Update

First of all I want to apologize for the length of my last post. I am sure a grammar teacher would have a fit with that last paragraph. Things have been much better here with my girlies. I am not sure what we were dealing with that day. Thank you to all those who commented on that post. I can always use words of affirmation, that's my love language. I know other people go through moments like I had on Wednesday but it's really hard to remember that in the moment.

For all my lovely readers who are interested I have an adoption update. I called the agency today to make sure they got our application. They had, and the lady on the phone said she had just talked with her director and we have been approved!! I got a thrill of excitement from that. I know we still have a long way to go but that is a positive. The lady I talked with set up a phone conference for next Friday at 2:00pm so that Josh and I can ask any questions we might have. This will take the place of traveling up to St. Louis to go to an informational meeting. I will let you all know how it goes.

Balloons

Today my balloon of being the perfect mom was burst. After subbing at preschool, Little Sis and I picked Big Sis up where she had been playing at a friend's house. We then headed to the big city to get two haircuts at our favorite kid cut place, Cookie Cutters. My two blond cuties looked mighty sweet after their trims. From there we headed to the Mall. In the parking lot the girls released the balloons they got a Cookie Cutter's (we have a rule about bringing latex balloons into the house, I can explain later if you wish) I talked them into this the first time by telling them they can make a wish and let the balloon go. Little Sis's wish was, "I wish I could go on a date with Daddy." Big Sis's wish was, " I wish we would get baby brother soon." I promise I didn't put her up to that.

Well, back to my balloon bursting...Big sis was wearing a sweater and had gotten hot on this wonderful spring day. She asked me to buy her a t-shirt. I did. Next I thought we would do some shopping. What a fun day for a mom and her girls. Not so much. Little Sis decided she was to tired to walk (we are past stroller days) and started to do that side stepping thing where she walks in front of me. I gave in and starting lugging her. We went to JC Penney where I thought we would get a cute pair of Bermuda shorts to match the shirt I had just bought for Big Sis. Of course, I couldn't find a matching pair in her size. The color we both liked was in the bigger girl sizes. I finally settled on a pair that I thought might work, but she said she didn't like them. I put the pair down and then she decided she wanted them after all. Whining Little Sis was sitting on the floor at this point and kicking her sister's feet. I debated on just giving in on the shorts and getting them. Big Sis was saying things like "You're being mean" "You never do nice things for me" and "You treat Little Sis like a princess and me like a baby." I was horrified and embarrassed. Now the two were having a kicking match. I grabbed both of their hands and began walking to the nearest exit. Little old ladies were tsk-tsking me as we walked past. I had one girl whining at me and the other one being disrespectful to me. I never thought this would happen in public. All I could do was walk, as quickly as possible to the van. When we got in I sat with my head in my hands and prayed. This is my best defense when I feel angry and out of control. Being calm was the last thing I wanted to do, but I started the van and drove home. Now the little blessings are playing happily in the backyard while the dog runs and the birds chirp. All is well. I don't know what evil creatures were with me at the mall but they are gone now. I am recovering and trying to remember not to believe Satan's lies that I am not a good mom. I want to try to seek God for all my help and not give the deceiver any room here. By the way, Big Sis will be having a long talk with her father and me.

A step ahead.

We have finally made a step to actually begin our adoption process. After much prayer, worry and flip-flopping we have sent a pre-application in to a domestic agency, for their minority program. Josh and I both felt like international was the way to go. We had a certain area of the world we were drawn to. After much research and a couple of closed doors we have considered that maybe our baby is in America. The decision has not been easy. I felt pulled in one direction and now to turn and go another seems a little odd. But we feel really good about this so far. The agency will go over our pre-application and approve us, or not, and then we will go on to the next step. The next step will be an actual application (with money involved) and the home study (scary.) No matter what, I know that God is in control and that He has already chosen our baby for us. If this avenue doesn't work out, then it is not the way to go for us. I believe He will show us, it's just hard to be patient when you want something so much. Please pray for us and for the people reviewing our paperwork. Pray that God will put us together with the baby that He has chosen for us, in the right time.

For Uncle Farrell

Today was just an ordinary day, nothing much to report. It was Big Sis's last day of school for more than a week. You would think this would mean down time for mom, but no. My kids do not have the same spring break and so next week is back to school for Little Sis. This was really my slow week, but unfortunately we had a unexpected trip to Arkansas yesterday. Josh's uncle passed away last Sunday and Wednesday was the funeral. My mom was nice enough to offer to keep the girls. Josh and I drove down to Arkansas on Tuesday night (in the torrential rain) and got home Wednesday at about 6:30 pm. We were exhausted, but I was so thankful that the girls were able to stay with my parents and didn't have to be exposed to all the emotion involved with losing a loved one. The funeral message was very hopeful and the Gospel was presented. Josh's aunt and uncle were married 51 years and one week. They were best friends. I can't imagine what she is going through right now, I don't want to ever be in that place. I want Jesus to come back and take Josh and I at the same time. I know God is in control of that though and I don't get to decide. Pray that Aunt Sue will be comforted by the Holy Spirit during this time. By the way, this is totally inappropriate, but, Josh wore his dress blues for the funeral and I must say he looked mighty fine.

