Here is a new pic of my darling Eden. One week until I am holding her in my arms!

Christmas Day!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today was a great day. We had about 21 people at my house. My sister and I cooked dinner. We had ham, roast, candied yams, salad, lots of sweets, and burnt green bean casserole!

Everyone had a fun time. The kids got what they wanted. Elijah got guinea pigs and a camera, Noah got a PSP. Louie and Imani got toys. Blanca got some preteen girl stuff but her present is her trip with me to Ethiopia.

Rick took a bunch of family out to the pasture on the 4wheelers and pulled them on inner tubes with the tractor. We have alot of snow so it was fun. I think the best part of the day was watching my over six foot tall uncles on kid sized 4 wheelers driving about 2 miles an hour!

Today was just a really good day. I am now preparing to leave on Jan. 1 to go get my beautiful Eden. Life couldn't be better.

Christmas Eve at Grandma's house. We had a great time going over for dinner after church. The kids opened a couple of presents and we hung out with aunts, uncle's, cousins, my sister, great grandma and grandpa.

Six days until I leave to pick up my little girl!

This is Rick's Christmas present. His name is Zues and he is awesome!

Elijah and Louie having a blast in the snow!

My little Imani might crawl soon and I hope it is not while I am in Ethiopia! She is 8 months old and loves all the happenings at the Perez house.

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starting over

Today I am starting this blogging thing over. I guess I didn't try very hard the first time! Of course as soon as I started this Imani woke up crying like she had a bad dream. She almost always wakes up happy so I don't know what happened. She is on my lap playing with a pen. Not the best toy for a 6 month old! The house is so quiet because the 3 boys are at my mom in laws. My husband is off doing whatever he does on Saturday, and Blanca has a friend over so I won't hear from her for awhile. Today was a great day. I spent some time with my girls, Rick was very relaxed, I got a quick cat nap and there were no sibling spats! I love days like these. It makes up for the harder days.
Last night was Halloween. The kids dressed up and we went to our Church costume carnival. We also visited my grandparents and Ricks mom. My mom was also with us part of the time. Sometimes family can be stressful but I am so glad my kids have people around them to love them no matter what. We are blessed to have our family close by. I see how much my kids love the grandmas and great grandparents. I am adding a picture of the kids at halloween. They were all so cute!

Today was a sad day. I saw my friend in the store. Her baby died last night. What do you say to someone who is grieving the loss of a child? Sorry? It doesn't seem like enough yet it's all you can say. Today was also the first day in a long time I didn't obsess over the referral wait. I was thinking about my friend. It is funny how you get so caught up in your own wants and "needs' that it is easy to forget there is so much going on in the world. It is not just us. I guess this is the reason that adoption has always been near to my heart. For me it seems like one little step to be a part of the world instead of just a part of "me." I have always believed that I was here for a particular reason. Adoption is what God has called me to do since I was very young. I know it. I am so blessed that I was able to be pregnant and have babies and I am just as blessed that I will be adopting again. To think that the Lord is entrusting me with a child who came from a womb other than mine. WOW! What a great calling. What a special blessing. I will be praying tonight for my friend and her family. I will also be praying for the millions of orphans around the world. We are all God's children. He calls all of us to Him.

Today I am stepping into the strange world of blogging. The wait to find out who my baby girl is going to be is getting painful. I need an outlet and I am going to try this. There are two girls out there waiting to join our family and I know who one is but not the other. Someday I may be able to explain that better! It is the end of a busy day and I am tired. A new friend of mine is having to remove her terminally ill 2 year old off life support tonight and my 2 year old is tearing up the house! What is the fairness in that? These horrible circumstances I see around me are somehow making me a better parent. Oh, don't get me wrong, I am far from perfect. This life is a classroom and I feel like I am in the 2nd or 3rd grade. I have a ways to go. Tonight I will be saying prayers for my friend.