Fun in the Sun

We decided to take "M" to the beach she has been asking for the longest time to so she can play in a bigger sandbox. So we decided to go with some friends down to St. George Island for the day. The girls all had a great time they wore there daddy's out playing in the water for four hours while Janet and I sat on the beach talked, took pictures and relaxed. It was a fantastic beach day. Now I am hooked we will be going more often with the kids. Janet and Mike used to live on the beach so they are use to going daily but I have to work up to all that sand stuck to me all the time.
Of course after that the kids were hungry so we stopped for some good ole BBQ and ice cream before we headed home. After a long day no one wanted to go home and cook.

CEF

I belong to the board of Children's Fellowship Evangelism for the Big Bend region and they help start up Good News Clubs in public schools. This allows for one hour a week for teachers and helpers to come into the after school programs (with permission from parents) to teach the word of God. Next year now that "M" is going to public school I will be a aid in her school for this program. She will only go to after school for this 1 hour otherwise she will be with me but I feel that this is so important we have had so many profession of faiths come from young students in this program and children that are hearing about Jesus for the first time.



Teaching our children young and planting the seed and helping it grow is what is important.

Getting ready for Kindergarten

We went to Kindergarten Orientation. "M" was so excited she could not wait to get there she was hoping to get to stay for the day. We were meeting 2 of my girlfriends and their daughters. I felt a bit overwhelmed with all the people so many kids WOW bless those teaches. The principle opened by saying by the looks of just who showed up this is the largest kindergarten class they have had entering since the school began. The first thing we said was oh boy when the budget year is so bad.

I was already prepared with all my paperwork it was completed a week or more in advanced thanks to my friend Kari who is always organized and on top of everything. We were all prepared. When we went on the tours the girls rushed into the rooms to meet the kids and the teachers. They made themselves at home we just looked at each other and said they will be fine we are the ones that won't.

I joined the PTO along with my girlfriend we have signed up for numerous functions and responsibilities. I am involved in so much but it is all about kids.

There school offers a Boo-hoo breakfast the first day of school and we all plan on being there I know I will be a mess. I was when she went to pre-school.

I am totally blessed I have the best boss in the whole world in my job I will not have "M" in any kind of after school program anymore I will be home with them or Daddy will. I can;t tell you how thrilled I am. Life is good. Bring on more play dates the girls said.

Graduation from VPK

I can't believe this time has come for our little one to graduate from Pre-K. It just seemed like the other day we were learning to walk and talk. Now we are reading and writing. We are both so proud of "M" she has come a long way since the first day we held her in our arms. The school put on a great recognition program and the kids were so proud of themselves and they are ready for kindergarten. The congregation at the church sponsored for each child to get a Bible as the graduation gift. What a way to send a child off.

During the program several of my girlfriends and I were video taping and taking pictures in between the tears just streaming down our face. Looking at what has been accomplished in a year of structured learning just amazes me. They have changed so much and all for the good.

I am so glad several of her good friends will be going on to kindergarten with her even if they will not be in the same class.

Ballet Reciatal

Spring time, Mothers Day, and a ballet recital. What a wonderful way to spend Mothers Day weekend watching our darling daughters dancing to Praise and Worship Music. This year "M" and 2 of her little girlfriends took tap and Ballet together and they have had a great time in and out of ballet class. Watching them dance to Christian music and seeing them how they matured in there dancing they have become quite graceful. The dancing and the music was quite a tear jerker.

My girlfriend Angela and I volunteered to be the homeroom moms. Well that was before I broke my arm it was kinda tuff but Angela is truly the best. God has blessed me immensely with such a great caring, thoughtful, and all around grounded friend. The performance went off with out any errors and they danced there hearts out. No stage fright this year. Yeah!! We threw a big reception after and there were upwards of 600 people there to meet and greet the dancers.

This is truly a great program and next year I have already recruitted more of "M"'s friends that took dance other places but the mom's loved the idea that the girls danced to christian music.

I am back

I disappeared for awhile because I pulled a grace act. I broke my left arm it was so embarrising. Steve was out and I had just got home with "M" from a mission project with our church. Not home 5 minutes and I went to go throw some camp chairs away and I tripped in the driveway over the bags and I did a great attempt to try to catch myself. For all of those of you who know me I am prone to being a cluts. I still say if I did not have on my sneakers I would not have stopped dead in my tracks. Anyway "M" stepped up to be the big girl. She went to get help and called dad. I could not get up because oh ya I messed up my knee. Praise God my dear friend Krista was home. By this time I am sure Steve already had the sirens on the car and was coming home at 80 MPH I was still in a daze from the pain I was sure it was broken but just wanted to go inside were there was air instead of laying on the concrete. Krista is so wonderful she kept me entertained and laughing an "M" played nurse.



