Better than crayons!

Have any of you seen these?

While we were in Santa Barbara for the wedding John and Elizabeth were in, we celebrated Dave's birthday at the Four Seasons Sunday Brunch (ummmm!). Our waiter brought these to us to 'occupy' the children. They were amazing and J + E LOVED them. I kept the wrapper and looked the website up when we got home.

hEY, follow that dOG!

While in Vancouver, we noticed so many dogs simply following their 'masters' everywhere WITHOUT leashes! The dogs trotted a few feet behind their 'human' where ever the owner went. Crossing busy streets, whatever.. the dog followed. Amazing.

Sure wish children did that :)

Karate, new belts, and concerns

In the beginning of the Summer, we signed both children up for Karate as a very wonderful local instruction facility had a special going. It was a very good special IMO ($79.00 for 7 weeks and it included the uniform). You could go as many times as you wished during the week as the classes were offered 6 days/ week and several times during each day. Let me tell you we took full advantage of the special :) and both John and Elizabeth have now gotten the next belt. John got an Orange belt, and Elizabeth has gotten her Orange stripe on her white belt!

At first, Elizabeth would grace the Karate floor with ballet moves in her uniform, but quickly acclimated and is now is a force to be reckoned with in a dark alley :) ... In all seriousness, they are teaching the children self defense, and safety along with the usual Karate skills. If a child doesn't respond correctly during the class drill, that child will be drilled over and over during class until they 'understand' and get it correct.

John was also invited to join a leadership class in the Karate school, and this is where students not only learn physical skills, but also work on team effort, public speaking, respect for others, etc..

As this school year gets off to a full swing, I also look at what we have on our schedule. It is so full I'm almost embarrassed to list all the activities. In many ways I think it's good to keep our children busy, but I'm also learning the hard way about the stress it puts on daily life. We seem to always be rushing somewhere. Can we keep it up? I don't know. We'll see.

There's a little park in the mountains...

and our wonderful friend Brittany took John and Elizabeth there recently. Brittany goes back a long way with our family. She helped me out so much when I lost my Dad and traveled to China to get Elizabeth all within about a 9 month period of time. When we returned from China she was amazing with our children and had a bond with Elizabeth that continues to this day. Brittany had taken a year off from College to travel with a family member that was adopting from China, but as we all know the wait suddenly escalated and she didn't get to travel. She has since completed a degree in Dental Hygiene and has graduated with top honors! She was voted by her professors as the top Dental Hyg. student of 2008! We aren't a bit surprised.

So, back to the day in the mountains, Brittany also happens to have an incredible photographic eye so I slipped my trusty little point and shoot in the backpack for the day and got these beautiful pictures upon their return! :)

I was just holding your hand

and now you are walking into 1st grade.

Almost gone

Summer of '08

Bed ROOM camp fires

What you'll need:
2 battery powered 'tap lights'
2 or more children with wild imaginations
1 comfy bed with covers to pull over your head
3 or more scary stories
A great cousin to share it all with

Mix this all together after dark.
Watch the kids enjoy.

In the morning eat fresh blueberry muffins Grandma sent over and get out the waterslide.
Marinate for a few hours in the scorching sun
then simmer in a good long warm bath after sunset and repeat.

our BERRY bowl

A number of years ago, I came across a small bowl at a quaint pottery co-op in Old Town Manassas Va. I wondered why it had little holes in the bottom.. silly me,, I thought that was the reason it was such a good price..lol. When I inquired, the artist explained to me that it was called a 'berry bowl'. Oh. I had no idea what I would ever do with a berry bowl, but I liked the feeling when I held the piece. I think I paid about $3.00 for it and it came home with me. It sat in a drawer for years until one day about 6 months ago I found it again.



This little berry bowl is now used at least 4-5 times a day. It's wonderful for rinsing everything from yummy blackberries to herbs from our little herb garden. It's the perfect size to wash just what 2 little anxious tummies are waiting for and it also looks so warm and inviting just sitting out on the counter. Baby carrots, blueberries, strawberries, basil, sage, cherry tomatoes, you name it, all the little goodies that are now plentiful and in season. There is a little tray that catches the leftover drippings of water and cleanup is a breeze~! :)

It's been a fab. little tool to have on hand for VERY quick, healthy meals and snacks.

Whenever the berry bowl comes out, Elizabeth and John aren't far behind...

Now I lay me down to sleep

Tonight, a Friday night, the children and I were looking forward to Daddy coming home, possibly a bit early, to begin our family time weekend. It has been a long week with numerous distractions including my Mom's eye surgery, that left very little time for our family to be together all at the same time.

It was not to be.

Earlier in the day the call came. There was a family. They had a little girl who was 18 days old. She might not make it to day 19.

For quite some time we have participated in a program called "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep". If you have a moment, it is well worth your while to look at the website.

I must admit when we first learned of this organization back when it was just beginning, it sounded strange. Then, I suddenly realized my own family would have benefited greatly from this decades earlier. My Mother and Dad lost a baby boy (who may have survived with today's medical care).. The Doctor asked if he could "take care of things". My Mother was so grief stricken all she could do was nod her head. To this day, she feels she never had closure and each year during the same season and anniversary of his passing, she still, has regrets of not holding him, memorizing every little finger, feeling his soft skin, and saying goodbye until she meets him one day again in Glory.

