Our family...

~South Korea has arrived~

2012-01-27T23:10:00.000-05:00

Mia Grace is soooo precious!! Our older kids have participated in our Homeschool International Fair for 5 years now. This year we did South Korea, not a big surprise.;)

Mia was so adorable in her Hanbok and new Hanbok Avah Bow.

She was showing off and bowing for everyone.

Lots of kids and parents show up and enjoy food and info from other countries.

We had a 2 tables this year because we had such an elaborate spread...:)

Mia and Mommy

WOW I love these 2 littles...so precious!! They are waiting to go on stage!

Paul loves being a big brother and helping little Mia onto stage!!

I LOVE KOREA!!!

Camye is out of town on a cruise with Grandma, Grandpa and her cousin, Alycia. She missed the fair but did lots of work on it before she left.

Here are the 4 that were here!

I am thinking next year we may do North Korea.

Mia and her friend Paulina. Paulina is a beautiful...I mean beautiful little girl that was born in Guatamala. She adores little Mia and Mia loves Paulina.

Me, Stacey and Heather...we have taken this picture for about 5 years. Wow have we changed..and wow how many more kids have we added in the meantime!! Stacey is pregnant for #6 here . She is dues in a few weeks.:) Between the 3 of us we have 16 kids....crazy!!:) But we love it!:)

Love Seeing Mia with her Baby Dolls

2012-01-25T10:09:00.001-05:00

Mia loves playing with her baby dolls!!

The blankets must always be perfectly so.

Because they always have a cold nose, she tells me.

And she has been listening to something I have been saying, because she said, " Now baby you are sleeping in your bed, Mommy is tired."

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Happy Lunar New Year

2012-01-23T18:43:00.001-05:00

Happy Lunar New Year to all my Korean friends!!

Mia's new Hanbok, her first Hanbok was 2-3 inches too short!! Which means Mia has grown!!:)

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~Presenting Avah Noelle SeeEun~

2012-01-22T15:05:00.000-05:00

WOW!! Where do I even start?

I guess at the very beginning...

Before Kenny and I traveled to Korea to get Mia Grace, we knew we wanted to adopt again and from Korea. We felt this strong urge that our child was waiting for us at AMSA. We tried to go take donations to go there, but I got the call the day we were leaving Seoul that we were able to come. In fact, we were at the airport to head home. I just felt if I could see the children there I would have known who she was. But we didn't get to go, that's okay. God had another plan! I had shared my thoughts of adopting again as soon as possible with our social worker at our agency. She had told me she was sorry but we had to wait 6 months to even start reviewing files, that was July 8th. On July 13th, I received a call from our agency and my heart almost stopped because I thought it was a sibling call. I told my Social worker, just tell me right now if this is a sibling call. She said well not quite, but almost. So I listened, as she said she had a little girl that would fit nicely into our family and if I would review her file. Well of course we will!:) So on July 21st, we verbally accepted SeeEun Moon which we will change her name to Avah Noelle SeeEun.

I couldn't be more happy with this little doll baby!! She just turned 4 years old on December 26th. She will fit perfectly between Paul and Mia. She attends preschool 4 days a week. She is quiet and shy. She has lived at AMSA since she was 19 months old. She loves to color (I have over an hour of her coloring and not once does she look up to the camera!) and play baby dolls(which we may share that infamous video soon).

We do not know when she will be coming soon, since obviously I have already been waiting 6 months and 4 days but who's counting. We will have to see, but I am hopeful she will be home this summer.

ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!?????

She is in a wonderful orphanage. Many children have been adopted from here and come home and do fabulously well. She is a little thing. Her hair is all tied up, it seems to be the AMSA do. Probably easier to take care of, it stays out of their face and isnt messy. Because she is always dressed so adorably cute!!

Now you know I couldn't leave my God story out here...Okay..where to start?? Oh yes at the beginning....so when I put on an adoption forum that I was reviewing Mia's file(I know ..out of order...just follow me), I had several people email me. My special friend, Grace, emailed me right away and told me she had been praying for Mia because they had reviewed her file when she was 10 months old but made a hard descicion not to pursue in adopting her. I didn't realize how hard it was until I asked her if she wanted to see Mia's current video, and she told me she couldn't watch it. That really affected me, more than she knows as I have never voiced it. To know that she had been prayed for and cared about by someone I had just met, just meant so much to me..more than I can describe. So Grace and I have chatted back and forth through out Mia's process and became good friends. In July she decided to adopt a little girl from AMSA as well. Sarah Mercy will be coming home hopefully in the next 6 weeks.

Which leads me to another dear friend, whose daughter is pictured below with Avah. This is Cora SeungJoo, she lives at AMSA as well. Grace and Jen will be traveling SOON to get Sarah and Cora, they will be traveling together, which I think is so incredibly awesome!!! In Avah's referral video, Cora pops in for some legos and giggles. Cora's mom, Jen and I have became great friends during this long wait for our girls. It is so nice to have someone to talk to in this horrible wait. We do know Cora and Avah attend preschool together.

These three little girls are living at AMSA in Seoul, Korea right now. Cora and Sarah are roommates with 6 other children and Avah is in another room with 7 other children and a caretaker. There are only about 50 children living here. It is a very special place.

Cora, Sarah and Avah are going have a lot of memories of living at AMSA. We plan on keeping the girls in contact with each other and raising them like cousins. We think it is so important to keep in contact with Korea, friends and anything that reminds them of their childhood. I feel so blessed to know Grace and Jen and that they have included Avah in with Cora and Sarah. I know the 3 girls will grow up continuing to be great friends. We already have out first meeting planned here in the US for the girl!! Details to come...

I am going to just put it out there as to what Avah's special need is. Avah was born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. She has other issues that are related to NF 1. When I opened Avah's medical file, I closed it quickly and looked at Kenny with fear and apprehension. I said, Oh Kenny...He said..put the DVD in...we will know. And guess what we knew...we knew right away this special little girl is ours. Her future may be unknown but guess what we do know, she has a family.

~Trip to DC~

2012-01-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

We decided to allow Camye fly to Grandma and Grandpas house in Texas with her cousin, Alycia. She lives in Virginia Beach, VA, so DC was an obvious central meeting place. We stayed in awesome little 2 bedroom apartments on Bolling Air Force Base. We each had our own apartment, between my sister in law and me, we have 9 kids. We have so much in common, we love to get together, but it is also chaotic. We always have a great time though!!!

The little sisters having a great time!!

The girls hiding in one of the walk in closets comparing candy stashes for the cruise!!

Lots of sight seeing!!!!:) We also went to the American Girl store and the Lego store...which is on the blog Iphone DC trip.

Saying goodbye, was really hard!! Camye was tearful and I was tearing up. She is such a sweet girl that we are going to miss so much!! But I know she will be home and she have AN awesome trip!!!

Bye Camye-girl!! See you in 2 weeks!!! We love you!:):)

~Happy Birthday Sweet Camye Renee~

2012-01-22T11:09:00.003-05:00

I can not believe my sweet, sweet Camye girl is 11 years old. Wow! How time flies!! She is such a blessing to me. She is lovable, funny, sweet, sensitve, funny, creative, artsy, motherly...everything a mother could ask for in a daughter.

She wanted a DQ oreo ice cream cake for her birthday ...and below is cutey Paul getting his Leap Pad camera ready to take a photo Camye. I could eat him right up!:)

So cute! Camye loved her bottle cap art set.

My mom came up for Camye's birthday party. Camye decided to have a family party with presents instead of a large friend party. Camye wanted/needed clothes and all sorts of things because she is currently in Eastern Caribbean with her Grandma, Grandpa and her cousin Alycia. And a girl cant go on a cruise without new things....

She got all sorts of dressy clothes, bathing suits, flip flops, sunglasses, cash....all sorts of cruise things..which are great presents when it is the middle of January!!

Happy Birthday Camye Renee! God blessed me beyond words when you were born. Blessed to be your mommy!!

Night Night with Omma

2012-01-21T20:04:00.001-05:00

Mia found her back pack from Omma and Appa today. She put it on, laid down with Ommas picture and said,"Come on Chloe, let's go night night with Omma."

Wow does she love her Omma and Appa!!!:):)

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~Avah Hanbok Bow~

2012-01-19T18:36:00.001-05:00

We were officially MATCHED today!! Well probably before today, but today was the RED BOX matched day!!!

SO I wanted to present from Baby Bug Wear on Facebook, the Avah Hanbok Bow!! That's right I had a bow created in Avah's name. I have a very limited amount. I am figuring out right now if I even have any left. But as of right now I have 10, they were very difficult to make and meticulous.

I am hoping to get 10 more, but I am not sure. This is a fundraiser for our daughter's fabulous orphanage in South Korea, AMSA. I am selling each ribbon sculpture for $15.00 a piece.

Avah is coming from an awesome orphanage with lots of little girls, if you are interested in purchasing a bow or just making a donation to this orphanage please donate with my paypal button. That I am trying to create.

If you do not want a bow but would like to donate, we could donate an Avah bow to a precious little girl at AMSA in your name.

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~Six months Today~

2012-01-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

Today is exactly six months, since we have told our agency yes to our precious little girl. We don’t even have our Homestudy to Korea yet, we will be sending by the end of January.

I always remember asking my mom who she loved more me or my brothers. She always answered that she loved us all the same but differently. I never knew what this meant until I had kids. Even though our little Avah isnt home, I cant tell you how my arms ache to hold this precious little girl. I am thankful for all of my children. I am enjoying Mia being home, Chloe being 15 ½, Blake being 12, Camye being 11 and Paul being a precious little 6 ½. However my heart still aches for Avah to be home.with us. I wont even plan a trip to Disney in September because I am afraid Avah will not be home by then. We can always go to Disney next year.
Anyways as you can probably imagine..every thing..every song…every comment..every little girls outfit….every TV show…every Korean thing…I mean every every thing!!!

