Happy Muver's Day

My mummy who is watching me from up above...   

It's the end of the day and as I began posting my daily photo for the Instagram thread Photo a day May, so many thoughts and emotions came flashing by as I thought about Mother's Day and motherhood. Warning this may get a little sappy...

I first was woken with "Mummy, Happy Muver's Day, check under your pillow!" I guess I was sleeping on this card the entire night and didn't even notice. She's so sneaky. 
While we were getting ready for Sunday service she practiced the song that the primary children would be singing later that morning. I always melt into a blubbering ball of tears every year that I hear the primary children sing. I get so overwhelmed with emotions of how blessed I am to have been given such a precious and wonderful gift. 

We live so very far from our birth mothers so while I called mine on the phone, Maribel made this special card for hers. We delivered it the fastest way possible, posted on her facebook wall. Gotta love technology and social media.

After tucking my little red head into bed safe and sound with her favourite stuffies and sweet music, I recluse back to my room to take one more look at my Mother's Day goodies. 
I can't help but be grateful for this wonderful gift of motherhood. 

Today in one of the talks a mother related a story about how a mother was in a shopping line with her kids and while being typical kids in a checkout and a lady behind her says, "Aren't you just loving every minute? Treasure every precious moment because they grow up so fast." 
It's so true. As I look at how much my little onion has grown in these short years I really do try to enjoy as much of it as I can. I mean, I'm not perfect and yes there are days that I countdown til bedtime, but overall I have heard and have been told that they grow up so fast so I am doing my best to really enjoy this journey. I have been given this gift. Such a special gift she is to me since she was literally given to me to raise as my own and to love so deeply.
Adoption is just another word for More to Love. 
And so now I will bid you all a wonderful Mother's Day or "Muver's Day" as Maribel says it and take to bed a very full and happy heart. 

our "other mothers"

For the past year I have been wondering what the best way would be to teach Maribel what adoption means and how special it is and how special she is. I grew up knowing I was adopted and have seen just how special it is first hand and I wanted M to have the same understanding and love for it as I did/do so I started with showing pictures of her biological mother and her younger half brother. She loves that she has a brother which takes a bit of the pressure off Joe and I because we kinda suck in that department.

About a week before we left for Alberta Maribel crawled into my bed while I was getting ready for work and I said,
Me: Hey Maribel guess what? (we like this game)
Maribel: What?
Me: Guess who we’re going to see when we go to Canada?
Maribel: Oh who Mommy?
Me: Your baby brother Dayce.
She smiled super big so I continued

Me: And guess who else you’re going to see in Canada?
Maribel: Who?
Me: Your Birthmother, Tia.
She gasped her super happy excited breath and threw her arms around me and said, "I’m so excited!" While we held each other for that precious moment I knew telling her was the right thing. I wonder if my mother felt this when she told me I had another mother?

The Beautiful mother who blessed me with a beautiful daughter.

Maribel love's her Mommy Tia and that really made me so happy. I've wondered if some adoptive mothers have the hidden fear of the first meeting. No fear from me, just love and gratitude. So much gratitude.

Maribel and her little brother Dayce

This little meeting really melted my heart. They clicked right away and my heart was over joyed. She loves her little brother so so much.

Me and my birthmother Joann

That weeked we also had the chance to visit my birthmother which was also M’s first time meeting her kokum and the rest of my birth-family. She clicked with her cousins right away and just made her self at home with her extended family. My heart was seriously starting to overflow at this point.

Me, my Kookum, My birthmother Joann, and little Maribel

4 Generations

Now take a look at this photo and tell me that this could have been planned only by our Heavenly Father.
Adoption is such a beautiful thing.

Happy Mother's Day!

>^..^<

Oh Canada part II: final days

Warning!!! VERY Photo Heavy!!!

Day 4: 9/14/2010

Mmm Poutine

Well I knew I wouldn't be able to go through this vacation without partaking in Poutine so Vic and I picked up the kids from school and stopped at the Red Barron hot dog joint for the best poutine in town!! It was succulent and so worth the 17 points. Sorry Suzanne, but it was delicious!!! I didn't count the ketchup I added later. Probably should have though...

poor sherrykins

While Vic was inside the store ordering the food, I heard some sniffling and looked back at poor Sherry, covered in her brother's yogurt tube. She tried sneaking it but it backfired. Literally. Poor thing.

The Aidanator

Aidan had Tae Kwon Do that evening so I went along to watch. I didn't want to be a total Auntyparazzi so not to distract the kids from their lesson I only snapped when I knew he was concentrating on his moves and not posing for me. This kid likes to pose. A lot.

This was his favourite part of the lesson for sure. As soon as his instructor came back with the padded mitt (no idea what it's called) he was the first in line to run up and kick it. I love how you can see his little foot off the floor.

Day 5: 9/15/2010

boingy boingy curls made from a straight iron



Today was picture day so I curled Sherry's hair for the special occasion. She loved them so much, she bounced everywhere to feel them boing back and forth. I do the same thing. hee hee

Bubble Tea

Christein treated us all for lunch at a Vietnamese resturant and me, my very first Bubble Tea. It is an "interesting" drink to say the least. I'll let the next photo do the talking.

