Change in Plans...

My workday is getting pushed aside. UGH! Both boys will have practice, one at the batting cages and one in a gym at our local high school. I guess great for them, not so great for mom and the house. We'll be dividing and conquering today to get that accomplished. Oh well, a little bit got done this morning.

Rainy Saturday

I woke up this morning to rain. Our poor grass needs to be mowed badly, but unfortunately it will have to grow a little more first. lol! Our neighbors must love us.

Today the boys were supposed to have baseball practice, but I have a feeling it will be cancelled. Yeah! We need a day at home to sort of organize and clean everything up. It's a bit of a disaster since vacation.

Finally, we are gearing up for our yard sale at the end of the month. So today will be another day to get that in gear! We have so much stuff and no where to put it! I believe I'll be moving the van out the garage in order to begin putting things on tables etc etc etc. Fun stuff.

I truly miss my friend Vicki from PA, when it comes to yard sales. We always had one together and it was so fun to get organized. We would spend evenings in her garage "merchandising and pricing our items). We called it the Red Gingham Yard Sale, and used all red gingham table clothes. People came just to see what the heck we meant by Red Gingham. lol! We had a blast, and I miss her terribly!

Easter Sunday

We woke up early on Easter Sunday to attend sunrise service at Sea World. My mom and dad have been attending this service for about 7 years, and this year they couldn't believe how packed it was. I have a feeling that because Easter and spring break fell together this year, that could be why it was so packed.

I haven't been to a sunrise service in forever! I am awed that Sea World continues to offer this year after year. As to the service, well interesting, is the best description I can give. It certainly gave me lots of food for thought as I pondered much. I probably won't post it here, as I would never want to offend anyone, but instead will journal about it the old fashioned way (pen to paper).

Afterward we went out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then my dad and Chris took the kids over to the driving range to hit some golf balls. Mom and I prepared Easter dinner.(Which was delicious by the way...lol!)

My very best memory of Easter this year will be of my ds1. Honestly, I don't know if a mom could be prouder. After the sermon and service at Sea World, he informed me that he was going to share Christ's testimony with a young boy that they met in the neighborhood. Apparently this boy lives down the street from my parents and he saw both my children playing in the yard and came over to join them. He is an only child, and doesn't have many friends, as there are very few children in the community. DS1 told me that he didn't know a thing about Jesus and doesn't go to church at all

My son said he was going to tell Mario about Jesus. So when Mario came and rang the doorbell....DS1 grabbed his bible and headed out the door purposefully. He brought him to a shady side of the house, and just talked to him for like 20 minutes all about the Lord. He shared with him how Christ was beaten, and nailed to the cross for our sins. He quoted Scripture and opened his Bible to show him that Scripture. I didn't want to disturb him, but I did manage to hear him at one of the windows. It really awed me and I thanked the Lord for giving my child a heart to evangelize at such a tender age. Nine years old.... unbelievable! When it was time for Mario to go home, ds1 came in for dinner and said, "Mario wasn't ready yet".... I explained that we can still pray for Mario, and perhaps one day he will hear the gospel again and will remember a time when a young boy shared the same story with him.

My son certainly reminded us of what Easter is really all about.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Soggy Saturday...

Saturday in Florida was a rainy day. It was a good thing too, as we all slept pretty late! The kids played Wii with grandma. She loved it and was easily addicted to the bowling game. lol!

My dad and Chris went to the hardware store several times to try to get the correct measurements for a screen door. Why? Well my dear husband didn't see it, and when we called him for dinner, he walked right through it! The first time the hardware store messed up the measurements in the cut. Then Chris messed up the second time and had to go back again to get the screen cut just right.

We were also on the phone with Dell and Dhl about our camera. It was supposed to arrive, and dhl had a new driver and couldn't get through the gate to deliver it. Hmmm.... So, we didn't get it on time. It arrived today when we arrived home. So, my dad will be sending it to us here. Don't even get me started on DHL, I'm just going to let that subject set.

We all had a blast playing Wii Saturday night. I think my parents want one for Christmas. lol!

We went to Sea World on Friday. We got to the park right when it opened (9am) and stayed until it closed at 10pm. Chris and ds1 rode the Krakken roller coaster several times. Last year ds1 wasn't tall enough to ride it, and was so looking forward to it this year! He is like his daddy and loves roller coasters.... this one had a loop and some kind of a curl loop. I am not a big fan of coasters (as in never ride them), so I don't know the lingo. But they LOVED it. iv>

Now ds2 was so funny the evening before. We were coming home from dinner, and he and Chris were talking in some kind of Irish brogue about riding the Krakken. Just all about how they will "Defeat the Krakken..ha ha ha!" I just looked at Chris and said, "Wait until tomorrow". He gave me a knowing grin. lol! The reason is ds2 is a big talker, but he is tentative about rides. Very tentative. Well, sure enough he is talking big with his Irish brogue as we enter the park and head to the Krakken.... and then he sees it.... gulp. Um, normal voice now, "well maybe I'll try to ride it." The little guy lucked out, as he was too short to ride it this year! Whew!

One of the best memories I had was sitting and seeing Shamu's Believe. I lucked out and got a great seat, while my family wanted to sit in the "splash zone". I watched as Shamu took his huge back fin and sloshed them with water. Several times! It was hilarious, especially viewing them from my dry vantage point!

Everyone was exhausted at the end of the day. We walked for 12 of the 13 hours! The kids fell asleep on the way home, and I slept way late the next day. My poor body was so sore from walking all day. But we had a blast!

