Happy Birthday to my Hubby & other great news!!!

Happy Birthday, Brian!!! I love you with all my heart and am so thankful that I'm married to you! I hope you have a wonderful day!


The other great news...
My chin is still on the floor! I can't believe what happened yesterday and am soooo humbled and in awe! So, here goes.........
I had a person (wants to remain anonymous) come over to my house yesterday with the greatest news. They told me that a person that we've never met sent them to tell us that they have set up a fund at their bank for all 3 of my children to fund ALL of their years of schooling at a private Christian school of OUR CHOICE!!!!
Is your chin on the floor too? Mine is!!! This is for real!!! I don't even know what to say except that I'm still in shock! I even called this person this morning to make sure that it really was real and they laughed and said that it really is for real, it's all set to go at the bank and ready for this next school year! So, Brian and I are researching the schools in our area and have to make a decision pretty quickly because some of them close enrollment at some point this summer. Our only concern is that we need to find a school that would be able to work with David on some of his learning disabilities. Some of the schools here don't have those kind of resources, but I think we've found two that do. Pray that we make the right choice.
Beyond totally grateful,
Heather

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!!!

What a lovely day we're having. I've been so happy to have sunshine and mild temperatures around here lately. It really perks me up. I've actually washed, dryed and put away (that's the amazing part) 4 loads of laundry today. I've thoroughly cleaned my bathroom and kitchen, dusted the basement, windexed windows (even in the basement) and loaded and unloaded the dishwasher. I must say that I'm impressed with myself!

Of couse, I have some motivation. I'm having a jewelry party here tomorrow night (feel free to come if you like at 6:30 p.m.) and my family over Friday night. I always get more done when I have a good reason to do it.

Yesterday I went on a field trip with Jacob's class. We went on a nature hike at Ritter Spring's Park. I put Emalee in the Ergo (baby carrier) and she fell asleep the whole time we hiked! Jacob really enjoyed showing off his new baby sister too.

David's summer baseball league has their first game tomorrow night. He's really excited about playing again. They had 2 weeks off and he's ready to get back into the action!

We're all ready for school to be out! David is going to have a math tutorer this summer. We're really hoping that this will be a postive thing for him. His tutorer is very excited to work with him and seems to really want to help make thing "click" for him. Jacob and I are going to work on some math while David is tutoring.

The trampoline safety net is up and we'll be putting the pool up in a couple of weeks! I'm really looking forward to a fun summer with my kiddos!

Going on a date!

Today Emalee and I went to my friend Rachel's house. Rachel adopted a baby boy, Oliver (Ollie) earlier this year from Korea. I met Rachel on an adoption forum last summer and we figured out that we both live in Springfield, so we've kept in touch ever since!

Anyway, another member (Ansley) on the adoption forum came to Springfield this week to visit all the way from Oregon! Ansley, her husband Eric and their newly adopted son, Aricin were all at Rachel's this morning. It was a nice visit and so nice to put faces to names of people on the forum.

This evening Brian and I are going on our first date since Emalee's been home. We don't even know what we're doing! I think we're both just excited to get out of the house and have some "together" time w/o our 3 muchkins tagging along! We're leaving Emalee w/Nana and the boys are going to their school's Parents Night Out program. The boys love going there because it's pretty fun for them. Hopefully, Emalee and Nana will have as much fun ;-)

Picture of my kiddos!!!

If you'll scroll down to the bottom of this page you'll see a new picture of the kids that I just got back from JC Penney.

Well, David left for Jeff. City at 7 a.m. and was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. I think he's more excited about riding on the Grey Hound bus then actually touring the capitol city. : - ) Jacob seemed to be starting a cold this morning and Emalee is still sick too.

Brian & I are going out on a date tomorrow night. It seems like every time we have a date planned one of the kids gets sick! We've had to cancel our last 2 dates because of this. Ugh! Anyway, I guess that's life!

This week's post

It's past 5 p.m. and Emalee is napping, the boys and Brian are working on the lawn mower. I have a few minutes to post before I cook supper. I've been informed by a dear family member that I'm not posting enough for her liking. I think I'll just be posting weekly from now on unless I have something profound to say!!! So, here's this weeks post.

Last night Emalee was up two times. I was noticing that her nose was getting a little bit runny and I was right. She has her first cold. : ( She's okay, but she doesn't feel good today. She about wore me out yesterday wanting me to hold her A LOT! Now I know why!

Brian taught David how to mow the lawn yesterday. He is so proud of himself and asked if he could mow today too! Funny since they finished the job yesterday! If you need a lawn mowed I know of a boy that would be willing to do it for you!

Jacob got to use the leaf blower and was proud of his work too. After he was done he came inside and said that he wished that he was stronger so that he could mow too!

We got a trampoline from some friends that moved and couldn't take it with them. The boys are having a blast! I think every boy needs a trampoline. It's good exercise and gets some of that built up energy out in a postive way. Of course, there's always the fear of a broken bone! I try not to think about that and just pray that they're okay!

David will be going to Jefferson City this Thursday on an all day field trip with his class. This trip will conclude their study of the Capitol and Missouri government. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. and he won't return until 10 p.m. This is the furthest that he'll be going w/o a parent or relative! Yikes! He's looking forward to the trip. I'm looking forward to his safe return!

Lastly, we were very, very blessed today. We officially have all of Emalee's adoption paid in full!!!! Someone gave us the last of the money that we needed for our lawyer fees and we're so thankful for that! You know who you are and we love you very much! You have given us a relief from a load of stress that we were carrying around. Thank you so much!

Psalm 9: 1-2

I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.