Stuckey Farm

Trayjan and I were invited by Trayjan's best friend and his mom to visit Stuckey Farm on Wednesday. Trayjan's school was closed for Teacher's conferences so it worked perfectly and the day was just beautiful to be outside picking apples and enjoying the Fall atmosphere.

Trayjan was enjoying testing all the apples, I'm not sure how many the boy actually ate, but along his apple testing he managed to lose a loose tooth. The funny thing was it was the lesser of the two loose teeth. The bad thing was the tooth fell somewhere in the grass and is forever lost at Stuckey Farms. We'll have to just leave the tooth fairy a note and Trayj can draw a picture of his tooth.

Thankful Thursday

As I sit here about to type all the things I'm thankful for, I am reminded of a beautiful young lady's blog. I met this girl not to many months ago and she lost her mom in High School. I pray for her each day, as I couldn't imagine not having my mom with me in High School (or even now). How blessed I am to be 35 1/2 years and have both my parents alive and activily a part of our lives.

I know God has a plan for all of us and sometimes we don't completely understand that plan, but in time will learn how to adjust and move on after the plan. I write this and I'm thinking about my husband's sister who at the young age of 42 passed away from Cancer. Today is her birthday.....Happy Birthday Tanya, we miss you terribly! so I am so thankful that my son got to be a part of his Aunt Tanya's life. We got our LOA the day before she passed away to bring our Jiesue home. Travis was so happy to tell her Jie was coming home. I know she is looking down upon us and loves us all so much. (The first picture is of my kids not long after Jie came home in 2008, Travis' parents and Tanya's two boys). God bless them each day!

So today I'm so very thankful for the lives we are given. Sometimes, things are not as we think they should be, but even through the disappointments, sadness, or even loss, we are in control of our happiness. We decide that we can go on, we decide that with our Lords guidance we can get through anything life throws at us. I see this quality in my dear husband. After his sister passed away, he took a new look at life. He loves life, and he always tells us and shows us how much he loves us. I hope that for all of us, it doesn't take a loss in our lives to realize how much we should love our lives and take nothing for granted. Live life to the fullest each day, give hugs, and kisses to the ones you love, pass a smile to someone you have never met. Change your outlook on life and find all the happiness you deserve.

SUCCESS ! ! !

Trayjan has his bone reset surgery on Tuesday, he did well and it was so very fast. "Thank you Lord". He came out of surgery in quite a bit of pain, so once we got that under control he did wonderful. He is home resting for the last day then tomorrow will return to school. He's a bit nervous about writing, but his wonderful teacher told me to let him know not to worry, she will make sure he's okay at school.

Thank you for all the prayers, we were quite nervous seeing our baby wheeled away from us to the operating room, but so many prayers helped to bring peace to our hearts and help Trayjan to be okay! God Bless All of you!

I added a little video I took of the kids that was taken on Saturday morning before Trayj fell off his bike on Sunday, the kids were enjoying their puppies, our St. Bernard Tiko and our Dorkie puppy Friday!

Trayjan took a Fall

Trayjan's daring activities has finally caught up with him. On Sunday afternoon he was on a bike ride with Dad and I got the dreaded call that he was in an accident I needed to come and pick him up. Well about 30 seconds later, I was around the neighborhood ready to see a child with his head bleading or something, but instead I was greated with this very sad, upset little boy with the arm the size of loaf of bread. He had crashed his bike and landed in the grass on his arm. Unfortunately it twisted somehow in the grass and he managed to break his Ulna and Radius bones in his Right arm.

We went straight to the ER where they informed us we needed to see an Orthopedic specialist as soon as we could get in on Monday. I wasn't fond of the idea since I knew if it was a clean uncomplicated break he would have instead needed a cast on Monday. We managed to get to the specialists and we are informed Trayjan will need surgery to straighted the bone before a cast can be put on his little arm. Needless to say, the nerves began in everybody.