So I am helping the kids at our church make this video to the song ~Total Eclipse of the Heart~! So you can only imagine..this is a pretty intense song. Mia has it memorized, the teens are singing it all the time. And all I can think of is Avah….so here are my thoughts.
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round.
Yes it feels like she may never come home…
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears.
So tired of my tears...I not only cry for my Avah but for my friends who are stuck in this waiting mess.
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by.
But then I realize they havent all gone by, and the best of all the years are to be when we are together as a family.
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes.
I will be honest sometimes I think other countries seem easier, another agency wont be as picky, another agency would let me move quicker…another country would be …well easier to work with…but when I look into those eyes. Be still my heart. You deserve a mother who would wait an eternity for you and that I will. If they called tomorrow and said you couldn’t come home until you were 17 years old. I would say okay. I wouldn’t like it. But you are mine and I would wait forever for you.
Turn around, bright eyes Every now and then I fall apart Turn around, bright eyes.
Every now and then I fall apart.
More often than not lately….
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of something wild.
Oh yes…wild like a Travel Call before April. That’s a little on the wild side.
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms.
Yes…I am a child laying in the arms of Jesus waiting…waiting…but as much as I want to whine and cry about how long I have been waiting like 6 months. One could seriously ask…where have you been? Because she was born over 4 years ago..and its not like I have been waiting around that long. My answer to anyone if my travel call may come before others is this…she has been waiting for 4 years. This isn’t about me...this is about a little girl, without parents, and significant special needs.
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry.
Yes I sat and cried my eyes out and even ate McDonalds fries the other night in my van. There I said it, I have no shame.
And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever And if you only hold me tight We'll be holding on forever.
I can not wait for our forever family day.
I will not let go and will hold on tight forever.And we'll only be making it right 'Cause we'll never be wrong.
Adopting a child could never be wrong, it may not be easy or inexpensive but never wrong.
Together we can take it to the end of the line. Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark. We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparksI really need you tonight Forever's gonna to start tonight Forever's gonna to start tonight.
I feel this urgency all of the time to rush to her. To get to her. I am desperately wanting her to know she has a family. I want Avah to have hope.
Once upon a time I was falling in love Now I'm only falling apart, There's nothing I can do. A total eclipse of the heart. Once upon a time there was light in my life But now there's only love in the dark Nothing I can say A total eclipse of the heart.
I have to say…the blissful months right after you accept your child’s referral….you know…she is going come home. You know when the country you are adopting from is running smoothly and then wait..oh…wait a minute…changes..changes..changes..and you want to scream. And you feel this shadow stealing your joy….and you know it can only be one thing. Satan….he doesn’t want me to bring Avah home. He knows he has a hold on her in this orphanage and the orphanage she would be moved too. However he will lose his grip…because she will have hope and a family, that will teach her how much Jesus loves her.
Turnaround, every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you Turnaround, every now and then I know there's nothing any better, there's nothing that I just wouldn't do
And WE will prevail, I will wait however long it takes…I will travel and fight for you until the day you come home. I will love you forever. I will love you for always.

~Trip to DC IPhone version~

2012-01-17T17:54:00.001-05:00

Okay I will do a better blog later but here is my iPhone version of DC. We met my sister in law and her 4 kiddos here so Camye and Alycia, my niece could fly to Texas together so they could go on a cruise with Grandma and Grandpa.

First stop American girl store.. Totally awesome!:)

The boys were not thrilled...at all.

Mia was shopping immediately.

Paul and Austin were wrestling everywhere we went!

Mia lounging with a doll!

Mia loved his stroller!! I so see bitty twins in our future!

Amelia pulling her twins!

The girls had a great time!!

Lego store!! Awesome!!

Mia carrying the bag... She had too!!!

DC Cupcake!!! Incredible!!

Eating outside!!! 6 cupcakes for $15!!

Chocolate for Mia!:)

Washington monument
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Mia's Preschool Snacktime

2012-01-14T13:31:00.001-05:00

Right now Mia is in a little preschool class on Friday mornings.... I snapped a few of her with her friends having snack time.

Her favorite part of preschool, snack time.

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~Pinterest Projects~

2012-01-14T08:32:00.001-05:00

Okay so no judging me on my mess... I have 5 going on 6 kids. I have been waiting 6 months, already for #6. So that means I have to stock forums, Facebook and my agencies website around 47 times a day. The carpal tunnel/IPod-itis is flaring up. Okay a little exaggeration..but not much.
In my free time, I love the website Pinterest! Love it!! So many great ideas to pin!! And to possibly try at home. And I have....

So the next several months, while I am waiting even longer for our little one to come home, I am choosing places in my house that cause me stress and doing something about it.

And the movie cabinet is #1 on that list! Below are two areas that drive me over the edge. I am so tired of this being a mess.. It looks like this about 2-3 times per week. So it had to go!!

DVDs stacked everywhere.. When mom yells put them away or clean up that mess. It's a cram and shove anything anywhere!!

So yes I threw every single DVD box and most (which weren't many) any VHS tapes in the trash!!! They are gone!!!! Don't say how wasteful.. Or take to goodwill.. Or you may want those VHS tapes someday.... Which were all things my friends and mom told me.
Sorry ladies.. VHS is OUT!!... DVDs fit into sleeves nicely if I need to loan them out.. Blueray is next.... And the little digital disks of movies are already out! I have zero... Attachment to stuff! I hate cluttery stuff and this makes me feel great!!

I put all educational CDs in one case, seasons of Cosby and little house in another case. The small pink box holds the rest of the CDs and organize according to subject.
I did save some VHS.. All home movies of course... On 9/11 when we taped for 4 days straight of fox news... Dance recital... My friends high school copy of Pretty Woman.. Pretty much the important stuff.

Isn't it beautiful!!!!! And clean and neat and stress free!

Now Chloe has gotten into pinning as well.. This is not a recipe I have allowed on my pin boards. I will admit I am a little bit of a food snob.
This is a technique... I have never heard of... I am going to explain it. Now before you start assuming, like my friend last night when I explained said to me, " Are you drinking?" no I am not...:)

Okay Chloe and her dad cut up
Sausage links into 2-3 inch pieces and pushed through uncooked pasta noodles, then Boiled them and covered in creme sauce to serve. Very odd...
However everyone thought they tasted great including the food snob!!

If you would like an invite to pinterest... Leave me your email!:) you know you want to pin this fabulous sausage/noodle recipe!

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Did Apple Juice Cause This?

2012-01-12T10:12:00.006-05:00

I am going to write to simply help others who might be experiencing the same behaviors with their children.
Many who read this will think I am absolutely nuts. That’s okay this is my experience and my child.
Paul's behavior has been crazy, unpredictable, annoying, unemotional, untouched for several years. It has gotten worse as he has gotten older. Actually, maybe not worse but different.

So of course, I could have easily took him and got a diagnosis and medication. But I felt there was more to this story than I was seeing.

Being the google obsessed mother that I am, I found the Feingold diet. We did it and I found that something was causing some difference in behavior. But I couldn’t pinpoint it.

So a few months later...behavior is still at its worse and someone tells me you crave what you are allergic too. Hmm...interesting. But my thoughts first go right to Paul and think the only 'food', he loved was apple juice.
Now I should have stopped and realized how much he really loved apple juice. Like the time I went to the store, Chloe was babysitting and he drank a half gallon of apple juice. Or the time I caught him up at 3am drinking a tall glass of apple juice. Or that apple juice was the very first thing he asked for every.single.morning.

So in November I started thinking...could it be apple juice? So I googled 'apple juice hyperactivity'. CAN WE SAY WHAT??? THIS MAKES ME ANGRY!!!! I have told my doctor over and over, I was worried about the amount of apple juice he wanted to consume. My doctor always said, "As long as it's 100% juice and he is cleaning his teeth, its fine." Okay....not so much. Hundreds of website talk about the concentration of ascorbic acid in apple juice and how it cause ADHD, ADD, Hyperactivity...among other things. This is crazy! Why isn’t this out there?????

In the beginning of November, I took Paul off of apple juice...cold turkey. The first morning, he said please can I have apple juice? I said no but you may have an apple. That morning Paul ate 4 apples, again I don’t usually let him eat 4 apples or even 4 glasses of juice a day, but I was seeing his reaction. And yes he was CRAVING, that apple juice feeling. The apples wouldn’t affect him this way because the ascorbic acid isn’t as concentrated in an apple as it is in apple juice. He drank some 100% cranberry juice that day.

Fast forward 5-6 weeks later, I start noticing this sweet, calmer, emotional, LOVING, tenderhearted little boy, which I have been missing out on. He is so sweet! I am sad I didn’t catch this sooner.
I went to our homeschool co-op and started sharing what I tested at home and found out. I always start this conversation with, don’t think I am crazy but here is what I think was wrong with Paul. Three other moms were in the preschool room with me that morning, two of the moms said, “Did you see the Dr. Oz about the arsenic levels in apple juice. WHAT?????? This is crazy!!

Again, confirming my mommy instincts to not medicate and find what is the problem. And boy I am thankful...

I am happy to say my precious little 6 years old is BACK!!! And we are enjoying him.:)

www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/01/arsenic-in...juice/index.htm
www.doctoroz.com/videos/arsenic-apple-juice

I would like to say that this is what works for my child. Obviously, some children do need medication. I have just always felt it wasn't our answer.

My To Do list

2012-01-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

Okay I have never had the issue of getting my kids to eat. My kids are always starving until Mia.. And well she never tells me she is hungry. I fix her meals and she plays. She likes noodles and pizza. But this girl can't live on pizza and noodles alone.

So this morning she is drinking a Dannon Danimals and eating a half of a Bacon Lettuce Tomatoe sandwhich.

And she ate most of it..

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How Could She Know?

2012-01-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

As you lay sleeping far away as still as you could be...
How could you know the joy today your photo brings to me?
A few short months and you'll be mine, and "I" will soon be "We".
How could you know the love I feel?
It's something you can't see.
So have sweet dreams, my precious girl.
Sleep well and tenderly.
Some say that you're the lucky one.
How could you know it's me?

Originally written by Kris Haughtry but rewritten to fit our family.

Mia and Daddy

2012-01-10T13:50:00.001-05:00

YouTube Video

~How To Eat Fries.. Lovingly~

2012-01-10T08:32:00.001-05:00

I walked in my kitchen the other day, and heard Mia saying, "Again Opa..again."

Mia said ," Watch Mama." and yes they ate a fry until they met in the middle!!! So cute!!! She sure does love Blake.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mia and her Puppy

2012-01-06T17:14:00.001-05:00

Mia loves to push her puppy around in her shopping cart!! It's so cute!! Not sure how the puppy feels about that.. But she cooperates for a little while!

Kisses for Penny...

Fixing Penny's blankie...

Mia and her tutu.. That she insisted upon wearing to co-op today!:)

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Two Countries One Heart...

2012-01-04T08:24:00.005-05:00

I loved seeing this in our church bulletin! I have received some discouragement from others about adoption. However the encouragement I have received from my real friends far outweigh that. it doesn't matter what other says. It matters that our children come home.

It matters if they have hope knowing they are home and can thrive or hope that their family is coming.

I received this bumper sticker on the morning of Mia's finalization day. An old friend who married a Korean man, thought of me ad sent this.

