"I'm a Georgia Voter"

Xian wouldn't allow me to post his sourpuss mug!

FUTURE MEMBERS OF

THE YOUNG REPUBLICANS!!!!!

Frankly, I'm glad it is over. I'll be MORE glad when next Tuesday comes (and goes.) I'm so very, very sick of everything having to do with this campaign.

Yesterday I went to vote and was turned away because the computers were down.

Today I took my 3 youngins' with me (Xian and LB wanted to go.) The line was outside of the library and we were told it was about 2 hrs. It was about 50 degrees here in GA w/ some pretty major wind - definitely chilly! The girls sat in their stroller under blankets playing their DS's. Thankfully everyone in the line was in good spirits!

The Chestnut Tree by Hyun-Min Lee

My own little Mims:

Pumpkin Patchin'

****FINAL PUMPKIN PROJECT 2008****

GA really is lovely in the fall. You would never guess that after the hot, muggy, buggy, and terribly humid summers that this wonderful weather (and colors) can emerge! I actually really enjoy it here after the summers end!

Today we did something that I hope can become a tradition for as long as we're here. We visited Carlton Farms in Rockmart, GA. The girls and I did the petting zoo and the hay ride while Xian and Dana (friend) did the corn maze. We all did the hay bale maze and the duck racing.

I'm so cheap, that we didn't buy our pumpkins there, but stopped at - you guessed it - Crawlmart on the way home to buy them for $3.50 each. Mimi wanted little ones.

We especially miss Nanny on the day we carve pumpkins. In the past, she has always made this something that is special between her and the kids. I did my best - they would have rather had grandma!

GA TECH

Man-in-Iraq had a phone interview w/ the GA Tech Research Dept. this week. I can't even begin to explain how much I want him to get this job so he can actually come home... and I don't mean just come home from the desert, but home from FL as well!

The job possibility that strung him along for the past 3 months has dissapaited; they lost their funding, the job disappeared:(....

T has a friend, Jeff, who has been a HUGE networking resource. Jeff connected T w/ the GA Tech people and the interview went really well! Thank you, Jeff!!!!

Of course, timing is an issue now. They want someone ASAP, of course. I pray they will not find anyone before T can get home and meet them face-to-face.

We are all SO over being apart! We miss you, T.

Dining room turned shipping and receiving....

My once never used dining room is the perfect place for my latest endeavor - sorting, posting, selling, boxing, and shipping the girl's clothing.
I'm selling only a tiny fraction of the clothes that I'm giving away.


To think that some people do this for a living - buy and sell on ebay, I mean.

Seasonal clothing rotation

This is what the girls' closet looked like last week w/ their summer clothes.

It was time for the dreaded changing of the clothes. I drag up the 4 huge boxes of fall/winter clothing from the garage. The closet has to be emptied before the winter clothes can go in. Thankfully I can sell or get rid of the clothes that won't fit Mimi next summer (hence the big clothing sale going on here recently.)

It would be so wonderful for the girls to have a great big, walk-in closet! Maybe fewer clothes is a more realistic desire.

Can't forget about the winter shoes!!!!!

Keepin' busy...

I've been busy. Busy doing something that is WAY too much work for WAY too little reward.
I'll post later about how I've been doing the seasonal clothing rotation for the girls, but this latest 'project' is selling some of the nicer clothes of the girls' on a couple of my bulletin boards.

It includes laundering the clothing, taking pictures of it, uploading it, writing a description for every piece, and then basically give it away to the person who responds the quickest.

I was surprised to see my inbox FILLED with requests today, but now I must get busy boxing and shipping!

Check it out: www.photobucket.com
User: stufforsale-jma
Pswd: adoptkorea

Fall Yard Sales

My kids do NOT enjoy it… we’re driving along on a mission. Most likely we’re headed to Walmart or out running errands, etc. when out of nowhere they appear: the ever-present, sloppily-written

Yard Sale

sign. I just can’t resist. Why do I stop? I do not NEED anything else; most especially, other people’s junk! The frugality in me overrides my common sense and I inevitably pull in to any that I see.

This is what today’s bargains were:

Matching denim dresses for the girls $1 ea.
2 pair of brown shoes for the girls $.50 ea.
6 books $.25 ea.
Clarks sandals for me $1.00
Hello Kitty rain coat for the girls $3.00
New beanie babies $.50 ea.
Drive home w/ my kids squealing about how sick they are of yard sales: priceless

Our Town Magazine

A couple of months ago I was approached by a nice gal at our church who stated that she was one of the editors of a local magazine, Our Town.
She was interested in doing a cover story on int’l adoption. We were honored that she chose us as one of the 3 families to write this article about. I think they did a terrific job and am thrilled w/ how everything turned out.
Click on ‘current issue’ in the left column, then click on the cover page itself, then 'page down' to get to the article on page 8 (also some on page 5.) Cute kids, huh??? :)

Show Hope

What a privilege to ‘work’ at the Show Hope table last night at the SCC concert! Not only did we get to hear some great SCC music, we met some great folks that volunteered with us.

