It's a Girl...............and a Boy!  :o :)

Say "Hello" to the  brand-new "Rabers!" :>

Destiny Faith  3 yrs.

     Cedric Lynn  2 yrs. 

(we call him Ricky, Ric, or Cedric)

  Praise the Lord! It's finally happened, Around this time 3 years ago, we began praying about whether God wanted us to persue adopting Destiny, well, to make a long story short, we asked God to open or close doors according to His will, it was amazing to see how the doors began to open, and left no doubt in our minds as to His direction for our lives! It also was very calming and assurring to know that during the emotional ups and downs involved with fostering, God had led us on this journey, and we just trusted Him, even when we really didn't know if they would really become our children. And soon after we got Destiny, we found out her birth mother was about to have another baby, dss asked if we'd take that child, we said sure, before Ricky was born we found out we were having one of our own!!! :0   Be careful what you pray for!!! :>

  On Destinys 2nd birthday, the birth mother voluntarily gave up her rights to them both. That in itself was a miracle to us,because she had earlier said very strongly that she will Never give them up on her own, well the state was going to do it for her, and she asked us in a letter to keep her children and raise them as our own.

  It's been a long cycle of signing papers, doing this, waiting on that, etc, etc, the court system has one speed, and that is .........................SLOW!!! :) But guess, what ... it does happen!!   We signed the "Adoption" papers in court on May 8. Thank God! Altho it still doesn't seem real. You walk in the building not being parents to these kids, and walk out parents to them, shortest labor i've ever experienced.... :> ha

  We are going on a quick short weekend out to Gatliburg, leaving at lunch tomorrow, coming home early Mon. morn. Just needed a lil getaway for these parents. :< Lots of days i wonder if i will make it thru these couple of years without losing my mind. I need all the prayers you want to offer up on my behalf....,

    Just a quick lil story here, one day several weeks back, i was so excited to have a babysitter coming and this mom was going out to lunch with friends and cousins, well, i needed to wash my hair, and put it up, so i put in a singing video they love to watch, thot i'll just hurry, and be back out here before they know i've even left the room, ha-ha, i was almost thru with my hair, when i heard some kids running and laughing and having a high ole time, i knew it was not a good sign that all was well.........i quickly came out to the kitchen only to find my dear kiddos had gotten a gallon of juice off the counter, dumped it all on the floor and were wildly running thru it, sitting in it, and traipsing all thru the house. It was Strawberry/kiwi to boot. And boy it was sticky! I had to mop the floor several times, then give them all baths before i could leave. Luckily i had started early, and i got it all accomplished and still went out for lunch! Hey, it's all in a days work for me at this stage of my life. :>  I try to smile and see the humor in those kinds of DAILY situations, but........somehow it usually isn't very funny to me.

 This morning i think i got my 2 boys off our dining room table at least 20 times, also spanked almost as often for the crime, (didn't seem to help) and i picked up a whole lot of napkins 3 or 4 times. All while trying to do laundry, pack, answer phone calls, and more!!!  :>

   I tell myself daily, someday i will look back to this time, after the bad memories have faded and, they have grown up, and I will wish for my babies to say "Rocka me, mama" and want to be held and loved, some how it makes it all very worthwhile. I'll just clean another day!! :> Today i'm thankful God gave me the Priviledge to be a mommy! And it's an honor to me to be a mommy to children that God chose for us!! 

This is our lil schemer...Landon  17 mo.  this lil guy doesn't stop, keeps right up with his big bro. and sis.  talks a mile a min. But, i cannot imagine not having him, our pastors wife said to me, he was not meant to be a first-born!! Very true!!  God knows what he's doing in all of our lives!!!

My little fireman!!

People ask us all the time if they are twins,

they weigh a pound diff. and are an inch

near the same size! :>

  Well thats my news for the month! :> No, my dear hubby got me DSL for Mother's day, So i will try to be a little more diligent in posting, i just didn't have the patience to deal with a slow computer.

              Happy Mother's Day!!! to all,

                               and to all a good-night!! :>

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.

 He trains my hands for battle, my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me, you stoop down to make me great.

You broaden the the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

 I guess I just needed those verses today, Yeah, my day started out really good and then this evening was just a bit, yeah, well, a LOT stressful. I really felt like twisting some ears good! My kids were so fussy, grouchy and tired, it seemed all they did was whine!  (I have to confess i had myself a little cry, and it felt good too, K, it was either scream or cry, so i opted for the more mature approach :0   OK, I really do love each one of my children and i wouldn't trade them for anything in the world, but some days...............i'd give em away! (NOT, i'm just being sarcastic :))

K, i'll be quiet on that note and tell you about my wonderful day of shopping, chinese food, yacking, starbucks, and having girl time again!! A dear friend called me this week and said she wants to do something for me, babysit......or whatever, (hey, when i hear that word, i never say no. :)) So i called a few friends and away we went to greenville. What fun!! I even got some really good deals, as usual (all for my children :I how does that happen?) 

It was really good for me to get out again, it's been awhile since i've done that, and my dear hubby has been working on our basement so much, it seems evenings we don't see much of him. So that makes all the child-rearing duties fall on me for a way too long-a-time period, and this mom gets very......w..e..a..r..y!!!

 I have been enjoying our weather.....but it could stay 40*-50* and i'd be ecstatic. I love when blankets feel good, coffee feels wonderful, and i can dress my kiddos in sweats and long sleeves!!! This is definately my favorite time of year.

I still miss all those gorgous fall leaves in the cemetery at Hillcrest!!!! My appreciation for  fall has grown since then. The other day i thought of all our Sunday night walks thru the graveyard......asking the new guy to lead in prayer b/4 we'd go, (i always felt sorry for them :0 ) and trying the talking grave joke on the new staff....my mind just went on and on......and i just had to chuckle! Such good times!!

  I want to go back and visit sometime, and i want you guys all to be there! :(( sad indeed! There is one still faithful........Jason, and oh yes, Omar! :)

  I am very excited about Christmas coming up soon, am already listening to carols, :)) i love when you hear them in stores, etc. It's great. But I know it will be  a busy time. Have no huge plans except going to Ga. for Thanksgiving, and then my mom will be here for several weeks before Christmas. 

 Well tonight we go to LaHacienda for a 60th birthday party for Jay's dad, so that means i don't have to cook! I'll not complain about that!!

 But for now, i must say good-bye and get some sleep!