the story behind the book...

I wanted to tell you a little bit about how my children’s book actually came into “real life”. 2 years ago in November, I decided to start a blog. I battled with this for a couple of months because I knew that starting a blog would mean being very real with my struggles and emotions...

Kaz and I had been going through infertility for almost 2 years when I started the blog...I, at the time, felt like no one understood what we were going through..None of our friends had really had this struggle, and to be honest, I had a hard time finding books, etc that dealt with infertility. I felt the Lord calling me to start a blog, but just not any blog, a blog that was real. Where I didn’t hold back...I feel like I have done that for the most part...

Since starting this blog, I’ve had hundreds of people tell me I needed to write a book. After hearing each comment or email, I just laughed because I’m horrible in grammar and English...I can’t spell, and I write exactly as I talk. In my opinion, that’s not exactly book material:) BUT, the seed was planted...Writing a book was always in the back of my mind, but I hadn’t been called to do that..It definitely excited me, but again there wasn’t a calling.

Last Easter, was completely different than Kaz and I planned. The beginning of April, we felt the Lord calling us to pray a very bold prayer. We had been in the adoption process at that point for almost a year and a half...We had been placed with a birthmom who was due to have a little boy in June 2011, but that relationship ended after she decided to keep the baby in Feb 2011. We were heartbroken, and it seemed like we were starting the whole process over. We felt the Lord calling us to pray the prayer that we would have a baby in our arms by Easter. We had almost a month of praying that prayer before Easter. I truly, honestly believed we would have a baby by Easter. I bought 2 Easter outfits[boy and girl]...I just kept trusting that the Lord was going to do this. He had called us to pray this bold prayer. About 2 weeks before Easter, I was up in DC visiting my sister n law. I got the dreaded phone call from Kaz that he had to fly out to Colorado to work on a project and could be there for 2-3 months! My heart sank...I knew that the Lord wouldn’t give us a baby with Kaz being half way across the US! We had been through this whole process together, and I knew that we would be together to share in the blessing of when the Lord blessed us with a child. For a day or two, I was sad, but just kept trusting that the Lord had a plan. That same week, we actually decided that I would spend a week with Kaz in Colorado...it was actually the week of Easter. We had such a good time and it was probably one of my favorite trips ever! While Kaz was at work during the day, I saw a lot of movies! I LOVE going to the movies, and there happened to be a theater right behind our hotel. I saw all different ones...There had been 1 movie I had been wanting to see...Arthur. I have no idea why I wanted to see this movie, but none the less, I went to see it! I walked away SO INSPIRED to write a book! I knew walking out of that theater that I was going to write a book..I just didn’t know what it would be about! Before going back to the hotel, I decided to swing by Target and pick up a pen and notepad. Not only was I going to write a book, but I was going to illustrate it too! WOW, OH WOW! Somethings just aren’t meant to be done:) I wrote a story and started on some drawings...Kaz encouraged me that “professional illustrators” would be the best option for drawings! HaHa! He was exactly right! While I knew I was being called to write a book, the true story wasn’t there. When I got home, I did a ton of reserach on book publishers. I wrote another story about adoption, but it wasn’t personal...We didn’t have our child yet so it was only what I imagined it would be like...I kept the story tucked away, and went on with my everyday life. In June 2011, we welcomed our daughter, Annie Rice, into our lives. A week after bringing her home, I felt the Lord saying to me, “Scratch your whole story, and write down what I’m saying...” I did. I sent the story to Kaz and he said he loved it! I didn’t waste anytime. I submitted the story to Tate Publishing on August 1st. I really, truly, believed that they would want to publish my book, but after 3 weeks went by of not hearing anything, I started doubting. I submitted the book to one other “editor” and just kept praying. The beginning of September, I got the amazing news that Tate wanted to publish my book! I was floored! The rest, has been truly amazing! I have seen the Lord open so many doors through this book, and I am excited to see how He uses it! I got to see the first full proof of the book yesterday[illustrations and everything] and it looks AMAZING! It's more than I could have ever imagined...I'm beginning to see this as a recurring pattern in my life! 

