I need to stop

I need to stop....

looking and crying over "Gotcha Videos" on youtube

Checking the Korea forum for any more referrals and travel calls

looking at beautiful Korean baby girls

eating so much sugar

going to garage sales

buying girly things

wondering when we will get "The call"

checking craigslist for a beautiful white baby crib

thinking of ways to earn/raise more money for the adoption expense

making a list of things to take with us to Korea

thinking of things to buy while in Korea

wishing I was putting together a care package to send to our baby

....because the wait for a referral is getting longer and

honestly I feel like I will never be holding my baby girl!

This is so hard!

She needs to stop looking at me with those puppy eyes. Sheesh

I will

I want to make a difference in this world, in my life, and for someone else. I can make a difference with God's direction. With one life at a time. I may not save the world, but I can save a life, an orphan. Many people have questioned why adopt from another country, internationally. My answer, every life, every child, no matter color, race, culture, religion, derserves a home, a family. God is love and God is equal. That is how I choose, to be equal. God called me to a child, and I answered. I have a home full of love to give, a passion for Christ, and this is how I choose to express it. God has provided and given to me. I choose to provide and give to someone else who has no other chance but through me. God has love to give and I have a heart to love. Changing the world with one life at a time. I choose to give to the poor within my community, but I choose to give a home to an orphan thousands of miles away. God is leading my life, my passion is to follow. I want to make a difference in this world and I will make a difference. Will you?

Urgent prayer for Stellan

Baby Stellan is in critical condition. Will all of you join together and pray, fast, kneel on his behave this morning!
Visit MckMama's website, immediately!
Love
Sunnymama

Update: Abby (adopted and has cancer) has an infection in her blood. Could become very serious due to cancer and low immune system.

Please keep them in your prayers also!

a mommy's favorite game

Feeling like you have a long list of to dos in your home?
....laundry, make your bed, pick up toys, or wipe down the counters

How about needing some mommy time for a little peace and quiet or a quick cat nap?

But your children are begging you to play and spend some quality time with them!

I have a way to accomplish all those in this one game.

Seriously, today I switch the loads of laundry around and folded some clothes, made my bed, picked up the five cups that miraculously get scattered about the house along with shoes, toys, clothes, doggy treats, and did I mention cups (we only allow drinks in the kitchen and dining area....Mmmm!)

I sat quietly in a dark room for 5 minutes with no interruptions and still managed to play the best game in the world!

Do you know what game I am talking about????

HIDE N SEEK!

Yes, the best game...

Here are a little tips to get your started

First, give the children a section of the house to hide in so you can clean the other half

Then you begin by they hide, you count

Count slowly, giving them plenty of time to hide giving you time to pick up the living room.

Then begin to search for the children saying loudly "Are you in the closet?" As you open the closest to put away the shoes from the living room.

You slowly make your way around the house, not really looking for them, but asking where on earth they could be. As giggling arises you know exactly where they are and where not to look. You pick up many other items off the floor and put them away. Finally you look under the bed to find two smiling and giggling faces. They think they have tricked you.

Now it's your turn to hide.

Find a really dark place, quiet and mysterious, where you can close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Your children will be running around, getting exercise, trying to find mommy. While you get some much needed quiet time.

Enjoy and your welcome.

The heart of a child

After much prayer and decision making, Studly and I have updated our medical checklist. From the beginning of our adoption journey, we had decided to adopt a child with minor special needs. Holt International has a list of medical needs that we filled out and sent in with our paperwork way back in February. Since then, Holt created a new checklist with more medical needs with a box to check minor, moderate, major next to the diagnosis. Last week, we sent in the new medical checklist with about double the diagnosis' that we had chose prior. The majority of the needs we specified, that we are open too, are minor and most likely are resolved by the time we get our baby girl. However, we did place a X on a few moderate needs. We already know that God has our beautiful baby picked out and we felt led to redo our medical checklist and be open to more needs.

This summer is flying by fast and I have been enjoying the time with my children. Con will be in first grade this year which means all day school for him. I am feeling very torn about this. So, I am enjoying my time with him. My "bonus" children, unfortunately, are not with us as much as we would like. They live an hour away from us. So, during the school days, it will just be Hutter and I. I will love that time however, because soon he will be sharing that time with his little sister.

On that same topic, we have been praying about homeschooling. We feel as though God gave us our children to teach and raise and love at all times. I feel strongly that another person, eight hours a day, should not be teaching and influencing my children. So, we are praying about this. If anyone homeschools or is thinking about it also, I would love to hear from you. It would not be until next year and after the baby is home because I currently have to work my two days a week to save for the adoption. After she is home, I am going to work less and have more time for homeschooling, if that is the path we choose.


