Shine On!!!

I am SO excited!!!

The Chrome Buffalo site is live and we are officially selling these awesome shirts! We have only 10 days to reach our goal.

This is our final fundraiser, would you consider buying a shirt to help us bring our Rose home?

Plus, they are just SUPER cute!!!

CLICK HERE to get yours!!!

Bunny Crisis 2013

So if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you already know by now about our bunny situation. But here's the full story.

On Tuesday my sis and her kids as well as my friend Jacki were all over hanging out. I noticed our dog Stella was really digging at something in the yard. But honestly, with 7 kids running around, I didn't pay much attention.

We went inside to eat and my neighbor shows up at my back door and informs me that our dog had gotten into a bunny nest. Great.

I go back there and she's already killed a few of them, but there were still about 3 left in the nest. So I put the dog up in the house and walked the yard to see if there were any strewn about. I didn't want the kids finding them later. Sure enough Jacki and I stumbled upon one that was still alive, but it's little guts were hanging out. I knew what we had to do.

Thank goodness for Jacki!!! She's an ER nurse so this was nothing to her! She placed him in a bag and we euthanized him via car exhaust. The most humane way we could think of.

CR went out and put up some fencing around the nest to keep our dog away from the others. Done with that ordeal, or so we thought.

The next day I saw the dog acting crazy out back again, and sure enough, she'd dug her way back to nest. This time when I went out, she'd killed all but one. She had him in her mouth, and dropped him when I approached her. Poor little booger was squirming, but too small to get away.

So I scooped him up and did the most logical thing I could think of. 

Ask Facebook!

I posted this picture and got tons of advice/help on what to do.

So as of now, he's in my bathroom with a space heater, and I've been feeding him goat's milk via a dropper every 3 hours. He's less than a week old. I've called every imaginable rehabilitation place in Charlotte and so far no one can take him. But I am praying we find someone today!!!! 

Everything I read says these are not pets. He needs to be released, so we are not handling him except to feed him. Which is killing the girls :) Plus we don't want to stress him out.

He's a fighter though. I honestly figured he would die over night, but when I got up he was still hanging on.

 

I've read that these wild bunnies are extremely fragile and hard to hand raise. They need their mama's and can die from very simple things. Anyway, I don't want him to die, but he won't be a pet for us either. I'm doing the best I can, but between pumping for Rose every 3 hours and now feeding this bunny... I am getting nothing done! I have 15 sessions in my que to edit and a whole house to prepare for a new baby... so pray with me that a rehab person can get this little guy asap!!!!!

It's really never dull around here.

The countdown is on!

I can't believe it! L is 34 weeks pregnant today, which means we are 6 weeks away from baby time, although due to a number of factors, it's very likely she'll deliver early. So really we are anywhere from 3-6 weeks out!!! CRAZY!!!!

I know I haven't blogged much this adoption, but it's just been such a whirlwind! Combine that with trying to close up my business, get in a ton of sessions, plan curriculum for next year, and day to day caring for my kiddos, I just don't have much free time right now.

A lot of people have asked how all this happened so quickly, especially when domestic adoptions can take years typically. The truth is that this is ALL God. The timing, the "coincidences", and the overall plan. We had a wonderful consultant who gave us so much great info, and got us ready to present very quickly, then through "adoption world" connections I was able to find our wonderful attorney, who we just adore. 

The thing to keep in mind is that we are not out of the woods yet. Although we are believing and praying that this is our daughter and everything will work out, we don't know that until she's born and papers are signed.

So, what that means is that we have picked up a few baby things we needed... a pack of diapers, a car seat, a few cute outfits, and a few blankets. And now we just wait.

My desire to be nesting is so strong, but sadly I am so busy I haven't much time to do that. I am hoping I can get working on our house in the next week or two. You know all the crazy closet clean outs, moving furniture to clean under and behind it, and purging of junk. We did a lot of this in Jan/Feb...as I was feeling the urge to simplify. But there is still more to be done. And a whole storage shed full of things that just need to be donated at this point!

I feel 34 weeks pregnant. 

In a sense. 

Emotional. Cravings. Excitement. Nervousness. 

But my body doesn't show what my heart is feeling. 

Which means, most of the time I look like a lunatic! :)

Oh well... it's worth the crazy! I apologize to those around me right now.

