Baby steps......

Good news to report.....

USCIS let The Dad do his biometrics - yayyyyyyyyyyy.   They weren't thrilled - but they did let him.

I hired a notary (since I couldn't find a friend who could leave their job to come with me) to come with me to my doctor's office to notarize the new forms.  Now to find a notary that can make it to The Dad's doctor with him on Friday......

The bad news -

We have about 18" of new snow in the last 24 hours.   The roads are terrible.  The canyon leading up to The Rocket Scientists college is 4WD, snow tires, or chains required.  Last I checked - my awesome mini-van was not equipped with any of those - yup - 0 for 3 :(  

So - that means - no Rocket Scientist, no biometrics getting done this Thursday :(    Tuesdays and Thursdays are the only mornings he can go - due to his class schedule - so it is definitely going to be next week :(    And, I had it all planned out - it was going to be perfect (barring USCIS telling us no, that we have to reschedule our appointment - but I am really really praying that won't happen - since it is around 200 miles to get The Rocket Scientist from school and not only will he be gone on his appointment day, even if he was in town he couldn't go, as it is right in the middle of his classes :(

Yup - grateful for the baby steps - but a bit discouraged by the things that didn't exactly fall into place this week.   I know that is all part of the process - but still - a girl can hope for easy - right????

I have faith that Lord will help us figure it out though.  He will help us find a way.

Two more hurdles - we'll baby-step our way there - and then hopefully be able to make the big jumps!!!

Two steps forward.......one step back......

People who have been through the process will tell you that just when things are going along really great, something will cause a setback.....

We've had a couple of those little glitches, things that have slowed the process - although all in all - for an adoption, it has moved very quickly, and with everyone's help, the need for funds has not slowed it down - such a huge blessing.

Yesterday was one of those two steps forward, one step back kind of days.   And those days - they are a tad bit frustrating :(

I was going to take a picture of our beautiful paperwork all stacked in order, before I took it up to the State office of the Lieutenant Governor to get apostilled.   It was a beauty to behold - all the documents, except one - ready to get certified and sent on to Fiona's country!!!  I googled directions to the State Capitol - bad me - I've never been there - how very unpatriotic of me to not have witnessed in person legislation in process.  I hopped in my car and drove to the address - only to find - well - it was the wrong address - lucky for me - I could see that nice big building up on the hill that actually IS the State Capitol building and found my way there (State street really ends at the state capitol building - go figure ;)   I booked it up there, so I could get back in time to pick up the kids, only to find that about 2/3 of the way there - there was no "booking" it - because a major snow storm that seemed to miss US yesterday, dumped majorly up there - so the roads were snow packed and slow, but - I eventually - lost and all - made it  :)  So proud of myself LOL

And - after all that - I deposited my beeeeyyyooootiful stack of documents on the desk of the receptionist where she looked through them all and promptly handed me back our medicals and said I had to change the way they were notarized :(   Awwwwww - my paperwork burden that I was so excited to have lifted from my shoulders, settled in a bit heavier.  But - we will figure it out.  A few phone calls, some willing notary friends - I know it will all work out - it will just set us back a few days....

On an up note - still in the theme of two steps forward - one step back - we got our appointments for our fingerprints/biometrics for US CIS!!!  Unfortunately we will be out of town for when they are - so The Dad is going to go in today and try and walk in and get his done, and then I will drive up on Wednesday, pick the Rocket Scientist up after his classes, and he and I will try and walk in on Thursday morning and do ours, and I will return him back to school.   I am hoping that they will let us - scheduling with classes, The Dad's work travel, and the rest of the family is just so tricky.  So if you could say a little prayer that this all works out for us - that would be so incredibly fantastic!!!  Thank you so much!!!

Hoping the rest of the week will just bring steps forward and NO steps back!!!! 

Soooo Thankful........

For years, every Sunday, I would write a thankful post about the things I was grateful for each week.  I feel like having an attitude of gratitude changes your whole perspective on life.  When you focus on your blessings, and not your trials, it is so much easier to see God's hand in the little details of your life, and I know he is ALWAYS there for me - when things are going great, and most assuredly when things are difficult.   If he is willing to help me find my lost keys or phone, how much more willing is he to help me with the bigger things that come into my life :)

So today, I want to express my gratitude for all of you who have been the change in Fiona's world.  In our world.  Thank you for making a difference for her, and for us to be able to give her the family she needs and deserves.  We are indebted to you all, and so very thankful for your generosity with your resources, love, prayer, and positive thoughts.  

