Click Swish

An Instagram Halloween

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

Trick or Treats

Hayride

Pumpkin Picking

Elephant Hats Optional

Joy Comes in the Morning

2011-11-01T18:49:00.001-05:00

A year ago this week Charli turned 5 in the hospital, two hours from home. She had 18 balloons, a mountain of gifts, and the undivided attention of her family and a whole floor of nurses. But let's face it, a birthday in the hospital stinks.

This weekend we celebrated her 6th birthday at HOME. She planned her luau themed party herself, and we followed her instructions to the letter. It was the least we could do, seeing as she had to wait two years to have a proper birthday party. The party was wildly fun and exhausting and deserves a post all its own.

Then the little booger surprised us with this.

Yes, that's a page of braille she's reading. I've been teaching children to read for a decade now, but nothing compares to the wonder of hearing my own children read. Conner has been reading for almost a year. Charli declared that she too would read when she turned six. I secretly wondered if it would take her longer to learn in braille. She showed me!

Happy Birthday sweet girl.

I know you are going to continue to amaze us.

"You changed my sorrow into dancing.
You took away my clothes of sadness,
and clothed me in happiness." Psalm 30:11

Fun with Brown Bear

2011-09-11T14:23:00.000-05:00

CG had the honor of babysitting Brown Bear for her kindergarten class this weekend. The assignment is to take Brown Bear along and write a journal entry about his adventures. This is quite the big deal for our girl. Brown Bear hasn't left her side. Because her mom is a teacher, CG's photo captions all included a little manners lesson. Brown Bear is a role model you know.

Brown Bear uses good manners in a restaurant.

Brown Bear takes turns on the slide.

Brown Bear is quiet in the library.

As you can see it was a whirlwind weekend. Thanks for stopping by Brown Bear!

Back to School

2011-09-05T18:57:00.000-05:00

We are three weeks into the school year and I've finally found time to sit down and blog about it. Chad and I started off the year with a system wide meeting. Don't we look cute in our rival school t-shirts?

The kids started a week later. They are both doing really well and love their teachers. I can say without hesitation that we made the right choice putting Charli in our local school. She is thriving.

The week before school started I broke my middle toe. Pretty huh? The nurse at the Urgent Care said, "Oh my!" when she saw the x-ray. I used much stronger language when the break happened... Who knew one little broken toe could hurt SO BADLY?

So I spent the first two weeks of school wearing this lovely shoe. I was in so much pain when the nurse brought it that I didn't care what it looked like. I can finally walk without it, but I'm afraid I'm going to be stuck with a funky looking, sore middle toe for the rest of my life.

It has been a month since Chad's dad passed away. Strange how it feels like so much longer. It gets a little easier with the passing days, but then the sadness sneaks up when we least expect it. I was filling out a paper for the school about who would be attending Grandparent's Day with the kids, when suddenly the tears came. Mom's name just didn't look right without his beside it. Little things like that seem to be the hardest.

Maybe broken hearts are a little like broken toes... They heal but are never quite the same as before.

The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Psalm 34:17-19

Goodbye Buddy

2011-08-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

Chad's dad died Wednesday. His health had been failing over the last few months and while it wasn't unexpected it still hurts so badly. In the 16 years that Chad and I have been together Dad always treated me as his very own daughter. We joked that I was his fourth child. He loved Conner and Charli Grace (his namesake) dearly. He especially loved their shenanigans and chuckled at Chad and I pulling our hair out. (We call that 'paying for your raising' here in the south.) He bought the loudest, most obnoxious birthday and Christmas gifts and made sure they went home with us rather than stay in the toy box at his house. There were always hot-wheels cars in his desk for the kids. We even found some there the day he died... just waiting for the kids' next visit.

He was a meticulous planner and organizer. One binder contained everything needed for his arrangements. All Mom had to do was sign a few papers and everything was ready. He approached his spiritual life in the same careful way. Chad found his Bible filled with notes, family records, and records of blessings and answered prayers. Dad loved his God, his wife, his family, his work and friends. He built his house on the rock and we are all so much the better for it.

Goodbye Buddy. The wait is going to be hard, but we will see you again someday.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

An Impromptu Trip

2011-08-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

My bestie, Lisa, called this weekend and invited us along for an impromptu trip to Lake Winnepesaukah. Chad was at camp with our youth group, and I was a little nervous about driving so far with the kids by myself, but we loaded up the car anyway and followed the caravan north.

The adventure was totally worth the interstate driving and heat rash. (It was only like 100 degrees.) There were only a few rides the kids were too short to ride and they rode their favorites over and over. Thanks Lisa and Jarrod for inviting us along and helping seize the day!

Charli and Reagan stuck together like glue.

We rode the 95 year old carousel several times.

I checked "ride a ferris wheel" off my bucket list.

Go out and have an adventure!

New Do

2011-07-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

Before

During (All Smiles!)

After

It has taken a looooong time for CG's hair to reach her shoulders. But honestly the look wasn't working. Multiple trips under anesthesia in the past year really thinned it out. She had a kind of wispy mullet thing going on in the back, but she wasn't ready to give up the hair that took so long to grow out. Not to mention that the lingering issues from having her head shaved at the orphanage made hair cuts not so fun.

This week our China friend, Lily, got an adorable hair cut. I showed CG the pictures, and suddenly she was ready for a big girl do. She jumped right into the chair at the salon, and without a single tear my baby became a big girl.

Welcome Home

2011-07-18T10:01:00.000-05:00

Adam and Titus are home and settling in to their new life in the US. Reading their mom's blog and hearing how well they are doing makes me so tremendously happy. Thank you God for the miracle of adoption and the miracle of family.

Jennifer, their mom, had this to say. "Another sweet end of the day...Adam told me 'Washington good, very good' then I said how about your family, mom, dad, sisters, brother, he said 'very good Ma, very good!' then he ran off giggling with joy."

Sunday Snapshot

2011-07-17T21:25:00.001-05:00

I was in a wedding this weekend...

along with some of my favorite people.

Conner was a little gentleman.

I got to dance with this handsome fellow.

The bride was beautiful. Charli Grace felt like a princess.
It was an unforgettable weekend.

S is for Summer

2011-07-12T21:42:00.001-05:00

*Pardon me as I have some fun with instagram.

Swirls

Squares

Sunbathing

Serious Swimmer

Family Day 3

2011-07-06T23:09:00.002-05:00

On Monday we celebrated Charli's family day with spaghetti and meatballs, chicken legs, and cupcakes with red, white, and blue sprinkles. (She chose the menu of course.) The fact that she came home to us on July 4th makes the day all the more special.

Coincidentally, we received some serious new braille gear this week. Miss Charli is the proud owner of a refurbished Mountbatten Brailler. It is quite possibly the coolest brailler I have ever seen. Her old brailler was like a manual typewriter, bulky and hard to press. The Mountbatten is electronic and gives immediate feedback for learning. It speaks each letter as it is brailled. I can even plug in a regular keyboard and braille anything Charli needs. It is going to make going to "regular" school so much easier for both her and her teachers.

Mainstreaming has been our goal for CG all along. She attended our school system's early intervention preschool for three years with fabulous results. This spring Charli was evaluated at our state's school for the blind in hopes of getting information to help her make the transition to "big school." I walked in with her confident that she was going to wow the evaluator with her large vocabulary, solid phonemic awareness, print knowledge, and the several braille letters could recognize and produce on a brailler.

