tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9770532510108532142024-02-07T08:21:58.505-05:00TenMex ConnectionCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-49066151347742571402012-06-14T07:33:00.000-05:002012-06-14T07:33:17.625-05:00No PromisesOnce again it's been over a year and no new posts from me. So I am not even gonna promise to pick this back up on a regular basis, but I am gonna try to do better than once a year.<br />
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Well, in case you haven't heard, we FINALLY got the final adoption decree for Hannah!<br />
She's still doing gymnastics, graduated from 8th grade, and is moving on to high school in the fall.<br />
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James just finished 6th grade, is deep into the world of Mine Craft, and will still be at TFAA next year.<br />
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Jeff and I celebrated 21 years of wedded bliss, and have a few more gray hairs.<br />
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So there's a quick one year update in 3 seconds or less.<br />
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I hope to write again soon, but remember no promises!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-19222741049044238342011-02-09T19:23:00.004-06:002011-02-09T19:34:10.484-06:00Who am I and Where have I been?Wow, can't believe it's been a year since I last posted, my how time flies. I'll try to be better for 2011. So here's a start.<br /><br />Who I Am...<br /><br />I am...a wife,daughter,sister, granddaughter, and friend.<br />I want...to gain financial independence so I can give more.<br />I have... a great family.<br />I wish...that I could snuggle up on the couch and read all day.<br />I hate...when movie producers and authors think they can't produce something great without using vulgar language.<br />I fear...not raising my children to follow the Lord.<br />I hear...songs and Scriptures in my mind.<br />I search...for creativity.<br />I wonder...what heaven will be like.<br />I regret...that I don't witness to others enough.<br />I love...when I have an aha moment.<br />I ache...for my children to have a closer relationship with Jesus.<br />I always...brush my teeth at least 3 times a day.<br />I usually...don't buy new clothes for myself. <br />I am not...athletic. Also, I am not good at doing my hair.<br />I dance...very seldom, another thing I'm not really good at.<br />I sing...ing the car when no one is with me.<br />I never...eat green peas or lima beans.<br />I sometimes... want to close out the world and escape under the covers!<br />I cry...too freaking easily.<br />I am not always...the best about sending cards on people's birthdays.<br />I lose...my cool when people are mean to the ones I love.<br />I am confused...as to how people can doubt that there is a God!<br />I need...at least 8 hours of sleep a night or I'm very cranky!<br />I should...be more intentional with keeping up long-distance friendshipsCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-64126134545433781022010-07-27T09:49:00.002-05:002010-07-27T09:50:15.295-05:00Carol<br />I am in an inservice about blogs and wikis and thought that I would add this to your blog please delete this later.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-48514883100166210622010-02-17T13:52:00.002-06:002010-02-17T14:00:56.420-06:00MemphisToday was our CIS interview for Hannah. It was intense right from the start. The office we were assigned to started on the attack right off. We didn't have an attorney with us at the beginning because the attorney in GA couldn't get in touch with the Memphis office until this morning. So we go in by ourselves and the officer immediately starts demanding to know how she got here and why we just hadn't adopted her already, and how could she be declared abandoned if we brought her here and have been caring for her. We could barely answer one of her questions before she was demanding an answer to another. Then she wanted all the paperwork from Mexico. The attorney finally showed up and started pointing out that those weren't necessary because we had a court order. When the officer stepped out of the room the attorney said that she has had trouble with her before. She was so rude, I told Jeff even the FBI wasn't that rude when they interviewed us. Finally, the officer said she was going to request more evidence and that we would have to turn in all the paperwork from Mexico. Then she went to talk to her supervisor. After about 15 minutes she came back and said the Mexican paperwork wouldn't be necessary and she would mail her decision to us. So now we wait. The lawyer said she has no grounds to deny approval, but she probably didn't want to do an about face with us sitting there, so she just said she would mail the decision. Even if she does deny us, we can appeal and go before the judge in Memphis. So let's pray she gets her "happy pill" and sends the approval so we don't have to take extra steps.