tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377387012024-03-13T11:35:38.998-05:00Emily and Olivia UpdatesThis blog chronicles the miracles and struggles of our daughters, Emily and Olivia. Emily was born 15 weeks early and had many complications, but she continues to amaze us! Olivia, born in China with heart complications, is also beating the odds. She joined her forever family (us!) when she was four years old and has been doing wonderfully!Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-86795259224282262692016-08-05T05:52:00.001-05:002016-08-05T05:52:42.617-05:00Hi blogHello blog
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<br>Hope this helps
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<br>Karyn MansenKarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-2415472503880040202016-05-23T17:44:00.000-05:002016-05-23T17:47:19.178-05:00New blogThe other day when I couldn't access our blog, I remembered that I could email a post blindly. Well, apparently that posted to our old, old blog. So, if you got an update, please check out our new blog: <a href="http://TwoMoreMakesFour.blogspot.com">TwoMoreMakesFour.blogspot.com</a>.
<br>We had our Gotcha Day yesterday : )Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-43565061888175110632016-05-19T18:12:00.000-05:002016-05-19T18:15:57.276-05:00We made it to Shanghai!Our VPN is not cooperating so we can not access Facebook or our blog, but I vaguely remembered that I could email a post to update the blog. This is a blind attempt to update send an update to say that we arrived safely in our first of four cities. Watching the news, I'm thankful to say that our plane did not disappear. We are safe and sound in Shanghai : ). After resting up here a few days, we'll fly on Sunday to Ben & Drew's city, Tianjin, and meet our new sons/brothers on Monday!!
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<br>Please pray for our health and sleep/jet lag. I came down with a very bad sore throat, fever, body aches, chills, last Saturday. I tested negative for strep and my fever was gone before we flew, but I still have a very raw sore throat and now a runny nose and cough added to the mix. Olivia is slowly recovering from her cough (she had it first) and now Andy is trying to fight it off. So, 3/6 of us are impacted by this bug and I'd really like that number to decrease, not increase! Thanks!
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<br>Karyn
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<br>Messenger and email still work so could someone let me know if this update posted? Blog posts are set to also automatically post to FB, but right now I can't access either to see if this worked.Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-41091467190042461492011-07-11T16:37:00.002-05:002011-07-11T16:50:03.441-05:00New Blog Address!With our family's addition of two seven year old boys from China in August 2011, this blog (EmilyAndOliviaUpdates) is no longer fitting. I've exported all the old posts from here to the new site though so you can see us meeting Olivia in March 2007 in the archives. I'll be posting from China as we meet our new sons so please join us over yonder at <a href="http://twomoremakesfour.blogspot.com/">http://twomoremakesfour.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />If you're a current follower, you'll have to sign up again there if you want email notifications of new posts.<br /><br />KarynKarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-34100136615959689312011-07-10T20:54:00.002-05:002011-07-10T21:28:18.853-05:00Surprise shower!<div style="text-align: center;">Today I was shocked to find myself in the middle of my own party! My co-op friends totally surprised me by throwing a shower for the boys! We got tons of cool toys for Jimmy and Joel like Legos, Matchbox cars, light sabers, spy gear, and scooters! Coming from an orphanage setting where they own nothing, they are going to be so excited to have such cool toys to call their own because everything came in duplicate! Oh, and the food...check out the Chinese theme...and the coolest cake ever! What a great day with great friends! I love these ladies!</div><meta charset="utf-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJRNhvu2SAFUE3n1EWOY2Tcc1W1aHho2FMvQ-8JMG8Ttdrtgf03kuvMVkl9ZRx5_TpYcYu8lFTvtrD5uO1QF2UJtkBIX-EpJ-9GQUjkzoO6WNlJY9LOEUnshgJAkXpEYp-YhxIg/s400/DSCF3739.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627913327320595234" /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6r4lNZ_NXmAliu88Ic_RYz1fjbRziNPoWnJvBkXYdoN1dJcHIc6Zf01Hgd1HT4EDbrHEtdBAxl35Gy0-rFumBw40nWlVMWgV__YC46kielP_m0GxXR1S-cs4dYylrZaiorBbyw/s1600/DSC_0444.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6r4lNZ_NXmAliu88Ic_RYz1fjbRziNPoWnJvBkXYdoN1dJcHIc6Zf01Hgd1HT4EDbrHEtdBAxl35Gy0-rFumBw40nWlVMWgV__YC46kielP_m0GxXR1S-cs4dYylrZaiorBbyw/s400/DSC_0444.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>
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<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9zbKaHFDDLuUAbq54YK4bXSVbPaVj1Lshouhuz4NYyLsC0ezVNNI8OEw8J1r0OA_9yn_fJMazVl2ZEISMXeihmFTK9_tvEkDtg3ugkCuScwMG-oemzQQ9Hc1TDGhv-cloPmT1Q/s1600/DSC_0425.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9zbKaHFDDLuUAbq54YK4bXSVbPaVj1Lshouhuz4NYyLsC0ezVNNI8OEw8J1r0OA_9yn_fJMazVl2ZEISMXeihmFTK9_tvEkDtg3ugkCuScwMG-oemzQQ9Hc1TDGhv-cloPmT1Q/s400/DSC_0425.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-70481113286831057982011-05-19T08:42:00.002-05:002011-05-19T08:43:17.253-05:00Little brother, big brother<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq3pF-JG9pT7rR1YuuAECU2lN9tEeZTGfXqwoNXLuOHpYaX_teg6aV2R6A4Yxioz8V3WYbNfxLO7_VgaeAZ49rSPhxkW3edfjS9jXJjAKlHzudLD-vjDVgpi_9ODqo3OztGLxbg/s1600/DSCF3288.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq3pF-JG9pT7rR1YuuAECU2lN9tEeZTGfXqwoNXLuOHpYaX_teg6aV2R6A4Yxioz8V3WYbNfxLO7_VgaeAZ49rSPhxkW3edfjS9jXJjAKlHzudLD-vjDVgpi_9ODqo3OztGLxbg/s400/DSCF3288.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Couldn't resist when I saw these yesterday. They are PJs, but might come in handy to squelch the "twin" questions if they were worn out and about!</div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-29408747942221307512011-05-17T11:18:00.001-05:002011-05-17T11:29:23.416-05:00Photo albums sent to the boys!<div style="text-align: center;">We recently emailed photos to Ann at Red Thread (in China) and she printed them out and put them in a photo album before sending them off to the boys. The boys should be receiving their packages any day now (if they haven't already) along with an introduction letter from us (translated into Chinese), as well as a camera. Ann sent these pictures back the other day, showing us what the boys will be getting. In addition to being a quicker and cheaper way to send stuff to the boys, Ann at Red Thread often gets updates and pictures for families after the children receive their packages. Hoping the boys receive their packages well and I hope we get some updates!</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXskLnjDaCiHaRFVKibCR1BAcbBi21eMl-0cIINJYPJ1LJtIgxliU7jnwp6CnTphkI3tO3ZFK7GmsHpmzhxjzFvkK2M4uDH-i-mpKJX99uLUZmUusYmFEr2VkQCWYt6tejCTwJw/s1600/bao+gong+hai1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXskLnjDaCiHaRFVKibCR1BAcbBi21eMl-0cIINJYPJ1LJtIgxliU7jnwp6CnTphkI3tO3ZFK7GmsHpmzhxjzFvkK2M4uDH-i-mpKJX99uLUZmUusYmFEr2VkQCWYt6tejCTwJw/s400/bao+gong+hai1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bao Gong Hai = Jimmy</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdYp8PP7-iWgZLmI8JWzCugwu_IG17-XtQ1xfbbFSHupWQ0AJ7LCq0kXUorjgR9ZayN-HLFPB1yT-D5PCLmXcBVvG-hcL5f7eFSkX3JgCDTFSElnTUgLC-DnBN-EFTbmC7EUGqg/s1600/bao+gong+hai2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdYp8PP7-iWgZLmI8JWzCugwu_IG17-XtQ1xfbbFSHupWQ0AJ7LCq0kXUorjgR9ZayN-HLFPB1yT-D5PCLmXcBVvG-hcL5f7eFSkX3JgCDTFSElnTUgLC-DnBN-EFTbmC7EUGqg/s400/bao+gong+hai2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdYp8PP7-iWgZLmI8JWzCugwu_IG17-XtQ1xfbbFSHupWQ0AJ7LCq0kXUorjgR9ZayN-HLFPB1yT-D5PCLmXcBVvG-hcL5f7eFSkX3JgCDTFSElnTUgLC-DnBN-EFTbmC7EUGqg/s1600/bao+gong+hai2.jpg"></a>Photos introducing the boys to their new family and home--I included both boys photos so that they could see their brother as well as see themselves included in our family album.</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins4VHzCG5pMzfeKCI3kR9dDhoZuEZFuQGXWIwitIC3T9-CSbJnKngWzp8RCmTNhIbHzqVvhn7P3JrJyVoSFHk_v7SRbbv1pQYipBqmbcZeRw595VnWajZIHLyylRhHKxk-KjU4w/s1600/shen+yao+zu1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins4VHzCG5pMzfeKCI3kR9dDhoZuEZFuQGXWIwitIC3T9-CSbJnKngWzp8RCmTNhIbHzqVvhn7P3JrJyVoSFHk_v7SRbbv1pQYipBqmbcZeRw595VnWajZIHLyylRhHKxk-KjU4w/s400/shen+yao+zu1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Shen Yao Zu = Joel</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1gTZYjk_oKr0PYHPTeOjeMjWBF7X5yiCh0o9aKdjRJwI1-Nz27743j71jiRnCZS8H9hdWm4OC-ZbndVwzKz7Csrn7zvDKZDuK92_giBRy0HS6mU17wUXilx0YajGSz7BYnGnUw/s1600/shen+yao+zu2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1gTZYjk_oKr0PYHPTeOjeMjWBF7X5yiCh0o9aKdjRJwI1-Nz27743j71jiRnCZS8H9hdWm4OC-ZbndVwzKz7Csrn7zvDKZDuK92_giBRy0HS6mU17wUXilx0YajGSz7BYnGnUw/s400/shen+yao+zu2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-45823718665264446712011-05-17T10:57:00.000-05:002011-05-17T10:58:07.459-05:00Letter of Acceptance!<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlU_Q1KWEcbL3KTp7qtYwIYSH2f1zz4ALpVwNAo6AbAsQhBZZ22O2k0ymn-zzCUCDk-FTaePINnO3FTwA4BqL2EJV6MISgrBZVun35drge3TLS4Y9WHW22kBneqytAT0b7md33Q/s1600/1+%25281%2529.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlU_Q1KWEcbL3KTp7qtYwIYSH2f1zz4ALpVwNAo6AbAsQhBZZ22O2k0ymn-zzCUCDk-FTaePINnO3FTwA4BqL2EJV6MISgrBZVun35drge3TLS4Y9WHW22kBneqytAT0b7md33Q/s400/1+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;">Jimmy...</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SkBNO7eKSVtwF2KmQM3S1ZxN-I4k4IwdZNs6-BWWh0t4IUjCXQaKhNEY0iym_D6KDVOB-t-6OjRu85eDF01PND7bctZVg5R1tEFc-xED4DL-cw9-Kq72472tvlx207Znw_2SZw/s1600/3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SkBNO7eKSVtwF2KmQM3S1ZxN-I4k4IwdZNs6-BWWh0t4IUjCXQaKhNEY0iym_D6KDVOB-t-6OjRu85eDF01PND7bctZVg5R1tEFc-xED4DL-cw9-Kq72472tvlx207Znw_2SZw/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>
<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8hD9LX2W8jpmlSbJTgZacgPcWEokfSjV-9hCfBeAms7PLFGFm2Y4ol3edkCrIV3SErK01BYhxbxP31u1uaWJU-egV-4uFs9HYgibdbTBqOUjvaw_sBO4zQHT3Mz9klX3j_Toag/s1600/Zuzu_4x6.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8hD9LX2W8jpmlSbJTgZacgPcWEokfSjV-9hCfBeAms7PLFGFm2Y4ol3edkCrIV3SErK01BYhxbxP31u1uaWJU-egV-4uFs9HYgibdbTBqOUjvaw_sBO4zQHT3Mz9klX3j_Toag/s400/Zuzu_4x6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>and Joel!
