Bidgie's Third Birthday

This was one of my all-time favorite birthday parties. Maggie and I began planning a few months prior to the party via email... bouncing ideas back-and-forth off eachother. (I always say we make a great team.) ; )
We began the celebration with doggie ears, collars and face painting, and sang a few "doggie songs" to put us in the puppy mood. My niece, Kathryn, recently became the proud owner of a poodle-mix puppy, and brought him over as the guest-of-honor. The children were thrilled to play with a real, live, (very-active) puppy-dog. Next, Maggie led the children in Obedience School, where all the little "puppies" learned how to sit, beg, roll-over and speak. Then they enjoyed some "puppy chow" and milk shakes in their own little doggie bowls. Following the snack, we read a little story and all the children ran off to dig up some bones, which they later used in a game of Fetch. Lastly, we had the most adorable cake (Maggie's discovery online) and opened presents.
Some of my favorite moments were during the gift opening, as Lauren cheerfully thanked each person who gave her a gift, and even allowed another child to open one of her presents for her. She was simply delightful. It also was a joy and honor to have Jamie and Linda celebrate with us and the opportunity to introduce them to some of the people we love most.
Lauren's birthday, as each of our children's birthdays tend to do, was another reminder of the many kindnesses God has so graciously bestowed upon us. It was a reminder of the many people: family, friends, and church members, that He has placed in our lives. I am so grateful for them all.
Can you believe our sweet girl is three-years-old?

The Mighty Jungle

Happiness

Thank you, Patsy and David, for spending time with us.
We love you!

For Miss Jamie...

Sorry you've not been feeling well.
We love you!

Build-A-Bear

Lauren had her
first Build-A-Bear experience with her birthmom and family last week. She made a kittycat. I wasn't sure if Bidgie would be old enough to participate in stuffing and fluffing whatever animal she chose, but she did a great job! She even went around for a second try after the first time!

Thank you, Jamie
and Scott, for a memorable time together. So grateful we got to see you!

Wordless Wednesday

Julianna and her Grandparents

Had a lovely visit with Patsy and David last week, in which a very silly Julianna was doted on with all the love in the world.

Old Salem

A bit of homeschooling, a few treats, great friends, and a lot of fun.

Lauren's Birthday and a Trip to the Zoo

Had a wonderful time celebrating Bidgie's second birthday
at the NC Zoo with Lauren's birthmama Jamie, big sis Gabby, and Grandma Linda. Jamie brought along Ladybug cupcakes and
party supplies, complete with goodie bags for each of the kids. (The baggies included ladybug suncatchers, "walking" beetles, magnifying glasses, and bubbles... Isn't she so thoughtful?!) Lauren opened oodles of gifts, so she was a happy camper... well, for the most part! :) When she got cranky we all had fun trying to entertain her.
Thank you, Jamie, for celebrating this special day with us. I'm so glad we could be together with this little girl we all love so much.

Baby Noah

Meeting Noah's birth grandparents has me reminiscing... as a result, I have begun a new project. John brought home a VHS-DVD converter, and I am in the process of compiling and editing about six years of video. Here is the beginning of this huge undertaking:

P.S. No comments on the hair please! : )

Love is...

Staying in contact over 11 years, even though we had never met.

We had the privilege of meeting Noah's biological grandparents for the first time this past Thursday night.
Communicating through letters and gifts, Tom and Beverly have been more than generous and kind, persevering for years in spite of the closed doors of Noah's adoption. Now that the door is ajar, we have begun communicating more regularly with the ease of the internet.
I would like to say two things about this family: First of all, meeting Tom and Beverly confirmed my sentiments...they are lovely people. Secondly, I wish we had meet years ago. (Open adoption was not legalized through NC adoption agencies until 2002, six years after Noah was born.)
Noah told us after we left, that although he was hesitant beforehand, he was glad he had the opportunity to meet both of them. (Especially when he found out they are avid Panthers fans!)

Tom and Beverly, thank you for taking us out to dinner last week. It truly was a joy to be with you both. We love you guys, and thank you again for staying in touch.
Tom, Noah has considered your regard for David Garrard, and is now a Jaguars' fan as well. ; )

A Year in Review 2007

A Year in Review

We started a new tradition with the Flanigan's Christmas Party. Each family is to bring a video or slideshow of their year, for all of us to see. It's a lot of fun. I'm in the process of working on this year's, but after watching last year's again, I'm not sure I can beat it ;) It was the year God brought Lauren into our lives. Feel free to watch if you'd like.