Thank you.

You'll be in my heart.....

Yes - each of you who has soooo generously donated to our sweet girl have forever touched my heart and changed the way I look at the world.    Your names are written on my heart, just as clearly as on the hearts on the walls of our home.  And, while the hearts on the walls of our home will remain for a while, your gifts of love for Fiona will remain in our hearts forever.   Thank you so very very much for making a difference for our little starfish!

And - those pictures above - all those hearts on the wall - they total.......... 1,700 hearts!!!     Through your generosity we have met AND exceeded our matching grant of $1,500!    In the last 10 days - through your efforts and gifts of love, Fiona is $3,200 closer to getting home!!!  You see that thermometer over there -------------->  with the help of your donations and our matching grant - we are getting so very close to having all the funds we need to travel to Fiona's country as soon as the paperwork comes through!

There just aren't words to express how incredibly grateful we are for your support and for your love for our little girl.

I have been so touched by the participants in our Heart Attack for Fiona -   the cute young mom, with three little ones of her own, who gave her Christmas money to Fiona, the sweet teenager that donated $50 of her own money to help bring Fiona home, a wonderful friend and mom to two adopted little ones with DS who made batches of salsa and sold it to raise money for Fiona (and all her sweet friends who bought the salsa to help a family they don't even know, to bring home a little girl), the financially struggling family that has given twice to help Fiona come home - because they feel it is so important for her to have a family, a new online friend, who is in the process of adopting her set of four children from Fiona's country and dealing with her own adoption expenses, another young couple who has two tiny kids of their own and working hard to make ends meet, the incredible woman and family who offered the matching grant for our sweet girl in the first place, and many, many, MANY more - each story and individual as important and imprinted on my heart, as the next. 

With the Lord's help, anything is possible.  ANYTHING.  I am here to tell you that I know this, without a doubt.   I know how much he loves Fiona, and all his children - and I know that he is as grateful to you for your service and love to us as we are.

Thank you ALL for blessing our lives and helping us to be able to bring Fiona home!!! 

Our "heart attack" for Fiona will continue through Valentine's day :)  So if you would still like to participate, even though our matching grant has been met, we will continue to put up hearts with the names of your choice on them.  

Thank you so so SO much for your generosity, for filling our hearts and our home with so much love!

Feeling a little nostalgic......

Disclaimer - this post is not adoption related, fundraiser related - merely a mom's heart related :)

That cute boy in the picture up there ^^^^^^^^ that's The Rocket Scientist :)  My first born son.  He's a sweetheart :)  A loud and proud self-proclaimed nerd, who loves fantasy books, and games of all kinds - from board games to video games, and back again :) 

And - today I take him back to college after having him home for the long weekend.

And - I'm sad....  I miss him!!!

It's not like he's REALLY far away - just a couple of hours by car - but, it's far enough that I don't get to see him as often as his sisters - who attend college a mere 20 minutes away.

The Biggest Sissy and The Big Sissy often come home to do laundry, eat Sunday dinner, or just hang out - but it's a much bigger production to get The Rocket Scientist home and back - hence - we probably won't see him for another month - til the NEXT long weekend.   Thank heavens for long weekends!!!

But - until that next long weekend - I sure will miss him!

It's wonderful and fantastic and bittersweet at the same time to see your children grow up and move on with the next chapters in their lives.  It goes too fast, really.  It seems like just yesterday that this wonderful young man was a chubby, white-blonde haired, curious toddler sticking things into electrical sockets, figuring out how to escape locked doors, and taking apart and putting back together (kind of) everything he could get his hands on :)  He has such a quick mind and fantastic memory that watching him learn and absorb everything in sight was such a pleasure (when he slowed down long enough to watch him ;)  His easy-going nature, kindness and joyful personality made him such a delightful little boy.  He was so outgoing and friendly - never met a stranger - seriously.  We worked so hard on getting him to slow down and not talk to everyone - apparently we did too good of a job LOL  He is definitely more reserved now than he was as a youngster :)  But what a joy he has been to raise - he makes righteous choices, he loves the Savior, he loves his family, he works hard, he is non-judgmental and tries to see things from other perspectives.  He has grown into a wonderful young man, and we are so proud of him!

