Happy Birthday Macie

 My Macie turned 5 years old today. It seems like yesterday she was born. She came in to the world at 4:33pm screaming at the top of her lungs and not much has changed since. Ha Ha. She wanted the world to know she was here and she still does. She is my spunky and determined middle daughter who has a zest for life that is amazing. She lights up the room with her beautiful smile and enthusiastic attitude. She is rainbow sprinkles on top of vanilla ice cream. I love her uniqueness and how she sees the world from a different view than most. Macie will make a difference in this world I promise.

 We are leaving for Moscow again tomorrow to pick up Bryant. Yes, it is finally here. We were scheduled to leave today but were able to persuade our Agency to push it to tomorrow due to Macie's birthday. Thank goodness we were able to do that. If not I would have been paying for many therapy sessions in the years to come. I could not hear her say "you left on my birthday" every year for the rest of her life. Last night we had a party at the zoo. We saw the Christmas lights, Santa and she rode the merry-go-round. She insisted on doing all of this in her pink princess dress. Typical Macie. She had a ball. Here are some videos of her big time.

 We are all exhausted and ready to be home with Bryant. Getting ready for this trip has been difficult for everyone. Macie asked me "after this trip are things going to get back to normal." I told her they would but it would be a new normal. I thought that was an honest answer. I have felt very guilty that my girls have been through so many changes and have sacrificed so much over the past 7 weeks.  I wish it didn't have to be that way. We knew it would be hard and we almost talked ourselves out of adopting due to this. Thank goodness we didn't. I keep reminding myself God never said following him was easy. He actually said it would require sacrifice. In Matthew 16:24 he says "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." There it is. Being a follower isn't easy but so worth it.

Macie& Daddy (Guess who she looks like?)