Ira's first Easter

What a great day it is today! We started out with a beautiful church service - the house was PACKED (and we went to our normal 9am service! can just imagine what the 10:45 was like). I pray that many people found Jesus Christ today and committed their lives to Him. Pastor Mark Evans taught an inspirational message and Ira got to see his favorite, Pastor Greg, on the way in the door. Since Pastor Greg did his baby dedication, he was a certain affection to him. I think Ira remembers him - I do!!!
:)
We then spent a lunch with Jeremy's siblings and grandparents. His grandmother (our grandmother :) ) made a wonderful lunch. I told Ira he would get to eat some of Grandma's great Easter lunch next year!! This year, pureed sweet potatoes and fruit - but he enjoyed.

The big kids (ha!) played egg toss and egg "walk" of which my husband and daughter won the "walk" - she has her beauty queen/head straight ahead walk down pat!!! Ira and my niece, Magnolia, hugged around on each other, a few kisses, sharing of Ira's Easter eggs with organic rice puffs and blowing bubbles (what a timeless activity). Next year, we will have a new baby in the family (Jessica and John Paul are expecting in the fall) so the family is growing!!

I missed seeing my sister and my "other" sister Phyllis and kiddos but will see them soon.

Ira and his daddy are taking much needed naps right now, Haley is watching a documentary on shark attacks (oh, her and I are so addicted to documentaries now that we have gotten a Roku) and I am just sitting here so thankful that THIS year, our family is complete. Last year I wrote that we would have Ira this year for Easter - and God brought him all the way from Kenya JUST for us.

I wish a beautiful Easter to all my friends and family.
Love,
Angela

Ira's first Easter

This weekend is Ira's first Easter. I am still in awe of how God worked out such a miracle for this family. So many little details that a year ago was frustruating me is NOW known to me as the process God was facilitating to make sure Ira was sent to us from Kenya. So much to be thankful for this weekend~

Haley is preparing for next Friday's Senior Prom. She is going to be stunning in her gown. Her graduation announcements have arrived and it is becoming "so real" to me. She is counting the days....like all seniors....I'm thrilled for her because I know this is moving to a new chapter in her life.

Today is Jeremy's mothers birthday. She would have been 53 today - we miss her so much. I really can see her tossing Ira around and smiling her beautiful smile at him. I know she is looking down on us from Heaven, along with my mother and both of our Nanny's, and keeping an eye on things. :)

So, as I plan for Ira's first Easter, maybe Haley's last Easter while living at home, Haley's graduation and prom, Ira's first birthday and my 9th wedding anniversary, I thank God for all we have. Our life can get hectic and crazy, but it is all a wonderful gift.

New Year!!!
2011 is going to be a great year. I can feel it. My beautiful daughter is going to graduate from high school. It doesn't seem possible that this precious baby girl who didn't like cutting with scissors in kindergarten, loved anything sweet, adored her Nana, was spoiled by her mommy and others (and you know who you are) is about to graduate and begin LIFE. It is all a little overwhelming at moments.........and then there are times I am probably as ready for it as she is.

We are currently prom dress shopping. I will admit, I do not like to shop unless it is behind a computer. Stores, clerks, lines, traffic, etc. just does not excite me in the slightest. But, last Saturday afternoon we braved it all and went to two of the biggest prom formal stores in this area. IT WAS MADNESS! She found the dress online before she went to the stores but neither have it in and it can't come in until AFTER her prom date - so we are on to Dress "B". I can't imagine finding a dress as pretty as the one she wore in the 7th grade to the Valentine's Banquet at Abundant Life (known as "the chocolate dress"). But this dress will have to be spectacular because it is her senior prom dress - I understand - I get it. My checking account does not understand but will be forced to. LOL

Ira is doing great - crawling everywhere as of last week. There is nothing slowing him down now. He has two bottom teeth and cutting two top right now. He says "Dada" and "Hawee" but nothing really sounding like "Mommy" yet. The Dept of Education's Commissioner told Jeremy that he hasn't said "mommy" because I'm always there for him and he doesn't need to. I don't know about that since he goes to daycare, but I like it and it made me feel better...sorta. He LOVES his Haley....Wow....he thinks she hung the moon and stars both.

