Jori Marie Holland

Jori Marie Holland
March 26, 2010
18 1/2 inches
5lbs 2 oz

We are truly so blessed!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the LORD," plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Waiting for that "perfect" match!

We definitely go through our ups and downs on this journey . . . the last year has felt like an eternity at times.

I can't help but ponder the emotions that any family that is thinking about placing a child for adoption would be.  I know our feelings, anticipations, and desires . . . but I can't imagine what the other family is going though!

I pray for every birth family that is going through that very difficult task of sorting through profiles, looking at scrapbooks, dealing with their own grief and anticipation yet trying to pick the perfect family for their precious child.  I am so in awe of and so thankful for such families.  Watching families come together through adoption gets me every time.  I can't help but get emotional for anyone that gets that long awaited "match" for I so remember that day with Jadon.

Every night we wait until Jadon is asleep and we just stand by his bed and just look at him in awe.  Many of these nights, I can't help but get tears of just pure happiness that this child is in our home.  Even though he has been in our family for 5 1/2 years that emotion never fades.  We are so excited about the future and adding another bedroom to visit each night before we go to sleep.  We know God has a perfect plan and that perfect family for us . . . and we eagerly anticipate that day when we will meet them.

For now I will leave you with what I found one night when going in to just look at my boy while he slept.  We had just been to the monster truck show and he just thought the ear protectors were the coolest thing.  He just HAD to sleep with them.  I just love these times . . . .

One GREAT weekend!

Can I just say that I LOVE that I have the ability to take last minute trips? Stephen talked me into taking Jadon to our church's family spring break retreat and make it a really special mommy/Jadon time since he could not go.

My oh my . . . I could not have guessed how much fun we could have and what a special time it was! Jadon tried many new things (canoeing, zip line, horse back ride, tennis, paddle boat). Here are some pics of our awesome weekend!

Amazing race FBCG style. Jadon was the top of the pyramid singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Walking the bike . . . although he is getting so much better at riding it. (I love this picture even though it is a bit fuzzy!)

A Lady Bug!! Jadon thought it was greatness!

Hike through the woods.

Attempting to play Tennis.

Beautiful views!

Paddle boats ride

Awesome to see the horses!

We then of course had to go ride them!

Jadon's very first horse back ride.

First Canoe ride.

First Zip Line experience . . . SOOO Excited!! We both got to go at the same time!

Smiling at everyone that was cheering him on below.

I am flying like "Go Diego Go" (Of course I have to take pictures while going down)

Awesome!!!

Greatest Day!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a mommy!

14,959 and counting . . . .

14,959 . . . . is the number of pictures I have of Jadon since he became our son (I know the number because they are all tagged in my digital image software). I have a total of 30, 067 pictures so that means half of all my pictures taken digitally ever had Jadon in them. Yes . . . I am a nut! :-)

To the people who know me . . . not a surprise . . . I am a camera freak!! I LOVE capturing all of our moments together. Thank goodness for external hard drives and digital picture frames!! Just wait until baby #2 arrives . . . I am sure the camera will never shut off!!

Jadon and I get to go on a mommy/son camp out retreat with our church this weekend. I am so excited to spend this special time with him. I am sure we will break the 15,000 picture barrier this weekend!

I thought I would look through and put pictures from the week of March 12 from the past few years . . . enjoy!

March 2005 - 6 months old

March 2006 - 18 months (love this of Stephen and Jadon)

March 2007 - 2.5 years old

March 2008 - 3.5 Years old

March 2009 - 4.5 Years old

Monster Jam!!!!

Jadon's first trip to Monster Jam!

Being a silly man . . . dancing in the pit!

Monster Mutt

Writing on the pit cars . . .

BATMAN!!!!

Awesome jumps!

Uh oh . . . .

Not good . . . .

Ouch . . .

and that damage cost $18,000 just for the fiberglass body . . .

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Captains Curse . . . the winner for the night!

Pure Awesomeness!

Cult Energy Activator

GRAVE DIGGER!!!!

The Air Force should have stuck to flying!

DONE!

Great night had by all!