Still No Word

I am losing hope for a June match. We have not heard one thing - nada, zippo. I have heard second hand that everything should be settled by the end of next week as far as making matches by Holt. So, I am sure that if we don't hear by next Friday then it's over until September. I'm telling you ~ waiting is torture!!

Kara's ALL day party

Yes, I realize that I am crazy. We started Kara's party yesterday at 10 w/ the delivery of the slide. It is the King Daddy of slides in our area. We planned our party around the availability of this slide. Karley came early to "help" us get ready for the party. The party started at 2 and we had around 25 kids w/ their parents. We slid, ate cake, opened presents, hit the pinata, and bobbed for apples. The kids really did have a great time. At 6 most of the kids went home and only Kara's Wednesday night Prim's class stayed. We had a p.j. - movie - pizza - popcorn party. The girls changed into their P.J.'s and watched "Bridge to Terabithia". The night ended at 9:30 with the departure of the last child. Joel and I passed out. Kara had a super time.

Swimming Lessons

These past two weeks have been just crazy for us. I thought summertime was supposed to be relaxing!

Kara and Will have been taking their annual swimming lessons. This is Kara's 5th and final year. It is Will's second. He started last year at 2 b/c his birthday is in August. My children are both excellent swimmers. This is Will's first year to actually swim. I am so proud of him. Mrs. Cathy said that Will has some techniques that most kid's don't learn until they are 7. She said that both Will and Kara have a lot of upper body strength. Let me assure you that this does not come from my genes! Kara has been diving well and swimming under water across the length of the pool. She is also learning to swim using her arms. We all came Thursday to see their "recital". It is one of the things that I love doing as a mom. Joel said that he is thankful to have his job b/c it is so flexible and he can make it to these events.

Kara

You are 7 today. You are growing so fast that it makes my heart skip a beat at how big you are. It just seems like yesterday that you were my newborn baby coming home from the hospital. I had never experienced the overwhelming love that flooded my heart when I first met you. I was so thankful for you. Not only did God give me a baby but a girl too! I was the most blessed mommy ever! My first thoughts were of us shopping and doing "girlie"things together. I have enjoyed every minute of having you. You came two days before your due date and I was thrilled that I had two extra days in my life to spend with you.
Kara, you are such a joy to your daddy and I. We smile more now that you are here. We love talking about you and Will. How proud we are, how happy we are, how THANKFUL we are for you two.
You are growing up to be such a beautiful young lady- both inside and out. You are thoughtful, considerate, appreciative, kind, and smart. You love your family and always try to do nice things for us. You love to make breakfast for us and set the table. You love giving gifts and making special things for people. You love animals and want to play with them more than dolls or Barbies. You are sensitive and cry when others are sad and hurting. You love people and want to make friends. When your teacher awarded you "friend of all", I knew that no other award suited you better. You love everything that is pure, honest, and right. Your silly and love to have fun. Your an excellent swimmer. You like to play soccer and ride your bike. When you were 5 you asked Jesus into your heart and we can see His light shining in you. You get so excited when we go to places or see things on TV that talk about God. You say "they must love God." You have found favor with others. Over and over again Daddy and I can see where God is preparing you for great things. Jesus has a special plan for you. We hope to help you find your wings. My snaggle tooth girl - we love you dearly. Happy Birthday.

Ugh- No Word Yet and it's FRIDAY!

I hate waiting. I am the type of person that is very proactive. If I need or want something I work very hard to get it. I had our homestudy and dossier completed in just over 2 months. That is pretty quick compared to what our social worker had originally said.
Well, now I have to sit on my hands and wait to hear about our referral. I just knew that I would hear something this week. I have been watching the Holt message board as well as the Thailand adoption Yahoo group. As far as I know no one has received a referral yet. Marissa told me back in May that they get the referrals in June and it takes a couple of weeks to match the families w/ kids. Does that mean it could be early July? I already feel like a pest and don't want to call and ask. Bless Marissa's heart, I know she gets so tired of anxious parents. I try to tell myself that we might very well be looking at September for a referral. Waiting is the pits!! Torture I tell you!!

