Adoption Day!

It's Official! Noah is ours!!

We got to the courthouse a little after noon. We took all our stuff and put it in the bin and shoes off and belts too go through the metal detector start heading to the 4th floor when a police officer tells us we are in the wrong building. LOL. So we go back outside cross the street and do it all again in another building.

It didnt take long for the tears to start. Paul and I were sitting in a room with our attorney and she was asking the questions that they would ask in court and the realization of all of this just came over me and it was beyond my control. I prayed that God would let me feel my true emotions and not be afraid and hide them. After our meeting we headed back out into the corridor. There were so many families there. I think I heard that Gladney had 13 adoptions that day. There were many many more today as well. We met a family with their first baby, 6 month old Mackenzie. We wished them a happy adoption day then we all headed into court. The first child to be adopted had about 35 to 45 people there with him. Everyone was hootn' n hollern'. The judge was great. We watched as family after family went before the judge and welcomed their child into his/her forever family. It was beautiful. Then it was our turn.

We called Paul's mom and my gram and put them on speaker phone during the adoption. They enjoyed that. Take a look.









Yep! Noah pulled the judges hair!! LOL




After it was over the kids got to pick a stuffed animal and have cookies and punch. How cute! They loved it. Then we headed to Razoo's to eat lunch/dinner. We went to Razoos on gotcha day with the birthparents so I wanted the kids to see that too. Then it was off to Gladney to see where it all happened that day in May. It was great walking around and learning so much about Edna Gladney and how it all started. There was a pregnant girl there starting her journey and a man who had been placed over 30 years ago searching for some answers.

Today was so different than Gotcha day. A lot less emotionally draining. Today was fun and freeing. It was a great chapter in our lives. I am glad we did this. I am glad the kids experienced it. As we were leaving the courthouse Trin said, "We should adopt again." Mike said," Why for the cookies and punch." Without missing a beat Trin said, "And the toys." :) They make me smile. Thank you all so much for the support and prayers as we have gone on this journey. Without God and everyone of you this day would not be possible. I pray you are all blessed more than you could ever imagine.

Be blessed

Forth Worth Water Gardens

In the morning we headed to Arlington to get our car seats checked. We ended up getting 5 brand new car seats for free. It is an amazing program and we are very blessed by it. After that I came back to the hotel with the kids while Paul was on his interview. When he got home we decided to get out of the room and see the water gardens. Boy are they purtty! Fort Worth Water Gardens are in downtown FW and free! Our favorite part was the water wall. It was such a nice day for it too. It was 85 and felt like August in Pa. After the gardens we headed over to get some TexMex with Nancy and Mike. It was good, way different than mexican food in Pa. The kids loved it.We are so grateful for great company.


















Today we are headed to court. I'd be lying if I said I wasnt nervous. In my head I know court here is nothing like court in the Ukraine or Russia. Things are all final and it is just a formality but still I am nervous. Growing up I had bad experiences with courts. I am hoping that todays experience will help me get over my fear. After court we hope to go to Gladney and show the girls where their brother was before he was ours. I am thinking it will be a highly emotional day. Tomorrow is Noah's party and in the morning we hope to look at a house. Yay!

Be blessed Ya'll :)

Fun in the Sun

Well my little cowgals n cowboy went to the stockyard again. This time it was in the daytime. We watched the cattle drive which was very cool. AJ said, "The cow gonna eat my binki!!!" I said No the cow is not going to eat your binki. LOL. After the cattle drive we went to ride the bull. I wanted to ride the bull so bad. Much to my surprise Sarie wanted to ride too. So me, Cherry and Sarie all rode the bull.I still can't believe that Sarie rode it. She got on, put her arm up in the arm, leaned back and had a huge smile on her face. Then the bull started moving. Her face went from blissfully unaware to terrified in seconds. Lol. She hung on though. She didnt fall off either. Then it was Cherry's turn. Same thing. It was all fun and games until the bull moves. But she hung on too. Bless her heart.

After them it was my turn! I told the guy to take it easy Im from Pittsburgh. He said, "I wont hold it against ya." Then right before he started it he said," Lets hope you ride better than Rothesburger plays." I said Hey now! lol. Then the bull started. I swear he put that thing on crazy because I'm a Steeler fan. He said," I havent even started to make it move yet." Oh Lord help me. LOL. I fell off. It was great though. People are so nice here. Kids are respectful. Its just nice.