I gave my dad a sip and he too shares the same feelings for the drink. Safe to say that I will not be ordering one of those anytime soon. Vic slurped down my "pearls" after I drank off the top.*gag*

As a bit of revenge for the "nummy" Bubble Tea, my Dad challenged Christein to a pepper eating contest. Dad would taunt Christein with, "Come on Christein are you MAN enough?"
I wish I took a picture of the teeny red peppers but alas I was busy scarfing down my hot soup instead. The peppers were no kidding 1" long and 1/4" wide. Seriously tiny. They warn people about the little ones as you can see why. Christein waited until my dad broke face first then he ran to the "washroom" for an undisclosed period of time. Meanwhile Dad drank all the water that was left on the table and sucking in bouts of air to keep the spice at bay. Vic and I enjoyed every minute.

Christein, Maggie, Victoria



This photo really melts my heart. The love these two have for Magnolia is so clear. She is so blessed to have such loving parents and siblings, and Aunty Jenn of course ;o)

Does this hat make my head look big?

We ended the day at Montana's for Vic's birthday and the people forgot to take the hat back. She's so lucky. I thought it suited her just right, don'tcha think?

Day 6: 9/16/2010

Dad and I made way to Edmonton and I loved how beautiful the scenery was on the drive back. It was a 6 hour drive so we didn't really do much other then drive. And listen to jazz. That's the life.

Day 7: 9/17/2010

April and Me

Today was the day of meetings. I started my day with a little meet and great with a cool chickie from SkrapnChat, April.  I love meeting online friends face to face, it's so cool that you can pick up anywhere in any conversation and never run out of things to say. We "talk" almost everyday so it was like meeting up with an old friend. I just hope I wasn't too crazy as I can tend to be a little more "out there" in real life then on line. On line you can proof read before hitting the "post" button. In real life I have no "preview" button so I tend to blurt. A lot.

Robert, Me, Joanne, Luke

After April's I left to the north side of Edmonton and met up with my biological family. I haven't seen any of them since Christmas of '05 so our visit was over due. Well over due. My birthmother and I are sanwhiched between my younger brother's Robert and Luke. At least I know where I get my height.

Day 8: 9/18/2010

Jessica and Me

Nichole, Me, Jody, Victoria

Another meet up day today. This time is was with my friend (and fellow SkrapnChatter) Jessica. I also met with my cousins Nichole and Jody at the Olive Garden. We stayed there for almost 3 hours just catching up and having a great visit. Nothing like family visits down memory lane. Oh the stories...

*drool* tasty peanut butter marshmello square and a Canadian Colada smoothie *drool*

After a little bit of shopping and culture shock at West Edmonton Mall, I had to indulge in some Booster Juice Canadian Colada and a Second Cup Peanut Butter coloured marshmellow square. Mmmm succulence.

Me, Lindsay, Lizzeh, Kristi, & cute Alaina

After the mall, I met up with my dear chums from the Old Navy days of yore. I love friend gatherings with lots of laughs and stories to go 'round. But it's meetings like these that make me miss living in Edmonton. Like, lots.

Day 9: 9/19/2010
No Photo. :'o(

It was an amazing vacation with so many visits and so many hugs. I have to admit I cried a little bit everytime I thought about flying back to Orlando. I'm going to miss my family so much this time. More so then before but another trip is already in the works. After all I can't miss my nephew's baptism in April now can I? I didn't think so! ;o)

Until next time Canada! Now where's my box of Smarties...

The entire collection of photos from this trip can be viewed here in my Facebook album.

>^..^<

adoption

Once there were two women who never knew each other

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother

Two different lives shaped to make you one

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it

The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name

One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears

One made an adoption plan, that was all that she could do

The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.

Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?

Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.

LEGACY OF AN ADOPTED CHILD

---- Unknown

This poem tugs at my heart strings in so many ways. Not only was I that child with two mothers, but I am also one of those mothers mentioned. We are getting close to the time where I will be telling Maribel about her birth mother. I'm still nervous about it, not sure why but I'm sure my mom was nervous too when she told me. All I remember is that I have always known that I was adopted and thought to to be so cool that I had two moms. Hey, I still think it's cool!

I was going through some old pictures and packing the things away for storage when I came across this photo of my Mom holding me soon after she got me. Yup, I was a little chunker still am but that's okay ;0)

It's almost been 3 years since a Florida judge banged his gavel giving Joseph and I full parental rights and priveledges to our beautiful little red head. Not a day goes by that I don't say a private Thank You to our Father in Heaven for blessing me with the awesome responsability of being a mother to one of his precious children.

Some close ups to the Both layout just click on the photo to get a closer look ;0)
I sculpted the needle and spool using polymer clay then  baked it with the pins inside. I love making mini things with clay, there's something extra special when you make things mini heehee. I made the roses too and used a butt load of Glossy Accents, I'm sure if I used less then I did it would have been fine, but I can't stop once I start. I need to invest in stock in Glossy Accents, I think...

Happy Monday!

I'll post the winner of the little Dear Lizzy covered inspiration book next ;0)

>^..^<