tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214867194897094022024-03-05T07:47:49.937-06:00Always and Forever OursTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-27164056498920156282016-01-01T09:08:00.003-06:002016-01-01T09:18:42.780-06:00Faithfulness in the Mundane: A New Year's Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year! I hope you and your families had a wonderful holiday and that you were able to celebrate the ringing in of 2016 with those you hold dear.<br />
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As seems to be the norm every year, beginning the day after Christmas, I started seeing posts like these lighting up my newsfeed:<br />
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<i>Make 2016 the BEST. YEAR. EVER!!!</i><br />
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and<br />
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<i>This year is going to be AMAZING!!! 2016...I'm coming after ya!</i><br />
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and<br />
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<i>BOOM! New year. New goals. New ME! Let's do this!!!</i><br />
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All of these thoughts make for fabulous mental pep rallies, but I have to admit that as a mother of three little ones, they leave me blinking at my screen a little perplexed. Sure, I have my own projects and passions: I am an <a href="http://www.pbtalent.com/blog/talent/tracy-ahern" target="_blank">actress</a> and I run a <a href="http://tracyowen.net/" target="_blank">photography business</a>. Those represent major parts of who I am and what I love to do. My main job in life, though, is to keep these three little people alive and kicking! For me, that means a steady diet of cuddles, carpool runs, laundry loads, wiping noses, and showing off my culinary genius by microwaving the heck out of individual serving sizes of mac 'n' cheese bowls. In other words, it's a wonderful life, but it ain't exactly a glamorous one.<br />
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I recently had a really meaningful Facebook messenger exchange with an old friend, who is also an actress and also deep in the trenches of motherhood. As we caught up on each other's lives, she commented that one of the main life lessons she had been learning was to persevere in her faith and to be faithful in the mundane.<br />
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<i>Faithful in the mundane.</i> Those words continued to ring in my head for days and weeks after our conversation, precisely because they rang so true in my life. Motherhood, as awesome an experience as it is, seems to be (to quote Eugene Peterson) a long obedience in the same direction.<br />
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Do I have personal and artistic goals for 2016? YES! Big ones! Will it be the BEST. YEAR. EVER? Probably not. But that is just fine with me! Maybe being in my 40's now has taught me that life is dotted with moments (and seasons) of incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, but most of life is the normal rhythm of daily living. And it's okay to embrace that. For me, it is essential. The buzz of life's highs when a new goal is achieved <i>is</i> truly amazing, and the sting of life's lows during those inevitable hard times hurts more than I care to think about, but I believe that keeping my feet grounded in the present moment of all of that in between time is where personal contentment is found. That is where the bulk of life is lived. It is where the love of family, the intimacy of true friendship, and our deepest support systems thrive. It is also where God meets us and holds us and loves us, even if it doesn't seem like it. And if I can be faithful to Him and all that He has called me to in and through the mundane moments, the hum-drum days and even the long seasons of blessed normalcy that will surely be part of my 2016, I know it will be a wonderful year!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-30499393870643255832015-01-18T14:24:00.000-06:002015-01-18T14:24:25.959-06:00Never Letting Go...Each of my kids is special in his/her own unique way. Zachary has always been my tender-hearted, kind, sweet one.<br />
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The other night we were hugging each other, and he said, "I'm never letting go." I melted into a puddle of mush right then and there! Our hug lasted a good, long time, when we eventually had to let go. But we decided together that even when we have to let go of our hugs, we will never let go in our hearts.<br />
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Now it's kind of our thing. Whenever we hug or hold hands, one of us will say, "Never letting go."<br />
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I love it. And I love him. So. Much.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-91803470800387954462014-05-17T11:58:00.001-05:002014-05-17T11:58:51.817-05:00Tears of PrideThere are certain moments when I pause to reflect and I'm overwhelmed at how GOOD life is! This is one of those moments for me.<br />
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This morning, we attended the last game of Jeremy's t-ball season. When he got up to bat, my inner softball player came out and coached him from the sideline..."This is the last time up to bat this season, buddy! So hit it 'Jeremy Style'...hit it as hard as you can!"<br />
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Little Dude didn't disappoint! He whacked that ball good 'n' hard and sent it sailing to the outfield! I leapt to me feet so fast, screaming at the top of my lungs, tears filling my eyes. It was all blurry, but I didn't even care because my heart was filled was such pride. That's MY boy!<br />
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Driving home, it hit me that I always thought there were just two kinds of tears: tears of sadness and tears of joy. But parenthood has taught me a new way to cry: with tears of PRIDE!<br />
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As I sat down to begin writing this post, I was overwhelmed with emotion...not at his t-ball playing, but at how incredibly grateful I am that God has given me these three amazing, precious, awesome children to parent and to love. I couldn't love them more. We may not share DNA, but they <i>are</i> my flesh and blood just the same. And I couldn't be more proud to call them my own!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-14185252363300077372014-04-05T14:45:00.000-05:002014-04-05T14:45:26.475-05:00Let's Play Ball!Jeremy is on a tee-ball team this year, the Colorado Rockies--GOOOO ROCKIES!!!<br />
