Answered Prayer

{Hey readers, I am enabling anonymous commenting just for this post so you can share love and prayers for Jared and Jess. Because it is anonymous, you do not have to sign in so PLEASE comment below ALL OF YOU! (and sign your name- nobody wants a true anonymous comment). :) Thanks}

God is good and faithful all the time!

We went to Dallas this past weekend to visit Kaitlyn's parents. I was so encouraged by them. They are utterly heartbroken as you can imagine, (well I guess we can't really imagine), but they are at peace with God's will. They are not mad at Him- they just miss their little girl.

I will share some of what they have written on Facebook- not for some cathartic experience but for 2 reasons:

1. This is real. They need your prayers! This is a little window into their pain so you know how to pray for them.

2. In spite of their pain, they are still at peace with God and His decision. What an encouragement and testimony!

from her mommy's facebook status:
"I love you and miss you baby girl. I will never know why but I trust that God has a reason. I can't wait to see you again. You would have been the best big sister in the world. I know you are watching over me, daddy and Caleb. You are now my guardian angel. I love you."

from her daddy's facebook statuses:
"yesterday, our precious little angel left us to be with the Lord. We have already had so many friends and family come to help us out, in ways we couldn't have imagined, and we are all so thankful."

"I feel like the wind has been beaten out of me. I know it's all in the good Lord's timing, but I wanted at least another 90 years of her being around. My precious little baby girl went to heaven to see her heavenly father and to go hug His neck. The night before she passed, we read the Bible, and she could say "Jesus" and point to him in the manger. She was just ready to see Him face to face."

"Thank you everyone for the prayers. I cannot begin to really describe this experience, but I'll just say that I hope no one has to experience the gut-wrenching pain that we have already been through. I know prayers have been, and are still being lifted for the peace that surpasses all human understanding to guard our hearts and minds. Each day we both feel a little stronger, but miles and miles from where we were."

"Thank you everyone for the prayers. I am so thankful for the family and friends that have helped us along so far, you are all such a blessing at such a needed time. This is going to be a long journey, and we will walk this one together, hand in hand with God. We know our little angel is praising Him right now in paradise."


I wish we could be there today and tomorrow for the viewing and funeral, but sadly we cannot be.

In regards to the viewing today- her daddy's status:

"Today is the last day that I get to see the face of my little angel until our sweet sweet reunion up above. I couldn't do it without my dear Lord, my family and friends. I love and cherish everyone of you. This is just a reminder that our time here is short and not known, so make the most of every moment."
This is a great picture because it shows what she is doing now- lifting up her arms to her Father in Heaven to praise Him.
I know the common thing to say about kids is how beautiful they are, but I think you will agree that when it is said of Kaitlyn it is not out of kindness or lip service- it is the truth. She IS so beautiful!

Jared and Jess, words will never to justice to how I feel for y'all right now.

I truly am encouraged by y'all at this time. Jess said how Kaitlyn wasn't truly y'all's but God's. That is something that I may not have mentioned with your pain so fresh, but I am so thankful that y'all understand that!

I hate that this happened. God does too. Even though He is in control of it all, He would rather this not happen. We know this is a result of the fall, and one day we will all get to be together in Perfection where there is no more pain and no more tears. Kaitlyn is already there. ♥

You have our hearts, thoughts and prayers. As I said before we left- call us anytime and we will come stay with y'all on those days when the house is a little too quiet. Or y'all are always welcome here to get away from it all. PLEASE do not hesitate to take me up on this offer!!

We both regret that we never met her on this earth, but we look forward to the day that we will get to see her in Heaven.

We love y'all!


Kaitlyn's Obituary

Life and Death

Please keep praying for Kaitlyn's family. We will be visiting them soon, and I will post more info on here as I receive it. Here is little Kaitlyn October 2009.

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I know this is a big change in post, but how else can I do it?

Happy Birthday to my precious little Sweetpea!! She is the happiest, laid back baby you will ever meet, and her personality shines through more everyday. She learned kisses last week, and every time I say, "I love you," she gives a kiss. ♥

Last night I started having panic attacks thinking of Kaitlyn, and was so worried about Sweetpea. I know it was satan torturing me, but still. Needless to say, when she woke me up talking, it brightened my whole day! We had plans for her day today, but because of sweet Kaitlyn, I do not think we will do them anymore.

Sweetpea cried during her whole birthday photo shoot with Traci-Marie Photography. We made lemonade people. :)

More party pics to come later- for now, we are focusing on Kaitlyn's family. PRAY!

Please Pray

Last night our friends' little girl, Kaitlyn Olivia, died suddenly. She had a cold so they took her to the doctor. They cleaned out her nostrils and put her to bed, and found her cold and not breathing this morning. We are heartbroken. Please pray for her mom and dad.

I almost forgot to mention that mom is about 22/23 weeks pregnant. Pray for her especially right now. We need to keep mommy and her little boys safe!!

Please leave comments of encouragement or prayers and I will let them see them when they are ready to. Kaitlyn in March 2010

Kaitlyn with Mommy and Daddy April 2009.

