Upcoming Court Dates

Well ladies, I don't think that I have written a more personal blog since the one right before I got Morgan. I have known for a few weeks that we have new court dates of October 21st &22nd. I haven't said anything to anyone because they have been delayed continuously since July; however, it now seems that these are firm dates. This will be for TPR (termination of parental rights) and placement. The TPR we are not so worried about. Not 1 item on Morgan's mothers case plan has been achieved and just so that you get a grasp on the situation this was not hard stuff. The major things were stable housing with the exception of living with her parents (who technically aren't her legal parents because their rights were terminated when she was about 12 I believe), a stable job for at least 6 months (she hasn't had a job at all since last summer), she doesn't have a drivers license and can't read very well and refuses to get tutored for her GED. I feel really sorry for her because I know that she loves Morgan. It is just a classic case of love is not enough and she doesn't even GET IT. She just literally does not understand that there is a better life available, it is a sad situation. Her aunt is what we are really worried over. Her home evaluation was approved by her county (who approves everything) but was denied by DFCS. She filed a motion to intervene so now we will have to fight it out in court. Just some of the reasons why this is not a good option is this aunt half raised Morgan's mom, she is on disability, she is older, she has a live in boyfriend whom she says that she can't marry because it will affect her disability payment, and this live-in boyfriend has a 6 year old with his own set of issues. Those are just a few of the highlights and not even the best ones, trust me there are more! I believe to quote her exactly when the GAL asked her if she was prepared to deal with the problems that would come with getting Morgan she responded, "What is there to fixin' one more peanut butter sandwich?". Are you kidding me???? I am lucky because I truly could not have hand picked a better case worker, who me and Morgan both love dearly. The CASA is great, the Guardian Ad Lidem is wonderful and Morgan's therapist is going to carry great weight with the court. I feel truly blessed that we have this great team working for Morgan. The SAG representing this case feels strongly that we don't have anything to worry about. But I am beyond worried. Court isn't expected to be over in 2 days. The case worker says that it will take at least 3 if not more to get through all the witnesses. After every witness has been called the judge has up to 30 days to decide his ruling and they have told me to expect him to take all of it.

I can't even put into words the fear that I feel when I know what could happen. It is so hard when you want the end to come so badly, but at the same time it is your biggest fear because you don't know what the outcome will be.

I can't remember my life or my world before I had Morgan; it all seems so distant and trivial at best. I may not have given birth to her in the conventional sense, but she was born in my heart as my own child. I love her with a fierceness that I have never felt before. She is mine and I am hers. I feel that I have been prepared my whole life for this journey and I can only hope that it is a journey that will continue to last a lifetime. I would be honored to be given a lifetime with this special child of God, but am so grateful for the time that I have been given. I have seen a life blossom. I can not tell you the progress that Morgan has made in the 20 months that I have had her. She is a smart, inquisitive, loving, strong-willed, tender hearted, perfect child who brightens my life every day (even though her greatest joy these days is ruining all of her clothes playing in the red dirt at school) ; ). Most days I kind of laugh about this with friends and family, but Morgan cries most days when she gets on the bus to go to school. She skips down the driveway every morning only to climb two steps up the bus and turn to reach out to me and say, "but Mommy, I will miss you." And I mean pretty much EVERY day. Oh my, to tell you what progress this is that she even trust someone enough to let them know that she loves you this much and trusts that you will come and get her when you are finished at work. She says she wants to be a Mommy when she grows up, a nice one she says. At night time, if she isn't already asleep when I put her to bed or if she is still partially awake, she will say "There is no reason to be scared 'cause God will protect me." These are just a few of the things that she says every day that just GET me. They cause my heart to do little flips in my chest and make me realize that my cup truly runneth over. Morgan has made me GET IT, she makes me realize all the good things in life that I might normally take for granted.

So, I guess I rambled on forever to say this. I KNOW that prayer works. I have seen it work in many ways in my life (and in some of my blogger buddies lives recently too). I would like to ask all of you, my blogger sisters, to please pray for Morgan and everyone involved in this case. Please pray for me to have strength, the lawyers and case workers the clarity and knowledge that they need to make the judge see all of the evidence, and also pray for Morgan's mom because I can't imagine what it will be like for her when TPR occurs whether Morgan goes to her aunt or stays with me. I just ask please PRAY and when you are finished pray some more.

I know that God has great things planned for both mine and Morgan's lives and I just have to have faith that whatever may come I can remember that.

In the meantime, here is a picture of Morgan to inspire all of you prayer warriors out there.

Ta-Da!!!!

Morgan is loving gymnastics and has really started learning quickly over the last few weeks. It seems that all of a sudden she can just do lots of things that she hasn't been able to do before. I think that they learn everything like that. Here is a video of her doing some cartwheels.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Here are a few pictures of Morgan from the last few days....just because they are cute!!!

Ready for school and eating string cheese.

Just too cute! I could eat her up. What a little ham!!!

What a BIG girl she looks like in this pic! Makes mommy sad.....

