Catching up before "the call"...

The past few days (week actually) have kept us hopping around here!!! I ended my long term subbing position in 2nd grade on Monday and began another long term position in 7th grade on Wednesday. I'll be there through June. So much for having a breather!

Treyton has been preparing before and after school the past few weeks for Odyssey of the Mind Regionals that were held today and they placed 1st. His team participated in the Classical Competition and their problem was "The Lost Labor of Hercules". Everyone worked really really hard. I believe 5 Wellsville teams are going to be competing at states April 4th! Great job everybody!!

and... my brother-in-law Jared graduated from Police Academy this week!!! Way to go!! We are so proud of you!!

OK.... now that you know a little bit about how busy we've been lately, the next post will be ALL about Pala and the long awaited "call".

And "Pala" makes 6!!!

Sugar and spice,
and everything nice,
that's what little girls are made of...

Making her first public debut....

Miss Pala Alsworth
(pronounced "Payla")


Born September 7, 2008
Currently weighing 11 lbs.

More details to follow after the reality sets in and I can stop crying long enough to type! :D I'm a Mama again!! God is gracious!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

You have got to check out this adorable little skirt! It's described as "So fluffy and soft, like butter cream icing on a cupcake." Doesn't it sound so scrumptious?! This would look soooo cute on Asha. If I'm not the lucky winner, maybe I can talk my mother-in-law into making one!!! I'm not that handy with a sewing machine.

Tis the season for school projects!!

Yep... we have many things keeping us busy these days! Thank goodness, right?! All 3 of the boys have projects for school. Cooper just finished his COMMUNITY DIORAMA and is soooo proud of it. Each second grader had to do one this year. They could pick Rural, Suburban or City. All of my boys had the same teacher for second grade so I knew it was coming, but... uhg.... projects usually turn into "Mom" projects if you know what I mean!! Not this time though!! Cooper insisted on doing it all by himself with very little guidance. I was only allowed to show him how to work the hot glue gun. The rest he wanted to do. He did let me do a little bit of painting but when it looked like I was having fun, I was shut off. :D Coop originally started out with suburban and took pictures of all the houses on our street but when we went to Walgreen's to pick up his pictures, they had had an internal server error and couldn't print them. Bummer, eh?! Not to this kid. His comment to me was "Should always have a back up plan, right mom?!" I was befuddled!!!! Uh... yeah... you always should! Think maybe I need to take lessons from my 7 soon-to-be 8 year old!!

More projects to follow in the next few days or so....

God bless!!!

We are #3 now!!

Just got word this morning from our Dillon case worker, Tami, that we have moved up one spot to #3. I'll take any movement right now. It's been waaaay to quiet on the adoption home front. We haven't seen any movement since October so this is exciting for us. Maybe by St. Patty's Day we'll have news of Asha to share. :) I'll keep you all posted!! God bless!!

A good laugh...

I so desperately needed a good laugh today and I found this on the Riggs Family Blog. With all that they are going through they still find time to laugh. After you watch this, venture over to their blog. They are a very remarkable family. Please keep Abby in your prayers!!

Kisses in the Wind

Kisses in the Wind

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

My sister-in-law shared this poem with me and I thought I would pass it on to my fellow friends. Thank you to everyone who sent comforting words during my "slump". I know that many of you have been or are in the same situation and you have and are a great support system to me. Thanks a million!!! I have been blessed to have reunited with a dear friend from high school this past week and she shared some of her favorite scriptures with me. I am going to try and post one at a time so that it may help others who are feeling discouraged and frustrated with the long wait. God Bless!

Taking a Cyber-break...

Well, I just wanted everyone to know that I'm taking a "cyber" break. I need to get regrouped! The adoption is mentally draining me right now. It seems like that's all I think about. There has been no movement in quite sometime and we are still waiting at #4. Very frustrating! I had hoped for news as we entered the new year but no such luck. I know that God has a plan for our family but I really feel like he's testing me! I have found myself questioning a lot of things lately. So... I plan to take the next few days to devote myself to scripture and find the answers that I am seeking. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for but I will know it when I find it. Until then, happy blog surfing!!

12 years of Marital Bliss...

Yesterday, Shad and I celebrated our 12th anniversary!! Twelve years... ahhhhhh!!!!! It doesn't seem possible! Very seldom do we spend "our" day without the kids. This year was nothing new :) . We call it our "Family Anniversary" because it celebrates the day we commited to becoming a family and not just a couple. There will be plenty of time to spend it as a couple. Don't get me wrong, our time together is very important to us but we both agree that time as a family is more precious. Shad and I do take a weekend away a couple times a year depending on if there is something special going on. Sometimes it falls around our anniversary, like our trips to Philly to see George Strait. This may be our last "Family Anniversary" as a family of 5 so it meant a lot to the boys to have their day with us. We spent Saturday braving a snow storm and traveled an hour to go to the movies and dinner. We left about 1:30 in the afternoon and came home around 8pm to well over a foot of new snow. Never thought to check the weather before leaving- way to go Shad!! Then on Sunday afternoon (and more snow) we bundled up and went snowmobiling and sled riding. As kids, we used to tie a sled to the back of a snowmobile and tow each other around. I haven't done that in years so my sister (7 months prego) decides that she will drive and I can ride on the sled... uh... I think she was trying to pay me back from when we were younger because it was a WILD ride:) . I don't think she realizes that she won't be pregnant forever!!! Hahaha!!! Sibling rivalry is awesome isn't it?! All in all we had a great weekend!!!

Happy 12 years together Shad!! I love you!

The Story of India- PBS

THE STORY OF INDIA w/Michael Wood is a 6 part series that will begin airing Monday night on PBS. The website has an interactive photo gallery and video commentaries. Click on the link to see what time it will be airing in your timezone. Don't worry if you miss it the first time because each segment is airing a couple of times.

So... to all my "blogging buddies", would you like to join me for a girls movie night?! :)

I'm going to try and record it for anyone who isn't able to watch it.