"my favorite color is ellow"

There is a place right down the road that has beautiful yellow flowers every spring!
Last year I tried to take pictures of Addalie there, but it didn't go very well. So I decided to try again & to top it all off- "ellow" (that's how she says "yellow") is her favorite color!
She was such a trouper though because as soon as we got there, she stepped in some "burn hazel" & if you've ever touched that stuff...you know it hurts!!! Her whole foot had bumps all over it--but despite it, she did really well for pictures. (I was a bit amazed.)

*dancing with bunny*

*spring flowers*

i had never seen these before...this is my first year of having them....& i LOVE them! they just make me smile. (the challenge is keeping Addalie from "picking them" out of the pot!)

they are really this PINK...i didn't edit them!!

Easter 2010

Easter Egg Hunt at Village Greens-





She was not to sure of the Easter Bunny....

& she wasn't to sure of the egg hunt either....(at least at first)

but with mommy's help she managed to get a few! =)

Grandpa Stutzman & Bev--notice her new shoes! Thanks so much. They are great!! =)

They had LOTS of fun activities there. Face/Hand painting-

Live Bunnies to pet-

Fishing Games-

Side walk chalk- we have a stone driveway & nowhere to do sidewalk chalk, so this was a treat!

Counting her loot!

Addalie & I had so much fun...& since Village Greens is so close to our house, this will definitely be a tradition!

Scott came home from market early on Saturday night & we painted eggs!!!!

Easter Day 2010

The progression of our Easter Day this year:
Church~Lunch at Scott's Grandma K's~home for a quick nap for Addalie (while Scott was playing volleyball)~Dinner at my mom's (Easter Egg Hunt) & joining us was Philip/Shelly & kiddos.
It was a busy day (& took a few days for Addalie to recover from) BUT we are so blessed & SO Grateful that HE Is Risen! Our sins are Forgiven!



Addalie, Morgan & Maddison (2nd cousin)



Onto Grandma Jane's house.

lots of fun with Dietrich & Claudia!! (yes, he is eating the hard boiled-painted egg--shell & all!) =))

Claudia's cute toes.

Grilling up the steak!

*always finding rocks & always picking flowers*

Home-coming!

http://www.holtinternational.org/adoption/lg.recru.shtml
This will be us in a couple of months!!!!!

When I watched this video- I cried. (of course)

We are SO looking forward to this day!!

I have to admit though, I am getting a little anxious. Not a lot....but a little. I know that it will be a difficult transition for this little girl (I think we've almost decided on her name....will keep you posted on that. until then, I will refer to her as "Ji"...that is her given last name.) Ji is in foster care right now & I can't imagine how hard it will be for her to leave that family & come here to the states with us. A new language, new foods, new care takers, new home, new big sister Addalie (who will most likely overwhelm her w/her excitement.) Ji will be almost 2 years old when she gets here....Sometimes, I turn the tables & think of Addalie & how much she needs consistency & schedules etc. -& think how would it be for her to leave her "comforts" --that's how it will be for Ji...But I also KNOW that God is faithful. He is bringing this little girl into our home!! He is preparing Ji's heart & our hearts too.

Also, one of the main topics in some of our adoption education classes was about attachment. It is such a BIG piece to adoptions...& I won't get into all of it, but we have been told over & over that it may be a difficult transition. Typically (not always) adopted children attach to one parent over the other....& especially at the beginning won't even let the "other" parent hold them.

I am trying to prepare myself for what is ahead....Probably not much of a break for a long long time. Probably not much sleep at night for a long long time. (I recently talked to someone who said their daughter just started sleeping "normally" at night after 2 1/2 years of being in their home--those same people also said that their daughter (4 yrs. old) cried every time the mom left the room for almost 2 years.) And, we are told that these examples are "normal" with attachment...not the exception.

SO-yes, we C A N N O T wait!!! & at the same time, I am already looking to the Lord for strength in what is to come! How kind of Him to give us Ji!!!! =))

well fed