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Today was his second game of the season, and this former softball player of a mom was soooo proud of my boy! Jeremy played in the infield today, and wow did he do great! His coach gave him a game ball after the game for doing such a good job today.<br />
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Here are some pics of my guy in action!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-5867657501300169602014-04-05T13:57:00.002-05:002014-04-05T13:57:40.259-05:00BluebonnetsEvery Texan child goes through a rite of passage--being photographed in a patch of our state flower...bluebonnets! This was Zoe's year, which is only appropriate for the one native-born Texan in our family!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-4650464430589949822014-02-25T16:56:00.001-06:002014-02-25T17:01:58.756-06:00Three Teeth and a Whole Lot of CUTE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Zoe,</div>
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On January 2, you got your first tooth, and I thought there could be nothing cuter than baby Zoe with one bottom tooth. Honestly, look at this face!</div>
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But two weeks later, your second bottom tooth popped through, and the cuteness just increased!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentines Day 2014</td></tr>
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You are such a happy baby girl and you smile at me every day, so this sweet two-toothed grin has been warming my heart for the past month.</div>
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Today we were at a local playground with your brothers. I was holding you and you smiled at me, and I noticed your third tooth poking through. I'm yet to get a good photo of it, but I will soon. It's your top left tooth. </div>
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Zoe, I feel badly because I haven't blogged about your first year the way I did with your brothers, but having three kids has brought a whole new meaning to the word "overwhelmed" and there simply isn't enough time for regular blogging. However, I want you to know that I've been having an absolute blast with you! You are truly my dream-come-true! The bond we share as mother and daughter is really something special, and the true hope of my heart is that we will be close for life. You're such a blessing to us, and I will be thankful to God for placing you in our family forever!!!</div>
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I will always, always, always, always, always, always, always, always hold you in my heart.</div>
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I love you,</div>
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Mama</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-30797982738493420632013-08-05T01:41:00.000-05:002013-08-06T07:00:43.646-05:00On the eve of my 39th Birthday...I love birthdays because they are a lovely reason to reflect on the past year and also to dream about the year ahead.<br />
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God has been so good to me and blessed me in so many ways during the past year....<br />
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On the heels of my birthday last year, I began rehearsals for "Girls Only", which turned out to be my favorite on-stage experience so far. Not only was it pure joy to act in this fabulous comedy, but it ended up running for five months! A dream job, and one for which I will always be grateful!!!<br />
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After "Girls Only" came to a close in February and my pace of life began to slow down, I started to get antsy. I felt like I had cabin fever when I was at home during the day, so I planned a cross-country road trip. I had it all scheduled with many stops along the way all set up. We would be gone for three weeks in April.<br />
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Those plans came to a grinding halt when three things happened. First, I found out that I had to be in San Antonio for a meeting that got scheduled right in the middle of my planned trip. Second, my friend Sarah in New Jersey who I was planning to spend several days with on my trip, called to tell me that a baby boy had been born in Las Vegas, and she and her husband would be traveling there for at least 2 weeks to adopt him. And just one week after Sarah called me with her big news, we got some big news of our own...which brings me to the third thing: our adoption agency called us to say that a baby girl had been born who they thought would be a good match for our family.<br />
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So I think it's safe to say that God knew all along that my best laid road trip plans were not meant to be this year. However, I prefer His plan to mine!!!<br />
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Zoe has been the sweetest and most precious daughter I could dream of! She is beyond wonderful, and we all just love her so, so, so, so much!<br />
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As I look forward to the coming year, I have an immense feeling of satisfaction. Brian and I sense that Zoe is our last baby, and my focus is much less on family planning now and more on family raising. Now that my babies are all here, I'm looking forward to seeing them grow up. I also look forward to all of us growing closer as a family, as our bond deepens as a family of five.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoYx3nN29rMH9Q6stq73JB0u-zrDomwpOs2PiAhaNyo9Bz7FZQz6_5h8zlmWtqVAgACsI7IElkup376FTRB_vkpMF5gCv1reg6-bYYQtAc9_Oyo4E4Wav_Sal4sJzSIpj5zRsV6KGmtc/s1600/IMG_3504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoYx3nN29rMH9Q6stq73JB0u-zrDomwpOs2PiAhaNyo9Bz7FZQz6_5h8zlmWtqVAgACsI7IElkup376FTRB_vkpMF5gCv1reg6-bYYQtAc9_Oyo4E4Wav_Sal4sJzSIpj5zRsV6KGmtc/s320/IMG_3504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of family, I would be remiss if I didn't mention two very special boys who live in Ethiopia named Ephrem and Habtamu, ages 19 and 11. They are my long-distance sons who live across the ocean. They melt my heart every time they call me "Mom". Although they have not taken up residence in our home (and there are no plans for that), they have definitely taken up residence in my heart, and I love them.<br />
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What a great year 38 has been! Thank You, God, for all of the amazingly beautiful blessings You have generously poured out on me!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-61981169355611842102013-06-05T01:23:00.001-05:002013-06-05T01:23:13.365-05:00Two months since I met my daughter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Zoe,</div>
