What's been going on

We have been super busy lately, so here is a brief update on our family:

- Sophie and I continue to grieve the loss of our dog, Sydney. Sophie talks about it everyday. Sometimes, I still wake up thinking about her and can't go back to sleep. Also, I still think about letting her outside and taking care of her. We miss her terribly...

- Sophie did GREAT in her Preschool Praise musical at church. She followed the three golden rules I gave her beforehand: 1) Don't put your finger in your nose; 2) Don't pull up your dress; and 3) Don't pick at your lip. AND, not only that, but she stayed on the stage and actually participated in the program. We were so proud of her and my favorite part was when she waved to me towards the end from the stage and said, "Mama. I didn't pick my lip!" That's my girl.

- Brian has been working hard (as always). He has had a lot of side work lately, which we are thankful for, but look forward to having some family time when they are completed.

- I have been busy keeping the house running and getting things together for Christmas. I spend most of my time with Sophie disciplining her, so I am hoping that this stage of "testing her boundaries" she is currently in will end soon!

- Sophie has been enjoying spending time every Friday night with her grandparents, Grandma and Pap pap. She goes to church with them and spends the night, and she just LOVES this part of her week. Grandma and Pap pap are enjoying it too.

That's about it in a nutshell. Now you're caught up!

Jim Elliot - Heroes of the Faith

This book was okay. After reading End of the Spear, I don't think that some of the information in this book is accurate. But I'm sure that it wasn't intentional by the author!

Healing the Heart - Focus on the Family

I thoroughly enjoyed this Bible Study. It was the first study by Focus on the Family that I have ever done, and I was surprised by how much of it I needed to apply in my own life. A++++

End of the Spear - Steve Saint

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! This book was written by Steve Saint whose father, Nate Saint, was one of the five missionaries killed by the Auca (Waodani) Indians in January 1956 (Jim Elliot was another one of the men who died). Steve writes about growing up with members of this tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle who killed his father. Eventually, Steve moved his wife and children back to the jungle in 1995 to live among the Waodani. The AMAZING love that Steve and his family have for the Waodani people is truly something that only God Himself could orchestrate. I LOVED how one of the men who was involved in the spearing of Steve's father became "Grandfather" to this family. This is one of my favorite books of all times! You've got to read it!

Web of Lies - Brandilyn Collins

Ditto this fourth book. Very interesting plot, but the characters make you want to pull your hair out!

Dead of Night - Brandilyn Collins

This is book three, and my comments are the same. Interesting storyline, annoying characters. Too bad!

Stain of Guilt - Brandilyn Collins

This is the second book in the Hidden Faces Series by Brandilyn Collins. It was better than the first one, but I still didn't love it, and I think I figured out what it is that rubs me the wrong way about this series - I think the plot is interesting but the characters are ANNOYING!!! Seriously, I don't like the personalities of the main people in these books. THAT made it hard to read!

I'm still here

Okay. It's been a WHILE since I blogged and I have a lot of book reviews to catch up on, so let's do it!

Sydney Memories....

Night two without Sydney... It feels like a member of the family is gone. Will I ever get used to her not being here? We spent 17 years together and the memories have been coming in waves...

- The first time I saw Sydney at the Houston Humane Society. She was sitting with her back to me as I looked in her cage. Her name at that time was "Princess" and she had been given away because her family had too many pets. I called her name and she just stayed in place staring at the back wall. Finally, she turned her head to look at me as if to say, "What? You're just going to walk away like everybody else." I called her again while patting my leg and she slowly walked over to the gate. She looked so sad and I just KNEW. I told my grandmother, grandfather, and cousin who were with me, "Stay here while I go get a worker. This is the one." The Society told me that her brother who came in with her had been adopted by the Hearing Dogs Association to be trained to assist hearing impaired people, but that "Princess" wasn't adopted because she didn't have any personality. Boy, were they wrong! God just knew that I needed a furry friend for the next 17 years...

- I brought her home, placed her on a blanket, and sat down on the floor with her for a long time. She didn't really want to sniff around and seemed a little scared. I sat on the floor the rest of the night with a least one hand on her at all times. I was trying to bond with her and let her know that I was going to be taking care of her. It worked.

- The one and only time Sydney went to the beach she LOVED it! She chased the birds until her little paws were shredded from the shells. It was so much fun watching her run and play.

- She never did anything wrong... E-V-E-R! Never chewed up anything; never got into the garbage; never misbehaved. Always a good girl.

- She never learned to fetch or even sit! But when she was younger, we would play hide and seek, and she loved it!

- One time, she had a tumor grow right on the top of her head. It was pretty large and solid, and it would sometimes bleed when she scratched it. I worked at a church at the time, and I remember asking the children of several staff members if they would pray for Sydney's tumor to go away. I was DEAD SERIOUS and knew that God heard the prayers of little children! They prayed, and it did go away! It was a testimony that God answers all kinds of prayers!

- Syd never got used to be around kids. Some dogs like children, others tolerate them. Sydney definitely tolerated them. I think they scared her. (Sorry, Sophie!)

- The time she had parvo... giving her ice cubes made from gatorade... telling her that everything was going to be okay...

- The time her bowels telescoped after I gave her a leftover piece of steak from The Outback Steakhouse. (Word to the wise: NEVER give your dog meat!) She couldn't jump up on the bed with her stitches, so I slept next to her on the floor... The vet said that he had done all he could do for her. By the grace of God, she finally started to get well and pulled through.

