Cara is SEVEN!

I know I'm not the only mom who reflects back every time a birthday rolls around.  I've done it year after year after year after year and year and year for our Cara girl.  I love each of my children seriously deeply, but there is something about that first born.  The one that made me a mom.  Thinking back to before we were married and no kids, sometimes it's hard to remember, but, all of our 'kid' memories include her!  She is currently tucked away in the playroom on a large pallet of blankets and sleeping bags with Aynslee, our neighbor and one of Cara's best friends, for her first 'sleepover.'  We had a full day, so I thought I'd let the pictures tell the story.

Birthday donuts for breakfast

 Her gift from us.

Eric & I each wrote her a short blessing, I'd love to do this every birthday for each of our children.

 Crazy girl, ready for VBS day 4!

 Changed (into her dress we got her for her birthday....at a consignment sale) and ready to head to the American Girl store.  We had decided that she could get the doll for her birthday, she has been planning awhile! :)

 So excited!

Looking at all the beautiful dresses and costumes on the different dolls! 

 She LOVES anything to do with horses.

 This is the original one she had planned to get (she picked out of the catalogue), but then we talked and she thought she wanted to get one with long hair so she had more hair to braid/do.

 Ready to check out!

 "Pose silly Cara"

 Mom & baby

 Dad & baby

 Driving home, let's open it up!

 Introducing Julia Rachel Newsome.

 She had picked Olive Garden for dinner with Nana, Uncle Greg and Amanda.

 Nana gave her a matching dress for her and her doll to wear on Monday.  Her party is for 3 little girls and her to go to the bistro at the AG store and have lunch with their dolls.

 Birthday cake at home.  She basically designed this and helped me make it.  She is so fun in the kitchen, and thinks everything is so awesome or cool (even when I think it's a flop) :)

Tie-Dye rainbow cake. 

So there's our day in a nutshell.  

Cara Leigh,

Daddy & I are beyond blessed to be picked for parenting you.  Most days you make it an easy, joyful experience.  Your love for others, and your ability to let the Holy Spirit work through you and encourage others is a joy to watch.  Jesus has big things planned for your life and we are so excited to enjoy your journey unfold.  Thank you for leading your little brother and sister well, for loving others well, and for your gift of gifting.  You bless us with your sweetness!

Possible Skull Fracture??

We had our first real injury in the Newsome house last week.  We've had lung issues, but that is to be expected because, well, they came from me :).  

Last Friday night we were having our missional community group at a friend's house.  They are empty nesters with a pool, beautiful pond, chickens, dogs, READ: a field day for my kiddos.  My kids loves animals and room to run, so they were having blast.  These sweet friends invited our group over including my kids and the other family brave enough to bring their kids, and we had a great time.  We had pizza, the kids got in the wading part of the pool with their clothes on, all fun. All of the adults sat down to plan out our summer meeting times, and so the kids were playing and we all took turns watching.  After a few minutes, I thought I heard something, so I headed outside.  

I was met by Micah crying and screaming at me and I couldn't understand him.  I tried to calm everyone down and that's when I saw their sweet, large wooden bench swing frame lying on the ground.  Cara was holding her forehead and crying so I asked her to move her hand and then I almost vomited.   Have I mentioned I don't do well with injuries? :)  I said let's go inside and get some ice asap!  We calmed everyone down (including me) and got her iced up.  The homeowner's apologized profusely, we said it was most definitely not their fault, and we observed her for the next little bit while the continued talking about dates.  Their son is a doctor so he was sending his mom signs of concussion.  I had also text my go-to friends and they were texting me.  She had no vomiting, no lost consciousness, her  pupils were reacting to light the proper way.  After an hour and a half, it was time to head home.  All signs led to no concussion, so after a few hours, we all went to bed.  The bump had gone down a lot with ice:

As we were going to bed that night we tried to get the story out of them again.  Cara was pushing Micah and another little friend on the swing when the whole thing came falling backwards.  We still aren't sure if the frame hit her head, or if the swing swung back and hit her.  

This was what we woke up to Saturday morning.  My mom came up to babysit because Eric and I were going to go to an Advocare meeting.  I got a little nervous when I saw how much it had swelled.  I knew it was supposed to, but my mom was definitely worried and wanted us to go to the ER.  I text my friend whose son is a doctor to get his opinion, and he said mom's gut was probably best, but he'd get it checked out, so off to the ER we went. 

