We're baaack!

You may not have even noticed that we left, but we did.  And for an entire week at that.  The day after Christmas we headed out around 6:30 in the morning to cold, cold Northern Indiana.  We first stopped at Darrian and Shaylen's grandmother's house in Bremen, IN and left them there to spend some time with Mammaw Alice, Aunt Lori, and their cousins.  Then Steven, Jadeyn and myself headed over to Hammond, IN to spend some time with Steven's brother and his fam.  We visited Albanese Candy Factory in Merrillville....

We went to church on Sunday morning and then Cindy and I went out shopping on Sunday afternoon and I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done for 2010.  It was very cold and snowy so we spent a lot of time chatting in the living room where it was warm too.  On Tuesday morning we loaded up and went back to Mammaw Alices so we could spend some time there as well. 

The kids had Christmas dinner at Mammaws while we were gone, looks like they had a good time.....

Aunt Lori had a New Years Eve party with good food, and lots of card playing....

Mammaw is picture crazy, she has to get us all.  Many, many times!

We ended our journey around Lafayette, IN visiting Steven's BF Chad and his fam...but I guess we were tired of the camera at that point because we didn't take any pics. hmmm..Maybe next time.

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!