Zoo Fun

We had a great day today at the zoo. The girls and I go to the zoo quite often, but we usually go on a week day, so Tony doesn't go with us as often as we'd like. The girls were very excited to have Daddy along for a day at the zoo!

Please Pray for Linsey

Linsey, who lives in Missoula, MT, traveled to Ethiopia at the same time as we did to bring home Abdisa. Abdisa was around 4 our 5 months old and so sick in Ethiopia that he was in the hospital twice and nearly died. He was very tiny and malnourished. Yet through all of that she was trying to help us with Ruby when Ruby was so sick. She’s just a really great person. She and her husband also adopted Danny, who is about 3 ½, and even though we met him in Ethiopia he didn’t pass court until many months later and came home several months ago (she made a second trip to bring him home). Linsey also has two biological daughters.

Anyhow, the point of this is story is that Linsey has been really, really sick for about 10 weeks, and doctors cannot figure it out. She has been hospitalized several times, and she now has a feeding tube because she cannot keep food or water down. She is going to Mayo on Monday to try to get some help. It just breaks my heart that she’s going through this. She needs help daily just to take care of her kids. If you knew Linsey, you would know how hard this is for her. This is her blog address: http://wiesemannadoption.blogspot.com Please, if you are a praying person, say some prayers for her. She and her family really need our prayers and support.

So Many Still Waiting

I just heard news today that some of my friends waiting to pass court for their Ethiopian adoptions failed...again. For some, this is the third attempt, and the Ethiopian courts continue to ask for some additional piece of paper -- and then assign another court date a moth or more out. Some families are adopting kids who were abandoned, and all of those cases are on "hold" until who-knows-when pending an investigation into a few orphanages. There are even families who got their children's referral around the same time we got ours -- and they continue to wait. Meanwhile, our kids have been home for 10 months. But what is even sadder, is the KIDS continue to wait. My heart just aches for so many of you who I know and love through your blogs and through emails. I will continue to say prayers for you and for the children in Ethiopia waiting to come home to you. Don't give up hope -- they need you so badly. And when you finally get them home -- when they walk in the door to their new home for the first time, the first night you tuck them into their bed, the first time you sit on the steps eating a popsicle with them -- it will all be worth it.

My Father's World

After much deliberation, I've finally selected a homeschool curriculum. Beginning July 1st, Ruby and Nora will start kindergarten using My Father's World curriculum. You would not even believe how excited they are! I've had a few people tell me how much they like this particular program, so I hope it's great! I ordered it today, and assuming we like it, Elizabeth will use it next year also.

For now, Elizabeth will use the K-4 A Beka curriculum -- since I already have that one. My Father's World is a Christian-based homeschool curriculum, and it formulates lesson plans around Christian ideals, morals, and Bible verses. I'll also be using a book called "The Complete Daily Curriculum for Early Childhood," which has some great lesson plans as well. My sister gave me this book as a gift a few months ago, and it is great -- I will be able to use it for K-4 as well as kindergarten!

Today I also created my Daily Log Sheet and Lesson Plan Sheet in Microsoft Excel so that we will be compliant with the state of Missouri's record-keeping laws. Technically, I don't have to keep a log until they are seven years old, but I just think it will be good practice to start in kindergarten and learn as I go. Missouri is one of the best states to live in if you're a home-school family. I'm very grateful that we have the freedom to make this choice. I just hope I have the patience to follow through and be successful!

Aren't I beautiful?

I know I do "hair posts" frequently, but I just think it's so cute how excited Ruby and Elizabeth get when I braid their hair. They love posing for pictures of their stunning new "look."

3rd Post? Yes, but too funny to pass up!

I know I've already posted twice today, but this was just too funny to pass up. The girls put one of their kittens down for a nap and covered her with a baby blanket. Right now, they're in their bedrooom whispering quietly so they won't wake her up. Check out the pictures...

Harvest Time

I LOVE watching my girls eat -- especially now that we're getting vegetables from our garden. Yesterday then had fresh zucchini with lunch. Today they had greens (Swiss chard) and broccoli, all from our garden! And they get EXCITED about eating this stuff! How great is that? They ate their bowl of greens and asked for more greens instead of more grilled cheese sandwiches! We also have collard greens ready to harvest, which they really love. Ruby is especially excited about the corn and asking when it will be ready, because she remembers eating corn on the cob in Ethiopia. I'm so happy that my girls love to eat -- and that they love to eat good food!

