Adoption Day!

Us in front of the judge after it was all over!

Sam's holding a bear the judge gave him!

Raising our right hand to ensure we tell the truth!

Three years ago, today, a judge in Dallas, TX declared Samuel ours...forever! His birth certificate was then able to officially say that I was his mother and Rob was his father! It was a very memorable day in our life and we try to celebrate it with Sam every year! This is the first year he is really into it...you can tell he likes the individual attention. This morning Rob asked him, "Does Joel get an adoption day?" And Sam said, "No, just me!" with a big grin on his face as he pointed to himself! So cute! And then every so often today he will tell me, "I so happy Mom, today is Dopshun Day!" It makes my heart sing with joy and praise to the Lord for the gift of our firstborn!

Care Packages, Potty Training (?), and Other Randomness

Well, today I just sort of felt like putting down a few thought and ramblings....sorry for those of you hoping for pictures of the boys or something. Don't worry, they will be mentioned more than once in this post!

We received our March and April care packages from our home church just a week or so apart...it was great! We have been so blessed this entire year by the love and care we have experience from our sending church through these packages! They have come filled with pictures, cards of encouragements, treats and toys for the boys, gift cards, and all sorts of an assundry of items! Always a blessing and joy to tear into as a family when one arrives each month! And though the boys love the contents of each box, there is just something about a box and a boy... Sam especially is drawn to play and enjoy the box long after the contents have been removed and looked at. Our March package came with crayons for the boys so they both immediately wanted to color, though Sam asked to color the box! So cute! He had a blast!
And then just the other day our April package came already (Amanda is always on top of things!). The boys absolutely loved all the "Cars" things they got, including the movie itself, but lo and behold, now 4 days later, Sam is enjoying "living" in the box and hiding in it and playing marbles in it...who needs toys when you've got a box big enough to fit in?! So I guess, to anyone sending any future packages, FYI, just send an empty box for the boys and they will be happy! :)

Oh and then there is potty training....what a struggle! No one told me how unbelievably unaccomplishable it will seem with a boy who has quite a strong will!!! Will he ever live in underwear and pee AND poop in the potty ALL THE TIME? I must say, this weary mom's faith is waning. PLEASE pray for potty success!

And when does spring really arrive in MD? It is yet to be seen. 36 degrees in April is definitely not this TX girl's idea of spring! I am dying to wear the sandals and flip-flops (though Rob may be more passionate about the flip-flops than I!) and say "Bye-bye!" to the coats and jackets! I also have a lot more matenity clothes for spring and summer to choose from, so if you see me in my green sweater or green long sleeved shirt AGAIN, please bear with me...I do have other clothes, just not for the cold!

But yesterday the boys and I had a sweet moment on the couch! I was laying on the couch reading to them and after I finished a book Sam asked, "Mommy you have a baby in you tummy?" I said, "Yes, do you want to try to feel her and talk to her?" (No, we don't know the sex, but we are speaking in faith!) Then I let him put his hand on my tummy and try to feel where I thought the baby was laying. She wasn't moving, but it definitely felt harder there than anywhere else on my tummy. He said he felt it, but I'm not really sure. Joel started wanting to get in on it all too and was saying, "HI baby." But then the cutest part came...Sam proceeded to tell the baby, "Hi baby, this is Sam and Joel and Mommy." I guess he thought the baby needed to be properly introduced to everyone! I almost started crying I thought it was so sweet and cute.

Well, that's about I've I got for now. Thanks for reading all my "Mommy Musings". I pray that today, if you are a child of God, that you are more aware of His grace, love and forgiveness, than your failings and shortcomings. Take a fresh look at the cross.

Easter 2008

He is risen...He is risen indeed!!

This Easter was an absolutely joyous day for Tombrella family! It was memorable in so many ways and we are grateful! Being able to explain the real meaning of Easter to the boys as it approached and then having them retell it all to us on Easter day was a real joy! All the way to church Sam kept singing, "It's Easter Day! It's Easter Day!" So cute! And then the Easter service at Covenant Life Church was so wonderful and C.J. Mahaney delivered the message! It was very sobering, yet hope giving as well! Christ rose from the dead...there in lies our hope and assurance of forgiveness!

"Our forgiveness is secured by the cross and assured by the resurrection!" C.J. Mahaney.

Then at around 3:00 we headed up to the PC for a potluck lunch with about 8 other families. It was a fun time of food, fellowship, and fun that was enjoyed by adults and children alike! After the meal we had an egg hunt for the kids on the playground of the church...the boys loved it! Sam was totally into hunting for the eggs...though Joel was more excited to play on the playground! Either way they had a blast!

Enjoy the pictures of our day!

Linus...I mean Joel, Easter morning!

Our other Linus...aka Sam, on Easter morning!

Checkin' out the goodies in his Easter bucket!

"Is there more in there?"

Our cute family after church! Aren't all my men handsome?!

I am blessed!

Serious about the hunt!

Joel picking up the one egg he found...he was

much more into playing!

Sam finding eggs for his brother. He was more

than willing to help in this way!

Rob showing Joel all the eggs his brother

found for him.

Getting into the first Easter egg...the reward of the hunt!

Happy Birthday Rob!

Just wanted to take a minute to wish my beloved a wonderful birthday! Today he turns 31 and I am more in love with him today, than when he turned 21!

Rob, you are the man of my dreams and I could not be more blessed than to have you as my husband! You love me, serve me, and sacrafice for me in more ways than I ever take notice of and I want to say thank you! The fact that the Lord chose you for me still humbles me because you are a man who walks with God and wants to live to proclaim his gospel! I am amazed that you chose me to walk that road alongside you!

Not only are you an amazing husband, but also a wonderful daddy to our boys! There is no other man I would want to set before them as an example of godliness and Biblical manhood than you! Thank you for loving them so completely!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!