I can't wait to share more of this story and book with you! I have created a facebook page for the book, You Are So Special, Little One. Please "like" the page to learn more about updates and the release of this book:)

Eph 3:20...Now to HIM, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine...

writing....

Do you ever read my blog and think that I didn’t take English or Grammar classes growing up or in college? Because sometimes, I wonder that myself! I’ve mentioned several times that I’m not a writer, I’m not good at grammar, I can’t spell, and I know nothing about nouns, pronouns, punctuation, etc. AND YES, there are already spelling issues in just the above sentences that thankfully Microsoft word picked up:) BUT there’s other words that spelling check doesn’t pick up....The only person to ever point those out to me is my sweet, loving husband. Sometimes I wonder if he just laughs out loud when he see’s them because when he calls to tell me I’ve spelled something the wrong way, I can’t help but laugh! For instance, yesterday...Did anyone notice that I spelled my waist, my waste? Like trash. That’s just 1 example, but there were quite a few according to Kaz. 

My sophomore year of college, I took an English class with the HARDEST teacher at Francis Marion University. It was the only class still open so I didn’t really have a choice! Everyone told me going into it how hard core this teacher was! The first week of class she told us to write a rough draft of a personal experience in our life. We would have 3xs to show her our rough drafts and then the 4th time would be the final paper. No kidding, all 3xs she told me to keep the first sentence and start over! THANKFULLY, my sweet friend and roommate Anne had pity on me and helped re-write my whole paper! I don’t know what I would have done without her because this happened all semester long! My teacher, I know thought I was crazy because my favorite word[sometimes still is] was LEARNT. I used it all the time and finally she told me learnt was not a word! That has been a laughing joke amongst college friends since then BUT I still use it! AND I actually saw it in a book last year. I had to take a picture and send it to my friends:)

SO, PLEASE don’t think I’m a nut case when reading my blog! I use words wrong ALL THE TIME! I don’t even think about it. I probably spell them wrong all the time...I get quiet and quite, receipt and recipe, pen and pin, and a lot of other words confused all the time! AND I probably messed up somewhere in this post, BUT I LOVE TO WRITE! 

my sweet friend Anne....

phones and remotes...

These 2 videos display Annie Rice to a T. She's so funny! This one is of her playing with Kaz's phone in the airport. It was on vibrate and someone was calling!

It wouldn't surprise me if she one day speaks English and Chinese! Literally, it sounds like she is talking Chinese all the time! Last night she said so loud Won-Timeeee. It's the funniest thing to hear and Kaz and I laugh so hard at her!

hotel rooms and overpriced Santa pictures...

So this week, me and Annie Rice have been spending our days in the hotel room[it's a suite, which makes it a little bigger:)] while Kaz works...By Monday afternoon[the first day:)], I told him we needed to get out that night for dinner! A hotel room can get really small after a few hours with a toddler, only a few small toys, and no Disney channel:) 

 This is my make do high chair:)

So on Monday night, we decided to go to the mall...I'm not a big fan of studio/mall photos...That's just the photographer coming out in me BUT I really wanted a picture of Annie Rice with Santa Clause this year...I don't care about it every year but I did want one this first year. I have decided it will be the first and only year we have a picture with Santa! I'll tell you a little of the story...

So we get to the mall and start talking to the representative about the prices/packages. ALL I wanted was a digital copy of the picture. I didn't care one thing about prints...A cd WITH 1 PICTURE WAS $28! I almost fell in the floor...I won't even get on my soapbox about my views on photographers/prints/prices, etc BUT I instantly got in a down mood...and of course they wouldn't let you use your own camera even if you bought prints from them...I told Kaz nothing in me wanted to pay that much money for 1 picture BUT THE OTHER PART OF ME JUST WANTED THAT ONE PICTURE. Either way, I felt like I couldn't win....If we didn't get the picture, then I would be disappointed...If we did, I would be mad we paid that much money. I knew it would be that expensive at mostly any place we went give or a take a few dollars....So we ate dinner while I thought it over and I eventually decided to bite the bullet and get the picture. NEVER again will I pay that much $ for 1 picture. I really just wanted it as a keepsake of her first Christmas and seeing Santa with us for the first time....So here it is....

a year ago TODAY....

