gorgeous!

Isn't that a gorgeous necklace?

My friend Gayly is making them!

And right now, if you buy one by November 17,
some of proceeds go to help
my friend Connie.

Go to their sites to get all the details!
(Click on their names)

Buy one for yourself...and do some Christmas shopping
while you're at it.

Enjoy!


But hurry cause they're selling fast!

happy birthday to me {perimenopausal trilogy}

So yesterday was my birthday.

Number 43, on

11.12.11

Obviously my mother just wasn't thinking ahead when
she decided to hold me off until 12th, thus missing the 11.11.11 mark.
Bless her heart.
She did what she could.

All bitterness aside,
I think it's the perfect time to wrap up my perimenopausal
discussion, making it into a much-deserved trilogy.

Who am I kidding, we'll whine about this thing til
we're all completely through with it.

Yes, we sure will.

So let's recap.

We've covered sleeplessness.
We've talked about moodiness.

And now we'll discuss weight gain.

Lord have mercy, where in the world did this jelly roll come from?
Or as the kids today would call it,
a muffin top.

Disclaimer:
This is not me.
I repeat, NOT ME.
Not that this lovely gal looks bad,
I'm just not quite there yet.
But we're moving in that general direction.


So really I have nothing else to say about this.

I think we all can agree that
God has an interesting sense of humor.


Oh wait...I forgot all about unwanted facial hair.
Well, we'll save that for another day.


So, Happy Birthday to me.
Now excuse me while I grab my love handles
and try to work in a nap.
And where the heck are my tweezers?

hodge-podge-whimsical-fun

My life continues to be a hodge-podge of chaotic craziness.
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Actually, I would.
It really wouldn't hurt my feelings for someone to swing by every
Thursday (or whatever day...I'm not picky at all)
to ease my burden of house-cleaning and child-rearing.
At least for an afternoon.
Or five.


Ok, moving on...






Today was lovely because my littles and I spent
the morning with my friend Mary and
her two adorable little Ethiopian darlins'.
And dern-it, I forgot my camera.
But just imagine the cutest Chinese/African kiddos
together, playing ever-so-nicely.
Cute as lil' buttons, they were!

And let me just tell you, there ain't nothing like two adoptive
moms getting together to vent and laugh about
the roller coaster ride of adoption.
No amount of high-dollar therapy can ever top that.


Backing up a bit...

So last week my Chinese friend Joyce came over
with a couple of her college comrades to
interview me about attachment for a project they are doing for their
master's program in social work.

It was most delightful!
And Joyce even brought mooncakes, fresh from Beijing...that her
uncle made,
hand delivered right here to us in the heart of
the Midwest in a Chipotle bag.

We laughed.
Oh, did we laugh.

Unrelated to that
(because my thoughts are very scattered)...

While I was making dinner last night,
Isaiah came up to me in this Santa hat asking me if he could watch a movie.
It was hilarious.
He has no idea who Santa is.
And I have no idea where he found the hat.

And remember how I was on a glass jar craze?

Well, I decided that things looked a little too serious
with all the tans & whites.


So I added a splash of color and whimsical fun...

M & M's solve everything, don't they?



And lastly,
here is Isaiah from earlier today.
He dressed himself.
No, really...he did.

So there you have it.


I'm tired and need to get some coffee or something.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

lucy the prayer warrior

Every single day the very first thing Lucy and
I do before we get started with school
is get out her prayer journal that she started a couple
months ago, and PRAY.

She is quite the little prayer warrior.

She prays for a variety of people on a regular basis.
And then there's a few who make the list on some weeks,
and not on others.
I have no idea of her rhyme or reason.
If you're not on her list, take it up with her.

But Brenden is ALWAYS first on the list.
Every single time. How sweet is that?

Anyway,
she also lists what she's thankful for for that week.

This week's thankful list:
closet
church
books
food
room
clothes
laundry

I assume the laundry one really means that she's so
very thankful for a mommy who does an amazingly fabulous
job getting her clothes clean, folded and sometimes put away.

Oh how our Lord's ears perk when He hears one of
His littlest ones calling on Him!



*I got reprimanded for taking pics while we were praying,
just so you know.

Have a happy Monday!

And don't forget to pray with your kids.

what i saw along the way {and a question for you}

I had to run to town today
and here's what I saw along the way:

*Sorry, no pics...I was driving for goodness sake*

1. A lady looking at her cell phone through a magnifying glass.
While driving.

2. A man driving a Harley Davidson on the sidewalk.

3. A little old lady driving a cute little red car with the
license plate that read:
ICUUQTU


It's true.


And then on the radio they asked,

"What kind of Starbucks drink do you drink?"

So, I'll answer that question right here on my blog.

*Pumpkin Spice Latte*

Love alert, love alert!!

But it will quickly be replaced by my all-time favorite

*Egg Nog Latte*

just as soon as they start selling them.

Ahhhhh...come to Mama my latte love.

So tell me, what is YOUR favorite drink at Starbucks?

I will then send you my written analysis on your personality
based on your answer.


You're welcome.