The McDade Family

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Hi! Our names are Shannon, Mark and Summer McDade. We are a family of three wanting to expand our family through adoption. We were planning to adopt from Taiwan, but the wait has helped us change countries to Ethiopia. God has a purpose foreverything and we are going to stay faithful and follow Him.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Summer's Srk Graduation

Summer graduated from kindergarten at FACS yesterday. Mark and I both took off work to go to her 9:30 ceremony. Summer had her Mimi, Poppy, Nana, Pockey Dey, Aunt Angie and Kate there to support her. Summer was so happy to see all of them there. The program was really good. They did many songs and then they got their little diplomas. So cute!!

Summer looked so pretty. She was so worried about the outfit that she was wearing under the white robe. She didn't want anything to show through it. So we had to go shopping the day before the ceremony to find something that she liked. Crazy. However, we found something that worked perfectly. I curled her hair up in the back. She looked so pretty with her hair curled up, her purple glasses on and in her white robe with the cute hat. When I first saw her in the line waiting to go into the Chapel I started to cry a little....

Here are a few pictures of Summer's Srk. graduation day












After the graduation was over with Mark and I took Summer out to lunch at the American Cafe. We had so much fun together. I hope we always will even when she get older!!!




I can not believe that she has grown up so fast. It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. Man time flys. I am so happy to have her as my daughter. I am so blessed that she calls me mommy. I will always cherish the sweet moments that we have together. Like after tucking her into bed she will call for me about three times to come back to her room for another good night kiss or a tickle. Sometimes I am tired and I just want her to go to sleep, but I do love it when she wants just one more hug from me and another kiss. Or just sitting on the couch cuddling watching a movie.
I love being with her and most of all I love being her mommy!!!!

Had such a great day with my little graduate!!! Summer you did it!! First grade here I come!!!'

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Mother's Day Weekend

I have had such a busy week I just haven't had time to blog about Mother's Day weekend yet. So here goes. Summer woke me up early to wish me a happy Mother's Day and say, " I am the BEST mommy in the whole world." So sweet!! Summer made me a Mother's Day card by herself. It was so sweet. I just wanted to cry when I saw that she even drew Connor in the picture. She says, " Connor is not here yet, but he will be and he will love having you as his mommy! " So I started to cry again.... Here is a picture of the card.






It was so sweet of her to think of Connor too. I have been thinking of him on this day. I am wondering if he is with his mommy today on this Mother's Day or if he was just put into a place that seems so strange to him. I know wherever he is God is watching over him and taking care of him until he becomes part of our family. I was hoping I would have received a referral by now, but I am willing to wait!!! What a blessing he will be to us.

Mark and Summer bought me a cake that says I Luv Mommy and they drew Connor on it too. Summer was already on the cake. It was really good too.




Then my parents came out to eat lunch with us. It was a good lunch. Here are a few pictures of us while opening presents.

Kathza, Mimi, and Summer







Mark got me a couple of T-shirts from 147 Million Orphans. This is an organization that helps with the orphan crisis in the world. They are founded by two adoptive moms who want to help the orphans in the world. So cool. Check them out: 147millionorphans.com




Summer being funny!!









After opening up gifts Summer started to act up. Got into trouble. They all left and she was crying on the couch and I went outside to cry. The day started out great, then got worse, but the day ended up with us hugging and saying we were sorry. So it was still a good day. Just craziness in the middle!!!

I really don't know where we are at the orphanages. I don't know if we have been looked at yet by the Ethiopian team. I don't know how much longer it is going to be. I don't know when we will get a referral and a picture of our little boy. I do know that we are willing to wait as long as it takes for him to become part of our family. So here we are waiting while spring is gone, Summer is about to graduate from kindergarten in a couple of weeks, and summer time is about to begin..... Another season will be here and gone soon. I am praying by the next season we will have a picture of our little boy.....


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Friday, May 6, 2011

A day with Summer

Today Summer had a field day at FACS. I had to work last night, but I got there around 10:00 this morning and she was so excited to see me!! She came running up to me and gave me a big hug!!! I am happy that I was able to make it.




Then we went to chick-fil-a for lunch. We had a great early Mother's Day lunch and time together!! I just love my little girl!!
This is going to be another Mother's Day without a referral of our little boy. So I am happy and have some sadness going on during this Mother's Day, but God has a plan. One of God's promises is in Lamentations 3:25-
" Waiting for God's timing brings great rewards." So this is what I am leaning on at this moment. I can still be sad, happy and frustrated about our journey as long as I wait for God to act. I just pray it will happen soon. I can't wait to become a mommy again this time to a little boy named Connor.


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Monday, May 2, 2011

Waiting......

Well, no news to tell as of right now. Just waiting..... I hope and pray we will have a referral soon. I keep seeing people get referrals and that is a good thing. At least I know they are coming in. I just want a picture, a name and to see how old he is. I can handle not traveling right a way. At least that is what I think. So we are doing projects around the house to keep busy. At least the house will have everything done before Connor gets here.

A friend of mine made me a couple things out of metal for our house. One is an African Shadowbox for our wall to symbolize our adoption journey to get Connor. Here is a picture.








He also made me a cool metal cross. I wanted him to make it look distressed so he hammered it all over to get that look. Here is a picture.



Thanks Michael for your creations!!!! You are a great friend to Mark and I...

I am going to try to start a support group at Hope for families who are in the adoption process, have adopted, or just wanting to know more about adoption. So we will see. I want to help other families who want to adopt, but don't think they have the money or the support to do it. I have a desire to help the orphans out in the world. I don't know everything about orphans, but I do know that as Christians we must look after them.

James 1:27-" Religion that is pure and undefined before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus helping orphans in the world. So please pray that I will find a way to start something that will help the orphans in the world.

So we are waiting on Connor to join our family... Please Lord, help make our hearts prepared for him and for whatever lies ahead. Help prepare him for our family, that he will join our family that truly loves him. We love him so much already and have not seen a picture of him. I hope and pray that we will get a picture of our little boy that lives so far away-- very soon!!!!

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