Anna Grace's "Life Story" Necklace

I had a wonderful time, yesterday, designing this "Life Story" necklace/bracelet set with Anna Grace. I allowed her to choose the charms. I chose the blue stone and crystal beads (I chose the blue because her B'day is December). and I created this set that highlights "everything Anna Grace!" I'm so proud that I did it, and now I know how to design jewelry! Anna Grace loved being a part, and it was very interesting to see what she chose and how she views herself!

Just had to share our successful project!! Still no new adoption news to report on our end. We really don't expect to hear any "referral news" until the spring. So, until we hear about something adoption related, I'll keep sharing our family news and latest happenings!

Have a wonderful day! And, thanks for reading :-)

Happy Halloween 2008!!! The Year of "Bo Peep"

Fun Halloween Memories 2008!!

Farmer "White" and Goat girl (lovely costume, huh? :-)

Heading out for "Tricks or Treats!"

Anna Grace is ready for a big Halloween starting her day off with her kindergarten dress up day as "Little Bo Peep"!! Boy, are we looking forward to some fun today! After loads of fun at school, we met up with friends and had a "chili fest" and trick or treats. Another great Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Salsa Verde, Anyone????

Wow!!! Take a gander at that mother-load of green tomatoes that we pulled off the vine today!! 209 tomatoes on October 29th! We had our first freeze last night--so who knows if they'll be any good. But, fried green tomatoes and salsa verde are two things that come to mind. LOTS of salsa verde and a restaurant full of fried green tomatoes!!!!

We started by just getting the big green ones off the vine, but it turned into a rescue mission for even the tiniest baby green tomato. Each one deserved a right to survive the freeze forcasted for tonight. In Anna Grace's words. . . "No mama, get them all!!! Get that baby one too. It doesn't want to freeze its "toucas" off tonight!!" So, we rescued them all. . . all 209 tomatoes---some red, most green, some large some tiny. But each one important to a little girl named Anna Grace.

Some Fall Fun!

We sure had an awesome weekend! Daddy was not working, so we went to the pumpkin patch, celebrated some Bama football and even took a little Sunday hike at Moss Rock Preserve. Ohhh. . and we found the most amazing new pizza joint called Mafiozos---YUM!!! Hope you enjoy our little collection of memories . . .

Fun Day at the Pumpkin Patch!!!

Runnin' through the "hay maze"!!

On top of the world!!!!

Anna Grace and Kaylee Rose

My hayride buddy. . . :-)

Cotton Pickin' time

Peek a Boo!!!!

Anna Grace and I had a wonderful time, today, at the Old Baker Farm with AG's kindergarten class. We had a hay ride, picked out pumpkins, played in the hay, pet baby chicks and rabbits, picked cotton. . . you name it! It was a fun time, and I hope you enjoy the pics of our fun memories.

Beach Memories

Click on the photos to see them full-sized

My sweetie and me at the beach. . .

Sunrise over the salt marsh. . .

Our sunrise walk--gosh it was gorgeous!!!!

Daddy and his beach angel

Kisses for daddy

--check out that most perfect sand artfully designed by the ocean breezes. . .

Shell huntin' success!!!

Anna Grace after she races us back to the condo---and wins!!!



Sunset at Seagrove Beach

Oh, beautiful jellies in the crystal waters---if only you would have let us enjoy the water too!

sun-bathin' beauty

Making "Drip Castles" with Mama "B". . .

Ocean over the dunes. . .

morning walks on the beach--with coffee!!

Our family. . .

The whole gang of us at the beach!! What great times we had. . .

Mama, me and Anna Grace---3 generations of women! I'm so glad mom came!

Well, there are times when you just need to take a break from things to embrace the simple, fundamental beautiful things in life--and shut out the clutter, noise, stress and distraction of the every day routine. These times refresh, restore and inspire you--and they shine a light on all the things we have to be truly thankful for--our health, the beauty of nature around us that stays constant even during these tumultuous times in our world, and the people in our lives who are walking this life-journey with us. I became keenly aware during my reflective time at the beach how the simple things, at the end of the day, are what we are left with. And they are what matters--not the urgent matters that vie for our attention every day.



Above are some reflections of our trip----hope you enjoy!

We are launching our adoption bracelet fundraiser!!!

Well, no more news thus far on the adoption. We are in the "just wait" phase--waiting our place in line for our referral. In the meantime, however, we have an exciting job to do. Anna Grace wants to be a part of the process and we have created a beautiful adoption bracelet (with her help) to help us raise the funds to bring her sister home from Taiwan----and at the same time, raise awareness for the millions of children more waiting to be adopted into their forever families. We hope this bracelet will reach far and wide spreading the message of the beauty and tremendous need for adoption. Please visit our newest blogsite at www.childrenoftheworldadoptionbracelets.blogspot.com.

We appreciate you stopping by--and, please, pass word along to others you know. We need to get the word out about our project!

For those of you reading who are in the process of adopting and you have another child at home anxiously waiting for their brother or sister to come home--you might consider coming up with a creative project of your own to allow your child to be a part of the adoption process. It is a great family bonding experience!!

Thanks for reading, everyone! And, thanks in advance for taking a look at our bracelet blog.