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Two months ago today, Daddy and I met you for the first time! You were two and a half weeks old and weighed 3 pounds 3 ounces. We couldn't believe how small you were. Moments after we told our adoption agency social worker that we wanted to adopt you, we prayed for you. Dad prayed the "Jesus prayer"...that you would "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man".</div>
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Amen!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small and smiling!</td></tr>
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And look how you have grown! In the past two months, you have gained five pounds, grown at least 5 inches longer, and graduated from preemie to newborn size in both diapers and clothing!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two months later...still with a beautiful smile!</td></tr>
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Zoe, being your mother is heaven on earth for me! I love you so much! I love holding and cuddling you, putting you in cute baby girl outfits, caring for you, and taking your pictures!<br />
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Daddy and I have figured out a feeding schedule for you that allows both him and me to get a decent night's sleep. I do your late night feedings and he does your early morning ones. This works out well, since I'm a night owl and he is a morning person. I love cuddling you late at night. Usually, we are on a love seat curled up watching something on Netflix. You like to sleep on my chest, knees tucked up under you in a little ball. I'm savoring these moments of your early life because I know that the first year passes so quickly! Even though the thought of these early days winding to an end makes me a little sad, I'm also excited for what is yet to come.<br />
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When we were deciding to pursue adopting a third child (YOU!), it became very clear to me how important it was for me to have a daughter. Maybe it's because I grew up in a family of girls, or maybe it's just because I'm a bit of a girly girl and I wanted to share that with a daughter. All I can say is that I am absolutely delighted to have YOU for my daughter, and I find myself looking forward to sharing so many life experiences with you. From the superficial/stereotypical things like shopping and pedis to deeper things like developing a real heart-to-heart relationship with you and talking about all sorts of things.<br />
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Your name means "life" and I am so blessed to be a witness to yours. I pray that God blesses you with a beautiful and abundant life. Just as Daddy prayed for you that first day we met you, may you grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.<br />
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I love you all the way up to the moon and back,<br />
MamaTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-15680772768688517332013-05-13T01:14:00.000-05:002013-05-13T01:14:33.246-05:00Our time with Zoe in the NICU...From the day we met Zoe on April 5th until the day we brought her home on April 16th, we visited our girl in the hospital as often as we could! Thankfully, the hospital wasn't terribly far from our house, so we got to see her nearly every day. <br />
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We were told that skin-to-skin contact between parent and baby (aka kangaroo bonding) is wonderful for the child's brain development and also for the attachment and bonding process. We loved snuggling our little sweetie, feeding her bottles and getting to know her better with each visit.<br />
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During the first several days, she was still spending most of her time inside of an isolette. Although she was already capable of maintaining her own body temperature, the isolette kept her warm, so her body could focus all of its energy on gaining weight and growing.<br />
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Looking back, I can hardly believe how much she has grown over the past five and a half weeks since we met her!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreV9z26xypx9ENfBCtG_ukO0RaiDdFGGgWOOYhWZXhO47CJOBlGJqg4KgsHdcl7zsnFbDI_O1G5tE7KfDm_Ix8Z-AOCuNbjZ9ORBirQgKH9DtJPZOSish1-OYne-OlMhonDwjbOUovuAU/s1600/IMG_2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreV9z26xypx9ENfBCtG_ukO0RaiDdFGGgWOOYhWZXhO47CJOBlGJqg4KgsHdcl7zsnFbDI_O1G5tE7KfDm_Ix8Z-AOCuNbjZ9ORBirQgKH9DtJPZOSish1-OYne-OlMhonDwjbOUovuAU/s400/IMG_2978.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This little chick outfit was a preemie size that I had already washed and dried in the dryer, and it was still swimming on her! She wore the same outfit yesterday, and the hat fit perfectly!<br />
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We spent lots of time marveling at how "fearfully and wonderfully made" she was...everything just in miniature! During the time that we knew her in the NICU, her weight was between 3 pounds 2 ounces (the day we met her) and 3 pounds 15 ounces (the day we took her home). A petite lil' princess!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Daddy's hands.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wires were monitoring heart rate and oxygen saturation.</td></tr>
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Nana came and visited her...<br />
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And Aunt Jilly came to meet her:<br />
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And Mama couldn't get enough of her!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jill made Zoe the banner to decorate her isolette!</td></tr>
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And even though our baby was in the NICU, that didn't stop us from staging a photo shoot right in her room! This kind nurse even made her a headband bow out of pink tulle.<br />
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Our time with Zoe in the NICU was so precious, and we are thankful for the excellent care she received there!<br />
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Soon, the day would come when we would get to bring her home....Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-56794042722134345802013-04-25T01:12:00.000-05:002013-04-25T01:26:18.182-05:00It's a Girl! The story of the day we met our daughter.On Wednesday, April 3, I was working out at home when my cell phone rang. It was the director of our adoption agency! Just two weeks earlier, I had called to check in with her, and she said that they didn't have any news for our family, so I really wasn't expecting "the call". She told me to sit down and to grab a pen and paper to take some notes about a situation she wanted to tell me about. I knew enough from running in adoption circles to know that a "situation" means "a baby that could possibly be a good match for you".<br />
