AMEN!

Our nephew Booker is spending the week with us and last night his bedtime prayers went like this, "Dear God, please learn Gagey to not poopy in his pants anymore. Amen."

I'M BACK!

Hello everyone! I am doing MUCH BETTER this week. Hunter successfully finished his t-ball season with some SUPER wins. He really wishes the season would go on FOREVER! Wheat harvest is going GREAT and should be done tomorrow. YEAH! The wheat looks WONDERFUL and the price is TERRIFIC! Praise God! Our home inspection went REALLY WELL. Our social worker, Alicia, is really great and the whole process turned out to be very non-threatening, much to my worries! Hunter and Brylie did a GOOD JOB on their interview and kept Alicia smiling the whole time. She had to take them into another room to do their interview so I was a little nervous about some of their responses but she said they did a wonderful job and it is obvious they are both looking forward to the arrival of their little sister from China. We are one step CLOSER to our little girl! This week is much more laid back. We have our nephew Booker staying with us for the week while his parents and sisters are at Bible Camp. He's been a little sad missing his family, but is having a FUN time playing with the kids. He is such a GOOD boy and it is a JOY having him around. Anyway, nothing too exciting to post about today, just wanted to give you an update and thank you all for your well wishes during my crazy week last week. Can you believe tomorrow is AUGUST?!?!

Blogging Break......

Yes, it's true...I NEED a blogging break this week! For some reason this week is jam packed and I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Hunter has 3 t-ball games, Robb is starting wheat harvest, and our Social Worker is coming on Friday morning to do a thorough inspection of our home for our adoption paperwork. I am least excited about the house inspection! She also has to interview Hunter and Brylie about the adoption, this should be interesting! Anyway, I will fill you all in on how it goes and will continue to keep up with your posts. Have a GREAT week!

Favorite Photos Friday

"Oh, I LOVE chocolate cake!"

Legacy of An Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other. One you do not remember, the other you call mother. Two different lives shaped to make you one. One became your guiding star, the other became your sun. The first one gave you life and the second taught you to live it. The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it. One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name. One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim. One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears. One made an adoption plan, that was all she could do. The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you. Now, which of these two women are you the product of? Both, my darling, both, just two different types of love.

(I apologize for not having the author for this beautiful piece.)

Can you feel the love?

Yesterday morning as I was just about to step into the shower, Brylie comes walking into the bathroom and in her sweet, little voice says, "Mom, you sure have big buns!".

BIRTHDAY FUN!

The weekend was full of Birthday Fun! Hunter turned 6 and celebrated with his first ever friends party on Saturday at Tun O Fun and a family party at the Zoo on Sunday. Hunter and 7 of his closest friends played in the over-sized play area, won tickets with the games, pick out some really cool prizes and enjoyed cupcakes together. I sent 7 sweaty boys back home with their parents and took my 3 tired kids with me. It was a success! On Sunday we celebrated with my family at the Zoo. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our time of food, fellowship, and FUN!

Six Years Old!

It was October of 2000 when we found out we were expecting our first child. This child had been prayed for for many years and we were thrilled! I was in my second year of teaching and those first months were tough because I was SO tired all the time. Luckily my "morning" sickness started at about 4:30 pm everyday, so I was able to get my work done and be home by the time the nauseousness started for the night. It was pretty miserable for the first 4 months and then I felt WONDERFUL and enjoyed the rest of my pregnancy. My actual due date was July 24th so when I woke up at 2:30 am on July 14th with contractions I could hardly believe it. Robb and I were so excited we were giddy! We waited until about 7:00 am to go into the hospital and sure enough today was the day! About 5 and 1/2 hours later little Hunter Ron entered the world at 6lbs 13 oz. Of course we thought he was beautiful and I was completely in love with this little person. Now at 6 years old Hunter is a very smart, imaginative, creative, loves the Lord kind of guy! If you know Hunter he asks A LOT of questions and is really concerned about everything! Looking past the aggressive all-boy behaviors, he has a very tender heart and really wants to make the world a better place. He is the boy who vows to visit his mom EVERY day when he is a man. I love my first born son and couldn't be more proud of him! Happy Birthday Hunter! (I will post birthday party pictures tomorrow)

Favorite Photo Friday

You know it's summer when......corn on the cob is on the menu at least once a week!

"When I'm a man....."

Lately Hunter has been using this phrase ALL the time. Many times it is when I have told him that he is not allowed to do something. He has the hopes that when he is a man he will get to do all of those forbidden things that, at age 5, mom says no to. Other times he is just reassuring me that he will stay his sweet self even when he's a man.

"When I'm a man...... I'm going to be a Star Wars person and fight bad guys." I'll skip bedtime." I'm going to adopt a baby from China." I'm going to have my friends over EVERYDAY." I'll like spicy foods." I'll watch PG 13 movies." I'll still give you smooches everyday." I'll have lots of money to buy things." I'll get to play video games." "I'll still love Jesus." "I won't fight with Brylie." I'll know EVERYTHING like daddy does!"

Lord, bring us some rain

There is an old farmer's saying, "if your corn is knee high by the 4th of July you will have a good crop". Well, this picture was taken this 4th of July and as you can see, the corn is as tall as my 6 foot husband! The crops look great this year and the prices are good, now we are in need of some RAIN. The timely rains really make or break a crop. Please send up a little prayer for some much needed rain for the farmers.

Our Independence Day

Brylie and I at the parade.

Gage, Brylie and Hunter waiting patiently for the parade to begin.

The favorite part....the candy toss!

Our church was represented in the parade.

Our church float representing prayer for our troops.

Robb's mom sitting with the kids.

The 4th of July Family Photo

Gage waving his American flag

Hunter showing off the stickers that were handed out at the parade

We enjoyed a wonderful fireworks show

Watching the spectacular light show in the sky

Gage stayed pretty close to mommy during the noisy fireworks!

Brylie couldn't decide if she liked the show or not

All in all we had a full day of fun and activities. There's nothing like celebrating living in the greatest country in the world! I am definitely proud to be an American!

Happy Independence Day!

CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM Celebrate the freedom of the US of A Put out it's colors In a proud way We're so fortunate to live in this place So serve it right and not just today This is America the US of A Celebrate with pride on it's birthday HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!! 2005 Mary Carpio

July

July is the month that we celebrate our freedom, the month that we welcomed our first born child into this world, my mom's birthday, barbecuing in the backyard, swimming at the lake, sunshine and sunburns, my oldest nephew's birthday, t-ball games, wheat harvest, long walks in the evening, family picnics, visits to the zoo, sipping iced tea, sunlight until 9 pm, family vacations, mosquitoes and biting flies, fresh vegetables from the garden, camp outs and bon fires, the month of celebrating summer.

Arnold Adventures!

This is the second year in a row for our Arnold Adventures get together. Last year was a large family gathering in the Black Hills and this year was a little more low key with just the relatives close by. We have decided on an every-other-year in the Hills and local on the off years. My mother-in-law hosted the family today and fun was had by all! We ate some wonderful food, had great conversation, and even had a family softball game. The kids enjoyed all the fun with their cousins and the adults had some much needed time to catch up on each other's family happenings. I married into a wonderful family and feel blessed to be 'one of the gang'!