I will miss him - a month isn't very long - but a momma's heart longs to have her babies close - all of them - Fiona included.  So hopefully this month will bring progress and good news and this momma will be that-much-closer to having her WHOLE family together - at least in the same state - anyway :)

So - Mr. Rocket Scientist - I love you, I will miss you!!  Work hard, make good choices, and know that I am counting down the days til we get to party with you again!!!   Love you!!!!

Here's hoping this month goes swiftly and looking forward to having you home again!!!

A heart full of love......

 

Our hearts and home are sooooo full of love!  Thanks to so many friends, family members, and strangers!!!!  

 If you look down at the previous picture - you can see how much more "love" there is - 700 hearts now!  

And - this isn't even all of it!  There are 140 hearts still awaiting names from yesterday and another 135 from today!  (I have to get an updated list from RR from those who have donated through our FSP).

 That is a grand total of - 975 hearts!!!  That is $975 of the $1,500 we need to raise to get our $1,500 grant!  $525 to go!  

We feel so loved and so blessed by your support of our little gal!  I cannot wait to whisper in her ear how loved she is, not only by us, but by so so SO many others.  Your support and gifts of love are amazing.  

I am feeling so incredibly grateful for so many blessings this day.  The tender mercies of the Lord have been showered upon us, and we are so grateful.  

Thank you so very, very, very much.

Getting closer, baby girl!!!

Our i800a was logged in to US CIS today!!!

Yahooo - Yippeeeee - Woot Woot!!!!  We are doing the happy dance over here!!!

Hopefully within the next couple of weeks we will get our fingerprinting/biometrics appointment and get those done.  Then hopefully a couple weeks after that we will get approval and our dossier can be sent to Fiona's country!

My paper chasing went well - all my papers were very well behaved :)  Waiting to hear back from my agency on a couple of things - but all in all - I think a dossier might actually be easier to put together than an application to be an Eagle Scout :)  I was talking about that with a friend today and I think we both decided it might be easier because WE are doing it, not our children - of the male persuasion ;)

And - I need to be cutting out 40 more hearts - just waiting to find the name of our donors - thank you so much for donating and warming our hearts!!!   We are almost to  500 hearts (465 with the latest gifts) - that's 1/3 of the way to our matching grant!!!  Thank you so very very VERY much!!!

If you would like to warm our hearts, share your love monetarily, donations can be made through either chip in or our RR link ---------------------> right over there ------------------>

Every little bit helps and my kids are loving making hearts and putting your family's names on them!!!  Even $1 makes a difference!    Thank you for making a difference to our little starfish!!!!

Paper Chase......

Today is a Littlest-Dude-is-still-sick-stay-at-home-work-on-the-dossier kind of day :) 

I don't have pictures - so imagine a pajama clad mom organizing papers and preparing them to be notarized - woot woot :)

On another note - can you please pray for a couple of families that are in Russia right now.  They are the "6" who had already passed court and were the legal parents of their children, but in the 30 day waiting period for their passports, when the ban was enacted by Putin :(  They were told that they could get their children - but everything is so crazy with the law there right now, things are still in limbo.   They definitely need prayers.

Off to chase some papers - hopefully they aren't as fast as Littlest Dude ;)

Can you feel the love tonight????

 

Cause we are feeling it - in a big way!!!!  

Do you see all those hearts?  425 of them to be exact!  That is almost 1/3 of the funds we need to raise to get our $1,500 matching grant!

Thank you so much to the "H", "H", "T", "B", "B", "B", and "K" Families - we are so very grateful for your donations!  Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

Only $1,075 more to go!!!

$1 per heart - hand cut with your name on it - by me or one of our bunch :)  I can hardly wait to see what 1,500 hearts looks like.  Thank you all sooo much!!!

Warm Hearts.......

So - as I mentioned before - an incredibly generous donor has offered a $1,500.00 matching grant to help with our adoption expenses.  What does that mean, exactly?  Well - it means that if you donate $1, it is actually like donating $2 - pretty much like a daily double :)  We have been so blessed to have so many people care about Fiona and want to help bring her home, and we are getting so much closer to realizing that goal. 