<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwelwnozzkma3t8iu5j3-HAdjpkD-OYz69K0K_J2f0HHJ1DXzomZvpeCfuRSdkBMds2TdCO6GDebDf_fhyZVbP224ohaqjfbEYYQBDQrKQppUMRGlU0qje1j_E6NmPWAJlLJ1Q-Q/s1600/DSCN2765.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwelwnozzkma3t8iu5j3-HAdjpkD-OYz69K0K_J2f0HHJ1DXzomZvpeCfuRSdkBMds2TdCO6GDebDf_fhyZVbP224ohaqjfbEYYQBDQrKQppUMRGlU0qje1j_E6NmPWAJlLJ1Q-Q/s400/DSCN2765.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><meta charset="utf-8">We have received our LOA from China which means we're officially approved to adopt Jimmy and Joel...and that our agency will now allow us to post their photos on our blog! Having our LOA also means that the boys will finally be told that they are being adopted :) We hope to travel to China in July or August to meet them and bring them HOME!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-32769036315721290342011-02-28T21:53:00.003-06:002011-02-28T22:08:53.629-06:00Emily's (December!) piano recitalEver since we started homeschooling in 2009 I've been behind on blogging and scrapbooking. Lately the girls have started noticing and have asked me to take more pictures (a surprising request from camera shy Emily!) and to post more "stuff." So, I'm trying to play catch up now <i>before</i> the boys get here! My scrapbook pages won't be elaborate, probably just a lot of collages, but I'll post a few soon. In the mean time this is a video clip from Emily's piano recital in December.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcKbhAT3xeIHRoiziPfGWXPvf3Qyg6Y1o5tPr0-lgNSCjC0cggApkmX43KNJBOJQZ_lgqs7bsiNWt7XIpO270yERpdqp26jURiXgBNS2bYmEHq97r-Xa-xhKs3w-1H-1g7RDDBA/s1600/20101211_2233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcKbhAT3xeIHRoiziPfGWXPvf3Qyg6Y1o5tPr0-lgNSCjC0cggApkmX43KNJBOJQZ_lgqs7bsiNWt7XIpO270yERpdqp26jURiXgBNS2bYmEHq97r-Xa-xhKs3w-1H-1g7RDDBA/s400/20101211_2233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578957888662295378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Emily and her piano teacher</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJsoxyWsmuRPWwRpdZUS6AWYNMdZa4PIpUmrzka0tXBKN8gVu-31vaox6Qb4nej8WZETPVbaBkMyp0VTTBJ5ax4azNSOOyvqcrwaks8Cm9gpilxDAfwG5NAE6C21p6fJauuLgg/s1600/20101211_2229.lt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJsoxyWsmuRPWwRpdZUS6AWYNMdZa4PIpUmrzka0tXBKN8gVu-31vaox6Qb4nej8WZETPVbaBkMyp0VTTBJ5ax4azNSOOyvqcrwaks8Cm9gpilxDAfwG5NAE6C21p6fJauuLgg/s400/20101211_2229.lt.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578957887966560130" /></a><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0wONxkydmH8?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-49755019800210872012011-02-22T17:04:00.001-06:002011-02-22T17:48:16.119-06:00A day in the life of homeschool<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6nC2TVQIZDulHxk9q1rM5caJNCh1SzSM3OZ0G3Pfa7MumN8n3AeBhoXQaHtvRwfV084Dqla1OssRqM6jiM9xy-UUPAwD7iaSDNkzKjWdY1lxkyu3rWAuvkbOTnnvh0ZfrS9UFA/s1600/20110222_2581.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6nC2TVQIZDulHxk9q1rM5caJNCh1SzSM3OZ0G3Pfa7MumN8n3AeBhoXQaHtvRwfV084Dqla1OssRqM6jiM9xy-UUPAwD7iaSDNkzKjWdY1lxkyu3rWAuvkbOTnnvh0ZfrS9UFA/s400/20110222_2581.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tWdK_snF7GoaWu4O4ZXJOgMNU8jjRzcpwtPyHwrO20wMbvF0btFq1bJiBqnjWG2SwgB0UAX3oKbP_ocV2Vdc4Akr1QCoKU3_wKmgJ79NH19zyKNCh7YoHOnEfED8AdC2KI0flA/s1600/20110222_2574.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tWdK_snF7GoaWu4O4ZXJOgMNU8jjRzcpwtPyHwrO20wMbvF0btFq1bJiBqnjWG2SwgB0UAX3oKbP_ocV2Vdc4Akr1QCoKU3_wKmgJ79NH19zyKNCh7YoHOnEfED8AdC2KI0flA/s400/20110222_2574.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6nDrxCXxWQUfPXkeIQH4AcYJc42cpS7huWm6F_ZDQqXgh655fJebT_7IpsnHFxplZEpTbgzXdPC0atoFLiaXNNb_J_V-U6cRxFoRThilDNWkJahyphenhyphen_A-q0e5PfyGmTzkL3vqpCw/s1600/20110222_2571.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6nDrxCXxWQUfPXkeIQH4AcYJc42cpS7huWm6F_ZDQqXgh655fJebT_7IpsnHFxplZEpTbgzXdPC0atoFLiaXNNb_J_V-U6cRxFoRThilDNWkJahyphenhyphen_A-q0e5PfyGmTzkL3vqpCw/s400/20110222_2571.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHEzey6UDJCsLcdvweU962XpJtLyQSvLwJff_t2vPJUHn_CBUdqfDp_b05Cy8CCFSOJZcBHXNsBt4xh9v1iTp0j15QLFjO7qDBWkmiGklx6ILYILcIlYc-Yfi3Pa3EMMN31LiYw/s1600/20110222_2568.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHEzey6UDJCsLcdvweU962XpJtLyQSvLwJff_t2vPJUHn_CBUdqfDp_b05Cy8CCFSOJZcBHXNsBt4xh9v1iTp0j15QLFjO7qDBWkmiGklx6ILYILcIlYc-Yfi3Pa3EMMN31LiYw/s400/20110222_2568.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-309446994062808752011-01-30T14:58:00.002-06:002011-01-30T15:02:29.714-06:00Cool summer orphan hosting program<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_1" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_1" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Bridge of Hope</span></span> is now recruiting host families for a summer 2011 program for older orphans. For the first time, Chinese adoption authorities have agreed to send children, ages 6 to 9, from Chinese orphanages to visit US families for home stays of about three weeks in July and August. The program is open to families on the East Coast and in the Chicago area. Families in other areas will be considered on a case by case basis. Host families must meet program and country requirements, and have a current, completed homestudy by <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_2" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">June 15</span></span>.</span></div></span></span></span><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Bridge of Hope will hold the following information sessions for prospective host families who'd like to learn more about our program and our children:</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">CONNECTICUT--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_3" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Saturdays February 19</span></span>, <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_4" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">March 12</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">ILLINOIS--Date to be announced</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">MASSACHUSETTS--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(220, 238, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_5" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Saturday, February 12</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">LONG ISLAND, NY--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_6" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; ">Sundays February 6</span></span> and <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_7" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">February 27</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">MID-HUDSON, NY--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_8" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; ">Sunday, February 13</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">NEW JERSEY/PENNSYLVANIA--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_9" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; ">Sundays, January 30</span></span>, <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; ">February 27</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">WASHINGTON DC AREA--<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_10" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; ">Saturdays February 5</span></span> & <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_11" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; ">March 5</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">For more information on these sessions and requirements for host families, please <span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_12" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">contact Bridge of Hope</span></span> Director Patrice Gancie at<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_13" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">301-587-4400, ext 207</span></span> or <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_14" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">pgancie@cradlehope.org</span></span>. Application deadline for host families is <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_15" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">March 15</span></span>.</span></p></div><div> </div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt; ">Linda Perilstein</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt; ">Executive Director</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt; "><span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_16" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); ">Cradle of Hope Adoption Center</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt; "><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: pointer; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296415918_17" style="color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">301-587-4400</span></span></span></p></div></span>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-74685314364975712010-11-19T17:08:00.003-06:002010-11-19T17:31:25.662-06:00LilySince we're discussing family additions, it has just occurred to me that although I've posted pix of our new canine family member on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span>, I've never posted about our new dog here. We adopted Lily in July after our beloved (almost 16 year old) Chelsea died in June. Lily is about a year old and appears to be a lab/beagle mix, around 45 pounds. She was about to be euthanized along with all the other animals in the southern IN pound because they didn't want to pay overtime for a holiday weekend (July 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>). Rover Rescue here in IL went down and saved a van load and two days later Lily joined our family. I don't know much about her history, but she was apparently picked up as a stray?? She's a sweet girl and has been a great addition to our family. The girls are totally in love!! I had some fun with her pictures as you can see here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIbFwTuxFVYaWDlYuzB1tqOqVOsWs1b7ItO3rK_z_OuFn_gpMpEbyjhcHimUs6VbknWdvUWOEFOLBVKFV7zPUX9ghYvgiIB4JaKF3nSOpyFuhvc5fogUs5eessKZEss3yKwgIJA/s1600/PhotoFunia-43a6d9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIbFwTuxFVYaWDlYuzB1tqOqVOsWs1b7ItO3rK_z_OuFn_gpMpEbyjhcHimUs6VbknWdvUWOEFOLBVKFV7zPUX9ghYvgiIB4JaKF3nSOpyFuhvc5fogUs5eessKZEss3yKwgIJA/s400/PhotoFunia-43a6d9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541405171275507650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5D3TYFzXFa38waEaj7eMSe5lW7OtF9Du8vs04biQl19t62zuY0Jp-sPWkyb8LcGsqHvJVCe3vz708mQMZKZ30wzhUcyV2k5QGH8iR_yovKIoEavgaySabEJkYIqybkILzH4tCg/s1600/PhotoFunia-4325fc%25288%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5D3TYFzXFa38waEaj7eMSe5lW7OtF9Du8vs04biQl19t62zuY0Jp-sPWkyb8LcGsqHvJVCe3vz708mQMZKZ30wzhUcyV2k5QGH8iR_yovKIoEavgaySabEJkYIqybkILzH4tCg/s400/PhotoFunia-4325fc%25288%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541405159978500866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MQKuT4UY2Njkwt0PiFgtV4qxRWxUYa-poqPA8BoNx1iMM5ka-H7kIwVJ-k32L4sKxjPtBiqlk8-pQ0AVuZYNdy2p5L2SzYtKgglxd2Wa-NXGNixXY7wQnonXov2Ahwc6xcKCVQ/s1600/PhotoFunia-4376e6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MQKuT4UY2Njkwt0PiFgtV4qxRWxUYa-poqPA8BoNx1iMM5ka-H7kIwVJ-k32L4sKxjPtBiqlk8-pQ0AVuZYNdy2p5L2SzYtKgglxd2Wa-NXGNixXY7wQnonXov2Ahwc6xcKCVQ/s400/PhotoFunia-4376e6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541405155407396834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vByvpRvk0YQquYf5Bmwv4yD5-4OTIlQs4r2_AEziPRymNu_RVZoEXA7mYtDo1cjTyN0cqSPkLGHX479_EwJox4GLGcrxvHorQZ7kpfyVnHWzqyl_0DDxjABumQLdaVzfa301GQ/s1600/PhotoFunia-439912.