Adoption

A few years ago a family friend adopted a little sweetheart from China. Since then I have been a little adoption blog stalker. I admit it -- it touches my heart! Last year, some other family friends adopted a sweetie from China. Guess what...still blog stalking! A feew weeks ago I ran across a blog called The Blessing of Verity.



It is about a family who adopted from Pleven in Bulgaria. If you go back and read the story and your heart doesn't break...well...it will. From there I found an advocacy website for children around the world, many with Down Syndrome and Cebral Palsy. Several of the kids on this particular site are in Eastern Europe - where the conditions are terrible for orphans. The site is Reece's Rainbow.



Today - the writer of the blog I mentioned about posted about a boy in need of a family. If a family doesn't step forward and commit to this boy within 1 week he will age out and will be sent to a mental institution where he will likely recieve little to no care until he starves to death. Please read over the blog, pray for him, and pass it on -- perhaps you know the family God has chosen for him. If nothing else, join me (an many others) in prayer for him and the other orphans of this world.

2 years ago today

Two years ago todaythis girl:

And this guy:

Pledged their love to each other for the rest of their lives. 

Best.  Decision.  Ever. 

Best.  Day.  Ever.

Thank you, sweet husband, for loving me.  Even through the temper tantrums (would I have one of those?!), nagging, 'disagreeing', and all the other 'for worse' moments....I love you more than you know! :)

Drowsy Chaperone

 

As you will recall if you read my blog (when I very occasionally update it..), I was cast as Kitty in Sherman Community Player's The Drowsy Chaperone back in April.  Kitty is the blonde ditz in the show.  (For all you who were wondering -- yes, this role DOES require acting..). 

 

The Drowsy Chaperone is a comedy.  It is narrated by 'The Man In The Chair' who is listening to a record of a 1928 Broadway Show.  The story is about Janet Van Der Graff who is getting married and leaving the stage.  The Producer, Feldzig, is being hunted by Gangsters.  Kitty (my part) wants to be the next big star, but the producer is much more concerned with keeping Janet, his current star, and thereby staying alve.  At the end, Janet decides to leave the stage and Kitty gets her chance.  There are other characters and that's not the entire story - but for you musical lovers - I don't want to give away the entire story...

 

 

This is our cast:

 

 

 

 

And a few pictures:

 

This is Toledo Surprise -- where I get my big chance...

(I'm the one in the blue dress....I promise)

 

 

This is Message From a Nightengale

 

(I'm the one with/in front of the gong)

 

And this is backstage...We call ths Drowsy Duck Lips...I'm on the right....

 

If you live in the area...I HIGHLY suggest you come see this show...it's spectacular.

Dog Park

A few weeks ago Donna and I decided to take one of her dogs and our 2 to the new McKinney dog park.  We left right after church and as usual, Lily felt she needed to be in my lap the whole trip.

 

 

And as usual..she was ALL EARS!

 

 

We made a pit stop at Canine Cookie Company and went to eat at Chaucer's, a formerly pet friendly pub.  We discovered while there that they are no longer pet friendly, so we opted for a quick trip to Sonic instead.  Mercy decided to show off her new dress and help Aunt Donna order.

 

 After we ate, we headed to the dog park.  When we got there it was nice and warm and off the dogs went...Well, sorta...Mercy stayed pretty close to me (look at my feet.)  Lily, however, was everywhere...couldn't get a pic of her for all her running around!

 

We did snap a quick one of me and my girls when Lily came to check in...notice that neither of them can focus on a camera...(and yes, they do know how to...they were just overwhelmed with the overabundance of barking and toys and dogs..)

 

On our way out we stopped at the water area...Mercy played with Donna's dog, Emma for a while.

 

And then with a little prodding....

 

....took a drink from the water spouts.

 

 

Then it was time to head home.  All 3 dogs slept the whole way home.  In fact...Lily slept most the rest of the day...and most of Monday.  I love taking her to the dog park! :)

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

St. Paddy's Day pic...a little later...

This last week our friend Kristina has been sick, so we offered to keep her girls on Saturday night to give her a break.  We keep Ally often, but this time we offered to keep Clarissa too.  As luck (teehee) would have it, Kristina sent the girls St. Patrick's Day dresses for church on Sunday.  They are these totally adorable dresses Alan and I bought them back around St. Pat's.  They have light and dark green clovers all over them and a frog in the bottom left corner of the front.  My FAVORITE part, however, is the shamrock on the tush of the bloomers!  Such a cute outfit!

Since the girls would be wearing their Paddy's Day green, we decided we'd wear our and have a pic with the girls.  They were sick on Paddy's Day so we didn't get it then...so today was the perfect opportunity!

The pic doesn't so the dresses any kind of justice...but how sweet are those girls?!  Alan has Ally (11 months) and I have Clarissa (2.5 years - almost).  We sure do love these girls! :)

Birthday Saturday

Yesterday Allison and I cashed in on our Birthday 'presesnt'.  This year we asked for a day with mom.  We couldn't see the reason behind gift cards or scrambiling to get gifts...we'd rather just spend time together...and mom planned a fantastic day.  I'm sorry to say I was a bad blogger and we only have pics from the end of the day...so hold on...there are some coming!

 

We started off with me and mom getting our hair cut.  (This pic is from cast pics for Drowsy Chaperone - me dressed as Kitty...kinda - but it shows the short hair!)

 

 

Then we went and got mani's/pedi's. I have purple toenails with white and yellow flowers...they are SUPER CUTE!  Then we headed to lunch at La Madeline's where I had a yummy chicken pesto pasta and strawberry romanoff...seriously the best reason to go to La Madeline's!  After that we went shopping!  We went to Old Navy and I got some new shirts and a new dress (and I bought Alan a shirt too!).  Then we headed to Charming Charlie's.  This place is my closet heaven.  It's arranged by colors so all the pink clothes, shoes, scarves, and jewelry are together...then comes blue, then brown, then orange and so forth.  Seriously -- heaven.  I got one shirt there.  Then mom wanted to walk to Coldwater Creek and Allison and I obliged her.  Would you believe I got the cutest little black shirt for $15!  It was originally $80!  I love a good bargain! :)  We ended the day by visiting Grandmother.  (What better way?!) We did take some pics here.

 

 

I SERIOUSLY adore this woman!  At 95 and two years after a stroke things don't always come out the way she wants...so (to make a long story short) she told Allison to play like she had a boyfriend.  (For the record, she wanted to know about a guy who had taken her out...but oh the laughter!)

 

We love our Grandmother!

 

We decided that we should all squeeze in for one pic.  It isn't very good - but we all made it...3 generations!

 

And then it was time to come home.  A wonderful day! :)