Sarah and the Special Quilt

This morning I found Sarah in her room playing with her paper dolls.

Sarah is such a blessing to us. She is our little Ukrainian Princess and we just love her so much.

What is special about the quilt?  Well, we attended a garage sale not long ago for a Reece's Rainbow

family, so they could raise money for bringing home their new little boy.  He has arthrogryposis like Erika does.  We purchased this quilt at that garage sale. Everytime I see it, I remember to pray for our friends who do not live very far away, and for thier new little boy who will be home very soon~!

You can check out their blog here, or just go to my sidebar on the left.

Their blog is called Surrender.

Guess Who

I just found these on my camera. LOL  They must have taken these when I was out getting goat feed. :)

Ticket To Ride

Uncle Bob always picks the best games! Last year, he brought Blockus.  This year, he brought Ticket to Ride.  The girls love it! And we like it too. :)

Thanks Uncle Bob!

Book Books Books!

Well, here it is, all done.  I tried to create sections according to subject matter.

IT WAS HARD!

We gave one more large bookshelf in the bedroom full of novels and older text books.

And I also have a box to go to Half Price books..... that is after dropping off 3 already!

Love seeing Mike enjoying reading a good book! :)

Happy New Year Everybody!

We are about to start our festivities...... Pizza is definitely on the menu. :)
The girlies and I worked all day long getting the rest of the Decorations put away, and then rearranging the living room and a couple of bedrooms. We decided to add 3 book cases to be near the school area.
That way, MOST of our books are in the same room. It looks rather library like, but I like it. :)

I was also thinning out books deciding what stays and what goes.  That is always hard.

And then, ANNA and I  ventured out one more time to see if we could find her some clothing that fits.
She just doesn't stop growing!  We tried the other day, and she was too overwhelmed with trying things on, and the sisters were with us.  So today, we went alone.

SUCCESS!!! We had a very sweet mother daughter time, and we even snuck out to Sonic where she had a "butter finger blast". :)
She found several shirts she liked and are nice enough for church.  Folks, this is a big deal!  It is HARD to find things she really likes.  We hit a bonanza today though. :)

We brought home PJ's for Erika too, and a baby out fit for Sarah's doll.
All in all it was a great last day of the year!

Hello 2011~!!! We're coming at ya!

Sarah Had A Sleep Over Guest

She Did It!

2 Days ago, we began the "Changing of the Room".... we started allowing each girl 6 months of having thier own room, and 6 months of sharing.  We started this a year ago, so Erika and Anna have each had their chance at having their own room.  Anna used the room for her things, but spent most of her time sleeping with her sisters. Erika used the room fully, and invited her sisters for overnight visits.

But it is Sarah's turn now.  Honestly, I didn't think she would do it.  She kept discussing it and saying, "I don't know if I want to.  I DO want to and I DON'T want to!

We told her she didn't have to. She has had major fear issues about being alone due to some circumstances before we knew her.  But she surprised us all and said, "I'm going to do it!"

Her first night, she lasted about an hour and went into her old room with Erika.
The second night, she lasted a little longer.

But LAST night, she went to bed surrounded by Barbies and babies and went to sleep.  At 4:00 a.m.
I heard a quiet little weep.... I asked, "Are you ok?"  She said, "Mama, I just don't think I can do it!"
I let her know it was 4:00 a.m. and it was almost over. She asked if I would stay awake until she went back to sleep and I said I would.  I think she went right back to sleep, and then, I woke up and checked on her at 6:00 and she was soundly sleeping. YEA!

We got up and went in and woke her and congratulated her on a true Heroic Effort to conquer her fear.

At breakfast this a.m., daddy was talking with her  about how he was so happy that it was her choice to do it, and that we would never force her to conquer her fears; but we would support her efforts and cheer her on.  It is her timing and she will always be safe with us.

It may not seem like much to some of those who read my blog, but this little girl could not go to the bathroom alone day or night just 5 years ago.  It was not just fear, it was TERROR.  It took 2 plus years to get her to go to the bathroom at night without us getting up and staying in the bathroom with her. 
Our Sarah is growing up and facing her fears and CONQUERING them! YEA! SARAH!

A missionary friend in Ukraine just sent this link to me. This is EXCITING!
What wonderful news to read about Adoptions in Ukraine. :)

Looking Forward to 2011!!

I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to 2011.

I made some resolutions last year, some of which I kept, and some that I didn't keep.... but Progress is Progress! :)

This year, I have some new ones and some old ones to keep hoping for. :)

My biggest accomplishment this year was keeping my filing updated.  I am looking at some that still needs filed, but it is THIS MONTH's stuff! That is a big accomplishment for me. :)
I am already working on getting things together the way Mike wants them organized, and we will have everything ready for the accountant on TIME this year. Yea!

