tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24000662059617788442024-03-14T00:10:45.635-04:00Two Sisters - Beauty of the HeartWendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-18379464557162020102012-12-13T10:43:00.002-05:002012-12-13T10:43:16.806-05:00ZeusI lost my buddy, my best friend, the one who truly adores me when no one else did, last week. My lab, Zeus, would have been 12 1/2. Hard to believe. For about the last year and 1/2 he developed a neurological issue with his back legs. He lost muscle mass, he lost control of what his legs would do, he needed rugs to get from room to room and couldn't climb but two steps. I loved him no less, I adapted his environment to meet his needs. I'ts what we do when we love something. Over the summer, he seemed to digress a bit, it was hard for him to even use those two steps to get outside and if he got caught on tile, he went down. He was still his loveable self, always waiting for me at the window when I got home. He is now buried in our back yard, the place he owned.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZwtPL50D1Yf0Lxmt3OvhC_ByuRNdvFy1nlyzuyztMfhbp_7_YTnn5GgWDTlD8L2eSjTf8fFi1wh9mpl4VvUK15IaLK4yd4FeCAa08E4ij6g8h5UPIQH7kFodrc-9XhdoGHoNekoAQA/s1600/Zeus+2012+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZwtPL50D1Yf0Lxmt3OvhC_ByuRNdvFy1nlyzuyztMfhbp_7_YTnn5GgWDTlD8L2eSjTf8fFi1wh9mpl4VvUK15IaLK4yd4FeCAa08E4ij6g8h5UPIQH7kFodrc-9XhdoGHoNekoAQA/s400/Zeus+2012+v2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left">
I miss him so, who knew a heart could be so broken for a dog...but he wasn't just any dog. I wanted to document some of the things to remember about him here, so I would never forget. </div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="left">
He loved to sleep on the ottoman in our living room, especially if I was in the chair, so I had to buy a leather one (hair).</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He loved to chase the quadrunner around and around while Bernie pulled the boys on the sled, then the girls...he tried so hard, but it was too much the last couple of years. He'd just sit and watch...</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
You could tell time by Zeus, 6:30 am and 4:30 pm, as this ol boy never missed a meal! He always let us know it was TIME!</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He was a gentle giant, 125# at one time and he never, EVER bit anyone. He loved everyone he met and was always happy to see you. He thought everyone was there to see him!</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He loved grapes, which is really a no-no for dogs, but at his size, it did not harm.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He loved to swim in the neighbors lake, chasing geese. He'd swim half way out chasing them, then have an "oh $hit" moment and realize he'd better turn around or run out of gas.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He slept on his bed next to me for 12 years, until he couldn't climb the stairs anymore...I miss the comforting sound of his breathing next to me...or his dreaming!</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
Each time we brought a daughter home, he wasn't jealous, he was kind and gentle. Abigail was very afraid of him, but he made it easy for her to love him.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He sat by the front window every.day waiting for me to come home. </div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He loved snow. </div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
He loved ME.unconditionally.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="left">
I miss him so.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0kdFbZPgkkXDTn3_myJh7qrUnBJGqjyi1aJEHCk84fA8i3E0wogiUv54qRmwtoXY5JfltisY4rd1CXP9-8BDpf0bf0YSLvxpIYH5NPiBeOOTzLam8vacstm7sh8-Y51GbqOUHtF6Z70/s1600/Christmas+2011+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0kdFbZPgkkXDTn3_myJh7qrUnBJGqjyi1aJEHCk84fA8i3E0wogiUv54qRmwtoXY5JfltisY4rd1CXP9-8BDpf0bf0YSLvxpIYH5NPiBeOOTzLam8vacstm7sh8-Y51GbqOUHtF6Z70/s400/Christmas+2011+3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-62073077808035084562012-10-22T10:34:00.002-04:002012-10-22T10:34:26.375-04:00First Swim Meet {Phantoms}Abigail joined the swim team at our local YMCA this year after encouragement from Livi's swim teacher. They have a large group of 8 and unders and its a mixed bag of skills! The goal really is to beat your previous time and become a better swimmer. Her first meet was Saturday about 30 minutes from home. We arrived and were ushered into the auxiliary gym to wait for her events. Glad we listened to the pros and brought our chairs, snacks and blanket to sit on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6WUx9YOhdqoeeRSt-gsXobiAGnWpnLeWfoaOlr5bCwzziCCZSk7gHwCncFTCRlbI8IOZcbQoAZo6UDNzqx8jez25cJX0u1JTXo-woOaqWlQjSZ3gtzX_ThgGsparqfpdyvSxJUqe75Q/s1600/IMAG0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6WUx9YOhdqoeeRSt-gsXobiAGnWpnLeWfoaOlr5bCwzziCCZSk7gHwCncFTCRlbI8IOZcbQoAZo6UDNzqx8jez25cJX0u1JTXo-woOaqWlQjSZ3gtzX_ThgGsparqfpdyvSxJUqe75Q/s320/IMAG0481.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfFw6BfQcFGmbGdpPOvXM1IQe5TVIPAML0L6mnzVHeTpKUiCpr25JVzQGYx_oEnarSMb_oS4ErWmyTgIXAApb5klkmiRbRfy9thud_-WWGR4pd8KJnuI2jR12YTinFqcCvo80tAK9Y-M/s1600/IMAG0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfFw6BfQcFGmbGdpPOvXM1IQe5TVIPAML0L6mnzVHeTpKUiCpr25JVzQGYx_oEnarSMb_oS4ErWmyTgIXAApb5klkmiRbRfy9thud_-WWGR4pd8KJnuI2jR12YTinFqcCvo80tAK9Y-M/s320/IMAG0483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We played cards, we ate munchies, the girls played in the play area and finally, event <strong>#55</strong> - yes, #55, rolled around, which was Abigail's first event. She did the 50 freestyle, then the 25 breast and ended the <strike>night</strike> day with a freestyle relay as the very.last.event. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_1LncwwZXG1ofGgGBzp2oyHmBJ0NER7-9xobG0rZHWoIvfqtUvZuCcJwfMJJeDZSfw0PQjKGmxpQGtesEFmDQBgKMuQE1O0eRRmeJmq6m87sdHE-Jld4VY9O1BxHxstd9qiwtx_JH7E/s1600/IMAG0485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_1LncwwZXG1ofGgGBzp2oyHmBJ0NER7-9xobG0rZHWoIvfqtUvZuCcJwfMJJeDZSfw0PQjKGmxpQGtesEFmDQBgKMuQE1O0eRRmeJmq6m87sdHE-Jld4VY9O1BxHxstd9qiwtx_JH7E/s320/IMAG0485.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">{on the block}</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y6x1HwfXQNQOufT66HJOiQSqU0KUghx5OuZJA9q_pvLeg_4WgUy3pcMuzmVddjX1b8m7g3alWk5HNVk09DANCNw_9pI3HzmgIgdCy1jzMH7jxFPuWaEZc_YmC7uJXLgxZV_cbyDxCnY/s1600/IMAG0486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y6x1HwfXQNQOufT66HJOiQSqU0KUghx5OuZJA9q_pvLeg_4WgUy3pcMuzmVddjX1b8m7g3alWk5HNVk09DANCNw_9pI3HzmgIgdCy1jzMH7jxFPuWaEZc_YmC7uJXLgxZV_cbyDxCnY/s320/IMAG0486.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> {Ab's feet going in}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyuFs3WL0CoSK6qfV4XhJpBPCUey64bYazIElWcZ4UzRt-yk4jqO-Nsq_gl_aCkb8cPpGqrMeMJ6ZUQb5xtwVSnkAW7VthEYn7j6pF9w1H5zLs0Y11bUPsCCnmzg1uDSlXni6VD5IC30/s1600/IMAG0487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyuFs3WL0CoSK6qfV4XhJpBPCUey64bYazIElWcZ4UzRt-yk4jqO-Nsq_gl_aCkb8cPpGqrMeMJ6ZUQb5xtwVSnkAW7VthEYn7j6pF9w1H5zLs0Y11bUPsCCnmzg1uDSlXni6VD5IC30/s320/IMAG0487.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">{scoreboard - I won't tell which is hers}</span></div>
<br />
<strong>SEVEN</strong> hours later, we were on the road to home, exhausted but happy! <br />
<br />
After getting over her nerves, she did an awesome job! Let me just say there is no where to go but UP from here ;) How cute those little ones are and what a <strike>long</strike> nice day we had...we are very proud of Abigail!<br />
<br />
Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-19561747987013486272012-10-10T16:08:00.000-04:002012-10-11T11:51:31.987-04:00An Update {The Thumb}Olivia's surgery took about three hours on Friday. The wait wasn't horrible until that last 15 minutes or so, oy vey...Anyway, we finally got back to see her and talk to the surgeon who was VERY pleased with <strike>himself</strike> how things came out. He shared a couple pictures, one of which I will post at the bottom for those who don't care to see...its not really graphic and its an awesome sight to behold. We are very hopeful that it will function just as it is meant to!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuPtsZxiT5Y2IvkDpY8-XXt-5D9G2Ih6Tu0RA0Q7iedIDNFeOggxd76PbPue6aHm2VVDFE8Wy0ded4fnodD-MlLsyfCDTMJ0B3zkMm2A2_Pa3Q70yQ550XUM4wRjv5babC-_vZnTDsrs/s1600/1.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuPtsZxiT5Y2IvkDpY8-XXt-5D9G2Ih6Tu0RA0Q7iedIDNFeOggxd76PbPue6aHm2VVDFE8Wy0ded4fnodD-MlLsyfCDTMJ0B3zkMm2A2_Pa3Q70yQ550XUM4wRjv5babC-_vZnTDsrs/s640/1.10-12.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{so sweet}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvArQVs3CTas6x2HN-lx6sC0x5NiNHok4IHTC5CmcY75HJagoqUF7cWXLKcqP3ry8u4kfEx8whuf1go-d6dsulWzXloA3Pym4oJcL51baRWEqHqXRO1tMpX0-9HUpo0aiYwiXkYnRljE/s1600/2.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvArQVs3CTas6x2HN-lx6sC0x5NiNHok4IHTC5CmcY75HJagoqUF7cWXLKcqP3ry8u4kfEx8whuf1go-d6dsulWzXloA3Pym4oJcL51baRWEqHqXRO1tMpX0-9HUpo0aiYwiXkYnRljE/s640/2.10-12.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
{waiting patiently for the dr. to come take her back}</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Livi's pain was high on Friday and Saturday but I am telling you, this girl is a rock star! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb-K1Ac12b5PnoEyMpRLz0uZoAm8I7DnzUaF7qbGdRtTYFs5KJjzH14Flb1BhcfwPCwkfGhtD9VlS5AbcjafISdF49fHfvzGPf7HARMjuWrbu8aQ32f7KDgEs7kcU9KXuppeuM5WV7qA/s1600/3.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAb-K1Ac12b5PnoEyMpRLz0uZoAm8I7DnzUaF7qbGdRtTYFs5KJjzH14Flb1BhcfwPCwkfGhtD9VlS5AbcjafISdF49fHfvzGPf7HARMjuWrbu8aQ32f7KDgEs7kcU9KXuppeuM5WV7qA/s640/3.10-12.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{in recovery, safe in daddy's arms trying to wake up}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6NEJoF2TxwjL7euUgPtVJbmLbPa42123eO-7Zu7Xl8jU_IXgpDtqQ_Ip1AJWz3js_fTPsjEbdNQXG0W0wavjI_yV7U4TAcULcVbCCyukV1BlV-UJnOqXpusaq30TZ6N9H1q33B8BqsM/s1600/4.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6NEJoF2TxwjL7euUgPtVJbmLbPa42123eO-7Zu7Xl8jU_IXgpDtqQ_Ip1AJWz3js_fTPsjEbdNQXG0W0wavjI_yV7U4TAcULcVbCCyukV1BlV-UJnOqXpusaq30TZ6N9H1q33B8BqsM/s640/4.10-12.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{literally <strong>an hour</strong> after coming home, reading cards from her classmates}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
