Happy New Year!!!

To all our family and friends: We wish you a very Happy New Year!

It's just after midnight and I'm listening to all the fireworks going off around these parts. lol! Back in Pennsylvania, no one really celebrated the New Year with fireworks...so this has been interesting. (This and the 4th of July!) Anyway, we actually went to our neighbors for a little while to watch them light up a bunch of fireworks.... they lit them early so neighbors could sleep. We said goodbye, and got back at 9pm to begin a Wii fest for several hours. Then onto Pictionary Jr., which my team (consisting of me and ds1) lost twice. Bummer....but we fought hard!

We ended the evening as I did, when I was a kid. You may think this odd....but when I was little, my mom and dad used to wake my sister and I up at around 11:40pm. We would head down to the living room and watch Dick Clark ring in the New Year in Times Square. When that ball dropped we would have pans and spoons, and we would make as much noise as we could! lol! So, that is what we did this year at midnight. The boys loved it of course...banging those pots as loud as they could, and laughing! It actually brought up some emotions as I cherished that my boys were taking part in a similar experience to what I had as a child. :-)

Happy New Year 2008 to everyone!!

What a Guy!

I just have to say... I love my husband! LOVE the man! I wish I had a camera to show everyone what an awesome job he did in one day, on this room....

Basically, he cleared everything out of a bright red video game room, and painted the walls a muted serene color.... and then moved our three pieces of exercise equipmentinto the room. It has a TV center (small) built in, so once I find a used TV that is larger.... that room is gonna rock! Plus, it's off the play room, so I can put a gate up and watch any kiddos play while I exercise. I am sooo happy with how it turned out! I really wish I had before pics of the dark dreary red cave room.

Tomorrow's plan is to pay the bills and update all the checkbook stuff, so I can see if I have a little leftover to add to some Christmas money. Then I will be promptly checking out digital cameras. I need to take blog pictures and lots of them! I got some suggestions on my other blog.... so I'll ask here as well. Can anyone recommend a good (but not really expensive) digital camera? Thanks!

My life in bullet points...

There are so many thoughts cluttering my mind, I could easily write three entries for one day..... but I don't even have time or peace to do that right now.... so I'm going to write them in bullet points, and maybe tomorrow I'll have the time to expound upon them....

Three favorite Christmas gifts

• DVD Camera - Chris bought it on major sale after Thanksgiving, and we didn't open it until Christmas. Ours broke at least five years ago, and we needed a new one to take to Russia when we go. The price has come way down in 5 years and the size is much more manageable! He is loving it!
• Recumbent Exercise Bike- I found this in the paper used.... we called and Chris went and picked it up for me 2 days before Christmas. It's practically new! It will be really good for me to exercise and have an alternative activity to walking on my "almost better" ankle.
• Wii- Yes, that is the boys gift from their grandparents. Needless to say it is getting "broken in" in our house! The boys, and Chris and I are having fun. :-)

Exciting News

• Not from Russia, but from my best friend from highschool. I am so excited as she is pregnant! I just screamed my head off when she told me, and the boys and Chris came running to find out what was the matter. Then I just started crying. She waited on God's timing for a mate, and 2 years ago married the love of her life. Now they are expecting a baby together. Am I thrilled? You bet I am!

Beginning to Picture It....

• I was in church on Christmas Eve, and it just really, really hit me, that this time next year, I might be holding a little one in my arms. It was a very weird sort of reality and one that I just can't describe. It brought a wealth of emotion to the surface, as I thought of how long I've prayed and waited for this. I guess I just got a picture of it in my mind, and the emotions when I think about it are still very fresh. January 3rd marks the 5th month our dossier has been in Russia. Almost to the 1/2 way mark..... :-)

That's it for now. My head is actually still swimming with thoughts, but it will wait until tomorrow! Gotta get dinner cooked and begin working on our New Year's cards!

A Wonderful Christmas present!

Not for us, but for another couple adopting from Russia! They just returned to the States after a very long month in Russia....and with their new son in tow! If you get a chance, pop on over to Ryan and Amy's blog and say congratulations! They are a now a happy family of four!

Christmas preparations....

