Family 2013

Family 2013
Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Weekend Fun


My little artists :)

Look at this Etch a Sketch ! Pretty cool


Migraines cause me to be creative~weird right?

Pretty slow weekend. We have been busy remodeling a house we own to move my mom in. Not fun...but it will be nice when it is done. Just what I need ONE more thing to do LOL.
I just want to remind everyone to keep sweet Abby in your thoughts and prayers. She is well under way with her treatments. If you peek at her moms blog they have new pictures up of her getting her treatments. Her sister Sami who is from Ethiopia has been such a source of support while she is in the hospital. She helps her Mom & Dad keep it fun for Abby. Peek at Michelle's blog here~
No adoption news yet. Our agency has another group of families heading to Ethiopia soon to pick up their beautiful children! So exciting !! I cant wait to hear all about their trips. Have fun :)
My wonderful in-laws are in Tennessee helping my sweet ;) sister in-law Laura move in with her finance !!!! I really wish we were in Tennessee too :) Here is a picture for Laura , her baby...

Mateo sweetness~


My kids have been making balloon animals and are getting pretty good at it. It is all fun and games UNTIL ONE POPS ! eek. I HATE that.


My Bug is a huge Hannah Montana fan so she was glued to the 3-D special Saturday night. It was too funny to see her with her funny glasses :)

Friday, July 25, 2008

Get 'em here !

No new adoption news to share so I will share my recent shopping with ya!

Guatemala Flag halter top w/ribbon and bow~





Look how cute this is? I love it !





I LOVE this bandana dress it has the matching bow



and the bloomers are SO cute. Boo got so many compliments when she wore it out. Melany's little Itty Bitty is from Guatemala too. We became friends thru our agency FTC. If you want your cutie to be stylin check out her store here, she has a new boys Guat shirt too! Let her know I sent you on over ;)






This sweet Pillow case dress is made by a mom adopting from Ethiopia. She will make them for you in different styles and ribbon colors. I love them for black & white pics or beach pics. Even a comfy nightgown :) Contact Allison :)

Black & White babies~

Did you see this? How cool is GOD? A bi-racial couple just had twin boys and one baby is white with blue eyes and his brother is black with dark eyes ! How neat is that?

I took my Bug for some bloodwork and an EKG this morning. Poor thing was having a panic attack in the hospital lobby. She was so scared. She is actually my brave child. Once we got in there though she was better. Who likes being poked ? The tech was a young black woman and I so wanted to ask her about the hair products she uses or doesnt, but I chickened out. I think all the negative stuff I have been reading on a yahoo bd I am a member of is making me self conscience and a bit nervous. I need to find a happier less confronting board to learn from I think...

I have some pictures to post later of Boo in her new duds from Melany a Guat tot mama who is making the cutest clothes. And a sweet pillowcase dress I bought from a mom adopting from Ethiopia. Later gator..

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Trucker flaps for babies?



Am I out of touch? Are these appropriate for babies??


Me thinks no...
They are the deal of the day with some other styles on a shopping site. Nope not kidding :p !


Don't forget to keep sweet Abby in your prayers. Some of her tests came back with less then great results which was really hard for her mom and dad. Scroll down to my last post for her moms blog. Let them know you are thinking of Abby :)

Monday, July 21, 2008

Need a laugh?



Boo sucks the dressing off the salad then~

Makes a gross pile of the remains :)

Some funny things I wanted to share.

First have you seen this? I think it is hysterical ! Little fish that nibble on your feet for a pedicure. I bet it works too ! We had a kiddy pool full of tadpoles once and they nibbled the kids fingers and toes, it was too funny. Ok TMI ;P




I bought wine tonite at the grocery store (4 migraines later I need it). The clerk asked for my id (stop rolling your eyes) I gave it to her and said " I wish there really was a question of my age" She says "well you are wearing dark sun glasses and you have kids to distract ME, so I need to be sure" Are you kidding?!?!? Yup. The cats outta the bag. I take chatty/wiggly kids to the grocery store to trick the clerks into selling me liquor :):)



