Our Agency

Would you believe that these pictures were taken a few days

ago?

And then I took this picture just a few minutes ago

Where has spring gone?

Are all of you having the same crazy weather?

Many of you have been asking me who my adoption agency

is.  I can't believe I haven't mentioned it before because I love

them and I literally just stumbled into them by accident and

by accident I mean God's perfect plan {grin}

Do you remember when I posted this. 

We were worried that our social worker wouldn't release our

original home study to an out of state agency so I called

around to a few agencies in Illinois to see if we could work

with them.  I briefly talked to Jane at Family Resource Center

about our options.  They were one of many agencies I called

that day.  Little did I know that the home study hiccup was all

in God's plan.  Always remember when you are asking

yourself "why am I going through this?"  That it may be

leading you to something better then you could have ever

imagined.  If I would have never made that 5 minute call I

would have never met my 3 precious treasures. 

Family Resource Center has gone above and beyond what I

would have expected.  They truly care about us almost like

an extended family.  They go out of their way to do what is

best for all family member's involved.  This includes their

birth mom support.  Jane loved my children and fought for

them and worked tirelessly so that they could stay together

and have the love of a family even when there were a couple

families that backed out. 

During the long week that I knew they were mine but I had to

wait on paperwork to get settled so they could move in, she

immediately made us feel like their parents filling me in on

where they were and how they were being cared for.

On a professional level they get all the necessary paperwork

done quickly and efficiently.  I have there personal cell #'s.  I

literally never wait more then a couple hours for an answer

to a question.  If any of you are thinking about adoption I

highly recommend FRC and for any of you that are out of

state or are looking for a fast infant adoption of a biracial or

African American infants I would highly recommend Faithful

Adoption Consultants and heart to heart.   I was working with

them before I connected with FRC.  I was very happy with

their passion for adoptions and their quick match time.  After

they heard about our match with FRC they were so loving

and excited for us.  Courtney with Faithful adoption

Consultants actually called me as soon as she heard just to

encourage and pray for me.  I promise if you work with any

of these companies you will be in very good hands.  Before I

got matched with my kids I asked all kinds of questions to all

kinds of people so if you have any questions don't hesitate to

shoot me an email at growingwithjoy@yahoo.com

Their are so many kids our there waiting for their forever

family.

Read more...

Safe in his arms

I love this picture of Zoe and Eli.  There is nothing quite like

being all safe and warm in our father's arms.

Today at 1:15 there is an important meeting going on. 

I would love for you to pray. 

Pray for the meeting and pray for all the paper work being

filed.  Pray it ends up in the right hands and that it's filed

correctly.  There is so much up in the air about benefits the

kids may or may not qualify for. 

All of this has to be squared away before we can finalize. 

I get chills just thinking about finalization day.  I can't wait!

These benefits would make a huge difference in how we

could provide for the kids.  

So we are  trusting and praying.  

Since we committed to the kids

God has provided for us in more ways then we could have

imagined so we know either way God will take care of all of

our needs.  God knows what he is doing we are just like Zoe

being held in his arms.

Read more...

Skipping my Shower

Just put these two down for a nap and the other 3 are at

school.  This is usually my time to take a shower but today I

just couldn't get something out of my mind. 

It is something I have been wanting to post for awhile but I

always seem to be so busy or to tired at the end of the day to

write.  I have so many people say to me:

"You went from two potty

trained kids to 5 over night, you are crazy!" 

or

"you must really love kids" 

This is usually

not meant as an insult but just more amazement that

someone is crazy enough to commit to something like this.  I

really do think most people in our lives don't get it and really

think we are crazy.  I know where they are coming from.  A

couple years ago before Eli and I made the commitment to

adopt I would have never in my wildest dreams thought that

we would adopt three kids at once.

I even had some Christian's who are very close to me

say right before the kids moved in

"so your really going through with this"?  "I

am worried about you and how it will change your life if

you commit to this."

"Just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you have to

adopt."  "Why didn't Jesus adopt?"

I could go on and on with quotes. 

Everyone worrying for me, but no one worrying for the three

children that had no where to go. 

How does that make sense.  Praise the Lord that we said yes

because our lives are so full and so blessed because of these

three.  Ayla would have never met her best friend if we

had said no.  We have never been happier as a family.

Why do we want to live our normal life and be left alone. 

That is not what God calls us to do.  We should be reaching

out to the world and showing God's love. 

Most of us Christians (including me) Just want to live a life

like the rest of the world and then go to church on Sunday.  I

am not trying to sound judgy I promise.  I am so, so, so guilty

of this. Eli and I didn't have some extra patience, super

power or a huge savings to be able to take on this job.  We are

just normal people that said yes to what God called us to do. 

I know God is calling me to do more though. 

He is calling all of us to do more. 

