Chores done, a great lunch and a good book!

Today was Richard's day off. I promised him that if he'd help me with a few household projects this morning, I'd treat him to lunch....Here is the yard work getting done!

We wrapped our trees in wire so the neighborhood cats can't use them as scratching posts anymore.

While Richard was working outside, I organized the files and paid bills.

While we are busy working the cat is taking a bath in the sun!

We went to THE FLYING STAR for lunch. Doesn't Samuel look just like his daddy?

Ignore the scary lady without makeup on...just look at the cute baby!

After our nice lunch we spent the afternoon with me reading this.....


....Samuel napping and Richard reading this.

I also made some cookies. Our CRAPPY NEIGHBORS moved and new ones have moved in. We are taking these to them tonight.

I hope you all had a great Tuesday too!

TWO SENSE TUESDAYS #17...Crying Out

Being a new mother I seem to get a lot of advice, which can be helpful, but is also very frustrating when it's from people who are insistent that their way is the BEST way. I also get advice (because I'm an adoptive mother) from those who think that my son is just a stand-in until I get "the real thing."

Each week I will post a new question. I'd love it if you'd play along and offer us new mothers your pearls of wisdom.

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

DO YOUR CHILD(REN) EVER CRY OUT IN THEIR SLEEP (NOT WAKING UP)? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

I am praying for his children!

I wasn't planning on posting about Michael Jackson because of all the posts and news coverage praising this man, but I've finally had too much.

My husband calls Michael Jackson..."The most beloved pedophile on Earth." I know, I know...he was never convicted of anything....yah...yah...yah...neither was OJ Simpson, but I still think he's a murderer.

I hate the fact that the media and "stars" ate this man alive while he was on trial, but ignore that part now. I also hate how they are forgetting the other two people, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon, who died the same week.

I too think Michael gave a lot to dance and music, but FOR ME (please note I said "for me" and that the label for this post is "In My Opinion."), what he did to young children, taints all that he did for the music world! 

NOTE: I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the victims taking money etc. etc...but it doesn't negate what Michael did. Only Michael, the children and God know, for sure, what he really did. You may not think I'm a very good person because I judge him when the courts have found him not guilty and although it may not be fair, I am on the side of protecting my child. 

I like to remember Michael Jackson as the young boy in the picture above. This was before he made choices that hurt others. I do believe his parents abused him and that he never had a real childhood. I feel sorry for him. I think he was a tortured soul and was warped very early on, but he did have a choice. He could have used his amazing talents to better the world, the way a lot of his songs professed, so eloquently. I have no sympathy for Michael Jackson. I believe he brought all his woes on himself. I know that he is now in front of the ultimate JUDGE and Michael will have to answer for all that he's done. He was very talented, but there will be others that will do more and be better then he was. Worshipping this man has gone over the top.

My final word is this: I feel for Michael's children. They didn't ask to be brought into this family, into the media, used as pawns to get attention. Their dad is gone. No matter what kind of person he was, he was their dad. I am praying for his children!

THE PERFECT SON FOR US

I am amazed by God's choice in a son for us. Every day we notice something new that Samuel has in common with either my husband or myself.

* has the same hair and eyes as Richard
* has the same birth mark on the back of his neck as I do
* can raise his right eyebrow all by itself, just like Richard
* loves to sleep late, just like Richard
* likes solitary activities just like I do

* likes his routine, just like I do
* loves music, just like Richard
* loves books, just like I do
* loves to eat, just like Richard
* is very ticklish, just like Richard

I love it when people say that he looks just like my husband! I love just talking about him: "My son is 6 and 1/2 months old." or "My son has the best laugh." 

MY SON! MY SON! MY SON! I'll never get tired of saying that! GOD IS SO GOOD!

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #50

My mother has always had a prayer list and I've now started one of my own. So each Sunday I will publish the prayer requests of anyone who e-mails me. Please keep us updated as God answers your prayers too.

Who we are praying for this week...

* My mother's hip to be healed.
* Stellan needs our prayer to be healed.
* RB to be matched with a birthmom very soon.
* Deborahrose needs prayers to heal quickly from her surgery
* Lana wants prayers that she is approved and matched soon
* Sissy and hubby to be matched and bring home their baby soon.
* Amy needs to come home
* Prayers for Abby.
* Prayers for Veiyah.
* Prayers for Abigail.
* Prayers for Seth.
* Prayers for Gavin.
* BB's husband's job situation.
* Kris needs prayers that Megan's sleep issues end soon.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Lisa - prayers for "A's" health, baby and adoption.
* Lisa - guidance for hubby & adoption plans to fall into place
* Uplift Michele's spirits
* Dawn - husband to hear God and find his way to Him
* Christy prayers and praise
* Rebel may your troubles end soon and blessings for Turtle
* our economy
* quick healing for Amy, her mom (knee surgery) dad (heart surgery) and Allie
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

PRAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN ANSWERED:

