Almost Here

Well, Christmas is almost here...less than 3 days away.  No news on the adoption at this point, we are still waiting on DNA.  I won't even go into all that.  Please just pray for DNA to be done quick and smooth.  Thank You. 

We have been busy making and delivering candy and cookies and other treats.  My grandmother always did that...well she delivered food to people year round but especially at Christmas. I was able to catch on to some of her recipes and I like to carry that on.  It makes me think of her and the fun times we had making stuff.  I have to say she was much more patient with me than I am with my kids.  Maybe it was a grandmother thing..? 
I have a busy day in Owensboro tomorrow, going to do some last minute stuff and maybe meet up with a friend or two.  We have Christmas at my Mom's on Thursday and then Steven's Mom's Thursday night.  Friday is breakfast at my house and lunch at my Grandmother's.  Then we leave early Saturday morning to go visit out of town friends and family.  My fam was complaining about not having recent pics of the kids so I tried to take some here at home....guess what their getting for Christmas.....

Shay and Marley

                                                                         Jadeyn Ray 

DNA is on it's way. We hope.

We received an e-mail on Friday stating that DNA testing had resumed in Haiti as of Thursday, and our case would be made priority as we have already paid and been waiting.

This is great news considering I had already decided that they probably wouldn't restart testing until the first of the year.  It has been proven once again that God is in control of this thing and just when I think it is impossible, he makes it happen.  Oh ye of little faith....  Now, what does this mean for us-well-Paxton and his birth parents will have to come to an appointment for the testing to be done at the Embassy in Haiti, after that is done it will be sent to the U.S. to be processed and the results will be sent back to Haiti.  Once the results are recorded in Haiti there will be an appointment for Paxton's visa approval and as soon as they get that we can go get him.  I'm pretty sure that's how it will go...... This picture is his December update, I can't wait to grow out that hair.  Mom needs to go shopping for a cute hat for him to make his first U.S. appearance in-it's gonna be cold here on that bald head!

Busy Days

Well, with Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas soon approaching we have quite a schedule to fufill, so here's what's been going on...

We had Thanksgiving at our house with parents, grandparents, and brothers.

We shopped the day after Thansgiving with all of our children :)

The day after the day after Thanksgiving we went to the movies compliments of Southwire.

Sunday, we went to church and out to lunch with my Dad and Grandparents.

Today we are finishing up decorating for Christmas, and Darrian is leaving to play ball in Tennessee.

Friday December 4th  is my sunday school class Christmas tea.

Saturay December 5th is the Sanders Christmas at Donnie and Janices.

Sunday December 6th is the women's gift exchange at Providence (4:30)  AND the kids Christmas play at school (6:30).

Wednesday December 9th is the kids Christmas program at church in the gym (6:30)

Thursday December 10th  is my birthday!!

Wednesday December 16th is the youth video scavenger hunt at church, FUN!

Thursday December 17th is our small group Christmas party at the Clark's.

Friday December 18th is the kids school Christmas party at Mr. Gatti's.

Thursday December 24th is family communion at church.

Then, after we do all of our family Christmas get-togethers.....we leave the 26th to visit more family and friends.....see ya after the New Year!

UGH

Yes, Ugh- I don't have much else to say at this moment.  After e-mailing the embassy in Haiti and contacting the Adoption Agency, we have had no luck finding out when the DNA test will be scheduled.  For those of you who don't know-this is basically the last thing needed to seal this deal and they're taking their sweet time getting it done.  Of course I have 3 other kiddos here keeping me very busy as usual.  Jadeyn and I had a mom/daughter day out on Monday in Owensboro.  We went to Red Lobster for lunch and hit the mall.  She helped me pick out a coat, I have needed it due to the cold weather this week.  We went to Wal-Mart and she picked out a little something for being so good. :)  Shaylen and I will be going out sometime over the weekend for his mom date and Darrian will be playing basketball out of town.  Hopefully we will have some adoption information soon but for now.......we wait.

The Big Quilt Giveaway

This year is Providence Baptist Church's (my home church) 100th year.  The church has had a year of celebration in honor of this big year.  They collected quilt pieces from the church family members and a lady from the church made a quilt to give away during homecoming.  As we arrived a greeter gave everyone a "chance" at the quilt, kiddos and all.  I would guess around 200 or so chances were in that box.  They had special music, a time of recognition for members, guest speakers, etc.  Right at the end was the big quilt giveaway.  Joy, a lady from church went up and held the box of chances out for Brother Shane to pick the winner.  She took it back and shook it some more for good measure...then he took out a name.  Steven DeWitt!!  We couldn't believe it, Steven won the quilt.  I think some of the ladies would've liked to taken it away from him, one even offered him money for it, but he made it out safely-quilt in hand.  We have the quilt stored in the closet until we decide exactly what we need to do with it.  Do we keep it out?-do we put it up?  We're not sure......

Poor Marley.....

