Photo Hunters - Water

Wow! Where does a week go?!! Someday soon perhaps I'll carve out the time during the week to post something in addition to Photo Hunters...someday.

Photo Hunters will be posting pictures of "water" today.

Seems appropriate on this, the First Official Weekend of Summer, to post some water pictures that scream "Summer!" to me.

What says "summer" more than running in the sprinklers?! For LemLem and Bear - a first.

Photo Hunt - Water

Should be some great photos of water here. Click over there and see!

Photo Hunters - Emotion(s)

This week The Photo Hunters are searching for photos of emotion(s).

I think these photos speak for themselves.

Photo Hunt - Emotion(s)

Somedays it's tough being three.


Don't worry though, we have plenty of this emotion around here too.




More emotions here.

Photo Hunters - Shoes

Photo Hunters are posting pictures of shoes again today. Almost a year ago we were searching for a picture of "shoes" too. Back then I posted a picture of these little cuties. I had found these shoes before I even knew who our daughter would be. Back then they were a just a symbol for me, a symbol of the little girl who was waiting for me in Ethiopia.



And now unbelieveably, less than a year later, she is here. She is mine. She's spunky and smart and tough as steel and fits perfectly in our family. Blessings upon blessings.

And those shoes that were a symbol are now just her shoes. I put them on her feet and tie the laces. She is home. We are together.

Photo Hunt - Shoes

Thanks to TN Chick for all her work on The Photo Hunt.

Photo Hunters - ANY Photo

It's Photo Hunter's choice this week. We get to post a photo of anything we want. This one was pretty easy for me.

For the 4 or 5 of you who drop by here and are wondering, "What happened to your blog?" I present Exhibit A - Bear and LemLem.

Photo Hunt -ANY Photo

Adoption happened to my blog...

Adoption happened to my blog...to my life. It's been a wild, amazing, white-knuckled ride that has me hanging on for dear life at times and enjoying the rush at others.



How could my life ever be the same? How could I want it to be?









Drop by TN Chick's for a look at her "Hunter's Choice" photo.

Photo Hunters - Glass

I know, I know. My blog has turned into a purely Photo Hunters stop.

Just trying to keep it all together and not lose my marbles.

Photo Hunt - Glass

See, they're not all gone!



Check out more "glass" here.

Photo Hunters - High

I'm finding life to be a bit overwhelming lately. I wasn't going to post for anything for Photo Hunters this week but once I saw the gorgeous photo at Above the Clouds I felt inspired to post a photo of something "high."

Photo Hunt - High

Soaring "high" in the sky above the continent of Africa

You can get "high" here.

Photo Hunters - Different

The door is wide open for the Photo Hunters for all sorts of interpretations of the theme this week. We were looking for a picture of something "different."

We saw this sign posted at the entrance to a restaraunt that we visited while in Ethiopia last August. Not your typical "No Shirt * No Shoes * No Service" sign.

Photo Hunt - Different

I guess different things are important there.

Check out more "different" here.


I missed the Photo Hunters "Party" last week. But here's a picture of my 2nd daughter, Rummy celebrating her 13th birthday last Sunday night. She had a nice little party.

Photo Hunters - Wooden

Photo Hunt - Wooden

Hand-carved Ethiopian crosses





More "wooden" photos here.

They're Coming Home!

We've jumped through all the hoops, we've filed all the necessary paperwork, we've paid all the fees. Our Bear is finally "free" to come home.

As I write this, Pastormac & Bear are in a jet flying over the Atlantic Ocean on their way home. Each day Bear has been getting more comfortable with his new papa and there is a lot of love waiting here for them. I wanted to blog during the week but doing the single mom thing with the six kids here at home sucked the life right out of me. Each night I was just too beat to do much but climb into bed and rest.

Tomorrow night, The Production welcomes it's newest member. We can hardly wait to kiss this face.




free: clear of obstructions or obstacles

Photo Hunters - Heavy

A week ago last Friday we received an email with a copy of our son's new birth certificate. The note said, "should hear about an embassy date soon." Well no kidding, because about thirty minutes later our adoption case worker was on the phone telling us that we had an embassy date on the 12th of February! She asked if we thought we leave for Addis Ababa on February 9th! Needless to say the week was a mad dash to make that happen - plane tickets had to be purchased, hotel reservations had to be made, we had to decide who was going, orphanage donations needed to collected, bags packed, etc. The initial plan was for me to travel with our oldest daughter, Sweetanlo. Unfortunately on such short notice, she was unable to go. Pastormac and I decided that if only one of us could go, it was best for him to be the one. (The bright side is that it saves us $2000.)

So today, he is on a plane to Ethiopia. He won't arrive there until Sunday night - it's a long long trip. He'll have our Bear in his arms in the morning on Monday.

Photo Hunters was a no-brainer for me this week. We were searching for a picture of something heavy. I spent a good deal of the day yesterday making sure these weren't too heavy.

Photo Hunt -Heavy

130 pounds of luggage



Suitcase = 50lbs.
Pink box of donations = 50lbs.
carry-on = 15lbs.
backpack = 15lbs.


Wonder what TN Chick chose for "heavy."

Photo Hunters - Narrow

Should be an interesting week for Photo Hunters. We were searching for a picture of something narrow. I'll be interested to see what TN Chick comes up with this week.

I didn't think I was going to be able to think of anything and then suddenly thought of this.

Photo Hunt -Narrow

I think of how narrow this is every time I'm trying to stick a tread through that tiny space.



