Rah-Rah!

Camille's new passion!
She's cheers for a 60lb football team in our township... the Garnets! Go Garnets!

Kitchen Remodel

I can't even say that it looks like the same place!

40 Days for Life

If you haven't signed up for 40 Days for Life please do so, HERE

The New Morality

by Mary

You didn't make, Unborn Child.

They wouldn't let you be.

To your bud of life, they took a knife.

It's the "New Morality".

The didn't mean to hurt you, Love!

You have to understand.

Forgive them for what they did.

Their life was so well-planned.

They couldn't take you with them

up the ladder of success.

Money meant more to them

than a child, heaven-blessed.

Tell me, little Unvorn Child,

what did the Creator say?

Did He wrap you in His love,

and wipe your tears away?

You hover on the edge of time.

I see your faceless form.

You laugh whenever children play,

Oh, God for you I mourn!

He sent His only Precious Son

to teach us all "the Way".

Still we kill the unborn ones.

It happens every day!

You didn't make it, Unborn Child.

They wouldn't let you be.

They just expelled a blob of cells.

It's the "New Morality"

First Days

Happy 6th Birthday!

Someone turned 6... And we all celebrated!

A Birthday...

So Camille is turning 6 in a few days. (SIX? Where did the time go? Didn't we just bring home a tiny 11 month old baby last week?)

We're having a small family party for her on Saturday and will probably celebrate her birthday with a "kid" party in September, after her friends are back at school. I have been completely overwhelmed with Mike being away, remodeling the kitchen, starting a new job at work, trying to find a replacement... it's been horrible. I just haven't had time to even think about a birthday party, much less plan one. It's also difficult when your birthday is in the summer. Families are on vacation and you don't have much contact with your friends. School starts September 8th, so I figure by the end of September, the kids will be ready for a little party.

Camille's birthday wish list includes "Sophie" the Liv* doll and a fish tank for her room that her Zayde promised her if it was okay with me. The list is not long because we don't go whole-hog on gifts for birthdays and Camille knows it. In addition, I imagine Camille will get a few things for school; some new school uniform clothing and some school supplies. A definite plus (or minus) to having a birthday just before school starts! :)

Otis' Graduation Photo

Visit to the Seeing Eye

Yesterday was our long awaited, much anticipated visit to the Seeing Eye. We drove up early and we were greeted by Ray, the Outreach Specialist at the Seeing Eye. He gave us a warm welcome and we met his Seeing Eye dog, a black lab named 'Mojo'. After a tour of the facility that included the history of the Seeing Eye school, we met by Daddy and permitted to have lunch with him in the dining hall. It was quite a special event. After lunch we spent some time with Daddy on the leasure path. He showed us all of the amazing things 'Otis' can do.

When it was time to leave, Camille shed some tears. We're so glad Daddy will be home in a week!

Another day

WHEN MY HEART IS OVERWHEMED LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I. -Psalm 61:2

There is a lot going on. Mike will be home in a week and I'm trying to get things prepared for his arrival. The house needs a good cleaning. Although the contractors have been fairly good at keeping tidy, there is a film of debris everywhere. There is also a lot of 'stuff' that needs to be either put away, donated or thown out.

I received a promotion at work. While it's a good thing, it's not great timing. I am now trying to manage two jobs, my old one until a replacement is found and my new one. I want to make a good impression on my new boss and new team, but the workload is overwhelming to say the very least.

Camille is continuing to have frequent nosebleeds. I am taking her to the Children's hospital to see a specialist on Friday. Poor kid.

The adoption process is at minor standstill. We need to get our paperwork authenticated. I need Mike home to help. I am overwhelmed at this point.

4 years

My old friend... has it really been 4 years already? I feel like you were just here with us yesterday.



Rockie was a "challenging" dog. From the very beginning she had a lot of faults. She was terribly headstrong. She was going to do what she wanted to do, right or wrong. She was extremely smart... the obdience trainer called her "crafty." And yet, she was, at one time, the greatest love of my life. I still get a little pang of heartache when I think about her, but I know we'll meet again... someday.

Rockie

March 17, 1992 - July 26, 2006

"Bad dog, good friend"

My Adopted Child

Once there were two women, neither knew the other

One you do not remember, the other you call mother.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.

Two very different lives shaped yours into one

One became your guiding star, the other was your sun.

One gave you emotions, and one calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

The first gave you life, the second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.

One gave you up—it was all that she could do,

The other prayed for a child—God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,

The age-old question of all the years,

Heredity or Environment, which are you a product of?

Neither darling, neither ... just two different kinds of Love.

A poignant post on a blog written by a 17 year old girl. I was touched... I hope you are too.

And now there are nine.

I love family reunions

I love a family reunion. We had ours at the Outer Banks this year and EVERYONE was able to attend. My family is not particularly large, so it was amazing to see everyone!

Single-parenthood

Single-parenthood, even the temporary kind I am experiencing right now, is rough. It's so nice to have someone to help out, even with the very simple things early in the morning. It's only day 2 of the new routine, and I feel completely overwhelmed. To make matters worse, I was up past midnight, trying to get the kitchen ready for the contractors, who arrived at 8AM to start demolition on my kitchen. I failed that too. The contractors will have ended up packing up some boxes this morning. I just could not get it all done, not by myself.

I hope things go better tomorrow. Tonight I am dropping Camille off at her school for the summer reading program. I need to go to the store and purchase the appliances for our new kitchen. Wish me luck!

Matching Day

Today is matching day at the Seeing Eye. Mike will meet his new guide dog today. He seemed in a very good humor when I spoke to him on the phone this morning. The excitement and anticipation must be killing him! (I know it's killing me!) He'll meet his dog a little after 1:00 this afternoon. What an exciting day!

UPDATE:

So we think Mike's new dog might look something like this...

Happy 5th "Forever" Day, Sweet baby girl!

These are the days you were not supposed to have...

When we brought this fragile little home, 5 years ago, she weighed 13 pounds at 11 months of age. She had rickets and MRSA infection that could have killed her...

2005

2010Today she is a happy, healthy kid. She'll be 6 years old next month. She is the light of our lives... we could not be more grateful to God for this gift. Amen.

You've got to be kidding me!

The annual school uniform sale is next week? Yep! It's no joke. School uniforms, gym uniforms and polos will be sold next week! Yikes! School doesn't even start up again until September 8th! I think I'm just going to wait it out...

Down to the wire

Well, Mike leaves for the Seeing Eye in 10 days and I now I must admit that I am beginning to feel a bit anxious and nervous about it. I want him to go. I've been excited for him as I know this will be a terrific opportunity and adventure for him. But now that the time is just about here, it's really getting real. I guess before it was some sort of romantic fantasy... now it's actually going to happen. He's going to have a life changing experience and I'm going to be thrust into single parenthood for a month! Yuck! But we'll both do what we've got to do because I know the ultimate outcome will be well worth it. In the mean time, we've got a vacation just prior. We're leaving for the beach on Sunday. Mike's time at the beach will be cut a bit short due to the fact that he must report to the guide dog school.

Happy 4th of July

Thinking of Jon Paul

We're thinking of you today Jon Paul. Missing you, sadly...

1 Samuel 1:27
"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him."