My Baby is 4

Why does time have to move so fast? I am resolving in 2010 (and I'm serious about this one) to simplify life even more so I don't miss the most important moments due to busy-ness. This will be a good journey for me as we prepare to add another little one to the family this year.

But, back to the business at hand. I'm a little late with this post due to traveling and having company here, but Miss Eden turned 4 on Sunday. She is such a big girl. I never knew watching your child grow up would be so wonderful and sad at the same time.

Eden's birthdays trigger a strange mix of emotions for me. I wonder if I will ever get over the grief I feel over her not being home yet on her 1st birthday...as we celebrate, the candles on the cake never match the memories of past birthdays. It's strange. We matched with her about 2 weeks before she turned one. We had her photo, which made Dec. 27, 2006 a very hard day. These feelings then lead to questions about her foster mother who cared for her from 3 mos. old until 19 mos. when we brought her home. I wonder if every year on Dec. 27 she grieves that she ONLY had one birthday with her? She and Eden loved each other so much. I can't help but think of her each year on adoption day and Eden's birthday. I am so grateful for the way she loved my daughter.

However, there is much more joy than sadness. I am so blessed by this little treasure every day of the year. I just love celebrating her life and all that God has done for and in her in 4 short years. This year, she wanted a party with all her cousins. So, we had a bowling party complete with Backyardigans decorations and cupcakes and all her cousins came. Eden's first time bowling was quite funny...as it took her ball FOREVER to make it to the pins because she insisted on doing it "all by myself." It was a fun day. The highlight was the hot pink Barbie Jeep my mom and step-dad gave her that morning. Thanks Ja-Ja for standing in line at 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving to get it...she LOVES it!

Here are some things about Miss Eden in her 4th year of life, followed by some pictures. Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

1) Eden talks...all the time...even if no one is listening
2) She loves to read
3) She loves to play with her daddy
4) She is a great helper around the house and loves doing her "chores"
5) Her chores are setting the table, feeding the dog, and picking up her toys before bedtime
6) She still comes in our bed in the middle of the night...most of the time I never wake up...in the morning she's just there
7) She loves Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans, Dora and Diego
8) She is very tender-hearted...she burst into tears when the mean guy trapped Kevin the bird in the movie "Up"
9) She is still scared of anything dark...we have yet to see a movie in the theater due to this
10) She loves Sprite
11) She cracks herself up all the time
12) She has an amazing memory
13) So far she has learned: Matthew 6:24, Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 30:15, Psalm 1:6...all in the month of December
14) She LOVES art and music
15) She takes ballet
16) She is girlie, but loves to get dirty, too
17) She gets really mad when she can't figure something out
18) She adores her cousins
19) She prays from her heart
20) She can't wait to be a big sister
21) God has given her a heart for orphans
22) Her favorite color is pink
23) She loves all kinds of soup...especially vegetable
24) She copies everything I do
25) Today, she says when she grows up she wants to be an artist...or maybe drive the train to the circus for the animals :0)

That's all for now...enjoy the pictures. I don't have the party ones yet so these will have to do. Happy 2010!

What we bought Eden for her 1st b'day while she was still in China

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

4th birthday

Guess Who Came To Town???

Eden and I have already come to my mom's house for Christmas. We miss daddy, but he has to work at the Christmas Eve services at our church tomorrow night so he can't join us until Christmas Eve. Well, last night we had a big family dinner with all my siblings and their children, my parents and my grandmother. After dinner we all gathered into the den to chat, when all of a sudden we heard a "clatter" on the front porch...we all listened to see what was the "matter." When what to our wondering eyes did appear? Guess who came to visit us early?

We heard the jingling of bells and a big "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Eden sprang up...I mean sprang up and ran into the arms of...SANTA! It was such a sweet surprise. He even brought a kiss from Rudolph that lit up Eden's nose red!

After she sat in his lap and everyone got pictures made, we all sat down and he read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas." When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she replied, "A jumproap and a clock for my wrist in case I can't find my Dora one but if I find my Dora one I don't need it." Whew...what a mouthful!

Before he left, he told us about the one gift that even Santa can't bring...eternal life; and how it makes him sad when people make a bigger deal out of him than Jesus. He reminded us of the real reason for Christmas. It was a special memory.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Until next time, enjoy these photos.

Eden when she heard the bells...

When she realized who it was...

Eden greeting Santa...

They had quite the conversation...

A Kiss from Rudolph

One last hug...

My Meemaw's 1st photo ever with Santa

My nephew Camp...just because he is so cute!!!

Eden & all her cousins (except Julie who had her wisdom teeth out) with Santa

Eden's Prayer

"Father, thank you for my baby brother and sister in Africa. Help them to be brave while they are away from our family. Help them to be brave when we come to get them. Help them to know me and love me. Amen."

