Happy Birthday Brooke

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Somebody's Three

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Brooke. We love you so much baby girl.

Did I Say Tupperware Crazy

Here is some more pictures to let you see some of the great deals you can get.

Tupperware Crazy

My Tupperware Consultant is having a huge sale on Tupperware. She has Tupperware running out her house. LOL Seriously she has tons of new Tupperware very cheap. I think it is like 30% off and no shipping or no tax. Some may be more than 30% off.
She has some really cute little girl cake sets for $12.00. It comes with four little plates, cups, and the cake plate. I have one for Brooke and she loves hers.
If you see anything in the pictures that you like, just email me or comment and I will put you in touch with Jean. Jean is a sweetheart, and she will treat you right.
Of course this is only for local people. (Sorry)
I am sure if you paid the shipping she would still treat you right. If any of you locals want to go to her house she has a 12 foot table set up with tons and tons of Tupperware on it. Here is a few pictures, but let me tell you, these pictures do NOT show what all she has.
She has the TW pitchers for like $10.00.
I bought a steamer that is great for fixing your meat and chicken in. I got it for $20.00. That is a great price, because it normally runs $29.00 plus shipping, plus tax.

Would you Like to Laugh

Would you like to laugh with me? I know Mitchie would. I was going to take a nap with Brooke this afternoon. We get in her bed and she did not want to go to sleep. She finally goes to sleep. The room is dark, with just a little light. I don't know if I was dreaming or what happened. I was awake because there was a spider in Brooke's hair. I saw it crawling. (I had to been dreaming) I was trying to pull the blind back so I could get the crazy spider out of her hair. In the process of trying to get the blind back, and trying to see without my glasses, and get the spider out, my feet got tangled in the sheet and I fell smack down in the floor. I quickly got up to try and still get the spider, which was gone. It was no where to be found, so I think I was dreaming. I was not dreaming when I hit the floor. It was one of those things that you are sure glad nobody else was there to see it.

I miss my Durango

Sunday School Lesson`

Brooke is starting to talk more about China, and asking questions. I feel fear sometimes, because I know some questions are coming sooner than I am ready for. My fear is just that I want know the answers to some questions. As much as I want to think good of the life in China, there is just some answers I don't know.
I teach the two and three year old Sunday School class. Brooke is in my class. Brooke gets so excited when I do my lesson for her. Last night I had went over my lesson and Brooke wanted me to tell it to her. This lesson was about when Jesus got old enough to go to his Father's House and how they all took the long journey to God's house. When they got there Jesus went in and sat with the teachers and was soaking up everything he could. Then it gets to the part where it was time to leave and how Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was in the group ahead of them, and so they left and did not realize that they had left Jesus.
Brooke gets this look of fear on her face and she says, " They left him."
I quickly try to tell her that Jesus is in God's house talking with the teachers and that Mary and Joseph did not leave him on purpose. I did not think much else about the look on Brooke's face, until today when I was telling the children the story.
When I got to the part about Mary and Joseph going back home and not realizing they had forgot Jesus, Brooke starts talking in the middle of my story.
Brooke says, " That is just like me in China." I felt like crying right there telling the story. I quickly pointed to the board and said "No Brooke Jesus did not get left on purpose, see he is talking to these men about God." I pointed to the flannel board where Jesus was talking to the men, and continued my story. I am in such shock that Brooke would even think about being left in China. This story triggered something in her mind. I do have in her life book that her birth parents placed the infant at Jiaotong Rd so that she could be found. I never said anything about her being left. What I think is Brooke is a pretty smart cookie and she is listening to all my conversations when people are talking to me about China and about Brooke's adoption. People will say things like "China don't want girls. I heard they kill the girls, or why do they only leave girls?"
People are always asking me these questions. I think I might have to start saying that I can't talk about it if Brooke is around. I mean I just don't know what to do. I don't want her to feel like I don't want to share her story, but on the other hand she is pretty young to be thinking that Jesus parents was leaving him and associating that with China. Don't you think????
The look on her face was pure fear. I just don't know how to handle these situations . I guess it will take some extra praying for God's wisdom.

I Ain't No Bunny

Brooke and my conversation.
Me : "Brooke, why don't you eat some carrots?"

