Fun Memorial Day Weekend!

After the boys got out of school last week, we headed to south Georgia to my family's farm for some relaxation and fun! Saturday afternoon and evening we had an early Memorial Day cookout with family and friends. Jami and Kenneth, a couple we first met at our international adoption seminar came over with their children to spend some time together in fellowship! Also, my Uncle Glenn and Aunt MonaBeth came over from Sylvester with some of their friends to join in the festivities! The kids swam, fished, rode four wheelers, go carts and the paddle boat. The adults talked, laughed and ate! YUMMY!
On Sunday, we drove to Thomasville where Jami and Kenneth live to tour their great little town. They were wonderful hosts and we can't wait to go back for another visit. It just so happens that our adoption agency is in Thomasville and we have never seen it.....now we have!! That evening we went to church with Jami's family and got to see our adoption consultant and friend, Tina and her family. The most amazing thing happened at church that night, a guest singer sang "Orphans of God"(the song playing on our blog). We all thought that it was definitely a God thing that this happened with all of us there together. After church we all went to the park for a picnic so the kids could play and get to know each other. What a great day!
On Monday, we just hung out at the farm while the boys did lots of boy things! My cousin, Glenna Ruth, came over and spent the day with us. After Uncle Glenn got off work at lunch, he came over for another cookout and some "work" on the pond. Actually, I think he created something to do so that he and my boys could get dirty in the pond. Apparently, when he first stocked the pond he put in 2000 minnows to feed the bass, now they have grown up and needed to come out. So, they got a huge net and proceeded to catch 81 of them! I just watched and baited them with feed into the net. ;)
We love the farm, which was my grandparents before they passed away. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made on that farm and I am so thrilled that my boys are getting to experience the same thing. Thank you to my daddy and uncles for keeping it in the family!!

The Last Day of School!

Today was the last day of school for both the boys! They are so excited to get their summer started and I have to admit I am also happy for a break from all the hussle and bussle that goes along with the school year.
Both of the boys had wonderful teachers this year that I know I am going to miss and I'm sure Jon Milledge and Anderson will as well. Thank you Ms. Greenway for a great 1st grade year and Ms. Glosson...the best 4th grade teacher ever! We love you!


Anderson and Ms. Greenway


Jon Milledge and Ms. Glosson

Braves Game

We took our boys and two of their friends to an Atlanta Braves game last night. We had great seats behind the Braves dugout, yummy hotdogs and LOTS of fun! It was a neat game to go to because they were playing the Mets and John Smoltz pitched for the Braves and Tom Glavine pitched for the Mets. WOW...to see two future "Hall of Famers" go head to head was awesome! But, to make it even better, the Braves won to give John Smoltz his 200th career win!! Go Braves!!

Anderson Playing Baseball

As promised, here is Anderson playing ball. Isn't he the cutest thing?! It also amazes me that he is already 7 and about to finish the first grade. They are both growing up way too fast. Enjoy the slide show!

Jon Milledge Playing Baseball

One of the other mothers on Jon Milledge's team has a really nice camera that she has been using to take pictures of all the boys during different games. She emailed me the ones that she has taken of Jon Milledge and I thought they were great! He looks so grown up and so serious in these pictures of him pitching. What happened to my baby? She was very sweet and came to Anderson's game last night and took a few of him that are also very good. When she sends them to me, I will make a slide show of him too!! Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

Milledge and I would like to say "Thank You!" to the two best mother's on earth. We feel so fortunate to have wonderful, supportive, Christian mother's who helped mold us into the people we are today. We love you!
I would also like to thank my precious boys who without them I wouldn't be a mother. I feel doubly blessed today as I get to celebrate my mother as well as celebrate being a mother. What a great day!
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms and moms-to-be!


Milledge and his Mother


My sister, my Mother and me


Me and my boys

Slip and Slide Fun

Our boys have wanted a Slip and Slide for several years now and we have never gotten them one. We have given excuses like...it will damage the grass and it looks painful; you could really get hurt, etc. Anyway, I gave in Friday at Walmart and got them a $7.00 Slip and Slide. I thought for that amount it will probably only last through one use anyway. ;) Well, as you can tell from the pictures, this was the best $7 I have spent in a while. They loved it and had a blast! Much to my dismay....it is in perfect condition and ready for the next sunny day!

Happy 6 Month LID-iversary to Us!

From November 8, 2006 until today, we have had six great months that we like to consider as six months that we will never have to wait for Ruthie again. How many more months do we have to wait for her?? Only God knows. We do believe that He is preparing the perfect child for our family and our hearts for her. Even though we are eager for her to be home, we are content in knowing that His timing is always perfect.

New Gifts and Purchases!!

Please don't get me wrong....I LOVE my boys and all kinds of boy stuff! However, anytime something frilly or pink enters our home these days, I get VERY excited!! I am a member of several Yahoo! groups that are especially for China adoptions and these girls are always doing something fun! Right now I am in the middle of two cyber showers and a hairbow exchange. I am so fortunate to have found all of these women as their friendships have made this unbelievable wait much better. I am including a picture of a gift I received over the weekend from my November 2006 LID groups shower. The theme was "All About Firsts!". My gift came from Stephanie S. and her "theme" was "Our First Bathtime Together". I just love it and can't wait for little Ruthie to be here so that I can have her smelling good and feeling soft! Thanks Stephanie!
Secondly, I am including a picture of a dress that I bought for Ruthie at my first trunk show for little girls. I couldn't resist having her name put on it and buying the hairbow to match too! Thankfully for Milledge, I am a little worried about sizes or I would probably be buying a great deal more. I got this little dress in a 2T...so it is sure to fit at some point!

Introducing Our Boys!

We have two wonderful boys who keep us extremely busy. Jon Milledge is 10 and in the 4th grade. He is very social and head strong. Anderson is 7 and in the 1st grade. He is very quiet and shy. Both of our boys are smart and athletic. We spend most days after school at the baseball field! Here are a few pictures of our boys! Enjoy!

Welcome!

Welcome! The inspiration for the title of my blog came from a cross-stitch piece that my mother did when I was a child that was always hanging in our kitchen. I remember looking at it often, thinking it was funny and wondering exactly what it meant. Well, now I am a mother, I have the piece hanging proudly by my back door, I still think it is funny and I am figuring out daily what it means. For me, "A Mother's Place" is wherever my children are and where they need me. Whether that is at home, in the car, at ball practice, helping with homework, drying tears, applying band-aids, field trips, church musicals, in an orphange in China or on my knees praying for all of them...these are my "places". I have created this blog as my place on the internet for friends and family to keep up with our life, to see the things that we are doing and also to follow the ups and downs of our adoption process to bring our daughter home from China. We hope you have as much fun following us as we do living it!