Halloween

The Beach Crew got creative this year with the Halloween costumes. Sorry it has taken so long to post photos.

Do you recognize my children? They're scary!

First we have my son, Earl (My Name is Earl). Earl is on a quest to undo any wrong deed he has done. He carries "The List" in his shirt pocket and crosses each wrongdoing off his list as he makes atonement. Karma is a funny thing.

Next is my other son, Dr. Gregory House, or just House (House, M.D.). My mini-m&m popping (no Vicodin here) misanthropic medical genius that goes around diagnosing impossible medical cases in less than an hour.

Next is my polka-dot, Princess Pocahontas.



And, last but not least, The Queen of Cowgirls.

You're Still The One (Part II) or Operation Night Out

Captain Daddy and I very seldom ever go out on a "date." In fact, I can't say I remember the last time that we did. I know it had to been at least Pre-The Queen (5 years ago). The Queen has always been my "Velcro baby." I wore her in a HipHammock for at least 3 years. I'm talking all day wearing. The Queen has become somewhat relaxed in the past 2 years. I can be out of her sight for more than 5 minutes, but she will still call out to locate me. The Princess does it only because The Queen does it. Anyway, over the past few months I have been experimenting with leaving the house without them. They are OK if Captain Daddy is here because he usually lets them run around and get into all of the things I won't let them get into. Daddies are like that. I have also left the girls at home with Big Tuna while I pick Godzilla up from school. Now, it isn't just a "bye I'll see you later-walk out the door" departure. No, there is usually some planning involved before my foot lands on the doorstep. I get The Queen occupied with something fun like NickJr on the computer, then slip out the door. Well, more like "running and not looking back." Every time when I ask Big Tuna if the girls did all right, his response is, "Yeah, they were okay because I told them you were in the bathroom." They must think I spend a lot of time in the bathroom!

Well, Captain Daddy and I felt pretty confident that we could go out (sneak out) on a date by ourselves. Alone. So then came the question, "How are we going to do it?" You would have thought we were planning a strategic military maneuver! Operation Night Out went like this:

Step 1 - Be accountable. We have friends in our church that have the same anniversary day, October 28th. Early in the month we decided that the 4 of us would go to dinner. Now, we were accountable for going out on a date. No backing out at this point.

Step 2 - Mum's the word. We didn't mention a word of this to any of our children! Well, not until the time was appropriate, like running out to our vehicle. Also, when we did mention it, we referred to it as a "meeting', not like something fun or anything.

Step 3- Proper Preparation/Training. I prepared an arsenal of entertainment/activities so as to be able to depart un-noticed. Two days before "Operation Night Out" I took the girls to Target. After drooling over all of the toys that the store had to offer, I settled on a brand new DVD and Play-Doh Ice Cream Maker. New stuff. Yeah, new untouched Play-Doh.

Step 4- Anticipation. Now that the new stuff was in their hands, I told them that they could not play/watch it UNTIL Captain Daddy and I had left for our meeting. For two whole days they could see the new stuff, but not play/watch it. They started to ask when we would be leaving. They started counting down the days/hours. "Now, are you leaving now?" they would ask.

Step 5 - Fried Chicken and Barbeque. We have a SCNB restaurant that we love to eat at. In fact after every trip to China, SCNB was our first stop once back into NC. A few hours before Operation Night Out was to commence I purchased a Family Pack from SCNB with double fries. Yes, my children were ready to push us out of the door!

Operation Night Out was a complete success! We had a lovely dinner with our friends. We had grown up conversations. We shared our "how we met" stories. We had a wonderful time. See for yourself.

Let's start with the desserts!

Captain Daddy ordered Key Lime Pie. Ladies and Gentlemen, this was no ordinary slice of pie. The pie was at least six inches high. I think that is mango-raspberry puree drizzled oh-so-prettily on the plate.

Do you think it tacky of me to take photos of the desserts?

Seventh Heaven! Lawsy! Sweetened biscuits with Hagen Daaz ice cream and topped with not just blueberries, but also raspberries! What a party for your taste buds!


Dear friends J & B. Happy 13th Anniversary!!


Beach Mama & Captain Daddy

You're Still The One!

You're Still the One (Part I)

In 1976, a band called Orleans had a hit song titled "Still The One." That song has been mine and Captain Daddy's theme song, if you will. That was the year (1976) that we began dating. High school sweethearts. A courtship that lasted 13 years.

On October 28th we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. A total of 33 years together. Over half our lifetime. Babe, you are still the one!

Still The One by Orleans

words and music by John Joseph Hall and Johanna D. Hall

We've been together since way back when

Sometimes I never want to see you again

But I want you to know, after all these years

You're still the one I want whisperin' in my ear

You're still the one -- I want to talk to in bed

Still the one -- that turns my head

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

I looked at your face every day

But I never saw it 'til I went away

When winter came,

I just wanted to go (wanted to go)

Deep in the desert, I longed for the snow

You're still the one -- that makes me laugh

Still the one -- that's my better half

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You're still the one -- that makes me strong

Still the one -- I want to take along

We're still having fun, and you're still the one (yes you are)

Changing, our love is going gold

Even though we grow old, it grows new

You're still the one -- that I love to touch

Still the one -- and I can't get enough

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You're still the one -- who can scratch my itch

Still the one -- and I wouldn't switch

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You are still the one -- that makes me shout

Still the one -- that I dream about

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You're still the one, yeah still the one

We're still having fun, and you're still the one

Advocating for a Beautiful, Waiting Child

I think it is appropriate to say that God has truly changed me over the years. One of the changes occurred when He led me to adoption. Not just adoption by Him into His family, but also through us adopting children into our family. I am changed. In many ways. Although He has changed me into a better person than I could ever be on my own, some of the changes have come at a price. Oh, it is by no means a bad thing! It just means that in some cases, your eyes are wide open and you see things in a way you have never seen before.