My biggest goals this year will be for personal improvements.  I have not been able to remain totally vegan or vegetarian.  It is HARD!  My old habits come back and I succomb.  Gluten free is no problem now, but the next step is to eat more BEANS, not more Chicken! And another step is no sugar.
What is the deal with sugar?  I have gone without for long periods of time, but wow, not lately.
That fudge was just too good! :)

My daughter in law Em's gave me two really cool cookbooks that are gluten free and vegan.
So, I am looking at ideas!
Thanks Ems. :)

So, this week, I am looking forward to an all new 2011. I love fresh starts.... last year was hard. It was the first Christmas without Dad, and then mom died in the early Spring.  So we didn't have either one of them all year, and it felt odd.  They were just gone. :(

This year, we are really looking forward to. The Lord is good and His Mercies are new every morning.

Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob is such a wonderful Uncle. He faithfully loves on his little nieces and us too. :)
We sure wish we were all closer, but we love being together when we can.

Bob is always thoughtful and caring. He is genuine and funny and witty and dare I say sarcastic? LOL

But in a great sort of way.
He always makes his stay enjoyable for us and keeps us laughing.
You can tell by the first picture above that all of the girlies adore him.

Merry Christmas Uncle Bob, and Happy New Year.... !

Christmas Day Evening

Lots of grand boys running around!

The sisters

looking at paper dolls

 Lots of fun.

A late snuggle with dad.  They were watching Iron Man 2.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Christmas Morning

We are so happy that Uncle Bob was able to come. He arrived SAFE on Christmas eve, just in time for the tasting of the soup.... which was BAD!!!!! and I do mean BAD! Something didn't taste right, and after one taste, I felt nausea...... UH OH!  I dumped it all out.  I hate wasting, but this was a major health issue.... I still don't know what was not right, but I suspect it was the  Chicken Broth.

So, we ordered Pizza. Thank you Little Caesars for saving the evening! LOL

We stayed up late and watched Prince Caspian.  I actually went to bed before everybody else, as I had to get up early.  But early get up time didn't happen! They were all still asleep at 7:00!  Wow, that is a first.
Even Sarah, who was beside herself with excitement slept until 7:30.
I awoke in the middle of the night to put out the stockings, and then went back to bed.
It was GREAT!

We had some breakfast and then, the girls each opened gifts that they had given each other.
Mike and I both recieved some darling coupon books from the girls with tickets for foot massages, filing, washing a car, manicures, a trip to the dog pound, and go out to get a coke.
They were all decorated with stickers and colorful, loving words. Thank you girls!

We enjoyed making a seek and find morning out of the girl's main gift. They received a video camera.
It was a small package, so we put envelopes with different clues to the next envelope and the next until it led to a wrapped  LARGE box  under the tree. It contained a word find puzzle that held the secret message of where the real present was.

 They all ran to the wood stove in our room. At first they thought it wasn't there because it was so small. We sent them back and then heard the proper "Sarah Squeal of delight".  They FOUND it! :)

We enjoyed the Brothers spending time together and listening to the Mike and Bob Show.
How many cat jokes could they come up with?  They never stopped! :)
I loved their morning hairdoos.

 Speaking of cats:

Anna LOVED her new cat shirt.

Erika was surprised with an ATM bank.

She also enjoyed giving gifts to her sisters. :)

We had a great morning.  We will have visitors tonight and we can't wait to see them all.
Time for a nap!
Merry Christmas Everybody.

Little Truman

We have not been able to hold True yet, but that day WILL COME!  :) So for now, he gets to hang out on the Christmas Tree.
Thanks Joe and Becca.
Give Sam and True a big hug from Papau and Ya-Ya. :)

It's Muppet Christmas Carole Night

Every year we watch "The Muppet Christmas Carole"

The guys used to watch it too, and it is funny to see that the

girls get freaked out by the "Ghost of Christmas Past" too. :)

 Anna and Sarah set themselves up on the floor.

 Anna arranged for a few friends to join the party.

 I think Woody was pleased with the arrangement. :)

I can't believe today was the first day of Winter! It was 81 degrees today! :)

I Wonder Who This Gift Is For?

 This little girl LOVES her daddy!

I think she did a really good job wrapping his gift!

Mary Did You Know

 Here is another all time favorite Christmas song, written and sung by Mark Lowry.
Music by Buddy Greene.

If Jesus Had Been Born Today

Another December Funny

I was reading CNN this a.m. and Sarah was standing next to me.  We looked at the awesome snow article about Europe.  Sarah saw the picture and said, " That building looks like it is about to fall over!"
I replied, "Sarah, that is the Leaning Tower of Pisa... we studied that last year. "  She said, "Well, it still looks like it is going to fall over."  :)

It does! But it never has, YET. :)

Halelujah in the Mall

 I finally watched this. It was amazing to see.  The first thing that came to mind was how THANKFUL that I am that we can still Publicly Proclaim King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Public without prosecution. It isn't that way in many MANY parts of the world.  Sometimes I think we, as Americans, don't know what we have. 

Documentary on Arthrogryposis

Margaret did it! Here is the trailer.