This is so true. My heart is in Korea and America. My heart is in orphanage sleeping right now. She will wake up In a few hours and eat breakfast. She will bundle up to go outside with her friends and hop onto her bus and head to preschool. I imagine she sits with this beautiful little girl named Coralie. Coralie is a special little girl whose parents are coming to get her in a few weeks. I imagine my little 'heart' sitting by her friend and looking at with large eyes, listening intently of all the new adventures she is about go on. I know Cora is thrilled to be moving to America and have two big brothers. I am sure Cora is glowing!!! I am sure she talks about getting on a plane with her Omma and Appa. She is excited and nervous yet keeps talking to remind herself of the wonderful moments up ahead. I am sure my 'little heart' is thinking, Wow Cora sure is lucky! She has been receiving gifts, candy and pictures from a real family. A family that wants her, the only family ,my little heart has known like that wasn't able to keep her as they were only her foster family. I'm sure sweet Cora says to her your family will probably come soon. I pray she believes her.

My prayer is Please God wrap your arms around my little heart in Seoul, Korea and whisper into her ear, "Mama is coming.. She is trying everything she can to get their as fast as she can." Please Lord give her hope of her family coming.
It is a proven fact that orphans who know they have a family, even if it takes awhile, start improving in so many ways! I believe it and if you have met Mia Grace and seen her file. You would believe that too.

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Giving up naps??

2012-01-01T18:51:00.001-05:00

Well I have been trying to get Mia to give up her naps and head to bed around 7-8pm. But she can't make it past 5 or 6.

She fell asleep on her crayons with her purse and coloring book! So cute!!

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Mia's Reaction

2011-12-30T20:14:00.001-05:00

We had gotten a new laptop after our trip to Korea to get Mia. Last night I pulled the pictures up from Gotcha Day and loves seeing her reaction!:)

YouTube Video

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~Clean up~

2011-12-26T17:43:00.001-05:00

Isn't she cute?

YouTube Video

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~Happy Birthday My Precious Little Girl~

2011-12-25T23:09:00.003-05:00

Words can't describe the longing in my heart, to have you home on your special day, your very special and ONLY 4th birthday. I promise you I have great plans for your 5th birthday.

I hung an ornament yesterday in your honor. I know you aren't here with us in person, but you have no idea how deep you are in my heart. I said yes to you on July 18th. I wasn't kidding. I wish they would see the seriousness in my longing to hold you in my arms.

I don't have the words to tell you how sorry I am I have not come sooner, or why am I coming when it's almost too late? All I know is Jesus doesn't push us, he wants us to choose and I took a long time. I knew he was pushing me and I was wrong. He was pushing me so hard to come for you and Mia. I wasn't listening. I was actually running the wrong way, in fact, I am sure Satan was pulling the other way. But then one day the Good Lord gave me the extra SHOVE I needed. I thank him every single day. I pray I will never ignore a nudge, push or shove again.

Here is my prayer for you today: "Dear Jesus, I ask that your arms would be wrapped tightly around the one you picked for me and please guard her in Korea untill I make my way, and then in my arms forever she’ll stay.”

I will forever be asking my girls to forgive me that I didn't come for their perfectness any sooner. I am so thankful for the love and care that they are recieving in South Korea. Thank you Lord.

Christmas DAY!!!

2011-12-25T22:01:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas!! What a wonderful wonderful day....

Started off a little rough....with Mia being so sick with pnemonia and it going all for about a week. I have been so behind. I didnt do all the usual baking I do. I finished all the shopping. But I usually am done a few weeks ahead of Christmas and this I was so off. So being the ridiculously planned out person that I usually am. I took one of my Christmas present Mom's Plan It calander and scheduled all my baking, shopping and wrapping for next year and put it on the schedule. What I am fixing and when and what I am taking to which Christmas celebration.

This is not the time of year to be rushing around. So because Kenny and I were up until...me-2:45..thank you Mia for crying out for me. And poor Daddy was up finishing until 4am. But at 5:30am, the older 4 kids all start jumping on the girls room which we can hear from our room. Then they started singing Christmas songs on the top of their lungs, of course I wake with a start. I take off up the stairs to realize they just wanted to wake me up but know they would be in big trouble if they came down those stairs and we missed their precious little faces. I was not happy...I know it was Christmas morning. I told them they had to wait until 6:30am, to wake up. So all was quiet until 6:28am...ack...woke again with a start. Arghghh....we got up.

Even Miss Mia..who is NOT a morning person.. AT.ALL.
Stockings first, they are their favorites. I have to say I cram all sorts of goodies in those stockings. I love stocking stuffers.

I almost made a blog post just on Paul's facial expressions through out the day. I loved it! It made my day. He was ecstatic to get Build a Bear shoes.

Camye got her gorgeous little pink phone, so she can take it on her cruise in January. She is so beautiful!!

Now the ring leader...my 15 year old...the one who woke everyone up at 5am. AFTER she opened her TOM's shoes, she layed on the floor and wanted to take a nap.IN.THE.MIDDLE of opening presents! No way...sister...you woke me up...you are enjoying every second of it!! If giving her the Tom's on Christmas Eve would have bought a few more hours, trust me she could have slept in them!!

Oh yes..the Star Wars Lego Man book...he has been DIEING for!!!

A few games for all.

Mia and her twin babies. Such a great mother.

Oh my...and the big finale!! THE AIRSOFT GUNS!!

Chloe and Blake play airsoft games with some great friends of theirs...I bought them some cheap ones last year thinking it wasnt that serious of a hobby. Well...this year, Daddy broke out the BIG GUNS. LITERALLY.

Oh yes....the BIG.GUNS. Now if they will just replace the little plastic wheelbarrow they used as a target in the front yard, since it is full of holes.;)

What a mess! After a bout with wrapping, we needed to get ready for church services. Daddy had to leave early to get the sound booth set up. We got fabulous new carpet, new trim, and new pew/chairs. The church looked gorgeous this morning!! Someone had donated beautiful flowers and everyone got to take some home. What a blessing...of course I will kill it since my thumbs are black. But I did get a great idea that maybe I could keep this fabulous plant alive until I got a stem caught in my sleeve of my coat and ripped it out. Oh well..it was a nice Christmas dream..for a second.

Best part of the day, my husband was able to sit with me for a few minutes in church today. It may seem like such a little thing. But he is the head tech guy at our church....the other guy left in August:(:( and we miss him dearly. We went to 2 services in September and Kenny has been running both services. So we dont ride to church together, sit together or really even see each other. It makes me sad and he knows it. He does have someone taking over the first service, which I am so grateful. But this morning half way thru our Christmas sermon, here he comes down the aisle to sit with me, Paul and Mia!! Praise to the Lord! Merry Christmas!!

Our Christmas Eve...

2011-12-25T19:33:00.014-05:00

Christmas was wonderful this year.
We are so thankful to have our little Mia home, and feeling better.
First we started with sugar cookies.

Mia and Mommy.

Mia going to town with her cookie cutters.

We just let her have her own cookie dough.

Which was good news, for Santa, since she chose to lay in the cookie dough.

Daddy posing for a picture.

Loving on Camye's perfect little cookies.

Chloe decorating her cookies.

Isnt she beautiful?

Arent they splendid?

We started the day at my Mamaws in West Virginia.

Sorry these pictures are out of order.
This blog could be called the many faces of Pauly.

So pretty.

She knows she is about to open her Tom's from her Mamaw and Papaw.

Sweet. Sweet. Camye.

LOVE THIS PICTURE.

Paul loving his Mamaw.

Oh and the grand gift of all.

Her precious table and chairs.

Her reaction and Paul's reactions to Christmas this year were priceless.

She loved her table and chairs!!

Oh yes..I believe this was about the time she looked at me and said.

I am so happy, mommy.

Yes.she.did.

Oh my the preciousness that oozes out of this girl.

Merry Christmas Eve.

Hold on for Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas (sneak peak)

2011-12-25T14:46:00.001-05:00

More to come!!!

Just a iphone sneak peak to our morning!!! More to come when I download our camera pictures!

Mia running through our mess... In a blur!!!

6 kid charms and room for more!;)

Mia and her beloved leapfrog birthday cake that she loves!!!

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Mia is feeling better!!!:):):)

2011-12-23T20:25:00.001-05:00

Mia has a had a cold since Thanksgiving. The last week it slowly had gotten worse at night with wheezing and coughing and spitting. I decided last night when I heard a wheeze at 6:30, we were going to the doctor. She had an X-ray and was confirmed to have pneumonia. Okay I have never really even had a sick kid...I have been so blessed. The word pneumonia scares me especially when she barely tipped the scale at 24 pounds with Nike shoes, sock, pull up,velour outfit and large hair bow. We can't afford to get sick...really sick.

So this morning, I called my fabulous IAP who loves my hormonal psycho adoption mom behavior..well that's what I tell myself anyway. She said come in after Mia had an odd night of leg pain???

So we did and it was decided she needed a breathing treatment...all Mia could say was like Ryan. She helped her friend at the ER get his treatment.

At first she was tired, didn't feel good, crying, fussing....

Mommy felt so bad...

But we still posed for a photo or two...to show daddy.

But then it was done and she sat up and the world seemed a whole lot better...

And we loved life again...

And we loved making silly faces and noises ....

And then laugh hysterically....

And shake our hands at our stinky brother, Paul.

And then it was even funnier.....

I will have two of what she had!!!!!!!!!

Yay Mia is feeling much better!!! Praise God!!!

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Parties and fun

2011-12-22T23:01:00.002-05:00

Paul was invited to his first birthday party at Build A Bear Workshop. He had so much, I wish I would have taken him sooner!!

Paul and best bud Levi holding their police pets!!

Aww....just what I love snuggling with my babies!!!!

Just adding this photo for Mia's foster parents... I love they check daily!!! Reminds me of how loved she was and still is!!!

Below is Mia holding the first doll I have bought for Avah. Mia keeps pulling this out of Avahs first gift ziploc bag saying oh Mia's baby not Koreas( which is what she sometimes calls Avah). And then she carries around and loves on it. Daddy says that it is to cute and we need to buy Mia one. Mommy thinks Mia may need to learn to share before big sister gets here!!

Oh yes that is laundry in the background...don't tell me you don't have laundry setting around either!!

Oh yes and princess Mia is this cute!! If you read this in the next few days, please pray for little miss Mia. She has pneumonia and is recovering.

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~Mia Grace Heimee FINALLY~

2011-12-21T21:20:00.003-05:00

Oh yes I did...I pushed and pushed for a December court date and I got it! I dont like having to behave like my paper pregnant hormonal self...but I am who I am.