God has given me a passion for children, ALL children. This shows that God truly has a sense of humor because I remember as a young adult deciding I would not have children. I have four children. I'd have more, but only if it is His will. Trust me when I say that I know God can do what He says He can do!

All of my children are miracles. All children are miracles.

There is a miracle child, currently waiting at Christian World Adoption. She is a beautiful, 8 year old girl. She has a condition known as Type B Mediterranean Anemia or otherwise known as Thalassemia. I don't have any specific information regarding the severity of this condition. I do know that it can range from a minor, carrier trait to something quite severe. This child looks healthy enough in the photos/video, but I have not reviewed her file to know any specifics. In fact, I will not be able to review her file as that would require Captain Daddy to sign a form that would allow us to review her file. At this point, there is no way that I would even approach Captain Daddy to sign this form. Captain Daddy says we are done adding to our family. So unless God grants me a RHW (reluctant husband waiver), I will have to say we are through. So at this point all I can do is advocate for this precious girl.

If you are interested, please go the the CWA website then click on the "Waiting Children Photolist" link. Scroll down and click on the Hope Project Children. At the bottom of the page you will have to request permission to view the photolist. CWA will then email to you the access information. Once you have access to the China Hope Project Children, click on the July 2009 list. The sweet little girl is C0907-25. Just look at that precious smile! They still have many children available on their lists, April 2009, July 2009, October 2009.

We did not use CWA during any of our adoptions. So I don't have any information on the agency to pass along. I haven't heard anything negative regarding them.

If you would like to know more about Thalassemia you may try the following links:

KidsHealth

Children's CBF

AdoptingThalassemia Yahoo Group

I hope this precious girl finds a family, and soon. I wish we were that family.

Playing Catch-up

Hey y'all! It has been a long time since I last posted. We have been busy, but there is not much to really write about. On Sunday we stood up for the unborn with Life Chain. I'm really proud of my family as they all participated (not required to do so). I'm also proud of our little small church body. We had 33 (not counting children) attend. That's probably half of the adults in the church! I doubt that many churches can claim 50% attendance.

Also on Sunday, we gave an attempt at celebrating the Chinese Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival. Actually "celebrating" isn't the correct word. We don't celebrate it. We just try to bring a little of our daughter's culture into our family. We started with a camp out in our yard on Friday. We made "Camp out Mooncakes" (i.e. S'mores) using big, fat marshmallows. On Sunday, I made "Southern Mooncakes" (i.e. biscuits with a big chunk of cheddar cheese in the middle). We also made Moon cookies (thumbprints), made paper lanterns (with a glow stick inside) and paraded up and down our driveway until the mosquitoes drove us back inside. Those silly lanterns are STILL glowing (weakly) almost one week later.

The Queen and The Princess with their lanterns.





Other than that, it's been a week of schoolin'.

I do know that since Captain Daddy declared that the AC was officially turned off for the year, that we have had some of the hottest weather of the year! I sure hope it cools off soon!

Life Chain 2009 - October 4, 2009

I just wanted to take a few minutes to bring to your attention that tomorrow, October 4, 2009, is Life Chain Sunday. I would love to stand on my soap box and give you all of the reasons why I believe in and support Life Chain, but I will spare you that. I just prayerfully ask that you make a stand with me tomorrow, no matter where you are. If you would like to find out more about the Life Chain in your area you may do so at Lifechain.net

I like to think that maybe in some way, the prayers of those standing for Life Chain, may have had some small part in protecting my unborn daughters in a country where abortion is often imposed on women.

Life Chain is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour praying for our nation and the end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of life from the moment of conception.

President Ronald Reagan in 1982: "Simple morality dictates that unless and until someone can prove the unborn human is not alive, we must give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is (alive). And, thus, it should be entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Prayer Request

I would like to ask for your prayers for a sweet family I know. They are a young family with 3 children (ages 8 yo, 4 yo, 9 mos). They are expecting identical twins in February. The twins share the same placenta, but each have their own sac. This can cause a problem referred to as Twin to Twin Transfusion. In this situation, the twins share the food supply - one twin usually receives most of the nutrition and the other doesn't. This can result in some serious complications. It was discovered that one twin had considerable less amniotic fluid around it than the other. This can indicate the beginning stages of the Twin to Twin Transfusion (TTT). From monitoring the situation it seems things have not improved and have gotten worse. The family may have to travel to another state to have surgery on the twins to correct the situation, which in itself is risky.

Please include this family in your prayers as things unfold and decisions have to be made.

Thank you.