I forgot to tell you....

By the way i forgot to tell you all....twin boys are on their way! Rob and Vicki are having boys, yeah, we Adams know how to do boys:)

Almost...

Well today i finished with all the papers for our adoption. They are ready to be notarized! We are just waiting to get one back from the state then i have to go to Salem to get it authenticated, yeah, another trip over the pass. It was really fun to put the family pictures together for our dossier. They wanted 5 different pictures of the family, mainly Andy and i so i had one of each of us plus a couple shot on a heart and then put 2 family pics, with the boys, on a rectangle with left over paper from Tina's shower invitations so it looks really cute. They said that was one, the only are we could have fun and do whatever we wanted, so i did. So if you are reading this please be in prayer that we would get our paper back soon so we can get our dossier sent off to Ethiopia, our daughter is waiting and so are we.
On a different note, things are going great for Tina's wedding. This last weekend we had more "hang out" time and that was fun. i attacked both mom and Tina's eyebrows, they look very pretty now:) She is ready to be a bride and a beautiful one she will be.
That's it for today, be blessed and live in the Lords presence.

Remembering a Sister

I just thought I would jot down a few words about Allison, some that you might not have known.
Allison was a great sister! She was always there for me, to love me, to have fun with me, to correct me even when i didn't ask for it, to inspire me, to tease me, to be everything that a sister is suppose to be.
I miss her, her laugh, her smile, her phone calls, her cards for no reason, her tattoos (my first one was one we all got together as sisters), her singing, even her teasing, I miss it all. She was a great friend who loved to show you her love for you. She really knew how to throw a party, always over the top, that was her style. I'm so glad that I had all the time that I did with her. God is so good in that way. None of us have tomorrow guaranteed and i think we take it for granite sometimes, i know i do. If only i could have told her one more time how much i loved her and what a great honor it was to be her baby sister, to take one more picture with her, so many things. She taught me a lot in life. How to be a girl, hair; nails; make-up; all the girly stuff. She taught me how to make peanut butter fudge using the Jet Puff marshmallow cream, mmm yummy. She taught me how to pursue God and to strive to be who He saw me to be. i got to make her an aunt, the greatest thing ever, she really loved my boys. I am sad that she will never know my daughter, she would have loved her. She gave me many horrible hair cuts, remember the steps shaved into the side of your heads, i had that thanks to her and the shortest bangs of my life. We knew how to laugh and cry together, i really liked laughing with her. I have many memories of going to visit Tina at EBC before she moved to Eugene, just us sisters, good times as Tina would say. Then there were the girl weekends away with us and mom, those were great. I wish we would have started those sooner and had more. i have great memories of childhood with her but more than that i have all the memories of our friendship as adults, finally growing up. We encouraged each other in areas where we were weak. We were better because of each other. i know this is just rambling but i miss her and just wanted to take a moment to remember.....Allison a great sister and friend.