I have felt so guilty this week as I

planned a vacation for my family and have a pantry stocked

with food. Why has God blessed my family so much when

their are so many other families suffering in Japan and all

over the world?  There is so much more that I can do.

Praying that God shows me.

 I am not saying go out and adopt three kids. 

But what can you do? 

I promise when we say yes to God's calling for us he will

provide and give you the strength you need to fulfill that

calling.

We are so blessed

Just think if we all did something a little "crazy" for Jesus. 

Remember we are the only ones here to show God's love and

there are so many people out there that need it.

Read more...

Macaroni

This little giggle box

{If you could hear the giggle that comes with this smile you would melt}

She is such a picky eater

I mean the worst I have ever seen

She wants and craves junk

Before she came to our house she was used to soda and fast

food at just 6 months old so she hasn't been to happy with the

healthier options I have been offereing her. 

This face below cracks me up because it is the same look she

gives me when I try to shove some veggies in her mouth.  She

will close her mouth as tight as she can and give me that look

"yeah right I am not going to put that in my mouth"

Let me tell you Zoe has more personality then most adults I

know.  Oh I love her!

So last night I made an exception  we had macaroni and

cheese with our dinner.  Zoe wasn't even trying any of the

food I had for her and she was screaming at all of us to

share.   So I decided why not I would make an exception and

scooped some Macoroni on her plate.  She ate and she ate

like I haven't feed her anything for the last 4 months. 

 Can you tell she loves macaroni?

Read more...

And the Winner is........

Yay Joy!  

I think it is kind of appropriate that you won {grin}. 

Just let me know what you would like and your

address and I will get it out to you. Message me at

growingwithjoy@yahoo.com

Excuse Jackson's grouchy expression he was really excited

because he thought I was bringing him a bowl of popcorn and

disappointed and confused as to why I wanted him to grab a

piece of paper out of it.

Read more...

Dates!

Pedicures and Manicures with my girls

and haircuts and Ice cream with my boys

I am one blessed Mommy!

If you haven't joined my giveaway yet click here to enter.  I

have loved reading about you guys.  I have learned so much!

Thanks for letting me peak into your lives.

Read more...

Me and a give away.

I am nosey. 

I will admit it.  I love to know all about people and how they

live.  But within 30 minutes of meeting me you will know my

whole life story because as much as I love to know about

people I am also an open book willing to share almost every

personal detail about myself {this can be good and bad}

So lets get to know each other. 

I am going to have a give away.  I will be giving away any item

that the winner picks.  All the shirts and jewelry I have are on

the right side of my page when you scroll down.  All you have

to do to be entered is leave me a comment that tells me

something about yourself and if you have a blog tell me what

your blog is and become a follower.  If you are already a

follower you can still just tell me something I don't know yet

to be entered.  Next week I will pick a winner.

I can't wait to hear what you have to say! 

Here is a little bit about me:

I was born in Texas on the Mexican border and then lived

in Mexico and Columbia the first 5 years of my life. 

My parents were missionaries.  

I have two sisters, one older one younger.

I was bilingual as a young child

but as I grew up I forgot so much of my Spanish.

{wish I kept up with it and could still speak it fluently}

Some of my first childhood memories are of my Dad playing

and singing "this is the day" on his guitar.

As a child I always played "mommy". 

I always had 13 kids and no husband

(wonder if this ever concerned my parents)

I couldn't wait to grow up and be a Mommy.

I cried and begged for my parents to adopt from Romania

and Saudi Arabia.  

Even as a child I had a deep compassion for the orphaned

and abused children of the world. 

As a child I promised myself that when I was an adult and

had a voice I would stick up for them.

I am trying but I know I can do more to keep that promise.

I never not once heard my parents argue.

My Mom is the most incredible cook ever {seriously}

Every night dinner was like thanksgiving

I hate to cook. 

I do cook but it is just to get something healthy on the table. 

Strangely I love to do laundry

I love a spotless house. 

I think that is why I don't like to cook because I can't stand a

messy kitchen

My first job was at a Fazoli's

I was never a straight A student

I went to college for a few years {still want to finish}

I got my realtor's license {loved being a realtor}

I met my husband in High school

I am madly in love with him

He didn't want to get married until he was 30

we got married when I was 19 and he was 21

He only wanted 1 child

we have 5

God has transformed us

My favorite color is blue

I always wanted to be a children's book writer

Most days I have no make up on, my hair is in a pony tail and

I am wearing sweats.

I have seen to many miracles to count in my life

I have failed so many times and God always picks me back up

My favorite flowers are tulips

Sometimes I put the kids to bed in the clothes I want them to

wear the next day so we can get out the door on time.

I don't drink coffee

I have been to Mexico, Columbia, Canada, Korea, Thailand

and Cambodia. {Cambodia still has some of my heart}

I know God has big plans for me and sometimes I am scared

but for now I am so happy to be serving him by loving my

kids, husband and who ever else he brings into my day.

OK your turn:

Read more...