MANY people approached the table to get info on Show Hope and to ask general adoption questions; what an honor to share our story with a few people and to perhaps provide a glimmer of hope to those that don’t mention infertility problems or other personal reason why they may consider adoption.

The venue was wonderful - Cobb Energy Center; what a beautiful complex.

Steven Curtis Chapman

In this pic, we were honored to have met the one and only SCC in RC, SD a few years back. LB was taken on stage and we got to talk to SCC after the concert. We were so fortunate to have been chosen twice to be the recipients of the Shaohannah's Hope (Show Hope) grants.

Tonight is another honor for us as Xian and I will be hosting one of the Show Hope booths at SCC's concert here in ATL. He is on his United Tour w/ Michael W. Smith.

We pray that tonight we are able to talk to someone (hopefully many) about the miracle of adoption.

THE "A" WORD

Coffee table of a newly diagnosed
asthmatic


LB wanted me to take this for her scrapbook


Loading LB in ambulance


Stickers are cool - even in the ER.


In local ER receiving breathing treatments

It started a few months ago. LB slowly developed a cough that wouldn’t go away. It would worsen at time and I could see how hard she had to work to breathe. I took her to her Dr. 3 or 4 times only to be told she had a virus, or allergies, or croup, etc. given meds, they helped for awhile, then it would all reappear.

Over this past weekend, she was slowly getting sicker and sicker. It started w/ the croup, then fever, then vomiting, loud wheezing, and then hives (?). On Sunday she was really struggling w/ breathing and her lips actually started to turn a light blue/gray color. I rushed her to our local ER (where they know us well - 7 visits in the past 2+ yrs) and her pulse ox was down to 89! Thankfully, they got us right in and gave her 3 different breathing treatments and a dose of steroids. Her number still wouldn’t rise so they transferred her via ambulance to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in ATL. They really didn’t do much there (I went thinking they were going to admit us.) We left w/ breathing treatment equipment and a lot of confusion… and by 'left' I mean calling my good friend Chele (who already had my 2 other kids) at 3 a.m.to drive across ATL to pick us up as we were stranded there w/o a car.

Yesterday LB was able to get in to her regular Dr. and was formally diagnosed w/ ASTHMA! It really was no surprise, but scary nonetheless to hear a Dr. actually say it. LB was wheezing again by then and had another treatment. Our wonderful Dr. gave me tons of info, meds, a nebulizer, etc. all in an effort to get this under control. I’m super sad that this has entered our lives, but ready now to face the challenge of giving her precious little body assistance with breathing!

I LOVE MY SON

I don’t say it enough – I love him!!!! Xian is 12 ½. Yes, the hormones are raging, the complexion is changing, and there are hairs and smells that I don’t even want to know about. We’ve struggled w/ him the past few years regarding ambition. My mom told me once years ago, “You can’t make someone be ambitious.” It has been hard for me to realize this.

I was so skeptical about what Middle School would bring for all of us; would the pre-teen attitude appear, would the ambition level worsen, would studies take a back seat to social life, etc. I am so happy to report that NONE of my worries materialized! I’m so very proud of what Xian has accomplished thus far in MS and am even more proud of the young man he is becoming.

His grades are fantastic, he has more friends than ever before, he is happy, and he is kind to me and to his sisters. I have to tell you what he did for my b-day: my friend and I were giving ourselves pedicures. Xian filled our water basins, set up music for us, sprayed room spray and even rubbed my feet (exfoliator, lotions, etc.) He then gave me a nice back rub – all without asking for money! Last night he hung up laundry that was on my bed without even being asked. He even told me – get this – he ‘admired’ me for all I do to take care of him and his sisters! Should I be worried? Does it sound as if he is conspiring something? :)

MIA

Life has been busy here lately, impeding me from updating.

We had guests from FL for 9 days. My beloved friend Bridget and her 2 darlings came to visit. I’m thankful she was here to help me celebrate my b-day. I was also happy she could attend Holt’s 2nd annual picnic w/ us here in ATL. We made out like bandits, too. Bridget won a nice gift basket for travelling the farthest (an ‘honor’ that my mom won last year.) As a group, we got 1st place in the scavenger hunt and won 17 free meals from Chick-Fil-A (our home away from home!) AND, I won again (a great gift bag) for having the most kids!

Be strong

I need this today:

Be strong, He has not failed you
In all the past,
And will He go and leave you
to sink at last?
No, He said He will hide you
Beneath His wing;
And sweetly there in safety
You then may sing.
Psalm 27:14

From the mouth of babes...

Mim’s dialogue (with herself) this afternoon in the car:

“I wished I had a Daddy that didn’t have to (go to) work. I wished I had a Daddy that didn’t know where Florida or Iraq is. I want my Daddy to be home with me and not ever have to go to work – ever, ever, ever.”