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-75764723298668679562010-02-10T10:30:00.000-06:002010-02-10T10:31:14.285-06:00Prayer RequestSome of you may know already that we received our interview appointment with immigration. The appointment date is next Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 a.m. in Memphis. This interview is for Hannah to get her approval for status as a legal permanent resident which then means we can do a TN adoption. It is vital that we get this approval.<br /><br />Our lawyer has explained that the Memphis office can sometimes be difficult, but that she fully expects us to be approved. Since she resides in Georgia, it is cost prohibitive for her to attend the meeting. However she is contacting a friend who is a prominent immigration attorney in Memphis to see if he can represent us. <br /><br />So here are my specific prayer requests that I would like to ask you to intercede on our behalf for:<br /><br />1. That God hand picks and places the interviewer in position to hear our case.<br />2. Hannah doesn't have a Mexican Passport. Pray that will not create issues.<br />3. Pray for wisdom and guidance for Jeff and I as we answer questions. <br />4. Pray that the lawyer in Memphis will be available.<br />5. Most of all pray for us to walk out of there with approval! <br /><br />We will probably no go in right at 7:30, so I can't tell you a specific time to pray. Once we go in it should only take 15-30 minutes.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-53346999348270405102010-01-15T15:26:00.001-06:002010-01-15T15:27:45.734-06:00New OrderJeff went to cout on Wednesday and we got our new Order with the new wording. Now we are just waiting for INS to set up the interview.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-40910948342532348022010-01-11T12:17:00.002-06:002010-01-11T12:28:46.389-06:00Long Time, No PostOkay, my friend Candace (yes, I am naming names) commented that she was disappointed that I have not blogged in a long time. I have been debating about keeping up with this blog or just letting it go. I can't seem to find much time and feel that I am doing too much with FB and a blog. But since Candace shamed me, I decided I would go ahead and post anyway. <br /><br />On the adoption issue. We received an e-mail in December saying that the wording had changed on the Order we got back in May. So we have to get an amended Order with the new wording before we go to our Immigration Interview (no date has been set for that yet). This means we had to go back to our TN lawyer and get him to file the paper work which is now going to cost us more money. He filed the paperwork and the court date is set for this Wednesday. Jeff is going to court and I am going to Ft. Worth for work. The lawyer says it shouldn't be a big deal since we laid out everything in our original order. But you know how things go with us, so please pray.<br /><br />I have one more week to wear this stupid boot on my foot. For those of you who don't know, I broke my foot three days before Christmas. Yesterday I didn't wear it around the house and I was severely chastised by my oldest child. She asked me why I was not wearing my boot. When I said, "I didn't want to.," she replied, "Mom, we all have to do things we don't want to do sometimes." I guess she's heard that before : )<br /><br />Said daughter has started competition season. She is now a level 8 and doing fantastic. I had to miss her first meet, but will be there for the rest.<br /><br />Youngest son starts basketball tomorrow. He was all gung ho until I reminded him last night. Then said, "I am not sure I am really into basketball anymore." I told him he had to try since I have already paid. His response, "Do I have to do the whole season?" Uggh what am I going to do with him?<br /><br />Dearest hubby is still trying to adjust to life at Riverdale. He misses Oakland and the friendships he formed there. I keep praying that he will feel better about the situation. <br /><br />So that's the updates. I'll try to be better about posting.