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She started to tell me about a little baby who had been born a couple weeks earlier, five weeks premature at just 2 pounds 8 ounces. Apart from being very small, the baby was doing well and seemed to have a very good outlook. They were looking for a family who could commit to coming for daily visits to the hospital to spend time with the baby in the NICU until she would be released. Brian and I talked about it and agreed that we were interested in learning more about this baby girl. Our agency social worker made an appointment for us on Friday, April 5, to meet with a hospital social worker and a hospital doctor who had been caring for this baby. We arrived on Friday at the hospital, and the agency social worker took us right up to the NICU, introduced us to the hospital social worker, and we went right into the NICU to meet the baby. There she was, laying in her isolette, the tiniest baby I had ever seen. I was so nervous to hold her, but before I knew it, she was in my arms.<br />
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Then Brian held her. <br />
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Soon, a doctor came and talked to us and basically confirmed for us the story that our agency had told us. She was a healthy baby girl who just needed to gain weight. He said that she was in the "feed and gain" stage of her NICU stay. Basically, she just needed to get her weight up to be released from the hospital. He guessed she would be there another two weeks.<br />
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And then...we said "YES! We want to be her parents!"<br />
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We spent the next couple of hours holding her and quickly falling in love with her and calling our family members on Skype to introduce them to this sweet girl. Jeremy, who has been talking about her and praying for her for months saw her on the video chat, put his hand over his mouth and started jumping up and down with glee. Afterward, my mom said he prayed out loud, "God, thank You that we have our very own baby now!" Precious!<br />
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So happy that the nurse took out her feeding tube!</div>
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We finally kissed her goodbye, and went home to show pictures to the boys and my mom. Later, my mom went back to the hospital with me to meet her newest grandchild. It was awesome!<br />
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Three generations of ladies!<br />
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We have given her the name Zoe Eliana. Zoe means "life". Eliana means "my God has answered".<br />
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We are so thankful that God has answered our prayers in such a beautiful way! We love this baby girl and we're so blessed to be her parents!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-23143811450344140482013-02-23T16:06:00.001-06:002013-02-23T16:06:40.733-06:00The Boys' Room!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Part of making room for a baby is actually making a room for her! This means that at some point, my boys will be sharing a room. So what better time than the present, right?! Brian and I spent some time yesterday rearranging furniture and getting this room ready for the boys to share! I'm really happy with how it came together!</div>
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Yesterday also was the day that my "baby" boy (on the right) started sleeping in a toddler bed. Look how proud! So, there you have it...we're now the parents of two big boys! Time is flying, we look like we've aged a bit, but we are loving this journey of parenthood!<br />
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-52298557867429718642013-02-23T15:40:00.003-06:002013-02-23T15:46:04.332-06:00Nesting!<div>
Last month, I posted <a href="http://alwaysandforeverours.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-letter-to-my-mom-on-her-70th-birthday.html" target="_blank">this letter</a> that I wrote to my mom for her 70th birthday. In it, I mentioned that Brian and I are waiting for a baby girl to join our family. A few of you wrote me privately, asking if we are adopting again. We are! I've been hesitant to mention it here, because...well, I'm not entirely sure why. I think I was just afraid of revealing the news too soon. So many "what ifs"...</div>
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But for some reason, I'm feeling emboldened to share our news a little bit more publicly now, so here goes: We are in the process of adopting a baby girl domestically!</div>
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Almost immediately after we brought our boys home from Ethiopia, I was talking about about going back to ET to adopt again. My husband was like, "Slow down there, missy! How 'bout we adjust to the gigantic hurricane that just descended upon our house?" Thankfully, he's a wise one, and he was right that we weren't ready to start the process again. However, in retrospect, if we had started the process all over again back in late 2010, we would probably only just now be bringing home another child!</div>
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Our hearts are very much still tied to Ethiopia, but for a variety of reasons, we feel like domestic adoption is a better option for our family right now. We are using a Houston-based agency.</div>
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We are hoping to adopt a newborn baby girl, African-American or biracial. We have completed all of our paperwork and our home study. And now, we are in the waiting-to-be-chosen-by-a-birthm0ther stage of the process! We are hopeful that we might be able to take placement of our daughter sometime in the next year. Thankfully, I've got my two boys to keep me busy and to distract me from the wait! I know that God's timing is perfect, and we are trusting in Him. </div>
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Just for fun, I wanted to share some photos of the crib bedding I made for her! I'm going with a "sunflower" theme, since I love sunflowers and I want her room to be bright with a hint of whimsy!</div>
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Please join us in praying the same prayer we prayed for our two sons--that God would place the child in our family that He has in mind for us! We cannot wait to meet this precious baby girl...and to share our joy here with you, whenever God places her in our family!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-6471314023707827832013-02-09T20:17:00.003-06:002013-02-09T20:17:42.089-06:00I Love Shutterfly for Making Greeting Cards!Plus, I thought this pic of my son is super adorbs!
