two american girls

We have two girls who can not wipe the smiles off of their faces. They became the proud owners of a "just like me american girl doll" this past week. They have brushed more hair and changed more outfits than imagined. A very special friend blessed them with this treasure. That goes to show you what a praying little girl can do...He moved upon someone's heart to bless them with a doll, and that special someone obeyed. He is a great God. It has been a great life-lesson on the Lord moving on their behalf.

4th of July

Guess what we did on the fourth...we all went to Leesburg and watched the fireworks. Of course Kay-Kay was there and had the camera, so guess who took these pics.

We had a great family day and we even took family pictures, there is one of them on this page. Look, doesn't it look great! Thanks, Rachael.

We love our country and if we could have we would have stood and sang at attention "The star spangeled banner", but we were driving down the road, so it was impossible. But we sang with gusto and belted out every "pitchy" note. (Thanks American Idol for our great descriptive adjectives.)

A boy or a girl?

Yes, we are adding to our family. No, we are not pregnant. Yes, we would ask for your earnest and diligent prayers concerning this process of adoption that we are committing to.

Here is our story so far, and please know we will be keeping up with the process and news through this blog.

Steve and I (along with the girls) have been praying about this for quite some time. We decided earlier this year to begin the process, but did not know where to begin. So we began where we knew it would be best. On our knees. It was very interesting for me because I am usually the one to find a group of "cheerleaders" that are on my side and start charging full throttle towards the goal. But, this time, I was quieted. The Lord sealed my lips for a long time. I would go to speak about all of this and it would not come out. I could not tell anyone. This was for Steve and I. Alone.

So, then our paths crossed with an old college friend who worked with the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, and the email addresses were exchanged. Now, not only did my lips not work, neither did my fingers when I went to email her. Yikes. I guess if our Holy God can seal the mouths of hungry lions, so can He make it impossible for me to move before His time.

Months later, we were freed to share our story and desire throughout our family and friends, and with the agency who would be handling our case. God is so cool how He is directing our steps and readying the child that will become a part of all of our lives.

Now, if you have not noticed, there is a link on the side of the blog that reads "addition to our family". This is a link to a video that shows the larger family our new child is a part of. The Down Syndrome family. But, let me reassure you, Down Syndrome is what they have it is not what they are. We know it is a child who needs love, kindness, patience and a whole lot of fun. We need all of these too, so please be praying for our family.

We are so excited to see how God blesses our family. We encourage you to be a part of this ride with us.

9th anniversary

We bascially had a anniversary week. Steve brought me home flowers and arrived when I had some friends over. He got some extra talley marks for that, since it is always better when you have witnesses. Then he even did the cutting and clipping to make them pretty in a vase.

Then blessings be to the local church who took the kids for the evening of VBS so we could go out for dinner. Since we live in such a progressive community, our choices were KFC, Wendy's or a few others, so we settled on Beef O'Brady's. Larry the Cable guy would have been proud of our patronage for hot wings and beer. We decided to forego the beer, and had a big ol coke.

A package(thanks Tonia and Neal) arrived at my door this past week and opening it, I found a beautifully wrapped box with a lovely card. Inside I found the most amazing, tastey, succulent, candy. It was chocolate caramels. I am not really a sweet kinda girl, so I did not tear right into them, but once I bit into the first one, I was a goner. I made myself share. It was only fair. It was Steve's anniversary too. By the way you can order some at www.avenuesweets.com


With candy stashed in the purse we headed out for the blockbuster hit "Kung Fu Panda" and had us some laughs, but the girls thought the best part was the five airheads they each consumed.

Finally with a car trip south to Steve's parents, we passed on his mother's buffet of sandwiches and Steve took me to my most favorite place to eat Thai food. We have made believers of our girls and a few friends that Osaka's sushi and food in Madeira Beach is incredible. A sunset swim in the Gulf was better than a spa treatment (well, not really, but it was great).

So, finally I want to thank my husband for a wonderful anniversary. Here is an short description of my man and an excerpt of his card. He is the best.

Thank you for being who you are. I love all of you. I accept all of you. I even like all of you. At times I like some parts of you more than others, but all in all you are like the best super big gulp cherry coke a girl could ask for.

When I think of how all this happened it does seem completely crazy to my mind. I also can say with fervor that I would lock any one of the young ladies in our life in the cellar if they had done what I had done with the modern technology world of the Internet. But God has a plan. I'm glad we ran into His.

So I fell in love with a complete nerd. A treky who crossed over into the world of Darth Vader. A Spielberg/Lucas mutated young Frankenstein who secretly wanted to be in the Allen family. An Ebert crossed with Carlin genetically altered humor. And a wannabe Milton Brady tester of games. Mixed in still is the deep rooted talent of Eddie and a little James. I am forever yours...all of you. Even if I have to put up with the Bubba.

summer salad

Today I am posting an easy quick cool inexpensive dinner that a blogger friend asked for.

Chicken Caesar Salad

1 rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone
1 bag of hearts of romaine lettuce chopped into small pieces
1 box of Caesar croutons
1 bottle of Ken's creamy Caesar dressing (must use ken's)
shredded Parmesan cheese (don't use the powder kind)

Stir all together and serve immediately since a soggy wilted salad is never good.

Hope everyone likes it.

Paper dolls

The girls were deep into pioneer world today, bonnets and all. Laura and Mary in my home, helping with the chores. They got out their paper dolls. Yes, I said paper dolls. When was the last time you saw a commercial announcing the new toy of the future, paper dolls.








Well, it made me sad but happy.


Sad for the days of old when something so simple could keep a young ones mind occupied for hours, sad for our discontenment at times of how "easy" life used to be. I bet the Israelites thought that too as they roamed the desert, forgetting the slavery they had lived in. Just as we forget a day had to be set aside for laundry. The crops had to be grown and harvested and stored. The kids grew at the same pace, but a new pair of shoes or a new dress was not quickly acquired down at the local store. Sad for our constantness in this life.









So here my girls sat and dreamed of being Laura and Mary. That is why it made me happy. Sisterly love. Adventure. A home of love and pa's fiddle playing. The adorableness of a bonnet wearing head. The tv off, no thoughts of the modern conveniences. Just the attraction of how life was back then. How arithmetic was probably more fun than math. Precious. Paper dolls.

Soul Sisters

So this is not the theme music for the vacation bible school "Outrigger Island", but I have been waiting to use this song that my girls and I jam out to often. It seemed appropriate since all of us had some special times with our friends this past week.

Olivia met a new friend named Heather. She described the little girl with such passion, I knew Olivia had met a pal. "This little girl has red hair, yellow-green eyes and eternally white skin!" She loved going to class each day and it was her second year with Ms. Anglea.

Stephanie was moved into a class with her friends and she met a few new ones. Her teacher, Ms. Tracey was happy to have her in class, Steph was a good listener and a good sport. Stephanie let us know that she wanted to be baptized. We were pleased to know she is wanting to proclaim her love for the Lord. The lesson "Know the truth, Speak the truth, Live the truth" will be a motto in our lives too.

I had a fabulous time spending it with all of my girlies. We played canasta, talked, lounged, hung out at Samantha's home (thanks sam!) and solved some of the world's problems. It was nice to have some "soul sister" time, sharing our hearts and lives together. A few of us even admitted to being addicted to blogs.

After five days of early rising, eating on the run, going to class and figuring out lunch meals and afternoons of swimming in Ms. Anita's pool, we (mostly me) were happy to wrap up the event of our yearly VBS.