It's Amazing How Much Fun You Can Have When You Just Put Your Mind To It!

Despite previous moaning and groaning, fun does seem to find us. The girls and the neighborhood friend are buddies now. They spent the entire day together yesterday. They even had a sleepover.




Amber, who has a very creative imagination, got us all into a fun thing. What we did, was write letters into "Ask Amber" (our advice columnist) and she, in turn, gave us advice on how to handle our "teenage" problems. Wow, I had to do some thinking and dredge up some memories. Ha! But we all had a great time doing it. Even Dad played along. We had big laughs. I took a few pictures.

I don't know if you can pick up that we are all having fun. But we are :-)



I hope everyone is having a great day. Thanks for all the prayers. Also please pray for little Ryan. You can read all about his story here Murry Mayhem. Please take a little time out today to say a prayer for Ryan and his family. God can heal. He hears us and He does answer our prayers.


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In Christ,

I'm sooo Bad!! But You Do Whatcha Gotta Do Right!!

As I mentioned yesterday, the kids are here for a whole week. The girls ages 12 and 13 have been moping around. Telling me constantly that they are bored. Anytime I have suggested anything to do it's been "lame". I have been thinking about just going to my room and closing the door and staying there until they leave. But, I then thought, that's not really such a good plan, no matter how appealing it may seem! Not very grown up either. (hey I have moments ok)Ha!!

Anyway, I called my friend and neighbor, Nikki, she lives in my neighborhood, just a street over. She has a daughter that is 12 too. (we have tried, unsuccessfully, to get the kids all together before). Anyway, her daughter is very outgoing and really fun. Nikki, suggested, how about I send her over with a couple of her friends and they all go to the park or something? That sounded great to me. (but I didn't tell anyone at my house about this plan) Pretty sneaky huhhh!! (I was afraid of more drama and wailing that they don't want to meet anyone new, blahh, blah, blah) You wouldn't believe the drama those 2 can come up with.

So about 15 minutes ago, they came over, (I was worried that our girls would refuse to go and possibly be rude) That's happened before. Anyway, not so today. (I did shoot a pray up before the arrived) Off they all headed. I gave the girls some money and suggested they go get a Slurpee. Hopefully, I did the right thing and got them out of the house and making new friends. (you may remember, that their Mom tells my Hubby, they don't want to be here because they have no friends, and are bored).

On to other things. We got a call from the adoption agency. We have an orientation meeting in August. In the state of Illinois, you have to have a license to adopt or foster. So we are moving along in that front. My prayer has been, that the Holy Spirit will begin to work, in the lives of all people involved, and lead us to the child God wants us to have. We are willing to take a sibling group. I worry about Hubby's children, that they might not like this idea, we have discussed adoption with them before. But I still worry. (I know that's a sin) I am working on that!!

I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

In Christ Love,

I Think I need to See a Shrink!! Mark my Words, I'm gonna go Crazy....

Ok, this post will be a little bit of a rant. As you may remember, Hubby's ex has not brought the children for visitation 3 times. (that in itself is a whole other post). She hasn't returned any of his calls. It's like they all fell of the face of the earth. Except we have been communicating with the kids on the computer. But other than that, nothing. No commucation at all. Because all of our calls aren't returned.

Suddenly, Sunday afternoon, we get a call. I about fell over backwards, when I noticed it was HER number on the caller ID. She asks, can I drop the kids off for 5 days or so? What's up with that? I just want to scream.....We have a life too. We have plans we have to rearrange, jobs we need to deal with. Luckily I work mostly from home. So I was able to adjust work accordingly.

I have really tried to be so nice to this woman. I have sent her cards, I gave her a birthday gift. We gave the children money to buy her a mother's day present. I got her a Christmas gift. I am soooo trying.... But I think I am at the end of my rope. How much do I have to try? At what point do I just throw my hands up and well, give up? I hate giving up, but I hate being a doormat even worse.

Niko and his Daddy.

Also, I think I mentioned in a few previous post that Niko has a form of autism. (asperger syndrome is what we have recently found out.) It is really heart breaking, because since he walked in our door yesterday afternoon, he hasn't left his daddy's side. Not once. He even slept with us last night. He says he has been missing his daddy. He loves us, why hasn't he seen us? We were completely speechless. We didn't know what to say. We don't want to talk about mom and her issues with him.

