Life's A Beach 4 Us!

Xin Nian Kuai Le 4710!

2012-01-28T07:11:00.001-08:00

Happy Year of the Dragon! This year I asked to share Chinese New Year with our homeschool co-op.

As usual, I went over the top. It is not often that I get to share things that we have from China, so I took the opportunity yesterday!

Toys, books, videos…

…display board, goodie bags, dragon mask/crown craft…

…Dragon dance!

We chased away Nien by stomping on bubble wrap and making lots of noise!

Followed by auspicious foods of orange slices (good fortune), goldfish crackers (prosperity), vanilla wafers (wealth), and M&M’s (happiness for Moms)!

Wishing y’all health, happiness, and good fortune in the Year of the Dragon!

2011 in the Rearview Mirror

2012-01-03T08:07:00.001-08:00

Happy 2012 y’all! I’ve decided to take a highlight tour of 2011. I am not ready to assess the year, just to look back on the highlights. I do plan to assess our school year, as I am feeling need of some changes. But for now here is how it was:

JANUARY 2011

Happy New Year 2011!

It snowed down here early last January. We are not accustomed to snow, and therefore, have to put together an ensemble closely resembling winter-fishing wear so that we can get out and play.

We are oh so grateful that the cold doesn’t last but for a few days!

We celebrated Godzilla’s 12th birthday with the “Jaws Skateboard Cake.”

FEBRUARY 2011

Lots of celebration in February!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

We welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit.

Our little Empresses!

Second, we celebrated Big Tuna’s 19th birthday with my amazing :) 16-layer, Fiery, Power Ranger Cake!

MARCH 2011

March was a little quieter; however, there was a birthday.

Happy Birthday Captain Daddy!

APRIL 2011

April 15th brought an end to Tax-Season!!!

And Easter-egg hunting!

MAY 2011

We journeyed to Washington D.C. on an extended “fieldtrip.”

Some of us enjoyed it more than others.

We said goodbye to our 16-year old dog, Coco.

JUNE 2011

June brought the end of our second year of homeschooling.

Big Tuna completed his first year in college.

Strawberry pickin’!

And a “Gotcha” Day celebration with The Princess.

JULY 2011

July was a very bittersweet month. We began by enjoying the beach weather, and celebrating our “Gotcha” Day anniversary of The Queen.

The month turned to sadness as my sweet MIL, Marie, passed away.

She was greatly loved, and is terribly missed.

AUGUST 2011

Some “normalness” returned as we started off a new school year.

See how happy we are?

Very funny, Godzilla!

SEPTEMBER 2011

Celebrated The Queen’s 7th birthday with a Pony Party!

OCTOBER 2011

Captain Daddy and I celebrated 22 years of marriage;

Our fishing trip to Harkers Island;

And Trick-or-Treating with a Mermaid Princess, a Ladybug, and Godzilla as Big Tuna.

NOVEMBER 2011

The Princess lost her first tooth!

DECEMBER 2011

The month began as we celebrated The Princess’ 6th birthday…

with pierced ears,

and a Diva Party!

Still enjoying beach weather…

and Christmas.

We are looking forward to the New Year, and thanking God for all of the blessings He has bestowed on us this past year.

Christmas Season Highlights

2011-12-28T06:38:00.001-08:00

The Christmas Season, once again, was quite a blur. Here are a few photos documenting what we did in the past few weeks.

Here are the girls before we left to attend the Carolina Nutcracker. The Carolina Nutcracker was themed in during the Civil War. It was out on by a local dance studio. We all, even the boys, went and enjoyed it.

There was a tense moment, however, in the “Land of Sweets” when Drosselmeyer was, to yet again, hoist the Sugar Plum Fairy onto his shoulders. The Sugar Plum Fairy in this particular performance wasn’t quite as , let’s say, thin as the other dancers. She over shot her position and almost fell backward off Drosselmeyer’s shoulders. She was grabbing at his head while he was trying to keep hold of her legs. She quickly positioned herself on his shoulder and continued on. In fact, they did this particular step about 5 more times. Captain Daddy, being the man of dry wit, referred to her as the “Sugar Plump Fairy.” I don’t think I will ever be able to watch this scene again without thinking of the Sugar Plump Fairy.

Next was our church Christmas dinner and Nativity. As you can see, The Princess portrayed “Mary.” Well, a Chinese version of “Mary.” I don’t think she was too excited about it though…

.. as she seemed a little bored, or tired:)

Santa made a surprise visit too! The Princess was one of the first to tell him her wish list.

At this point, I think she is interrogating Santa. She actually pulled out one of his beard hairs from his REAL beard. Just making sure. As you can see, there are no photos of The Queen telling Santa her wish list because she would not get within 5 feet of Santa. The Princess delivered The Queen’s list items to Santa.

Godzilla asked Santa for a Lamborghini. Santa’s response was, “to what scale?”

Christmas Eve was jam packed with lots of cleaning. Big Tuna is taking a break with his cat, KitKat. Actually, KitKat was in the chair first.

We started the bake-a-thon in the middle of the afternoon. My oven went out during the first cake. Have you ever tried baking cakes, dozens of sugar cookies, and a fruit cake in a toaster oven?

It all worked out as there were cookies for Santa, and water and carrots for his reindeer. Not to mention four excited big and little kids waiting for Santa!

Christmas morning brought lots of enjoyment and happiness. The most wanted items were delivered, along with a few surprises.

Godzilla received the guitar he wanted.

Big Tuna is happy with the Big Bang Theory Friendship Algorithm T-shirt.

Godzilla loved his gift from Big Tuna.

Gifts from Aunt T.

But in the end, happiness is an empty box.

I hope y’all had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Break

2011-12-22T14:36:00.001-08:00

From the look of the sketch, it seems I am most happy that we are finally on Christmas break:)

Xiaoyun speaks for orphans

2011-12-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Xiaoyun was adopted in April of 2011. She wants other orphans to have a mom and dad.

Guess Who?

2011-12-07T06:08:00.001-08:00

Guess who celebrated three milestones in one week?

The Princess lost her first tooth!

Today, she is 6 years old!

But a new tooth wasn’t what she was asking for as a birthday present.

She has been asking to get her ears pierced. After saying “not until you are 10 years old” a gazillion times, we decided if she really wanted to do it, we would.

She really wanted to!

She also wanted gemstone earrings.

Getting ready…

She was very “grown-up” sitting through the preparation process.

With a smile on her face throughout the process.

No tears were shed.

Admiring her new look!

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7 NIV

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

Happy 6th Birthday Princess!

We love you very much!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T16:06:00.001-08:00

I know I have been a poor excuse of a Blogger these past few months. As I stated in in a previous post, I knew we were taking on too much with school this year. And it turned into even more than I thought I was getting into. Which has left zero time for blogging. So I will try to recap fall 2011 today.

I am thankful for (and not necessarily in this order):

The beach;

This bunch of kiddos that keep me on my toes;

<My first born, Big Tuna;

My Princess;

My first girl, The Queen;

My baby boy, Godzilla;

and Captain Daddy, who rocks my world!

They brighten my day, every day.

Oh, and I guess I am thankful for this too:)

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!

Thank You, Daddy

2011-11-11T11:16:00.001-08:00

Heroes don’t wear capes, they wear dog tags.

You are my hero.

Thank you, Daddy.

An Unexpected Visitor

2011-11-11T10:12:00.001-08:00

The other morning when we were getting started with school, The Queen began whispering to me to “come quickly and quietly!” I looked out our front door thinking that someone had pulled up in our driveway. I didn’t see a car, so I wasn’t sure what she was pointing at.

Then, I saw it.

I wasn’t sure what “it” was.

At first, all I could see was something white and feathery with its back to me. Honestly, I though Hedwig was sitting on my steps with some sort of wizard post.

I walked over to the dining room window to get a look from another angle. This is what I saw:

My hopes were up that maybe it was a stork delivering a present:) But, there was nothing else out there but this bird.

I think it is an egret. I am still wondering why it chose to be sitting on my front steps. Finally one of the cats decided to investigate which caused the beautiful bird to fly off.

What a blessing to see something so beautiful up close. Just a nice little, unexpected visitor.

Parachutes

2011-10-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

No, I am not about to jump. Our homeschool co-op has been working on a parachute project for Voice of the Martyr. VOM assists and encourages Colombian Christians, who have been targeted by FARC guerillas for decades. One way to help is to make parachutes which are used to drop Bibles and Christian literature into guerrilla-controlled areas.

Parachute kits were ordered. The kit includes almost everything you need to make your parachute (fabric, pattern, ribbon for straps, and plastic bag). You will need fabric markers/sharpies/crayons and glue or sewing machine for the straps.

Our pack had enough fabric for 5 parachutes. The pattern included the appropriate wording to use on the parachutes. We chose “Dios es Amor” which translates to “God is love.”

To make it easier, I downloaded some Christian symbols to use on the parachutes.

Although there were lots of hearts and flowers added for aesthetics:)

The ribbons were pinned in place.

The ribbons were sewn on.

Almost done.

Then the bags were tied on.

It was a great project for the family.

