Can you guess what we did today?

Milledge being booked...

Me being freaked out by the intake room at the jail...nasty, scary place!

Ok...do you give up? We had our 9th set of fingerprints EACH for our adoption that has yet to take place. We are having to update our home study for the third time so that our immigration approval will not expire. This will be the third approval that we have to bring an orphan into the United States....except we haven't even brought one into the country yet. Hopefully this will be the last time we have to do this but I also said that after updating everything the second time. Thankfully we feel very strongly that we have a daughter in China or this would be about the time to just throw in the towel and be done with it. However, we honestly feel that there is a little girl out there waiting for us to be her family...how can we give up on that? I have said this before and will say it again...International adoption is NOT for the faint of heart! We are coming baby girl...just hold on, apparently Mommy and Daddy haven't jumped through enough hoops and red tape yet!

Warm and Beautiful

I am trying to take pictures everyday but I'm having a hard time finding the time to sit down and upload them and then make a blog post about them. However, I just had to share what my sweet 10 year old said to me the other night.
See...I just had my mother in law sew me a huge fleece blanket for my many freezing baseball games. My requests for said blanket were that it be red and black(school colors), be big and very warm. My mother in law got the blanket ready for me over the weekend and I decided to try it out Sunday night while Milledge was hitting the boys some ground balls in the yard. I had the blanket all the up to my ears and down to my toes, wrapped around me a time and half, was sitting in my chair in the yard and had the nerve to ask...."Do I look ridiculous in my new blanket? Will I embarrass y'all at the ballgames like this?". A little worried what the answer might be but not really caring because they were freezing and I was warm and that blanket was going with me to the games no matter what...but still, I had to ask. But instead of laughs and giggles I heard my sweet, sweet Anderson say, "I think you look warm and beautiful!!!". Seriously, he is the sweetest, kindest child I know. I am not going to think about the fact that the blanket was covering pretty much everything but my eyes...just not going there. My child thinks I'm beautiful...all is well in my world!

Busy Week..

We've had a busy week complete with....

A going away party for my friend Tammy(on far right). We love you and will miss you bunches, Tammy!

A trip to the doctor with a sick Jon Milledge. Our Dachshund, Duke, can tell when someone isn't feeling well and he "keeps watch" over them. What a cutie!

The much anticipated first middle school baseball game!! Here is Jon Milledge thinking about stealing home.
He is crossing the plate after he was "walked" in. Our team won 20-1!!! Congrats to MCMS and Jon Milledge! #12....I love you the most!

Baseball season has officially started even though we are in the middle of the Winter Olympics. There is something strange about that to me. I used to think that the only cold weather outdoor sport was football in November and that was only sometimes depending on the GA weather and that baseball was all about the "boys of summer"....boy was I wrong! Some of the coldest days I've spent in the last 5 years have been at baseball practices and games. Today was no different. I froze even with my long johns, three layers of clothes, coat, scarf, gloves and two blankets. However, there is no where else I would've been!

Three very proud but VERY cold Mamas!

Haircuts and No Baseball :(

Well, both boys got a much needed haircut today and they were thrilled to have their picture taken....can't you tell?! The much awaited first baseball game of the season was canceled today due to the field being too wet. I have one disappointed 7th grader. They have rescheduled it for Thursday when it is supposed to be 20 degrees cooler here and rain tonight and tomorrow. So it's not looking good for Thursday either. I have my fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed that these boys get to play....SOON!

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!