Very Thankful Thursday

But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace. Psalm 37:11 On this Thursday I am so thankful and so blessed. My two babies are making great transitions. Our prayers are being answered and we are rejoicing. This is a picture of Clara Beth(doesn't she look like a happy girl). It was taken on Wednesday(her first day with Mrs. Dawn) She only had tears for a few minutes and then she did great yesterday and today!! Oh how this eases a mommy's mind!!! Thank you to everyone who sent up prayers for us. They are being answered!!!!!!
Here's my other sweetie this morning. We did a trial run at school. I am so thankful that he will be able to attend the three year old program at my school. He has a wonderful teacher and speech therapist that he will see daily. This will allow him to be immersed in language each day. His after school situation has also worked out!! Another prayer answered!! Isn't he so cute with his little backpack!! There's Clara Beth all ready to go too!!

Now for a little entertainment!!!!!!!! Here we are right before bed. Emanuiel visited the library at school today and brought home Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Of course there is a black sheep in the book, which just happens to be CB's favorite song(BAA BAA Black Sheep) so we sang it over and over and over. (please ignore the laundry in the background,I am)

Until next time...................Rejoice because tomorrow is Friday and that means w*e*e*k*e*n*d!!

Robin

More Reasons to Celebrate!!!

Well it doesn't take much for us to have a celebration around this house. Friday Land celebrated that he finally was able to bring his trumpet home from school. We gathered around the kitchen table as he very carefully took it out of its case
We then watched as he oiled each part.
Even the little ones waited patiently as he polished and oiled it, then finally he tried it out for us!!!!! We can't wait to hear more!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now if I can just keep these four little hands away from it we'll be okay!!!!! They are drawn to that trumpet like little magnets...
In case you haven't noticed we LOVE food around here!!! I love to cook and try new things. On Sunday we celebrated(I know we were a week late.)Grandparent's Day. We are very fortunate to have Paul's parents close by. They are such a big help to us with the children. We had lunch here Sunday after church so that meant that I had to do one of my very easy but elegant meals. Our menu included, a family favorite of ours, Cheese Stuffed Shells, Crusty Parmesan Bread, Mixed Green Salad and to end it all Heavenly Banana Dessert(courtesy of Paula Deen). Thankfully Emanuiel is recovering so well from his surgery I have been able to take foods like these and puree them in my food processor for him so he hasn't been left out. I even did this with our dessert. He loved it. If any of you reading have great recipes that you would like to share leave them in the comments section. I would love to give them a try. Especially if you have a family favorite that is quick and easy. I go back to school on Wednesday(sniff, sniff) so these kinds of recipes would come in very handy. Also, if you would like my Stuffed Shells recipe just let me know. It has a delicious sauce that I use for Baked Spaghetti and Chicken Parmesan.
Here's a picture after lunch with the grand parents. We got the two little ones but the two big ones were somewhere else in the house. It's so hard to get everybody in a picture!!! Until next time..................gather your family together and celebrate something. I always say, ordinary days are my favorite kind of days. Today celebrate the ordinary!!!!

He fills my life with good things.
Psalm 103.5:5

Today celebrate the good things in your life, the ordinary and the extraordinary.


If you would please also say a little prayer for us. I go back to work(to 24 wonderful little kindergartners)on Wednesday and Clara Beth and Emanuiel will be transitioning into their new places. Pray that all goes well.


Robin

Wonderful Wacky Wednesday

This is my big guys favorite snack. Paul and Land enjoyed this after church tonight, needless to say this plate wasn't full for long. The two of them can really attack a snack!! That was the wonderful part of today. Now..............................
On to why it was a Wacky Wednesday. Think back to this picture that was taken while we were in China, notice the TWO strollers. Now imagine me, minus Land, only ME, pulling and pushing BOTH of these at the SAME time. Call me crazy because I must be, but that is what I had to do today to get my hair cut, not only a cut but brows done and highlights(a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do) No, I didn't plan it this way but that's just how it worked out. The two little ones were supposed to stay with grandparents, along with their little cousin, but she had a fever, I didn't dare chance either of them catching anything, so off we went, all three of us along with TWO strollers. After I pushed and pulled them into the salon, amid very strange looks, they watched me get waxed, foiled, dried, cut, and styled. And if all of that wasn't enough did I mention that it was raining!!!! I must say though that over all they both were very well behaved. Well that was my Wacky Wednesday, how was your day????? A double stroller is definitely on my shopping list.


On a side note, if you stop by our blog to see what we are up to we would love for you to leave a comment and say hello.

Until next time.........

Robin

CELEBRATING

We love to celebrate!! Tonight we celebrated our son-in-law, Greg's birthday. We have a tradition in our family that when it's your birthday you get to plan your birthday dinner. The sky's the limit. His meal of choice was, what we like to refer to as, a seafood extravaganza. The menu included: Cajun and Honey Glazed Shrimp Skewers, Shrimp Scampi, Cajun Tilapia, Asian Glazed Salmon, Chicken Scampi over Linguine, and Baked Potatoes. Yes, we cooked ALL of that. Here is Paul preparing the skewers for the grill.
This is Land licking the bowl, Greg's dessert choice was a brownie pie covered with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and topped off with a cherry. The little ones looked on as Land licked away. Don't worry they didn't want any, you'll see in the next picture what they were up to while all of the cooking was taking place.
Yes, they succeeded in removing ALL of the pillows from their beds and then jumping on them and the beds!!!! They are very talented jumpers!!!!
AHHHH! the grand finale to a wonderful meal.
The birthday boy and Anna Kayla finishing off their dessert.
This is everyone, with full tummies, enjoying the rest of the evening. Nothing compares to celebrating special times with your family.