By Sunday she was up and about, taking only ibuprofen and on Monday, we girls all went to lunch and shopping, and she did great! I think she just forgot about it. So I felt it would be okay to send her to school Tuesday, as she seemed fine. Got a quick note from her teacher that she was indeed doing well and there was no complaining. Not even a mid day need for meds. <br />
<br />
She can wiggle her three fingers AND her thumb, everything is pink and pretty and we have high hopes that this will be a huge success! Stay tuned! <br />
<br />
{her thumb is below, how awesome is THAT? God is good}<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4PSn01x-F4tlUBHAbTaycY6wNV1R0fiHUeO-J7o_O4f-A2xa55a6HuVfWluxsd4AL7PAt_io9Io9FsAS2gBjL8ZHnf7CTQzENbSt7cifWPQzCAudFBpz3ITEkXggxG2TNDT6xURnxYo/s1600/0.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4PSn01x-F4tlUBHAbTaycY6wNV1R0fiHUeO-J7o_O4f-A2xa55a6HuVfWluxsd4AL7PAt_io9Io9FsAS2gBjL8ZHnf7CTQzENbSt7cifWPQzCAudFBpz3ITEkXggxG2TNDT6xURnxYo/s640/0.10-12.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
{Before - see where her thumb was removed previously}</div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV041BaA2OuUFE6wCwolktksGl3PlGpJBY2SSXWOK_e14zNGsSqg0YFgft0E67Y0zM4V8BM1gtwtvdeIejANPV-G3moKaAaU6rY7bx8IP2MkkaCqf0hWm__V2pSjRc_IhHj_PliMfDlPc/s1600/5.10-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV041BaA2OuUFE6wCwolktksGl3PlGpJBY2SSXWOK_e14zNGsSqg0YFgft0E67Y0zM4V8BM1gtwtvdeIejANPV-G3moKaAaU6rY7bx8IP2MkkaCqf0hWm__V2pSjRc_IhHj_PliMfDlPc/s640/5.10-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
{After}</div>
</div>
Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-91562746382591749532012-10-04T09:23:00.003-04:002012-10-04T09:23:56.355-04:00Another Surgery {Pollicization}<span style="font-size: large;">Well summer is over, school is on and the leaves are changing nicely here in Ohio. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our little girl, Olivia, is scheduled this Friday (tomorrow) for her second surgery. This one is called pollicization (see below), where they rotate her index finger and drop it down, making it into a thumb. Then they will also remove her rod, which was inserted back in February to help strengthen and straighten her arm. The hope is to give her use of her right hand, which she has very little of at this point. My gut tells me she is a lefty by default and will begin to use her right hand once its healed and ready to go. And if you know Livi, she will do it with a smile on her face!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmvkoQE6bl0MgVTeO53UUa6xmJ_SHzYriQIn05L7T4dWIsw5b1D4_M9LIR9AcVtLmnjvcMYTxCKUUjHgvAzAVU35UwPrfFXx6HB6aFvN_tvnAa3DJPSHXoV2yjUrM8iKznxGQ8x4HA9A/s1600/IMAG0437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmvkoQE6bl0MgVTeO53UUa6xmJ_SHzYriQIn05L7T4dWIsw5b1D4_M9LIR9AcVtLmnjvcMYTxCKUUjHgvAzAVU35UwPrfFXx6HB6aFvN_tvnAa3DJPSHXoV2yjUrM8iKznxGQ8x4HA9A/s640/IMAG0437.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<center>
<h1>
Clinical Example: Pollicization of the index finger for thumb reconstruction</h1>
</center>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#cccccc" valign="center">Pollicization is the surgical creation of a thumb from a finger, usually the index finger. There are several techniques, but they have in common steps to shorten, rotate, and reposition muscles to achieve a functional and aesthetic result.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<center>
<img height="244" src="http://www.eatonhand.com/ops/polliciz.gif" width="294" /></center>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Its amazing what can be done in this day and age! <u>Would you join us in praying for Livi's comfort and for the surgeon's hands to be guided? </u></span>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-60918293424422695002012-08-24T10:28:00.000-04:002012-08-24T10:28:24.063-04:00END OF SUMMER {Beginning of School}<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<strong>We had an exceptionally warm summer in OH this year, very thankful to have put the pool in last Fall and enjoyed it sooo much this summer. The girls have become proficient swimmers and frankly, got tired of it towards the middle of this month. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Not me though</span>.</strong></div>
<strong><br /></strong><strong>Spent the last week before school started with them, shopping, swimming (alittle), fishing, festivaling, lazing about; just enjoying the dog days of summer.</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFMIEJUwZzPOBf7TbBYTmnCfh_BITlOCuSFugoRt7q4PEppksmVHxxBxlrl7L5uSnte3ZEVEcLzuP2Txc1iEPcSGIJqgADrd2Wn3r1aZW65yIZk0FQaeSyBphLdTecVXBGM2jNvdCEAc/s1600/IMAG0438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFMIEJUwZzPOBf7TbBYTmnCfh_BITlOCuSFugoRt7q4PEppksmVHxxBxlrl7L5uSnte3ZEVEcLzuP2Txc1iEPcSGIJqgADrd2Wn3r1aZW65yIZk0FQaeSyBphLdTecVXBGM2jNvdCEAc/s320/IMAG0438.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>We went to the Main Street Festival in an adjoining town and both girls rode some rides and got their faces painted. What a joy THAT was to get off them...</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5J38U0U2ZLdTehg8CLYsFYVIvzNpAIi9e7kQ7e6cllK7H6jDgW2YIfeDBH3D-1zVQmhgQUNDFX6ZuP4O-qQZCP36puNhnitvjcpnJhvshmF7_uB__9MLdmnpZ-VQsxiwPdKiax0YkZg/s1600/IMAG0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5J38U0U2ZLdTehg8CLYsFYVIvzNpAIi9e7kQ7e6cllK7H6jDgW2YIfeDBH3D-1zVQmhgQUNDFX6ZuP4O-qQZCP36puNhnitvjcpnJhvshmF7_uB__9MLdmnpZ-VQsxiwPdKiax0YkZg/s320/IMAG0409.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkrvppYot_rGT3qt3AyqkUf5hPfxtUCJl76q3jjhXXphXqDS62Fk0_1Fr85gWolTHfoF8eUjIps-Yo4qfDLDW3sqfvQly5yITPZUAnl6jtAdDIGuqW6qXxtNIrMsdnnhc3hmUUTYicDk/s1600/IMAG0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkrvppYot_rGT3qt3AyqkUf5hPfxtUCJl76q3jjhXXphXqDS62Fk0_1Fr85gWolTHfoF8eUjIps-Yo4qfDLDW3sqfvQly5yITPZUAnl6jtAdDIGuqW6qXxtNIrMsdnnhc3hmUUTYicDk/s320/IMAG0411.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNPANDSOmSli3T1hhEt_62ixm8g5D_gWFyGyFHMlneVnu9qWL2On1-zHSHt8IpmUmfmb9HOgPKVV8Qr62yEKxRf1yowk0PDM-4gQO2xXEq0wbgBtb3shRlB_rBsST8AvJfB4dNR0Q94E/s1600/IMAG0412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNPANDSOmSli3T1hhEt_62ixm8g5D_gWFyGyFHMlneVnu9qWL2On1-zHSHt8IpmUmfmb9HOgPKVV8Qr62yEKxRf1yowk0PDM-4gQO2xXEq0wbgBtb3shRlB_rBsST8AvJfB4dNR0Q94E/s320/IMAG0412.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Yes, there was a bit of pizza mingled in...</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Baba had taken them fishing early in the week and they had caught MANY fish! Well they wanted to go again so I ventured along. We didn't have the same kind of bait and the fishing wasn't so good, but they had a great time and I was amazed how well they can cast. I never perfected that move, its like throwing a frisbee, can't do that either!</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TnhlO3AeVchWlssMRvDztiQEa8S504zG5HOEBlQZDlEuePMtLYV39xTj3BknbP4X3lLmfAsu53lduyi2dmQdOjUQJrQjZD2J2tMBbVRjFweD14pIvsIVAJ-xZrkE4ebVgqSdy7cx6L4/s1600/fishing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TnhlO3AeVchWlssMRvDztiQEa8S504zG5HOEBlQZDlEuePMtLYV39xTj3BknbP4X3lLmfAsu53lduyi2dmQdOjUQJrQjZD2J2tMBbVRjFweD14pIvsIVAJ-xZrkE4ebVgqSdy7cx6L4/s400/fishing+1.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVKz_bqcTEvvvbh5UxrQAMPhtb-SiA4eQieAVvXSWXh5jPnGo4_WlgNwPh_NVslX2uTD5FNzbkA_pHyndKJ_zTEQQiEMmliX5DFUsTDj-rIW8cuYY38tuSEdoRhpOc5p5fkOhIJLW9gw/s1600/Fishing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVKz_bqcTEvvvbh5UxrQAMPhtb-SiA4eQieAVvXSWXh5jPnGo4_WlgNwPh_NVslX2uTD5FNzbkA_pHyndKJ_zTEQQiEMmliX5DFUsTDj-rIW8cuYY38tuSEdoRhpOc5p5fkOhIJLW9gw/s400/Fishing+2.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYtrpLqxeXTbwelglHkjAZKRx0-6sh5cePmrO03zUaIcQunFFUFXkcsUfoNFv3xW0FhciEijZ_QQ3QTvdEGI6Nz1kM1ufefy8k-Nv5WlXeK8zIfhm9Q-qTrlw71MZJYeCXlusagsA_p0/s400/Fishing+3.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>The above were from round 1...</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZeajwObrNZJLT7RjJKZOUwazkGp0oDPqM4ZAOm3MkMdDJNuuP7PQWaU6K8zfQFzGyXUl9OnmCf1a0bA6yc5m0JLqz_QRUjW5ZT19RaFz-jFSgyRwDORk9WMr8ukS1_ydXKZwgN2vJ2A/s1600/IMAG0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZeajwObrNZJLT7RjJKZOUwazkGp0oDPqM4ZAOm3MkMdDJNuuP7PQWaU6K8zfQFzGyXUl9OnmCf1a0bA6yc5m0JLqz_QRUjW5ZT19RaFz-jFSgyRwDORk9WMr8ukS1_ydXKZwgN2vJ2A/s320/IMAG0422.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFAx73aLXFqgFK-mMGDg_FV8JoDbuavTLyY_ZOY_lwyzmafGytH9yZgLLNm8Wnp3EXBxsAAYXi48cmxo7gj0ZW6qXyLL-NtBUn3m8clk3W-yfqRQyWQ93Hj-3EftgOnXBUjdTck0JxU/s1600/IMAG0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFAx73aLXFqgFK-mMGDg_FV8JoDbuavTLyY_ZOY_lwyzmafGytH9yZgLLNm8Wnp3EXBxsAAYXi48cmxo7gj0ZW6qXyLL-NtBUn3m8clk3W-yfqRQyWQ93Hj-3EftgOnXBUjdTck0JxU/s320/IMAG0421.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPfXsHsDdI2QrI5D3N7L05kWLfD8IC3JQstbX-W3tmJ85xx8ci1IIOk0-SiQ86CENcyV3gWfU8-E90-gJ8rtJdJZEkwmPcqDhguV90I7XosDiyEAuFdqUIvnAV4ksSNhyDGz-VxRecFc/s1600/IMAG0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPfXsHsDdI2QrI5D3N7L05kWLfD8IC3JQstbX-W3tmJ85xx8ci1IIOk0-SiQ86CENcyV3gWfU8-E90-gJ8rtJdJZEkwmPcqDhguV90I7XosDiyEAuFdqUIvnAV4ksSNhyDGz-VxRecFc/s320/IMAG0423.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO8W6zFTpbPotdAfro3BN-m5oIG0ySDEiwjNJD2nQM6yiGaYCUG0AGjEQbsHh_xUK6JWLsPRWgovrzyTCM6De1EPV_jpKsn9Hqa8L2RsE3mNQ9W5fSzxrrDwBhbPVTzOA8Q-P2NphG3I/s1600/IMAG0425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO8W6zFTpbPotdAfro3BN-m5oIG0ySDEiwjNJD2nQM6yiGaYCUG0AGjEQbsHh_xUK6JWLsPRWgovrzyTCM6De1EPV_jpKsn9Hqa8L2RsE3mNQ9W5fSzxrrDwBhbPVTzOA8Q-P2NphG3I/s320/IMAG0425.jpg" width="191" yda="true" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>and these ^ were from round 2, not so successful!</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>The following day, the girls went back to school...SECOND GRADE!!!</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>We have a new superintendant and he was riding on their bus when it came, so they got their picture in the local newspaper as well...pretty cool!