Well as they say, pride comes before a fall. Just a few questions into the evaluation CG clammed up. It was a long and uncomfortable morning. She managed to braille a, b, c, and whisper a few answers to the evaluator's questions. The more we coaxed, the more she pulled into her shell. This was not my girl at all. The old ghosts of anxiety and fear we have worked so hard to overcome were rearing their ugly heads in this unfamiliar environment. Still, I asked the evaluator to give me his honest opinion. The picture he painted of mainstreaming was far from sunny, warning that CG could fall further behind her peers academically. (Mind you other experts have told us exactly the opposite.) Of course I burst into tears.

Then the evaluator told me, "It's difficult to decide to send your child away."

He really said that y'all.

Well, I spent the next two days doing what I usually do when I'm angry and upset. I cried A LOT. And I cleaned the house. By the end of those two days I had enormous bags under my eyes, a sparkling house, and a new resolve. Charli already had one set of parents who had sent her away because of her blindness and as long as I was breathing she wasn't going to have another. (Now I may have used some stronger language when I declared this to Chad. Poor guy has to take the brunt of my mama bear rants.)

So our mission this summer is to hit the braille and hit it hard. Just ask my mama, the best way to get me fired up is to make me mad and tell me something can't be done. I found a scripted curriculum called Kester Braille that we are using daily. We are a third of the way through the alphabet and things are looking good. We are sticking to the original plan and she will enter the same outstanding school where her brother attends and dad teaches. She will be the first print/braille reader they have had, and is being welcomed with open arms and plenty of support. I'm confident that with God's help things are going to be fine and our little trailblazer will be amazing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Writing C

Looking for all the L's on the Page

Conner is working too. Poor teachers' kids never get a break.

Free

2011-04-17T19:40:00.001-05:00

We released the butterflies this weekend. I can't help but think of what a fantastic metaphor they are for transformation we find in Christ. Those ugly little caterpillars were changed into beautiful butterflies, no longer bound to crawl around in the muck. They were meant to soar.

Before the release, I had visions of cute photos of butterflies perched on the kids' fingers. The butterflies had different plans. One by one they zoomed out of their enclosure, over the house, and out of sight. Who knew a painted lady could be so quick?!

I only had time to snap a blurry picture of the one butterfly I was concerned about. She had emerged from her chrysalis with a bent wing. She was last to make her way out of the enclosure and I wasn't sure that she would be able to fly at all. She paused on my finger, fluttered her wings, and took off after her siblings. Even with her imperfection, she was meant to soar as well.

We are all like that butterfly. In some way each of us is wounded. Some physically, some emotionally, some more deeply than others. The little hurt butterfly could have cowered in her old place, satisfied to live the life she had always known on the ground. But she didn't. This week I pray that I can be like the butterfly, not bound by my weakness, but free in Christ to fulfill his plan for me.

He heals the brokenhearted
   and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

But those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Aspirations

2011-04-03T08:48:00.001-05:00

Last month we had an appointment with Charli Grace's low vision specialist. A low vision specialist is a optometrist who specializes in helping patients get the most out of their remaining vision. Our doctor also makes recommendations regarding school and the type of accommodations will be the most effective. She had not seen CG since well before her cornea transplant and the infection. She was able to assure us that CG's vision is essentially the same as it was pre-transplant. She also told us that with the right technology and accommodations that CG will be able to have a successful year in Kindergarten.

She also connected us with Sight Savers America. They generously awarded us with a grant for a CCTV. It is a flat screen monitor with a camera attached underneath. It magnifies anything you slide under the camera and can even adjust the contrast or color. She has one at school, but this is going to make a huge difference in her ability to do homework and enjoy picture books at home.

With this type of technology, the sky is the limit for CG. Her doctors have told us all along that driving will be one of her only limitations. (Although even that limitation may be gone in the future.) An education, a career, a family; these dreams are all within her reach.

So far CG has had several career plans. Fold clothes at American Eagle. Be pretty teacher like mommy. (awww...) Have three babies and live with you and daddy. (uh, no)

At dinner this week we were talking about a family friend who happens to be an attorney. The kids wanted to know what a lawyer does so I explained that they know a lot about laws and help people follow them. I told CG she would be a great attorney since she is ~~obsessed with~~ interested in "the rules."

"But mom, who will drive me to work?"

"I'm sure we can work that out. But if you need somebody, I'll drive you."

Later at bath-time CG came up with a transportation plan of her own.

"You know mom, D (her best school buddy since 3k) told me he is going to marry me when he grows up. So HE can drive me around."

You've got to love a girl with a plan.

But you two and your three babies are going to have to find a place of your own.

2011-03-31T19:58:00.000-05:00

They should be forming a chrysalis any day now, so I suppose this could be the ~~ugly~~ awkward teenage stage.

2011-03-29T19:11:00.000-05:00

They are growing so fast that it is almost creepy.

2011-03-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

They are getting bigger.

Meet the Pillars'

2011-03-24T17:36:00.002-05:00

Meet Bill, Jill, Will, Lil, and Phil. They came in the mail today. These things thrive in the great outdoors so surely they can survive our house. Right?

He's Got My Number

2011-03-18T16:01:00.001-05:00

There's a sucker born every minute... and I admit I'm one of them. Especially when it comes to this blue eyed boy. I am usually a brick wall when it comes to impulse toy purchases, but this one jumped out at us in the garden center of our local mega store. Spring is in the air and it is educational. I tried to hold strong but... I didn't stand a chance. He flashed those baby blues, squeezed out a few tears, and now I'm the proud grandmother of 5 caterpillars. (Well at least I will be when they come in the mail.)

Adios Atlanta

2011-03-16T19:37:00.001-05:00

Today Charli's retinologist released us from his service. She will be back in the care of her glaucoma specialist who is much closer to home. Our goals now are to keep her glaucoma under control, maintain the sight she has, and have her fitted for a sceleral shell . We have had excellent care in Atlanta, but we are not going to miss the 2 hour drive. (4 hours round trip) However there are a few things I am going to miss about not visiting the ATL once a month.

The fun atmosphere of the Emory area that includes...

lunch at Everybody's Pizza...

And this Hummus.

But the four hour round trip? That's for the birds...
We will be back to see these guys in May though. Maybe I can go that long without the hummus...

Milestones

2011-03-06T21:51:00.001-06:00

Last week we began to notice some changes in Charli's damaged eye. I made a call to our surgeon and he confirmed that it is phthisis. This really doesn't mean any changes in her prognosis. It just confirms again what we knew all along. Her eye is at the end stages of this terrible process and there is no turning back.

It is hard some days for me not to slip back into thinking about those weeks following the cornea transplant and just how well CG could see. Then I think about all we went through during the infection and find myself right back in a dark place. The day I spoke with the surgeon could have easily been one of those days.

But then I looked at all the work displayed on our refrigerator... and I remembered all the milestones Charli has reached without the use of her left eye. She's writing her name and drawing stick people for the first time. She can count past 10, hop on one foot, and play games on her Leapster. She is absorbing Braille like a sponge. She can hit a ball off a tee and throw over handed. She's not looking back... and I guess neither should I.


Showing some attitude with that stance.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14

Oh Happy Day

2011-03-05T10:36:00.001-06:00

Chad had the honor of baptizing Conner last month. He had been asking questions about Christ for a long time, and the Sunday after Christmas he told me that he wanted Jesus to live in his heart. At first I thought he was just making a play for the Lord's Supper grape juice, but he was so sincere that his dad and I walked him to the alter. Conner prayed for God to rescue him and live in his heart. When he was done he looked up at us with that smile that melts my heart every time.

