About Me

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Married twenty-five years to my wonderful husband and best friend. We have 3 "home-grown" kids and 1 hand-picked by God from Africa. Our life is blessed. We are a close knit family with strong Christian beliefs. Come along with us on our journey…you might have a great laugh or two.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Candy Bar Cake...

O.k., I have figured out what to do with some of the "left-over" candy in our trick or treat bowl. My favorite aunt in the whole world has a fantastic recipe called Candy Bar Cake. So kudos to her and this delicious cake. Enjoy!

Candy Bar Cake
2 big candy bars (or a whole bunch of little ones) - freeze for a while in the freezer
1 dark chocolate cake mix
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 12 oz cool whip

Cake: Mix cake mix as directed and put into 3 small round cake pans (could use 2 if needed). Cook as directed on the box.

Icing: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, granulated sugar and cool whip until smooth. Chop up candy bars into little pieces and mix in with the icing. Assemble cake in layers and then make sure to refrigerate cake afterwards.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The race is on...

Lately, I believe my children have declared a growth spurt race and failed to mention it to me. For the past few days, my children have put on clothes, which were just bought for this winter, and they have now become "high-waters". And it's not just one child...it's all of them.

My son is so tall (and incredibly skinny) that I've had to make his winter pj's because he needed the long length in pants but not the width you get in the bigger pants. I've even had to "take-in" elastic waistband pants because I was desperate to find the length. (and yes...I have tried the "slim" fitting pants...still too big. That boy is a bean pole, I tell you)

Right now, it's a good thing that I'm in a sewing mood...because my kids are really putting me to the test on just how many things can I sew...and fast.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pumpkin Party...


Last night our church offered a wonderful pumpkin party for the kids to go to. There were inflatables (what's a party without those, right?), games, balloons, and of course candy. The kids got to dress up in their costumes and had a fantastic time.

Funny thing is, we don't really eat candy all that much. Hmmm....what to do with all the candy in my house??? I think it might just go into the "trick or treat" bowl. Of course, then the kids will go trick or treating and then the candy is back in the house again....ahhhhh!!!...it's a vicious circle, I tell you.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Turning a corner...

Finally...I believe that I am turning a corner and beginning to a feel a little bit better. The only good thing about being sick is that "extra" few pounds you were trying to lose...not a problem now. Watch however, I'll get better and then just look at a piece of cake and "viola!", there they are back on me again...ugh!

On a different note, we had some good news on Friday about our son in Ethiopia. We received a more in depth medical report (if you dare to call it that...) which said that he was feeling much better now and had even gained some weight. YEAH!!! They wrote that he has a really big smile and loves to smile for the nannies. I just can't wait to see that for myself.

Soon, my little one...very, very soon.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Sick...as a dawg

It's been a long time since I've been this sick. You know, the kind of sick that you wish a bus would run over you or at least the "rapture" would hurry up and come so you won't have to feel this bad anymore. Call me stubborn but I really don't want to go to the doctor (because I'll have to drag three kids, who aren't sick, into an infected doctor's office) only for them to say..."yep, you are definitely sick...so sorry...can't help ya...see ya later". The funny thing though is that I'm scheduled to get my "flu shot" this upcoming week. Do you need a flu shot when you've got the flu? Oh....just shoot me now. This takes too much effort to think this much...I'm going back to bed.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Close enough...


Okay, so what do you think? Look like a pink poodle or more like a fluffy pink lion? I finished my little one's "pink poodle" costume today and she just loves it. She told me it looks just like a pink poodle.


For me (whose glad to be done until next year), I'm going to call it...close enough.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

My brain has flown off...

There are some days that I have to keep reminding myself that I am a pretty smart individual. I mean I've got a college degree and I teach three small children school everyday and I run a fairly good household...but... There are days that I wonder where my brain has flown off to.

Take for instance, today. I thought I would vacuum up our eat-in kitchen area. Now, this is the place where we eat all our meals, but it is also a place where I store all the plants that can't make it outside during the cold season. Basically, it looks like we eat our meals in the jungle...so to speak. Anyway, many of the plants had lost a bunch of their leaves during the transition to the inside and I thought I'd save myself some time and vacuum them up instead of picking them up by hand. This folks...is where my brain must have flown off.

Here's how it went...I begin to vacuum under one plant near our table when I knock off one of the place mats. As I bend down to pick it up, I vacuum up one small plant (the entire plant) in one swoop. Quickly, I pull it out and knock down another place mat. Bending down to pick that one up, I wipe out half of another plant. By this time, I pull that one out and scramble to get a trash bag...leaving the vacuum on (folks...it's just not a good day). The vacuum then sucks up one of the cords to mini-blinds and part of my curtains. By this time, I'm screaming..."someone pull out the plug - for the love of humanity!!!"...not that I could have easily turned it off right next to me. People, my brain has flown off for sure....

...but really I'm pretty smart...I think

Saturday, October 17, 2009

You just never know...

Tonight we had a wonderful opportunity to go to a potluck dinner with a group of people who have/or in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. The information we learned was outstanding and the stories that they all shared were amazing. It made me even more excited to go and pick up our little one in just a few months.