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 363px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vByvpRvk0YQquYf5Bmwv4yD5-4OTIlQs4r2_AEziPRymNu_RVZoEXA7mYtDo1cjTyN0cqSPkLGHX479_EwJox4GLGcrxvHorQZ7kpfyVnHWzqyl_0DDxjABumQLdaVzfa301GQ/s400/PhotoFunia-439912.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541405142381550466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOLsnY_0sX_iXW6M9EYaM8nrmpeWw26FZwb3mqYNzKJtzfB6x2u8Oef4BLO8_0sEDRXBOlv9KMG7lx52N_0jIa3Ebis_gjwcSGA5DdD2mw09671n6_f6shNlJOQKfLk5-jfQ7kg/s1600/PhotoFunia-455240.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOLsnY_0sX_iXW6M9EYaM8nrmpeWw26FZwb3mqYNzKJtzfB6x2u8Oef4BLO8_0sEDRXBOlv9KMG7lx52N_0jIa3Ebis_gjwcSGA5DdD2mw09671n6_f6shNlJOQKfLk5-jfQ7kg/s400/PhotoFunia-455240.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541405138522800434" /></a>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-19378402080595903662010-11-18T23:40:00.001-06:002010-11-18T23:43:59.758-06:00Adopting TWO boys!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I guess I need to update here! I previously announced that we were adopting a six year old boy from China. Well, now we're adopting TWO six year old boys!! Jimmy AND Joel :) Jimmy will turn seven in April so it may end up being six and seven year olds, but we'll see. They are three months apart and not related. They are in two different orphanages in Shenzhen, but they were both at the same Journey of Hope camp in April. Jimmy has a few posts on our agency's blog so you can find him here if you search for Jimmy: </span></span><a href="http://asiahope.blogspot.com/search?q=jimmy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://asiahope.blogspot.com/search?q=jimmy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Joel probably doesn't even know his name (our agency just made up an American name for reference/pronunciation sake), but after referring to him by Joel for a while, the name stuck. I also liked the meaning: the Lord is God. Jimmy, on the other hand should know his name since he is in a class (taught by an american) that teaches some English and they were all given American nick names. In fact, Jimmy's name is actually what hooked us.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You may remember </span></span><a href="http://emilyandoliviaupdates.blogspot.com/2008/12/introducing-jimmy.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> from two years ago when Olivia got to go shopping with her Bible bucks for family members at Pioneer Club. She brought home gifts wrapped and labeled for Mommy, Daddy, Emily and Jimmy. Jimmy?! Why of course, she told the volunteer worker that she needed a gift for her brother Jimmy! We didn't even know a Jimmy so that whole thing came out of nowhere! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fast forward to this May. Andy and I had been privately discussing the idea of adoption, but before the girls knew anything about it, Olivia floored me by praying for us to adopt a brother one night at dinner! When I asked her what her new brother's name would/should be, my jaw dropped when she stopped to think for a second and then very sure of herself, said, "James." She had no way of knowing that Jimmy and James are often one in the same and probably didn't remember that she'd bought a gift for her "brother Jimmy" two years ago, but boy was she strangely consistent! Also, immediately when she said James, a scripture popped into my head that I didn't even know that I knew, James 1:27: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. With this, I </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">knew</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Someone was trying to tell me something!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">All that made quite an impact on me, but I had no way of knowing how it would all play out so perfectly in a plan I could not have orchestrated if I tried. Reminds of how our first adoption came about much better than we could have ever planned--see Olivia's story </span></span><a href="http://emilyandoliviaupdates.blogspot.com/2007/11/one-year-later.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">! Within a month of Olivia's dinner prayer I came across a blog that featured Chinese orphans who'd attended a three day Journey of Hope camp with the hope of being adopted. Staff from an adoption agency in Portland, OR had attended the camp with 35 older &/or special needs kids to get to know them so they could advocate for them and find them families. Interestingly enough, there was a Jimmy among the group! My interest was piqued, but after researching Jimmy's special needs (which could require a series of reconstructive surgeries) I reluctantly moved on and zeroed in on another cute six year old who'd already had his heart corrected and would only require one other surgery. Joel. It took Andy a while to warm up to the idea, but on our anniversary dinner date (August 15) he gave me the green light. As soon as the agency opened on Monday I told the agency it was a go. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The very next day, China announced a policy change; they would now allow families to adopt a second child at the same time as long as at least one is a Special Focus (special needs or older) child. Interesting! I'd already wanted two, but didn't think it was possible. This was very exciting news for me!! Andy, not so much. He wasn't opposed to a fourth child </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">later</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, but was justifiably afraid that two at a time would bond to each other to the exclusion of the rest of our family. He'd just gotten used to the idea of adding one more and didn't appreciate what felt like a bait and switch. He was not on board. Yet.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hoping that Andy would warm to the idea of two I inquired about other boys on the list. With Jimmy being just three months older than Joel, I again dismissed him thinking I didn't think I really wanted two the same age. Instead, I asked about some younger boys, but none seemed like the perfect match. I had all kinds of justification for not picking Jimmy, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that he was meant to be ours. Olivia's foretelling of Jimmy/James and the James scripture had all pulled at my heart. After a few days of futile resistance I asked to review his file. That was it. I knew then he was ours. The problem was that Andy did not know it. Yet.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We did not see eye to eye on the topic of adopting two so we agreed to pray for like-mindedness. We've been happily together for about 25 years now (dated for 7, married for 18) and we've agreed on most important things and we knew we needed to be in agreement on this. We prayed that one of our hearts would be changed--that either my heart would change to desire only one OR that his heart would change to desire two. After praying about this for a few weeks we learned that Jimmy's time was running out. Our agency had been given six months to find families for the camp kids and the unmatched files would be going to go back to at the end of the month. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As we continued to pray that we'd come to a united decision, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I didn't twist Andy's arm or nag him to death, but a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">mazingly, within a few short weeks I started to see his heart change! I watched him move from resistance to ac</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ceptance to excitement. Only God! It was so neat to witness the change and later hear him say that he didn't know exactly how or when his heart changed, but that it definitely had. This answered prayer was yet another confirmation that Jimmy AND Joel were meant to be part of our family and I couldn't be more excited! Shortly before the end of October we let our agency know that we would be pursuing TWO boys and submitted some pre-approval forms. Last week we got the word that China accepted our proposal for both Jimmy and Joel :) Of course there is still a lot of red tape ahead, but we (girls included) can't wait to be a family of six! We acknowledge that </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">two may be double the challenge, but another verse quickly come to mind, Romans 8:31: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God is for us, who can be against us? </span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Once our eyes are opened {<i>by a cute little girl!