Reminders of China

So zoom in nice and close on this. We connected this week with a family from PEI who just got back from China with their new ambino...mmmm...quail eggs and feet, oh and I'll have some beef fried veggies with my tooties. Crack me up. Who wants to eat this. I think that there are nails on the toes...gagging now. Oh I miss China! Emily has been sick sick but seems to be on the mend. I've reached a new low since I have been somewhat trapped in the house with a sick baby I'm slipping into well I don't know what. Poor Mike came home today to find me watching Oprah eating a bag of nachos in my flannel nighty. Heaven help me. I have to get out of this house. Emily is well enough I'm going out tonight even if it's only to the grocery store. Emily is getting sworn in tomorrow as a Canadian Citizen pretty exciting. Let's hope she is even better tomorrow. I'm getting too old for this stuff. Not really but it's been a long time since I hung around in my nightdress. Must be at least yesterday bwhahahahaaaaaa. Ok I am losing it hopefully the nighty for some pants and human contact. If you don't hear from me for a while for goodness sake someone come look for me. Poor Poor DH. Oh did I mention that I went away with Son #2 this past weekend and had the pleasure to overhear some seventy bordering on the high side of seventy year olds get frisky. Talk about your nightmares. First that I had to hear it with my Son! Second that I have to worry about doing THAT when I'm almost 80! Crack me up. You had to be there to appreciate it but if you see Son #2 ask him about it but don't unless you want to pee yourself laughing. Mama getting dressed....really....and going out if I can pry DH and Son #2 off the crazy Rock Band. What have we become....Mama out!

What is the Mature Church?

I had the privilege to be selected to proofread a manuscript called Pop Goes The Church. The author is Tim Stevens and he wanted some people to read through it and offer comments before it was published. It is published by the way and if you want to be challenged about Pop Culture and it's use in the church definitely pick it up and read it. Just don't blame me if it totally challenges you and ticks you off. It's meant to. I also hope that if you read it it will provoke in you thought, discussion as well as action concerning how you may be perceiving today's culture and how it should be used by the church and what it can teach us about what the world is engaged in and why.
I've been reading Tim's Blog and he had this great explanation of what maturity is within the context of the church as explained by his senior Pastor Mark Beeson. I've copied it below so these are Mark Beeson's words not mine.

"Maturity = Immaturity

Three days ago Rick Warren proffered this question for me to mull over. What is the mature church?

I knew immediately how I would respond: "The 'mature church' is the church filled with immaturity."

Anywhere in the world, whether plant or animal, the clear delineation of maturity is the ability to reproduce. Immature animals can't reproduce. Immature plants can't replicate themselves. The definition of maturity is being fully ripe, fully aged, so the connotation of maturity is obvious. Where you see maturity you'll observe new life, babies and immaturity all over the place.

Maturity desires reproduction. Maturity tolerates juvenile behavior (from juveniles) while training its progeny for success in life. Maturity means little [babies] running all over the place.

If you attend a mature church, be prepared for immaturity. Where you find mature Christians you'll find little babes in Christ running all over the place. In fact, if you have been looking for a church where everyone tithes and everyone serves--you're not looking for a mature church, you are looking for a dying church - aged, impotent and bereft of spiritual newborns because everyone is mature.

Few things are more disturbing than a flock of adult believers standing around complaining that no one has come to Christ while refusing to do something that might result in new life. So when you bump into someone who acts immature at one of our services, don't complain, and don't be surprised. Instead, thank God the mature in Christ are busy delivering newborn babies to the family of God.

What do you think. Do you agree with this definition? I love it! Mama out.

Breaking through the Wall of Fear!

Well my friends Friday was my last day at work. I realized much over these past couple of weeks concerning my ten years at work. When God pressed upon our hearts to shed all that was familiar in November apprehensively I said yes but whoa baby was I afraid. As my departure date loomed in January my anxiety level increased for two reasons. One I was in the middle...looking back at what was and looking ahead at what was to come. When I was asked to stay the extra 8 weeks I thought it was God's will. It definitely wasn't. The minute I said yes to staying I in essence turned back towards familiar and even though the anxiety subsided sadness replaced it because deep down I knew that wasn't the right direction for me but to turn the other way I smacked into a wall of fear. Essentially I stayed in front of that wall and stared at it. Friday I jumped through it and now I'm on the other side and oh how awesome it feels to have moved beyond that familiar place into the land of "who freakin knows" but it feels much better here than there. God is teaching me to be in the now and live each day that He gives me one day at a time and I welcome it I look forward to it. I don't know what God has in the future for us but I know whatever the mountain is He will either equip me to climb it or simply speak it to move it I'm just going to enjoy the journey. Big steps is what we are taking, big scary steps. We are about to engage on the journey of a lifetime and that is so much better for me than what I was doing before. Not that what I was doing before wasn't important because I have lifetime friendships with some incredible people but we are stepping out of our comfort zone, outside of the four walls of our church and we are going to try and make a difference in this world for Christ. Update on Mom....she is still in the hospital but should be out today. My sis is still sick so continue to pray for her and Emily is on the mend. Easter is around the corner and my family will be together again...can't wait. God is good. I'll leave today with Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Have a great day....Mama out!

New Blog is Up and Running

My new blog for Children from the Heart is up and running. I have added the address to the Link section on the sidebar so all you have to do hopefully is click and go. If that doesn't work the address for it is http://straightfromtheheart.typepad.com/ . Most of you know this but we began a non-profit organization called Children from the Heart. God has been so incredible I wanted to be able to share with all of you the miracles that He is and will be performing. It is a forum for me to be able to discuss the orphan crisis in the world today. The blog is called Straight from the Heart because it is not only straight from our ministries heart but straight from my heart as well. Please let me know what you think of the blog by leaving a comment so I know if y'all made the shift from this blog to that blog. Not to worry though I'm keeping this one. I have goobs of people that read it now and I'd miss just yacking about motherhood. Please pray for my Mother and Sister. Both are very sick with pneumonia. Also we just found out on Friday that our Emily has pneumonia too. So add these three to you list and I'll keep you updated on how everyone is doing. All are pretty sick. Thank goodness for the folks at Seaside Community Church. They have been providing meals for my sister and Mom for the past three nights. I love you all and that's what I love about good church community. Our own StoneRidge has been incredible to us over the years and are always there when we need them. I'm done work on Friday and can't wait to see what God has in store for us! Too exciting. Remember check out the blog and pray pray pray for my sick family. Have a great night...Mama out!

