I absolutely love my little sister but there are times she really bugs me. For instance, she loves to help me with my homework. As much as I would like for her to do my homework I just don’t think a two year old could do middle school algebra. Bummer! If I am on the phone with a friend Gracie will find another phone and “socialize” with them. It is cute for a while but then it really gets on my nerves. If I have a friend over to my home she thinks she needs to be with us and take part in the things we do. Once again this is fine for a while but then it gets to me. I... more

It's time! We are preparing for our first home study visit to happen in a few weeks.

Last year our home was very child proofed, this year, a bit less. K does very well staying out of things she isn’t supposed to be in, drawers and all that, so we’ve gotten a bit lax.

But our first home study visit is in three weeks so I’ve started preparing.

Cleaning supplies and food supplies must be far apart from each other – not even on different shelves in the same storage area, but in different storage areas so a child won’t get confused as to what is food and what... more

It seems to be the year of babies all around us here in our little Mid Michigan town.

I myself have two new grandsons and one more on the way. Plus a new great niece on the way too. So I have been busy as can be making baby scrapbooks and filling them with dozens of fun pages.

I love the pumpkins, witches and ghosts I got off of the web site in the free clip art category of: kids Domain. They have a lot of fun clip art.

I found it fun and easy to find holiday clip art to take me through Thanksgiving and Christmas also. It is... more

Well, it’s Sunday and it’s been sort of a yucky day. I had a dream last night that I was home, and it was Monday, and we had made it home in time for Halloween. I was having so much for carving pumpkins with the kids and was just ecstatic that Belane was home.

And then I woke up…still here.

I just miss the rest of my family today. I have been reading other blogs to entertain myself when Belane is sleeping, and I had to stop, because hearing about all my friends taking their kids to Halloween parties, and carving pumpkins and making caramel apples just got to be too much. I hope that Josh and my aunt are having fun with the kids…

Belane and I spent an entire hour sitting... more

Although the end of Daylight Savings Time means nothing in Seychelles ... the days are all divided almost equally, give-or-take a few minutes either way, into twelve hours of light / twelve hours of dark all year round, so there's no need for adjustments ... I still feel a tiny twang of sadness when the clocks go back in other parts of the world. The early days of PDT in my life were rife with discussions about bed times on school nights, and protests of, But it's not even dark yet!, but we kids all knew that summer vacation was just around the corner, so... more

Ah, one of the joys of pregnancy! Ok, I was only joking! No one likes gaining weight, so much weight and baby fat, that you have to buy new clothes only to wear them for nine months. I love clothes, what girl doesn’t? But I’m practical and buying clothes only to wear for nine months seems a tad bit wasteful to me, but such is life!

I am lucky in the fact that a few close friends and I have shared maternity clothes. We stick them back in a big box when we are done and then share them when the next one of us is pregnant. So the box keeps growing, because we usually have... more

During Logan's adoption we were able to experience Nauryz first hand - we LOVED it and framed the picture of Larry and I in full Kazakh attire - that was shared with us during our "stroll" from yurt to yurt.

I also know for my children's scrapbooks - I was hungry for information about the traditions and holidays - I found this in my "archives" - the link no longer works - it was from a expat's site. I think you'll find it well worth the time to read.....

Kazakhstan's official public holidays always mean... more

Word for word translation of the National Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

We are a valiant people, sons of honor, We've sacrificed everything to gain our freedom. Emerging from malicious grip of fate, from hell of fire, We scored a victory of glory and success.

Refrain: Soar high up in the sky, oh, the eagle of freedom, Call up to harmony, agreement and accord! Since the hero's might and strength is in the nation, Just as the unity is nation's razing sword.

While honoring... more

Before Bec came home, Chris and I had a lot of talks about how we would react when people questioned our relationship with our son. We had thought that we would be confronted with "supermarket gawkers" or worse, people who would come right up to us and want to know where his "real" parents were. Now, this last scenario was on the far end of reality but we wanted to be prepared for the worst, or so we thought.

I just got back from a walk with Bec, heading to our neighborhood video store. We met a lot of people along the way that were also enjoying the super mellow weather and the bright sun. We also saw a lot of people that we didn't know, including a woman who tracked me down to... more

Well it is time to remind everyone that Halloween Safety is not a joke. In todays world everyone must use wisdom when checking candy and dressing up for a night of Trick or Treating.

Here are some of my Safety Tips:

1). Dress your child in a bright color. Glow in the dark strip tapes or bands can save lives. 2). Make sure they have some time of flash light with them. 3). If the children are older make sure they still trick or treat in groups. Safety is in numbers. 4). All children under the age of 12 should have a... more