*Please note, I was advised that the horse in the last pic WAS just sleeping as he had had a long day!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day
Today we headed over to beautiful New Albany to the home of Les Wexner (think The Limited) for their annual New Albany Classic. It was a beautiful day, and the turn out was huge. Lucy had a ball riding the rides, and petting the animals. (Thank you aunt Leslie and uncle Tom for riding the spinning rides with her!!) Enjoy the photos!
*Please note, I was advised that the horse in the last pic WAS just sleeping as he had had a long day!
*Please note, I was advised that the horse in the last pic WAS just sleeping as he had had a long day!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Gymnastics
Gymnastics classes started again this past Friday, and Lucy was so excited! We originally had joined the class last year to help her build body strength, but she seemed to fall in love with it, so we continued. It almost scares me how well she does on the balance beam......future Olympian maybe? After class on Friday I ended up moving her to the Tuesday class because there was a REALLY annoying and RUDE mom in the class, and I thought if I had to deal with her the next nine weeks I would hit her. And I DON'T consider myself a violent person!. Let's just say people wonder what is wrong with society today.....well, its moms like her raising children! Anyway, I won't have to deal with her, and Lucy won't have to be pushed around by her daughter! Life is good!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
IKE BLOWS!
Or should I say sucks....... Last Sunday the remenants of Hurricane Ike came through Columbus. We had winds exceeding 75 miles per hour. It was truly crazy. I was with my family, seperated from Mark and Lucy, and by the time I got home I could tell we were in trouble. We had lost quite few shingles on our house and shed, and the backyard looked like a war zone. We also had no power and no phone. But that was nothing... People on our street had trees in their houses, poles sticking out of windows, and cars smashed. Some were missing their entire roof! By Monday morning we could drive around and see most of the devastation. No traffic lights, still no power...... I did find a McDonald's that had power for Lucy and I, but the wait was 20+ minutes long. The price of gas went way up, and ice and batteries were no where to be found. Well, here it is Thursday and we JUST got power! We are the lucky ones as half of the city still does not. Columbus Public schools are still cancelled (although some suburbs went back yesterday) and are not expected to be fully functioning until next week.
As much as I have complained and struggled this past week, I know we are extremely lucky to not be in Texas. What we have gone through is nothing compared to those poor souls, and this has been a great reminder
As much as I have complained and struggled this past week, I know we are extremely lucky to not be in Texas. What we have gone through is nothing compared to those poor souls, and this has been a great reminder
Friday, September 12, 2008
Crazy Silly Life......
Just when you think you might have a grasp on life, things can take an interesting turn.
This morning our new social worker came out to meet us. Although our homestudy update was done a few months ago, there were some new documents she needed to do the re-write, and obviously wanted to meet us (the people she would be writing about) as well.
We liked her. Really liked her. And she was here for almost 3 hours. She's on the ball and friendly.
During her conversations with us, she asked if we had ever thought about domestic adoption. Honestly, it has crossed our minds, and been the topic of quite a few discussions around here. Frankly, the thought of our profile being in a book being perused by birth parents and hoping to be picked, makes us feel like dogs at the shelter. Not something we really wanted to do. Then she asked if we were open to bi-racial or African American babies........well, yeah.....we had thought for a while about Ethiopia. Apparently there is a shotage of parents willing to take bi-racial children here in town. WHAT?
We were intrigued. Really intrigued. A baby? Yes, a baby. How old? A few days old. All because the child is bi-racial.
We wouldn't have to fly overseas. We already have a lot of the paperwork done. Intersting huh?
Here is some more interesting news. When Mark and I sat down the for the first time with our old social worker for China back in 2006, we had never heard of the special needs program. Our social worker brought it to our attention. We applied to both programs, and Lucy came off the special needs list. Now our new social worker goes and does the same thing. Crazy!
What does God want us to do? What is he trying to tell me (us)?? Just when things start falling into place, and I really mean in place, with this current international adoption, I am thrown a curveball.
Where does God want my (our) next child to come from?
Like I said...crazy silly life.
This morning our new social worker came out to meet us. Although our homestudy update was done a few months ago, there were some new documents she needed to do the re-write, and obviously wanted to meet us (the people she would be writing about) as well.
We liked her. Really liked her. And she was here for almost 3 hours. She's on the ball and friendly.
During her conversations with us, she asked if we had ever thought about domestic adoption. Honestly, it has crossed our minds, and been the topic of quite a few discussions around here. Frankly, the thought of our profile being in a book being perused by birth parents and hoping to be picked, makes us feel like dogs at the shelter. Not something we really wanted to do. Then she asked if we were open to bi-racial or African American babies........well, yeah.....we had thought for a while about Ethiopia. Apparently there is a shotage of parents willing to take bi-racial children here in town. WHAT?
We were intrigued. Really intrigued. A baby? Yes, a baby. How old? A few days old. All because the child is bi-racial.
We wouldn't have to fly overseas. We already have a lot of the paperwork done. Intersting huh?
Here is some more interesting news. When Mark and I sat down the for the first time with our old social worker for China back in 2006, we had never heard of the special needs program. Our social worker brought it to our attention. We applied to both programs, and Lucy came off the special needs list. Now our new social worker goes and does the same thing. Crazy!
What does God want us to do? What is he trying to tell me (us)?? Just when things start falling into place, and I really mean in place, with this current international adoption, I am thrown a curveball.
Where does God want my (our) next child to come from?
Like I said...crazy silly life.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What.....I have a blog?