A week or two later Conner went with his dad to Wednesday night worship service. (I was in Atlanta with CG getting the news about her eye.) Our youth pastor gave a very impassioned message that night. Conner must have been inspired, because as the invitation began he walked to the stage and asked for the mike. He proceeded to give his testimony and blow away any doubts we had about his understanding of the gospel. It went something like this, "Jesus is my savior. God doesn't want us to make sins, but if you do Jesus dieded (died) for your sins."

I'm so grateful for a gospel that is simple enough for a child to understand, but deep enough to sustain for a lifetime.

Just look at that smile... pure joy.

And then he swam to shore.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

Here she is...

2011-02-19T21:14:00.003-06:00

Last weekend Charli participated in a Valentine's Day pageant organized by my school's PTO. Pageants aren't exactly our thing, but it was a "natural" pageant (no flippers) and Charli loves any opportunity to dress up and twirl. Her best friend Reagan had signed up, so I figured why not. We borrowed a dress from our dear friend Robin, purchased sparkly shoes, and signed up.

When the big day arrived I was a little nervous. Charli's eyes are different and she deals with some posture issues that go along with being blind. Add to that the fact that I am not exactly a great hair stylist and I was really wondering how this was all going to go down.

Of course I should have known better than to worry. As soon as she hit the stage Miss Charli shone like a star. She held her head high, smiled, and waved to the judges. The crowd erupted in applause and Chad and Conner whistled. When she stepped off the stage, Charli was surrounded by her adoring fans (family, friends, and my 3rd graders). She didn't place, but when she was handed her participation trophy, she smiled like she had just been crowned Miss America.

A few days later, Charli strolled in as I was drying my hair and announced, "Mommy, you can use the dryer again on my hair for my next beauty pageant." Your next pageant? Oh boy!

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
Helen Keller

Happy Birthday!

2011-02-16T21:19:00.002-06:00

Conner buddy, I can't believe that we put 6 candles on your birthday cake this weekend. Watching you play with your friends at the party made me feel like the luckiest mom in the world. You are a funny, fun-loving, compassionate little guy who makes friends more easily than anyone I know. Last week one of your teachers told me that you have a "heart of gold." That really made me smile. Of course you have been making Daddy and me smile for the past 6 years.

In the words of Olivia's mother, "You wear me out, but I love you anyway."

A Miracle for Chris

2011-02-04T07:17:00.001-06:00

Chris has a family!!! Please pray for them as they Race to China for their TWO Xinyang boys.

" God sets the lonely in families" Psalm 68:60

Meet Chris

2011-01-29T09:21:00.006-06:00

This handsome fellow is Chris. He currently lives in the same orphanage that Charli Grace spent the first 2 years of her life. Of course Chris isn't his Chinese name. He was given the name by a group of missionaries who visited the orphanage in 2007. They were quite taken with this sweet and bright little boy. One of the missionaries, Anita, kindly gave me permission to share what she wrote about Chris.

"There is a boy who we think is about 8 years old who we call Chris. He has bilateral cataracts and is a very, very smart and bright boy. He has taken a special liking to our guide/translator. She is very tender to him and you can see that what is between them is very special. Today had found out that we will not be at the orphanage tomorrow because we are going shopping (more on that in a bit). Then Friday we will only be here for a half day before we leave. He began to cry big tears. Our guide took his face into her hands and was able to tell him about a heavenly father who will never leave him. He is always there. She was able to tell him much more. There was another little girl sitting close by and listening. On one hand this is a super praise. We have been praying for these children every day, that some day they would know the heavenly Father. But we couldn’t imagine how that message would ever get to them. And here God presented her with the perfect opportunity. She said, “I had to tell him.” Please pray that this would grow in his heart. That what he may not fully understand now, he would tuck away and that the Holy Spirit would use it in his life in a powerful way."

Chris has waited for a long time for a family of his own. Far too long. But praise God his file has finally become available on the shared waiting child list. Please help us by praying that God will send the right family to bring Chris home. The seed of hope that was planted in his heart that day in 2007 should not be allowed to wither. Feel free to share this post and pray that God will work a miracle. For more information leave a comment or email me at knitbud at yahoo dot com.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

2011-01-17T22:37:00.002-06:00

Snowed In

Thanks to Winter Storm 2011 we have missed 5 consecutive days of school. Add in two weekends plus the MLK holiday and it means the kids have not been to school in 10 days. 10 days!

I spent some of the time crafting and made a few cute things. Knitted baby hats, a Valentine’s Day outfit for CG, but my favorite project was for Conner.

Now just incase you can’t tell, it’s a set of Angry Birds made from toilet tissue rolls. Seriously. The boy loves to play Angry Birds on my i pod, so on a whim we put these together. He has played with them for the better part of the day. TP roll birds could probably be used as evidence that I am in fact cracking up, but at least (for today) my i pod isn’t covered with sticky finger prints. And that, as Martha would say, is a good thing.

2011-01-13T10:00:00.003-06:00

A New Year

As many of you know the last few months of 2010 were eventful, huge, difficult, devastating, amazing… It is impossible to choose just one adjective to describe. In September Charli Grace received a cornea transplant in her left eye. We found a gifted surgeon in Atlanta, with extensive experience performing transplants for children. We knew we were taking a risk but, we stepped out in faith. Things couldn’t have gone more perfectly. In less than 36 hours her eye, which had been completely blind, was crystal clear. Her vision went from 20/1260 to 20/400 overnight. We held our breath, vigilantly administered anti-rejection drops, and watched our daughter in wonder. For nearly two months everything was perfect, but as you have probably guessed by now things didn’t stay that way.

On October 25 Charli awoke with her eye terribly swollen. Fearing the worst (rejection of the cornea) we rushed her to Atlanta. She was admitted to Scottish Rite Hospital with orbital celluitis, an infection of the tissues surrounding the eye. A CT scan showed that the actual eye was unaffected. She was put on IV antibiotics and powerful antibiotic eye drops. Two days later, despite the antibiotics, the infection invaded her eye resulting in endophthalmitis. (We later discovered that this was caused not by her corneal graft, but by the tube shunt placed in 2008 to relieve her glaucoma.) Even her team of doctors, leaders in their field, were shocked at how aggressively the infection spread. We spent 8 long days in the hospital. Charli had 3 surgeries to correct the damage. At one point we feared she would lose the eye all-together. Thankfully, that did not happen. It has been a long, painful recovery, but Charli is better. Sadly though, we have had to accept the reality that her left eye will most likely never see again.

To call this an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. I have asked some hard questions and been in some pretty dark places. But as this story unfolds God’s grace shines through on each page… even the really crappy sad ones. Literally hundreds of people, from Holiness sisters to Benedictine monks, have prayed for Charli and our family. Our family and friends showered us with love and kindness in countless ways. My 3^rd grade class even organized The Charli Grace Foundation (complete with officers) during my absence.

And Charli… sweet, amazing, stubborn, strong, brave, Charli… She’s the hero of the story. At one particularly low point I wondered if she would ever be the same after such trauma. But praise be to God, her spunk and spirit continues to amaze everyone around her. I’m glad to report that she’s back and…

Here...

we...

go!

Is this the way that I had planned for things to go? No way. Have I had angry moments where I cried out WHY? You bet. Is God good? Does he want what is best for us? Yes and YES, even when it is hard to understand. We're hanging on to that hope with all that we've got.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. --- Jeremiah 29:11

2010 in Pictures

2011-01-01T10:57:00.008-06:00

January

February

March

April

May

June
July

August

September

October

November

December

2009-07-03T21:25:00.001-05:00

June 2006

June 2009

A year ago today our family was changed in the most amazing way. Happy Family Day Charli Grace!

