Nara's 4th Birthday and First Ever Birthday Celebration!

On November 30th we celebrated Nara's 4th Birthday and first ever birthday celebration. I have never cried watching someone blow out their candles but this day I did. The expression on Nara's face as everyone sang Happy Birthday is one I will never forget. It was as if in that moment she knew how special she is to us, how much she is loved and that this special celebration was just for her. I think she really felt like a princess. The party was at my parents home with just a few friends and immediate family. The kids enjoyed making their very own gingerbread houses that they were able to take home. 

Happy Birthday Nara Thomas! You are LOVED!

Purchase With A Purpose

Not sure about you but I've already began thinking about my Christmas shopping. I also love to buy when I know it helps someone else. I've compiled a list of a few different companies that are fair trade, give back, organizations etc. You can use your purchasing power to create change in the world and restore dignity to others. 

The first I'll share is noondaycollection.com The have amazing jewelry, handbags, home decor etc. that is all handmade. You create a marketplace for their artisans so they can earn more, work less and families stay together.

Another way to give is through worldvision.org. Honor someone special with a life-changing gift. A few years ago my hubby and I bought a goat for a family in another country in honor of my mom and dad. We were able to print off a personalized card for my parents explaining what a difference one goat can make to a family in a poverty stricken country. My mom cried and I really think it was the most meaningful thing we have ever given to my parents. Another year we helped contribute towards a well for clean water. I never realized how much this meant until our daughter Nara has dealt with symptoms from parasites from drinking unclean water in Ethiopia. 

No. 41 had some beautiful Christmas stockings right now! no41.org is about empowering young women. Our goal is not to give them the world, but to show them that God has already given them everything they need to go out there and take it. When you join with us, you are truly changing the world FOR ONE.

One of my favorites is Better Than One Designs. Two local adoptive momma's making custom vintage signs to help adoptive families seeking funding. I've already ordered a few myself and they are so cute!!! https://www.facebook.com/BetterthanoneDesigns

If you're a coffee lover check out landofathousandhills.com. Drink Coffee. Do Good. Your excellent morning cup is offering hope to developing coffee communities with each purchase.

Another good one to check out is halfunited.com For every product purchased Half United will give Half of all profits to feed children in need. It was started by a brother-sister duo in Wilmington, NC. They did a trunk show in Nordstrom last year and my mom  and dad bought me one of their bullet casing necklaces. I love wearing it because everyone always asks me about it. It's also a great reminder for me that there are children out there who don't even know where their next meal is coming from. 

This Christmas shop with purpose!!!

Riverbend Farm

Nara LOVED her first field trip to Riverbend Farm! Last year after accepting her referral we were encouraged to send her some pics of our family doing something fun together. We had just visited the farm the month before with my nephew Braxten so we sent some of those pics in a little photo album.  She has known about the pumpkin patch for quite some time and was pumped to get to visit it today with her class from Carolina Christian Preschool. 

Nara and her sweet friend Irelyn

 Hayride!

 This is the one mom!

Nara's First Family Vacation & Beach Trip

Back in January we went to Lake Wiley with my family for my birthday. The day we left, Ryan and I got our monthly update on Nara with this beautiful picture. I remember looking at this picture so many times while we were there. Sometimes tears would start to well up in my eyes because it felt like there was a void. Here we were vacationing with family and yet our daughter who we already loved so much was still 8,000 miles away stuck in an orphanage. Pretty much all of last year after our referral any holiday, vacation or day of significance was a little off because our daughter was unable to share those special days with us. What a joy it was this year for her to FINALLY be with us at our annual family Lake Wiley trip!!!!

               

After spending a few days with my family at the lake, we came home for one night, reloaded the car and headed for the beach. Nara was still half asleep but jumped in the car and kept repeating over and over "I'm ready to go!"

Here she is putting her toes in the ocean for the first time. She absolutely loved the beach! Each morning she was ready to put on her swim suit and wanted to eat every meal on the balcony so she could still see the water. Nara is teaching me to appreciate the things I so often take for granted. 

