A Visit

Our friend Hal Tait visited us on Thursday night. He spent the night and then left for Killeen Texas to visit his family the next morning.

Hal, is really a nice man. He went on a missions trip to Ukraine, back in 2001, and he met our Sarah. He has been going back every year since.

Hal was personally responsible for our Sarah coming to the United States.
You see, when he met her, he held her. And after he held her, she didn't want him to let her go. She clung to him, and then had to be pulled off of him. This was at the TB Sanitarium. She was pulled away and put in a crib and he said her wails, those desperate wails, made him cry. He couldn't get her off of his mind. When he came home to America, he took her picture and made a flyer and every where he went, he shared her story. All he knew about her, which wasn't much, he shared.

He came to his son's church in Texas, and shared about her, and a family's heart was touched. They applied to adopt Sarah. She came home to America on her 5th birthday.
And many of my readers know, she only lived with that family for 10 months. Her adoption disrupted.

As Hal was sharing with the girls how Sarah clung to him, she was grinning. He told her how happy he was that she was happy and healthy and safe..... and how God had orchestrated everything.

I was thinking about that. Even though, Sarah's adoption did not work out, with the other family, I am so thankful that they went and got her. Had they not, we would not have Sarah OR Erika. We would not have thought to go to the other side of the world. It is true. We wouldn't have. Ukraine was not on our radar screen. But God......

I am thankful that this family went. I DO believe that God inspired them to go. I do believe they did the right thing. And while, I do not understand what happened, I know they have learned just as much as we have about trusting in the Lord in very difficult times.

The important thing is, Sarah is HAPPY! She is healthy and growing and blossoming. Had they not brought her here, she would not be.

Disruption is a sad event. It is traumatizing for the family and the child and for the new adoptive family. But.... it is not the end of the world. It just might be the beginning that is needed for total healing.

I often think about Sarah's old family. I feel sad that they do not have the joy that we have with her. But I also think that they can say that they did a good thing for her in bringing her here, and also, in realizing they were not the parents she needed.
That is a very brave thing to think.

And Mr. Hal, when he gets home, said he has some very special pictures to send us of Sarah when she was in the TB sanitarium and met him for the very first time. I can't wait! :)
I'll post them when I get them.

We took Mr. Hal out to eat, and this is the girl's reaction when they heard him talking about a "girl friend". :)

There's a Snake in My Coop!

Well Good Morning Mr. Snake! I was chatting nicely with Chiara, when Sarah ran in and said, "SNAKE!" From the sound of her panic, you would have imagined a child eating Python!

Instead, it was an egg eating Chicken Snake..... AND if you notice the large Lump in his gut; well, that was MY BREAKFAST!!!!!

I hope he enjoyed it! Because after I finish typing this, he will be enjoying eggs no more! He worked his way on the other side of the coop next to the hay bails. ugh.
We need to get him out for 2 reasons.....

1. He will eat more eggs and disturb the ladies from laying.
2. Sarah needs to do a thorough cleaning of that coop and she can't do it with a snake
in there. :)

Anna is going to help me. Daddy said, "I'm busy!" Of course that is after he ate HIS eggs! :)

Words That Have Touched My Heart

This week the Lord has been so good to me. Inwardly, there has been turmoil. Inwardly, my heart has been restless. I KNOW THAT I KNOW that I SHOULD rest in the Lord, but when external demands of life come crowding in like a flood, and circumstance is difficult, walking the path of faith, though circumstance screams to do otherwise, is the only way to survive.

The Lord does not want us to be weighed down with burdens, but to give our burdens to him, so HE can carry our load. I need to be reminded of this from time to time. :)

My sweet Daughter Ivy, mentioned a song that is her favorite. We sing it at our church and it is so meaningful to me. I cannot sing it without weeping.


And then this week, our sweet Teaching Elder Justin, gave this message on Love.
It was amazing. "Surprised by Love"
http://cornerstonewylie.org/sermons.htm

My heart is full, as I am in the word, gleaning words of truth.

Some of Nick's Testimony

Nick has a wonderful website.

Check it out on my sidebar.... "Life without Limbs

Time To Focus

On the next school year! Already!!!!!

School starts August 11th, just 2 weeks and 2 days away. :)
Gone are the end of school ditties, "No more pencils no more books....", and onto the Beginning of School Ditties "Mom has such a lovely smile!"

I must have looked at the wrong month on the calendar... not unusual for me lately.
I was planning to start August 14, which I just figured out by turning the page, is a Saturday. I don't think that would go over so well. :) So August 11th, it is.