2009-06-10T21:07:00.001-05:00

Reliving My Childhood

We are spending the week on the Gulf Coast. This is Charli's first trip to the beach. We haven't been in 3 years, so Conner is really experiencing it for the first time too. I'm amazed at all of the wonderful memories that Chad and I are able to relive through our children. The beach, the pool, the go kart track, going out for ice cream...They are taking it all in and enjoying every second. I am so proud of how they are growing and maturing. Charli would not have been able to handle all this excitement a few months ago. She has come so very far this year and Conner is an outstanding big brother. This trip has been an excellent way to celebrate our first year together as a family.

As is ancient Bama beach tradition, we took both kids for an airbrush t-shirt this evening. They applauded the airbrush guy when he was finished. They put them on as soon as we got in the condo. (Somehow we managed to stop them from stripping down in the parking lot.) We headed right out to the sand for some pictures.

Psalm 127:3 (The Message)
Don't you see that children are God's best gift?

Thank you Lord for these precious gifts!

2009-06-05T10:38:00.001-05:00

Reason to Celebrate

It has been a long and exciting week. Charli Grace had two eye appointments this week. The first was with, Dr. Wang, a cornea specialist in Nashville, the second with her glaucoma specialist in Birmingham. That is a lot of driving in one week, but we got very encouraging news. Both doctors agree that she is a good candidate for an procedure called PTK. Basically Dr. Wang will use a laser to remove some of the scarred tissue from her right cornea. This should improve her field of vision and reduce her light sensitivity. We go back to Nashville in 2 weeks to finalize the details. Dr. Wang also confirmed that her condition is in fact called Peter's Anomaly. This doesn't change her treatment, but it is nice to have a name to the disease.

To celebrate the good news we stopped by Krispy Kreme for delicious hot doughnuts. We polished off nearly a dozen along with some nice cold milk. I call that a nutritious lunch.

Hot doughnuts coming off the line: Conner was fascinated.

Doughnuts and chocolate milk: a winning combination.

We can put away some doughnuts. This was all that was left.

2009-05-25T20:04:00.001-05:00

I made this!

I found the awesome directions for this T-Shirt dress at Deanna's Blog. Until now most of my attempts at sewing have been sub par. Mother's coaching and Deanna's tutorial helped me make a dress that is hand made, but doesn't look home made. I am so excited with how this dress came together. Plans for a 2nd one are already in the works.

2009-05-23T06:38:00.001-05:00

New Glasses

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Cor 13:12

Charli is thrilled with her new glasses. They give her relief from the light sensitivity caused by her condition. And they are adorable to boot.

We met with her pediatric ophthalmologist this week. We talked for quite a while about different procedures and treatment options for Charli's eyes. Most of the options are risky and involve a good deal of discomfort. The doctor also said that the chances of significantly improving her sight are slim. Those were not easy words to hear, but we have peace. Charli does so much with the vision she has. She is content and joyful, so why should we be anything but thankful?

We are going to continue to persue advanced treatment options, keeping in mind the risk and her overall quality of life. Pray for wisdom for us and her doctors as we choose this next path. I feel like we are "peering through a mist" as we look to the future, but I know God has good things in store.

2009-05-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

Garden Time

Tending the family garden isn't easy. Luckily, my grandfather had some help from Conner this afternoon. I remember my days of hoeing corn and picking peas for 25 cents a bushel. Thank goodness I have kids I can pass those chores along to. Conner's first garden job was tossing rocks out of the rows of corn into the woods. Charli and I stood out of the range of fire. Poor Pawpaw got beaned with at least one rock. Bless his heart.

Aim...

Fire!

2009-05-17T07:13:00.001-05:00

Charli's story is live. Thank you Laura for telling it so well!

2009-05-16T14:19:00.002-05:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our hometown hosted a "Fun in the Park" event today. A good time was had by all despite soggy weather. The kids have been in their fair share of bounce houses, but I wasn't sure how CG would react to the jumbo slide. As you can see it was a piece of cake. Whee!

2009-05-10T21:28:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother's Day

A year ago today I was mother to two beautiful children. One here in the US and another half a world away. Any adoptive mother can tell you that loving a child from such a distance can be excrusiating. We were anxious about the condition of Charli's eyes. New pictures and mother's instinct told me that something wasn't right. We tried to secure medical care from within China, but were told that her only chance of treatment was here in the US. With the adoption process stretching out ahead of us we were beginning to lose hope. Our baby was thousands of miles and reams of paperwork away. We wanted to help her, but our hands were tied.

Then, almost by surprise, in steps our dear dear friends at The Grace Children's Foundation. That Mother's Day I spoke with Nancy Robertson for the first time. She set in motion the events that brought Charli Grace to the US and to the treatment she needed so badly. Chad and I believe with all our hearts that it was just in time to save her sight.

I'm not going to tell the whole story today. (Our local paper is doing an article featuring Charli's journey in a few days. So, I'll leave the story telling up to the professionals.) However I want to take the time to thank Nancy and TGCF here on my blog.

They are in the process of helping two very special girls, both with needs even greater than Charli's. Please take the time to visit their website and consider donating to the cause. They do an amazing work with little fanfare.

Nancy and Brooks, we love you and hope you don't mind a little fanfare from your friends in Alabama.

Charli Grace was dedicated in church today...

along with 23 other babies. Yes, I got a little misty eyed. Then Conner started shouting from the audience, "Go Mommy and Daddy. You can do it!" That boy of mine always knows just what to say.

Everyone else is looking at the pastor, but Chad only has eyes for his Charli girl.

2009-05-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

An Early Mother's Day Gift:

Chad washed my stinky sheltie this afternoon. Apparently she had a roll in the organic fertilizer (chicken poop) my dad spread in the garden. Normally we send her to the groomer this time of year, but the stench was just too much to bear. She had to have a bath ASAP.

"How humiliating... no cameras please."

"Great, you blew me dry. Now I'll be poofy all week."

2009-05-05T18:21:00.002-05:00

Hooray for Easy Knitting!

My knitting has to be super simple these days. My brain simply doesn't have enough bandwidth left over for complicated projects. And besides pattern leaflets don't stand a chance in this house. They just get scribbled on, torn, or dribbled with juice. If I can't memorize the pattern it can't be done.

I finished the Dropped Stitch Shawl this weekend. Very simple knitting... garter stitch, double yarn overs, and simple increasing/decreasing. I like the result so much that I started another in red Eco-Cotton. They are both going to be gifts for two very special friends.

I also finished some red wool socks for Afghans for Afghans. The garter stitch short row heels and toes are so easy and cute. I may never pick up stitches on a heel flap again. The yarn is Farrah's hand dyed from way back when.

Hooray for girls! Charli let me paint her toenails this evening. Don't they look adorable with her new pink sandals? She's being fitted for glasses next week. They probably won't improve her vision much, but will provide more protection from the sun. I'll post pics as soon as she gets them. Pray she will keep them on!

2009-04-28T18:48:00.001-05:00

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Blog

We are home, and better yet I've finally recovered from The Jet Lag of Doom. I completely underestimated the effects of jet lag. Either my brain was asleep and my body was awake, or my body was asleep and my brain was going 100 mph.

Thanks to everyone who followed along on my travel blog. Your prayers and well wishes were felt all along the way. China is not for the faint of heart, neither is adoption... but WOW both are an amazing trip! Julie and I talked a lot on the trip about how important it is to step out of your comfort zone now and then and have an adventure. My view of the world is changed in ways that are difficult to put in words. China will forever have a huge piece of my heart. I won't ever be able to forget the little ones there who are still waiting for a family. I don't know if another adoption is in our future (Chad says he's hanging a "No Vacancy" sign on our door.) but do I know that God has placed in my heart an even deeper love and respect for the people of Charli's birth land. You could say that I've gotten tangled up in the Red Thread.

