My wish for Miss Angie

I have a friend who is a single mom-to-be (a pending China adoption) and tonight Elizabeth and I went to celebrate with her by taking her a quilt square for her 100 wishes quilt she is making for baby Emma. I found the perfect fabric and we had a dress made for E'beth from it, a dress for 'papa' and then gave our quilt square to "Miss Angie" to be forever snuggled ;)

I wish I had taken my camera for the festivities but never fear, Miss Angie had hers..(PEEK HERE!) We had such fun and I always enjoy our moments with such good friends.

Now, Angie, I hope you don't mind, but I'm officially putting out the word that I'M TRYING to matchmake!! I'm attempting to find Miss Angie, Mr. Right!!! If any of you know where he might be, please contact me a.s.a.p.!! I'll screen um, then put them in touch w/ Miss Right, and all will be good with the universe! :)

He must:
be committed to Christ
be between 29 and 42 yrs old
want children from China ;)

I'll let Miss Angie decide the rest ...lol.

We love you Miss Angie!!

Baby Molly

As I woke and began our day I never thought I would be reading this. The letters below along with pictures can be found here. Be sure to also click the link at the bottom to read Barbara's thoughts as she returns home.
_____________________

a quiet tranquil traffic-free haven

A little known island,
The Saronic island of Hydra, just off the Peloponnese, boasts mountainous landscapes dotted with monasteries, which descend to a rugged, often very wild coastline that has served as an excellent natural defence over the centuries. Other than water taxis, walking is the only way to get around, and is highly rewarding, revealing the tranquillity and dramatic scenery of the island's interior - so different to the sophisticated elegance of Hydra Town and its 18th-century mansions.



Well, thats not where we are.
lol...

Gameboy/girl?

In recent years we have observed the trend of seeing young children glued to their gameboys whether in public, at home, you name it, everywhere. I came across a very interesting article that really makes you think twice about owning one. We decided some time ago that this was not something we needed (or wanted) in our home. There are many other wonderful topics on parenting HERE and my fav. HERE.

AVOIDING VIDEO GAME MISTAKES
By: VideoGameTrouble.org

MISTAKE #1: Easy Access - The vast majority of children over eight years old own their own video game system - more than one when you include hand-held systems such as Gameboy. The risk of video game addiction increases dramatically when your child owns a system because it is much harder to control the amount of time spent due to ready availability. As with any other behavioral addiction, easy and frequent access to the object of obsession makes it more difficult to avoid potential pitfalls. Therefore, if you fear your child might become addicted, seriously consider NOT purchasing a system. They can still play once in a while at a friend's home. If you do own a system, consider purchasing only group games and treating the system like a board game that is kept in a box and brought out periodically for an hour or so then boxed up and returned to the closet. Such approaches can drastically reduce the risk of obsession without totally eliminating games from a child's experience.

MISTAKE #2: Starting Young - The earlier a child begins playing electronic games, the sooner he or she is exposed to the patterns that lead to addiction. Similar to eating habits, children who become accustomed to junk food lose their appetite for healthy eating. Kids also "acquire a taste" for how they want to spend their recreational time. Those who develop patterns of "natural" play rather than "virtual" play are more likely to become well rounded, happy adolescents. Those who are introduced to the dopamine inducing "high" of prolonged video game play often become bored with any other form of recreation.

MISTAKE #3: Using As Reward System - Many parents admit that the promise of video game play time is the only thing they have found that can successfully motivate their child to do homework, chores, and other productive activities. And while the benefit of completed school assignments and other tasks may seem like a positive aspect to video game obsession, the long term negative consequences far outweigh any short term gain. Depending upon video games as a child's sole motivation for responsible activities subconsiously reinforces the notion that completing a job, reading, learning, etc. are necessary evils to endure rather than rewards in and of themselves. Other motivational rewards, such as money, an ice-cream date with dad, a movie outing, etc. are far more effective and avoid feeding a propensity toward video game obsession.

MISTAKE #4: "One More Level?" - When asked to shut off the video game system, it is a rare child who quickly obeys and ceases play. Invariably they respond instead with a plea for "just one more level" or time to defeat the current villain before they can "save my game." As a result, many parents end up allowing their child to spend much more time playing video games than they intended or often realize. As one recovering video game addict said - "If you say you intend to restrict the amount of time a child spends, you better ask yourself whether you can really do it. Kids are very good at pushing and pushing for more time." Time flies when kids play video games, in part because we parents fall into the "one more level" trap.

MISTAKE #5: Ignoring Your Gut - Many parents have a bad feeling about the amount of time their child spends playing, talking and thinking about video games. There is a nagging sense that allowing so much video game time may have long-term negative consequences. But they second guess the feeling, writing it off as being old fashioned or too strict. "Its just the way kids are now days!" Besides, they don't want the inevitable conflict that would come from restricting or removing the game system. But video game addiction effects a growing number of kids - especially boys. Parents know their child better than anyone else and are urged to trust their gut and intervene if needed to help their child live a better life.

E'beth and John made the clip

In several spots! .. So Sweet!!!

I love this guys work!

HAPPY SUMMER WEEKEND!

Ashley and Todd- "official images"

Here are a few more images from Ashley and Todd's wedding direct from the official guy behind the lens. He is very talented, but I must say his job wasn't difficult that day. Here you go...ENJOY.

The 'unofficial' images (aka ours) I'll post as soon as my sweet very busy husband downsizes the mega sized files for me so they can be viewed on my 'regular' already bursting at the seams computer :)

Welcome Home RUDD!

