Don't give up..... Someone out there needs you

Words to live by….. Well that someone in our case is a little girl. That we are sure of. At this point we just aren’t sure where she is at. We are still waiting to here back from the O that we submitted to a month ago. While we are waiting I have came across another O that I am very interested in and trying to find out more information about. This O is different than most. They maintain a very small group of children ages 0 to 5 years and when I say small they currently have 17 children and only can take in 30. They have a 3 children to 1 caretaker ratio and by american standards that is amazing! This O is located up in the mountains about an hour from Port Au Prince and there is a beautiful little girl their that is in need of a loving family. There is actually 3 adorable kiddos 2 boys and then this little girl.

So Now I am asking myself what is god trying to tell me? Is he trying to tell me that maybe I need to procede down this path and go with this new O? Or is this just me not being patient? I have had the other 2 little girls in my mind for a month now. I think about them daily as if they were my own. We pray for them daily. Why now has this other little girl been put in our path?

I guess I need to remember my words ---

Be Patient ~ Prepare To Wait ~ Prepare To Be Flexible

But what do those words really mean? I have been Patient we have been really working on this for over a year now. And Wait we have been waiting and waiting and waiting. Flexible yep done that to we have delt with about 6 independent O’s in Haiti. (why independent because its cheaper about $10 to $12 Thousand dollars cheaper) I have looked at agencys here in the US that do adoptions in Haiti and they are pricey and a lot of them won’t help us because we aren’t old enough. (current adoption law says parents much be 35) The independent O’s have relationships with the Haitian Govt and they can make things happen that some agencies can’t. This is what I have learned from talking with many other adoptive parents.


I know what we have been called to do and that is adopt. So now we will continue to wait on the lord and follow what he wants us to do.


“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

Waiting is hard to do when there are 145 million orphans worldwide. Did you know there are nearly 236 million people in the United States that call themselves Christians. From a purely statistical standpoint, American Christians by themselves have the ability to house every orphan in the world… Wow that is a powerful statement. I realize every Christian isn’t in a place to adopt some are elderly some are unemployed and some don’t feel the call to adopt. But just imagine what a small percentage of American Christians can do.


“Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act. " Proverbs 24:12

Growing Up Is Hard To Do

So maybe not completely growing up but when your baby goes to preschool for the first time.... it makes you realize they don't stay little for long. Their is nothing you can do to stop them from growing up. Its part of nature part of how things work part of god's plan we all have to grow up no matter how sad it may be!  Wesley started preschool today out at the high school for the child development class preschool. Danielle is in the class so I am very excited that Wesley gets to be in the class while she is helping. Wesley's great friend Gracie is also in the class and he was very excited about that. This morning when he was getting ready he tells me "mommy my tummy hurts can't I just stay home with you" I told him No Wesley Gracie and Danielle would be sad if you weren't their. I also reminded him that we were going to McDonald's after preschool was over!

So as you can see I got some pics today.... Well that is because I ended up staying the whole time. At first Wesley wouldn't even play with the toys he wanted me by him at all times. He finally started playing and I was able to actually sit down. We are hoping that on Friday he will stay and I can actually leave. Even if its just going out to my car! Wesley's little friend Gracie also had a hard time her mommy didn't get to leave either. We both kind of knew this was going to happen but we were hoping for a little better outcome. All in all the kids had an allright time and now it was time for some McDonald's! We followed Gracie and her mom to McDonald's and Wesley was all excited. We never go in and eat and he thought that was cool. We had a nice lunch and talked to the kids about us leaving them at preschool on Friday! Mommy's can't stay and play at preschool!!

Could it be the Future Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Price

Kaden's Paper Monster

So this is the mountain of Kaden's 4th grade work that he has brought home so far this year. I know I have moaned and groaned about this before. This large paper monster is just 1 child from the 4th grade can you imagine all 50 of them. Kaden still has 9 weeks to go and I am sure this will only grow to be a bigger mountain in those 9 weeks. I usually pull out a few great papers to save for him to probably throw away someday when he is in his twenties. All the rest of these papers will go to recycling. I can only hope that maybe 1/2 the other kids parents recycle their child's paper monster as well.

That Was Easy

Solve your dinnertime dilemma any night of the week! New PHILADELPHIA Cooking Creme is spoonable, perfectly seasoned and so rich and creamy, it helps you fight chicken fatigue with ease by making boring chicken taste outrageously delicious. Available in Italian Cheese and Herb, Savory Garlic, Original and Santa Fe Blend, just imagine what it can do for beef, pork, pasta, fish and more.

We used this happy little helper tonight and made a very tasty meal. I used grilled frozen chicken, frozen veggies and fettuccine along with the Italian cheese herb cooking creme. I put a little bit of cheese on the top when it was done and on the plate and my family enjoyed it. I think I had dinner done in about 20 minutes!! and it was a homemade meal! Yay go me!

