OK, how cute, No not the baby, the buggy cover! I've added this to my long list of things to buy my child.


http://www.angelinasuniquebabythings.com/buggybagg.htm

and it comes in this pattern!

http://www.takeastroll.com/ceramictiles.htm

I need to look at her crib set again, but how cute are these tiles. I've been looking for something cute like these. I hope they match.

Go Cocks!

If you're from the South, then you know what Saturday is!!!!!!

It's Game Day! Go Cocks!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We've had Paul Rays brother, Randy, and his wife staying with us the last two days, its been nice having company. Chris, Erin, the boys, Willie and Lyndsey (Brandons girlfriend) were here. Our niece (Randys daughter) Amy came over with her family. She has a little girl who will be one on Dec 29. She is a sweetie. We had pizza and some of us roasted marshmallows, the spoiled one in the family wouldn't have any because I didn't have chocolate bars and Graham crackers. (Chris you know we love you anyway) Erin is ready for the baby to arrive any time now. He's due on the 19th I believe, I dont see why she cant hold out till Christmas. I just think that would be awesome! A Christmas baby, no mother could ask for a better Christmas present, in my opinion. It would also seem that I am the only one with that opinion.

In the blog world, we have "Thankful Thursdays" I've never done this before, but since today is Thanksgiving, I'd thought I'd post what we are thankful for.

Here are some things that Paul Ray and I are thankful for
*We are fortunate enough that we get to spend our holiday with our families.
*We have two "handsome" healthy boys
*We have family that (no matter what) is always there if we need them
*We have our little nephews that visit us regularly and keep us entertained
*We have our health, good jobs, we live in peace and quiet in the woods
*We live in a world where we are free
*We are thankful to the men and women in the military (and their family)
Here are some things that I am thankful for
*God gave me two great parents, who are Always there for me, no matter WHAT
*I also have two boys that I just adore
*I have a great husband (for the most part:)
*I have a job that I really enjoy and a great boss
*I am thankful for my best friend, Bonny
*I am very thankful that I married a man with a big family (I was an only child)
*I am so grateful that his family trust us with their kids (Little Man told me he wanted
to go back to Disney World and ride the race car with Uncle Paul)
*I am very very thankful that at this point in our lives we are awaiting the referral of
our little Princess, Grace Noelle.

and I'm also very thankful to all my new friends that I have met in the journey. The adoption community has a wonderful group of people in it. I'm sure I've met life long friends here.

I hope that everyone has something to be thankful for today, I must get going now, we have to be somewhere at 12:30. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Our Sunday Trip Downtown

I've lived here all my life and never really done the downtown site seeing thing. We were going downtown on Sunday for the candle lighting ceremony, so the boys and I (and Lyndsey and Little man) went to lunch and then went to the market and walked along the streets. I found a really nice kids shop that I'm looking forward to buying Gracie some dresses from.

Anyway, we all had a really good time. Here is PaulPaul pulling up little man's pants, they kept falling down, poor thing.

Little Man, Brandon and Lyndsey
Hand in Hand, how sweet.
This is before the candles are lit, the ones we took after dark didnt turn out so well. Its really pretty, all the candles lit up around the lake at night. This was our third year going to this, sometimes it seems like yesterday and then other times it seems so long ago. No matter the time frame, Devan will be in all our hearts until we are together again. She was a very special young lady who touched so many people.

Family Homecoming

Here is a link to the bittersweet homecoming of Sandy and her daugher.

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/11535626.html

New Referrals are in

Our agency finally got a new list of SN referrals, it is taking them a while to get through it.

I just want to say a Big Congratulations to Patricia at http://littlecabininthewoods.typepad.com/threeempresses on her referral. She is just beautiful.

A Buddhist Saying about Adoption

It basically says you and your husband must have loved your baby very much in your previous life, that you were able to find her again in this life.

This little girl of our is SO loved and by so many people.

Passing this along-

Bethany Christian Services are pleased to announce the Sheldon family has received their visas and are returning home from China this weekend. “We will continue to work with the family to make sure all their needs are met,” said John VanValkenburg, Public Relations Specialist for Bethany Christian Services. “This has been a difficult situation for the Sheldon family and Bethany would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support for this family, including the efforts of Michigan Congressmen, Vern Ehlers and Mike Rogers.”

Due to these special circumstances, Bethany is accepting contributions to support the family until December 31, 2007. Checks can be made payable to Bethany Christian Services and please indicate the Sheldon family on the memo line. Checks can be sent to Bethany 's Donor Records at 901 Eastern Ave NE, PO Box 294 Grand Rapids Michigan 49501 . Bethany Christian Services will give all donations to the family for their “Hope for Hannah” fund.

Dare to love completely

TGIF

I must say that in the last few weeks, I've really grown to like my Fridays!

This weekend is already full. My DH and I have a date, we're going hunting on Saturday. ( I try to go at least once a season with him). When we leave there we're going to pick up our little man to spend the night with us.

Sunday, my boys and I along with Lyndsey are going downtown for lunch and then walking around the market area. From there we'll meet the Winge family at Colonial Lake for the Candle Lighting Service. This is our way of including Devan in our Holiday season. She is never far from anyone minds.

We all love and miss you Devan.