What a nail biter of a trip home! If you have ever adopted internationally, are thinking about it, or just want to read about a REAL~LIFE trip across the world returning home with a newly adopted child, you don't want to miss THIS.

Psssst.. Q. Know why Mom & Dad didn't adopt domestically?

Answer: Do you know how hard it is to find Chinese children to adopt in America!!!

This has got to be my ALL time favorite comeback to the "Why didn't you question". My friend and Mom mentor extrodinaire Sheila L. sent me this comment earlier today. Sheila is one of those Moms you want to be just like. I've never seen her house messy, she made 22 sno cones for her own 5 and all the neighbors children the other day and did it with much grace and calmness, She doesn't mind hosting get togethers for 30 families with 2.5 children on average each, her garage is spotless and doesn't have any junk, She always looks like she is ready to go on a date with her just as incredible husband, but most of all, she always finds time to make each child feel like they are the only one.

Thanks for sending this Sheila!

ummm, we Interrupt this China adoption for a TAIWAN BABY! ****NEW UpDaTe BELOW!!***

Buckle up! Our friend Linda is ON HER WAY to Taiwan to bring home the most precious squeeze- his -cheeks little boy~! If my calculations are correct, she is in the air as I type. "Gotcha" day is June 2 Taiwan time (approx. 10:30 p.m. June 1 EST). Linda and her husband Bruce have waited YEARS for this moment.

When Linda and Bruce first began down the road of international adoption, they choose the China program. At that time, the wait was 5-7 months after receiving a log in date from the CCAA. As so many of us have sadly observed, the wait has now grown to years after submission of dossier to the CCAA. After waiting for a very long time in the China program, an opportunity to bring home RUDD from Taiwan became a reality in the middle of the China process.

So, long story short, Rudd will someday have a little sister from China, but in the mean time...... stay tuned for the journey of a lifetime for Linda and Bruce! I'll post a link as soon as I see their update from Taiwan ;) Congrats guys!

***NEW UPDATE!***
THEY HAVE ARRIVED! Follow their journey to Rudd HERE!

a hint of things to come?

I guess I've learned over the years to attempt not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. Isn't it said that 98% of what we worry about will never come to pass? So, I figured one day at a time with any issues that would arise in conjunction with our daughter's adoption from China and the stupid things people might say in front of her. She is a very perceptive and inquisitive little girl and even at 3, doesn't miss much.

So, getting to the point here, our upstairs heat pump wasn't working and had to contact the repair man. He quickly diagnosed the problem, fixed it, and was standing in the foyer telling me what the problem was. Elizabeth was coloring at our dining room table right beside us as the repair man proceeded to tell me the relay switch had to be replaced. He then added, "all those parts are made in China and you know what kind of cr*p comes out of China."

Immediately, I looked over and E'beth had taken in every word. I walked over to her, scooped her up, carried her over to the repair man and politely said "Well, this is one of the most precious things I own, she was made in China, and they don't make them any better than this!" (all the while smothering her with kisses).

I know it was an innocent slip for him, and I'm not upset with him. Life is short, and I believe if I dwell on things like that and let it fester, it will make things much worse for E'beth to deal with. On the flip, if I can let it roll off my back then perhaps she will learn by example. If anything it's made me very aware of what might be down the road as far as comments go. It's my prayer that we can give both our children the self esteem, and worth that God created EACH of them in a unique and beautiful way. It sure would be a very boring world if we were all identical.

The Memorial Service for Maria Chapman

Below is an article from People mag. about Maria's memorial service that took place today in Nashville. *A warning, you will cry.*

**********

With laughter and tears, Grammy-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman and his family said goodbye Saturday to their 'cuddle bug,' daughter Maria Sue. The 5-year-old died three days earlier after being accidentally struck at their Franklin, Tenn., home by a reversing SUV driven by her brother.

In a two-hour memorial service at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville that drew more than 700 mourners, Maria was remembered for her love of drawing flowers, playing in the water, snuggling with her family – and doing dishes "buck naked." She "loved, loved, loved to be naked," laughed her mother, Mary Beth. Maria, the family's youngest, was one of three daughters adopted from China by the couple, who formed the charity Shaohannah's Hope (shaohannahshope.org) to help other families wanting to adopt.

The couple, along with their three older biological children and their two other adopted daughters, Shaohannah, 8, and Stevey Joy, 5, were all barefoot during the service as a mark of reverence to ground made holy, they said, by the loss of Maria. Standing in front of the tiny white coffin covered with pink flowers, they took turns holding the young girls in their arms and embracing the son whose car hit Maria. Tears streamed down the 17-year-old's face and he wore Maria's pink security blanket around his neck throughout the service. In a letter Shaohannah had written to God and her lost sister that her father read aloud, she asked for prayers for her brother. "He has been sobbing," she wrote.

The family raised their arms as they sang songs of worship and sought comfort in their faith. "We had talked [with Maria] about what it meant to be with Jesus," Chapman said. "I had no idea how soon it was going to be, but we know she is in His amazing house, playing in the water."

School's out, Let Summer begin!

E'beth navigates, and John is the driver :)

In Memory of Maria

Meet Maria, this precious child.

Maria Sue Chapman

-- From Tennessean -- Nashville TN --
Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.

Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.
No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music’s most recognizable and most awarded names.

He and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest.
The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah’s Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.

With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called “Change for Orphans”. He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process.

“I don’t know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension,” said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association.

“He talks about his kids all the time. That’s his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that’s for sure.”

The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.

And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.

Styll got the news not long after Maria’s death.

“I’m confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this,” he said.

Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children’s hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.

