Happy Birthday, Sara!

Sara celebrated her 17th Birthday this past weekend with a bunch of her friends! Today is her actual birthday!!! I thought about posting a cute little baby pictures, but she wasn't that cute... just kidding... I'll work on it! Maybe...

Digit Reunion

Donna, Lucy, Ellen, Darcy

I met with my DIGIT friends last night and enjoyed a great meal at PFChangs! We spent lots of time catching up and discussing adoption issues. Great to see these friends who have been together since our first trip to China!

Scolded ...

That is what I got today.

I was told I was being scolded by the blog police.

For being a lousy blogger. I was told that my monthly posts were slowly becoming semi-annual posts. You get the picture, right? And she was right. I'm lousy.

Thanks for the wake-up call, Randi. You are right. I'm acknowledging this, but not making any promises!

So, the news that I neglected to share is that Sara is now a licensed driver! She pitched in a big chunk of change from her lifeguarding gig and bought a little car (with a little help from good ole mom and dad). It's a 2001 Beetle and it is so cute! Don't you think?


She has enjoyed driving to her pool for a few last days of work, to Sonic with the little girls, and to "dinner" at Moe's with her friend Audrey. She even took Lauren to soccer yesterday! I thought I'd be a nervous wreck (guess that is not the best word to mention), but it's actually been nice!

So, Randi, does that help? A little?

One more thing.

And this one is a biggie.

At least to me...

I used to teach high school math. A LONG time ago. I was also the yearbook adviser. I really loved (most) of the kids I taught, and got to know many my yearbook kids pretty well. One of them, Caroline, actually attended Asbury (where we went to college in KY), partially because of my talking about it always! So, over the years, and thanks to Facebook, Caroline and I have stayed in touch. This past week she was diagnosed with leukemia. She is only 35'ish. Thankfully she is, otherwise, healthy. She is at Emory and is beginning chemo. It's hard to believe... she's too young for this!

Weekend with Friends

It's been a long time.

A LONG time.

Since we last saw the Millers! And we enjoyed getting to know the Ruckers a little better! When we first met the Millers, way back when we lived in Conyers, we had ZERO kids...

Lake Cumberland is beautiful...

"Life is a Procession of Miracles"

"It (the moment you meet your adoptive child) is an unexpected form of human affection -- meeting an unrelated stranger and, within moments, being willing to care for her, even to die for her."

This is from an article I just read in the Washington Times.

I remember each of these moments with our two girls; those moments are etched in my memory, I hope, forever. I'll never understand how each of them felt, but I do remember how I felt.

The author goes on to talk about how the decision of one woman to give up her baby for adoption had led to a set of circumstances that would affect the rest of history. Amazing every time I think about how our 2 came into our family.

Right now our friends Sharon and Scott are in China within hours of meeting their little 3 year old daughter Shaylee. I just get goosebumps thinking about it.

Update on Ally's Lunch

So, I emailed her teacher asking her to just please make sure Ally was "set" at lunch today. Here is her sweet reply:

I am so sorry! I didn't realize she had a lunchbox in her bookbag. I
thought we'd gotten them all out. She actually ate a school lunch (hot dog
and sides). But today I got it out and she will be bringing her lunchbox.
I'm sorry to hear she was so tired yesterday. Our rest time should be more
settled today so she should be able to sleep if she needs to. Thanks so
much for letting me know!


We still aren't sure why Ally couldn't have just told us she ate a hot dog. I guess she 'fell apart' on me because she thought I was upset at her for not eating her lunchbox food. Anyway, mystery solved, and Ally did eat lunch yesterday!

This morning I wasn't quite sure how she would take the news that we have to go back to the big school again, but all was well. At breakfast, Ally announced that she knew how to find her class without Alaina's help. Good.

We got to the AM bus stop (right across from our house) early. As we waited, Ally announced, "I don't think it's coming, so I'm gonna just go back inside!" She said this smiling, so I knew she was OK. When we saw the bus round the corner, she gave Lauren and me kisses and was off! Just fine, thank you ma'am!

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Ally made it home AWAKE on the bus! She also ate her lunch!

Long, Hot, Sleepy Bus Ride

So everyone is home and reporting about thier days!

Sara got home first a little nervous about all of the work that her teachers are going to pile on; and then she was off to the pool for 4 hours of lifeguarding! Luckily, the lifeguarding won't last too long!

Ally and Alaina were next. Their bus took forever to come. Like an hour after school got out (we live a little over a mile from the school, but are the last stop)... so, as I expected, Ally fell asleep. I was just glad she didn't fall out of her seat! Alaina walked up to the bus driver and told him that her sister was asleep, so I got on the bus (snapped a quick pic) and picked her up!!! Poor baby was so sweaty and hot. BUT, once we got inside and she woke up, she was OK - at least for a moment.

She (Ally) said she liked the loft and the home-center, but that she needed me to look at her lunch box. So, I did. And what did I find? Her entire lunch in the lunch box UN-EATEN! Not one bite! Then she burst into tears. She couldn't even tell me what happened, but she said the teacher wouldn't let her eat her lunch. Well, we all know there must be a slight misunderstanding!!! Once she drank a little cold milk, she calmed down. Maybe we can get some more details at dinner!

Alaina had a great day. She said she did math today and liked her teacher. She has a couple of friends in her class, but not her BEST friend from last year!

Lauren got home last, announcing that she already has homework! Good day for her with many of her best friends in all of her classes! Band will start for her next week and soccer too! Here we go....