- The times when it was just she and I...

sniff...

R.I.P. Sydney

November 1, 1990 - November 4, 2008

Brink of Death - Brandilyn Collins

This book was alright. It is the first book by Brandilyn Collins that I have ever read, and to be honest, I wasn't that impressed. I would give it a 5 out of 10 stars.

An American Original - Walt Disney

What an interesting book! I really don't know how to describe it except to say WOW! This man WAS an american original and there were so many times when I would just read this book in awe of his creativity and imagination. It is full of facts and historical information about his life, so I'm not sure that everyone would enjoy it, but I sure did! Only God can give a person THIS much talent and giftedness!

Are you kidding me?!?

I rarely watch Oprah, but today I turned it on and the show is about budgeting and ways to save money. One family they highlighted brings home $8,000 per MONTH (yes, you read that number right!) and as a result of a few changes, they were able to save $2,000 per month. Now, I know there are people out there that make more money than me, and more power to 'em. But does anyone CARE that this family is spending more money than they are bringing in? Not me! How completely ridiculous that this is the couple the Oprah show highlighed, and not the majority of the world that doesn't bring home anywhere near that amount. Give me a break!

Faith Lifts Chapman In Wake of Tragedy

It still brings me to tears...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/10/earlyshow/main4435192.shtml

God bless this family...

Dirty Blonde - Lisa Scottoline

Hated it. Stupid. And I'm taking it back to B&N!

In my defense, I purchased this book without realizing what it was about. The only hint of a clue on the back of the book reads, "She's just become a judge but leads a dark double life that she hides from everyone?" Call me ignorant, but it NEVER crossed my mind that the character's double life was as a call girl!

See, I told you it was stupid. Too bad. I still love her other books though.

Devil's Corner - Lisa Scottoline

This is the first one of Lisa's books that I really didn't care for. I liked one of the characters, therefore, I kept on reading it. Otherwise, I didn't enjoy it at all. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe the subject matter (drugs) turned me off. Anyway, you can skip this one.

Brian's New "Do"

Brian just used his friend's clippers to cut off all of his hair, and I LOVE IT!

First Day of K-4

Today Sophie started school and she was so excited! She woke up and got dressed without incident (it usually takes her a little while to wake up), and when we pulled up to the school, she said, "THERE'S MY SCHOOL!" She talked the entire way into the building, to herself and anyone else she passed. She also got to use her umbrella for the first time, and that might have been more exciting than her first day. Once we got into the classroom, all of the children were sitting on the floor quietly, and Sophie was still talking. And kept talking. Who knows if she was able to stop once I left the class. When I picked her up, the first thing she said is, "Mama! I missed you!" Love that girl.

Sophie's Special Day 8-25-08

Late Sunday night while my family was sleeping, I thought about how Sophie only had 3 more days before she started school and I wanted to doing something special with her. So, before Brian went to work the next morning, I told him I wanted to take Sophie out to eat and to Build-A-Bear. Yes, I know it's expensive but that is what credit cards are for! He wisely didn't question me, and I think he must have known I needed a little stress release myself.

Sophie was very excited about her "special day." I took her to Gattitown (as a surprise) and she was having fun until we went to play games. You see, she didn't want to play. And didn't want me to play either. So, she started crying about how she was ready to leave, and even though I was looking forward to spending my $5 game card on useless video games, we left.

The day was not going exactly how I had planned, so I asked her if she wanted to go to the mall. She said, "Yes, and I want to get a cookie!" I've trained her well. Doesn't everyone buy a cookie from the Great American Cookie Company at the mall?

The miracle part of the day is that she actually wanted a build-a-bear. You see, I have tried to talk into getting one several times, but she would always say, "No, I don't need one" which equals no fun. But this time when I asked her if she would like to have one, she said yes. She chose a brown puppy dog, and picked out a green Tinkerbell fairy outfit with Hello Kitty panties. And the name? Sydney, of course (just like our dog)! When they gave her the box, she dragged it all around the mall, bumping into everything because she wouldn't let me carry it. It turned out to be a good day.

FYI, she chose to get ice cream instead of a cookie. Thank goodness because the lady at the GACC counter was not giving out good customer service that day and she stayed on the phone thereby not helping customers.

Brian's birthday 8-6-08

For Brian's birthday, Sophie and I threw him a pirate birthday party. Why? Well, there's a story there (of course!).

In May, Brian started playing up my birthday to Sophie by saying, "Sophie, you know who's birthday is coming up? Mama's!" Well, she latched onto that like white on rice and started saying, "YEAH! Mama's going to have a Hello Kitty party!" Now, I had never said anything about a HK party, but I guess since she had one at Mimi's house for her birthday, she thought I needed one too. Well, Daddy and Sophie did throw me a Hello Kitty party and it was great!

So, when Brian's birthday was coming up, we asked her what kind of party we needed to throw for Daddy. She said, "Hmmmm. Daddy, would you like to have a pirate birthday party?" Brian said that was a great idea, so that's what we planned for. Sophie enjoyed helping me buy the decorations and presents, and here are the pictures to prove it. Aarrrggg matey!