We are not expecting to ever be, what's called, fully funded - we are planning on paying as much as we can, personally, to bring our sweet girl home.  It was NEVER our plan to have someone else pay for our adoption.  But, we hadn't planned on adopting this year, and therefore don't have the funds saved up that we would have, if we had been planning and saving for that goal.  It has been something that has always weighed heavily on The Dad - who works so hard to provide for our family.  Self reliance is very important to our family, as well as trying to stay out of debt as much as possible.  So - fundraising to bring our daughter home has been hard for us - because we wish we didn't have to do it at all  :(  Adoption anywhere - even through the foster system can still be expensive, it's not just international adoption - although that has the extra cost of travel.   But, there really isn't a price that can be put on the value of a child - right?  Or the value of a family?  I know that I consider mine - both the one I grew up in, and the one that I have been blessed with - to be priceless. 

We know, with a certainty, that this is what the Lord wants us to do.  We know that we have been blessed so much and that there is more than enough room in our hearts and our home to give Fiona the family she truly deserves.  She has stolen our hearts already, and we don't even really know her.  I know how strange that sounds - and trust me - I have read enough negative blog posts and comments in the last week about how people fall in love with a picture, and then the reality of the child they adopt is something so totally different.  The thing is - I am aware of attachment disorders, I am aware that unknown medical diagnoses happen often with children adopted internationally, I am aware of the prevalence of FAS in children born in EE countries, of institutional behaviors - I have seen them in children - both adopted internationally AND domestically through the foster care system.  I am aware that Fiona is not a newborn - that she has lived without a family, without her needs being consistently met - in an institutional setting - for over 2 years.  There is probably zero chance that she will come to us without some issues.  I'm aware of that - have tried to prepare my heart and my head for that - and in the end - it doesn't matter - because we have the firm confirmation that she is our daughter and that our journey to her is exactly what we are supposed to be doing.   And - we will love her, not just the idea of her - or who we think she is now - but for who she actually is - strengths, weaknesses and all.  And, if she needs extra help, we will do all we can to get it for her - to help her be able to live her life to the fullest.

I am hoping for the best - but preparing for the worst.  Which is kind of what I always do, really - being a worst-case-scenario kinda gal ;)  (Seriously - my mom gave me that game for Christmas one year - and the year our entire extended family went on a cruise for my parents 50th anniversary - my first one (cruise) - my brother gave me the Poseidon Adventure - he laughed himself silly - he thought he was so clever ;)  Sometimes, I'm actually pleasantly surprised (c-sections - seriously - not as awful as I expected - good thing - since I had to have 6 ;)  and I am hoping and praying for a best case scenario in our adoption - but not necessarily because of ME - but because we pray, every single day, as a family - that someone is loving our girl, meeting her needs, caring about her, teaching her about love by example, and giving her the things she needs, even if it isn't the same as having a family.  We pray for that, every single day, multiple times a day.....  We want it to be the BEST case scenario for HER!  We have hope, and we have faith....  and yes, we have love - for our little girl, that we have never met.

So - as we prepare to meet our cute girl - we continue to raise needed funds, and this matching grant - is an amazing blessing for us - a chance to double each and every donation up to $1,500,  that comes in from now until February 14th.  We have ONE month to raise the matching funds - so I have been wracking my brain to figure out the best way to make this matching grant fundraising personal and worth it to everyone who donates - and I think I've found a way :)

With each $1 donation ($1=1 heart, $5=5 hearts etc....), we will put a heart up around our house with the name of the donor/s on it.  Our house looks so empty without our Christmas decorations - but imagine it heart "attacked" with 1,500 hearts - how amazing would that be? (and I will post updated pictures each week to chronicle the "attack" :)   How wonderful would that constant reminder of the love that you feel for our girl and your gifts of the heart be?   So - won't you consider making a donation  of $1 or more through our RR FSP or Chip-in?  And - not only will you be making your donation - but it will be doubled on February 14th up to $1,500 - so your donation is MORE than just the face value dollar amount :)  AND - we can hold you in our hearts and our home as we put up hearts with your names on them.  AND - since we announced the matching grant - $275 has already come in - so we are only $1,225.00 away from reaching that matching grant goal.  Thank you, thank you to those of you who have already so generously donated of your time, your resources, and your prayers on Fiona's behalf.