 

Cuponk ??

So Kaden got out of the shower tonight and tells us that he has thought of something else he wants for his birthday.. He says I want Cuponk...

Zach and I say what is it.. Kaden then proceeds to tell us that its a ping pong ball and you try to get it into this cup... Zach then says to me oh my just like beer pong! So now they have made a "game" for younger age kids so they can figure out how to be good at beer pong by the time they are old enough to drink! Not sure if he will be getting Cuponk for his Birthday! Kaden doesn't know about beer pong... Well at least i don't think he does. He just came out and told us I looked it up on youtube! Oh my who knows what he will find on youtube!

Spring Break At Home

I know spring break at home sounds .... oh.... well... so boring when your use to heading southbound and soaking up some sun! We did manage to have some fun... We went bowling and the kids enjoyed that so did Zach and I! We had ice cream several times!! Yum-O nothing says summer is almost here like some good ice cream. On Wednesday we headed north to Chicago and went to the Shedd Aquarium we took my cousin Mackenzie with us... Wesley calls her chenzie it is really cute! The Shedd was not as good as I had expected. We have been to the Aquarium in Gatlinburg before and we love it I am not a big fan of the Shedd and was glad we had free tickets! I don't think I would pay to go back up to the Shedd. We left Wolcott and it was about 60 degrees and we got to the Shedd and it was freezing 40 degrees windy and cold. I have never been a Chicago person and now I know why!! We ate at Portillos on the way home and that was probably the highlight of my day! We did a few other fun things with the boys while on spring break but all in all I will say going to Florida is much better!

Beluga Whales these were so cool!

Nemo

I just love turtles

My gangster son and Chenzie

New Office

My Florida desk is finally done and so is my new office!! It only took about 4 months to complete but its done now and I love it! This is the desk that Zach and I found while in Panama City Beach at Pieces a lovely little store that we just happen stumble upon.

We decided to "close" the tanning beds and I moved into the office that is closer to all the action of the daily business here at M&H Fleet Services, Inc. I always liked my office space on the tanning side but I was also out of the daily loop. The tanning business is really only busy for a few months out of the year and I just have too many things to do and was tired of worrying about it. So we still have the beds and friends and family are still using them we just aren't "open" for daily business!  Here is some pictures of the desk before and after and my new office! I really wanted an old antique look. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind but I do love it and it is very special to and I think the colors go very well together!

God Thinks Your Wonderful

"So promise me you'll never forget...that you aren't an accident or an incident...you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth...Flooded by emotion, overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, 'You are my child. I love you dearly.'" Max Lucado, God Thinks You're Wonderful

Flintstones Complete

So I haven't been feeling the greatest and I really don't want to go to the Doctor. I think I may be low on Iron so I decided that I need to start taking some vitamins. I hate taking vitamins I hate it hate it hate it! They just have a yucky taste. So I decided that I would just start taking the same vitamins that the boys take! I picked up the Flintstones and sure enough they say for ages 4 to adult take 1 daily so that is what I am doing hopefully in a few weeks I will start feeling better and I won't need to go to the Doctor!

 

Blessings

Today Zach and I attended a showing for a dear man who touched my husbands life in many ways. I did not know this man very well but what I did know of him I liked! He always had little quotes and words of wisdom that he liked to share.

As we were waiting in line I saw this picture with some very powerful words. It had the word Blessings in the back ground and then on top it read "Write your hurts in the sand..... Carve your blessings in Stone" As I read this over and over it really started to sink in. I have been really been struggling lately with some hurts and this really brought it all in to perspective for me. Why have I been putting so much time and energy thinking about hurt when really I should just be carving my blessings in stone!  

Five Question Friday

Well it's Friday the day we all long for! Friday means 2 days off work, Friday means time with the family but this Friday means SPRING BREAK!! That's right and we are staying home this year......Frown, Big Sad Face : ( We usually go down to Panama City Beach and have a great time but this year we decided that we would do a summer trip to the beach instead so that means staying home for Spring Break! It really sounded like a good plan when we were talking about it a few months ago. But now that the time has come I really just want to jump in the car and head south!! The weather at Spring Break is really hit or miss and this year it looks like a Grand Slam! Looks like sunny skies and 75-80 degree weather! Booo Hissss that's not Fair! Oh well we will get ours this summer! So for now we will have to make the best of spring break here in boring Indiana!

