Our daughter is an amazing mother, we are so proud!

Below is an excerpt from Adrienne's blog. Last night as I was reading it (and crying) I too was reflecting on what it means to be a mother and I was thinking back over the life of my curly haired angel (but her curls were golden). It is truly a wonder and a blessing to watch Adrienne mother new angels. First I was blessed by God to have Adrienne but the blessings are immeasurable to not only have my precious grandchildren but to watch my own daughter with them.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

"As I was creating the post of Annabelle's first birthday, I was reflecting back at this last year. I can easily say that it has been the hardest, most exhausting, most stressful year of my life-my first year as a mother of two! However, the joy she has brought to me and our little family is immeasurable. She is a gift from God! I know that most of you have seen most all of these pictures, as they are some of my favorites, but I needed to remember these moments today, so I spent hours perusing through her thousands of adorable baby pictures (it was quite a task to narrow down this blog and get all the pictures in chronological order). This is the product of my walk down memory lane today. Just a little bonus for all my faithful bloggers. I can hardly believe it has already been a year. Where has my baby gone?"

To view the awesome photos of Annabelle and Isaac that go along with the above post from Adrienne log onto www.teradafamily.blogspot.com

I remember when I was pregnant with Tucker I was truly afraid because I didn't think it was humanly possible to love another human being as much as I loved Adrienne. Of course the instant he was born I realized all my fears were unfounded and God gives mothers an enormous capacity to love. When I was pregnant with Hillary I wasn't worried about loving her as much as Adrienne and Tucker because I now knew a mother's love knows no bounds, no limits.

When we were going through the adoption process to adopt Marina and same fears returned. However I prayed "okay God I know I can't possibly love her as much as the first three but I pray I can love her enough to give her a good life and be a good mother." I knew I could do that. God had other plans for my love "love enough" wasn't good enough for God or this mother. In a dingy hotel room in Kazan, Russia God again taught me the limitless love of a mother. A very small frail frightened (I would guess she was afraid, somewhat at least) dark haired dark eyed little girl walked in the door. In a very strong accent she looked at me and said "Ma" In an instant the bonding was complete and I had my new 11 year old daughter in my arms, I knew right then I would again expand my mothers complete unconditional love the same love as the first three to this stranger in my arms. Marina would often tell people the story of how this strange woman she had never met just kept hugging her and wouldn't let go and she couldn't breathe.

Of course Victoria and Dimitri skated into my heart in much the same way but again my fears were gone I knew I could love the same.

My love for Ken was also swift, how could I not love someone that so obviously loved my precious daughter so much!

Then Isaac comes along I loved him so much I thought I would explode! Being a grandmother is unbelievable, unimaginable.

Then our darling daughter-in-law Jennifer what a blessing not only to Tucker but to us as well. again seeing someone love my son so much is a blessing in its self.

Then Annabelle comes along! I have truly wonderful children and grandchildren. Thank you God!

I again find myself crying but its okay it's just because I love so much.

I love you Doug, Adrienne, Tucker, Hillary, Marina, Victoria, Ken, Dimitri, Isaac, Jenn and Annabelle thanks for allowing me to love you so much!