Nima Jade

Help us start a home for 5 orphan girls in Nepal as well as help...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:11:36 -0600

Help us start a home for 5 orphan girls in Nepal as well as help other children and families in need!

NYC August 2011 I am finally getting around to editing my...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:35:17 -0500

NYC August 2011

I am finally getting around to editing my personal images. Over the next few weeks, you will be seeing “A Year in Photos” from me that highlight Nima’s life since she has been home. These images were from Nima’s first trip to the Big Apple and Animoto’s headquarters!

One Year Anniversaries Since the last time I posted, we have...

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:55:12 -0500

One Year Anniversaries

Since the last time I posted, we have been having many one year anniversaries. The first time we met Nima. The day we adopted Nima. The day Jed left us in Nepal. The day I left Nima to come home and work for two weeks. The day our parents flew to Nepal to watch Nima. The day we met many of our new lifelong friends in Nepal. The day that so many of our friends and family from around the world rallied around us in support and love.

While many of these memories are wonderful, some have been difficult to think about. I am trying hard not to forget the details. Things I want to share with Nima as she gets older. No matter what the details or memories or anniversaries, I am more in love with my daugther than ever and I am so thankful that we are home.

Last October during my 2 week trip home, Jed and I sat outside wondering if we would ever get to watch Nima play in our yard. This October, we took the time to photograph that dream which has become a reality.

Jed and I are featured in the current issue of PPA Magazine.

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:43:23 -0500

Jed and I are featured in the current issue of PPA Magazine.

Celebrating Purnima: The One Year Anniversary of Seeing Our...

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:37:09 -0500

Celebrating Purnima: The One Year Anniversary of Seeing Our Daughter for the First Time

Photo

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:23:11 -0500

A Year of Changes

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:06:12 -0500

365 days ago, Jed and I were up late at night getting ready for our morning flight to Nepal. I cannot believe how life has changed since then. The biggest journey of our lives started a year ago as we boarded a flight to bring Nima home, not knowing what challenges awaited us. Not only did we meet our beautiful daughter, but we also met so many people who will be lifelong friends. Nima is the most amazing thing that has happened to us and I feel so blessed that God would entrust us to raise her. She is such a joy and blessing, but I can’t believe how fast time is going. I am trying to cherish every moment.

Tonight I am writing this from the studio. It feels like “old times” working late at night. The difference is there are two other renters in our gallery tonight working and trying to get their spaces ready by September 1st. Our business has evolved into something amazing and more manageable, but it is still difficult to see other people in our ”old space” painting walls and making it their own. I have been quite emotional lately. I have fears of losing the perspective I learned while living in Nepal. Fears of getting swallowed up by my business again. My two days of working at the studio have turned into 12-18 hour days trying to finish our space. I am excited to show you our “new” studio. I have a renewed energy about photography. BUT, I am also ready to stop breathing drywall dust, having garage sales in 100 degree weather, and working till the morning hours. I am ready to spend the majority of my days with my daughter. Tomorrow we leave to visit our friends at Animoto in NYC. It will be a nice break from the studio and a wonderful time seeing some great friends. Enjoy the rest of summer and stay cool :) I hope to post some more images soon.

xoxo V

The Band is Back Together We are approaching the year...

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:58:42 -0500

The Band is Back Together

We are approaching the year anniversary of when Jed and I traveled to Nepal to adopt Nima. After being home from Nepal for almost 6 months (the same amount of time I spent there), I have been going through many different emotions. We are starting to get settled into a routine at home, something I questioned my ability to do. Most recently, we have been able to meet up with some of the other families that went through the same emotional ordeal we did. This weekend, Nima spent hours playing with Benjamin, one of her friends from Nepal. It was so great to see the two of them play together. We spent many hours talking with our friends about what had happened to us in Nepal and how we are adjusting to our lives here in the U.S. Our time together was too short, but I know we will see each other again sometime soon. I am planning on getting together with some of the other families in the next month or two. It feels like the band is getting back together and it feels good!

