April 19th Day

Today has been a day of reflection. 

Reflecting on God's goodness.

Reflecting on God's faithfulness.

Reflecting on God's perfect plan.

Reflecting on God's precise timing.

Today, Sam and I celebrate April 19th Day. A day we will never forget. A day that changed our world forever. 

In one moment. 

In one single act.

One year ago today, Max's amazing birthfather, Colton, signed paperwork that changed our family. 

Forever. 

So today is a day of reflection. 

A day to honor and give thanks. 

A day of unmistakable and undeniable celebration.

For God has indeed worked miracles for us.

"Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us. We are glad!" 

Psalms 126:3

I encourage you to consider, "what amazing things" God has done for you. There is such power in reflection and remembering the goodness of God. By remembering what He has done, it allows you to speak to your current mountain and say with confidence, BE MOVED. 

So don't hesitate. Start remembering what it is God has done in your life. 

We all have an April 19th Day...

ALL Boy!

So I have had the distinct pleasure of plant-sitting for my dear friend, Joy. She is off on a cross country adventure right now, so she asked if she could leave her treasured plants at my house. Thanks to the Aqua Globe [and not my green thumb] they are still alive. Whew!

Max has somehow not discovered the two big, beautiful, lush plants...

UNTIL TODAY.

See photo below. 'Nuff said.

Facing Your Fears

Several months ago, Max received this great gift: A Giraffe Tunnel. We were pretty stoked thinking it would provide hours of giggles. What's not to love? You can climb on it. Roll it. Play in it. And to top it off, it's in a posh giraffe print [that's the part I liked at least]. 

Well needless to say, Max has not been in love with the giraffe tunnel. He has, instead, been petrified of the thing. We get it out to play and he crawls the other direction. We put his favorite toys inside and he looks at us like, "who cares?" We play peek-a-boo thinking it will entice him in inside, no way. Not interested. And quite fearful.

So, Sam, being the brave dad that he is, decided it was high time Max overcame this giraffe tunnel fear. 

Look Max, tunnels are cool:

Yep, that is Sam inside the tunnel. 

Pretty cool inside the giraffe, huh Max?

Give it a whirl, little buddy!

You can do it!

Halfway through and no sign of turning back!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 

Max is officially over his giraffe tunnel fear. Thanks for saving the day, Dad.

Cardboard Testimony

Sam and I had the opportunity to share our testimony at the Easter Sunday Service. However, this wasn't the typical testimony. We were asked to sum up our adoption story in as few words as possible. And by as few, I mean it needed to fit on the front and back of a piece of cardboard.

Let me pause here to say, Excuse Me?

How do you possibly sum up our story? Or anyone's story for that matter. 

But, Sam and I were up for the challenge. And I have to admit, it was a really incredible exercise for us. We had to work through exactly what we wanted the message to be so we shared our story, related to our audience and ultimately, gave glory to God! 

To check out cardboard testimonies click here [this is an example from another church, however I will definitely put up our church's video once it is ready to go]. 

So, here you have it. Our way of expressing our cardboard testimony.

Thank you Jesus for our story. For the gift of life. And for sweet Maximus. What a journey that was truly worth the wait. 

What's In A Name?

Max loves to say Dada. And Daddy [pronounced more like Da-eeeee, no "dd" in the middle].

Max also loves to say his own name [pronounced Maaaa, no "x" sound, just Maaaa].

Max rarely says Mama. Rarely. As in, I have only heard him say it twice. Ever.

Why is it that I spend day in and day out with the boy and he doesn't say my name? I know he can say it. I have heard it with my own ears! But, he chooses not to say it.

He looks at framed family pictures in our house, like this one...

And this one...

And then he will point his little finger up at Sam and say, Da-eeee. Or look jubilantly at himself in the middle and say, Maaaaa.  But nope, no Mama.

Confession time. I stooped so low the other day, I paid my eight-year-old niece [Maddie] five dollars to work with him and get him to say Mama. We had only one successful "Mama" the next day. And it was after a long bout of "Maaaa, Maaaa, Maaaa" [he was showing off for his grandparents] and then, almost by accident, he threw in a "Mama."

I am trying really hard not to get offended by my eleven-month-old son. But, seriously, what gives? 

CAT Truck Cruisin'

Max is getting good at cruisin' around the house. He has lots of toys that provide him walking assistance, but his favorite? The CAT Truck. 

He is one determined little guy while maneuvering this big truck around the house. He runs into all sorts of obstacles [sorry buddy] and is just not phased. Only. Determined. 

Laughing Out Loud

One of the best sounds EVER: 

Max, laughing out loud. 

We had our first trip to the zoo this year and Maddie [Max's cousin] really got him going. She always can! She plays these great games with him that only a creative eight-year-old can think up! On this particular occasion, she was using one foot to make the stroller bounce up and down. He was in stitches over it. Now, if I would have tried that little game, do you think he would have been laughing? I don't think so! There is something about kids making other kids laugh. So great!

Here's a short clip so you can hear him too!