</i>}, we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows we know and holds us responsible to act." </span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 24:12</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is within the power of your hand to do so." </span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 3:27</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Take up the cause of the fatherless..."</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Isaiah 1:17</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves..."</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 31:8</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Matthew 18:5</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal; "><div class="result-text-style-normal"><p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God sets the lonely in families..." </span></span></b></p><p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Psalms 68:5-6a</span></span></b></p><p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; border-collapse: collapse; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></b></span></i></p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; border-collapse: collapse; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal; "><h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></h2></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></div></span></b></span></i><p></p></div></span></b></div><div><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></div></span></span></b></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-90912461103895262422010-09-21T23:28:00.002-05:002010-09-21T23:59:07.080-05:00Didn't mean to be a teaseIn my last post I said that you could find Joel's smiling face by searching our adoption agency's blog. I'd forgotten that he wasn't that well represented there...and that most of the Journey of Hope camp pix I have of him were emailed to me separately. Not sure when I'm allowed to post his pix here, but I guess for now you'll just have to trust me that he's got a smile that could light up a room.<br /><br />Just looked back at the blog <a href="http://asiahope.blogspot.com/">http://asiahope.blogspot.com</a> and found a few pix. They're not his most photogenic, but I see him on a lady's lap in Sept. 13 post... and in the June 1st post that same woman (same clothes, probably same day) has her hand on his shoulder.<br /><br />And, on May 5, he was written about:<span style="font-style: italic;"> "Joel is another boy that stole my heart. What a vivacious and curious little boy! He explores everything and seems to live every moment:-) He was very outgoing and didn't hesitate in coming right up to me to interact multiple times. He also enjoyed the camera and took every opportunity to pose:-) He performed the two tigers song and dance and stole the show!"</span>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-10457186013737172842010-09-21T12:34:00.005-05:002010-09-21T23:12:28.023-05:00Exciting new additions to our family!!It's been a while since I last posted and there have been a lot of changes! In June we said good bye to our dear old dog, Chelsea, who'd been with us for almost 16 years. In July we adopted a wonderful new dog, Lily, whose time was almost up in a shelter. And, in August, we decided to adopt a six-year old Waiting/Special Needs boy from China!<br /><br />Yes, that's a lot of change in a short amount of time!! I'm not sure what I'm allowed to post about our new son, but I can direct you to the blog where I found him. Yes, a blog, of all places! You see, an agency in Portland, OR went to China in April to spend three days at a Journey for Hope camp with the hope of finding families for 36 hard to place orphans. I first came across the blog in June and we committed to Joel on August 16 after a big discussion on our date for our 18th wedding anniversary.<br /><br />I'll probably resurrect this dead blog in order to chronicle our trip to China (we're all going, hopefully in the spring), but I may need to change the name somehow! <span style="font-style: italic;">(edited to say)</span> I thought one could search for Joel's smiling face on the blog <a href="http://asiahope.blogspot.com/">http://asiahope.blogspot.com/</a> but now when I enter "Joel" in the search I don't see him :( UGH, I didn't mean to be such a tease! Trust me, he is a little cutie with pinchable smiling cheeks! I have lots of pictures AND a video, but I don't think I'm allowed to post anything online yet. Still check out the site and take a good look around because many of the kids from the camp are still needing forever families ;) Spread the word if you know anyone looking to add to their family!Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-11506826784974956312010-05-16T18:33:00.005-05:002010-05-16T19:36:51.967-05:00Emily's first piano recital and doggy woesWe had a rough morning yesterday trying to get off to Emily's first piano recital after our 15.5 year old dog had taken a tumble down the stairs and crashed into the wall at the bottom. When she couldn't get up after her fall, we thought we'd have to make a tough choice when the vet reopened on Monday. We got a little reprieve today though when Chelsea surprised us by walking a bit and eating again, but she's still in a lot of pain and it's clear that her days are numbered. The only silver lining of all that commotion was that Emily had a distraction from stage fright and didn't dwell as much on the dread of having all eyes upon her! She just started lessons in the fall and I think she did pretty well :) Click on the video below to see her performance.<div><br /></div><div>I've pasted some pix from last month of Chelsea when she was doing a little better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKobZRJM-QVi5X4t9HhyphenhyphenuoXVQKwjhVQmhe68Q2FZwzTLKnqPDbfJA-n3l7PbkFrmNLlAKhJSHSNOW6WYHKSHdHShmC3Gt9oyskMpENMSd5i-idvfS3efS7k7G-bXm0CO6ATOLI1w/s1600/20100401_8746.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKobZRJM-QVi5X4t9HhyphenhyphenuoXVQKwjhVQmhe68Q2FZwzTLKnqPDbfJA-n3l7PbkFrmNLlAKhJSHSNOW6WYHKSHdHShmC3Gt9oyskMpENMSd5i-idvfS3efS7k7G-bXm0CO6ATOLI1w/s1600/20100401_8746.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKobZRJM-QVi5X4t9HhyphenhyphenuoXVQKwjhVQmhe68Q2FZwzTLKnqPDbfJA-n3l7PbkFrmNLlAKhJSHSNOW6WYHKSHdHShmC3Gt9oyskMpENMSd5i-idvfS3efS7k7G-bXm0CO6ATOLI1w/s400/20100401_8746.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472023816093491122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is posted out of order, but after we took some funny pictures of our crazy dog ON the dishwasher, we eventually kicked her out!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYhfAUtby0HtjVvWl0uVEncar2pjmV7gepTpeGQVAjKep9LazQuOOybka0Q1zOPO-2BXNs9SxjsFAUwQSVMLHfWearggF_kyMj9osI5AYq49sjFcb8uKuLOmlUuPjLWEN1eVQWg/s1600/20100401_8744.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYhfAUtby0HtjVvWl0uVEncar2pjmV7gepTpeGQVAjKep9LazQuOOybka0Q1zOPO-2BXNs9SxjsFAUwQSVMLHfWearggF_kyMj9osI5AYq49sjFcb8uKuLOmlUuPjLWEN1eVQWg/s400/20100401_8744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472023815138218306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Caught red handed! Or should that be red pawed?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I4s6xP_CjnZiQLb2KGlw1JhJmzDztUkhCjr4y8-BzFAtoPl5S5VwR48d9eerMHrlz4jrI-BaligenLPwzuIl5Z58wPgNNz1YZW9Ld6DsNxmvCvE6-QvbsadvrXNn55F-IpvGfQ/s1600/20100412_9273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I4s6xP_CjnZiQLb2KGlw1JhJmzDztUkhCjr4y8-BzFAtoPl5S5VwR48d9eerMHrlz4jrI-BaligenLPwzuIl5Z58wPgNNz1YZW9Ld6DsNxmvCvE6-QvbsadvrXNn55F-IpvGfQ/s400/20100412_9273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472023805760546402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chelsea, do you know where Alaska goes?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pg9P81O_ohBDJWSNkFFiu_GCTorWcNaCw1DgDzEhPkmJWvsK6gJn3ePfScq_VYJ8u-HfIi_C-VPDglBUoz7B841uP-2zDowwJI6LhP7062kQDwampU0wxQYCTVUxu7Tv_IrjDg/s1600/20100412_9270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pg9P81O_ohBDJWSNkFFiu_GCTorWcNaCw1DgDzEhPkmJWvsK6gJn3ePfScq_VYJ8u-HfIi_C-VPDglBUoz7B841uP-2zDowwJI6LhP7062kQDwampU0wxQYCTVUxu7Tv_IrjDg/s400/20100412_9270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472023794999312930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chelsea was already declining here, but was still able to tolerate the girls' TLC. The girls have to be much more careful with her today.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nQoJkmMrtu6E6vYiGyknLT86rdOZ0DhhPLGDRWyGypq8gi2dDasevigrIKbKIhxdrMNqHlE1ZIemoDk0zqaW4tNOR9UBpIUVb6HDo3VRwEdzHooQ8Gum8pgDuiuSVlNtyPcaEA/s1600/20100412_9271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nQoJkmMrtu6E6vYiGyknLT86rdOZ0DhhPLGDRWyGypq8gi2dDasevigrIKbKIhxdrMNqHlE1ZIemoDk0zqaW4tNOR9UBpIUVb6HDo3VRwEdzHooQ8Gum8pgDuiuSVlNtyPcaEA/s400/20100412_9271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472023789778783954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We had Chelsea for six years before Emily came along, but they took to each other very well :) It's going to be hard to say goodbye.</div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NNapnJa2Bu0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NNapnJa2Bu0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-60029120465494661202010-04-27T21:18:00.004-05:002010-04-27T21:53:45.557-05:00March for Babies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucy1w1Rc6x1UjgaFQZeMtxt1san3ADHgnoeHResFPazFsAGPPlQOT2BgrFqhv3gyso5bMK1GR2Uf3jT7HTDLO-JDmj5Bz4G5VRP6n8KYRFH6srK1PibsIgDcbIxelo4x5TewQ0g/s1600/20100425_8782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucy1w1Rc6x1UjgaFQZeMtxt1san3ADHgnoeHResFPazFsAGPPlQOT2BgrFqhv3gyso5bMK1GR2Uf3jT7HTDLO-JDmj5Bz4G5VRP6n8KYRFH6srK1PibsIgDcbIxelo4x5TewQ0g/s400/20100425_8782.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465008816535676386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our Top Walker award!! What a nice surprise!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTIxwiZui5Hi31IYwfaJ0zGpjpkjUybEgJs-PtSpKGvw6KLO3KLfYSQnH70yuQ0JI-meMH4rGSa318WdArXPDr8arXaKSDoC4ftF7ffhSvQEUatQ0ciDjkrlzfKlTAwxlzld7CQ/s1600/20100425_8770.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTIxwiZui5Hi31IYwfaJ0zGpjpkjUybEgJs-PtSpKGvw6KLO3KLfYSQnH70yuQ0JI-meMH4rGSa318WdArXPDr8arXaKSDoC4ftF7ffhSvQEUatQ0ciDjkrlzfKlTAwxlzld7CQ/s400/20100425_8770.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465008809699739202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Emily doesn't look like a preemie anymore does she?!