Kennedy Space Center.

Cross one more school item off my list! Chris and grandpa took the kids to Kennedy Space Center today. Yeah! Typically they go to Daytona USA to see the Nascar stuff. But they have done that for the past several years, so this year it was decided to go to KSC. This was also a great day for it, as it was really sunny outside and they needed a break from the sun. (See earlier post).

They were gone all day....and when they came home they had sooo much information to share. I was very impressed by how much they were able to retain! A very cool day...and they got to meet an astronaut too!

What did I do all day? I hung out with my mom, went shopping and saw a matinee. Then we cooked steaks on the grill with baked potatoes. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain, so we'll make it a family game day . We brought the Wii, so hopefully everyone will enjoy playing it! lol!

Baseball Season!

Well, it's baseball season again! The boys are excited to start practising with their little league teams, and we are looking forward to watching their games!

We have some really good friends whose life is all about baseball.... My friend Kelly's husband plays for a minor league team, and is currently at spring training in Florida. We couldn't go to Florida and NOT visit them! We were so close.... so we drove down to see them on Monday.

It was really interesting watching all the minor league players as they practiced and played other teams in exhibition games. I think it would have been even more interesting if I hadn't been trying to keep my two boys quiet... lol! They were so excited to see their friends, and run around!

We went out for dinner afterward which was awesome! It was just really relaxing and we had a great time talking together. Then afterward we went to a local park and let all the kids run and play. The weather was beautiful and breezy...... just perfect for an evening at the park! Both Chris and I said to each other on the way home, that it was just one of those really really great days.

Fishing the inlet...

This past Sunday we went fishing with Chris's dad and a friend of his on his boat. It was so much fun!

I have never really been fishing on a boat before, and have never used anything other than worms to bait a hook. Well, I got my first experience baiting with live shrimp and live fiddler crabs. At first those shrimp were all slippery and squirmy and getting a hold of one was challenging. (Especially when you squeal and let it go.... lol!) But I got the hang of it, and by the end was baiting like a pro.

I also caught the 1st fish of the day! It's called a Sheepshead. It has really pointy back fins, that can cut you up pretty bad. It's teeth look like those of a sheep, hence the name. Anyway, it was big! The last one I caught was a trout. Don't ask me what kind... just some kind of trout is all I know.

Unfortunately we all got burned up pretty bad on the water. It was windy too, so between the two, we have some red faces and necks. (The parts that were uncovered). So, we have been staying out of the sun and using a lot of aloe to help. The boys have started to peel, making me feel terrible that I wasn't more diligent with the sunscreen. Huge lesson learned... fishing/water/sun/boat = sunburn=be careful!

Lost and Found....

So, we got up at 4:00 am and finished packing the car to head to Florida. I had baked muffins for our breakfast and Chris packed a cooler for the car, so we wouldn't have to stop for awhile. The boys were watching a movie late morning and we were having a "discussion" about finances. In the midst of this "discussion" dh mentions the Sea World tickets that we got for Christmas from my parents.... how he knows I put them in my purse like he suggested a few weeks ago.

Well, my face must have gone white, I know my mouth dropped....I started frantically searching my purse.......... No Sea World tickets....... at all. I know exactly where they are, in the cabinet in the envelope, and 6 hours away now. At home.

So, poor dh has to call our neighbors who have a key to our house and ask them if they can do us the huge favor of going into the house to find them, and mail them down to us. Thank goodness for Dave and Mary! They were so kind to do that, and really got us out of a bind! The tickets arrived yesterday... Yeah!

Off to Florida...

Well we decided to take some time off and visit family for the Easter holiday.

We did get all our additional documents done, and they were apostilled today in Nashville. They will be at our agency's headquarters on Monday and hopefully to Russia by the end of the week. Hopefully nothing else will expire, and we won;t be waiting too much longer to get a referral..... Hopefully!

For now, it's a chance to relax with family and take a vacation with just the four of us... because we have a feeling it will be MUCH busier with 2 additional children! (Just ask my sister) lol!

We Have Movement People!!

Okay, before I post my sad little laundry list of things I accomplished...because I really have no updates to post on our adoption...I have to say I am so excited for several of my fellow adoption friends!! Finally I am seeing some movement in Russian adoptions, and it is thrilling!

Norman and Carey - Picked up their little daughter from the orphanage today. Today she will be spending the rest of her life with them. They are so thrilled as it has been an incredibly long wait! To visit their blog Click HERE.

Coby and Brandy- Will be headed back to Russia this week as well to meet a little boy they hope to adopt! If you have never followed their blog, you should. Coby's posts from their last trip to Russia were hysterical. He has great humor in his writing. To read their blog Click HERE.

Randy and Susan- Are in double digits waiting to go back to Russia for their court date. Once a court has approved the adoption they too will be new parents! To visit their blog Click HERE.

Becky and Keith- Have been busily preparing to travel on their first trip to Russia. They are waiting on a referral for a little boy.... and hopefully will receive travel dates this week. I love reading Becky's blog as it is just peppered with humor! To read it yourself: Click HERE.

Troy and Rachel- I am thrilled to say will be leaving for Russia this week to meet a little boy that they hope to adopt! They have also been waiting a very long time...and it is more than exciting to hear that they will be leaving so soon! I am sooo celebrating with her...(even though she is in panic mode). To read their blog Click HERE.

All this excitement in one week! I love to read about each of these families, as it gets me thinking about our own adoption. I think I'll leave the laundry list of things accomplished for another day....this post deserves to stand on it's own!