Mom kept M & A so Eric and I could take her to Texas Children's.  We got seen pretty fast (9:30 am on a Saturday is a good time) and waited for the doctor.  He said that since it had been 14+ hours since the incident, the swelling was normal.  We could do an X-ray but the risk of radiation he thought was bigger than the benefit.  All it could show is a possible skull fracture (insert Eric and I exchanged glances like WHAT!!!!).  If it did, they'd then order a catscan, but even with the Catscan, there's not much you can do with a skull fracture.  He also mentioned she might have a slight brain bleed, but didn't think this was much of a possibility.  He said if it was there, they'd only keep her and observe her for 24 hours, but we could do that at home.  He kept asking me what I thought, and I always defaulted to, you are the doctor, you tell me what to do and we'll do it.  So, in the end, we got sent home.  No jumping head first into the pool.  No re-injury to the head.  Ice for 20 minutes every 3-4 hours, ibuprofen if needed.  I have a friend who has what we tease as 'dirty hippy oils' so she's given me a few to rub on Cara's head a few times a day.  We have VBS this week at church and so she gets to sit with me instead of going outside to Rec.  It's already gone down so much and she has never even complained about it!  She only said "oh no, I'll have it on my birthday!" :).  That's my girly girl for you.  

So we've been emailing pics and updates to our pediatrician (love that!) and she said because of her age and how well she is responding she could swim tonight no problem, as long as she didn't jump in.  So, Cara started in the water and got 2 place with her freestyle relay team (heat 1), 3rd place in her 25 m freestyle (heat 1) and first place in her 25 m backstroke (heat 2).  She could not believe she got a blue ribbon, so I didn't have the heart to tell her it's because she's usually in the first heat, but was in second this time! :)  

So there's the head injury saga in all it's glory.  I cannot believe this precious thing will be 7 on Thursday!!

Father's Day Early And Cara's Gifting Style

Darrell is going to be visiting his dad in Mississippi on Father's day, so we decided to all celebrate him together on Tuesday of this week.  Bailey, Matt, Jack, Shawna and Bryan (and Bryan's son Hunter even got to stop by) and us Newsomes all got to come down and hang.  We ate yummy food, and the kids gave their gift.  Cara is a mini-Bailey.  My sister's love language is gifts (not sure if you knew this about yourself Bailey) :).  She is great at putting a lot of thought into things and finding THE PERFECT gift for someone.  She listens well and remembers things people say they want/need.  She thoroughly enjoys making things for people.  You typically show love to others in your preferred love language, so hers was pretty easy to figure out.  [ A person whose love language is gifts doesn't mean that they necessarily just love being gifted with extravagant gifts, it truly is the thought that counts. ]  

Anyways, I have been watching Cara's personality and LOVE for crafting emerge these last few months and it hit me a few weeks ago that she is so similar to my sister.  Once I mentioned it to a friend of mine, we were like, why didn't we see it before.  Now it is so obvious :), which helps me know how to love her better.  

When she starts a gift, it is ALL SHE CAN DO for weeks.  She spends every free time minute she has sitting at a little table getting glitter and glue and little cut up pieces of paper everywhere: and this couldn't make her happier!  She spent a good 3 weeks on my Mother's Day pop up book that she made.  I will always hold it dear to my heart because I watched her be oh so secretive and focused on completing it.  

But the most precious part of this little girl is the gift giving event.  She has to know the person's favorite color.  This is how our conversation went about Papa's gift:

C: I need to call Papa and ask him his favorite color.

M: I'm sure he'll love anything you make him baby.

C: Then I'll do rainbow.

M: Oh, well, how about you do camo, it's like rainbow but with browns, greens and black :)

C: YES, that's great! 

So she went back to her table and began making her typical things she includes in the gift bag (also with pictures of Eric's birthday gift from her today): 

Colored 'tissue paper' in your favorite color (i.e. 3 blank sheets of paper colored and then folded to use as tissue paper.)

 A personalized page with your name, in your favorite color, with a cute note on the back.  (notice the camo).  Typically, this is in do-a-dot, but she forego that for Papa's.

Paper cut into a heart, telling you that Jesus (or God) loves you.

Candy from the stash (it may or may not be from Christmas--so I tell the receiver they may or may not want to eat it)

New candy, the receiver's favorite, because mom feels silly for giving old candy.