Dear Blog, I am so sorry that I have neglected you for so long....

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:11:31 -0500

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry that I have neglected you for so long. We used to spend so much time together. You have listened to me during some pretty rough times over the last year. I have been really busy lately with my daughter. You haven’t see her in awhile, but she has changed SO MUCH. Nima is now two years old and very independent. A lot has happened since we last talked. Last weekend was a big weekend for our family. June 17th was the one year anniversary of Nima’s referral. This is when we saw our first photo of her. June 18th is both Nima’s and my mom’s birthday. We have been blessed by so many family and friends who have been celebrating with us. June 19th was Father’s Day, which means Jed’s very first Father’s Day! And now we are in Phoenix at at photography conference. Jed is working and I am teaching (and playing in the pool with our little girl). I promise to show you photos really, really soon.

XOXO- Vicki

Vintage Fields

Tue, 24 May 2011 21:56:30 -0500

Vintage Fields

Nima and Her Friends Here is an image one of the other mothers...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:26:00 -0500

Nima and Her Friends

Here is an image one of the other mothers shared with me. This photo was taken of Nima with three of her friends at the orphanage last July, before we even met her. She is the one peaking through the balcony on the far left.

I MISS YOU BABY! I am stuck at the Atlanta airport after all the...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:21:58 -0500

I MISS YOU BABY!

I am stuck at the Atlanta airport after all the awful storms yesterday. Last night I laid in my hotel room, nervous about the tornadoes. The destruction and loss of life is so sad. I pray for the families and people who have been affected by the storms.

Last night was my first night leaving Nima since last October. I miss her so much. I hope my flight doesn’t get canceled and I make it home tonight. Life has been moving pretty quickly. I have been shooting at the studio a couple days a week, working outside on our yard and garden (when it isn’t raining), and getting ready for a BIG SALE May 10th.

I had a nightmare lately that we had to give Nima up and send her back to Nepal. Even though I know this can’t happen, The other night, Jed heard me having a panic attack in my sleep and woke me up. I had the most devastating feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just thank God everyday for Nima. I feel so blessed to be her mother. I watch her laugh and play everyday and think about the fact that she could still be living in an orphanage. I can’t believe that we met her 9 months ago. Nepal will be in my heart forever, but it is starting to feel surreal and that my time there was a dream. But then again, I feel like I am living a dream here and I can’t believe I am home with my daughter!

Nima’s Orchard Sorry I haven’t posted anything for a...

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:26:24 -0500

Nima’s Orchard

Sorry I haven’t posted anything for a month, but I have been busy being a mom and LOVING it! We have been spending a lot of time outside in the yard playing and landscaping. Nima is so cute. She follows Jed and I around with her little red wagon and helps out by picking up sticks in the yard. We are planning a great garden this year. I can’t wait! All of our plants are blooming. The flowering trees are gorgeous. Last year we planted a beautiful weeping cherry tree and nine fruit trees. It was before we even knew about Nima, but I kept having visions of our daughter playing underneath the trees and following me around the yard helping me pick their fruit in the fall. The trees were planted the year we adopted Nima, so I have been referring to it as Nima’s Orchard. It has been surreal watching her play in the yard. It is truly a dream come true. I don’t know how it is even possible, but I love that little girl more everyday!

Cheers, Salute, Kanpai, Salud, or Deetz (Nima’s word for...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:33:00 -0500

Cheers, Salute, Kanpai, Salud, or Deetz (Nima’s word for Cheers)

It has just been the girls the last couple of days. Jed gets home from Austin tomorrow night. We have been sleeping in, going on walks (sometimes with rollerblades), enjoying the fireplace, dancing, going to Gold’s, Lowe’s, and the pet shop. We almost came home with fish, a bird, and a guinea pig. Nima experienced the kid’s room at church for the first time on Sunday. She had a blast. We have frequented the coffee shop, had playdates, and went to a birthday party. Happy 9th birthday Zach!