So what are the kids doing?

Charli is busy getting settled back into her routine. She LOVES her preschool class and being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa while I'm at work. Conner is becoming our little soccer star. What he lacks in accuracy, he makes up for in speed and enthusiasm. In the mind of a 4 year old those white lines on the field are merely a suggstion. He scored his first goal this weekend... for the other team. Luckily, presoccer doesn't keep score.

Charli watches the action with Mommy and Granny Cocoa.

When can I play?

2009-03-21T17:32:00.002-05:00

We have travel approval. Look out China here we come!

Follow our journey at my travel blog: To China With Charli.

2008-12-07T08:17:00.001-06:00

You know that thing I do with the two sticks and string? Well I'm still doing it... just none of it has been really "blog worthy." I've been flittering from one small project to another; mainly dish cloths and a pair of stockinette socks. My attention span is microscopic these days... can't imagine why.

I did finish a modified Tulip sweater for my nephew-to-be, Ian Zack. The colorway is "Sweet Baby Boy" from Coldwater Yarn . I had just enough yarn left to improvise a sweet little hat. Of course I turned right around and ordered 6 whole skeins of Dream in Color in girly colors for Charli Grace. So... my yarn budget is blown well into 2009.

I had better get busy. I have a feeling it is going to be COLD in China when we get our TA. That adventure will definately be blog worthy. Pray with us that it will be sooner rather than later.

2008-11-09T08:55:00.000-06:00

Buddies

Isn't is great to have a buddy? Big C has a new bug-catching-football-playing story to tell about his 2 best buddies almost every day. My first graders skip happily hand-in-hand with their best pals. Little friends are so important to children. I imagine that they are especially important to children in an orphanage.

Charli Grace has 3 special pals at her orphanage. Josiah and Daniel are home in America thriving with their forever families. Brent is still waiting for a special family of his own. Love Without Boundaries is offering a Tuan Yuan Grant to help with his adoption expences. We are hoping and praying that he too can be united with a family to love.

2008-11-01T08:21:00.003-05:00

We are DTC!!!

We got the best news this week. Our dossier is in China! God willing, we are only a few short months away from the adoption. Please pray for: 1. Speedy processing of our dossier. 2. Funds for the last stage of the adoption. 3. Smooth transitions once we get to China.

Charli girl, you are one step closer to being an official member of this crazy family!

In the meantime I was touched by the adoption story of Georgia Bulldogs head coach, Mark Richt and his family. Almost makes me forget the "Blackout" incident. Almost...

Roll Tide!

2008-10-05T18:54:00.002-05:00

Yipee! Our homestudy has cleared CIS. We were fingerprinted 2 weeks ago and our I-197 came in the mail Wednesday. I was so stunned to see it so quickly that I didn't realize what it was at first. I read the document 3 or 4 times before it sank in. What we expected to take 3-4 months only took 8 days. Nothing short of a miracle!

Our dossier will go to China in about 2 weeks. The CCAA is typically taking 3-4 months to process special needs dossiers, so we are looking at travel in early 09. Hang in there Charli Girl, you are getting a FOREVER family for the new year!

I don't have any new Charli Grace pics to post, but take a look at Big C. Couldn't you just eat him up?! He is really enjoying preschool this year. They have a great 3K curriculum, but of course his favorite part of the day is play time outside. This week he and his buddies caught nearly every bug on the playground. When I asked him what type of bugs they found he replied, "Worms and beetles Mommy, but I DIDN'T eat them." Thank goodness!

2008-08-06T14:49:00.002-05:00

Check out the new baby doll I found for Charli. It's the Playskool Busy Basics Lil' Dragonfly. Aren't the eyes adorable?

2008-06-18T12:13:00.002-05:00

God sets the lonely in families,
He leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun scorched land.
Psalm 69:6

Charli's little friend Josiah (on the right) was united with his family this week. We are so happy for the little guy who is in so many photos with our girl. You can read his family's blog here.

2008-06-15T14:57:00.001-05:00

Nesting

We are spending the summer break getting Charli's room ready for her. My parents painted these adorable letters for her wall. I've been knitting away on her log cabin blankie. Poor Daddy-O has been doing the hard labor; hanging letters, moving furniture, etc... We are almost finished. Now all we need is a little girl!

A steady stream of dolls have been making their way to Charli's collection. Ling and Little Mommy came via Amazon and Ebay. Annie the rag doll came from one of Chad's students as an end of the year gift. I knit little Dolly myself. A girl can't have too many dolls. I'm sure Charli will have her own names for them. One can only wonder what they will be.

2008-05-18T07:50:00.001-05:00

We *Heart* Summer!

Nothing says summertime fun like a ride in a rusty wheelbarrow. Aren't Big C and his Poppa cute? This photo was taken with my mom's AMAZING new camera. I'm not saying we're reaching Pioneer Woman heights, but photo quality is about to improve around here.

2008-05-13T19:01:00.001-05:00

Taa Daa!

I finished my Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The yarn is O-Wool Balance and oh is it ever so comfy. But you guys don't really care about that... Bring on more Charli!

We got a growth and development report on our little sweetheart today. Her orphanage was unaffected by the earthquakes. She appears to be doing quite well. In fact the report indicated that she is very lively (and maybe just a tad naughty!). Our dossier went off to our agency today so we are hopefully just weeks away from being DTC (dossier to China). We are so wonderfully blessed. Please pray for continued protection and healing for Charli. You are truly all "Charli's Angels."

2008-05-10T10:14:00.004-05:00

Paperwork Update

Our home study is finally complete. Yahoo! Now we wait for it to clear DHR, then CIS, and then finally it's off to China. Pray that things will move quickly. Also pray for us as we gather the funds we need to get us to China.

2008-05-09T21:28:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, it's like my life was just set to music.
Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-06T20:01:00.000-05:00

Knitting in Braille

I've been trying to come up with an interesting way to knit Charli's name into her blanket. An old episode of Knitty Gritty featured a sweater with the knitter's name written in braille with bobbles. Bobbles are a pain to knit, so why not use beads instead? This swatch is my name. Pretty cool huh?

2008-04-26T06:58:00.005-05:00

We are Pre-Approved!

This week is ending with some happy news. Love Without Boundaries has arranged for Charli Grace to receive an eye exam in China. We also got our pre-approval from the CCAA. I don't have a cute photo to go along with this post, so enjoy the happy pandas.

Pre-approval is basically a confirmation that we have been matched with our daughter and are free to proceed with the adoption. Our next step is having our home study cleared by DHR in Montgomery, then it is off to the CIS office in Atlanta. From there our dossier goes to the Chinese Consulate in Houston, then to China. So there are quite a few steps in between Charli and home. Pray with us that our files will be given favor at DHR and CIS. We are going to petition for our home study to be expedited through both offices. My greatest wish is that we can bring her home before her 3rd birthday.

Love Without Boundaries is having their 5th annual Born in My Heart Art Auction. All proceeds from the auction go to healing orphaned Chinese children in need of heart surgery. They have done so much to help our daughter and hundreds of other children. Visit their auction and bid on one of their beautiful items. It will make your heart feel super happy.

"Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

2008-04-20T18:01:00.002-05:00

6 to 12 Hours

That's how long it was supposed to take to assemble our new swing set. Granted we had some serious ground prep to do first. Everyone in the family pitched in. Daddy-O, Poppa, Uncle Chuck and Mommy were on the ground and assembly crew. Grandma, Grandpa, Anna, and BeBe were on babysitting and clean up duty. From start to finish the project took 4 days, but WOW was it worth it!

2008-04-18T18:59:00.002-05:00

A Few New Pictures

We have been blessed with an abundance of pictures of little Charli. Emily, her HTS sponsor, sent me these today. Her personality really sparkles in each photo.

We've decided on the Chinese middle name MingZhu, which means "bright pearl." Charli Grace is certainly our "priceless pearl."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46

2008-04-17T20:27:00.004-05:00

My Little Brother

My mom and dad brought home a sweet little golden doodle today. (That's a cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle in case you didn't know.) Isn't he beautiful?

Think Daddy likes him?

Pebbles isn't so sure.

2008-04-13T13:31:00.004-05:00

Lately I've been on a mission to find the perfect doll for Charli. None of the pictures I've seen of her Half the Sky class have any dolls in them. (They have lots of great developmentally appropriate toys. I just haven't seen any dolls.) She may not have had a chance to have a doll of her own. So I want to get her something kind of special.

My criteria for the perfect doll are: 1. It should be age appropriate for a toddler. 2. It should be soft and cuddly. 3. It should have similar features to Chali.

I never noticed until now, but it is impossible to find baby dolls with Asian features in my area. Thank goodness for the internet. The search has been narrowed down to 3 candidates:

Fisher Price Little Mommy

Corelle Calin Yang

Lee Middleton Itty Bitty Nursery Baby

Help me decide. Vote for your favorite dolly. The poll will close at the end of the week. The winner will be added to Ming's growing toy collection. Heck, they will probably ALL wind up in Charli's collection, but a poll will be fun anyway. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you look for in dolls for your children.

2008-04-05T17:04:00.000-05:00

Freedom from Pull-ups!

It's been a long process, but Big C is officially out of diapers. I was beginning to think we were going to have to pack a diaper bag for Kindergarten. Some wiser and more experienced moms told me to calm down. He would go when he was ready. Boy were they right. We established a rule that we wear underwear at home and Pull-ups only at preschool. C quickly decided that going to the potty was better than the alternative mess. We started off with a few accidents, but it has been smooth sailing for 2 weeks now. Now we are in underwear 24/7. I am so proud of my big boy!

Speaking of freedom: I had jury duty last week. I knew that I would need to bring along a fairly mindless, but portable project in my knitting bag. I grabbed up some blueberry Cotton-Tots that I had in my stash for Tater's Cotton Cardi. By the time the judge dismissed us I was finished with the yoke. I found the adorable blue sunhat at Tuesday Morning on one of our long lunch breaks.

Glaucoma makes bright sunlight uncomfortable, so I've been collecting cute hats for Charley. I think I may be developing a habit here. Kim has her hairbows, I have my sunhats.

2008-03-25T06:53:00.000-05:00

Thank God I'm a Country Boy (Girl)

My dad got a new tractor last week. Needless to say Mother and I have been having a hard time keeping him and Conner in the house. Those two love to work outside and get dirty. Charley Grace's finding add came in today with the translation. (I'm not going to post it because the picture makes my heart hurt. She looks so sad...) I adore the name of the paper, the "Henan Farmer's Daily." Our girl's picture is sqeezed in next to an article on new cars and a tractor ad. Just another little sign that she's going to fit right in around here.

2008-03-20T18:16:00.001-05:00

Charli's Spring Wardrobe

My mom, mother-in-law and I had tons o' fun buying little pink girly clothes for Mingming's care package. The 18m clothes seem so tiny compaired to her big brother's 4T outfits. She is one petite little peanut!

Even though the clothes are tiny, I was afraid that we wouldn't be able to fit it all inside the "flat rate" postal box. Maggie came to the rescue with a great idea: space bags.

Awww... look at the poor squished dolly.

All the fuss over packing the box quickly drew Conner's attention. We haven't even finished our dossier and sibling rivalry has already reared its ugly head. Sending clothes and dolls to sister is no big deal, but suckers and these cool sunglasses? How dare you!

2008-03-16T12:41:00.004-05:00

We've found Charli Grace!
She's 2, and has congenital glaucoma. She's blind in one eye, but has some vision in the other. We are so blessed that she has been in a Half the Sky preschool and is soon going to be part of the Love Without Boundaries foster care program. We've prayed for God to show favor to our daughter and he's poured out blessing upon blessing. I'm holding fast to the account of Christ meeting the blind man in John 9.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?''Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"

We believe that God has great things in store for this precious girl. I'm honored and humbled to be part of His plan for her life. Please pray that we can get our paperwork together quickly and that our dossier will speed through the CCAA. We are also praying that her remaining vision will be preserved and perhaps by a miracle restored.

2008-02-24T21:06:00.002-06:00

You know all those poor souls who took an influenza shot this fall but got the flu anyway? That would be me. I'll spare the details, but February 2008 will forever be known as the month mommy got the plague. Somehow we still managed to celebrate quite a bit this month. Big C turned 3 and I hit the big 30.

Am I unsettled about turning 30? No way! I can honestly say that I feel like I'm in my prime. At 20 I was awkward, inexperienced, and didn't have a lot of confidence in myself. 30 finds me far from perfect, but my life has a real sense of purpose. I know who I am, and what I'm meant to do with this life. Did I mention that we can finally move forward with our adoption now?! Big adoption news is coming soon! I'll post some exciting pics as soon as I get the green light from our agency.

2008-02-15T13:38:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it?

My baby is 3!

Happy Birthday sweet C. Mommy loves you!

2008-01-27T12:37:00.000-06:00

How do you keep from going crazy while you are waiting for your adopted daughter?

You knit her stuff... Lots and lots of stuff.

First a Modern Baby Blanket: I'm using Cotton Tots in their jelly bean shades. I'll probably throw in a little pink somewhere just for good measure and to match the dolly. I'm changing stitch patterns as I go to give it a little extra interest. Hopefully she will enjoy feeling the different textures someday. The changeup makes it a lot more interesting to knit. Just flip open the old stitch dictionary and go.

Next: Finish January's Sock of the month in time for Chinese New Year. Our adoption group is having a CNY party at a local catfish restaurant. It's the only place in town big enough for all of us. You can't get more "East Meets West" than that.

Finally: Work on the "Red Thread" blanket in TLC Wiggles. This pattern comes from the first Debbie Macomber knitting book. It's a bit of a pain to work the crossed stitch pattern, but I like how it is turning out. Why acrylic and not a natural fiber? This is going to be Charley's travel blanket. Puke washes easily out of acrylic.

Last but not least: Find something cool to knit for big brother. Is that not hilarious?

2008-01-23T21:13:00.000-06:00

"A Father's Heart"

This message has deeply moved both Chad and me. Please pray for the Burgess family as they endure this terrible storm.

Rick Burgess, of the Rick & Bubba Show, took the opportunity to speak at the memorial service for his son William Bronner Burgess (also known as Cornbread on the show). Bronner had accidentally drowned in the swimming pool at their house. Rick delivers a powerful message showing his family's strong faith in God and helps us to understand what we can do to honor his Father and his son during this earthly tragedy. For more information visit www.rickandbubba.com

2008-01-19T17:28:00.001-06:00

2008-01-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

10:30 am: It's coming down!

2008-01-19T07:45:00.000-06:00

7:30 am: no snow...