</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong> They were up and ready to roll, there were no tears this year and no looking back! </strong><strong></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wKi_bgYd-FuG-hq59Ok8rDxuzkOMs1yMM68Q4TjAhv7CZ-GQNVWJGUFweDwqIrKhMQ9kByJFmq1Ih1axwSXSqwjeXZlEozvatmPFCEVW85MElWe8ZNbMc0HQnsiFORDt66lRG11phT8/s1600/IMAG0434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wKi_bgYd-FuG-hq59Ok8rDxuzkOMs1yMM68Q4TjAhv7CZ-GQNVWJGUFweDwqIrKhMQ9kByJFmq1Ih1axwSXSqwjeXZlEozvatmPFCEVW85MElWe8ZNbMc0HQnsiFORDt66lRG11phT8/s400/IMAG0434.jpg" width="238" yda="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpyfq5AOvseqBKSClgGpXPbzafIZBRUT7F4YwVlPVuI6y0d-Feo6giCwOCJHOhN2oVnZXa3t5zQEBWrFlzzXa18yVupsJxvjMVNj90FLPhT4OwX2ByJPaik3zkuZgmcXp1EviAhfRXSM/s1600/IMAG0432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpyfq5AOvseqBKSClgGpXPbzafIZBRUT7F4YwVlPVuI6y0d-Feo6giCwOCJHOhN2oVnZXa3t5zQEBWrFlzzXa18yVupsJxvjMVNj90FLPhT4OwX2ByJPaik3zkuZgmcXp1EviAhfRXSM/s400/IMAG0432.jpg" width="238" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe30yZXdKxFsdM75hbgVxLnuMV9ABz8Mal-tiGFsw5_pvS-D8qbAvLBSXjo9w82jyiFQKIA3ro8x78tRi1FwU65AFoBPEIQxidaT2Fpb0HSQgiLn5pa58vR2vW0-1wVnMLNw1Q7uCESV8/s1600/IMAG0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe30yZXdKxFsdM75hbgVxLnuMV9ABz8Mal-tiGFsw5_pvS-D8qbAvLBSXjo9w82jyiFQKIA3ro8x78tRi1FwU65AFoBPEIQxidaT2Fpb0HSQgiLn5pa58vR2vW0-1wVnMLNw1Q7uCESV8/s400/IMAG0435.jpg" width="238" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<strong>Even old Zeus made the trek across the street to wait for the bus!</strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLqDqe2ltVbixkKMynfWtPaJ_o_RWpVggvc6lsWy6MKgybd1CyGIjyUHFCpgyU-EMcSYK1t2BECZxhb9zjbpMLAc4QaJQi4j420YdwbIlsQeoZ1HVGZ6PUc_EuOu1JqQh7NU59Lqbbc4/s1600/IMAG0437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLqDqe2ltVbixkKMynfWtPaJ_o_RWpVggvc6lsWy6MKgybd1CyGIjyUHFCpgyU-EMcSYK1t2BECZxhb9zjbpMLAc4QaJQi4j420YdwbIlsQeoZ1HVGZ6PUc_EuOu1JqQh7NU59Lqbbc4/s400/IMAG0437.jpg" width="238" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcNV3ZPGfM3fBpWsHXerURarz_lL0A8pqXnDuCaKT4ZRscux0sUf0sHTKPjn2rnwNZIoszf_-GtC0ajTlqQRoXATBHOEHf_3CYCKcXh4KFgh0A48mwhhnOOhl3ZlBjlCrSYlTFmDFEbU/s1600/IMAG0436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcNV3ZPGfM3fBpWsHXerURarz_lL0A8pqXnDuCaKT4ZRscux0sUf0sHTKPjn2rnwNZIoszf_-GtC0ajTlqQRoXATBHOEHf_3CYCKcXh4KFgh0A48mwhhnOOhl3ZlBjlCrSYlTFmDFEbU/s400/IMAG0436.jpg" width="238" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>What a blessing these girls are to me, even though some days are difficult, I am so thankful they are in my life! </strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>As an FYI, Livi is having surgery again on October 5, it is called Pollicization, where they rotate her index finger and drop it down to make a thumb. We are not going into this lightly and feel it will enhance the use of her hand. She is excited and understands, and wants to have this done. Please pray for the surgeons hands to be guided and for her healing!</strong></div>
Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-77583541908564639972012-07-25T07:27:00.000-04:002012-07-25T07:27:30.081-04:00Locks of Love<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't been very blog worthy of late, just a lot of swimming and swimming going on at our place, between work and the hot hot temperatures. It has been a great year to have a pool! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelLNyJR6nlt4kfYVw0RjkfOv_JWchOq7lZ__ohzWV6k1udFwIP04EeahQ4LDgifr-ppHSTwCRwFiYXgovwcF9WNDSti0kIn8RdqO8UYRzOGuieXTcmYiPZ_Nob3XZ_Ts2mOhq7aEmZvc/s1600/IMAG0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelLNyJR6nlt4kfYVw0RjkfOv_JWchOq7lZ__ohzWV6k1udFwIP04EeahQ4LDgifr-ppHSTwCRwFiYXgovwcF9WNDSti0kIn8RdqO8UYRzOGuieXTcmYiPZ_Nob3XZ_Ts2mOhq7aEmZvc/s320/IMAG0294.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Abigail has tried for the last three hair trims to have her hair cut to donate. When we brought her home, she had had her hair cut VERY short by the orphanage, I'm certain in an effort to control pests. So, we have let her hair grow ever since, only trimming bangs and two nice end trims, to get rid of split ends. As I said it's been VERY hot here and I think that contributed to her desire for a cut. I should also point out that she likes her sisters hair, which is amusing since Olivia dreams to have loooonnnggg hair like Ab one day. Anyway, she decided it was time. I got home from work and asked her if it was still time, to which she replied yes!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We headed over to Best Cuts, where we have gone before and the nicest gal was there to take care of us. She separated Ab's hair into five sections, asked her one more time if she was sure (yes!) and off it came. She had about 11" of donatable hair as we had about 3 taken off a month ago. She looks adorable with a little bob and I am so proud of her! It was very difficult for me to watch, I teared up at one point, but I'm pleased with the outcome, all around. Baba is out of town, so I texted him a pic, to prepare his heart...and I'm glad I did. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-1gOu7XG_1RpwhLFZVolIwLXDlDELADCSIJH4oFE2OM2N7kFGoz-BDVu9BZ-hqTq8uXpdUNGqEwixyuU1QXJtsEozEm9U3Eo8DQyEipdaSgPxqH9LqzOp1V1i-4UGJlAD5XN63P55DE/s1600/IMAG0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-1gOu7XG_1RpwhLFZVolIwLXDlDELADCSIJH4oFE2OM2N7kFGoz-BDVu9BZ-hqTq8uXpdUNGqEwixyuU1QXJtsEozEm9U3Eo8DQyEipdaSgPxqH9LqzOp1V1i-4UGJlAD5XN63P55DE/s640/IMAG0345.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZwigHAN5GH5O7CFbW6OSTtTJjCeL0clBvOEd_Od3hycMjRMBm8XThL4xMAAujdDEHVkvO71_nZNCbDrTWWgiAoe_zivOVTXT2FALEI9_4uu6y0aQJotNTgZSd32curFhqa6-0IWbaa8/s1600/IMAG0347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZwigHAN5GH5O7CFbW6OSTtTJjCeL0clBvOEd_Od3hycMjRMBm8XThL4xMAAujdDEHVkvO71_nZNCbDrTWWgiAoe_zivOVTXT2FALEI9_4uu6y0aQJotNTgZSd32curFhqa6-0IWbaa8/s640/IMAG0347.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwKN09m8hjCcrwlt7wakoaD08UL5g3oLxPJVkIZK_wxuuqYYLA1ECxlT61yddp0wwgKvfyJXv5WLnoTnKlBNGkZeh57z-NLcFf_GipSejp1gJc-CKuCGq8wK9VSJhb76t-4H_HsRp_Fw/s1600/IMAG0349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwKN09m8hjCcrwlt7wakoaD08UL5g3oLxPJVkIZK_wxuuqYYLA1ECxlT61yddp0wwgKvfyJXv5WLnoTnKlBNGkZeh57z-NLcFf_GipSejp1gJc-CKuCGq8wK9VSJhb76t-4H_HsRp_Fw/s640/IMAG0349.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWSNKiGsa_8vDIp8HezygAWHNGzUTy2fCveTmU4rrSzdjEuCTU2FNZL6eGm-VX_36xz6LTDh4CvKHnNAuwDhqUwWxQ-jo3Xdod0xCizRtsnyeA88JXFqzQO43L3ejKLjokiCDSGsLJVs/s1600/IMAG0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWSNKiGsa_8vDIp8HezygAWHNGzUTy2fCveTmU4rrSzdjEuCTU2FNZL6eGm-VX_36xz6LTDh4CvKHnNAuwDhqUwWxQ-jo3Xdod0xCizRtsnyeA88JXFqzQO43L3ejKLjokiCDSGsLJVs/s640/IMAG0350.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvCmubid0d2-wkYPRanPnA0WKyA0xSl84YbDRPrJrZp1b3M2fd0AO3p4rDKgesJKDKsAWjAO2wSnJQHJxfF5qVH2DuYSqS6exn5Tk1Yq8ejoNPGmCe2q6Yjwdgw9W-70_OW6LZcNbSe0/s1600/IMAG0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvCmubid0d2-wkYPRanPnA0WKyA0xSl84YbDRPrJrZp1b3M2fd0AO3p4rDKgesJKDKsAWjAO2wSnJQHJxfF5qVH2DuYSqS6exn5Tk1Yq8ejoNPGmCe2q6Yjwdgw9W-70_OW6LZcNbSe0/s640/IMAG0351.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0UeRs-B05UK-bpn6-NmtkuLSykn5WL9e0HW_sZTKhyphenhyphenk52QO_0wYyXXCt_Y1QFlF8CgrBCbYhGE3uJSnAA1KiCxD6biECBdRkbDg1cFicfMa4C8xapXmR3q3l_RHXc2Mn-V-k1QHpUi4/s1600/IMAG0353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0UeRs-B05UK-bpn6-NmtkuLSykn5WL9e0HW_sZTKhyphenhyphenk52QO_0wYyXXCt_Y1QFlF8CgrBCbYhGE3uJSnAA1KiCxD6biECBdRkbDg1cFicfMa4C8xapXmR3q3l_RHXc2Mn-V-k1QHpUi4/s640/IMAG0353.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't she lovely!</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf8ymSKPBrYadVrsnbrvR4z7GYTSrlsWsKKxAALAOYjCsktTFaL6Js7VmeLythCry6ydJCmznSAofNEMN-Ue2TqwnMwO-cWIhJ7XA583iuqMCk2z8j2n5HlwYm8qHHCpeVWlm0ESD9A8/s1600/IMAG0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf8ymSKPBrYadVrsnbrvR4z7GYTSrlsWsKKxAALAOYjCsktTFaL6Js7VmeLythCry6ydJCmznSAofNEMN-Ue2TqwnMwO-cWIhJ7XA583iuqMCk2z8j2n5HlwYm8qHHCpeVWlm0ESD9A8/s640/IMAG0355.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-68726408038707608262012-06-05T10:08:00.001-04:002012-06-05T10:08:30.991-04:00Hi there, its been awhile!"Summer" is in full swing at our place now. Everyone is out of school, the boys are both working full time and the girls are being...well...the girls! Let's get caught up, shall we?<br />
<br />
In early May, we celebrated Olivia's 9th birthday, first at home on Mothers Day and then the following week with her very own FIRST party, at Chuck E. Cheese. She was definitely the star of the show!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4L81wV4VdbuSu7bb-Z_rQmx-T4cH574aFqv0h_BvoyFAg7JT_vYVE7FUg0OLYYWgE2wpqE3vrfZuE81uZCJNYg0eCpERS3Wv5GhjmnxbsSCV298tsNewAjlEwUYbDC03kxcdZZgalTA/s1600/IMAG0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4L81wV4VdbuSu7bb-Z_rQmx-T4cH574aFqv0h_BvoyFAg7JT_vYVE7FUg0OLYYWgE2wpqE3vrfZuE81uZCJNYg0eCpERS3Wv5GhjmnxbsSCV298tsNewAjlEwUYbDC03kxcdZZgalTA/s320/IMAG0259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r1UpXN1FRvLQ3k_nX9nhICwQPR2qJSY5_7ES2k-xhhgs95QU4Hpk46AdXefJbJAjQsRtShtCVux6OMzdp1RqWmuM9FUCCMoGn3PgmClVsVV1_zbJem6MPue9CLoRQVWOeB-LeEy0dpE/s1600/IMAG0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r1UpXN1FRvLQ3k_nX9nhICwQPR2qJSY5_7ES2k-xhhgs95QU4Hpk46AdXefJbJAjQsRtShtCVux6OMzdp1RqWmuM9FUCCMoGn3PgmClVsVV1_zbJem6MPue9CLoRQVWOeB-LeEy0dpE/s320/IMAG0260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ06je9tDBz8fBuloBe52l0QjeviMKQhD78iEPnjCN9xuerATwqDB5RfoCcnBE7DFU2XuNXLxJiOKoiIkVIY1uondPIRAcoTU9-mveI7gCWqCDKjDpDKPzj4pEsw1VO8Ba5mPgAR92nG8/s1600/IMAG0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ06je9tDBz8fBuloBe52l0QjeviMKQhD78iEPnjCN9xuerATwqDB5RfoCcnBE7DFU2XuNXLxJiOKoiIkVIY1uondPIRAcoTU9-mveI7gCWqCDKjDpDKPzj4pEsw1VO8Ba5mPgAR92nG8/s320/IMAG0270.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>(waiting ever so patiently for friends to arrive)</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LaZb243KmY1LvGFJrI2c1GKoDLktyH7p7gYslrFiKikpL-yhTjWwJNbO5ZnL-zdpg2SS58q-eHl2xJzb5Wwb4peXO5YOJg10DGgpK7_0a2R5rotc5bBWZMtrkztK7j1pcvybsTlhMek/s1600/DSCN9924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LaZb243KmY1LvGFJrI2c1GKoDLktyH7p7gYslrFiKikpL-yhTjWwJNbO5ZnL-zdpg2SS58q-eHl2xJzb5Wwb4peXO5YOJg10DGgpK7_0a2R5rotc5bBWZMtrkztK7j1pcvybsTlhMek/s320/DSCN9924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLlK2YGenN7RW9ypcpBmXG3FsHQ1lv7Fxk52hdg4ahzYkEUfeYzUcwQ7CUdLq-SEuq7ePjo5BLd8fGYjuwDX4nml4p4bYjALcOq1QdtnyAM__47KcZDLzdFKMGB48RVLSVBoJM8SuTvc/s1600/DSCN9927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLlK2YGenN7RW9ypcpBmXG3FsHQ1lv7Fxk52hdg4ahzYkEUfeYzUcwQ7CUdLq-SEuq7ePjo5BLd8fGYjuwDX4nml4p4bYjALcOq1QdtnyAM__47KcZDLzdFKMGB48RVLSVBoJM8SuTvc/s320/DSCN9927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>The Birthday Queen</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(credit to Sarah for pics, I haven't uploaded mine yet)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Memorial Day weekend was the inaugural pool party weekend, we all came away feeling like we had been on vacation for three days! From swimming, to eating and drinking, to marshmallows over the fire pit, we were so very thankful for this time with family and friends, while not forgetting what we were "celebrating"; so thankful for those who serve or have served. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKNhWO55qcrojn8he-WCZgjs_ZDKGGfUU2ErAoO11sEMxOXHkaKKsmzO0d01CmzGzgLVDi350t2VoHBfVkuOyTiHF1vQ4e2S8lLmkZo2Cb4-fUk065tnH70B_HdOAsYSjlmhavAKSyuQ/s1600/IMAG0273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKNhWO55qcrojn8he-WCZgjs_ZDKGGfUU2ErAoO11sEMxOXHkaKKsmzO0d01CmzGzgLVDi350t2VoHBfVkuOyTiHF1vQ4e2S8lLmkZo2Cb4-fUk065tnH70B_HdOAsYSjlmhavAKSyuQ/s320/IMAG0273.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