The Princess was curious as to why the “Godzillas” did not like Jesus. I explained that the guerrillas did not know about Jesus, but hopefully they would learn about Him, and love him because one of out parachutes had given them the Gospel.

If you are interested in helping VOM, please check out their website: http://www.persecution.com/Colombia

What’s On My Camera?

2011-10-07T07:04:00.001-07:00

It is always fun to download pictures from my camera as there are usually a few surprise photos that I did not take. Sure enough, here are a few that I just found:

Just one of my many tea sets. Yes, I admit that I collect tea sets. Blame it on my first tea set when I was about 6 years old.

Pretty fairies all in a row. These are The Queen’s from a previous birthday cake. Her favorite is Rosetta. The Princess loves Silvermist. They both say I am Iridesa, because of our naturally curly hair. AT least I have a waistline:)

“Well Ferb, I know what we are going to do today!”

“I pretend I don’t notice you.”

“I know you are still there. What is it with the paparzzi always wanting to take my photo!”

"”” “Hey! Where are you going?”

Rescue hero to the rescue!

Reminds me of the seen from “Men in Black 2” at the end when J finds the aliens in his locker.

Agent J: Kay, we got to take them out. Show them there's more life than that locker.

Agent K: *sighs* Still a rookie. *opens a door, showing that humans live in a locker and there are many more aliens outside the door*

A Ha! Self-portrait of the culprit!

Did You Get That?

2011-09-19T16:37:00.001-07:00

After 3 years of owning my point and shoot camera, I realize that you can also record videos, duh!

Next, surfing school!

Yee Haw! The Queen is 7 Years Old!

2011-09-11T12:21:00.001-07:00

We had a birthday this week.

Oh yes, we did!

We had a party, too.

Oh yes, we did!

A Cowgirl Party

Oh yes, we did!

With “Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes.”

With a tire swing.

With a real horse.

With horse rides for all.

Including little sisters.

And just Littles.

Cow milking, and eating Oreos with fresh milk!

A hayride.

Feeding cows…

…and donkey.

Feeding the bulls…

…calves

…and chickens.

Eating a “cowgirl” supper of hotdogs, Cheetos, and grapes…

..cupcakes, whipped cream, and lemonade.

More swinging.

Presents!

Thankful for the gift of this precious child in our family…

…and that, too!

Big Tuna

2011-09-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

…caught a big, red drum.

The benefit of working at a fishing pier for the summer!

The Princess and the Pea?

2011-08-30T15:18:00.001-07:00

But with pillows instead of mattresses. I wonder if she felt the pea? She looks pretty comfy!

Waiting For Irene

2011-08-26T06:41:00.001-07:00

So, what do you do after you have made all of your hurricane preparations, but the hurricane is still a day or two away?

You go to the beach of course!

High tide and pre-hurricane currents

Make for some cool boogie boarding!

You have to be careful though,

as the waves are powerful.

You can’t see from the photos, but surfers were lined up from one end to the other. Waves like this only happen during storms.

I think I may have a future surfer on my hands though…and a cheerleader.

Happy First Day of School

2011-08-24T17:22:00.001-07:00

We are officially all back into school for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Princess is a Kindergartener!

The Queen is a Second Grader!

Godzilla is a..

Seventh Grader!

And KitKat is still the Mascot.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-23T06:19:00.001-07:00

You know it is not a good sign when The Weather Channel guys show up in your town.

I have learned, though that if Jim Cantore is not among the crew, then we are less likely to be impacted by the weather. They only send Jim where they think the hurricane will make landfall.

Regardless, our homeschool began this week. I am staggering everyone starting. The Queen started yesterday because she was so-o-o excited about being in 2nd grade. The Princess wanted to start yesterday too, but had to be postponed due to some dental work. Godzilla is holding out as long as he can. He starts tomorrow. One thing though, our school doesn’t close for bad weather:) It is just another learning opportunity.

Here’s hoping The Weather channel crew doesn’t stick around long.

Tea Party Game

2011-08-19T06:27:00.001-07:00

(Photo courtesy of The Princess)

We love tea parties here at the sand castle. The Princess was thrilled when she won this game a while back. It may look easy, but it can be challenging!

I am not sure…..

but I think…..

that KitKat may just be winning!

Where Did the Summer Go????

2011-08-17T13:11:00.001-07:00

It seems that my summer must have been hijacked, because I don't know where it went! I posted here about my plans for the summer. I thought I should take a reality check to see how much I have accomplished (or not).

1. Go to the beach!

Check.

2. Evaluate/reflect upon the 2010-2011 school year and to move forward with the plans for the 2011-2012 school year.

Kind of. I know I need to be better organized and to keep better records as I will be schooling 3 children instead of 2. I also know that we are going to be busy as I have ramped up this year with a day of "Classically Inspired Academics" on top of our loaded curriculum. You may find me huddled in a corner and pulling my hair out by about mid-October.

3. Go to the beach!

Check.

4. SEW! I have several sewing projects I would like to do, dresses for the girls, dolls, etc..

I did manage to make 2 dolls, one for my SIL, and one for Godzilla. Although, Godzilla refers to his as an "action figure." I'm still hoping to get the girls' mermaids sewn before school starts!

5. Go to the beach!

Check.

6. Scrapbooking.

I don't think painting with sidewalk paint qualifies...so nope.

7. Go to the beach!

Check.

8. Organize my recipes.

I started to get the binders together for all the recipes I have floating around. I've actually got the recipes all together, but not sorted/organized.

9. Go to the beach!

Check.

10. Organize my classroom/files.

Not even close.

11. Go to the beach!

Check. We even participated in a local marine science educational class.

12. Plan 2011-2012 school year.

I have actually been working very hard on planning the school year and record keeping. It will still be a work in progress, but I won't be clueless. I think homeschooling requires tweaking all of the time. There never is a "one size works for all" anything.

13. Go to the beach!

Check.

14. File papers/receipts, etc.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

15. Go to the beach!

Well, at least to the intracoastal waterway to do some scientific stuff with oyster racks.

16. Clean my house.

CHECK! When Captain Daddy's sweet Mama passed we did 10 years of spring cleaning in two days in anticipation of all of the family/friends coming by after the funeral.

17. Go to the beach!

Check!

Big Ol' Sweet Iced Tea

2011-08-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

Amen sister!

Spa Day for The Princess

2011-08-05T18:18:00.001-07:00

The Princess was invited to attend a birthday party today of one of her preschool friends. The evite read:

“Come get pampered as Friend’s Name celebrates her 5th birthday. Your "appointment" will begin at 10:30 with manicures, pedicures, hairstyling, and more! Hope you can make it!

(*Please BYOB - bring your own brush)”

I knew The Princess would love this kind party!

So we left the house this morning so I could drop her off for her appointment. This was the first time that I dropped her off alone and drove away. But we had been to this friend’s house before, and she knew all of the little girls.

At 1:30 p.m. I returned to pick her up. Little Miss Pretty had a goody basket (not a bag) filled with all sorts of spa day things. She was also sporting a new “do” and polished nails.

Inside the basket were a “robe” created from a pink T-shirt, flip-flops (so as not to mar the freshly painted toenails), face cloth, shower gel, nail polish, lip gloss, eye night mask, etc.

Sparkly eye shadow adorned her eyes.

Work it girl!

Her hair had been styled, bobby pinned, and glitter hair sprayed!

The Princess selected a subtle, glittery white polish for her fingernails…

..and a not-so-subtle neon green for her toenails!

Poor thing was all tuckered out from all of that “pampering.” She donned her eye night mask and climbed on the couch for a nap.

KitKat too!

So Loved – A Giveaway to Remember

2011-07-31T13:05:00.001-07:00

So Loved was created By Wild Olive Tees to help bring Esther home from China to her forever family. Two months before coming home, Esther passed away from a virus that was complicated by her heart defect. Wild Olive Tees is proud to carry “So Loved” in their store in honor of Esther, and orphans around the world, so that God’s love will be glorified.

100% of the proceeds of the sale of each So Loved tee will be used to fund a future heart surgery for an orphan in China.

Please visit Wild Olive Tees and check out all of their tees. I wish I had one of each plus several of the children tees! They are beautiful. The “So Loved” tee is more beautiful in person. Right now they are having a giveaway of their “So Loved” tee. Entry deadline is August 14th. Winners will be announced on the 15th.

Wild Olive is looking forward to seeing what God does with their efforts, it is their prayer that Esther’s short life would be honored, and that His love for Esther – and for orphans everywhere – would be glorified.

Unplugged

2011-07-28T17:25:00.001-07:00

When Captain Daddy’s sweet Mama passed away, we spent the better part of three days doing about 10 years worth of spring cleaning of our house. I think the last time we cleaned the outside windows was after Hurricane Floyd in 1999! We wanted to have friends and family come to our house following the funeral as we live closest to the cemetery.

We use every square inch of our house to live in. I grew up in a house that had a living room and dining room that were off limits. They were being saved for that special occasion that never seem to come. So when we built our house some 20 years ago, I wanted a livable house. With four kids, homeschooling, etc. things can pile up pretty quickly! One thing about our house is that it has a LOT of windows. That translates into very little wall space on the interior. Our TV (10 year old massive box) was sitting on top of a coffee table and pushed up in the corner because when we upgraded our cable, it was just too much to try and put the TV back into the cubby hole.