Oh and yes I did dress us all in stripes...note to self..stop buying stripes.;)

Our first family photo, after Mia became an 'offical' family member!!

Judge Emery was so friendly and kind. She asked each of the kids to come up and bang her gavel. You know who was up first....he was all over that!

Next up Camye Renee....looking cute as ever!!

Oh yes and 12 years old is not to old...but 15 years old was...Kennith Blake had to give it a bang.

Little, sweet Mia Grace Heimee....all nervous and fingers in mouth...she even gave it a bang.

Some friends of ours were there to take some family photos afterwards...our courthouse is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Then out for ice cream.....:) Kimchi!!

And almost the entire family...we just need our little Avah home!!

What a journey this has been...such a great and blessed journey we are on our way back for another little 'Seoul Sister'. This morning we given wonderful news that our homestudy was approved and we should have our notarized copies by Christmas. I highly recommend our homestudy agency in Greensburg, PA, Lutheran Service Society. They are wonderful!!

Mia Singing:)

2011-12-21T16:32:00.001-05:00

YouTube Video

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Mia Wiggling Her Eyes

2011-12-21T16:19:00.001-05:00

YouTube Video

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Bath Time....

2011-12-19T19:15:00.003-05:00

Sorry I have been such a slacker on my blogging latley. Mia has been a sick little thing....from the stomach bug to a cold not on to a congested cough. She is doing some better!

She does love her bubble baths. A girl after my own heart!! She is doing wonderful and cant wait for Christmas. She loves Santa and Kissmas music.

All soaped up and ready for her swim..well she can swim in my tub..the rest of us not so much!:)

Christmas Fun with 4H friends

2011-12-15T22:26:00.002-05:00

Today was our Christmas 4H party and service project.

Also this was Chloe's last meeting as president of our 4H club!! Yes that is Mia on her lap.. That little girl is everywhere!!

Camye,Holly, Paige and Laura

Blake, Nathan and Gavin

Paul and Nathan.. And yes Nathan made that mo-hawk all by himself ...he informed me of this as soon as I saw him! As if I could think anything else!

Mia and her BFF Ellianna....coloring away!

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Precious

2011-12-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

At the mall the other day, we were eating lunch at the mall. Mia was sitting so quietly. I didn't realize she was painting her fingernails with a French fry and ketchup!!!

Cutest thing ever!!!

Looks pretty good to me!!!!

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~Christmas pictures or NOT~

2011-12-08T10:13:00.003-05:00

My guess is NOT....Mia has been a very sick little girl with stomach flu which shot my plans for Christmas pictures on Monday...or Tuesday...or Wednesday...but this morning I thought I would give it a shot in front of our Christmas tree.

WARNING: I am NOT a great photograhper. I am NOT a great writer. I am not a great housekeeper. We live....LIVE and homeschool in our house 24/7.. My children are loved. And have a path to walk through...just kidding. And my kids ....each one of the 5...have to have a blanket near them..like 5 feet it seems at all times....then drag it behind them at all times...;)

Okay...so here we go.....First up Paul...said I had to take his choice of picture first...so here are his choices.

And his favorite..trash pacs...why dont I think of these toys??? I would be so rich!

And Mia with her beloved coloring books...

She has to do everything her big brother does.;)

And we couldnt make it through the picture without Mia giving her brother a massage...a random massage????

Oh yes and the beloved pink bag..that made about every shot. I hope Kenny is ready to work on some editing when he gets home!!

Oh yes and FIT....this was Mia throwing a fit..I love Chloe's face here. Oh yes and she is at it again.

Oh the beloved pink bag...

~Home 6 Months~

2011-12-03T22:36:00.001-05:00

Wow!! Yesterday marks 6 months since Gotcha Day with Mia Grace. And what a difference 6 months can make!!

I can't even believe how much she has changed. We received a scared, insecure, shy and frightened little girl. Today we have a confident, outgoing, very secure and well adjusted little girl.

She has been through a lot since coming home. Lots of doctor appointments..ophthalmologists, dental, medial, genetics. She has had extensive dental surgery.

Sleeping arrangements have improved...most of you know she slept with her foster parents. I really believe she possibly slept on top of her foster mother.;) when she came home she slept on my chest...arms clamped around my neck..and only in a room without anyone else in it. We moved to the guest room then. We are now in our room with Daddy..she falls asleep in her bed...still holding my hand...but in her bed. Sometimes she still wakes up and climbs in bed with me and Daddy but it really has helped her and daddy bond.

She has grown an inch and a half taller.

She hasn't gained any weight yet.

She wears an 18 or 24 months.

She loves her siblings.

She is potty trained.

She can talk like no other 3 year old I know. Her English is phenomenal. She has been speaking in full sentences for several months. She knows her ABC's. She can count to 13.

She still speaks some Korean. She counts in Korean. Still says thank you in Korean. Oh and when she gets mad we have no idea what she is saying in Korean, I choose to leave that way.:)

She loves to color and she colors in the lines.

She does NOT like TV.... At all.

She loves to be rocked.

She misses her Omma and Appa something terrible.

Her favorite book is Pinkaliscious.

She tells me every day that is a princess.

She loves her friends, my friends, her grandparents, her sisters, her daddy, her brothers, the preacher, her friends parents, Mia is a people person!!!!

She asks to watch Korea on our laptop...which is a video of her sister, Avah and Avah's friend Coralie who live in an orphanage in Korea. Guess whose picture will be shown soon after Christmas. That's right our little Avah!

And guess what else...we finalize in 2011!!! December 21,2011... Praise the Lord for a 2011 court date!!!!

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~Guess What Came In the Mail for Mia Grace~

2011-12-01T13:51:00.007-05:00

Two days ago we got an email from our agency CHSFS that Mia's foster mom had sent a gift for her. We were so excited and Mia was ECSTATIC!!!!

So when the mail came today...and there was a box for her. She started running around the house screaming Omma...Appa...present..!!!!

She dove right in....

Aw....a letter my favorite part. Our agency had translated it but we have the original. I was so excited for a letter!!! Be still my heart....I just feel such a connection with her foster mom. I know the same love she felt for Mia. It just kills me to think of her loss.

Her beloved Pororo cell phone!!! The one we bought her in Korea had broke...she was soooo happy!!!

Oh yes and Perdy socks....!!!!!! Her favorite Pororo character!!!

And Mia's favorite part....the pictures of her beloved Omma and Appa....She was immediatly pointing out to us who was who...not that we didnt already know. I have to say that we were afraid Mia may forget her foster parents and not recognize them. NOT A CHANCE....I am amazed how many times a DAY...she will rattle something off about Omma and Appa in Korea. She is so smart!!

Oh how happy she was.....:):)

I LOVE YOU OMMA AND APPA!!!

Thank you!!!!

Not sure how this translates but here goes:

당신의 사려 깊음에 대해 너무 감사합니다. 단어는 내가 미아 그레이스 에 대한 당신의 사랑을 위해 내가 얼마나 감사 설명할 수 없습니다. 그것은 그녀가 그래서 한국에서 사랑받는 것을 알고 훌륭합니다. 네가 쓴 편지는 정말 의미가 항상 소중히 것입니다. 당신이 우리가 배려되고 말 감사하지만 전 언제나 우리의 딸을 위해 당신의 사랑을 위해 충분한 감사하는 길밖이 없다 생각합니다. 우리는 지금 당신을 위해 무언가를 준비하고 있으며 곧 그것을 보내드립니다. 그것은 앞뒤로 선물을 얻으려면 약 6 주가 소요 보인다. 정말 감사!

~The Patch~

2011-11-28T17:19:00.002-05:00

Mia had her 4 month check up today at the eye doctor. She cooperated very well. The doctor says her eyesight has improved, the openings of her eyes measured larger and the laziness seemed to be improving. However, there is still as large difference between the eyes, like a 4 line difference on an eye chart. So she will be patched for 2 months for 2 hours a day.

Her first day of being patched went extremely well, she loves it!! She keeps showing everyone and saying, "Look Mia is patched." So.Cute.

~Thanksgiving with my Family~

2011-11-27T21:00:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving was small this year, only 14 people. That's small when you are used to well over 30 people crammed into my Mamaw's house. This also meant less Aunt's to do the dishes....so no more kid table and yes I did all the dishes. But that's okay.

For some reason my pictures uploaded backwards, so we will start with Mia emptying the Oreo Truffle plate. She loves her sweets!!!

Giving Uncle Rob a kiss on the nose. Uncle Rob is my brother, he is single and doesn't have any kiddos of his own. But let me tell you how much he loves my kids, WOWSERS...I mean he takes this uncle business serious!! He can not wait for little Miss Avah to come home too!!!

Chloe, Mia and my Papaw Buck, he joined us at my other Mamaw's. My Mamaw Buck wasnt well enough to join us.:(

Here is the spread...and Camye, my hubby, my mom, my Mamaw and the side of my Papaw.

Notice Chloe and Blake's expression on their faces.....like oh yes Uncle Rob does this all the time....

Mia thinking....lets get this show on the road!!!!

~New Glasses for Mia~

2011-11-27T17:49:00.001-05:00

Do you have any idea how many pictures it took to get her to hold still long enough and smile for a picture? 15 to be exact!!

Well we lost her first pair of glasses, so we ordered another pair and a new style! She is doing wonderful and I'm sorry I have been such a blog slacker. I told her to smile, we needed to blog for Omma and Appa. She looked at me real serious and say I want Omma and Appa. So sweet....soon Mia Grace soon.

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Guess who still likes her sling...

2011-11-18T21:48:00.001-05:00

...and guess who still likes to carry her around in it.

We have had a super busy and stressful week. I need to remember that Mia has only been home 5 1/2 months, and when she is throwing fits and pulling her hair mad...she is feeling our stress. She has brought me the sling several times this week..that usually only happens when we have super busy days. It's like she is telling me to slow down..I am still new here. But tonight we were playing and having nice relaxing family time..and she told Paul put on the sling. She yelled, " Camera." and gave me a thumbs up!! So.Cute.:)

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My Pinkalicious Princess

2011-11-16T22:14:00.001-05:00

So I had a pretty rough week dealing with finalizing paperwork for Mias adoption, lost glasses, ordering new glasses, glass in my foot, cut my toe and it seemed my list could go on and on.

I went to Walmart today to order Mia's new glasses and she found these two Pinkalicious dolls, that Mia just loved. So of course I had to get them for her. I know Christmas is coming but she was so adorable snuggling these babies.