<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IZuWTFo4as3jA&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0IZuWTFo4asz/0IZuWTFo4aszeP/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1360462313000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>5x7 Folded Card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-29100437293546667422013-01-28T00:00:00.000-06:002013-01-28T00:00:01.638-06:00A Letter to my Mom on her 70th BirthdayDear Mom,<br />
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Sometimes life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it. This morning, I was sitting at the sewing machine making bumper pads for our baby-to-be's crib, and I was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman on Brian's iPod. I had never really listened to this particular album before, and a song came on called "What I Would Say". The next thing I knew, I was a sobbing puddle of tears. The song is an adult son's words to his father who abandoned the family...the words he was never able to say to him. Although I could relate to his sense of father-abandonment, the lyrics that really touched and moved me were these:<br />
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<i>I'd love to tell you how the lovely girl you married,</i></div>
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<i>She's been my hero and a treasure to us all.</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">All I could think about was you, and how his words described </span><i style="text-align: left;">exactly</i><span style="text-align: left;"> what you mean to me and to our family!</span></div>
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I really didn't mean for my birthday letter to you to have any mention of Dad or the divorce or anything like that. But I guess it was such a pivotal time in our family's life. It was the moment when you, Jill and I decided that we would not fall apart, but we would unite and become the Trimphant Trio. In truth, I don't know that it was even a decision that had to be made--it was just <i>understood, </i>because that is who we always were and still are...devoted, there for each other, FAMILY! And while Dad's abandonment was probably one of my life's greatest sources of pain and hurt, your ongoing presence in my life was one of the greatest sources of unconditional love and healing. You really are my hero, and absolutely a TREASURE to us all!<br />
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Thank you for being a hero to me and a treasure to our whole family. You earned such status not because you're the mother or grandmother, but because you are Mom and Nana...always there with your presence in our lives, freely giving of your love.<br />
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We are abundantly blessed!<br />
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I love you forever, my dear Mom, and I'm forever grateful to you for the legacy of love and commitment to family that you have imprinted indelibly on my heart and life.<br />
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Big birthday HUGS,<br />
TracyTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-50163244720882127712013-01-04T15:05:00.003-06:002013-01-14T21:30:48.899-06:00Christmas 2012 RecapI've gotten out of the habit of blogging a bit because of how easy it is to share photos on Facebook!<br />
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But I wanted to share a few photos from the holidays with y'all who still come by here to read. :) The boys were such fun ages for Christmas this year. It was so fun to experience the "magic" through their eyes!<br />
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Here is Zachary opening and trying out his new "doggy guitar" from Gramma!<br />
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And here, Jeremy is opening his remote control monster truck from Gramma. The expression on his face says it all!</div>
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On Christmas night, we went over to my mom's house for dinner. It was such a lovely family night!<br />
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One of the sweetest gifts of this Christmas was getting to celebrate with Mattie Kate, the newest member of our family! She's my first niece and my mother's first granddaughter! Here she is in all her cuteness with her pretty Mama!</div>
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Even though this was a very hectic Christmas season for me, since I am still performing 5 shows a week in "Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women", I have to say that it was also one of my favorite Christmases in recent years. It seems like there was a lot of family togetherness, and I was so content being together. I love my family! Thank You, God, for letting me live my life with this wonderful gang!</div>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-23230247433548739192012-12-05T15:56:00.001-06:002012-12-05T15:56:16.416-06:00Jeremy at 15 Months Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Jeremy,</div>
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Earlier this year, shortly after the start of the school year, your preschool teacher asked for all of the children in the class to bring in a photo of themselves when they were younger. I was so thankful that the teacher was sensitive to her students that have been adopted (two of you this year!) by simply asking for a photo of you from when you were younger, but the implication was...bring a baby picture!</div>
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One of the things that has been a little sad for me is that I didn't get to meet you until you were 23 months old, and the earliest photos I have of you were from when you were 19 months old. Granted, I LOVE the chubby cheeks in those photos, but you were definitely a toddler at that point.</div>
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Thankfully, another adoptive mom encouraged me to network with other adoptive parents to see if anyone had any photos of you at a younger age from their travels to Ethiopia. So I decided to put a post on Facebook in a group of adoptive moms that I am a part of. Remarkably, another mom who is a Facebook friend of mine wrote me within 24 hours asking me if you were from northern Ethiopia. I said yes, and when she asked me if you had spent time living in a specific orphanage, I said yes again. Then she said that she thought she had a photo of you from a visit she made there in January 2010, but she wasn't sure... so she sent this photo and asked me if it was you. Once again, I answered "YES!!! YES it is!!!"</div>
