Mary Beth and Santa

Here is our pretty little 4 year old with Santa. We shopped for her little dress that she has on and she picked it out all by herself. I told her that she was already a pro at shopping at the age of 4. Look out Aunt Libby and Barbie - we have a new shopper in the family!!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Moon

Here is Mary Beth getting to see the moon through the telescope. You can see what it looks like taking the picture and looking at it with the naked eye and then see what it looks like putting the camera up to the telescope and taking the picture. You are actually getting to see what she was seeing while looking.

Update

I know I am falling behind on posting photos and updates and for that I AM SO SORRY!!! However, we have had Mary Beth's third Gotcha Day Party and even though we had it on a holiday weekend, we still had a great time and really appreciate all of the family and friends that came out to help us celebrate. Thank you to all for your gifts before, during and after the party. She has enjoyed each and every one of them and continues to do so. We are gearing up for her 4th birthday party at this time. It is so hard to believe that we have had our little angel for 3 years and she is about to turn 4. She is such a big girl. She is spelling words on her own now and she has already started on math. She proved to us the other day that she can add and subtract. She is so smart! God has truly blessed us beyond all measures with our little girl. It is very hard to see her growing up like she is, but she blossums every single day.

Last night she gave me the greatest compliment of all. We were laying in the bed after reading our bedtime story and she looked over at me and said to me "Mommy you are the best mommy ever"! WOW - I have smiled each and every time I have thought of her saying it. Yes, I know that I am suppose to!!!

Tonight I got out the telescope and let her look at the beautiful full moon. She had such a good time doing it. Times like this are priceless and I thank God for letting me have them with such a precious little girl!

All the new pictures are above. We hope you will enjoy!

Best friends

We had a playdate with Aunt Jan and Charlie Ann on Saturday. We took the girls to HealthWorks and they had a wonderful time. Then we all went shopping.

In the dress that Mamaw and Papaw picked out for her!

Vacation 2009

We just returned from having one of the BEST vacations ever. We met up with our friends the Spradling's and the Detweiler's, rented a cabin and went to the Chinese Children's Reunion at Cirque De Chine in Sevierville, TN. Let me tell you; if you have not had the pleasure of seeing the Acrobats at Cirque De Chine you are missing a wonderful show. They had a day set aside just for adopted children from China. It was filled with games, activities, Chinese Food and the show. Mary Beth said that the drums hurt her ears and that the dragon scared her, but she loved the show none the less. After that fun filled day we spent one day doing absolutely nothing however we did go swimming that day. Then we let the guys set out for their day of adventure and all of the girls spent the day shopping. Each night we were able to return to our beautiful cabin and cook our own food and sit back and relax. We enjoyed everything so much until we have already started making plans for next year. On the trip home yesterday Mary Beth kept asking the same two questions: When are we going back to Charlie Ann's house and when are we going on vacation again? Charles even said this morning that he didn't feel like driving, but if I said let's pack our bags and go to the mountains he would do it.

We thank God for a wonderful and much needed vacation, time well spent getting to know our friends better and making lasting memories for our daughters.

These are the photos. Now if you are wanting to make copies of these photos they do have some spots on them, because of my scanner. However, please let me know if you would like copies and I will be glad to make them for you.

Update

I know I have been absent for a little while, but we have had a lot going on and still do. We have had sickness in our family (on both sides) and they have been our main focus and continue to be. Also, Charles and I decided to Vacation Bible School together this year and we had a wonderful time doing it. We were amazed and blessed all at the same time that we had 13 children in our class. Even though we did not have any children come to Jesus, we pray that they will.

Mary Beth is doing great she is a lively little 3 almost 4 year old. She stays wide open from the time her feet hit the ground until she goes to sleep at night. I have talked with her teacher at school and she is very pleased with the progress Mary Beth has made and believes there is no reason why she can not move up to the next level even before her time. Since Mary Beth's birthday does not fall until November she will not start school until she is almost 7, therefore at daycare she will be in the 5 year old class before it is time for her to be. YEA!!!! I think we might have us a smart child! (Yes, Doc. Jones I know you told us that in the very beginning!!!)

I will post the pictures that I said that I would post a couple of months ago, but with everything going on like it has, I have not had the chance to do so. So at the top of the page you will have glanced at the photos before you even get a chance to read this.

