This is Elisyn

I want to share a little about her and her family that is waiting to bring her home:

Elisyn has complicated CHD: dextrocardia, VSD, aortic overriding 60%, possibly double outlet of right ventricle, ASD, patent ductus arteriosus, PH, possibly interruption of aortic arch. 

If you think it sounds scary, it is.  Our daughter desperately needed medical attention and possible surgery at birth to repair her very severe CHD.  Without it, she most likely has irreversible damage done to her heart and lungs that will make her inoperable for a repair.  We have contacted some of the best cardiologists in the country, and have been told the most heartbreaking news.  Most cardiologists cannot believe she can be 4 years old and are amazed by her strength to live. We are putting Elisyn's heart and health in God's hands.  We are praying for a miracle!

Elisyn has an amazing family waiting for and loving her from afar... please read about how they found Elisyn here.  Their story has touched me deeply and I really want to see this little girl be able to come home to the love of a family for whatever amount of time she is given here on this earth.

She needs a Mommy to love on her, a Daddy's arms to hold and protect her...

Elisyn's family is fund raising as much as they can to try to bring their little girl home.  Part of that are the Bracelets of Hope that are being made by Elisyn's Mommy.

The bracelets are $10.00 each or we ordered three for $24.00, and they are super cute!  Please go check them out and help Elisyn come home!

They have also just started a t-shirt fundraiser, I love their design!  Just click on the image blow to go to their Hope to Home page!

Please head over and learn about this family.  I hope their journey in faith is as much an inspiration to you as it has been to me.  I can't wait to see her in the arms of her forever family!

My Beautiful Home

There are many reasons why I love Alabama so much...

 

It truly is beautiful.  In the five plus years we have lived here I have seen more incredibly clear, deep blue skies then I have probably seen in my whole life living in Michigan.  There is endless beauty in the foothills that surround us.  Trees in abundance, flowers that burst with color throughout the seasons and birds that sing us awake all year around.  

But beyond the physical beauty lies the true heart of Alabama, and that is its people.

People that take time out of their day to smile at complete strangers, people that talk to you like they have known you your whole life even though you just met.  People that say hello, just because they have passed by you in the isle of a grocery store or on a sidewalk while you walk the dog. And people that lend a hand, when something devastating strikes close to home.

This is why Alabama will always own a place in my heart.  So while I am brokenhearted about the destruction and loss, I can still see the beauty.

Photo Credit:  Birmingham News Photo / Jeff Roberts

 

 

Photo Credit: The Birmingham News / Michelle Campbell

We know many people that were directly hit by the storms and our thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you.

Black and White Wednesday {Sisters}

The girls seem to be getting along a little better these days.  By that I mean that they are not focusing on annoying the other one at all times.  I've noticed that they are going longer bits of time where they really seem to be enjoying playing with each other.  I treasure these moments for sure!  Still it was quite a shock to find Hanna doing Rylee's hair and helping to get her ready - and I didn't even ask her to!!

Heh... she makes this same face when I do her hair!

Hanna scores bonus points for the lip gloss!

Now that makes the Mommy's heart sing - my growing (way too fast) beauties!

Click here for more Black and White Wednesday posts.

I Heart Faces | Shadow

I had a couple of favorite photos from this weekend that had shadows in them, so I decided to participate in I Heart Faces photo challenge this week. It was hard to pick one, but here is the photo I finally settled on:

To see more Shadow entries for this week, click here.

Sunday Snapshot {Princess in the Making}

We went to a local festival yesterday and Rylee fell in love with the Tutu dresses.  Big surprise right??  She tried one on and generated so much attention that the women gave us a deal that we just couldn't resist - well that along with the beaming little face looking up at me...

Even though it was over 80 degrees, she wore it all through the festival yesterday, even after her hair was plastered to her from sweating so much (oh how I wish I had taken my camera with me!). She tells me that sometimes it hurts to be beautiful...

Black and White Wednesday "Beach"

I am going with a few more beach pictures (big surprise right?). I took many pictures, but I really wanted to take a lot more. I think I need more little models, don't you?

I love catching them holding hands, getting ready to face the waves together.

Oh how I love the beautiful white pillers and buildings as backdrops for pictures!

 

Sometimes she still looks so little!  I treasure these times because usually I am blown away by how fast she is growing.

 

You can't spend a few days at the beach without enjoying crab legs as you watch the sun set!

 

And I am including these last two because, well... they just make me smile!

Join Black and White Wednesdays at The Long Road to China

Sunday Snapshot {Family Time}

Three years and four months ago, we brought Rylee home from China.  Just after receiving our travel approval, my husband lost his job.  It was a stressful time, but nothing was going to stand in our way of bringing our daughter home.

He took the first job offer...  it was several states away, so we packed up and left for China.  We came home as a new family, to a new home, in a new state - where we knew no one.  It was hard, it was stressful, it was lonely, it was scary... we made it through.

Four months later my husband was offered a job back in the same area we had just moved from.  We went back.  It was another move, more stress and more change for Rylee.  But we made it through.

One year later, my husband lost his job again...  It was hard, it was stressful and it was time to give up on the auto industry.  We did not want to move again.  I started working two jobs and I was fortunate to be able to do both from home.  We also started our own business and one or both of us have worked 6 to 7 days a week for the past two years.  We made it through.

And we have thrived as a family.

These past few days, we have finally made it to the point where we can take our first non-working - the four of us only - family trip!

The place was beautiful...

The weather was perfect!

The sunsets were amazing!

The children were fun and smiling and beautiful!

The beach was breathtaking!

The trip was perfect!

And I am so thankful!

Black and White Wednesday

I thought I would add a few more zoo trip pictures.  I really like how dramatic the animal shots are when they have been converted to black and white.

And since Hanna has agreed that I can post about her on my blog again, I decided to add one of her in a pose that we see all too often these days.  In fact, this is how all the kids at the bus stop look every morning - either texting, playing games on their iPod's or listening to music.  They even text each other, and yet they are all standing there in a group together (I seem to be the only one there that finds humor in this)!

Visit The Long Road to China for more Black and White Wednesday posts!

Sunday Snapshot {Zoo Trip}

Have you ever had one of those days, when things just didn't come together for extraordinary pictures?

The weather was beautiful, the setting was fun and the girls were playful.

Maybe a little too playful to pause long enough for Mom to take pictures.

And finally you just have to "throw in the towel"...

And join in the laughter!

I hope you all had a great weekend!