MANY MANY thanks to all of you who left birthday wishes for my son Shorty. He was blown away! You all are too sweet! (Anyone who didn't have a chance, is, of course, still welcome!)

Making a Difference

Mary's making a difference today. I'm going to join her.

You can make a difference too. It doesn't take much.

Won't you?

Photo Hunters - Old-Fashioned

I love all the work that TN Chick puts into making the Saturday Photo Hunt such a great event. Photo Hunters were in search of something old-fashioned this week. I found this one to be tough and so I've been really impressed with the entries I've visited already.

I thought for a while about what to choose and settled on this photo of a photo from long long ago.

Photo Hunt -Old-Fashioned

What's old-fashioned about this photo, you ask? Well look at that poofy hair and the collar on that dress. And how about that skinny skinny tie? Honestly though, the reason I picked this photo is because these are my parents and this picture was taken nearly 40 years ago. My parents were about as old-fashioned as they come. (My dad still is; unfortunately my mom died in 2003.) When I got engaged, my mom didn't even think it was proper for Pastormac and me to sit on the same bed together. My dad still let's "ladies go first" and wears a coat and tie to work weekdays and a blazer to work on Saturday. Things like these and too many others to list make them my perfect choice for our "old-fashioned" theme this week.

If you're not rushing off to check out other Photo Hunters, PLEASE! PLEASE! leave a few of your "favorites" in a comment on my son Shorty's birthday post. He would really appreciate it. (So would I!) He just turned six on Thursday and he's pretty amazed that folks are leaving him comments. Also, we have really good news here.

Happy Hunting!

Finally! We have another son!

Yes! It's finally official! We have another son.

We totally weren't expecting it and in fact didn't even know that we were having a court date. Truth be told, I had quit hoping that it was going to happen - too many dates had come and gone. I was resolved that it would happen when it happened.

Yesterday, in the early morning, we learned that while we had been sleeping on Wednesday night, a judge in Ethiopia had made us parents for the seventh time!

We have been waiting eight months for this day.

So here is our Bear - the newest member of The Production.




Now we wait for a new birth certificate to be issued - with us listed as his parents! And other official documents to be translated into English. Then our agency representatives will apply to the US Embassy for an appointment to apply for a US Visa to bring him home. That's when we'll the word to make our travel dates. Likely this will be in about a month.

Last August I had to hug him "goodbye" and leave him there. Soon I'm going back to hug him "hello" and bring him home.

Here's one more picture of him. I really love this one. The expression on his face is priceless.

Seven at Six by Shorty

As is our birthday tradition, I'm giving Shorty my blog to post a birthday list. He turned six years old today. He's doing a list of favorite things - seven of them, one for each year and one to grown on.

Hi there! Shorty here. Here's my list. Hope you like it.

My Favorite Things - Seven at Six by Shorty

• 1. Favorite Color: Definitely RED!


• 2. Favorite Food: White Rice


• 3. Favorite School Subject: Geography


• 4. Favorite State: Rhode Island - "It's so small!"


• 5. Favorite Singer: Rebecca St. James - listen to her every single night


• 6. Favorite Animal: Puppies & Kitties equally

and one to grow on...

• 7. Favorite Bible Story: Daniel & the Lion's Den

Do you have any favorites?

Thanks for reading my list. See you next year!

Today You Are Six.

You are...

• incredibly smart



• sweetly sensitive



• thoughtfully serious



• geographically inclined



• startlingly handsome



• prone to pacing



• a picky eater



• wound a little too tight at times



• a blankie collector



• pacingly impatient



• forever my baby



• newly a big brother



• an accomplished reader



• refreshingly innocent



• Wii remotely skilled



• dear to my heart

And today you are six. Happy Birthday my love, my dear one.



Love Thursday is back.

Photo Hunters - Important

Searching for some "important" for Photo Hunters this week. This topic was wide open.

I started with something frivolous yet important nevertheless.

Photo Hunt - Important

Chocolate!


Then I got serious...and for me this is seriously important.




Happy Hunting!

Check out last week's "skinny" photo at the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - The Joyful Journey.

And drop by TN Chick's for a look at the "important" stuff she needed when her little girl got sick yesterday.

Photo Hunters - Skinny

Photo Hunters were in search of something skinny this week. Wow I wish I could post a picture of myself like TN Chick did!! Alas, I had to look elsewhere.

Here is my "skinny" selection. This is my kitty, Sneaker. As is the case with many elderly cats (Sneaker is 16/17 years old) she has hyperthyroidism. And while we give her medicine to manage the condition, she still can't keep on the weight. She weighs less than a dictionary! She's happy though, and content and truly the best of friends.

Photo Hunt - Skinny

The best kitty in the world - skinny or not.


Don't forget the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - drop by The Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia for a look at last week's "delicious" photo.

On the other side of the world right now...(Updated)

an Ethiopian judge may be making me a momma once again!

The elusive final piece of paperwork that confirms that our Bear is indeed eligible for adoption is finally in the hands of our agency representative in Ethiopia.

So today, perhaps God will see fit to complete our family with one more son.

_____________________________________________________

Update:

We learned today that our case goes to court this NEXT Wednesday - 9/16. Silly us - we thought "this" Wednesday meant this Wednesday.

If you're so inclined, we would so appreciate your prayers. He's been waiting a long time.

Photo Hunters - Delicious

Photo Hunt - Delicious

Apple Cobbler a la mode

It was wonderful - definitely fit this week's theme.


TN Chick has a cute "delicious" photo that isn't food-related. Don't forget the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - drop by Now What Happens? for a look at a fun photo.