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There you were, sitting on the floor with the chubbiest cheeks, shaved head, the same eyes and eyebrows that I know and love...and the final confirmation was that second toe that still sits on top of your big toe! (You and Zachary both share that trait!) I wept with joy as I gazed at a photo of the baby I never got to know, the baby I had never seen before! I'm so thankful for this photo...it is a treasure! And just like that...we have a baby picture of you!</div>
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Parenthood is an amazing journey, and I'm so glad you are mine and I am yours,</div>
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Mama</div>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-36570823665426205452012-11-06T12:24:00.001-06:002012-11-06T12:24:24.784-06:00Election Day 2012Dear Jeremy and Zachary,<br />
<br />
I got home from voting a few minutes ago. Your Dad voted early this morning, and as he was leaving for work this morning, I told him how excited I was to go and cast my ballot. He agreed that it is exhilarating...I believe his exact words were "Democracy Rocks!".<br />
<br />
I have spent more time reading and researching the candidates in this presidential election than I have ever before. This is my first presidential election since becoming a mother, and more than anything else, I was thinking about you two. The way I vote now doesn't just affect me, it affects you!<br />
<br />
I felt so proud casting my ballot this morning, and the two of you were in the forefront of my mind. When I got back out to my car, I sat for a moment and wept. I was overwhelmed by what a blessing it is to live in a country where I have a voice and my vote really matters. I hope that in some small way, my vote today will help ensure a bright future for you, my sons!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MamaTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-74098379191401366192012-09-25T15:19:00.001-05:002012-09-25T15:19:40.896-05:00Back On Stage!I'm thrilled to be back on stage at Houston's Main Street Theater, performing in a very funny two-woman show called <a href="http://www.mainstreettheater.com/" target="_blank">Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women</a>. The show is such a joy to perform, and I'm having a blast. This morning, Keri Henson (the other actress in the show) and I appeared on Great Day Houston, where we were interviewed about the show and we performed part of a scene.<br />
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It was so much fun, and I feel so blessed to be living my dreams of being a professional actress! Thank You, God!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-86220569735049014702012-09-19T15:21:00.000-05:002012-09-19T15:21:52.594-05:00My Mom lovingly pointed out that it's been five months since I updated this blog...whoops!Here are some photos of the boys taken since last April:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjczrQVXp2jmNonJRthMzHvcgu7Hi1ddZWOSdDoczHpNytQrSfpAeBb-g53m4MFL6matTnTwcG5Krp_T6fe0mY2a_xBETAtFF0I7TJBQbx1kjXt5eETESf-iXqcxpX4AwpKsDRYtDB5R9k/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjczrQVXp2jmNonJRthMzHvcgu7Hi1ddZWOSdDoczHpNytQrSfpAeBb-g53m4MFL6matTnTwcG5Krp_T6fe0mY2a_xBETAtFF0I7TJBQbx1kjXt5eETESf-iXqcxpX4AwpKsDRYtDB5R9k/s400/IMG_1203.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day 2012</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YVE1e6zQZIyvY4KweHRNouQGuVunDNbOH_8h_xeEYQ4TSCYEEiPuD6pYTv4ul7Jp3WeOgcW9CpB-I8pvQ17Pillmm6Wuu6FF2xj8qS0oOJ-cqgS3Eyycu3h7JGn45mY08I2vMTWJ71-_/s1600/IMG_1462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YVE1e6zQZIyvY4KweHRNouQGuVunDNbOH_8h_xeEYQ4TSCYEEiPuD6pYTv4ul7Jp3WeOgcW9CpB-I8pvQ17Pillmm6Wuu6FF2xj8qS0oOJ-cqgS3Eyycu3h7JGn45mY08I2vMTWJ71-_/s400/IMG_1462.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day of preschool with his teacher.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z5ip22yErOAQW53nPWU11TZ2SZdMXzmEoq1F0JKXbcWZmv-UV0uK4HaZUke1QCT_qhanKvFt5WPrLN5SU1KFZKZk_FaMZgUDqWqWXD2zPFRen_E2rxF5rgJpfoeYhRL7cSIArn7_R_cb/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z5ip22yErOAQW53nPWU11TZ2SZdMXzmEoq1F0JKXbcWZmv-UV0uK4HaZUke1QCT_qhanKvFt5WPrLN5SU1KFZKZk_FaMZgUDqWqWXD2zPFRen_E2rxF5rgJpfoeYhRL7cSIArn7_R_cb/s400/IMG_1553.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys' first time at the beach, near Laguna Beach, CA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFTVPgATSAMf4ir2mZiawj1QKAHPZw3JoCMvp5NSzTxVRRy1d-t8vAPBhG2jEUPaEbiU5_WTjp5faQzLIbhEO9cgqVRefFocgqMi77WHTll-bhB_WcvZkeF25PUxYwa63aTgPrAq6mXWF/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFTVPgATSAMf4ir2mZiawj1QKAHPZw3JoCMvp5NSzTxVRRy1d-t8vAPBhG2jEUPaEbiU5_WTjp5faQzLIbhEO9cgqVRefFocgqMi77WHTll-bhB_WcvZkeF25PUxYwa63aTgPrAq6mXWF/s400/IMG_1621.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family trip to Disneyland!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6yGr6u1EkEZJguFAipNnnFE890rC3nkWFgNnVoSbC78lmWc6PixLm7LSMDUNAFr4BU-lpYVYkdQX9J0OEPShpGv8NxapqWyfZ-nVpr-mmmKx0wKuDF-6IWswGQcr5kQyu9KVgpBSV6x1/s1600/IMG_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6yGr6u1EkEZJguFAipNnnFE890rC3nkWFgNnVoSbC78lmWc6PixLm7LSMDUNAFr4BU-lpYVYkdQX9J0OEPShpGv8NxapqWyfZ-nVpr-mmmKx0wKuDF-6IWswGQcr5kQyu9KVgpBSV6x1/s400/IMG_1697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming lessons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsxQelUXKRWRnJS_fcQoAGvtwEaHte2UzCuYRQNmBl0mnkDkk1yXzJz1d6PahcxQqaCYXgv2SloVabrzKlqJueeGjsD1LVHlewuYzgG6x7Sd1y2KWfQJ0VsT7TRXdpY0gGECa2YK6j0AT/s1600/IMG_1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsxQelUXKRWRnJS_fcQoAGvtwEaHte2UzCuYRQNmBl0mnkDkk1yXzJz1d6PahcxQqaCYXgv2SloVabrzKlqJueeGjsD1LVHlewuYzgG6x7Sd1y2KWfQJ0VsT7TRXdpY0gGECa2YK6j0AT/s400/IMG_1923.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father's Day 2012</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9iDahNLbwA_IJthbp3rp0WTQVAEQI8rq5BeINxeL8CSONLohn8_upw7qzLHXnH-sPVFQJLByHrc4q4Qtmrf8fUy77l-CyNTrpUREmwWJ453UWnSpqSC2p_bGTu9pW76yhiQu8BSXCEBS/s1600/IMG_2402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9iDahNLbwA_IJthbp3rp0WTQVAEQI8rq5BeINxeL8CSONLohn8_upw7qzLHXnH-sPVFQJLByHrc4q4Qtmrf8fUy77l-CyNTrpUREmwWJ453UWnSpqSC2p_bGTu9pW76yhiQu8BSXCEBS/s400/IMG_2402.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beca spent the summer with us again this year!