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-81279892708093735452009-09-23T12:30:00.002-05:002009-09-23T12:36:25.429-05:00FrustratedWe received letters from immigration stating that they will be sending us another letter with a date, time, and place to take Hannah to get fingerprinted. Did I mention that we got 4 letters in 4 separate envelopes telling us the same thing? Our tax dollars at work. Anyway, the only probably is that she has to have a Photo ID. All the options were out of the question because she's too young to drive, too young to join the military and get a military id, or a state issued photo identification. Oh, and the last option a Passport, yeah which we don't have because she came here on a Humanitarian Parole. So I e-mail our lawyers who now inform me that we should have been trying to get her a Mexican Passport all along. Nice to know now. And they advised us that the Embassy is not too friendly to adoptive parents, so it could take awhile. Well, of course it would. Nothing has gone quickly thus far. So in the meantime, I am trying to get a photo id from her school which will hopefully be acceptable.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-8331348423931372842009-08-12T21:06:00.001-05:002009-08-12T21:10:09.246-05:00Quote of theDayJames has been having a rather negative outlook this evening. He says he can't do anything, Hannah has the good life and he's got nothing. On and on it goes. So I hear his daddy talking to him in the other room when all of the sudden James says, "I wish I had parents who understood sarcasm!" I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. I thought, "What? You probably have two of the most sarcastic parents in all of Rutherford County." <br /><br />So if anyone knows where to get parents who understand sarcasm please let me know!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-85359560495083446642009-08-06T09:38:00.002-05:002009-08-06T09:40:56.673-05:00Latest Adoption UpdateI e-mailed our attorney's office in Georgia to check on our status. See her response below.<br /><br />We have confirmation that INS received the package, we are waiting for receipt notice from them and then a finger print <br />appointment for the child.<br /><br />So I am not totally sure what that means, but hoping it means we are one step closer. I am guessing we will have to go the the airport for finger prints. That's much better than when Jeff and I had to go to the Rutherford County Jail and the Bedford County Jail booking area. That was an adventure.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-28195478469033238352009-07-14T21:24:00.002-05:002009-07-14T21:35:43.713-05:00Camp Rocks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-JlPXPZXSw-vrDGZGqBhkDl-7io18cS7AJy8sk8qbcAlLBdhf6ctqE7CetHxOG4JJ-R2nq3KrY9qletITOu5OTtgnb5jdJsgyUFSMWj2U3HAsX_ichrG7t0o-dqdx8dXkrQiyCgVhweP/s1600-h/100_1436.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-JlPXPZXSw-vrDGZGqBhkDl-7io18cS7AJy8sk8qbcAlLBdhf6ctqE7CetHxOG4JJ-R2nq3KrY9qletITOu5OTtgnb5jdJsgyUFSMWj2U3HAsX_ichrG7t0o-dqdx8dXkrQiyCgVhweP/s320/100_1436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358509959541577874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwg4VeR7BpBMD2ImI_lZD4-MZzSerrHGOrw0wAyWPN91cFj_pRDKkgbVSaFjWDMq3Q3J5EHeTOaPihb2tkW18G4pl-uFMdPOplzghlwiIowElvOCq2SA9HNRebhUYCSSfiazixKaGpEII/s1600-h/100_1400.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwg4VeR7BpBMD2ImI_lZD4-MZzSerrHGOrw0wAyWPN91cFj_pRDKkgbVSaFjWDMq3Q3J5EHeTOaPihb2tkW18G4pl-uFMdPOplzghlwiIowElvOCq2SA9HNRebhUYCSSfiazixKaGpEII/s320/100_1400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358509945493806178" /></a><br />We went to camp last week and by we I mean the whole family. We had a great time. James convinced three other boys that white kitties with pink bows are cool. And Hannah loved OMC (Organized Mass Chaos).Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-74062672941107034492009-07-01T09:48:00.001-05:002009-07-01T09:48:22.137-05:00My TestimonyMaybe it’s because I just learned that David Ring will be speaking at our church on Sunday, July 12 (ya’ll should come), or maybe it’s the Esther Bible study I am in right now, but for some reason I feel that I am suppose to share my testimony. I have never really shared my testimony and I am sure some of this will even be a surprise to my husband. I am not very good at being open and transparent, so I hope that by writing this blog, I will begin to feel more adequate at sharing what the Lord has done for me. So this is going to be a little long, thanks for indulging me.