Happily Ever After...

This afternoon, Aria came running to me from the playroom and said, " Mommy, Gianna and I are flying to China on an airplane. I have a friend named 'Little Lan' that lives in China in an orphanage. She is four like me, and she is waiting for her mommy and daddy to come, so I am going to go see her while she is waiting." And off she buzzed on her airplane. Ummm... WOW. I have to say that I am floored that her role playing now includes going to China to visit a child who is waiting for their forever family. And blessed.   I can only hope that we can fulfill our dream to take them back to China to do just that- care for children who are waiting, those who are overlooked, the un-adoptable, and the special needs children in the orphanages. And it seems that it is already on her heart. God is good like that, isn't He?

Greg: ~ He is cutting back on travel for the fall- YIPPEE!!! So he is working from home, and WE LOVE IT!!! Justin: ~Just sold his car on ebay which was a huge blessing for him financially ( and for mom and dad to have it out of the driveway.) He is working in ATL, so he has a long commute, and then is taking online classes. Ryan: ~Busy, busy busy! School, work, Campus Crusade... he has little time at home- we miss you Ry! Aria: ~ Can recite 5 memory verses, the Pledge of Allegiance, reading on a first grade level and is writing in CURSIVE!!!! So far she has mastered  8 letters and is learning to blend two together. She is one smart 4 year old and I am struggling to keep her challenged. Gianna: ~Talking UP A STORM! Asking, " Whatcha doing?" fifty times per day. She loves to color during school time, and is learning to sing all of Aria's school songs.  And the MOST exciting Gianna news is...... Surgery date is moved..... to MARCH!  The Dr. had to bump us for more critical k...

Yesterday we flew home from VA. They allowed us to pre-board the flight, and as I got to the plane to get the girls out of the stroller, the flight attendant( she was probably in her late 50's)rushed off the plane to help. She scooped up Gianna from the stroller, grabbed Aria's hand, and as I folded the stroller and grabbed our backpack, she took them to their seat. Very nice to have the extra help. I told the girls to say thank you, and she continued to help by putting my bag in the overhead bin, and buckling Aria's seatbelt. I again prompted them to say thank you. She looks at me, and says, " You need to STOP making them be so polite and let them be kids!"  I am not kidding- she really said that. Being a bit dumbfounded, I didn't reply as she walked away, only to come back a minute later to say, " How do you think kids will respond to her (Aria) when she goes to school and she is so polite? They are going to make fun of her and tease her." Hmmmmm.....

This week the girls and I are in Virginia helping my mother who fell and injured herself. She is also moving this week and combining two houses into one... ...My grandfather passed away 2 1/2 years ago. He left the house to my mother and her sister. Mom couldn't let go. The memories compelled her to divide her time between her home in the country, and her childhood home outside the city. Unfortunately, practicality has won out over nostalgia, and the home had to be sold.  So here I am tonight, sitting in the bed that my grandmother tucked me into as a child, with snapshots of precious memories  flashing across my mind and heart- How fitting that I was able to be here on the last week this home will be in our family to say goodbye. Papa and Nannie bought this house over 50 years ago to raise their two daughters. Although it is a modest home, and he was a successful attorney, they never felt the need to move on to bigger and better . They were content. Many, many holidays, birthdays ...

I was tagged by Cheri  and this time, I am really going to follow through and do it! Thanks for not giving up on me Cheri! So here goes on 7 random things about me: 1) I met my husband at a church youth group, and only went because I heard there were really cute guys there. Can you say shallow? I was only 14 years old, and NOT a Christian at the time. I saw him walk into the fellowship hall, and it was a love at first sight moment.  It still is. :) 2) I have wanted to adopt since our first son was a baby. We looked in to adopting domestically at that time, but I became pregnant with our second son and we shelved the idea for 18 years. To say that the girls are a dream come true is an understatement! 3)  I'm a bag lady.( Or so my husband calls me.) Purses, cute totes, storage bags- you name it- I love them! I don't like to get rid of them either. I find a purse I love and I will use it forever.. I have passed this disease on to my girls. 4) I NEED to be at the beach at least onc...

... than sleeping babies.    I told them to rest and read for 30 minutes, and checked on them to find them both sound asleep.  They were just so adorable, I almost woke them up to kiss those sweet, delicious cheeks. Almost.  But then I stopped myself, and realized if they were sleeping,  then I could actually be the one to read. So I did. ;)

Birthdays always start around here with breakfast in bed. Oh, look- The Big Chicken mug came to celebrate too. He is very specific on things he wanted for his birthday- so it was easy shopping and he wasn't disappointed! Gotta love that! One more pose before ballet for the girls and basketball for the Birthday Boy, ahem I mean Birthday Man. In the afternoon we went bowling. Haven't been in years and we had so much fun! Then we came home for the traditional birthday dinner of homemade spagetti, and cheesecake. As I have mentioned before, we let Aria pick the "theme" for everyone's birthday. It is so much fun to see what she picks, and believe me, she give it ALOT of thought. This year for her Yo, she picked a basketball theme, which is very fitting because he gets up early every Saturday to play. The HILARIOUS part, was, as party favors she picked Grillz( as in teeth painted gold) and was insistant that we buy them. How could I say no to that??? Snort. Chuckle. Li...