So our house didn’t exactly look like out of the pages of “Southern Living.”

Captain Daddy decided he just wanted to remove the TV from the living room. Now this is where the girls watch TV. Which seems like all the time. The plan was just to get it out for the day. However, it has now been 2.5 weeks. Now we do have 2 other TVs in the boys’ rooms. But we have managed without a TV for 2.5 weeks. The girls will occasionally go into one of the boys rooms to watch TV, but it has become less important to them. They are actually playing together more, and with somewhat less arguing. We all are reading more, and listening to music.

We have racked our brain trying to come up with some sort of more attractive way of incorporating a TV into our living room, but I think we are just going to not have one. I am sure I am going to regret this decision when the new season of NCIS begins!

What?

2011-07-26T07:08:00.001-07:00

I either need a lot of coffee this morning,

or I should just go back to bed.

Goodbye Marie (Grandma)

2011-07-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

Captain Daddy’s Mama went to be with her Lord and Savior this past week. She was greatly loved and will be missed very much. She was the last of our parents to go.

Marie was born in 1933 in a rural county here in North Carolina. Her parents were farmers and she was raised on a farm. Farming is one of those things that has to be genetic as she always loved to grow a garden and flowers.

Marie married and had four children, Captain Daddy being the second oldest. She was a strong-willed woman, but in a very southern gentile way. She taught all of her children (boys and girls) to cook, sew, clean house, iron clothes, etc. She equipped them to each be self-sufficient.

I first met Marie when I was 18 years old. I remember I was driving past Captain Daddy’s house and gathered up my nerve and stopped to see if he was at home. He wasn’t home, but his Mama told me to please come back when he was home. I was a;ways welcomed in her home from the gitgo.

My “courtship” with her son was a long one (13 years) and she wondered as often as I did if we would ever get married. We did finally marry.

My Mama, me, Marie on my wedding day.

I never considered her a mother-in-law, but a mother-in-love. I know that sounds sappy, but she loved like her daughters and I loved her as my mama. She never, ever meddled or intruded into our marriage.

She taught me much throughout the years. I learned to sew and I made my own clothes during college and grad school. I learned to cook biscuits, gravy, and chicken & pastry. Although, my chicken rice will never taste as good as hers.

She loved all of her grandchildren. She was my prayer partner when God first laid adoption on my heart. Long before Captain Daddy was on board with it. I guess she had “adopted” me as her daughter and understood it. When we were going through the paperchase, she had planned to go to China with us. However, health circumstances prevented it.

Grandma and little, Big Tuna.

Grandpa Darrel, Godzilla, and Grandma.

Grandma and The Princess.

Grandma and the girls.

Marie retired from her career in retails sales about four years ago. She reached out to many and considered it her ministry. Marie had gone through some painful experiences and God used her to minister to others.

Marie had heart issues for many years. She underwent several heart procedures. The last procedure was different. She went into with two expectations. She would be physically healed, or God would restore her. She was at peace with this knowledge. God chose to restore her. The doctors said they tried everything, but that her heart could not be fixed. I think her her was just too tired from loving so much.

Goodbye to a beautiful woman, friend, wife, mother, and grandmother. We will see you again. But in the meantime you will be greatly missed.

July 11, 2005 – Gotcha Day!

2011-07-11T07:33:00.001-07:00

I know many people cringe at the words “Gotcha Day” as they do not like how they come off, but I can think of no other way to describe it. After spending about 22 hours in an airplane, we landed in Guangzhou around midnight on the 10th. We were expecting our guide XiXi to be at the airport, but instead we were met by “Bob” and a driver. Needless to say, it took a huge leap of faith to climb into the back of a van in the middle of the night with two men speaking Mandarin!

We arrived at the White Swan hotel, checked in, and attempted to sleep.

I have to admit that the sight of this crib in our room almost made me hyper-ventilate!

On Sunday, we met the other families in our travel group. We had been communicating via a Yahoo group for months, it was nice to finally meet everyone in person. Our travel group was split into two provinces. There were eight families with referrals from MaoNan SWI. We would meet the remaining 15 families the following week. Our guide XiXi and her cousin Bob guided us through filling out paperwork, etc. We went through a little training session where XiXi would call out our child’s name in Mandarin, so we would know our child’s name when we received them on Monday.

Our last breakfast as a family of four. Don’t you love my attractive footwear?

Around 1 p.m., all of our travel group met in the downstairs lobby of the White Swan to travel to the Civil Affairs office where we would receive our children. For some families, this would be their first child, for others it would be their second adoption. Regardless, we were all excited, nervous, and beside ourselves!

It all seemed so surreal after months of dreaming of this moment. We were herded into a conference room to wait as the babies had not yet arrived. After giving birth two times, I can tell you this was the craziest “delivery room” I had been in.

Someone was always peeking out the door watching until the babies were spotted! The babies have entered the building! Most gathered around the door trying to get their first peek of their child. I was frozen to my seat.

One by one they started to bring the babies in. The Queen’s name was called! I made my way to the door.

My first glimpse of The Queen.

I took her in my arms and said, “Hey Baby, I’m your Mama.”

The Queen just stared, and stared at me with that same serious look we had seen in her referral photos.

“Who are these strange looking and funny sounding people?”

Godzilla had brought a few of his baby toys for The Queen.

The Queen did not cry. She just watched and watched everything.

The Queen’s Ayi came over and showed us her tickle spot under her chin. It was the first smile we saw!

The Queen and her Ayi.

We had the opportunity to ask the caretakers questions about our child. At this point I could barely form words, much less put them into a question. I asked some really silly, non-information questions.

We left after a bit and travelled back to our hotel completely smitten with this bundle of love.

I cannot believe it has been six years since The Queen was placed into our arms.

Happy Gotcha Day!

July 8, 2005 – The Trip (Literally)

2011-07-08T12:36:00.001-07:00

Six years ago today we were on our flight to China to adopt The Queen. But I would like to back up a few hours prior to our departure. First, our adoption journey actually began about three years earlier (2002). So, the fact that we had gotten to this point was truly a dream come true.

Our flight our of the US to China was scheduled for July 8, 2005. We were departing out of an airport in another city. We had decided to drive the afternoon before to the city, spend the night, and then fly out. But we all know what they say about “the best laid plans..”

The morning of July 7, 2005 I had finished packing our bags. We were traveling as a family of 4, and going as “carry-on-only.”

Four carry on bags and four backpacks with enough for five people. I surprise myself sometimes.

Since Captain Daddy is a business owner, and as is usual for any type of vacations/time off, he had been working around the clock. Which means I had only seen him in passing in the last few days.

We were planning on leaving at 3:00 p.m. I had been taking a Beth Moore Bible study, “Living Beyond Yourself, Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.” While waiting for Captain Daddy to come home I thought I would continue with the homework. I was working on “Peace” and I must admit to having a felt very peaceful and calm at the moment. About that time Captain Daddy called saying he wouldn’t be home for another hour or so. He asked for me to go check something in the garage for him since he was running late. I went out to the garage and on the way back into the house I stepped into hole in the yard. Down I went and snap went my foot! My easy, peaceful feeling immediately vacated my body!

My first response was, “I broke my foot!” My second response was, ‘There is no way I just broke my foot!” I was still in denial as I crawled back inside the house. I thought if I just elevated my foot it would feel all better. Wrong. When Captain Daddy came home I told him that we needed to make a quick stop by Medac on our way out of town.

The x-ray and doctor confirmed that my foot was broken. He said that the type of fracture had about a 50-50 chance of healing without surgery as long as I stayed off my feet for the next few weeks. I interrupted the doctor at that point to explain that whatever needed to be done to my foot had to be done right then and there because I was on my way to China and NOTHING was going to stop me. The doctor just threw his hands up in the air, put a wooden bootie on my foot, and said, “good luck.”

It was now about 8:30 p.m. when we finally drove off into the sunset to get to our departure city. But since Captain Daddy had been working so much and had so little sleep, he could not drive. So I did. With my broken foot.

So here we were on July 8, 2005 waiting to fly to China.

My carry-on bag came in handy as a walker. We made it to China, thanks to God and Ibuprofen.

to be continued….

Tiny Dancers

2011-07-02T07:13:00.001-07:00

Three years ago, my girls began taking a ballet/tap/tumble class at a local dance studio.

We really liked it, and it did wonders for my girls. The studio was sold last summer and many of the things we liked about it changed. At that point we decided not to continue with that studio, but were then too late to get in to another studio. So last year we did not participate in dance classes.

This year we were able to get registered at a really good Christian dance school. Yesterday we purchased all of the required dance items in anticipation of the classes starting in the fall (and also to take advantage of a big sale at the dance clothing store!).

We will start with beginning ballet.

The Queen is a “precision” kind of dancer.

I think The Princess is mostly a “HipHop” kind of girl, so we will see how well this goes.

Three Years Ago Today…

2011-06-29T07:14:00.001-07:00

This precious girl walked into our arms….

..and changed our lives forever.

Happy “Gotcha” Day my sweet Princess!