I have not been blogging lately, because I am spending some time reading some different books in parenting and choosing to focus on my children and my home lately. I mostly blog in the evening but I am using that time to read and spend extra time with my Studly! I have been reading the book of Proverbs to Con. I highly recommend reading it to your children. It is a great lesson for our life and how we live for God and remain focused on Him. Con is getting to the age where I am focusing on his heart. The way he deals with anger, selfishness, control, friends, etc... For example, when he takes a toy away from his brother. We talk about wanting the toy for himself is selfish because we as humans have a selfish nature because we are sinners. However, God asks us to be selfless and to think about others. Also, talking about how we should treat others how we would want to be treated. Does that make since? I think as parents we forget about what is truly driving our children's hearts. We just think well stop being mean to your brother and share. That concept of parenting is not changing the heart of the child and teaching true meaning of why he is taking the toy. Bringing back the concept that God died for our sins and placing our heart on the cross is where we need to be. That is where my focus has been with Con. I am also working with Hutter on it but at a two year old level, of course. This is my primary reason for being away from blogging and we are enjoying this summer immensely.

Can you tell?

Wordless Wednesday

Pitiful, Pocket sized Problem

Is this a problem???

Okay, I will have to admit I may have bought a inadequate,minuscule, pitiful, pocket sized ample, corpious, plentiful, grandiose, and hefty amount a clothing for our Baby J.

However, I am here to clear the air!

Can I tell you a little secret that I have learned from living on a budget! You can buy amazing beautiful things at garage sales!

I am hear to show off all the shirts, dresses, jeans, capris, shoes, and outfits that I have purchased from garage sales.

Literally, I spent between 25cents to a dollar on every item listed below!

Here is everything purchased at a garage sale!

All Old Navy items!

Just got this addorable little dress!

I love shopping for my little girl! This has really helped me with passing the time.

Today, we went to get fingerprinted for our I600A. One less step to my baby girl!

Here is my favorite top I have bought thus far...

Can you picture our little asian beauty with this on and one of these from my friends who own BriarClaire?

Anyone else find great kid bargains at garage sales?

Lake Vacation

We decided about a month ago to head down to Table Rock, Mo for a lake vacation. Studly's aunt and uncle live down there on the lake and we decided to overtake their pretty home with seven children and six adults. My sister in law and her family, and my parent in laws all joined along for a fun relaxing, boat floating, lake swimming, jet ski flying, cheapest vacation on earth, good ole time!
We left Friday afternoon and returned Sunday evening. Saturday we took two boats, that Studly's aunt and cousin have, and a jet ski (that we lended from my brother...thanks bro!) and headed down to the lake. The kids had an absolute blast. We took them out on the tubes being pulled by the boats, we anchored and let them jump off and take a dip to cool off, and jet skiied to catch some waves from the other boaters! The girls (which are all the oldest in the family, three of them) jumped off the cliff! The boys( all the youngest, four of them) attempted by climbing up there, being manipulated by Studly and Papa. But to no avel did not succeed in their attempts to get the boys to jump 25ft off a cliff into the rocky lake waters!

We all loaded food to take with us and made our meals while we were there. It was a fun and quick vacation. Worth every penny because that is pretty much all we spent, and enjoyed our one and only vacation for a while. You know that adoption thing costs a buckle load of money!
Of course, we leave and the camera battery was shot! We planned to charge it while we were there but we were to busy chasing and feeding seven children to get that done! Some other family members took some photos that hopefully I can post later!

Baby J's nursery inspiration

I have dreamed of decorating a baby girl nursery for years. I always thought I would conceive a baby girl.

However, God had other plans for me.

I received a wonderful step-daughter at the bright young age of five.


I never got to decorate a nursery for her. However, we are slowly decorating her room, as we speak.


Then, I was sure Hutter was going to be a girl. I even had Studly convinced, he was a she! We were both completely shocked that He arrived. Then after Hutter was born, I was completely done having children. I stated that statement several times to many, many people.

However, God had other plans for me.

Throughout the last couple of years, I felt God saying to me "Your not done." Done what? I continue to pray back. As I continued to grow in my quiet time with the Lord and became closer to Him through reading. The words became louder "Your not done." When you begin to connect with God on a deeper level, realizing how He is a part of Everything in your life, the louder His words speak to you. Your ears are open to His voice.