2008-01-18T06:54:00.000-06:00

Quick, get to the store for bread and milk! It's gonna' SNOW!!!!
Wednesday's flurries were hopefully just a preview of things to come. 1-3 inches of accumulation are predicted for our area tonight and tomorrow morning.

"Big deal," you say? Understand that snow is a rarity around these parts. Any accumulation sends Alabama into full scale Armageddon mode. My sweet little first graders have gone snow crazy. It's been at least 5 years since we've had a decent snow fall, so they have never experienced the joy of a snow day. (We close down school for an inch of snow? Heck yeah!) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they get one. Especially since it's a Saturday.

2008-01-16T16:06:00.000-06:00

C's First Snowfall

Let's hope it sticks!

2008-01-02T19:45:00.000-06:00

The Paperchase Begins!

Start as you mean to go on... That's the advice Brenda Dayne gave for the new year on the lastest episode of Cast On. I took that advice as I carried the first of many envelopes of adoption paperwork to the post office. What's that I'm wearing? Why yes, it is Mr. Greenjeans finished just this morning. Starting the year off with a finished sweater and the beginnings of a new member of the family; it can't get much better.

2007-12-31T14:42:00.000-06:00

It's Potty Day!

C is spending the day in big boy pants, so we are staying close to home. The kitchen timer is set to go off every thirty minutes to remind us to go to the potty. So far it's hit or miss (pun intended). In between trips I'm working on the sleeves of Mr. Greenjeans. I may not have a potty ready kid by 2008, but at least my new sweater will be ready when the temperature drops into the 40's Wednesday.

2007-12-28T21:09:00.000-06:00

One last time...

Daddy-O and I saw Third Day perform Merry Christmas live in Rome several weeks ago. I like to call it my "Chinese Baby Pining" song. Thank goodness it's a Christmas song or I'd listen to it all the time. So before the New Year rolls around here's one last listen. Here's praying that 2008 will be a fertile year for referrals so many of us can finally stop pining and get down to the business of spoiling our little China angels.

2007-12-27T22:19:00.000-06:00

"It's a birthday Mommy!"

I was beginning to worry that despite my best efforts at advent devotionals and Fisher Price Nativity reenactments that C wasn't locking on to the true Reason for the Season. Relentlessly watching Hermie's Fruitcake Christmas and The Wonder Pets Save the Reindeer seemed to help, but the whole "Christmas isn't about presents" message seemed to be drowned out by Santa, Lightning McQueen, and a sea of wrapping paper.

My worries dissolved Christmas Day as the family descended onto our house for the big meal. All the presents had been opened. Santa had come and gone. The house was full of laughter, good food, and the people we love. In the midst of the chaos C looked up at me with a big grin and said, "It's a birthday Mommy." He was exactly right.

2007-12-09T20:54:00.000-06:00

"Mommy, put down the yarn."

Oh my goodness, it has been a month since I last posted. Bad blogger, no cookie! Our lives have been a flurry of activity since Thanksgiving. No, I didn't finish Mr. Greenjeans in time for Thanksgiving. In fact it still isn't finished. However my Christmas shopping is 95% complete. The Christmas cards are ordered (not yet sent, but ordered). AND I'm halfway through the Christmas knitting. (Neck gaiter for Chuck, mittens for MIL, fingerless mitts for FIL, possibly sweaters for my furry nephews) I'll post knitting pictures as soon as I can. In the meantime enjoy these adorable family shots.

2007-11-08T17:02:00.000-06:00

Mr. Greenjeans could possibly be my perfect sweater. Not only is it knit from the top down. (No seams!) It also has adorable little cables and fits me perfectly so far. I'm using Caron Simply Soft Shadows which is turning out to be a fantastic acrylic. It has a nice soft hand without any pilling. And unlike what happens with wool sweaters, I don't feel like I'm smothering when I try it on. I'm hoping to have it finished by Thanksgiving. It's so very festive!

C is also getting in the holiday spirit. I caught him rummaging around in a hall closet a few days ago. "I want to play with Jesus mommy!" Lo and behold he had found my nativity scene and was bent on playing with it. Luckily I had our kid's nativity and we set up this sweet little scene. Only one angel was harmed. Some glue should stick her head right back on.

2007-11-05T21:05:00.000-06:00

Baby Lane is here!

Lane made his appearance on Halloween night. He was a month early, but weighed in at 6 pounds 6 ounces. (We don't mess around with tiny babies in this family.) His lungs are still developing so he will be staying in the hospital for a week or so. Say a prayer for our new little guy and his mom and dad. It's not easy to have a sick baby. Say an extra prayer for the new grandparents and great auntie (my mom). They are going out of their minds wanting to hug and kiss Lane, but those mean (wonderful) NICU nurses keep saying no.

2007-11-05T20:45:00.000-06:00

This is what we were doing while Holli was busy with her Halloween surprise. C was the most adorable engineer ever to jump in a moon bounce. We didn't do too much Trick or Treating, but he managed to score plenty of candy from the grandparents.

2007-10-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

Unexpected Reaction

I couldn't help envision receiving the Mother of the Year award as I sewed the buttons onto C's top down cardigan. Disregard the pile of clothes in his room that are yet to be put away. Forget that I've let him have PB & J for dinner at least three nights this week. I just made one freakin' adorable sweater for my child by hand.

Imagine my surprise at his reaction...

The boy was not happy with the buttons. In the mind of a 2 year old lad, sewing vehicle shaped buttons onto a sweater is a waste of perfectly good playthings. He refused to wear the jacket (or quiet down) until the buttons were removed.

So C can now happily sort his buttons and wear his cute new jacket. Maybe I can still be Mother of the Year. I just need to find some plain new buttons.

2007-10-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

Daddy-O claims he can gauge my stress level by the amount of knitting that I get accomplished. Less knitting equals more stress. The 8 or so rows of garter stitch that it took to finish off Holli's baby blanket is the sum total of knitting I did Monday through Thursday. Things are looking up though, so let's dwell on happy things.

For example: happy families at weddings,

love birds,

and crazy uncles that show up for weddings in Elvis wigs.

I feel better already!

2007-10-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Stick a fork (or a Chibi) in me...

Humpty Dumpty is chillaxin' on Lane's Modern Blankie. I've bound this one off, now all I need to do is decide on a border. There's no time to waste because the shower is in two weeks.

I also bound off Fran's diagonal stroller blankie. This one is knit from Lion Brand Watercolors that I found for less than $1 a ball. I would normally pass this yarn by, but it was just crying out to become a baby blanket. It looks sort of like knit up cotton candy. I ran out of pink so one little corner is finished off in purple. Let's call it an "interesting design element."

2007-09-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

The Breakup

Sweater: "You're not ready for this. I'm asking too much with all the seaming and alternating skeins. "

Me: "Yeah."

Sweater: "So we're breaking up?"

Me: "OK, I'm frogging you."

*rip, rip, rip*

Sweater: "We're broken..."

Me: "It's over... Hey, what are you doing? Get back in your storage bag."

Sweater: "Break up cast on."

Me: "Break up cast on..."

Sweater: "Break up ribbing, break up button band..."

Me: "Break up ribbing...button band...mmmm"

Dang...

Stupid sweater monogomy. I was ready to start seeing someone new.

Cue the McDreamy music.

2007-09-30T14:26:00.001-05:00

I guess we can start over... AGAIN.

2007-09-16T15:27:00.000-05:00

Thinking about Fall...

I know Autumn is on its way when the weather cools, I develop a sinus infection, and my knitting fancy turns to scarves. Despite the fact that I have two baby kimonos and a blanket to finish, I've cast on a Montego Bay scarf and a One Skein Scarf.

