Ahhh, Isabelle.
She was and continues to be my mystery.
I feel like she and I are connected at the very soul, yet I often find myself straining to understand her.
To know her.
Lately, she’s decided she wants to be a baby again.
She sleeps with a picture of herself at 11 months, taken on her ‘gotcha day’, propped on her bedside table. With a pair of her baby shoes tucked neatly in her bedside drawer.
At the top of her Christmas list is an Ocean Wonders Seahorse. It’s for ages 0-36 months.
Isabelle is 5 1/2.
But we indulge her. She will be getting a baby seahorse toy this Christmas.
And for however many years she has a baby toy on her Christmas list.
Isabelle’s start in life was rough. We may not have tangible proof.
But we know it.
We see evidence of it.
And our hearts break for her. Over and over.
But we also celebrate with her, in every victory. No matter how small.
And victorious she is. She is doing wonderfully in her Pre-K class.
She is making friends. She is learning. She is enjoying herself.
And that makes us very happy.
She inspires in us the fiercest, most protective love. She is tender. She is fragile.
But she requires the most structure. The most consistency. The most forgiveness.
She requires the very best we can give her.
She teaches us to enjoy life today. Every day.
She lives for the moment.
And we can’t help but be swept away by her joy.
Leave a comment to let me know you’ve posted a Sunday Snapshot and I’ll add it here so everyone can read it!
- Carrie at Live Learn and Love Together
- Sara at Football and Fried Rice
- Valerie at The Almy Family Journal
- Stephanie at Counting Seeds
- Vicki at From One More Mom
- Marla at Getting Gavin
- KSB at BLT and 3 Small Fries
- Amy at Raising Tomatoes
- Chris at Layers of Life
- Rebecca at Living in a Rainbow World
- Annie at Cornbread and Chopsticks
- Sophie at The Great Eight
- Mommy at The Womble Times
- Shelly at To China Again We Go
- Tracey at Raisin’ Punks
P.S. To learn more about Sunday Snapshot, visit here for the basics 🙂
Oh, I love, love, LOVE the black and white with the lights!!! I will so have to try that! 😉
Isabelle seems like such a sweetie! She always has such a cute smile in all your pictures – you can see that she enjoys life. 😉
I feel like I've followed your blog for so long … Your kids faces are all so familiar, but I'm just now starting to get to "know" them now that you've started Sunday Snapshot!
Hello Mrs. "Ni Hao Y'all" (Sorry I dont know your last name (: )
My name is Anna and I'm a teenager in Canada. Me and My friend Ashton (a teenager in the U.S.) have started this blog called I Am One. Its kind of like No Hands but Ours but geared for teenage girls. We just started it and dont have much posted yet. If you have a minute we would love for you to visit it real quick and give us any feedback. Any feedback at all really. We are complete newbies at these things. Thanks alot and I cant wait to see sweet Vivi in your arms!
Blessings
Anna
Stefanie, those pictures are fantastic! I am going to try that one too!! I'd also like to know the trick with the sun flares from your tree-hunting excursion…
Isabelle is darling. It's been so fun to see your kids grow through your blog…
Thanks for sharing them!
I love, love, love these pictures! 🙂
Isabelle melts my heart. And how you write about her, it makes me want to hug her.
Jill xx
Wow, lovely pics of a lovely little girl. Now I remember why we shouldn't have a pre-lit tree- so I can take pics like that!
Thanks for sharing your little lady Isabelle. http://countingseeds-cline.blogspot.com/
I often see my Isabella in your Isabelle. Your description of her is lovely.
I know exactly what you mean – and you wouldn't change one thing about her. Not one. You take Isabelle as she is & love her BECAUSE of who she is – beautiful, created, by HiM. Perfect.
I love watching her grow – having 'found' you right when you brought her home. Thinking how blessed you were, are, have been and continue to be.
Though the road isn't always easy – it is definitely the One you were called to be on!!
Very cute daughter you have Stefanie! I love the idea of the pictures with the Christmas lights.
~Marla
http://www.getgavinhome.blogspot.com
Love your Sunday snapshot and your other blog of just photos. Would love to find out how you post them large size? I just stared Sunday snapshot and can't figure out how to link it…
http://www.bltand2smallfries.blogspot.com
but check us out anyway!
Maybe it's because it's how I first "met" you…our original DTC group back in '05…maybe it's Isabelle's story or her joyous face…maybe it's all of those things…but there is something about this beautiful girl of yours that holds a very special place in my heart!
