SNOW DAY!!!

We got a real treat this weekend with about 5 inches of snow!!! We have been snowed in since Friday and enjoying every minute of it! Dave has been taking the kids up to the big hill to sled while Samuel and I stay snuggled up inside by the fire. Here are some fun shots of them sledding! Yes, those are pool floats we use as sleds...they work great!

Settling In...

It's hard to believe that this time last week we were anxiously awaiting the phone to ring to hear news if Samuel would be ours forever and now he is part of our family! We were just saying last night how it feels like he has been here for much longer than just a few days. He is such a good baby and we are so blessed by him! Nathan and Emily have been the most wonderful helpers, I knew that they would be anxious to help but had no idea how willing and helpful they would be. They are doing a great job fetching diapers, helping make bottles, and loving on their new baby brother. They have a love for him that is so deep it can only come from the Lord. Emily calls herself "sissy" to him and Nathan refers to himself as "big brother." It melts my heart to see how much this little guy has increased the love in our house!!

We still will not be able to post any pictures for a few weeks, but if you would like to see our little guy just send me an email and I'll send you a private message. For now our dishwasher looks like this every day...
and we just did our first load of "little laundry"...loving every minute of it!!

Forever Ours...

He's home forever!!! What a whirlwind last few days...Thursday was a day our family will never forget!! Samuel is beautiful beyond description, he has stolen our hearts and forever changed our lives. I know what you are thinking...where are the pictures???? We will not be facebooking or blogging any photos of him until his adoption is finalized by the state, but he is ours forever!! For now, my blog will sit on the back burner...I may update every now and again but for now there are far more important things to do. We are up to our eyeballs in diapers and bottles and loving every minute of it! Samuel is a big cuddler and needs lots of snuggling!! Pray for us as we bond with Samuel and that he will come to know he is with his forever family. This verse has been on my heart since the moment I first laid eyes on Samuel and held him in my arms...

"I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!

Last Tuesday night, shortly after 6:00 the phone rang...it was a conversation that will forever be engraved in my mind and heart. It was the director of our agency, she asked me to get Dave on the other line and said the words we will never forget "It's a Boy!!!" Samuel Dalton McClard was born last Tuesday afternoon weighing 8 lbs 2 ozs and 21" long. Needless to say we were bouncing off the walls, crying, screaming, and lots of hugging!! We knew that the next part of the journey would be the longest and hardest part yet as we would wait and pray over the next 7 days that he would be ours forever. We decided to keep the news private and spent this time in prayer for our sweet boy and the birthmother that chose life for him and us to be his parents. We knew that the Lord was in full control of the entire situation and His will would be accomplished! The 7 days has passed and tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM we will see his face for the very first time and hold him in our arms!!

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this journey to be so life-changing, not just for me but for our entire family. I have seen time and time over again how faithful and sovereign our Lord truly is. The wait was longer than we ever anticipated and now I understand why...hindsight it always 20/20 isn't it??? The Lord knew from the moment our journey began that Samuel would be ours and we would be his parents. I also have to stop and thank my husband for being an absolute ROCK on this journey...I could not (or wouldn't want to) have walked through this with anyone else. He has seen me cry more times then I can count and put up with a roller coaster of emotions for what has seemed like an eternity. During the past 7 days whenever my faith was weak or my emotions were topsy-turvy he would look at me and say "God's got this Hon'...He knows exactly who will be Samuel's parents." Seeing him get ready to be a new Daddy again has made me fall in love with him all over again.

The little clothes are ready, the diaper bag is packed, car seat is in the van, kids have their Big Brother/Sister shirts ready to wear and their is nothing left to do but wait for these last few hours to pass!!!

Still waiting...with Pineapples & Spray Paint

We're still here, waiting for exciting news!! This week seemed to drag on like molasses...we kept busy with school, cleaning out the closets (again!), Super-Double Coupon trips at Harris Teeter, and Emily learned to make her first... Pineapple Upside Down Cake! She did it all by herself, and it tasted as good as it looked!

The 1/2 can of Miss Berry Pink spray paint in the garage was calling my name... This used to be my desk chair... oops, I forgot to flip the picture

Who knew you could take them apart in less than 3 minutes??

and recover them with leftover yard sale fabric...

and paint the arms and bottom with Miss Berry Pink!!

Doesn't she look beautiful?!?! Dave looks especially cute sitting in her!

Passing the time...

Some of you know that we are waiting for a call, a very special call that will change our lives forever...we decided that while we are waiting we should have some fun and be productive! We took off school this whole week and played games, took the decorations down, went to the mall, played outside, hit the Target 75% off Christmas sale, and saw a movie with singing & dancing chipmunks! No school meant there was some extra time for a few projects around the house...Mom gave me some of these vinyl wall words for Christmas (she knows how much I love them!)...I put this one in the foyer... and this one in the nursery... :)

I hacked up an old tablecloth and turned it into a runner...

Meet Miss Berry Pink...she is my new friend and way more exciting that Mr. Black or White! My hubby bought her for me at Home Depot...he loves me so...

I picked up this shelf at a yard sale a few months ago for $1 and have been wondering what to do with it...I'm sure some folks find roosters adorable...I however do not!

All it took was a few coats of Miss Pink and some fabric over the roosters and it became a purse rack for Em's room.

I picked up these jars at the Target 75% off sale for $ 1.24...I did not like the green lids...

...but with a little help from Miss Pink they were just right for my craft shelf...

Praying I don't have to find to much more stuff to get myself into!!

Happy 2010!!

Another year gone...amazing!! Dave and I were talking last night and I both agreed that one word could sum up 2009 for our family...LONG! But we are so thankful for a faithful God that brought us through and excited for the BIG things He has in store for us in 2010. We spent a fun New Year's Eve at home having fun together. The kids were excited to try and stay up until midnight!

We played some Wii and lots of games!

Played a few rounds of Deal or No Deal...Dave and I sold our $ 25 case for $ 400,000! I think our crazy little banker had a little too much chocolate!! Nathan's deal however was not so good...

10:45...getting sleepy...

Princess liked the streamers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We made it until midnight, watched the ball/acorn drop, brushed our teeth and were in bed by 12:10. Happy New Year Everyone!!!