Night swimming was in order for the big kids, they had a great time taking underwater pictures and acting goofy! Thankful we never took the Christmas lights off the barn! ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFiew2cjM6wFyONoG35FPxr2Jl1uKPNy_a9kFSB27pzgHI-XPijWkw4B9o_rlhmapUyI__JCzh8zHqATeNuwce8CLpLfejn2Rul2IuSJOg2FhLPkHB6bGA1HmlJXWiJxqWmszMp4xXb8/s1600/IMAG0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFiew2cjM6wFyONoG35FPxr2Jl1uKPNy_a9kFSB27pzgHI-XPijWkw4B9o_rlhmapUyI__JCzh8zHqATeNuwce8CLpLfejn2Rul2IuSJOg2FhLPkHB6bGA1HmlJXWiJxqWmszMp4xXb8/s320/IMAG0277.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
The girls had a final First Grade picnic at school where memories were made.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjuDJkRsZgfG6v9vrjDGZkNUPD-L7J0a5KPJ1osTJ2plP9rp4vZq_Sjug0197VCw2Iv-Pzg7g96W1ZXVXvPVzkpxc3b54964mKKB5n1mxc79SlTBMOV9AMwXdOgHhkJRkrAN_-Nvsuso/s1600/IMAG0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjuDJkRsZgfG6v9vrjDGZkNUPD-L7J0a5KPJ1osTJ2plP9rp4vZq_Sjug0197VCw2Iv-Pzg7g96W1ZXVXvPVzkpxc3b54964mKKB5n1mxc79SlTBMOV9AMwXdOgHhkJRkrAN_-Nvsuso/s320/IMAG0275.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
We also took a trip to the Hartville Flea Market and bought strawberries, so Daddy could make a nice batch of his famous strawberry jam! It's the best!! (He ain't too shabby himself)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF0zMBpPYaS0vxNCzILJd2hhkNvmgVpphe_7SGdQ7TJQVO95zsPjTT2qYyRpHUmBOb3XqY0-fWb32s48O1G_Kmyk5wYMFzC_x-2d2zZYq3FrDPCQCkKkutvIADV67N2KCg4skeHVTOZw/s1600/IMAG0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF0zMBpPYaS0vxNCzILJd2hhkNvmgVpphe_7SGdQ7TJQVO95zsPjTT2qYyRpHUmBOb3XqY0-fWb32s48O1G_Kmyk5wYMFzC_x-2d2zZYq3FrDPCQCkKkutvIADV67N2KCg4skeHVTOZw/s320/IMAG0283.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
And rounding out the update, what could be better than a night in mommy's bed while daddy is traveling for work {I could think of MANY things}...who knew this was such an exciting event!?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAruPJiR-HHUQAaFe48MCd441cvvg6iNdw1stnO3iNzgwj57EIbPrHrJso35unTtCQHolfy1wQ0osX73LY0D6OtKZ7H_Cjl64brH1m86uRLzuDifrYGgTjitQ_2Nk-91dCoaXZH5012O4/s1600/IMAG0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAruPJiR-HHUQAaFe48MCd441cvvg6iNdw1stnO3iNzgwj57EIbPrHrJso35unTtCQHolfy1wQ0osX73LY0D6OtKZ7H_Cjl64brH1m86uRLzuDifrYGgTjitQ_2Nk-91dCoaXZH5012O4/s320/IMAG0284.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Blessings to everyone for a wonderful, healthy, CONTENT summer~ Let's talk soon!</div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-75045705640924634832012-05-02T11:07:00.002-04:002012-05-02T11:07:52.344-04:00Rockin' Around the Clock {At the Hop}<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My girls had their First Grade program last night, the theme was "At the Hop". </span></strong></div>
<strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb_7I7UQya86_NC_gRCYHY5Sc6gMS6x5u2einN7CKEeDiomsKMbLi9PdC-WGW62J_IZjA3WsPoI3mUMl85G1UWne2XY4Afs1RWGWHZcRY5hR_ls8lQ50BxEx2_cCWIjIW5-GQ8fJVxQo/s1600/girls+program.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb_7I7UQya86_NC_gRCYHY5Sc6gMS6x5u2einN7CKEeDiomsKMbLi9PdC-WGW62J_IZjA3WsPoI3mUMl85G1UWne2XY4Afs1RWGWHZcRY5hR_ls8lQ50BxEx2_cCWIjIW5-GQ8fJVxQo/s400/girls+program.JPG" width="238" /></span></strong></a></div>
<strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Oh.my.goodness. They have been practicing and singing and dancing for months now. Who knew 150 First Grade students could rock the house so well!? </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmPQHdXTGPn2g2Oe8HxbpkzTXdGx2KBzCt3nZGnhfs0QlRkEMsbR5PvbLfYV_p0AucOPNmeYdPH9Sqt85quDJ06OJaQAP-1L-i8fJSxnmnv4HQPB5o1XnCqH2Vt2KCC7mJYEOanSLmDw/s1600/DSC00802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmPQHdXTGPn2g2Oe8HxbpkzTXdGx2KBzCt3nZGnhfs0QlRkEMsbR5PvbLfYV_p0AucOPNmeYdPH9Sqt85quDJ06OJaQAP-1L-i8fJSxnmnv4HQPB5o1XnCqH2Vt2KCC7mJYEOanSLmDw/s640/DSC00802.JPG" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It brought tears to my eyes to see Olivia, up moving and shaking, thinking about how far she has come in the last year! She was definitely one of the more enthusiastic singer/dancers, being located in the front, on the end! Abigail was in the middle but could still "shake it up baby"! </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbci8i7tSoirFnLeAOhJ27OTbjZFsqiWrhKh1zHhtHnROG90ESXkVKwPkIDDIr22QA9tLpHNiQ23IA6CSFF72UJ5C4Haxi-PNEwhcTeX0dUhbMDLagCfUG4u1dyxNsPAHhOeJUVSYrdXw/s1600/DSC00810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbci8i7tSoirFnLeAOhJ27OTbjZFsqiWrhKh1zHhtHnROG90ESXkVKwPkIDDIr22QA9tLpHNiQ23IA6CSFF72UJ5C4Haxi-PNEwhcTeX0dUhbMDLagCfUG4u1dyxNsPAHhOeJUVSYrdXw/s640/DSC00810.JPG" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-FELaIJ1VffwYAykbiPqSpxO6U-vAun1DoStkc4RsaoiEmqW1pfFEjTxqz_eeCPYlKE2c8is6cR6cE0QortoNF1OuP0tg6XxB-yUvL53Pf3kTbJjeePdRwuV2FfKQanZOmpULKsYQyI/s1600/DSC00811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-FELaIJ1VffwYAykbiPqSpxO6U-vAun1DoStkc4RsaoiEmqW1pfFEjTxqz_eeCPYlKE2c8is6cR6cE0QortoNF1OuP0tg6XxB-yUvL53Pf3kTbJjeePdRwuV2FfKQanZOmpULKsYQyI/s640/DSC00811.JPG" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cS1HnT8GWmD_dT1LkBQveXeUDeEIZ-L71YX1bQvUAQ01neWx2uRyw4W3lBA0cHtTT0QKAntpOVawwN0B53jTmRa-cu_woMi5zkFAK5_eEu3DbEe2IB3poTLdMoRbpZMLlZitq0YVbq4/s1600/DSC00812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cS1HnT8GWmD_dT1LkBQveXeUDeEIZ-L71YX1bQvUAQ01neWx2uRyw4W3lBA0cHtTT0QKAntpOVawwN0B53jTmRa-cu_woMi5zkFAK5_eEu3DbEe2IB3poTLdMoRbpZMLlZitq0YVbq4/s640/DSC00812.JPG" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiR5dZ9CFUKo3KurH0aMVm4d8Or2G4WQ_VekBNN8y6HryK9TcvTXPot_G4vgB3TWDw01KyZ04q181A9opdKwnS7MxfcPjubVD5HlUffLE1LvuM9sJSzNmyWsF8sA4heyhBNhmbb_f8Gs/s1600/DSC00813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiR5dZ9CFUKo3KurH0aMVm4d8Or2G4WQ_VekBNN8y6HryK9TcvTXPot_G4vgB3TWDw01KyZ04q181A9opdKwnS7MxfcPjubVD5HlUffLE1LvuM9sJSzNmyWsF8sA4heyhBNhmbb_f8Gs/s640/DSC00813.JPG" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">They had so much fun and it was truly a joy to behold! </span></strong></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-89171030929764503612012-04-10T09:54:00.001-04:002012-04-10T09:54:24.382-04:00Easter {He is risen!}<div style="text-align: center;">
What a wonderful weekend it was! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The girls and I colored Easter eggs on Saturday, I forgot what a mess THAT can be! They had gotten kits from Build-a-Bear and we had a fun time putting tattoos and stickers on our eggs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24bf7cRM7CndXDHBIWbGY8AVBR-l8xTn42feTZ-v0UrhhRhDHUvuLXCuAkFklCYtlRCefBPMoxsCjhNTxXIbB3SEH-JWAQnhgcenzahE4vKTEdAIy30QXGo41SdiY0pqYV5RDUVz0HI4/s1600/DSC00774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24bf7cRM7CndXDHBIWbGY8AVBR-l8xTn42feTZ-v0UrhhRhDHUvuLXCuAkFklCYtlRCefBPMoxsCjhNTxXIbB3SEH-JWAQnhgcenzahE4vKTEdAIy30QXGo41SdiY0pqYV5RDUVz0HI4/s400/DSC00774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then Sunday morning, we started out with Easter bunny surprises, which Olivia just couldn't grasp. She came home right before Easter last year and doesn't remember it at all. Trying to explain the Easter Bunny to an almost nine year old sounds, well, ridiculous. So I didn't try too hard, just let her enjoy the candy and small gifts the EB left! That was enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{Notice the Easter baskets Grandpa Bernie made for my boys <em>many</em> years ago}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp8DUrb4NScZQbYS04JI3GQbFNtZZWtTfLjwzkJQZin3Y1eTNv4blW4MWne1OdpdSBmpTsjZMt8ZJs3Hk0yksQyJL9JTKI_QNIiABkHeqK7AgKQ-IcJ05DHoxm7QnjcHlMs-hmdNf6lU/s1600/DSC00776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp8DUrb4NScZQbYS04JI3GQbFNtZZWtTfLjwzkJQZin3Y1eTNv4blW4MWne1OdpdSBmpTsjZMt8ZJs3Hk0yksQyJL9JTKI_QNIiABkHeqK7AgKQ-IcJ05DHoxm7QnjcHlMs-hmdNf6lU/s320/DSC00776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9bieyMUFzl24wU52ZUIbbepEv3qxwpJD3_RDKBXR4uQTNNFgZsTtRMfP-euGuSScVdRh2hUft0NOFazXrjKO7cSF2PHt_rIUeMvjvPbipOm-aHuzl5rddTiicPytxuP567OxaY6o1KY/s1600/DSC00777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9bieyMUFzl24wU52ZUIbbepEv3qxwpJD3_RDKBXR4uQTNNFgZsTtRMfP-euGuSScVdRh2hUft0NOFazXrjKO7cSF2PHt_rIUeMvjvPbipOm-aHuzl5rddTiicPytxuP567OxaY6o1KY/s320/DSC00777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iGt95rZaPVh5N9AEkaP10oNv0VzaJ6dOfEZpyIznVwBxegzrM_M6nBZqWmyE-qQQJElpS885MrJYigM-Z3fA-kMMU03d2LrWZkKVtroPzrvsOMYfsR6DLmFIhLGrFrYr_2Ztd25Sap0/s1600/DSC00778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iGt95rZaPVh5N9AEkaP10oNv0VzaJ6dOfEZpyIznVwBxegzrM_M6nBZqWmyE-qQQJElpS885MrJYigM-Z3fA-kMMU03d2LrWZkKVtroPzrvsOMYfsR6DLmFIhLGrFrYr_2Ztd25Sap0/s320/DSC00778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We then got all dolled up for church and headed off to hear wonderful worship music and an awesome message, He is risen indeed!