Actually the Montego Bay has been put on hold. C is convinced that my bamboo needles are the best set of drumsticks he has ever used. Mind you his percussion rendition of "My Savior My God" is adorable, but I can't bear the thought of picking up all of those yarn over stitches. In the name of family harmony this project has been laid aside for now.

2007-08-26T13:58:00.000-05:00

A moment of blatant vanity:
Farrah taught me how to flat iron my hair yesterday. I am so proud of myself for pulling off an actual hairstyle that I had to document the results. It almost looks like my little avatar. Thank you dear Farrah for teaching me to be fabulous!

Remember the Knit Picks Dancing that was on clearance? I know I said that the colors weren't my cup of tea... but last month a few balls wound up in my shopping cart along with some new circular needles. (Knit Picks circulars; where have you been all my life?!) This darling little ankle sock is the result.

2007-08-08T06:07:00.000-05:00

I got my Ravelry Invite! Woo hoo! It would happen on my second day back to work...

I will try to post some actual knitting content soon; but first I've got to meet 14 little people who expect me to teach them how to read.

In the meantime enjoy this lovely family photo from Julie's visit home.

2007-07-18T06:50:00.000-05:00

I would have never imagined that my old school Cotton Ease stash would have lasted this long. My mom bought Tuesday Morning out two summers ago and we are still knitting from it today. Can you believe that I still have enough for two more log cabin blankets? These are the first three blocks for baby Lane's blanket. Of the four babies coming into our circle of friends and family Lane is the first with a confirmed gender, so he gets the first blanket.

C was such a big boy at the barber shop yesterday that Daddy-O rewarded him with a big ole' slice of water mellon... and another... and another.

2007-07-16T08:24:00.000-05:00

Land o' Cotton

Sarah commissioned me to knit this little layette for a friend who is expecting. I used Cotton Tots in Jelly Bean and Blue Berry. The cotton feels so very good on my dry scratchy hands. I know it's Summer of Socks, I KNOW that there is a beautiful stash of sock wool in the next room, but I'm going to have to stick with the cotton for now.

2007-07-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

Free fiber from Pebbles! If only I knew how to spin...

2007-07-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

At last the Crimson Tidal Wave socks are complete. I couldn't resist showing off my new nail design before finishing the toe. (I'm SO easily amused.) Look at how much Tofutsies yarn was left. It might be just enough to double and make a wee hat for one of the many November/December babies on the way around here.

It was a rough week for C, but he got over the strep with a steady regimen of antibiotics, Nick Jr., and banana Popsicles. I'm happy to report that he is back to full strength and ready for a full week of VBS and hanging out with Daddy-O.

2007-07-03T10:01:00.000-05:00

I was feeling uninspired this week until C and I spotted these babies at Love Without Boundaries. I dove right in to my Warm Woolies stash and finished up two more house hats. They enjoyed a nice sunbath on the patio railing. Thank goodness we don't have a wool pilfering squirrel around here.

Then C came down with a nasty summer throat infection. The brave little guy is spending his time watching Pixar movies and drinking yogurt smooties. (I've already seen Finding Nemo at least 30 times this summer.) Its probably strep, so the Dr.'s advice was: "Wash your hands A LOT." Even Burt can't defend my tender hands from both wool and frequent washings so Warm Woolies knitting will have to be put on hold for now. Too bad there isn't a Cool Cottonies organization.

I'll just have to get out some Cotton Tots and make something new for the adorable Emmy. I think she and Reagan both need one of these. Their dads will be sure to thank me!

Big C's Playdate with Jillian

2007-07-02T12:38:00.001-05:00

2007-06-24T20:14:00.000-05:00

I'm down to the toe on the first Tidal Wave Sock. So far I love, love, LOVE how the tofutsies feel on my feet. They are very light and breathable. Finally handknit socks I won't have to wait until January to wear.

2007-06-16T17:02:00.000-05:00

Mars the fish was discovered this afternoon lifeless at the bottom of his bowl. He is survived by his beloved companion Venus the Snail.

Sockapalooza4Pal, you were the first to suggest the winning name. Sorry you had to find out under such difficult circumstances. Send your contact information to knitbud at yahoo dot com and I will arrange to send your prize.

2007-06-15T08:40:00.000-05:00

My Sockapalooza socks are finished at last. I was having a serious bout of fourth sock syndrone, but once the heel was turned they flew off the needles. Don't they look pretty drying on my new patio?

I was able to finish them thanks to my new best friend Burt's Bees Hand Salve. I slather it on before and after knitting with wool and my hands feel just great. The only problem is that it makes the needles a little slippery. I have to keep a crochet hook close by just incase a stitch jumps off.

My next pair to cast on is Tidal Wave Socks in Toufutsies color 721. The color is probably going to obstruct the stitch pattern, but I adore the concept of Crimson colored Tidal Wave Socks. Crimson Tide Socks!

Eye Candy Friday: These moon flowers are the only living thing in my yard that hasn't been withered by the drout we are having.

2007-06-10T09:25:00.000-05:00

Rustic Ribs Redux

My old nemesis Eczema has reappeared on my right hand, so woolly knitting time is very limited. Even the Koigu for my sock pal leaves a scratchy red place between my fingers. So I spent most of my knitting time this week reworking the Rustic Ribs Cardi. I frogged the back and sleeve and reknit them a size larger. I also alternated balls of the Patagonia Nature Cotton to even out the coloring. Even Daddy-O noticed that two of the skeins are dramatically darker than the others. I don't know why I didn't see that in the yarn shop.

When you last saw this fish bowl, it was holding names for the baby blanket drawing. Now it is home to a real live beta fish. C and I snuck him in past Daddy-O a few weeks ago. (Daddy-O feels that betas are a gateway fish that lead to larger aquariums.) His bowl was pretty bleak, so yesterday I added a plant and a snail. Just look at how proud he is!

Now all he needs is a name. Leave a comment if you have a suggestion. The best name left by midnight Friday, June 15 will win a woolly sock yarn prize. Have fun... and remember kids, this is a family blog

2007-06-10T07:48:00.001-05:00

We are potty training C this summer and so far he has been less than enthusiastic. But he LOVES this video. We watched it three times last night. Thank you Japan. I'll do anything to get out of diapers!

2007-06-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

I finished the first lacy mock cable sock for my pal on a road trip to the zoo this weekend. The yarn is Koigu from my stash. After doing some reconnaissance on her blog I decided purple was a good choice. And who doesn't love Koigu?

BTW: Take note of my lovely pedicure. I treated myself in celebration of the last day of school.

C and Daddy-O made some friends in the Lorikeet enclosure.

Prayer Request Time:

We have some praise to share first. Daddy-O and I have each gotten wonderful summertime opportunities to help fund the adoption. The best part is they are not going to interrupt with our summer plans to relax and have fun. We wouldn't have it any other way!

Keep praying that God will continue to blaze a way for Charley Grace to come home to us. Pray that we will be given wisdom when it comes to the many choices we have to make along the way. Pray for our friends who are waiting for their precious children.

Love and Thanks!

2007-05-27T09:49:00.001-05:00

Your Score: Carole Lombard

You scored 14% grit, 23% wit, 38% flair, and 35% class!

You're a little bit of a fruitcake, but you always act out in style. You have a good sense of humor, are game for almost anything, but you like to have nice things about you and are attracted to the high life. You're stylish and modern, but you've got a few rough edges that keep you from attaining true sophistication. Your leading men include William Powell, Fredric March, and Clark Gable. Watch out for small planes.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test