We are going to Haiti in a couple of weeks with Pastor Brian to visit the girls and hopefully brainstorm with Jamie and Ali about raising money to support Bresma 3. We are meeting with a woman from our denomination who is herself an adoptive mom to three Haitian daughters and an experienced money raiser : )
Received from Jamie today....I told the girls yesterday that you were coming and they are really happy. They were dancing and singing about you coming. F said she is not going in the pool. J said thank you for T's email. She also wanted to tell T that she made a picture of her brother Jimmy and when T sees it she is going to laugh really hard. She made him look like a little boy even though he is a big boy. She is getting really excited to come home. She only talks about you guys. Even the dog.
F's feet grew to a size 7. She still wears the sandals you brought but her toes are sticking over the edge. If you can find some flip flops for J that would be good too. J loves stickers.
I'll post some new pics of my sweet Haitian girls soon.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Libertyville Days
Isn't this the scariest looking monkey you've ever seen? P thought it was soooooo cute - obviously reminding her of George.
Fukudome
Introducing our new (but temporary) pet Painted Turtle - Fukudome! And like the Cub centerfielder, Fukudome the turtle is very fast - when T takes him out for his walk, he can walk across the entire backyard in no time!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Quill Pen & Ink
After soaking the quill tips and cutting them, T cleaned out the inside of the quill tip... 
She mixed the ink powder with water...
She dipped, blotted, and wrote....
T...pioneer girl and her quill pen!Update from Haiti
We received this update from Jamie the missionary....
J is doing really well and is starting to read. Not a lot, but she is sounding out words and she recognizes a bunch of words. Those books you bought her that she matches stickers to word are great. She loves those and they are helping a lot.
F is talking so much. I can't believe it. She just finally decided that she can talk and she does. All of the time. Unless she is singing. She is getting reallyinto "school" too. She loves coloring.
I asked about a time frame for J and she said she really can't say. It changes all of the time.
J 46lbs 47in 21 teeth shoe size 13
F 27lbs 33.5in 17 teeth shoe size 7
J is doing really well and is starting to read. Not a lot, but she is sounding out words and she recognizes a bunch of words. Those books you bought her that she matches stickers to word are great. She loves those and they are helping a lot.
F is talking so much. I can't believe it. She just finally decided that she can talk and she does. All of the time. Unless she is singing. She is getting reallyinto "school" too. She loves coloring.
I asked about a time frame for J and she said she really can't say. It changes all of the time.
J 46lbs 47in 21 teeth shoe size 13
F 27lbs 33.5in 17 teeth shoe size 7
Monday, June 2, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Entered MOI
As of 5/28/08, this sweet girl entered MOI (Ministry of Interior). MOI has been running around three months - and then, I think we get to go get her and bring her home!!!! I am so happy that her file is moving forward....not quite the pace that I would like, but I am learning to trust God and His perfect timing.
School books!
Today we got most of our new school books for next year! I am so excited to look through them and begin to plan for 5th grade and Kindergarten.
We have a couple of months of 4th grade left, but I thought that I would post some of the books we've read so far this school year.
North American Indians
Pedro's Journal
Incans, Aztecs & Mayans
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (reading it now)
Pocahontas and the Strangers
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
The Thanksgiving Story
The Courage of Sarah Noble
The Matchlock Gun
The Skippack School
Meet George Washington
Phoebe the Spy
Om-kas-toe
Sarah Whitcher's Story
Vostaas: White Buffalo's Story
Walk the World's Rim
The Sign of the Beaver
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Johnny Tremain
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Calico Bush (reading it now)
We have a couple of months of 4th grade left, but I thought that I would post some of the books we've read so far this school year.North American Indians
Pedro's Journal
Incans, Aztecs & Mayans
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (reading it now)
Pocahontas and the Strangers
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
The Thanksgiving Story
The Courage of Sarah Noble
The Matchlock Gun
The Skippack School
Meet George Washington
Phoebe the Spy
Om-kas-toe
Sarah Whitcher's Story
Vostaas: White Buffalo's Story
Walk the World's Rim
The Sign of the Beaver
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Johnny Tremain
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Calico Bush (reading it now)
I am so thankful for Sonlight Curriculum who organizes the schedule and helps me keep my sanity!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
It seemed like we were going to have a loooong weekend, but here it is, Tuesday and it's the regular work week again. We did get some fun and a lot of work in, so all in all it was a good weekend.
On Friday, Jim and I went to Morgan's with Patty and Joe and Joe's brother Tom. On Saturday, we did a lot of yard work and planting and also delivered some things to church for the upcoming rummage sale.
Sunday we went to church and then on the Quain's home for a lovely outdoor barbecue. We can't remember at this point whether we invited ourselves to their family gathering or if we were actually extended an invitation, but they do have a wonderful family and we were so glad to be there. On Memorial Day we went to Egg Harbor with Jim's kids and then ran more errands to Home Depot. Then we went home and worked on this...
filled our new sandbox....
P & T helped Daddy build our new chairs....
Jim worked like a maniac all weekend doing all sorts of projects, including building our new outdoor conversation area....
...and around 6:30 p.m. Monday night, we finally got to relax and enjoy all the hard work of the weekend....