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-GTCLSCCTXyh85KN9ORjQTs8XfwaPjMcbEnJ76OFsNOZyhgxVPLnkPMyTBhpp6sKGgQ38av_SoOe4qpIf0tqbpNHYp-Pw3usHhbnvT8CBin8LgKOxYaoG-daC-l3n1MrKKt48wNTLQo/s1600/DSC00781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-GTCLSCCTXyh85KN9ORjQTs8XfwaPjMcbEnJ76OFsNOZyhgxVPLnkPMyTBhpp6sKGgQ38av_SoOe4qpIf0tqbpNHYp-Pw3usHhbnvT8CBin8LgKOxYaoG-daC-l3n1MrKKt48wNTLQo/s400/DSC00781.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqavvYpXXWh0WMWRc-MHm6KtcyewZxN8fAtKjoL5ftVem2iHIC_yPorPDlynYHWrrzxWJmRjkYUZLEvogV5XvqfptxpiVfDdBAjNAo2oIE9WHj-3KbSenVsX0cjfXBsYTWAVy1zF_kKQY/s1600/DSC00780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqavvYpXXWh0WMWRc-MHm6KtcyewZxN8fAtKjoL5ftVem2iHIC_yPorPDlynYHWrrzxWJmRjkYUZLEvogV5XvqfptxpiVfDdBAjNAo2oIE9WHj-3KbSenVsX0cjfXBsYTWAVy1zF_kKQY/s400/DSC00780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After lunch, we headed off to Uncle John and Aunt Ellen's for an Easter egg hunt (x 3 or 4) and a feast fit for a king! It's always good to be with family and this year didn't disappoint. Everyone seemed truly glad to be together. The girls enjoyed running around with their cousins Liz, Emmie and Maddie, letting off some steam! And my boys hung around all day, spending time with us; that doesn't happen too often so we savored their company as well. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZPyfk1Lq70WNOTAWvDCAGsNupQSF3e304cz8eyeln50IIpf4ODYJzSNRhwBNquQn4TlyEuDLeq_yDENuQ50fPMvIE3o-0x_1D-2YM8LIGZ0bZ5GqvjlpdqORStqf99W19ZPDa8HhfMs/s1600/DSC00785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZPyfk1Lq70WNOTAWvDCAGsNupQSF3e304cz8eyeln50IIpf4ODYJzSNRhwBNquQn4TlyEuDLeq_yDENuQ50fPMvIE3o-0x_1D-2YM8LIGZ0bZ5GqvjlpdqORStqf99W19ZPDa8HhfMs/s400/DSC00785.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting not so patiently to eat so we can go hunt for eggs...sigh*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg-3XPDAZ8fNMRIjJjhtoSmpx1CNH9Zq8fnwekxcKwavnSXLeYGibdIfl6BxVpAPtasLNK9TXx5SJpRcRdGhRbjFv-jF7jvvKa5uVVEm3Lez7ZfDub10y2EeTocP-5iz1sXyeqhMnAuw/s1600/DSC00786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg-3XPDAZ8fNMRIjJjhtoSmpx1CNH9Zq8fnwekxcKwavnSXLeYGibdIfl6BxVpAPtasLNK9TXx5SJpRcRdGhRbjFv-jF7jvvKa5uVVEm3Lez7ZfDub10y2EeTocP-5iz1sXyeqhMnAuw/s400/DSC00786.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girls on the hunt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnnO-qcN5T_vmbjDupqmYvgJ2y0-JrK8ZvYEbQAriK4nj0UicVFB8q4sBMEaSeUQHjFuZUcGy_JDOjCGpAXR_ty-vPUwDyCcunklfegcwya9Gi0EtKARLKdal_UemWPrk_ZpfM5wJg6U/s1600/DSC00787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnnO-qcN5T_vmbjDupqmYvgJ2y0-JrK8ZvYEbQAriK4nj0UicVFB8q4sBMEaSeUQHjFuZUcGy_JDOjCGpAXR_ty-vPUwDyCcunklfegcwya9Gi0EtKARLKdal_UemWPrk_ZpfM5wJg6U/s400/DSC00787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNSrQdhwRCBQlUAOg64dx0lm2xpSEGp1krdg60HBHK20ac1OPtN832fQhZZey0Dskdv-j0TlKND1lU4antFQC2FemNGJ7vfIK84uqHNNci0KGam7oV6SMWjeeF6tCC2O6PMARCA-hYGU/s1600/DSC00794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNSrQdhwRCBQlUAOg64dx0lm2xpSEGp1krdg60HBHK20ac1OPtN832fQhZZey0Dskdv-j0TlKND1lU4antFQC2FemNGJ7vfIK84uqHNNci0KGam7oV6SMWjeeF6tCC2O6PMARCA-hYGU/s400/DSC00794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78FPyVdV5CBz-VzSpi6382lLnYTGUZ8T75u4lO1-tMiGEvQvXaArye-vRYrCTKSOPg1fvXqgsZqdE42SX2-FO4Wad3w5UN5ASuG9LzmZxjFsOSjb2UqLSpCsmIoZXUdr0QGGanHLWacs/s1600/DSC00795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78FPyVdV5CBz-VzSpi6382lLnYTGUZ8T75u4lO1-tMiGEvQvXaArye-vRYrCTKSOPg1fvXqgsZqdE42SX2-FO4Wad3w5UN5ASuG9LzmZxjFsOSjb2UqLSpCsmIoZXUdr0QGGanHLWacs/s400/DSC00795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tried to get everyone looking at me, not so much!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXUaAs8sb2oMWSlFckVGRPBb0u_pPizK4wkpALLLjIJdeAs52VpzYSY_4g60R1Y3iobwH2w26HRz2nZW3_F2iIcFLk56GoU20OH4r8sLedi0SmFGRwC2O4-S4IyeZZ_dnSvNJkrKkE_A/s1600/DSC00797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXUaAs8sb2oMWSlFckVGRPBb0u_pPizK4wkpALLLjIJdeAs52VpzYSY_4g60R1Y3iobwH2w26HRz2nZW3_F2iIcFLk56GoU20OH4r8sLedi0SmFGRwC2O4-S4IyeZZ_dnSvNJkrKkE_A/s400/DSC00797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a great day, perfect way to celebrate a risen King!</div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-53633284802235484032012-04-02T08:25:00.001-04:002012-04-02T10:20:04.611-04:00One Year {HOME}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I cannot believe it has been one year today since our Olivia joined our family. In some ways time has gone sooo fast and yet, others, it stands still. Livi has come so far in 12 months, we take it for granted. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had conference with her teacher the other night and discussed her reading and where she is on the "scale" for our state. This scale doesn't take into account that Olivia spent the first almost 8 years of her life speaking a completely different language (or two). It doesn't matter that she knew no English until a year ago. The State only looks at her as a first grader who is behind. It's very frustrating but we are so thankful and blessed to have a battery of teachers who GET IT! They see how far she has come and recognize that she will only continue to blossom. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The biggest challenge for Livi now is, she can say a word, sound it out perfectly, speak in fluent sentences, but she doesn't know what the heck some of it actually means. It'll come. We try to point things out to her on a daily basis so she knows what a flag is or what a jacket is (vs. a coat) etc. I try to put myself in her situation as often as possible and understand her frustration. We are so very proud of her! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">There have been so many firsts this past year, too numerous to name them all. The ocean, swimming, dentist, motorcycle ride, birthday party, her own clothes, her own toys, major surgery, LOVE, <em>RULES, </em><strong>FAMILY. </strong>And through it all, she has kept that winning smile. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">We love you Olivia ZiJing! You have blessed us greatly! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">{and we obviously need to take some new pics, thank goodness Easter is almost here}</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU16-gXVr_j7uFWOHcYYaJ6ngtPwGJNiPwqICti6D7Vg-cxK6H41y8ONGklbxwz58MlgmbF1tjDGrKKB5vKBzLovX15FdCWjNaO2X4qlVSYWRznAqCINa6JLiRWv8XbOoJIEviaOIeXQ/s1600/Olivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU16-gXVr_j7uFWOHcYYaJ6ngtPwGJNiPwqICti6D7Vg-cxK6H41y8ONGklbxwz58MlgmbF1tjDGrKKB5vKBzLovX15FdCWjNaO2X4qlVSYWRznAqCINa6JLiRWv8XbOoJIEviaOIeXQ/s320/Olivia.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him."</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">1Samuel 1:27</span></i></b></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-29645689841559418232012-03-30T08:22:00.000-04:002012-03-30T08:44:06.566-04:00and yet ANOTHER first {Daddy's Harley}Olivia has been waiting <strike>im</strike>patiently for the weather to break so she can go for a ride on daddy's big bike. We have had unseasonably warm weather here in Ohio (thank you very much) and he got the bike out last weekend. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t_PJfPzzroW1FyagxVKKn12q5W_8qTtwMN5WvDL34iKxs7jPCZmjJ4Gw_Ygwq37VPmlETzx41OaGsSbVuJOvcaoZ8Z4VJv3kcWHFFk1Cl3T-gcgHDFVxgoTVhXkVdykH6HDhem98rtk/s1600/DSC00765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t_PJfPzzroW1FyagxVKKn12q5W_8qTtwMN5WvDL34iKxs7jPCZmjJ4Gw_Ygwq37VPmlETzx41OaGsSbVuJOvcaoZ8Z4VJv3kcWHFFk1Cl3T-gcgHDFVxgoTVhXkVdykH6HDhem98rtk/s400/DSC00765.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
After a few battery issues, it was all systems go. Our girl has a smile that lights up a room and the ride she took up the street and back didn't disappoint! I see my seat has been replaced by my two girls since Abigail can't resist a ride on the bike either... </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RvMuRR7-nVZw-w-3nPluMc1FJQEn8UYX82KWV8uF5naf8IBu0x4U-fXhaK2w2yFQJ6dRzbEeNtvSJKhy2ucJoaPa1owugsVuAlm_fBbcO1RX5R4TiD3MUS4kX3XfdiZPrDF58gsJcSE/s1600/DSC00766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RvMuRR7-nVZw-w-3nPluMc1FJQEn8UYX82KWV8uF5naf8IBu0x4U-fXhaK2w2yFQJ6dRzbEeNtvSJKhy2ucJoaPa1owugsVuAlm_fBbcO1RX5R4TiD3MUS4kX3XfdiZPrDF58gsJcSE/s400/DSC00766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Maybe a side car IS in our future?</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXTK-0EZ8tr-MTI8HgsjJ4FzlZ3dwk3O8NsaLeRmfO1euTgUYhjxrxCmC0crcBqyjPMoY4v-9BX7hsZ4p4JKh2eADvHyNuYC9LyFwlicamhV3lM0Tk8na-GSepvAbbDxYzBFL28rKJSk/s1600/DSC00770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXTK-0EZ8tr-MTI8HgsjJ4FzlZ3dwk3O8NsaLeRmfO1euTgUYhjxrxCmC0crcBqyjPMoY4v-9BX7hsZ4p4JKh2eADvHyNuYC9LyFwlicamhV3lM0Tk8na-GSepvAbbDxYzBFL28rKJSk/s400/DSC00770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-58375868957594577332012-03-09T10:35:00.000-05:002012-03-09T10:35:25.284-05:00Seeing the Difference {Already}Olivia has been such a trooper with her hand/arm; no real pain, no complaining, just an inconvenience at bath time and bed time! <br />
<br />
We headed to the doctor on Tuesday to get the cast off and have her arm re-casted. Well, the doctor was so pleased with her progress, she did NOT need a new cast. He put her in a splint (she has to wear it ALL the time) and we scheduled therapy. The next big decision we will need to make is whether to make her index finger into a thumb and her middle finger an index finger, therefore giving her a "pincher". The doctor has a few young patients he has done this with lately and he has promised to call me over when they are here (parents permission of course) so I can see the benefits. We would not do this until Fall, so we have a lot of time to make the right decision. <br />
<br />
And without further ado...(if you have a weak stomach, beware)<br />
<br />
