CHRISTmas time!

She can HOLD her bottle now!! but she can't make it back into her mouth yet! I hear she is feeding herself through her nose , hehe









Her she looking as cute as can be! I am glad she is still using that blanket. It's my kind of blanket warm and soft that's the KEY!!

My family photo for 2008! We had a great time with our family as I know the Booths did too.

We has a great gathering.

THE

BOOTHS

The first of many more to come!!

I LOVE the HAT!

It is so cute !!

They Are so Happy !!

and here she is with her TIA .

she was looking

for her mommy!!

I learned . . .

In October when I was at my lowest I had an old friend find me, it was the Lords loving hand at work!! I had not had a true smile in over 18 months! :) Many times I had asked God why (me and this trial) but I know at that moment that it is not my will but the will of the LORD'S at play. He worked thing so that I may learn and grow and bless others as well. I thought of the word of Paul: "Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that the pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character. And character produces joyful and confidence hope of eternal salvation"



My dear old friend remained me of all the blessing that God given to me and helped me to see that I am a "Child of God" again. I am openly thanking our Lord for his tender mercy and loving- kindness upon me at this time and forevermore.

In November I learned that have to find my light and move on with Life and all that I encounter! I have been greatly blessed and will always be because of my gift of undying love for a child that I was able to bring into this world.

In November I blessed again with another old friend that I shared many growing pains in collage with her. She was a great friend then and now as well. I shared my story with her because I had lost touch with her through the years. She lessened and I pored out my soul; all her word were of comfort and understanding for she knows me all my imperfections.

Thank you Lord

for the small blessing

in every day life!

Gratitude

When God wants a great work done in the world or a great

wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way!!

He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth

his thunderbolts. Instaed, he has a helpless baby born,
perhaps in a simple home or placed in anothers arms.

But God put this ides into

My Heart

and I pray that you place it

into Her Heart.

The greatest force in the world are not the

earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greastest forces

in the world are babies.

Dear Parents (Randy and Caroline)

I sit often in the same place with

different emotions and thoughts everyday!

Today I was touched by Gratitude to you both.

How can I ever repay you?

I've said it, and so have you.

How can I ever in all this World
Repay the Loving act you do for ELENA?

Perhaps I never can repay To you-

or You to me, But we can Pass that Kindness and LOVE

on to ELENA and others we see.

And though you never need my Help-

I pray you never DO-

by helping others, I'll repay you

My HEARTFELT DEBT to YOU !

Thank you for sharing

some of your family moments with me !!

Brown Outfit

Here she is these were some of the one's

I liked the best in this outfit.

Elena is very photogenic Like me

but here cheeks take over the picture some times.

hehe

I choose these because you can see her and not just cheek!!

I am the same way all cheek it stay with you!!

She is too CUTE!!

This one is a great shoot of here all together !!
Such a DOLL

the close up!

In this photo shoot (November 20,2008)

Elena and Caroline took 86 pictures

I will share about 20 that

I LOVE of Elena!

PICTURES

Elena had a photo session

November 20 2008

and these photos will

be here soon!!

Blessings !! she looks great in this sweater and bow? . . . . . My darling angel, you are a wonder to me, and I am thankful for the small moment that I am able to see you through these photos. Thank you very much these small moments mean the world to me !!

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I was invited to a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION in the Catholic church by a fiend who knows my story! I attended the mass not know what would take place but

I have attended Catholic church before.

My thoughts are in blue!

Catholics have Six holy days of obligation exist in the United States:

January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Solemnity of the Ascension (always is celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter)

August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption

November 1, the Solemnity of the All Saints

December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

December 25, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Other Important Days:

Ash Wednesday-Holy Thursday-Good Friday-Holy Saturday-Easter Sunday

The Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Solemnity

December 8

Jean Bellegambe

Saint Anne conceiving the Virgin MaryDouai,

Musée de la Chartreuse

Scripture
First Reading - Genesis 3: 9-15, 20

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him, "Where are you?" He asked. "I heard the sound of You in the garden," he replied. "I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." "Who told you that you were naked?" He asked. "Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?" The man replied, "It was the woman You put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it." Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman replied, "The serpent tempted me and I ate."Then the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Be accursed beyond all cattle, and wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel."The man named his wife 'Eve' because she was the mother of all those who live.

Second Reading - Ephesians 1: 3-6,11-12

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Before the world was made, He chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in His presence, determining that we should become His adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for His own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of His grace, His free gift to us in the Beloved. And it is in Him that we were claimed as God's own, chosen from the beginning, under the predetermined plan of the One who guides all things as He decides by His own will; chosen to be, for His greater glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before He came.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.
And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?"
And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren, for with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (RSV-CE translation)

These were the things read and then the father/pastor

spoke on what was read and how it applied to this day!

He stated that this day was to be thankful for the

creation of MARY in her mothers womb

(ANNE)

because with out MARY

there would have been no vessel for

Jesus Christ to dwell in!

The man named his wife 'Eve' because she was the mother of all those who live.

