A year ago......

Sometimes it really just seems so surreal that Pipsqueak is here.  When I think about this time last year - how we were working hard to raise money (cause you know, with two weddings in one summer and 3 kids in college - one just happens to have that spare $30,000 laying around in the bank ;)  I mean - I know some people do, but we didn't ;), file all the necessary documents, and wait and wait and wait :)  It seemed at the time like it might not actually happen, or that someone else might get their dossier to Latvia first and want to adopt our sweet girl.  There were so many "what ifs" and uncertainties.

A year ago was filled with faith and hope and prayer.  What a year it was - to rely on God, to be humbled by having to raise funds to bring our sweet girl home, to be humbled by the immense generosity of so many people who loved our girl, like us, unseen, unknown and through the same uncertainties.  I spent so much time on my knees in prayer - and need to continue to do so.  Because through all this - God is the one who knew Pipsqueak the best - the one who at that time, and now, knows her heart, knows her needs, knows her fears.  I know a lot of them and work with her, but He knows them ALL and can help ME, help her :)  What a year to rely on my Father in Heaven - who loves me and is always there for me.

A year ago we were blessed by an amazing friend who donated a sum of money that they had been saving for a special purpose.  When their purpose didn't work out, they continued to save it, knowing God had a plan for their funds.   This isn't a wealthy friend (with $30K just laying around for fun) but rather a friend with a large family that she is raising and many places the $1500 she donated for fundraising for Pipsqueak, could have been used.  But - in faith, she listened to the Lord - and when she found out we were adopting, she contacted me and offered me the money to use however I wanted.  I wanted her donation to be worthwhile, I wanted to be able to do the right fundraiser so that we could make her amazing donation multiply.  But in the end - it wasn't me that multiplied it - but the Lord and sooooooo sooooo SOOOOOO many of you!!!!  And - multiply it you all did - her $1500 became almost $5,000 :)  How each heart I cut out and hung on my wall made MY heart swell - with the love showed to our family and our beautiful Pipsqueak!  We will be forever grateful for my friend's generosity and all of you who multiplied it!!!  THANK YOU!!!!

So - today I look back on January 14th a ;year ago - when we started the Heart Attack Fundraiser for Fiona.  With just a few hearts, and sooooo much love.  It started like this.....Warm Hearts and ended on February 14th - like THIS....So much Gratitude!    I will never EVER forget the love shown to us and to Pipsqueak.   The outpouring of love by family and friends and complete strangers for our girl still humbles me daily and I am so grateful for it and for HER!!!  She is one amazing little girl - the return on your investment in her will be multiplied in so many ways :)  We are sooooo blessed!!!

So - a year ago our hearts and home were filled with love for our sweet girl.  THIS YEAR our hearts and home are filled WITH our sweet girl.  She is so much more than I could ever have imagined.

Our hearts are full! and I can't WAIT to see what this next year brings :) .......to be continued - January 2015 :)

So many FIRSTS!!!!

I am so behind in my blogging!  It has been a CRAZY month!!!

The first part of December (which I talked about in our 6 month Gotcha Anniversary post) we went back to Latvia to finalize Pipsqueaks adoption!  Latvia requires 3 separate trips with different courts and things you have to do - so this was it - our last trip!  It was actually kind of bittersweet for me - because I know that she probably will not be going back to her homeland for a very long time.  I would really like to take her back when she is older though - it is such a beautiful country!   We took The Princess and Littlest Dude with us this time around - it was just too hard on him when we went on our first trip, and even though it was only for a week, we felt it would be in his best interest to come :)  So - our 3 youngest are now world travelers!!! :)  A first for them!!!! Now all our children except for 2 have been to Europe :)  What big adventures!!!!

Here are a few pictures from our trip.....

Packing!!!  It's a big job LOL

Ready to embark on our journey - they all look so excited - right???? 

First airplane ride in a lot of years for Littlest Dude :)  He thought it was FANTASTIC!!!!