<strong><em>BEFORE --></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-cxdzEHCznfhOJz3G6GtuOgzii3sVEMU7DwZewXJIfLhYfXzZKz5K4NpQegUOqplnsKnHBqRaUa8zbpISdnkGJr8XzYca1Y4jilQQuiv6BuwopNI2RgcJUkhOMW_pyr56sGjNb31I3Y/s1600/IMAG0157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-cxdzEHCznfhOJz3G6GtuOgzii3sVEMU7DwZewXJIfLhYfXzZKz5K4NpQegUOqplnsKnHBqRaUa8zbpISdnkGJr8XzYca1Y4jilQQuiv6BuwopNI2RgcJUkhOMW_pyr56sGjNb31I3Y/s640/IMAG0157.jpg" width="380" yda="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><em>AFTER--></em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBUmN9vJXchnT_DsYpTqo2lZ8oAw0U7PS5jAN4r3sgC5arbkP403M-0tyTtLBCXhnsdvPK0yJJ1tBQ9xvDJritlyhjwWgYBag-lEj983kziIcbz6dwKwMmvY7dV4TS_0b5a5foMAZZQw/s1600/IMAG0223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBUmN9vJXchnT_DsYpTqo2lZ8oAw0U7PS5jAN4r3sgC5arbkP403M-0tyTtLBCXhnsdvPK0yJJ1tBQ9xvDJritlyhjwWgYBag-lEj983kziIcbz6dwKwMmvY7dV4TS_0b5a5foMAZZQw/s640/IMAG0223.jpg" width="382" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
Honestly, how awesome is that?Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-5184331300605186842012-03-02T08:04:00.000-05:002012-03-02T08:04:44.723-05:00Happy Birthday {Abigail 7}My first (and youngest) daughter just turned seven. I can't believe it! Abigail has been with us for almost five years now and she has grown into such a beautiful, loving (on her terms), KIND and CARING person. She loves her sister like they've been together forever. Yes, they argue, but in the end, Abigail has Olivia's back. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXikVezFk_zh41eZYXUlAmEKA7ASc3he-B-lCxraRfkX-hFE_rfSue8bDX1f61_ks_Ug8BmnOlEJyscMMEx4p2Gkp3Ye2zkbnti4TlYloup5eK4xJb-KNKNDVIVyJoYap1smHdvTptMjs/s1600/Ab+7+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXikVezFk_zh41eZYXUlAmEKA7ASc3he-B-lCxraRfkX-hFE_rfSue8bDX1f61_ks_Ug8BmnOlEJyscMMEx4p2Gkp3Ye2zkbnti4TlYloup5eK4xJb-KNKNDVIVyJoYap1smHdvTptMjs/s320/Ab+7+-+2.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We celebrated with a pancake breakfast dinner in her honor and topped it off with cake, ice cream and PRESENTS. When we asked Ab what she wanted, she said anything she got would be nice! Ahhh, love this girl's heart. The best part about gift opening time {for me} was watching her and listening to her READ her cards! Oh how far she has come! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHkYdjyXBHSAhnJ1vZTrLEXxx6AN6VVHnAwvv5bkp3dq9J-3_iPO5Hbb9Yw7HJENyxJzx5-jv-Yo8xYPtUKXl2KGz6QMnMDyAYSC_m-H6HXNECxsG3s9r0tcED2medqUR2naLwf55qUk/s1600/Ab+7+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHkYdjyXBHSAhnJ1vZTrLEXxx6AN6VVHnAwvv5bkp3dq9J-3_iPO5Hbb9Yw7HJENyxJzx5-jv-Yo8xYPtUKXl2KGz6QMnMDyAYSC_m-H6HXNECxsG3s9r0tcED2medqUR2naLwf55qUk/s320/Ab+7+-+3.jpg" uda="true" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
She is having her very first sleepover this weekend, two friends are coming and her cousins are coming over to party with us. Should be interesting, to say the least! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpvHZVlg0vVW69QtVins6UvQPijNNJNt8GtiGZZILzaKBp2addjXZGqsPwp9vILHP-YvhDlUTDlLnq4Fzb_jZKa1OZwF5CUtuBIZwc3IZ6M2Fu6M4UGK8Wak067NwX6jwsgpOxkiszug/s1600/Ab+7+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpvHZVlg0vVW69QtVins6UvQPijNNJNt8GtiGZZILzaKBp2addjXZGqsPwp9vILHP-YvhDlUTDlLnq4Fzb_jZKa1OZwF5CUtuBIZwc3IZ6M2Fu6M4UGK8Wak067NwX6jwsgpOxkiszug/s320/Ab+7+-+1.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N3N1QuZQEN9zbw6HItSXHSO4fZJC3jTU-uUlBNB3CsN6prNp1hoBkAIirf84BLHcb0H9ywzw5X2RSpaAndJKPRXWl8zAlo_0EOsKBuUt3CwmkX8NF7Ix3T0hfwL57A00-EdpLNF5CLI/s1600/Ab+7+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N3N1QuZQEN9zbw6HItSXHSO4fZJC3jTU-uUlBNB3CsN6prNp1hoBkAIirf84BLHcb0H9ywzw5X2RSpaAndJKPRXWl8zAlo_0EOsKBuUt3CwmkX8NF7Ix3T0hfwL57A00-EdpLNF5CLI/s320/Ab+7+-+4.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We are thankful every.single.day for the gift the Lord has given us in our Abigail, we love her with all our hearts. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(sorry for the awful phone pics, camera battery was dead)</span>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-20046556570245079942012-02-02T11:45:00.000-05:002012-02-02T11:45:49.929-05:00Prayer Request {Hand Surgery}Tomorrow is a big day for our Miss Olivia. She is finally going for her surgery that I talked about <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2400066205961778844#editor/target=post;postID=6994628473855747861">here</a>. We tried not to talk about it too far out so as not to worry her too much, but last weekend we brought it to the forefront. A lot of questions, a lot of restlessness and now yesterday she came home from school with a low grade fever and said she was "having a sad day". <br />
<br />
Our prayer is that the surgeon's hands be guided by the GREAT SURGEON and that Olivia's pain be minimal. This is no small surgery but the end result will be for the best. Her hand & arm will look more like her left hand and she will benefit with better dexterity. Down the road, should we go there, she will also have a "pincher" that will enable her to manipulate things, where she can't right now. <br />
<br />
Thank you for praying for our little girl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRypy5gZrlgXJsFJLM5dPle0Oe9J79n7aZd0esJ8bKUQCwdF6JVXFyBOFlWOiY-6Fz35WvZ-hC-68f4a7zpp7SRcK1zmz5rXmPWJimM7oJV5NQ54NnjAvR0rG1ivMpi0U36pNksijbiI/s1600/DSC00696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRypy5gZrlgXJsFJLM5dPle0Oe9J79n7aZd0esJ8bKUQCwdF6JVXFyBOFlWOiY-6Fz35WvZ-hC-68f4a7zpp7SRcK1zmz5rXmPWJimM7oJV5NQ54NnjAvR0rG1ivMpi0U36pNksijbiI/s640/DSC00696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-28032489068813905942012-01-31T10:31:00.000-05:002012-01-31T10:31:29.706-05:00Not to be forgotten {Losing the 1st Tooth}<div style="text-align: center;">
I would be remiss if I didn't include an update on the loss of Abigail's <u>very first tooth</u> - on January 5th. She has been surrounded by her peers at school who have been losing teeth left and right, and they make a BIG deal out of each one at school. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So my baby has come home on numerous occasions since last September, sad because, first she didn't have a loose tooth and then sad because she had a loose tooth and it wasn't coming out fast enough! (Not to mention her 8 year old sister came to us with several loose teeth and proceeded to lose at least 5 - ouch!) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lo and behold, after taking its good ol time, that tooth finally came out, no blood, no pain, just "look mom!!!!!". Of course we made a BIG deal out of it, the tooth fairy made a visit and all was right with the world again! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDEFvqe23PSa9C7e_bPAAA31xVmdF5nQ7AJ6u_HnPRwqv7c4vrpF21tuAMi8iDLKXl0srFsvA3VD-UBAC-Z-TuVfDHHC9hmxvCZmcemAUSDAv15-DaKpl45FTgwrTOdkVArVWzC8i-SU/s1600/Abigail+tooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDEFvqe23PSa9C7e_bPAAA31xVmdF5nQ7AJ6u_HnPRwqv7c4vrpF21tuAMi8iDLKXl0srFsvA3VD-UBAC-Z-TuVfDHHC9hmxvCZmcemAUSDAv15-DaKpl45FTgwrTOdkVArVWzC8i-SU/s400/Abigail+tooth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not the best picture, but you get the idea...the first of MANY to come! </div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-61951080031474807602012-01-26T08:59:00.002-05:002012-01-26T08:59:27.840-05:00Chinese New Year {Bo Loong}<div style="text-align: center;">
We have spent CNY with the same people for the last six years, both in support during our wait for Abigail, and then in comraderie as a group of adoptive parents. We usually go to a local joint and have a good meal and great conversation. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR4R4qBiPRQ2sl3i9xKWSN5A6xaZ84IMKeNR3KlYKrKL0X3XeQQ42uZkVpxlaXY_ut2iMCkv7DYgMPp-iGkHoWgZoAQ9XgKUS9d6F5pygVKpGLU-6eouQ-rD_aSL59UrfN_pBqbLW4KQ/s1600/bo+loong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR4R4qBiPRQ2sl3i9xKWSN5A6xaZ84IMKeNR3KlYKrKL0X3XeQQ42uZkVpxlaXY_ut2iMCkv7DYgMPp-iGkHoWgZoAQ9XgKUS9d6F5pygVKpGLU-6eouQ-rD_aSL59UrfN_pBqbLW4KQ/s320/bo+loong.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
This year we decided to venture up to Cleveland to a restaurant my hubby frequents for lunch, Bo Loong. They are known for their dim sum and they didn't disappoint! We had several choices off of the dim sum cart and then ordered entrees off the regular menu. What a wonderful lunch!!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrjMTPgTH52M6F43ZyY2J3BVEcd3el752g0KeLzaXhZZUorOqDO862-U5o2ev5Fxr1_wuh_Ws91ArJ_115iSiG-hG1fgAYzRzdFKM8lobxCsLkYu3xpkwxXWEDV4XAIG6p5J0RNLVp9k/s1600/dim+sum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrjMTPgTH52M6F43ZyY2J3BVEcd3el752g0KeLzaXhZZUorOqDO862-U5o2ev5Fxr1_wuh_Ws91ArJ_115iSiG-hG1fgAYzRzdFKM8lobxCsLkYu3xpkwxXWEDV4XAIG6p5J0RNLVp9k/s200/dim+sum.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
Then, we were treated to the Lion Dance in honor of The Year of the Dragon. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoQ9hxmZiH8EcGTVD4bHeRHgrMr5i0xdsexYeWCDwWMuL_RgEpZIXigiOei7Jdpsj_lxN6p45OxZB1iemDV5y1sEUSfPE8Pi5APfAcB63VyfpYODKdk3kSPmGZLHN5swWSBWJaicVp0Q/s1600/DSC00674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoQ9hxmZiH8EcGTVD4bHeRHgrMr5i0xdsexYeWCDwWMuL_RgEpZIXigiOei7Jdpsj_lxN6p45OxZB1iemDV5y1sEUSfPE8Pi5APfAcB63VyfpYODKdk3kSPmGZLHN5swWSBWJaicVp0Q/s320/DSC00674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fUq-i2Px-QINselA8cHskoKMB2deqBC47SH6v143Ax5C18UcS91zsO6sAJDFmL1VsFGPSNxNvmvgjLlUSVCCdP9MA2PNtdRuez_eyywsH8lBGGjb_ijoZpYhA0o338eez5JBOMFzOzU/s1600/DSC00665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fUq-i2Px-QINselA8cHskoKMB2deqBC47SH6v143Ax5C18UcS91zsO6sAJDFmL1VsFGPSNxNvmvgjLlUSVCCdP9MA2PNtdRuez_eyywsH8lBGGjb_ijoZpYhA0o338eez5JBOMFzOzU/s320/DSC00665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
Love this picture below of the girls waiting patiently for the Lion to throw them an orange for luck~</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Livi got an orange & Abigail got some lettuce - lucky girls!)</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQIlcTXh8Xh3PoYYSsFBqYGqqwQJ2ggIB44wA-B0cDY10oJbkSS61lwuXWcZ1E9yr7kIHjDIX-SdclRzgNS9P0G93jHjx37bem-E9uUwbvlr-l5cWiEW6kJYj2i1ozhjxJ884ugB1W1I/s1600/DSC00679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQIlcTXh8Xh3PoYYSsFBqYGqqwQJ2ggIB44wA-B0cDY10oJbkSS61lwuXWcZ1E9yr7kIHjDIX-SdclRzgNS9P0G93jHjx37bem-E9uUwbvlr-l5cWiEW6kJYj2i1ozhjxJ884ugB1W1I/s320/DSC00679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