Sweet reminders

One of the things our family has enjoyed most about the items we brought home with us from China are the sweet little reminders that we can look at daily. This one, is hand embroidered purchased from 'A gift from China' in Guangzhou. It's a little boy and girl (note the girl clutching her PANDA :) and obviously it's in the winter. This hangs in Elizabeth's room and I wish I had gotten several more of different scenes.

What's funny about this one.. Where does it snow that deep and you also see palm trees? lol.

A Meme

One of my favorite new reads has tagged me for this fun Meme. Kim @ Sugar Pie Honey Bunch would have been on my list if she hadn't already tagged me first :).

Here it is:

Favorite person (outside family)? Billy Graham. It was through a Billy Graham Crusade in Richmond Va. years ago that my Dad came to know the Lord. Just after this, a couple invited my Dad to church the next day, and this is the day he met my Mom. My Dad passed up a very promising career in Professional Football (He was invited to play for the Chicago Bears, and Cleveland Browns football teams) to settle down, marry my Mom, and have my sister and I. A very UNselfish act on his part.

Favorite food? Healthy--Our homemade vegetarian pizza made with freshly ground whole wheat crust and baked on a stone. Non-healthy--umm, most all Indian food.

Quirks about you? I never sleep totally through the night.

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less? Well, my husband, children, and mom are all in bed and don't want to wake any of them to ask. If I wake them I might not want to post the answers ;)

Any regrets in life? I wish I hadn't been so selfish with my early married life and started a family sooner. I can't imagine my life without our children and wish we had more at this point.

Favorite Charity/ Cause? Make-a-Wish http://www.wish.org/

Favorite Blog recently? Eric J Fox This is a blog about a young father of 2 small children diagnosed with ALS.

Something you can’t get enough of? Hugs from my 'babies'!

Worst job you’ve ever had? Nothing worse than cleaning up vomit. Sorry to be graphic, but you asked ;)

What job would you pay NOT to have? Cleaning up vomit.

If you could be a fly on the wall, where? In our Son's classroom at school.

Favorite Bible verse right now? The day my Dad passed away, I reached for my Bible he had given me on Christmas Day when I was 13. In the front, in his handwriting he had written Col. 2:3.

"In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".

I had actually never taken the time to look up that passage until then. I don't know why, but I just hadn't. I guess I took it for granted,,, until then. Through my tears, I read that simple verse. My Dad was passing the torch and that verse will remain in my heart forever. I know beyond any doubt, I will see my Dad again in Glory. I miss you so much now Dad.

Guilty Pleasure? Quiet computer time after all have gone to bed. ahhh.

If you HAD to spend $1,000 on YOURSELF, how would you spend it?
ummm, I dunno. Let me wish, err I mean think about it.

Favorite thing about your house? Our "outdoor room" complete with stone fireplace and waterfall we are just finishing after almost 2 years!

Least favorite thing about your house? How you have to take an extra step or so every time you load anything into the dishwasher!! A male without children designed the kitchen!

One thing you are bad at? Talking on the phone. I don't enjoy it. I would much rather e-mail.

One thing you’re good at? returning e-mails ;)

If you could change something about your circumstances, what? I would love for my husband to be home with us more (time together) and to be able to travel together. I would also love for my Mom to live down the street so our children could walk to Grandma's and I could spend more time with her (and help her).

Who would you like to meet someday? The woman that gave birth to our daughter Elizabeth in China.

Who is your real life hero?- on this Earth, my Husband. Corney I know, but true.

What is the hardest part of your job? Being a referee between brother and sister fusses. It's often those split second decisions that are shaping their hearts, and it's so very hard to know what is the "right" way to 'correct'. - One day at a time..

When are you most relaxed? Out of town away from the phone, daily responsibilities, etc..

What stresses you out? Time crunches with the children needing to be somewhere and we are running late, then if E'beth has a meltdown just as we NEED to be out the door...

What can you not live without? Christ's forgiveness and the promise of John 3:16.

Why do you blog? It's much easier than a scrapbook and I'm terrible about Christmas newsletters. I love to get them, but haven't sent one out since we returned from China. This way many of our family members and friends can keep up if they choose to do so and I don't have to write a Christmas newsletter ever again ;)

Who Am I Tagging? - I figured if you have time to read this, then YOU would have time to do this... so if you got this far... YOU are tagged!

Tootles! ~Susan.

New/Newer bloggers-Don't think these folks are exactly 'new at blogging' but I fairly recently found them. They were some of our wonderful travelmates from our China trip in 05. Janelle @ Wise Tales and Patricia @ Hip Hip Hubei!

Bloggy friends- Michael @ Bringing Mikayla Home (He's a Dad blogger waiting OH so patiently :) for his referral. He will be such a great Dad.Lisa @ Loos Clan, Angie @ My Heart's giving Birth, and Shelley @ Wild Noodles

Bloggers you’d like to get to know better- Erin @ To Libby with Love , 2 China 4 Alya. and Denise @ Journey to Maggie Mae

Bloggers who you don't think will respond, but you hope will-


Rules:
1. Answer the questions
2. Link back to whoever tagged you
3. Tag eight bloggers to do the same, 2 from each category.
New/ newer bloggers (since we want to share the love and send them traffic)
Bloggy friends
Bloggers you’d like to get to know better
Bloggers you don’t think will respond, but you hope will

Utter Devastation

Our Elizabeth is from Hubei China which is a neighboring Province to the earthquake ravaged Sichuan Province. Each day the devistation and death toll climbs higher and higher. As images emerge from this region of the world it is clear to say this event is catestrophic may be an understatement.