Movin on

As promised!
How's this for red, red, white, white...red....bwahahahaha

I found out on Friday that my last day at work will be March 14th and I am so looking forward to the next phase of what God has planned. I am taking a couple of weeks to pray about it and decide what next. We don't often get the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. I feel 18 again. Speaking of feeling younger. I've been walking around thinking I was 44 turning 45 in July and feeling bummed out. Guess what I was wrong. I'm only 43 not only do I get to reinvent myself but I feel like I added two years to my life! Talk about a dork. Son #1 comes home tomorrow. We had a flash war at the house today because he let me know he's working all next week. I wish just once he would be lazy (not really). He loves to work and well how awesome is that but I was looking forward to seeing him and finally getting that family portrait done. Mark this down...we will be getting that stupid picture done before he leaves supposing I have to drag him at 6:00 in the morning. I miss him loads. I haven't seen him in almost 8 weeks. He heard back from the Air Force and is headed to air crew selection in Toronto next week. So pray pray pray for him. He will do great and is being positive but it will be a gruelling 5 days. I am about to start another blog for Children from the Heart. I'll announce it and put the link up on this blog. It should be ready in the next couple of days. Son #2 designed it for me gotta love that kid. I just need it to be operating properly which I'm having issues with. If you look at the new Widget I added to my blog on the books I'm reading you'll see that I'm working through the book " A New Earth". It's taking some special kind of grace to read it. I want to read it though because thousands of people obviously searching for something spiritual are reading this and raving about it and I want to see where their heads are. Obviously there are goobs of people wanting to find the Life's Purpose. It's a great opportunity I think to take something big in pop culture and perhaps cross reference to being a Christ follower or better yet cross reference it to the Purpose Driven Life. Anyway it's quite something. I attached the picture above from the summer. If you have been following my blog you'll know that I've been meaning to but was always at the wrong computer. Gotta love those bellies...hee hee. Thought you would all like the laugh in the doldrums of winter...summer is around the corner. Heaven help us! Mama out.

Rock Band - Oh Yah!!!!

Ok so Son#2 has been wanting the Xbox game Rock Band forever!! We have said no just because he really doesn't need something else to distract him. No. Well home he comes last week with a report card with a 95 average with humongo hard courses so since he's such a good boy why not. Now we did not buy this he has had Christmas money saved just waiting for us to cave. Well we caved today baby! If you have never played this game or seen this game what a hoot. You get a fake guitar, a microphone for karaoke, and a fake drum set and drum sticks. Oh my glory what a blast...just so you know Son #2 is the Johnny Guitar hero guy and DH is the leader gorilla man singer and yours truly is the cool chic drummer. Let's just say we just spent the last hour with DH writhing and gyrating around the rec room singing his heart out Mick Jaguar style with Son #2 rockin it out on the guitar and well Mama rolling on the drums. I can honestly say I am soaked in a sweat. Like no kidding my hair is wet and my arms are sore and my one leg found a muscle it didn't know it had and with my back being sore what in the name of goodness was I thinking. Poor Son#2 imagine him being cooped up on a Friday night with his forty something year old overweight parents transporting themselves back into the 80's. What a belly buster. I can't remember when I've laughed so hard. I feel a rock band party coming on. So if you see bizarre shadows coming from our downstairs it's just Mama's family rockin it out baby rockin it out! Update on my book - Introduction is complete. First Chapter is complete. Second chapter is half done. I have five people doing the proof reading for me initially. Once I am completed my entire thing which should be in about 6 months I would say if I keep on schedule I will be looking for more people to read through the entire thing for me so if you are interested please email me and let me know. I appreciate your continued prayers on this. Finally an update on the second adoption. My prediction is we will travel January, 2010. Just my bet right now. Oh we are trying to pick a name...here are potentials.... Ellye, Ella, Sophie, Lilly and Lucy....I'll take any ideas so feel free. Well that's it from our house tonight. Mama's rockin out for the night.

A Potty Party

Big day for baby girl. She's been saying for quite some time now pee and poo poo in potty(can you believe I'm actually writing about this!). So I bought a potty, a dolly that pee's and a dolly potty. No success! We make psssssing....sounds, run water, notta nothing. Go figure I'm in the shower the other morning and put her on the toilet. When I came out of the shower she was buzzing around the bathroom and I happened to glance in the toilet...oh yah baby...big ole poopy! The house erupted in excitement. "My Daddy" had to look at it. Then Son #2 had to be ousted from bed (did I mention it was 6:45 in the morning..hee hee) to look at it. Stickers were given out and the potty party was under way. Too stinking cool considering those of you who know me I am low low stress when it comes to my kids. Son #1 had a soother until one day he handed it too me and said "I don't think I need this now". Son #2 had a baba baba until he was seven ( and 10$k in braces....mmmm...wonder why). I think my mother in law trained Son #2 and I'm sure Son #1 just decided since he was old enough that the toilet was where he was supposed to do his "business". This whole actually training the girl...well we'll see. There is something to be said for just figuring it out on your own. Low stress, low maintenance, low planning and low effort now that's parenting 40 something year old style. Mama at the potty signing out!
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What a dayz!!!!