It was a great time with good friends and we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else (except in China for CNY) to celebrate! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGcny1P2oZw7z-u32Ff5WB-Q5qrj80hXWwtDtOXjfR3Iy5kQybC4D7G4dEUZa0k9BkfBLT7l7RupzEGCQRzxirEvCO81gKLMxK1IuiCztbW4_EBi1dhzxLjty6mICPOqIuGYuATrFA7Q/s1600/DSC00684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGcny1P2oZw7z-u32Ff5WB-Q5qrj80hXWwtDtOXjfR3Iy5kQybC4D7G4dEUZa0k9BkfBLT7l7RupzEGCQRzxirEvCO81gKLMxK1IuiCztbW4_EBi1dhzxLjty6mICPOqIuGYuATrFA7Q/s400/DSC00684.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznmJgAlaXWimln7VtwMVHxOcm84v2mhmC4CZOxzt-KKPH6shoHpnMfx4KJCPIK9b8x9pYdQKq2ETUeObWvEIb_jvT8hJk8TsVOdW8HpEVhIlSbfPLT4yhy6t1LoNRgtXiAU03BK6oyzs/s1600/DSC00683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznmJgAlaXWimln7VtwMVHxOcm84v2mhmC4CZOxzt-KKPH6shoHpnMfx4KJCPIK9b8x9pYdQKq2ETUeObWvEIb_jvT8hJk8TsVOdW8HpEVhIlSbfPLT4yhy6t1LoNRgtXiAU03BK6oyzs/s400/DSC00683.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aren't they beautiful! </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are so blessed that they call us their parents.</div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-81530017145489825652012-01-17T19:21:00.001-05:002012-01-17T19:24:22.968-05:00Wintertime Fun<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calisto MT;">Our newest addition is from the southernmost tip of China, Guangdong Province, and she says she has never seen snow with the exception of pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Livi has been soooo excited for us to get a substantial snow so she can build a snowman with Baba.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNvkCpNWjM8HbFF7RM-ufDWM43zbAWyH3AcL0M5kyWHkaQWCnExd6x8hMKVNfNHQGZ2OFtySqkIsZd8c2C6ecjjAcEIzDgXpbeUmUU-TQGBfQUb2KCh0RFagwJwR9HOURvr7ShihpwAg/s1600/DSC00641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNvkCpNWjM8HbFF7RM-ufDWM43zbAWyH3AcL0M5kyWHkaQWCnExd6x8hMKVNfNHQGZ2OFtySqkIsZd8c2C6ecjjAcEIzDgXpbeUmUU-TQGBfQUb2KCh0RFagwJwR9HOURvr7ShihpwAg/s640/DSC00641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calisto MT;">Well, last Friday; we got a nice blanket of snow…not the HUGE snows we sometimes get but a nice covering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the kind of snow that packs {if you’re a Northerner you know what I mean}, but it was perfect for the four wheeler and two saucer sleds to fly around the house a few <s>hundred</s> times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17cRFEGq3Dv3SvskHvcgFUFeKVjQBffu8xB7569dKzMueA2ibzXwZmrqrwSTBE38kmC5voAyBdw9xrWmUwxK0vDhls12v-dclRjpU5JLI8yg9q0crB05y73wi7NzIX-zEXEbWieHf2Ww/s1600/DSC00644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17cRFEGq3Dv3SvskHvcgFUFeKVjQBffu8xB7569dKzMueA2ibzXwZmrqrwSTBE38kmC5voAyBdw9xrWmUwxK0vDhls12v-dclRjpU5JLI8yg9q0crB05y73wi7NzIX-zEXEbWieHf2Ww/s640/DSC00644.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calisto MT;">I could hear the squeals of joy coming from Olivia and Abigail as their daddy took them around and around, in freezing temperatures, until he just couldn’t go anymore…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they</i> could have!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQZdWDRByuxGtgDTPnCnxPeBnV1G7N0tLZI7XzrS4fBb8di3LDtaFA_ybXKKR5JxcTPWJCJb5rKZoauyzagfpY4Jn6I1dsi5xyA1QlJUhLCgvtBBXwc-Xsjkqqzd-TUwgaxdgcofQKn4/s1600/DSC00646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQZdWDRByuxGtgDTPnCnxPeBnV1G7N0tLZI7XzrS4fBb8di3LDtaFA_ybXKKR5JxcTPWJCJb5rKZoauyzagfpY4Jn6I1dsi5xyA1QlJUhLCgvtBBXwc-Xsjkqqzd-TUwgaxdgcofQKn4/s640/DSC00646.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calisto MT;">For being from such a warm climate, that little girl LOVES to be outside in the cold (and I love watching her from the warmth of my home with a cup of hot coffee in hand). I don't think she'll have anything to worry about where the snow is concerned.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ZOna6KwBxFSp4dtuotnX26I6NTxSeLeuaMN7VxF-2g3QS8_87yPacWtNzQ6rX8Z-9Xy66gp_ecuTTiT8HajUTBoEEfJowLWSJQ6ecKtM24t0NtXwqzHm40ex28FUK0mSujOt5J4IgY/s1600/DSC00650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ZOna6KwBxFSp4dtuotnX26I6NTxSeLeuaMN7VxF-2g3QS8_87yPacWtNzQ6rX8Z-9Xy66gp_ecuTTiT8HajUTBoEEfJowLWSJQ6ecKtM24t0NtXwqzHm40ex28FUK0mSujOt5J4IgY/s640/DSC00650.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calisto MT;"><strong>...and a huge THANKS and shout out to my gal </strong><a href="http://keirajoy07.blogspot.com/p/blog-design_01.html"><strong>Christy </strong></a><strong> who has once again made our blog look sooo fine! She's the master blog designer and she is also an awesome blogger/sister in Christ. I love her and only dream about blogging like she does! </strong></span></div></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-79964653492637962452012-01-05T07:50:00.001-05:002012-01-05T08:06:17.037-05:00I've Been Remissin posting...about Olivia's first Christmas, about New Years, about ANYTHING! After being off of work for 10 days straight (and actually enjoying family time with little to no bickering), my brain needs jump started! <br />
<br />
Christmas was great! We ALL headed to church Christmas eve, which was very nice for this ol mama, and then back to our place for a late dinner. Grandma Juanita spent the night with us, so she could share the joy of Christmas morning. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hS8nobBDNWg/TwWe4k4NdXI/AAAAAAAAAUA/6pYJL0daqig/s1600/Christmas+2011+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hS8nobBDNWg/TwWe4k4NdXI/AAAAAAAAAUA/6pYJL0daqig/s400/Christmas+2011+2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Olivia got up at <strong>3am</strong>. Well,<strong> </strong>needless to say, I made her get in bed with me and go to sleep. Around 5am, in came Abigail. I took the smart route, tucked them in quietly in our big bed and snuck into Livi's bed for a couple more zzzzz's. Bern and I were up around 7am but NO KIDS! I got coffee made, casserole in oven and around 7:30am, here comes Abigail. She did a brief acknowledgment of the tree surrounded by gifts, with a glint of joy in her eyes and we waited. <br />
<br />
We had the video camera set up for Livi's reaction and she didn't disappoint. There was the squeal of joy, there was the mad grab for gifts, there was paper flying, lots of smiles and then, there was "where's my Elmo?". Seems she grasped the list idea, but not the idea that Santa might actually NOT get her <em>EVERYTHING</em> on her list...sheeesh. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0evJ_IMKtY/TwWfEZQ7-UI/AAAAAAAAAUM/8kJaBoXSeYE/s1600/Christmas+2011+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0evJ_IMKtY/TwWfEZQ7-UI/AAAAAAAAAUM/8kJaBoXSeYE/s400/Christmas+2011+3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Tree, post Santa, pre unwrapping)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was an awesome day, everyone was content and kept <em>very</em> busy. The hits of the day, roller skates {Ab} and scooter {Livi}. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am so very thankful for the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ. </div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-28772720397352592062011-12-19T16:13:00.000-05:002011-12-19T16:13:42.338-05:00Christmas Cookies<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend the girls and I set about to make some Christmas cookies. Well, I did most of the <em>making</em>, the girls did most of the icing and eating...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pkxwh5GzEcoeWQ1oPMGt0CSbIMSWNvgfi4tT1LTTwWfPEHzouEzv3U7kh4EUWZ2iacRKvASl1cKbawY07bv7dD5V9F1oEcxjBEo4qWK-pcIkI21tLv_Qbsljvo2uywpoTp0t4nBvhiU/s1600/Cookies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pkxwh5GzEcoeWQ1oPMGt0CSbIMSWNvgfi4tT1LTTwWfPEHzouEzv3U7kh4EUWZ2iacRKvASl1cKbawY07bv7dD5V9F1oEcxjBEo4qWK-pcIkI21tLv_Qbsljvo2uywpoTp0t4nBvhiU/s400/Cookies+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried VERY hard not to redo what they had done, but there IS a right way to ice cookies...isn't there? I was happy as long as they kept their fingers out of their mouths. Their biggest fans though, were their brothers, who made quick work of eating the cookies! </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHgGkaESLCL1f4oPbTlVpEo_y_hfPy6BXCr5oj2nliGln-lfGpSMCcwdKPNPuD5iSCjWFqbTvUoKLrWcCnzl_h5xciVzoXOReTaZPOdvCNoqpj-ILAJWnjUyGY6ppxN4AWLQeo9UwvNw/s1600/Cookies+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHgGkaESLCL1f4oPbTlVpEo_y_hfPy6BXCr5oj2nliGln-lfGpSMCcwdKPNPuD5iSCjWFqbTvUoKLrWcCnzl_h5xciVzoXOReTaZPOdvCNoqpj-ILAJWnjUyGY6ppxN4AWLQeo9UwvNw/s400/Cookies+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Round two came this weekend, wonder if there will be any left for Santa?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj3DICBqvABUaxbIUCV-Y9JjC0DH25xqkvGb72PC9p5cIQtiIpdCbIitkjYwB3dErM2Tt4uaCVT7D-b_-NMyX6J63Hz-jksh0WyxfgmmTbJkNUoXpXod8gvjdDcjIPZ9pQVqqwAKeGvg/s1600/Cookies+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj3DICBqvABUaxbIUCV-Y9JjC0DH25xqkvGb72PC9p5cIQtiIpdCbIitkjYwB3dErM2Tt4uaCVT7D-b_-NMyX6J63Hz-jksh0WyxfgmmTbJkNUoXpXod8gvjdDcjIPZ9pQVqqwAKeGvg/s400/Cookies+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-69946284738557478612011-12-12T16:20:00.001-05:002011-12-21T11:40:19.973-05:00She's afraidYou may or may not know that Olivia has a special need. She was born without the bone in her arm that runs up the inside of your arm, thus making her hand turn inward in a "club" fashion. She also has what is referred to as a floating thumb, her thumb just hangs and swings back and forth, hanging on by skin and tendon. She has adapted very nicely over the last eight years and uses her pinky and ring finger as a pincher of sorts. <br />
<br />
When we brought her home, we consulted with an orthopaedic hand surgeon regarding what could be done to help her. Ultimately we decided to have her thumb removed (we don't know how she has kept it <em>this</em> long) and the surgeon is going to reposition her hand over top of the bone she does have, thereby straightening it out. We decided to do this over Christmas break, so she wouldn't miss any school (hoping) and get further behind. So, surgery is scheduled for the 23rd.<br />
<br />