So, with three days until Christmas, how is everyone doing? I know several of my friends are baking up a storm right now, and several are still shopping for/wrapping gifts. Some are completely organized and finished with all the holiday preparations. I'm sort of in between.

All of my shopping is pretty much done, except for some gum for Chris. (It's a stocking stuffer). His presents are wrapped, but t he kids are not yet. I have done most of my baking, and sent two large trays of cookies into his work. It felt great to get them out of the house! I still have to bake a few cookies for caroling this evening.... and then I'm done with that. It's funny, but our decorations went up kind of hodge podge this year. Completely not like me at all. Some are still not up and are just sitting around different parts of the house. lol! I guess I haven't thought them as important this year. :o)

The one thing I am behind on are Christmas cards. And I'm behind on this just about every year. Most years it's a last minute decision, "am I going to send them out or not?" I usually take a picture of the boys and send it out. But getting that snapshot is not easy! So, this year I decided, like last year, to send out cards for the New Year. We have time off at Christmas, and the post office lines are shorter too. I usually make up a letter updating everyone of the "happenings" in our family. Some people think this impersonal, but with friends and family all over the country.... it's the best way I have found to stay remotely in touch. I joke with people, if you don't like it, throw it out. :o)

So, how is everyone else doing? I know I am just looking forward to spending time with my husband. 7 days off! The boys and I are thrilled, even if we just put puzzles together as a family and play some new Christmas games. We are looking forward to the quality time together!

Done with Physical Therapy...yeah!

This past Thursday was the last day of PT for my ankle! For those of you who don't know, I sprained/and slightly fractured my ankle at the end of June. June 30th to be exact. I have come so far in regards to the range of motion and strength in my anklee/foot. I am going to miss the people I worked with 2x a week in therapy. It has been a real joy getting to know them. The ankle is not quite 100% yet, but I can do many exercises at home, and it will continue to strengthen. I will be writing a letter to the physician who referred me there, to say how exceptional the people are and the therapy provided. I think it's important to provide that positive feedback, and I do whenever I feel strongly about it!

So yeah for my ankle! I'm starting to walk more (as in exercise), and it's holding up pretty well!

Good News on Accreditation!

I received an email form our agency this morning with very good news! The following is it.....

Breaking news from Russia!!!!

Update on accreditation in Russia!!

Agency XYZ is happy to announce that our representative general is invited to the Ministry of Education to receive the accreditation this Friday, December 21, 2007! As soon as we receive the documents (order from the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation certificate) we will publish this on our website. Please visit us again soon for the update.

This is so encouraging for the families (like us) who are waiting! It means that hopefully those waiting for court dates will get them quickly, because we are accredited, and that things may move along more quickly in Russia now that we are officially accredited in the country.

What does this mean for us? Nothing yet...but we are planning on preparing ourselves behind the scenes over the next few months. We will be completing the last module of our adoption education next week, while Chris has some time off. We will also be scheduling an appointment with our pediatrician (who adopted 5 children from Russia), to have a consultation of what to look for in country and what he tests for on the return home. We will also be contacting an physician specialist trained in international adoption. Either through Vanderbilt, or another recommendation. Just so that we have that set up. Finally, we will be finding a good local travel agent so we are ready when it comes time for that first trip!

Finally, we are planning on taking an area a week and further child proofing it for the addition of our new children. I think we will be starting with the homeschool room, and all the wires etc that are under the computer desk. Just little things once a week in each room...will seem less overwhelming.

So, that's the news today! We are thrilled to hear about our agency...and feel we can finally take some steps forward in the adoption process!

Christmas Party

Last night Chris and I went to his work Christmas party. I was really dreading going, as I don't relish those things so much.... but I ended up having a wonderful time. It was in this beautiful ballroom that reminded us of where we got married. We both said, that if we have a big anniversary celebration and renewal of vows, we will have a reception at this location. It's gorgeous! The meal was delicious. Here is what they served.

