Cast of Character's

Today at school the kids and their classmates dressed up as Character's and paraded through the school while showing of their favorite books.

Fabulous F.U.N. idea!!!

My Miracle Baby

Today we finalized the adoption of our of Miracle Baby ~ Jacob Thomas Garcia.

I now feel completely at peace sharing a piece of his amazing story and journey into our family.

Many of you know that our boy Ethan has prayed without ceasing for a baby brother since August of 2006. Long after Brian and I gave up on the possibility of adding to our family – Ethan kept praying.

Just recently he began praying specifically that his baby brother would come from Russia. Sadly, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has been compromised over the years and even more so when the little boy in TN was returned to Russia by the women who adopted him.

Brian did his best to explain to Ethan that shy of a miracle his little brother would not be coming from Russia – if he was even to have a little brother.

So….Ethan prayed for a miracle! He prayed and asked God for a brother from Russia.

Just a few short weeks later I received an email from a long time friend. She had heard of a little boy who was adopted from Russia in November of 2009.

His former family had 2 biological children and felt called to adopt from Russia. They went through the long process and even traveled to Russia 3 times.

While in Russia they did not feel like they were to be his parents. They didn’t quite “get it” but they knew they were to complete the process and bring him home.

Several weeks after coming home from Russia with him they realized they were not bonding with him as they had with their biological children. They were kind to him. They nurtured and took care of him but they knew they were not his forever family and so they begin seeking placement for him.

I have to pause for a moment and give thanks to my dear friend Nicole who saw the email about this little guy and forwarded it on to me. Nicole THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart. Words will never express our sincere gratitude to you!!

As a result of that email we contacted the family. We exchanged emails, photos and agreed to meet. They were just an hour North and so we made regular trips to get to know him and for him to get to know us.

I can honestly say that within the first 5 minutes we knew, that we knew, he was a GARCIA! Just look at him!

And they knew too! They knew that for a reason none of us could explain they were called to travel half way around the world ~collect our son~ and deliver him to us.

This story is nothing short of a miracle. And no words or amount of details will give God the Glory He so deserves…all I can say is that the Lord has shown our family incredible favor and once again has blessed us beyond all that we could have ever hoped, dreamed or imagined.

Jake is an amazing kid, a terrific little brother and the most perfect completion of our family.

Please join us in officially welcoming him into the Growing Garcia’s.

Jamboree Day 8~28~2010

GO CANES!!!

In a Million Words or Less

In an effort to get to know her students better, Madison's teacher asked each parent to write a paper and "In a Million Words or Less" share as much about our child as possible.

I love to write and share about my kids so this "paper" was a fun homework assignment for me. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a Million Words or Less

Madison. Madison. Madison.

Out of all 4 of my kids, this assignment was most appropriate for Madison. I will do my best to keep my comments to a “Million Words or Less”. 

Madison is #3 in a family of 4. Until May 19th of this year she was the “baby” of the family. That position has recently been handed down to our new son Jacob (he is 4 and adopted from Russia– but that is another paper).

While Madison LOVED the “baby” position she gladly surrendered it to her new little brother. She is a tender, kind, loving and MOTHERLY big sister.

She looks up to and respects her (not so much) older brother (Ethan) and sister (Sadie).

Madison like all her siblings was also adopted. She though (unlike all of her siblings) does not like to talk about or share with others that she is adopted. She only wants to talk about being a “Garcia”.

Madison is sensational, dramatic, fun, emotional, very raw and real about her feelings. You ALWAYS know where you stand with Madison and what kind of mood she is in. She has been nick named “Hollywood” and has earned that name time and time again. 

Madison is very sensitive and can get her feelings hurt when things don’t quite go as she expected but she has a heart of gold and is quick to forgive. She can be slow to let people into her circle because when she does she loves with her whole being and is loyal beyond words.

She LOVES to read and will read daily without being asked or reminded. She enjoys everything pink, princess, Fancy Nancy or anything frilly and girly. She is our girly girl!

She likes to swim, dance, sing, perform, draw, play games, have play dates and sleepovers with her friends.

She is an interactive and social child. She does not spend much time watching TV or on the computer and although she has a DS she does not play it often.

We are Christians and our walk with the Lord is very important to our family. We attend church regularly, and we are actively involved in the local community as well as communities abroad. It is our hope that we raise all of children with a thankful and GIVING heart.

I hope this summary of our little girl has given you a little insight to her (and us). Please never hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Back to School Cuties

Looking Sharp!

and so hip!

Gator Surprise

My BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, GENEROUS, KIND, AMAZING AND SUPER TALENTED MOTHER

made these cool candy treats for all the teachers

and little gator classmates to say Welcome Back!

Thank you Mom for NEVER ceasing to amaze me and the kids and for making EVERY occasion a special and memorable one.

School Spirit

WELCOME BACK ~ Madison :~)

WELCOME BACK ~ Sadie :~)

WELCOME BACK ~ Ethan :~)

HAPPY 2010-2011 School Year.

Back to school Mani/Pedi's

Every little girl NEEDS a mani/pedi before going back to school, right?

Well that's what we and about 30 other little ladies and mommas thought...so that's what we did!!

And we LOVED LOVED LOVED every minute of it :)