Brooke: "I not like carrots"

Me: " Well how do you know you don't like them, Miss Priss?"

Brooke: " I ain't no bunny"

Last Night

Last night I did something that I have not done in years. I was in the bed by 9:15. I have had terrible headaches for about 7 days now. Sunday night my head was hurting so bad that I had to leave church. I spent the night with my parents that night. (Something else I never do) I stayed with them so they could help with the kids and so I could take a stronger pain pill.
Last night I was hurting so bad. Kevin was not home. I decided to let the girls sleep with me. Brooke and I just got to sleep when we got woke up by the dogs barking and by this terrible noise. I looked out my window and saw this man walking up and down the road. My heart was pounding so hard. I was scared because of some things that has been going on lately. I finally called my neighbor to see if it was her husband. It was. He was getting trash up and he was pulling the garbage can up the road. That was the noise we heard. I knew that I would never be able to sleep, until I found out if that was my neighbor or somebody else.
By that point the girls was wide awake and was not interested in going back to sleep. My headache had eased a good bit. The girls was laughing and being silly. They was telling stories and wanting me to tell them. As much as I wanted to sleep, I just enjoyed the girls. I think we finally went to sleep at 11:00. It was nice to lay in the bed with the girls and cuddle and laugh.
I woke up this morning with a headache still. Not quite as strong as they have been. Kevin was a sweetheart, and brought me roses and chocolate candy home. He brought the girls candy home also. The girls had a really good breakfast this morning. LOL Chocolate candy. (Thanks daddy, for helping them to be hyper today)
Courtney and I are going to have a Fun Friday. I decided that we was going to try on Friday's to play some Math and Language games that I bought from my Sister n law. She will still get her school in, and we will have fun doing school.

A Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called me to be a mom--
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with wooden blocks,
Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read--
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your grace,
I see then, in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me all the while --
And I stoop to kiss that Precious smile.
author unknown

Anyways

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea - sing it anyway

I sing
I dream
I love
Anyway

Blog Award

I want to thank Melanie for awarding me with the blogging for a purpose award. I enjoy blogging very much. It has became a hobby that I really enjoy. Thanks to Kelly for getting me started on blogging. The only thing is Kelly got me started and then she stopped. I miss her post very much.
I am not for sure how this blogging with a purpose works. I know I am suppose to choose five people that I enjoy going to their blog and that has not been given the award yet. That is hard because all my blogger friends are special. I have tons of you guys in my favorites. In my eyes you are all special. In order to not break the rule I will name five blogs that I enjoy. If you have already been picked forgive me. If you are on my sidebar you are special and I love your blog. Same goes for my Google reader. I have many people on my google reader. I use it more than my blog roll.

I have to award Karen from Always in My heart. Her web site and blog has always encouraged me and been a strength as I was going through the adoption process. I love to see all her beautiful children and see how her family keeps getting bigger.

I have to award Lauren from Gifford adoption. I love to hear and see her little Mia, who is also a Chongqing spice.

Susan from add one Chinese sister. I got to meet Susan, Luci, Bryan, and JT. I love to read her blog and see how the children are doing. She always makes me laugh. There always seems to be some excitement around her house. Susan home schools. I like to hear about her school days. Susan and I have a lot in common.

I have to award my friend Heather.
Heather has always been a help with this blogging thing. Heather and Kelly both helped me get started. I love to see how the Brands are doing and see her beautiful children. My Brooke and her little Sadie are great friends. I enjoy her blog very much. She is also a home school mom and she has some encouraging post just when I need them about home school.

I know I am suppose to pick somebody who has not been picked but this is very hard. I have to send a award back to Melanie. Melanie does a great job with editing. I love to see all the stuff she does. She take so much time with her work and it always looks good. She has became a great friend.

That is five, but I could name more and more.

Messy Room

Sitting in the container I bought for small toys.

"Am I cute or what?"

My plan was to clean Brooke's room. I was going to declutter(like fly lady says to do) all the mess and try to put toys in containers. Brooke had a blast while I tried to clean. I took a few pictures. I never did finish the room though. I will try and do that tonight.

Article from Ohilda.

