Articles

Thank you to my friend Jayme who took a few pictures of Karolina last week.  What a heart-melter!   So beautiful. Also, thank you to Cara who e-mailed with a recommendation for a nursing shawl: Hi Brooke, I saw on your blog that you were looking at nursing shawl…I loved this one, and it doubles as … Read more

With Karolina finally getting settled, and baby #5 on the way in 3 months,  I finally started to make lists of the items we will need with little ones in the house again.    It’s been a few years since I ventured into the world of baby gear, accessories, nursery necessities, etc.   I’m always amazed by the new … Read more

This weekend we celebrated Karolina’s baptism, a moment we have prayed for for a long time.   I was a teary mess, but I wouldn’t trade the emotions of the day for anything.  It was another dream realized.   To have the opportunity to baptize our child and to have her receive her first sacrament, was an honor.    … Read more

“There’s no place like Home”- Dorothy.:) Truer words were never spoken!     We received a wonderful surprise on Friday…. the return of Jim and Karolina!    Last week we got word that there was a SLIM chance they could return from Warsaw a few days early, but it was not likely.   We didn’t hold our breath, but … Read more

The end is near!   Well, maybe it would be more appropriate to say the beginning.    Jim and Karolina will be HOME next Monday night, that’s less than a week until our big reunion!    We may jump out of our skin, we are ALL so anxious to be together again. Last week was Karolina’s birthday, as well … Read more

Things are beginning to settle in here now after being home for almost 2 weeks.   If there is one thing I’ve realized, it is that our family unit needs each other…especially Jim!   I need Jim.   This has been a trying time and although it’s absolutely worth it, we are all ready for Jim and Karolina … Read more

Happy 22 weeks!:)   Today I am officially 5 1/2 months pregnant.   Time is flying.    Although, when I think about it, the end of October seems ages away.   I’m just trying to enjoy TODAY, and I’m learning to appreciate the present.  It seems like I am forever on some sort of countdown clock and I’m … Read more

Please welcome to our family, our daughter!   Karolina Elizabeth.  Born into our hearts on March 5, 2011, and legally born into our family and bound for life on June 15, 2011. “Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own. A  precious daughter from a far away land God has chosen us … Read more

This has been, and will be,  a BIG week here!    It started yesterday with a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau.   I’ve had nearly 24 hours to think about the experience, and it’s still just sinking in.   I don’t think I could say anything that hasn’t been said already.   It was heart-wrenching, somber, and inconceivable in many ways.   I think … Read more

Baby says hello!