Can You Guess Where We Are?

We've been here at the beach for a week and I am just now opening my computer for the first time! The kids are having a blast and Olivia LOVES the beach. This is her first time here. Not much time for anything other than a few pictures. I'll post more once we get home.

Texas Caviar

We had dinner with Jackson's teacher last week and she served this appetizer. I had never heard of it before but I found TONS of recipes online for it. Connie's recipe is simpler than most I found, thankfully. Man oh man was it delicious! The sour cream in the bottom of the scoop kicked it up a notch too!

TEXAS CAVIAR

1 cup olive oil
1cup sugar
½ cup cider vinegar

* Boil these 3 ingredients & cool

1 cup celery-chopped
1 small onion-chopped
2/3 jar jalapeno slices-drain
1 medium jar pimientos-drain
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can black beans
1 can shoe peg corn

*Rinse & drain all canned veggies. Mix all ingredients together. Pour cooled dressing over all and mix well again. Cover & let set overnight in refrigerator. DRAIN and eat…serve with Tostitos Scoops and sour cream!

Y'all Enjoy!

I'm a Winner!

Do you know about The Lettered Cottage? If you don't you SHOULD! Layla is an amazing designer and she has the coolest blog! I have used her design consultation once and plan to do so again. And guess what? She had a giveaway and I WON! It's so funny because I've only entered one other giveaway and I never, ever expected to win this one. But, a couple of weeks ago I dreamed I entered a blog giveaway ( I know, I know...I'm reading too many blogs!), so I just decided to take a chance. I loved THE PRIZE so much that I just had to go for it! Thanks Layla!

I Love, Love, LOVE this Video!

As You Celebrate Today

Please say a prayer for my neighbors. Their little girl died yesterday in her crib. What a terribly sad Father's Day. We all have so much to be thankful for....Count every blessing today!

Adoption Tax Credit

If it were not for the generous tax credit we would not have been able to adopt all of our children. To think that it might not be available after 2010 just makes my heart sink. For many waiting children, the cessation of this credit would mean that they would not find a family. We received the following email today from our agency about the issue. I hope that you will take a minute to follow the links (at the end of the email) to ask your representative to support the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act.

The adoption community is receiving conflicting messages about the future
of Adoption Tax Credit. There are some talks on the Capitol Hill about
doing away with the Adoption Tax Credit, which will affect thousands of
adoptive families who are still waiting to complete their adoptions.

Representative Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, is sponsoring legislation
that will make permanent the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance
programs, which are set to expire in 2010. The legislation known as the
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act has the support of more than 100 members
of the House of Representatives. Rep. DeMint spearheaded enactment of The
Hope for Children Act in the 107th Congress, which doubled the adoption
tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000, though with a sunset provision. The
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act would make the effect of the Hope for
Children Act lasting and would benefit future generations.

A permanent adoption tax credit presents a win-win situation as it
promotes adoption, all the while making good economic sense. Adoption can
be expensive, usually costing anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000, a
prohibitive cost for many taxpayers. The need for, and appropriateness of,
a permanent adoption tax credit could not be clearer, with the numbers of
individuals considering adoption at an all time high and the numbers of
children available for adoption increasing. And, adoption benefits all
society, not only those who adopt or are adopted, because children raised
in loving, stable families grow up to be good citizens and productive
members of their communities.

Please, go to www.house.gov to e-mail your Congressional representative,
asking him or her to support the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act. You
can also go HERE for more information about Rep. DeMint's legislation.

Weekend at the Lake

Olivia LOVED the camper! She kept calling it her house. She told Jackson and Joe that they could sleep in her house. She named everything by saying "my" before it, like "my cicowave" (microwave). I really think she thought of it as a big playhouse!

Jackson is so funny! Unfortunately, I have a sun allergy and have to wear that big ole hat!

At first, Olivia wouldn't come up on deck. She did NOT like putting the life jacket on.

Making herself at home!

I finally got her to come up but this is what she did for a long time! She finally got used to it and loved it from then on! We have since found a much more comfortable life jacket for her. Hopefully she will have even more fun next time!

This is what we normally do when we go out. We pull up on an island somewhere and let the kids swim and play for a few hours. This is our favorite spot. A few years ago the boys named it Pirates Cove. Olivia really thought she was going on a treasure hunt!

Digging is the BEST!

Entertainment for hours!

Off to explore!

Joe's Geyser

Heading back to the club. This year we are really teaching the boys how to do a lot of things on the boat to help out. They are both doing a great job! Next year they will do Jr. Sail Camp and learn to sail.

Joe is loving being the Captain!

They spend a LOT of time here.

It was a very good day!

Olivia's 1st Time on the Boat!

More pictures to come later but for now you can click HERE to see a fun snippet of our weekend.

Olivia and Ballgames

God certainly put Olivia in the right family because she dearly loves Baseball! She wakes up every morning and asks "What time we leave for the ballgame?" I have a bag of toys and snacks that I take to each game and she just has a blast. She also cheers for the team and waves at her daddy on the field. As soon as the game is over she runs to where the team meets with the coach because she always tries to get a leftover snack! She also has a LONG list of pink ball equipment that she plans to ask Santa to bring her this year!