Love is...

red and sparkly, smells real sweet... and sometimes a bit sticky. ; )
Thank you for the gifts, Jamie!

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas...

The BaaMoo Farm...

...or as Julianna calls it the "MooBoo Farm". ; )
As previously mentioned, the kids and I had a wonderful visit yesterday with Lauren's birthmother, Jamie. About a month ago, Jamie had suggested visiting the BaaMoo Farm together, recalling her own memories from her older daughter's childhood.
The farm was well-run and clean, with many activities for the children... and a very helpful staff, (they even suggested for us to come early to beat the schoolgroups! I am so glad we did!).
Honestly, I was surprised at the opportunities this small farm afforded the children: feeding bottles to calves and meal to chickens; collecting eggs from the hens; gathering pumpkins from a field; taking a "hayride" (although we didn't sit on hay!); and we all (that's right, "all") even got to milk a cow! : )
Now, I know that makes you want to go... Doesn't it?!
I took so many pictures, I decided to make a little slideshow so I wouldn't have to leave any out! Enjoy. : )

Love Thursday

Well, I have a lot of things on my mind today that I could blog about. But no time to do it! However, since I am taking the National Blog Posting Month challenge, I thought I'd copy a few other ideas from blogs I frequent... like "Wordless Wednesdays" (pictures only to be featured) and "Love Thursday" (highlighting some warm fuzzy in my life). So here's my first attempt:


"Love is not self-seeking." (1 Cor. 13)
One of the things that I love about visiting with Jamie, is her consistent care and attention to all of my children when we are together. No one would blame her if she spent all of her time soaking up hugs and kisses from Bidgie alone. But she doesn't. Jamie always goes above and beyond what any adoptive mother would expect her daughter's birthmother to do. She frequently brings treats or presents for each of the children; but even beyond the material, Jamie hugs, talks, chases, encourages, listens to, and laughs with each of my children... and that is one of the most beautiful expressions of love I have yet to see.
She has a love that delights in making others happy, even above herself.
Thank you for loving us, Jamie. : ) It was so good to see you today!

Cousins : )

One of the things I love about adoption is, of course, the extension of our family! My brother, and his wife and son came over last night to have dinner with us. You may recognize Nicholas from the adoption slideshow presentation I posted last week. Nicholas is adopted too. Isn't he cute?! : )
I often think about the difficulties associated with adoption, primarily the unfathomable loss it represents for the birthfamily. However, I also think about cousins Nicholas, Benjamin (my sister, Gail's son) and Charlie (John's brother's son). They would not be family apart from the loving sacrifices each one of their birthfamilies made. I may never comprehend it, but we are thankful, and totally in love with these precious children. November is National Adoption Month. Can I ask each of you to say a prayer today, for each of my children's birthfamilies, as well as Nicholas's, Benjamin's, and Charlie's? Thank you. : )

Open Adoption Slideshow

Well, some of you know I was on a panel today for our adoption agency. John and I have had the privilege of speaking for them on several different occasions. Today, there was a new twist on my topic, in addition to just sharing "our story" of adopting five kids, CAS (www.christianadopt.org) also asked me to speak about our open adoption arrangements.
Open adoption has many preconceived notions in society, which make their way into the hearts of nearly every potential adoptive parent. Now that John and I have been walking through open adoption situations with our last three children, we have learned that most, if not all these ideas are unfounded. We have received great joy through our relationships with all of our children's birthfamilies, even the ones that are more closed. But there is a unique joy that comes in having an actual relationship with the people who loved our children first. To learn about their background, their personalities, and MOST of all to allow our children to feel their love, first hand...open adoption has been nothing short of a blessing.
We love and respect our children's birthfamilies deeply.
In the slideshow I compiled for this meeting, you will see pictures of several of their families. I hope to honor each of the families represented in this slideshow, may God bless them and fill them with peace.

Open Adoption

Yesterday we got to spend a couple of hours with some of our favorite people. : ) A few pictures of the big event: Lauren with her Birthmama Jamie, her big sis, Gabby (don't they look alike?), and giving a high-five to Grandma Linda...



Lauren is one lucky little girl!
Although, we all feel very fortunate to know this wonderful family, who has embraced us as an extension of their own family and have become dear friends. We love you guys!