All Tuckered Out

2011-06-26T15:11:00.001-07:00

What can I say? It has been a busy week…

…apparently for everyone!

Common Objections to Adoption

2011-06-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

Summer Plans

2011-06-21T11:03:00.001-07:00

Happy First Day of Summer!

Like most of y’all, I have grandiose summer plans for doing all of the things I can’t get done during our school year. So I thought I would create a list so I can keep track of things. I don’t want to make my summer busy, but I want to do a few things.

We are going to be continuing with “summer school.” It is kind of a long story, but we started school middle of August 2010. However, we spent about the first month just reviewing/easing into the school year. The Princess didn’t start PreK until middle of September and I wanted to get on a regular schedule before diving in. The problem with that theory was that put us a month behind in our curriculum once we did get started. We also had a few false starts in subjects where it was revealed to me that there were some learning gaps that had to be filled in. So we were further “behind” in a few subjects. I know I shouldn’t get hung up on grade levels, but I am. Especially when it comes to Godzilla. So we will continue with the 3 R’s over the summer, but hopefully in a light, fun way.

Other than that my list includes:

1. Go to the beach!

2. Evaluate/Reflect upon 2010-2011 school year to move forward with the 2011-2012 school year.

3. Go to the beach!

4. SEW! I have several sewing projects I would like to do, dresses for the girls, dolls, etc.

5. Go to the beach!

6. Scrapbook. I am years behind in this project. I really don’t think I will get this re-started though. My scrapbooking process is pretty rigid, and I can’t just do it at a moment’s notice. Maybe I should take inventory I what I even have as it has been so long since I have dragged out all of my supplies.

7. Go to the beach!

8. Organize my recipes.

9. Go to the beach!

10. Organize my classroom/files.

11. Go to the beach!

12. Plan 2011-2012 school year.

13. Go to the beach!

14. File papers/receipts/etc.

15. Go to the beach!

16. Clean my house.

17. Did I mention that I want to got to the beach?

Happy Father’s Day, Captain Daddy!

2011-06-19T12:55:00.001-07:00

I had big plans for writing a Father’s Day tribute to Captain Daddy. Somehow all of the schooling, Sunday School planning, and Boy Scout summer camp preparations got in the way.

So, instead just know that as you travel to Boy Scout summer camp that we all love you, and hope today is somehow special.

I remember giving you a “Father’s Day” card when I found out we were expecting. The next year you celebrated your first Father’s Day with little, Big Tuna.

I don’t know what secrets of the universe you were sharing with Big Tuna, but they must have been good!

Like father, like son in so many ways! And that is a good thing!

You give of your time time in making memories for our children.

This photo always makes me think of Miami Vice. I love the serious looks on your faces, not to mention Godzilla’s shades:)

You also give of your time to other boys who may not know a father.

You have gone to the ends of the earth for your family.

And back again.

What can I say? You are the best Daddy!

Happy Father’s Day!

iDad

2011-06-18T10:16:00.001-07:00

What do you get a Dad that has everything for Father’s Day? An iDad, of course!

You’ve never heard of an iDad? I first learned on an iDad from the Tip Junkie. Ours isn’t quite the same…especially since I have never seen one. But I think Captain Daddy will love it!

It has “apps” that are appropriate for Captain Daddy. Plus, there is no telephone, emails, or voice mails to contend with!

And where there wasn’t a real app, I created my own. You just lift up the “app” and read all the things that makes Captain Daddy special to us.

Happy Father’s Day, Captain Daddy!

I am sure he will especially love it because he will get the full effect of being a Dad tomorrow. You see he and Godzilla will be heading out to Boy Scout summer camp at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow. Boy Scouts has a way of hijacking holidays. Mother’s Day was the Boy Scout Spring Camporee. Maybe that was a Mother’s Day gift?

Xiao Jiaozi

2011-06-15T09:23:00.001-07:00

Jiaozi (dumplings) for breakfast???

Well, yes! What better time than to start the day with yummy jiaozi!

I often call The Princess my Xiao Jiaozi, meaning my little dumpling:) Many eons ago, back in my single days, I took a Chinese cooking class at a local community college (God knew I would need to know how to cook Chinese:)). As I look back on my life, I see where China and Asia has always been a part of my life in little ways. I had no idea how it would all come together, and I am still looking forward to seeing it all the way through! But, I digress…

The Queen was a young baby when we brought her home from China. She never really experienced her culture, foods, etc. She is American in every way. Now The Princess was 2.5 years old when we brought her home. She had also lived with a foster family. She experienced everyday life and foods from her native country. Although The Princess pretty much takes The Queen’s lead when it comes to many things, but not Chinese food! The Queen won’t even eat rice unless it has tons of butter on it. The Princess loves Chinese food, and I do my best to make it part of our everyday lives. It is not necessarily something we “Take Out.” I cook Chinese food. Now I don’t go as far as the Cantonese do by cooking/eating anything. I do have my limits.

My favorite cookbooks are by Grace Young. She brings the wisdom of the Chinese kitchen to life in all of her books. I also like to follow Jaden Hair over at the Steamy Kitchen. She has some traditional Chinese type dishes as well as various Asian/Asian-fusion type recipes.

If you aren’t into eating jiaozi, then maybe you can make some to play with? Over at Tea Rose Home you can get a step-by-step tutorial on making felt no-sew potstickers. I have found several sites where you can make felt play food (egg rolls, fortune cookies, etc.). This will be one of our summer fun projects.

Ok. Now I am hungry. It is time for lunch!

In The Meantime….

2011-06-14T07:41:00.001-07:00

I am currently working on my Father’s Day post (yes, Father’s Day is THIS Sunday). So, in the meantime, I thought I would share a blog written by an adoptive Dad. Y’all know how passionate I am about adopting and how I would bring home more children if possible. Since I am so consumed about adoption, I follow many adoption blogs. Most of the blogs I follow are written by Moms. I stumbled across this blog written by a Dad. I try to keep a balanced perspective on things, you know?

Anyway, No Greater Joy Dad has been doing a series on Reluctant Husband Syndrome, or RHS, that we refer to in the world of adoption. In this series he has, to this point, addressed 9 questions that husbands may ask or think when the word “adoption” comes up.

By the way, his wife has a blog at No Greater Joy Mom.

Check them out!

I hopefully will be back with my Father’s Day post real soon!

Cat Nappin’

2011-06-10T11:37:00.001-07:00

Seldom do both girls take an afternoon nap; much less at the same time.

But I guarantee that should any warm-person lay down in our house…

…and covers up with a soft blanket…

…the nap-seeking-sensor will find them…

…and reap the benefits of a soft, warm, nap-spot.

And, the nap-seeking-sensor doesn’t even have to be real!

Preschool Graduation

2011-06-08T12:18:00.001-07:00

Y’all may not remember, but we had unusual winter weather the past winter. So unusual that The Princess’ Preschool added a few extra days to the school calendar. Unfortunately, that meant we would be in Washington, D.C. for her Preschool Graduation.

However, her teachers “graduated” The Princess a few days early. In addition, they gifted me with over 3,000 photos taken of the class over the 10-11 school year.

So, The Princess will officially be a Kindergartner in “Mama School,” as she calls it, later this summer.

We are proud of all that she has accomplished this year. As I always say, “She is quite capable of a lot of things):”

Washington, D. C.

2011-06-04T12:01:00.001-07:00

A few weeks back, we took a “field trip” to Washington, D.C. Captain Daddy and I had been a few times before we were married (approximately 25 years ago). It seems that each spring (after tax-season) we start planning a trip to D.C. then don’t follow through. We did follow through this year. Like most of our trips, it was short and sweet. We spent a total of 3 days in D.C., along with every school group, and tour group. One day it seemed as though everyone was speaking French. Another day it was like being in China with Chinese tourists everywhere. All in all it was a good trip, though the girls are too young for most of what we did.

Each day we had a “tour” scheduled so much of our sight-seeing revolved around getting to these tours. We pretty much left it up to the boys to decide what we should see since our time was limited and we wanted to make the most of it. Big Tuna was in charge of most of the picture taking, as I was generally lagging behind everyone while pushing one of the Royal Duo in their Royal Carriages (strollers). It is interesting to see what “interests” a 19-yo when sight-seeing, as you can see:

Arlington Cemetery with headstones in linear form.

Library of Congress. Did you know you can get your own Library card to access all documents/books?

The Ooh-La-La Sisters on Capital Hill.

“The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew” at the National Gallery of Art. We only say the West wing as Big Tuna thinks contemporary art (East wing) is a waste of time.

“St. Paul with Book and Sword”

Not sure who or what this was (Medieval Gallery).

Looks like Forced Family Fun to me:)

Some sort of Battle (Capital Building)

Weapons from WWII (Air & Space Museum)

Airplane cockpit with “Incendiary Bomb.”

On the Mall.

Poets Gallery in the Library of Congress

“Anarchy” depicting the failure of government.

Close up on “Anarchy.”

Lincoln Memorial

Big Tuna thought this was hilarious.

Vietnam Memorial

When I was a young girl back in the Vietnam War Era, I had a POW bracelet. I no longer have the bracelet, but I can still remember the name on the bracelet, Lt. Col. John W. Held. We searched and found his name on the wall. Ironically, I lived about 50 miles from where he was from.