This has been one of those days - you know the kind that you just can't believe what keeps happening. It started out like no other morning I've had in a while. I actually got up just after five and got dressed to go on the treadmill. Now I'm going to tell you and this is true true true. Whenever you decide that you will start something new, do something you have been meaning to do or just make an overall change you can be guaranteed things will go incredibly wrong. Now the only time this is an issue is when you aren't braced for it. Well, I was so braced for it because when I closed my eyes last night I knew that today would be "the day". I got up, got dressed headed downstairs flipped on the light in the rec room to have the two crazy dogs begin to bark and bark and bark and bark...so no problem, I'm ready. Simply put them out before I get on the treadmill. Not problem like I said. I start running - well who am I kidding - I start strolling along with the headphones on but I'm up and I'm moving. Apparently the dogs kept barking but well I had my ipod in praisin God on my morning stroll but my DH had my back and he got up and let the dogs back in. He even managed to get in the room without giving me a heart attack as I saw him coming. I was roasting because the new heating system works great and I was even able to get the window opened by DH before he left. My next goal was to work on my Beth Moore study. Which was incredible, a glorious half hour of studying the Word and doing soul searching and understanding my faith. I decided that afterwards I should go take my shower. When I went upstairs DH wasn't there. Oh well , he must have gone down to run too. I showered, got the baby up, bathed and dressed. I was having a great morning. I went downstairs and by now it was 8:00, I wasn't working today. It was odd that DH wasn't back. I went downstairs but no DH and he obviously hadn't been on the treadmill, I went upstairs but he wasn't there either. I then proceeded to spend the next 5-10 minutes trying to find my DH. I jokingly thought crap maybe the rapture happened and I'm still here? So after I couldn't find him, I woke Son #2 up to tell him that DH was missing. He found him IN BED!! In bed. He never sleeps past 6:00 ever. Well turns out the mini Pepsi's he's been hoing into just before bedtime kept him up all night. This was the start of it. Now we're late and Son #2 informs me that he must be in school before a certain time or the teacher will have a bit of a fit. He's stressed so now I'm starting to get stressed and DH is out of sorts. We head to the vehicles, DH carrying the baby but I forgot my purse. I go back in the house only to hear the loud scream of the baby I look up and DH is standing in front of me snow all over him and snow all over the baby...the baby is screaming and they are darting looks at me as if it is my fault and well both DH and baby apparently did a half gainer in the driveway on the ice. Everybody is ok now except Son #2 who isn't necessarily concerned that his family may have broken something but he is more concerned to not be late. Now you know when you're late it is inevitable that you will get behind someone doing the speed limit but it seems like a crawl. I am one huge ball of stress by the time I arrive and drop Son#2 to run into the school. I need a coffee but I'm going to Starbucks so I pass on Tim's. You see the other thing I'm bound and determined to do is write for a couple of hours on my book today. So off I go to Starbucks oops I need money and must go to the bank machine...temporarily out of order.... well who needs the bank machine to be in order that would be easy. Luckily I have $5 that will get me a small something at Starbucks and I stress small. By the time I get there my table is gone..you know the only table that has a plug beside it but well two ladies were sitting at it and their cups are empty...sweet. I know the drill - get the coffee ,sit beside them and sort of make them uncomfortable until they leave. Just sit really close. I open my computer to work off of the battery and well of course it won't boot up it needs power. I'll wait. I can read my book. I have a granola bar...I'm good....I'm at Starbucks, I'm going to write ,I have a coffee it's all good. Forty five minutes later, I freezing because apparently Starbucks can't afford heat and they are still talking....what is their problem? I decide maybe if I get up and call Mike and walk to the garbage can in front of them they will catch the vibe. That was when IT happened. IT is that I looked down to the floor for something and my breath caught in my throat. As I looked at the floor what I saw facing back up at me..two different shoes! Here I was in the middle of Starbucks with two different shoes on! Two different shoes on! Not just two black shoes but two completely different, completely different colored shoes on. One black and one light brown. Did you ever have a nightmare that you went out in public with just your bra on or in your underwear. Well now I know what that feels like. If I had been standing there with my underwear on my head I wouldn't have felt less conspicuous. What an idiot how do you leave the house with two different shoes on and no on notice? Me not notice? I'm sure that I gave many a chuckle this morning as I walked around like a knob who couldn't dress herself. This was not going to stop me though. I'll just write at home. I walk to the car like..."yah whatever, I know I meant to put these shoes on" get over it. I went home. But I am not defeated. I spent the next two hours writing. Ha, take that! I will perservere. The rest of the day was great I spent it at the Christian Academy. I needed to go to Vogue to buy me some new glasses. After I was "handled" by the lady there with my eye measurements she apologizes for the cold she feels like she is getting....AAAAAACHOOOOOO....her not me. Great just what I need a rotten cold and it's too late she's already touched me and everything I've handled. Oh well I have Purell in the car. I leave the store immediately to disinfect. I met DH who dropped off Son #2 to B-ball practice. We went out for supper with the baby girl and all was good. As we drive away from the restaurant...baby girl begins to make noises like I haven't heard before... arrrrrhhhhhhhggggg.... ahahahahahahahahhhaaaaaa.....arrrrgggggg....strain grunt. Sniff, sniff...mmmm...smells like poo. We were going to Chapters anyway and by the time we are in the door she smells like an open sewer. Now any other day it would be normal but when I took that stinky baby into the washroom and took off her diaper well I can't imagine a baby passing that! I kid you not it was the exact size of a fastball. I'm not sure how it came our perfectly round like that and I couldn't imagine an adult pooing that let alone a sweet little China doll. It was so big that well I thought I shouldn't put it in the garbage because it was obviously a weeks worth of poo and it stunk like crazy...I should flush it down the toilet. I carry it the few feet to the toilet and proceed to drop the stupid thing not in the toilet but it bounced all over the toilet and just kind of stuck there to the toilet seat. I know, I know it's grouse but mercy enough already. I take the diaper and put it in the toilet. Now if you can imagine the baby laying legs straight up in the air crap on her butt....me trying to wipe crap off of the toilet only to have it smear from one end of it to the other, crap on the baby, crap on the change table, crap on the toilet, crap on my hands. Oh yah like I said enough. I clean it all up and her up and me up and sanitize myself and her again. I just want to read a book but now we have to go because I've spent our Chapters time in the toilet with Emily. She did have time to grab an Elmo book that costs a small fortune and decides that it must go home with her and as we remove it from her hands....mine mine.....mine... we head for the door. DH goes ahead and well I am a very well kept woman and I think he has gone to put baby girl in the car and pick me up because it's cold and all. I look up and there he is again with the baby? I proceed to get snotty and say why couldn't you just pick me up...it's cold...blah blah....blah...once he could get a word in well...apparently I had the keys to the van...open mouth...insert foot. So I'm home now. For the record I have rewritten this five times not because I want to get it right but because the internet keeps crashing and I have lost my connection about 17 times now. I sat down at 9:00 and now it's 11:00. I'm going to bed thank goodness. The day is over and well it was one of those dayzzzz....but I exercised, drank water and wrote just like I said I would...I was determined and like all new plans if they go wrong we fall into writing oh whoa but not today, I won the day even with all the oppostion. I must be onto something important because why else would all of this get thrown at me today so I wouldn't do what I said I would, but I won baby I won....today :0)...Mama victorious signing out!