One Year

One year ago last Saturday marked the passing of my sister Allison. Wow, was that a fast year. So many things can happen in a years time it can be overwhelming. i'm so glad the Lord knows exactly what we can handle and never gives us more than that. So i think like everyone else in my family i was going to stay pretty busy on Saturday, the whole day was planned out. Andy had a men's breakfast and then work at the church so i was on my own for the morning. i made the kids breakfast and took my time getting ready, watching the memorial DVD from last year. Not really a smart thing to do when you're trying to put your make up on but oh well. It really made me miss my brother, i'm so glad he and the family are coming out for Tina's wedding, that will be a great time. Then there's a knock at the door. Oh great, my house is totally trashed and Lori shows up. What a great friend, she had a beautiful bunch of flowers and a card, just what i needed! It was great to see her and just chat for a few moments, it was nice to stop the day. But not for long, off to shots for tots we went, first dropping Ezekiel off at the church with daddy. You'd think it would go a little faster. They really did have a nice organized way of doing things but sitting and waiting for 1 1/2 hours was not what i was planning on. i was going to meet mom as soon as i was done for coffee or whatever. So at 11:30 we finally leave, go to Goodies for doing such a great job waiting and then getting a shot, McDonalds to take the men working something to eat and to church to drop Gabriel off so i could go out with mom. Well by this time i only have 1 hour left before i have to get Gabriel to soccer. So we run over to Jakes for lunch. Well kind of, we shared biscuits and gravy in memory of Allison, that was her favorite thing that she had to have every time she came over. So mom was keeping herself busy with Tina's wedding stuff. She finished all the flowers in one day! Then back to the church to pick up the boys, run home and get soccer stuff (because i forgot to plan ahead and have him bring everything), then off to the soccer field we go, only 5 minutes late whew! Only 6 of the 8 kids show up for their pictures and then we start practice of which Andy and i became the coaches in a round about way. Actually we really enjoy it, kindergarten soccer is the best to coach, it's only 1 day a week for 6 weeks. You practice for 20 minutes then play for 20 minutes with a 5 minute break in there. Okay soccer is done, yeah, oh shoot, we forgot to pack for our quick trip to Eugene. Because we spontaneously had James and Torrey over for dinner Friday night, which was great but left no time to get ready. So home we go and get packed in 20 minutes, wow that was some quick packing. Back in the car and off to Eugene we go. Apparently i wanted to get there quick because i made it in 2 hours 15 minutes! We arrive and Vicki had graciously made dinner for us, Chicken Alfredo, so yummy! We ate then off to the river we go. Rob had kept the wreath from Allison memorial and had planned to set it in the river that night. There were quite a few people there, 6 youth gals, Leo and Gina, Rusty, Tina and Jeremy, Kendal, Christian, Rob, Vicki, and my family. The moms weren't quite able to make it and that was okay. So Rob started by asking if anyone had anything they wanted to share about Allison and quite a few people did. She really lives on today through all of us, you can tell by the way everyone was talking. i of course did my best to hold it together but didn't do a very good job. Then Rob got the wreath which had ribbons on it and had me, Tina, Kendal, Christian, Vicki, Rusty, and Gina all cut one off to keep, that's really where i lost it. Then he walked over to the edge of the bridge and threw it down into the water. We all just stood and watched it until we couldn't see it any longer. It seemed to take a long time but we enjoyed the quiet and peace of just watching it float away. Rusty asked if i had any worship songs i could sing, yeah right like i could sing at that point, i understood but wasn't able to lead out, none of us were. So i think we were all thinking and singing in our heads but no words were coming out. We talked a bit more and then Christian broke down and started crying, that was really hard. i so appreciate his tender heart, both him and Kendal are great kids. Over all i think we were on the bridge for a little over an hour. Then the family went back to the house and looked through all the pictures Rob had found while going through the house. That was fun! Lots and lots of memories. Tina left around 10 to go to work and i stayed up till about 11:30 with the boys. Then we got up, got ready and headed home so we could make it to Ezekiel's football game. Busy, that was how i kept it. Was it right or not i don't know but it worked. i think i would have liked more time by myself to just have some thoughts but i guess i can do that anytime. A year has gone and there is new life happening all around us, God really does give beauty for ashes. Rob and Vicki find out what they are having this week, Tina is starting to realize her life is changing forever very quickly, our daughter is real in our hearts, life is good. Thank you God for good life.