The White House from a distance. We did tour the White House. The Princess only got called down once by the Secret Service:).

The camera battery then died and I could not find the battery charger that I knew I had brought.

Once home, it took my feet about 2 days to recover from all of the walking:)

Lemonade Mouths

2011-06-01T11:30:00.001-07:00

Unless you do not have young children, or if you do not have a TV, or if you have been living under a rock for the past few months, you would not have heard about TV Disney’s Lemonade Mouth movie.

But around these parts of the beach…

…it is pretty big stuff!

Who knew that a clothes hanger could also be a guitar!

Coco (1994 – 2011) RIP

2011-05-27T06:15:00.001-07:00

What Do You Think?

2011-05-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

A friend posted this photo to her FB page and I thought it was hilarious. Do you?

Strawberry Pickin’

2011-05-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it is that time down here in southeastern NC when those sweet, red, delicious strawberries are ready for pickin’. Which also means we gorge ourselves with everything-strawberry for the next few weeks.

The girls and I headed out last week to pick a few. We invited our dearest friend, Ms. K, and her cutie-patootie, Ellie.

The girls wanted to have their photo taken next to to this lovely, fake rock. I do not like these fake rocks. I was involved in an auto accident when a stack of these fell off of a delivery truck and came crashing down on me and little, Big Tuna. All I can say is, you will never, ever take away my SUV! But I digress…

Miss Ellie arrived, dressed for the occasion, in her strawberry outfit. And no, she is not cyanotic, her blue lips are from a raspberry ring pop.

Ellie helping her Mama fill the bucket.

It did not take long to fill up our buckets (and bellies!).

Who can help but taste test the berries in the field?

It is a good thing they didn’t weigh the girls before and after the pickin’…

..or it would have cost me a lot more!

But the best part was eating the homemade ice cream afterwards!

Since pickin’ those two bucketfuls, we are down to about a handful of berries. So we will likely go pickin’ again real soon. I’ll give you my recipe for strawberry pie!

First “Lost” Tooth

2011-04-28T10:05:00.001-07:00

For about the past 2 weeks, The Queen has had a loose tooth. It has been wiggly and wobbly, but very much still attached to her. She has been somewhat anxious about having this tooth come out. Not anxious in “I can’t wait”, but in the “I don’t want this to happen” way. Of course it doesn’t help that help that her big brothers keep telling her all of the various ways one can have a tooth extracted.

This morning The Queen asked me to check her loose tooth, meaning she wanted me to wiggle it. I have to tell you that loose teeth give me the heebie-jeebies, but as a Mama, you just gotta do these things. I wiggle the tooth and it all but lays flat, but still just h-a-n-g-i-n-g on. I comment to her how loose it is and that I think it is ready to come out. She is not so sure. Anyway, she allows me to check it one more time. I get a hold of it and pull…it came out! Thank goodness! There was some shock on The Queen’s face. We marvelled at the tooth.

The tooth has been prepared for the arrival of the Tooth Fairy tonight. There is also a note asking the Tooth Fairy to leave the tooth for Mama. The Queen doesn’t see the point in it though. Maybe we will follow the Chinese tradition of burying the tooth (bottom tooth) so the new tooth will grow up straight.

Coming Up For Air….

2011-04-25T11:07:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since I last posted a “real” post. Having gone so long in not posting, I don’t really know where to start again. Things started getting really busy in January with birthdays, schooling, our homeschool co-ops, tax season, Sunday school lessons, and pretty much snowballed from there. It was a tough, long, and cold winter on many accounts.

Geriatric dogs…I can’t begin to tell you how difficult that has been.

I have hardly taken any photos over the past few months. That occurred to me when I went to upload photos and realized I didn’t even talk the first photo yesterday…Easter Sunday.

Do I see the light at the end of the tunnel? Maybe the size of a pinprick.

So enough with my excuses/reasons for not posting. Since we just celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus; maybe I can start today renew. So, I will leave you with what few photos I do have. I will try to do a better job from now on. I know I love following/reading others blogs. I hope those of you that do follow my blog enjoy it as well. I do hope to keep you as followers, so don’t abandon the ship just yet…we are still afloat.

Easter Bunny? No. Actually this was taken for Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit).

More CNY activities. The Princess was born in the Year of the Rooster.

My little Empresses

Looks like everyone is hunkered down and trying to keep warm.

These are some of the cutest cowgirls you’’ ever see. I loved these dresses so much when I bought them 3 years ago. I wish they had made them in big girl sizes as I would would be sportin’ one. This is about the second time the girls have put these dresses on. I cannot get them to wear them for some reason.

Taking a break.

Soccer girls.

Two arms full!

Goalie girl.

Just plain silly!

A rare occurrence when The Queen shared her throne (purple chair) with The Princess.

Science Fair project. No cats were harmed during the project (How Far Will A Magnet Jump?). However, we did discover that the magnet track mat is also a Cat Magnet! You didn’t think I wouldn’t have a Mascot photo in here somewhere!

Easter Egg hunt with a friend.

I guess that about sums it up for now. Until next time.

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

2011-03-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

This pretty much sums it up.

Photos, Courtesy of The Queen

2011-03-16T16:55:00.001-07:00

I uploaded some photos recently and discovered that I wasn’t the only one taking pictures with my camera. So, for your viewing pleasure, presented are photos through the eyes of The Queen.

I call this one: “Self-Portrait Surprise”

or “Busted”

“””Beloved Nai-nai in Chair”

“ “Light at the End of the Tunnel”

" “Flash”

“Nebula'

“Economic Slowdown”

“Tell it to the Hand”

“You Do the Math”

“Tax Season”

“Birthday Flowers”

“Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full”

“ “It’s Not Always Black and White”

I’ll let you know when The Queen’s photographic display will be coming to a gallery near you:)

Children of God

2011-03-13T11:07:00.001-07:00

We are. His children. Adopted.

I wasn’t prepared for the flood tears when watching this video. You are forewarned!

‘Tis The Season…

2011-03-06T14:45:00.001-08:00

…Soccer Season, that is. The beach crew decided to break out of our hibernation and get a little physical. After years of sports with my older boys, I don’t get too fanatical about signing everyone up for a sport. Up until a few years ago, there was only one soccer league in our area. Which translated into having to drive distances for practices and games every week.

Godzilla began playing soccer when he was just a toddler Godzilla.

He had a unique approach to playing soccer. He often gave the other teams’ players his “Godzilla Angry Face” when squared off face to face. Then a growl.

This often caused the other children to run screaming back to their coaches.

Godzilla had a good run with soccer. But, Godzilla gave up soccer after the 3rd grade due to a personality clash with an assistant coach.

The Queen learned to walk on the soccer field..

…while dribbling a soccer ball.

So, this season I have not one, not two, but three children playing soccer (say a prayer for me please). Keep in mind that it’s not just “soccer season” around our house, but more importantly it is “tax season” for my CPA husband. Which translates into “Mama doesn’t get a break for 4 months.”

So yes, we have three separate practices and three separate games each week. This was the only weekend that each game was scheduled at a different time. From here on out there will be 2 or 3 games playing at the same time. Thank goodness we are with a local church’s UPWARD League and there are only a few fields. I would go crazy trying to keep up with everyone if the games were spread out over more than one playing area around town.

Our games this weekend went well.

At first, The Princess had some hesitation about playing because she “only likes to wear pretty clothes and shoes.” She didn’t want to wear shorts. Luckily I found a skort she could wear instead of shorts.

Not that you can really tell because her jersey is so long.

Game 1/9:00 a.m.

Game 2/10:00 a.m.

“"”Hey Baby! Mama loves you. Now be a good girl and go take that ball away from that child over there.”

Helping a team mate with a Uniform Malfunction.

Game 3/11:00 a.m.

11:10 a.m.

Go Godzilla!

11:47 a.m.

“Is it over yet?”

Only 7 more weekends to go!

Mei Mei’s Spaghetti Dance

2011-02-23T14:51:00.001-08:00

Dear friends of mine recently returned from China with their beautiful daughter. Mei Mei is acclimating quite well to her new family and environment in the short 3 months she has been home. She just turned 4 years old and is the littlest little I have ever seen. She has personality plus as you can see in this video shot by her gege.

Happy Birthday Big Tuna!

2011-02-17T11:54:00.001-08:00

For those of you that have followed my blog for a while, you know that January-April 15th is the busiest time of year for our family. With Captain Daddy being a CPA, “tax season” places its toll on the family. Add into the mix Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, AND the Birthdays Marathon, well it is just plain B-U-S-Y around here!

Big Tuna celebrated his 19th birthday the other day. (I know, I’m too young to have a 19 year-old.) When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he replied, “Mr. K’s cake,” Big Tuna had tasted a cake at one of our church dinners made by Mr. K. It was one of those old, southern recipes for a 15-layer cake. The kind where you bake multi- separate, thin cake layers and put a wonderful chocolate icing between each layer.

I had tried for several months in getting the recipe from Mr. K and his family with no progress. Finally they informed me that they were not willing to share the “family” recipe with me.