Seeing the pictures of parents grieving over the body of their only child, children that now face life without parents, a childs limbs amputated on the spot in order to save their life and drag them out of the rubble are etched in my mind and it is impossible to imagine the hardships these people are enduring as I type.

If you haven't seen the degree of destruction you can go HERE.

Please consider helping.

Sneak a peek at the Bride!

Click here.
Images coming soon from the wedding of the decade :)
Jenna Bush... move over! lol.

.our NEW Home

On the internet that is :) I love our 'remodel' and a thank you to Danielle for helping us with the construction!

Thank you Heavenly Father for entrusting me to be the Mother of our two precious children.

The referral of babies

I LOVE to read about families getting the referral of their new baby and to this day I follow quite a few families that have been in line for a referral from China for a very long time. It brings back memories of our own referral day. We were in New Jersey in an area at the shore that didn't have internet service. We had our computer,,, but it didn't do one bit of good. We were desperate and hid in the bushes of an upscale neighborhood in an attempt to pick up a signal. It worked, and we finally found our 'hot spot' that we could camp at long enough to get the necessary information.

Once we saw Elizabeth's sweet face and smile there truly was a hugh sense of relief that this would really be happening, she was ours, she was beautiful, and most importantly we received the incredible confirmation and peace that God was in total control of the child we were to have. We were headed to China!

If you are in the process, or want to re-live those feelings of the first days after your referral, click HERE. This couple has waited a very long time to be parents, and now, they are. Be sure to click on the video link of the new Mamma showing off the picture! They will be leaving sometime this summer to travel to China and I can't wait to follow them.

hummm..

You know, this comment was made by the pastor at the wedding.. here ya go ;)

"On her wedding day when a bride first starts down the ISLE, the thing she notices right away is the ALTER. Next, her eye goes straight to the groom and stays there... from that moment on, she thinks... ISLE, ALTER, YOU".

Now keep in mind that wasn't from me.. ha. But actually, its something to think about. Not sure what denomination that pastor was, so I'm kinda takin' it with a grain.. (grin)..

Happy Day Shelley and David! May you have many many more happy years ahead.

.not your usual turbulence

We just returned from a wedding in the Santa Barbara California area and will post pictures soon of some of the incredible things the bride planned. It was truly one of the most beautiful events I've ever attended.

On our flight out, about 1/3 of the way into the 4.5 hour flight we hit some very unexpected turbulence. This was not your "bumpy now fasten seat belt" kind of turbulence, but more of a violent and jolting event. It came on suddenly just after I took Elizabeth out of her seat belt (the sign was off) for the beverage that had just been delivered. She couldn't wait to get her hands on that little bag of pretzels and have her own orange juice cup! She had her seat back tray down and the cup of OJ on it. She was on her knees ready to dive into the goodies, and then it hit.

She flew up and landed face down on the tray- soaked with orange juice and crying. I was attempting to keep my hot coffee from spilling on her (and myself) Dave and John were drenched with a coke that flew up and hit the ceiling belonging to the man seated next to them. I was unable to coordinate the buckle of E'beths seat belt to even fasten it. All I could do was get my hot coffee into my Mom's hands and put my arms around her to keep her from being tossed out of her seat.

Dave and I have flown quite a bit and this was the most 'uncontrolled' event we can ever remember. It lasted only a few minutes, and when the pilot came on the intercom, he appeared to be shaken. He explained they had no warning??!! (I thought you knew many miles in advance so as to circumvent turbulance) but what do I know about flying an aircraft!? At one point, the plane took such a dive, there were screams from some of the passengers. It seemed like many couldn't believe what was actually happening.

Nothing like a mid air dive to re-set priorities and ask yourself if you are ready to meet your maker!

The flight attendants used up all the paper towels in an attempt to 'dry' the passengers and clean up the mess and the rest of the flight was great. E'beth did amazingly well on the flight (except for the orange juice shampoo) and the decent due to her ears. A few pieces of gum and reminders to swallow did the trick for the most part and we were very happy on her progress with regards to air travel ;)

To be continued...

Leigh, Michael, and her story- the result

When I last wrote about Leigh, she had developed a fever of unknown origin shortly after the IVF procedure where they had successfully transplanted 3 embryos. Leigh has decided to share her ongoing story with the hopes that it will help others and give encouragement as well as asking for continued prayer in their own situation.

Leigh's fever and symptoms continued to escalate and last week, she was admitted to the hospital. It was discovered that the antibiotic given just prior to the IVF procedure caused a serious reaction involving her intestines. It destroyed most of the 'good' bacteria, while allowing the 'bad' bacteria to multiply. The condition became very serious and now not only were there concerns about the embryos, but also about Leigh. The good news was that the Physician was able to quickly pinpoint the situation and get the proper treatment underway. If they hadn't been able to catch the problem it could have been a potentially life threatening situation for Leigh.

Gradually, Leigh has regained strength, and on Monday she went in for a pregnancy test. It was clinically positive but her Dr. was concerned that the HCG levels were quite low. He wanted to recheck them today, and the results were not good. It appears the fever/ condition may have affected the outcome of this round of IVF.

I have to say that once again Leigh has amazed me. She and Michael are so strong and want God's direction in their lives that when many couples would want to give up and just get on with their lives, Leigh is already planning the next go round when the physician gives the go ahead. Their attitude is one of simple thankfulness to be alive and to have regained health. They know that God is and has been in total control and understands the end from the beginning.

Is it a boy, girl, or THREE?? -*Update below*

Our friend Leigh has asked for prayer.

Wow, where do I even begin. I first met Leigh shortly after we returned from China. Leigh was giving a bridal shower for a wonderful mutual friend and during the shower I found out she and her husband Michael were far into the process of a Russian adoption. We immediately shared the common bond of the gift of international adoption. Leigh and Michael were more than ready to become parents after many many years of failed attempts.