    

She loved playing "puhh puhh puhh" and was upset on the last hole when her ball disappeared. For an hour she kept talking about how she lost her ball. Nara has been such a blessing to our family. Can't imagine life without her. God is SO good! 

Life with little Nara...

Let me just start by saying that I've been meaning to blog for weeks but life is a bit different now and I'm finding it harder to find a spare minute for this sort of thing with a 3 year old. Ha just sayin ;) What a crazy & wonderful several weeks it has been. The first few weeks were very tough but we made it through. Not to say we won't have more hard days but I finally feel we are getting our grove back and Nara is progressing each day. Tomorrow will be exactly 10 weeks since we picked her up from the transition home. Looking back now at pictures of that day I cannot believe what a brave little girl she is. She looks so sad and unsure after we picked her up and she said her goodbyes. Her whole world was turned upside down. She left behind friends and all that was familiar. The first weeks home were a time of cocooning for us as we worked on building trust with her along with bonding and attachment. There were many nights were I just held her as she sobbed. Some nights I cried right along with her. Partly from exhaustion and partly from my heart breaking thinking about all that she has endured as such a young age. I can honestly say that the cocooning was tough but well worth it. I have seen such a transformation in little Nara! I take back anything I said about her being shy. I should've known I would eat those words! She is like a totally different kid from when we first met her. Now I see that it wasn't her true personality at all but just a scared little girl who had already had so many big changes in her life to only be three years old. We were her forth set of caregivers so how could she possibly believe that she could trust us or know how much we loved her and would never leave her.

Right after we picked her up from the Transition Home. She looks so sad.

                                                                  Leaving Ethiopia

Her shirt reads...He Created The Whole World And Yet God Knows My Name....He sure does precious Nardos (Nara) Ryan Thomas. 

She has the funniest personality and the sweetest giggle!!!! I love hearing her talk and I have been amazed at the english she has already picked up in just a few short weeks. Hearing her call me mommy for the first time...priceless. Watching her sneak into our bedroom on Saturday and Sunday mornings to "tickle monster" her daddy is the best! Love watching their relationship grow.  One night as we were doing our bedtime routine she wanted her turn saying her prayers for the first time. She said lots of family members names and a "thank you Jesus...amen." Then started singing Kari Jobes' song, We Are The Light of the World. I was having a such a beautiful inspired moment and was thinking to myself, "this is why we adopted!" Just before I could get too emotional she rolled over and handed me a booger. In the mornings she loves to cuddle. I especially love my days off so that I can snuggle with her. Today in particular we were laying in her bed with her arms around me laughing when she voluntarily told me that my breath stinks. Not so sure I'm excited about ALL the english she has learned already!!! Cannot get over what a sweet and silly little girl she is.

Dancing before bedtime with her new bike helmet on

Playing dress up in mine and her Nonna's clothes.

 Of course she has her typical three year old moments but it makes me smile to hear her laugh and watch her grow. Praying over her as God continues to heal her heart and shape her into all that He created her to be. 

Two Peas In a Pod...

What a wonderful first Mother's Day! Ryan fixed Nara and I a big breakfast and then we spent the rest of the day with both of our families. The best part of the day was watching Nara and her cousin Braxten play together. He brought out a whole new side of her that we had never seen before. Up until this point she wouldn't smile or talk much and we hadn't heard her laugh at all. I love how God works out even the smallest of details for His children. He knew that one day little Nara would join our family and that she would need a friend. Braxten was SO good to her. It just so happened that Barrett, Ashlyn and Braxten were in town for their baby shower last week. Absolutely perfect timing for Nara as I can already tell she is missing being around children. She and Brax were like two peas in a pod. She is in love with him! After spending a few days together, Braxten wanted to learn how to say I love you in Amharic. One night while the two of them were jumping on the trampoline Braxten told her he loved her. She giggled and said she loved him too. SO sweet! Made this momma's heart so full! 

 She loves the water! Can't wait to take her to the beach...

 More giggles...

 Best friends for life!