A small book, she made out of paper and stapled in the middle.

Papa's had pictures she drew of all the animals she imagined he hunts.  The first page was a gun, then bear, wolf, deer, and the list went on.  

My little Cara, who is having a birthday next week, is just too precious for words.  She gets so excited to give her gift (per my parents, just like I did) that she tells you half of what you're getting before you 

can open it :).  

And she wants everyone in on the event.  She loves Micah and Anna to be just as excited to give her gift.  

 Cara, my baby, are one of our most precious gifts!

 Papa and 3/4 of his TROUBLE! :)

 The other 1/4!

 Jack loves Uncle Eric because he tickles much nicer than Aunt Misty.  We had a great time hanging out with everyone! 

Happy 34th Birthday Eric!

I still can't believe sometimes that God blessed me with this man.  We've grown and changed so much since we met 15 years ago, but it still seems like we are two young college kids just trying to figure things out.  

Happy Birthday Eric!

Jack LOVES Uncle Eric.  Sometimes Anna gets jealous :)

Last concert, May 2013

Rodeo Houston March 2013

Add caption

We are thankful that you love Jesus, love your family, and are passionate about what you want to learn, grow and do.  Hope you enjoy your day today!   :)

Micah Singing

I found this in an old email and I couldn't help but posting.  Based on the date, Micah was around 2.5 years old (about how old Anna is now).

Peaceful

Here recently, I've been washed in a sea of peace.  And if you know me well, this is a long way from where I used to (usually) reside.  Especially as we've been on this adoption journey for over 2 years.  Our agency hasn't made a Ugand*n referral since last September.  We were promptly moving up the list every month last summer, my heart starting to make plans, stock piling items to take with us when we would go for 6 weeks (you know, pepto and cliff bars, Spark and travel bottles of shampoo, long dresses (oh wait..I just like to wear those!), etc.).  But then 3 months went by with no referrals, and my dreams of traveling this summer were dashed.  Then 4 more months went by with no referrals.  And though around Christmas time, it hurt to know we might spend a 3rd Christmas in 2013 without our fourth child, this peace began to form.  And most days it's there.  There are the days when the peace has left the building (not spiritually--I understand God's spirit is always there, some days I just choose sin and choose not to tap into His powerful presence that has everything I do need), like when my children can't say a kind word to each other, or our schedules get too busy, or I allow myself to not focus on being quiet in His presence, but, I can always find it again. God lavishes me like I don't deserve, every day.

So today, a friend posted this link: Top Ten Signs you are a Waiting, Internationally Adopting, Mom.  I thought it was cute.  Most of them don't apply to me (oh, but #3, I can get awkward with a stranger in no-time flat), and then I start questioning myself: why don't most of these apply to me?  I've heard of these secret facebook groups, but even in my insane amount of time (i.e. read: I need to time myself as it can turn into a serious situation as I am working on self control, I click to read one blog post and 8 posts later it's beyond my bed time) spent there, I still haven't really searched or found one.  I have a few blogs I read of other Ugandan mommas, but most of them are home now and I'm enjoying reading about their life with the children, bio and adopted.  Their struggles, and their small triumphs, but mostly how God teaches and grows them every step of the way.  I feel like my days go on pretty casually (as far as waiting in adoption--my life is crazy town, but I love it).  Don't get me wrong, we talk Uganda a lot, my kids ask weekly if we are going 'tomorrow.'  We pray for our brother, his caregivers, his first family.  There are nights when the heartache of not knowing where he is now and what his life has encountered seizes my heart and I can barely utter a word to God about this little boy that has a piece of my heart.  But in all of it, I know that God knows.  He sees me, but most importantly, he loves my son, me, my kids, my husband.  He loves us with a love we will never fully even appreciate this side of heaven.  Adoption is born out of pain, a tie broken, suffering, trauma.  I've been attending a group of local women from my church (and surrounding churches) for over a year.  We have speakers about brain chemistry, attachment, bonding and tons of other information.  I know in my head what is to come.  It won't be easy.  I'm not just forming my family how I think is the cool new thing.  My heart has broken for this country, as well as every orphan, American, European, Asian, African, South American.  It was nightly pleading with God....are you sure??  And every time, what followed?  Peace.  Eric and I are right in obedience to Him, and it is a peaceful place.