Where Mothers begin was with EVE!!

Before the world was made, He chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless,

and to live through love . . .

This is where the purpose of Saint ANNE

was place to conceive Mary the mother of Jesus Christ . . .

and our purpose was set as well for

Mary

. . . and the virgin's name was Mary.

And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

Here is when the Lord stated that Mary was

full of grace for her whole life so that

she may be sinless from the time of conception

till the birth of Jesus Christ and . . .

. . . for with God nothing will be impossible."

This is true and He works in His own time, way and purpose!!

Then the father/priest spoke of the Catholic thoughts of abortion

and that in the scriptures it does not use this word.

But with in the scriptures it only speaks of

LIFE and the VALUE of LIFE

and how every SOUL is special

and so are there mothers,

who bring them into this world,

the Lord has a plan and purpose for

every soul and child which each and everyone of us ARE!!

I was interested and thought of Elena and how there are many women in the place I was unmarried and pregnant facing a decision of LIFE and what to do for the child that she is carrying. Some women choice abortion and to end the LIFE that they have within them, but I feel and know is not the right choose that our LORD wants but our Lord does forgive and continues to bless each and every one of us!

The mass ended in the father/pastor reminding us to thank

our mothers for bringing us into this world and giving us life!!

So I would like to thank my birth mother (ELSA) at this point for

my life and for the thought she put into placing me for adoption!

Which has allowed me be to be blessed with my

beloved mother, father and sister in an

ETERNAL family!!

I would also like to say that I am grateful

for the opportunity to BRING

ELENA GRACE BOOTH

into this world and also

bless her with an ETERNAL FAMILY!!

THANK YOU

LORD !!

Touched by Others, Thank You LORD!!

I read a blog the other day about adoption as I peek into others lives at times that I am sad and lonely. Here it is :

Adoption-From a Caseworkers Perspective

So maybe its because I had to leave Cambry in the hospital instead of taking her home when I was released, or because a week later I had the most amazing adoption experience with an incredible birth mother and an awesome couple, or because I am quitting my job soon, but Adoption has been on my mind.....and since November is National Adoption month I thought I would put my two cents in about my experience as a caseworker.
I remember the first time I witnessed a birth mother relinquishing, I remember her holding her precious little girl, tears falling down her face, her mom sitting on the couch next to her, and her friend who was supporting her sobbing. Yet somehow the spirit was incredibly strong in that room amongst all the sadness. I remember hearing the caseworker reading the documents and thinking, "These are so harsh, I don't know if I can do this to a person, why is there nothing in here about the unselfish, loving, amazing person, she is?," The moment the birth mother actually placed was also very tender, and I remember the spirit testifying to me that this baby was where it was supposed to be.
The time I have spent working in adoptions for the past three years has been a roller coaster of emotions and an experience to say the least.
I think I have experienced a lot of joy to be part of such a.....I don't even know the words to describe this job.
Some wise person once told me that, "Social work is a very rewarding job, however it can also be a job that takes and takes and takes and gives very little."
Working in adoptions and for a "very great agency" has spared me some of this "taking," however there have been moments that have been very challenging and that I did not anticipate.
Sometime in this adoption world I think people think just because I am a caseworker, I am immune to emotion because this is what I am paid to do. I have read on others blogs that they felt caseworkers were insensitive or didn't care about what was happening. I don't know the whole story obviously, but I can share from my experience that when one of my couples have grieved over a failed placement, I have gone home or gotten off the phone and bawled to my husband, I have prayed for comfort and understanding for them and myself. When my birth mothers places, it hurts to watch them sign paperwork making such a wonderful and beautiful thing possible, when a couple sits in my office and shares how infertility has affected them, I often wish I could just give them a baby on the spot, when a birth mother cries to me about the promises the couple she chose and placed with has not written or sent pictures like they promised, my blood boils, when a couple yells at me over agency policies it hurts.
Not all of the experiences are bad or hard
there have been some very rewarding experience such as; when a birth mother is so grateful and loves her couple and how they have been incredible to her and she knows without a doubt her baby is with "the right parents and where they are supposed to be." When she shares her pictures with me week after week it is all worth it, when I have been able to see a birth mother get married after going through this tough experience, I have spent hours at a hospital so that a couple could come and see their baby for the first time, when a couple has sent me a card, expressing their gratitude for my work-it means the WORLD to me, when I have been invited to attend sealing sessions-to see the end result of a baby in white with their parents-it testifies to me that although this job it hard-it is special and sacred.
I have had experiences that will change my life forever.
I have seen miracles.
I met a birth mother for the first time who was wanting to place her three month old son, and and soon as I walked into the room, the Holy Ghost told me where this child needed to be
I have been in placements where the spirit is so strong in the room-every person is crying.
I have seen birth mothers who don't want to place, but do because they know it is the right thing and that their babies deserve PARENTS.
I have been able to be the one who places an infant in the arms of a waiting mother.
I have been prompted to show families to birth mothers-and they have walked out of my office crying knowing that they finally have found "THE FAMILY."
Despite that hard times and the hard experiences I have had.....I love ADOPTION.
I know that these children who are placed are going to the right homes.
I know the women who bring them into this world do an extraordinary act of love, they do something that is so unselfish. They complete families, they fill an emptiness, they restore
Hope.
And the amazing couples provide homes.
Provide a mom and a dad-and so much more.
They also restore hope.
I never chose social work because of the money, I chose it because I wanted to help people.
I wanted to change lives.
Not to say that I have changed lives, but I have seen lives change because of adoption, I have been a witness to those changes.
I don't share these experiences to preach or complain, but just to share a different perspective, one that is probably not heard often,
and to give you an idea of what it is like to facilitate adoptions.
I try to always advocate for adoption and want there to be a positive image in the society.
I will be forever grateful for the experiences I have had and for
being able to be part of this amazing work.
They are memories that I treasure and experiences have helped shape
the person that I am.
Thanks to the many birth mothers who make adoption possible and
especially to those I have worked with thank you for letting me be a part of your adoption.
And to the many couples as well for they to are part of this amazing process.