We hope that all of you are having a great 2009 so far and we pray that you continue to do so! Take care an until next time - God Bless all of you!!!!

Easter

We had a nice Easter. Even though we did not make it to church - we still had a great day. Mary Beth is in one of her I am not going to sleep moods again and that is what we did all night Saturday night and the reason why we did not make it to church. Charles however traveled to Oxford and preached for the men and women at the Veteran's home. This was his second trip over and he really enjoys traveling there. He has been asked to take the second Sunday of each month and has accepted.

Mary Beth had a good little visit from the Easter Bunny. Also, the day before our church sat up at the City Park in Saltillo to hand out free hot dogs and drinks to everyone since they were holding the Park dedication and the community wide egg hunt. They had prizes to give away and low and behold they called Mary Beth's name and she won this huge bunny that is almost as big as she is. She loves the thing and takes it to bed with her and sleeps with at during nap time when we are at home.

We hope all of you had a wonderful Easter! Take care and we will be posting more pictures in the next few days.

Laughter Lives Tuesday

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

Here is a laugh for you and a AAAAAWWWWW for today on Laughter Lives Tuesday:

One afternoon after work I went to pick up Mary Beth from school. I was putting her in her carseat when this conversation happened.

Mary Beth: Mommy can I have Ronald McDonald food tonight? (Notice she does not call it McDonald's or Mickey D's like most children)

Me: No baby not tonight we were going home and we were going to cook supper.

Mary Beth: Please can I have Ronald McDonald food?

Me: No we are not having Ronald McDonald food we are going home and cook and you can help me cook.

Mary Beth: Much louder voice: PLEASE CAN I HAVE RONALD McDONALD FOOD?

Me: No baby we can not! Mommy doesn't have the money to go to McDonald's - we will have to go home and cook.

At this point I am closing the back door of the SUV and opening the front door to get in and.....

Mary Beth: Mommy why do you go to work to make money if you don't have any money to get Ronald McDonald food?

Boy did I feel about an inch tall at that moment and yes I went into explain the whole situation to her about paying bills, buying food, shoes, clothes and having a roof over her head.

That is our little funny so now it is your turn. Make someone laugh today!

Music

I have added some of our favorite music to our blog. Therefore, turn your speakers on if you can and listen to some great music. Mary Beth must have music because she loves to sing and dance.

Laughter Lives Tuesday

OK, I have shared this with some of you, but not all of you. This is something that we got a huge laugh about and I want to share it on Laughter Lives Tuesday! Thanks Brent for starting this!

If you are a blogger or not - you can visit Brent's site for Abby and get a few more laughs if this one didn't do it for you! Enjoy everyone!

http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/2009/03/laughter-lives-tuesday.html

OK, so here is our little laugh :))))

A few months ago Charles and Mary Beth were up and letting Mommy sleep late. They were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast and just all of a sudden Mary Beth lays her little head over on her Daddy's shoulder and says "Daddy I love you with all my heart, but you are still a stinky ole boy".

She got "stinky ole boy" from us because at one time she was bad about going up to this one little boy at school and trying to give him a kiss goodbye. We told her that if she kept kissing on that stinky ole boy that her lips were going to fall off one day.

Of course us telling her has not stopped her from being her sweet and loving self - she still wants to give hugs and kisses every afternoon when we pick her up from school.

GOD LOVE HER - SHE IS JUST GREAT!

Unwanted Children - NOT OUR'S

(Taken at Chinese New Year Celebration 2009)

This came to me via my hometown newspaper and I really felt like I needed to share this with every one that likes to check in on our blog from time to time. It rang true to me and most of the people that are in our lives. How could anyone not want a child? Then I have to think back to Mary Beth's bio mother. I wonder what it took for her to have to give Mary Beth up. She was a brave soul for doing so. For her to have to give up such a special child and for us to granted by our Lord and Savior this precious child to be in our lives. It is one of the greatest gifts that we have ever been given. So we pray for her bio mother and father. We do not know if they were together or if they were apart, but we must pray for them, because this was one of the hardest decisions that they had to make in their life, however we forever will be grateful to them for making that decision on that cold November night/day. Thank you Lord for giving them the courage to do this and please forgive them for what they did, but you knew what they were doing and you turned it around and blessed us with this amazing, wonderful, beautiful, joyous child!

