Happy 15th Birthday, Mila!

And just like that Kamila Naomi is 15 years old...

We take birthday celebrations VERY seriously in our home.  It is a day to reclaim, to redeem, to redefine.  The sad reality is my daughter is not with her first family because of her events of her birth. Those are details that I will never share publicly, but I hold in a special corner of my heart to offer back to our Creator over and over again.  This Sweet Flower of Hope that was declared unwanted WILL KNOW that she is LOVED, WANTED, SAFE, PRECIOUS and CELEBRATED especially on this day of her birth.   

School celebration!  She sat in the seat of honor, wore the special birthday glasses and proceeded to declare "ok friends, you sing Happy Birthday now Mila"   *haha*  Someone knows how to ham it up!

Party time!  She picked the pizza and the salad and the "Chocolate Elsa Cake with Olaf". She got to celebrate with some of her favorite people including some friends from school.

Wake Up Party!  She woke up to a bedroom full of balloons and streamers and tackled by a little brother who likes to sing Happy Birthday.  And because there aren't that many rules on your birthday, you get to have cake for breakfast.  

She cried a bit this afternoon and we got to talk about what birthdays were like before she came home to her family.  With all the celebration there was still a moment of grief to behold.  But then we got to talk again about how having a family is wonderful, and sometimes really hard, and it is ok to feel both even on  your birthday.  She went to bed with a smile and a bouquet of princess balloons above her bed. 

Kamila Naomi, I am in constant awe of how brave your heart is.  At just 15 years old you have been asked to experience and process what most of us in our adulthood can't even fathom.  But here is the beauty in that brokenness Honey...you are so very strong and have an entire life in front of you full of hope and a future and family events. Each birthday will be a celebration of how God protected you and has brought you yet another year into His precious plan for you. I am so honored that I get to be apart of that wonderful process, Mila.  Thank you for letting me be your Mom.  Happy birthday, sweet girl.  YOU. ARE. LOVED. 

Adventures with Annie

Our precious Annie of Team Albania fame was able to join us for a few days to start 2020 off right.  It was a surprise for both her an my kiddos and they were particularly excited to see her after 14 months apart. 

Annie is always up for an adventure and can make them up on her own! We love every moment we can get with her.

Bowling
Mila is getting really good!

Isaac kicked all our butts!

Swimming
My kids are fish and Annie is on the swim team = perfection in the pool.

Portland:

We road tripped down to Portland for an overnight that included Powell's City of Books, a killer creme brulee, Crown Point overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and a fireside lunch in the lodge at Multnomah Falls. 

Quality Time

This girl speaks the language of my children's hearts and isn't afraid to both encourage them and draw boundaries. She has welcomed the Holy Spirit to empower her heart for those more vulnerable than she is and I am confident that we are only seeing the early fruits of the Lord's ministry through her <3 

Our Annie has a tender heart that I am so very thankful to the Lord (and her parents!) for allowing us to inhabit a small corner of. <3   We'll see you in a few months Annie-girl!

Christmas 2019: Happy Birthday Jesus

We did all the Christmas things, and as my recently retired pastor would say every Christmas Eve: "It's time to stop. There is nothing more that you can do. The stores are all closed. Let's focus and celebrate".  Mila sang her little heart out during Silent Night and Isaac got to blow out Jesus's birthday candle <3

We continued our tradition of the kids making gifts for others. It is important to me that they learn how to sacrifice themselves--their time, their skills and their passions for other people; the gift is in the sacrifice. THAT is how Christ loved us.   Isaac made an Elsa fleece blanket for his sister and Mila painted a Green Bay Packer piggy bank for her brother (among the other things they made for extended family).  What made me smile the most was their thank yous to each other were in earnest. A gift means more when you understand the passion behind it. <3 

'Twas the year of Frozen for Mila and music for Isaac.  We know my kids well!

Santa stopped by with stockings for everyone.  Boy he sure knows what my kids like! 

After a visit with the cousins, the best was saved for last...

 Princess dress up!!

 ...because when you get a nasa helmet AND a bike, things are about to happen!

The house is a mess. Our bellies are full.  My heart is fuller.  The presents and food is fun but my kids get it...it's Jesus's birthday and we are the blessed recipients of all His birthday gifts because He loves us more than we could ever imagine loving each other. 

Happy Birthday Jesus.  Thank you.