How Awesome is this diaper bag!!!!!!!!

August was the final month for our Secret Pal gift exchange. As always, my secret pal has outdone herself.

The Watts Family - Julie, Glynn and their beautiful daughter Annalee. Thank you so much for all the beautiful things that you have sent for Grace, we will always think of you when she uses them.

Thank you and lots of love to you in this journey to your second child from China.

I've Been Tagged!!!!

Thanks Sara. Sara is in our LID group, but she actually left today to get her son from China, so please keep her in your prayers for a safe and wonderful trip.

Here are my responses:

FIVE THINGS I WAS DOING TEN YEARS AGO
1) Still working for Captain D's in the regional office
2) Planning our next house, bought the lot
3) We got our dog Peanut that year
4) Dealing with our boys who were 8 and 11 at the time
5) Celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary (yes they came first)

FAVORITE SNACK FOOD (its no wonder I cant loose weight)
1) Cookies - Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin or Snickadoddle
2) Cotton Candy
3) Chocolate Milkshakes with whipped cream and a cherry
4) Hersey Bar
5) Chocolate covered potato chips, thanks to my boss


FIVE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE LYRICS TO
1) Kokomo - Beach Boys
2) Fun, Fun, Fun - Beach Boys
3) If I had only known - Reba
4) I saw mama kissing Santa clause - Reba
5) I can only image by Mercy Me


FIVE THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE
1) Tithe 10%
2) Pay off all debt including house and buy me an expedition :) see #5 of bad habits
3) Buy my parents a new house
4) Take a big vacation with family and close friends (and you know who you are)
5) Have Paul Ray open his own business, I'm gonna stay home and play with Grace


FIVE BAD HABITS
1) Spending too much time on the computer
2) Not making the effort to meet more people
3) Laziness, especially with housework
4) Lack of exercise
5) Wanting things I shouldn't


FIVE THINGS I LIKE TO DO
1) Shop for Grace (who am I kidding I like to shop period - what woman doesn't)
2) Plan for Grace, actually I like to plan anything. I am a planner, especially vacations
3) Check my email and blogs
4) Play with my nephews
5) Spend time with Paul Ray and my boys

FIVE THINGS I WILL NEVER WEAR AGAIN
1) snow skis
2) Perm in my hair
3) High Heel Shoes
4) bangs (DH hates them)
5) bikini (I hate getting old)

FIVE PEOPLE I TAG FOR THIS
1. Penny
2. Sheri
3. Adele
4. Kimberly
5. Becky

I have the best Secret Pal ever!!!!!

I cant wait to put this outfit on Grace, she is going to be soooo cute. I'll think of you every time she wears it. I'll be sure and post a picture of her with all the nice things you have sent.

Look at this pretty little frame that says Gracie's Room! I love it.

Stone Mountain Park, GA
Next Saturday, we're off to meet some of the families that are in our LID Group. It should be an exciting time, we're looking forward to it.

Hi Adele

I just went back to the beginning of your blog! I'm looking forward to meeting you. Maybe I'll get to Savannah and have some pizza before we travel to China. I hope we get to travel together. Thanks for always leaving encouring words.

So everyone else, feel free to answer these yourself!

1. First Name: Peggy
2. Where you named after anyone? Yes, she was at the time, my Uncle's Date the day I was born, and would later become my Aunt! One of my very favorite ones.
3. Who was the first person to say "See that chicken over ... I'm gonna eat the first thing that comes out of its butt?" Ok, Gross, I dont know!
4. Do you like your handwriting? No
5. What is your favorite saying? Life's not fair! At least I tell my boys that alot.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Well, Yes
7. What can I do today to move toward my goals? Stop shopping, seriously, pray harder
8. Do you still have your tonsils? no
9. Would you bungee jump? Not Even For Money
10. What is your favorite color? Pink
11. Do you until your shoes when you take them off? Sometimes
12. Do you think you are Strong? It depends on what it involves, I like to think so
13. Who do you miss the most? The beautiful smile of my niece, and the daughter I have not met yet.
14. What are you listening to right now? TV show, The Closer
15. Where is the one place you would like to be right now? China, on Gotcha Day
16. The first thin you notice about a person? Their smile
17. Whats on your mouse pad? Dell - its not even a dell computer
18. What did you watch last night on TV? Army Wives
19. Wheres the furthest you've been from home? Las Vegas or the Caribbean
20. What are three pieces of advise you would your your child?
1. Treat people the way you want to be treated
2. Be honest, work hard, just do your best
3. Be true to the people you love

Secret Pal at it Again!!! You are just Awesome! Thank you So Much.

I cant wait to meet my Secret Pal!!!! Thank you so much. I love your gift as always. I love them all, but that bunny is just too cute. Thank you again.

You even got a smile out of PaulPaul with your "last in series" gift. He tried to hide the smile, but I caught it just as he turned his head. That was so thoughtful of you.

How cute is she?????

More Very Discouraging News - - - -

Referrals are in (good thing) sad thing is, they are only through Nov 7, 2005. That is only 6 days of referrals. Can this really go 3 years? It's just so depressing. There are so many rumors as to why, but no one really knows. Some people have even questioned if China would shut their doors. It's just not a good day. :(

On a happy note - far and few anymore - I had dinner with Sara last night. She is a member of my LID group. She is super sweet, and I really enjoyed it. I drove up to Pawleys Island after work. For those that know me, yes I was really stepping out of my box! She gave Gracie the cutest little gift, I'll post it later.

My mom also gave me some things today. Three bids and some barrettes. Do you want to guess what the bibs say - 2 of them say, I love my Grandma, and the other one says, I love my Grandpa.

Thank You, Thank You and Thank You!!!!

My Secret Pal is THE BEST!!!!!

After having a bad week, I came home to find a gift from my secret pal, and I now feel so much better. You put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye!

Lets see, we got a lovely note on the post card, a ladybug magnet, some panda info, a bid (I Love My Daddy) and a PINK Osh Gosh Bgosh tshirt. (I love Osh Gosh and you know I love PINK)

My Secret Pal did it again . . . . Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

This month's gift bought tears to my eyes. Upon opening the box this was the first thing. Hair barrettes with her name on them. Ahhh How Sweet.

She got a Pooh blanket (PINK) I just love Pooh. She got a hairbrush/comb set (also pink), a toothbrush (PINK WITH LADYBUGS), a pink washy, a pair of clippers and a bib (PINK) that says I (heart) Mommy!!!! Ahhhh, I love them all, thank you.

Gracie's quilt. . . . .

Hopefully we should be getting close to finish at collecting square. I joined the fabric swap with our CCAI LID Group, so we'll see.

We've gotten some really cute ones in. Go to past posts (or Labels - Quilt) to see pics of the latest.

We recently got one from Shirley Gleaves, Nashville TN who works with my husband. She is so sweet, thanks Shirley!

Thanks to my Secret Pal

from our CCAI Jan/Feb LID group. My package just arrived today! I am so excited. Gracie got a ladybug book (which is too cute), ladybug stickers, a fact sheet and a very nice note.

Thank you so much.

A few ladybug facts.

• There are nearly 5000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide. (400 of them are in North America)
• A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime
• Aphids are a ladybugs favorite food
• A gallon jar will hold 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs
• It is the state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hamphire, Ohio and Tennessee.

For us in the Chinese Adoption World, it is just a sign of good luck. In case you are wondering March was ladybug month.