Niko and his Daddy. They watched the all-star game together.

If you have any advice, I am all ears.

Backyard Summertime Fun!!

My Mama, Sister & and sweet nieces have spent the last few days at our house. We have a loads of fun. Yesterday we spent the afternoon out in the yard. It was a very nice day. Hubby grilled and we all ate out on the deck. Summertime is beginning to be one of my favorite times of year. In Mississippi, I dreaded it. It was way too hot.

Kayla being silly!!

Kaydee Bug!




Good Eats.





Say Cheese.

Hope Everyone Had an Awesome 4th!!

Decorating those 4th of July cookies.

Kaydee & Kayla (my nieces) with their party favors.

I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth! We had a house full of folks. Hubby's parents and brother came over. Hubby's great aunt, aunt and uncle. My Mama, sister, her hubby, and 2 nieces and a couple of our neighbors. We had some rain, so for most of the day everyone spent it indoors. It was a little crowded. But all in all good company and good food.

Had the yard all decorated!!

We had fireworks, games and water balloon fights (outside for this one) and lots of good food! I had party favors for the kiddies and we made and decorated homemade chocolate chip cookies. It was a really great time.

Watching fireworks, we got to sit out in our own front yard and watch at the park right across the street.

On the adoption front. I got a letter in the mail today. We have been assigned to an agency. That's exciting. They should be contacted us in a couple of days to get things going. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated.

In Christ,

Small Talk 6 Saturday!!!

Here's Small Talk 6 Saturday! It's a cute little meme started over at Momdot.com It's for the slower weekend blogging days. So hop in and join us.

Today's topic is 6 best patriotic movies.

#1.) AirForce One--1997 starring Harrison Ford. Love this movie!!

#2.) Apollo 13--1995 starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon.

#3.) Pearl Harbor--2001 starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett

#4.) Independence Day--1996 starring Will Smith.

#5.) Saving Private Ryan--1998 starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon.

#6.) The Patriot--2000 starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger.

When I watch each one of these movies, I come away with that feel good feeling that I am PROUD to be and American!! Hope you all have a Safe & Happy Fourth of July!

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Every Have Those Klutz Moments?

Today is my Birthday. It's weird, how the older we get, the less exciting it gets. Hmmmm. I started off the day with a real bang. Hubby had to get up at 4:30 this morning to do something for his work and I (like the sweet wife I am) Ha! Got up to make him a little breakfast. I was frying 2 eggs in one skillet and some bacon in another one and somehow, not sure exactly how, the egg skillet landed in the kitchen floor with egg yolk and grease everywhere. Ugghhhh. So I had to mop that up.

Later around 11 a.m. I was cleaning the kitchen, mopping, wiping down everything, etc. (we are having a big party tomorrow and I figured I would just get all this out of the way today) I opened the refrigerator and bammmmm, out just jumped the tub of butter onto the floor, upside down. Butter everywhere . I had to mop the floor again.

I think I am just going to go back to bed. Maybe if I start over, it'll be different. Whatcha think? :-) On a more exciting note. I got the cutest cellphone for my birthday from Hubby. It has a camera with zoom and everything all in one. I just need to figure it all out and I think I need to get a USB cord to down load pictures. This will be so great for my blogging! Yeahhhhh!!

Have a great day my friends!!

Please Pray!! Hubby and I Have Started The Ball Rolling!!

I'm taking a HUGE deep breath. I just got off the phone with the Illinois Department of Children and Families. We are going to Adopt! Oh my goodness. We have been married for almost 5 years and for whatever reasons, we haven't been able to get pregnant. I know that God is in control of this.

We have, of course had Hubby's 3 children, live with us for our first 3 years of marriage. (Full time) Since they went to live with mom, we have spent time getting to know one another in a much different way.

I have realized this one thing about myself. I can't be the type of woman, to just work and putter around. It all seems so aimless to me. I don't mean to offend anyone, if this is your lifestyle. I personally, just can't do it. I long for a child of my very own. And an adopted child, would fill that void. I have so much love to give.

Please pray as we begin this journey!! Pray that God will place us, with the child or children he wants us to love and encourage and share His love with. We are looking to adopt through the system. We had considered private adoption, but I think this maybe the best way to go. So many children need soooo much love.

Please pray!!!

In Christ Love,