But, being me, I was not about to let that stop me from making my first born the birthday cake his heart desired! I googled the cake recipe and came up with several versions. I finally settled on a 12-layer cake recipe and increased it. My goal was to make a 19-layer cake for Big Tuna’s 19th birthday. I spent an entire day in the kitchen making this cake. I ended up with only 16 layers. I learned much about making this kind of cake. Even though the cake didn’t turn out exactly (in many ways), it is was scrumptuous!

(Reminds me of a geologic model of sedimentary layers:) There was some reverse thrust faulting going on until it experienced the ice age (freezer) and some stabilizers.)

Happy Birthday Big Tuna!

Philippians 2:13 NIV
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

The Mascot

2011-02-12T07:33:00.001-08:00

One of the things that I hope to accomplish with our homeschool is to develop our “theme.” You know, school colors, logo, mascot, etc. Something that makes our school more “official.”

We already have a school “principal.” She keeps an eye on things and makes sure that our school begins each morning. In fact, she is often the first one in our schoolroom each morning…usually on her “Throne.”

She ensures that we are adhering to a high standard of learning.

We affectionately refer to her as “The Mascot.”

Not to be confused with “The Alarm Clock” that wakes us up in the morning.

She likes to lick your hair and nibble on toes/fingers. Very effective method of getting you out of bed.

The Mascot also makes sure that personal hygiene is not ignored.

Especially those “hard to reach” places.

The Mascot keeps control over the class.

She is constantly monitoring our progress

(and how much time I spend on the computer:)

And the school day is not over until…

all of our school work is completed.

Or…

she needs a snack…or

a place to rest…or

a sunny spot…. or

a nap…or

an Easter basket to sit in.

I am so not paying attention to you.

Just wait until Monday!

One Minute Sermon

2011-02-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

2011-02-03T06:28:00.001-08:00

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Wishing you happiness, health & prosperity!

Happy Chinese New Year 4709!

Happy Birthday Godzilla!

2011-02-02T16:37:00.001-08:00

Each year at this time I wonder why I didn’t take a cake decorating class before now. I am fearful that one of my creations will end up being featured on on Cake Wrecks. You see, January marks the beginning of our family “birthdays marathon.” Godzilla always starts planning his “birthday celebration extravaganza” wa-a-y in advance of his actual birthday.

This year the plan included:

Friday: Roller skating with our co-op, and supper out at his favorite restaurant.

Saturday: Bowling with the church youth group, and cheeseburgers for supper at home.

Sunday: Presents, and Chicken parmesan for supper at home.

Monday: Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and cake/ice cream after Scouts.

(Don’t you like how it ALL revolves around food? That is my boy fer sure!)

Usually, he has the cake design figured out, but this year…no. He didn’t know what kind of cake he wanted. So, out of desperation (or laziness) he opted for a previous design from a previous year:

a skateboard cake.

But not the same.

So, at 10 p.m. Sunday evening I am staring at a “blank Skateboard cake” and ready to go to bed. What do you put on a skateboard besides flames and skull/cross bones? Then it came to me:

I know the design would look better on a rectangular cake with a Barbie/Princess doll swimming at the top, but I had a skateboard. So, by the time it was said and done this is the outcome:

Can’t you just hear the Jaws-theme music in your head?

Gifts included: Lindor Truffles,

Alice in Wonderland DVD,

and Ninjago LEGO Ice Dragon.

Happy Birthday Godzilla!

Sheng Ri Kuai Le!

Godzilla, you are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV
Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.

Be Afraid…

2011-01-31T14:20:00.001-08:00

…be very afraid!

more to come….

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T13:35:00.001-08:00

Snow Summary

2011-01-12T11:33:00.001-08:00

Yes, it did indeed snow!

Seven inches of snow in our yard.

Enough to delay school for a few hours for some snow fun.

It just kept coming down.

Everyone was thrilled.

Well, maybe not one.

Or two.

Definitely not everyone.

It has been three days and the snow is still hanging around.

There is just less of it to get too excited about. Therefore, less “warm” clothes are needed to enjoy it. Endless-summer Beach girls!

The Queen’s motto:

“The sun is out so I don’t need long pants. I can wear shorts.”

The Princess’ motto:

“I have socks on.”

It’s Snowing…Again!

2011-01-10T07:04:00.001-08:00

Yes! Again. Who would have thought it would snow again here. In fact, it is thought the snow cloud is right over our small community as we are getting more snow than others near by.

The view from my front porch. You can barely see the house across the road.

The view from the back porch.

My kids are bummed out that “school” isn’t cancelled. Homeschool has its advantages/drawbacks. But that doesn’t mean we won’t take the opportunity to “study” the snow:)

Being Bold in Prayer

2010-12-31T06:56:00.001-08:00

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Habakkuk 2:1

Have you ever opened your Bible and searched for the writings of Habakkuk? I would venture to say, “not too often.” I have been surprised to find some pearls in this short, three-chapter book. One such pearl I came across and will quote back to the Lord is chapter 2 verse 1. Habakkuk tells the story of how he questioned what the Lord was doing with His people. It is a great illustration of how we can seek out the Lord's plans, reason with Him, and then fall at His feet when He answers us personally. However, in this case, the answer was not in favor of the people, Habakkuk stood in awe of God's awesome power and mercy.

As a Christian, I tend to think much about what God wants from me. I spend time praying for the things that I think He wants me to pray. I always pray for “His will to be done.” I think sometimes that may just be because I’m being shy/wimpy in my prayers. In many cases, I know what His will is (it’s all over the Bible). In praying these wimpy little prayers for things that are important to Him, I’m allowing an out for me. Does that make sense? My relationship with the Lord should be stronger than that. The Lord wants me to not only pray for the things I want and need, but also He wants me to reason with Him, wrestle with Him, and be honest in my prayers. In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says, "come and let us reason together." Habakkuk had questions and he was not afraid to reason with the Lord, even to the point that he states in this verse that he will stand, wait and watch for God to do something. Talk about boldness!

I believe that God wants me to be BOLD in my prayers; He wants each of us to be bold. He wants us to come to His throne of grace with boldness and receive the mercy He has freely given through His Son Jesus. God wants us to pray with that same boldness, asking, seeking and knocking to know His will. Is something on your heart today about which you are not being completely honest with the Lord? Do you have questions or maybe you are upset with the way things are going? Go to the Lord in boldness. Tell Him your thoughts and feelings then tell Him that you will "sit on the ramparts [watchtower]" and wait for His answer. I am not going to be afraid. I want to see God's goodness, just as Habakkuk did. "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joyful God my savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He enables me to go on the heights." (Habakkuk 3:18-19) Now that is a great promise!

So, as I start this new year in reading the Bible daily, I am also going to be bold in my prayers. The more I get to know God, the more freely I can share everything honestly to Him in prayer. I am going to sit on the ramparts and wait for His answers. I expect to see His greatness this year!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-27T13:07:00.001-08:00

Well, it has come and gone. I think this has been the fastest Christmas season yet. Today I am going to take a few minutes to try and look back on the past few weeks. I don’t have much in the way of photos, as it just seems to have all happened in a blur. I am definitely going to slow it down next year. I plan on incorporating more Advent activities and devotions to really prepare for Christmas. It is a shame to let something so special become so ordinary. I don’t want to be like the Inn Keeper, too busy to notice the miracle happening around him. I want to be like the shepherds, Simeon, and the Magi who found Christmas through inspiration, anticipation, and dedication.

We really didn’t get “into” Christmas until last week. Now the kids had been counting the days with their Advent calendars of chocolate candy. But let it be known that The Princess got tired of the “wait” and ate her chocolates a few days ahead of schedule:)

The Princess and her preschool performed a little Christmas concert.

Our Christmas tree that had been on our back porch in a bucket of water was finally brought into the house. There was some anticipation as we just left it alone for a day, so the branches could settle.

We hauled the boxes of decorations in from the garage and began the decorating process. We don’t really go all out with decorations. Just a few. It is probably because it is always so late in the season when we get started.

Unraveling the lights.

Big Tuna gets the honors for stringing the lights because he doesn’t need a chair to reach the top of the tree:)

Godzilla added a new dragon ornament to the tree (see right corner).

A Mongolian doll brought to us from a friend who adopted a child from Inner Mongolia.

More ornaments to hang.

My Mama’s Nativity.

Santa came to visit at our church’s Christmas party. The Princess was one of the first to tell Santa her list.

The Queen really wanted to talk with Santa, but shyness took over. The Princess was more the happy to interpret for her.

Our friend’s new daughter, MeiMei, from IM. Her very first Christmas ever!

Making Christmas cookies…

…and cakes.

Christmas morning!

Bicycles, Pillow Pets,

Xbox 360,

video games, DVDs, and more!

It was a very Merry Christmas for all.

Here is hoping your Christmas was wonderful!

Fashion Show

2010-12-24T06:02:00.001-08:00

The girls have been keeping us entertained every evening after supper with “Fashion Shows.”

They walk the runway…

they strike “the pose”…

all of this to music….

while wearing “Barbie” sunglasses…

and not once did they trip on their high heels!

Happy 5th Birthday Princess!

