MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...almost

Remember this post I wrote about all the things I was going to do in November....well of all those things...here is what I did:

* clean refrigerator
* make mason jar recipes
* address holiday cards
* make student packets for December
* Christmas shopping
* purge files
* plan for school
* clean outside
* make a pumpkin pie
* clean office
* make wreaths and blankets
* put up Christmas decorations
* Samuel's Christmas picture
* correct student papers
* wrap gifts

I love crossing things off my to do list!

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie . Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life! ( Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?"

His jaw dropped and he went silent.

REALLY GOOD DAY!

This is the result of my morning while Samuel napped. Richard got the lights up outside too. I usually decorate a lot more, but I just don't have the time. As Samuel gets older we'll do more.

Then in the afternoon we met "K" and her parents at a local coffee shop. We had a great visit! Samuel laughed, babbled and gave silly smiles, like this one. "K" is actually holding him in this picture, but we are respecting her wishes to remain anonymous. Today is also "K's" nineteenth birthday, so it made our visit extra special. Even though we haven't seen her parents for almost a year, we feel very close to them too. They are great people! "K's" mom was very emotional and it was very hard to say good-bye. I think we'll make this an annual visit. We had a really good dayl

GUESS WHO WE'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY?

After breakfast and decorating our house all morning, we are going to meet "K" (Samuel's birth mom) for coffee this afternoon. She hasn't seen Samuel since March. We lost touch with her for awhile, but she called a couple weeks ago and gave us her new cell number. She's now living in a different town, but she's here this weekend visiting her parents. I'll let you know how it all goes.

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #72

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 and heart to be healed.
* Janice needs healing from her cancer.
* Lana wants prayers that she is matched soon.
* BB's husband's job situation.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Lisa - guidance for hubby & adoption plans to fall into place
* 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
* peace in the Middle East
* our economy
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

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

THANKSGIVING RECAP

I was intending on taking more pictures, but as the day progressed, things got a little hectic and I couldn't take pictures and cook at the same time.....my husband really needs to learn to use a camera...ha ha...otherwise Samuel, will look back at all these photos and never know he actually had a mom.

I don't have a dining room so, when it was time to eat, I served from the kitchen, buffet style, and we set up two folding tables, in this room, to eat on. The table looked very nice. I really wish I had a picture of it.

The menu included: turkey, stuffing, deviled eggs (Thanks, mom.) mashed potatoes (Yes, there were lumps...thanks, Uncle Kevin.), sweet pototoes, zucchini, cranberry sauce, rolls, gravy and for dessert, lemon bars, pumpkin pie, fudge and an AMAZING, TURTLE TRUFFLE, made by SUPER AUNT GENIE.

Samuel slept great in the morning, but in the afternoon, with all the company showing up, he didn't get an afternoon nap, so he was a little grumpy. He's not used to a lot of people being around, either, so was out of sorts. He's also getting his two, top, front teeth in and his mouth was really bothering him. Here is one of his happier times with his cousin, Jillian. Besides Motrin, and Mommy holding him, the only thing that soothes him is a FROZEN pacifier.

Here he is learning the fundamentals of how Jillian's camera works.


Samuel is teaching Jillian that he is much faster at tearing down the block tower, then she is at building it.

We watched football, cooked, laughed, got a lot of phone calls from the other siblings and had a great day. Hope your Thanksgiving was great too!

SIX WORD SATURDAY #7

FEELING VERY SATISFIED AND QUITE HAPPY!

SUPER AUNT GENIE

Do you may remember when my mom wrote this post introducing you to SUPER AUNT GENIE?

I, Samuel, decided it was time she had her own super hero costume.....(music plays....DA TA TA DA!!!)...


We didn't want Uncle Kevin to feel left out, so we got him a costume too....


This is Uncle Kevin showing his support....


These angle wings just mysteriously appeared after she put the shirt on....


I love you, Super Aunt Genie!

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE IN ONE STORE! PERFECT!

see more Engrish

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Spending the day cooking and having fun with family! I hope your day is a great one too.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #67...KITTY LOVE

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures go to 5 MINUTES FOR MOM.

TWO SENSE TUESDAYS #38...CHORES

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:

WHAT'S YOUR METHOD FOR GETTING YOUR CHILD TO DO THEIR CHORES WITHOUT ARGUING?

CRAZY WAY TO HANG SIDING

My brother, Mark, is a general contractor by trade. He is in the process of building his own home, doing most of the work himself. Here is the house so far. My sister-in-law, Connie, is documenting the process on her blog, JUMPING THE TRACKS.

This is what they call the UGLY SIDE of the house. It's so high that the tallest ladder he has won't reach the top.

So, he has to climb to the top of the ladder and then use his rock climbing gear to swing out....

...and then he pulls himself the rest of the way up.

He's an expert rock climber, so I am very confident in his skills. Wouldn't you like to see this in the contractors handbook on how to hang siding!?!

GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS #71

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 and heart to be healed.
* Stellan needs our prayer to be healed.
* RB to bring home a little one in less then 2 weeks.
* Janice needs healing from her cancer.
* Lana wants prayers that she is matched soon.
* Amy needs to come home
* BB's husband's job situation.
* K-the birthmother of our baby
* Bri's hubby's job situation.
* Lisa - guidance for hubby & adoption plans to fall into place
* 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
* peace in the Middle East
* our economy
* all service men and women that they may come home soon

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

SIX WORD SATURDAY #6

On Saturdays Cate, at SHOW MY FACE, asks us to describe our life in a six word phrase.


Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy.....

PLAY DATE WITH GRANDMA

Grandma came over today and read me some books....

....played on the floor with my teddy bear....

...and gave me a few music lessons. I love you Grandma!

GOBBLE! GOBBLE!

I know it's about a week before Thanksgiving, but with a 23 pound bird, that takes 24 hours, for every 5 pounds, to defrost, I had to start the process today. I need him ready by Wednesday, so I can clean him and use the neck, liver etc, to make my stuffing. Don't worry, I don't actually stuff him until Thursday morning at 6 a.m. So that we'll be ready to eat around 3 p.m. On Wednesday, I'll also be making a pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, a salad, and sweet potatoes while my wonderful hubby cleans the house. I try to get as much done the day before, so I'm not as stressed the day of. Happy cooking everyone!

Samuel's Playroom

7:28 a.m....What a nice, neat living room floor!

7:29 a.m...Ryan, the zebra, is waiting for someone to come play with him!

7:30 a.m.....Look who woke up and wants to play!?!

7:31 a.m......Oh...no!