What a Weekend!

Friday Morning: 

• Showed our house to a couple of people (we just listed it for sale on Wednesday.)
• Found out that the house we were planning to buy (in our same neighborhood) is not going to be for sale after all because the dad's new job in another state isn't working out

Friday Afternoon:

• Received a nearly full-price offer on our home (But found out Monday it probably won't happen after all)

• Wondered what in the heck we should do about moving. We don't want to uproot our older kids by moving to a new neighborhood and ward (they have such great friends!) but this home is no longer working for us. The back yard opens up to a shared neighborhood park and Anya and Eli will not stay in our back yard when they go outside.  Also, the kitchen table area is too small now! We're amazed our house is selling this easily in this slow housing market! What to do, what to do?
• Called a fellow ward member/neighbor a few streets over whom I had heard were thinking about selling their home. Asked if they're interested in selling it. They are!
• Went and looked at it and decided it had everything we needed and wasn't too much more than our current house. 

So, that's where we are with the house.  Stay tuned!  Never a dull moment in the Fillmore house, I tell ya.  Adopting wasn't enough adventure for one year. Time for a new one.

Saturday Morning:

Went to our sweet niece, Avery's baptism.  She was baptized by her father and is now an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are so proud of her. She just glowed! In our faith, children have the opportunity be baptized when they turn eight years old.  It's a big day. I know Avery will always remember this special day and she will be so blessed her whole life because she followed the example of Jesus Christ.

After her baptism, we went and initiated  my sister, Jen's (Avery's mom) new back yard swimming pool and had some lunch.

Jeremy designed their back yard. It's amazing! We're excited to spend some time splashing in their pool this summer!

Saturday afternoon:

Anya and I went to a 5k fundraising event for Reece's Rainbow's very own Kareen!  This is the only other Utah family that I know of who is bringing home one of Anya's friends from EE. The Cox's are leaving next Saturday to go get her. I'm SOOO excited for them, and will be following their blog and praying for them every day!

This is Kecia and her cutie, Bree who will be Kareen's sister, the same age! How fun for these two little girls to grow up together and be friends their whole lives! 

We also got to meet some of the Cox's friends and family who already knew Anya through our blog.  They were so excited to meet her.  It's funny, after you adopt, you get into your daily life and start forgetting the incredible miracle that has just taken place. I love meeting people who have followed our journey to Anya because it helps me remember what a true treasure she she is, and how blessed we are to have her.

Kecia's sister-in-law joined us in this photo. She also has a cutie blessed with an extra somethin'!  Lucky family, eh?

I walked the whole course with one of Kecia's friends who is hoping to adopt a baby that they are fostering. We enjoyed some great conversation about miracles that happen when we follow our hearts to help God's children who are in need. I'm so glad I had someone to enjoy the walk with!  I don't think I could have run anyway, after everything I had eaten at Jen's lunch!  (PS...what's up with the orange pants?  Don't know what I was thinking when I picked them babies out. I didn't realize how scary they were until I saw pictures.)

Sunday:

Finally, we get to today, which is Mother's Day.  I was told to stay in bed this morning. Before long, I heard whispers in the hallway, the creek of my door, then saw all six of my children and husband walking into my bedroom with a beautiful crepe breakfast, a gift and some cards.  

I am so blessed to be a mother to SIX children. Five born from my womb and one born within my heart.  I was reminded today what a gift it is not only to be a mother, but to mother.  In the words of my friend, Valerie:

It is the potential of a woman to be a tool of charity and kindness not only to those she bore, but in a scope much bigger and beyond her family. Mothering is the potential to become a reflection of God's love to all with whom she interacts. I believe that there are seeds of this "mothering" inside each woman that can be carefully developed, and when she magnifies this quality of heart, she becomes a mother to all.

What a gift it is to be a woman. We are born with an innate desire to bless, nurture and uplift others.  Even those who don't have the opportunity to marry or have children can mother. I'm so grateful for my mother, as well as all of the women in my life who have taught me with their example,  lifted my burdens and helped me along the way. 

Thank you to all of you!  Happy Mother's Day!