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Ashley & Ryan's Wedding 8-2-08

Okay. I knew I was a little behind in updating my blog, but didn't realize I hadn't told you about Ashley & Ryan's wedding. Sophie was a flower girl and even though I had been nervous for about a year in anticipation of this day, everything went really well. Everyone kept telling me that Sophie would do fine, but in my mind, I envisioned her falling down the aisle, starting to cry, and then throwing one of her dramatic tantrums and screaming, "Ooooohhhhhh noooooooo, I fell down!" (think America's Funniest Home Videos). But, by the grace of God and with many prayers, she did great!

Courtney was a big help that day and watched over Sophie for us. I left her with the girls (bridemaids & Ashley) about 30 minutes before the ceremony started so I could go find a seat. (Actually, I was anxious and needed to sit down!) So when it came time to walk down the aisle with her little basket filled with rose petals..... she didn't throw a single one. I think the wedding coordinator told her to go and find her Mommy, so she did. She walked down the aisle with her hands out saying, "Where is my Mama? Where is my Daddy? I can't find them anywhere. Daddy? Mama? I don't know where they went." Or something like that. I couldn't see or hear her but that's what I have been told. Then she saw her Daddy sitting at the front and she started running to him, but ran into Ms. Kim instead (who is the mother of the bride). Ms. Kim pointed at me across the aisle, and Sophie started running towards me and said, "Mama! I missed you!" It was so sweet! Everyone said it was precious, and it truly was. After she sat down, she looked behind me and said, "Mama, look. There's our friends. Hey, Ms. Angie! (waving)". Then she saw Houston on the stage and said, "Hey Houston! (waving)" Isn't she a trip! She wiggled a little bit during the ceremony, but at the end, I walked her to the aisle and said, "Okay, Sophie. Walk back up the aisle and go find Ashley" and she did. She held up her little dress and trotted off. It was so cute! We were very proud of her. Ashley and Ryan have some adorable photos of her from the wedding pictures that we are going to make copies of from their disk. And even when the bridal party was introduced at the reception, she made her entrance and ran to us. She did amazing!

Oh yeah, and did I mention that Ashley look BEAUTIFUL....like a princess and Ryan was as handsome as ever? It was a good day.

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Kung Fu Panda

Have you seen this movie? It's AWESOME! I saw it in June when it first came out, then saw it again Friday night with my friends for Girl's Night Out. I L-O-V-E-D it! (No, I'm not kidding.) For some reason, I haven't ran into anyone over the age of 12 who likes it as much as me. Now that I think about it, even the kids I have talked to haven't liked it as much as me either. I wonder what that says about my personality... Who cares! I can't wait to buy it when it comes out on DVD!

Let's see....

What has been going on in my life? A lot that is not blog worthy, that's for sure! Things that should never be posted on the Internet for others to see and things that need prayer! So, if you think about it, throw out an unspoken prayer request for Brian and I, okay?

Here's a few updates to keep you in the loop:

- Sophie starts K-4 on Thursday. She is very excited, and will be going to a brand new school. I think she will enjoy going 5 days a week (for 3 hours a day).

- I bought tickets for Brian's birthday to the Alan Jackson/Trace Adkins concert coming in October. He was thrilled and we are looking forward to it.

- Also, I bought tickets for the Steven Curtis Chapman/Michael W. Smith concert coming to Spartanburg in October. With everything that has been going on with the Chapman family, how could we not go and show our support?

- 25 days 'til Disney, and counting...

- Brian and I have been dieting for three weeks. He has lost 10 lbs.; I have lost 4 lbs., and holding... bummer.

- We've have been staying up way too late watching the Olympics. How could you not with Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals? We will probably not see anything like this again in our lifetime, so we can handle being a little tired the next day.

- How's church? No comment. See the first line...

- I love Girl's Night Out. I am now going with a group from Upward and a group from church, so twice a month. Thank you, God.

- Sophie's favorite song right now is "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. Um, I didn't realize she was actually listening to the song when I played it in the car. But she is and always says, "Turn it up loud, Mama" at the beginning, and "Mama, that was a good song" at the end. Yeah, I'm Mother of the Year.

- I love my friends. I have the B-E-S-T friends in the whole world - I'm sure of it.

- God is good. Even when we don't understand...

Running from the Law - Lisa Scottoline

I enjoyed this book even though the language was HORRIBLE! (I try to just skim past it the best I can.) From what I have read, I believe that Lisa used really heavy language in her first few books (this was her third), and it tapered off after that. But the story line was interesting, as well as the characters. By this book, her writing was moving from good to great!

Final Appeal - Lisa Scottoline

I thought this book was okay. I believe this was only the second book Lisa wrote, so I didn't enjoy it as much as others I have read from her. Boy, was the language heavy in this one! I would give it a 3 stars.

Daddy's Girl - Lisa Scottoline

I enjoyed this book. It was weird reading one of Lisa's books that didn't center around one of the "Rosato & Associates" characters, but I did like it. I thought the plot was interesting.

For Women Only - Shaunti Feldhan

This book was alright. We read it this summer for our Ladies Bible Study and it made some good points. It wasn't as biblically based as I thought it would be, but there was practical information in it about the inner thoughts of men. Several people I know said they enjoyed it too.

Who would have thought?

Have you seen the movie "Hellboy" that came out in 2004? Well, I had not seen it either and had no desire to until I talked to my young friend, Houston, at church (I think he's 12yrs).