<br /><br />My Testimony<br />I grew up in church, but to some extent, I think I grew physically more than spiritually. I remember sitting in the pew thinking, “What is this guy talking about? I just don’t get it!” I wanted to even felt that I needed to get it. I just didn’t understand how God “talked” to you or how you talked to God.<br /> Like most people during my college years I fell away from even going to church. Then I met my future husband. I envied him because he seemed so sure, not filled with doubts as I was. He knew Scripture, and he seemed to have an assurance that I didn’t. He didn’t live with worry or second guess himself constantly like I did.<br /> In the early part of our marriage we struggled to find a church home. Should we go to the Methodist church as I grew up in or the Baptist church as he was raised in? I struggled with the whole concept of having to be baptized by emersion to join the Baptist church. I felt like the church was saying what you did at 13 wasn’t real and doesn’t count because you were just sprinkled. I didn’t really understand that although I was sprinkled and made a profession of faith in the Methodist church, I wasn’t fully committed to the Lord or in a true relationship with Him.<br /> Then we decided to go the church where Jeff grew up. The pastor there was so helpful in explaining the meaning behind being baptized by emersion without making me feel that I was turning my back on the decision I made at 13. <br /> We continued visiting but didn’t join right away. I continued to struggle with doubts and second guessing myself. We were struggling with infertility and had been for several years. I remember lying in bed one night praying and crying out to God. I was so hurt that we couldn’t have a child. I wondered what I did wrong and why God was punishing me. I remember saying, “God, I feel like there’s a war going on inside me and the devil is going to win. Please don’t let him win.” <br /> A few weeks later our church told us that David Ring was coming to speak at MTSU. Jeff and I attended with some of our friends. I was so touched by his message. I thought, “Wow, if he could come through all that he has and not be bitter, what am I so upset about? He doesn’t feel like God’s punishing him, so why should I?” When he gave the invitation, I felt the flood gates open. I knew right then and there that I wanted the assurance he and Jeff had. I was sobbing like a baby when I raised my hand to confirm that I had asked Jesus to be real in my life. At that moment I was sure. I finally got it! I knew what it means to be a child of the King!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-53304103915802331932009-06-29T19:53:00.003-05:002009-06-29T19:57:59.421-05:00New UpdateThe lawyers in GA called this afternoon and told me they are 95% ready to send our papers into INS. I have to send in some copies of our previous paperwork tomorrow and then it's away we go. Wish me luck and locating those papers they are from 1997, but I am pretty sure I have them. If not INS in Memphis does. They said it wouldn't keep us from filing if I don't have them, but it will just be more evidence that can help us. So I am off to dig through my piles of paperwork!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-45614802445011789692009-06-28T16:30:00.002-05:002009-06-28T16:37:22.022-05:00Proud Mommy MomentYesterday when I got home from taking Hannah to practice, James came running out to the car to get his Bible. I asked why he needed his Bible and he said, "I have to look up something in Revealation." So I of course I asked why. This is where the proud part comes in. He was watching a show on the History Channel and they were talking about the Apocolapse and he wanted to see if what they were saying about the seven signs was true. So there he sate in the chair watching TV and verifing the true answers in his Bible.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-21325847106311516722009-06-16T20:39:00.003-05:002009-06-16T20:46:17.063-05:00Neighborhood WatchSo I get a phone call Sunday afternoon from my neighbor that went something like this:<br /><br />N: Did you know James is outside with his bow and arrow?<br />M: Yes<br />N: Did you know he doesn't have the suction cup on the end? <br />M: No<br />N: Yeah, he's sharpened it to a point and is running around. Just thought you might want to know.