Pipsqueak is old hat at the airplane deal - Princess was excited - it's been a lot of years for her too :)

Breakfast in Amsterdam?  YES PLEASE!!!!!

What could be more fun that eating in a giant tea cup????

 

We had an eleven hour layover - so we decided to get out and see the city - via the canals!!!  Amsterdam is very cool!!!

We made it to Riga super late - so we skipped dinner and went to bed :) This was breakfast the next day (not the goldfish LOLOL) :)

Pipsqueak looking a little sleepy :)

The spread!!!!  Our apartment was VERY cool :)

Walking in the park - it was much colder this time than on our first trip :)

The Freedom monument :)

Cool frames they had set up in the parks :)  When we were there in the summer it was all decorated for Ligu - the big summer solstice festival/holiday :)  We got the best of the days in Riga - the longest amount of sunlight, and almost the shortest amount of sunlight LOL  It was definitely easier to sleep in during the longer nights ;) ha ha ha

The lock bridge :)  We, like many other adoptive families, were so excited to get our lock made and put it on the bridge :)  Pipsqueak and Littlest Dude threw away the keys :)  So grateful that Pipsqueak is part of our forever family!!!

Fun at the Christmas market!!!

Thumbs up for dinner :)  I think mostly the pizza, although the rest of us enjoyed the Pelmeni :)

SISTERS!!!!

Some of our favorite Latvian things - the pan fried potatoes with dill :) and the most fantastic sunflower bread!!!!

They have some cool fruits too!   Their strawberries are soooo good - soooo much sweeter than the ones we have here!  I wish we could grow some!

And - Pipsqueak was able to still watch SigningTime- she was soooo happy!!!

Soon enough we were home!!!  And, one of the happiest days of our lives happened!  The day that our Pipsqueak was sealed to us for all eternity :)  We missed having The Rocket Scientist there with us - but he is doing great things, serving the Lord and is now in Ukraine, sharing the gospel with people there for the next 2 years :) 

A white day for our - white day :)

Grandma and Grandpa came to share the day with us!!! and we just couldn't be happier to be the parents of this special, joyful, amazing little girl :)  We love you Pipsqueak!!!

That was the whirlwind FIRST WEEK of December :)  We really packed a lot of adventure in - right???  

The next week was a Christmas rush, buuuuuutttttt - we managed to get some snow fun in!!!!! 

 Littlest Dude loves his Angry Birds hat that we got in Latvia :)

We love making snow angels!!!!

And throwing snowballs ;)

 

And SNOW!!!!

 Even in our hair!!!  Pipsqueak loves being outside in all kinds of weather - she doesn't even mind the rain now - although that was a HUGE deal when we first got her in Latvia (and it rains there all the time - go figure ;)  It was hugely anxiety producing in her - but we worked through it - yayyyy!  I imagine her birth parents must be very outdoorsy because this baltic beauty LOVES being outside - and asks for it several times a day - rain, snow, or sun :)

FIRST Snowman :)

TA DA - Olaf the snowman ;)

First visit with Santa (I don't think she is thanking us for this first......)   We had a special VISITOR :) I mean -if you are too sick to go to Santa - then maybe, just maybe - he might come to YOU :)

 

 Littlest Dude hearts Santa Claus :)

Pipsqueak -  ummm - not so much ;)

 Yah - Mom???  This Santa dude - he's a little scary :(

Big Sissy - on the other hand - thought Santa's jokes were hilarious :)

 

Even The Dad got in on the action :)

 

Pipsqueak is still like - are you for reals?  Get this dude OUTTA here!!!!

First Gingerbread houses!!!!   Love that you can buy them preassembled ;)  Although my kids want to go back to the design your own graham cracker ones next year.....  They are a creative bunch - for sure.....

Mr. Hollywood is a funny guy....  

Pipsqueak's first decorating experience - she thinks she likes it - frosting AND candy?  It's like heaven for her ;)

 

The Big Sissy and Mr. Computer (really - I need to go back up and see what I called him ;) ha ha ha

 

 Ummm ya - nothing says Christmas like a zombie apocalypse gingerbread house....  I give up ;)

 The....the.....the.....THE GRINCH :)

 Our "Who" house :)

Yah - these two are characters - for sure!!!!