I am also trying to induce lactation so that I can nurse this sweet girl. It's a TON of work. I know it will be worth it, but frankly, my boobs are over the pumping. :) I didn't like pumping when I had the girls and I never really had to, but now I have to do it every 3 hours. Boo!

 Is this a TMI????

Too bad.... it's reality people. Just call me Bessy... the milk cow.

So here we sit, weeks away from a life changing event. We are so thankful for this journey. It by far has stretched us more emotionally than we were ever prepared for. But it's an amazing feeling too. To look back as actually see the changes God made in your heart. I can't wait to see the rest of this story unfold for our family! 

Thank you all again for all your love and support!!!!

My kinda weekend!

This past weekend was great! Usually I am working on weekends, but I had a client reschedule so I was off work! Yippee! 

That allowed us to get up Saturday morning and head over to Applebees for a flapjack fundraiser! It was to support the work of Broken Hearts Ministries. I am super excited to learn about how this ministry works and hopefully how I can become more involved!

 

The other great event of the weekend, was hubby and I going to see the new documentary Stuck, from Both Ends Burning.

It was great!

 It really helps expose the serious flaws in the adoption system and I'll admit, there were a lot of things that I didn't know.

Did you know adoption into the U.S had DECLINED over the last 8 years, by 60%!!!!! 

In a poll they conducted, 8 out of 10 people believed adoption was on the rise, but it's NOT.

These kids are literally STUCK in orphanages all over the world due to bureaucracy and paperwork.

It was so eye opening, and not that I needed another reason to be passionate about adoption, but it certainly gave me one.

Please take a moment and check out the Both Ends Burning campaign, check to see if it's showing in your city! If it's not, you can always purchase the DVD and watch it on your own.

And sign the petition! This issue requires action, and your signature matters. Awesome isn't it :)

We MUST take off the blinders, get our heads out of the sand, and act. So images like this one, taken a few days ago at Noah's old orphanage, don't exist anymore.

What's not pictured here are the older children in the back, who aren't eating, because there isn't enough food, and as the staff explained.... the older can kids can go longer without food. 

Are we really okay with this? We're better. I know we are.

 Let's do something about it y'all.

The part I don't like...

Fundraising.

Who does. There is just something really hard about putting yourself out there in this way that makes you feel vulnerable... it's humbling for sure.

So the skinny is that CR and I thought we totally "had this". We weren't going to need to fundraise this time, and we were pretty darn happy about that. As a matter of fact, we spent one whole date night just chatting about this adoption and how we were SO glad we didn't have to fundraise this time, yada yada yada.

Then the flood gates opened.

Within two weeks of that conversation anything and everything went wrong. Plumbing, heating, dishwasher, vacuum, and dental work up the wazoo! It was *almost* comical really. We watched our adoption money dwindle down and down. Which of course was a sign to us that we were doing the right thing! 

When we’re walking in God’s plan, we are a threat to Satan and he wants us out of the way and he’ll do anything to make it happen. The last thing he wants are stories that bring glory and honor to God;

 -Henry Mclaughlin 

So we know we are right where God wants us and we are so excited to be moving forward in adding to our Braniff Bunch!

We are happy that our fees for this adoption are much lower than they were for Noah's. 

In total we are hoping to raise $14,000. 

And just this morning we received a very generous and anonymous donation for $1500!!! 

So now we need $12,500! 

Here are few of the ways we hope to do that!

1. Prints!

I am selling prints of images I shot while in DRC, the Oregon coast, and a couple from the Carolina coast as well. Here is a link to where you can view and purchase the prints! I will post more about these soon. I'm making a Congo collage for Noah's room, and I think you Congo mama's might like it!

The Congo River. 

2. Mini Sessions! 

I am offering two days of Spring Mini sessions to help bring our girl home!

 

3. T-shirts

They aren't available for purchase yet, but as soon as they are I will add the link! We will be selling this awesome Chrome Buffalo shirt in Men's, Women, and kids sizes! I love them!!!!!! Mason Jar, fireflies, and the words SHINE ON! What's not to love!

4. And finally, we are super excited that we were approved for an account with Adopt Together! Here is the link, and if you chose to donate to our adoption fund, it is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!! That is huge! :) Giving is selfless no matter what, but it's nice to shave down your bill with Uncle Sam too :)

Again, we can't begin to express our gratitude for all of you who helped us bring our Noah home, and we know the Lord will provide what is needed to bring Rose home too! Thank you for standing along side us in this journey. We love you!!!