1. Have you ever testified in court? For what?

Nope I never have and I really hope that I never have to.. I mean it just sounds scary to me! I am sure I would get all shades of red and blotchy like I do when I am nervous.
 2. Do you still have your wedding dress?
I sure do it is in a box in our bedroom. I am not really sure what I am going to do with it... I can't really think of any events that I would really be able to wear it too but at the same time it is very special to me so I still have it!
 3. Is there a special place you like to go when you're happy, sad, stressed, etc.?
Were I really like to go is too far to drive just any ol day! I love Panama City Beach and it is always a good stress reliever for me! Going for a walk for me seems to be a good stress reliever and sometimes I will go to barnes and noble and sit for a while and drink a cup of coffee.
 

4. If you have kids, do they sleep with you? If you don't have kids...will you let your kids sleep with you when/if you have them?
I have kids and they do not sleep with us thank god! When we are on vacation our youngest will sleep with us but that is about the only time. I am very happy that we never started this routine with our kids!

 5. Do you watch late night TV?
Nope not very often... most of the time I am fast asleep in bed!

Praying For An Answer

After reading another post today and being inspired....I decided that I would go ahead and do this. I know that not many people read my blog but I thought this couldn’t hurt! Adopting from Haiti once we are all said and done I am sure will be the hardest thing we have ever done. It is an emotional roller coaster and things don't move fast in Haiti. If things here in the States happened like they do in Haiti I am sure it would be mass chaos. As some of you may know we have been on the road to finding an orphanage to adopt from for the past year or so. Just when we would think that maybe we had found that orphanage something happens and it has leaded us in another direction. I don't usually question why these things happen I have just put it off as part of gods plan. He knows when the time is right for us so we are very patiently waiting! At this point we have submitted our application to an orphanage and we are waiting to hear back from them. We have inquired about 2 beautiful little girls. One who we have seen smiling in several pictures and one who we have only seen 1 picture of and she was crying in this picture. I truly believe that a person's eyes tell a story and I think both of these girls are just beautiful. We are praying to hear something soon from the Orphanage about these girls and if we will be able to adopt them. At this point I am not ready to show a picture of them but I will share with you their beautiful eyes!

Little Bit # 3 ????

Little Bit # 4 ????

What Can You Do To Help??

Right now we are asking that our friends and family that read our blog please say a prayer for us and these beautiful girls. Pray that we will get the referral we have been searching for. Pray that god will help guide the people that run the orphanage in the right direction for these girls. Pray that he will find them a forever family even if it isn't with us. The faster the process can get started for these girls the closer they are to getting to their new forever family!

Thoughts of a 3 year old

So the other night we were saying our prayer at bedtime. It was me and Wesley and this is how it went.

Me: Now I lay me down to sleep
Wesley: down to sleep
Me: I pray my lord my soul to keep
Wesley: my soul to keep
Me: If I should Die before
Wesley: I'm going to die?? Why did you say that??
Me: What no.. I didn't say that.. Lets start over

Our prayer now goes like this....  

Now I lay me down to sleep 
I pray my lord my soul to keep 
If I should die before I wake
I pray my lord my soul to take 
Guide me through the starry night
And wake me with the sunshine bright

Oh my goodness I felt so bad to think that my 3 year old is thinking I am going to die.. Then he says mommy why did you say that! Zach was sitting on the couch when this happen and he said the look on my face was priceless... I told him the look on Wesley's face was priceless! I think I handled it all right not sure what I would do differently if I had it to do over again! Hopefully he isn't scared for life!

Five Question Friday

Ok its finally Friday... I actually think this week went by pretty fast! I got my Expedition fixed carmax had it since last week. A $650 repair only cost me $50 thanks to the warranty I bought with the car!! Yay me! Then Zach and I tried out Dave and Busters while we were in Indy and we really enjoyed it and we will be taking the kids back some time soon!! Good Food, Good Drinks and Great Games for the kids and adults! I remembered to pick Kaden up from Basketball practice this week and now its Friday! Tonight we are having a suprise birthday party for my cousin Danielle and its going to be great!! I can't wait to see the look on her face and give her the gift that we bought for her!! Fun Fun times!!

1. Do you know what your REAL hair color is?



Um... Yes..... Well... Kind of ?? Hmm the color that I see peeking through is a ugly grey color! I have been dying my hairs a very dark brown/black color and I really love it. I am probably darker now than I have ever been I would say my natural is more of a dark brown not really black.. but then again I am not real sure! Sometime I have red highlights in my hair which makes since I mean my mom is a red head!!
 2. Do you plan ahead for summer, or fly by the seat of your pants?
Yes and No I have to plan ahead for baseball games and football camp and vacation but any other days that are left we pretty much fly by the seat of our pants.. You know a trip to the frost freeze or maybe Indiana Beach to eat some yummy taco's and then on over to the drive in to catch 2 shows for the price of 1 ahh you gotta love summer!!

