What To Think

It was odd today, watching pro-football and seeing Michael Vick on the screen. Seems so bizarre to me. Its almost as if he has somehow redeemed himself and without even apologizing, is now well on his way to more glory and fame. What an interesting double standard in our world. Guess having enough money does count for something (as if that surprises anyone). We barely pay our teachers, police officers, nurses, social workers, and others peanuts.... and they do so much to protect us and mold our children. Then, we have musicians with the most foul language and negative outlook on life; professional athletes using steroids, raping, shooting, lying on the witness stand; actors and actresses being disrespectful to judges, showing up stoned to the awards ceremonies - and all these supposed heroes for our children making a fortune. Having more money than they will ever need and squandering it. No wonder our world is all messed up! And should we be surprised when our kids talk back, hate school, expect immediate gratification and are always angry? Can you tell who they are learning it from?

Summer is Ending

I sit here and whine about how quickly the kids are growing and changing - I am sure that all three of them would be rolling their eyes and complaining if they knew I was typing this (well, not Elle as she is proud to be getting older). I am not sure where the summer went either as it was gone in the blink of an eye this time. Does time's momentum start speeding up as we age? I can remember summer seeming to drag on FOREVER. All the hours in the sun (which I regret now), reading good books, listening to music, doing mostly nothing. Now, if I sit down for just a second, suddenly, thirty minutes or an hour has passed in what feels like an instant. Is that a sign of getting old??

A Few of Bryant's Senior Pix

These were taken this summer during wheat harvest. I go pick up Bryant's book with all the photos tomorrow. We did some with all three of the kids. I'm anxious to see them. I have a feeling that they are all good and deciding will be tough. Nick did a tremendous job and even these few above are wonderful. Wow - A Senior!!

First Day of School - August 31, 2010

Can you believe that I have a Kindergartner, a Sophomore, and a Senior? Where has time gone? It has zipped past in the blink of an eye, that is for certain!!

Three Years Ago Today - July 6, 2007

Three years ago today, unbeknownst to us on the other side of the world, the little girl who would soon be joining our family was released from the hospital and returned to her orphanage. She had been taken to the hospital on June 18 after waking up during the night in great pain. We knew nothing of these events until after we had brought her to our hotel room in November of 2007 - five months later. I found the fresh scars when I took her to the bathroom for the first time, and it scared me beyond words!

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After we insisted on knowing the details and pushing until we found someone to help us, we learned that she had been kicked by another child at the orphanage and suffered a broken leg. This happened on June 18, the same day that we had learned (on the other side of the world) that we were the first family to inquire about adopting this little girl who we had seen in a photograph. We were all experiencing great excitement and anticipation, while at the same moments, she was terrified and suffering. It all seems so bittersweet looking back now.

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Above are some photographs of her scars, which are quite significant. I didn't take any early on when we returned home, but they were obviously still pink and puffy then. These photos were taken in March 2008. It has continued to heal and it does not seem to effect her in any way, but it has left marks that will last a lifetime - for all of us.

Playground Work Day - May 2010

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Absence

I know, I get worse and worse about putting new posts on here. I apologize to the handful of you that I believe still look here every once in a while. For the most part, I am better about posting photos and videos on FaceBook, but that has truly become a very addictive computer program - at least for me. Life goes on though, no matter if I share on this site or the other, or even if I functioned in a vacuum and never got on the internet at all.

Summer is in full swing here. Alex is working at the school this year. Bryant and Ken are helping my parents on the farm. ElleAnna is tagging along with them - but she says she is going to Grama's. This week, however, she's enjoying time at day care again as Ken is taking a summer class. As for me, I continue with Hospice. I enjoy what I do, but the paperwork is truly a drag. For each hour with a patient and/or their family, it seems that I spend another hour or two on the forms, charting what was done.

Conlee is finished with soccer and now, baseball has started. The weather has not been cooperative, however, so we have yet to watch a game. Elle and Dayton love those evenings as they just spend the time playing in the park, usually being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

I will share some photos and videos with you, but know that I'll never get caught back up. I'm just making a small dent.... At some point, I am afraid that I won't bother to share here anymore. Not because our lives have nothing worth posting, but because I am afraid my "followers" are dwindling into nothingness. The purpose of this blog was to share with family and friends who lived far away, but I'm finding that those who do read this, are mostly folks who live within a 30 mile radius of our house :-).

Elle's PreSchool Graduation - Still Pix