Saturday night, Livi got out of bed and was sobbing. She said she had a bad dream about her hand, that it would hurt to have the surgery, and she was afraid. This was all triggered because she has a dr. appt. tonight, and she thought it was for the surgery. Anyway, I talked to her, tried to calm her little fears and told her mommy and daddy would never do anything to hurt her, that we would control her pain as much as possible and that it would all be good in the end. I reassured her that her appt. on Monday was purely a pre-surgical thing and she wasn't having anything done tonight. <br />
<br />
She seemed to believe me, to trust me. That is a good thing, as some days I'm not sure she truly trusts me. I want her to know we will take care of her and love her no matter what. So, if you are reading this, would you say a prayer for my little girl, that she will be surrounded by God's love and grace and that her surgery will go well; that the Lord will guide Dr. Reilly's hands and eyes as he makes Olivia's hand and arm look more like her other one and that she will be free of pain <em>especially</em> for Christmas Day - her very first!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpOL0tKi1t8JTZRl2L9cQe3kp9nPtAvBmK3SJwMqxG6mPyaYvADXKcDEVU3VKTX6teWmgv3kYZ6NLq7x60sh8uu9M_EQz5-WgqQM14RpeLJPTg0Fde6HGQ5wd0bk8iw0qE59qTv1dnnc/s1600/Olivia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpOL0tKi1t8JTZRl2L9cQe3kp9nPtAvBmK3SJwMqxG6mPyaYvADXKcDEVU3VKTX6teWmgv3kYZ6NLq7x60sh8uu9M_EQz5-WgqQM14RpeLJPTg0Fde6HGQ5wd0bk8iw0qE59qTv1dnnc/s320/Olivia+2.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
***UPDATE*** </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are postponing Olivia's surgery until Feb. 3 in order for her to truly enjoy her very first Christmas (surgeon supported and suggested). </div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-80422407629019036832011-12-03T21:05:00.001-05:002011-12-03T21:35:50.569-05:00Santa ClausWe had such an awesome experience tonight while taking the girls to see "Santa". A local nursery really puts on a Christmas display and their Santa is so real and LOUD. We headed over and got in line. The girls were both anxious, Abigail because she really didn't like Santa last year and Livi because she just doesn't "get it" and I'm not quite sure how or what to tell her. When it was their turn, they both went right up to see him (we were close by).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXB3fTbB5DryiAvt6-s1mWoWzQ8O1K-2Vu9_HMFN_c7g-OM1aX192vDRH8hdRHYaWIS7AKBumu0mE0_2yBGpb1mKoyK0BUqde96A0zH5-ehQ8hTY2uNHsElROXvq6_vZjyvxlzjPLnUE/s1600/Santa+2011+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXB3fTbB5DryiAvt6-s1mWoWzQ8O1K-2Vu9_HMFN_c7g-OM1aX192vDRH8hdRHYaWIS7AKBumu0mE0_2yBGpb1mKoyK0BUqde96A0zH5-ehQ8hTY2uNHsElROXvq6_vZjyvxlzjPLnUE/s640/Santa+2011+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
They were completely enamored with him. He asked all the typical questions, what are your names, what do you want for Christmas...Abigail answered for both girls while Olivia giggled and giggled in amazement. Then he asked them if they wanted to sing Jingle Bells with him. Well, Olivia has watched the Curious George Christmas movie enough that she knew the words {sort of} and they were both ecstatic. So, the three of them started singing and then we joined in and next thing we know, the whole line of people are all singing Jingle Bells with Santa and my girls. It could not have been a better first time experience for Livi (and really Abigail too). Everyone was so full of joy, it really was magical!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-abO8og3jSFxZDb3W-oeqbazA59aRkAUylplw0YPFw0F7jPs-bKkkcCAnFbrLU3nxaaSvu8YsL8gTZoR5KX7UJPQjiFOZO7F3pQX6Dgd1q0fDqTUW5lEtuebNZsZFNM-PswDs819eqZE/s1600/Santa+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-abO8og3jSFxZDb3W-oeqbazA59aRkAUylplw0YPFw0F7jPs-bKkkcCAnFbrLU3nxaaSvu8YsL8gTZoR5KX7UJPQjiFOZO7F3pQX6Dgd1q0fDqTUW5lEtuebNZsZFNM-PswDs819eqZE/s640/Santa+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now HOW will I tell them he's not real??? He was sooo very real...<br />
<br />
<br />Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-15241590940705910622011-11-17T12:25:00.001-05:002011-11-17T12:46:03.769-05:00Thankful for Aunt LilaWho, you ask, is Aunt Lila? In a nutshell, she is my mom's sister. That doesn't do justice to who she REALLY is. <br />
<br />
Many moons ago, when we had just gotten out of the Marine Corp and my hubby started college, we moved in with Aunt Lila, as a convenience to us and company for her. Here we are, two plus decades later, and we are all still together. <br />
<br />
When we gave her the option a decade ago to stay in her house she'd lived in for 40+ years or move with us to the "country", much to our surprise (and delight), she chose the country. Who says old folks are set in their ways?<br />
<br />
So, she has seen us through two births, two adoptions (which we couldn't have done without her); two dogs, three cats, six chickens, two hamsters, a gecko, and many fish {all of which she has fed when we have gone on vacation}. <br />
<br />
She has done <strong>PILES</strong> of laundry {we get so tired of hearing "is this yours" or "whose is this"}. She has saved my arse many times when kids needed picked up from somewhere and I was at work and she has wiped many snotty noses, bandaged many a boo boo and wiped many tears away.<br />
<br />
What she has done for us is <strong>immeasurable</strong> and I know I don't thank her <strike>ever</strike> nearly enough . She has seen the good, the bad and the ugly and while sometimes its been difficult having a non-traditional family, we wouldn't have had it any other way. Who needs privacy anyway?<br />
<br />
We have been <u>so blessed</u> to share our lives with Aunt Lila and for that, we are so <em>VERY</em> thankful.Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-62537447832532757452011-11-13T09:21:00.000-05:002011-11-13T09:21:15.925-05:00Keep Trying - Thankful for My Buddy Zeus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinriEQXKVluUEISdDEQiw6CH2L8MNIjqIKgb7m5_JJZhICjwGBkuZARZjWnhNTochpn4t1olySy31KkWyKX7xXf1jjspvjCH9Kdr-LsDknLPyZQq2k2CvQahS4moOxynQCQLBNBu3rzE8/s1600/Meighen42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinriEQXKVluUEISdDEQiw6CH2L8MNIjqIKgb7m5_JJZhICjwGBkuZARZjWnhNTochpn4t1olySy31KkWyKX7xXf1jjspvjCH9Kdr-LsDknLPyZQq2k2CvQahS4moOxynQCQLBNBu3rzE8/s320/Meighen42.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
I really am thankful for so much in my life; guess I just have problems putting thoughts to "paper and pen". <br />
<br />
Today as I look at my big guy laying curled up in a ball (its a big ball), I am thankful for the last eleven years I've had him in my life. Hopeful for another eleven...<br />
<br />
Zeus has been with us through a lot of change and he's been a trooper. We've moved him, we've brought two more kids into his life that have poked, prodded and pulled...he hasn't cared a bit. As long as he can be with us, and get the occasional "cookie", he's happy!<br />
<br />
I watch him age and its hard. The things he used to do, swim and boat with us, run after the quadrunner in the snow while Bern pulled the kids...for HOURS, run off and explore with our other dog; how I long for him to be able to do those things, but his tired old legs just don't let him. Now he sits and watches as these things go around him, and he's still happy. <br />
<br />
When I say my prayers at bedtime, I ask the Lord to give me just one more day with my guy. Everyone should have a Zeusy in their lives at some point, I'd just like to keep mine forever.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DUY-LNhlMfDuC_ESYS3c0UjLUn0c2oRgsSveDE9q39b7ps63lJ7x6ePK86alEuc3zPiAuYrl1uJh1uZH3A3DmyYpDBE-iqQfvXXgQfgvnuKZzoNqV3Y2k74NARfmWj_574gJvCCTtH0/s1600/Meighen33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DUY-LNhlMfDuC_ESYS3c0UjLUn0c2oRgsSveDE9q39b7ps63lJ7x6ePK86alEuc3zPiAuYrl1uJh1uZH3A3DmyYpDBE-iqQfvXXgQfgvnuKZzoNqV3Y2k74NARfmWj_574gJvCCTtH0/s320/Meighen33.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-10807902033424315772011-11-05T07:53:00.000-04:002011-11-05T07:53:52.169-04:00Thankful for My Hubby<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hunter and Gatherer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Provider and Daddy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Lover and Sparring Partner</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He's my guy and after almost 28 years of "sick and sin"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He's a keeper!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGdHqaJIVY_qsSyi7x8ciPa5BoL6Su5YO9t2i6UjZVHhyJ4Y8i6wKrxccAtHqyfuSjfqgWkltuqqQznU92MlirST3PNRRoWuSDv1bKghYdf1-SW8SIx4fF86p_mICbQVlRxjr-mf20E/s1600/DSC02219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGdHqaJIVY_qsSyi7x8ciPa5BoL6Su5YO9t2i6UjZVHhyJ4Y8i6wKrxccAtHqyfuSjfqgWkltuqqQznU92MlirST3PNRRoWuSDv1bKghYdf1-SW8SIx4fF86p_mICbQVlRxjr-mf20E/s320/DSC02219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> {a tender moment so rarely captured on film}</div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2400066205961778844.post-45004911670390745312011-11-03T20:30:00.003-04:002011-11-03T20:30:27.251-04:00My Savior<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today I am stating the obvious. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am so very thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While I am not the most eloquent writer, and I don't wear my faith on my sleeve, I can tell you with complete honesty that I am a child of God. Every day is a work in progress for me, but I know at the end of it, He is there for me, rooting me on, believing in me, forgiving me. How Great is our God? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNFD1bcpkwthUWMYFjFjUbXa5SsvbWP4TzLfDgvjd7BG_JdaF0x6cYQlfWXKDg-PcOzipN7yTNRCRViWFMBZd2xuHRG6_VaQbzQsdTy-ZphtKJ-beKlo_bJcf4smoN-lTWijMtk2yVk/s1600/JesusPortrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNFD1bcpkwthUWMYFjFjUbXa5SsvbWP4TzLfDgvjd7BG_JdaF0x6cYQlfWXKDg-PcOzipN7yTNRCRViWFMBZd2xuHRG6_VaQbzQsdTy-ZphtKJ-beKlo_bJcf4smoN-lTWijMtk2yVk/s320/JesusPortrait.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You KNOW this is how He looks, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... For I am the LORD, your God." Isaiah 43:1-3 (New International Version)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Wendy in OHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722490920241540322noreply@blogger.com0