Now it was off to the hospital I was so glad we did not take "M" that was an experience in itself in the ER. The 2 doctors could not decide if it was broken so the but my arm in a sling and immobilized it till Monday what a long weekend. When I saw the specialist he pulled up the X-ray and said it was broken at the elbow. I told him I do not have time for a broken arm or elbow he laughed and asked me what color cast I wanted. I just wanted to cry. To honor "M" she asked me to get pink first, well for all who know me that was never going to happen so I went with her second choice of purple. I really really wanted black it goes with everything. This thing went clear up my arm :( Again I was truly blessed with a great husband, daughter and friends who made the whole ordeal totally bearable.

Weeks later it is off but the doctor said it still will be 2 plus months before it is back to normal. Yes, I am back to cleaning the house again. I was hoping that would last a little longer.

Easter

What a great day to celebrate with family and friends. "M" and here friends went on several Easter egg hunts. If she had her way this holiday would never end. She would look for eggs for the whole year. We color eggs and colored eggs good thing we like to eat hard boiled eggs and egg salad. As you can see in the pictures a rel bunny even came he was a real hit with the kids. The moms in our neighborhood area are so great.

I teach a Sunday school class and the kids are 3 and 4 and on Easter morning I started the lesson asking what is Easter? Well at that age you would expect to hear all about Easter baskets, bunnies, candies and egg hunts, but to my surprise the kids said it is not all about chocolate Easter bunnies it is about JESUS and him coming back from the tomb. My response was WOW did someone start my lesson early. I feel so blessed to work with kids both young and older (3rd grade) that have a strong presence of GOD in there life. What a great day.

We ended the day with a non traditional dinner a cookout with friends.

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

School Day Ramblings

I need a bigger bike remember how long my legs are :)

Very good friends

The very sociable group

Here are some recent pictures that were taken at "M"'s school. They had a bike-a- thon to raise money for St. Judes. Some are just of the kids playing on the playground and activeites in the classroom. I want to thank my girlfriend Janet for these photos you can always count on her to have a camera in hand. She is the most perpared and organized mom.

I love "M"'s school and I am so thankful our other two will be going to this school also :)

Field Trip to the Jr Museum

"M"'s class took a trip to the local museum the kids all had a great time. The school tried to schedule this trip three times but due to cold weather we were unable to go. "M" was thrilled her little boyfriend Bin got to ride with us that day in her daddy's truck and she was just thrilled these two are inseperable playmates.

The kids favorite part of the day was the different animals "M" loved the turkeys. For being so girly when she is outdoors she fits right in. We could not have asked for a better day the weather was perfect.

Working in her class and helping on the trip I have met some of the most wonderful mothers. "M" is so blessed to have a great teacher and wonderful friends at school.

Teacher needs to talk to you

Ok when you hear this you panic. "M" has never been in trouble she always is complmented on her behavior and manors but I know that she is capable of anything she is four. It is not like I get an email but the teacher wants to talk to me so I ask "M" she tells me mommy I do not know what she wants.

Anytime she has ever had a problem a school she tells us and we talk about it but she know she does not get in trouble but we talk. So I ask again and she says mama I really really don't know she has not talked to me. Well two days went by and I did not hear from the teacher so I went in to ask when we could talk and that is when it came. I had myself so worked up, she informed my that "M" has become very social. Needless to say my mouth dropped. I said is that all and her teacher just looked at me so I went on to explain. Here I am thinking this big issue and my daughter is social. I asked two of my girlfiends who are teachers and they said that is a good thing school is to teach them how to be social. Two days of worring to know that I have a social butterfly. We alraeady knew that. I did check with her teacher to make sure that she is listening and not socializing at an inapprpriate time and that was not the case.

In the future I will not panic first I will check it all out first.

Two Friends and a Play Date

Little "M" and her friend Bernadette have become great friends over the school year we try to have play dates once a week if we can. Last week we did Zoinks and the girls bounced until the were bounced out. This week we decided to take the girls to Build A Bear. Not we needed another stuffed animal in the house but "M" loves to go there. So off we went. If I would have know this would be the animal that should would be dedicated to for everything I would have .... not sure. She takes her buttercup dog everywhere she has never attached to anything except her small blanket but that is only in bed. It is the cutest hing she feeds it, she walks and she waits in the car for her on school days.

Needless to say the girls had another week of fun. Next week we will be outside at the park.