A year ago TODAY, was like any normal day. I remember sitting in the recliner watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta[yes, I watch this trashy show:(]...Kaz called and said our code word...We made up a code word so that the other person wouldn’t just keep talking about normal stuff...The code word meant good news from our adoption agency...I immediately stopped in my tracks and in my mind Kaz couldn’t talk fast enough. A year ago TODAY, we got a phone call about a baby...A BABY we thought was OUR BABY....A baby we wanted, prayed hard for, and fought for...BUT in the end the birthmom chose to keep him. It’s kind of ironic because 6 months ago almost to the exact day, she gave birth to that baby boy. We were crushed when she decided to keep him...BUT a day later we got THE phone call about our sweet, adorable, absolutely perfect daughter Annie Rice. A year ago TODAY, I thought the road would be easy...Looking back, it wasn’t easy at all BUT I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER in a heartbeat for Annie. TODAY I’m truly THANKFUL for ALL the Lord has done in our life. I’m THANKFUL for the hardships...I’m THANKFUL for HIS PERFECT PLAN...My heart is overflowing with THANKFULNESS...

 a year ago TODAY, I would have never imagined I would be sitting in my living room with a 17 month old little girl...HIS PLAN is perfect....HIS TIMING is perfect....HIS LOVE is perfect....

Praise God from whom all blessing AND TRIALS flow....

a year ago today, I didn't have all these memories...TODAY I AM TRULY THANKFUL!

memories...

 memories I never want to forget....

stressed, run down, BUT so THANKFUL....

This last week and a half has been a little crazy...well, actually it’s been a LOT crazy! Kaz found out last Monday he had to go to Colorado for right at 2 weeks...It couldn’t have come at a busier time for me with work....He left the next day, and it’s been me, Annie Rice, and Miley since BUT thankfully he comes home tomorrow:) I’m so excited! Like I mentioned, it’s been busy...BUT the Lord has really done so much! He has placed so many amazing people in our lives to help out! I’m so thankful for every single person...My parents, although they didn’t mind at all when I mentioned the word “Annie Rice” :), came down and watched Annie Rice all weekend. On Saturday, I literally got her up that morning and kissed her goodbye and didn’t see her not one other time that day...it was crazy! Not only did they watch Annie Rice, but they took care of Miley, went grocery shopping for me, ran errands for me, and cleaned my house...Blessed...

I’m so thankful for all of these guys in our Sunday School class for selflessly helping move some furniture out of our house on Saturday morning to a storage unit. There was only 3 pieces of furniture...Notice 8 guys! Wow, what a blessing..

 I’m thankful for my sweet pup Miley..At times, she can really annoy me and since June she has taken last place in this house BUT it’s times like these that I am EXTREMELY thankful for her. She has protected us while Kaz has been gone and just been such a comfort to me! She wakes me up every morning by putting her nose on the side of my bed until I roll over and hit her in the face...It’s her way of saying, “I’m ready to go out”! AND she hasn’t jumped on the bed NOT ONCE all week! Usually when Kaz is gone, I let her sleep in the bed with me but then I get in trouble when Kaz gets back because Miley tells on me by jumping on the bed at night:) BUT I haven’t given in not once and she hasn’t even tried jumping up! I am very thankful for her!!!

I’m thankful for good friends who have taken me out to dinner...given me Godly and wise counsel, and watched Annie Rice during my daily photography sessions...

I’m also very THANKFUL for each of you! I have received so many amazing emails the last few weeks...I have never even met many of you, yet I feel like I have so many wonderful friends all over the world! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support, encouragement, and prayers! 

oh hair....

In the grand scheme of things, this has NO RELEVANCE of importance BUT yet it still manages to creep up on me each day...I told you a few weeks ago I got my hair cut. It was only supposed to be 2-3 inches...in the end it was 6 without me realizing it:( I don't hate it, I just don't love it. I did NEED a haircut and it DOES look healthier but I want my long hair back:( I can't do anything but straighten it...if I curl it, I look like I was electrocuted.....This was the night I got it cut...I sent this picture to Liz. Her response, "Look at that sassy pose". Can you tell how excited I was from this picture..HaHa. I'm getting used to it BUT LOOK forward to the day it's long again:)