So Many Firsts

Bought a new car for the first time

Celebrated Gotcha Day Anniversay For the First Time

Celebrated Christmas as a family of five For the First Time

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted but then I can't believe how things have changed since I've posted. God is good people God is good. The last time I wrote I was just heading back to work. I have loads to catch you up on and this is a post about "for the first time" or FTFT. Emily started at her babysitters "for the first time" and loves it. It has been a blessing to have her in such a loving home. What a difference it makes to not have to be concerned about her. One of my worries about going back to work was that I would be caught up in the "land of familiar" and when the time came to leave and pursue Children from the Heart vigorously well I wouldn't be able to leave. God worked that all out for me. My job that I had when I left changed considerably with much much travel and hours of work. I was given the option to work on a project for a year or to leave and well after much prayer God made it very clear I was to leave so well soon I'll be unemployed (FTFT). Now you would think that would stress me but it doesn't. God has had his hand on our family for quite some time now and we have diligently been trying to walk with Him not before or behind. It is the scariest place to be and the most wonderful place to be. So I'm out of the boat again and in the water but it was so clear that God wants me away and clear from anything that is familiar and comfortable for me. I no longer play in Arise...the Christian band I have been playing in. Again, God asked for this and I spend months saying no. I figure well if he can sacrifice His Son for me I can sacrifice this great love that I have of music. So there you have it as of now I have no band, soon no job but it's the happiest I've been in ages. How crazy is that! Emily dressed up as a bumble bee for Halloween (FTFT) I don't think she was too too keen on it!We celebrated Emily's 1st 2nd birthday home (FTFT). She was so so cute. We had Christmas (FTFT) with Emily and we travelled to Sugarloaf with two other families. Great ski vacation. Emily wasn't too keen on the daycare with little Felix, and Hans and Frans in their unitards and baby Ugs. No skiing for Emily this year but she will next year. Can't wait. We celebrated New Years. Well we didn't actually celebrate. Emily barfed we gagged and cleaned and we fell asleep at 10:30...hee hee but it was good. Son #1 bought a new car (FTFT) and finished his first semester at university. Son #2 is hanging in there with his basketball. We celebrated Emily's Gotcha Day (FTFT) and tomorrow will be the anniversary of her arrival in Canada (FTFT). I am at times overwhelmed at God's hand on our lives. There are days that I am overwhelmed at the happiness that I feel. In good times and in bad as long as I remember He is in control it's all good! Well it's been a long time since I have posted so hopefully I'll get back to a routine. I checked my post last year on January 1st and the good news is that I finished my 15 week Bible study as research for my book and I have completed the introduction and the 1st chapter. We have formed our charity...Children from the Heart and we will have our board meeting (FTFT) next week. DH is away this weekend with Son#1 flying (FTFT) with him and skiing for the weekend. It's great for them to spend time together. That's all for now it's late and I need my beauty rest...lots and lots. Mama writing on and going to bed!

Thanksgiving in the Wide Wide Open

A few years ago we packed up and went camping for Thanksgiving. We went with some friends and cooked our turkey over an open fire. It was one of my most memorable Thanksgivings. So why not repeat it I say! We packed up the trailer and met the Schmu's and Clatt's at our second home in Ingonish. Friday was a beautiful day. The last time we went for Thanksgiving there were four trailers in the whole place...not this time. Much, much more activity! The great thing about having cooked turkeys outside once you can figure out how to fix what didn't work last time. We had a better cooker and smaller turkeys. It was nice because Son #1 and Son #2 were there so we actually got to spend Emily's first Thanksgiving together as a family of five. I love camping for that holiday because it makes me so thankful for so many things. For my family, for God cause we are in the wide wide open, for friends, food, sunshine, yams, my health, did I mention yams. I'm posting some of the pics from the weekend. Hope you enjoy and don't get too hungry....Mama visiting Son#1 signing out for the night!

Yes I am alive

Well it's been just about a month since my last post. What's new...well Emily started daycare a couple of days ago. She is pretty weepy...big sigh.....I hate it. The daycare is great I'm just struggling with the whole putting her in an "institutionalized" setting again. Major heartbreak. Our sitter had a baby and will Emily will eventually go there but this is to help Emily get caught up developmentally but I'm not sure if I'll make it. She's fine - I'm not.

We are moving right along with our charity. We are in need of an accountant for our board so ya'll have to be praying that God will send the right one along to us. Our name is official. Children From the Heart. We have made some incredible contacts and we are taking it one day at a time walking through one door at a time.

We had a reunion of the families who went to China together last weekend. It was great to see the girls all together again. What a blessing to see them growing and so so healthy. We've been cutting trees in our back yard. Picture my DH, a chainsaw and a rope tied to the bumper of a truck....well let's just say we could write an article now on the "Redneck Guide" to chopping down trees. What would Jeff Foxworthy say...."If you cut trees and tie them to the bumper of your truck....yyyyyoooouuuu might be a redneck"!

I'm taking an incredible bible study with Beth Moore at the church on Wednesday mornings. It's called Believing in God...pretty appropriate for what we got goin on lately. What else????Oh my Mom just celebrated her 85th birthday which was nice. Son #1 isn't dating "my girl" anymore...sniff sniff...I knew it was too good to be true. If you think about them please pray for her and for him. Breaking up isn't easy and even though they parted as friends pray that feelings and hurts would be healed. Son#1 is flying high literally. He flies three days a week and is loving life at university. He's doing well in his courses. After I got over the gasp of paying my first tuition for one of the kids I'm okey dokey now....Son #2 is doing great in school as well. We just take it one day at a time and pray pray pray them through their days. Basketball tryouts are next week. I'll let you know how that goes. I have another big prayer request. Good friends of ours just received news that their 1 year old has CF. Please pray for Ryan and for Gary and Rachel (his parents) that they can keep their eyes on God through all of this. They are an incredible couple and they will get through this but it's their first child together and well those of you with children can just imagine the heartache. It has become clear to me this week that you can have all the material possessions in the world, all the success in the world, seem to have it goin on in everything but if you don't have your health and if your kids don't have theirs well none of it matters really....you would trade it all in an instant. We are headed out for Thanksgiving in the 5th wheel....I can't wait. To be under the stars and just spending time being thankful for all that we have had the opportunity to experience this year. Family is a great thing. It makes you able to handle anything that comes your way. What else.....I am back to work November 1st....big sigh again. Don't get me wrong I am thankful for my job and I am thankful for my friends at work but well you know....big sigh. This time has gone much too quickly. Emily got to meet her aunt from Virginia today. They bought a summer home in Riverport a number of years ago and I finally was able to go there. I really enjoyed the day and Emily was very comfortable with her as well. I have to pack up the trailer tomorrow early so I'm going to sign off now. I posted my new favorite song...hope you enjoy. Mama almost on the road again...signing out.

Fall Back....I'm Back

Well I've been computerless for quite some time now. I'm back from my trip to the Promise Land......Cape Breton! I spent pretty much the month of August beachin it. What a relaxing time. Hope you like my new summer song and video...this was what I listened to oh about 1700 times. I like to think that I'm the girl in the video...only a little heavier with lighter hair...minus the sofa and the guitar. Yah just like me... on the beach anyway. Em and I stayed part of it by ourselves and we've had friends come and go all summer. Son #1 is all moved into his new pad. He called me this morning to tell me he was off to his first class. School started yesterday for Son #2 all is well. I go back to work in 6-8 weeks. Can't believe how quickly the time has flown. I've added some of my favorite pics from the summer hope you like them as much as I do!! Sorry there was so many I took about 600 so it was good to just put these in. For those family members checking this from "away" it will give you an update on us.