Below she asked me to hurry and take her ' Pinkalicious' babies pictures because they were crying. And yes this little chatter box...calls them her Pinkalicious babies. They talk to each other and call each other Pinkalicious.

And now with her babies..almost asleep. I couldn't resist the picture..it did wake her back up. But it is to adorable to pass up!!

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~Silly Girl~

2011-11-13T21:52:00.002-05:00

I had Mia dressed all cute in her new birthday outfit from Grandma and Grandpa. I took over 20 pictures and they were gone when I downloaded them onto my camera. Kenny had just came in and Mia said,"Daddy take Mia's picture, he took 4 and they turned out perfect. Dont know what I was doing ??:)

Anyway her dress is soooo cute on her and fits her well. It was a 24 months. The sleeves were a little long but will definetly last through the winter! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Daddy giving Mia a little hug...hmmm is that some gray hair I see....;) I think it's cute!

Chosen..

2011-11-08T19:38:00.000-05:00

Aunt Kimberly, Uncle Tom, and cousins Alycia, Elizabeth, Austin and Amelia got Mia a cute tshirt that says CHOSEN for her birthday. Mia turned to the back to show me that it says, Deutronomy 14:2-2 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. This adorable tshirt came from www.wildolives.com. Great adoption website! And the shirt is so correct, she was chosen for our family by God.

Why are there over 147 or 250 million or however many orphans waiting? Why can't Christians just take home 1... It is such a blessing. Not just the child blessing you get but oh how you see God. I know maybe some people arent meant to have children, but why not support a child..support an adoption fundraiser...encourage a friend to adopt....advocate for waiting children. There are so many different ways to get involved.

When practicing pure and undefiled religion...I feel the prescence of the Lord in a way I have never felt before..he rocks me to my core.

Someone asked me the other day to tell them about this leap of faith I Took with Mia. I replied, " give me a minute." I didn't know what to say...my leap of faith is nothing compared to others.

Two hours later I answered her...(changed slightly to protect the innocent)

Okay it's been 2 hours. This question makes me cry. I am just going to bare my soul right here to you. When I saw Mia's face....I knew... I knew..she was beautiful. My SW kept saying you don't want a child like this. I kept saying yes I do! When I am given a file to review....I am looking at another human being..one that deserves to be loved and have a family. A child that would sit at the foot of Jesus and be loved by Jesus. A child who may not be perfect in others eyes but perfect in mine. When My SW asked me if I would review 'our next little ones' file...I jumped at the chance. I got the file. And wowsers!! Some scary stuff.... But all I could hear in my head as I looked at her smiling face was...is that a reason not to adopt me? She can't help these problems. God made her just like she was and then her birth mother had to say no. So she has sat and waited and waited...how many
people have said no? She sits and waits...and it kills me, I can't say no. I didnt want to say no!!!! God pushed me to say yes. Will we have trials? Yes. But at the end of the day when she curls up in my arms..tired of doctors poking at her. She will snuggle in her mamas arms and know its forever.

How can my Jesus love and adopt me as his child? I am a special needs daughter..I Assure you...Jesus knows that. He will never turn his back on me. OR any orphan..he loves them all!

How many orphans are sitting and waiting?? There bright eyes looking at you saying ...pick me..pick me!! Why?? We are on this earth for such a short time and as Christians we have one goal..ONE..to reach the lost. Why not start with the children? God knew. Jesus knew. We should know.

My friend that asked me this question about my leap of faith when choosing a waiting child, is deciding on a waiting child. A beautiful one....and guess what....she has the same name as my little girl.

Yes... That was a God wink...

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~Happy Birthday Sweet Mia Grace~

2011-11-05T20:02:00.008-04:00

Today was a very special day. Mia Grace Heimee has turned 3 years old. My first thoughts this morning went to her birthmom who I know was thinking of her and wondering how she was doing. I only hope she goes in and checks her file and see how wonderful she is doing now in her forever family. Then my thought went to her foster mom, who gave her so much love in her first 31 months of life. It has made Mia the loving little girl she is today.

My mom came up for the occasion. Mia loves my mom. Mia's favorite book is Pinkaliscious. She absolutley loves that book. Everytime we read that book to her she always says Mia's Happy Day. So what does every little girl want....a Pinkaliscious birthday party!With Pink cupcakes...

Then onto the birthday party...:)

She waited until we sang the Happy Birthday song and she immediatly blew out her candles. She knew what she was doing. Then we all sang Happy Birthday in Korean, which just makes her eyes light right up when she hears Korean spoken.

Lesson learned...dont let your 3 year old princess open her high heels first! She then had to walk around the house for about 10 minutes showing off her fabulous heels. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Mia is so funny...she opened up an outfit from my mom and dad and said, "Ohhhh...snuggly" and rubbed it up to her face.

She loved her little Asian doll. She is so snuggly with her baby dolls.

Butterfly wings!!! From Grandma and Grandpa!!

Kenny and I decided to get her some bilingual books and computer. She was so surprised to open up new Hangul books and Pororo books.

This is the computer we almost purchased in Korea for her but decided to wait. I ordered this and the books from http://www.littleseouls.com/. Very cute website!

Nice looking family.

Odd ..very odd.;)

Mia's 3 year old Check-up

2011-11-04T21:32:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we went to Mia's 3 year well check up. We went in a few days early because we needed to get a copy to our lawyer for finalization (yes...its almost time)!!!

She is doing great and had reached every milestone for a 3 typical year old. She has grown almost 2 inches taller since coming home. She hasnt gained any weight however. She is still as tiny as ever.

Thought this was a cute picture. Her oldest sister, Chloe, is practicing her photography skills on Mia....just wish the hat wasnt so low.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Mia's Pinkaliscious Birthday Party Pictures!!!

Home With Mia for 5 Months!!

2011-11-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

Seems like she has been home forever! 5 months ago today we were given this precious, spunky and beautiful little girl! Little did we know the blessing we had just received!

Mia had her 3 year old check up today. She is doing extremely well. Of course a little on the small size, but doing well. She meets every developmental task.

Mia is so much fun! And all girl!! My mom brought her these pink snow boots. She keeps running around the house with them on saying "Mia so cute"! She loves them so much...she fell asleep in them. Don't worry I took them off after she was good in asleep.

I have more pictures on my camera...this was just a quick blog to update on her 5 months home.

I feel so blessed we have been approved to bring home another little Korean blessing. Praise God!

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~Trick or Treat~

2011-11-01T10:15:00.009-04:00

Happy Halloween!! Last night we went Trick or Treating over at our great friends house. We have trick or treated with these friends for 3 years now. They have 5 kids...we have 5...almost 6 kids....we play well together!:)

Mia, our butterfly, she wanted to be Snow White or any princess actually...but in the rain and the tempature being 40, I was feeling leggings, tights, and turtlenecks.

Blake my glow in the dark stick man...this costume is hard to appreciate in the light. But it was really cute....errr....handsome/manly.

Chloe, my superwoman....oh my...can she wear a costume! She looked gorgeous.

My little bumble bee....its hard to be 10 and pick the perfect costume that you are comfortable in. She was so nervous about finding a costume. She told me she just wanted to be comfortable and look normal. So we bought the tail and antennas and she chose the panda shirt. She looked adorable!

Paul....I mean Mario getting his mustache groomed by daddy!

Mario striking the ...ever famous Mario pose.

AREN'T THEY ADORABLE????

DON'T THEY ACT JUST LIKE ME!!!

Mario..a little high on his highly allergic Red dye...but Mario with his BFF Luigi.

The crew....before.

The crew after...I didnt take my camera outside because of the rain.

Mia and her pal Luigi....her face is already stained.

The haul.

And then the games begin....they come home and dump all the candy together. They sort it all into organized categories...then take turns choosing what they want. They have done since they were little. I love my little trick or treaters!

Could She Be Any More Beautiful?

2011-11-01T09:58:00.004-04:00

I am not biased or anything. But my sweet little Camye is simply beautitful.

Camye's dance teacher was recently married. She invited all the girls from her classes to come to or wedding and perform a special dance. More pictures to come on that... I thought it was such a wonderful and sweet oppurtunity.

Be.Still.My.Heart. She is so precious. Her beautiful blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair makes her momma so proud!:) But mostly I am proud because of her heart for Jesus.

Bringing Home Mercy: Adoption Awareness Month: Buy a t-shirt or tote!

2011-10-31T22:28:00.000-04:00

Bringing Home Mercy: Adoption Awareness Month: Buy a t-shirt or tote!: November is Adoption Awareness Month...a time where I can unapologetically talk about adoption and orphans over and over to raise awareness....

October Snow...

2011-10-29T11:05:00.005-04:00

The weather man missed again...Imagine that! We werent supposed to get anything but rain but we woke up to 2 inches of very heavy and wet snow. And its only October!

I didnt post the pictures but it was so heavy it had our little weeping willow trees on the ground...hope we dont lose them. They just started growing...

Guess who loved the snow and wouldnt keep her hood on!!!

Blake loves to throw snowballs at me and I.despise.snowballs.

He is so adorable! He just made a very wet snowangel.

Camye and her mini snowman!

And my kids couldnt play in the snow with out finishing it up with snow ice cream, of course!

My Hubby is WONDERFUL!!!

2011-10-29T10:54:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my wonderful husband surprised me at our homeschool co-op with flowers...why you may ask?? Just because....

Oreo Moon Phases~Homeschool Astronomy

2011-10-24T10:13:00.004-04:00

I am teaching Paul's 1st grade Astronomy class this year at co-op. We are having so much fun!! I love this age! They think I am so smart. We have fun doing all sorts of experiments each week.

This past week we made created the 8 moon phases out of Oreo cookies..just a note...double stuff works better. The kids loved and really understood the phases.

Of course Mia had to join in for a snack.

Paul had so much fun saving all the creme off his phases..he made a massive oreo to eat!! Glad I Have the 1st period!!!!

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Hayride and Bonfire!!

2011-10-22T21:48:00.000-04:00

Today was our annual church Bonfire/Hayride. This year it was at a new location...I wasnt sure I was able to return to the last location so soon, as I was tramatized last year over Blakes injury. THis place was BEAUtIFUL!!!!!!!! Above is Mia and her friend Sydney playing with the bread to feed the ducks....or just playing with it.

Our hayride!!!! 2 wagons fulls!!!

It was a bit of a rough ride...so Mia held on tightly to her big sister Chloe.

Bringing up the rear....

Mia being cute...imagine that.

Camye feeding a calf...I love cows ...they are my favorite animal! I love their eyes!!

Mia and her cow! She loved feeding them!

Me and the love of my life!!:):)

School Time...