I think we have had every conversation with Trayj to keep him calm, but mom and dad's nerves are shot. Much praying has been going on in the Phifer household and by friends and family, so as Trayjan has his surgery this morning (he will not be opened up, just put under to straighten the bones), we know he will be lifted up in prayer and his surgery will go quickly and easily.

Here are a few pics of him, he let me get one picture when we got home from the ER in bed, but informed me I am not allowed to get pictures in the hospital with a hospital Gown on. He was quite funny, as he said "Mom, your not scrapbooking me in a gown, because someday my friends will look at the scrapbooks and they are not seeing me in a gown". So I will respect his wishes and I at least got a few pics of his best buddy Will and Trayj enjoying BK for dinner on Monday evening. Thankfully Will came over and played with Trayj and eased his mind about his procedure on Tuesday. The little stinker wouldn't even look at my camera!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday's seem to come so very quickly, which although I'm so very thankful, I'm sad that time flies by much to quickly.

I spend much of my Internet time each day reading other blogs and journals. I have met some wonderful families through my bloggy days. One thing that I love is to read inspirational entries. Each day, when I read something nice, funny, inspiring or motivational...it truly helps me to be a better person. I'm very thankful that blogging allows people to welcome me into their lives and blesses me with wonderful stories, beautiful pictures, inspirational writings and most of all, many entries thanking the Lord for what they have.

Although this is something that is not a necessity, I am very thankful for Trayjan and Jie's Great Grandpa Leach's slot machine. Trayjan and Jie's great grandparents are in their mid 80's and to be very honest, what child wants to go spend time with elders instead of playing outside, but although they are in their mid 80's, I have never had to convince Trayjan to visit. Trayjan loves to go over, see Great Grandpa and Grandma Leach and play Grandpa's very old Slot Machine. I believe is a big hit with all the kiddos, but it brings great joy to see how much fun is spent on that crazy old machine.

As I have spent some time fasting this week, I have been reminded often of the children who each day do not receive nourishment and must go hungry. I can not explain the feeling I have thinking about putting my precious children to bed hungry. It brings great pain to my heart to know children are suffering anywhere. So today, I am so thankful that God gives us the opportunities to share our lives, hands, hearts, time, and wealth with others. What can you do to help a child in need?

Jie's 1st Day of Preschool

She did wonderful! We are so proud of Jie for her bravery going to school today. We have been speaking about school for a few months now, talking about how mommy will come to pick her up just like I pick Trayjan up and how she will meet friends, dance, sing, color and play. She was excited but nervous this morning for her 1st day, until after we dropped Trayjan off at school, then she just couldn't get to school fast enough. It was quite cute to see how excited she was.

She had a wonderful day and was a very big girl for her first day. Her teacher gave her a little certificate for her Good Job today. She didn't shed any tears and told us she played, had a snack, sang a song and got to use Markers (which mommy doesn't let her do often, she uses crayones at home), there is the obvious reason when I picked her up, she had orange marker all over her new Gymboree shirt. Needless to say, I better stock up on Shout Wipes just for princess Jie.

I promised her she could go buy a necklace after school if she was a big girl and didn't cry....so of course she went to the store and picked our her new necklace and some princess rings. She was very excited to get a special prize today with just her and mommy!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for beautiful adoption stories. I just read of a wonderful entry on a close friends blog on how God has spoken to them at different times during their adoption journey's. I am so very thankful for all the wonderful times when we were waiting for Jie, God spoke to us many times to bring comfort to our aching hearts.

I am thankful for the power of friendship and LOVE. I'm thankful for a 17 year marriage that although we have disagreements, we value our love and committment to eachother before God.

I am thankful that each day as I speak to God and pray to him to watch over my children, he blesses my children with healthy and happy lives. I pray that my children grow to be faithful to our Heavenly Father.

I am so very thankful for nights lying down with my son. As he went to fall asleep last night, he hugged me and said "Mom, you are the best mom in the world". Oh, how that boy brings such joy to my life.

I am also very thankful that although raising a child is difficult, it brings the most joy to my heart. I'm thankful that both Jie and Trayjan never go without saying "Thank You" to each of us for the teeniest of things. What great manners they both have!