A Cart Full of Camping Food

As I was pushing my cart around our local discount super market (buying groceries for a camping trip we took a few weeks ago) I happened to glace down and laugh to myself as I took inventory of my almost full cart- Then I grabbed my beaten up camera (to many bribes of letting Elle's hold it only to have her throw it on the ground) and snapped a pic.........

Graham Crackers/Hershey Chocolate Bars/Marshmallows.......CHECK
Hot Dogs, Cookies, Chips.....................CHECK
Red Vines...............CHECK
Cinnamon Rolls...........CHECK
Coffee & Coffee Creamer.............DOUBLE CHECK

(I also remembered to buy toilet paper this time- note to self it does not automatically just 'appear' in the travel trailer....somebody has to buy it and place it in there!)

There really is something special about a cart full of camping food!

(now it's just the actual camping this chic needs to get a bit more used to)

Celebrating 192 Years of Marriage

Four of us ladies were standing together yesterday, all celebrating the anniversary of a wonderful couple.  Duane and Linda were celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  Just for the fun of it we went around the circle of 4 and said how long we had been married (the anniversary we would be celebrating this year)..... 52 years, 46 years, 35 years, 19 years .  It is a beautiful thing, the celebration of Anniversary's each year- To be honest, it's a beautiful thing, the celebration of marriage on a daily basis.  I don't know all of your marriage stories but I do know that marriage is not easy nor is it always fun- It is a lot of hard work!! The struggle to get over self, learning to compromise, re defining reactions, the list could go on....Each day of marriage is a celebration of God creating man and woman to fit together- Letting God re-define us so that we mold and fit with our mate better- to Love each other like God loves us............

Wayne and Dee are celebrating 52 years
Dave and Darlene.... 46
Duane and Linda...40
Pete and Kathy..... 35
Matt and I... 19

Add those all up and we are celebrating 192 years of Marriage!!

Thank you Lord Jesus for our Marriages........

Happy Monday to you all and let's not forget to Celebrate our Marriages today :)

Fashion Finds............Fraap!!

O.K. so I saw one of my facebook friends finish a spunky sentence she wrote with the word Fraap....
I have no clue what that means (hopefully not something inappropriate...hee!) but think it sounds like an edgy add to this blog post title- Like it is an extra exclamation point with a sassy edge- Alright enough about Fraap.....let's get the important stuff............Fashion Finds-
Wait! I thought of what Fraap sounds like to me in my mind- Sometimes when I say something to Matt that solves a question we have been mulling over and he gives me that look like 'How in the world did you figure that out?' I will give him that eye brow up look and a smile and say 'BOO-YA'!! I add emphasis to my voice and raise it a couple of levels to let him know that 'Oh Ya Baby, I've got it going on'...................That is what Fraap sounds like............'Found me a FABULOUS Fashion Find Today........FRAAP!'
About that Fashion Find (which must be capitalized to show it proper respect)....
Several years back I, just for the fun of it, tried on a pair of overly priced flip flops with the name brand 'Tory Burch'- As soon as my foot slipped into those sandals I purposed in my mind that ever given the chance (like finding them for a whole lot of dollars less than retail) I would own a pair- Last year I stalked e-bay all summer for a pair of Miss Burch's designs (again, at an affordable price) to no avail.
Earlier this week I got a text from my friend Deb 'What are you doing Thurs.'
To which I replied...Well, I was going to do hair BUT wanna hang out and go shopping?
My kindred shopping friend replied with the only proper answer that one can respond with when shopping runs in your veins almost as strong as loving Jesus does....smile....
ABSOLUTELY!
Our first stop, tucked away in a small college town about fifteen minutes away, was an upscale second hand store....
As I stood in front of all the shoes my eyes stopped on a darling pair of white wedge sandals in my size- I could not believe it when I saw the emblem blaring on the front of them-
'Deb! Have you ever heard of Tory Burch?'
She gave me that look like 'Do I look daft to you? Of course I've heard of Tory Burch' But out of her mouth came 'Yes'
'Do you think these are Tory Burch's?'
Out came Deb's fancy phone that has the internet at the punch of a button............
We both confirmed in our minds what Tory's signature emblem looked like and realized that I was holding the real thing...
The real thing had a $4.00 price tag

FRAAP ladies............F to the R to the A to the A to the P!!

Jonathan 'Bao Gui' Is Coming Home...Praise God!

I am working on a new computer and am trying to learn a new program....please excuse the awkward font and format of this post :)

Hanging on my refrigerator is an invitation to an Adoption Shower for Jonathan Daniel (also known by his Chinese name 'Bao Gui')- The shower was over a month ago (March) but I keep it up as a reminder to Pray and Praise God for little Jonathan and as a reminder to lift his forever family (my friend Lisa, her husband Daniel, and their 4 children) up in prayer

There are some reading this that will remember a blog post I 'posted' almost 2 years ago (see the post at the bottom of this page).  Since posting this, Lisa and Daniel have endured many obstacles on their road to get their son.........Through all of the obstacles Daniel and Lisa have never given up!