Their Russian adoption was progressing and even though it was going very slowly, Leigh was full of excitement and joy at the thought that their goal was not just one baby - but TWO. Leigh had the most incredible nursery already finished, along with a playroom that would be any child's dream come true. All that remained was the wait. And wait patiently they did.

The long months turned into several years and then one day last year, they got the call. Quickly, they packed, and within a very short time found themselves on Russian soil. Sadly, their journey to Russia ended in a return to the US without a child. Leigh's attitude was remarkable throughout all of this and instead became very grateful for the life that she and Michael shared together and focused on the gifts that God had richly blessed them with. They never gave up on their desire to have children and now it was just a matter of asking God which path He had chosen for them. The China program was one direction.

After careful prayer, and consideration, they also decided to seek the advice of a Reproductive Endocrinologist. Months of basic procedures didn't work and so the next step was IVF. Several months ago, they attempted their first IVF procedure and it was not successful. Leigh and Michael were obviously very saddened, but once again this determined couple picked themselves up, regained their optimism, and this time decided to approach things very differently.

From the beginning of this 2nd attempt of IVF, Leigh has decided to share her story, and beseech her friends, family and the body of Christ for prayer.

Today, 3 fertilized embryos were successfully implanted and now the infamous 10 day wait begins before they know if they will finally become parents. The difference this time Leigh explains is that she has an army of people praying on their behalf. Leigh and Michael openly are humbly requesting that those that share their love for Christ to pray for them and that THIS would be the time.

**UPDATE** I just learned Leigh is running a fairly high fever of unknown origin. Please keep them in your prayers!

Clean Underwear

In the 'old' days (BC) Before Children, we would toss a few things in a bag and off we would go. It didn't matter what time we were able to get away, we simply - left. If it was 10 p.m. before we were able to get away from work etc. and had a 6 hour drive ahead of us.. so what. We were young and had no set bedtime ;)

Once, we left Chattanooga TN at 2:30 a.m. for our drive home. We arrived home just in time for Dave to get to work by 7 a.m. Boy have things changed! A little NoDoz went a long way then.

It seems like whenever we prepare to leave, it takes twice the amount of time we will be away to get ready.
~Loads of laundry

~cleaning the house (sort of like your Mother telling you to wear clean underwear in case you have a car wreck)..

~arranging for house/ dog sitter who isn't afraid of 'killer' the 3/4 wolf 1/4 pit bull house pet

~ making sure the house sitter's gun permit is current

~ packing snacks for little tummy's that can't wait until a plane lands

~things to occupy the little hands so the flight attendants can relax and so can the folks in the next seat

~ oh and packing while remaining within the airlines weight limits.

By the way, if you are in a car accident, wouldn't the last thing you would be concerned about is clean underwear?

So, we stuff the wedding attire poofy things into the Samsonite, hoping it won't be lost in transit. Still, there is excitement, and fun. Elizabeth is experimenting with about 10 - 12 clothing changes a day (or whatever is in reach in her closet) and packing the things she deems as the utmost importance that we take along. This must include Papa (her panda), oogle boogle (a small blankie that our friend Shelley made her when she was a baby) and her pink Bee Bee (blanket). Without these precious items, no one would be having fun! They will travel with us as carry ons!

The last time we traveled long distance requiring a lengthy flight with Elizabeth was when we returned from China. She cried - no screamed for almost 13 hours. It was the longest day of our lives!! She still only wanted Dave, so HE held her the entire time and I felt totally helpless as I saw him struggle and didn't know what to do for Elizabeth. We tried it all, sippies, eating, swallowing anything she would take, walking the isle, nothing worked.

Our seats were in the premium economy section, and when we landed in L.A. we were the only ones left in that entire section. It was so bad that all the other passengers, one by one left that section and went to sit in coach giving up their precious extra 4 inches of leg room!! I still have recurring nightmares about that flight! Turns out, she had the beginning of an ear infection (poor baby!) and we didn't find this out until we arrived home. She still tells us her ears hurt on airplanes. We hope lots of bubble gum will do the trick this time. Ears are clear as far as we know! Never again will I be irritated with a screaming baby on an aircraft. I will simply be eternally grateful that it's not US!!

.HERE COMES THE BRIDE! and the outdoor room

Our home is buzzing with excitement as our family gets ready for the special event of the year. A wedding!

John and E'beth have the honor of both being in the wedding and we will travel to the west coast to attend. We have finally gotten their attire purchased and now just have to figure out how to transport it all :) Elizabeth will 'sparkle' in her flower girl dress that is full of interesting shiny things she wants to PULL OFF!! - and John will be wearing these with this ;)

The wedding will be held on the grounds of a private home overlooking the Pacific ocean. I haven't seen the location personally, but understand it's breathtaking!

We will be joined by many other family members and friends, and stay in a wonderful quaint Inn by the sea. Here's a peek where we will be staying. I so treasure family times like this where our family gathers without the everyday business and can be together for such a special event. The Bride and Groom have traveled extensively all over the world, and I'm excited to see all the amazing things in store for the festivities. * I'm also glad it's not my wedding and we can simply go as guests*..lol!!

