Article summing up true costs of adoption

As I was nosing around a great website, I found this article (click here).
Karen is another international adoptive mom and handles the website for our Ohio chapter of FRUA as well as her own favorite links page.

I wanted to paste the entire article here about the cost of adoption- it is the best description I have ever read, and rings true for any adoption, from any country. Check it out and tell me what you think? It was copywrited, so I'll have to just refer you to the site.......

Misc. Pictures

Yeah!! My wonderful hubby figured out my phone for me!! These are some of the adorable pictures I've had with me on my phone for a few months. So glad I can share!!



















This is Elisha viewing Mama's Bomabone (telephone) as I first got it home. Hmmmm..... wonder what I could do with all those buttons........




















These are some of the many faces of Elisha- Here he is "playing" his nose- kinda like a Kazoo. He's pretty good at it :0)



















Is that an onry grin, or what?



















Full of wonder, expression hopeful, I think he's wondering if he can get Mama's phone from me??



















Yep- he tried to grab it- there's that mischievous face we all know so well....



















HaHa!! Mama got the phone away just in time...... Lisha phone???? Lisha Phone????



















This is our little guy falling asleep just a few minutes after we left Grandma's house to come home last weekend. He was bound and determined to finish his juice.... but sleep claimed him first...... tooo cute!!




















His second "major" haircut. He was such a big boy!!





















Here he is being all cool with his shades on. What a big boy with his new cut!!

Great Weekend

I've been trying to figure out how to get pictures from my phone to our blog. This post will soon have pictures, I hope!!

I worked Sat at the New Concord store. I thought my plans for the weekend (going to visit Mom and Dad) had been canceled, so when they called in great need of a pharmacist to cover the store, I was glad to volunteer. What a great day I had. I lived in New Concord in the mid 90's, and I saw some people I know but hadn't seen for a while and met some great staff!!!

Well, the plans went back on for me to go visit my mom- so Tim brought Elisha over to the store (which is 45 minutes closer to PA) and then Elisha and I left from there and drove to PA. Words can not even begin to express how great it was to be home for even a little bit and visit with my Mom. We made a Tshirt for Papa with Elisha's hand prints on it and some pies. I was also able to have a delightful visit with some friends from Mom and Dad's church.

Mom and I went to the early service with Elisha- it was nice to see a lot of old friends I hadn't seen for a long time there, too. As I was getting up to take Elisha to the nursery for the sermon ( he forgot what the inside voice was all about..... :0) Pastor John called us up to the front and they prayed over us. It was the sweetest thing. They prayed for Tim and myself and for Elisha and the new family we are. It is amazing how big the family of God is, isn't it?

The playground by the elementary school after lunch was a HUGE hit. That is where the pics were taken. The slide, the swings and the little animals on the big springs.... a little guys dream land!

We drove back just after that and bypassed home to go to Columbus. We were able to surprise Tim on Father's day with our presence and our presents :0) It was a great day!

Habby Baba ti ti

We called my niece last night to wish her a happy birthday. Elisha was singing Habby Baba Ti Ti over and over- it was sooo cute!! I have such anticipation building to see my family in a few weeks. I can't believe we'll all be together soon, and I can finally introduce our son to them.

So, today is my birthday. It has been sooo sweet. Elisha sang me Habby Baba last night and this morning, my Mom and Dad called first thing, Amity texted a Happy Bday to me, and then Elisha and I took off for town so I could have some dental work done.

Whoo Hooo, you might think. Well, sort of. Only not really. We got to the dentist office, waited for a bit in the lobby and then walked into the room. I was getting a crown put on- this was the final step- Yeah!! Lo and behold, there is a HoHo on a plate with a candle in it and a card- so Kathy and Elisha sang Happy Birthday to me and Elisha helped me blow out the candle. He then charmed the ladies at the office while I sat in the chair. Thanks, Angel!! He didn't want to leave, he enjoyed your company so much!! Thanks Kathy and the entire office. You all really blessed me today!

