Mama's Day.. Week

Mama's Day.. Week

Mama's Day 2009 was really more like a week. My first ever Mother's Day and a few days later my Birthday. Yes.. I'm still 29 ;o)

I love.. love this week. Every year the weather is usually wonderful. It NEVER rains on my Birthday.. seriously. I've had friends marry on this day at my recommendation and have had several couples publicly toast me for it.

I also love this week as it's usually the week my garden comes to life. The scent of Lilac and Wisteria gently floats about with a gentle Spring breeze. The Peonies open and it's the week after our last frost so it's safe to plant. Yay!

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Below the Wisteria drips off our back deck.

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The Thursday before Mother's Day I was invited to a Mother's Day Tea at Preschool.

The children sang, gave their Mommies gifts and served refreshment.

Very touching.. very sweet.

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Below.. Tamara and two of her little friends prepare to sing.

It amazes me every time they do one of these shows how much the children have changed.

Some.. are more outgoing and some get stage fright. Often times it's the child who's Mom brags before the show "My son / daughter has been practicing for weeks.. they know ALL the words" that clams up? They are cute and funny to watch. I thought I'd share a few clips.

Tamara enjoyed participating although she was tired that day.. just getting over a 24 hr bug and she did sing a little bitty bit.

We're getting there.

This was a song that they encouraged the kids to "get a little crazy" as her teacher put it.

Tamara made this cute little flower pot for me. Prettiest flower I ever got!

Friday

I had to run out during nap time to run some errands. This is what Daddy did with Tamara while I was gone.

They wrote Happy Mother's Day in the driveway with sidewalk chalk. A nice surprise when I got home.

Below Tamara then sweeps the driveway?

Hide your brooms.. this little Diva likes to clean?

Another view before Mommy gets home.

OK.. so I come home see my Mother's Day message look at my little girl who is now covered in blue, pink and green chalk. Although very appreciative.. it's time to clean my little girl up.
Below... Tamara shows off her artwork while Mommy does a photo shoot.

I'm sure anyone who's ever attempted to get their kid to sit still for a picture will appreciate this clip.




Weeee

As you can see.. the message was HUGE

Back in the house... Dancing with Daddy

Like this Dada. Tamara teaches Daddy

Breaks over.. "UP Dada"

A very sweet video.

Tamara & Dada being silly.




My little Angel being just that!

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Saturday the 9th was cousin Katie's First Holy Communion.
Below.. Aunt Olga and Katie show Tamara their bunny.

IT was time to change Tamara. Her cousins... out already slipped out of their church clothes.

It was time to play.

I love this picture... Tamara and Katie head towards the play set.

It was a pretty warm day and yet Tamara still prefers to wear layers? I'm thinking it may have something to do with the bundling up they do at the baby houses. I recently found out from UNICEF that the baby house in Tbilisi didn't have ANY heat or running water for the first year and a half of Tamara's life. It's amazing what these little ones can endure.

One strong little girl.

Cousins Alan & Katie play with Tamara

Cousin Nicky pushes her swing.

Picture time.. Katie puts her Communion dress back on.

The girls .. together.. so cute!

Hugs

OK... we've had enough..

Katie so pretty.

Katie.. so sleepy...

And she's out!

Nicky and Tamara playing soccer. Tamara is getting pretty good at this and Nicky has been really great with Tamara. Kind and patient. Thank You Nicky!

Too Pooped to party... the girls take a tea break and watch a movie.

Congratulations Katie... loved your dress. The party was FUN!

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Mama's Day!

My first Mother's Day was a nice calm day spent with "my daughter" and Hubby.

They took me out for dinner and the best gift by far was Tamara sitting in an adult restaurant like a perfect little lady. Winding her pasta with her spoon and fork. Fettuccine Alfredo and she ate the whole thing. No fussing at all she drank her milk and Mama her Merlot.

Could Mother's Day have ended on a better note?

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Below Tamara enjoying the weather before we left.

She loves to garden and was happy to see this years annuals waiting.

Trying to count them.

She notices every detail.

Um...

Ready... Mama?

Up and down the steps she goes... no problem with balance here.

Gotcha!

Tamara and Mama.. Mama's Day 2009

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So that was Mother's Day weekend. Fun.. busy and unforgettable.

More fun to follow.. stay tuned.

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An Orphan's Prayer

An Orphan's Prayer

[From "Small Blessings", an All God's Children International Publication]

I am waiting.... somewhere far...far...away on the other side of the world.

I may not know who you are or what you look like,

But some how deep in my heart I know you are out there.

That one day you will come and find me.