<br />M: Thanks, I'll send his dad out to get him.<br /><br />So besides looking like bad parents who don't watch their kid, I asked James how he sharpened his arrow. His reply, "With the pencil sharpener."<br /><br />Who knew when I hard the sharpener running it was not a pencil being sharpened. Isn't that what any sane person would think? Well, not a my house. I told Jeff we may need to remove the blender, who knows what ulterior uses James could find for it!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-57904090492980271892009-06-03T11:51:00.002-05:002009-06-03T11:58:59.929-05:00You Know It's Summer. . .when you get fifty phone calls a day from home. This mornings phone call went something like this:<br /><br />James: Mom, I am so glad I took all the cushions off the couch!<br /><br />Mom: Um, why?<br /><br />James: Because there was a hole in there and I found my Gameboy in it! (said Gameboy has been MIA for two months)<br /><br />Mom: Well, that's great did you find the game your were missing, too?<br /><br />James: No, I've got to rip a bigger hole.<br /><br />Mom: Wait, don't do anything until your dad and I are there! Don't rip any holes in the couch.<br /><br />James: Okay, bye.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Phone call number 2</span><br />James: I pushed the "sheet" back into the couch and got the cushions back on, but I didn't see my other game.<br /><br />Mom: You didn't rip anything did you?<br /><br />James: No.<br /><br />Mom: By the way, why did you have the cushions off the couch?<br /><br />James: Because I was laying on the floor and it was hard so I needed something soft.<br /><br />Oh, my summer has just begun!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-81590305314693372142009-05-23T11:15:00.002-05:002009-05-23T11:21:13.795-05:00Last Weekend's Project<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZxLjIwIIJ4WvMMDvMixNIoPicR37hnrm1dlkJow3M2uk4tqTAEN3O_4uSDmdjNHMRacfRLYCkI8BI4kvHYm1Zj9fMzRvCiC3U5IAC80FR0GKdUH4BEsoZX9z4YKADHeRdFmAvG-enZoq/s1600-h/100_1235.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZxLjIwIIJ4WvMMDvMixNIoPicR37hnrm1dlkJow3M2uk4tqTAEN3O_4uSDmdjNHMRacfRLYCkI8BI4kvHYm1Zj9fMzRvCiC3U5IAC80FR0GKdUH4BEsoZX9z4YKADHeRdFmAvG-enZoq/s320/100_1235.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339055070465322754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZFW-zt0KeZtlqDdG2965q0fnmmymCOOR2WEMWcBOcOlWccBoTW2KaR6U8-O15Prk8yEmKckBtFLcsLFQFMHAyAXr5Qv_bH6KSVDGonMIXfPDoVwn4PsoEwHqTAvrJq2CUtHRC48c6P7G/s1600-h/100_1234.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZFW-zt0KeZtlqDdG2965q0fnmmymCOOR2WEMWcBOcOlWccBoTW2KaR6U8-O15Prk8yEmKckBtFLcsLFQFMHAyAXr5Qv_bH6KSVDGonMIXfPDoVwn4PsoEwHqTAvrJq2CUtHRC48c6P7G/s320/100_1234.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339055066589737762" /></a><br />I used wordle.net again to make gifts. I used a friend's favorite Bible verse and then framed it. I am becoming majorly addicted to this site. It is so easy and fun.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-66476678488952370922009-05-22T07:12:00.000-05:002009-05-22T07:13:08.867-05:00Not Finished, But One Step CloserWe were granted the Order of Depriviation which means she has been declared abandoned by her birth parents and TN has jursidication over her. They put her in our custody. This was a praise because now we move on to the Immigration Attorney to apply with INS for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. This will give her legal status in the US and make her eligible for a domestic adoption. So not finished, but one step closer.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-58541364288922954992009-05-15T07:55:00.003-05:002009-05-15T08:01:26.631-05:00A Little BummedSo our court date is coming up next week and still no contact with the guardian ad-litem. I decided that I would e-mail him today and see if his discussion with our lawyer was sufficient or if we should expect contact soon. Well, you know what came back immediately? An automatic reply e-mail that said he was out of the office from May 8-May 19. To borrow a phrase from my niece, "Are you serious?" I need exclamation marks after that. I mean come on that's the day before our court date. I really didn't want to hear that he's out enjoying himself when I've been stressing about him contacting us for a month. But then God said, "Slow down, I've got this." My devotional this morning was about trusting in God and not our own means, and not ten minutes later, I am worrying about my own means again. Maybe God should be asking me, "Are you serious?"Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-71348259224158811872009-05-10T18:04:00.004-05:002009-05-10T18:27:37.995-05:00Mother's Day, Weekend Project, & Jame Quote<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgaMPrLMT4uMXZ_rWyxA80_YA3gZBCeq8_Rd9MJ80EAUANTvmfSh6peMQA4fsh-PpHVCk3fjCUyAxt8kHgILt_r5aaoQrErXp7rKxQJ_zqnFiGHCkgzqcjgWqCrJeZe3CrxYcta4MbzLP/s1600-h/100_1206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgaMPrLMT4uMXZ_rWyxA80_YA3gZBCeq8_Rd9MJ80EAUANTvmfSh6peMQA4fsh-PpHVCk3fjCUyAxt8kHgILt_r5aaoQrErXp7rKxQJ_zqnFiGHCkgzqcjgWqCrJeZe3CrxYcta4MbzLP/s320/100_1206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334340214066146178" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOigy1ff57hVtFBb915cGHL4uvubN6SxAFTBzIWPXE-HwbWQbi0L2l-eIdEjHN6k1zpy-H0bIGuDwtWfFQSStu8XAwayoTScf95qTOeFwcbTVU6_oJ3uGzzG7u-1T5IhPFnNBg-gfKEQ_j/s1600-h/100_1191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOigy1ff57hVtFBb915cGHL4uvubN6SxAFTBzIWPXE-HwbWQbi0L2l-eIdEjHN6k1zpy-H0bIGuDwtWfFQSStu8XAwayoTScf95qTOeFwcbTVU6_oJ3uGzzG7u-1T5IhPFnNBg-gfKEQ_j/s320/100_1191.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334340205429610498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x1UELISTbAO9499GYq38_kiwiziU4MxX2F6ZET_Yh-GMhOThjuIinjQPvSq5R2G7BAjN6H0wPSKSHhKXheyoZ6nB8m5eLMlHuV9A3Rcx16LaQSlEAntbvnTU8uU70GiorGrlHAqrOr2R/s1600-h/100_1189.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x1UELISTbAO9499GYq38_kiwiziU4MxX2F6ZET_Yh-GMhOThjuIinjQPvSq5R2G7BAjN6H0wPSKSHhKXheyoZ6nB8m5eLMlHuV9A3Rcx16LaQSlEAntbvnTU8uU70GiorGrlHAqrOr2R/s320/100_1189.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334340196931410274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_LhH-B6FIhi-bcZVD0fY3-AdL9lN_Rw__RuViy5U3INPZpyqRGKQ5SeGAic48WCrN-21tOZxjhFrwkq9n0H2R6lbUxJaoaADgpXVrG78ni6DFDH6KhyCEXUttcgVeQEhTnTM0xQas24U/s1600-h/100_1186.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_LhH-B6FIhi-bcZVD0fY3-AdL9lN_Rw__RuViy5U3INPZpyqRGKQ5SeGAic48WCrN-21tOZxjhFrwkq9n0H2R6lbUxJaoaADgpXVrG78ni6DFDH6KhyCEXUttcgVeQEhTnTM0xQas24U/s320/100_1186.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334340188535145122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5aValtyqNMT5nJieDxNr_hQJnUKR0b5DsmGeq-JfMBIxSsmPhLpE6z0saDISyx8AftN20gh5xQ0FB5__PE97VXeJ02JAGtMMVxSnvO9V6HoaSCxDUpnCK5n5MSN3fgLxDfPIju3Ju2nF/s1600-h/100_1185.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5aValtyqNMT5nJieDxNr_hQJnUKR0b5DsmGeq-JfMBIxSsmPhLpE6z0saDISyx8AftN20gh5xQ0FB5__PE97VXeJ02JAGtMMVxSnvO9V6HoaSCxDUpnCK5n5MSN3fgLxDfPIju3Ju2nF/s320/100_1185.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334340182864380754" /></a><br />Mother's Day was good. The kids lead the service at church and did a fabulous job. Then we went to Jeff's sister's for lunch. Since my dad was out of town, my mom and grandmother came, too. My weekend project involved the gifts I was making for Mother's Day. See the picture's below. It was so easy using the web site wordle.net. <br />I also made one for Hannah's room.<br /><br />Enjoy pics of the fam.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWhJddXouy6swTK3zDQ02HMxWnDyMbb8bTDjQBWz2cZ-MxtLAG3YvxEcXUARPPM7pN5vRHlAWaT-OwaiE53TtBMEKdDVlthhiVk9gp-9zugbErJ8WlbetKatGjdLJfsb6kt7K0z_GQvZx/s1600-h/100_1183.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWhJddXouy6swTK3zDQ02HMxWnDyMbb8bTDjQBWz2cZ-MxtLAG3YvxEcXUARPPM7pN5vRHlAWaT-OwaiE53TtBMEKdDVlthhiVk9gp-9zugbErJ8WlbetKatGjdLJfsb6kt7K0z_GQvZx/s200/100_1183.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334337444185720706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lvAwGyPEea2XMD9Tt0kjrgIDvPWQkQ1UiRiup8yTWNXlea3NNflrBmXng7kTj4KBX3c6lqLL2zr9fybvxOEvjHnIdGJvP2mcZ5Ej2hxBagTyRPfudeuc8tN63DhjIOXLXpUaIpWr7dfT/s1600-h/100_1182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lvAwGyPEea2XMD9Tt0kjrgIDvPWQkQ1UiRiup8yTWNXlea3NNflrBmXng7kTj4KBX3c6lqLL2zr9fybvxOEvjHnIdGJvP2mcZ5Ej2hxBagTyRPfudeuc8tN63DhjIOXLXpUaIpWr7dfT/s200/100_1182.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334337440388237138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyrLSNFFd6Ga8CdoisD1nxTN0x0HQ3VqX3Yl7dStXg1h3M7LnBm0R7iVp0BqHJFE8lLfuLkbMuJqXvXw-ejzYmkwC0zmSjWsUj0A0Yxxi-qhauIPLF3kOLr4_9_ZNsfp-Ggb1wp449lPY/s1600-h/100_1181.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyrLSNFFd6Ga8CdoisD1nxTN0x0HQ3VqX3Yl7dStXg1h3M7LnBm0R7iVp0BqHJFE8lLfuLkbMuJqXvXw-ejzYmkwC0zmSjWsUj0A0Yxxi-qhauIPLF3kOLr4_9_ZNsfp-Ggb1wp449lPY/s200/100_1181.