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

Dear precious, baby Ira~
Your mommy, papa and sister love you so much already. We haven't met you, we don't know how much you weigh or what color your eyes are, but we love you. We haven't touched your toes and fingers or squeezed your cheeks or just gazed into your beautiful face, but we love you. We love you now as you are alive in our hearts. You are as much a part of my daily life as you could be without getting your diaper changed :) mommy joke, honey.

We know that God is preparing you in the womb somewhere just for us and we thank God daily for that. We have faith in you, Ira.

Mommy and Papa reserved a condo on a beach this summer before your sister goes back to school. It will be your first beach trip of many that you will have in your beautiful life.

Your aunt Gili is painting some things for your room right now so it should be finally finished any day; we just have to hang 3 things and then we are done.

Our bags are packed in the corner of my bedroom to come get you. It will only take moments to load the car and head out so please know we will not waste any time in coming to you to hold you, hug you, snuggle with you, smooch on you and spend hours just gazing into your eyes.

You already are a member of a wonderful family - we just haven't met you yet~

Until we do, we love you~

Mommy, Papa and Sister

Today's teaching

Student's Pastor, Jason Curry, talked to me today. Well, he talked to hundreds today as he led the services at Church at Rock Creek, but he really talked to me. The title of his two part series is "Storms". I thought "oh, this will be good; sitting here with my daughter; oh, she needs to hear this". ROFL at myself!!! Turns out, I needed to hear it as much or more than she did.

Boiling it down to a few sentences (go to the church website for a fantastic audio of the lesson), it was based on Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight". Whew!!! I'm guilty of leaning on what I think is fair and right and what I understand regarding the path of this adoption....mainly the timeline. What seems reasonable to me is not always right. I need to remember to trust in HIM and HIS TIMELINE. He knows exactly where Ira is and the timing; please pray for me to help turn this over to HIM and not try to micromanage this.....this is one time my Excel spreadsheet is NOT needed.....God's spreadsheet is WAY more awesome!!!

I need to come up with some template answer for when people ask me "have you heard anything?" Something to the effect of "God's got it all under control..."If you think of something cute to respond with, please let me know :)

God is preparing OUR son for us; some beautiful girl who has been struggling with a situation is going to find an answer that meets her needs and God will connect us; it will happen. I've been spending too much time schmoozing with the Adoption Agency and attorney; need to spend a little more time palling around with my FATHER :)

Great teaching, Jason Curry - even to a 40 year old!!! :)