Okay guys....I know I have been slacking and I am sorry. Things have been a bit hectic around here, and blogging has been put by the wayside. I have been meaning to post for a while, but something else always keeps coming up.........it has been a hard summer for me, and I am really looking forward to fall. We start singing class tomorrow, and gymnastics next week. We have been keeping busy this past summer with playdates, friends, and family. Lucy will finally be baptized in October, something we have meaning to do since we came home last year. We also have been paperchasing. Yes, I am finally admitting it........ We have been so hesitant, because so many things have, and still CAN go wrong. Our house has been a whirlwind of (gotta love the new Hague laws!!) parenting classes (12 hours), FBI checks, doctors visits, and psych evals. Oh, and did I mention we have a new social worker???? (ours left for a new agency) Our homestudy visit is this Friday. Keep in mind we already did our homestudy update in May but since it is not country specific, we need to pay again to have things added. By the grace of God we have gotten financial backing (loans) and pray that He will make sure funds are available to repay them. On a funny note...I am being asked to provide documentation on an underage drinking ticket from 16 years ago for Immigration. The Police Dept. in Wisconsin laughed at me when I asked for it. I honestly DID NOT think that would come back to bite me in the butt!!! Anyway...I am not going to release any more info until we are further along. I will tell you all though that we are crushed that at this point, we are NOT expecting Lucy's sibling to be from China. Hope everyone is well, and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward. Thanks Dawn for giving me the push to get my act back in order!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Roosters Anyone?
After the passport photos we headed to one of our favorite hangouts. Lucy doesn't like most servers, but LOVES her Whitney!! Check it out!
Passport Photos
Tonight we took Lucy to get her passport photos taken. I only took my camera because my daughter so does NOT like to perform, and I could only begin to imagine how she would do......
Well, she actually did pretty well!! It took a couple minutes, and we finally we got what we needed!! I am guessing it didn't hurt that we had promised her a new pair of sunglasses that she had spied upon entry to Walgreens if she completed said task. Mission Acomplished!!!
Well, she actually did pretty well!! It took a couple minutes, and we finally we got what we needed!! I am guessing it didn't hurt that we had promised her a new pair of sunglasses that she had spied upon entry to Walgreens if she completed said task. Mission Acomplished!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Venting......
First let me say this has nothing to do with our trip....
I am angry. REALLY ANGRY. Many of you know that we had decided a few months ago to adopt again, this time from Taiwan. We chose an agency, we'll just call them Commonwealth, that came HIGHLY recommended by many social workers (not ours however, as she had never worked with them..) and were signed up for the Taiwan program. Long story short, things just didn't seem right. They kept asking for money, we kept sending it. Until they asked a for a huge payment...one that wasn't suppossed to be made for a year or so, closer to the day we received our child. I went to Mark and said something didn't feel right, and asked if he was okay with me stopping this adoption. He agreed. That night I sent them a letter describing all the inconsistencies with what was promised, and with what was reality, and told them we were NOT comfortable moving ahead, and asked for our money back. The first letter in response essentially called me a liar. The second letter promised a refund saying because Taiwan had changed it's laws, and because we could not get what was promised us, they would mail us a check. Give it a few weeks to arrive they said. So we waited, and waited, and waited........
Three weeks ago Monday Commonwealth said they sent out the check. Two weeks go by, and NOTHING. So Monday I e-mail and tell them the check hasn't arrived. They confirm the day it went out, and include the address to which it was sent. Still, hasn't shown up. I e-mail again, and get a response today. ...........seems they are closing. Our adoption money is gone.
I am so angry I am shaking. Please pray for us.
I am angry. REALLY ANGRY. Many of you know that we had decided a few months ago to adopt again, this time from Taiwan. We chose an agency, we'll just call them Commonwealth, that came HIGHLY recommended by many social workers (not ours however, as she had never worked with them..) and were signed up for the Taiwan program. Long story short, things just didn't seem right. They kept asking for money, we kept sending it. Until they asked a for a huge payment...one that wasn't suppossed to be made for a year or so, closer to the day we received our child. I went to Mark and said something didn't feel right, and asked if he was okay with me stopping this adoption. He agreed. That night I sent them a letter describing all the inconsistencies with what was promised, and with what was reality, and told them we were NOT comfortable moving ahead, and asked for our money back. The first letter in response essentially called me a liar. The second letter promised a refund saying because Taiwan had changed it's laws, and because we could not get what was promised us, they would mail us a check. Give it a few weeks to arrive they said. So we waited, and waited, and waited........
Three weeks ago Monday Commonwealth said they sent out the check. Two weeks go by, and NOTHING. So Monday I e-mail and tell them the check hasn't arrived. They confirm the day it went out, and include the address to which it was sent. Still, hasn't shown up. I e-mail again, and get a response today. ...........seems they are closing. Our adoption money is gone.
I am so angry I am shaking. Please pray for us.
CCAI Travel Group #1168 Reunion: Six Flags
I must state at this point that we are missing 1 family. They are from California, and couldn't make it out here this summer. We all would have loved to see them, especially little "Su Su", now named May, and her big brother Griffen, but understand that it is a really long trip. Phoebe and her family came in from Kanses, and Josh's family from Michigan. We do not believe that the kids really remember each other, but all warmed up pretty quickly. It has been such a joy to see all their smiling faces (well, okay from the other 2 kiddos...not MINE!) and to have them all together again. It has also been wonderful to spend some time with the parents, catching up on all their lives and sharing "war stories". Phoebe's heart surgery was done in China pre-adoption, but Josh and his family had to fly home early from China last year because he was so ill. He had surgery as soon as he came home to the US, and although we all keep in touch throughout the year, it is just better to share some details in person. We hope to continue these reunions every year so that the kiddos have yet another connection to China, and so we as parents, can continue to marvel at these little miracles whose souls are just so resilient! Enjoy the pics, these are just a snippet of our day at Six Flags!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
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