Just Say No....

I constantly tease my friend Valarie about her impetuous urge to say Yes to every volunteer shift there is. I saw some cocktail napkins that said," Just say No to the Sign-up Sheet" If that had been a mug it would reside in her cupboard right now.

Apparently I need the Mug as well. I volunteered to put together the 5th grade end of the year Slideshow. It showcases pictures from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Since this is something I know how to do and usuallly really enjoy doing I eagerly volunteered.

So, last Thursday I went to the meeting where each of us on the 5th grade committe was to say what all we had accomplished. I quickly added that I was indeed almost finished with the DVD. I was so proud. UNTIL......

Someone pops out a Memory Book that was done last year. And "since I was virtually done with my task then I had time to take on this new task as well. " (OK maybe I said I could probably do it) But as I left I began to regret my decision. I dreamed about putting that silly book together for several nights in a row. However, there was nothing I could do because I had to wait for school to open back up after the long weekend. Zane was suppose to have brought some of the needed papers home and he had left them in his desk on Friday. So my 3 day weekend that I had decided I would accomplish most of the task was lost.

So today I spent 99% of my day working on this book. I have almost all of it typed and printed out. T omorrow morning 6 other moms are coming over to help assemble these wonderful masterpieces that I am sure the children will treasure for all eternity and squeal in delight at the mere sight of them.

Now once I get this finshed I can go back and finish up the DVD.......Then I'll try to find time to book plane tickets, pack, cook and get to the store to buy underwear. (FOR TY) I realized today that he'll need some. 3 year olds typically don't wear diapers. (Let's hope not anyway)

A Mug please, I need a mug........

It's Plane Ticket Buyin' time

We can't believe that this week we will be buying tickets to China. It seems like we've waited forever but then again the time has just flown by. Many of you have seen the cookbook pictured above. It's a book my mom put together of all our family's favorite recipes. Plus other easy to make favorites. They are all real recipes( no strange ingredients)

The completeion of the book came just a few weeks ago and my mom offered to give Zane the profits from the book to help buy his plane ticket. So, if I have failed to offer you the chance to purchase one of the books, by all means contact me and I will get one ( or five) delivered to your house. We are selling them for $12 each. I can also mail them for $2 if you live away.
e-mail me dszkwalling@kingwoodcable.com

TA Came

Friday afternoon we received the long awaited Call. We now have our TA (Travel Approval) The country of China has now officially invited us into the country to complete the adoption. It looks as if we will travel June 13th. Our agency is requesting our exit interview that will take place on the last day of the trip. We will know this week, which day will be our last day in China as well. THREE WEEKS! Just THREE MORE WEEKS!

Homestudy Addendum

Because we moved after the original homestudy was written we had to do a Homestudy Addendum. It is a one page report that we will have to hand carry to China with us. Then we will present it at the appropriate time. So, it was all hands on deck Sunday night to whip the place into shape. It's amazing when you have 6 people working how much can get accomplished. It's simple math really but always amazes me.
6 People + 1hour each = 6 hours of work Mom didn't have to do on Monday

So, I thought I'd post a picture of the girls room. Look how cute the little pictures hanging over the bed are. Debbie Terzian painted these for the girls a few months ago. They go perfectly in their room. So, what did I do with my day instead of clean?

I worked on Ty's quilt. I now have every piece of fabric that I have received cut and ready to sew into the blocks. I can't wait to get it done. It's looking really neat.

A Girls Day at Home (and Wal-Mart)

Kaylee had a 24 hour fever virus and wasn't able to go to school. But because she needed to be free of fever for 24 hrs she wasn't able to return to school for another full day. So, we had a great day at home. The girls played and played and played with their American Girl dolls. They were quite the dutiful mommies.

We needed a few groceries so we headed over to Super Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. Kaylee has always had a thing for shoes so when we passed the shoe aisle she wanted to "just" try a few one.

It was all over when we saw these. And they had matching ones for Mia

After lunch they spent a few hours drawing and coloring(wearing the new shoes of course) I don't think we made it out of the parking lot before they had already changed.

And it wasn't ALL girl shopping. Ty even scored his first new shirt. I haven't bought anything for him yet because I'm not sure what size he'll be. But when we saw this Astros jersey we knew he had to have it.

Out with the old... In with the New

Today was a day of closure. This morning we closed on our other house. So we are now the proud owners of just ONE house in Texas!!! Woo Hoo! I can't believe we first put the house on the market in Sept and are just now selling it. It has been a long road......

And speaking of road.... Look who's going to be stylin' on the roads around here. David finally broke down and bought a new car. His gold camry was a 1998 and had 180,000+ miles on it.
So, today we also said good bye to the gold Camry.

He spends so much time on the road, his car could be considered his office. (I'm sure all you windshield cowboys can relate) He is so excited with his brand new 2009 Toyota Camry. It has a hidden IPod jack and leather seats. And Yes, It has the new car smell.