Life

Well not much to post on today. i got my hair cut yesterday, it's cute, a little short but i figure that way it will be perfect for Tina's wedding. Speaking of which i'm headed over there this weekend to spend some time with her and mom and do some wedding stuff. She has a shower, one of three, on Saturday.
i've been thinking about our daughter a lot lately. She's so awesome and i haven't even met her yet, it's a weird thing. i love her though and i pray for her all the time. The Lord gave me this new idea for her room. i want to paint butterflies on one wall and i just haven't had the motivation to start (i was finishing the boys room first) but i feel like i'm suppose to have all our family and close friends, that want to, come over and paint their own butterfly. We will provide the paint that way it matches but then all our loved ones will get to take part in welcoming her into our home. What do you think? i think it's a cool idea and will turn out great! So that could be a heads up for all of you reading, find a butterfly you like. i will send an email invitation when time gets closer, i'm no where near ready to start painting yet.
The boys are doing great. Ezekiel had his first flag football game, i don't quite think he gets it yet, but he had fun playing and that's what counts. Gabriel likes soccer, Andy and i ended up being the coaches. Mostly Andy seeing how i'll be gone for 2 of the 5 games. It was fun though and Gabriel did great. Ezekiel is getting 2 awards at school on Friday (they are a surprise) he's getting the sportsmanship award from PE and the Friendship award from his teacher, pretty cool. i of course won't be there to see it as i will be in Eugene. i missed it last year too when he got awards. They give them out at the school assembly, it's pretty fun!
Well i guess that's all i have for right now.
Enjoy the day!

Gabriel is a big kindergartner!!! Yesterday was Gabriel's first day of school and of course just like his big brother the greatest thing of all was being able to ride the bus. He said he had a great day i asked lots of questions and got some fairly good answers. He is excited to go back, yeah! Of course last night as i was putting them to bed came the question that comes every night, what are we doing tomorrow? Well i replied you get to go to school, every day. His response was, well do i get to ride the bus again??? So funny to me that that is the one thing that just makes my boys really happy.
On a side note my first day of being kid free was pretty good. Of course Andy called and i needed to help him out for about an hour but i didn't have to find a sitter so that was great, plus i still was able to go walk the river trail before i needed to go and that was just wonderful, something i am looking forward to on a daily basis (when i don't have the little ones). Lots of shopping, cleaning, i enjoyed it so very much. And today i have Emma and Samuel so we will go for a walk and enjoy the day with them.
Rejoice in the day the Lord has given you!!!

1+1=2

Well school started this week and i forgot to get a picture of Ezekiel on his first day. Oh well, i don't think he really cares. Ezekiel loves school and has the opportunity to make new friends this year as he has a lot of different kids in his class. i like that thought there are tons of kids in his school so it's great to meet new people and make new friends. Gabriel had his "testing" yesterday, i think he did great. When i walked in the teacher that i didn't know says, so i hear your adopting. i love that my boys are always thinking about baby sister and how even though we don't have a picture or know who she is they very much are in love with her and tell everyone about her. i think he's going to do great. He was a little nervous and asked if i was going to stay with him luckily i told him we'd have to wait and see what the teachers wanted. They of course took the kids away and left all the parents in the library. He walked away just fine. It was funny to me listening to the other moms there and how they just knew they were going to fall apart come Monday and be sobbing messes. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not me. I'm so glad for my kids and them taking each new step that comes with age and the thought of having a couple of hours to myself everyday just makes me giddy. i guess i'm just not that crying mom, i'm sure it will come sometime i just don't know when. Maybe for 6th grade, that's big stuff!
What am i going to be doing with all that time, well first of all i will be in the class room once a week for each of them so there goes 2 days and i have Emma and Samuel for 2 days so that really only leaves 1 day for just me. My goal with this new time and season is just to focus on me and the house. i am going to start walking the river trail, which i love, and i will start getting Stella's room ready, a little at a time. There's a lot that needs to be cleaned out and then it needs painted and things need to be put away, lots of fun stuff. On a side note if anyone finds a day bed in good condition with a trundle, let me know, the one i thought was guaranteed is no longer. i also need to finish painting the super hero symbols in the boys room. So it sounds selfish but i really feel that this time is suppose to be about me and the family and you know what, i'm okay with that. Because i'm sure very soon it will be a new season and i will be grateful that i had this one.
Well that's the update for today. I'll write more next week to let you know how Gabriel's first day went!!!
Be blessed and bless others!