Grandpa Knows All...

This is a funny story:
My father reads reads our blog. He wants to keep up with what's going on with our family and our adoption. He wants to go with us to China when we go to bring Sophia home. My children don't read the blog so they have no idea what I tell the people in blogland about them.
Well, remember the post a couple of weeks back about Zach's girlfriend issues? I guess that my Dad read it.
Zachary was talking to me in the car last week and was blown away by some text messages that my Dad sent to him. He had no idea how Grandpa could know that he had a girlfriend or girl issues. To this day he is still wondering how in the world my Dad could know what is going on in his personal life.
I guess my Dad responded to his question by saying "I'm your Grandpa, I know everything!"

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group!

Good Morning Everyone! This weekend should be a quiet one for us. We are working on getting our arrangements made for Chinese New Year. We have plans to go to a local restaurant and meet up with Steffie's family from 'Never Too Many'. We also are good friends with Kelly's family from 'Katie's Antics' and may do something with them too. It's going to be so much more fun this year because of the friends we have met in our area throug the blog. Last year I didn't even really know what Chinese New Year was. This year I want to start a tradition in our family. I want us to celebrate Chinese New Year every year as a way of honoring Sophia's culture and homeland.

The chat room is closed, thank you for a wonderful morning!

Thank you Jennifer!

Thank you so much to Jennifer from 'My Three Sons..and a little China girl' for thinking of me and giving me this award. I just love what it stands for.

Xandra from Heart of Service created this award to honor those Blogs that are "must reads".
In her own words: "So here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog."

I would like to pass this award along to:

Jane at 'Much Ado About Books'. She is just magic to me. I love knowing that a person like her is in this world. I really enjoy going to her blog and reading about what she is reading and doing. I have known her for a while now and she is such an amazing woman. Her faith inspires me.

Also Glinda at 'Give Me Back My Slippers'. She is such a talented writer. I love the way that she looks at life and at what is important. She has blessed me with her friendship and reached out of the confines of her blog and touched my life. I am surrounded by reminders of her kindness.

Meredith at 'Not So Long Ago'. Her blog reads like classic literature. I love how she lives her life and loves her family. She shares her hopes and dreams (past and present). We have a lot in common and that makes me smile when I visit her home in blogland.

Kris at 'Mad Race for Macey'. Before our blogs became so blessed with numerous visitors, we visited each others blogs. She was one of my very first comments. I care for her in my soul. There is a sweet connection.

Connie at 'Somewhere in China'. Hers is probably the most real blog out there. She experiences life with the best heart and sense of humor. I laugh out loud and the next day my eyes water up. She shares her life in a way that you can always relate to. She forgives you when you post her personal info and she reminds you take care of your 'girls' and get a mammogram. It's just all good on her blog.

Dinner with Daddy...

We look a little tragic in this picture, but we had just gone through a sleet storm outside to be able to get away and have dinner together. I can't tell you how rare that is, that we actually sit and are able to talk to each other and spend time alone. I love my husband very much, but with our schedules and the kids' schedules being what they are, we are like two ships passing in the night. Today when I was talking to Tim on the phone about what we were going to have for dinner and how I was going to be late getting home because of Tyler's tennis lesson and his haircut, I just blurted out that we needed to go out to dinner. That it had been too long since we just talked to each other without interruptions. Zach offered to keep an eye on Eli and we went to Applebee's. We didn't go too far from home and it wasn't anything fancy, but it was wonderful to hold his hand and look in his eyes and feel like a couple.

Blogging With a Purpose Award...

It really made my day today to see that Amy at 'Make Up Mess UPs, Me' awarded me with the Blogging with a Purpose award. It means a lot to me. I have been smiling about it all day.

I need to acknowledge 5 bloggers who I wish to pass the award along to:

Kimber at '3 Peanuts' is a tremendous woman. Whenever I need to get the word out about a prayer request or a fundraiser, I know that I can go to her and she will always help. I love her ability to share her heart and family. I just think the world of her.

Terri at 'Our Whole World In His Hands' is always lifting my spirits. She is a very spiritual and loving woman. She just brought her daughter home from China a couple of months ago.

Amy at 'Catching Butterflies 2' is on a mission to find a home for all of the children that she possibly can. Her blog is filled with photos of waiting children. Her heart is dedicated to adoption.

Kim at 'Journey to Isabella' always has her heart on her sleeve and is just an incredibly loving and supportive friend.

K1 at 'K1' keeps track of everyone's needs and celebrations. I love going to her blog. She really supports me and my family. I appreciate it tremendously.

So, there you have it, my 5 inductees. Below are the guidelines to follow when choosing the next 5.

AWARD GUIDELINES:

1. Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.
2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.
3. In their post about the award they need to link back to the original entry.
4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must remain linked to Eric Novak's site.

Quote for the Week...

My Starfish Babies...

I think that we all have causes that are near and dear to our hearts. It's no secret that I am truly inspired by the Starfish Foster Home and Amanda who is its founder.
I had a unique opportunity this year to sponsor a child at the Starfish Home. Anyone can do it, just go to their webpage www.chinesestarfish.org or to Amanda's blog at www.chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
Today in the mail I received the photos and information on the two children who we chose to sponsor. They are just so beautiful. I look forward to following their journeys as their little hearts and bodies are nurtured at Starfish Home and then placed in the arms of their forever families.
I have often wondered if maybe our child will come from Starfish.

Congratulations to Marina and her family for the Referral of their little Sarah!

Congratulations Marina and family! Sarah is just darling. The family blog is 'Over The Rainbow Heart', please leave your good wishes for the family!

New Years Resolution/Start A Revolution...

Sunday...

I am working on this. Last Sunday the sermon was on loving others. And it wasn't just the normal love your neighbor. The challenge given to us was to love people who don't love you or even like you...the people who are mean to you, drive you nuts and who you want to see have a bad day because they have made several of yours miserable. Yeah, those people. This is hard.

See the Best in You...

Acknowledge your amazing talents.

11 Months...

Not much to say about it. Another small milestone.