Business Dinner Tonight

My boss called and asked me if I would mind having dinner with his good friend who is the Regional Sales Director for the company that I work for. He is in town tonight, so Tim and I are going to take him to a restaurant called Bonefish. Hopefully we will have a delightful dinner. I must admit that I am a little nervous.......

Spring Break.....Going Anywhere?

The ice on the lake is melting. The snow is disappearing and I can feel Spring trying to push its way through. I am so weary from the long winter and all of the sickness that it brought with it.
In two weeks I'll be sitting beside the ocean. I need our Spring Getaway desperately. Are any of you getting away for a vacation this Spring?

Check your Vehicle.....You May Be Able to Use Ethanol Fuel

I was at the gas station today with Zachary waiting to get a car wash and he was looking through my drivers manual. Come to find out, my 2003 Yukon XL can take Ethanol Fuel. We had to check my VIN number and it matches the group of trucks made that year that can take the newer fuel. I'm sure you all know that Ethanol costs less and is less harmful to the environment. It also supports American farmers which is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts since we live in a farming area.

Forgiveness..My Sunday Sermon I Guess

I found this somewhere out in blogland and love it. I don't have a lot of time to post, so I think this will be good for today. I have been a prisoner myself, the quote is really true.

Encouragement for My Sisters

Be strong my fellow mothers waiting for your children. I know that this is a hard road. But I also know that you won't lose the dream of your daughters. Hold it close. The timelines are changing, the rules are changing but we can't let it change us. I've been reading some blogs out there that are breaking my heart. Keep sharing your experience, even when it's hard. You are my pillars of strength through all of this. I am so looking forward to watching your days come and to seeing you united with your girls.

I need some parenting advice....what would you do?

Zachary's dream is to be an architect. He truly is brilliant. I'm not just saying that because he is my son, his past grades and testing results support this. Academics have come easily for him his entire life and he has been able to skate through school getting good grades.

However, there are few schools in Michigan where you can get a degree in the type of architecture that allows you to design buildings. The University of Michigan and Michigan Tech may actually be the only two. If someone has more information, please share. I need it.

Zach's heart is set on attending the University of Michigan. I have seen my friends children with 3.8 gpa's not be accepted. It's a very tough University to get into.

Zach is 14 years old, he is a freshman in high school. He knows that his grades count for college now. He has not been working really hard at school. His grades came yesterday and his cumulative GPA is 3.533. He was devastated. His eyes actually watered up.

So, here is my dilemma. I have a 14 year old boy with a B+ grade average who is on the honor roll. I can't complain about that, especially since it is his first year in high school. However, my sons goals including getting into a very difficult University.

How do I encourage him to step it up a notch and actually put effort into his studies so that he can achieve his personal goals without making him think that having a B+ average and attending Michigan State which is a fine school is failing?

I don't want to be one of those mothers who tells their child a B+ isn't good enough.

I don't want to be one of those mothers who lets their child think she doesn't think he can get a 3.8 and get into U of M.

What would you do?

2 Things I Picked Up at the Blog Party

I came across the blog of a family that is acting as missionaries in Haiti. I am mesmerized. I will follow their blog as long as I can. They have adopted several children from the area, including a darling baby girl named Phoebe Joy. They provide medical treatment and as much support as they can to the people around them. I strongly encourage you to visit www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com and leave behind words of encouragement. They appreciate them. Different family members post.





Both sites are on my favorite blogs list if you want to take a quick peek.






I know that many of my on-line girlfriends are scrapbookers. I found this scrapbooking site and I think it looks like it could be fun. I signed up to get some of their e-mailings. You can check it out at www.realwomenscrap.com.

Celebrating Motherhood...the Ultimate Blog Party

I am the Biological Mother of 3 boys: Zachary age 14, Tyler age 11 and Elijah age 2. I am the Step-mother of Katelyn age 14. I am the soon to be Adoptive Mother of Sophia. I am the Godmother of Vincent and Savannah.

There are so many roles encompassed in the term Mother and they each have their rewards and trials. It's the toughest job I have ever had. The most demanding responsibility, it takes everything I have-my heart and my soul. And I thank God for every day that I have the incredible blessing to hear myself called Mom by my children.

That I have been so incredibly honored to be the first person to truly look into their eyes when they entered this world. That I held their bottles and their hands. That I received their first open-mouth kisses. That I brought them before God to be baptized. That I stood beside them on their first day of kindergarten, followed that schoolbus to and from school so I could be there when they got on and off. That they actually believed my kiss could heal any pain.

DisneyWorld, the dentist, hockey, soccer, t-ball, choir and violin concerts-I wouldn't miss it for anything.

So, tell me about your mother roles. Tell me about your joys and trials. I love talking to other Mothers-To-Be, Mothers and Grandmothers.

One Month LID Anniversary!!!

We are 1 month closer to our baby girl!

Today is a very special day for our family. It is the first month anniversary of our LID (Log In Date). What this means to a family adopting from China is that they are one month closer to their child. The wait for a baby can last for up to two years, so families celebrate the date that China acknowledged their paperwork. Tonight we went out to eat at Yen Ching which is our favorite Chinese restaurant and the children each received a special Chinese gift!

My Blog Make-Over Party!!!

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful...or at least my blog is!


Many thanks to my great friend Heather at Headmeister Blog Design for my new winter look!