Eleven Quotes/Eleven Years

Warning: This post is super sweet, beware of cavities. Today is the official date of my 11th anniversary. Josh and I are a success story for getting married young. He was 21 I was 20. We have grown up together through out these years. I am excited to see what God has in store for us for the next eleven, and 25 and 50. I wanted to commemorate this occasion with 11 movie quotes that I think describe our relationship:

1. Jerry to Dorothy: "You complete me", (Jerry Maguire)

2. George Bailey to Mary: "What do you want, Mary? Do you want the moon? If you want it, I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down for you." (It's a Wonderful Life)

3. Princess Leia"I love you." Han Solo "I know." (Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back)

4. The Priest: "Wuv, Twoo Wuv" (The Princess Bride)

5. Tally Atwater "Do you want to be with me?" Warren "So much it hurts." (Up Close and Personal)

6. Prince Phillip "Don't you remember? We've met before." Aurora "We have?"
Prince "Yes, you said so yourself, Once upon a dream!" (Disney's Sleeping Beauty)

7. William Wallace to Murron: "I will love you my whole life, you and no other." (Braveheart)

8. Johnny: "Nobody puts baby in the corner." (Dirty Dancing)

9. Rick Blaine: "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" (Casablanca)

10. Noah: "So it's not going to be easy, it's going to be hard. And we're going to have to work hard at this everyday. But I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday." (The Notebook)

11. Shopgirl: "I wanted it to be you." (You've Got Mail)

Dinner with my honey

Saturday night my husband and I had a great night. My in-laws came up from Arkansas to kid-sit and Josh and I went to The Chateau on the Lake for one night. We ate at the Chateau Grille, the restaurant there. It was awesome. We are early dinner eaters in our family and it proved to be beneficial to us last night. We made reservations for 5pm, Josh mentioned that we were celebrating an anniversary. When we were seated we happened to be the only ones in the whole place for about 45 min. to an hour. We had a great view of the lake and a tasty meal. It is amazing how much meaningful conversation can go on between a husband and and a wife during a quiet meal, alone. Don't get me wrong I love my girlies, but "Date night" is very rare at our house and we really enjoy it. When we finished our meals Josh asked the waiter what they had for dessert. The waiter said, "I don't know, I'll go see." I thought this was strange for a waiter not to know about the dessert menu. In just a few minutes the waiter came back with a huge plate, covered in chocolate cake, strawberries and raspberry sauce. The edge of the plate said "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate. It was a great surprise. As we finished our dessert the sun set over the lake. I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who wants to go out for a special occasion. The best part was all the alone time with my one and only. Love ya, Josh.

Puppy Pic

I have to start by saying I am a reluctant puppy owner at best. My husband is the one who has really wanted a dog. He says it is because he promised the girls he would get them one when he returned from his deployment (that was over a year ago.) So, for some reason, one Thursday evening at about 6:30 he wanted to go and look at some German Shepherd puppies. This is usually bath and family time but we headed out. I had no idea what lay ahead for me. I actually thought we were going to play with some puppies and come back home. Ha! We came home about two hours later with our new dog. He's a male and he turns eight weeks old today. His name is "Thunder Jonathan". Big Sis picked the first name so Little Sis got to choose a middle name for him. Actually, the first choice for his name was "Puddles" I had to explain to Big Sis that this was going to be a big strong manly dog and he needed a strong name. So she switched it to "Thunder". I can picture my manly husband outside calling his one hundred and ten pound male German Shepherd "Here, Puddles" Don't worry he's not that big yet but he will be someday. Here he is in all his furry glory.

A new arrival of the furry sort

My little family has been fighting sickness these past couple of weeks. I have neglected to write anything for this new blog I was so excited about. My three readers have probably given up on me. My kids went from the vomiting to the coughing and stuffy nose. Thank the Lord I didn't get the tummy thing but I am stuffy and runny and tired. I know poor me. Anyway, I will recover but during the middle of our sicknesses my lovely husband got the idea to buy a new puppy. He is the type that when he gets something on his mind it must happen. So I am the proud new mama of a seven-week old German Shepherd puppy. I will post a picture when I get the energy to hook the camera up to the computer. Right now Little sis is begging for my attention. Gotta Go!!