So what are we doing different this year????
We are going to computerized schedules and weekly manila folders instead of notebooks.
I like doing things this way, it is more efficient.
I staple the schedule to the manila folder, they put their assignments into the folder and turn it in on Friday. Papers are graded and the folder is filed with all the work checked off. I used to do this with the guys and it worked great.

We are doing Learning Language Arts Through Literature... a whole reading, vocabulary and grammar program.

We are doing Saxon Math, with the Dive CD's. (yea, a computer explanation program)

We are doing Abeka History and Science, we will dive in and add to it as we go.

I am going to continue to encourage Russian with Rosetta Stone. Sarah says she would much rather learn Spanish. LOL

I am considering changing the guest room into a school room. It gets the best light in the house, and it would take all those desks, chalk boards, bulletin boards, hand writing strips and projects out of the living room! If I'm going to do it, I have 2 weeks to get it done.
I am also hoping to get a copier/printer/scanner..... We'll see. My birthday is coming up... :)
I am excited about the year starting. I hope they are too! After all, it is rather hot outside. They have been reading all summer and I am happy that they love to read.

We will have to take our end of vacation zoo trip sometime next week. It will be sad to not have Kate and Lillian with us. :(

Soooo CHEERS! Here's to a Great 2010-2011 School year! :)

Albuquerque or Bust!

Well, they are gone. My heart aches. But I really think that Albuquerque is a good move for our kids and grand girls. We will miss them, BUT.... There is the International Balloon Festival every year.

I LOVED living in Albuquerque before Texas. I really miss it, even over 20 years later!
Apparently Chuck does too. They will be living just down the street from where we lived before.

He has all pleasant memories in Albuquerque and Jodie's new job is turning out to be a great fit. Kate and Jodie left last week to get things set up, and they are so excited.
They have already been to Petroglyph National Monument, Santa FE, Old Town, and more.
















Be Safe dear children. We love you, and we will miss you.

Meet the Stumpy Family

Courtesy of Erika and Sarah. :)


Arf. :)

Large Texas Garden

Little Texas Tomato.

This is our ONLY tomato of the year! Ugh, what have I done wrong????

Inspiration Award

Inspiration Award

I designed a new award to give to two very special people. One is Erika, who inspires me every day, and the other is Mommajeane, who makes me cry nearly every time I read her blog. :)

You can slide this image off of my blog to your desk top and then post it on your blog.
I have never done this and I'm not very good at it.... so, if the words don't show up, just type "Inspiration Award" in the caption and put it on your side bar.

Love,
Mom and Christie

A Special Moment

I didn't get a movie this time. I thought I was taking a movie, and instead I was taking a picture. I was using Erika's camera, AND, when I jumped in the lake, I jumped in with my famous glasses that are now gone. :(
So, I couldn't see to push the right button. LOL
It is funny, how something seemingly mindless, like water sports can bring about sweet moments that bring us together with each other and with our creator.
We can worship in everything we do, and I believe Erika understands this concept very well.

Yesterday, Erika went back on the knee board. But this time, daddy didn't stay in the water with her or help her up on the board. This time, she did it all herself.

We watched her struggle to get on that board, and get herself positioned so she could hang on. She fell off more than enough times, but didn't ask for help. And then, she got up and pulled herself to the right spot, got her rope positioned correctly and said, "GO! NOT TOO FAST!"

And we were off. It was the longest ride in history. We wound up going at a normal speed, which actually makes it easier to handle the board, and she moved all over the place and turned her body to make the board go different directions. At one point, I thought she would fall going through a bunch of waves made by a different boat, but no, she hung on.

After 20 minutes, she was still hanging on. I couldn't believe it...! There she was back there mouthing words I couldn't hear, and it seemed like she was singing. :)

She was gliding through that water like a happy fish, with the full freedom to fly, and she knew it. She was savoring every moment.

She finally let go of the rope because her hands couldn't hold the rope any longer and we all cheered at a great ride!

So what was she singing?
"In me there is strength to move mountains, In me, there is strength to walk on water, if I just believe the way and the truth and the life."

And just like our Heavenly Father, her daddy watched over her carefully in the rear view mirror to make sure she was ok.

For My Kind....

What is my kind? The Over 50 crowd that can't seem to ski after almost 20 years out of the water. :)
I am laughing a bit..... My back feels fine, my hips feel fine, my neck feels fine.... and Mike has a sore hip for the first time. I know I shouldn't laugh, but, it is sorta funny, since I have the broken down wreck of a body. :)



WHOOOO_HOOOOOO!

The Saga Has Come To An End

The Little fellow is gone. I'm HAPPY that he no longer raids my pantry at night. But sad that he wasn't smart enough to go into the live animal trap where he could have been transferred after incarceration to a nearby field to find other mouse friends to play with.