I know that God led us to our agency, and he is very present there.  There are other agencies making referrals.  Do I want to switch?  NO.  Our agency is above par when it comes to adoption ethics.  They spend countless hours (much to the horror of some adoptive parents, I'm sure) and dollars researching the 'orphan hood' of children that are referred to them.  To make sure they are, in fact, orphans.  There have been so many blog posts recently, I think born out of the recent Summit Conference, about adoption ethics, and are evangelicals actually making the child trafficking WORSE (read a few here, here, here (well, I was going to post one, but it got taken down!)).  We are 'creating' orphans, and I can't stand for that.

The human part of me reads these posts, and prays that we are still able to adopt.  Uganda is going through a transition, similar to that of the 80s for us here in the states.  Going from orphanage/institution care to foster/home type care.  It is a huge movement, needing many more social workers and investigations into families before reunification.  I am on a 'secret' facebook group regarding this, so see, I am involved.

Ok, this post is already too long, but I need to get it out of my head.  I just read a short, funny post this morning and my head started churning.  I didn't mean for it to get this long.  I could write page upon page about everything I've learned, about IA (international adoption), Uganda, orphan care, etc.  But what I wanted to reiterate in this post was, Peace.  I know God is in control. I know it's hard to hear sometimes that this is 'God's timing.'  Some people know, but don't want to hear it.  But I cling to it.  If it was my timing, I wouldn't have this peace, I'd probably be up to my eyeballs not knowing what to do because I rushed into it instead of being led by Him.  Isaiah 26:3-4 has been constantly on my heart, and it was one of the first verses God brought to my remembrance my first early quiet morning in Uganda last summer.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Looking back

Mother's day always has me reminiscing on the baby-hood of my (not-so-) babies.  I have a 2, 4 and almost 7 year old today.  Yet, I still remember them as the day we came home from the hospital.  I couldn't sleep after Anna woke up needing to go potty at 6 this morning.  She had no problem going back to sleep, but I couldn't, so I got up and finished a book I was reading.  Then, I got on the computer to send an email and saw this gem on our desktop.  This was approximately half of Cara's lifetime ago (I'm not dramatic at all!), when she was 3.5 and in Ms. Kathy's ballet/tap class.  Look at those precious rolls and cute little chunky curls on her head.  I cannot believe she's reading chapter books and about to finish the 1st grade now.

Or of this little man finally learning how to walk at almost 14 months!  Now he is a strong willed 4.5 year old gymnastics star!  With enough grit and personality to keep this momma guessing.

And our poor 3rd born, we are horrible at videos, but I did find a few of these when she was just 2 months old.  Now she's a feisty 2.5 year old, asking to be a 'ballerina like sissy' dancing around the room.  

I am blessed beyond measure at God choosing me to be these precious one's mom.  And we have one we are daily praying for, but have yet to meet.  God, guide my spirit today, thank you for blessing me, and I hope I am a blessing to my mom and mother-in-law as much as my children are to me!!

Store Envy

I'm in the process of helping my friend Tonya set up an easy to manage website for all her beautiful hand-crafted items she brings back from Uganda.  She sells these at trade fairs, and consigns some at boutiques, to help raise funds for her Kirabo Seeds non-profit.  She's heading there again soon and will coming back with a new crop of beautiful items.

I thought it would be best if I set up a store first, to make sure it was easy to use, edit, and FREE as they have claimed!  I consolidated what we have left in the way of beads and t-shirts, and created our very own Newsomes4Adoption Store Envy storefront.  I have sent Tonya a little more money and she has graciously agreed to buy some more for me to sell to raise funds for our adoption.  I am so excited to see what she comes home with and get it on our site.  She has also offered us her 2 bedroom apartment that she keeps for when she travels there, for an amazingly low rate. This will save us almost $2,000 in travel expenses when we do travel!  I calculated airfare for 5 there and 6 coming back and the last expenses we should have (Eric and the kids immunizations, the last two agency fees, the lawyer fee both there and here, visa and passport for our child, our visas, shipping and certification of our dossier, transportation while there, etc).  From what we have in savings and what we still have left in our Lifesong account for those that donated a tax deductible donation, we have about $4,200 left to raise.  Can you believe it?  We started with a few hundred dollars, and through prayer, petition and the Holy Spirit moving, God has turned that into over $26,000!!  We are so thankful!  So, take a look at our store and then check it out again in late May and we will have updated beads!