 

This was the kids side of the roof (see Dad's side - above) :)

 

The finished product :)  See the Grinch stealing the Christmas tree ;)

 

 Martha May Who......

Aren't they cute?????

Took a few family Christmas pictures :)

 This might be my all time favorite - yes - my children ARE hilarious ;)

Merry First Christmas at home with your family Pipsqueak :)

First Christmas Eve and Day home with a Family :)

FIRST time baking Christmas cookies with Princess :)

First Christmas Eve with Biggest Sissy :)  Our tradition is to eat by candlelight - Pipsqueak was not too sure about that LOL

FIRST tradition acting out of the Natvity - night when Christ was born - from the Bible.....  Pipsqueak got the "angel" part :)  Sometimes I think her halo might be a bit tipped ;) ha ha ha

Princess and Mr. Hollywood were Joseph and Mary......

Littlest Dude was the shephard - he still wasn't feeling well :(  nasty cold and pneumonia :(

 

FIRST Christmas jammies :)

 

Grandma made us all Christmas pillow cases this year - they are so fun!!!!

We don't put our presents under the tree until Christmas eve, and the kids have christened the tradition the Present Parade:)  This is Pipsqueak's FIRST present parade :)

Littlest Dude was too tired after 3 trips up and down the stairs - so he just hung out for most of it :(

Thumbs up for Christmas jammies and CHRISTMAS :)

Can't forget Santa and Rudolph :)  Note handwritten by Littlest Dude :)   Then it was off to dreamland :)  For the kids - anyway......

FIRST Christmas morning at our house :)  The man in red did not disappoint :)  He brought - microphones for little boys who LOVE to sing into them....

Airplane ride on toys for little girls who love to MOVE!!!

Beautiful little girls to mommy and daddy :)  Okay - okay - Santa didn't bring her - but she was our FAVORITE gift ever :)

Puppies - that may or may not have already been in the house for 2 months ;)

Pipsqueak loved opening her presents :)  Paper is one of her most favorite things :)

Merry Christmas to all from us to you!  We felt so much joy this Christmas season - especially as I reflected back on where we were in our adoption journey just 12 months ago!  It still feels so surreal sometimes that Pipsqueak is now really and forever a part of our family!    We are so blessed.  She is so joyful and fun and smart and amazing!  Is it always easy?  Of course not - each adoption and adjustment in blending a family comes with many struggles.  Attachment has been a LOT of work on all our parts - but it has all been worth it - and I think Miss Pipsqueak agrees :)  I can't imagine our lives without her in them - what a miracle it is that she is part of our family, what a miracle she is.  I am grateful every.single.day!!!!

FIRST trip to Canada and FIRST meeting of A LOT of cousins, Aunts, and Uncles!!!

 Grandma and Grandpa have a great TV :)

This is a 3 generation highchair!!!  My siblings and I all used it, now Pipsqueak is the last of the grandchildren to use it AND all the 16 great grandchildren have used it!!!

 

Hot tub parties at Grandma's are the kids FAVORITE :)

 

 Meeting cousins!!!  Pipsqueak is the youngest of the grandkids and is smack dab in the middle of the great grandkids!!!  :)

 Weddings are fun!!!

Canadian static - anyone????

 

We went to fun places with our cousins though - Pipsqueak loves to climb and slide!!!

 

Aunt L had this fun sand stuff - that Pipsqueak made a huge mess with - the next time we went it was hidden - ooops - sorry Aunt L!!!!!

 

 FIRST New Years Eve Family Party!!!!

And that ends our year of FIRSTS!!!!  So very many of them!!  We are blessed - and as we go into 2014 - we wish you all the best and hope you'll share our lifetime of 1st, 2nds and more with us!!!  So grateful for our little miracle!!!  Happy New Year!!!!!