He is faithful...

This image was taken at the beach in 2011.

I knew He was telling me that I had a daughter. And her name would be Rose.

And then He brought us Noah. A blessing to our family I could never have imagined.

We just kinda put "Rose" on a shelf, but she never left my heart. As a matter of fact, if you look in my studio, I still have these letters sitting on my self, for over a year.

 I've left the R there...

I saved the few little items I'd bought for her instead of giving them away....

I just kinda knew in my heart, she was still out there. 

Waiting for us.

Flash forward to Monday February 4th. I was feeling really discouraged about money, how we'd pay for this adoption, and why some of these "situations" were so expensive. 

I sent a quick email to our new attorney and told her how discouraged I was feeling and just wanted to check in with her. (We were really hoping to be matched through her since her fees were so reasonable and her clients were within driving distance for us so the travel fees wouldn't be as high) She wrote me back and just said to hang in there, she knew it was hard to wait, but it would happen when it's right. 

I took a deep breathe and kept moving.

Now it's Wednesday, February 6th, 2013. I was leaving the chiropractor and saw I had a missed call from our adoption attorney. Now in the adoption world it's pretty well known that your case worker or lawyer won't call you unless it's about a child. They will email for 99% of what they need.

But I tried to not get too excited, after all, we'd just sent her our profile and paperwork two weeks ago.

I called her back and it went to voicemail, so I left the most calm message I could muster trying not to sound overly excited about what could be nothing. I was taking the kids to play at our friend Kristin's house and when we arrived, I warned her that I may go running out of the room to answer the phone if our attorney called :) The kids played, we chatted, and then it happened. My phone rang. I ran upstairs and answered. It was E (our attorney)...

"Hey Angela, do you have a few minutes?"

"YES!"

"Okay, your family was chosen by a birth mother, she's due in May!"

"Oh, remember that email you sent me the other day, saying how discouraged you were feeling? Well, as I was writing you back, L was sitting across the desk from me holding your profile book and saying she just loved your family"

Seriously, God?!?!?!?

He is such a show off! 

I LOVE how He is in all the details.

 It gives me chills every time.

I was in shock, she went over the details, and told me we didn't know the gender of the baby yet.

As you can imagine we have been praying like crazy over our expectant mom, L. 

And we have also prayed long and hard about whether or not to share this news.

 Many times in the domestic adoption world, they advise you to not share anything until after the baby is born and consents are signed. The baby is obviously not ours until that happens. Many people experience failed matches, and moms change their minds once the baby is born. We know the risks. Which is why we refer to L as the expectant mom and not the birth mother. She doesn't become that until the baby is here and she places the baby with us.

So, here is how I see it. Some people choose to not share that they are pregnant until after the first trimester. When they get out of the real "danger zone" for miscarriage. I totally get that. 

But for me, the truth is that I need you. 

I need your love, support and encouragement no matter how the chips may fall. 

And L needs you. She needs our prayers more than ever, and how amazing is it that I know I can simply ask and so many of you will commit to pray for her. 

Will you join me in praying for her?

I refuse to not allow myself the excitement and joy associated with this season of my life. And as my dear friend reminded me, if it falls apart, and she decided to parent, then His grace is enough.

He will be enough to heal my heart. I don't know how long it would take or what that path would look like, but He won't leave me. I do know that.

Now, let's finish this story. L had her ultrasound on Friday and we found out the baby is a GIRL! 

My Rose.

Isn't He just awesome.

It's hard. It's messy. It can be painful at times. But let me tell you, there is simply nothing that compares to letting God have the pen. What an astounding author He is. 

Eat your heart out Nicholas Sparks, this guy writes the most kick butt love stories. Seriously.

CR and I will drive a few hours away to meet L next weekend. I'll write more about that later... but for now, we are rejoicing! ( And panicking about doing her hair! Yikes!)

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 89:1

Snow Day!

Well, we finally had our first snow day in about 2 years last week! The kids loved it...for about 5 minutes. That may be our fault since we don't own proper snow attire so they were all freezing. Excellent parenting! Socks for gloves :)

I was super excited to see what Noah would think of the snow, however it was fairly anticlimactic.

He touched, he pondered, and then he played.

Same as any other new thing :)