* Rebekah and Ben are new parents!
* Merlot brought home her beautiful daughter on Mother's Day
* Janice just found out that she's FREE OF CANCER and she feels great.
* My niece, Heather, had offer on house accepted and graduated from college.
* Samuel's adoption is FINAL and birth certificate is in hand!
* Samuel is sleeping through the night
* Patti brought home her son, Samuel.
* Heather got a job offer!
* Rebekah has been matched!
* Nancy is pregnant
* Patti has been matched!
* Kelly has her baby home!
* Stellen is healthy and home
* OUR SON, SAMUEL, WAS BORN!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!
* Gene's daughter diagnosed with spinal cancer...it's not cancer!
* We found an amazing babysitter for Samuel!
* Annie eports hubby's leg infection is clear
* Amy reports her dad is recovering well from his heart surgery
* Declan came home!
* Bri - grandfather released from hospital and doing very well.
* Becky new dental plan that covers 80% on upcoming root canal
* our birthmother has been found and baby is due Dec. 18th.
* Melba says Nan and "Sophie" are doing great!
* Kathleen brought home her new baby, Whitney.
* Melba brought home her new son, Charlie.
* the safe return of my car in full working order
* safe delivery of baby Leah

E-mail me if you have someone for me to add to the weekly prayer request. God Bless.

Heather's Wedding Shower

If you want to see all 60 shower pictures go to my FACEBOOK album. I'll show you the best ones here!

Mother and daughter! Isn't Heather a beautiful girl!

I love this picture of Grandma, mom and Heather.

Here is the crowd! Dominic's mother held it in her back yard.

These Gerber Daisies decorated the tables.

These were the little thank you cookies that were on the tables too.

Here is the cake! Heather's colors are black and white.

This is the fondue fountain that....

....this little girl loved. She was so cute!

The only game that was played was on Heather. She had to answer questions about Dominic. Each time she got a question wrong she had to put another piece of gum in her mouth. The look on her face is priceless.

These are the two mothers-in-law. Dominic's mom is on the left and Heather's mom is on the right.

His and Her coffee mugs. Ahhhh...how cute!

Heather got a lot of gift cards. She's ready to go shopping now.

Dominic's parents got them this gorgeous cross.

She got two of these....

....and two of these.....

and two of these,.....

....but only 1 toaster!

I am so happy for her! Dominic is a lucky man! CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER AND DOMINIC!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE LAWS!?! PART 3

MICHIGAN:
It is illegal to kill a dog using a decompression chamber.
A woman isn’t allowed to cut her own hair without her husband’s permission.

MINNESOTA:
A person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.
Red cars may not drive down Lake Street.

MISSISSIPPI:
Exterior burglar bars which are viewable from the street are not allowed.
It is unlawful to shave in the center of main street.

MISSOURI:
Single men between the ages of twenty-one and fifty must pay an annual tax of one dollar.
It shall be unlawful to provide beer or other intoxicants to elephants.

MONTANA:
It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone.
The game of golf may not be played at night.

NEBRASKA:
A man is not allowed to run around with a shaved chest.
If a child burps during church, his parent may be arrested.

NEVADA:
Everyone walking the streets is required to wear a mask.
It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway.

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Any cattle that crosses state roads must be fitted with a device to gather its feces.
You cannot sell the clothes you are wearing to pay off a gambling debt.

NEW JERSEY:
Drivers must warn those who they pass on highways before they do so.
It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest while committing a murder.

NEW MEXICO:
Idiots may not vote.
Hunting is prohibited in Mountain View Cemetery.

NEW YORK:
The penalty for jumping off a building is death.
Eating while swimming in the ocean is prohibited.

NORTH CAROLINA:
Bingo games may not last over 5 hours unless it is held at a fair.
It is illegal to drive cars through city cemeteries for pleasure.

NORTH DAKOTA:
It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
Beer and pretzels can’t be served at the same time in any bar or restaurant.

OHIO:
It is illegal to get a fish drunk.
If one loses their pet tiger, they must notify the authorities within one hour.

OKLAHOMA:
It is illegal to have the hind legs of farm animals in your boots.
It is illegal to wear your boots to bed.

THE WISDOM IN HOT CHOCOLATE

A group of graduates, well established in their careers were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.



During the visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups.

Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate.





When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand the professor shared his thoughts.





"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving the plain and cheap ones."





"While it's normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."




"The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."



"What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup....but you consciously went for the best cups. And soon you began to eye one another's cups."



"Now friends please consider this....Life is the hot chocolate...your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life."





"The cup you have does not define nor does it change the quality of life you are living."





"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God provided us."




"Always remember this...God brews the hot chocolate. He does not choose the cup."





"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have!"





LIVE SIMPLE,
LOVE GENEROUSLY,
CARE DEEPLY,
SPEAK KINDLY.

Leave the rest to God.

...And remember...The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.




ENJOY YOUR HOT CHOCOLATE!