I do have another golf picture that involves a whole bunch of guys with no shirts but I'm gonna save that one all on it's own...0h you folks in the pic be very afraid! Not much new. I've finished my bible study and have the intro and one chapter compiled for my book. Fourteen more chapters to go but I'll get there. We have four board members for our Children from the Heart Foundation and we are almost ready to go with this we need a CA though so if you know anyone please let me know. Please pray for both of those things for me. Music ministry is about to start I feel like I haven't played in ages! mmmm what else oh found another critter yesterday. Well I didn't praise God. It was cold cold cold yesterday and I wanted a fire in my fireplace so called my DH to "look after me" remember I am a well kept woman. He chopped up some kindling went to the fireplace opened the damper and got up. He walked into the laundry room. I decided I wanted to light it not being a patient one...where did he go anyway....I heard "I'M LIGHTING THE FIRE". That loud. Now I'm not used to having voices raised at me. "What"? "I'm lighting the fire". I could tell from his face he wanted me no where near the fireplace. I instantly knew..."What is in the fireplace you don't want me to see". "Never mind". Shrieking...."What is it"!!!!! "Don't worry...it's dead". Shrieking louder...."What is it". "Well".....he says....when I opened the damper something fell on my head. I almost fell on the floor at that point. "What is it"! A dead BAT....Oh mercy if I had lit that earlier like I was going to I would have first pee'd myself, only I wouldn't have realised it until after Emily woke me up from the faint to which I would have left the house forever. Bats in the Belfry...at least the stupid thing was dead. I pictured the house full of them when the fire lit. My brother asked me if I had bat houses. Now apparently we must construct condos for the fury black critters now but at least they eat bugs. Serenity now serenity now. Mama off to sleep with blankets over her head....signing out.

On the Road Again Day Six and Seven

Day Six - We drove and drove and drove and did I say we drove. Emily did really well in the car but I'm sure she wishes she were home sweet home. DH and I picked up a book on the way outside of Buffalo. I spent the day reading to my sweetie. Here is some of what God is teaching us on our road trip. About dreams. God has placed in everyone a dream. Did you read that? God has placed in everyone a dream. Everyone's is different but everyone has one. You may have buried yours long ago but it's there. DH and I spent hours talking about our dreams and where we are in our lives and what's next on the horizen for us. That's what this trip was about it was about DH and I connecting our dreams and then handing them all over to God. We had intended to travel to Woodstock but there wasn't any hotel rooms available so we stayed at the Whitehouse Best Western in Bangor. It was a nice treat to stop driving at a decent hour and the room they gave us was an older room with a big old four poster bed. Just a relaxing night.

Day Seven: Up early and off to Bristol to pick up the boys. We got there about 11:30. We missed the boys. We wished they were with us at the Amusment Park but they are doing so well at camp. Both boys came running to the car to see the baby and she was ecstatic to see them. Me too. I do love my boys. Son #1 is growing so much in his faith. He has grown this summer in leaps and bounds. I can't believe it's almost over for him. I'm hoping he'll be able to spend a week in Ingonish with me. Son #2 is excited to go home but is leaning towards applying to work at camp next summer too. I would miss him but I know it would be good for him. That's a whole year away though and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. It was nice though that the girls in the kitchen miss DH. He loved working with them at family camp and was an encouragment to them and why not he's a great guy. We took the boys out for stuffed crust pizza and Son #1 was able to take a couple of hours and go with us. Great end to a great week. We were touched this past week. We are not the same people coming back that started this road trip but that's ok. We are excited to see what God has in store for our family. All we know is that no matter what we are willing to do whatever absolutely whatever He requires of us to further His needs. That's scary to us but freeing at the same time. Please pray for us over these next weeks and months as we pray about discisions that will move us forward to fulfill God's dream for our lives. I'm off tomorrow again with the trailer. I'm not sure if I have internet access so if you don't hear from me I'm still around just riding a wave somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean and will catch you up when I get home. Or who knows maybe you'll hear from me sooner. Mama home and down for the count.

On The Road Again Day Five

What a day today was. It's late now because I'm trying to catch y'all up on what we've been doing. If you haven't noticed by now...there are two more posts under this one so start on day three and read up. By now if you've read the other posts you understand why I haven't updated cause we've been flat out. If there was ever a doubt whether we should have come or not (which there wasn't) today was everything God intended it to be for us. We got to church on time....great facility. The pictures you are seeing are of the children and what I want you to realise is that these children were thrown away. Some discarded on garbage heaps. It is an incredible thing that Tim Baker and his wife Pam are doing. We are so blessed to have been included in this weekend. I couldn't possibly put everything that happened in this blog and will have to hook up in person with all of you if you want to know more just let me know but I'll give you some highlights. God is incredible....I know you know this but do you know on our way to church this morning I was putting my make up on in the car and well I was starting to look like Tammy Faye Baker with the whole mascara thing. I had a whole conversation with myself about how I need an eyelash brush and will have to buy one and see if it works. Remember this for later it is relevant. We arrived at the church and were assigned a host family who were lovely and stayed with us all day. We were prayed over. We heard Tim's story. Stephen Curtis Chapman is a good friend of Tim and Pam's and sent a video for him which was nice. Stephen's third daughter Maria was a PHF Baby. This foundation looks after special needs orphans....fixes them as Tim would say and then finds them permanent homes. Incredible family. We had breakfast....listened to Tim tell his story and the incredible things that God has done in their lives....incredible incredible things. Again too much to go into details here you'll just have to treat me to a tea some day!! We had a lovely brunch and then attended a church family picnic. It was during the picnic time that we met a family from Ohio...originally from Connecticut who are in the process of doing the exact same thing we are. We talked and talked. They have seven children 5 biological and 2 adopted, one from Siberia and one from China. He is a Pastor and they adopted but like us not through Tim but came to this function like we did just because they felt God wanted them too. Guess what... they were one of the big reasons we were to go. Incredible how similar our stories are and his dreams and visions are the exact same as mine only he was able to help me work through some big holes that I didn't know what to do. We spent over an hour talking with Tim and Pam working through our dreams and he is such a tremendous help. I wish all of you could have met him. We left there so pumped. God clearly confirmed that Children from the Heart is something He wants done. He gave us a verse in Revelations 3 "See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it". So there you have it. We are stepping out once again in the faith that God has opened this door we will go through it no matter what because this is our heart and this is what we are prepared to offer ourselves to for God's purposes no matter what. I'm going to be looking for help to get this off the ground so if it is something of interest to you let me know and I will tell you "the plan". Please look at the faces of these children. Please pray for them that they will not have the spirit of abandonment linger with them as they grow. Pray that they will come to know the Lord at a young age. Pray for their health most of them have health needs. Also please pray for our trip home. Adoption is a wonderful thing. It is not God's plan B...it is His plan A. We are all adopted into His family and these children deserve a chance. I have also attached a group photo.....a group photo of the kids...ignore Emily's screaming in it...end of a long day for her....and a pic of Tim, Pam, Wendy and Larry (in that order left to right) the two kids are Wendy and Larry's. You think we are brave...Wendy and Larry have a thirty year old and a 27 month old. I love it. Well gang it's almost 2:00 am. I was too excited to sleep and wanted to let y'all know we are safe and sound slightly outside of Buffalo right now. Everyone but me is sleeping safe and sound and I am about to follow. Oh....the eyelash brush. When we left I got in the car and pulled a bag of chips out of my welcome bag...and out came....you guessed it....an eyelash brush. Can you imagine. I'm shedding a little tear right now because our God is so amazing that something as small as an eyelash brush was a detail that he worked out for me. Who puts eyelash brushes in welcome bags...God does! It's Mama looking fine with the new lashes somewhere near Buffalo...over and out.