The other night I went to run an errand and I see an elderly lady laying on top of her dog on the side of the road. My heart is in my throat as I turn around, saying a prayer that either her or her dog have not been hit by a car..I pull up and go over to her, still laying on the ground. "Sweetie do you need help? Are you ok? (Please GOD don't let there be blood) She sits up and says "I am pulling a dog whisperer on him" I stutter out "What?" Then she goes into this LONG explanation of how she is teaching her dog who is boss following the dog whisperer teachings. The idea is if he pulls on the lease she subdues him on THE SIDE OF THE ROAD by laying on him. I slowly backed away and got back in my car, relieved but traumatized :)

Weekend Fun and Prayers

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This is how I feel thinking about how scared Abby's Mom Michelle is. My heart breaks when I think of all the scary tests and long road of treatment this sweet child will have to go thru. But I KNOW she will be OK. GOD will protect her. You can help. Send up as many prayers to the Lord that you can. Ask for strength for Abby. Ask for her to be cured. Go to her Mom's blog here for pictures of Abby with her new haircut :) and see how she is doing.







Busy weekend. I had a total of 4 migraines. I am not going to whine , but let me tell ya they SUCK. . I got in the the chiropractor this morning, lots of popping and snapping so fingers crossed this is done for a while. Plus my meds are a small fortune and I only get 6 pills at a time :( down to 2...





Saturday I took the kids to the Water fun day at the church. They had a ball.

We had a family reunion of sorts for my dh's family on Sunday. We got to see some relatives we dont see very often . It was really nice.

Yummy watermelon~



Bug & her best friend :)






Boo, Bug & their favorite cousin, J great kid.


The AMAZING Aunt Re and cousin J :)






My wonderful inlaws. I am so blessed :)


Friday, July 18, 2008

Another day, another migraine


Blowing bubbles~

Hmm...I have an idea~

Busted! Trying to pour the bubbles in the pond!



I swear the older I get the worse my headaches get. "It" came back last night and by morning I was ill. I asked my dear friend J if she could watch my 3 sweeties for a bit so I could shower , take MORE medicine and lay down with my ice pack. She was happy to help. I NEVER have anyone watch my kids. Ever. So you know I felt like poop. It is finally gone but I am wiped out.


Boo was so happy to see me when I picked her up. She kept giving me free kisses and petting my arm :0) I love baby love :)


Enjoy some Boo cuteness.

Boo Sleeping with her GIANT kitty~



Thursday, July 17, 2008

Migraine & dreams




Look at this beautiful hair :)




What a LONG day. I went to bed with a migraine and after 2 different rx meds and ibuprofen it is finally gone at 9pm. I am exhausted. Few things are worse then being a Mommy and having a really sucky migraine. Try to be happy & patient with screaming/laughing kids when you feel like your eye is going to burst :( Bad mommy.
I had a dream last night about our new daughter. In my dream she was an infant. Tiny. With big eyes. I was in love. I wonder how old our daughter will be? Will she be tiny? Or will she be sitting? Crawling , walking? SO exciting ! I will be thrilled no matter how old she is. I don't feel the ache for certain age. I am leaving it up to GOD. I love that I KNOW the call will not come until at least December (sounds crazy?). No stress worrying all day if or when the call will come & be so sad when it doesn't. I feel for everyone so close to their call. I bet I will be a basket case when we are like #5 or so LOL !! I know I was, waiting for my sweet Boo's referral. Just like waiting to go into labor.
Remember to keep your prayers coming for sweet Abby. Check out my last post for the link. She has started her chemo. Poor baby.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Childhood Leukemia strikes again


~"For this child, I have prayed" (I Samuel 1:27)



A wonderful family just received the worst news about the health of their beautiful 3 year old daughter from her Doctors on Friday. Sweet Abby has Leukemia. Her mom Michelle is a blog friend of mine and has adopted thru the agency I am using for Ethiopia. Little Abby was born in Guatemala. This family is crushed but has such an amazing faith in the LORD. They welcome ALL prayers for their sweet Abby's treatment and RECOVERY. Please check out their blog and let them know you will be sending positive thoughts and prayers out for Abby.

Turtle man ? Seriously?