Heather is a girlfriend of mine who is also adopting a baby from China.
She is using the proceeds from her blog design business to help pay some of her adoption expenses.

So, if you are one of the ladies who I have read is looking for a blog make-over, you can contact Heather on my favorites list at 'Digging A
Hole to China'.

As you can see, my header is fully customized. There are seven diamonds in the snowflakes to represent my family. No one else will have a similar design.

She also was very patient with me, as I am a perfectionist and asked her to revise two of the designs that she did for me. She happily made the changes I asked for and was thrilled with how happy her work made me.

So, feel free to leave me a comment about my new look and feel free to visit Heather's site!

SLUMBER PARTY!!!!!!!

Hey there party girls!! Welcome to my slumber party! I've invited my favorite girlfriends who are listed on my sidebar, so here's your chance to hang out for a while with us and meet some new outstanding women who I enjoy spending my time with.

When you drop in, click on at least one of the blogs on my favorites list and introduce yourself. I think it will be great fun and maybe we can get some new ladies to join the Ultimate Blog Party!!

Grab your pillows, I'm making snow ice cream and hot chocolate tonight. I also have a large box of chocolate truffles...perfect girl talk food...

Tonight We're Having A Dinner Party!!

Tonight we're having a dinner party! Katleyn is making chicken parmesan, potatos with onions and green beans. It smells delicious!

Feel free to comment on her new haircut, it looks great doesn't it?

Eli is wearing his party hat!

Zachary's hockey team won their game today 3-1. We're celebrating that too.

And I'm sure that we'll be featuring Finding Nemo, so come on in...what could be more fun than us on a Saturday night.

There are Party Girls Everywhere!!! Welcome to the Lake!

Welcome Blog Party Girls!! I love how this party is picking up steam!! My name is Kimberley and I am married to a great guy named Tim. We have 4 children and are working to adopt another from China. I'm a blog addict and am thrilled when new people drop by--COMMENT PLEASE!

Take a look around, my children's photos are on my sidebar. Leave some words of encouragement and wisdom. I will definitely be visiting your blog if you come by and leave me a way back to you.

Two Months....Almost 4,000 Hits!

Thank you to all of the special women who encourage and support me and my family through this blog. I appreciate you immensely. It has been a priveledge getting to know you. I feel so much more comfortable about our adoption situation now that I have had these months to learn from all of you.

Let's Get This Blog Party Started!

March 2nd is the official first day of The Ultimate Blog Party. I checked it out and it looks like there are some prizes to win and ways to bring exposure to your blog.
I think it's worth looking at and taking advantage of whatever interests you.

Let me know what you think about it.
The link on my sidebar does not take you to the party site. Go to www.5minutesformom.com to get to the party page.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls

I know that this special came out a couple of weeks ago, but I missed it the first time around. I watched on Monday night. I was in tears, literally sobbing through the majority of the show. I have always been a huge Oprah fan, but now I see her in a bigger light. What she is doing is incredibly inspiring to me. She personally chose every detail of this school. She invested so much more than just money, she invested herself.

The accounts that these girls gave of their lives would have devastated me as a human being. They are so strong and capable. If you have the opportunity to watch this, it will change you.

Oprah said that she now understood why she never had children, because these girls were now her daughters.

Mail from my Circle of Friends and Family

I want to say thank you to all of our family and friends who constantly support our adoption efforts and are walking beside us on this journey. Your love and kindness means more to us than you could ever know.

I am behind in posting my fun mail, so this is a large post!

When we got back from Kansas City and checked the mail, we found this beautiful Chinese New Year card from Aunt Carol. Thank you! It is very special to us!!

Amy at Catching Butterflies sent us this wonderful postcard from Germany!

Our wonderful neighbor Nancy gave us this fabric for Sophia's quilt.

These fabrics are from cousin McKenzie.

This fabric is from Aunt Pam.

This piece is from Kelly at Wanton Wishes..

This piece is from Connie at Somewhere in China!

This beautiful square is from our neighbor Helen.

These ballet shoes are from The Neptune Family at Our Unforgotten Daughter. I know that I still owe you my square and will get it out asap!

This square is from the Phillips family at Phillips Path to China.

I am still short on squares, so if anyone wants to swap just let me know!!

You are with Kindred Spirits...Make your presence known

I started this blog because I felt an overwhelming need to communicate with other women who were mothers. Mothers adopting like me, mothers of babies like me, mothers of toddlers, grade schoolers, high schoolers, like me.

Well, I have achieved that goal. I have met wonderful women who are all on a journey to or through motherhood.

I look at my neocounter every day and am thrilled over the scrolling lists of visitors from places far and near. I wonder who you are, coming by to see what's happening in my life and in my head. You are very welcome here, but I wish you would share who you are with me.

Are you adopting? Are you a mother? Do you have questions that I could help with? You don't have to be a blogger to talk with me, I accept anonymous comments. Just click on the comments and say something-give me a little picture of you since I have shared so many of me and my life. If you leave an e-mail address, I will mail you.

If my blog isn't exactly your cup of tea, I can personally vouch that each of the women on my favorite blog list is an excellent person. She is loving, kind and has helped or supported me personally in some way. Reach out to them. They have excellent answers.

Right here is the best adoption support group and motherhood support group you could ever hope for. Come and meet us.

We're Back From the Land of Oz

We are home!! Finally! I miss my family terribly already, but it's so good to be home.