Is it possible that God is preparing the heart of an almost 4-year-old in ways that I cannot imagine? Listening to her prayers each night, I can't help but think that no one knows how to pray for the one we will adopt better than she does.

There are many unknowns at this point, many unanswered questions. I think that God is telling us to walk on in faith, amidst the unknown, and listen for His voice daily. More than ever before we are trusting Him as Provider. One thing I know...He adores orphans and wants to place them in a family...and most of all in His family.

Do you realize that this is why we celebrate Christmas? He came to adopt us all. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Thank You, Thank You!

Do you want to know why I haven't posted in a while? It's because you guys bought SO MANY ornaments for our adoption fundraiser. Thank you all so much for supporting us...we are so grateful and humbled. My hot-glue gun has been working overtime. Some precious new friends, the Shackelfords, even came to help me out. I am finally caught up on orders...there is still time if you want to order. Just click on the Ornaments for Orphans tab to the right. The video of Eden is priceless! I'm sure she is why we sold so many :0)

We had a welcome phone call with our adoption agency today where we could ask questions and hear more specifics about the Uganda adoption process. Gene and I were really excited when we hung up. God is already making some things really clear to us even now that we were questioning. Age, gender and number of children are some things we are praying through in the coming weeks. Right now we are leaning toward 1 child, but we obviously will change that if God tells us to.

We are settling in and enjoying our new home. I love the Christmas season and all that it represents. Here are some photos of what we're doing this holiday season. Thank you all again for your support and love.

Snowman and reindeer ornaments galore

These reindeer are made from lightbulbs

Eden and I made our first gingerbread house...not as easy as they advertise

Eden with her house

Eden eating her house...the best part!

Ornaments for Orphans

Hey everyone...hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. As promised, the Christmas ornament fundraiser is ready to go. Just in case you haven't been following the blog, let me back up and bring you up to date.

We are hoping to adopt again! Our prayer is that God would give us a little blessing (or blessings) from Uganda, Africa sometime next year. I traveled to South Africa this past summer and saw first-hand the needs of the poor there. We haven't been to Uganda, but have several friends who have. Eden has been begging for a "baby sister and baby brudda" ever since she saw "Big Sister Dora" a year and a half ago (LOL). I'm not sure she really knows what she's asking for...but I know she'll be a great big sister.

I really struggled with the timing of this adoption, to be honest. You can read about that a few posts down. God is going to have to move some pretty big mountains financially, and we know He can and will do that if this is His will for our family. I wanted to do a fundraiser that was both affordable for people and involved our daughter as much as possible...hence, Ornaments for Orphans.

You can click on the link on the right side of the blog to get all the info. Eden has helped me hand-make some Christmas ornaments for you to buy. Each ornament is $10.

I know there are many times when I have small gifts I need to get like teacher gifts, extended family, dirty Santa, etc. I always end up getting some small little gift that costs about $10, so I thought maybe if people were already going to spend the money, maybe it would bless the giver and receiver to know that the $10 really will help change a baby's life forever. You have my word that 100% of the money we receive will be deposited directly into our adoption savings account.

Each ornament will include an enclosure card that tells about our adoption so the recipient will know it's more than a Christmas ornament. Thank you all so much for loving and supporting us on this journey. If you have any questions, just post here or e-mail me at kerimason@mac.com.

When you click on the "Ornaments for Orphans" tab on the right, it will take you to the web page. You can pay online with paypal, or e-mail me your order and I will send you the info to mail a check. Please feel free to put the link on your blogs/facebook too, or give our blog address to anyone you think might want to help...the more the merrier!

There is an adorable video of Eden when you get to the site. She will give you all the details. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you again. God bless!

I'm Thankful For....

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am thankful for:

1) That Jesus loves me and accepts me as I am...even with all my shortcomings and faults.
2) That because of this, I am free to love and accept others the same way.
3) For my husband. I don't always love him well...but as I sit and reflect, I am so very blessed to have him.
4) For my sweet Eden...there are no words.
5) For adoption...the whole idea of it, the reality of what it accomplishes, of what it teaches, the healing and restoration it brings.
6) For my brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere...I love that our bond in the Spirit transcends race, culture, economics, language, customs...etc.
7) For my family...all of you...
8) For friends that I know I could call at any time and they would be here at the drop of a hat...I have several and am therefore rich beyond measure.
9) For my new house, and the home it is now that we are all in it.
10) Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas (hey, they can't all be "deep")
11) Music...I love how the right song can turn anyone into a dancer or singer.
12) The sound of my daughter singing "Jesus Loves Me" and praying.
13) My church home, Cross Pointe
14) My Birmingham faith family at Brook Hills...we miss you
15) The Word of God...and that I can read and study it myself
16)My loyal companion Maggie, our almost 11-year-old chocolate lab...she is the most gentle creature
17) Lifeline Children's Services, for helping us grow our family
18) Our soldiers, near and far
19)Auburn and the friends I made there
20)My former singles' ministry friends at Hunter Street Baptist who helped me learn how to follow Christ
21) Chris Wilson...the leader of that ministry who is now a pastor...his sermons still ring in my ears
22) Brenda Brown...my mentor who first taught me how to study Scripture
23)Airplanes so we can take the Gospel to the ends of the earth
24)Holiday festivities like Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with 15 people around the table (in our family), decorating cookies, trimming trees, cider and hot chocolate, cookies for Santa, Christmas cards, stockings full of surprises, etc.
25) And finally, that I can now watch "Christmas Vacation" over and over for the next month...when Clark Griswald's fingers get all that sap on them and start sticking to everything I laugh out loud no matter how many times I've seent it!

Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive or in order of importance.

Hope you all have a great holiday. Fundraising ornaments are made and will be put on the blog very soon so keep checking. Love yall!

Here We Go...Again!

Well, I finally mailed it...our adoption application, that is. I'm nervous and excited about what the future holds. We are applying to adopt from Uganda, Africa.

Last night at dinner, Eden prayed the sweetest blessing. She said, "Father, thank you for bringing me a baby brudda (brother) and baby sister (she has it in her mind this is what we're getting...). And I will not spend too much money. Amen." Can you tell we're in adoption mode? How precious that she is willing to sacrifice in her own way.

Eden and I are working on a fundraiser right now. I really want her to be involved as much as possible. We are making/selling Christmas ornaments for $10 each. We have already had several pre-orders. Please be checking the blog for more info. Hopefully this weekend, I will post pictures of what you can order and how to do so. So when planning for the holidays, remember you can come here for those little $10 extra gifts for extended family, teachers, etc. and know that 100% of the money will go into our adoption fund.

We are trusting God to provide in a mighty way for this adoption. If it is His will, He will have to make it happen.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Your prayers are needed, and wanted! Love yall

The Reason Why

This is a sweet baby I met in South Africa who is HIV positive. Her mother refused to take her to free clinic to get the medicine she needs. She was only 4 months old and had an opportunistic infection all over her beautiful cheeks.

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." Mother Teresa

I found this quote online this morning. It communicates my heart, my passion, and I am convinced our God's passion as well. It reminds me of the reason I am mailing our application in this month to begin our 2nd adoption...from Africa this time. It reminds me why I am doing this amidst a flood of thoughts of fear, doubt and questions.

The first time I was so brave...because I was so ignorant of the process, both of paperwork, and the emotional process of bonding and healing the broken child's heart. This time I know...and I am not so brave. This time I have less time, less resources, less confidence. But this time I also have Eden...her hugs and "I love you more than the world, mommy" words that remind me of what is possible. She reminds me what God desires for every orphan. Not money, or middle-class America. But love, hope, and most of all, the chance to know Him...the One Whose wrath rages against the injustice that orphaned them to begin with. The One Who hears every cry, and counts each tear.

This time will be different. There will be fundraising and grant-writing. This time there will be more questions, and prejudice towards the stark difference in our skin color. There will be more sacrifice financially...and that brings thoughts of uncertainty and fear. That exposes the ugly sin of materialism that we all struggle with...it makes us come face to face with want versus need. And that's not a bad thing. Thankfully, perfect love casts out all fear. Thankfully God is for me and not against me. Thankfully, He will guide each step, each delay, each dollar, each piece of paperwork.

So today, among a sea of emotions...I am reminded. God loves adoption. After all, He is the One who came up with the idea (Ephesians 1). Please pray with us as we embark on this journey. There is so much that lies ahead.

The first time I held my daughter.

"I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of of sorrow."
Jeremiah 31:13

3 months later

Happy Halloween!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend full of fun and sugar :0) Here's what we did over the weekend:

Went bike riding since it finally wasn't raining...beautiful fall day on Thursday!

Played with Maggie, our dog, outside in the pretty weather.


Carved pumpkins.

Dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story 2 and went Trick-or-Treating (in the rain).

We also bought a house on Friday...so, not much going on around here :0) As a bonus, here's a picture my sister sent of the cutest little scarecrow I ever did see...my nephew Camp, in Birmingham. Sure wish I could have gotten my hands on him. We miss them so much!

I know, I know, he's adorable. Have a great week! We will be moving (for the second time in 6 months)...YAY!!!

New Friends

I was hesitant about signing Eden up for preschool with all the change she's had in the past few months. She seemed a little lonely without her Birmingham friends so I decided to go ahead and do it. Turns out it was a great thing for her. Her teacher said, "She is making friends so quickly!" That's my little social butterfly. "School is the BEST!" she announced after her 1st day. Here's Eden with some new friends. Aren't friends the best?

