Teammates Make the Best of Friends

Cole is currently playing on the Blue Sox baseball team and we have had so much fun. This week I took Cole and a friend to watch the Bats play in Louisville and we had a blast. This weekend we went out of town for our first out-of-town tournament. The kids and parents had so much fun.

Happy July 4th!!

We had a great July 4th weekend. We went to Panther Creek for the fireworks show and to raise some money for Cole's Blue Sox baseball team. The boys had such a great time and not one of them complained the whole night. Caroline wasn't afraid of the fireworks at all. Before the show began she rode her first horse. It has been amazing to watch her do things for the first time. She now thinks we need a horse :)

Home Six Months Today

Where does the time go? We have been home 6 months today with Caroline. It's hard to believe that just 6 months ago she was handed to us in the quiet building in Guangzhou. She cried, screamed out momma and ran from us as we tried to comfort her. She has come so far in just a short time. There are times when she amazes me in what she is able to understand, speak and do. She loves her brothers dearly. She now calls only me momma and she wants to know where her daddy is every minute. Caroline completes our family and I honestly don't know how we got this lucky. She is the missing piece to our family.

First Swim Day and We Love It

My Nephew Clears the Fence

Yesterday during a ball game my nephew hit one out and Caroline just happened to be there! I'm so sad I didn't get to see it because I do go to many of his games. Way to go JOHN!! We are so proud of you.

Happy 40th Brad!

Yesterday was Brad's 40th birthday! Where has time gone? It seems like yesterday we were in our twenties. I guess the old saying is true. Time flies when you're having fun. We spent the day working in the yard, at ball practice and then we finally got to go out to eat with NO kids.....WOW! Hope you had a great birthday!!!

On This Mother's Day

This Mother's Day feels so different for so many reasons.  First, our family is finally complete and that's a great feeling!  Second, Caroline's birth mother is out there somewhere and I can't help but wonder where she is, what she is doing and how she must feel.  Last, my eyes have been opened to all those kids that will never know the love of a mother.  

I must first talk about my own mother and what she means to me.  She is someone who I talk with just to talk.  It seems like we can talk for hours and really not talk about anything.  I never remember her missing a ball game, a talent show, a school function or anything that meant something special to me. You could always count on her being there cheering you on.  If you don't know Carol Kay then you might not know that she would take up for us in a minute if she believed we were in the right.  The boys love her and to Caroline she is something she's never had....a Nana.  

Then it's my own kids, the kids who call me Mom.  Each of my kids are so very different in their own way.  Cole is my kid who never meets a stranger, can always find something to do, and has a heart of gold.  Luke is my kid who has a temper,  fights for what he believes is right, and questions everything.  Caroline is my kid who is very strong willed, loves her momma deeply and knows what real loss feels like.  All of them so unique, so special and deserving of a momma's love.  I'm so proud of each of them.

Last but certainly not least is something that has honestly caught me off guard.  I never thought I would think about two women so much who are half a world away.  Two women who mean so much to me, but will never know.  First, is the woman who gave birth to our Caroline.  The one who chose to give her life, the one who cared for her from the time she was born until the time she was three months old,  the one who left her on that busy street corner to save her life.  I feel certain that she thinks about her today, I'm sure she wonders if she's still alive.  I would love to be able to tell her that Caroline is doing great, I would love to be able to see if she resembles her mother, I would love to be able to see if her mother is as strong willed as she is, I would love to know her side of the story.  All of these things haunt me today and I wasn't expecting that before we adopted.  Second, is Caroline's foster mother whom I never got to meet.  This woman provided the closest thing to a mother that Caroline has ever had for 5 months.   There are days when I watch her and I know that someone taught her what she knows today.  She was well cared for and certainly knew what it meant to love and be loved.  So today and every day I will honor the two women that played a part in our Caroline being here with us in our family right where she belongs.  

So, on this Mother's Day I appreciate my mom and all she does for us.  I will cherish my own kids and their unique personalities.  I will honor two women in China, one that chose life and one that nurtured our girl until she was in our arms.