Easter Pics and attending her first birthday party!

China adoption? Is it the right option for our family? Is adoption in his plan for us at all? Maybe I am missing my calling? Lots of questions...

It is amazing the twists and turns life takes you. If you asked me 10 years ago, am I at where I thought I would be today? The answer would have been, "No!" Never in a million years did I think that would actually be using my counseling degree, however, I knew that I would be married and I guess 10 years ago I knew it would be to Richard, I never thought that I would have been a foster parent with hopes of adoption.

I do remember a promise that I made to myself when I was the ripe ol' age of 10 standing on the Great Wall of China praying to God and promising him I would make it back to China to adopt my little girl. Do I really think that I need to do that? Are the needs for little girls in China to be adopted as great as they were twenty years ago? Is the reason why the adoption process is going so slow for Richard and I because that China adoption is not the plan that God has for us? As I sit here on the eve of night that Jesus Christ rose again to show us the truth and light, I question, what is his plan is for me? I want to make sure that it is his work that I am doing and have my own agenda in the way of his plan. Did God not realize that the only dream that I had for myself was to grow up, get married and have a family. Is my definition of family and his definition of family different? Is his definition of family for me just a husband and to be a parent of the world with working with children who have biological parents.

Believe me, I am totally grateful for the experiences I have had with E and Kai-Li. I have learned so very much from them and have gotten to see different experiences through their eyes. I look at people differently and see the saddness for what they can not see because they are worried about the mundane and superficial parts of life. So on the eve of this Easter Sunday... I am still very THANKFUL for all the God has given me. I hope and pray at the end of the day and 'in the end' that I have made him proud for the choices that I have made, friendships I have made and cultivated and relationships that I have chosen not to foster. So tonight like everynight I pray for my family, for him to give me strength, for the precious little girl he has given for us to love, for her family and may I be at peace with the decisions that are in front of me.

I know this was a super serious post but soon on to a lighter post and some fun pics of first birthday parties (as an attendee for Kai-Li, meeting new cousins, and dying her first Easter eggs and making pudding drawings.) Love to all!

The Girls weekend in Maryland

Thank you for visiting Auntie Beth, Auntie Jenny, Lia and Emma! We will love wearing all of your clothes. Kai-Li and I had so much fun with you. Kai-Li tried to sleep lots on Sunday because of all the fun. We will have to do another girls weekend soon! Maybe in Jenny's new place! :)

March Pics... We love this girl!

Jen and Cadance at the St. Paddy's Day parade. It is nice living in a small town.

Our family outing at the St. Paddy's day parade, next time we have to get a family pic with FD. She loved watching the kids and not the parade.

Kai-Li St. Paddy's day outfit. It is a 9 month outfit but becuase she is in the 90 percentile for height, it fits perfect!

SHe smiles and laughs all the time except for when you pull out the camera.

My mom said that I would always have a red head. Here she is! Love this girl!

All Smiles!

Pure Sweetness!

Her beautiful blue eyes that catch peoples attention. People constantly stop us saying that she is a beautiful baby esspecially her eyes. Richard and I laugh to ourselves and tell the people she gets them from her Oma and Grandpa Kimball. Then we laugh and giggle as the people walk away. She is like our little secret angel.

She loves her high chair. It is now on her play circuit.

6months and a bad hair day

Kai-Li's last doctor's visit was on Thursday, March 26th for her 6month checkup. It is hard to believe that she has already been a part of our family for six months. She weighs 15 pounds and is 28 inches. SHe is the 28 percentile for weight and 90 percentile for height. So, she is a long, skinny one. She is such a sweet thing!

Now for the bad hair day and her sporting her crab glasses. Can you tell we live on the Eastern Shore?

Kai-Li is rolling both forwards adn backwards and loves to smile and giggle.

Aquarium, Bath Fun and More...

Ohhh... I am caught! I love this pic. Thanks Omi and Opa for the cute outfits. I love them all.

My cute red hat and my whale sweater. I was a hit at the doctor's office.

Tub Time Fun!

My Valentine Day present! Boy, it was a good pick FD!

My first Superbowl!

My half time 3D glasses! I loved 'grabbing' the images.

Yummy prunes... keep you regular. They are NOT my favorite.

My first aquarium visit! I loved all the fishies!

I think that I am a big girl standing up.

Loving my Omi!

The brighter the better!

Me and my whale.