Ok. I admit it I am a HUGE animal lover. I believe in animals rights. I am SOOOOOO ticked over the so called "turtle man" who has a video making the rounds on youtube. I am not linking it :( I saw the clip on Anderson Cooper 360 tonite. This toothless wonder dives into lakes and cruely yanks peaceful turtles out of the water by their feet or tail and SWINGS them around making some stupid hillbilly call! Then THROWS them to the shore!!!!! He then takes them home and eats them. It really is sick. Why isnt he arrested for animal cruelty?Why isnt PETA or ASPCA visiting this jerk? I have rescued SO MANY turtles over the years from the roadways here in Florida. They are peaceful little guys.We fed one fellow an apple just yesterday. I wish I had clicked a picture. Done ranting ;P

Thursday, July 10, 2008

CNN jerk and waiting~





I just heard the most obnoxious , stupid thing on CNN. They were running a piece interviewing people at a baseball game in Nashville, and asking them which candidate they were voting for. First an old lady~ " I am a lifelong democrat but I am voting for McCain, Obama is a Muslim" OK -no he is christian.

Second guy " I am no redneck southerner (cough cough) but I have never seen a black man with change UNLESS he was holding a cup in his hand" SERIOUSLY ?!!?!?!? This jerk just said that? KNOWING he is on TV???? Holy crap. Are people that stupid??? What an idiot..
I really hope and pray he is the minority. We have to be smarter then that right?


No adoption news. That is the thing , once ALL the paperwork is done and the 171H is in you just settle back ....and wait. I feel for all the people who have recently received referrals of their beautiful children or are SO close to getting that amazing call. Ethiopia closes the court system for part of July ?- September ( I think) and all adoption related cases are on hold. You really want to get thru court before they close. When the court system opens up it will be a bit backed up. The added months of waiting are so hard. Emotionally it can be draining. I talk from experience. We were stuck in PGN in our Guatemala adoption of Boo for 13 weeks. I ACHED for my baby. I wanted her home. I wanted to hold her, and smell her, and kiss her. It hurts. It really does.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Goat & Hope


Boo & her doggies. Kinda look like goats..

This article makes you realize that you can make a HUGE difference in the life of a child. Read the story about Beatrice and her Goat. Most people don't donate because they really don't believe it will make any difference. But even a small donation can. Makes me think of the kids we sponsored to go to school in Guatemala and soon Ethiopia. I hope it will make an impact in their lives. Maybe they will "pay it forward" too. I hope so :)

Starvation & Us


See the little hole in my pretty pepper?




This post is just a few thoughts bouncin around in my head, I wanted to share.



I read the piece on biofuel linked on another blog. I admit I hadnt really thought about it before. Now I am stunned. How could this happen?



This link covers the topic of biofuel. It makes you wonder...are we burning our food sources ADDING to the world food crisis? Could going green being doing more harm then good? This piece also covers it.The G8 are meeting as we speak. They are going to cover the crisis in Africa. Will they do something?


Meet our little vistor....yup, kinda gross.


Saturday, July 5, 2008

Cool ways to make a difference~




Dance party!

I came across 2 easy ways to make a BIG difference in the lives of kids in Ethiopia and Guatemala. AHOPE is an orphanage in Ethiopia that cares for children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS and who have HIV. With care and medicine these kids can live amazing lives !! It truly is remarkable. Click the icon and buy a cool shirt and read the blog!




Erin is living in Guatemala fostering her beautiful daughter who is still waiting to clear PGN (boohiss) and come home after a long long journey. They are an amazing family that have been thru so much. She is doing so much to help the local people with food, medicines and vitamins. I bet she would love your support. Click here for her blog.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th, Happy 171H !


Hope everyone is having a great day. Thanks to all the men and women who have fought for our great nations freedom :)


We are one step closer to our baby girl. We received our 171H in the mail yesterday ! When we adopted from Guatemala we HAD to have our 171H in hand before we could accept a referral of a baby. When it did arrive it was SUPER exciting !! Ethiopia has such a long wait for referrals that I would think it is odd to NOT have your 171H in hand when your turn comes up, unless you adopt a waiting child. The 171H is the paper from the USCIS giving you permission to pursue an adoption of an international orphan. The picture is of the girls playing Dr. They used size 1 diapers.... :)

Thursday, July 3, 2008

We got our number !






YES!! We have our "official" referral list number ! I love even numbers so I am happy :) It means there are 21 families ahead of us waiting for a girl child. It isnt as simple as that really but that is the general idea :) Some families are open to either gender or siblings so they are on all the lists.
(we still have a long wait:)







"...Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to ACT..." Proverbs 24:12

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -(Mahatma Gandhi)