and the blur removed. LET US SHINE!

My arrow is four.

My baby is four.  It seems like just the other day that I was holding him, swaddled tightly in the hospital feeling my entire heart and life change forever.  It's so fresh that I remember wondering in his first few weeks if I would ever stop crying tears of joy over him...if I would ever grow tired of watching his peaceful steady deep breaths as he slept...if I would ever not want to hold him...if I would ever go a second without feeling my love for him deepen and grow.  I haven't.

The Lord used (and is still using) Daniel Isaac to melt my heart into a squishy, moldable ball.  It's through Daniel Isaac that I've begun to experience a whole new, deeper level of love and compassion and grace.  Psalm 127:2-4 makes so much sense to me, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth."  A heritage, and some versions read "reward".  Well, isn't that the truth?  And a reward that I know I don't deserve but that I am so deeply thankful for.  I picture Daniel Isaac as an arrow, too, and I tell him so which he loves since he's into the whole fighting-the-bad-guys all the time superhero warrior stuff.  While it already pains me to think of "shooting him from my bow" one day (sending him out into this big world), I know he's going to be the biggest, brightest arrow...carrying light and love and joy and truth all over the place.  He already does, and I cannot fathom how much that will continue to grow with him.  

Big ole belly carrying some precious cargo...I had no idea how my world, heart and life was about to change.  That little life within me...oh my, what a gift.  And I do feel a little sorry for myself seeing this picture and my puffy face and awful haircut, but oh well.  I'm now trying to take the advice my hilariously wonderful sister keeps telling me, "Sarah just because you are a mom doesn't mean you have to dress like one."  Pahahah.  Ok, now I'm rambling and this is just a caption.  

The hard, grey walls that had slowly crept up in my heart over the years...ones I didn't even know were there came crashing down at 12:05 a.m. on December 6, 2006 when my baby was placed in my arms. 

Sweet baby, you have no idea how much you're changing your mama and how much I adore and love you.
He's always been beautiful.  

 What love I felt for him, and what love as a verb I had to give him.  It wasn't just something I felt...oh I felt it deeply and still do, but I knew right then and there that I would do anything for this life.  I would give him all I could.  I was changed forever, and I was so glad.  The more I held and rocked him and bounced him and sang to him and kissed him and bathed him and fed him and cared for him, the more light filled my life and heart.  I have learned oodles from my arrow, and I fully anticipate to keep learning from him!  For now, though, I will savor the moments I have while my arrow is still in his quiver.  I'll carry him and guide him and hold him and tickle him and play with him and teach him and pray with and for him and give him as many hugs and kisses as he'll allow...I'll wipe away those hot tears and I'll keep wishing I could bottle up his giggles.  


My arrow is four, and I can not only celebrate his spectacular life, but I can monument the change that has taken place deep within me to help me live life even better and more fully.  

Four years old.  Four years of life-changing incredible lessons and journeys together,
superheros together to fight for Good!

My happy little light with a BIG OLE SHINE!

Thank you, my Daniel Isaac.  Mama adores you and loves you to the moon and back and forth and back again a trillion million bazillion times!  

Superhero party for my SUPERhero!

Daniel Isaac's 4th birthday party could have been nothing other than a SUPERHERO one, and Saturday's celebration was the type that caused me to pause and make mental memories the entire time in effort to absorb all of the joy, energy, and love. So many of Daniel Isaac's friends and family came to celebrate him...his life, and I want to remember everything about it. I never want to forget his radiant face when he saw his brand new big boy bike from Nana and Pops...I never want to forget his enthusiastic greetings to all of his friends...I never want to forget his excitement and energy and really thinking that he felt so loved and celebrated. My Daniel Isaac. What a gift God has given this world, and I get to be his mama. There aren't words...but here are a few pictures...

Spiderman giving his pal Batman a helpful push.

Hercules (Pops) fighting with Batman and Spidey pre-party.

So...the marshmallow guns from Aunt Heather were a HUGE hit, but Noah David was especially excited about the edible mallow ammunition. Yes, he frantically ran through the lawn stuffing his resembling cheeks full of them. And yes, we let him eat marshmallows off of the ground. He was thrilled.

Batman shooting a mallow gun!

And what would a superhero party be without a Spiderman pinata?

Hiii-YA! Batman kicks Spiderman! Whap! Pow!

Superhero tattoos. (Special thanks to Alli Anne our aspiring tattoo artist.)

Again, thanks to Aunt Heather, for homemaking superhero sugar cookies coated in white chocolate and sprinkles and to Race for making the awesome super stickers! Party favors!! Whoohoo!

Sweet Baby Jake's first birthday party! We love our little Superman Jake!

Lots of friends gather 'round for tattoos and for reloading the marshmallow gun!

Ironman Pierce takes action with his mallow shooter!

Get 'em, Birthday boy Batman!

After a series of clues from Venom who was threatening to bash and steal DI's birthday cake, all friends and family sang loud enough to keep him from succeeding in his scheme!

The cake DI and I made together...loving that he's old enough to help!!

Friends enjoying cake...mmm.

Athena (aka Nana) holding Lizzie the youngest little super at the party at just one month old!

Yes! PINATA time! Go Batman!

Spidey needed a turn, too!

Super hard high fives for Spiderman!

Sweet cousin Adin and Noah David enjoyed many laps up and down the sidewalk in the wagon (thanks to Papa!)

Ironmen Holt and Pierce attack Spiderman!

Superhero Caleb running like the wind!

Adin and Elijah lovin' the wagon!

Mmmm...a tootsie roll!

Noah David in Spidey + Eli in Spidey + Ravito in Spidey = About the cutest thing ever.

'Bout to destroy the pinata post-party.

I love him.

Bliss. My boys are my heart, and they are super...really really super.

Post party grass snuggles.

Impossible to resist kissin' those marshmallow cheeks. Impossible.

Notice Spiderman's head is all that's left to the pinata...go Batman!

Daniel Isaac was full of delight, gratitude, joy, love and energy at his party, and boy was he delighted in. Special heartfelt thanks to all who came to shower our boy with so much love. A mama's heart sure does overflow when others love on her babies, and my heart was a spillin' over in bucket loads. Happy happy birthday to my favorite Daniel Isaac in the world. You are my superhero.

Thanksgiving is...

...getting a breakfast date with Daniel Isaac.
...gathering for Andrus family meal, everyone talking and laughing at once.
...Pops' select readings to the family about Thanksgiving.
...Nana's table setting so beautiful and getting to use the turkey plates.
...DI and ND getting to sit at the little kid table together.
...eating the delicious meal made special by Dad and Mom.
...Hannah being home.
...Baby Jake being here for Thanksgiving this year!
...getting to spend time with Daniel's family.
...DI and Madeleine playing so well together running and giggling together for hours.
...Adin being here for Thanksgiving this year!
...Miles being here for Thanksgiving this year!
...wonderfully sweet family and conversations and more yummy food.
...Daniel's strong warm hand slipping it's way over to mine on the car ride home.
...coming home to our colorful, warm comfortable home.
...two sleeping boys who are so beautiful and full of light and joy.
...living life full of gratitude and recognizing that Ephesians 5:20 is a fabulous theme verse, "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."


Eyes tired, belly full, heart bursting with joy and gratitude.  


Happy happy Thanksgiving.