Deetz-Vicki and Nima

“Children Of God” - Official Music Video (via...

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:05:39 -0600

“Children Of God” - Official Music Video (via thirddaychannel)

I know our daughter is adopted, but somehow she still got her...

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:32:57 -0600

I know our daughter is adopted, but somehow she still got her daddy’s hair!

3 weeks, 7 Flights, 2 Countries, 3 Cities, 2 Deserts, and 1...

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:15:00 -0600

3 weeks, 7 Flights, 2 Countries, 3 Cities, 2 Deserts, and 1 Ocean

Not long after getting home in January, the three of us hoped back on a plane for work. We just got back a couple of days ago and are finally getting settled in. In the last three weeks we visited Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and Cabo. I am a little worried that Nima is going to get bored with her life in Morton, Illinois after all the excitement, beautiful hotels, pools, room service, and amazing people who showered her with love. “Boring” actually sounds really nice to me right now. Over the last six months, I have learned to do “boring” really well. In fact, Jed is gone for 6 days, so Nima and I are back to hanging out just the two of us. It feels weird that the last time it was just us, we were halfway around the world.

The best part of the last three weeks was getting to see so many friends who have been our support over the last few months. There were many moments I felt overwhelmed. There are so many people who did so much for us. Nima did amazing. She had so much fun meeting everyone and exploring new places and things. I have to admit, Vegas is a different place when you have a baby. Many nights were spent eating mac n’ cheese and sitting in my room. ( I secretly loved it, though) I have recently accepted that things are going to take some time to figure out and that I am not going to know the answers immediately to a lot of stuff. I had some really good conversations with friends over the last few weeks. In one conversation, we were talking to us about picking a word for the year. My word for 2011 is Content. This comes from my realization of how content I was in Nepal when I had “nothing.” A friend shared a great article from Oprah’s March magazine where she quotes the book Enough Already! by Peter Walsh:

“Our homes are overwhelmed with stuff and our lives littered with the empty promises that the stuff didn’t fulfill…In buying what we want, we hope to acquire the life we desire…But chasing the life you want by accumulating more stuff is a dead-end street.”

The other thing that I am realizing I need in my life right now is Rest. Before leaving for Nepal in August I was overcommitted and exhausted. I am going to add things back into my life slowly. I am taking a step back from everything and re-inventing, re-evaluating, and re-prioritizing. I know it will just take some time. Here are some lyrics from a song I listened to often while in Nepal, “More Time,” by Need to Breathe. They are one of my favorite bands.

We’re off to new lands
So hold on to my hands
It’s gonna be alright
It’s a whole lot brighter
So stand by the fire
It’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the road gets harder
But it’s not much farther
It’s gonna be alright
You know that it ain’t easy
Please believe me
It’s gonna be alright

Please don’t worry now
It will turn around

Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine
So say what’s on your mind
Cause I can’t figure out just what’s inside
So say alright
Cause I know we can make it if we try
Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine

January 23, 2011 Here is our homecoming video. A special thanks...

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:38:29 -0600

January 23, 2011

Here is our homecoming video. A special thanks to Julia for the photos and Emma for the video. I want to thank everyone for their support and love during this journey. The best is yet to come!

Love- Vicki, Jed, and Nima

In The News

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:31:04 -0600

In The News

The Next American Idol Nima has been practicing her singing and...

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:53:34 -0600

The Next American Idol

Nima has been practicing her singing and dancing skills. It is definitely her favorite thing to do. She went to a birthday party last weekend for her cousin and had a blast. She didn’t get her musical talent from me, though :) We have gotten to see a lot of people lately, which has been great. Nima and I are starting to feel a little more adjusted to life back home each and every day. We are getting ready to leave for a couple weeks for some work trips. I am excited and anxious at the same time. There are a lot of people I haven’t seen for a long time that I can’t wait to see and who I know are excited to meet Nima. We are definitely ready to get out of the cold weather :)