Catch up....

I can't believe it is already February 22nd. I mean I know that it is the shortest month of the year but seriously...where did it go? It has been a crazy month around my house full of excitement, disappointment, sick bugs and of course another month down in the wait for Ruthie. I missed our LID date because I was deathly ill in the bed but on February 8th I can't say that we celebrated.....more like, just recognized our 39th month of waiting. If it wasn't so discouraging, it might almost be comical.

Here's a little catch up of our February....

Our exciting news is that Jon Milledge made the middle school baseball team!! We are so proud of him! He has been looking forward to this day for about 3 years and it is finally here! They have their first game tomorrow and I don't know who is more pumped up...me or him! Congrats Jon Milledge and Go MCMS Bullpups!!

Here are some pics from my girl trip to the mountains that was lots of fun...well...that is until I got home and found that the devil himself and infiltrated my body, refusing to leave for about 5 days. I can't remember a time in my life when I have ever been that sick. Thankfully, I am much better and only one other person in my home caught the bug...Milledge...and he's pretty easy to take care of when he's sick, you just leave him alone!

Me, Melissa and Victoria after a late night at the casino.

Us with Michael, our "pizza maker". He tried to hit on me until I told him I could probably be his mother! ;)

Our posed shot before leaving the cabin on Sunday morning.

Entering the casiono....

Losing what little money I took.

We had snow in Georgia last week!! I know that those of you that live in the north don't understand our fascination for the white stuff in the deep south...but we LOVE it here! However, we only have it once maybe twice a year and it lasts for 24 hours...so what's not to love??! Here are a few pictures of our time in the snow.

Anderson, my snow angel!

Anderson snow surfing on a boogie board...

Jon Milledge doing the same...

Me and my boys with our cowboy Frosty!

Our home...

My boys actually being nice to one another.

My boys with their friends Brantley and Garrett

Brantley and Jon Milledge in the snowball fight!

Whew! What a month! I have a couple of friends(Nancy and Jamie) here in our little town who also have blogs and decided this year to take pictures and blog something about their families everyday. I thought it was a great idea. So even though I didn't start on January 1st....I'm going to start today. I might not get them loaded everyday but I'm going to do my best to document our life over the next 10 months here on my blog. Hopefully, I can keep up and not get too far behind! See you tomorrow!

Girls Weekend! WooHoo!

After the stressful week of baseball tryouts I am very excited to be leaving tomorrow with four girlfriends for a weekend away here. Snow is expected as well as, sleeping in, shopping, eating out and lots of talking and laughing I'm sure!

.....and lots of time spent here, hopefully!!! Can't wait!!! Pictures to follow.

Baseball Tryouts...I'm a Wreck!

Jon Milledge has middle school baseball tryouts this week and next. I am a nervous wreck. This is something that he has been waiting years for and I'm a wreck. He has lots of confidence and is doing great with his nerves but I'm a wreck. There are about 32-35 kids trying out for 18 spots...yep, I'm a wreck. The coaches will make the first round of cuts tomorrow and the final cuts next Wednesday...you got it...wreck. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out, if I'm able. :)

No Words....

Are.You.Ready.To.....WRESTLE!

Jon Milledge certainly is!

The other guy got a point here because JM locked his hands...who knew that was a rule?? Not me!

Look at my baby's arm muscles...crazy!

A takedown...whatever that means!?

And....HE WINS!!!

Apparently Jon Milledge and Anderson decided this year that I wasn't spending enough time in my car, so they have both taken on new activities. Of course they haven't given up the old ones either. Jon Milledge is now on the middle school wrestling team and playing drums in the band. Anderson has decided that basketball would be great fun! They are both still playing baseball and Anderson played football in the fall. As much as it might sound like I am complaining...I really love every minute of it! If we were ever at home for more than bedtime...well...I might actually have a clean house! :)

Who Started Christmas?

Who Started Christmas?

Author unknown

A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children.

After many hours of walking down row after row of toys and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the store elevator with her two children in hand.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the car.
She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all her bags of stuff in with her .

As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up, and shot."

From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded, "Don't worry, we've already crucified Him."

The rest of the trip down was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all would, just think how much better this world would be.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him.

37

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish he didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

Thanksgiving Guest

Meet Linnaeus, Jon Milledge's class leopard gecko and our Thanksgiving guest. Jon Milledge called me from school and asked if he could bring Linnaeus home for Thanksgiving. I said, "Who is Linnaeus and why doesn't he have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving?". ;) Mrs. McCullough, the science teacher, allows kids to take turns "hosting" the class lizards over each school break. So, my thinking was it would be better to have Linnaeus as a house guest for the next five days rather than the 2 1/2 week break at Christmas! Wasn't I smart? Now, if we can remember to feed him, keep the cat away from him and hopefully not kill him on our watch....which would so be something that would happen to me! Wish me(and Linnaeus) luck!

Three Years Waiting......