Shutterfly Christmas Card 2010

There is more on the inside, so be sure to check your mailboxes next week! Here is a sneak peek! :)

Good Blessings Religious Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Workday Wednesday

Ok, so by "work" I mean blog work. ;) Since I am FINALLY able to post pictures of her face- I am playing catch up with posting... The other day I posted my favs over the last few months... now I can get back to posting daily events...

Tomorrow or so I will post pics from her party... here is a sample:

Intrigued? Tune in soon...
December 2nd- Termination day!
Bolt HAS to be in pics... lol
"Feels like home to me..." in the evening of termination day...
Someone is becoming the a champion sitter and smiler!
She also began giving kisses- here is one in action...
I know she is almost 12 months, but with Spina Bifida- this sitting is AWESOME! I am so proud of her!
What did I tell you about Bolt? :)
I made her sit back so you could see her whole outfit :)
I was out running errands on Monday and we decided to join Daddy for lunch. Since it was spontaneous, I forgot her bumbo... never fear- champion sitter is here. :) She was cracking me up sitting in the booth with me!
She, (unintentionally), matched Daddy, so I had to get a pic :)
I promise I did not teach her this facial from my cheerleading days. ;) Though I do love it on her! :)

The Terminator

Sweetpea's parental rights were terminated last Thursday!! PRAISE GOD!!! She is OURS people!!! We knew this would happen, but after Woody and Buzz we were a little leery. Saturday we had her first birthday party- pics to come.

Speaking of pics: it is with great pride and gratitude that I introduce you to our daughter finally:
Sweetpea's gotcha day! Such a special day!!


She kept making this face that night...
Introdcuing her "evil eyes." isn't this hysterical?!


She was done with the photoshoot!
This is her "face." Also hysterical!

Popeye? Maybe Dr Popeye considering she looked liked a Dr all day in that outfit! lol


She looks so old to me here....

Look at this face- I am fully aware that my child has got attitude! :)
What's up dawg? {seriously look at this pic and try not t giggle! lol} PS- I only crossed her feet- she did the rest! lol
One of my all time favs!

Isn't she beautiful!?

All I Want for Christmas

What a loaded thought.

First of all, I am so thankful that my sweet hubs is surprising me today with a copy of George W's book. I have been wanting it since it came out, but kinda forgot about it. Then today he said he was bringing me home a surprise- not a Christmas present- but a present just because he loves me/knew I wanted it. Um, the best kind, right? :) Thanks Babe- just what I needed! :)

At the Keierleber casa, we focus on the true meaning of Christmas. All our decor is Christ centered, and we will not do Santa. We also do not plan to go crazy with gifts for the kids- we will save that for their birthday. BUT, we do still do gift giving, and I have been trying to figure out what I MUST HAVE this Christmas. There are a few items I want right now, but nothing that I need wrapped under the tree, ya know? Hmm... decisions, decisions.

Well, yesterday I got a phone call from our agency.

She had a 4 day old baby boy for me.

You have got to be kidding me.

If you are keeping track, I have turned down a sibling group of 3 as foster kids. I have turned down a sibling group of 3 as adoptable kids, a newborn baby girl to adopt and now a 4 day old baby boy.

That is a total of 5 children, (8 if you include the foster kids) that I have had to say no to.

Hard does not even begin to describe this. I cried all night last night and today as well. Then I watched a video below, (Steven Curtis Chapman), and cried harder than I have in quite a long time.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever turn away one child, let alone 8.

I have a heavy heavy heart as I write today. I knew there were so many kids that needed homes, (nearly 200 million orphans), but when I am getting phone calls for children that I have to turn away... there are just no words.

Needless to say, I will be contacting our agency and I will tell them to stop offering me kids. I have my hands full and I unfortunately cannot take another child right now. It will not be fair to those kids or the ones I already have. {not to mention I cannot have more than 2 kids under 18 months in my house at once}

When I think of what I want for Christmas, I can't think of anything else but this newborn boy. I can't take him into my home, but I want SOMEONE to.

How about you? Have you considered adoption? You should. Really. Contact me and I can tell you how easy and truly inexpensive it can be, (and when I say inexpensive I mean free in some cases. Yeah, I said free).

Please watch this video. I dare you not to cry. I dare you. What they want for Christmas- it is what I want for Christmas- I want their Christmas dreams to come true:

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for
But there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

This song below- last year I refused to listen to it. You see, I thought for sure last Christmas would have been our first as parents. Well, it wasn't so I just could not listen to it. Now, I love this song. It still kills me because of all the kids out there that need homes, but I am so thankful that we have our little Sweetpea home... be sure to listen to this song- it will make our Christmas card make more sense... ;)

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas {our Christmas 2009}

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
And we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
And prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas {now in 2010} :)

So, what do I want for Christmas? I do not know. I am ever so thankful for our little gift of a daughter. Pray for tomorrow- hopefully we will get TERMINATION tomorrow. Pretty good Christmas gift if you ask me. :)

Seriously consider adoption. I am here always to talk more. :)