July 4th Celebration at the Lake

We went water skiing, and also joined friends on a double decker party boat.

 That is me!

Alli at the head of the boat.

 This was Mike and I after jumping from the top floor into the lake. :)

 Erika, enjoying herself.

 Sarah Jumping

 Looking for the Boat House restaurant

 Sarah and Alli jumped together

 Anna took a dive!

 Anna and Erika on the beast.....

 Daddy on Skiis

 Getting a snack

 Exploring the lake

 Alli, doing an upside down cannon ball. LOL

 Sarah, ready to take off on the beast.

 Jumping again

 Mama up on skiis

 Swimming

Hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July!   Surprisingly the Lake wasn't that crowded!

Urgent Request

There is an urgent request from "No Greater Joy Mom" 's Blog".  

There is a group working feverishly hard to help raise the awareness of the 300 orphans who have been left languishing in institutions because of the ban on Russian adoptions to Americans. These children were already matched to parents and have already met their parents.
It has been a devastating blow to them and their potential families.

A documentary is being made, but needs more funding.

If you can help, please go to Adeye's blog and there are instructions there.

Thank you!

Happy Independence Day!

We made a cheescake and decorated it like a flag. The Crust is made from the M&M cookies we made the other day. :)  I have to say, those strawberries are delicious! We are smoking brisket and pulled pork and there will be plenty of salad. :)
Erika is in charge of Iced Tea!

Red White and Blue ..... Stars and Stripes ..... table cloth and flag napkin basket....are on the kitchen Table.
The Front Porch is decorated and ready.....  And tomorrow? 
                                   BANG!!!!!!  
We are ready with fire works, and we'll be joining our wonderful neighbors who are also having a family reunion on their property.   Loads of fun is planned including water skiing, and more! 

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Independence Day Celebration! 
                          God Bless America!

Negative Messages / Positive Messages

I took the girls shopping today and we had a wonderful time.  They like listening to the radio, so we had it tuned to a favorite station.  It is a "Christian" station, that plays some excellent music.  But over the months I have found the ads they use for commercials rather disturbing!

One thing that I found obnoxious was saying "You deserve to be happy, and if there is something wrong with your nose, or your hips are too big, or you need a tummy tuck, or you need your eyes lazered.... this will bring you "the happiness you deserve!" 

Wait just a minute here!  Since when does happiness have to do with beauty?  This commercial covered every single part of the body including breast size and wrinkles caused from age.  Anna jokingly looked at me and said, "Wow mom, they just described you!"  Gee thanks! 

It was a joke, but at the same time, what if somebody is insecure and thinks that surgery will bring them happiness! How shallow!  And coming from a supposedly "Christian Radio Station".... I found it disturbing.
Just when I thought it couldn't get much worse, today's advertisement was about being a "Rock Star, Actress or Famous Person" for God.  Really?
Seeking fame is now a "godly character?"
And all you need to do is call this number for an audition!
 
Then, there was the  one for singles to get together just to have fun.... "It isn't about finding a mate for marriage" it is just about enjoying life... and the fellow goes on to describe a Jr. High boy's dream of bounce houses, skating, basket ball etc..... but it is for single adults?

And the grand finale'..... An advertisement for Mother's Day Out, because everybody knows that mothers need to be away from their kids!  It is a necessity especially when they are between 2 and 4, and you can sign them up so you can go and have time for yourself!  Then, the radio host chimed in and continued about how she needs to get out of the house and do things for herself like all moms do!

The thing that got me was the emphasis on how important it is for "me" time.  All of these commercials focused on the physical, the selfishness, me, the FLESH!

AHHHHHH!!!! I had to turn it off. I couldn't take it any more.  My girls were laughing at my response, but seriously, I don't want them to get these messages ESPECIALLY from what is supposed to be "Christian", for heaven's sakes!

And those messages, get through.  After one hearing of the "mothers need to be away from their kids" advertisement, I had an errand to run, and Anna said, "Mama, maybe you should go alone."  I asked her why and she said, "Maybe you need time alone!"
Of course, she was kidding once again.... but she remembered.  What about the children who think this and don't say anything?

There is nothing wrong with being alone sometimes, or going on a date, but  the emphasis should not be to just  get away.
There is a difference between being refreshed with a nice visit from a friend over lunch, and "getting away".    It may sound subtle, but it isn't, and our kids know that.

