Adoption?

My parents have done foster care now for almost 2 years, and to say the kids that have come and gone have changed my life would be putting it lightly. They've had somewhere around 13 or 14 kids in that time. Some come for a few days, or a week, or a few months. It doesn't take more than a few minutes for them to become special to every one of us. Some are newborns who will never remember their days in foster care, or their adoption process. Some are older, and have been in 5 foster homes before this one. Some kids will unfortunately be put back in the situation they came from. Some are adopted, and their lives are changed forever.  Some are the sweetest kids...some are not so sweet. But you can't blame them..they don't deserve this.

(If you have seen kids in pictures on my blog before that you didn't recognize, it was probably one of these kids. Depending on the circumstance, sometimes we can share their names & pictures, sometimes you can't.)

I've heard and read about a lot of people who say that God put adoption in their mind and in their heart. While I do believe that He does that, I think I'm even luckier than that. God didn't just put it inside me somewhere... he put it right before my eyes. I've gotten to, at least from the sidelines, see adoptions happen first hand. It is completely a miracle to see how he plans a child's family for him/her.

All of these little cuties were in my parents home, and are now adopted or somewhere in the process.

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”     Luke 18:15-17

Hope for Haiti

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were.

Because this morning my home was still standing, because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be buried out from underneath a pile of concrete, because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water, because this morning I was able to turn on the light, because this morning I was able to take a shower, because this morning I was not planning a funeral.

But most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti.

Lord I cry out to you, the one that makes the impossible, possible, the one that turns darkness in to light. I cry out that you give those mothers strength, that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding, that you may open the streets so that help can come, that you may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. 

For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with your power. I pray all this in the name of Jesus.” 

This was an email I got this morning. It’s so worth sharing…

cutie patootie

My friend Kim had to run to an appointment this morning so this little peanut came to play... While mommy was gone I couldn't resist taking a few pictures

I like to call this picture... "I'm sick of this... would you leave me alone"

hopeful

Today (well tonight, it's way too late to be up yet), I have a good positive attitude. I think I need to write about it so when tomorrow comes, and my attitude isn't good, I can read this and remember. Trust me, they aren't all good days. God knew I needed Wade. He's the most optimistic person I know....and I am a complainer. I really do just love to complain about things sometimes. It's not a good quality, I realize that... and I try my best.


but anyway, back to why I'm happy today: because today I am hopeful. Hopeful that someday I will have a baby... someday we'll have a family. We aren't sure what God has in store for us right now. But we have come to an agreement on one thing. If I am not going to give birth to our children, we will adopt them. (Lots of um in my option, hehe) I know adoption has always been in my heart. Long before I knew Wade, before we were married, a long time ago. Has it always been in my heart because it will be the only way for us to have kids? maybe. maybe not tho. There are days when that question eats away at me.. but not today. Today I don't care how they come, or how many at a time, or what color, or shape or size... I'm just excited that that day is in our future. Today I'm excited that God's plan is obviously not our plan...or what we thought our plan was.

Ah ha.. life lesson #1: God doesn't care what your plan is...and it's a blessing. He knows what's best, we don't. We think we do... but we don't. Today I am willing to except that.

p.s. more on the adoption topic to come at a later date, when I'm not so tired:)

Great Grandma's ring

When we were at my grandparents house this Christmas I found this broken ring lying on the floor. I brought it to my Grandma and she told me it was her mom's ring. She said she didn't really think she would ever wear it so I could have it if I wanted it. I thought it was really vintage and cool...so I had it fixed, and sized to fit my finger... here she is. A beauty huh... i love it.

side note: please ignore my nasty finger nails. It comes with the job. yuck

Daisee

Have I ever mentioned that our dog is spoiled?

sleeping with Wade...

All cozy in her argyle sweater her favorite spot
goodnight..

A Christmas in pictures....

Since we had so many parties, I'm going to sum up our "Christmas week" in just a few pictures. Because of all the snow we were glad we lived so close to our family... and we never traveled more than a few miles to any of our parties.

This was our first Christmas (because of the weather) that we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning home with just the 2, hmm, 3 of us. (see next picture down! haha)

Here is Daisee in her sweater by the tree on Christmas morning:)

Wade opening his stocking presents on Christmas morning... loving the enthusiasm hunny:)

The Kroeze Christmas party

Miss Bailey loves to try to copy almost anything you say. It's so fun to watch her follow her big sister around and copy everything she says & does.
Taylor and I by the tree... she would have posed for 100 pictures if we would keep taking them. She is all girl, and has such a cute personality. Taylor and her Uncle Wade Baby Karson and Grandpa... I think we're going to have to drop the "baby" soon. :) He's loving that bow on the presents... much more than anything inside it.

The Winterfeld Christmas Party

My niece Paelyn & I Santa Baby

The Winterfeld Kids

Grandpa (my Dad) & Paelyn opening the stocking we gave her