2010-12-20T06:26:00.001-08:00

It has been a busy month! We recently celebrated The Princess’ 5th birthday!

I am lacking for photos as it was very hectic with 8 little “Barbies” running around our house! Maybe that is why all of the photos are blurry!

The Princess’ Birthverse scripture:

Luke 12:7 NIV
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Princess, you are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

Happy Birthday Princess!

Sheng Ri Kuai Le!

Wo Ai Ni!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

2010-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

14 Days of Homeschooling

2010-12-14T09:21:00.001-08:00

Actually, we have about 5 days left before Christmas break…

Kick back and enjoy this youtube video.

Christmas Cards 2010

2010-12-11T08:42:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I am not The Martha Stewart or Suzy Homemaker of Christmas. I always have the best intentions on getting things done early, but you know what they say about the best intentions…

Anyway, Christmas cards are always a challenge for me. I love photo cards. I love looking at each family year after year and seeing how the kids grow and age(of course the adults do not age at all!). Let it be known that I actually keep photo cards from each Christmas. I always want the card to also be a reflection of our family. I always try to send cards each year with a family photo included, and with a religious CHRISTmas theme and message to share the true meaning of CHRISTmas with friends and family. Sometimes it is really hard to find a card that brings all of the qualities I want together in a card.

Shutterfly has a great selection of photo cards and I am especially pleased to see that cards can be sorted by “Religious Christmas Cards.”

This is the card I will use this year:

They have a few “beachy” themed cards. Let me tell you, those are hard to find!

There are also options to send folded cards like this “Rejoice the Lord is King” card where you can have a picture and a personal message on the inside of the card also:

Each

I have used Shutterfly to create beautiful photo books. Each year our adoption travel group gets together for an adoption/gotcha day reunion. Every can upload photos to a Shutterfly group page that we have set up. From there each of us can create a photo book memento of the reunion.

In addition to holiday cards, they have a great selection photo cards for every occasion. Another great thing with Shutterfly is if you set up an account (free of charge), you will get great special offers via email (if you choose this option).

Head on over to Shutterfly and check out all that they offer in the way of cards, photo gifts, calendars, photo books, etc!

Guests or Party Crashers?

2010-12-09T13:13:00.001-08:00

While visiting the girls room the other day, I noticed something a little different. I mean besides the usual mess. There were visitors or guests at the dollhouse.

(I’m sorry for the blurriness. Captain Daddy had used my camera and set the thing to “landscape mode.”)

Guests?

Party crashers?

Visitors from outer space?

Must have been quite a party! Poor Woody! I hope he wasn’t in the middle of something.

I guess it was a good time for all!

He’s Making a List…

2010-12-04T07:19:00.001-08:00

Godzilla that is, not Santa. Actually, Godzilla has been working and re-working his list since about..June 2010. Christmas is (looming) upon us. I first started hearing Christmas songs on the radio about three weeks ago and nearly hyperventilated! Let me remind you, I am not a shopper. That aspect of Christmas doesn’t do anything but make me frantic.

So what is on Godzilla’s list? Currently, which could change at any moment, he has an Xbox360, video games for various gaming platforms, a few movies, Lego set, and a book series.

Big Tuna hasn’t gotten around to making a list. He has, however, bookmarked a few pages on the internet in case I want to check it out. According to his bookmarked pages, he wants an airsoft rifle with accessories. Big Tuna, being the ever caring big-brother, has offered to help Santa in identifying the correct Xbox360 for Godzilla. I told him I appreciate his offer, but it is out of my hands and in the hands of Santa:).

The girls, well, they want everything they see on TV. The Princess has been specific in a few items, such as, a REAL make-up table, not the toy one in her bedroom, pierced ears, and high, high-heel shoes. Sigh.

Captain Daddy is ever evasive in answering the question.

Me? Well, I’d love a RHW:)

Gearing Up To Read The Bible In 90 Days

2010-11-29T07:13:00.001-08:00

Here’s a question for you, have you ever read the Bible completely through from cover to cover? Is it something that you’ve started multiple times, only to somehow lose steam as you went along? Me too.

Amy @ Mom’s Toolbox is hosting another Bible in 90 Days challenge, starting on Monday, January 3rd. The challenge will run through the end of March ~ and I am encouraging you all to join me by signing up here.

Interested? You can find out more {a crash-course if you will} about the Bible in 90 Days on Amy’s blog. I promise you it will be a life-changing experience! The official sign-up starts today ~ at Mom’s Toolbox.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! 感恩节快乐!

2010-11-25T17:48:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving y’all!

I can hardly believe that it is Thanksgiving. This past month has gone by in a blur. In fact, it was yesterday that Captain Daddy said to me, “So what are we doing for Thanksgiving?”

Our extended family is rather small. Both of my parents are deceased, and so is Captain Daddy’s father. We both have a few siblings. I have to admit that our family has suffered much this year. Captain Daddy’s Mother has had a chronic health issue that just can’t seemed to be resolved no matter how many procedures she has or how many doctors she sees. Captain Daddy’s youngest sister is still recovering in a rehabilitation facility following an auto accident from August. My oldest sister underwent a double mastectomy on Tuesday.

But through it all we are still thankful. Thankful to our God that gives us each precious day.

So today, we are thankful for our family, friends, church, and church family. We are also thankful for:

the warm weather that allowed us to cook/eat our dinner outside.

For our Thanksgiving dinner,

macaroni and cheese,

fried cornbread and chicken tenders,

Cheetos, soda, and Texas Pete sauce,

\bratwurst and hot dogs, and

roasted oysters!

I am thankful for these kids,

…and this man that rocks my world

(and picks oysters out for me).

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Holiday Perspective

2010-11-25T07:25:00.001-08:00

A Thanksgiving Perspective

感恩节快乐!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I came across this on another blog, Treasured Pearls. I hope the original author doesn’t mind me re-posting this. It just seems to fit so perfectly with my passion for children with no families, and my desire to bring more children into our family. Just ponder these comments.

I am surrounded by food and feasts beyond compare,
143 million children are wondering if there will be enough to eat.

I am surrounded by friends and family,
143 million children are taken care of by government-paid workers or worse yet, no one

I am surrounded by advertisements beckoning me to purchase the latest hot merchandise, 143 million children are digging through trash to find a thrown out pair of shoes to wear.

I am surrounded by grown men fighting over a brown ball and trying to move it 100 yards,
143 million children are fighting to survive another day on the streets.

I am surrounded by gridlock on the highways and in the airports,
143 million children are walking to the nearest water pond/lake/river to get water for the day.

I am surrounded by designer bottled water, soda, ice tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages,
143 million children drink dirty water filled with parasites, diseases, and germs.

I am loved by God,
143 million children are loved by God.

I am surrounded by 224 million "Christians" in the US (Adherents.com)
143 million children are "the least of these."

Matt 25: 32,40 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ... The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Thankful

2010-11-24T06:37:00.001-08:00

Friends,
As we reflect upon 2010 and upon God's blessings to each of us, I want to wish each of you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

What am I thankful for? There is much that I am thankful for. I am thankful for each of you that follows my blog. I am thankful for each of you that has a blog for me to follow. I am thankful for my husband, children, and family. I am thankful for my church and church family. I am thankful to be able to homeschool my children and the homeschool co-op that we belong to. I am thankful that my sister-in-law is recovering from an accident that occurred in August. I am thankful for all that God does in my life. But mostly I am thankful that God loved me so much that He sent His on begotten son to die for my sins so that I may have eternal life. Because without that, this life wouldn’t mean much.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving day!

Thinking Out Loud

2010-11-20T08:20:00.001-08:00

It is a beautiful fall day. Captain Daddy and Godzilla are off on a Boy Scout camping trip. There is much I should be doing, but I can’t seem to get the motivation. I have dear friends in China right now getting ready to adopt a little girl. I’m jealous with a godly jealously:)

I think about adoption a lot. Really, I think about adoption ALL.THE. TIME.

There is a book written by Jeff Gammage titled “China Ghosts.” It is about his adoption experience. It is one that I can relate to, maybe you can too. The adoption secret that is kept quiet until you have adopted a child is this, you don’t just bring a child into your family/home. You bring home the countless faces of the children remaining in orphanages/foster care. Mr. Gammage writes,

“They don’t tell you that the children of the orphanage are all coming home with you. That these kids, with their wan smiles and growling stomachs, are going to follow you across the ocean, move into your house, inhabit your dreams”.

Why is it that my heart would love nothing more than to bring another child into our home, but that for so many reasons it won't happen?

Why is it that any child would have to wait for a forever family?

Why is it so expensive to adopt a child?

Why is it that I can't get out of my mind the face of a specific little girl in China?

Why is it that I have dreams of adopting 2 more children from China (boy and girl) though that door is closed?

Why is it that I can't accept that the door is closed?

Why is it that God doesn't take this desire out of my heart instead of letting it torment me?

Why do I even think I can take on any more than I have now?

Why is it that I feel like I am in a desert, or at least Jockey's Ridge at the Outer Banks:)?

I KNOW it is God’s will to take care of orphans. But have we done all that God has called us to do? By “we” I am referring to my husband and I. I know collectively, we haven’t.