On the Road Again Day Four

We were up early and on the go to King's Island today. It's like Canada's Wonderland. We met the folks from the Phillip Hayden Foundation. Gas here is so cheap it cost us 48.00 dollars to fill our vehicle. That's nuts. We drove by this church it's called the Solid Rock Church. They had a statue of Jesus coming out of this lake in front of it and it was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was massive. I attached a picture from their website. We found out the church calls it the King of Kings...but the locals call it the "Touchdown Jesus"...well you look at it and you will see why. Incredible thing. So we missed the stupid exit which made us late surprise surprise. I don't know where we thought we were going....maybe Crystal Palace. We'll park...dash in. Try park half mile away.....get scanned like at the airport....wait in a big line up then try and find people when you weren't where you were supposed to be at the right time. Good news is everyone was late....kindred spirits I love it. God has blessed us in big ways and little ways on this trip. In the line to get in a man 50 people ahead of us looked at me and said would you like a coupon to get 1/2 off your tickets "does a chicken have lips"! Yes sir saved us $50.00. The coupon was good for 6 tickets so we let "our cup run over" into the families behind us and shared with them. Felt good to get it and to give it. Pay it forward baby. Emily loved the rides and I mean loved them. I attached a few photos so you could see how incredibly brave she was. We couldn't go on the rides because apparently now they have a weight and height restriction. Either I was much thinner and shorter when the boys were little cause we always went on with them but not here. Only on the merry go round and the Timmy the Airplane and I will spare you the pics of me jammed into that. She had a great day. We did miss the boys though. Crazy rides. There was one that put two guys...yes guys were the only people in the line up to pay $20.00 each to be strapped into a metal ball with a buddy....attached to a be spring type thing. It was called the slingshot for a reason. These guys shot up in the air about 450 feet with squeals of curse words a mile long mixed with peals of laughter. It was too funny to watch. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to get on it let alone convince me to give someone money to do it. We had lunch at the park and met truly amazing families and kids. It was a bit overwhelming. What beautiful beautiful children. The spirits of these families are incredible. The children just make you want to weep when you see them with their special needs and how happy they are and the miracle that adoption truly is. We left the park at three and we were so close to Cincinnati we decided to drive there...when we were there we were so close to Kentucky we decided to keep on going. You know what's coming we just kept driving. DH's brother is working in Jamestown Kentucky which is close to Tennessee and he has never met Emily and well we couldn't possibly be that close and not go see him. It's been a while and it was so nice to have a few hours with him anyway. He took us out to supper to a place called the Porch. (Oh Vic if you're reading this we left in such a rush I don't think we actually thanked you for supper....thank you thank you thank you)....we ordered deep fried dill pickles...sounds grouse but you know what I liked them. Couldn't eat anything in China but bread up a big ole pickle and I start to drool. The best part

was the Karaoke. The whole time through dinner all the older people in this very small town filed in with their Karaoke cd's in hand and one by one proceeded to sing. They actually were pretty good I thought. A few duds but for the most part I really liked it. Did I mention Emily was a brat...that's another story. We went to see DH's brothers big D A M project he is working on and DH thought he would let DHB drive. Oh baby the tears flew. She did warm up after a while but it was too bad cause she really is cute and doesn't usually chuck food, slap our faces, yell when people are trying to sing Karaoke...you know the drill. It really was great to visit. We did pay for it though. We didn't get back to Dayton until a little after 1:00 and well then Emily was toast for about an hour but at about 3:00 we dosed off until 7:00 cause we had to be at the church by 7:00...yawn....Have a look at the pics ...oh I also stuck in one of the project Big Bro is working on...pretty incredible....hope you enjoy. Mama....on the road out.

On the Road Again Day Three

Happy Birthday to Me....Happy Birthday to Me.....Happy Birthday Dear Jewwwiiiiiiieeeeeee Happy Birthday to Me! We were up and on the go at 9:45 not too bad considering. Emily slept well last night because there was a crib available and no need for the pen. When we pulled out of the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Emily fell immediately asleep. Gotta love that cause it is easier on her for the travel. She has been a trouper with the drives. Pennsylvania was pretty as we drove through the little bit you see of it there were tons of vineyards. We finally hit the border of Ohio at a bit past 11:00. The food on the road is pretty grouse and we've chewed up nearly a box of Zantec well not the whole box but next to China it's the worst my stomach has felt. So we are in the car almost to Dayton and well we pass an antique mall now I told my DH you know that it is my birthday it would be nice of you to stop. "Oh I'm sorry hon did you want to stop". Ladies you know all of our husbands do it well probably 80% of them zooming by at 140 kms per hour. Hee hee two exits down there was two more bwahahahahaha.....he said "I'd love to stop". Oh my glory. This was like the silk market of antiques. DH had to make some phone calls and I went in with Emily. When Mike came in he said he expected me to be lying on the floor spinning around in circles and well I almost was. There were 800 vendors!!!!!800 cubicles!!!!!800 cubicles filled with stuff that I love!!!!! What an incredible birthday treat. Two hours later they had to kick us out because they were closing but I found myself an awesome oak dovetailed box from England and a wooden spoon. Sounds lame I know....another box Julie....but you know me and antique unique boxes. Best birthday present ever. We checked into the Hampton Inn lovely lovely room. I am so spoiled. The princess and the pea. We went to the mall and then out to O'Charley's for supper. Great bun place. We just said keep em comin...please it's my birthday and I'm eating white bread....."she's crazy"!!! Oh my glory I almost forgot when we were walking through the mall there were Aqua Massage beds. Imagine a cross between Spock's casket on Star Trek, a tanning bed and a car wash all in one. You lay down the lid closes so all that is out is your head and then well the car was starts spraying your butt, neck, legs,feet it was heavenly. I didn't care what people in the mall thought who knows me here right....wrong...Emily does and thought the big casket thing ate her mother...and went ballistic. So my relaxing water thing was me saying "it's alright baby girl...I'm ok.....and talking to her and letting her slap me in the face while the water slapped my butt. Motherhood after forty I'd recommend it to anyone....teaches you to be flexible. All and all a great birthday thanks so much for the Happy Birthdays I got on the road it meant loads to me. I put in a pic of Emily at the dive of a Motel that costs a mission dollars and one of her asking to get in the crib....I can't figure this kid out! Mama down and out in Dayton.