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1DR8RHYXd88GbW33gK_CWkZb3mGObkE8c0kFbqDfVXHV2Zk-6E-60xvm_0jm8s03bX0CyzwJJemAq4YI4QUF2VqxLLNONHLv0doQ0BDUjgfwLMrMqKpHcSMbG7SYf5Aa5TZqcQ/s1600/20100425_8762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1DR8RHYXd88GbW33gK_CWkZb3mGObkE8c0kFbqDfVXHV2Zk-6E-60xvm_0jm8s03bX0CyzwJJemAq4YI4QUF2VqxLLNONHLv0doQ0BDUjgfwLMrMqKpHcSMbG7SYf5Aa5TZqcQ/s400/20100425_8762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465008794586704418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Aunt Ruthie and Bo joined us for a fun day :)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zd2cLe7kDcQCYxgG1ar3Nhyphenhyphen379coqoJoUZy4ejGSe-QNfY1EnHLW-bxKxkLC8DvEeh9EZ0pDKXZtaF-ocHDrZhkazDDRimgsI4uCWy8aGxIYt05FLoaoEBCcLWkhjVrODuoajA/s1600/20100425_8757.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zd2cLe7kDcQCYxgG1ar3Nhyphenhyphen379coqoJoUZy4ejGSe-QNfY1EnHLW-bxKxkLC8DvEeh9EZ0pDKXZtaF-ocHDrZhkazDDRimgsI4uCWy8aGxIYt05FLoaoEBCcLWkhjVrODuoajA/s400/20100425_8757.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465008792466830962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This venue (in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bolingbrook</span>) was only 3 miles vs. 6+ (in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Naperville</span>) which really appealed to me with rain in the forecast! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7J0ayE1xDGRzPDehnY79Tvdj2ghpKuFYMnA6g2_6HAf_B6Mkq7G6R6CCNKhd6mBDw1UdGOPrA4pWHIapTrrgS_FFDMyrVWryCK9AcncPkyl6vzhaD_e6mVJ1NR8NObobuDEqUg/s1600/20100425_8756.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7J0ayE1xDGRzPDehnY79Tvdj2ghpKuFYMnA6g2_6HAf_B6Mkq7G6R6CCNKhd6mBDw1UdGOPrA4pWHIapTrrgS_FFDMyrVWryCK9AcncPkyl6vzhaD_e6mVJ1NR8NObobuDEqUg/s400/20100425_8756.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465008781786257650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully the rain actually held off until we were almost done!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>On Sunday we did our annual March for Babies to raise money for other babies born too soon like Emily. It's almost hard to believe our tall ten-year-old once weighed barely more than a pound! We are so blessed to have her in our life and will be forever grateful to March of Dimes for their life saving research that enabled her to survive. This is our way of saying thank you and trying to make a difference for future babies. We certainly never dreamed we'd have a baby four months early, but unfortunately one out of seven babies is born prematurely.<div><br /></div><div>Andy's Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Bo joined us as we walked at a new location this year (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bolingbrook</span> Promenade vs. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Naperville</span>) where we were surprised to be recognized at the Top Individual walkers! That means that of all the individual walkers there (vs. teams or corporate) we raised the most money :) Our current total is $2,755.00, but we're still accepting donations if you would like to donate! We'd love to make it to our $3,000 goal and we're <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soooo</span> close!! Just click <a href="http://marchforbabies.org/mansen">here</a> to go to our March of Dimes page.</div><div><br /></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-86573348277815072822010-04-07T22:19:00.003-05:002010-04-07T23:14:21.246-05:00Easter<div style="text-align: center;">These pictures uploaded in reverse order, but you can still see that we had a great Easter. Our soon-to-be-moving-far-away friends came over for dinner and a little Easter egg hunt. We will really miss you guys!!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwdTHPRy7DhBCPwOELTWOn-HyNVBHYfAtX2ZpOVKd7w_3W7r0h_JVCaUi_FMGdlkPNg1bAB5XVQvsPDdLol3-z7-MWkqUu7R6Z7p_hn3xXPiBAeXAhlbwxcgEpylOVLwR4xwTVg/s1600/20100404_8710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwdTHPRy7DhBCPwOELTWOn-HyNVBHYfAtX2ZpOVKd7w_3W7r0h_JVCaUi_FMGdlkPNg1bAB5XVQvsPDdLol3-z7-MWkqUu7R6Z7p_hn3xXPiBAeXAhlbwxcgEpylOVLwR4xwTVg/s400/20100404_8710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457602848670552162" border="0" /></a> Where oh where could those eggs be?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWMwvdBAq_hwpxIFWiocfplJ8EJtrp3iG2lJjoQLJ26mqHx3X46jY4kZ4qDd0nJqDCsNFe4-E8A5Zswb2J1hBfbf3theD00d6kZfvQBmJrZg-_PX1p5Gnlb9b-PO1r75Ed5drRQ/s1600/20100404_8682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWMwvdBAq_hwpxIFWiocfplJ8EJtrp3iG2lJjoQLJ26mqHx3X46jY4kZ4qDd0nJqDCsNFe4-E8A5Zswb2J1hBfbf3theD00d6kZfvQBmJrZg-_PX1p5Gnlb9b-PO1r75Ed5drRQ/s400/20100404_8682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457602848150013586" border="0" /></a>The early morning obligatory <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-egg hunt pose. They were eager to fill those baskets!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuMpJLrGh7gPMVexTjIEXtCxeja9C3qyAR5DTraZKGCJVjRllhrxufdA0_p1XM6zgs36qU1nj7-bI51Zrw-HSbJH-PMInZvgOF2BUbMMffetKj4Zt-IGZCS1Oc82cX176u9NUOQ/s1600/20100403_8737.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuMpJLrGh7gPMVexTjIEXtCxeja9C3qyAR5DTraZKGCJVjRllhrxufdA0_p1XM6zgs36qU1nj7-bI51Zrw-HSbJH-PMInZvgOF2BUbMMffetKj4Zt-IGZCS1Oc82cX176u9NUOQ/s400/20100403_8737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457602833925828546" border="0" /></a>Ta <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">da</span>! Look what I made!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK86fqfp8d2mQRoB2quw9W0q62Bxy12EijN3k23Tg1WnU-MiNEvoO7uEdI3VU80ryci1QPL86v5DGDKQ-1DqlAtWLUOvoQGgy1c9yMfP2wISuLlbOoBP5BTPSLRj8_qukxPstVew/s1600/20100403_8729.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK86fqfp8d2mQRoB2quw9W0q62Bxy12EijN3k23Tg1WnU-MiNEvoO7uEdI3VU80ryci1QPL86v5DGDKQ-1DqlAtWLUOvoQGgy1c9yMfP2wISuLlbOoBP5BTPSLRj8_qukxPstVew/s400/20100403_8729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457602823997403458" border="0" /></a>Emily was wearing almost as much dye as the eggs!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLZLIxsS9I9j9LnjdIkLFAAPRf-kTGebpGz64Q0u3IpSIrOQfhNfNybZC_ujJ2LCoEqHeclSUUeiDJAijHcO_rPjthR9VZvE2h1PaNZxK2SZ4LaGsv9WmgYk4bNIDQqtgr5A3_Q/s1600/20100403_8721.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLZLIxsS9I9j9LnjdIkLFAAPRf-kTGebpGz64Q0u3IpSIrOQfhNfNybZC_ujJ2LCoEqHeclSUUeiDJAijHcO_rPjthR9VZvE2h1PaNZxK2SZ4LaGsv9WmgYk4bNIDQqtgr5A3_Q/s400/20100403_8721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457602815445339186" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-69111214333203700012010-03-28T16:39:00.005-06:002010-03-28T17:12:57.076-06:00Third time is a charm?<div>We're still chugging along with homeschool, work and a kitchen renovation. This week I'd already painted my kitchen twice but it just wasn't working for me. The first time was too dark, the second time too light and neither time did the color really relate to the connecting family room. Sure they could have worked, but after all the time, effort, and money, I wanted to be happier with the color. Fortunately, right before I was about to attempt to buy paint #3, a fellow homeschool mom came to pick up her kids who'd been over to play and that's when I learned that she'd been a designer for years! I had no idea, but was glad that she was happy to rescue me :) She loves color and grabbed my Benjamin Moore fan deck and started thumbing through. Thanks, Michelle, you're a life saver.<div><br /></div><div>We still have odds and ends like painting the window and door trim in the breakfast nook to match the cabinets, painting the ceiling, window treatments, possibly tweaking the lighting, possibly replacing the table and chairs. I'm happy with the progress and see an end in sight :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some pictures I snapped this afternoon:</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCByKnKgWryrDmYXBczSLlstoWWUaXHye801YuxBpaU53PW0lEGrY0tCYrDnEMhOMqKIIZeA-qukYVDgSfcvVtmgT3GgpRf5DQ3qZu0sr8RsOPOFQZEJ3Z9UJl2rtSTCIKZLlVA/s1600/20100328_8663.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCByKnKgWryrDmYXBczSLlstoWWUaXHye801YuxBpaU53PW0lEGrY0tCYrDnEMhOMqKIIZeA-qukYVDgSfcvVtmgT3GgpRf5DQ3qZu0sr8RsOPOFQZEJ3Z9UJl2rtSTCIKZLlVA/s400/20100328_8663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453822698897302258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My three paint color attempts this week.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYswfgn1jaIEI3nfDWMd8LdhbULh6VmdmRYfh3nIRUfMG8arI-hDOyuTBop47ABgibDq-BLfWKtRS0DppGUhWRN4-WvCZCYRR0H8PVSTrnAmIJssPbf__i-YK5WumZoZKLTyKzQ/s1600/20100328_8674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYswfgn1jaIEI3nfDWMd8LdhbULh6VmdmRYfh3nIRUfMG8arI-hDOyuTBop47ABgibDq-BLfWKtRS0DppGUhWRN4-WvCZCYRR0H8PVSTrnAmIJssPbf__i-YK5WumZoZKLTyKzQ/s400/20100328_8674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453822694718555490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Crown moulding up and painted...and walls painted!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9gfjHEqd9ud4dRs3RPN42t915GfNzEufdC0UyoI062pU3xII-2GAAkMp-We64rAU3TZ5EMtRAWlQnA2DnMQmO4yD7EC_Zs7I3geLIY29s02iLpQ5eOo17-463ojs0eRAzxDp7A/s1600/20100328_8672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9gfjHEqd9ud4dRs3RPN42t915GfNzEufdC0UyoI062pU3xII-2GAAkMp-We64rAU3TZ5EMtRAWlQnA2DnMQmO4yD7EC_Zs7I3geLIY29s02iLpQ5eOo17-463ojs0eRAzxDp7A/s400/20100328_8672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453822685315485250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Andy did a great job with the crown moulding, didn't he?!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYRbnY3Wp7aCasc7S2Mdf0045qQXYrtube1C7Jo-LYoaZywCicw-WDEBcCHM50_HQ-3ayRJ_NCKgFAI4YC3DiQvrhsHd00uelotf53fvwP7AyXdqTZldvsDskv_-xzqWdRnHpog/s1600/20100328_8667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYRbnY3Wp7aCasc7S2Mdf0045qQXYrtube1C7Jo-LYoaZywCicw-WDEBcCHM50_HQ-3ayRJ_NCKgFAI4YC3DiQvrhsHd00uelotf53fvwP7AyXdqTZldvsDskv_-xzqWdRnHpog/s400/20100328_8667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453822677148161986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The old pantry has been replaced with cabinets to the left of the fridge and the new pantry (to the right) replaced our old unused desk.