This is the Lord's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:23-24

May your days be filled with joy and celebration.

until next time....................

Robin

Peek-A-Boo

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for a wonderful husband that I love dearly.
A son that gets more handsome and taller with each passing day. I love him with all my heart
A sweet girl that cracks me up with all of her insight on life. To her everything is a dance.
A son who's belly laughs bring a new sound to this house. He and Clara Beth were meant to be together.
And a beautiful daughter(who has grown into quite a lady) and son-in-law that I know God brought together to further His Kingdom. What more could a mother want.................I have been blessed beyond measure.

The Real "BACKYARDIGANS"

My plants got quite a good watering from these two.
Emanuiel thought the water in the bucket needed a few good swishes with the arm splints.
They did take turns. After a few reminders.
Emanuiel supervising the watering process.
All done watering, now for a few runs down the slide.

Labor Day Fun

At the spur of the moment we decided to host a Labor Day Cook-out,( yes you can question my sanity here). So we invited about 20 family members and friends. Here is the grill master taking a rest after grilling hamburgers for all of us. It was fun and we topped it off with home-made ice cream, something that Emanuiel can actually eat!! I tried to snap a few pictures(most of them turned out terrible) but here are a few of the two little ones.
Emanuiel and Clara Beth taking a much needed rest after several trips up and down the slide.
Notice the arm splints(haven't slowed him down a bit and he can take them off by himself!!) They took a few spins around the patio on various riding toys. No swimming this time, Emanuiel has tubes in his ears. It was hard enough for him to drink his Pedisure while others ate, there was no way others could swim and him not be able to.

Yes, he is JUMPING off of Land's bicycle ramp. He watched Land actually jump it on his bicycle earlier, thankfully Emanuiel didn't try it with his new bike!!!! Unfortunately all of the other pictures of our guests were blurry. That's what happens when I am behind the camera and trying to keep up with the two little tornadoes!!!

Surgery Update

We can't thank everyone enough for the sweet prayers for Emanuiel. The surgery was very long (over 5 hours) but the doctor's did an excellent job. The first few hours after surgery were hard but he did great. By Friday morning he was talking and drinking. He only had pain medication one time!! The doctor could not believe it. I know it was because of all of the prayers from family and friends. We came home around lunch time yesterday. Now the hard part is trying to help him understand that he can only drink liquids(he LOVES to eat) and already wants other things. Eating for the rest of us has become quite a challenge. I ask for continued prayer for this and his healing. Also for him to have patience with his arm splints he has already figured out how to take them off. This picture was taken right before his surgery. I'll try to post other pictures later.

Thanks so much and keep praying,

Robin

My whole being,praise the Lord.

Lord my God, You are very great.

Psalm 104:1

Again, He has done GREAT things for us!

Yes, we are STILL here!!

Life has been CRAZY since we arrived home, fun but CRAZY. We are all adjusting to having a new little rambunctious fellow added into the mix. Here he is enjoying a pony ride at Mr Bobby's and Mrs. Lynn's house. We had such fun eating Chinese food and watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics together. Emanuiel and Clara Beth wore their Olympic shirts we bought for them in China.
Here's CB and Bekah Grace, can't you tell how interested they were in the ceremony!!! They had a giggling good time together as always.

Here's Emanuiel at a friend's birthday party. He is fearless on playground equipment. I know he slid down this slide at least 50 times!!!
Here's our big guy on the first day of middle school(sniff sniff, where does the time go). The pajama parade was strapped in the back seat to see him off on his first day of sixth grade!!
This is the birthday girl and her partner in crime. I know they were planning something together. Probably how quick they could get to the bedroom to jump on the bed before I caught them!!
Here's CB and AK with a PRESENT for the birthday girl!!!! It was a sing a long Elmo that caused quite a tug of war between CB and E!!
It wasn't just a day for the birthday girl, she got a bicycle and Emanuiel did too!! We have found out that we now need two of everything. His is red and hers is pink.

Daddy(did I mention how great this man is, what a help he has been) helping CB ride her new bike. Daddy is king when it comes to bath time. They squeal and tear off their clothes racing to get in for him to give them a bath. So fun to watch.
Simple party theme this year POLKA DOTS!!! Who has time for anything else.
More party food in the kitchen.
We put the jumpy thing up for CB's party. It was hilarious to see them inside bouncing around like balls. All the China girls were here and now we have a China boy and one more on the way!!
Mommy is it time for cake yet????

The China crew hanging out in the hammock. If you could have seen the crowd gathered in front of them trying to get all of them to smile, obviously it didn't work look at those faces....
Getting ready to sing and cut the cake!! YUM YUM
After riding bikes, jumping in the jumpy thing, eating and having cake everyone went for a swim.
Ready to jump right in. After the swim it was inside to open presents. What a great day!!!! I can't believe our sweetie is TWO years old. Emanuiel liked this party thing, he was more excited than Clara Beth. His birthday should be a lot of fun!!!
And finally all dressed and ready for church, two little angels. God has blessed us in so many ways. He is faithful and good in all things. For those of you who have followed our journey we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to lift us up. Emanuiel has surgery on his palate this Thursday. It will last for four and a half hours. Please pray for God to guide the surgeon's hands and for quick healing. He has already answered so many prayers. Emanuiel had a rather large VSD and we have been praying for healing since the beginning of his adoption process. We saw a pediatric cardiologist last Wednesday and found out that the VSD had indeed sealed!!!! I repeat GOD IS GOOD and our prayers were answered!! Those were also the words from the doctor when I told him how we had prayed for that very thing!!! The Lord watches over all who love Him. Psalm 145:20 Isn't it comforting to know that this verse is so true, no matter what our circumstances are. Until next time...............Blessings to all