Summertime

1. Fun
2. No school
3. Freckles on faces
4. Fresh veggies from the garden
5. Mosquito bites - ouch!
6. Kara's birthday party
7. Swimming, swimming, and more swimming
8. Reruns
9. New reality shows
10. Fresh cut grass
11. Sleeping In
12. Sunburns
13. Fleas and ticks - preferably not in the house.
14. Sweat
15. Royal Family Kids Camp
16. Kara's first year to kid's camp (with me in tow)
17. Backless dresses, spaghetti straps, and shorts
18. Flip Flops
19. Grilling
20. Hot, hot, hot cars - arms and legs sticking to the leather!
21. Afternoon rain showers
22. Catching lightning bugs
23. Summer reading program at the library
24. Late night desserts from Sonic
25. Lunches at Chik-Fil-A
26. Chalking the driveway
27. Arts and crafts to fill the day
28. Homemade ice cream
29. Southern humidity that takes your breath away
30. Large electric bills
31. Frog catchin'
32. Water park in Philadelphia
33. Watermelon
34. Fourth of July Fireworks
35. Sounds of crickets and frogs
36. Spending lots of great time with my husband and kiddos!

A Boy Named Thailand

I had to post this after my post from Friday. My bubble had been busted a little. I prayed yesterday and asked God to just show me if we are doing the right thing. My brother asked me if I thought God was shutting a door. Well, this morning in Sunday school my pastor taught on Joseph being an adopted father to Jesus. His whole talk was on how Joseph accepted Jesus and raised him like his own. I will add that he and Nancy have an adopted daughter from China.

So this afternoon the kids and I went to Wal-Mart. Ours is the worst in North America. I kid you not. We were waiting in the LONG line to check out. There was a mom, dad, and 3 kids ahead of us. The mom and I struck up a conversation. She called to her son and said "Thailand". I was surprised and asked what his name was again and she "Thailand - like the country". I told her that we were adopting from Thailand. Then Kara told the little boy that she was getting a baby from Thailand. The little boy looked at his mom and asked "Am I giving her a baby"? That part was funny and I think the mom was a little embarrassed.

I know that little meeting was a destiny moment. Do you think both of these events in one day was a coincidence? I think not. I am encouraged and know that we will have a great testimony after our adoption journey.

The Let Down

We got a letter in today from Shoahannah's Hope. They are not going to give us a grant. It didn't say why in the letter. I personally think Joel makes too much. Plus, it asked if our church was supporting us and if we had done fundraisers. Well, I wouldn't ask our church for help. And, we have not done any fundraisers. I have never heard of that before. After being online I have seen that several people have fundraisers. I would like to do one that gives people value for their money. Not just accept donations. Half of our family thinks we are crazy for adopting anyway. I wouldn't want to ask for money. I think their attitude would be - well if you can't afford it you shouldn't be doing it.

My heart is broken a little bit. I wonder what God has in mind? I think, have I missed it? Are we supposed to be doing this? I have such a passion about adopting from Thailand. We both do. Someone in my accountability group said that God makes things happen so that when it does work out everyone will know it was Him. Well, I feel like at this point it will absolutely have to be him. We are just wanting to get out of the house we built. Forget the profit - just take the burden away. And now the let down of not getting our grant. I hope I don't depress anyone too much. I try to stay positive and I am sure that tomorrow will be better. It always is. I still give God the glory and praise. He is my everything.

Notice anything Different?

That is what Kara has been asking everyone today. At around 10:30 last night she bounded into our bedroom to announce that she lost her top tooth. Ohh the excitement! She had been working on that silly tooth all day. It bled and bled and bled - probably b/c she had been yanking on it so much. It has been loose for at least 3 weeks now. I am actually surprised that it had stayed in as long as it had. She has been dying for it to get out.

We had to immediately call Bebe and Roro and tell them the good news. She wondered it the Tooth Fairy would come with such late notice. Well, she did. Excellent customer service if I should say so myself. She left 2 gold dollars and sprinkled her fairy "dust" all over Kara's face. Kara has a lisp now. I know it will only get worse after she loses the other top tooth. I have been dreading this a little bit. I have such anxiety about her growing up. I like her little. I had a cow when we brought her home from the hospital. I wanted to stay b/c leaving made Kara older. Crazy, I know. I will say that with every stage she's been in it gets better and better.

MOPS Steering Team Retreat

I had a blast this weekend. It was a lot of work but well worth it!