No place is safe!

Sunny and Belle are no longer timid little things. One of them just raced out and jumped on Tony as I'm typing this. Belle discovered yesterday that she can climb a ladder. They've been checking out every nook and cranny of the house! They are just too cute!

Sunny and Belle

The girls got two kittens today from the local animal shelter. Could they be any cuter? We have named them Sunny and Belle...so far -- we'll see if those names stick or not. They are absolutely adorable. They are brother and sister kitties, but Sunny is a male and a little bigger. He is pretty bold, but his sister, Belle, is more timid and has been hiding out a lot so far. I'm sure she needs some time to get used to three little girls wanting to hold her and play with her.

So Wise

Me, hugging Nora on my lap: "Nora, you're getting so big now. You're growing up so fast."

Nora, with her hands raised in a shrug: "Mommy, that just happens with little kids."

She says the cutest things!

VBS Fun!

Vacation Bible School week at our church started yesterday, and all three of the girls had a GREAT time! I debated on whether to send them since it's in the evening (not like the old days when VBS was during the day), and I didn't want to disrupt our family time for an entire week. I'm so glad I got over it and went ahead and signed them up. They loved it so much that they woke up this morning wanting to know how soon we could leave for church!

Oh How the Years Go By

My son, Derrek, is a 22 years old today. When your kids are little, you think about how amazing it is to watch them learn and grow and change -- and it happens so rapidly that it's hard to keep up. Well, the changes come more slowly now, but I can honestly say that I continue watch in amazement as this young man who is my son changes and grows each year. I'm so thankful that he is mine, and I'm so proud of him!

Family

Granny (the girls' grandma that is) came over with a huge bowl of spaghetti for dinner tonight and for lunch tomorrow. My dad brought me some Diet Coke this afternoon. And my aunt, Darlene, came by to bring the girls some activity worksheets and check on us today. What a great help! I'm so lucky to have such great family living nearby.

Superman or Tonyman?

Tony always gets a lot done on the weekends, but today he has been SUPERMAN! Since I'm still in a drug-induced fog and my foot is killing me, he's on double duty. This is a short list of what all Tony has accomplished today:

• Cut all the grass, and we have A LOT
• Scooped up all the dog poo, and we have a LOT
• Waited on me hand and foot, including bringing me ice for my foot, drinks, meds, propping me up, and getting me everything I need, including the hammock under the shade trees
• Made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of us -- and did all the clean-up
• Put air conditioners in the windows (our old house does not have central air so this is a pain-in-the-butt annual ritual)
• Brought in kale from our garden
• Played with the girls and took them out to ride their bikes

I'm sure I'm missing a few items that I didn't notice while I was laying prone on the sofa like a big, useless lump!

It's Done!

I got home from having my foot surgery about 3:30 today and am laying low. Not posting any big blog updates while under the influence of Demerol though! Tony is taking great care of me, and I'm firmly planted on the sofa watching DVDs. I hope this fixes my foot because right now it hurts like someone ran over it with a dump truck! Oh, and it's really quiet in the house -- the girls are spending the night at Pa and Granny's house.

The Feeling of Summer

Even though summer is not officially here until June 21, here in the Midwest it feels like summer to me! Here are some of the things I love about summer time!

My girls eating pop ice... My flowers blooming...
Spending time with great friends...
My garden growing...
The first, tiny tomatoes on the vine...
A pretty, yellow flower that will soon be a juicy cucumber...

Any my wonderful husband driving all the way from work on his lunch break to watch his girls play soccer...

PAIN and INCONVENIENCE!

This Friday I’m having foot surgery (bunions), and I’m NOT looking forward to it. The doctor has to remove some of the bone and put a pin in my foot. I’m dreading the pain, but even more so – the inconvenience. It’s going to be rough taking care of three kids with an aching foot! Tony is taking off work on Friday to take care of me. And get this…me, the constant “planner” failed to plan for someone to take care of the kids on Friday while Tony is taking me to have the surgery! How the heck did I forget that small detail? I made sure Tony was taking the day off to get me there and back and take care of me, but now he’s going to have to take the girls with him to the surgery center while he waits for me to have the surgery because we don’t have anyone to watch them! I’m sure I’ll have a blog post on that later!