5 years ago...

5 years ago was an anniversary, not the typical anniversary we have around here (wedding, Gotcha, Adoption). 5 years ago Saturday was the anniversary of an accident that changed my life and my families life forever.

5 years ago I learned to trust in God and trust the angels he puts before us.

5 years ago I learned no matter how hard we try to protect our children, sometimes we can't do anything but pray.

Brittany and Andrew were in a three-wheeler accident. You can read more about that at http//www.caringbridge.org/mn/shelstad/

5 years ago I made a promise to God. I promised to trust in him and his plans for my family. I still have a hard time trusting in God's plans for us, I have a hard time letting go and letting God lead my way. I'm a work in progress, but I know God is there every step of my way. I know God sets angels in our path, we may not realize it.

5 years ago God sent many angels our way. Two especially for Brittany and Andrew. While we were at Paul's parents, they invited some friends over for lunch. Immediately after the kids hit the tree, the two angels went into action. Larry and Sonya were paramedics, unknown to us at the time. They went into save mode and did what God asked them to do. They helped our children, they gave me a shoulder to cry on, they held me up when I couldn't walk, they drove us the 3 hours to the trauma center where Andrew was airlifted. They prayed with us.

5 years ago my parents were visiting our county fair. Within 10 minutes of when the accident happened (unknown to them at the time), they had walked past a booth handing our bibles. My mom took the small green bible, and shared a prayer with the woman giving it to her. God set forth an angel for my parents, unknown to them. The little green bible got my mom through the drive 6 hours to the hospital. The little green bible gets us safely to our destinations, wherever we go, our bible goes.

I learned we can't put our children in a bubble, even though we'd like to. I've learned we've got to trust in the Lord, it might not be O.K. but he is with us every step of the way.

Andrew is completely healed, his fracture has healed, no brain damage, no sensory damage. Nothing!

Brittany is also healed although she bears the constant reminder of that fateful day. As she gets older the scar between her eyes will get wider, we've contacted a plastic surgeon, if she wishes, when she's older they can cover the scar.

5 years ago, I prayed with my husband, my family and myself. I asked the Lord to heal my children, and he did. I asked the Lord to heal my heart, he is, if I allow. I don't want to relive the day, but I won't allow myself to forget.

5 years ago brings us to today, 4 beautiful wonderful children. After Brittany and Andrew were better (not healed), I realized how precious (I knew before, but needed to be reminded) my children were, how beautifully lucky I was to be their mother, a mother. God had a plan for my family, God knew our path was to help his children, his orphans.

After the accident we realized we wanted more children, we choose adoption as our path, God choose this path long before we knew.

An anniversary came and went, we recognized, we cherished, we celebrated with all 4 of our blessings!

Birthday at Park

We celebrated Dominick's birthday at a park. The weather wasn't too bad, it was humid but it's Minnesota, what do you expect?!!!

Wall-E cupcakes

He was SO happy he got a Webkinz!

It's almost bigger than me!

Dominick and Braeden playing catch

Uncle Bob and cousin Chelsie with Dylan (Bob is Chelsie's dad and Dylan's grandpa)

CAUTION: Cousins at play

The ball somehow broke, so Uncle Mat thought it'd be funny to put it on his head! We haven't laughed so hard in a long time! Anyone watch Doodlebops????

Doodlebop Mat

Doodlebop Dominick

Doodlebop Brittany...we couldn't get all her hair in it

Doodlebop Andew...love the eyes!

Doodlebop Dylan

Doodlebop Grandpa

Doodlebop Daddy

Doodlebop Marissa

Doodlebop Nevan

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY DOMINICK!!!

Today is Dominick's 4th Birthday. He woke this morning, jumped out of bed and said "My birthday coming soon?!!

First time we met Dominick! Jan 2006

First picture taken of Dominick...at least at the orphanage. Between Sept-Nov 2005.

Dominick last weekend with his 3rd Place medal for a pedal pull! He was in the 3/4 yr group. He pedaled 14ft!!! He's got some awesome leg power!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOMINICK!!!!