So - if you have the means, and would like to have some hearts up around our house - you can donate either through our chip-in button, or the RR link on the right hand side :)  If you donate through RR, will you please leave me a comment with your name and how much you donated (I moderate the comments - so if you don't want your name/amount published - just let me know!)  so I can get your hearts up asap - as I don't always get regular updates of who has donated through our FSP, like I do with Chip-in.  Prayers and positive thoughts and comments are equally as needed as dollars - so thank you, thank you if you have some of those to spare, as well!

Please feel free to share our fundraiser, donation links, or blog with anyone you think would want to share in our journey :)  Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, for warming our hearts with your love and kindness.

One of those weeks.....

It's been one of those up and down weeks.

So happy that our homestudy was finalized - yahoooooo!!!!

Bummed because it is sooooo cold out - boo :(

Thrilled that we got our i800a off to USCIS - yahoooo!!!!!

Bummed because it was supposed to be overnighted and there on Friday to get logged in - but a snow storm here, and then in the mid-west delayed it and it won't get there til tomorrow - boo :(

Got to see the chiropractor about my neck on Friday - he said it would be fantastically better in 48 hours - yahoooo!!!!!

It's some better - but not 100% - maybe tomorrow?  - boo hoo ;)

Littlest Dude was fantastic for his haircut yesterday - yahooooo!!!!!

He is sick again with some respiratory bug and super grumpy today - boo :(

I had lots of time to rest - yahoooo!!!!

I read a lot of adoption blogs, and terrible comments about international adoption on articles about Russia etc..... - boo :(

I am so excited to move forward with our adoption of Fiona - yahooo!!!!

I worry about attachment, bonding, finances, meeting everyone's needs - being mom enough, wife enough, advocate enough - for everyone - boo :(

It seems like for every great and fantastic thing, there is an equally worrisome negative thing. 

I know that the adversary is trying to get to me, to cause me worry, to cast doubt in my mind and heart - when I know that we are absolutely doing what we are supposed to be doing, that this path to our daughter is exactly what the Lord has in mind for us.  I know that adoption is not for sissys - as being a parent of any child is not for sissys - and I know this is a natural and normal part of the process.  

It's just been one of those weeks - but guess what?  Tomorrow starts and entirely new week :)

Bring it on :)

Neither rain nor sleet, nor snow...

will stop the mail from getting through.....

Buttttttt - apparently that doesn't apply to Fed ex :(  I went to go track our i800a application, and do you what I found.....

Instead of going out on a plane last night, it got held up from - you guessed it - weather..... 

So - so much for hoping it got logged in today.  I guess Monday will come soon enough......

Ya - I know....

I still haven't learned that patient virtue yet - I really am trying though....  or maybe I am just "trying"  ;)

Hope your weekend is warm and full of joy and adventure :)   My crystal ball is showing me a futsal game, haircuts, and possibly some snuggly movie nights in store for ours :)

A perfect 10.......

So - do you know what today is?  (besides the day I hope to send in our i800a???)

It's January 10th....

Just an ordinary day - right?

But - it could be an extraordinary day.....

It could be a perfect 10 kind of day........

With donating $10 for Fiona on the 10th :)

Or $1 for the it being the 1st month....

or $13 for it being the 13th year of the century....

or - add them all together - $1 + $10 + $13 = $24 :) (and I didn't even need a calculator for that ;)

Now that our homestudy is finalized and we can submit to US immigration - we are getting soooo much closer to being able to travel for our sweet girl!!!  With that travel comes about $12,000 in expenses - payment to our lawyer/facilitator/interpreter/drivers in country, for visas, airfare, the apartment we have to stay in for the required 4 weeks in country, translation of court documents etc...   This first trip is the biggest expense of our whole adoption,  so we need to raise a little more money.   But - if you look over there - at the thermometer - we are over 1/2 way there - yahooooo!!!!