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWtJTV2fwfqhk6-8z8lE-x0LBfjeZzPZZWR8ZzSpaeNAew6op_nN1HayHh8t0uqfmrna-e654k1l2kDVwsdFSaYnwgbCn15BCRl14PXPkY5KkNuPM8kc9tJLH7MHuLvzrC1_abdcp5r7o/s1600/IMG_2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWtJTV2fwfqhk6-8z8lE-x0LBfjeZzPZZWR8ZzSpaeNAew6op_nN1HayHh8t0uqfmrna-e654k1l2kDVwsdFSaYnwgbCn15BCRl14PXPkY5KkNuPM8kc9tJLH7MHuLvzrC1_abdcp5r7o/s400/IMG_2527.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida Beach Vacation, Nana and the boys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw82pUewUg88rlKz5SJmULV-3AkLTCuqnFuBk5U36fauX2damor_Zy-Dd3CtC6Gs8YrE2LN_JjtjaCZo0JOEZdncYIcov_6RQoJN7r1JR2BYMcC9iunt-d5hgm72u8Q_lanrNvRqzs-dfS/s1600/IMG_2584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw82pUewUg88rlKz5SJmULV-3AkLTCuqnFuBk5U36fauX2damor_Zy-Dd3CtC6Gs8YrE2LN_JjtjaCZo0JOEZdncYIcov_6RQoJN7r1JR2BYMcC9iunt-d5hgm72u8Q_lanrNvRqzs-dfS/s400/IMG_2584.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photo at the beach in Florida!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifOYscZydNsDYk1JZEQCqX7Suw9YV4mhloWbotoDYiEE6RgCXzZH262xOiYwYczVJwKUYVZk-kPbwKv3uakz1DpWlk2T6X88_s-pV5d3ZfuelwaQDTLjylIVZuh4XOBokqGdjuTOtoDop/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifOYscZydNsDYk1JZEQCqX7Suw9YV4mhloWbotoDYiEE6RgCXzZH262xOiYwYczVJwKUYVZk-kPbwKv3uakz1DpWlk2T6X88_s-pV5d3ZfuelwaQDTLjylIVZuh4XOBokqGdjuTOtoDop/s400/IMG_2830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys' first day of preschool, Sept. 2012</td></tr>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-33626067328130463232012-07-05T12:49:00.000-05:002012-07-05T12:50:15.250-05:00Post Placement ReportDear Jeremy and Zachary,<br />
<br />
One of the requests that the Ethiopian government asks of adoptive parents is to provide them with a letter once a year detailing your lives and the progress you have made during the past year. For me, preparing these annual reports is fun, because I love looking back at all you have accomplished over the past year. Part of preparing this report is selecting six photos of each of you to include with it. These photos are sent to our agency office in the city where your b<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1</span>rthm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span>ther lives, and she will have access to these files if she chooses to stop by the office and ask for them. I think it's a wonderful thing for her to be able to have glimpses of your lives as you grow up. However, it can be hard to pick my six favorite photos of each of you, because I want to find pictures that convey your personalities, your interests and your handsomeness! These are the ones I picked for this year's report:<br />
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Jeremy:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiSsMpYYLa2H5knoeewpEzVpELI9QH3rk4U061N0IHGGltFwl0DOTeMafCstwyRwECobtKY8lv_CQL0Se6HNcjLkk5khroyYBQ7c5xjTf1XXxJVUE1BUzPulyrixYIM8mTgJCGDMX6euk/s1600/IMG_0944_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiSsMpYYLa2H5knoeewpEzVpELI9QH3rk4U061N0IHGGltFwl0DOTeMafCstwyRwECobtKY8lv_CQL0Se6HNcjLkk5khroyYBQ7c5xjTf1XXxJVUE1BUzPulyrixYIM8mTgJCGDMX6euk/s320/IMG_0944_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwyJ9zBajYv0TByqTgbsm7eFs5KIXpBNugyy-BGtvgdchz7ZU9yjq0_wHgIIX-KGH4vvgcCY3lE1HlqI5RL0jPyokrQL5lu-RHjHnT8PUy6_eK1NCN9V5bKjl7JwQW0sLDYEVAkZaMWmo/s1600/IMG_1172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwyJ9zBajYv0TByqTgbsm7eFs5KIXpBNugyy-BGtvgdchz7ZU9yjq0_wHgIIX-KGH4vvgcCY3lE1HlqI5RL0jPyokrQL5lu-RHjHnT8PUy6_eK1NCN9V5bKjl7JwQW0sLDYEVAkZaMWmo/s320/IMG_1172.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Zachary:<br />
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At the end of August, we will be celebrating two years together as a family! I'm so glad God placed you in our family. You are His blessings to us every day.<br />
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I LOVE YOU,<br />
Mama<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-41112265946974379612012-06-30T00:00:00.000-05:002012-06-30T00:00:09.202-05:00Five Year Anniversary!<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=110517525ff63fb658d2cc2"quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=110517525ff63fb658d2cc2&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt5" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!<br/><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.onetruemedia.com</span></a></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-32007236527741126102012-05-28T15:22:00.001-05:002012-05-28T15:26:32.798-05:00California Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week, we had a wonderful family vacation! Yes, all four of us traveled together by plane and we survived! We were unsure if we should bring our giant double stroller with us, but it proved to be AWESOME for transporting two little boys AND their carseats through the airport and to our gate!</div>
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As soon as we arrived in Los Angeles, I felt revived by the dry air and cool temperatures. Ahhhh. I had forgotten how beautifully flowers grow there in such profusion. Front yards are works of art!<br />
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We stayed with our dear friends Jenn and Dave and their sweet baby Ellie! The boys had a great time and they enjoyed special breakfasts of Mickey pancakes made by Jenn!<br />
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The weather was so beautiful, we ate most of our meals outside on their patio.<br />
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One day, we drove to Irvine and had lunch with some friends who also have a son from Ethiopia. The boys had a blast together at the "kids" end of the table!<br />
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After lunch, we decided to take a drive to Laguna Beach where we enjoyed "Monkey Flip" milkshakes (chocolate, banana, peanut butter and date) and took in views of the Pacific!<br />
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Since this was the boys' very first time to be near an Ocean, we had to take them to the beach!<br />
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We drove up to Arcadia one day to visit another Gladney Family, the Scherers! Brian and I met these twins in Ethiopia while they were still in foster care, so it was wonderful to see them again at 2 years old!<br />
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On Wednesday, we went to Disneyland! The day started off with a "character breakfast" at the Storyteller's Cafe.<br />
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Jeremy's favorite part was driving a car on the Autopia ride.<br />
