Sunday, November 29, 2009

Snapshot Sunday: Scott

Ni Hao Y'all


Stefanie over at Ni Hao Y'all has been highlighting one of her children each Sunday for the past few weeks now.  She has nine kiddos....Yep, I said nine.  Her youngest is still in China waiting to come home....just like our Avery is.....

Anyway, she has encouraged us other bloggers to join in the fun.  And it is fun when a mom can brag talk about her kids!

I decided to start with my second oldest child.  You see, very rarely does he ever get to be first.  And for a long time, he was the MIDDLE child....always over looked and under appreciated.  Poor baby!!! Actually there is no way Scott could ever be over looked or under appreciated....

I mean, just look at this smile.....


He loves the Lord.

He taught himself to play the guitar.

He is super funny.

He is a passionate sport's fan. 

He can always make me laugh.

He is kind and compassionate.

He has a big heart and is always drawn to the underdog.


I mean, what 22 year old kid comes home from college for Thanksgiving break and works on a puzzle with his mother????




 And lookie here, it's a heart puzzle....how sweet is that?




 And, plays non-stop with his youngest sister....




Shea adores him!!!






Scott, when he was a little boy, insisted he was never going to leave me.  He was determined to marry me.  He would become quite distraught when I told him that I was already married...to his dad....(duh)....and that someday he would find the love of his life and marry her!

Well, he did find the love of his life while in high school and they are planning a June wedding!!!  BTW, I just love my future daughter-in-law to pieces.  I kinda set them up....(that's a whole 'nother post)....but, all you mommas out there...all I can say is trust your instincts.  Don't be afraid to help your boys find their woman!!!!

He will also be graduating in 19 days from college!!!!  Wow....with a degree in Business Communications.  He is currently interning for ESPN radio. Oh, how I am praying it is the Lord's will for him to become an employee of that station!!!


So, not only is Scott the first child for me to highlight for Sunday Snapshot,
he is also the first child of this family to graduate from college and get married!!! 






Oh, one more thing....

My son Scott is a miracle.  Yes, I know that all children are miracles, but this child of mine truly has a miraculous story....


When I was about 11 weeks pregnant with Scott, I became quite ill with CHICKEN POX.  I had contracted this virus after helping my neighbor care for her four young children who all had chicken pox at.the.same. time!!!!  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would 'catch' this illness especially since I already had it once when I was eight years old and I had taught kindergarteners, who at that time (mid 80's) were coming to school infecting other kids with the chicken pox virus all the time.  Anyway....when my ob doctor saw me and my chicken pox, he wanted to confirm with the pediatricians in the clinic that I really and truly had chicken pox. That day three doctors strongly suggested that I terminate 'the pregnancy'.  I was stunned!   After much consulting, and I guess researching, these doctors told me 'the fetus' could be born with severe disabilities. Such as blindness, intellectual delay, limb and/or kidney malformation. I was all of 23 years old balling my eyes out as I drove home after a long afternoon, trying to digest what these doctors told me. There was NO way I would ever consider having an abortion....I was already desperately in love with this baby growing inside of me. This baby was a gift from God. Was I scared?  You bet!  Talk about a faith building experience!

We finally found a doctor who agreed to take me on as a patient. (He was a 'good Catholic'!)  My pregnancy proceeded without further drama.

My mother had a dream.

She saw my baby being gently held in the hands of Jesus....from that moment on, I was not afraid. I knew that no matter what, my baby was loved and greatly treasured by the One who created him.  I knew the Lord had a plan for my baby.  I knew we would all be alright.

My son, Scott, was born on May 23, 1987, early in the morning.

He was perfect!!!!


And you know what, he still is!!!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Special Time with Daddy



As a mom, I just cherish the times when one of my kids gets to have one on one with their dad!

My husband usually get home between 5:30 and 6:00pm most nights....which, means we usually don't eat dinner until 6:30ish.  Shea's bed time is usually around 7:00ish. (She refuses to take a nap....she NEEDS to be in bed early!!!! Otherwise, we all suffer!!!!)

I like to have her bathed and ready for bed before we eat.  This just makes things more pleasant and presents an easier transition to the bed time routine.

Shea loves it when her daddy is home earlier enough for him to read her a story.

I love it because I can put the finishing touches on for our dinner.

My husband loves it because it provides them some special cuddle time!

I guess we are all winners!!!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Lovin' the Library!!!



When I picked up Shea from school the other day,  I told her we needed to go to the library to return her books. You would have thought I just told her we were going to Disney Land....for real....this kid absolutely loves the library!!!!


Here is her obligatory smile and pose for her momma.  (Can ya tell she just wants to get her little hands on some books?)













Now on to the main objective of this trip!





A pause in the concentration of choosing books...
"How many books can I get, Mom?"








































 On this day, Shea checked out 21 books!!!!

The nice librarian told us we could check out up to 200 books!!!!!

TWO HUNDRED BOOKS!!!!!!!

HOLY COW!!!!!

Shea decided that next time she might need at least 47 books.  The librarian gave me an interesting look.

What? I told her this was Shea's favorite new number!

And it has nothing, I mean nothing, to do with a certain ....ahem....age....of a certain momma.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

My little Chatterbox!!!!



I bought this shirt the other day.....

I couldn't resist.....

It sums up my daughter perfectly!!!!!

Anyone who knows her, knows she talks.all.the.time!!!!

I'm not complaining ....really I'm not!  I love her stories, her singing, and her very strong opinions....on everything!

This is a little girl who didn't say a heck of a lot for the first six months after we brought her home.  She was 26 months old and had a cleft palate the size of the Grand Canyon.  Any sound or word she tried to make just got lost....literally!  Shea came home in February of 2007. She had her first palate surgery in August. By Christmas....she was a chattering!!!  And she had a lot to say.....trust me!

Now, several surgeries later and with the help of her amazing & wonderful speech therapist....
Shea is a talking machine!!!  I hate to admit this....but, there have been times when I have asked Shea to (gasp) stop talking and let some one else talk!!!!

Here is a great story of "the kettle calling the pot black". (Or is it the other way around???)

Shea:  Mommy, I just love my new pink shirt! What does it say?
Me:  It says 'Chatterbox'.
Shea:  Oh, like someone who talks a lot.
Me: Yes, exactly.
Shea: Hmmmm.....just like Pastor!

Gotta love this kid!!! 




(Since our church has three pastors, I'm not quite sure to whom she is referring.....)

Friday, November 6, 2009

I-800 Approval, Baby!!!!!!!!

Yes!!!!





The official I-800 approval came in my mail yesterday!!!!!

Today it was sent to China....
We need one more document from the US Consulate in Guangzhou....
This should take about 2 weeks to receive.....
Then we can expect to receive our TA! (That is travel approval!)
This could take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks!!!!!!

Please pray for us as we anxiously await these final steps.
We are so close.....
I can almost feel my arms around Avery....
I can almost feel her soft silky hair....
I can almost hear her voice....
Oh, I just can't wait to meet her!!!!!


Look at all this cuteness!!!!!

I love you baby girl!!!!!!