One day, we were talking about movies we wanted to see and he told me he couldn't wait to see "Hellboy 2". Had I seen the first one? No, well then he started to tell me about the movie. And guess what? It sounded interesting. You mean the son of Satan grows up as a good guy who fights other demons? Hmmm.... I might need to look into that.

So for the past 3 weeks, I have been on a mission to see this movie. I have gone by and called Blockbuster, and looked to maybe even purchase it at Target and Wal-mart. No luck. EVERYONE I asked about the movie said they enjoyed it. I was on to something here.

Long story short, I finally saw the movie. Who would have thought that I would like it?!? Now it may not be for you, but I like movies that are based on comic books. I was glad that I saw it and now I want to go and see the second one at the theaters. I told Houston I would take him...

Killer Smile - Lisa Scottoline

Okay, this wasn't my favorite Lisa Scottoline book, but it kept my attention.

Bet you didn't know this historical fact:
"...at the outbreak of WWII, President Roosevelt signed into law a series of presidential orders that identified all Italian-born Americans as 'enemy aliens.' The presidential orders compelled Italian-Americans to register as enemy aliens, and some 600,000 registered. The orders also authorized their arrest by the FBI and relocation to internment camps. As a result, more than 10,000 Italian-Americans were evacuated from their homes and places of business, and sent to internment camps around the country."

There is a lot of interesting history is this book (which I love). I just thought she made the heroine a little too indestructable. I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't recommend it to my friends.

Remember when?

Do you remember when you were in school and it was your class's day to go to the library? I loved library day! I used to love to see the book posters decorating the walls encouraging children to read. I found a few from Children's Book Week on the Internet (see side pics). Some are very old, some are more recent. I wish I could have found images from the late 70's through the early 80's - one's that I remembered from elementary and middle school. I hope Sophie will enjoy the library as much as her Mama! (She already enjoys are local library, but the school library was awesome!)

Courting Trouble - Lisa Scottoline

Ummm, L-O-V-E-D it! Like so many other of Lisa's books, it grabs your attention right from the beginning. In case you haven't figured it out yet, she is my favorite author of all time!

Sidenote: I started this book on July 4 and the setting of the book was over the 4th of July weekend. 5 stars!

We are family

Well, I guess it's time to update everyone regarding where we are in the adoption process (sigh). Here it goes...

As I posted here a couple of months ago, Brian and I had finally reached the conclusion together that we were ready to adopt domestically. Brian had been ready to adopt for quite some time, but I was the one that needed to come around to the same decision. We briefly tried to focus on getting pregnant again, but after the emotional toll it took on me, we knew adoption was the avenue to pursue.

So we announced our intentions, contacted a local attorney, spoke to friends who have adopted locally, and were excited! Yeah, a decision had been made and we were moving forward.... or so we thought.

Before we looked over the packet from the adoption attorney, we knew that it was going to be expensive to adopt but didn't know it would be $19,000! However, this wasn't really an issue because God had provided the $20,000 to cover Sophie's adoption expenses and we knew He would do it again. The problem ended up being our financial situation regarding our day-to-day living expenses. But I'll get to that in a minute.

I assumed (and told people) that we were going to schedule an appointment with the adoption attorney that next week. However, when I would mention it to Brian, he was relunctant to contact the attoney. He didn't really go into detail, but said he was concerned about our financial situation and not having health insurance. I was taken back, but not surprised. When AREN'T we concerned about our financial situation? Anyway, instead of pushing the subject, I began to pray and ask God to reveal Himself and give us direction.

So, now that you are caught up, here's the decision: we're not adopting. We would love to open our hearts and home to another child, but don't have any peace about it. Below are some of the issues we have discussed:

* We have very little extra money.
We honestly don't have money to buy extra things like diapers, formula, baby stuff, etc. Yes, we go out to eat a little and occassionally go to the movies, etc., but that is determined by how much money we have left after paying bills. We have even pursued Sophie getting into the public K-4 program in our county because it is free. (By the way, she got in.)

* The economy is bad, and the price of gas, food, etc. keeps on rising.
Who would have ever thought we would have to choose between a $4.00 gallon of milk or a $4.00 gallon of gasoline? We live in a different world than we did 5 years ago, and who knows if it is going to get better.

* Brian is concerned about his job (at the cabinet shop). The housing market has definitely been affected by the poor economy, so who's to say that the cabinet shop will continue to have work? There is talk in the cabinetry community that many shops in the area will shut down next year due to lack of work. So, Brian is worried about his job. Speaking of job...

* I need to get a job next year when Sophie starts school.
I have always planned on going back to work in some capacity when Sophie starts K-5. Now, I feel even more responsibility to step up to the plate and take some of the financial pressure off of Brian and contribute to the household income. I believe by staying home with Sophie that I am doing the will of God He has laid on our hearts. It's hard not having a second income, but we were willing to make sacrifices so that I could have this time with Sophie before she starts school. But how long can this go on? If we were to adopt, we are talking about starting from ground zero, i.e., it would be another 5 years until I started back to work. Yes, I could get a job, but what good is it to spend all of the income I bring in to pay for daycare? Along those same lines...

* How many MORE jobs can Brian work?
Brian works three jobs: full-time at the cabinet shop, part-time at the church, and side jobs. If it weren't for the side jobs, we wouldn't be able to make it. Yes, God has been gracious and allowed us to set aside money for vacation, etc., but only because of the side work Brian has been able to obtain. We use money out of our savings every month and wouldn't be able to pay our bills if we didn't. Brian doesn't complain at all, but the man is exhausted! I don't know how much more he can take. Maybe one more year? Also, there is no guarantee that Brian will continue to have side work which translates into not being able to depend on that money to come in forever.