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclNy0LxY5CLQxWxCiO_He-CefaLqMHRkICMj6prbXyhtkPsxn3sJ8sNZKKFFi8B_bjOxe0takmAZ8cRyQD1Xv6D46a7G8_18BkIgnM0g-MSEDGWBjCG5Q78ouV9xcWBUEnoQZuw/s1600/20100328_8613.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclNy0LxY5CLQxWxCiO_He-CefaLqMHRkICMj6prbXyhtkPsxn3sJ8sNZKKFFi8B_bjOxe0takmAZ8cRyQD1Xv6D46a7G8_18BkIgnM0g-MSEDGWBjCG5Q78ouV9xcWBUEnoQZuw/s400/20100328_8613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453822673700879554" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We pained the old cabinet boxes in the main U, covered the ends with wainscoating, replaced the doors and drawers with painted maple ones from Schrock (Menards), replaced laminate counters with granite, and updated the sink and faucet. Oh, and Andy disguised the ugly soffits with crown moulding. It all looks bright white here, but it's actually a Dover, grayish white.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-72851004289483271192010-02-06T23:37:00.006-06:002010-02-07T00:43:04.994-06:00DIY Kitchen Reno<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These last few months here have been a little crazy with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homeschool</span>, a kitchen remodeling project, Thanksgiving, Emily's birthday, Christmas, my Dad's five day stay in the hospital, a 3-day drive to Florida, a week in Orlando (in the COLD!), a week on a Disney cruise, a 3-day drive back home, more kitchen remodeling, and Olivia's birthday... BUT, we're all hanging in there and doing fine. I've posted some pix below of our kitchen progress: </span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw8VbrPZAj2Pa7PF7fo09mKivcYyf78c8JYZdyXH9kbSQt0nJxLK9IsS8GVL1ElGxWiRcZhM_FatciXqAGb9H69Lj5fimNSrvZbrTo2pweB6LcGhnikGV1WV-iSiKpZ7SE_xXhQ/s1600-h/20091008_5338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw8VbrPZAj2Pa7PF7fo09mKivcYyf78c8JYZdyXH9kbSQt0nJxLK9IsS8GVL1ElGxWiRcZhM_FatciXqAGb9H69Lj5fimNSrvZbrTo2pweB6LcGhnikGV1WV-iSiKpZ7SE_xXhQ/s400/20091008_5338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435376477501744898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">BEFORE. November. Our lovely orange oak and a floral border.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVktF2EcGVR_TDD7FlYFqbc3I7K2tZzQMHFO34tzWX8qMOg0DoGVU68o4sQJQPfy0Xk2bvgFlG62OBJMj00n-1f8Mp49E9lyTsxy4OyiYZGSTgTPB2glBVMTeLTQi9WWMOj_pWhA/s1600-h/20091225_7334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVktF2EcGVR_TDD7FlYFqbc3I7K2tZzQMHFO34tzWX8qMOg0DoGVU68o4sQJQPfy0Xk2bvgFlG62OBJMj00n-1f8Mp49E9lyTsxy4OyiYZGSTgTPB2glBVMTeLTQi9WWMOj_pWhA/s400/20091225_7334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435376463644097730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. Two days before Christmas granite counters were installed. In the weeks before, Andy replaced the doors and drawer fronts, painted the boxes, and added crown moulding ...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuZBosvwtlEayA20rlyCJhFCuU7gRBDEYbg96BQC0dG0-putmylU4CBOUDvKZO85g62wNo3fk3CVP1Wwp500-zg4GigAM_Ms66KPfHuRmMknLLFh2VySgwROr-vtaF_2uppTrxA/s1600-h/20091223_7363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuZBosvwtlEayA20rlyCJhFCuU7gRBDEYbg96BQC0dG0-putmylU4CBOUDvKZO85g62wNo3fk3CVP1Wwp500-zg4GigAM_Ms66KPfHuRmMknLLFh2VySgwROr-vtaF_2uppTrxA/s400/20091223_7363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435376455821121442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. The day before Christmas...wondering if we were going to have a working sink on Christmas day...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3IK67NJEJ5ODvUUQV1sBMzHqHEBqE3GRszPs0DG7CbDYMRnvYaTYmdtt-ZXBpPsyGNOI3qAzer81LMNMfmspear_G18KCkmPHAFs6v0udk7KafiZnVLFe3WoZuFBkMrGSVolQQ/s1600-h/20091218_6821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3IK67NJEJ5ODvUUQV1sBMzHqHEBqE3GRszPs0DG7CbDYMRnvYaTYmdtt-ZXBpPsyGNOI3qAzer81LMNMfmspear_G18KCkmPHAFs6v0udk7KafiZnVLFe3WoZuFBkMrGSVolQQ/s400/20091218_6821.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435376447048055746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">BEFORE of the old pantry and desk before they were torn out</span>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNF1-cgiEqdJEtwb-z7NvmyBwrRpYbHBK_jp4eYGCVHaV-2GGfa465QsKGRxajE7gC0BI4EZ7f7sgeZZMpiB5WzO9_idMOXUdMdC7g16BM_CZKdh3qn8TNZjD7PKA_B6CLY05Qw/s1600-h/20091218_6818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNF1-cgiEqdJEtwb-z7NvmyBwrRpYbHBK_jp4eYGCVHaV-2GGfa465QsKGRxajE7gC0BI4EZ7f7sgeZZMpiB5WzO9_idMOXUdMdC7g16BM_CZKdh3qn8TNZjD7PKA_B6CLY05Qw/s400/20091218_6818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435375308821834018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">BEFORE. The only thing staying on this wall is the fridge</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfeWJEILnUumJEHPo336Wn-wntYmxFzqRBXXR30fMzJSo0evXdbeBoQOFVxLkkojNLGOnTMy5Nfpoe5hvGY-I3VPYz03JuM37q9XlEQlixDQOqblKgHbkLhNy-8IxA2bKJ02_bA/s1600-h/20100123_8325.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfeWJEILnUumJEHPo336Wn-wntYmxFzqRBXXR30fMzJSo0evXdbeBoQOFVxLkkojNLGOnTMy5Nfpoe5hvGY-I3VPYz03JuM37q9XlEQlixDQOqblKgHbkLhNy-8IxA2bKJ02_bA/s400/20100123_8325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435375302086905666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. January (two weeks ago). The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soffits</span> and desk were torn out on the fridge wall. Pantry demolition happened one week later.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP8SEtOYUwOHqGv20rxJy5u7VmsOBUJZLp7KzUOxaC991PaCVOeO6lmNtKFSqtyRUAbr_9X0T6G1O2uu0eP_f447guaFXza7k9E1ojwrUHGzzZwyxXD5sQScou_VF-M60-YDMmQ/s1600-h/20100206_8329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP8SEtOYUwOHqGv20rxJy5u7VmsOBUJZLp7KzUOxaC991PaCVOeO6lmNtKFSqtyRUAbr_9X0T6G1O2uu0eP_f447guaFXza7k9E1ojwrUHGzzZwyxXD5sQScou_VF-M60-YDMmQ/s400/20100206_8329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435375296032691986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. Today (Feb 6). The unused desk was replaced with pantry cabinets two weekends ago...the old built in pantry was torn out and today the final cabinets are going in :)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn5ea0LjtVj9KXdZoa31pU_wK769E6NyNCz4lOiOQAhkaGZDxJ195blw8A5_QvfPR6nXBZ77_fCQT-BWVdfsy8vp247IAV289Z2lSkjrTKxVRK-3rqbinyKxIOWWQxuxH3e7ivw/s1600-h/20100207_8356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn5ea0LjtVj9KXdZoa31pU_wK769E6NyNCz4lOiOQAhkaGZDxJ195blw8A5_QvfPR6nXBZ77_fCQT-BWVdfsy8vp247IAV289Z2lSkjrTKxVRK-3rqbinyKxIOWWQxuxH3e7ivw/s400/20100207_8356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435375288424181426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. Today (Feb. 6). The new and improved fridge wall with floor to ceiling pantries on both sides of doorway.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHwPJJABmV5sFj_3E94VxtUIuyteB7TG0OXk7s2VGXx2zZsr103quSvvbC-b6EN-DZm5t0Wjr1UF2FkYlN8ata1EbiTNFVHKOG3lp4VeMj7iuc7R4_N5cjENwmri0PzhjXeOSSQ/s1600-h/20100207_8357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHwPJJABmV5sFj_3E94VxtUIuyteB7TG0OXk7s2VGXx2zZsr103quSvvbC-b6EN-DZm5t0Wjr1UF2FkYlN8ata1EbiTNFVHKOG3lp4VeMj7iuc7R4_N5cjENwmri0PzhjXeOSSQ/s400/20100207_8357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435375276834091938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DURING. Still to do: spacers, knobs, crown and base moulding, garbage and recycling pull-outs, paint on wall, etc.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiYnniSi1-3VRaWyWjtrUAh1o3VrpuKrgr55laS4fKkvE8odthYVpbxCxBHXpggSuaaaKnjs8jbgs5D5Ak2hJ4YyD43XtC712S-dnIT7K4kKesQXankEsQnC0fcwcCajalL2cAg/s1600-h/20100207_8354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiYnniSi1-3VRaWyWjtrUAh1o3VrpuKrgr55laS4fKkvE8odthYVpbxCxBHXpggSuaaaKnjs8jbgs5D5Ak2hJ4YyD43XtC712S-dnIT7K4kKesQXankEsQnC0fcwcCajalL2cAg/s400/20100207_8354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435378185779984738" /></a>DURING. Today (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FEb</span> 6, almost midnight). Andy installed the fridge cabinet and surround today! The last two cabinets (where the old pantry had been) are being installed as I type :)Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-10493225031872269492010-02-02T21:38:00.002-06:002010-02-02T21:46:33.604-06:00Somebody just turned SEVEN!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR4sSn46jagRNuPyY6SF55lJd6sGBBKiFc1NQkWWYiMTROqYZ126HDHCtWgp33PUAKOYRjzj7Jr2MERhWz14NVkyhoH-eLluqhDWqi2tsJzA1FtnsXJKkT8KKDWhhemaw0RFHEw/s1600-h/20100201_8311cr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR4sSn46jagRNuPyY6SF55lJd6sGBBKiFc1NQkWWYiMTROqYZ126HDHCtWgp33PUAKOYRjzj7Jr2MERhWz14NVkyhoH-eLluqhDWqi2tsJzA1FtnsXJKkT8KKDWhhemaw0RFHEw/s400/20100201_8311cr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433856583185083938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Olivia turned seven yesterday. Wow, hard to believe!</div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-53436401009295384772010-01-25T19:53:00.003-06:002010-01-25T20:51:15.122-06:00vacation pixWhile I procrastinate getting back into the real world of homeschooling, laundry and our kitchen remodel, I thought I'd post some vacation pix :) We spent a chilly week in Orlando then a week on a Disney cruise (W. Carib.). A third week was spent in transit (3 day drive each way). It was too chilly to get off the ship in Key West, but we enjoyed some days in the low 70s in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Disney's private island in the Bahamas. In spite of the arctic blast, we got a few warm days and still had a great time. The girls want to know when we're going on a Disney cruise again already!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83N8zDOdRHPZJdpJZL50A9-lPAZkS2af3p42329OVZzQTLcjBZ_Vw2tzzK_QXPs7_Ozhe6ATFBFxVpVeDuBUtNFxFIjFW3wmqvyQKnFoUIujF0EIfsgn8zqy8AnQrbDHyHAKwhA/s1600-h/20100107_7481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83N8zDOdRHPZJdpJZL50A9-lPAZkS2af3p42329OVZzQTLcjBZ_Vw2tzzK_QXPs7_Ozhe6ATFBFxVpVeDuBUtNFxFIjFW3wmqvyQKnFoUIujF0EIfsgn8zqy8AnQrbDHyHAKwhA/s400/20100107_7481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430863960502610754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They never tired of seeing the characters! Here is Cinderella at Epcot.