There is just one funny thing about this entire evening that just goes to show you that God really does have a good sense of humor. Well...the potluck dinner was at our old house. Yep, the people who bought a house of ours (3 houses ago...remember we relocate a lot) hosted this event. How funny is that??? I must admit it that it does feel a little weird going up to and through a house that you use to live in for several years. Although some things had changed, the memories just flooded back the minute I walked through the door.

Well, after this evening I thoroughly believe....you just never know, who God's going to bring into your life.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Creativity at its best...

My children by all accounts are incredibly creative. I mean they come up with the most elaborate drawings, blanket tents, Lego creations or any other thing really. And unfortunately for me, Halloween costumes are no exception. I believe they think the "costume creation" is the epitome of all creations, by coming up with the most unusual ones. And every year I find myself scrambling to create/sew a costume that no other child will have or at least ones they don't sell in stores (which would make my life a little easier).

In the past I have sewn such costumes as a flying monkey (from the Wizard of Oz), peregrine falcon (with actual feather fabric), a mushroom (don't even ask about that one...), and Sonic the Hedgehog...just to name a few. This year is no exception.

My little one wants to be a pink poodle. Sounds simple, right? Well, not when you talk to my five year old who has specific ideas that it must look "just like her pink poodle Webkinz". Needless to say, I'm up for the challenge. But I now know what I put my mother through years ago, when I created a "special" costume for her to make me on Halloween. Sorry about that one, Mom...

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Small e-mail...but I'll take it

We received a VERY small e-mail regarding our son today (after I just couldn't take it any longer...I called our adoption agency and they were able to get this short bit of news). The e-mail stated that our son is "doing well at present and that a health report would come later". That was it.

Small e-mail...but it was good...and for that I'll take it!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Still no news...

As of today, we have still no news regarding the health of our son in Ethiopia. We were told that we would have the normal medical report the first week of October and yet...nothing came. As of right now, we can only hope that he is getting better and that he is on the road to recovery. Thank you all for your continuing prayers. I just hope this week brings the e-mail that we so desperately need to see...

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Who ordered the snow?

Today we awoke to a sight that I thought was at least a few more weeks if not a couple of months off...it was snow. Yep, you read it right...snow. Big fat fluffy flakes came floatin' down and covered everything in sight. Unfortunately for us we are still playing fall soccer here, so early this morning we had to sit outside amongst all those fluffy white flakes. As we hooped and hollered for our kids (who were terribly frozen and miserable) a good friend of mine leaned over to me and said..."you know, in February, we're going to think this is a really warm day". I laughed at that thought for I knew she was right.

For now though...let's just bring on the hot chocolate.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Do we or don't we???

Well, we did it. We broke down and finally decided. I had been struggling with the idea for weeks now and today I needed to decide. Do we get the H1N1 vaccine or not? The health department here only had a small number of doses and were giving them out to high risk people today...kids are one of those. I did some research and even talked with a family member who is a doctor. In the end, we tromped on down and all the kids got the vaccine or the mist actually, and I must say that it went fine. There were no fireworks, fainting or even tears. Heck, there wasn't even a fever or sniffle afterword. The kids still talked coherently, fought when they got home and did great with their school work. Yep, it's worth it. Now, I know that even when I tote them all around the city and we go to a bazillion amount of activities with other kids they are at least a little protected from that flu.

It's just too bad the vaccine can't fix the whole arguing thing...

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Sound of Music...

For the past few days my kids have been watching the movie "Sound of Music" (it's like a 3 hour movie so it took us a while). I have to admit...I just love that movie. Anyway, I've decided that wouldn't it be great if life were like that movie. You know, you could just sing away to tell the kids it's time to go to bed and they would happily dance their way to their rooms while chiming in on key. Or better yet, you could "doe a deer it" all the while they clean their rooms smiling joyfully (in matching outfits, I might add). But alas, some days are just like when they put a frog in the governess' pocket or when she sat on the pine cone at the dinner table. In the end you are singing away to heaven for help to get through the day. Funny...I guess that movie is more like my life than I realized.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Lots of nervous energy...

I admit...I have nervous energy - LOTS of nervous energy. Now, that nervous energy is pumped up a billion times when I'm worried or anxious about something. I just seem to be unable to sit still for long periods of time without having to do something. Thankfully, I have been harnessing it to complete projects around the house. It keeps me from worrying so much about the things I cannot control...and as a bonus, things are getting done.

Today, my project was painting our exercise room. O.k. basically, it's a large closet with our exercise equipment in it...but it got painted. Goofy, I know. Who really cares about what color is on the walls as you are panting and sweating on a treadmill, right? But...I needed a project. If I don't get word soon about my son, I might just have to go to someone else's house for their projects, 'cause I will have completed all of mine...any takers?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

...even if I am

It is finally October and thankfully the courts in Ethiopia will open back up soon (on Oct. 15th). I am not one to "wish my life away", but I am the first to admit that I am anxious to proceed with this adoption as fast as we possibly can. The news on our son is sporadic at best. We have been told that we will receive another medical update in "early October"...does today count, I wonder? I mean it is October 1st. So really, besides what we were told before, we have no idea if he's getting any better or not. I pray everyday that he is and I have faith in God and his plan for my son. As I was driving home late last night this song came on the radio and made me realize...God's not shaken by anything

...even if I am