So, back to this evening, Dave arrives at the hospital as the family is gathered around this precious little girl. She is on oxygen and the nurse removes it for a brief moment to capture her delicate sweet face. She cried a bit, and looked perfect. On the outside this tiny little girl was perfect. Her parents told us the Doctors said she most likely wouldn't even survive gestation, and suggested terminating the pregnancy. The answer immediately was "No". Her mother's response was that if God wants to take her, He will. As of tonight, the parents are able to cherish 18 days with their beautiful baby girl. They were praising God for every moment.

Her condition is incompatible with life, and barring a miracle, she will soon be held in the arms of her Heavenly Father.

Tonight, we were so blessed by meeting this couple. This was their first child.

May God Bless and comfort this dear family.

The first time Dave was involved with one of these situations I jotted down a few thoughts as he spoke them to me immediately after.. I'll share these with you tonight as I reflect back..

~~~~~~~~

He arrived while the Mom was still in surgery and was there when the baby was born. Quietly, he photographed hundreds of images while the parents cherished every second with their new son. Samuel was born and able to enjoy about 80 minutes in his parents arms before entering into the arms of his Heavenly Father.

Dave's prayer was that he could keep his own emotions in check at least during the time spent with this dear family. God was gracious.

At one point, the father was holding his new son with Grandfather looking on, then Grandfather broke down sobbing with his hands over his face. I think that was one of the most moving images I've ever seen.

The social worker could not have been more helpful, and even the Dr. was much more open to things than he had been earlier in the week. The nurses were wonderful and Dave remained in the shadows all the while being given the honor of capturing these only moments this family will ever have with little Samuel.

After Dave was finished, he left and it wasn't until he got to his car that his own tears began to flow.

Was it hard I asked. His answer was "yes".

Would you do it again? (I asked),, his answer was no doubt. In a heartbeat.

Each family reminds us of how fragile and short life on this Earth really is.

If you happen to be a swinger~ and a very cool free gift from kids meal!

I'm not sure if all Chick-fil-A's are offering this, but they are giving away Kids foreign language CD's! We LOVE them!! John is glued to his Chinese one! He surprised me with all the new words in Mandarin he has learned just today! It was very interesting listening to him with headphones on repeating phrases in Mandarin.

They are offering Chinese, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. We might just have to make another trip to get the rest :)

Also, if you happen to be a swinger you DON'T want to miss THIS!!! :) :)

They have amazing Teak outdoor furniture and they are having an incredible sale! We have the swing and I can tell you we looked and looked before getting it to be sure of the quality and comfort. We have been so pleased and have enjoyed many hours just -a- swingin!

Barnes & Noble concern and a question

We have a fairly new large Barnes and Noble in our area and I would estimate it has approx. 15,000 sq. feet +/-. The children's section is a about half way to the back and as far left as you can go. The most direct path to the children's book department and play area takes you right through the section about the occult, and other demonic books. It is virtually impossible to get to the children's section without walking thru this as it is right beside the only entrance to the play area.

Even if you go way out of your way to circumvent this it is directly adjacent to the children's section entrance and you still pass by it. The first section of books for children almost physically touches these topics (within inches).

Given the many, many, many, subject options Barnes and Noble has to place in that area with this ample spaced facility, why must they make parents with young children walk right through this subject matter? It appears to be intentional and deliberate.

Why not put History books, Nutrition, Health, Travel, etc.. almost anything but the above.

So, my question to those of you in other areas, is this an isolated situation with our particular Barnes and Noble management, or is this layout by Barnes and Noble nation wide?

Explaining Hippies 101

Let it be.. let it beee...let it be, let it be.. there will be an answer.. let it be..
Peace Y'all.
{a must click on the photo to fully appreciate}
;-)

The days are growing shorter

and soon, Summer will give way to chilly nights, pumpkins, and other amazing gifts of the season. Its hard to believe Summer is more than half over for us (we count 'Summer' as when school is not in session ;). School begins in just over a month, and the task of gathering school supplies, working on the 'new' morning routine getting ready on time for the 8:00 a.m. bell, packing lunches, homework, etc etc, is knocking at the door. I actually love the routine and feel like something has been accomplished even by 8 am during the school year ;)

John will be such a big boy in 1st grade! He is doing beautifully and loves his school. We have grown to love this wonderful school as well. It only has 2 first grade classes and depends heavily on parental involvement. Elizabeth will join her brother 2 years from August when she officially begins Kindergarden. This year is most exciting for John as he has been told he gets to bring home the class rodent (guinea pig). Hopefully I can keep a smile on my face as we load it into our SUV..lol.

So, the last half of Summer '08 is here. It truly amazes me how much faster time goes by when we grow up!

I recently read some excellent reviews on this.. and got it for John. He LOVES it and has made learning math a breeze! He doesn't want to put it down. It seems to be a positive alternative to the old fashioned way his Mom and Dad learned :) John seems to have a love for math, and we hope to foster that interest! (He also has a love for Tom and Jerry DVD's that we hope will dwindle..lol!)

Precious Freedom

This was the moment Elizabeth became a citizen as she first stepped foot on US soil in L.A. moments after exiting the airplane that brought us home from China. No the clothes and shoes don't match as she had thrown up just before getting on the plane in Guangzhou and we were into our 'reserve' before we even got to our 15 hour seat. None of it mattered. We were home. She was free. We didn't take it lightly after 21 days in China. We loved China, and hope to return someday, but nothing will ever change how grateful we were to live in the United States. Freedom. We saw first hand how very blessed we were here in America. I took for granted so many of my liberties until we saw how most of the rest of the world lives.

As our nation is going though such changes in a very turbulent time, my prayer is we never loose sight of our founding forefathers vision for our country.


One Year Later..

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.