John is especially intrigued with the groom's adventures. One story was when he was surfing off the coast of Jakarta in some remote location, his board flipped and cut him rather severely on the back of his head. He was bleeding quite a bit, and the old sea captain guide on the boat had a first aid kit. There in the middle of the sea, the captain had to stitch him up - with NO previous experience or pain control! Ouch! The stories are interesting and we can't wait to hear more of them! :) :)

In addition to all the above, we have been working on our outside back yard. It's been about a 1.5 year long project so far, and we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have a new waterfall area that I thought was going to be a simple small feature, but it turned out to be *much* larger than I expected! We love the sound of the rushing waterfall, and can't wait to enjoy many warm summer nights in our new 'outdoor room'.

We have nicknamed our waterfall, Southern Niagra. I would have been content just listening to the rushing water, but Dave and the children would have no part of that!!! FISH! Thats what it needed. So, John and E'beth made a list of fish names and were full of anticipation as we ventured to the pet shop for our newest additions. We now have 7 fish, and 4 snails in the Southern Niagra.

Dave's ideas of fish names were a bit different than Johns. ummm, Jaws, Chum, Moby, etc..

I have taken before pics. and once we are totally finished, I'll post some before and afters.

.a CHILLY RAINY NIGHT and pillow menu's

When we were in Hong Kong just prior to getting Elizabeth in mainland China, we stayed at an incredibly beautiful brand new hotel called The Langham Place Mongkok. It was by far one of the most fabulous places we had ever stayed at. This was the hotel that had the glass walled bathroom overlooking the Mongkok area of downtown Kowloon. It was a bit weird, but you actually got used to it pretty quickly! The hotel was adjacent to a 30 story VERY upscale mall unlike anything I've seen here in the states. The escalators gave me the willies as they went so high per segment that I felt dizzy. I had to end up closing my eyes, gripping the handrail and asking Dave to tell me when we reached the top! The basement level of the hotel was the Hong Kong metro stop for Mongkok, and you could simply take the elevator down and go anywhere in Hong Kong. It was also within walking distance to many of the marketplaces you read about in so many travel sites.

This hotel even had a pillow menu. You could choose from various scents such as Rose, Lavender, Japanese tea leaf, extra long pillows for wedding couples that want to share a pillow (or sleeping w/ a child in the same bed) - you name it. Depending on what you choose, the claims were to relieve stress, balance hormones, lower blood pressure, prevent flu, improve circulation, on and on.. ;)

We decided to spend several days in Hong Kong instead of Beijing since this is where our travel group from our adoption agency would meet us. We opted for a little more time in Hong Kong instead of attempting to fly into Beijing and then back in only 2-3 days. We were glad we did this since it gave us time to relax, do what we wanted, and fully recover from jet lag prior to getting Elizabeth.

One evening we were walking around taking in the sights and stopped for a cup of hot tea. It was SO delicious! It was made with rose petals and mint. I don't know what else was in it, but I can't stop thinking about it on this chilly rainy night here at home across the world from Hong Kong.

New lungs for Tricia?? *** UPDATE BELOW

perhaps today!!
Here's the story as of this afternoon.

It was a GO. As of 10:00 p.m. EST she is in surgery for a double lung transplant.
Here is the link to the very latest.

Exciting times

We just got the news that our sweet friend Devynne is heading to Charlottesville in the fall. She was just accepted into UVA. Devynne, I remember when your mom had your mattress on the floor so you wouldn't fall out of bed! Time has flown and now you are a beautiful young lady! We hope you won't be offended when we wear orange and maroon :)
We know you have worked very hard and are proud of you.

From time to time

a situation or story comes across my path that makes us truly re-evaluate how blessed our family is. Today, my friend Bonnie sent me THIS link. Here is a young father that has recently been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Despite this incurable diagnosis, and facing the reality that in all probability he will not live to see his 2 young children grow to adulthood he continues to give his life and situation totally to Christ. Their story is continuing as they face what most of us would consider to be a worst nightmare. Their courage, faith in God and testimony will most certainly be an unforgettable inspiration to so many.

Thanks for sharing this Bonnie.

I think I'll choose PINK

So pink it is! Neon pink. Can't miss her pink. The prettiest pink there ever was pink. Perfectly Pink.

She was thrilled. It was pink.

SCRATCH

Dave and I had a date last night, and we stopped by this little hidden treasure in our town. If you live locally, you NEED to go see this place.

It's called Scratch, and that's exactly what they do. Everything is made from scratch. Wonderful whole grain breads baked in a clay wood fired oven, Pizza's with the most intriguing toppings such as pear, mango, papaya, along with basil, other herbs, etc.

The owner lives above the shop, and we felt like we were stepping back into time. The way things used to be. Perhaps it was reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's. As we entered they had a hugh crock of homemade smoked tuna and salmon chowder. The aroma was enticing. The owner gave us the grand tour and explained the cooking process of the large clay oven. All the while, they were stoking it with wood as watched.

The eclectic mix of made from 'scratch' items was also interesting. Everything from Cilantro hummus, to apricot cheesecake pizza. You can purchase partially baked pizza and finish cooking at home for $10 each! They pre-bake it in their clay oven at well over 1000 degrees.

It is only open Thurs.- Sunday. Their bake days are Thurs. and Fri. So it looks like Friday evening, or early Saturday would be the best time to go with the most selection. Each week the 'menu' changes so you never know what they will be baking. If you are a sour dough fan, you have found your paradise. Some of their starter dates back 100 years.

Under the counter the owner must have thousands of LP records from the 50's 60's and 70's. He told us that ofen on Thurs and Friday nights he is there baking until wee morning hours. I think he is most certainly a Led Zepplin fan :) He cranks the music up during these wee hours and bakes away. What an interesting place!!

Here's the info for anyone local that wants to visit :)

Broken "El-bone" or not -the show must go on..