Last Tuesday our yellow lab Marley got hit by a golf cart (of all things). It messed his leg up pretty bad. The vet had to sedate him and stitch his leg and he spent 6 nights at the vet $$$$ So last night was his first night back home and he was supposed to stay inside, well that didn't work out so well. At 2:45 this morning he starts whining so Steven gets up and takes him out, by 3:15 he has still not settled down, I could hear him messing around on the linoleum in the living room-banging the big cone on his head around. Yes that is funny-but not so much at 3 in the morning-as say 3 in the afternoon. So Steven took him out and tied him on the porch where he couldn't go anywhere and I guess he went back to sleep, or at least I did! He is supposed to have his bandage changed tomorrow and his stitches out in a week-it's almost like having another kid!

Help Us Find Clarity....!?!

Life is full of decisions. From very small meaningless ones to very big meaningful ones. As some of you may know Steven and I have begun what we thought was our new home back home -close to the grandparents, where I grew up. We put the house we live in now up for sale over 2 years ago-yes over 2 years ago. To this day we haven't even had an offer made on it. Shortly after putting our house up for sale we began the basics at the farm. Building spot leveled-check, septic tank-check, driveway-check, house plans-check. The kids are so excited, well they were, now we are all starting to wonder where this going....right now nowhere. All the building spot seems to be good for at this point is a parking spot for an old Ford Ranger. Our prayers for quite some time have been for clarity. And so far we have none. We really want to do the right thing though it seems we have no direction at all. I feel the need to be close to my grandparents during these days, I still have a lot to learn from them. Here at our present home we have a great church family, they are more like just family, the kids go to a great Christian school, and we are content. That is until we visit the farm where we planned to move, or my home church (like we did last Sunday for homecoming-where by the way we have another great church family), or when I go to doctor appointments with my grandparents that remind me of how I need to be closer to them. Then we start to ache to be back there. So as you may see clearly the only thing we see clearly is the fact that we are confused, very confused, and in need of some clarity. I'm writing this post just to ask all who stumble across it to pray for us and for God to give us direction. We are accepting words of wisdom, no begging for them actually. But if you could just say a prayer for us we would be very grateful. Thanks

Home from Branson..

Well we are home. We had a long trip to Branson on Monday. We arrived around 7:45 and found a pizza buffet because we were hungry. After pizza we checked in to the condo and got settled. On Wednesday we went to Lamberts Cafe for a late lunch and then to the Sight and Sound Theatre to see Noah the Musical. It was really good. Thursday was our big shopping day and then Friday we traveled home. The girls did a 5 session bible study called Girl Talk. It was really good, for the adults as well I think. It was about our words. Back at home Shay and Jadeyn stayed between a friend and a grandma. On Friday Steven was off so they along with Andrew and Eliza went to Louisville to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and then to a Tim Hawkins show. I think we all had a good week. Tiring though. Hopefully we can get rested up this weekend!

Busy Saturday

Steven and the boy are off to paintball today at Diamond Lake with some boys from church- so you know what that means. Yep, it's me and the girls today. We have a pretty busy day today. First we're off for biscuits and gravy at Little Daves (yes you heard us right Steven and Shaylen Little Daves it is). Sorry you couldn't be here.. Then, well my gas light is on in the Expedition so I should probably take care of that. Then we have to let carpet cleaners in for a business I clean for, then (sorry girls) flu shots at 9:45. While strategically avoidng the HUGE Hwy. 60 yard sale mess we will then head to the church and finish cleaning and fill the baptistry for a baptism tomorrow. After that we will come back home and clean OUR house, and pack for a few days away. Darrian and I are going to Branson with the youth girls from church (which is way funner than paintball with the boys by the way). So we have a very busy day.... better get started.

Bling Bling

Today was the yearly eye doctor appointment in Owensboro. Of course when we have to go to Owensboro we usually run several errands and do some shopping. We were at the mall today and the girls decided they wanted their ears pierced. Darrian wanted the upper ear on one side and Jadeyn picked a pair of hoops - we agreed thinking they would be easier to maintain. Big sister had to go first so little sister could evaluate the pain level. Darrian didn't show much discomfort so Jadeyn hopped in the chair next. She didn't get upset until it was time to close the backs. All in all they both did fine and they are happy with their new bling. Shaylen asked if he could get his pierced next, I'm not sure what to think about that request.....

As I took out the fall decorations this week I remembered the shirts I bought the kids last year after Halloween. In the second box we took down there they were. In the mix was a little 18 month shirt for a certain little boy that I thought for sure would be here by now. I remember standing in the Super Wal-Mart in Corydon, IN November 1 last year, and in my mind it seemed impossible to think he wouldn't be here by now. But here we are still waiting. I threw in a picture of it so you can see how cute he would've been....

Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my first post! I have spent several hours creating this blog as a way for family and close friends to sort of be able to stand at our window and see what is going on in our life. There are many things that go on that you miss because you live out of town or your work schedule won't allow you to take part. There are school activities, basketball games, and sometimes just random things that happen that I don't have time to update everyone on. I hope to update this often so that you have the opportunity to check in at your convenience.