3. What is your favorite meal to cook?
I really like cooking my crockpot it is so easy and you can make some really yummy meals in crockpots! I think my favorite is a crockpot lasagna that was very yummy and easy! My favorite thing to cook not in a crock pot is baked spaghetti!

4. Do you get offended by not receiving thank yous?
Sometime but I guess not really... I really like sending other's thank yous when they have helped me out. I feel like hand writting something and mailing it has been lost these days and it just makes you feel extra special to get something you aren't expecting in the mail!

5. How did you meet your best friend?
Well I would honestly say that my best friend is my husband.. I tell him everything and share all my thoughts and emotions with him! He is great we meet the summer 97 and we have now been married for 10 wonderful years!!

Another good friend that I have is from school we have always been there for each other. We don't actually see each other that often but we know we are just a phone call or text away!

Last but not least is another great friend that I have really gotten to know by being in PTO with her and out kiddos being the same age! I just really relate to her and I consider her a really good friend of mine. I go to her for advice and to moon and complain!

Ok really last last but certainly not least is my sister.. She is a wonderful friend and I love her to pieces she would do anything for me and I would do the same for her!

Thankful Thursdays

Oh it's sure been a long time since I did a Thankful Thursday!! So Today's Thankful Thursday is for Birthdays!! I am thankful for Birthdays! My Cousin Danielle finally turned 18!! She had been dreaming of this day for a while now! I remember my 18th birthday. My mom actually surprised me! I got home from something at school that night and I walked in the house with Zach and into the kitchen and there was all of my family and about 8 of my friends from high school! It was a big surprise! I had no clue and it was great! What a great memory to have and to think I am going to be 30 this year and I still remember it! I am sure Birthdays are something we are all Thankful For!!



Off Track

Do you ever feel like you have fallen off track? You've lost your way things just aren't going like you want them to go.. Well I have been feeling this way lately with a bunch of things in my life and its time to get this derailed train back on a track. What track you say?? I say any track just back on track heading in the "right" direction!

"be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" ~ Dr.Seuss

Its time to start back up and get some Thirty One parties going I have about 10 people that have expressed to me that they want to have a show and I have been dragging my feet. I was so busy with Thirty One back before Christmas and then after that I was busy with getting ready for the school carnival and now I find myself not busy and I am kind of enjoying breathing for a few minutes before I start back up full speed ahead!! Chug-a Chug-a Choo Choo! I keep saying to myself hello Karena wake up a thirty one party is money towards the adoption and that is the long term goal to bring "our girl or girls" home from Haiti!

"thee are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them" ~ Charles D Gill

I guess I feel like I have this never ending list of things that have to be done and they are wonderful things and they won't get done if I don't do them! I just have to find a way to balance everything so I don't get to stressed out.. That seems to be my biggest struggle getting stressed out! I need to learn to take one day at a time and Enjoy the Simple and Small things in Life!

Now I Lay Me

We have started praying at bedtime with Wesley and it is the cutest thing! The other night I went to give him a kiss and he said I want to pray mommy! So I knelt down beside him and we prayed.

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the lord my soul to take

Guide me through the starry night

and wake me with the sunshine bright

(this is the part that is really cute.. Now Wesley prays for whatever is on his little mind. The past few nights this is what he has prayed for .....

His Sisters and A Baby

 (notice sisters with an s and a baby ??)

Being able to go poop and pee in the potty all the time

max and liberty ( our dogs)

bubby

mommy

daddy

mammaw

pappaw

mammaw betty

grandma jayne
aunt karie
gracie (his little friend)

gracie's mommy and daddy

and then we say........

Amen

Five Question Friday 03/04/2011

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?

Umm yes I sure have twice this year!! I forgot Kaden at Spanish club I was  to be there at 4 to pick him up and the school called at 4:15 to let me now Kaden was still waiting for someone to pick him up! Oops! and then I forgot Kaden at After School Basketball.... I know I know what is going on this year with me.. Kaden used a friends dad's cell phone and called Zach and then the friends dad took him home! Yep I'm that mom forgetting my kiddos here and there!


2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)
I am really not sure I am going to guess to a movie or something like that..... I am sure it was me and some of my friends and then a group of guys! Very lame I know!!

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.)
Silly fear.... hmmm what is my silly fear..... I hate driving my car and coming upon a motorcycle I am afraid the motorcycle will have a wreck and then I will run over the motorcycle driver with my car! I know that is pretty silly right??


4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?
Wow what a wonderful question for the week that I have just had! I like to say that I try to find the best in most people and I try to avoid confrontation. However when that is not possible I am learning that it is better to get it all out there in the open and try to talk through the situation... I would not say I am great at it. I would also say that I do not cause it!


5. Wood floors or carpet?
I like both... I just got new wood floors in my office and I love them however I will be putting down a small area rug! So I guess I would probably say I prefer carpet!