There are moms out there who do not feel the need to run away, get lazered, or enhanced, or seek to become famous.  You will find some of them on my side bar.... blogging away about the blessings they have in their lives. :)

If you are a mom out there, and you sometimes feel lonely, or wonder how changing another diaper is going to make a difference in the world, trust me:  With every loving touch, with every kiss goodnight, with every sweet babble back and forth while changing baby, with every pbj cut into stars, with every ice cream cone, park day, swim day, Sunday School class, with every time you stay up late and rock a sick child, with every meal you fix, with every diaper you fold, underwear you change, toilet you clean, floor you vacuum up and broken dish you throw away, you are changing the world, one warm smile at a time... one loving touch at a time.... one sweet kiss at a time.
YES YOU ARE! And what you do is IMPORTANT!

A New Header.... and more!

I made a new photo header for the blog tonight. This time I wanted to show pictures of when the girls came home and pictures that are recent.  They sure have grown up!!!!!

Being a mom is so fun, and full of adventure!  I remember taking each of those older photos and it just seems like yesterday! 

Our youngest son just turned 30, and that seemed like not so long ago too! :)

We have some fun news!  Our 3rd son Joseph, Rebecca, Sam, Truman and Felix are headed to Dallas!
They will be arriving in August, and Joseph will be starting his Doctoral Program at UTD!
WHOOP!

We are very excited for them and for us!  I get Ya-Ya time!  I cannot wait to squeeze little cheeks and hold Felix for the first time. :)

I know it is going to be a big transition for them, as they have been in Maryland for the last 10 years!
But it will be awesome having 3 out of 4 of our guys close by!

Most of the cousins will be able to play together and grow up together!  SO FUN!

One of my blogger friends had some snarky remarks made to her in a comment.  I don't know why folks are so rude.  We have had our share too, but really.... it is so unnecessary!  I guess some people feel powerful behind anonymous rudeness.  :/

There are many adoptive parents who blog and share with others a part of their lives.  They share not for glory or attention, but for those who come behind, to pass on vital information and experience, and to share in the joy of life.  It IS joyful!  It is rich! It is full of new experience!   They share from their hearts and give of their time to educate and enrich others that they don't even know. None claim to be perfect or have all the answers.  But with an abundance of ideas and shared wisdom, maybe somebody else's life can be blessed!  I know I am blessed greatly! 

Thank you for reading!  I truly appreciate you! And feel free to drop a friendly line in the comments section!  We love hearing from you.

School's Out For Summer!

This is our first full week of NO SCHOOL!  Wow!  We are out of school until, August 15th! :)
That is when our new school year begins.

I am starting our summer with a summer cold! :/  Hoping to get over this irritation soon! I couldn't sing at church today because I sounded more like a bass than an alto!

We have had a good reunion since we came home from camp.  Daddy took some of the girls and a few friends out on the lake today after church.  Anna and I stayed home and did laundry and went grocery shopping to prepare for the week.

I loved spending time with Anna. We missed each other last week. :)

Anna did a wonderful job taking care of the house while 3 of us were gone!  Daddy took her and Alli shopping, which I found rather amusing. :) 
I think he is enjoying being a dad to 4 teenage girls! :)

Anna and Alli were able to pick out a few outfits while Erika, Sarah and I were at camp. :)
I didn't know he was such a shopper! LOL

This week, I think we are going to "summer clean" and prepare for a garage sale, prepare for the Vacation Bible School skit that our Junior High Sunday School Class is doing, and spend time at the library!

There will be plenty of time spent on the lake in the evenings, and we are also looking forward to Joe and Becca moving back to Texas with Sam, Truman and Felix!!!

Joseph has been accepted into the Doctorate program at UTD! :)  So they are all coming home! YEAH!!!!!!

I think before summer is over, we will have a few extra boaters! :)

Tomorrow is our youngest SON's birthday.  He will be 30. Wow.
I cannot believe it has been 30 years.... it seems like yesterday!

I love my family.... I love all the activity of summer, minus the heat....

I love the free spiritedness of the season.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer full of memories!

Back From Camp

We are back!   It was wonderful seeing old friends and making new friends.  As always, camp was so fun!
Anna and Alli spent time with friends too, and we are thankful for those friends who came and picked them up for visits and swimming.
Daddy also took them on a shopping trip!

Here are a few pictures of camp this year:

Oh my! We had a wonderful time. : )  Glad to be back home!