.49 DIY Christmas Gift

We have been drinking a lot of hot chocolate this season and I wanted to get the girls their own mugs for Christmas. I was thinking some cute initial mugs from Anthropology and then I remembered something I pinned on Pinterest.  I waited until Goodwill had their 50% off sale (the first Saturday of the month) and I found 2 white mugs for half off.  I looked up some cute fonts and then practiced them on a piece of paper.

                               I took a Sharpie pen and wrote their names and initials on their mugs.

 There are so many things you could do with them.  I am not an artist so I decided on their names.  I was not as happy with Ivy's but there was no going back once I started.  I can always do it over if I have a better idea.

                                     Bake them for 3o minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool Completely.

I Remember.....

                                                       Lucy's 1st Gotcha Day Last Year

We try not to treat the girls' Gotcha Days as big as their birthday but we do try to make it a special day. Today, we got Lucy her present (Doc McStuffins) when she woke up, had pancakes, she picked going to the  Cool Springs mall to play, and then one of her favorite girls, Karli is coming to swim with the whole family.  Here are some things that I remember.  Things that I don't want to forget.

I remember....I prayed so hard that Lucy would be adopted before her first birthday, something that was unheard of in the foster care system.  God answered my prayer and she was adopted 9 days before her first birthday.

I remember.... Wendy and Hollie came to court with us and the Judge told them where they could stand to video.  They both started crying before we even started so the bailiff had to bring them both kleenex.

I remember.....We all took pictures with Lucy in the waiting room and our lawyer came up and scolded us because we couldn't take pictures there because there were minors in the waiting room waiting for court.

I remember..... feeling sad, sitting there watching all of these families waiting to go have their case heard before the judge because of custody and parents losing their children and we were sitting there so happy. ( Matt even knew a girl that was waiting).

I remember....being overwhelmed with God's goodness.  After all of the years of trying to stay faithful to the Lord in this trial, I couldn't wait to be done with that awful system they call Foster Care, yet I would do it again to have my Lucy.

I remember.....Looking at her and thinking how beautiful she was.  In awe that she was my daughter.

I remember.... being so happy for Ivy.  She had prayed for a sibling for a couple of years and it was such a special time to talk about how wonderful God is to show her His goodness in her life by bringing her a sister.

I remember.... the feeling of total contentment.  Wanting nothing else.

I remember.... feeling how undeserving I was to have Matt as their daddy.  He's the best and loves all of his girls.  (I'm one of them!)

Both of my girls have a verse that I have claimed as theirs.  Lucy's was on her announcement.
Her adoption announcement read Lamentations 3:23 " Great is Your faithfulness"
And I remember.....He continues to be just that...faithful.

Elliott Happenings

Hey Y'all!  It has been so long.  It's not like I haven't had anything to do.  haha.  I have finally started to get my head out of the clouds and see clearly.  It has been a whirlwind few months for our family.  One thing that keeps going through my mind is how kind God has been to us.  We don't deserve anything  yet He has given us so many things that have been the desires of our hearts for so long. Matt is working alot but loving his job, training to be a manager for Waffle House.  I am finally a stay at home mom!  It surprisingly took some adjusting but I am happy and thankful.  We love our new church.  I even had a few ladies over to swim yesterday with their kids.  How is that for branching out and meeting people!   Here are some pictures of events that we have done over the last few months. (I actually downloaded them in backwards order so if you want to see them in order, start at the bottom.  Sorry!)

Ivy starting 1st grade.

                                                          Making cinnamon rolls.

 Potty training Lucy.  She is doing AMAZING!  Not one accident in over a week.  (We just started last Monday!)

                                                                   Swimming

                                               Unpacking....then unpacking some more!

                                     Our cute town.  Spring Hill,Tennessee......I'm so in love!

                                             Road trip to Tennessee. 4 ten hour plus days!

                                      Seeing Friends long the way.  Mick and Terry Pagach

                                        Hanging out waiting for them to change our flat tire. :(

                                                Saying goodbye to Washington friends.

                                                      Packing it up in Washington.

                                        July started with Hollie getting married in California!

 Lamentations 3:222-23  " The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Breakfast with Lulu

We were getting to bible study a little early and there just happens to be a Krispy Kreme down the street. Had to stop in with my Little Lu. I have never seen her eat a donut so fast! She loves donuts like her Momma. (By the way, I ordered one for her and then one for me. The guy took too long getting them so when he got back, I told him to throw another one on there....I know...I'm sad.)

Lulu's summer fun in Iowa

If you don't have a pool at Grandma and Grandpa's house, just pull an old bucket out of the garage!

Iowa pictures

I have been wanting my brother to take pictures of my kids for a long time now. He is one of a long line of friends who have gotten really good at photography (so much so that I cringe as they look at my pictures on my blog and facebook.) When I went home to Iowa with my girls (Hollie came a few days later) he took some pictures at a beautiful place in Illinois called Heritage Park. Here are some favorites.Props to my brother Kyle (here with his family, Becca (my SIL) Mayah, Mason, Madison, and McCalin)
Aunt Hollie with all of her kids (all the cousins)
Behind the kids is the Mississippi River seperating Iowa and Illinois.
A sweet kiss from my girl.
Ivy 5 1/2
Lulu almost 2!




Thank you Kyle! I already ordered some for my home.

Lucy's First Haircut

Before we left for our vacation to Iowa, Lucy got a haircut by my friend Sarah. I was so worried that she was going to loose her curls. If that would happen I would bawl my eyes out! Haha. Sarah just trimmed it up to make it even and did a great job.

Lucy was a great sport and stood so still. She had to stand up because she is so small.

Here she is before the first cut. She was wondering what was going on. Haha. Love her!
Iowa pictures coming soon!

I had been wanting to get Lucy a Baby Be Blessed doll when she was officially adopted and part of the Elliott family. I finally ordered it right before Christmas. You can get a doll that looks like your child. I chose the Maria doll (named after Maria Sue Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter that had passed away) That one is for Hispanic or Asian children. I got to choose the clothes that I wanted and choose what I wanted the label on her belly to be. I love it and so does Lucy. Ivy has a doll named Sissy Babes so we call this one Lulu Babes.
Her doll says..."Lucy Ann

Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentatians 3:23

Gotcha Day August 18,2010"
The girls with Lulu Babes and Sissy Babes.

Happy Sunday

Celebrating Lucy

We had an adoption/birthday party for Lulu this weekend. Lot's of food, fun, and fellowship to celebrate our little girl. I had been praying that Lucy would be adopted before her 1st birthday and she was! (Her birthday is Thursday) God even had her adopted before her party. He is so good and kind!

Two of my closest friends, Ashley and Wendy
Aunt Hollie

The Wells family

Getting candy from the pinata.
Big sister Ivy