Vacation Whirlwind-Part 2 (in video)

Here are a few of the short videos that I took while we were on vacation in Orlando. The first one is one of my fav's because Morgan LOVED the dolphins and SeaWorld. There is also video of Tinkerbell's much anticipated flight, Morgan swimming, the kids racing their Lego cars, and a short clip of Morgie talking about the vacation on our last night. Hope that you enjoy!!!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Vacation Whirlwind Part 1

We had tons of fun on our trip. I had over 500 pics to sort through, so I decided to do a slideshow. I was a bit overwhelmed trying to pic a few for the 'ole blog. Our trip wasn't without it's share of drama but we enjoyed it anyway. I will have to say that the 1 person that voted for Belle (uhummm, Ang) was the winner of the survey. Although, it really wasn't fair because we didn't get to meet Snow White (ARGHHH!!!) and Tink was a close second with her flight.


Probably my favorite memory of the whole trip was the fireworks at Disney. Morgan had really taken in the story of how I told her that Tinkerbell would fly from the top of the castle and was really looking forward to it. When the show started they play all the music about wishes coming true and all that it tells you at one point that you can never make enough wishes. I told Morgan to make and wish and she bowed her little head and clasped her hands like she was praying, so stinkin' cute!!! I was in tears by this point. I am a sucker for Cinderella's castle anyway. But then Morgan just keep on looking at the sky with the brightest, biggest eyes I have ever seen then she would look at me and say, "Oh Mommy, my wish is coming true. It's really coming true!" Over and over......well that pretty much dissolved me into a BIG pile of mush! Come on, I am in tears now just thinking about it!!!


Hope you girls enjoy the slide show and we are glad to be home!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wordless Wednesday (wk 4)

Water Park Fun

We went to this new water park for kids today with Bethie, Josh and the kids. It was soooo much fun. I almost bailed because I haven't been feeling good and I guess I overdid it today and started feeling really cruddy right before we left. I am glad that I went ahead and went. Let me just say that this place is awesome. Just right for kids Morgan and Olivia's age.

Here is a picture of one part of the park. This was Morgan's favorite thing. She loved the slide. I kinda thought that it might scare her but I was WRONG!

This is right after we got there. It took some coaxing to get her to do this because she hates to be sprayed with water. She will willing put her head under but hates to be splashed or squirted. She loved it one she went through it the first time.

Here are the girls together.

Morgan coming down the slide for the first time.

Morgie loved playing in the fountains too.

She loved stepping on them and sitting on them.

The other side of the part had a little lazy hooch. We suited the kids up in life vest and let them go. This turned out to be an awesome way for the kids to practice swimming against the current. They loved it...can you tell????

Morgan had this look of complete and utter joy on her face the entire time that we were there.

Here are the girls trying to catch each other.

Cool pic of Morgan after the sun started going down.

Beth, Josh and the kiddies left after about an hour and a half but Morgan wanted to stay so we did. One of Morgan's friends from her class last year was there too. She had a great time playing with her too.

This is Morgan, Emily, and Emily's big sister.

Morgan and Emily before we left. They are TOO CUTE!

Here is a video that I took of the girls coming down the slide.

We stopped at KFC on the way home and Morgan was in heaven. I had to take a picture because she is just too funny where there is chicken, potatoes, and corn on the cob concerned!!

After we ate Morgan fell asleep on my lap watching Night at the Museum. That wrapped up a great day. We had such a great time. Tomorrow I vote for staying at home and resting! We have to get ready for Disney too! We leave on Saturday.....WAHOO!!

175th Anniversary

Today my church celebrated it's 175th anniversary. How cool is that?!?!? It was tons of fun. They also made it Old Timers Day, which by the way is much easier for guys! They invited all the former pastors to come and told all kinds of interesting facts about the history of the church. They even had baptising in the oldest baptising pool. Then they had lunch on the grounds. Yummy!

Here is a picture of Iz Man with Morgie on the steps of the old church. What hams!!!

And Morgie coming down the steps. This is the church that was in use when I first started going to our church in the mid 90's. I LOVE the old church. So many wonderful memories!!

Morgie walking down the steps.

After we all ate some of the members brought their horses to the church and the kiddies all got to ride. Morgan went first.

She was in heaven!

Then it was Chey Chey's turn.

Then Iz Man.

John John walked the kids down to see the other horse that was getting a rest. I LOVE this picture! Too sweet!

The youth has their own little outdoor arena for youth gatherings and singings. Next the kiddies traveled over to it to play around.

All the kiddies. At one point Morgan & Cheyenne were singing Jesus Loves Me and Izzy was getting ready to preach to us!

Here is Izzy. These pics just melt my heart. Little Israel takes in everything and by that I mean EVERYthing! So, here is he is preaching. He is saying, "And as for me and my house we will SERVE the LORD!!" Gasp, sigh!!!!

What would a Southern Baptist preacher be without walking it out a little?? I love the next pic.

Finally a picture of Morgan and John-John. She loves her John-John and tends to really show out to get his attention.

What a great day! I absolutely love my church and my church family. They are AMAZING!!!

Happy 175th Anniversary!!!!!