It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier.

But I know that the ones who come for me will not count the cost.

They will only see the joy of finding me.

For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.

Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else?

Asking...why my life couldn't have been different?

It is so lonely...Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children,

I know that something is missing...

I know in my heart I need a place to call home.

My arms long to be saved by a mother's love...

Gazing out the orphanage window, I offer a prayer of hope,

"Oh God please help them come quickly."

Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured,

That no matter how lost I appear I am not alone.

Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart.

The one who made me,

The God that knew me before I was born,

Hears me every time I call.

He whispers His promises in my ear.

I listen with hope to His voice.

But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.

The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.

I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?

Yet He calms my heart and assures me that HE will find you.

That HE will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.

He has promised me that HE will make a way through the fields,

That HE will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door.

My prayer is..

When HE speaks...Please don't forget to listen...

When HE calls don't be too afraid to go

For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far...away

On the other side of the world

To come home.

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I found this prayer today and decided to include it in Tamara's book as I read it several years ago when we were "thinking" about adopting.

It touched my heart then as I'm sure it will touch many hearts today.

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Every night after giving Dada a big hug and kiss. After washing and brushing. After putting on baby lotion, changing into clean PJ's and having a book read to her.

Tamara says a prayer with Mommy.

Dear God..

Thank You for this lovely day and

God Bless Tamara, Mama and Dada

Dido and Baba

All my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

My kitty cats Eci, Cami and Lilly.

All my friends and Teachers at preschool.

All my toys, dolls and stuffed animals

and ALL the children on planet earth.

Amen

Bruce always laughs as he can hear us on the baby monitor and if Tamara hesitates in saying Amen? I say... come on we have to seal the deal "Amen" And she does.

We then do "patty cake... patty cake.. bakers man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. We roll it... roll it. Put it in the oven and GO TO SLEEP! We gently touch each others noses,

kiss and she's down for the count 95% of the time. Yay! ;o)

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Georgians are very religious people. Their faith is extremely important to them. Our driver used to make the sign of the cross every time he drove past a church and believe me Tbilisi has a lot of churches. I remember the first few days we wondered if he did that because of the driving habit in country. lol.

Anyway the reason I mention this is Tamara always seemed to understand the concept of prayer and God. I'm pretty sure she had exposure to prayer. If not at the baby house.. she must have in the Foster Home.

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Cheese and Mac

Cheese and Mac

OK.. we're in May now. I rather busy month as you'll soon see.

This is week #1

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Below Tamara plays her little violin.

She loves music

A kiss from Mommy

Helping with Dinner

Ice Cream Cone

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Sunday.. Time for church.. Tamara waits to go.

Make sure the door's locked.

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A warmish day and a walk with Mommy and Daddy.

Signs of Spring on the property.

Ok.. what is that fuzzy thing?

Skunk Cabbage is popping up... lovely?

A tiny brook

Tamara with her flower balloon

Mama.. Dada.. coming?

Cute... that thing lasted almost a month.

pretty flowers

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Happy 75th George.

Another family party. Great food, ethnic music and a bunch of really nice fun loving people.

Time to party.. Tamara is excited and is soon dancing.

Here's George... Surprise!

The girls dancing

Twirl Katie Twirl

Tamara with Mommy , Dede and Baba

George cuts the cake .. Tamara loves this part.

So exciting...lol

Tea time

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Tamara practicing her piano.

We're still trying to figure out exactly what it is she does.

Sun.. getting in her eyes. She asks for her shades.

Love the way a 4 year old's brain works... too cute.

Time to write

This is one of my absolute favorite videos. Perhaps only 2nd to the one where she moons me.. which of course is not being posted in Blog Land.

A must see.. you may want to mute the music. Right hand side bar.

Enjoy!

Cheese and Mac

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OK.. so this is week one of May.

I recently found yet another company that could turn my blog into a hard cover book for Tamara as a keepsake. I tried a trial run last week and it came back "NO can do". They have a 1,000 picture limit and as of last week they claim I had 1,047. Wow!!! And I only post maybe 10% of the keepers. Anyway... sometime soon.. as soon as I catch up and wrap up the story you will see some changes on the blog. A lot of fluff will go away as well as videos. Unfortunately we can't put a video in a book format. I'm telling you this so when it happens you don't think your computer is acting up..;o) Got it? Good!

By the way if you'd like your presence to be known in the book.. it's time to post comments.

HINT... HINT!

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This past weekend was also one year since we came home.

One year ago June 7th 2008 Tamara's little feet touched down on American soil and she became an instant US citizen. Yay!

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