• New England Clam Chowder
• Sugar coated Strawberries in Grand Mariner
• Caesar Salad Bar
• Peel and Eat Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
• Prime Rib au jus
• Sauteed Atlantic Salmon Medallions
• Grilled Chicken w/ bell pepper and onions
• Garlic butter green beans and fire roasted red peppers
• Roasted Red Bliss potatoes
• Penne au Gratin w/ spinach and tomatoes
• Baked sour dough rolls
• Warm Apple Crisp
• Turtle Cheese Cake
• Lemon Meringue Tart

After dinner there was a coffee bar available which anyone who knows me.... knows I loved that!

There were wonderful door prizes given out during dinner....one of which was an Ipod! Unfortunately we did not win one. (Or any door prize for that matter...) But that's okay. They played some funny games throughout the night that had everyone cracking up. The CEO, and 2 presidents (separate company divisions), all put on these baggy red Santa like jumpsuits. Then they selected team members who had to blow up red ballons and stuff them in the jump suits to make them big like Santa. It was funny! They looked more and more like the Saturday night comedy sketch of muscle men.... you know "I'm Hans and I'm Frans and we are here to Pump You Up!" They looked hillarious. They danced with their spouses afterward in those stuffed red jumpsuits. lol! Another game they played after dinner was kind of like musical chairs, but you had to run and find items from other people and get back to sit in a chair. The last person back didn't have a chair because each time one chair was removed. I felt like I was watching our most recent MNO one time in particular, when one girl from my table was running in way high heels to get to a chair and started to slip and then was side swiped by another lady, who sat in the chair, but not before knocking this poor slight young girl on the floor! lol!

There was dancing as well, and we seemed to do a lot of that. Chris could not resist the electric slide, and dragged me up there with him to help him find the right beat. lol! Later we waltzed on the dance floor and then two stepped. Which was quite funny, as he went up to request a song, and he asked for a two step song..... the dj gave him a blank stare and asked..."what's a two step song?" lol! Um anything country, you know Garth Brooks, or anything. He had no idea what Chris was talking about. So when the two step came on we were one of 3 couples, yes count them 3, who were out there doing a two step. Afterward we were cracking up as we thought about it... is this the south? Shoot, you have two yankee northerners doing a two step down here. lol! Actually for those that don't know, that's how we met.... country western line dancing. But it has been years since we danced and we were a bit rusty. :-)

The biggest thing that impacted me at the party was how blessed we are to be working for this company. They stand on their Christian values and they are not afraid at all to share that. The VP in his opening comments talked about how we have a Savior who we can rely on. A Savior in the name of Jesus Christ who has given us eternal life and freedom from death. Then another gentleman did a monolgue on the birth of Jesus through Mary and Joseph's eyes. It just brought tears to my eyes as I listened to both these men...... God directed us to this company and every year I am more and more grateful! I am shown over and over the integrity of the folks who run the company and the priorities that they place in their lives. We can not help but feel blessed.

New computer.... working better

Three posts to this blog in one day. Well, I'm tired of this blog always being empty, so I've decided to fill it with the life we lead now, as we wait. So onto my new computer. Many more things are working now as we worked all the kinks out. My cable internet is now working, and so is my Outlook, (however I am still getting acclimated to that). My printer is now up and running, although I am waiting on the adapter that lets me print from anywhere in the house. Oh, will that be a cool day! The coolest thing that I am still trying to figure out how to use is the docking port. I can dock this thing at my desk and then hit this expanded screen mode. It gives me twice the working space. I can be working on something on my desktop monitor, and simulataneously be working on something else on the laptop. It's very cool, and I feel quite the techie using it! I can even drag a screen from the laptop to the desktop and vice versa. There is the capability to add a third screen if I wanted to. (Like what would I need that for?) lol! No idea, but it would look kind of cool, like audio visual at church or something. :-)

Anyway, I am enjoying this thing more and more as the days go on. And you can tell, because my house is starting to look like I've been neglecting it. (Not really, but a little bit!)

A Christmas Miracle!

Not for us....so everyone stay calm! A couple who has been waiting for over a year to adopt a little baby boy from Russia has finally received a referral! They are also with our adoption agency, so this was really good news indeed! They are such a sweet couple and her posts have been filled with patience and encouragment as she waited. So pop on over and give a big congratulations to Carrie and Michael!