I Love Shutterfly for Making Greeting Cards!

Plus, I thought this pic of my son is super adorbs!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

A Letter to my Mom on her 70th Birthday

Dear Mom,

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:

I'd love to tell you how the lovely girl you married,

She's been my hero and a treasure to us all.

All I could think about was you, and how his words described exactly what you mean to me and to our family!

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 understood, 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!

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.

We are abundantly blessed!


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.

Big birthday HUGS,
Tracy

Christmas 2012 Recap

I've gotten out of the habit of blogging a bit because of how easy it is to share photos on Facebook!

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!

Here is Zachary opening and trying out his new "doggy guitar" from Gramma!

And here, Jeremy is opening his remote control monster truck from Gramma. The expression on his face says it all!

On Christmas night, we went over to my mom's house for dinner. It was such a lovely family night!

 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!

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!

Jeremy at 15 Months Old

Dear Jeremy,

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!

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.

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!!!"

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!

Parenthood is an amazing journey, and I'm so glad you are mine and I am yours,

Mama

Election Day 2012

Dear Jeremy and Zachary,

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!".

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!

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!

Love,
Mama

Back 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 Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women. 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.



It was so much fun, and I feel so blessed to be living my dreams of being a professional actress! Thank You, God!

My 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:

Mother's Day 2012

Last day of preschool with his teacher.

Boys' first time at the beach, near Laguna Beach, CA

Family trip to Disneyland!

Swimming lessons!

Father's Day 2012

Beca spent the summer with us again this year!!!

Florida Beach Vacation, Nana and the boys!

Family photo at the beach in Florida!

Boys' first day of preschool, Sept. 2012