Spring Cleaning

I made a huge discovery today! We have a walk in closet and it has a window. This was a revelation to me, because I have been unable to "walk in" that closet without tripping on something and silently cursing under my breath. What a mess! I am sure that window has never been cleaned or the blind dusted in the 15 years that we have lived here. I must do something about my poor housekeeping! Well, the window is clean and I even raised it to allow in some fresh air and the closet looks great if I do say so myself! Of course, it has taken all day and I accomplished nothing else. 2 bags for Goodwill, 2 bags for yard sale, and a bag of trash. How did we get so much stuff? It's very therapeutic to clean out a closet. Purging things that you no longer need is really very gratifying! Maybe I'm nesting. Is that a sign that we will be getting Emma before too long? Probably not, but worth considering.

Well, mom's taxi is about to start her second running. Pick up the boys at school, take Brady to bassoon, Ashton to the library and run errands in between. Just another day being a mom and really, I can't imagine anything I would enjoy more. Well, maybe a mom with a housekeeper.

Shopping - Not Very Successful

I spent the day shopping. I was literally the first customer in Target this morning. I needed to get some things for the baby shower we are having this weekend for Angel, so I got an early start. I then headed to Kohl's. I have only shopped there once or twice and that was for other people, so I wasn't sure if I would have any luck finding anything. Well, I did manage to get 2 tops, a purse, and a picture frame for $22. Not too bad. They had major clearance items, but it's a bit unorganized. I moved on to the mall and bought nothing. I don't know if I'm just getting old or what the deal is, but I can't find any clothes that I like. I really need some new things and I was determined to find some stuff today, but no luck. I just don't see anything that's cute out there and I am too tight to pay some of the prices. I guess I have gotten used to buying stuff at Good Will! I made a quick trip to Kroger, where I was hit up for money in the parking lot by some man whose "car was out of gas and he was 60 miles from home". It made me so uncomfortable to look up and have this man standing at my car door asking for money. Of course, I didn't give him any and had this guilty feeling of what would Jesus do. Then I went in and watched him drive off. Amazingly, he had gas. I told the cashier and they reported it to the manager, but he was gone when I left. On to Sams and then home to get the boys. That was my day. A whirlwind of excitement.

Brady is scheduled to go on a trip to Washington, DC at the end of May and he has decided he doesn't want to go. "None of my friends are going and I really didn't want to go anyway." What's up with that? As of now, we have paid several hundred on this trip and if we cancel we lose money. I have explained to my precious offspring that if he decides not to go, he has to pay the $350 that we lose. Of course, he's not too happy with that, but it seems pretty fair to me. He has until tomorrow to make his decision, so we'll see. Kids are so weird. Surely I wasn't that way:) Although I really am not very excited about going on a trip with 8th grade kids, I was looking forward to visiting Washington. I'm anxious to hear his decision!

Nothing Too Exciting

Okay, so nothing big happening here. Easter was nice. We had a good service at church and then had lunch with Bo's parents and sister. I was scolded by Ashton for the Easter Bunny oversight (as I suspected I would be.) He couldn't believe he didn't have a basket and only received one lowly chocolate bunny. I should be reported for this indiscretion.

I have spent the last 2 days feeling rather sorry for myself while we wait on our daughter. There is nothing more frustrating than being "stuck". That's where we are. Stuck in the process of waiting for China to move along and getting no where . I know that each day that passes brings us closer to Emma, but the wait just seems endless. I've been looking over all the adorable faces on an adoption website and that didn't help. It is truly amazing how many children are available for adoption. I would certainly do this all again, because I know that this is God's plan for our lives, and I would encourage anyone thinking about adoption to consider it prayerfully. There are so many children in this world who need loving families and so many families that have that love to give. Even with all the waiting we are faced with, I know it will be worth it. I just have those days when it's really hard and I guess the last few have been that way. So, enough of that!

Melissa and I went for a walk today. Poor thing, she's tired! Little Miss Rory had been awake since 4 a.m. and momma was feeling the pain. I remember those non-sleeping days with the boys. I'm sure it's even harder with a newly adopted child who can't be left with anyone else yet. (Attachment and bonding - a big adoption issue for those not familiar). Well, Rory was just as happy as she could be riding in the stroller, making noises and imitating us. Too cute! She seems to be doing well except for this whole schedule thing. It will come and Melissa can remind me of that when we bring our little dumpling home! I wonder if they make a combination stroller and wheelchair, at this rate Bo and I may need one!

So Many Dresses, No One to Dress

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good deal. I guess that's why there are at least 3 beautiful little "Easter" dresses in Ashton's closet. Poor kid, it's a good thing he so masculine with all those girl clothes in his closet:) But anyway, when you come across pretty spring dresses that would look adorable on your imaginary daughter, and they are marked down to $4, you have to buy them. Of course, now that they have been in the closet for 2 years, I'm wondering if they will ever be used! Maybe next year we will have a little girl to dress up in all those frills and lace. Otherwise, Ashton might need to get concerned. Someone in this house is going to wear those dresses and it might be him!

Ashton had his first games this weekend and was politely spanked in a couple of them. Well, I guess you would call 72-18 a spanking. He told me the boys on that team were huge! Bo said they looked like they were 16 years old, so I think I can understand the spanking. They played 4 games and lost 2, so at least they broke even.