On the Road Again I Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again - Day One and Two

Day One: We arrived safe and sound last night in Portland. We were later leaving the city because we needed to drop the trailer off to get a few things "done" to it so we were an hour or so delayed. Emily travelled really well and I found out that hey you can pee in your Crocs and it's ok! No I didn't pee myself although I might have today it was close. I took Emily to a bathroom in St. John that didn't have a change table and was a wee bit grubby so I just took her diaper off standing up. I heard "ahhhh" looked around and she was lifting one leg and then the other with puddles of pee on the floor and all over her dress. Not very lady like if you ask me. You should have seen the look on the people in the line up when I came out with a baby in nothing but a diaper. The drive was good but because of the delay we didn't land in Portland until about midnight. Now the Bangor Motor Inn is our usual haunt but well this was Portland. You guessed it. Holiday Inn...booked. Days Inn...booked. Ho Jo's....booked. Quality Inn ahhh...finally a room. I was very good and knew that God had a place picked out for us. Now the next time I'll pray for a room and a room that costs less than the Sheraton in downtown Ottawa! We were ripe for the picking....the guy watching porn on the computer when Mike walked in....well not really but almost I wouldn't have been surprised... gave him a crazy expensive price. What are you going to do when Mom, Dad and Baby standing there looking like dirt and you have the only room in town. I did manage to give him "the look" and get 10% off. I actually wouldn't have minded the price if (now those of you who have stayed at the Bangor Motor Inn will appreciate this) it didn't make the Bangor Motor Inn look like a 5 star Motel. Dump is putting it mildly but hey I'm not going to question God I'll pay my five bits and try to sleep. NOT...you see they couldn't get a crib and I had to use the playpen. Yes the dreaded playpen. This started a half hour scream fest. It was a king sized bed so we just brought her in with us which wouldn't have been so bad but someone must have been teaching her WWF wrestling cause about a half hour into the tossing and the turning it was an elbow slam to my head and a bum slam to the face and a finger up the nose...after an hour of this...yes that means it's now 1:30 I put her back in the pen. Scream fest number two. Oh and the good old barf started again. We tried to let her cry but at almost 2:oo in the morning in a motel that the walls are paper thin and a yard full of Harley's I decided to let Mike sleep and I got up with her. She ate, she drank she watched two episodes of the Cosby's and well with a dropper full of Tylenol (she has a molar coming in honest) at 4:00 we went back to bed. Finally at 5:00 she slept.
Day Two: Mikey looking me in the eye at 8:00 with Baby sleeping peacefully. God truly is amazing...honest and truly. We vowed not to complain about the room because we prayed and that is where God put us...so we sucked it up. I got three hours sleep but did the prayer that "I need to feel like I got twelve Lord" and viola felt fantastic when I woke up. We went to breakfast with the Harley dudes and dudettes. After everyone left we were there alone with an older couple. After idle chit chat it turns out that they are missionaries. He is a physician and volunteers for an organization in Guatemala to care for children who need medical attention. We had a good chat about our foundation Children from the Heart we are starting and our visit to Ohio to meet Tim and our vision for orphan care. God makes no mistakes what a great contact to make. We exchanged our email and will stay in touch. Never never never complain or question God. Everything for a reason. We drove twelve hours today. The baby did fantastic. Now she is here Body slamming DH again but he's actually enjoying it this time. Secretly we enjoyed it the last time. I decided to get an ice cap which in the USA is coffee with ice cubes....grouse but nothing two sugar packets couldn't fix. Now I don't drink coffee and you coffee drinkers need to let people know that it makes you well.....how to say this delicately....stop at every rest stop to run to the bathroom. Oh my aching backside. The sad thing was I didn't figure it out until I ordered and drank another one. It wasn't pretty. In one of the rest stops an Pakistan girl .....oh about 12 asked me if I was Chinese...Now I figured my eyes were permanently squinted after the 50th stop...and I so wanted to say yes but decided against it. Children are so cute. She then proceeded to stare and asked if my husband was Chinese...what is this the grand inquisition....no he isn't we travelled to China to adopt her. Mmmm....don't you have any real children. Yikes....real children....Poor Emily I hope that in time when she can understand what people are actually saying that maybe they will stop talking like that but I doubt it. She's as real as it gets baby. We're missing the kids today. It's different with just the three of us but we did enjoy the day. We finally arrived outside of Buffalo in the middle of a humongo lightening storm and well we got a room no problem and didn't have to sell anything to pay for it and we booked it to Denny's to cram in some breakfast food at 9:30 at night. Life is good on the road. We will arrive in Ohio....Lord willing at noon in time to shop for my birthday present. That's all from the road I am optimistic that Emily will sleep and can't wait to meet Tim and the rest of the families and see what God has planned. Keep us in your prayers and remember to keep praying for Jakie and if you see my friend Christopher tell him Happy Birthday...gotta love that guy.....if my kids are reading this we loooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee you loads and will see you on Tuesday. Mama, Papa and Baby in the U S of A signing out.

Road Trip Day Eight and Nine ----Home At Last, Thank God Almighty I am Home At Last!!!

Whaaa.....Whaa.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....whaa......whaaa......whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ......zzzzzzzzz. I think you get my drift about baby girl over the past few days. Son #1 arrived safe and sound. We were shopping at the mall and I decided I must have a hair cut. You ladies out there reading this you know what I mean. Your fine one minute then wham the next if you don't have your hair cut within 5 minutes you'll cut it yourself. After the week I had I deserved it. Low and behold the second that the urge hit to my left was a hair place. In I went and again they just happened to have an appointment. Son #2 took the baby with the attitude and I was led to "the chair". About half way through the cut I actually took to time to lift my head and glance around and well look at the stylists (plural). Singing "on the eighth day of vacation my true love gave to me three obvious lesbians, two emo chicks and a goth lady cutting my hair!" A whole lot of pink, black and other various colored hair. Great just what I needed to end my week from H E double hockey sticks. Let's just say I was the hippest looking 42 year old in the mall. The boys just looked and God love them said..."ah it looks good Mom". Boys went to a movie and DH, Baby and I watched a movie on tv. Oh did I mention once the two other boys got there the baby went to sleep with just a wee whimper, stopped throwing her food so much and well went somewhat back to almost normal. Life just isn't fair I say. I wanted them to feel our pain but noooo not this time. The baby did wake up twice through the night and with Son #1 and I leaving early and Son #2 in the room with her all night DH took pity on him and didn't go golfing. Yes he didn't go golfing he spent the morning with baby girl. Gotta love that guy. Son #1 is all registered for university and we visited the flight school. What a great group. His instructors were young though ...... kind of like a bunch of boys playing a video game if you ask me. I pummeled them with questions and they did just fine with the answers. Son #1 can't wait and I'm really excited for him. I choose to not think about him flying...in spins and engine failures and all the other things they train him to fly out of. They said I'd be free to go up with him and well there just isn't enough happy pills in the world right now to make me do that. I get almost hysterical thinking about it. We pulled out of the campground yesterday and started for home. Praise God home never felt so good. With the exception I now decided to get insomnia. I believe God is testing me. Really and truly I am soon going to lose my sunny disposition. Just to let you know how out of it I am I went shopping for Son #2 today for his birthday. Loaded up the back of the van with his presents and headed to the Mall for one more thing. I moved all the stuff so it wouldn't get stolen and then walked in the mall with my hatchback wide open. God must have known I couldn't deal with this because I was in the mall for and hour and a half and everything was still there. Sitting in the back of my van with what might as well have been a sign that said steal me but it was all there safe and sound. What a feeling when I walked out of the Bay and saw my van hatchback open. Sinking sinking feeling. I went to buy a birthday cake and well proceeded to knock over an Off display. A gazillion little bottles sprawled everywhere. It could have been much worse and well I could have lost my testimony with the guy rolling his eyes at me like "stupid woman". How about this stupid woman clawing out your stupid eyes....just kidding...I smiled and picked it up with the help of the summer student who I am sure just merchandised the whole thing. I am on a 7 second delay so I'm not driving anymore tonight cause I nearly swiped three cars and I'm not exaggerating. It's good to be home....There's no place like home. Oh and an update on Baby girl. We walked through the door.....she ran for her toys......ran all over the house....put on her PJ's......kissed us all good night and is napping as we speak. Who'd of thunk it. We are going again in a week I'll have to load up on the happy pills this time. Anyway I'm home and boy oh boy it feels so good to be here. Mama sprawled out on the couch with the remote....signing off.