So, Tim will be home soon and I'm thinking we'll go out to dinner on Friday for my new family celebration of Father's Day and my birthday. Thank you, Father, for all these blessings- and that you don't wait until our planned celebrations, you bless us all the time!!

This is not Russia anymore Toto!

This is us enjoying our first Animal Park adventure. Tim and I spent some time with Tim's sister's children enjoying the heat- or beating it.......

Elisha finally got the hang of running through the waterfall- but when he got control of the big hose hooked to the yard hydrant- look out!! Tim and I are sitting here in tears watching the video- we laughed so hard at the time- Tim's parents came over to see what was going on- and Elisha made them part of the fun- I wish we could have gotten his face- the look was pure onryness!! He enjoyed having the "power" in his grasp, and soaking the rest of us!!

FFA? Future Firefighters of America????? You tell me.

What is this....

What is this amazing feeling I feel deep inside? I catch myself looking at your picture and it makes me smile- from the inside out. I'm finding it easier to laugh, and to cry- but more tears of joy than so much angst. I watch you try something new for the first time. Then again. Then again. And yet again. You are learning to master new skills so quickly.

You put your shoes on for the first time tonight- all by yourself- and on the right feet!!!! I just wish they weren't muddy so we didn't have to take them right back off. *wink*

As with most things in my life now- this is the continuation of that thought- several days later.....you woke up as I was writing the previous feelings..... :0)

I worried that I might not have enough love for you and your Papa, and one of you might feel slighted. But this most amazing thing is happening in my heart. It is so hard to describe. Love seems to multiply there now- exponentially. I have areas in my heart I never knew existed. I am awed and humbled to realize that I really have no clue or idea of how much love God actually has for me- and you- and everyone. The depth of love just keeps on growing deeper. Thank you, God, for this little glimmer of what your love is for us. It is breathtaking.

May God continue to hold you close, little one, and I pray that we can teach you more and more each day about this amazing creator and God we love and serve. It makes my heart expand even more to hear you say ni ni jeje i looyoo jeje (translation: night night, Jesus! I love you, Jesus!!) as we get ready for bed. Keep talking to Him, sweet son of mine. His longing to adopt you into His family is even greater than ours was to adopt you into our family.

Busy Weekend

What a time of new discoveries for Elisha this last week has been. Friday evening when I got home from work (yes, I am back to work now, *sigh*, but it has been really good to see all my customers and staff and know that Papa and son are having some bonding time together), my boys were all ready to go. So I changed quickly, we hopped in the car and took off for the campgrounds where Tim's mom and dad were camping last week.

We arrived and he had the time of his life- who knew there was such freedom in eating? No strapping in to the seat- take a bite and run around- whoo hoo- and he found he could tickle Mamaw and Mama through the backs of the seats! hehe

Papa was the master cooker over the coals and Elisha had his first campfire hot dog. It was a hit with him!!

Then yesterday, Uk-ka Ka (translation- Uncle Scott) invited us to come to the Kimple farm where he and the kids were camping. We went for a few hours- and boy oh boy did Elisha enjoy himself. So far, only the chickens in his story books have been something real that he has seen and touched. (Well, cats and dogs- but not the other farm animals) So he was elated to see pigs, piglets, cows, calves, chickens, sheep, lambs, a horse and her new foal. After a few minutes watching us pet the animals, he was willing to try his hand at it, too. He was even waving to the cows and calves. He was pretty serious, taking in all this new stuff, but he really enjoyed it.

Mama really enjoyed this get away, too. The farm is all organic and it was nice to see the animals all roaming around, familiar with their owners and munching contentedly on the grass, looking lean and healthy. Thank you, Mozenas for your great tour, letting us watch as you did the chores and giving us the opportunity to experience your family's farm. It was an unforgettable evening! And thank you Uk-ka Ka for taking pictures to help us remember his first time at the farm.