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334337433236152594" /></a><br /><br />And for the latest James quote, which by the way earns me the Bad Mommy Award yet again. On Thursday, James wanted me to take him to the art show at his school to show me his artwork. The only problem is he waited until there was only 15 minutes left. So I declined. James said, "Well, apparently you don't care about my education at this point and time."Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-6993628276722122192009-04-29T20:11:00.002-05:002009-04-29T20:22:23.081-05:00WaitingAs you know we've been waiting 11 years for a resolution to our most pressing problem. At times I can hardly believe how the time has just flown by, but when I verbally say, "Eleven years." it sounds like a really long time to wait. <br /><br />Today my devotion gave me a chance to ponder if I've really had to wait that long. In comparison to the time from the first promise God made to Abraham to the time of God's fulfillment was around 600 years. Now, that's a long time. The writer of this devotion was trying to explain why God chose to have those details in the Bible that seem mundane. Like which tribe got which part of land as described in Joshua. He said that God placed those passages in the Bible to remind the Israelites and us of the evidence that God does what He says He will. <br /><br />God places what seems like trival, insignificant information in the Bible to remind us that He has every detail under control, He knows every detail before it happens, and He knows when every promise will be fulfilled.<br /><br />So is eleven years really that long? If I look at it in light of God's promise, I think not.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-3047522493165197092009-04-29T17:37:00.003-05:002009-04-29T17:46:26.384-05:00News On the Home FrontToday was a day of mixed news. First the good, I e-mailed our lawyer because we haven't heard from the guardian ad-litem. Our lawyer said he had a long talk with him and that he is aware of our case, but has more urgent cases that need his attention. Our lawyer said that he will contact us well before the court date. They way he talked it's just a formality. <br /><br />The not so good news is that Jeff got called into the principal's office and told he was being involuntarily transfered to a rival high school in the county. They blamed it on the budget and for the betterment of the system he needed to go teach at the other school. Jeff is really sad because he graduated from Oakland and always wanted to teach there. We are grateful that he has a job, it's just a lot to process. His principal had an assistant principal come to his room during a class and tell him to go to the office. When he got there they told him he had to transfer and handed him the papers to sign and then sent him back to class to teach as if nothing had happened. That really is a crappy way of dealing with employees if you ask me. So we will survive and we'll buck up and Jeff is determined to do his best no matter where he goes, but at heart he'll always be a Patriot.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-60241972805525407202009-04-22T21:24:00.001-05:002009-04-22T21:25:21.909-05:00No, New NewsWe are still waiting for the guardian ad-litem to contact to set up his visit. Our lawyer sent him a letter last week, but still no word. Hopefully, he gets to us soon. We don't want our court date to be delayed.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-54283883873646576222009-04-22T21:21:00.002-05:002009-04-22T21:23:49.066-05:00Life's CycleIn the early morning hours,<br />the dew softly kisses you awake.<br /><br />During the heat of the afternoon,<br />the breeze lifts your spirits high.<br /><br />As the sun sets in spledid color,<br />the moon rises to wish you good night.<br /><br />So it is in the cycle of life,<br />that daylight fades into night.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-977053251010853214.post-58230426688218817312009-04-03T19:55:00.001-06:002009-04-03T19:55:47.179-06:00Level 7 State<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f4455784e4459324d773d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Level 7 State" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f4455784e4459324d773d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892067887282251519noreply@blogger.com0