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We went on the Nemo ride.<br />
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And of course, the boys got Mickey ears (which Mommy got to wear, too)!!!<br />
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Meeting Mickey was Zachary's favorite part. When we left, he said, "Bye-bye, Mickey" in a sweet, tender voice.<br />
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Dads with their kids!<br />
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On our last full day, Brian got to have lunch with a group of guys he mentored while we lived there. They were in college at the time, and now they are all in their mid-twenties, with jobs, and one of them even has a family now! It was a fun reunion!<br />
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It was a great week, full of fun and friendship!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-53281149011656009092012-05-28T14:56:00.001-05:002012-05-28T14:56:09.788-05:00Last Day of Preschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pizza Party!</div>
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Jeremy with his teacher Ms. Cinthia.</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-68028107720301581372012-05-13T16:34:00.001-05:002012-05-13T16:34:44.836-05:00A Very Happy Mother's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today has been a really wonderful Mother's Day. Two very well-behaved boys loved on their Mama all day long! Unsolicited hugs, kisses, and "I love you"s were given and this mother was a happy lady!<br />
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After church, we went out for lunch at a delicious buffet in our neighborhood. Jeremy really got into his chocolate dipped marshmallows!<br />
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My mom (the boys' Nana) was with us, and it was just a great day! I'm so enjoying this season of life, being a mom to my little ones, living near my mom and enjoying regular time together, and seeing my boys' close relationship with Nana, too.<br />
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My cup runneth over. It really does, and I feel so aware of it today! Thank You, God for my beautiful family!<br />
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Brian gave me a lovely card this morning and when I opened the card, a poem was inside that he wrote for me, which he has given me permission to share here:<br />
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<i>Mother's Day 2012</i><br />
<br />
<i>A lifetime of waiting</i><br />
<i>Delays</i><br />
<i>Unanswered prayer</i><br />
<i>Confusion</i><br />
<i>Still hoping</i><br />
<i>Still waiting </i><br />
<i>and then...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>A moment of connection</i><br />
<i>Warmth</i><br />
<i>Laughter</i><br />
<i>over dinner</i><br />
<i>Bright eyes</i><br />
<i>A smile that lights up his world</i><br />
<i>Connection.</i><br />
<i>and then...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>A wedding day</i><br />
<i>Love</i><br />
<i>Commitment</i><br />
<i>Unbridaled joy</i><br />
<i>Hearts intertwined forever</i><br />
<i>As husband and wife</i><br />
<i>and then...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>A new season of waiting</i><br />
<i>Delays unknown</i><br />
<i>Prayers unrequested but offered</i><br />
<i>Not knowing that they are sought</i><br />
<i>Not knowing that someone is looking for them</i><br />
<i>Someone waiting to bring them home</i><br />
<i>And then...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>A "gotcha" day</i><br />
<i>A moment of connection</i><br />
<i>Excitement</i><br />
<i>Joy</i><br />
<i>Exhaustion</i><br />
<i>Tears </i><br />
<i>Laughter</i><br />
<i>Sons and their mother</i><br />
<i>And then...</i><br />
<i>A family</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The waiting is over</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>She has entered their lives</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Her warmth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Her love</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Her laughter</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Her prayers</i></div>
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<i>Her smile has lit up their world</i></div>
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<i>Their hearts knit together with hers</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wife and mother, Lover and caregiver</i></div>
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<i>Love and Loyalty for a lifetime.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thank you, Brian, for making me feel so special. I'm so glad we're on this parenting journey together. You're a wonderful husband to me. xoxo</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721486719489709402.post-88349690371995537282012-04-26T07:09:00.000-05:002012-04-26T07:10:45.907-05:00Fun Reunion!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In 2010, when we traveled to Ethiopia to adopt the boys, we met and became fast friends with another couple who was there adopting their precious daughter. They live in the NYC area, and we have remained in touch and had a couple of post-Ethiopia visits! Little Maya and Zachary were born two weeks apart in the same city, so it has been really special to get them together and see them as they grow!</div>
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They have changed so much since <a href="http://alwaysandforeverours.blogspot.com/2011/06/visit-from-sarah-and-maya.html" target="_blank">last year</a>!</div>
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The weather has been fantastic this week, so we've spent a ton of time in our backyard letting the kids swim and play.<br />
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<a href="http://samandlucyonline.com/" target="_blank">My sister</a> made these shirts for the kids, and I couldn't resist a little photo shoot!<br />
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And since the kids were in a picture taking mood, we got them dressed in their traditional Ethiopian outfits, and the cuteness was over the top!!! Their skin just glows in that bright white cotton!<br />
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Thank you so much, Sarah and Maya, for coming to visit us! Your friendship has become such a special one, and we love you!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875496721000801632noreply@blogger.com1