Weekend/Pictures

We had a great weekend at the beach. Justin and I enjoyed relaxing and staying on Samuel's schedule. We did nothing and had a ton of fun! :) On Sat. we went to the pier for an early morning walk, went back to the house for his morning nap and then Samuel enjoyed his first Olive Garden bread stick :) That afternoon we went to a great park, walked on the beach and enjoyed a lazy night with pizza. On Sun. we stopped by Stan and Leslie's to have dinner. I enjoy seeing my family even if it is only for a quick/busy two hours. (Robin- Justin and I decided that the cake was the best ever) Thanks! Samuel had a runny nose and his eyes were red from sunscreen :( Leslie uploaded these pictures for me.

Finley, Samuel and Creighton
Samuel always wants to get down to crawl. I think he is going for the camera. Creighton is so sweet with him. I love how he says Samuel with that southern boy slow talk :)


Us

Check out those two teeth!

He LOVES maracas! :)

Very Encouraging....

I hope you can follow this story-

Last night one of my friends, Olivia, was very excited to share something with me. One of her friends has been reading my blog and she called Olivia and asked how Justin and I knew that it was God's will for us to adopt. Olivia told them our story about God calling us to adopt through prayer and a message that was preached by my father-in-law. This couple began to pray and God quickly answered. I hope I have the story right but I think they were just approved for adoption sometime this week- they got a call Wed. night- and were going to bring their baby home yesterday:) Yes-again He answers prayer! Adoption is a step of faith- Knowing God will bring the right child into the right family. I remember feeling very nervous at times going through the process and the wait. God gave us peace. Not only did we want to answer God's call, we knew we had to answer. I am so glad that we can trust Him-through it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5WA6JIWq2E

Update....

It has been awhile... I still am unable to add pictures but since I am planning on getting our blog printed around Samuel's first birthday I have decided to update. Justin is working hard on our new house and I CANNOT WAIT to move in!!! Hopefully, we should be in by July. I have been trying to decide about paint colors, cabinets, counters, etc.... Now he is ready for final decisions and I am still not sure.

Samuel is wide open :) He is crawling everywhere and getting in everything! I watched him pull up for the first time on Tuesday. He loves to open and close the kitchen cabinets and likes to pull lamp cords out of the wall (major problem) I cannot take my eyes off of him. He still loves to go on walks, read books, and suck his thumb. I am trying hard to take in every moment with him. Justin and I talked the other night about how fast time is flying by since Samuel came into our hearts and home. Where have the last 8 months gone? I want everything to slow down. He is a precious little boy and I love him more than I can even comprehend.

I went to see the library that I will be working in next year and I am very excited. I am starting to work part time in an elementary library next year. Hopefully, I will be able to work two and a half days a week. I am really looking forward to spending the extra time with Samuel and starting a new challenge. Justin and I were both praying about what I should do next year and this door opened. God is good and answers prayer.

Justin told me this morning that we could go to the beach this weekend :) I cannot wait to spend some down time with my two boys! Hope you have a good weekend.

Names

I decided to participate in Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Life--Your Kid's Names" this Friday.

Samuel Andrew Shane

was placed in my arms on September 18th 2009 and I LOVE his name. During the years of infertility Justin and I decided that if we ever had a boy we would name him Samuel because Hannah's story and the life of Samuel (Bible) provided me with strength and hope. At first, I thought we would call him Sam but Justin refused and now we both love Samuel. Andrew is Justin's middle name. Samuel's birth mother named him Shane Michael and she asked that we would incorporate one of her names into the name we had chosen. We decided to just give him three names and again, I LOVE his name.

As for future children.....

Girl names- Adelyn, Grace, Annalee, Elizabeth, Liza, Bella........who knows?

Boy names- Ben, James, Joshua, Mitch.......

Justin loves the name Chloe for a girl. However, our little niece is Chloe so I think that one is out. Chloe Isabelle (great name) :)

Thinking about....

Mother's Day

I have been thinking about Mother's Day for several weeks now. Honestly, for several years this day has been very hard and for those of you still longing for answered prayers I hope you can find comfort in our story. Please know that God has a plan for you! This year I will celebrate with a thankful heart. I am thankful for God's master plan of redeeming love and I am thankful for Samuel's birth mother. Without her I would not be a mother today. Although I have never met her, my heart is filled with love and gratitude. I want to celebrate and honor her because she chose life for Samuel. She took great care of him for nine crucial months. She delivered him into this world and made the decision to place him in our arms. I think about the day that she chose us to become Samuel's parents. At that point, we had no idea that Samuel had been born. Every time I think about her saying, "That is the couple," I become overwhelmed with emotion. I know that God's hand was guiding her decision as well as our decision to adopt. At the end of our birth mother letter we said, "Our wish for you and your precious child is best stated in an old Irish proverb- 'May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.' On Sunday my heart will be with Samuel's birth mother.

And to our precious baby boy, Samuel Andrew Shane Johnson- We love you more than you could ever imagine!

"Legacy of an Adopted Child"

Once there were two women who never knew each other.One you do not remember, the other you call mother.Two different lives, shaped to make your one...One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.The first gave you life and the second taught you to live it.The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give ... One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.One gave you a seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.One gave you up ... that's all she could do.The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.And now you ask me, through your fears, the age old question unanswered throughout the years...Heredity or environment, which are you the product of?Neither, my darling … neither.Just two different kinds of love.
~ Author Unknown ~