Fabulous 30 Days of Giveaways!

2010-11-13T08:00:00.001-08:00

OK, you have got to go check out this 30 day giveaway over at Ni Hao Y'all !!!! It is fabulous as is Stefanie!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

A Prayer For Orphan Sunday, A Few Days Late

2010-11-10T05:15:00.001-08:00

Dear Father,

On this Orphan Sunday, we join with Your people across our country and beyond to pray for orphans.

We know that love for these precious children begins not with us, but with You. You pursued us when we were wayward and alone. You adopted us as your children. You invite us to address you as Daddy and to live as Your sons and daughters. Truly, we love because You first loved us.

You tell us also that You are near to the downtrodden and destitute. Your heart aches for children that face the world alone. You champion the cause of those who have no one else to take their side. And You call us to do the same.

So we pray that You would rouse us to share your heart. We ask that You would stir Your people to passion and vision and action on behalf of children that have no family.

We lift up to You the millions of children in the world who have lost their parents to disease, to war, to addiction, to poverty, to abandonment. As You promise to do, place the lonely in families. Be their defender, their provider, their hope and peace. Help us to do the same.

We pray also for the five hundred thousand children in our foster system in America. So often, they are bounced from home to home, knowing little love, consistency or true nurture. Please be their love, their consistency, their nurture. Help us to do the same.

We confess that we have often lived with little regard for these precious lives. Please forgive us. Lead us to take up their cause, not in guilt or obligation, but as a joyful response to Your great love for us.

As we do, we pray that You would use our humble response to transform. To transform the lives of countless orphans both physically and spiritually. To transform us as we encounter You in them. To transform Your Church as we lift our eyes beyond our own comfort and self-focused religion to live out the painful beauty of the Gospel. And finally, to transform a watching world as it catches glimpses of Your love made visible through the actions of Your people.

We commit all this to You, the One who is both our Father and a Father to the fatherless, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

In honor of National Adoption Month

2010-11-06T10:35:00.001-07:00

Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial.
Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary.
Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else's child.
Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own…

Halloween- Part 2

2010-11-04T14:36:00.001-07:00

As I may have mentioned in my previous post, my kids love to dress up for Halloween and get free candy. When Big Tuna was younger, his costume choices always seemed to be some TV/movie character or something “cool.” We went through a series of Mighty Morphin Power Ranger costumes, Wolverine, Ninjas, Star Wars, etc. He was pretty much a “store-bought” costume kind of kid. I didn’t mind buying him costumes as he used them to play in all of the time. I got my money’s worth out of them.

Not so with Godzilla. He plans next year’s costume the day after Halloween. Or sometimes a few days before this year’s Halloween. He is always planning his Halloween costume. His ideas are never in sync with current Halloween costume trends. He is “off-the-shelf” when it comes to costumes. This started at a young age. It probably has something to do with the fact that he became a fan of “Godzilla” at the young age of 2. Let me tell you that “Godzilla” was not a popular costume option since about 1955.

But that did not stop my child from being “Space Godzilla” when he was 4 years old.

I had to create/sew a child’s “Happy Dinosaur” costume into a “Space Godzilla” with space crystals. Don’t you love the “Godzilla Angry Face?)

Here’s a close-up.

I was THAT Mom that had to explain this costume to everyone.

In fact, I pretty much have to do that every year. Do you remember last year?

“

You remember my son don’t you? Dr. Gregory House? House, M.D.? Ah, now you remember.

This year was no exception.

Easy, right? Let’s see that is Belle on the left and Snow White on the right. Who is that in the middle? A tourist? No. Jimmy Buffett?? No.

Now do you get it? No?

Maybe this will help.

Okay! Now you get it…sort of. He is Poseidon, Greek God of the Seas, in his HUMAN form. Otherwise he would blind you. Yes, he passed out his “business cards” to everyone to explain his costume. Sigh.

We have read the entire Percy Jackson series, so Greek and Roman mythology are kind of big right now. To help ease his pain, at the last minute I dressed up as Medusa.

Godzilla gave me a bunch of his toy snakes so I clipped them into my hair. With hair like mine it is sometimes hard to tell if it’s curls or snakes. My hair is like that. Especially by the end of the day.

I have to say a special thanks to my dear friends who covered for me by taking photos of my kids, since I left my camera at home.

By the way, the kids really made a candy haul this year. It was the first time that The Queen and The Princess have gone trick or treating. Living out in the boondocks means we don’t have many houses to go to, and you have to drive to get to the other houses. We crashed on my friend’s neighborhood where there is a high house-to-candy ratio. Good candy! I’m talking chocolate! Full size candy bars. Since The Queen doesn’t like chocolate, she put together a special bag of candy for me consisting of almond joys and M&M’s.

It sure beats scrounging around in The Princess’ bucket as it is quite sticky. The Princess continuously takes inventory of her trove.

Halloween 2010 – Part One

2010-11-01T15:28:00.001-07:00

I am not going to debate the pros and cons of Christians and Halloween. Just accept that my kids like to dress up in costumes and get free candy. Other than that, I don’t really go all out with Halloween like some folks do. I do appreciate that some folks like to decorate their house, not just for Halloween, but other seasons/holidays as well. I am, on the other hand, what I consider decorating-challenged. Or ~~cheap~~ frugal. Or ~~lazy~~ overwhelmed. I used try to do those things, but it isn’t my thing.

I digress.

We did visit a local church’s Pumpkin Patch with our homeschool co-op. We even learned many interesting things about pumpkins and what they have in common with humans. Just think about that one for a minute.

We enjoyed games…

Story time…

And pumpkins….Here are ours after a make-over.

Aren’t they cute? Oh, and the pumpkins are okay too!

I Scored Big Time!

2010-10-29T12:12:00.001-07:00

I won an online auction the other day! I usually don’t win because I am ~~cheap~~ frugal and do not usually bid very high. In this particular case, I had the item on my watch list. I received the customary email right before the auction ended warning that my watched item “might get away” if I didn’t spring into action. Which I did. I hadn’t yet placed a bid on the item. The price started at $9.99 and there was one bid. Two minutes were left on the clock. I quickly placed my bid, expecting to be outbid. But I wasn’t.

What did I win?

A collection of 15 brand new books on China.

Step Into the Chinese Empire

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats - (Collection of Chinese holiday tales, activities & recipes)

Daisy Comes Home - Jan Brett

Children in China - Michael Karhausen

Sing 'n Learn Chinese, w/CD - Children's Songs

Ancient China Stencils - (Craft Kit)

At the Beach - Huy Voun Lee

Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes

The Dragon Prince - A Chinese Beauty & The Beast Tale

FaMulan - (Scholastic)

Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky

Look What Came From China

Science in Ancient China

Growing Up in Ancient China

Chin Chiang and the Dragon's Dance

The best part is that of the 15 books, I only had one of the books, and it is wrecked from usage. I received the books today and you would have thought it was Christmas!

Oh, my winning bid…$10.50.

Ten Ways to Simplify Homeschooling

2010-10-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

Passed along with permission...

Ten Ways to Simplify Homeschooling Colette Longo August 2001

1) Keep everything as simple as you can. Jesus wrote with a stick in the dirt, and He was the greatest teacher that ever lived. He used no curriculum or flannel graphs or lesson plans. Homeschooling can be made far more complicated than it should be. A simpler approach is much more effective.

2) Stick to the 3 R's. They form the foundation of life-long learning in every field because they are the tools of study. There will be no need to formalize any other subject if the children are doing their best in these 3, because people who are well grounded in reading, writing and math will approach other subjects boldly, independently and confidently.

3) Let the children teach themselves as much as they are able to. This teaches them responsibility, intellectual independence, and builds confidence. It's also better for the parent/child relationship because you can focus on parenting instead of playing schoolteacher.

4) Use the most direct method available. For reading, read. For writing, write, for math, do it, and for Bible, read it. Don't fall for catchy curriculums or methods that are really just something else for you and your child to learn.

5) Don't worry about your child's age or grade. Just let him do the best he can each day. Children grow intellectually like they do physically: in spurts. Although we may have an audience of skeptical relatives, homeschooling is not a circus, and we refuse to train our children to do tricks for people.

6) Minimize distractions in the home. Watch for excessiveness in entertainments, snacking, outings, phone conversations and the like. These sorts of things can easily get out of hand and compete with the effectiveness of a homeschool and sap the family of time and energy.

7) Seek quality over quantity. A few tapes of great music, a small case of carefully chosen books, a few special play mates, and an occasional outing is better than a large, but poor quality collection.

8) If you must document your school activities, do it after the fact. This way you will not make promises you cannot keep. If you are required to make lesson plans, be as vague as permissible. Don't let transcripts, diplomas, records and tests determine your academic plans. Focus on learning and the rest will follow.

9) Put the needs of your youngest, most vulnerable children first. If an older child gets a little behind in school, I'm sure you can forgive yourself. But if something happened to the toddler while you were busy homeschooling, I don't think you would be able to say the same.

10) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and don't neglect to seek him early...giving him the first fruits of your day and teach your children to do the same. I know that you are tired and that there aren't enough hours in your day, but we serve a God who can make the sun stand still.