Waiting. . .

"...but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the Lord your God loves you." Deuteronomy 23:5

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the scorn and reproach of the [self-confident] fool!"" Psalms 39:7-8

"You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor." Psalms 145:16

"And therefore the Lord {earnestly] waits [expecting, looking and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship!" Isaiah 30:18

"But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." Isaiah 40:31

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day." Habakkuk 2:3

I Heard A Lot of Giggling. . .

Silly girls :)

Let Chaos Reign :)

I go back to work Wednesday. The past eleven weeks have been a whirlwind of summer activities, paperwork gathering for my new little one, and writing. Madeleine started another 1/2 day gymnastics camp this morning. I have a visit to the sheriff's office planned for Wednesday after I get off work for more adoption paperwork and mom and I will have our fingerprints done Thursday afternoon. My mom's last day of work is Wednesday. We'll have a little retirement party here at the house for her Friday (work is throwing her one on Wednesday). We're having our cars serviced this week, before school starts and our schedules tighten. I hope I've thought of everything. Probably not:) I have a list of to-dos 2 pages long.

Last Night a Ladybug . . .

was flying around our living room as we were playing wii bowling--

And then this morning there are indications of--

Life is full of surprises :)

Skate

It was 112 degrees today :(

We swam a little and M. had her skate lesson.

School of Rock

Once a month my mom's work has a special dress-up day. Today it's "School of Rock."

Do You Ever Blink. . .

and then they're not babies anymore?

Tuesdays: Treasure

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

Sunday: Game Day

3 half hour games of badmiton

 1 game of Life

 pausing for a cookie break

 Someone's having fun

 Onto cards--Crazy Eights, Rummy, and Go Fish

 A little hula-hooping

 A furious game of Trouble

 Where the dice is held in question

 Someone doubts their return to home (it really was legit :))

 A dramatic exit

Then a game of Sorry. In the end, all were happy.

More Pictures of Noelle

 A little feisty

Definitely mobile.

In-Home Salon Treatment

First, they buttered her up by making meatballs and spaghetti. (My daughters, by the way, make the best meatballs I have ever tasted!!)

 Then, after they had her mesmerized by the absolute yumminess of her dinner, they began plying Nana with lotions and hair accessories.

Nana is a good sport :)

Travel Ready!

Ava's passport arrived today (after a small paperwork problem) and now we are ready to roll. . . of course, there's still a lot of paperwork to complete and waiting to get through . . .

Sunday

I usually get things done around the house while fitting in plenty of play time with the kids:

 But first it's Einstein's for breakfast--the girls with Nana.

 Then onto a little school clothes shopping. We got most of it done a few weeks ago, but they needed shoes and I continued my search for ultra slim jeans for Ava (success at Sears and JC Penny--slims and an adjustable waist!!).

Back home, I stained the jacuzzi.

"Badmiton, anyone?" I played for an hour. . .

 then Nana took over. I thought I was onto my next home improvement project--closet doors in the girls' room, but. . .

 a beautiful fairy was waiting for me. I even got to use the wand a few times (because it was so sad that I didn't have wings that fit :))

 And finally, the closets. I got the framing up and the beads. We ordered the bead curtains on line. They really are beautiful. I like closet doors so I'll have to get used to SEEING everything, but the girls are so SO happy with them. . .

Camp Performance

 My big girl brought home the camp hat today. This was the last day of half-day gymnastics camp and Maddie worked very hard on her goal--learning to do a walking handstand.

 A very happy camper.

 The only still photo I managed to get of Maddie at the camp performance. I did get her whole routine on video.

 A very serious Ava watching the camp performance.

 Maddie brought ladybug tattoos home from camp this week and we all decided to wear them. . .

in honor of our waiting daughter/sister in China.

I Trust in Him

God is working in my life everyday and I am so grateful for this.

Working from Home Update

We interrupt your regular scheduled work day for this important announcement--

Look what we can do!!
I have managed to get some work done today, between watching my precious daughters balance quarters on their noses and fulfilling requests for peanutbutter milkshakes :)

Working from Home

That's what I'm supposed to be doing. I really need to write an entire chapter today, but Maddie's at half day gymnastics camp and Ava has taken to setting up right beside me and working on her art. She chatters. A lot. She has some wonderful questions about everything, from the size of her little sister's wrist--she's making Noelle a braclet--to the discovery of the marks on her ankle (from sitting on them). I think I'm in for a midnight write. LOL

I can't resist that smile :)

Kicking Back and Bangs

 I bought the girls bean bags to sit in when they're eating in front of the TV -- lunch or breakfast only, and not on the new furniture.

 Ava wanted her bangs cut. This is after wanting to grow them out like her big sis. But she whined about it for a few hours and I gave in. They're not quite straight. . .

but she doesn't seem to mind. I'll take her to the salon with me in a few weeks and have them done right :)

Half Day Gymnastics Camp

Maddie started half day camp today. She's very excited :)