2011-10-19T13:33:00.001-04:00

We run a very relaxed school, here at the Rogers Household...with 5 soon to be 6 kids. We have to be relaxed. We have interruptions...phone calls...construction workers knocking on the door....daddy coming home for a break..soccer....music...dance classes...the interruptions to our day are endless. But if I wanted it any other way, they would be in school. Then my house wouldn't look so lived in.

Blake in his jammies...Mia is dressed..school spread out on the living room floor. Mia doing her own school right beside him.:

Chloe and Camye acting out Pride and Predjudice..they wouldn't let me post the video...but let me assure you Mr. Darcy was involved.:)
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Blessings from Seoul, Korea

2011-10-18T15:01:00.001-04:00

I can't even express how thankful I am for Mia having the most wonderful and loving foster parents. You may wonder how I know this since we don't speak the same language or Mia was able to tell me. I know this because Mia is so loving, kind, compassionate, peaceful, affectionate, friendly, social...the list goes on and on. You don't become this sort of person without receiving this love. I saw the love in her foster parents eyes when I met them. When I gave her foster mom the ring that says Heimee. I knew , she had been loved dearly. I received this publication from my agency CHSFS, in it is an article written by Mias beloved foster mom and pictures.

This article tells me love ...she couldn't explain to me. It answers so many questions...

And her foster mom was so wonderful to me ..that after looking closely at the picture.

I realize I have the bow...she gave me the bow that Mia was wearing in this picture. After I read the article...i sobbed and I sobbed.

Then I let Mia see the pictures and article...let me say. She loved it. She kissed it, hugged it, jumped, played, ran, fell...she was so happy to see her and her foster mom together.

As you can see I can't get this child to hold still for a second!!!

I love you Omma!!!

I miss you Omma!!!

We'll see you next year!!!

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Mia's Video

2011-10-17T08:20:00.001-04:00

My husband created this. I feel like he did a fantastic job for never making a video before!:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X3E1j3Qs88

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It's a yes!!!!

2011-10-17T08:11:00.001-04:00

KOREA said YES!!!!!!!!!! We are adopting another little girl. They want us to proceed slowly to make sure Mia is adjusted well before bringing home our next little one.

We won't have our Homestudy to Korea until January. So I can't post pictures until then, possibly my famous eyes picture.

Bottom line...she is coming home!!!! It could be as early as March or it could be September!!!!:):):)

After receiving THE phone call yesterday, I feel so foolish. I have such little faith! Why is that? I look around and see my incredible and abundant blessings. I doubt every time.... How can I doubt a God so sovereign I will never comprehend.

I try so hard to have faith even like a small mustard seed...but I think someone chewed up my seed and spit it out...that's how I feel my faith is.

BUT LET ME SHOUT IT!!!!!! GOD IS SO BIG!!!!! He is still working on me!!!!! And shaking his head at his daughter... Saying, " When is she going to get this."

Pictures to come. Here are some small details.

She will be 4 years old on 12/26.

She has wavy hair like Mia.

She has a sparkle in her eye!!!

And I love her already!!!!!!

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Christmas Pictures or Maybe not...

2011-10-15T15:47:00.000-04:00

So I have set a goal of blogging everyday for 30 days!! Trying to motivate my inner blogger. Of course if the new blogger wasnt a pain to use it would help. We tried Christmas pictures today. I am not overly thrilled with these. We forgot Mia's glasses and when I had remembered everyne had ripped off their red and green.

I started taking our own pictures, when my wonderful husband bought a fabulous picture. I found out really quick that anyone with over 1.2 kids...can do their own at home for much cheaper and when everyone is not sick, dirty or too tired. I love the one of Mia alone and Paul alone. Not thrilled with the group shot..will try again later!1

An unexpected trip...

2011-10-14T22:11:00.001-04:00

The other night Mia's friend, Ryan was rushed to Pittsburgh Childrens for an asthma attack. We went to pick up his sisters.

Mia was so sweet! She kept rubbing his foot saying are you okay Ryan?
After Ryan had his breathing treatments.. He was able to come home! Praising God!

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Pumpkin Bow for my Punkin

2011-10-13T14:19:00.001-04:00

We started today with just an ordinary orange bow. Boring!!:)

Boring....but still adorable!

And then it arrived....the biggest pumpkin bow ever!!!!

Yes I'm that cute!!:):) Kimchi!

Yes my pictures are out of order!!!!

Look at this bow!!! Yes it is that cute!!:):) wait until you see the Christmas tree and Thanksgiving Turkeys that arrived as well!

I have been getting alot of hits on my blog from around the globe! Leave me a comment I would love to know how you found me!!:)

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Princess Mia

2011-10-12T11:25:00.005-04:00

Princess....there is a word! Mia is an absolute princess.

She prefers a tutu over pants. She prefers glitter and lights on her shoes. She wants bows in her hair and the bigger and bright the bow the better!!!

The other day she wanted another bath....already had had two...She says..."I princess. I bath. I tutu. NOW.".....after she said please and without a tutu...she did get another bath.

Her 3rd birthday is coming up next month. She is so excited. She keeps saying... Happy Day! Happy Day! Mia Three!!! I am getting her lots of bilingual books, toys and videos...hoping to increase her Korean before she starts Korean school!! Little nervous about that. She still sings along with her Korean CD's. Hoping that helps. She also still loves to watch Pororo....when she holds still long enough.

Yes I am princess and I can wear 2 different shoes if I want!!! :)

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Rainy and Cold outside!!!

2011-10-01T16:47:00.003-04:00

It's October! My most favorite time of the year!!!! It's cold and rainy, everyone is snuggled in the house with no where to go.. I LOVE IT!!! I love the slowness of life around this time year. School kicks into high gear and life is great.
However, last week we recieved some fabulous news that I can't share JUST YET! But we have been asked to make a video, write a letter and send pictures for something life changing in our lives. I am ABSOLUTLEY.ECSTATIC!!! I will announce as soon as it is official. So today we needed to shoot some pictures of our crazy little life's....the kids eating mac n cheese for lunch.

Mia in her snow white costume....riding her little toy around the living room.

Yes she is that beauiful!! Oh be still my heart...we need another one. Don't ya think??

Little Feet...

Yes my babies loving each other!!

Trip to Arkansas!!!!

2011-10-01T16:16:00.004-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to Arkansas. Mia's first long trip in a car, our first long trip with our camper....THis is the creek in front of Grandma French Fry's house..beautiful and calm. I will apologize ahead of time, the pictures werent that great. Thursday morning Blake woke up with a tempature of 102, Mia woke up the next morning with it..and the vomiting and all else that comes with the stomach flu...in a camper...without a bathroom ...or running water....or towels...or extra blankets...or lysol....or a toilet..did I mention that??

All the kids were thrilled to see their Uncle Nathan and meet his new girlfriend Taylor, she was so nice and sweet. She meshed with the family perfectly.!:)

Paul and his cousin Austin spent the weekend catching fish, crawdads, snakes, lizards, worms...and what ever else crawled, squirmed, swam or moved...

Paul LOVES his many finds of differnet animals...ICK.

Also while on this trip the weather for the most part, was cold and rainy. On Saturday when everyone was okay feeling....the weather was beautiful. Thank you Lord!! However it was still cold, that did not stop my older 4 and my sister in laws older 3 from jumping right in for a cool Autumn swim;)

Daddy and Paul searching for little crawling treasures.....

Camye and Blake hugging for mommy...:)

Camye and Mia hugging on the rock bed of the creek, can I say we werent there 5 minutes and Mia sat right in the water and started picking up rocks and throwing them. She had a great weekend visiting with her cousin Amelia, who is only 5 months younger.:) And they are so cute together. I just didnt capture any pictures of it..when they were being cute together I am sure I was sterilizing something.

Mia and her daddy-appa!:)

Yes I am framing this!! GORGEOUS!!!

Chloe and daddy working on the fishing pole...:)
It was a great weekend. We did get to see some of our Arkansas family but we were busy with sick kids. We hope to go back next summer and spend more quality time with everyone.

Happy Birthday Grandma French Fry!!

2011-10-01T16:11:00.005-04:00

Happy 90th birthday to a very special woman!!!! Grandma French Fry/Mcdonald!!!! All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were able to travel to be with her!! This is a rare event as we all live in different states, with work and school, it doesnt happen very often!!!

I will blog on the details of this trip next, there arent many picture because the photographer (me), was a little busy cleaning up after sick children.BLEH!!!

Look who Mia is Missing Tonight!!

2011-09-27T22:15:00.001-04:00

Mia loves this picture!! She talks to her foster parents and kisses them. Tonight she pretended to call them on the phone. So very precious!:)

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Mia Is Feeling Better!!

2011-09-26T20:50:00.001-04:00

Mia has recovered great from her surgery but caught the stomach flu over the weekend. She was so sick. We were out of town (blog coming soon).

But what I am blogging tonight is last night after we got home from our long weekend, she was so happy to get in her own bed and hold hands with mommy. She reached over and held hands with her Chicken from her foster mom. It was so sweet, she fell asleep like this.

But tonight she is a new woman, completely recovered from her Dental surgery and smiling while we went to the grocery store!!!:):):)

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God Wink Quotes

2011-09-20T11:09:00.001-04:00

"A God Wink is also a message of reassurance coming when you most need it when you’re at a crossroads in your life, and when instability is all around. It might be said, in fact, that coincidence are the best way for God to establish a perpetual presence in life."

"The highway to what you believe to be your destiny may occasionally seem dark and lonely. But you are never alone. Get going, and start looking for the confirming signs that you are on the right path. You’ll soon see the God Winks – the coincidences and answered prayers—reaffirming that your life is being directed by a super global positioning system."

"And you can influence your future through prayer, visualization, and wishes. When you add your own potential and unique gifts to the mix, you will begin to see signs of encouragement – winks from above."

"When you wish for something, you also need to take action yourself - to place yourself in the direction that you wish to go, the direction that you believe to be in alignment with your destiny."

God is so awesome! Words can't describe what I am feeling or experiencing right now...but hang tight..blog with more details coming soon!!!

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Mia's Surgery

2011-09-19T22:47:00.001-04:00

On Friday, our precious baby girl had dental surgery...extensive surgery. She did so well and is recovering wonderfully.

These were taken all before the surgery. As you can see I was an absolute basket case.... Up all night the night before because legals at Childrens were giving us fits saying we didn't have custody and on and on and on...we went in for surgery and the hospital said that was ridiculous. Thanks to the paperwork we had from our agency, CHSFS, was there for us and sent extra paperwork even though the guy at legals at Childrens was wrong!