Ear piercing

Miss "M" has asked for weeks to get her ears pierced and I finally gave in. Now that she is almost five I guess she is old enough. We surprised daddy and was he surprised she had to wear he hair in a pony tail for a whole week till everyone saw her earrings. My biggest fear was she would get one ear done and then say I do not want to do this anymore. I asked Carrie who was assisting us and she said she never has let anyone go out with just one ear pierce that wanted two. Well, I was feeling better already. Then came the stick "M" was not so sure that she wanted to continue but Carrie was the best before you knew it we bought 25 pair of earrings and we were out the door.

I will post pictures soon but with my new high tech camera he got me we I am still trying to point and shoot. good thing I still have a little more time before we go to China. And to think I am the techie of the house (not when it comes to cameras and video cameras :)

February where did it go!!!!

Wow it is hard to believe February is over. I am not sure where it went we have been so busy. We had a great Valentine's Day. Yes, it is a Hallmark Holiday but it also a time to express your love to your family. My wonderful husband did just that. Since Val Day was on a Saturday there was no going out to eat so he planned a very nice dinner for "M" and myself. He gave is both beautiful pink roses she was beside herself. She must have smelled those flowers 100 times. To top off the evening he bought me this great digital camera with changeable lens I have wanted one forever and what better time to get it before we go to China.

Update on Bradley my nephew. He has been seizure free for almost a week now they have found what we hope is the miracle drug to keep them under control. He goes for more testing this week locally as well as the children's hospital in Birmingham. We continue to pray the doctors will be able to continue to control these as well as find a cure.

Adoption update: for what it is worth we were told to hold on we are close they expect a referral within the next 2 to 3 months (March to May). We have a vested interest to travel during 2 months because we have friends that will be in Beijing and they want to meet us again there. They were there for our first adoption and it would be great to meet them again we got a personal tour and loved the company.

Blog Makeover

A blog makeover was far overdue and I owe all the credit and creativity to Jamie she is fabulous and so great to work with. Go visit and follow her journey to her precious son Sawyer at http://stompinginmudpuddles.blogspot.com/.

Prayer Needed

My Nephew is 4 years old and needs prayer. He has been having 40 plus seizures a day for the past week. The doctors at first thought he had a brain tumor Praise God that was ruled out on Tuesday morning after the MRI was completed. He has been in the hospital for the last week and they have been working to get them under control but the medicines take some time to work and not always do the first medicines they try work. Please pray for this little man. I can not tell you how it has taken a toll on his mom and dad. I spent some time over there helping them and I will tell you he is a brave little man. Please pray for him and his family.

We are out of Review

CCAA has finally posted that March 2007 is out of review. What a great day!!!


2/2/2009 CCAA

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 31, 2007.

Yes, that is us. Well now when we get a referral we will move a little faster for CA and TA that is all in reference to traveling.

One year since......

Well it has officially been a year since we submitted our medical checklist. At this point we still do not have a referral. We are actually OK with this because we have so much going on right now. We would love a reefrral but all in time. God has had the perfect timelines for us so I know he has her cared for well.


Beth and I just finished the nursery it is so cute (pink, brown, polka dots, and chair rail). Steve and I will be putting the crib in the next week and then we still need to purchase a bed but we still have time for that.

I am in the process of getting a promotion at work and changing some other responsibilities so right now things are hectic.

We are hoping for a Spring referral they are telling us 15 months so maybe 3 more months. I am anxious but still have many patients. God has well equipped me in this waiting process. I always think the sooner we get this referral the sooner we can start again and that makes my heart just beam. According to the WC staff that the acceptance of a referral of a boy is much shorter but you know how things work by the time we are in line again everyone we be in line for boys (ha ha).

Will pictures of her room soon.

New Year Resolutions

I am not one to make new year resolutions but I decided this year I would attempt to try to make a change. Two things I wanted to see different in my life. First, I want to become more organized. I plan to accomplish this by: Using an organizer, I got a World Blackberry, started to clean out every closet and cupboard in the house and donate everything we do not use, categorize our stuff. Even Steve has cleaned out his treasures :)
Second, I decided to get in shape. After the accident I have not done a thing. Between my hip, shoulder and the constant headaches I have not wanted to really do much but with prayer and good doctors I am starting to feel human again. I am going to take a christian aerobics/yoga class taught by a dear friend who teaches at a local gym.
If this proves to work I will continue to make resolutions year after year. I am dedicated to get in shape I have a child on the way and I need to get back to where I was a year and a half ago or better.

Our Ham

She loves to pose for pictures. She was wearing her friend Abagail's antlers. Thanks to Angela always catching the pose.