We went to the cowboy store and bought the kids all cowboy hats. They love them. Then we headed over to the free pony rides. After that to a museum and then Paul got us some fried pickles and the kids got longhorn balloon animals. It was a great day. I had 2 shoots tonight at the Botanical gardens which is also free. It is beautiful there now, I cant wait to see it in the summer.

While I was out working the kids went and had a cook out with Paul and Nancy and Mike's family. They geocached and played at the park. Sarie got her first scraped knee. I think its pretty good to be 4 and have your first skinned knee. Shes ok now. They all love their hats. I wanna get them some cowboy boots as soon as I can. I tried on my first pair today and man were they comfy, expensive, but comfy.

Tomorrow we have the privilege of going to Arlington to pick up 5 brand new car seats. We truly are blessed. They have a program here called Safe Kids. We went and had them make sure our car seats were installed right. Well turns out that Sarie's is 6yrs expired! AJ is too tall for hers and Noah is also too tall. She said Trin should be in one because she is just a little too small but if her friends ride with us then she can put it away and Cherry is getting a new booster that is safer. How cool is that? 5 free brand new car seats. Thank God for programs like this. I had no idea they all needed ones and could in no way afford to buy them.

The weather has been amazing! So much sun. I feel great here. Man do I love Texas!

We got video of the bull but I will upload another day.














Be blessed

Free Day!!!

Today is one day this week that Paul doesnt have interviews. I have to work later this evening but he doesnt so YAY! We want to do something fun with the kids today. Unfortunately the kids are having a bit of a rough time health wise. AJ got fifths disease which is a virus that then causes a rash and Trinity has it now too. Ugh! I hope it goes away soon and the others dont get it.Pray for quick healing for all kids.

There is so much fun stuff to do here and a lot of its free. The botanical gardens are free, water gardens are free. It amazes me. This week is Spring break down here so everything is pretty packed. We decided not to do a whole lot because of that. Our hope is that we move down here so we can do all that any time. We are praying Paul gets an offer today. That would be just so amazing! Nancy found us a realtor and the woman sent us a ton of listings. We only found one we really could not live without. It is really nice. When Paul saw it he immediately said, "Yep this is it!" I am hoping we can get over to see it today.

In case you havent figured it out or been told yes we are moving. Paul has to get a job first but we would live to stay here. Texas is amazing. I can't explain it but we both feel such peace here. I have more energy and am happier. The kids are so content and happy. I am sure it is the massive amounts of Vit D coming at us right now from that strange thing in the sky each day. :) Everyday the kids play basketball. When we go grocery shopping or enter any facility people acknowledge us by a friendly "Hi Yall!" People dont look at us weird and not once have I heard, " Are they ALL yours?" or "Whats wrong with your son?" Nope just friendly people minding their own business lovin life in this nice warm weather. I am sure we will come across some rude people everywhere has them, but I just feel so much better since coming down here. I really feel like this is the life our kids were meant to have. Also I feel like I can help here. I would be able to be on the gladney panel for adoption and speak about adopting special needs kids. I would be able to talk to birthmoms and take pictures of their children for them, something they can treasure forever. I hope we can stay. I will miss family and friends really I will, but I think this is right where we need to be for now.

Be blessed

Fort Worth Stockyards

Thank you hotel pool for being broken! Paul and I did not want to swim but some kids sure did. So we head to the pool all 7 of us. We walk to the door and the sign says Broken! Well when we got back up to the hotel room the kids went nuts. AJ threw a huge fit and I said ok, we are getting outta here. We got dressed and headed to the Stockyards at 9pm. I had been in the tiny hotel room most of the afternoon and evening by myself with all 5 kids so we all needed out. Boy am I glad we got out.

It was a bit chilly but not horrible. When we got out of the van we were greeted by a cowboy and his steer. He was so nice. Everyone here is. He put Trin up on the longhorn and said he would pose all of us to take a pic. He stuck AJ right under the head OMGsh! She freaked out. He was so funny. She screamed and screamed and he said "C'mon now I can barely hear ya. I thought you were gonna scream!" LOL What a hoot he was. He had me put my hand under the chin. That is the most gentle cow I have ever seen and soft too! Wow! We had a blast. Then he ask Paul to take his toe (which apparently means he wants help up on the steer) got up on his steer and in true cowboy fashion (according to old western movies) rode off into the night. LOL.






Did I mention I love it here!





Be blessed.