* Have I mentioned we don't have health insurance?
This is a big factor. Right now, we rarely have to go to the doctor. With Brian's hand bothering him last year, as well as Sophie's urinary tract infection and the tests that came with that diagnosis, we are still paying those doctor's bills. If we have an infant, we definitely have to go to the doctor regularly, and I'm pretty sure Spartanburg Regional won't allow us to put every visit on a payment plan.

With all of that being said...

* We ARE content.
Even though we would love to expand our family, we are content with the dynamics of our family. We have a close, special relationship with our daughter, and unlike the last time we were considering adoption, we are parents now. Circumstances are different this time around because we already have a child.

I hope I have been able to give you an idea of what has been on our minds over this past month. Why, do you ask, were we so sure that this is what God wanted us to do but now feel it isn't? I have no idea. Maybe we heard God wrong. Maybe we were being led by the desires of our hearts, and not the Lord's. Maybe God doesn't want us to lose this fire we have in our belly, so that we can continue to support other friends who are adopting. Maybe circumstances will change and we will be able to adopt again at a later time. I have no clue. The only thing I can say is that God is faithful to guide us, and I am thankful that He has brought us to the same conclusion.

Pray for us.

Nashville

Last weekend, we traveled to Nashville with Brian's parents. We had booked "The Night at the Opry" package through our hotel, and were super excited about our 3-day weekend. The good news: the Opry Mills mall was fabulous, and we got to see Riders in the Sky and Trace Adkins (remember him from The Apprentice?) at the Grand Ole Opry. The bad news: Sophie had a stomach bug all weekend. So even though Brian and his parents had to tour the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame without us, we all managed to have a good weekend. The brunch buffet that we ate before we left town was delicious. Oh yeah, and Sophie gave her grandma the stomach bug. Bummer.

Dead Ringer - Lisa Scottoline

Loved it, loved it, loved it! You know the book is going to be good when from page 1 it grabs your attention. This book was no exception. I really like the way Lisa Scottoline writes and I have already started reading another book from her. If you like suspense, mystery, and legal thrillers, she is the author for you!

The Shack - William P. Young

Well, I have been dreading writing a review of this book, but here it goes.

I know I am outnumbered here, but I didn't like this book. At all. Several friends and Christian bookstores are really promoting this book, but I just don't get it.

First of all, I don't like the way Mr. Young writes. I'm not saying that I could have done better, but something about the way he worded the sentences bugged me. I thought it could have been more simple instead of so wordy.

Secondly, I'm not claiming to be the know all and be all of the teachings of the Bible, but several things that he talked about made me uncomfortable. For example, I know this is a fiction book, but I still couldn't get into God the Father being an African-American woman, and the Holy Spririt being an Asian woman. I also didn't care for much of the dialogue between the Trinity, and the character in the book.

Basically, I could go on and on about what I didn't like about this book, but I will spare you the details. In my opinion, I think it would be easy to read this book and walk away really confused if you are not familiar with the Bible. Whether William Young is just writing a fiction book or trying to pass off his idea of theology as truth, we'll never know. But I can tell you when I researched him on the Internet after I finished the book, I didn't like what I found.

You be the judge.

Moment of Truth - Lisa Scottoline

This was a great book! What can I say? I am a big Lisa Scottoline fan, and her books keep getting better and better. I could go on and on...

My girl

Last week, Sophie and I were sitting on the back porch steps while she was enjoying a popsicle. Brian had a very crummy week regarding one of his jobs, and so I was thinking about him. I was staring off into the yard when I said, "Sophie, you know what I was just thinking? You have the best Daddy in the whole world." She didn't miss a beat and said, "And Mama."

That's my girl.

Disappointed

Have you seen the new Indiana Jones movie? Well don't. It stinks! It was so lame and I was so disappointed. I was really excited about seeing it too. Brian hit the nail on the head when he said it was too "Hollywoodized" (yeah, that's a word). Oh well. It won't be the last time I am let down. And bless Harrison Ford's heart. He is too old to be playing in this role anymore...

Grieving....

I've been grieving all day for the Chapman family in the loss of their precious daughter, Maria. I read my email right before I left the house this morning and two of my friends had sent me an article about her death. I got in the car and called Olvie. We both cried, she prayed, and I was glad I had talked to her. My heart is just breaking for this close-knit family. I think it is an understatement to say that the Chapmans' are revered in the adoption community. Not just because they adopted three beautiful little girls from China, but because they have spread the word about the blessing of adoption, and their Shaohannah's Hope Foundation helps families finance their adoptions. I have read so many articles about their adoption journey and heard them on the radio numerous times, so it is as if you really KNOW this family. I even have Mary Beth's blog bookmarked that I look at from time to time because it is so sweet and personal. My prayers are with this family, especially the brother. God be with them...

Flower Dress

Sophie is going to be in a wedding in August of our friends, Ashley and Ryan. Last night we tried on the flower dress and she looked adorable! We started praying last night during our prayer time about the wedding (and Sophie being in it!), so hopefully, she will be all prayed up by August and we won't have any drama!

Things that make you go hmmm......