Lisa had this to say about the 'in between' of the last 2 years waiting for Jonathan.....

'The adoption process has many steps and LOTS of paperwork. Fingerprints were taken, background checks run, reference letters were written, a carbon monoxide detector was installed, finally a home study was completed.  Through the support of friends, a garage sale and bake sale helped to meet some of the early fees.  Many miracles had already taken place just to get this far in the process.  Days from sending their approved home study to the United States Immigration Office for approval, Daniel was laid-off from his job.  The adoption was put on hold. 

By March of 2012 it became clear that completing the adoption was no longer possible.  With broken hearts we submitted a letter asking for their adoption file to be closed and to be withdrawn as his prospective parents.  It was a loss that was difficult to express.  Would people understand that they were grieving the loss of a son, even though he hadn’t died and they had not yet become his parents? 

His picture stayed on the kitchen window sill and silent prayers were sent from a broken mother’s heart, hopeful that God could restore what had been lost.

When things are impossible in our eyes and we have no resources of our own to boast in, God receives all the glory.

 

With our hope in God and His power to save, we asked if it was possible to try again.  Daniel’s new job no longer met the Chinese income requirement, so they requested a waiver and prepared to fast as they waited for an answer from the Chinese government.  Friends from Canada, Indonesia, China, and beyond joined with them in prayer as they waited to see if an exception would be made.  God moved mountains and it was granted.  With great excitement, we were miraculously able to start his adoption again in July of 2012.  The miracles have continued to unfold: one fee was completely waived, other fees were reduced, a grant was applied toward his referral fee.  Friends who share a passion to see orphans joined with families have provided help and support. 

BaoGui means “Precious Treasure.”  In the book of Matthew we are encouraged to store up our treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Adoption is an expression of love.   More than mere words, it says, “You are loved.  You are special.  You are worth more than any earthly treasure.”  His adoption was not done in human strength, but through God’s great power.  He is a precious treasure who will be given a family name and be pointed to his Savior.  Prayerfully he will choose to accept God’s love and know his heavenly Father too.'

In just a few short days (May 3, 2013) Lisa will be on a plane to China to pick Jonathan up and bring him home- If you think of it would you join me in prayer over the next couple of weeks as Lisa and Jonathan make the transition from Jonathan's Orphanage (where he currently is) to the care of Lisa and then back to the States to join his forever family.  We will also be praying for Lisa's health and safety as she travels by herself and for the health of her 4 kiddo's and husband that will be back here in the States.

A current picture of Jonathan!

 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bringing Precious Bao Gui Home......

As I walked up to a BBQ that my sister had invited me to this past Wed. night (thanks for the invite sis) I already knew that my child hood friend Lisa was going to be there- My sister had mentioned it as we had chatted on the phone about what side dishes we were going to be bringing (she was bringing cream cheese filled peppers and I was bringing cantelope and chips).  The great thing about child hood friends is that you can go with out talking  for years and years yet when you see each other you have an instant connection- 
I had followed Lisa on face book for the past several years and knew by both talking to her and by face book that she and her husband had added to their family of 4 (they have 2 biological children) 2 additional blessings- These blessings came by way of an International adoption from China.  We instantly started talking about their adoption story.........we then talked about Ellie's adoption story........As the conversation continued, I learned that Lisa and her husband Daniel felt a very strong calling to adopt one more precious blessing from China-  A little boy with significant medical needs named Bao Gui (pronounced Bow-Way).  As Lisa started describing the situation surrounding Bao Gui I felt a stirring very deep in my heart- As Lisa talked on, I knew that I was supposed to share her story with all of you.......my blog friends-


May God Bless and keep little Bao Gui as he awaits his placement with his Daniel and Lisa as his forever family.........

BELOW IS BAO GUI'S STORY AS TOLD BY LISA:

Bao Gui

I guess it’s really BaoGui’s story and it began long before our family knew of his need, before our hearts were touched by his sweet smile and before we knew we were called to bring him home. He was abandoned shortly after birth, most likely due to medical needs that his birth parents were unable to provide for. After being taken into the orphanage he was placed in a group foster home for children with severe medical needs. Under the care of Morning Star Foundation, BaoGui’s basic needs have been met; but his greatest need remains unmet. He needs a family, a family who will love him and advocate for him. A family that will love him just the way his body was created, but also fight to bring healing to his little body where possible. He is awaiting surgery to reverse the colostomy that he has had since infancy and is also most likely deaf, though we do not have any medical details pertaining to his failed hearing tests.  