Road Trip Day Five, Six and Seven

Three words....Whaaaaaa.....Whaaaaaaa......Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......get the picture. We arrived safe and sound in PEI...other than the dead crow no beg thang...but Baby Girl hates and I mean hates the play pen. I'm beginning to wonder if at the orphanage she was put in it for a time out or something because she goes ballistic just if I set it up. Day four and Day five were brutal. Monday was as bad if not worse than our first day at family camp. Finally at 12:30 I packed her and Andrew up in the truck and drove back and forth to North Rustico and not for lobster suppers. Finally she went to sleep. I parked the truck and in my haste opened the door lights blared inside and well I left the lights outside on so...ding...ding...ding...ding....panic....get everything closed...still sleeping. I gently placed her back in the hell pen as I'm affectionately referring to it by now and she was fine for about one minute. I of course in my panic not to wake her I bumped the d....a.....rrrrr....n thing and the screaming started all over again. She screamed for about 1/2 an hour and at about 2 finally went to sleep. I crashed hard. Trailers were packing up all around us the next day. We didn't have anyone near us by the next afternoon. I wish I could say she slept all night but like clockwork at first light which is 5:00 it started all over again. I just brought her to bed with me. The screaming I can take but the barfing that goes along with it is what sends me over the edge. She has learned that well if she screams loud enough she will gag and voila barf city. I do not know how single people do it. I'm not even really single cause I have Son #2 for help but whoa baby he's a good boy cause any other almost 16 year old would have run screaming long ago. I was determined to figure out the problem so I dug out the crib guard from our last trailer and jerry rigged up a bed and plunked her in it for a nap yesterday and well she only cried for about 2 minutes then went to sleep. I wasn't going to get too excited because she was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I put her in it again last night and she slept well and tonight well not so great...we're about 1/2 hour into the crying but it isn't the hard core screaming it was all the other nights. This too will pass. In spite of all the screaming we did have a good time on the Island. All Son#2 wanted to do was shop so anything he wanted I was getting him...but those of you that know him well that just isn't something he is comfortable with but I did manage to get him a few things he was just lookin for the "deal". I bought a new shaker but Son #2 said it looked like 5 boobs on a stick...once I looked at it I realized that hey it did...so we have now renamed it the (all you Christians out there plug your ears)....the tittie shaker. hee hee. Let's just say it isn't something I can even play now without busting a gut laughing...so you won't see it in church unless I can reshape it somehow. Shame cause it sounded great. We rehooked the trailer for the first time today. It actually didn't go too bad. A couple of hiccups but we figured them out. We must look like knobs with our little notebook of instructions I've scribbled down. I missed an exit and had to pull a U-turn which was interesting...and well I took a wrong exit and actually got lost. I was on a back road and well figured we'd be in Doaktown before I would find a place big enough to swing the truck and trailer around and said as much to Son #2. Voila biggest church parking lot in NB I'm sure. God in all his sovereignty placed that church there just for us about 30 years ago that's my story anyway it was cute Son #2 said "God is good Mom..." you betcha. When we arrived this man said wow...my wife would be too afraid to drive something that big...again...no she's not stupid enough to! I am getting the hang of it though and actually backed in with only two tries this time. I will however let DH drive it back on Sunday. I just want my cruise control back. We are in NB now and DH and Son #1 will join us tomorrow. It will be nice to have my boys back together even if it's only for a couple of days. Please pray for DH's dad who is back in the hospital again with fluid on his lungs. Pray for safe travels for DH and Son #1 tomorrow. All's well on the road...I hear little snores and I finally have internet access to update y'all. I'll post prom and graduation pic's when I get back on Sunday. Monday is Son#2's sweet sixteen. Hard to imagine. That's all from the park...trailer park that is....Mama out!

Road Trip Day Three and Four

Well we made it to PEI safe and sound. Family camp was great but DH was "some tired". He helped out in the kitchen for the weekend. We didn't see him much but the food was yummy and he was a blessing for the girls in the kitchen. Baby girl finally settled down and slept in the pen yahoo. We thought we might have to cut the trip short but no way baby....we are on the road. It's a mother, son and daughter road trip. DH was so tired he missed the exit to Woodstock, missed the exit to turn around to make the exit to Woodstock and well then apparently a crow hit the car....now I know that seems hard to believe that he would hit a crow...no the crow hit us....do you understand the crow hit us....I took the keys and drove most of the way back to Moncton! Thunder and Lightening a go go though. We set the trailer up a bit crooked...good thing because the trailer people forgot to caulk the bathtub...we had slight water issues. Nothing too serious though. DH was up bright and early trying to find a place that sold some this morning. Let's just say I look like a camping hag and could use a shower desperately but I have my make up on baby! I'm at an Internet cafe right now. Getting many many looks about whose the lady with the rats nest on her head. For those of you who have camped with me before....just think of what I looked like in the morning and I am actually out in public like this right now...it's kind of fun. I do have my lipstick on though I'm not completely a bohemian right now. Son #2 and I drove, backed in and set up the trailer. Took 50 attempts to get the trailer perfect on the lot...my perfectionism was a pain today. We did just fine. A couple even came and told us how "brave" we were...I thanked her but said it was more like stupid than brave. We're here in PEI for a few days and we are going to do all the PEI stuff while we are here. I'm looking forward to the adventure. So far every day has been one. Well I need to leave this computer right now before someone I actually know walks into this establishment. It's Mama from the Internet cafe saying so long for now.