So last week Brian and I were in the living room while Sophie was sitting on the potty before she went to bed. All of a sudden I heard Sophie say, "It's stuck!" I turn around from the computer and she has the potty seat.... on her head... down over her ears... stuck! Brian starts laughing, Sophie starts crying, and I jump up to rescue her. Brian wanted me to take a picture first, but there was no way I had time since she was having a meltdown. So, what we couldn't figure out is how do you go from sitting on the potty to thinking to yourself, "This thing might look good on my head." It was funny, gross, surprising and scary. Hmmmm....

Just a minute ago, I gave Sophie a small pack of mini-M&M's to eat as her snack after dinner. I was already finished eating and was on the computer. I asked her once (since it was taking a long time for her to finish her treat) if she was finished, and she said, "Not yet." Fast forward 15 minutes later when she is in the bathroom supposedly washing her hands. I walk into the bathroom and there is a mini-M&M in the sink. Here's how the conversation went:

Sophie (pointing): "I got the M&M out."
Jill: "Where was it? Did you get it out of your teeth?"
Sophie: "Noooo. It came out of my nose."
Jill: "It came out of your nose? Are there any more M&M's in your nose?"
Sophie: "Noooo."
Jill: "How many M&M's did you put up your nose?"
Sophie: "One. I just blew it out."

I thought only boys did stuff like that. Hmmmmm.....

Sophie's last day of school

Today was Sophie's last day of K-3. Wow, how the school year has flown by! God blessed us with a great school and a great teacher for Sophie's first year, and for that I am truly grateful. Ms. Morgan provided an encouraging and nurturing environment for my daughter to learn and grow, and I know it was nothing short of a God thing that she was chosen as Sophie's teacher. Brian and I got to go to her school and eat a picnic lunch with her and see a DVD that Ms. Morgan had put together from the year. We had a great time and Sophie was so excited that her Mama and Daddy were there. Above are pictures from the first day of school and her last. Below is the pics from our picnic.

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My birthday - May 17

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I had a GREAT birthday! It started out Saturday morning with Trisha, Brian and Sophie giving me a Hello Kitty birthday party. Sophie had been telling people for weeks, "My Mama has a birthday coming up and she's going to have a Hello Kitty party, and get lots of presents!" I promise I didn't put her up to it! I guess she just wanted Mama to have the same thing that she had at Mimi's for her birthday, so Brian went with it. Trisha brought over a cake, party favors, napkins, a tiara, a "It's my birthday" button, ice cream, and a gift. I had requested a cookie cake from the Great American Cookie Company, so there was plenty of sugar to go around. Sophie and Nana had made me a birthday necklace the night before, and I was excited to wear it. (I also wore it to church the next morning after Sophie brought it to me off of my dresser and said, "Mama, are you going to wear your birthday necklace to church?") I got lots of great gifts. Mom and Steve got me a new pair of Disney crocs, Trish gave me money, Mervin and Olvie game me a picture of all three of us at Easter, Marvin and Sarah gave me some embroidered handkerchiefs, and Brian got me a purse, tote bag, Hello Kitty bag (a surprise since I purchased the other stuff for myself!), a book, and a couple of purse hooks.

Then it was time for Brian and I to drop off Sophie at her Grandma and Pap Pap's so that we could go to lunch and a movie. We went to eat at On the Border in Greenville, my favorite restaurant, and it was fantastic! We even saved room for dessert and had sopapillas. We saw the movie, "Ironman" at Hollywood 20. It was okay. I thought it was very slow in the beginning and took a long time to get off the ground. But I like Robert Downey, Jr. so I could forgive a lot. Then I had been wanting to go in the new Whole Foods Market and look around, so we did. Then it was across the street to Barnes and Noble where we each got a Frappicino and looked around. We left with a book about Disney World (can you ever have too many books about Disney?) and then it was time to go pick up Sophie.

So thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special for me. The weather was great, the party was fun, the lunch was good, the movie was okay, and Barnes and Noble was awesome! I had a great day!

Girl's Night Out - May 9, 2008

Well, I'm behind on my blogging, so let's see if I remember GNO.... Oh yeah.... Jeannie, Trisha, Julia and I went to Jason's Deli. It had been a couple of months since we were there and I have to say, it was good to have the spinach wrap again! Julia was leaving the next morning for vacation, so she didn't go to see "Leatherheads" with us. I thought the movie was okay. I wouldn't call it good, but I wouldn't call it horrible either. It was somewhere in between. Jeannie went home after the movie, and Trisha and I spent a little time in Barnes and Noble. It was a good night.

Sophie got a haircut

Sophie got a new haircut on Thursday and it looks ADORABLE! I had been telling Brian for about a month that I was going to cut her hair and I finally did it. It looks so much better short, and since her hair is so thin and fine, I'm hoping it will thicken up a bit. Everyone that has seen her has loved it. The only down side is that it makes her look a little older. What do you think?

Why God Made Moms

A friend emailed this to me. Isn't it cute?

"Why God Made Moms" answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mistaken Identity - Lisa Scottoline

LOVED this book! It grabbed your attention within the first 3 pages, and it didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Go Lisa Scottoline!

Sick House

So, I was pretty much out of commission all last week due to allergies. Doesn't that sound wimpy? Wimpy, but true. Here are pictures of the consequences of Mama being sick - a sick house:

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And when Mama isn't feeling well, Sophie gets to do more of this:



Here's to a better week and a low tree pollen count for our area!