AND - we have been given a $1500.00 matching grant that runs through Valentine's Day (2-14-13) by an incredibly generous anonymous donor!!!  So that means, if you donate $24 today - it is actually like donating $48!!!    Each donation up to $1500 is like a double donation :)  We are so blessed!!!!

So - once our RR FSP reads - $7167.00 - the matching $1500 will be disbursed to us.  What a blessing this individual is to our family.  So if you could share this around with anyone you think would like to help - that would be wonderful!!!!  All donations made through RR are tax deductible, as well.  If you donate $500 or more, to avoid paypal fees being taken out, RR recommends sending a check - but if you do send a check - please, PLEASE make sure you put FIONA for Kent and Christine on the memo line or somewhere on the check so that the funds will be credited to our FSP and not go to a different child.

We have been so incredibly blessed by the generosity of so many of our friends, family, and strangers.  You have been an answer to our many prayers.  Thank so very, very, VERY much for your willingness to give so selflessly to Fiona.  You are making a difference - you are giving our girl the opportunity to have a family and an education, a life outside the 4 walls of an institution - a chance to really LIVE  - and you have no idea how much you are influencing and inspiring our family and children.   Thank you for blessing her life and our lives!!!

Let's make that perfect 10 a perfect 20!!!!!

Making a list - and checking it twice....

Soooo - did you hear a big loud whopping cheer on Monday morning??? 

What?  You didn't????

Surely, you MUST have!!!

That was us - over here - cheering and yelling, and falling to our knees in gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for his goodness!!!

That was the sound of us cheering because.......  drum roll........

Our homestudy has been finalized!!!  

And - that means......

We can submit our i800a to US immigration to apply to adopt a child residing in a foreign country!!!!

We've made it to the next step - yahhhhhhooooooooooo!!!!!!!

We are so grateful for a Lord that hears and answers prayers.  Thank you to everyone who fasted and prayed with us on Sunday, and sent so many positive thoughts.

God is so good.

We are soooo grateful!!!!!!

Can I ask a favor???

Could you keep us in your prayers that my Canadian clearance comes this week?  It has been 7 weeks, and it is the only thing holding up our ability to move forward to file with USCIS, which we have to do before we can send our dossier documents to EE to Fiona's country.  We really need that clearance to make an appearance asap :(

If you could spare some prayers on our, and Fiona's behalf that it will come this week, I would appreciate it so much. 

We will be fasting and praying for that tomorrow, as well as for a cute baby girl in our neighborhood who needs some prayers, as well.  If you would like to join us in this endeavor we would be so grateful.

Every day I wait for the mail to come, with hope and anticipation and faith that "today" will be the day.   And, so far - every day has been, well, disappointing in the fact that, while I have gotten some VERY lovely mail from Canada, it just hasn't been this particular piece of mail ;)   But, every day I have hope, and every day I pray.  I know the Lord's time is not always my time, and that His will is not always my will, but I am praying that maybe they will both coincide - soon!!!!

Thank you so much - I truly know the power of prayer - thank you.

The Mounties......

The Mounties - aka - Royal Canadian Mounted Police - kind of like Highway Patrolmen in the States - except with authority for the whole country.

It's to these guys that I sent my fingerprints for a Canadian background check - 7 long weeks ago....  At the time - the website said processing was 9 weeks - but someone online had posted that they got theirs back in 3 weeks - so I was figuring 3, maybe 4 weeks....  I guess I figured wrong :(

So - we are still waiting - and praying - and waiting.  I know the Lord has his own time, and I am trusting him - but at the same time - I know he allows for free agency - and to quote my nephew, Jay - "IT'S TAKING TOO LONG!!!!!!"

This one little clearance is all that is keeping our Home Study from being complete and holding everything else up......

So we continue to pray - and would welcome your prayers too, if you have any to spare!!!

Whatever happened to Mounties to the Rescue :)

New Years Resolutions......

It's that time of year - again - you know the one....  The time where you look back at your list from the year before, and maybe even the year before that, and just scratch out the year and put the current one ;)

Well - maybe we don't actually do that- but I have found that my goals for the New Year seem to be repeating themselves year after year.  

Now is that because the things I choose for my goals are the things that are most important in my life - daily scripture study, temple attendance, time spent with children, expressing gratitude, losing weight and living a more healthy lifestyle - or because I have not been very good at doing those things in the past years.