I wrote a comment and here it is:

Hi, I am just passing through I don’t know you but I just often find myself looking for peace and comfort in others stories. I felt compelled to click on your name I just read the bit on adoption and I was touched! I am adopted and just recently became a birth mother to a couple that is why I have this blog, they share with me and I write to share my thoughts and emotions with those who will read. I cried the whole way through your piece on adoption and being a caseworker!! Maybe you would like read my story and maybe email me from time to time I would love to chat!

This was her response back

Hi Marisol-

First I want to thank you for your kind words on my blog. I wrote that at 2:00 in the morning while I was feeding my little girl. I just wanted to share how adoption has impacted my life as I am sure you realize that once you get into adoption you can not be affected. I went to your bog immediately and began to read your story. I have to tell you the craziest thing is that I used to be in the same ward as the Booths. How small of a world is that!!! I told me husband that they looked really familiar and he said "Honey they were in our old ward." I just want to tell you that you have an incredible story and I love how truthful you are. I wish more people could understand adoption and what birth mothers go through to choose a family and to choose adoption. My husband laughs at me because I am constantly talking about my job or correcting people when they start to talk about adoption and don't have a clue. I am sure you have come into contact with these people. Well I guess it is up to us educated people to set them right. I hope that you are healing and enjoying time at school. (I don't know if you have gone back yet) I look forward to getting to know you better and seeing pictures of your beautiful little Elena.

My notes:

I am thankful for all thank I have and all the LORD allows me to see! For I know He is what gets me through everything that this life throws at me. This year I have learned so many things, through the small tender marcies of the LORD. I have been able to bless many others in different ways: to bring peace to a man who had lost his son three years ago by having Elena in his home while she was still in Texas. Also by blessing a couple who could not give the gift of life to one another (as Micheal McLean would say)! Blessing Elena with a loving home and parents to guide her in the ways of the LORD! As well as having me know that I am blessed by my actions.

The LORD works everyday,

he hears our cries and blesses us in his own way!

A JOURNEY WITH THE LORD

Fret not your souls with puzzle that you cannot solve. The solution may never be shown you until you have

LEFT THIS FLESH-LIFE.

Remember what the LORD has so often told us, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." Only step by step, and stage by stage, can you proceed, in your journey upward. the one thing to be sure of is that a journey with the LORD. There does come JOY known to those who suffer with the LORD. BUT that is not the result of the suffering , but the result of the CLOSE INTIMACY with the LORD, to which suffering drove you.

These word I share as for they are what I feel and know to be within ME! I have many things that cross my mind over and over again. I know that I want to know to more about this plan that the LORD has set me in but as these words say I am not ready to know them in this LIFE. i just need to be patient and grateful for all that he does give to me each day!!

MODELING 3-6 month CLOTHES NOW!

PRICELESS
BEAUTY!!

MADE by GOD'S HANDS and shared with a couple full of

LOVE,

Patience,

and UNDERSTANDING of

SUCH A GIFT!!

ONLY WHAT

A MOTHER

AND

A FATHER

CAN BRING

HAPPINESS!!

THESE

LAMBS

are too

CUTE!

I am so bless by being able to see this priceless child that I am a part of glow in a LOVING HOME where the Lord dwells each and every day for ELENA, her mother and father. I struggle some of these days and others fly by but there is not changing the past. ALL we can do is press forward, moving along, moving along! I am grateful for the small glimpse into Elena's LIFE to know that she is well cared for and love by the amazing family that I placed her with. these are the moments that I am able to share with you and myself over and over again for this is all I have.

THANK YOU AGAIN

RANDY AND CAROLINE

FOR THE PICTURES AND EMAILS!!

This is a picture of ELENA being held

by only girl cousin MONICA

(they has 5 boy cousins on Randys side).

Monica the oldest at 7 yrs. and Elena the youngest at 3 mos.

WOW how this family is growing and loving it too!!