Embrace the Camera { Septmeber 27}

Today I want to give a little sneak peak of Sarah's first birthday party, so what better way to do that than embrace the Camera with a family photo!  We had so much fun, can't wait to share more!



Oh and for those of you visiting from the Anderson Crew.  Do you want a free postagram? You should sign up for Postagram, via my link.  Postagram is an i-phone/ android app that allows you to send postcards to friends & family (for $.99)  from your instragram photos (or any photos).  It is snail mail meeting the internet!  I love it, who doesn't love getting mail!!!  and if you click my link and sign up YOU GET A FREE postcard to send and so do I!!  You can look at this blog post to see what a postagram looks like because I sent one to myself.  And it's an even better way to embrace the camera. And also I found out that they send postagrams for FREE to APO military addresses, this is so exciting, you can send postcards overseas for free to your military friends!

Thanks friends.  I will post more of the party within the week!

A tale of 2 sisters

Once upon a time there were 2 little girl cousins.  Born just over a year apart from one another, separated by 1,244 miles, and living their lives as the 1st and only children in their families.


Their worlds collided on a few occasions, with much laughter and excitement involved.  Their moms, as sisters, loved watching the two little girl cousins together.  The sisters also loved to relate in the shared joy of having just one little daughter.  Their time together was precious and well spent, although not often enough....

In one heartbeat of a life, that all changed. 
In one instant a sisters life was gone.
In one instant a daughter lost her mother.
In one instant, a family of 3 became a family of 4

The 2 cousins, who were miles apart, were no longer cousins, but sisters, living under the same roof, in the same room.  Both no longer only children, but siblings.  Life had changed.

For who knew that this was what was predestined?  That these 2 were meant to be sisters?  Who knew that the loss of one sister, meant the gain of a sister for someone else?  Who knew that these two were meant to have a kinship like no one else, living as both sisters and cousins?
They play together, they laugh together, they fight together, and they even wear each other clothes.

They need each other.

Who ever knew they weren't meant to be only cousins, because it certainly looks like God planned for them to be sisters.....




and who knew that in one more instant, life would change for them, yet again

Sarah's 1st Birthday Video

Happy 1st Birthday Sarah, we love you!

Happy Apple Farm

I do have to say that I set my expectations really low for the "Happy Apple Farm" here in Penrose, Co.  I mean, my parents live like 5 minutes away from apple hill in Californai, which is like the meca of all apple places to go.  But my friend Rachel set up a trip, and really anything done with her is fun so went with a group of momma's and kids (13 girls & 2 boys) and I was pleasantly surprised.

I mean what better fun than riding on a tractor, with the nicest driver EVER

Let's go Get some Apples!

 

But let's get some Raspberries first

 

They were so Tasty, most of them were eaten before we could even pay for them

 

  I

love lily, she remind me so much of Norah

How Tall this fall?

Scarlet, Lily, Norah & Maya

And now lets go get some Apples

Umm this is like just a branch...

how do I look?

 

Don't worry the babies got involved with the action to

I WANT some!!

reaching....

that's better

time to head back

and eat lunch

  The raspberry and apples were super yummy and cheap too! Not to mention it was just a fun experience! We will be back!

A little bit of Norah in our lives

Man, you can really see her chipped tooth in this photo

People often ask how Norah is doing, how she is adjusting, if she is fitting in well?  I am sorry I haven't always been the best at updating everyone on this, but she fits into our family so well, some days I forget that we haven't had her her whole life.

Norah loves preschool and just loves loves going to dance, she askes me every week if it is time to go back to dance class.   She even runs around on her tip toes like a ballerina.

she loves to play outside and ride her bike and she usually wants to sit by the picture of mommy carrisa at dinner time.

At a glance people NEVER EVER know Norah is adopted.  Just today someone at dance class said, "man you can definitely tell they are sisters."

seriously, they do look like sisters

 And at least once a week we get asked if they are twins?!?

And if I ever do tell people we have adopted, they ask, which one? ha

Several times we have also had people say, " Well Maya looks a lot like her mom, and Sarah looks like her dad and Norah..... well she is a mix!"  Haha I never knew Norah resembled Brett, but I guess since all of my girls do then why not Norah also.

Norah actually fits the typical role and personality of a middle child, which is kind of funny since she was a first born.  God designed her to be a middle child, because He knew she would be one. In fact, on many levels I can relate to moms that have 3 children better than adoptive moms, because all of our middle children have the same strong middle child personality.

Our struggles have not been from Norah adjusting or fitting into our family, most of our struggles are from battles of the will, battles of opposite personalities (me & Norah).  These things are normal for any family though, it is just that I have an added "guilt" factor because Norah is adopted.  So my dilemma always is, " I don't want Norah to think she is disciplined more because she is adopted."  I want all my kids to be treated the same, so disobeying or breaking rules always results in discipline at our house no matter what child does it, it is just that Norah does it a whole lot more!! She tests me, she pushes me, she is incredibly intelligent!  She knows how to use words and affection like a pro!

She does a lot of this and this when I am having "a chat" with her

The balance of love and disciple is so hard and even harder when you add the adoption factor.  I know that children with strong wills can turn out to be some of the most amazing people, they have a drive and determination, they are brilliant!  I just want to mold Norah in that direction.  One of my good friends was a very strong willed child growing up, and when I see her now I just can't believe it! I would have never known, she is the sweetest,  most caring person and intelligent person I know and loves the Lord with her whole heart!  Knowing this gives me great hope and a great burden.

I know that the Lord created Norah for something very special, something great!  Look at her now, how she has changed our lives for the better, so I know God has a great plan, sometimes I just wonder if he chose the right person to help unfold that plan.