(except that T ended up with a migraine, poor girl) ...
and finally, Wrigley found this little baby bird that had fallen out of its nest and on this Memorial Day we were reminded that Jesus said this, "Not one [sparrow] will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
On Friday, Jim and I went to Morgan's with Patty and Joe and Joe's brother Tom. On Saturday, we did a lot of yard work and planting and also delivered some things to church for the upcoming rummage sale.
Sunday we went to church and then on the Quain's home for a lovely outdoor barbecue. We can't remember at this point whether we invited ourselves to their family gathering or if we were actually extended an invitation, but they do have a wonderful family and we were so glad to be there. On Memorial Day we went to Egg Harbor with Jim's kids and then ran more errands to Home Depot. Then we went home and worked on this...
filled our new sandbox....
P & T helped Daddy build our new chairs....
Jim worked like a maniac all weekend doing all sorts of projects, including building our new outdoor conversation area....
...and around 6:30 p.m. Monday night, we finally got to relax and enjoy all the hard work of the weekend....
(except that T ended up with a migraine, poor girl) ...
and finally, Wrigley found this little baby bird that had fallen out of its nest and on this Memorial Day we were reminded that Jesus said this, "Not one [sparrow] will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Topical Memory System
Beginning next week I am going to start memorizing Bible verses with the Navigators' Scripture Memory Course http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/Topical%20Memory%20System. Each week, for the next 30, I will try to memorize two verses and also review the verses learned in prior weeks. I always intend to memorize more verses, but if I do I seem to forget them quite easily because I do it a bit haphazardly, etc.
So, um, check back with me in a few weeks to check up on my progress. I'm guessing that I just may need some encouragement along the way...
(Oh, and Beth, the reason I am starting next week, is because I am already memorizing a verse this week.)
So, um, check back with me in a few weeks to check up on my progress. I'm guessing that I just may need some encouragement along the way...
(Oh, and Beth, the reason I am starting next week, is because I am already memorizing a verse this week.)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Kind and Brave and Upside Down
Yesterday P finished reading Kind and Brave! She decided that she wanted to read some other books this week before moving on to Strong and True next week. We (Mom & P) really enjoy our reading times each day. P makes up all sorts of rules - like we have to kiss everytime we finish a paragraph or hug at the end of each page. It's nice to have 20 minutes of snuggle time with P every morning!
In other P news, yesterday she learned how to hang upside down on the trapeze!
We are so thankful that God gave this girl a strong brain and body!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
If I had a blog a few weeks ago, I would have posted these...
T & Jim
T, T, Britt, and Nick
T and Taylor (the lost kitty we found and that the waitress at the Club took home)
Patty and Bec
P and lime chips - aboard the Liberty
P, Polly, T
Sunset over the Gulf
T at Quinns
P and Frank
T...driving!?!?!?
Daddy and his golfing buddy
Jim & Joe
Gardening
This weekend we planted some things in our new suburban garden. I really think we've started to create a peaceful spot which I hope to enjoy in the morning with a cup of coffee...and in the evening with a glass of wine and my husband (and maybe in the afternoon with a book).
The kids had a great time planting - most were from plants in pots, but for fun we planted sugar snap peas from seed. The girls thought it was so funny that the seeds looked just like the inside of the one's we eat (except a bit dried). I hope the plants grow so we can produce our own seeds for next year. I'm not enjoying all the watering, but so far I think we're getting a lot out of this "science" unit.
Tomorrow I plan to get out and plant the tomatoes and blueberries into the pots, move the hydrangea from the swale, and plant pumpkins and gourds from seed... For future reference, here's what we put into the ground so far this year....dwarf horsetail, lambs ears, corkscrew, paper daisies, morning glories, wave petunias, hydrangea, sage, french lavender, regular lavender, lemon mint, peppermint, lemon basil, cilantro, lemon balm, rosemary, cinnamon basil, purple sage, parsley, sweet basil, pineapple sage, greek oregano, catnip, spinach, cucumber, broccoli, brussel sprouts, sugar snap peas, and watermelon.
The kids had a great time planting - most were from plants in pots, but for fun we planted sugar snap peas from seed. The girls thought it was so funny that the seeds looked just like the inside of the one's we eat (except a bit dried). I hope the plants grow so we can produce our own seeds for next year. I'm not enjoying all the watering, but so far I think we're getting a lot out of this "science" unit.
Tomorrow I plan to get out and plant the tomatoes and blueberries into the pots, move the hydrangea from the swale, and plant pumpkins and gourds from seed... For future reference, here's what we put into the ground so far this year....dwarf horsetail, lambs ears, corkscrew, paper daisies, morning glories, wave petunias, hydrangea, sage, french lavender, regular lavender, lemon mint, peppermint, lemon basil, cilantro, lemon balm, rosemary, cinnamon basil, purple sage, parsley, sweet basil, pineapple sage, greek oregano, catnip, spinach, cucumber, broccoli, brussel sprouts, sugar snap peas, and watermelon.
I'm new to this blogging thing...
So much is happening in our lives and I am going to try to keep up with this blog to record some of the bigger stuff that's happening, some of the funny stuff the kids said, or just random thoughts on what I'm reading, what the kids' are reading, on our adoptions, etc.
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