Our love for the children of China has grown deeper and deeper as our family has grown. Having adopted two of our children from China (both through waiting children / special needs programs) we know the difference that a family can make in the life of a child who has only known uncertainty and loss. We want to make that difference in BaoGui’s life, but the financial obligations that come with an adoption have kept us from being able to move forward with the next step. We have been approved by China to adopt BaoGui, but we need to complete our dossier in order to apply for his visa and bring him home. Right now we need to raise $2,500 to complete our home study through Holt International. We are praying for families to come alongside ours to make this possible. Each adoption is a miracle and a tangible expression of love. More than mere words, it says, “You are loved. You are special. You are worth more than any earthly treasure.”

BaoGui’s name translates “Precious Treasure.”

Our family has been forever blessed by adoption; I pray that many more families would also be blessed as they join us and become a part of BaoGui’s story.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not

destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21

Down Grades and Dumps

While most of my friends and family spent the weekend seeing/ listening to a world recognized Women's Bible Study Teacher (Beth Moore) several hours away I spent the weekend with my boys and Elle's camping...........
A couple of months ago Matt expressed a strong desire to sell our large (and glamorous to me) 5th Wheel.  At the beginning of the purchase, when we were both looking at it, Matt wanted nothing to do with such an 'over the top, unpractical, over-weight' RV and I wanted EVERYTHING to do with it (click the link above to read the story).  Long story short, our 5th wheel went up for sale, sold, and was replaced with....
A sportsman travel trailer. 
It's for the outdoor enthusiast...
H.O.L.D........M.E.....B.A.C.K.

Matt doesn't know this yet but I see it as a teeter totter give and take situation when it comes to this RV'in stuff- Last year we had the RV of my choice, this year is the RV of Matt's choice, next year we will just teeter right back down to my choice!!

While Matt and the boys see this rv as an upgrade (the boys see it as an upgrade because it has a set of bunk beds in the back) I view it as a temporary downgrade- but just temporary mind you because next year is coming fast :)

Also, a word to the wise- When one is using the Sportsman's toilet one should take note of 2 things

• The flush valve is not on the floor like our last RV (you could just use your foot to flush and add water)- the flush and water valve is on the side of the toilet......you really have to lean down and get close to the toilet and TOUCH WITH YOUR HAND the valve (I tried every which way to do this with my foot but had no victory)
• Add water before taking a dump- if not your stool (I used the word stool for my mom and sis who are all about the medical way of saying anything body related....urine for pee, dehydrated when thirsty, etc..) will stick to the bottom and sides of the small sportsmans RV toilet and it will take you a good hour plus having to use the water hose to properly flush!

Hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend!

22 Months........

22 Months........Almost 2.........

I was reading about what to expect from your 2 year old.........'2 years olds are famous for their over-the-top expressions of love as well as anger and frustration'...............OH BOY!

I was also reading about mile stones that we will be approaching this year........

• Potty Training (look forward to a picture of Ellie sitting on her potty on this blog!)
• Her brain will start putting things into categories (dogs and cats will be animals- pants and sweaters will be clothes, etc..)
• She will begin to understand abstract concepts like 'now' vs. 'later'

For now this is what we've got going on:

Some new words this past month are:

• 'She pooped' (this is how she lets me know that she has pooped- I was perplexed when she first started saying 'She' and not 'I' before saying pooped.  Realized that is how she hears Matt and I refer to each other when she has pooped)
• 'Outside'
• 'Corn Bread' (and she LOVES her some corn bread!)
• 'Ellie' (sounds more like I-E)
• 'Josh & Shad' 2 of her cousins names

Capri Sun drinks and 'bug juice' are special treats (we try to keep the Capri Sun to a minimum because it gives her diaper rash).  A Bean Burrito w/o onion but add sour cream (from a local Mexican Restaurant that I 'drive thru' a couple times a week- Can't beat that $1.69 burrito!!) is her current favorite food......

It has been an interesting several months watching Elle's interact with other kids her own age- She started pulling hair and scratching but when realizing that those sorts of behaviors were not going to accomplish anything positive she has started more parallel playing (playing in the same area as another child but not directly with the child). 

Physically Ellie is growing (but still petite):

• Size 4/5 shoes
• 12-18 month clothes
• 20.7 lbs (lost a bit of weight with the stomach flu this month)

April of 2011 is when we 'met' (by way of phone) our birth mother Heather- Ellie's name was chosen by both Heather and I this month 2 years ago (Ellie Marie......Ellie after my mom and Marie after Heather- Her middle name)........Such special memories to 'remember'!

Love this picture..........Kate hugging Ellie

Some Sort of Version and A Man Child :)

6 weeks ladies and gentleman..........
thats how long some sort of version of the flu has been in my house (ellie had the stomach flu this week)........
But whose counting the days anyway :)

My beautiful sis and her youngest Toby (will be 3 months old this month)-
He's a 'man child' being that he weighed 16 pounds at a little over 2 months old and is loosing all of his
hair on the top of his head but keeping it around the back and side of his head....like he is an older balding man!
Auntie Loves You Toby James- you are so precious!!