Fall Festival at School

Kleenex Warning!!!

This song is so beautiful, and proof that God is real. Many of you may have heard it, but just in case, here it is. I found it on a friend's facebook and started bawling after the first line. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote it about his daughter, adopted from China, who died last year. The new album, Beauty Will Rise, comes out November 3rd. Get the kleenex, enjoy the song, and have 4 minutes of worship as you reflect on Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom and pause my playlist before you play the video.

Eden Loves Candy Corn

This is going to be really short because I have a ton to do today. Eden started preschool 3 days a week and her Fall Festival is today. I decided to try and sew her a cute fall outfit, inspired by my friend Aimee's outfit featuring candy corn that she made for sweet Lily. Eden LOVES candy corn so we set off for Hobby Lobby to see what we could find. Here's how it turned out. Love yall!


And you know the best part? I only threw one fit this time while sewing :0)

Fall Pictures...and Pumpkins!

Hello all my friends in the blog world! Hope you are enjoying cooler weather where you are. We finally are in Georgia, but it's been really, really wet. We're hoping the sun comes out soon. Just thought I'd share some pictures from this fall. Eden and I went to Burt's Pumpkin Farm at the foothills of the North Georgia mountains with our good friend Jeanie yesterday. She is our Executive Pastor's wife and someone we love dearly. We are so glad to have the Herndon's in our lives. Jeanie is also my nephew Camp's Nana (my sister Kelly is married to her son, Matt). We LOVED the pumpkin farm! We had plans to go pick apples in this same area in Elliejay today, but the weather didn't cooperate...guess we'll have to make homemade apple sauce another day :0(

I love this time of year with fall colors, apple cider, Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbuck's, and of course, college football! Hope you are finding lots to be thankful for this season. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Eden and daddy in NC...she is getting so tall!

Burt's Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville, GA

Eden at the pumpkin farm - look how big those pumpkins are!

Mommy and Eden

Searching for the perfect little pumpkin...decisions, decisions...

Found it!

Eden on the old John Deere

Mommy, Eden and Jeanie on the hayride

The pumpkins we picked out

All my lil' pumpkins

Princess for A Day

While we were on vacation at Disney World we paid a visit to the Bibbidy Boppidy Boutique located in Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom. As we were escorted in, "Princess Eden" was first asked to select her dress, shoes and accessories. She chose the new Disney Princess, Princess Tiana, who is the first African American princess. The movie comes out in November and the dress is so pretty! She chose "glass" slippers from the Cinderella costume, and the floral ring headpiece from Tinkerbell...so we had 3 different costumes in one. That's okay, it was Princess Eden's night.

Then, she was escorted to her "royal" dressing room by a fairy godmother. We walked up to a closed curtain and the godmother said, "Bibbidy, Boppidy, Boo!" as she swept open the curtain...and there hung Eden's princess clothes she had chosen.

After getting dressed, her fairy godmother led her to the salon where she received a makeover complete with nails, makeup, and pixie dust in her hair (we opted out of the hairstyle, which involved hairpieces that would have looked ridiculous on our preschool Asian child). The entire makeover was done with Princess Eden's back to the mirror.

Finally, the fairy godmother counted "one, two, three..." and spun the chair around for the unveiling. And there she was, Princess Eden grinning from ear to ear, all dressed up and girly. It was so precious. She left the Boutique with a pink bag filled with makeup and hair accessories.

Next we proceeded over to the Emporium for a photo shoot (which was included with our photo pass we bought). There were lots of cheesy princess poses that somehow Eden managed to make look precious.

To top off the night, we ate dinner in Cinderella's Castle, where we got to meet and have our picture taken with Cinderella on the way in.

It was definitely an expensive night, but so worth it. Thanks to Disney for making it possible with the free dining plan special they had that we took full advantage of. Eden was the perfect age to enjoy the make-believe. Here are some photos of the night. Hope you enjoy!

Getting her nails done

And her eye makeup

Here comes the pixie dust, complete with a face guard

The big reveal

Photo shoot

Meeting Cinderella

Eden and her prince...daddy

I love Eden's relationship with Gene. He is such a wonderful father to her. I know the time he spends with her now will make such a difference in her life forever...oh how little girls need their daddy!

Disney World was great, but more than anything, I cherish the memories we made that I know will last a lifetime. Several times I would just watch Eden taking it all in, having the time of her life, and I would think...this child used to have no family...look what God has done. Not because she was at Disney World, but because of the moments of pure joy the three of us had. Deep in my heart and soul I long for every child on this planet to have moments of pure joy with a family. Lord, please use me to help make that happen! Let us never become so focused on how you've blessed our own families that we forget millions who have no family. Break our hearts for them, Lord!