Check out this blog. Read this article and then if you can, watch the video on The Dying Room.
Ohilda said most of the way I feel. Many people want to ask me questions about Brooke's life in China. No matter how many times I tell people I don't know, they still don't get it. Many people want me to talk about Brooke's birth parents. I wish I knew, but I don't know anything.
Many people ask about her orphanage. All I can say is I think it was one of the nicer ones. I have pictures from her orphanage and it looks like a nice building inside and out. The nannies and the director looks and seemed very nice. Those are things I really can't say. I just don't know.
I have had people say that the Chinese children that are adopted are spoiled little kids. Well you know what....... I am glad I have one to spoil. I wish I could have more to spoil. After seeing this video of some of the things that happened in China, makes me want to go back and bring more children home. I know we can't right now, unless God shows us a way.
I think Ohilda said the film was done in 1995 and that much has changed since then. I still am very sad over this. The whole video kept me sad. Just wanted to share it with you that are interested, and maybe there is some more people that would like to bring a child home.

Uploading Pictures

I am having a really hard time figuring out how to load my pictures from Kodak Easy Share to my blog. Does anybody use this program? If so please let me know what I am doing wrong.
If anybody has any easier ways to download pictures and then add to blog please let me know.
I used to have no problem with this. I did a system restore months ago, and I was never able to take pictures from my Kodak pictures again and put on the blog.
I told Kevin I am getting where I hate to blog. I have to download my pictures twice to do what I need to do. One is to post to the blog, and the other is to burn the pictures to a CD so I can make copies of them for my photo albums at home. Any advice please let me know.

In loving Memory

Today marks two years that we lost my Father n law. He is still missed so very much. I just wanted to take a moment to post something in is memory.


God saw you were getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered come live with me. With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and saw you fading away, we loved you dearly, but could not make you stay. A golden heart stops beating, your hard working hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. God will love you and keep you until we meet someday.by Carolyn Marvinetz

Mia and Brooke

Mia and Brooke

What a beautiful Smile.

Little Pig Tails

Brooke wanted pig tails. I think she looks cute.

Pretty Girl

Sweet

I love her little feet.

Kevin VS Plastic ball

I don't think he felt like having a picture taken.

OUCH

Courtney has got where she loves to play ball. She can hit the ball pretty far. Kevin was playing ball with Court. She hit the ball so hard that it hit Kevin in the face and knocked his glasses off. He said he never knew it was coming she hit it so hard. When he came in the house he looked pretty rough. It looks like he was crying, but he was not. I am sure he felt like it.

Writing a Story

Courtney reading Brooke a story that she wrote. Great job Court!!!

Woke up on the Wrong Side

Yes, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I am so upset about my Durango. The insurance company called and it is not totaled. It is going to be around $10,000 to fix. I am so tired of people not thinking before they drink and drive. It make me so ill. People are selfish and don't even think about how they can hurt others. This is the fourth wreck I have been in that the person ran. One of those my car was empty. I was having a Yard Sale and this person hit my car and ran. Somebody got the tag number on that, and that was taken care of. I don't know if they was drinking or not.
The other time this lady came flying up behind us, and hit us. She had a beer can hid under her shirt, and she had two children in her car with her. The children was screaming that they did not want to go back to DHR. The next thing we knew the lady puts her foot to the gas and leaves. Kevin jumps in our van and follows her. The girl went to her grandmothers and Kevin used the grandmothers phone to call the cops. That is kind of funny. This girl had her third DUI when she hit us.
Then I was with my mom and we was just past my house when this man pulled right into us and then left the scene. He smelled like s beer factory.
This last wreck with my Durango has just made me ill. This has been the worst of any wreck I have been in. I don't know if the guy is still in jail or not. I just get so upset thinking that these drunks get away with it. We have to pay our deductible which is not a good thing. My insurance man said he would try and get it back from the guy, but not to count on it because he has dealt with this guy before. This guy was with my insurance company and they dropped him. We have not found out yet if he had insurance with anybody else.
I am thankful that we was all O.K. We had bruises and that kind of thing. I live in fear when I have to drive. I get so nervous. I feel like I can' breath good. I am gripping the steering wheel so hard. That is terrible to have to live like that. I know I will get over that, but it still don't make it easy. I just wish people would not be so selfish in this world. If you are going to drink, please don't drive. I know we could of had a funeral this week. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I am very thankful that God took care of us. Don't think because I woke up on the wrong side of the bed that I am not thankful. I just am disgusted that my vehicle is almost totaled and some drunk is getting by with it. I mean you can't get blood from a turnip.