Mia and daddy-Appa having fun before surgery!

Spinning around and around!

So precious!!!
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Shopping with Mia

2011-09-19T22:45:00.001-04:00

A girl after moms own heart...

Yes purses and lots of them....she is already shoe/shim-ba crazy!:)

Tonight she needed Dora luggage, suitcase and purse.

Oh yes and these hideous boots..we didn't get those..trust me!!!
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

2011-09-17T22:14:00.001-04:00

I love Fall! I love everything about it. I adore the changing leaves, falling tempatures, life slowing down from a busy summer...

Today I baked 2 loaves of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. It was scrumptious.

Now to just find my apples for homemade applesauce.:)

God is so good.

HAPPY CHUSEOK

2011-09-13T17:45:00.003-04:00

Happy Chuseok!!!!!! Chuseok is Korea's is a major harvest festival and three day holiday. Its kind of like our Thanksgiving. Mia loves getting dressed up in her Hanbok!! She kept jumping around saying Hanbok, Hanbok!!!

To:Omma and Appa

2011-09-13T17:44:00.001-04:00

YouTube Video

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Blake Turns 12!!!!

2011-09-11T22:04:00.003-04:00

We have had busy busy days lately....between school, soccer, church, doctor appointments, meetings....but today we celebrated Blake's birthday..his 12th birthday. Yes on Blake's 2nd birthday, America was attacked by terrorists. Every year on Blake's birthday, we also go over the events that happend on that day so that the kids will remember. I must say as we did that today, I still cry and cry when I see the terror that happened those days. To see those people running for safety and to hear those calls to loved from the airplanes that were crashing....to think that this happened to the best country in the world. It saddens me like nothing else ever had.

Okay back to Blake's wonderful family birthday party! He wanted an Angry Bird cake..dont look closely...it was the best I could do. He loved it!! Blowing out his candles...looks like Paul is helping too!!!

Mia and Blake jokiing around playing around waiting for presents!!!

Blake soooo excited for his new engine for his Go Kart!!!

Blake is growing up so quick. He let Mia help him since he said it was okay...she could help!

Happy Happy!!!!!!

My 5 blessings!!!! I Love these kids so much!!!

Blake was so ecstatic about his birthday!!!!! He is such an awesome son.

Happy Birthday Blake! I love you more than I could say or show you!!!! You will always be my Blakester Boo Boo Bear!!!!

Homeschool Co-op 2011-2012

2011-09-11T21:55:00.003-04:00

I am teaching K-1 Astronomy class at co-op this year. I was expecting to have a rough start and few criers but no everyone was fine. We made alien hats made out of foil, half a milk jug and pipe cleaners for attennas. So cute! the kids loved them!! Chloe...10 grade.

Camye....5th grade.

Blake...7th grade.

Mia Grace...preschool.

Paul....1st grade.

I cant believe I have a 10 grader this year....time flies when you are having a good time. This is our 11th year of homeschooling. It has been the BEST decision of my life!!!

What a Difference 3 Months Can Make...

2011-09-11T21:34:00.002-04:00

Okay isnt my baby girl soooo adorable!!!!!!! Yes I know..go on. This was picture of her on her first day of co-op preschool. Okay..yes she soo beautiful!!!!! 3 months ago when she came home I broke out the colored bears and colored cups. I started working with her to match the colors. She wouldnt do it. I wasnt sure if she just couldnt or was it the language barrier or what the problem was? But she wouldnt do it. We broke out the bears last week and guess who put the right colored bear into the right colored cup. You guessed it...Mia Grace!!

I just cant believe how incredibly smart this little girl is. I amazed everyday!!!

Who doesn't want a Vera Bradley bag???

2011-09-09T15:20:00.001-04:00

And help bring a precious little girl home too!!!

Check Out this fabulous fundraiser!!!!!!

Www.mattmandi.blogspot.com

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So much fun..so little time to blog...

2011-08-31T10:29:00.001-04:00

Yes there are so many more photos of Mia. But she is the new baby... So bare with me.;)

Mia is now sleeping in a toddler bed beside my bed. We hold hands until she falls asleep, but she is doing so well for only being home 3 months.
We had a rough few weeks and found out she had some abcesses in her teeth. I asked them to please move up her surgery and they can't because she is taking up 3 slots for surgery since her teeth are so bad.:( soo..she has been on antibiotic and is feeling better.

Paul and Blake.... I enjoyed spending time with the boys while Chloe and Kenny were in Mexico and Camye was away at camp. They are such blessings!!

We have been to Chuck E Cheese a few times since Mia coming home. Mia loves Chucke and follows him around looking for a hug. She loves riding all the kiddie rides!

Mia snuggling with her little Pororo toy. She still loves her Pororo.

Mia and Mommy!! Mia being silly!!

About 2 weeks, Mia had an appointment with the Genetics dept at Children's Hospital. She had to have blood work and it was not.fun! She.screamed.and.screamed.

The blessing of going to the Genetists, other than he confirmed what we have believed from the beginning..that.nothing.is.wrong!;)

But we met an awesome Korean family, the Kim's. Mrs.Kim teaches Korean in Pittsburgh and wants us to come to Korean school! I am so excited to do this and hope to do this Fall.:)

Mia....I mean Blake got a Go-Kart.... And guess who loves to be pushed around all the time!:):)

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Picnicing the Summer Away

2011-08-29T21:54:00.002-04:00

Church picnics, birthday picnics, friend picnics...what a great way to finish off the a fabulous summer!!! Blake in his creek boots..stopping to play around on the playground equipment. Camye and one of her best friends Heather. Cute as always...
My 2 littles...are sooo cute!!! I just love these babies!!!

Mia had no interest in the creek, but loved watching her Oppa catch all sorts of critters!

Yes she is so beautiful and so is the background!!

Summer Fun With Friends

2011-08-29T21:45:00.002-04:00

What a fun summer we have had!! It is over all too soon. School, soccer, dance and music lessons have begun.
Mia has a new friend, Ellianna. They are about 7 months apart in age. But they play so well together. Ellianna happens to be one of my best friends daughters, so they see each other quite well. These were taken at Ellianna's older sister's birthday party! Running around with a balloon:)

Camye and Mia....I love my girls!

All the girls at the party, big and little!!

Mia and Ellianna having a little girl swim while the older girls swam!!

Photo Fun

2011-08-29T21:33:00.001-04:00

Menu Plan for the Week

2011-08-28T16:26:00.001-04:00

Menu Plan
Sunday- Leftovers
Monday- Taco Soup
Tuesday- Chicken dumplings, green beans
Wednesday- Beef Enchiladas
Thursday- BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, baked potatoes
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Idlewild!!!!!

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Guess Who Wants to Read...

2011-08-23T11:27:00.001-04:00

Guess who was trying to read today!! She sat on my lap while Paul was doing his morning reading to me, then she brought me the read and read me a story about daddy-appa jumping, singing, and praying. It was half english and half Korean!:)

I can't believe I have been blessed with this little girl!:) God is so good!

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11 years of Homeschooling...

2011-08-22T18:53:00.001-04:00

And yes still loving every minute of it...We were soooo ready to start school. I need structure!!!! So today, I got up bathed, dressed (don't pass out...yes dressed), Mia bathed and dressed, got the older 4 kids up, fixed breakfast, chili in the crock pot for supper, assigned school, recorded school, graded papers, 4 loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom....and then Off to soccer. All going well..other than Mia had a tummy ache and threw up as soon as we got to soccer.:( so we sat inside the van the rest of the time..came home and threw up again among other things.:( so my little Seoul Sister is a sicky chicky.

Back to school...since the day obviously is a sign of normalcy

Camye is starting the 5th grade this year. we are using an assortment of curriculum. If you want me to list, please ask away.

Mia Grace was right in the middle of things helping me grade papers. She did a little tot school as well.

Chloe is too cool for the kitchen table, no really she just prefers to work alone with little noise. She is starting 10 grAde.

Blake is in the 7th grade and is doing math in bed.... Shocking yes we do math anywhere we wAnt... Sometimes in the bathroom!!

Paul is in the 1st grade is learning to read!! Isn't he adorable??

I am so thankful for the Lord allowing us to homeschool these blessings.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

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A Kid Sandwhich

2011-08-20T10:55:00.001-04:00

I love seeing all my kids playing together... Today they told me they were making me a kid Sandwhich for breakfast.

And then it fell....:) what fun kiddos!!:)

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~Fun Times~

2011-08-19T20:25:00.002-04:00

This afternoon was rainy, dark and dreary. The kids were watching a movie and Mia chose from her bags of fun. The bag she was her blocks that she can string. About 3 weeks ago, she would only build these blocks. I would show her how to string them but she wanted to build them..end of story. :)

Today she pulled them out and started stringing one right after the other.:)

Yet another milestone...Mia watched television for about 10 minutes yes...it is the first time since coming home.

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~ A Day in the Life of Mia~

2011-08-18T20:49:00.001-04:00

Since Mia is much smaller than expected.. I have been ordering some clothes off eBay for her. She loves when the boxes come and she loves to try everything on. Obviously....And she loves to pull her glasses down on her nose and talk funny... Such a ham.:)

Mia and her baby going potty...

Yes this is the first time Mia has sat since coming home over 2 months ago... Unless strapped in the carseat. She loves the princess barbie movies!!

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~So Thankful~

2011-08-18T10:53:00.001-04:00

With these pictures, who needs words. I can't even put into words how blessed I am. Children are a true blessing from the Lord.

I am so thankful for little Miss Mia being a little Omma. We bought her a little Asian baby from Coralie. Mia pretends it is crying all the time saying Omma..Omma, then she wants me to rock her. Mia also loves to feed her a baby bottle.

Chloe even with her tousled head, teenage attitude early morning...mom really ..pictures so early in the morning.

My 2 rough and tumble little boys..who spend hours playing Gogos, bay blades and legos together...

Camye ...playing so wonderful with her little Polly pockets... Snuggling early morning...playing so lovingly with her little sister.

Love seeing the surprise pictures on my camera...of the kids posing together.:)

Mia and her technology.... She loves the phone! And from all her baby pictures...she always has!

A I am writing this, kids are arguing, cleaning their rooms, fighting, apologizing, laughing, crying...call me crazy ( oh wait, most you do).... But I love every minute of it.

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~And Yes She Is THAT Cute~

2011-08-02T17:32:00.001-04:00

~Guess Who Needs Glasses~

2011-08-02T17:25:00.000-04:00

Mia needed glasses!! She picked cute little pink frames and so far she loves them!!!

