Little Miss Sunshine

Over the past year or two, I've had the pleasure of experiencing adoption. My cousin and her husband adopted a little girl, Janetta.

Janetta has been top secret, until recently. We couldn't post pictures of her on social media. Although she was my cousin's baby girl, technically, she belonged to the government. But, after a year, year and a half, of having Janetta, they were able to make it official on September 20.

It was a big to-do for my family. This is the second adoption we've made official this year! The first was another cousin in Ohio, who had been fostering a little boy for a few years. They were finally able to adopt the little fella. But for Janetta, because she is so close by, and her mom is like a sister to me, I really got to be a part of the process.

The process made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me happy and then on September 20, I did all those things!

Janetta is a special little girl. She was born with some health issues so anyone that was willing to take her on was taking on a challenge. Janetta had to have heart surgery and that, of course, was stressful. She also has down syndrome, which has slowed her development down just a little, though you couldn't tell it. All you can really see on Janetta is a big 'ole smile.

Adoption is a special thing. And it takes special people to not only adopt but to adopt someone with special needs. My cousin, Amy, certainly fits in that category of "special" and even though I'd like to make a joke about her "specialness," I really am serious. Amy is one of those people you become grateful for knowing.

Amy is a very patient, kind and giving person. And she is by far the perfect mother for Janetta. As is Amy's husband, Janetta's father, Jonathan.

God had their little life all mapped out. It was a roller coaster ride but He brought them to Janetta. I think they would say the moment they met her, they fell in love and knew she was their little girl.

Their story amazes me for so many reasons. It amazes me because it truly shows how amazing God is. Their story shows how faith can really move mountains! They almost didn't get Janetta. Our system of adoption sucks! It's a long story and it's one I'm not going to tell because it takes too long. But, Amy and Jonathan, and our entire family, prayed and prayed and prayed. I am not sure I've ever prayed about anything so hard before. But I prayed for them hard and I KNEW, I just knew God would answer our prayers. He had to.

And he did.

And now, Janetta is there's. She's like a little piece of sunshine for our family. We love all the little ones in our family but Janetta, there's just something special about her. I can't imagine anyone more perfect for her than Amy and Jonathan!

Where did 2013 go?

Where in the heck did 2013 go? I am not digging the fact that it's October. Nope, not at all.

From here on out, my life will be psychotically crazy.

Work is crazy this time of year and so is life with little people.

We have Halloween/Fall coming up, which means I have to take the boys to every pumpkin farm within 40 miles of Nash County. 

Halloween is also a busy time for me at the paper because I have to find all the cute little children dressed up as monsters and goblins and get the best pictures ever. I also have to attend all those, or most of the, Fall Festival events all over the county. So I have to seriously balance my personal life with my work life.

 AND, now that Allen has a business, we have to deal with Halloween on that end too. His classes actually fall on Halloween and he's decided to cancel classes and instead participate in Nashville's Halloween events. He'll have a little booth at the park and give out goodies to all the kids. Maybe some will sign up for class. We need like 100 students so we can get our own building!

Since Corbin is in school now, they have little parties and stuff. And this year, Allen volunteered to help with the Halloween party which really means I am helping with the Halloween party! So there's that.


After Halloween is Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving is just stressful because we have to balance our lives with both my family and Allen's family and try to have a little bit of family time amongst our little family as well.

Then, there's Devin's FIRST birthday! Oh good grief! I have NO STINKING IDEA what to do for his birthday. Why must he have been born in December?!

We had a pool party for Corbin's first birthday and it was awesome. We did Elmo as the theme and it rocked. But now, with Devin we have to think of something that will accommodate the winter season,  and pick a time frame where people can actually attend. And, I have to plan it all too!

Allen's birthday is the same day as Devin's so I have to think of something for him as well. Ugh!


Then, of course, is Christmas! Even though Devin was born just before Christmas, he was in the hospital on Christmas and had no clue it was Christmas so really this is his first Christmas!

In between all this craziness at home is craziness at work. The holidays are crazy around here. We have the holidays off but that means we have to work extra hard so we CAN have the holidays off.

Let me just say, though, I am THANKFUL I don't have to cover the Black Friday madness. I would rather sit on a safety pin than have to cover that!

 I'm sure in between all this, there's more but I can't think of it. I do know I need to get pictures done of my crew. We haven't had a family picture ever and we've only done pics of the boys once. SO, let's just add that to the list, shall we?