Marissa-isms

Tonight at the supper table Brittany and Andrew were asking Dominick and Marissa where they were born, Dominick's reply was "Guatemala"!

Marissa's reply: Mommy's tummy!

Mommy: No, Marissa you were born in Guatemala in your birthmother's tummy.

Brittany: Marissa where were you born?

Marissa: "Gmala" in mommy's tummy! How cute!! (pointing to me)

Dominick: No, Rissa, you born in mommy & daddy's heart, like me

Marissa: No, I born in mommy's tummy in Gmala.

Summer Fun at the farm

We spent 4th of July weekend at Paul's parents house with his parents and his brother who is in town from Virginia Beach.

The kids loved the fireworks; everyone but Marissa. She made me sit in the back of the truck holding her and covering her ears.

I was able to catch a "peek" here and there. Then when we were getting ready to leave, she asked where the fireworks went and said she wanted to see them! The mind of a 2.5 yr old?!

BTW: Brittany was the only one able to do the hula-hoop, she beat out the adults.

shhh...she's been practicing with the Wii Fit!

Get Real...

A wonderful, amazing blogger, named Angel at www.thevoiceofadventure.blogspot.com gave a challenge to for bloggers to Get Real on their blog. I've debated doing this since she posted and I am still unsure, but I've had this NEED to get it all out.

We are so dirt BROKE! We can get milk and gas and that's about all the extra we can get. I am blessed that my children are healthy, we food on the table, clothes on our back and a roof over our head, but I just wish we could get out of this financial SLUMP!

I take everything personal. Doesn't matter what is said to me or how it's said. I try not to but I still do.

I don't have any confidence and am unhappy with myself and sometimes with my marriage.

I need to loose 70 lbs to be a "healthy" weight. My husband still says I'm sexy though, I don't believe him. I feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

I yell too much. I try not to and I even correct my husband when he does it, but sometimes I just can't help it and I just start yelling.

I am addicted to the computer. I love reading other people's blogs, visiting gossip sites and just plain surfing the Internet. Instead of working on my homework, I surf the Internet.
Speaking of homework, that's what I should be doing now but instead I'm updating my blog.

I'm never satisfied and most of the time I counterdict myself.

I don't want to get a job. I love being home and just lounging with the kids or doing "whatever" we want. I complain about it, but I do love! (part of the reason we have no money, I have no job) I'm taking online college courses but I don't want to do it, because I don't want to leave my kids (see next post).

My kids drive me CRAZY! (see never satisfied and contradict myself). Daily, I look for a job to get away! I tell my husband he gets to go to work (he doesn't think that's time off, I say it's time off from the kids) and I NEVER get away! 24/7 with the kids.

My youngest son is being tested for Sensory Disorders, Speech Therapy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and is showing signs of RAD (reactive attachment disorder).

I think I have PADS (post adoption depression syndrome), I diagnosed myself. I joined a yahoo chat group, but wonder if being involved or reading the posts actually help or make it worse.

Even though my plate is overfilled, we are broke and I'm struggling to find quality time with each child one-on-one and my husband; I want to adopt again. I dream of holding a baby in my arms and being called mommy for the fifth time (again never satisfied).

I wish I was closer to God. I am religious but I know I could be better at practicing my religion.

I want to do missionary work, but worry if I'm the right person for it (no confidence).

There's all my innermost secrets. The tension between my shoulders is gone. I feel so much better!

Minnehaha Falls

We took the kids to Minnehaha Falls today. This was their first time there, as it was also Paul's first time too. It was a beautiful day! Wasn't too hot...I HATE heat! It was nice and breezy out, so perfect weather for...

A bike ride??!!!

This had to be the ultimate WORST idea we have ever had!
Brittany and Andrew's feet were too short to "help" pedal, so Paul and I had to do the grunt work...as you can see from Paul, we are not in the best of shape (lol)! The rental place gives you a map (which of course we couldn't follow), so we just kept going in circles, we did try to go farther but OH MY GOSH, up hill was AWFUL! So we stuck close to the rental stand. We had to get out and push, yeah push, a couple of times.

Besides the "bike" push ride it was a lot of fun! We went walking, exploring and played in the water.