She has to wear them for 4 months and go back to see if they have corrected any. We will then discuss surgery for her ptosis.

Such a ham for the camera!!!!:):)

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~Homeschool Finds~

2011-08-02T17:10:00.004-04:00

Some great finds!! I found these at the Dollar Tree!!! I love homeschooling!!

~Fun With Cousins~

2011-08-02T16:48:00.004-04:00

My sister in law and kids came to visit last week. We had alot of fun! Having 9 kids has really made doing things without our hubby's around a little harder but we manage!! They have just moved back from Okinawa, Japan and hadnt met Mia yet. We went to a fun festival at our co-op church host Calvary Baptist. Mia loved jumping on the bouncy!!! A few of the cousins out swinging on our swing in the yard...:) Austin, Amelia, Mia Grace, Elizabeth and Paul.

We went to a water park called Sunset Beach. THey had loads of fun on the water slides.

Mia went down the slide over and over again with her big sister Chloe. I tried it went time and Mia went flying in the air...struggling for her breath...yes I am probably the worst mom in the world. I only did it once.:( I felt terrible...I could barely catch my breath!!

Mia Grace and Amelia had lots of fun playing in the baby pool. I am betting Mia swam while she lived in Korea because she loves ...I mean LOVES swimming in the pool or tub!!!

Matching tutus for 2 cuties!!!

~Paul's Week~

2011-08-02T16:37:00.002-04:00

Okay so I know I am way behind on blogging!!! I am sorry!!! Kids have been here and there going to camp and home. Company has come and went. Mia is potty training and having lots of appointements. School prep is happening. But we are still having some fun...While Chloe, Blake and Camye were away at camp, Paul invited his best friend Levi over and had a blast!! I let them have a shaving creme fight. I gave them each 2 bottles and told them to have had it. When they were done, I sprayed them off so it was easy clean up!:)
Mia watched from afar, being her little prissy self she was NOT getting shaving creme on her!:)

~Tot School~

2011-07-19T20:04:00.002-04:00

The big kids are gone this week and I am left with my 2 little sweeties at home! We are missing them terribly. But decided to get busy getting our homeschool ready. One new fabulous issue we are dealing with this year is a little preschooler, so we must have things ready to keep her busy and I don't allow the TV on during school ours, so that is an out. I have made some fabulous new friends through this adoption process that have fantastic ideas. Something I have learned from them is Tot School. Basically, not just providing them with learning toys but being INTENTIONAL with them doing it. How many learning toys do we have at the bottom of our toy boxes that never get played with? Well we are intentionally playing with these toys. I have come up with about 15 different activities that we will alternate throughout the weeks and intentionally put them on a 'Tot Tray' during school hours for her to do.:)

Here is one of the activities that she had to get started on immediatly. And of course my little social butterfly is always ready for a picture!!! She is matching little foam shapes to the coordinating colored page. Here is my little 'tot'....sorting her little colored bears into colored cups. Her hair is pulled up....not cut!;) Couldnt cut those curls!:)

Tot Trays Blog to follow...onto to older homeschool planning.:)

~Chloe Turns 15~

2011-07-14T11:11:00.004-04:00

July 11th, 1996, I became a mother to one of the most beautiful baby girls in the world. She is a wonderful,christian, loving, sweet, compassionate and beautiful daughter. She was an awesome baby and is an awesome teenager!! I know that I have 3 very short years until she is 18.. 18!!!! OH be still my heart... She decided she just wanted a family party because next year she is wanting a massive Sweet 16 birthday party ! She invited her Gran to come and stay for a few nights and she had her best friend Kianna stay all night too.I am thinking luau themed party for her 16th will be fun!!!

First she wanted Pizza Hut, and we got it free because the electric went out and they couldnt run debit card.

As soon as Chloe's family party, Paul ran and wrapped up his Nerf gun in her blanket and brought it to her as her first present to open! She loved it and the wrapping paper, she said!

Chloe and Mia..who sang Happy Birthday in Korean to her big sister!!! It was so adorable!1

Chloe got lots of pretty clothes and jewerly. She was wanting money for her mission trip to Mexico.

Our family picture!!!!

~Mia's First Petting Zoo~

2011-07-09T19:03:00.002-04:00

Mia LOVED the petting zoo!!!
Daddy came to help her feed the goat with a bottle!!!

Every little girl's dream!!!

~Flight 93 Memorial~

2011-07-06T09:17:00.005-04:00

After our fabulous camping trip, we decided to go over to the Flight 93 memorial, which was only about 30 minutes there. On the way there, Kenny asked me if I would like to tell the kids about what happened that morning. I immediately start crying. I cant even talk about it. I can not imagine how the families feel. I didn't know anyone directly involved in any of it. I am still a basked case over that morning. I am ashamed to say this is our family standing in front of the temporary building for the memorial. We can spend millions of dollars on Casey Anthony, millions on a failed foster system, millions of dollars on gay rights and abortions. This happened almost 10 years ago. Why is this taking so long? Why is the 9/11 memorial not even have restrooms??????

Off my soapbox...this is the actual site. My friend Lori, was in Shanksville on 9/11. She heard the plane crash. She was there for her mothers funeral. After her mothers funeral, she took the flowers from the funeral and took the crash site and started the memorial site.

Cute pictures of our families, sad building behind them.!!

The boys thought they were talking to this Park Ranger...you know asking what kinds of weapons he carried??? It was hilarious!!!

Some of the different things from the days and weeks following..and Camye reading the call log from the people who died on Flight 93....heartbreaking!

Mia and Mommy inside the memorial reading what happened on that day.

~4th of July Camping~

2011-07-05T09:39:00.008-04:00

Fun Fun Fun!!! We had such a wonderful time camping with some great Christian friends!!!! We went to Shawnee State Park in Pennsylvania. We were very happy with the campgrounds and they had great bathrooms and showers....which is a must when I am camping!! Camye, Mia and their sweet friends Alycia and Jamie. They played in the lake for hours every day!!

Our good friend Andy, brought this cool thing for Kenny to pull Mia with his bike. She LOVED it.

We even put the men folk to work one night, while we made a Walmart run!

Camye and Mia Grace!!

Mia's cute little feet in the sand!!!

Chloe and Adam were able to go Kayaking. They had so much fun but it was ALOT of work. Chloe said it was great, Adam did everything!

Mia having fun in the sun!!

Mia and her great friend Caleb, she loves Caleb and loves to yell his name randomly around the campsite. He always wants to play with her!!

Chloe and Mia having fun in the lake!!! Mia loved the water!!!!! I wonder if she hasnt swam before!!

Paul, my little red headed, freckled face little boy! I have wanted one, and his hair is definetly red this summer!!

Yes..I am this cute!!!

Trying to get 10 kids to pose in front of an elephant after 4 days of camping...not such a great photo OP!...

My 3 littles sleeping away.....

Thankful Ramblings....

2011-06-30T16:18:00.002-04:00

I am so thankful for adoption! Words can not express how I am feeling with this little girl in my arms.

I lay down with her every night, and look at her beautiful eyes, silky smooth skin, shiny black hair and beautiful smile. I wonder why did God has rewarded me with such a blessing. I look at her and think of how beautiful her birth mother must have been. It makes me sad for her, but hopefully one day they will meet again.

I hear her laughter and it brightens everyone in the house. It is such a joy to see my 4 biological kids see such joy and laughter brought to our house by adoption.

She is more of a social butterfly than I am..which is saying alot.

The only words I can use describe adoption at any age, is how a birth mother feels the first time they hold their newborn after birth. Their isnt even a difference.

I am so thankful for my husband for allowing to be exactly what I want to be. A mother. A mom. An omma. A mommy. A mama. Whatever they call me as long as they call me. He is the best man I know.

I know everyone can't adopt, but everyone can support it. Financially or by just being a friend to someone who is adopting.

~Summer Pictures of the Kids~

2011-06-29T10:21:00.006-04:00

We love America and Korea!

Honestly this the best we got of the girls!!! My Boys!!!

Handsome Blakey!!

Camye striking a pose!!

Chloe=gorgeous!

Pauly...!!! So cute!!

Mia Grace....cute as always!!

Our family...

~South Korea has arrived~

Love Seeing Mia with her Baby Dolls

Happy Lunar New Year

~Presenting Avah Noelle SeeEun~

~Trip to DC~

~Happy Birthday Sweet Camye Renee~

Night Night with Omma

~Avah Hanbok Bow~

~Six months Today~

~Trip to DC IPhone version~

Mia's Preschool Snacktime

~Pinterest Projects~

Did Apple Juice Cause This?

My To Do list

How Could She Know?

Mia and Daddy

~How To Eat Fries.. Lovingly~

Mia and her Puppy

Two Countries One Heart...

Giving up naps??

Mia's Reaction

~Clean up~

~Happy Birthday My Precious Little Girl~

Christmas DAY!!!

Our Christmas Eve...

Merry Christmas (sneak peak)

Mia is feeling better!!!:):):)

Parties and fun

~Mia Grace Heimee FINALLY~

Mia Singing:)

Mia Wiggling Her Eyes

Bath Time....

Christmas Fun with 4H friends

Precious

~Christmas pictures or NOT~

~Home 6 Months~

~Guess What Came In the Mail for Mia Grace~

~The Patch~

~Thanksgiving with my Family~

~New Glasses for Mia~

Guess who still likes her sling...

My Pinkalicious Princess

~Silly Girl~

Chosen..

~Happy Birthday Sweet Mia Grace~

Mia's 3 year old Check-up

Home With Mia for 5 Months!!

~Trick or Treat~

Could She Be Any More Beautiful?

Bringing Home Mercy: Adoption Awareness Month: Buy a t-shirt or tote!

October Snow...

My Hubby is WONDERFUL!!!

Oreo Moon Phases~Homeschool Astronomy

Hayride and Bonfire!!

School Time...

Blessings from Seoul, Korea

Mia's Video

It's a yes!!!!

Christmas Pictures or Maybe not...

An unexpected trip...

Pumpkin Bow for my Punkin

Princess Mia

Rainy and Cold outside!!!

Trip to Arkansas!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma French Fry!!

Look who Mia is Missing Tonight!!

Mia Is Feeling Better!!

God Wink Quotes

Mia's Surgery

Shopping with Mia

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

~~~~HAPPY CHUSEOK~~~~

To:Omma and Appa

Blake Turns 12!!!!

Homeschool Co-op 2011-2012

What a Difference 3 Months Can Make...

Who doesn't want a Vera Bradley bag???

So much fun..so little time to blog...

Picnicing the Summer Away

HAPPY CHUSEOK