Blog Change!

I will be making our blog private VERY soon. If you want to continue viewing the blog please leave a comment or send me an email ASAP so I can approve you. Life is too busy for a full update and new pic's...but coming soon. Thanks!

Busy Little Bees!

The first month of the new year is flying by and will soon be gone! Yesterday I celebrated my 35th birthday...yes 35th...seemed pretty indifferent, but I still can't believe I am 35. Seriously, where does the time go?? The in-laws were through town on Thursday and Friday, my family was here on Saturday. On Sunday Mason and I made a road trip to KC to see Aunt Holly and the twins! We ate lunch at Jose Peppers (Yum-O) and that was about it.

Mason had his 18 month check up earlier this month. He is 32 3/4" long and 23# 5 oz. Mason is SUPER busy. He is fast, funny and can climb pretty much whatever he puts his mind to! New words/sounds recently include "Papa" and "Meow"...he doesn't say "Meow" he actually makes a meow sound like the cat. Mason continues to be quite the entertainer and is still a really good eater. We have had some "sleep" issues the past 2 weeks, which I am praying is related to his Eye Teeth coming in. There have been a couple of nights that he will wake up after 2 or 3 hours of sleep and NOT go back to sleep until the next morning. During all of this we have decided to DELETE the morning nap. Last night was the first night in over 2 weeks that Mason slept the entire night through. It was MUCH needed rest for all of us.

Our friends who are adopting from Taiwan have had a slight change in plans...they stepped forward thinking they were adopting a 2 1/2 year old girl, however another family stepped up as well and was granted permission to adopt her instead. However, as God shut one door he opened another. They have now accepted the referral for a little 8 month old girl, who is just precious. They are hoping to travel to bring her home sometime in the next 3-6 months. Once they have a blog up and running I will share the link!

Other updates:
*We are moving forward with an Orphan Ministry at Church...we have the name (HOPEFILLED) and logo so stay tuned!
*Our family is moving! We found a house that we LOVED and decided to put ours on the market on Jan 2nd. To our surprise it sold just 2 weeks later! Stay tuned for more details!!

I hope you are all well! Leave me a comment or send and email and let me know who is still out there reading and how you are doing!

This boy loves to help clean!

Mason being silly...

Horsing around with Daddy...

More playtime with Daddy...

Bedtime Snack...Popcorn!!

Playin' in Mommy's Shoes...

Mason blowing his nose...

Mason and Papa Jack

Mason and Granny

Cousin Brileigh, Aunt Ande and Mason

Mommy holding Grant

Mommy and Aunt Darl with 5 of the 10 Wilkens Grandkids!

Out...

Chloe...Praying her home! But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day. Habakkuk 2:3

Happy New Year!

Our family welcomed 2009 in a pretty low key manner. Mason was sound asleep by 8:30pm. We watched a movie at home and ate pizza with a couple of friends. Nothing too exciting, which was fine by me.

Our family is already looking forward to several things in 2009. Our friends Jennifer & Jeff are expecting their 1st child in August. Our friends RD & Amy will be welcoming little Chloe from Taiwan into their family soon. We are anxious to see what this year may hold for adoptions in Guatemala. And, I am excited about being a part of a group to help start an Orphan Ministry at our church. Can't wait to see what else God may have planned for us!

May your prayers be answered and dreams come true in the coming year!

Mason and Daddy on New Year's Eve New Year's Day nap!

Christmas 2008

Family Photo...Christmas 2008 Ready for a nap right after lunch...
Headin' to the pool...

Swimming with Daddy, Uncle Lee and Cousins

Playin' pool with Daddy

Brileigh, Granny & Mason

Mason in his Guatemala Soccer Jersey

Papa reading to Mason

Mason's favorite gift...not kidding!

Nana reading to Mason

Mason's new Sit & Spin! Fun, Fun!

Grandkids on Daddy's side of the family...minus the twins!

Ugly Christmas sweater contest...homemade by Mommy!

Uncle Lee won the contest...

Daddy says I am adorable...Mommy agrees.

Thank you, Lord, for the memories we have from Christmas 2008.

Happy Holidays 2008

Hello! I received an email today from the Eagle's Nest with an updated photo of a little boy there that our family has been sponsoring for several months now. The photo broke my heart...he was sitting on Santa's lap with a single little tear on his right cheek. It instantly took me back to December 2007...what a difference a year makes.

December 2007-
*I was shopping like no other bringing home BAGS of baby items.
*Mason was 5 months old.
*I was a mess wondering if our case be allowed to continue after December 31, 2007??
*I was a mess, knowing Mason would not be home for Christmas.
*I was a mess, stalking adoption forums & blogs searching for any news that might be out there.
*I was a mess, checking my email every 15 seconds looking for an email from our agency with new photos and a health report.

Mason December 2007 Notice a common theme here? "MESS" was exactly what I was! Now, let's fast forward a year...

December 2008-
*Mason is upstairs, in his crib, in his room, in our home fast asleep as I write this.
*There are 3 stockings hung this year.
*Mason is 17 months old.
*Mason is running, climbing, bouncing...everywhere!
*Mason folds his little hands in prayer...which melts my heart everytime.
*Mason has started talking a little more in the past week or so...Mama, Dadda, Bye, Ball.
*I have been trying desperately to get a "good" picture to use for our Holiday cards...but this child will not sit still for more than 2 seconds (unless it's to eat, of course). I am beginning to think I may just have to snap a shot of him sleeping in some cutie Christmas PJ's instead! ;)

We have been blessed in 2008. From our family to yours...We wish you a safe and blessed holiday!

Mason Decemeber 2008

Eating with a fork like such a big boy!

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha!

Mason's first hockey game.
Shaving with Daddy...
This child LOVES to sweep!
Mason's first art project...

Nativity Set from Guatemala. Cool story. This is from a dear friend. Her husband went to Guatemala a few years ago on a mission trip. He bought this from a little boy on the streets of Guatemala. This family has passed it on to our family. What a treasure this will be for Mason as he gets older! I am so thankful to have received it, as we didn't really purchase anything in Guatemala to bring home from our pick up trip.

Mason's Nativity Set...from the same dear friends

So far (knock on wood) no Christmas Tree related accidents...

Mason texting...he is so serious!

The not so serious, but sassy Mason...

Mason, trying to help load the dishwasher.

Mason does this whenever I ask "How much does Mommy love you?"...how precious!

Thanksgiving 2008

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:6-7