Instead, I had to use the old fashioned kind of trap, and yes, he ate the cheese.
Farewell Ratatouille; until I meet your next relative!

Saturday Morning Funnies

Our grand daughter Lillian is staying with us for 3 weeks. She came with an enormous amount of Barbie dolls and paraphernalia.

I have never been a big barbie fan, but I know little girls love them. We kept with the Happy Family dolls for years, but our girls have outgrown those.

So we have allowed a few barbies around here. The girls like putting clothes on them.
Daddy's request was making sure they were dressed decently. So the girls make a lot of clothing for them.

Anna purchased a Ken doll earlier this year, and we were talking about making sure Ken was a good father and husband. :) No philanthroping Ken in our house.
So Anna has made sure Ken has stayed with one barbie. :)

Well, Lilly asked to play with that Ken doll, and before Anna could stop her, she had Ken kissing every barbie in the house!
"
Anna came to me and said, "Well, I can't play with Ken anymore". I asked her why? She said, because now he is an Adulterer! I don't want to play with an adulterer!
ROLF>!

Friday Night Fun

Friday nights are Pizza and Movie nights. After the movie is over, we all pile into our room and the girls sleep on cots and we listen to the music to Roan Inish to go to sleep.

Right now we only have 2 cots and 3 girls and one grand girl. So a few kids were saying, "I have the cot by mommy!" or "I have the cot by daddy!"

Erika volunteered for the blankets on the floor, and then Lillian said, "I have the Toilet!"
Everybody looked at her puzzled.
"Lillian, you can't sleep in the toilet!"

She said, "Oh, I thought we were saying what we were going to clean!"

ROFL!

Lilly Logic

Well, Jodie and Katie are in NM! Katie thought the mountains were rather scary. :)
Being a Texas girl, she is in for a lot of FIRSTS. :)

I loved living in New Mexico in the late 1980's. Apparently the town has nearly tripled in size since them. That must mean it is a great place to live! :)

Lilly is staying with us for another 3 weeks, but she has a hard time understanding what is going on.....

Today, her mamma called to say they made it safe and she asked, "Mama! Can I spend another night with Ya-Ya?"
Jodie said Yes you can.

She said, can I spend 2 nights??? Her mama said, "Yes, Lilly you can."

I told Lilly, "Ask your mama if you can spend 21 nights!"

She got all excited. "CAN I SPEND 21 NIGHTS???"

Her mama said, "YES YOU CAN!
And then she said, "OH WOW! THANK YOU MAMA! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! LOL

So it is settled now. We will make the calendar so she understands how many night night times until Mommy comes back.

A little Upgrade

I'm hoping he won't be able to resist!

Our Resident Mouse

My Daughter Becca's mom said that a mouse in the kitchen sounds like it is eating a bag of doritos into a microphone! She is sooooo right!

So, I am getting more militant! I figure it this mouse cannot smell the peanut butter and cheese in my live animal trap, he has serious allergies!

I'm just glad he is a HE!

Leaving

Tomorrow morning, Katie and Jodie will be leaving for Albuquerque. Katie has been a huge part of our lives since she and her momma became part of the family 9 years ago.

Jodie is an awesome mother and she is a very dedicated Radio Program worker. ( I don't know the title) But she has been transferred to ALBUQUERQUE NM!

Chuck and Lillian will stay behind for 3 weeks, and then join them in Albuquerque.

I am sad, happy for them, and sorrowful at the loss of 2 grand daughters who live close by and have been such a big part of our lives. :(

I am so thankful for the time we have had! (and that stupid mouse is chewing again!)

I pray that this move will be great for all of them. We are going to miss them terribly!

Tonight, we took Kate out on the lake. She has never been in a boat. She did awesome!

THE MOUSE SAGA!

Helping In the Kitchen

Erika decided to help Sarah learn how to make noodles on the stove top instead of the microwave. :)
All 3 girlies like to help in the kitchen. What I have noticed lately is that things are placed where I have found them to be easy to get to and not where the girls have found it easy to get to.




Soooo,
I have been observing dishes winding up in the most interesting places after the dishwasher has been emptied.
Today, I decided to change some things around to make access easier for those in the family who are "shorter". :)
I rearranged all the cupboards to make them kid friendly. I have needed to do this for a long time and it was very therapeutic for me to get things organized and clean!


So I moved all the stuff from the top cupboards to the bottom cupboards, thinned out some things I didn't need and viola'! Cupboards that the kids can reach and put things away properly now!
And the cupboard that is up high?

It is looking rather empty. :)
But that is a good thing! We don't need too much stuff! :)