Brooke's Funny Expressions

Brooke showing some of her funny faces. I love the Tick Tock.

It was Bound to Happen

Brooke has done so good without her passey. She has been more ill, but she don't ask for it. She will tell people that she is a big girl because she gave her passey to the Build A Bear man. LOL

Today I went into a store and Brooke was walking behind me and she started laughing. I was not really paying much attention to her. She was talking away. She said, "I thought I give my pappie to Build a Bear Man. I forgot dis one."
I turned around and Brooke had pulled a passey out of her coat pocket. I was like "Brooke give me that." She was smiling from ear to ear. I was afraid that seeing that passey was going to make her want it back, but she did not. I said, " Oh you don't need that thing, you are a big girl now."
Brooke said "Yep, I am."

Fun With Friends

Brooke and Emily

Jesse and Courtney

The gang is all here.

The girls enjoyed going to McDonald's and playing with friends.

My Day

I think that the devil likes for us to worry. I have had a condition in my body for the past four months on and off. Well I have suffered with it a good bit the past 14 days. I don't talk about it much because I just don't want to and I don't want my family to worry.
I decided to get a appointment with my Doctor to see what was going on. I think everybody has a fear of the worst when they are sick or have certain conditions in their bodies.
I was so scared as I was going today. I felt nervous, sick, and just scared to death. I tried to be so brave when my husband would ask if I was O.K. He was going to go with me, and I acted like it was no big deal. Let me tell you, deep down I was scared to death.
Well in my mind I am thinking what if I have cancer? I started feeling so stressed. I was taking Brooke to my moms and I was telling her that mommy had to go to the Doctor and I would be back for her soon. Brooke said in a very concerned voice. " Mommy are you sick" I said, "Well sorta, but I will be O.K"
Tears came to my eyes as I started thinking about the what ifs. What if it was this or that and my girls loose their mommy early. I started praying for God to help me. I turned my radio to a gospel station and there was a man talking on there. He was talking about how we worry about things and that God don't want us to worry that he wants us to cast all our cares on him. That God wants us to trust him. As I listened to that I felt a peace. Maybe God wanted me to hear those words. I prayed on and off all the way to the Doctor.
My Doctor was a little confused herself. I can't go into a whole lot on this blog because of what I have been through. I did mention cancer and my Doctor don't think that, but she wants me to have blood work done and a ultrasound done next Friday. She gave me some medicine that she felt my body needed. By the time I left the Doctors office I was a little stressed, with a big headache.
I went to the hospital to get my medicine filled. I went to Chick-Fil-A and ate by myself. I never eat by myself. It felt really strange not having somebody with me. By the time I got home I was feeling better about things. I take my medicine out and read the information on the package. My heart stopped........ It said " this medicine is a _______ used to treat cancer. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

So of course the devil starts trying so hard to make me worry and be upset. I have found that most things you worry about don't happen. I am trying to think positive and that everything is going to be fine. I really feel that everything will be O.K. I just dread this week. I wish I could go Monday or tomorrow and get this over with but I can't. That is a whole week that I have got to deal with this. I am going to try to think on positive and think of some good scriptures to make it through this week.
God has always gave me encouragement when I needed it and I know he will again. If there was one thing I could change about myself it would be not to worry so much.

Brooke is crying right now because she wants to sleep in my bed because she is scared. I might just let her tonight. I know that might be starting something. She is very upset right now, so I guess I better end this for now.

Alabama Judge

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer.? He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama !? The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

>From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
>From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray.

We've kept God in our temples,
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Our house to Yours.

My Little Princess

I was Brave

I let the girls finger paint before Christmas. They had a blast. Brooke did not know what to think that mommy was letting her get messy.

A girl and her Clothes

Click the picture.

A girl can't have to many clothes. Brooke and her cousin, Kalie was playing dress up. My sister-n-law took this picture. I thought it was cute. I guess a girl can't have to many clothes.