I feel like a really rotten mom this morning. For the first time since my children were born, I did not fix them an Easter basket. Yes, I realize they are almost 12 and 14, but I still feel bad. I just ran out of time and they got home from Disney before I finished the shopping. They do have a chocolate bunny, but that's it. I'm sure they will live and hopefully not be scarred for life, but I do feel bad. I'm sure that I will get over it and I will try to make up for it next year.

There's No Place Like Home, Except Maybe Disney

Well, my little travelers have returned and I think Brady is glad to be home, but Ashton is still suffering from missing the "Happiest Celebration on Earth". He seems a little melancholy with his return and I remember feeling like that when I was a kid, so I'm not taking it personally. The McGowans drove all the way home yesterday because the weather was not so good in Orlando, so they decided to get a move on home. We met them at the High School gym and Ashton went straight to AAU basketball practice. He has his first game tonight at McGavock High and of course I will be working and unable to see it.

I guess we are all just tired today. When I woke up this morning, Ashton had evidently spent the night in my bed and I think Bo must be in Ashton's room. A bit unorganized this morning. Ashton instructed me to bring him some pancakes in bed and "chop chop". Well, needless to say I rushed right to it:) Yeah right!

I can't believe it's Easter weekend. It's so pretty out today, but I think it's going to be cold for Easter. I'm really ready for spring now. It's also hard to believe that my dad died 14 years ago Sunday (March 23). The time has gone by so fast, but that day is so vivid in my mind. It's weird how some things just stay with you. I remember how beautiful the day was that year. I actually had the windows open because it was so warm. It was Brady's first trip to the hospital to meet my coworkers and we had just gotten home when I found out my dad had been taken to the hospital. We just missed crossing paths. But as Forrest Gump would say, that's all I have to say about that.

I have not gotten very much done this week, but that's ok. I spent the day with Aunt Sissy on Wednesday and Miss Mary yesterday. I really enjoyed being with them both and I know they enjoyed the company. House work can wait.

Easter is such a special time. Of course we all love to see the little ones hunting Easter eggs and looking adorable in their Easter outfits, but for Christians it's about so much more. It's hard to even fathom the love that Christ had for us that he died a brutal death to save us. I often think about how much I love my children and how I would die for them, but they are people that I love. Christ died for people that are not easy to love. I have a hard time with that sometimes, but I am so thankful for it. I know I was one of those people who has been hard to love and I am so thankful he chose to die for me.

I hope everyone reading this blog has a very Blessed Easter.

Date Night

OK, so maybe we are not the crazy fun couple we used to be, but I guess that comes with age. Bo and I went to dinner last night at Outback and then went Krogering. Yes, I know it sounds way too exciting, but we did have fun. Bo loves to see me using coupons and he was impressed last night when I got 4 tubes of toothpaste free, 2 bags of Romaine salad mix for .49 cents, 6 cans of free dog food, and came out saving almost $50 in coupons. Yes, in his eyes I'm some kind of frugal goddess:) Well, you have to impress where you can! Seriously, we did have fun. It's nice to have adult conversation and just enjoy each other's company.

One of Bo's friends at work, Carla, sent us $100 yesterday in an envelope labeled Emma McGowan adoption fund. It was so sweet and thoughtful of her. I was just so surprised and it really meant so much to me. I guess with the long wait it just feels like Emma isn't real to anyone yet, except us, and even I sometimes have a hard time with the concept. But she is real, whether she has been born yet or not. God has the most perfect little girl picked out for our family and I am thankful for that. This donation was such a blessing and will be used to bring her home. We are still several thousand off from what we need, but I know that God provides and we are not worrying about it. Bo has been selling a lot on eBay and we may try to have another yard sale in the spring. I just hate to have the "3rd annual Emma Adoption Sale". I never would have imagined it would take this long! I'm sure our repeat customers might think we are scamming them and there really isn't an Emma at all:)

I didn't hear from my travelers last night. I guess thay were partying to hard to call mom. I spoke with them Monday night while I was at work and Ashton informed me he wasn't missing me "a bit". I'm thinking that's his way of hiding his homesick feelings. Of course, I don't really believe that, but it makes me feel better! Brady informed me, in his very 14 year old masculine voice, that he did miss me. I'm sure he was just trying to make me feel better too!

It Sure Is Quiet Here

Well, the travelers are in Orlando and I'm sure they have ridden as many rides as possible by now. They called last night and were at their hotel and it had a big screen TV, so life was good. They were heading to Outback to eat. Pop and Giggee have no idea how much these 2 boys can eat at Outback. I warned them! Steak and salmon will be the selection. Oh for the days of the children's menu! I took these pictures Friday night before I went to work as my travelers were preparing for their journey and I thought they were cute.

Bo and I have decided it sure is quiet without the boys around. You get so used to them screaming at one another, running around the house, and just being boys that when there is no noise it's really weird. We actually just laid around the house yesterday after I woke up and he got home from church and did nothing. We watched the ballgames and movies and as usual, fell asleep on the couch. We are getting so predictable. I have to work again tonight, so I'm just taking it easy today and then my husband is going to take me to dinner tomorrow night. Wow, a night out without the kids!