China Earthquake

As the news breaks this morning about the Earthquake in China I thought I would show how close it is to Ty. We are praying that he is safe and was not harmed. The earthquake occured in the peach colored province of Schiuan. Ty is in the darker blue province just south of it in Guizhou.

Our little boy is 3 years old now. Saturday was his 3rd birthday. We missed the first 3 but he'll be with us for all the rest.

Happy Mother's Day

This morning in church Pastor encouraged us to write a tribute to our mothers. I actually had been thinking about this earlier in the shower so I knew it was meant for me. He even read to us the tribute(letter) he had written to his mother. So, even though I was able to spend the last 4 days with my mom, I thought I'd write out a few things here. We all know I'm to cheap for cards. (Hallmark never would have been around if I thought of it first)

Anway, I believe I have the greatest mom in the world. She is caring, loving and has taught me many things. She taught me to be independent, to be assertive and to be helpful to anyone that needs help.

During elementary school, she taught at the school and I always had someone to hug at the end of the day, and didn't have to go home to an empty house. During Middle school, she spent countless hours reading the encyclopedia about the Country of Turkey so that she could explain it to me and then I could write the reports. During High school, she spent many hours counting Band money and working in the concessions stand. And during early marriage she spent hours cooking for David and I and knowing when to stand back and let us handle it. And in recent years I watched how my mom took care of my Granny through all of her last years and days. Her commitment will leave a legacy for me, my kids, and all who witnessed it.

I got my love of crafting and organizing from her. I can hold a garage sale on my own and now know how to cook (after a lot of phone calls for advice.) I can make a stick horse and paint an apple tote bag without instructions.

But the biggest thing she's ever done for me is raising me in a home that loved Jesus. One that respected elders and went to church. I always felt love and nothing else in our home.

So now that it's my turn to raise my kids in a loving home I often stop to think what would my mom have done? I want each of my kids to feel equally as spoiled and loved as I did. (without the rotten attached)

And even today as the attention could have turned completely from me to the grandkids I feel just as special. Because I know that my Mom is always there to support me. She takes good care of me and helps out just as much as possible. (with the kids, laundry, cooking, and letting me take a nap) And also, she's the first one I want to call when the good...... and the bad stuff happens.

I Love you Mom (and My friends are right......I am spoiled and truly blessed when it comes to Moms!)

Traveling

We were just informed of our travel group to China. There are 5 families and we are literally from around the US. Salem, OR / Canton, OH, /Tallahassee, FL/ Cumming, GA / and Texas. The only region not represented is the NE.
Some of the families have started corresponding through e-mail and it seems like most of the families have other children already. In fact at least 3 of the siblings (+Zane) will be traveling as well. Of the children that are being adopted there will be a 12yr old girl, 5 yr. old girl, 3 yr old boy(Ty) and a 2 yr old boy. (One family we haven't heard from yet)
Last time we really enjoyed our travel group, they were such a Godly group of people. It is such a special experience, and when you share it with someone, it makes complete strangers life-long friends.
Gettin' more excited by the day!

Q: What can 78 cents buy you?

A: One can of Shaving cream. And a WHOLE lot of fun

Zane and his friend Taylor get a little practice for the not so distant future. (Wah! Wah!...not ready for this)

Grinning from ear to ear.....

It CAME!!! Our LOC (Letter of Confirmation) came today. Tiffany from AGCI called about 1:20 to let us know that she had just received it from China. So it looks like the countdown is on. We should travel about 6 weeks from now! THAT'S JUNE!!!!!

$2 VS $200

About 2 months ago Zane stepped on a pretty big stick. It went right into the pad of his foot right under his toes. I pulled out the stick and cleaned it out to the best of my ability. Then we waited for it to heal.
When he wears socks and shoes it doesn't hurt him but I noticed that barefooted he would always limp. So, on Monday I took him to the doctor. The Doc said that if there is something in there a Podiatrist would have to be the one to remove it. But he suggested an X-ray, antibiotics, a topical cream and soaking it in Epsom Salt. (let's cover all the bases here) We went to the hospital and waited almost 2 hrs to complete the X-Ray. Then began the soaking process 2 times a day. (The doctor suggested 4 times but Zane wouldn't agree to take the bucket to school,ha!)

The Doctor's office called to say that the X-ray didn't show anything in his foot. (of course this is the same hospital that said Trent's leg wasn't broken)

After talking with a friend she said to continue soaking it because the Epsom salt would cause his body to get rid of it. On the second day Zane showed me a black thing under the surface of the skin. So, with David operating the flashlight and holding the foot down, I began to prick the skin with a needle and what should appear but a good size splinter.
Hopefully now his foot can truly heal.

I've never bought Epsom salt before but apparently it has many healing properties. According to the bag it's good for soaking sprains, a laxative, and great on your shrubs and flowering plants, and I guess we can add to the list expelling splinters. Hmm! Who knew?

So $2 for the Epsom salt or $200 for the X-ray. I always do love a good bargain.
(No pictures for obvious reasons)