Girl's Night Out - April 25, 2008

Well, Girl's Night Out barely happened for me this month because I had been sick all week with allergies from tree pollen! In fact, I told Trisha and Jeannie I wasn't going to go because I didn't want to back out on them at the last minute. Then they said there were still going to go out and I said maybe I would join them later if I felt a little better. So, I drugged myself and went even though I wasn't feeling 100%.

We went to the Mellow Mushroom to eat pizza and it was fabulous! Then we had a little time before the movie started at the mall, so we walked around and looked at purses. Jeannie and I ended up buying the same purse from JC Penney's as part of their "buy one, get one for $.88" deal, and we only paid $19.00 each for a $45.00 purse. Trisha got a good deal on the one she bought too at Belk. Then, it was time for the movie - Baby Mama - and when we got to the theater, it was packed! We had to sit in like the 4th or 5th row from the front on the very inside of the row (thank you to the teen girls that willing scooted over in order for us to be able to sit together - and we didn't even have to ask them to). The movie was soooooo funny and even though I wasn't feeling great, the movie made me laugh and I needed it after being cooped up in the house all week. All of us enjoyed the movie and were glad we went.

Then I asked Jeannie and Trisha if they minded if we just went on home instead of going to Barnes and Noble (told ya I wasn't feeling good!), and they said that would be fine. Trisha was getting up early anyway to go see in Amy in Atlanta on Saturday morning. Thanks, Jeannie and Trisha, for putting up with me! At least I can say that I didn't miss GNO!

Next GNO - May 9.

Lunch with good friends

On Wednesday, I had a chance to eat lunch with friends that I hardly get to see anymore. Sophie and I met Olvie, Nancy, Peggy and Lynne at Boston Pizzeria and it was so nice to spend time with them! Sophie was super excited about seeing everyone (especially her Nana) and catch up on what is going on in each other's lives. We'll have to do it again soon, Friends!

All about me

I borrowed this from my friend Kim's blog. How would YOU answer these questions:

i am: introspective
i think: too much. About lots of things and can’t turn off my brain
i know: Brian loves me unconditionally
i want: to be a positive person
i have: a good life
i wish: I could play the guitar
i hate: mean people
i miss: time to myself
i fear: birds – all of them
i feel: other people’s hurts
i hear: Dora’s Pirate movie in the background. Again.
i smell: everything. I have a heightened sense of smell.
i crave: sweets. And a lot of it.
i search: on the Internet for things I don’t need
i wonder: about the future
i regret: decisions I have made that have hurt other people
i love: my husband and my daughter. Unconditionally.
i ache: for Brian and I to maintain a good relationship
i care: for others but then get busy with life and don’t show I care
i always: rock Sophie at night before she goes to sleep
i am not: exciting and fun
i believe: in the sovereignty of Christ
i dance: to the theme song for “The Cosby Show”
i sing: according to my husband in the key of “G” – "Gee, what note is that…"
i cry: when I watch animal movies. Therefore, I don’t watch them.
i don’t always: like you. But hopefully, you will never know it.
i fight: saying everything I am thinking
i write: in my blog.
i win: at Galaga. Always.
i lose: at anything else I play with Brian except Galaga.
i never: go to bed early.
i confuse: People’s intentions
i listen: to what I want to hear
i can usually be found: on the computer or reading a book
i am scared: that I will waste precious time with Sophie because I am lazy
i need: attention and positive affirmation from my husband.
i am happy about: my life

Disney on Ice - Princess Wishes

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Friday morning we traveled to the Colonial Center in Columbia to see Disney on Ice - Princess Wishes. We had so much fun and it was so worth the drive. I enjoyed seeing all of the little girls dressed in their princess attire and you could tell even the adults were excited to be there. When Tinkerbell came out to start the show, Sophie started waving and said, "Hey Tinkerbell! Hi!" It brought tears to my eyes because she was so happy. Or maybe it was the Disney Magic, hmmmm. We ate corn dogs and Sophie got a coloring book. All three of us enjoyed the performance (yes, even Daddy) and we were so glad we went. We ate pizza at the Mellow Mushroom and man, it was the best pizza I ever had. Then we spent the night in Chapin with family. We had a good weekend.

Carolina Pregnancy Center Banquet

Last night, Brian and I had the amazing privilege of attending the Carolina Pregnancy Center Banquet. Wow! I am still thinking about what I saw this morning.

Last year we were invited to attend the banquet, but I couldn't go at the last minute because Sophie got sick. I heard about how awesome it was from Brian, so needless to say, I have been waiting for this banquet for 365 days!

We walked in and immediately saw several people from our old church who were so happy to see us. The food was excellent and just to see so many people there who were supporting the same cause was unbelievable. Many times I had to wipe away tears because I was so in awe of what God is doing in this ministry, and in the lives of several young girls who gave their testimonies. The speaker was Ken Davis, and he was a perfect fit as the banquet speaker. He was entertaining, but there was a good balance of humor and Jesus as he shared the impact the Lord has had on his life.

I couldn't have asked for a better evening and I pray God's hand of blessing will continue to be on Alexia and the women serving at CPC. Christian Supply is matching every donation through May 10 and I pray God will pour out His financial blessings as a result of the banquet. We have always been supporters of the CPC, but now to be able to see with my own eyes what God is doing is just overwhelming for me.