I would have to say - maybe a little of both :(  I definitely need to do better in some areas!

So - this year - my goals are to.......

Engage in personal scripture study 20 minutes daily.  We are really good at family scripture study during the school year - not so great during vacations - gotta work on that one too - but taking the time to personally ponder the scriptures has been a bit of a struggle for me for the last few years.  I will do better!

Go to the house of the Lord more often, do some genealogy, find some lost ancestors ;)  Make time to go with my kids!

Work on preparing Brady for baptism - really print out the Baptism book I made for him a year ago and teach him about covenants and the principles of the gospel.

Deeper personal prayer.  I know the Lord is there for me, I know he hears and answers prayers.  I know he wants a relationship with me, as I do with him - make the time to be more personal in my prayers, express a deeper gratitude for the blessings he has given me in my life, pray for service opportunities and to be open to the promptings of the spirit.

Listen more when my children are talking to me.  Make 1-on-1 time with them a priority.  Make sure they know they come #1 in my life - I know it - but do they?   Show it by my actions and deeds.  Make time - say yes more often to activities together - walk away from less important things and things that can wait - THEY are more important.

Take time for extended family.  Appreciate them more - talk to them more - listen to them more - do more activities with them - tell them I love them.  You never now how much time you have with your family - make the most of it!

Spend LESS time on the computer - and MORE time with people in real life :)  I can still keep in touch with my friends that I've met on the internet - but maybe have a REAL conversation with them on the phone vs. texting or facebooking.  Spend MORE time focusing on my house and organizing it, reducing excess things that we no longer use or need.  Spend LESS time worrying about what people think, and make MORE time to focus on the important things in life.

Focus on my relationship with The Dad :)  In August we will have been married for 24 years - the best years of my life :)  Spend time with him - join in with some of his interests - or find something new that we can do together (that doesn't cost money ;) ha ha ha  Focus on his needs and what a great man he is - focus on his strengths, not his weaknesses :)

Lose 50 lbs :)  Eat healthier - go out less, eat at home more - eat more veggies, fruits, and whole grains.  Prepare weekly menus, buy less junk food for the kids, work out daily :)  This is always my hardest goal - but if I want to chase after a 2 year old at my age - it's definitely a must this year :)

Make serving others a priority.  If this adoption journey has taught me one thing (and believe me - it has taught me a lot ;) it is gratitude for the service of others who have blessed our lives in amazing ways.  I pray that this year I will be more aware of places and people to serve, and ways to help others, that the Lord will lead me in directions so that I may bless others as I have been blessed.

Travel to EE and pick up our girl, and find ways to help others like her :)

There you have it - some of my 2013 goals :)  I never know what the year has in store - but I hope that I will be able to check some of these off by the end of the year!!!  Especially the goal of adding cute Fiona to our family!!!

Happy New Year!!!!   May 2013 be an amazing and blessed year for you!  What are some of your goals/resolutions????

Happy New Year!!!!! Here's to 2013!!!

It's the first day of 2013!!!!  Last night was spent mostly as a family - doing our yearly New Years Traditions!!! 

When I was growing up - I don't remember our family spending New Years together.  Our church always had a big dance for the adults, so when I was little, I had a babysitter, and when I was a teenager (until I was old enough to go to the youth dances) I WAS the babysitter :)   I loved babysitting on New Years Eve - it was always for a long time and I always made "a lot" of money :)  I think that maybe, back in the day, "a lot of money" was a little different than what it is today :)  It was always so fun though - I still remember a lot of the kids I babysit - and when I see them today - with their own families - all grown up - I am always surprised at that - after all - not THAT much time has passed ;)  I still FEEL young ;)

So, from time to time, we have gotten our own babysitters, or left our kids in charge and gone to parties, or had family parties at our own home - but for the most part - it just feels right to party with our kids :)   My parents started a tradition of eating Chinese food on New Years Eve (maybe because they were the only restaurants open???  Not sure how that started) and we have continued that - although we alternate with Thai food occasionally (like last night :)

As the kids get older - they often go off and do their own things with their own friends - but we were lucky to have all the boys with us last night :)  And although our evening was kind of low key (we slipped out to party with some friends across the street for a little while - and drove the Princess around to a couple of parties) we enjoyed the time relaxing together! 

