Some things lately...

Well, it has been a busy week and although each of these events deserves its' very own special post, I am going to lump everything into one today!

I got back from California and didn't seem to have a second to breathe! (And breathing has been a little hard this week anyway, because Kaiya and I both came down with nasty colds -- booo!) Anyway, Wednesday night we drove up to my parents house because they got a special envelope in the mail!! Yep, they got their mission call!! So, we all gathered at their house and made our guesses of where they would be going and one of us actually guessed right!

Drumroll please........
They have been called to serve in Bangalore, INDIA!!! WOW!!! My dad was the lucky (or inspired) guesser! After many tears and much shock, I think the emotions have settled into pure excitement for all of us, especially my parents! We could not be happier for them and can't wait for their new adventures! And one very cool and special side note is that they go into the MTC on February 25th, mere days after we will have our court finalization and sealing and blessing for Kaiya, so they will get to be there for everything! We are so happy about that!

On Thursday, we had our home visit with our new case-worker. Everything went well, and it was really special for us to be able to sit with her and reflect upon our feelings and emotions of having Kaiya in our family these last few months. It's hard to talk about our sweet girl without the tears flowing and I was thankful for the opportunity to be reminded of what a precious gift she is in our lives!

Also on Thursday, I got to meet up with one of my dearest friends from college, Joy. Joy was one of my first college roomates my freshman year and because we became such good, close friends, we ended up living together for a few years after that as well. Oh the memories that I have with Joy! I love seeing her (she usually comes to Utah once a year for work) and it's like not a day has passed! And this time, she got to meet baby Kaiya as well! Love you, Joyster!

Then on Friday, I got to meet up with another one of my best friends, Jamie and her hubby Tucker! They were in town from California, so Chris and I met them for lunch and then did some hanging out afterwards. Chris and I always comment how rare it is to find couples that you click with and that both spouses get along so well and that's how we feel about Jamie and Tucker. They have such an adorable family and it's always such a wonderful treat to see them! We love you guys!

That night we had a great time going to dinner with Ry and Ash and then came back to their house for a fabulous game of Clue (LOVE that game). Watch out for that Miss Scarlet and her revolver!

The rest of the weekend was spent REALLY enjoying the fall season, something I don't feel like I have done enough of this year. So, we went all out! We went up Provo Canyon, to Provo Peak and just took in the gorgeous drive and colors. We recently purchased a new vehicle, which is big enough to take Chase and Kaiya in and it has been so nice to have the whole family be able to come on outings together! We hiked around up on the mountain and let Chase go wild chasing rocks and sticks and everything else. Kaiya slept through most of it, but she sure looked cute all bundled up!

We also picked up some delicious soup for dinner, came home and got all bundled up and warm, and after eating dinner, made yummy wassail (thank you, Ashley, for the idea, and thank you Williams and Sonoma for the nice blend!), had carmeled apples (good job, Chris), and watched movies. It was such a great weekend and I am loving this time of year!!

That brings me to today. I am leaving to take Kaiya to her TWO-MONTH appointment in a little while (yesterday she turned two -months) and I am having a hard time believing how quickly the time has gone by! I am so anxious to find out how much she weighs, because to me, I feel such a difference when I hold her and look at her adorable chub! She is so much more alert and awake during the day, which is soooo fun! She smiles all the time (such a happy girl), sleeps like a champ (yes, she sleeps through the night), and I honestly don't know that she could be any cuter! I love that she recognizes our voices and our faces so clearly. She'll be sitting in her swing and when Chris or I walk over to her and she hears our voices, she immediately seems to focus and start looking for our faces. It's so sweet! What joy she has brought into our lives in the most wonderful ways and how blessed we feel to have the priveledge of being her parents. Our love grows for her with each passing day and with all of her changing, we find each day to be so exciting as we watch her grow and develop! It is humbling to me to realize how blessed we are. We talked to Jessika last night on the phone and I was once again reminded of how much we owe her and how much we love her. She is such a special girl! She sent us the sweetest poem, which she got in a gift basket she received from our agency, and I wanted to end this post with that poem. It is so touching, especially when you put yourself in Jessika's shoes. So, here it is and hope you all are having a great week!
My Little Butterfly
You were finally here,
My little butterfly.
You were placed in my arms,
And I couldn't help but cry.

You were so precious, so beautiful.
My little butterfly.
And I knew it would be hard
To say goodbye.

I cried for you at night.
How could I let my
Little butterfly go?

Then I thought of the new world
You will see.
Of the loving parents that will
Take care of thee.
And I felt Peace.

Your were finally here,
My little butterfly.
And no matter how hard it is,
I must say goodbye.

So, open your wings
And don't be afraid to fly.

Fly away to a new life.
Where opportunities are
At every door.
And my love around every corner.

You were finally here,
My little butterfly.
But, quickly you left.
To live your new life.

You'll always be in my heart.
Your memory in my every thought.
Those tiny hands,
And bright eyes.

I WILL FOREVER LOVE YOU,
My Little Butterfly.

-Gina Crotts