Here is the piece from the paper:

UNWANTED CHILDREN?
from Reflections of Faith by Roger Campbell

Every child has the right to be wanted.
But why would any parent not want a child?
Should a child be unwanted because the parents fear changes in their lifestyle?
Should a child be unwanted because the arrival of another person in the home will throw the family budget out of balance?
Should a child be unwanted because a birth now will violate some preset timetable?
Should a child be unwanted because, like Abraham Lincoln, he or she will have to be raise in poverty?
Should a child be unwanted because of some possible physical handicap?
Should a child be unwanted because this birth will reveal wrong conduct by the parents and shame looms larger than life?
How can any parent not want a child who is yet unseen?
How can a child be unwanted who has not yet had the opportunity to give love or receive it...whose cry has never been heard...whose arms still wait to give their first hug?
Is it fair to deny birth to a child thought to be unwanted when that child has never had a chance to convince the parent of his or her worth?
And who is this unwanted one?
One who bears the image of both parents.
But more than that, one who reaches back through generations combining all family roots in one special person.
Very Special.
One so unique that this child can never be replaced.
No other person will have the same appearance.
No other person will have the same temperament.
No other person will have the same ability to solve problems that trouble us all.
No other person will have this child’s voice.
No other eyes will carry the same expressions as these.
No one will be the same mix of past and present.
So if this child is not allowed to live, we lose more than a statistic.
We lose a part of the past that is intended to be shared by this family.
We lose a family historian.
We lose one who seems to step out of old family portraits to walk among us.
We lose Grandma’s beauty and Grandpa’s gift to build. We lose Great-Grandma’s sense of humor and Great-Grandpa’s ability to produce a bumper crop.
When a child is denied birth a family loses part of its heritage and we all lose the reward of that person’s presence in the world.
The Psalmist said it well: "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward" (Psalms 127:3)

So many questions

On a day like today - where I have read several different blogs. I am so touched by each and everyone. I am blessed to be surrounded by such God fearing - God loving people in my life. However, there are always questions and there may not always be the answers you want, but there are answers.

I know I will probably get a lot of responses back on these questions, but hey I have to ask. So, go head and shoot your big gun at me - those words are my hubby's words so I get to use them today.

I know that if it is God's will that he will provide no matter what the case may be. However, at this time I am feeling very drawn to this subject. I must first say this is a subject that my husband says NO to every time I bring it up.

Question #1 I would like to ask how is it that so many families are able to afford multiple adoptions? Is it by grants, fund raising or what?

I would give anything to have another child - to give Mary Beth a brother or sister. However, there is no way for us to afford another adoption. We know that it was God's will for us to get Mary Beth - there is no other explanation!!!! I have been praying about this and praying about this and unfortunately I have not been given the answer by God - not yet anyway. I know that he will answer in his own way and time no matter if I receive the answer that I want - He will give me the answer. Even though I know that I still feel very confused about all of this. The ladies at our church they pick on my husband all of the time about us getting another child and his response to that is "no - I am happy with Mary Beth". They just smile at him and say well we are praying really hard for ya'll to get another one. However, I still feel that there is room in my heart for another child. Could all of this be possible???? (Yes hubby - I already know your answer)

Question # 2: Once you are a mother do you ever get over the feeling that you have love in your heart for more children? I know of several families that wish they had only had one child. They are thankful for their second, but they wish that they had stopped at one.

I know that Charles and I both are getting older and it might not be as easy to take care of more children, but hey I just look back to my Papaw when he married my Mamaw. He was 42 and she was 19 - his children from his first marriage were older than my Mamaw and then they had 4 children together. So he started a second family in his 40's. I think that if he could do it then so could I (and Charles).

I pray that God will shine his light down on me and help to explain these feelings that I have. So, if you will just say a little prayer for me or you can post your thoughts at the bottom - just click on comments below and let me know. I feel so confused and lost at this point and I am not sure what to do, how to do it, and etc and etc.

One last thing - thank you to all that have left comments on our story. Mary Beth is my testimony and I am very proud of that fact!!!!