At the stroke of Midnight - we popped our Poppers - drank some bubbly (aka Martinelli's sparkling apple cider) and welcomed in the New year!!!

May it bring peace, prosperity, good health, love, happiness, family - and MY CANADIAN CLEARANCE :) so that we can make 2013 great by adding Fiona to our forever family!!!!

Sending our love and wishing you all the best in 2013!!!!

 Ymmy Thai food!!!

 The "Bubbly"  ;)

 CHEERS!!!!

 The Rocket Scientist photo bombed this one ;) ha ha ha

 And one left for The Princess when she got home :)   Luckily she didn't turn into a pumpkin ;)

Happy Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Gifts of Love......

Speaking of gifts of love.  The Princess has been growing her hair out for almost 2 years now, to donate to Locks of Love.  Yesterday was the day!!!!   She was so excited, and so scared at the same time, to cut her pretty hair :)  

But - like all gifts of love - it turned out perfectly - and she is so excited that someone with cancer will be able to have a wig made with her hair :)

on another note - the boys are pretty grossed out by that braid :)  Go figure ;)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas - aka - Dreams DO come true!!!!

I have always loved White Christmas', and for that reason, I don't think I could ever live where there wasn't snow in the winter.   As much as I HATE being cold - I DO love snow in December :)  The rest of the year - well - if it snows all around me and we have enough moisture for the rest of the year - I'm down with that ;)

But this year has been so unseasonably warm that I wondered if we would have another "brown" Christmas - even though the weather forecast was for snow on Christmas Eve.  You know how meteorologists are - sometimes right, sometimes wrong ;)  Well - I am sooo pleased to say - they were soooooo right, and my children's faces as they got up on Christmas Eve morning and saw the inches of snow on the back lawn, were magical :)   They were happy to go shovel the walks.....  ummmm - twice ;) ha ha ha and frolic in the white stuff and build a snow cave :)

And to our immense joy and wonder - it continued to snow - FOR DAYS!!!!!   We've had to shovel the walks more in the last week than the entire WINTER last year (well - at the beginning of 2012 ;)  It is STILL snowing :)  Good thing we bought snow boots last year - and the kids didn't grow too much - we just removed the tags and put them on - and we were off and running :)

Don't you just LOVE snow at Christmas???? 

I must admit - I kind of miss the days when every snow adventure didn't include massive snowball fights - but hey - I guess that's what happens when your kids grow up ;)  Snowmen and snow angels are all fine and dandy - but nothing beats a good snowball fight????  ;)

 Ready to rock and roll!!!  Love that new Spongebob "touque" from Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

 The snow was so deep our sled wouldn't go very fast down the hill - so Bigger Sissy took Littlest Dude for a ride :)

 Bigger Sissy's hubby - I think I will call him Mr. Computer ;) worked tirelessly on the snow cave :)

Snowballs?  YES PLEASE!!!!

 Ohhhh - The Dad is ready and aiming......

Littlest Dude is not deterred......

 Action shot!!!!!

 A change of hats?  Good thing we have no shortage of Spongebob paraphernalia :)

 I think the Princess must be a snowball magnet.......

 Loook - over there - up on the deck - where he can run into the house at the first sign of a snowball - it's The Rocket Scientist ;)  

 Can I have a ride - pretty please????

 Twin snow angels - I just heart them!!!!

 Littlest Dude taking advantage of the The Dad's prone position to launch a few snowballs - people - this boy is SMART!!!!

What's that I see - Mr. Hollywood making an appearance????

 CUTE sisters!!!!

 Mr. Hollywood made it down to the "real" snow :)

The Rocket Scientist has had enough????

 I think Littlest Dude has decided that Rocket Scientist has the right idea - warm and toasty might be nice ;)

 See???  I do love the snow ;)

 I think maybe we should have worked in a bigger hill when we landscaped ;)

 The best action shots of the day - WAIT FOR IT.......

 that is one big ol' snowball.....

 Direct HIT ;)

 Look at that face ;)

 Deluxe accommodations in a toasty snow cave???  Anyone???  Anyone????

Awww - the love birds - still so cute and fun ;)  Thanks for playing in the snow Bigger Sissy and Mr. Computer ;)