Tree hunting day!

A few years ago, we decided we would rather go up into the mountains and cut our own Christmas tree. We've made it a tradition. It is, on the whole, a lot of fun. Lizzie especially had fun this year, running around after Andy. Here's the day in pictures. Enjoy!

First, breakfast at Perkins! 

"Yes, I AM the cutest thing you've ever seen!"

"I'm too handsome to be cute."

Then it was off to the mountains! We took Old Dog with us. She hasn't had much chance to be out and about with the family lately, so I thought this might be fun for her. She disagreed. 

"I'm not talking to you!"

Lovin' every minute of it!

I refrained from singing 'The Sound of Music.'

Snow angels!

Aw!

Yes, yes. You ARE handsome and wonderful!!

Shelly is ready to go home!

A wonderful time was had by all (except Nate, who kept saying it was "boring"...where have I gone wrong with that kid?). I love being in the profound silence of the mountains. Time loses its meaning, and I find myself at peace among God's creations. Until Nate yells, "I have snow in my boot!" 

Hope y'all are having fun with your own holiday traditions! Do feel free to share what they may be. :)

Today's song:

"If you feel discouraged

When there's a lack of color here

Please don't worry lover

It's really bursting at the seams

Absorbing everything

The spectrum's a to z"

Remember...our view of life is so limited. You never know when your black and white view will burst into vivid, beautiful color! Such is life...such is adoption. Never take any of it for granted.

Happy birthday, Nate!!

Yep, it's my little guy's birthday again. And he's not that little anymore! Wow, how the years fly! I do have pictures, but I left the camera at home (I'm posting from work tonight....ssssshhhh!). I'll have to add them later or put them in tomorrow's post.

Today's song? Well, it's just Nate, through and through. If you know him, you know he approaches life like it's one big ninja/super hero/spy movie. He is the intrepid hero, and his mission--should he accept it--is to be as awesome as humanly possible. Oh, and he accomplishes that mission, too!

Not forgotten

It's easy for us ad adoptive parents to write about the joy that adoption has blessed us with. We have two beautiful, vibrant children who came to us through the miracle of adoption. And though I don't talk about her much, I never forget that my joy came at the cost of another woman's broken heart. I don't write about her here because...well, because she is our children's birthmom; and to me, that's kind of a sacred thing, not to be shared with the public in general.

Adoption is hard. Let's not forget, while we celebrate adoption and try to raise awareness, that someone else's arms are empty while ours are full. Let us not celebrate so loudly that we cannot hear the quiet weeping of the women who made our families possible.

Peace to you birthmoms, whoever and wherever you are. You are the true heroes in our adoption stories.

More pictures

It's a picture kind of day...

Whutcha' thinkin' Lizzie?

Big grins!

Gone fishin'!

Simply mawvelous!

Looking so grown up!

That's all for now! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! It has been a hectic one for us! Looking forward to school (but dreading it a little, too) for the kids. Summer has gone so quickly!