Hope - It's a Vivas Thing!

Jan 27 2013

What happened?

Apparently I need to update my blog!

In the past year, we gained two new children and had many changes in our family.

And there are many more to come!

It amazes me that in just a few short weeks, the Good Looking One will be married to this angel!

And that these two are turning 20 and 13 this year!

The Talented One is almost half-way through college studying music….and she’s half way thru middle school!

(And the Drama, oh the Drama!)

And then, there’s the Smart One and Bboo….the Smart One almost finishing his first year of HIGH SCHOOL and Bboo…sniff sniff…finishing up high school forever. She’ll be 18 in just a few days…and he’ll be 16 this year!

I wrote my first blog, four years ago this past week, Whatever in the Whole Wide World. As I sat and read it this morning, I was taken back. It’s amazing how time flies by so fast you can barely keep up. It seems it wasn’t so long ago that I was the one preparing for my wedding to the love of my life, and now we’re getting ready for our son’s wedding. Where did the time go? What happened? I’m not sure, but I do know that it is true; the older you get the more you remember the past. The Smart One and I sat at lunch the other day and talked about, “Remember When?” I realize I did most of the remembering, but we had some great laughs.

Don’t get me wrong! I am so looking forward to the memories to come. I love the new relationships that we continue to build and look forward to where we are going. I just can’t believe how fast we are getting there!

Dec 19 2012

The Little Things…

It’s the little things in life that create joy…

Like when my newly adopted son grabs my hand for the first time, just because he wants to hold my hand…and tells me that he is so glad to have me for his mom. (Yes, there were a few hidden tears…)

Like the joy on the Drama Queens face when I state, “Guess who’s coming to town this weekend?” …and she jumps for joy screaming, “Aunt Tracie, Aunt Tracie!”

Like, the fact that Aunt Tracie and I have such a close relationship, that I obviously have a “look” that spells out her name on my face that my kids instantly recognize as the “Tracie” look….

Like the Smart One helping his youngest newest siblings with their homework, just because…even though he’s been very sick for three days now.

Like…spending 5 minutes talking to my soon-to-be daughter…what a blessing she is!

It’s the little things that bring joy…

Anyone else feel that way?

Oct 25 2012

Adoption Day!

We waited a long time for today; it’s been over 10 long years. There were times when we gave up. And then, God would bring them back. There’s a story to tell…another day.

Today, I want to share with you the joy of our adoption.

They were so excited...waiting to go in and get this thing over with!

"Miss Cathy" our very dear friend...thank you for being there for us!

"MIss Elaina"....God placed you here for a reason...to bring these children home, no matter the cost to you. Forever we are grateful!

Taking pictures helped with the waiting!

Standing before the Judge, waiting to start! (Comical Moment: Our son lets the judge know he is matching today!)

Attorney explaining to the judge why we are asking to adopt...almost there!

This is the point where I lose it... Cathy and Elaina cry along with me!

Thank you, Cathy, for capturing the moment!

While they pick out gifts from the judge...

They're smiling...because "no one can ever take them away from us again"

It is with the deepest, heartfelt gratitude, that we thank you all. Thank you for praying for us throughout the years. For holding us when we lost them again and again…and for rejoicing with us each time we got them back. I can’t imagine going through this without our “prayer warriors.”

For those of you who share “Thankful Thursday” with me…this is mine! (I love you, sisters!)

It’s sinking in…it’s real…I guess we’d better figure out how to add some more rooms to this house!

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in Hope

Be Patient in Tribulation

Be Faithful in Prayer

Oct 18 2012

Birthday Girl!

It’s my girl’s birthday today, and I can’t believe how much she has grown up!

In our family, the birthday member gets to choose family dinner. Tonight, it was Cafe Rio.

As I sat there looking around the restaurant, I wanted to shout out,

“This is my family….all 10 of them. Yup, they belong to me, and I love them.”

I love celebrating special occasions because I know that we will all make an effort to be there together! It’s what makes our family special.

Ok…and a little weird. This picture says it all…one son with gold foil things folded up into his new “earrings’ and the other son making faces behind him while I snap a picture.

Yeah, It’s just a Vivas Thing!

Jul 21 2012

Life with Chicken Noodle Butt

Today I am working on re-finishing my parents porch. I’ve been sanding away while the youngest brushes away the sawdust. Once we finished, we moved on to putting the wood filler in the cracks. It was getting pretty hot, so I went in for a glass of water, explaining to him that we need to make sure we are drinking plenty of water if we are going to be working out in the hot sun all day.

Next thing I know, he brings me a glass of water because I need to keep drinking. I’ll be a pool before the day is over!

He then decided to make me breakfast of cottage cheese and peaches…all…by…him…self.

He proudly came out a few moments later with a bowl of cottage cheese and peaches. He forgot to get himself some, so since I had to go wash up, I got to observe how he did it.

The cottage cheese container was covered in cottage cheese, which he was promptly cleaning up.

I asked what happened.

“It imploded when I opened it up.”

I asked, “Do you mean it EXploded?”

His reply?

“Yeah, that’s what I said. It imploded.”

Ya gotta love this 8 year old!