What a beautiful Sunday Snapshot of your very beautiful (inside & out!) girl!
Well, I finally tried Sunday Snapshots:) It is a very amateur attempt, but it was a lot of fun. Thanks for the challenge.
I just LOVE that girl! Great pics Stef!
Hugs and love,
Amy
This post is well-written and heartfelt, Stefanie. I love the way that you have taken the time to do this (Sunday Snapshots) for yourself, your children and *us*. What a delight to get to know your little ones better.
If you don't already know, we are all rooting for you and your wonderful family every day.
God loves you, Stefanie. I know you know that, but sometimes, when a stranger tell you, it really sinks in. Rest in that, sweet sister in Christ…
What beautiful pictures. I am following you now and may participate next Sunday. This looks like a neat meme to participate in.
Great pictures!!
Your Isabelle is a sweetheart!
She sounds like an absolute joy!
A true blessing….
It seems like you both bring out the best in each other!
BTW, I did join in the fun this week!!! (A little late once again!)
I picked you for a Kreativ Blog Award. Read my latest entry for more info.
And these shots of your daughter are gorgeous!
Our Sunday Snapshot is over at http://www.livinginarainbowworld.blogspot.com
My kids have enloyed these spotlights. they each want to know when it is their turn. It is such a great way to focus and give attention to the intricate details of each of our childrens' lives. Thanks for the wonderful idea!
OK, always late but I have finished my Sunday Snap shot!!! Loved the great pics of Isabelle. she sounds so much like my Caleb!!!
wow mei looks gor-jed in these pictures!
Stephanie she is such a little beauty, her smile melts me. You can tell she enjoys life and she's a happy little girl because in all your posts with her pictures she has a huge smile on her face. I know how challenging it is when they struggle to communicate. Although our youngest adopted daughter has made great progress she still experiences difficulties in expressive language.I recently had her evaluated again and they told us that she's still too young to determine whether she is on the spectrum for autism. Isabelle is blessed to be in such a loving, nurturing environment, and what a lucky mama you are to have this precious child.
OOps.By the way I posted a Sunday Snapshot.
I'm late but I joined in this week to honor my Little Miss. Thanks for sharing your sweet Isabelle with us.
Hi Stefanie – We have out post too for SSS! BTW…what a beautiful post about your Isabelle…
Lovely post Stephanie. And your pics are beautiful. Have a great week…I can't seem to get my 15 year old to pose for his snapshot post, but I will figure it out and join in soon! I did a post on Maggie today because I was too tired to download the pics last night…so I guess I did Snapshot Monday…hee hee~
Isabelle is such a cutie & I love the pics with her holding the lights! This is my first time doing the Sunday Snapshot & I chose my beautiful daughter Ashley!
http://raisinpunks.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunday-snapshot-on-ashley.html
What beautiful photos with the lights! Pure magic.
those pics are *awesome*! i hope you don't mind, but i just may have to steal that idea!
It's funny that you post pictures of her with the lights, because I have always thought that her personality, joy and beauty just always shine through in all her pictures. Perfect!
What I beautiful post and what a special little girl she is, pure beauty and joy!!!
Thanks for sharing!
She is TRULY a treasure!
OH! Stefanie! I forgot to comment that I posted a Sunday Snapshot!
Howdy. Found your blog this weekend via crazee PW. Hil-air-ree-us. Just saw y’all are pitchin camp in Bham, so had to say welcome. I’m late to the party and enjoyed gettin to know y’all.
Thanks for keepin it real on surrendering to God’s will for my instead of my will. Whoa nellie – have just buckled in to that roller coaster and what a ride. More than I could evah have imagined. And I’m just on the first turn.
Thanks for keepin it real on adoption and Isabelle. Was drawn to her story after reading the co-sleeping blurb. (A little weird, but totally get it.) Drawn to how God has equipped y’all to deal w her rough start. (Saw a billboard today: your baby should always sleep in a crib. Hmm…maybe not.)
Grateful (and challenged) to learn abt bonding and attachment from you folks. I’m working w addicts and alcoholics in recovery (cause I are one) and consider y’all a resource now, so keep it comin.
Do you know Kim Meeder’s story and Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch? There are folks here in Bham using horses to help kids heal. Lemme know if you’d like to connect in. Once you get your 4586 boxes unpacked. O yeah.
P.S. Welcome to the Big Ham, the Steel City, the Magic City. Dreamland Ribs – Aint Nothin like em no where. (Yep, those are fightin words.) Roll Tide Roll. (those are too.)