Update on family in China now....

The update when I got home yesterday was:
Sandi's mom asked that no more phone calls be made on her daughters behalf. There had been that many in one afternoon. The adoption communitiy is one that pulls together when something goes wrong. What a great group of people.

This mornings update from another poster.
"I am part of Sandi's travel group. I spoke to her this morning.> >She had a meeting at the consulate this morning and was told with > >95% certainty that she will come home with Hannah as scheduled on> >Saturday. I also should've made clear from the beginning that there> >has been absolutely fantastic and dedicated bi-lingual agency> >representative here with Sandi the entire time who is helping her> >through this process. Thanks to all who helped with the effort to> >bring her home. Our agency representative said all the phone calls> >did make a difference"
What great news that is!

Prayers Needed for this family......

I'm asking you for prayer for a fellow adoptive mom in China now picking up her daughter. Her husband had been traveling with her and died suddenly due to complications of his diabetes. We have received the following information from a family traveling with them in China and we need all the help we can get to bring this mom and baby home. Here is the message...

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where to go. Sandi needs our help desparately! Please start a massive campaign of calling to her US Congressman and US Senator and urge them to intervene on Sandi's behalf. We have discussed this with Sandi and she wants our help. Please pressure these elected officials to contact the State Department and straighten this out. Sandi should not be denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly. The adoption has been finalized here in China. Sandi's congressman is Mike Rogers. His Washington office number is 202 225 4872. His Michigan office number is 517 702 8000, he also has a toll free number 1-877-333-MIKE. Sandi's US Senator is Debbie Stabenow. Her Washington DC number is 202 224 4822 and her Michigan office number is 517 203 1760. Everyone should try to help and call these people until we get final approval.

We should continue to pray that her adoption is finalized quickly and that Sandi can return home to Michigan with Hannah.

Another Month Bites the Dust!!!!

We're 9 months LID!!!!! Any one wanna place a bet on when we will get a referral! Do you think I'll still be young enough to enjoy her, or even better, will she think I'm her Grandma! Another Christmas with no baby girl, please God let this be the last.

As someone I know would say "Do you want some cheese to go along with that wine?" I go through spells! Well enough whining for tonight, time for bed!

Veterans Day Parade

He's in the front by himself. Thanks to Granny we got a picture. Our camera died right on time!!!!!

Veterans Day, just my thoughts

Veterans Day is this coming Monday. My son Paul will be marching in the Veterans Day parade downtown on Sunday. My baby talks of joining the Airforce, I could not be more proud of him but at the same time, scare to death. Scare of what could happen to him, scared of him leaving home. I've always been worried by my boys leaving home. I know I have to let go, I just hope they always know where home is. He came home from school with an application. The recruiter told him to hold it till March before turning it in since he doesn't graduate until 2009.

As it becomes more real, what his plans are, you cant help but reflect on where this world is today. I've always believed our Military members are people made of gold, how do you thank someone who puts their life on the line for our freedom. They leave their family behind. My uncle died (by friendly fire) in Vietnam, I was too little to remember him. I was just reading a letter from a soldier to his parents (its posted at http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/). How sad and true alot of those letters are. These kids are fighting for the rights of people here that don't support them and bad mouth our President and our country. You hear on TV, our vets are coming home and ending up homeless, how sad. How sad that a pilot can make more money flying business people in safety than a pilot in war. How very sad that our elected Congress can retire and be taken care of For The Rest Of Their Lives, but our Military are forgotten.

I remember standing in Walmart last year during the holiday season, I was behind a lady who was behind a VERY YOUNG solider. He was stationed here with no family. He was buying easy fix it stuff for dinner. I didn't catch the whole conversation, but I stood in Awe as that lady thank him and handed him her name, phone number and address and invited him for a home cooked meal any time. How many times have I had the chance to say Thank you to someone in the military and let the moment pass.

I guess I'm rambling on, between the stress of waiting for Grace and the thought of my boys leaving home, and one them going off for at least four years, to serve his country (which by the way he has talked about since early Middle school) has just turned by nerves inside out.

I know my topic got turned around, but my original thought was this:

On this Veterans if you get a chance to thank our Military, don't let it pass.

Blue Friday - Show your support

Blue Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearingblue every Friday.

The reason?

Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority ofAmerica supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every RED BLOODED AMERICAN who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If everyone of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is ...'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.


PASS THIS ON, FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE. Now I'm off to find something blue to wear tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Little Man

My nephew turned 3 on Nov 2nd. I cant believe he is already 3 years old. He is just as cute as he was the day he was born.

He loves John Deere, I'd say his Mom did a great job on the cake. Ok, she didn't make it, but she had to go to the store and get it.

This is Hunter Boy enjoying the cake. Yum! Oh and Hunter has recently starting letting me hold him for more than a minute at a time!

Now check these out, when Little Man comes to the house, you can be sure he tries to sneak up to Brandon's room and get the guitars, Brandon has several. Little Man likes to refer to them as HIS! Brandon decided he wanted to get little man one for his birthday. I thought he'd get him a toy, NOPE. He found him the real thing, in his size! How Cool Is That!!!!!! Here he is jamming with it. It even came with a little amp! Awesome Gift.

And here he is in his new jammies.