Jeremy is so busy with work. The Legislative Session is in so he is slammed with that plus his Air Force work. He's so good to stop by Wal-Mart on the way home and pick up something after a long day because he knows (as stated before) I do not like to shop. Good man! :)

Finding it harder and harder to stay plugged in with friends. Things were different when I didn't work in a remote office out of my home. Lunches, coffee breaks, etc. were nice. I miss those. Now it is just hard to allocate the time to meet up with someone for lunch. This is one part of working remotely I do not like - at all.

But most of all, we are blessed. I AM BLESSED. I have a wonderful family ("pack"), great extended family and friends, good neighbors and am blessed with a wonderful Church (Church at Rock Creek). I wish I could do more during the 24 hours I am given and do it BETTER, but I have faith it will all work out.

This time last year we were going through a Homestudy for an adoption, recovering from Jeremy's deployment and I think I was in Sri Lanka. My, how things change.

Signing off -

Angela

First Christmas with Ira!
Our little 6 month old ~ we finalized the adoption on December 7th in Texas; his birth certificate came in this week of Christmas - amazing.
Thank you, God, for continuing to bless this family. We have two wonderful children and have the love of family and friends.

Merry, merry Christmas~ 2010

Ira's first trip to the beach

Ira's first trip to the beach!

How we got everything, plus us, in the car - I have no idea...but we did. :)

We had a great Labor Day week in Navarre Beach, Florida. Ira loved, loved, loved the water - even at 3 months old I think he will be a swimmer!

Can't wait until next summer!!

Where did the summer go? Oh, that's right~ we have a baby!!! :)
It is SO incredible to think that after all these years of talking about Ira, praying for Ira, shopping for Ira, planning for Ira......he is here! God is amazing beyond words. HE aligned all the pieces to work out perfectly.

I have been fortunate to be off work most of the summer. I've worked one day a week until today - my first day of being back full time. Very mixed emotions today.....

My princess, however, ended last week with a bang :( She fell down some stairs at school and broke her leg! I was in California when it happened but took her to the ER as soon as I returned on Saturday. {School, non-medical professionals told her they thought it was sprained so.....well, so much for always listening to adults..ha!} Bless her heart - starting her senior year with this. BUT, we have gotten to spend a lot of time together that I cherish. That's the bright side of a gloomy situation. I love my little girl...even if she is about to turn 18!

Fatherhood has brought out all the fantastic qualities in Jeremy. He is adorable to watch with Ira. Oh, I've waited so long for this!!

We are blessed with the most wonderful set of family and friends. Ira and Haley both are fortunate to have a true village :)

June 11th, our son was born. Ira Christopher Lasiter, weighing 7.18 pounds and 20 1/2 inches long and coming from Kenya blessed our world! He is amazing, awesome, beautiful, handsome AND totally a God thing - this entire THING has been a God thing...

We got the call around 8:30am Sunday morning, the 13th. The birth mother had selected us post-birth. We, of course, said YES. The adoption agency social worker (not our regular social worker so she didn't know "us") said "not sure if this is an issue but he is from Kenya"....that was the moment my head bowed deep into my shirt and the tears started flowing. My love of Africa, my love of the people from Kenya and add in this entire process and desire for a newborn.........AN ISSUE??? This IS a God thing -

The social worker said she would call us after 2pm when the birth mother was checking out of the hospital and would be signing papers revoking parental rights. She said we could then leave and travel to Texas where he was born. HA! We were on the road much sooner than that. :) Constant faith............

My emotions flow so heavy about the birth mother. All I can say is I truly wish we had more young women in the world like her. We met with her, prayed with her and she will always have a place in my heart.

We met Ira, love at first sight, my husband melted into a puddle on the floor - he is so smitten with him. Well, we both are :)

After a week and a half in Texas we were able to return home - with our son. He is just lovely.

And he needs me right now...so more to come later -

Angela