Thank you, Lord, for letting me see what you are doing through the CPC and the lives you are changing through this ministry. May You continue to be glorified.

http://www.carolinapregnancy.org/

New Swingset

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Sophie got a new swing set on Friday. It's amazing how excited a parent can get when buying something for their child. We have had it for over a month, but Brian hasn't had time to put it together until this past weekend. Sophie was really excited, as were Brian and I. It sure is fun buying stuff for your girl!

Girl's Night Out - March 28, 2008

Well, we stepped out of our normal GNO box and went to Greenville for the evening. Mainly, because I wanted to see the movie, "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" and it wasn't showing anywhere in Spartanburg. First, Brooke, Julia, Jeannie, Trisha and I ate at the Atlanta Bread Company. Then we headed to the movie at Hollywood 20. I was really excited to see the movie because I am a huge fan of Adam Adams, but it stunk! Too bad I was responsible for dragging everyone to this movie! Then we went to Panera Bread for Trish to get a milkshake. Then, Barnes and Noble called for book purchases and coffee. After that, we (Trisha and I) coerced everyone else into going to IHOP for dessert. The dessert was okay but the coffee was better. We had a great night and I believe everyone enjoyed being in Greenville for a change. And did I mention we got to ride in Julia's new car? It is a Toyota Corolla and the car's name is Lola. Isn't that cute? Anyway, enjoy the pics. Next GNO is April 25. Here's hoping for a better movie!

The 4-1-1

There has been so much going on in my life lately that I haven't taken the time to update my blog. Here are the highlights in a nutshell:

- We had a family Strawberry Shortcake party for Sophie's birthday and it was so much fun! Nana, Pa, Aunt Jeannie and Aunt Trisha came over and we enjoyed pizza, cake and ice cream. Sophie got a ton of stuff, including several Strawberry Shortcake items. I didn't play with dolls when I was little, but I can appreciate how cute she is now. Sophie had a good time and the Strawberry Shortcake mylar balloon from the party is still flying high in our dining area.

- Sophie and I visited my parents in Tucson for 18 days. We had a great visit, but it was just too long to be away from Brian. All three of us were missing each other BAD! Brian said I am not allowed to leave for that length of time again and I agree. While in Tucson, we enjoyed going to the zoo, seeing the Hannah Montana movie with Mimi, shopping at the big mall and going to Barnes and Noble. Mimi and Papa threw Sophie a Hello Kitty birthday party and she got so much stuff we had to pack two boxes to check in as extra luggage on the flight home. Sophie enjoyed playing with her grandparents animals and I enjoyed watching Celebrity Rehab on their satellite television. Go figure. When we got home, Brian had cleaned the house (I told him not to) despite working three side jobs while we were gone, changed the sheets on our bed (huge brownie points!), and he had bought flowers. Lots of flowers. Flowers in the kitchen, living room, our bedroom, and two sets of tulips in our bathroom. We were both so excited! He was glad to see us and we were glad to be home.

- Sophie had her 4-year old well visit checkup last week and we got a good report. She is doing great and praise the Lord, she didn't have to get any shots. I was a little anxious about her appointment after all of the madness last October with the urinary tract infection, so I was very thankful she is doing well. What didn't go well was me telling Sophie the night before that she was going to the doctor. That's another story for another day.

- Our 9-year anniversary was last Thursday. On Friday, Brian's parents watched Sophie and we got to enjoy some much needed time together. First, we drove to Tryon and Landrum to browse the antique stores. We ate lunch at the Kyota Japanese restaurant in Tryon and it was yummy! Then we went to Spartanburg and saw the movie "Vantage Point." We enjoyed it even though I thought the movie ended abruptly and I still had unanswered questions! We ate dinner at Olive Garden and literally stuffed ourselves. The food was excellent! It was nice to have some one-on-one time together and it was the best present ever.

One thing we talked about at dinner is that we really want to TRY AND GET PREGNANT again. I know deep down that I have been trying to convince myself for several years that I didn't want another child. But the truth is I have been living in fear. Fear of not being able to get pregnant again, fear of something happening to the baby, fear of adopting again and having something wrong with the child, fear of not having any money/health insurance, fear of not being able to handle two kids! But God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. So, we are actively going to purse getting pregnant again, and if that doesn't work, we will adopt. I am so grateful that Sophie is in our lives and that we have had the chance to experience the miracle of adoption. But now, I would love to experience the miracle of pregnancy to the fullest degree. Many years ago, I felt like God was telling me that I would have a son. But then the years went by and you start to question whether you heard God right or whether you were just talking to yourself! We'll see what God has in store. We would covet any prayers you have for us regarding this issue.

- In less important news, we ordered a really sweet wooden playset for Sophie from Wal-Mart. It should arrive sometime next week. I can't wait for her to see it!

- We have made plans to travel to Nashville with Brian's parents at the end of June. We reserved the "Night at the Opry" package at the Radisson Hotel. We will get to not only go to the Opry, but tour the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Brian and I have taken this trip before and loved it, and I believe Marvin and Sarah will enjoy it too. I am excited, and it gives us something to look forward to this summer since we don't go to Disney World until September.

Well, I guess that is it. Now you're up to date!

Rough Justice - Lisa Scottoline

Loved it. Kept my attention. Very interesting. Lisa's a great writer and I continue to enjoy her books... On to the next one!