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6sfJk6y0QywN3rekAK7PA0g6XjGgkn0TjAVzqKnXw_Po1myGnGh7fW-7Ns1AO2vNFIt2NZS6Aun_KOlGUGtI39-xD2WimrDvVndtowXobF-6Jo4tCYtX3W7hK1XE7xmfv-3Nhg/s1600-h/20100108_7907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6sfJk6y0QywN3rekAK7PA0g6XjGgkn0TjAVzqKnXw_Po1myGnGh7fW-7Ns1AO2vNFIt2NZS6Aun_KOlGUGtI39-xD2WimrDvVndtowXobF-6Jo4tCYtX3W7hK1XE7xmfv-3Nhg/s400/20100108_7907.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430863950824701362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The girls got their faces painted at our resort while I used my (May) birthday spa gift certificate. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ahh</span>...what a nice treat!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvrjguFkyN3VsW7M4QDFZEXPIQUTlkmzNHasaa0pIWOOgEzE8t7u2yQ4-O9Rr2ESawD6duaY8xJu8FzOwFG5xmmpzad4mgwUkUos-eDWOA6bD01JZrrvNy2LccBpQSIS6Z1Gb8w/s1600-h/20100108_7909.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvrjguFkyN3VsW7M4QDFZEXPIQUTlkmzNHasaa0pIWOOgEzE8t7u2yQ4-O9Rr2ESawD6duaY8xJu8FzOwFG5xmmpzad4mgwUkUos-eDWOA6bD01JZrrvNy2LccBpQSIS6Z1Gb8w/s400/20100108_7909.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430863944843182226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure what Emily was...looks like a butterfly, but there was a spider between her eyes??</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GKTYnzFgKVQa-C0ykeTh1GVj2wQHflZCX0TQcMg5o07U6bLQGSCI6sM9-dXL2gGuT-KsDJKqyhr8jW5kgyMF3bbTDzrN_xOBFUFrgHEYM4QOLnITc2XEbg1BjaueUWZ0iYaAYQ/s1600-h/20100109_7904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GKTYnzFgKVQa-C0ykeTh1GVj2wQHflZCX0TQcMg5o07U6bLQGSCI6sM9-dXL2gGuT-KsDJKqyhr8jW5kgyMF3bbTDzrN_xOBFUFrgHEYM4QOLnITc2XEbg1BjaueUWZ0iYaAYQ/s400/20100109_7904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430863933463196306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Andy and the girls at dinner on the Disney cruise. You can't see them here, but the girls and their (Target 18") dolls had matching outfits. I was thrilled to find some Dolly & Me sets on the clearance rack for $6.99/set!! Your Sears might still have some.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9r73GWmw5uiI1m5ZM9gzm2FtO1ORkLZ941gVrSnp8j26CsnZDkH0z0mWiXM7yKq1Tv0miseyajtCoHMgusmUO7mKFVy35oIR3fkZubhub5iIynSqqdh-CFKO8XuLNg3IfwpSw/s1600-h/20100110_7885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9r73GWmw5uiI1m5ZM9gzm2FtO1ORkLZ941gVrSnp8j26CsnZDkH0z0mWiXM7yKq1Tv0miseyajtCoHMgusmUO7mKFVy35oIR3fkZubhub5iIynSqqdh-CFKO8XuLNg3IfwpSw/s400/20100110_7885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430863925263816018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It was always fun to see what towel animal we got with our chocolates at our nightly turn down. Kind of miss those chocolates! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDRZTCqtnPSNPZ9CExes8h8zB3vOwa6_m8M6MMebwlYtSzU5fw2xd6rWzQ2yzh5edyyCh4J01A7ifuTmDej6TBYhhUVeardLVxseMIo6GS6no3k0aJdovYnvJyWXAXPbREsf4Bg/s1600-h/20100112_7638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDRZTCqtnPSNPZ9CExes8h8zB3vOwa6_m8M6MMebwlYtSzU5fw2xd6rWzQ2yzh5edyyCh4J01A7ifuTmDej6TBYhhUVeardLVxseMIo6GS6no3k0aJdovYnvJyWXAXPbREsf4Bg/s400/20100112_7638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430862395034340546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We didn't bother to get off the ship in Key West since it was only in the low 40s and we'd been there before. Fortunately it was in the low 70s at our second port, Cozumel. Andy and Emily ventured into the water here at Paradise Beach, but Olivia preferred land surfing and castle building.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXajSTBJdHgrl4Bx5fwX9M-N8Tz_4ElaJcUzAQrRqTLSTzTav785S58FVKsiSR0CMF3IMo82OVkHWBF5jqCr1IkISrF2LxZFpCmME8dydYLcz6vp1iRFba3Zw3tmFjSAz_kpV9CA/s1600-h/20100112_7680.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXajSTBJdHgrl4Bx5fwX9M-N8Tz_4ElaJcUzAQrRqTLSTzTav785S58FVKsiSR0CMF3IMo82OVkHWBF5jqCr1IkISrF2LxZFpCmME8dydYLcz6vp1iRFba3Zw3tmFjSAz_kpV9CA/s400/20100112_7680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430862388456986018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The water was beautiful, clear and blue, but chilly!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yPvjEVVGwgoQLB91qQ-sIBk0Ohv-LvKfH1QdLdDX0sf09xUwd3QHftSTX9hvwqbbvDvKN9geIFBal8uh7yYugY8bajwEk5unWoDH29i2upvnn1q4oXNwRPout5UaaWpS77yAnQ/s1600-h/20100112_7759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yPvjEVVGwgoQLB91qQ-sIBk0Ohv-LvKfH1QdLdDX0sf09xUwd3QHftSTX9hvwqbbvDvKN9geIFBal8uh7yYugY8bajwEk5unWoDH29i2upvnn1q4oXNwRPout5UaaWpS77yAnQ/s400/20100112_7759.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430862379152720466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our ship, The Magic, in Cozumel, Mexico.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kxOgeOzmGMh1mPzI4ceYiKhnue3UNY80At1cY8ovQRZJehRT9dQ3HcPPp45WDh_z5ZFLlTfhuEwVsr8KFy_vfTomRMYmDSIE1hxzaWLuKpwe_mWGwGzHcr3WM0hkwQxjLOYW4w/s1600-h/20100115_8226+Bahamas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kxOgeOzmGMh1mPzI4ceYiKhnue3UNY80At1cY8ovQRZJehRT9dQ3HcPPp45WDh_z5ZFLlTfhuEwVsr8KFy_vfTomRMYmDSIE1hxzaWLuKpwe_mWGwGzHcr3WM0hkwQxjLOYW4w/s400/20100115_8226+Bahamas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430862375505438914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The girls loved the beach at Disney's private island in the Bahamas.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoRncl1r8DBQT-TcIoWHcbdUxNM4R1zDlXl1uEyqx2PWQX0U4rf4IZkgHTF1VvC49_mOqHM4IuL0ieWm4CvkByucgxMWJA3P24WUkLSNXzp0XJI0ZNua4AygxnNO44WHeqPd8WQ/s1600-h/20100115_8193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoRncl1r8DBQT-TcIoWHcbdUxNM4R1zDlXl1uEyqx2PWQX0U4rf4IZkgHTF1VvC49_mOqHM4IuL0ieWm4CvkByucgxMWJA3P24WUkLSNXzp0XJI0ZNua4AygxnNO44WHeqPd8WQ/s400/20100115_8193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430862361818424418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Andy's parents are not beach bums, but we all appreciated having sunshine and 70s...until the rain came anyway!</div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-37482352187330925592010-01-06T10:23:00.003-06:002010-01-06T11:17:26.177-06:00Hello from chilly FloridaI don't have a lot of time, but wanted to quickly post some vacation pix. On our first full day down here we went to visit Olivia's orphanage friend, Jack, and spent the day with his family. We even got visit the beach right by his house, but did NOT go in the water. It was great to see them all again.<br /><br />We drove three days to get to warm weather, but have still not found it :( It's been in the 30s to low 50s here and unfortunately it doesn't look like it's going be much warmer during our entire week here. Good thing the outdoor pools are heated though and the girls don't seem to mind the weather much. On Saturday we're going on a Disney Cruise and hope we'll get at least a few warm days there. Looks like Key West will only be in the 40s though... Yes, I know it's better than at home, but just not exactly what we had in mind. We're still having a great time though and the girls don't seemed to be bothered in the least :) I don't think they've complained once so we're having a great time. We may have to buy some warmer dressy clothes before the cruise on Saturday though!<br /><br />Tomorrow we plan to go to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Winter coats, gloves and all!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjrn-F-yztiMw8pOkzgwObf1x3Ig9QAd948wiP-UXktZWvjEBDF0eqwOID6ocbNdwiId6UqPpNvmosqY3HJe0JDsXiN0ujLv7cF8zTzXfDMyK8kGijTc9KJv5q0cP6h1CQqcedQ/s1600-h/20100104_7097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjrn-F-yztiMw8pOkzgwObf1x3Ig9QAd948wiP-UXktZWvjEBDF0eqwOID6ocbNdwiId6UqPpNvmosqY3HJe0JDsXiN0ujLv7cF8zTzXfDMyK8kGijTc9KJv5q0cP6h1CQqcedQ/s400/20100104_7097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423672848692235282" border="0" /></a>From their faces, you'd never guess that the air temperature is only in the low 50s. Good thing the water was much warmer!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY554TO4nGLa7bvLyj6hlsTKUB7hn_qiEeQqVMNTzO7O1aleGAIVzK8GAgkVeJLl8epaBNrltuTk-McWa9QL6pGwFddf3Yzq0EHCiKe648YfecevXwNyOvyZauD0OoNSgd3GopvA/s1600-h/20100104_7143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY554TO4nGLa7bvLyj6hlsTKUB7hn_qiEeQqVMNTzO7O1aleGAIVzK8GAgkVeJLl8epaBNrltuTk-McWa9QL6pGwFddf3Yzq0EHCiKe648YfecevXwNyOvyZauD0OoNSgd3GopvA/s400/20100104_7143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423672845343138978" border="0" /></a>When not IN the water, it's pretty chilly!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PBiVkSiBBjzRsUGZ1JltM0RP-tiw79YakkfyOMCs7-JyTG__DQqaDv__AJxdi4ImLMNp-9-hpZ-7zWO4HT65aZsuE7AxTP5Q09ZUTQtcNbWhYeUe3Z3b4Y4s9NsHQxRQ8wYrDA/s1600-h/20100104_7093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PBiVkSiBBjzRsUGZ1JltM0RP-tiw79YakkfyOMCs7-JyTG__DQqaDv__AJxdi4ImLMNp-9-hpZ-7zWO4HT65aZsuE7AxTP5Q09ZUTQtcNbWhYeUe3Z3b4Y4s9NsHQxRQ8wYrDA/s400/20100104_7093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423672837028983330" border="0" /></a>Ummm...no, really we're NOT encouraging Olivia to be a swimsuit model...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHGuHO5HYX-riMhXuP8VEKtqg9djbZtki-mSbKMmUTlvktU22lIO5wwC8vjdPleu2BhPgI2sFoLg1jwO6_PfjEZKtt16fE3jf4Mzvb45200P3fMkqyyd3Nh6kQchoQztWQJlKcA/s1600-h/20100104_7114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHGuHO5HYX-riMhXuP8VEKtqg9djbZtki-mSbKMmUTlvktU22lIO5wwC8vjdPleu2BhPgI2sFoLg1jwO6_PfjEZKtt16fE3jf4Mzvb45200P3fMkqyyd3Nh6kQchoQztWQJlKcA/s400/20100104_7114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423672833879698434" border="0" /></a>Emily was happily swimming and doing cannonballs in an empty pool, seemingly unaffected by the chilly weather. Oh, to be young and carefree!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWX4Gi_A8bY6dJWWauqEnvWGk6r3xJyCJlK1HQQ-fu7xHpc6wi5o_TqbGXM38RoQXAMOEpQiSaz04aEQizx-ZxWrSoxwUeAGcKC4K3K5CShAL2Mum7mhl45dGuP1Bb9HpeqU_CFQ/s1600-h/20100104_7117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWX4Gi_A8bY6dJWWauqEnvWGk6r3xJyCJlK1HQQ-fu7xHpc6wi5o_TqbGXM38RoQXAMOEpQiSaz04aEQizx-ZxWrSoxwUeAGcKC4K3K5CShAL2Mum7mhl45dGuP1Bb9HpeqU_CFQ/s400/20100104_7117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423672822955866834" border="0" /></a>Cannonball!