The day that we had hoped would never come, has come. Three years ago today our life history in the form of a dossier was logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs system in Beijing, China. We had such happy hearts and dreams that day. Now three years later, our adoption feels like a very distant dream that is only that....a dream. We have seen so many children come home to their forever families over the last three years and long for that to be us but for whatever reason it hasn't been meant to be. We can only hope and pray that our day is coming but most days now we have resigned ourselves to the fact that we don't think it ever will. We continue to be sad, frustrated and mad but also hopeful that there is a little Ruthie waiting somewhere for us to be her family.
You can read my thoughts after one year and two years....amazing how much your heart can take and harden in a matter of three years. Oh how I want this season of my life to be over and have my daughter home.

Boys...

Raising Boys
Author: Roberta I. Teague

I scrub the wall of fingerprints,
Pick up the mounds of clothes.
I sweep the dirt that shoes track in-
Wish I could use a hose!
Meals are served from dawn to dark,
Dirty dishes crowd the sink.
Just when they’re washed and put away-
Everyone wants a drink!
The washer pulls the dirty grime
From pants worn thin and patched.
They look so very neat and clean-
Yuck, look what the pockets hatched!
Broken bones and bloody knees,
I should have been a nurse.
I take it all in shaky stride-
Just grateful it’s not worse!
Screams and shouts and arguments
Test the keeping of my cool.
They left the neighbor’s faucet on-
See their new front yard pool!
A soothing bath is ecstasy,
A reward at the end of my rope.
Raising boys isn’t really bad-
But first I must wash the soap!
A rose can say I Love You,
Orchids can enthrall;
But a weed bouquet in a chubby fist,
Oh my, that says it all!

Seriously??

Seriously, is it even possible that we have been waiting for 35 months? Unfortunately, it is not only possible but it has happened. As of today, we have waited 35 months for our Ruthie to come home. Surely we are on the downhill run of this ride now. I mean.....seriously!!!

Double Digits!

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY, ANDERSON!!

We love you!

34 Months...

The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen. Ralph Marston

We are being realistic in that we know that even after 34 months, we still have a long way to go. But we also have faith and remain hopeful for the day when we will see Ruthie for the first time. Oh what a day that will be!

Anderson's Baptism 8.23.09

Last night I witnessed a very sweet, special service with my church family. I am always very moved(by that, I mean I am usually a blubbering fool!) when anyone is baptized, especially children. But, when it is your own child and your husband is the one baptizing him, it is extra special and moving(meaning LOTS of blubbering!). Anderson, very matter of factly, about a year ago asked us when we were going to let him be baptized. We explained to him that it wasn't up to us, that there were steps he had to take before he could be baptized and that it was between him and God. He asked what those steps were and we explained to him about what you need to believe and about asking Jesus to come in to your heart and be the Lord and Savior of your life. Milledge got out the Bible and went over scripture with him etc. He looked at us and said..."Is that all? I did that about 6 months ago!". He has been to talk to our pastor who said that "Anderson understands salvation more than most adults". I thank God that both of my boys have made the very important decision to follow Christ at early ages! Needless to say, I was and am a very proud wife and mother!

Milledge talking about Anderson and the importance of baptism

Milledge talking through his tears

Milledge was asking Anderson if he was ready to live for Christ daily

Happy boy and proud Daddy!

Our family

Milledge and Anderson

Ugghhh!

Well...I missed the opportunity to acknowledge our 33 Month LIDiversary due to the birthday party. I thought about forgetting it altogether because that's sort of the adoption mood that I'm in right now but since Ruthie might read my blog one day, I didn't want to miss a month! :) So here we are, 33 1/2 months later with no baby, no answers and very little hope left. I just wish I understood why? Why did we feel called to adopt if it was going to take 3-5 years? Why did the China program slow down after we signed up?(probably started before that but it sure feels like we were the cause of it!) Why didn't we sign up with an agency that had a waiting child list? Why does God think it would be a good idea for me and Milledge to have a baby at 40 years old when that so wasn't our plan? Why me? Why us? Why my family? Actually, my question should be why not me? Why shouldn't God be using this valley or trial to strengthen me and my family? Sometimes I think as children of God we get to a very stagnet place in our walk with Christ where we think we are...I don't know...."too saved" to be touched by trials, therefore we end up in the whole "why me?" state of mind. Instead we should be saying "Why not me God, here I am, send me!".
So, here I am in the valley called international adoption and doing the only thing that I can....looking up.

13th Birthday Bash!

Temporary Loss of Sanity....

Ok...please say a little prayer for me today. My friend, Jamie, and I are having a HUGE 13th birthday party for our boys tonight. By HUGE I mean about 95 kids are invited, we are having a DJ and hopefully lots of fun. I am not sure what we were thinking when we started planning this but oh well...it's too late now! It is also sort of a Back to School Bash since our kids started on Wednesday. So far we have only had about 5 tell us they weren't coming. :) We have lots of chaperones and lots of food so surely everything will be alright for 3 hours??? Surely! Jon Milledge's class is a very social but close knit group of great kids so I'm actually excited and can't wait to see how it turns out! I'll let you know...pics to follow...after I recover!! ;)