Just after Elizabeth broke her "el-bone" (her take on the situation) she was scheduled to be in a little ballet performance at a local Nursing Home. She insisted she wanted to do it, and her Orthoped. Dr. said Ballet was ok, so we went for it. The folks at the Nursing home were so appreciative and it was such fun to have a low key event to enjoy!

About 2/3 way through it, Elizabeth spotted me in the audience, and decided to make a run for it down the isle to tell me she was hungry. You're always hungry I told her. She replied, "and you always feed me" :)

You just never know what the next hour will hold

This past Autumn, we enrolled E'beth in a tiny tots gymnastics program. John is in an advanced boys class and we thought it would be great for Elizabeth to have her class at the same time etc etc.. She was doing very well until....

One class I saw her slip off the end of the low balance beam. When she landed she began to cry. I went to get her, and couldn't console her so I took her out of the room and attempted to soothe her. Still nothing. This was not normal. She was hurt.

We were able to get her to our Ped's office prior to them closing and x rays confirmed a fractured bone in her elbow. She was a trooper and asked many many questions about taking pictures of her bones! She told her story to all that would listen to her new saga!

The plan was a temporary cast until the swelling went down, then she would get a very special one! :)

The Easter Bunny will never be the same

Today, we went to an Easter Brunch, and they had a 'real Easter Bunny' who was passing out candy to the children. Elizabeth marched right up to him and shook her finger at him. She said, "You shouldn't be passing out candy to children, its not good for them! You should hand them Vitamins!"

Leaving Alaska

The ship returned to Vancouver and it was quite sad to disembark. We left Alaska with the desire to return as soon as possible. Once back to Vancouver, we stayed an extra night and flew home the next day.

It was one of the best times away from home we had ever experienced. (Except for China of course! :) We were excited to see our Princess and I think the feeling was mutual (but she had such fun with her Miss Angie and Miss Brittany!) Thanks again guys for the love and care you bestowed upon our sweetheart.

When Elizabeth is 5 or so, we hope to make the journey again and this time we would also do land/ cruise tour. You spend the first days on land via train and bus, then cruise South to Vancouver or Seattle.

Thanks for following our journey to the Arctic Edge. We now resume regular programing... :)

Erin

Can you imagine being a parent and going back to school to pick up your child's things, going through their locker, etc.. after they just passed away?? When you have a moment CLICK HERE to read the March 18 journal entry of Erin's Dad as he does exactly this. Erin was a typical 14 year old cheerleader and full of life. One day last month she came home one day not feeling well - today, she is in the arms of her Heavenly Father.

Smoked Salmon Dip!

During our stay at Icy Point Strait, we sampled the most delicious Smoked Salmon Dip. I'm not a big Salmon eater usually, but have to say this dip was delicious. It is wonderful on dark pumpernickel bread, crackers, or with raw fresh vegetables. Try not to substitute canned Salmon here - use only smoked.

*SMOKED SALMON DIP*

8 ounces cream cheese, softened + (2 Tablespoons mayo if needed to thin)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 to 1/3 pound smoked salmon (remove any skin or bones and chop fine)
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or chopped green onion
freshly ground white or black pepper
(optional = 1/3 teaspooon celery salt, garlic salt, and/or onion salt)


Use a food processor and blend the cheese, sour cream and lemon juice until mixture is smooth. Scrape mixture into a medium bowl. Add the salmon, chives, and pepper and mix gently w/ a wooden spoon. Makes about 2 cups of delicious dip. If it lasts, it's good for a week in the refrigerator.

** You can order Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon from Alaskan waters that is hand filleted, cured then slowly smoked with alderwood and brown sugar then vacuum sealed ... HERE.

and find more Alaskan Salmon recipes HERE.

Enjoy!

Icy Point Strait, Hoonah, and the Tlingits

Our final port-of-call was the hidden jewel of the entire trip IMHO. Icy Point Strait.

Icy Strait Point — is adjacent to the largest Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska, Hoonah. Situated on the northeast shore of Chichag of Island, 40 miles west of Juneau, the Tlingit tribe (pronounced KLINK-IT) has inhabited the Glacier Bay region for centuries. The Tlingit language is a dying language. It is estimated there are only 200-400 people fluent in this language left in the United States, and only about 100 in Canada.

Decades ago, Icy Strait Point was the home of one of the world’s most productive salmon canneries. Today, it’s a living testament to the past. Beautifully restored, the Icy Strait Point Cannery reopened in 2004. Its halls are filled with unique family-owned shops, a museum, and a mid-1930's cannery line display.

It was decided that we would go on a Remote Bush Exploration & Brown Bear Search. We rode through the tiny town of Hoonah that is home to only 860 residents. Then off to the old growth forest in search of Brown Bears or other such sightings...

During our venture into the old growth forest, our guide gave us some fascinating background about the town of Hoonah Alaska, and the Tlingit Indian tribe...

Early Tlingit History
Tlingit families have inhabited the southeast Alaska archipelago for many hundreds of years. The original village of the Huna Tlingits was located in what is now known as Glacier Bay. More than two hundred years ago, during the last small Ice Age, advancing glaciers forced them to relocate. Since the area twenty miles to the south was used each summer as a subsistance harvesting camp, it was a natural place for them to settle.

Early Hoonah History
At first, the new settlement was referred to as Gaawt'ak'aan, or "village by the cliff", but later the name was changed to Hoonah, meaning "land where the north wind doesn't blow".

The Tlingits, skilled in hunting, fishing and plant gathering, harvested the resources of the sea and forests according to the bounty of the seasons. Operating within the laws of nature, they related to their surrounding eco-system with respect and wisdom. For example, they utilized every part of what they took from nature, that their resources would not be wasted. Their name itself spoke of what was important to them: the word Tlingit, meaning "The People", distinguished them from the four-legged inhabitants they lived amongst.