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fdHAtUp5vlpuT9RJUE7JV9XkVS_tZ_kfIWDNuSLbf7Ml6Y3-apOVVb-UUWZu8N_AI3xWm4lQeISDB4AJjnmoXuGFr-LYL3OJFMCAZj3UrNy-dsbeg1DWWtqmOEzok0A7uWyK6Q/s1600-h/20100103_7177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fdHAtUp5vlpuT9RJUE7JV9XkVS_tZ_kfIWDNuSLbf7Ml6Y3-apOVVb-UUWZu8N_AI3xWm4lQeISDB4AJjnmoXuGFr-LYL3OJFMCAZj3UrNy-dsbeg1DWWtqmOEzok0A7uWyK6Q/s400/20100103_7177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664483377308098" border="0" /></a>All bundled up and at the beach by Jack's house.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifztn2UjFVSypJtLUkb41OKJURqPIuwKvMWJAVzrHId5C5lBV5hVqNkR_Ki8sUkGKmVfO0fgBVMcn3K7rBXPXesjeM3gNc8vEu8G_F35qnbHPcytaKCBKPescvbAPrB3dAk_Mpng/s1600-h/20100103_7210.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifztn2UjFVSypJtLUkb41OKJURqPIuwKvMWJAVzrHId5C5lBV5hVqNkR_Ki8sUkGKmVfO0fgBVMcn3K7rBXPXesjeM3gNc8vEu8G_F35qnbHPcytaKCBKPescvbAPrB3dAk_Mpng/s400/20100103_7210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664343624605586" border="0" /></a>Two cute kids from RongXian, GuangXi, China: Olivia & Jack.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlMjX9ENQlLM8XOsvEMMMcoYuisLgaahUFrBWwc8fAo2Px4amc1Pbe662WhK8MB_67ZJ7-cgXLQNuwNhz_PZ5JMdCnFGwCx_Hnx_iY8j7H4qv5NzzgA9i1u5nqbTGm713UNrUKQ/s1600-h/20100103_7238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlMjX9ENQlLM8XOsvEMMMcoYuisLgaahUFrBWwc8fAo2Px4amc1Pbe662WhK8MB_67ZJ7-cgXLQNuwNhz_PZ5JMdCnFGwCx_Hnx_iY8j7H4qv5NzzgA9i1u5nqbTGm713UNrUKQ/s400/20100103_7238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664340653636482" border="0" /></a>Prince Charming & Princess Olivia<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGue9HGs9C6mybxYGhobaTp9E3y3h7eREUIFN47M5TL-4EKyx8JZYc46T4wxzTgMm-aPH0Despb9H29YhAKNDWQeOnYqeI9Oo7H_hU9MM6dm4MdegTWZHgNjs1maWIJ_Gvk6iIEA/s1600-h/20100105_6968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGue9HGs9C6mybxYGhobaTp9E3y3h7eREUIFN47M5TL-4EKyx8JZYc46T4wxzTgMm-aPH0Despb9H29YhAKNDWQeOnYqeI9Oo7H_hU9MM6dm4MdegTWZHgNjs1maWIJ_Gvk6iIEA/s400/20100105_6968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664330618773746" border="0" /></a>Visiting the <span style="font-style: italic;">real </span>princess: Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvJigVNaB9UdllvzKlM-w51rx_yXBs21lSAyWfDP4rrU5e0WHj6XwY-JfIi7eW-xzizX43-gBHcssiaKS1mMVeO9mjneqUMlv4vnuQSETdX3VUaYAwOVJPVwvje4jHV1amIjzEQ/s1600-h/20100105_6969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvJigVNaB9UdllvzKlM-w51rx_yXBs21lSAyWfDP4rrU5e0WHj6XwY-JfIi7eW-xzizX43-gBHcssiaKS1mMVeO9mjneqUMlv4vnuQSETdX3VUaYAwOVJPVwvje4jHV1amIjzEQ/s400/20100105_6969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664329840841234" border="0" /></a>Disney just isn't Disney without the Dumbo ride, right?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtIO3Q6yU1Hzx-WAaMCozTwYbWqchyAcHS7H2ISRFf1qIgraxYl1upd2h746e27S2-s20HaSCSapTR3PghT1F5hPoWcCuQyBLj5PvdKW9kYBJaX90hwpNgLuF5Wop4qEZ7APHJw/s1600-h/20100105_6995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtIO3Q6yU1Hzx-WAaMCozTwYbWqchyAcHS7H2ISRFf1qIgraxYl1upd2h746e27S2-s20HaSCSapTR3PghT1F5hPoWcCuQyBLj5PvdKW9kYBJaX90hwpNgLuF5Wop4qEZ7APHJw/s400/20100105_6995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423664323494864178" border="0" /></a>And of course, we had to visit Minnie & Mickey!<br /></div>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-80494840856451623142009-12-07T23:14:00.002-06:002009-12-07T23:53:39.146-06:00TEN!!Hard to believe our tiny little 1.5 pounder is TEN already! Emily's birthday was yesterday and we had a whirlwind of a day with church, a kids' party, and pizza with family in the evening. It was a fun, FULL day, celebrating with our favorite ten-year old in the whole world.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1Fs2OJ5yhEBKoMQiuIOQJ6iFQRQg9B0qcbVzbhY1jro_tWf_LhLzvokYy3nznzYB23f2Nwa5EVZCOh7SVk2Cc80HyEs3s3K4S0sOUbb2nTBBFavHHRS1jsFj92YvjHljxjLZAg/s1600-h/20091206_6496_ed_cr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1Fs2OJ5yhEBKoMQiuIOQJ6iFQRQg9B0qcbVzbhY1jro_tWf_LhLzvokYy3nznzYB23f2Nwa5EVZCOh7SVk2Cc80HyEs3s3K4S0sOUbb2nTBBFavHHRS1jsFj92YvjHljxjLZAg/s400/20091206_6496_ed_cr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412730816796297858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdWI3QhDnOkoJmkorpG1w6ZjzDgvpy8Wtb61UFXKzyEppA1XzERx9R2Kh4wF6nMD58dqGh-KFDOGJu7STvbck4jYs2yBvpWnj28n5FTSwAVGYuT0UQy9IUmYSojhpdVBsKjFwTA/s1600-h/20091206_6409_ed_cr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdWI3QhDnOkoJmkorpG1w6ZjzDgvpy8Wtb61UFXKzyEppA1XzERx9R2Kh4wF6nMD58dqGh-KFDOGJu7STvbck4jYs2yBvpWnj28n5FTSwAVGYuT0UQy9IUmYSojhpdVBsKjFwTA/s400/20091206_6409_ed_cr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412730803921604626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8mR7aHmJxvqZYApXWB4WHqUyyv7Ni8oe12ILwOKYg1nh9Nq37YygUS9ntItFzQ6ZpHPZy58uVhdWB2Zg24RlM5vTr43jnVx2_qwhgATKt9yrCIztaqwJuWhcroQABpN6lQc2IA/s1600-h/20091206_6394_ed_cr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8mR7aHmJxvqZYApXWB4WHqUyyv7Ni8oe12ILwOKYg1nh9Nq37YygUS9ntItFzQ6ZpHPZy58uVhdWB2Zg24RlM5vTr43jnVx2_qwhgATKt9yrCIztaqwJuWhcroQABpN6lQc2IA/s400/20091206_6394_ed_cr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412730799290334242" border="0" /></a>Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37738701.post-17286294645031389232009-11-21T09:50:00.007-06:002009-11-21T16:04:47.201-06:00Serendipity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7mtvr1z3l5YuT7UxLqkaL0h9MdEnNDDAwlQao-4yLpho_rYizKSadRLSgS6is2Suylvi7kMezm3F9ADlp8WXxb5UNo_kUoQleUxzu62R3z4P1m240XU55lvNy1XWo61m0HAH0A/s1600/2009.07+copy.19+Lincoln+Park+Zoo+with+border"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7mtvr1z3l5YuT7UxLqkaL0h9MdEnNDDAwlQao-4yLpho_rYizKSadRLSgS6is2Suylvi7kMezm3F9ADlp8WXxb5UNo_kUoQleUxzu62R3z4P1m240XU55lvNy1XWo61m0HAH0A/s400/2009.07+copy.19+Lincoln+Park+Zoo+with+border" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406620674860405554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRLXs8igXcWEYu38jnC4a37l-nQPJPI5KlkkH30it1n7D21B8Mkn3Dzk6cvOeZwfLWfKbXly2AuDKQwg2JG6N9aCnB4b1O14a3nUk7_CI3sssAS6eT4zsj48Zxpm_k757CeFh3w/s1600/Olivia's+referral+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRLXs8igXcWEYu38jnC4a37l-nQPJPI5KlkkH30it1n7D21B8Mkn3Dzk6cvOeZwfLWfKbXly2AuDKQwg2JG6N9aCnB4b1O14a3nUk7_CI3sssAS6eT4zsj48Zxpm_k757CeFh3w/s400/Olivia's+referral+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406604391121164914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Serendipity:</span> the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.<br /><br />November 20 marks three years since we got THE call asking if we'd consider adopting a <span style="font-style: italic;">four</span> year old from China with a heart condition. (November 20 also marks my mom's birthday!! Happy Birthday, Mom!) We'd started the adoption process a year + prior seeking a healthy baby girl...then after a while we broadened our scope and requested a <span style="font-style: italic;">baby</span> with special needs. After all, our then almost seven year old, Emily had been a fragile "special needs" baby and deserved a chance...and we thought maybe we could help another <span style="font-style: italic;">baby</span> who might be otherwise overlooked. But a FOUR year old hadn't really ever crossed our minds. One or two years old maybe, but we never even thought of a FOUR year old. But God did :) He was preparing our hearts for the perfect child for us.<br /><br />Shortly before we got THE call, I'd felt drawn to some blogs of families who'd adopted toddlers and older children. Reading about their successful bonding began to open my mind to new possibilities and we agreed that yes, we could fathom adopting a<span style="font-style: italic;"> two</span> year old. As we waited, we knew that IF we were presented with a child on the list that we'd have the opportunity to scrutinize the photos and medical records before agreeing to accept any child. As word came that a new list of special needs children had arrived at our agency we prayed that God would find a child for us. We agreed that we did not want to play God by picking and choosing and we prayed that <span style="font-weight: bold;">He</span> would present the ONE who was meant for us. We prayerfully agreed that we would not reject any child presented to us whether it be boy or girl, young or old, healthy or not. Surrendering that decision seemed to be a critical point in our journey because within a day or two of coming to that decision our pone finally rang. We got THE call from our social worker!!<br /><br />We were at the bottom of the waiting list, so there were no guarantees that we'd get a call at all. The list had been in for almost three weeks now so our odds weren't looking so good. By the time we got the call most of the children had been placed and they only had one girl left who had been deemed too old by others. When our case worker made it to our name on the bottom of the list she sounded shocked when I immediately said yes, we would consider a <span style="font-style: italic;">four</span> year old with a heart condition. I was a little thrown by the age myself, but Andy and I had JUST recently come to this decision and I knew God had His hand in the process. When our case worker assured me that we could take a pass and wait for a baby as we'd requested I had to explain the prayer we'd just prayed. We'd prayed that He would present us with child that was meant for us. And He did :) Three years later I can tell you it was a scary leap of faith at the time, but He did know what He was doing!!<br /><br />Olivia has been the perfect fit for our family!! I'm so glad we let Him do the choosing because at that point neither Andy nor I would have ever had the courage to seek out a FOUR year old. Left to our own devices, we would have really missed out on one of our biggest blessing!<br /><br />How about you? I'd love to hear what kind of serendipitous events have happened in your life. Have you had any leaps of faith that you're thankful for now?<br /><br />P.S.<br />I'm so behind on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">scrapbooking</span> that my "current" photo is really pretty out of date since she's now missing her two front teeth! I'll have to take some new closeups to post what she's REALLY looking like today :)Karynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024351969737730502noreply@blogger.com3