Oh no. She is growing up!

Lainie lost her first tooth.  I just can't stand it.  I can't ignore the fact that she isn't a baby anymore.  Why do I want to keep her little ?  Maybe so I can protect her from any and everything that will cause her pain.  She will have enough to process about her beginnings without having any other sadness.  I just want to keep her little, and safe, and happy.  Reminds me of this Taylor Swift song.

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
(Never grow up)
Just never grow up

Dossier Is On Its Way!

This would be a picture of my dossier leaving my hands.  Relieved and nervous all at the same time.  Now we begin a new phase of the waiting game......

Faith

I imagine that Faith is the most prevelant theme in every family's adoption journey.  Here is a chance for you to have this beautiful Silpada Fatih necklace (complete with mustard seed) and help an adoptive family in the process.  Now is a great time to purchase it for someone special as a Christmas gift.

All profits from the sale of this necklace will go to bringing precious Tulah home.  And, if you buy the necklace by December 11, your name goes into a drawing for a $100 Silpada gift certificate.  Hop on over to the Hatley Home to make your purchase and read more.

Somedays it is overwhelming......

The past few days I have been putting my thoughts together for a presentation that Bobby and I will do on Thursday morning about adoption/orphans.  We are speaking to our local rotary club.  Sometimes when I spend time thinking about the 147 million orphans of the world the sadness is overwhelming.  Heavy.  And depressing.  And even frustrating.

All these little souls needing love.  Sometime the solution seems so simple to me.  We are the solution.  The solution God has provided is adoption.  But yet, it doesn't happen for some.  It often doesn't happen for those who need it the most.  Those who will die because they don't have a family to get them a heart surgery, or AIDS medication, or food.  Those who will age out as teens and turn to prostitution or suicide.

And while I am delighted that I have two daughters that are healed from that pain and spared that plight, I realize that I cannot save them all.... And today is one of those days that I am saddened in the deepest places of my heart.  Saddened for all the Mias and Lainies that make up that 147 million.  All those who want to be loved.  Simply loved.  And it will never, ever happen for them.

These faces are why when people ask Bobby  and I if we are 'done' adopting, 

I have to say I am not sure.  

What I want to say is, "I'll be done when they all come home."  

Little Lulu

Remember my earlier post about helping my friend look through waiting child lists and finding Pearl in the process.  Well today she got this beauitful new picture of the sweet daughter that she found later.  Isn't she lovely?  Follow along as she finds her way home here.  The Hatley Home

Orphan Sunday

We had a wonderful worship service at our church today.  Our prayer is that many hearts were awakened and made aware of the plight of orphans near and far.
Hope this video makes you think......
http://vimeo.com/13831236

Happy Fall Y'all!

Couldn't resist the beautiful fall backdrop for some quick pics! 

Where are the big kids you ask?
They are to busy playing football and volleyball and trying out for basketball and sleeping over with friends, and I hope doing some homework.... I'll try to tie them up  get them together soon.......