In Hoonah, many communal long-houses and clan houses were built where the Tlingits lived and interacted in a well-organized social structure. It was a matrilinial society, meaning the children inherited rights through their mothers.

For traveling to places beyond the village, the Tlingits used the ocean as a transportation corridor. They traveled in sea-worthy, hand-carved canoes, some large enough to carry forty people. In fact, these highly-skilled Tlingit navigators thought nothing of paddling for days in any direction.

Tlingit women were fine weavers of spruce root and grass baskets; hide tanning, plant and berry gathering and food preservation also occupied their time, as well as the men's. Both spent time decorating everyday objects with sophisticated, highly stylized animal designs. This distinctive, dramatic art form became a medium for the preservation of Tlingit history and culture.

Economy
Up until the 1850's, fur trading was a major economic activity. When the commercial salmon industry began in this area in the late 1800's, the Hoonah Tlingits thrived because of their innate knowledge of salmon runs, tides, weather, boat management and navigation. From 1912 to 1953, a large fish canning and packing company, located one and a half miles north of Hoonah, employed Tlingit women while their husbands purse-seined for the cannery in the waters nearby. It was during these years, when Hoonah is said to have had the largest fishing fleet in southeast Alaska, that the traditional subsistance economy of the Tlingits gradually changed to a cash economy based on commercial fishing. In the 1980's and 90's, logging in the Hoonah area shared the eonomic base with fishing; in this decade, Tourism is taking its place.

The Hoonah Fire
In 1944, a disastrous fire destroyed much of the town. No one perished, but homes filled with ancient, priceless objects of traditional Tlingit culture and art were lost to the flames. The federal government assisted in the rebuilding of the town by diverting to Hoonah World War II housing that was already enroute to Hawaii. These houses, located on Front, Second and Hill streets, are still called "Hoonah war housing".

A wonderful relaxing day in Hoonah Alaska was had by all!

I was quite relieved to see that John was to young to do *THIS* (Dave considered doing it himself though) You have to see it!

On board formalities

There were so many highlights each day, but one of the wonderful things we looked forward to at the end of a busy day sightseeing and experiencing Alaska, was to gather with our travel group at dinner. We traveled with some very special family members and friends. I think we had about 14 people all together, and we chose to meet back at the main restaurant each evening for dinner together as a group. We would each go our own way during the daytime and do what we wanted as individuals. There were many choices of restaurants on the ship, but the main dining area was where you could sit down and order from a menu instead of a 'mega' buffet ;)

There were two formal nights during our week at sea. The first was early on in the journey, and the second was toward the end. As I mentioned we left home without a jacket for our son John and the ship's dress code for these evenings seemed pretty carved in stone. In some ways it is nice to experience the formality, but in other ways, after a full day of Alaskan wilderness exploration, the last thing one might want to do is come back and put on sequins..lol.

John had an idea for a 'coat' to go with his shirt and tie. We had picked up a faux bear rug to go on his bed at one of our stops, so he tied it around his neck and called it his bear coat. He proudly wore this into the restaurant along side of the tuxedos and other gala attire .. (big grin here). We did get a few stares and smiles but at least we weren't asked to leave! ha.

This evening was the last formal evening, and they had a very special ending to the 6 course meal. Live musicians played music while all the chefs paraded through the dining area. Our waiter marched out with a flaming BAKED ALASKA for desert! SO fun! All the ships guests (us) waved our white cloth napkins in the air as the music played and the flaming deserts were brought out and served. It was quite festive and impressive. Sharing it with family and friends made for wonderful memories that will remain with us the rest of our lives.

The ship had many attractions for evening entertainment. Everything from a 'fun factory' for the children, to musicals and shopping, art auctions, casinos, spa, you name it. It was indeed a floating city.

There was one more port of call on the agenda, and I think this next one turned out to be one of our favorites...

Tidbit of info: It is estimated there are 12 bears living in Alaska to every one person!

CLICK HERE to make your own Baked Alaska for desert tonight!

MUSH!

OK, I thought the sea plane was over and I could now enjoy the rest of our time in Alaska either on land, or ship, but not so fast..

Dave was like a little boy so filled with the excitement of this yet another venture into the arctic world. There was really nothing I could say or do to change his mind about doing this, so I decided to embrace his enthusiasm with a resolution that God would protect them and that I would most certainly do my part to ask for His protection!

CLICK HERE to see what was next!

What an adventure! They took the helicopter to a glacier, landed on it, and spent time exploring. Then, a visit to a dog sled camp where John was able to ride with the Mushers! Dave said it was actually quite comfortable temp. wise with the mid day sun.

Upon their return, I was to meet them at an area where their bus that took them to the helicopter pick up point, would return and drop them off. I waited and waited and bus after bus came, but no John and Dave. We had to be back on ship at 5:30 and at 5:20 they were not back. Surely you can imagine what was going through my mind! FINALLY, the last bus arrived, and they were one of the last to get off, and we dashed madly to catch the shuttle back to the ship.

The ship had hot chocolate and cookies waiting for all the returning guests and after a dose of sugar before 6 coarse meal that John referred to as "6 dinner meal" :) we all felt a bit more relaxed! lol.

It was 'formal' night on the ship.. and we forgot a jacket to go w/ Johns shirt and tie.
We generally don't "do formal" so I'm not surprised I forgot it.

John had an idea though.
~~~
*You will most certainly want to add one of these to your next gala event attire*.
Come back to see it :)