MOPS for those of you who don't know stands for "Mothers of Preschoolers". We are a ministry to moms in our community. We hold meetings once a month. There is usually a speaker, craft, discussion time, food, etc. We have childcare and moms get a chance to relax and fellowship with other ladies who are in the same stage of life. Some months you are just glad to be talking to an adult! I started this ministry at our church in 2003. Will was 3 weeks old at our first meeting. I was crazy to start it being pregnant but I felt passionate that we needed it at our church and in our area. God has blessed it and it has grown every year.

This year we have such an awesome group of ladies serving as leaders.

We went to Heber Springs and stayed at an AWESOME house in Tannenbaum. It is actually in Drasco, AR. A very generous man and wife in our church rented the house for us. Mom went so there were 9 ladies total. We planned out our year to come and got a lot accomplished!! It was so nice to get away with these ladies uninterrupted. We ate alot, watched a movie, and got in the hot tub. It is a weekend that I won't soon forget. We did have a little problem - the septic system backed up in the house on Sunday morning. Everyone had a good attitude about it and the maintenance man came and fixed it. He even let us in the rental office to use the bathroom. Tera is almost nine months pregnant so bless her heart she really was a trooper!! I am so glad that these girls are not only my teammates but more importantly- MY FRIENDS!!

My Birthday

Yep, I turned 35 yesterday. With all of the other stress in my life it was a little hard to get into the spirit. Joel and my Mom made it very special. I woke up to a lovely "Napoleon Dynamite" talking card from Joel. I love N.D. b/c he reminds me of my neighbor in school. Oh, I hope he doesn't read this!! My mom had beautiful spring flowers and balloons delivered to work. Last night at church mom and Joel surprised me with a cake in my classroom. I have started teaching Kara's Prim class on Wed. nights. My friend and asst. teacher, Dana, brought cupcakes, a lemon icebox pie, and balloons. Plus, she got me a present. That was so thoughtful of her and it blessed me. She gave me a magnet that says "I can deal with anything as long as I have the right shoes". And a plaque that talks about hating pantyhose. Amen sista!

MySpace is so wonderful. People from different era's of my life are on there and wished me a special day. Tonight we went to the Rendezvous as a family. I just love downtown. Then we rode the trolley to an awesome dessert place called "Cheesecake Corner". They had every kind of cheesecake and it was superior. The nice trolley driver hit it off w/ Joel and dad. He jokingly asked us to get him a piece of cake when we got off. My dad bought the driver a piece and we waited two trolley's to get back on w/ the same driver. Sometimes my dad can be so, so thoughtful. That's the way I want to be. The driver was so happy and let us ride for free. Don't tell MATA. Anyway, I had a great night out. Mom and Dad gave me a diamond necklace. It's gorgeous. It has 5 diamonds in a row. There is a name for this design but I don't know it. It is certainly nothing that I would buy myself. I'm glad they did. I will keep it and pass it down. Joel and his parents both gave me money. Now who couldn't use that? I am thankful and blessed to have such wonderful and loving people in my life!!

Time Away is Good Medicine

Our family, Mom and Dad, and Greg went to Nashville this past weekend. It didn't really change anything in my life but renewed and refreshed my mind. I think now I know why God requires us to sleep. I don't know about you but I like to have some days to end and never think of them again.

My cousin Kellen plays for the University of Memphis baseball team. They were in the NCAA tournament at Vanderbilt. Although they lost both games it was great they they were able to attend. 1994 was the last year they went. We went to the game Friday and it was hot, hot, hot. My kids loved staying at the hotel. It 's all about the elevators and swimming pool. This Marriott was nicer than any that I have stayed at. Down pillows and bedding. We as a family had a good time. We went to the Opry Mills mall and let Kara and Will Built A Bear. That's their favorite thing to do. My new favorite restaurant is The Cheesecake Factory. Oh my, it was delicious and I didn't even try the cheesecake.

One of the most humorus things about the trip was that across from our hotel was The Parthenon and a large park. Well, are you ready for this? There was a Gay Pride festival. I mean gays and lesbians out of the woodwork. The humerous part is that my dad was with us. He just about lost his mind. There was a lesbian couple that we saw everywhere. They had t-shirts that read things like "I'm not a lesbian but my girlfriend is". I thought my dad was going to say something to them. I am so glad that he didn't. I do not agree with homosexuality but I believe that we should act like Christ. We should act in a way that makes people want what we have. Oh, the best part is when we were leaving on Sat. they were lining up for a parade. Miss Gay USA lead the line. God rained on their parade (literally!) I thought dad, Greg, and Joel were going to pass out.