I filled my life with baby girls. I was continually choosing primaries (A baby you pick to take care of everytime you work) at work that were girls. I would make their beds all girlie with pink and purple and flowers.

I have been waiting a long time to decorate a baby girl room. And according to my agency, we could be waiting upto a year or longer for our baby. However, that is not stopping me from getting inspired for her room.

Here are some rooms with the feel and style I am going for:









I want to paint this dresser that I got for $25.00 from a garage sale the same color as the bottom cabinets in the picture above with some new glass handles.



Then I found this chair at the curb, cost $0.00


Can you picture it white or off white with new striped fabric? With some turquoise, pink, and white in it or a shabby cottage floral design?



I picked up this fabric at a fabric store with a 50% off coupon I had. Great deal!
I am going to make the dust ruffle, some pillows, and whatever with it.





I got this crib sheet (See it is from Pottery Barn) for 25 cents. What a steal!

I have found some other fun items at garage sales for the room also. I have a shelve and frames to paint and slowly collecting other things to help pass the time for this long wait for my baby girl!

However, God may have another plan!

Hutter "the prop"

I have been researching for sometime now about baby carriers. There are so many out there to choose from. It is like trying to pick the best apple from the tree. Impossible.

With my first born, Con, I never had a baby carrier, never heard of baby wearing. He was in a stroller all the time. Lounging back in his blue and tan stroller that match his cute little infant carseat just six years ago. Wow, how time flies. Back then they did not even have digital photos.




Then with Hutter, I invested in a hotsling, nice, but it was a ford, compared to others out there now.

Through research, I have become aware of the many benefits to babywearing, especially in an adopted child. Having the baby close to you, next to your beating heart, secure in her sling next to her new mommy, has many wonderful aspects to the bonding and attachment that is very important to an adopted child and the parent.

After many hours, late at night, I made my decision on the beco butterfly 2. I received it in the mail today. Wow, am I happy and glad with my chose. This carrier is amazing. It states that it can hold a toddler upto 40lbs. Well, I decided to put it to the test.

(I know, not a great photo. You could donate a Canon or Nikon, really!:) )

Here is Hutter in the beco butterfly carrier today. It came with an instructional video and I quickly ran through the instructions and gave it a shot. It was easy to pick up and put it right on. I carried him around for 40 minutes. He loved it. I held him on the front and back. I never became uncomfortable or achy in any areas, such as lower back or shoulders. It has great support.

I bought my carrier from Quiry Baby. It is a cute online store.

I highly recommend them for a purchase. Right now with orders (depending on the amount) are giving Babylegs away free. I received two free organic pair with my purchase.

Well, I was in the mood to try out all my new products including the Babylegs. Hutter once again helped me out in that department.



Oh He makes such a cute little girl!
FYI...I will make sure he does not see this post in the future.

MckLinky Blog Hop

With one girl and three boys, we are desperate to add another girl to the mix! We have decided to adopt her from Korea to help even out the playing field in this Cole household! I am Sunnymama, the leader submissive wife, to Studly and we have one calm crazy household! This blog is a journey through life, following our Lord, and living each day to its fullest potential! We get dirty with finger paint, clean food off the floor daily, eat organically, exercise regularly, garage sale and care for sick newborns weekly, visit the "time-out" minutely, journey through our adoption, and enjoy keeping a record of it all! Feel free to join along. Because, honestly, we all deserve something free once in a while!

Yummy sweet potato toppin!

Here is a fabulous concoction for all the sweet potatoes hanging out in your frig with nothing better to do!

Just give them a yummy topping to satify their your sweet desires!

Healthy sunny summertime meal.

First, clean (I use soap and water) and prick with fork your sweet potatoes. I wrap mine in the cling wrap (keeps the moisture in) and microwave them. Microwave on High until tender all the way to the center, 12 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, place in a baking dish and bake at 425 degrees F until tender all the way to the center, about 1hour.)

Meanwhile, combine in medium bowl...

1 can of black beans, rinsed


tomato (any amount desired)


onion (any amount desired)


garlic to likings


1 tablespoon olive oil


1 teaspoon cumin and coriander, salt to taste, and a splash of lime juice

Microwave mixture on high for 2-3 minutes

When just cool enough to handle, slash each sweet potato lengthwise, press open to make a well in the center and spoon the bean mixture into the well. Top each with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro.



I got so excited to eat mine I forgot to take a picture of the beautiful finished product, so here is the half eaten one of mine.

Studly was NOT a fan of sweet potatoes until I got my pretty little hands on them. He loved this concoction.

I also made sweet potato fries the other day, which are amazing to say the least!

Enjoy!