Back Up Your Blog

When my friend, Sharon, accidentally lost her blog it really scared me. I know there are lots of ways to save your blog but I found a really easy one and it's right here in Blogger. The best thing is that it saves all of the comments too. I now have all of my blogs saved and feel so much better! I found the TUTORIAL at Sneaky Momma Blog Design. There are lots of other great tips there too!

iGoogle

While setting up my new laptop I discovered iGoogle and had to share! It is now my homepage and I love it. It is not just customizable, it BEGS for you to customize it. There are page after page of features that you can add. So far on mine, I have my gmail, Google Reader, local weather, news, daily Bible verse, dinner suggestions and more. Everything is right there on one page. You can choose your own theme too. Mine has changing beach scenes....ahhhh relaxation!
My favorite though is My Listy. I make my shopping list and then before going to the store I can SMS text it to my phone! No more lost shopping lists or forgetting what I need.
Go to iGoogle.com to get started on yours!

Computer Virus

My computer got a virus. It's called the "Let your teenager use your PC and crash it" virus! I've been without it for nearly a week. While it has been nice in some ways, it's been awful in others. I've REALLY missed reading blogs and keeping up with everyone. I can only see so much on my phone.
So, once I get everything set up on this new computer I'll be back to blogging!

Fun at the Ballpark

We spend a LOT of time at the ballpark since we have 3 teams. Thankfully, Olivia loves it.

Charlotte is her baseball/basketball buddy. Look at their little prissy selves!

Swing Jackson!

I love this...he was ducking so he wouldn't get hit. This is kids' pitch! :)

School Carnival

I didn't get many pictures but Jackson and Olivia had a blast at the school carnival. Joe had a game so he only got to go for a very short time. Jackson won the cake walk...again. He always wins! Then I get to carry the cake around the whole time. He is always so excited to play and I can't talk him into waiting till later because, of course, "All of the GOOD cakes will get taken!"

Olivia getting Jackson with a confetti filled egg.

Playing tug of war. He won!

Watching her big brother

The face says it all!!

The Day our Hearts Were Stolen

Yesterday was the two year anniversary of when we first saw Olivia on the waiting child list. We were already signed up with an agency and were waiting for their next list. Blake, however, continued to look at lists from other agencies "just in case." Sometimes he would show me pictures and I wouldn't even look at them. Our child would be with OUR agency!

Then, on May 7, 2006 I was painting the laundry room and Blake came running up the stairs with the computer saying quite excitedly, "You HAVE to see this little girl!" I looked at her and saw that her special need was very similar to Ben's. One that we always said would be a no brainer for us. We knew instantly that she as ours. The set of keys that she is holding in her hands in the first picture were also very significant for us. In Lili's referral video she was holding a a set of keys too. We felt that she was giving us her blessing from Heaven.

We switched agencies and applied for her. Though we were highly encouraged to apply for several children on the list, my heart wouldn't let me. She was the one I wanted. SHE was my daughter. And the rest is history!

Prayer Request Update #3

The decision has been made and it did not go in favor of the little boy. I'm pretty sick to my stomach over the situation. There is a small glimmer of hope that the decision will be reversed in the next few months. With God, that small glimmer turns into a flat out miracle! That's what this child needs and that's what I am praying for.
If there is any news I will be sure to post it! I am amazed at the emails and comments I have received about how strongly so many of you feel about this situation. I believe with all of my heart that God's timing is perfect.

Update on Prayer Request

The situation went from bad to worse then got a bit better. The decision that is being made will determine the entire course of this little ones life. I so wish I could tell you what is going on but it is not my place and I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize the situation in any way.

My heart has been aching all day long for this little boy. God has a plan for him. WE are given a great privilege and responsibility to stand in the gap for him. There is certainly a war in the Heavenlies for this precious child. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of you who are doing so!

Urgent Prayer Needed!

I really cannot post any details about this but it is so urgent that I felt I had to post the request. A little boy who is in another country is in a life and death situation. A decision by the newly adoptive parents is critical. It will be made today. PLEASE pray that God's will will take place in this baby's life.

Clothing Auction

Olivia has a ton of clothes that she has outgrown. I was going to put them on eBay but I decided to try an auction blog instead. If you would like to go shopping and save some money please check out the new blog at Your Turn. I would also really appreciate it if any of you would link to the site to help me get the word out. The auction will run for 2 weeks. If you buy anything you HAVE to send me a picture of your little one wearing it! :)

Easter Post...Finally!

NEIGHBORHOOD EGG HUNT






EASTER MORNING




Bau Bau's tutu is from Cutie Patutu's

I LOVE how Olivia is looking at Jackson! Her dress is from Charlotte English Boutique. Lori ordered a dress from me and I wanted this one for Olivia so we swapped! I think Olivia looks so beautiful in it!
FAMILY EGG HUNT
After church we dyed the eggs. As per Romanian tradition, the first egg was dyed red.