Yes, we got out on Black Friday and shopped! What mean parents we are getting those kids up BEFORE the crack of dawn! We put them to bed super early Thanksgiving night, and then hit the stores early early Friday morning. (up at 4 a.m.!) We spent 9 hours out and had an absolutely wonderful time! The kids were all very well behaved and Glenn commented several times at how nice it was that day being together. We came home and actually put up some Christmas decorations. We are a "work in progress" around here- we went to Wal-mart but bought very little decorations as we truly were so exhausted by then we weren't thinking straight! ha ha (that was the second Wal-mart we had been in Friday and it was already 1 p.m. by then).

Yesterday we spent relaxing in the morning, cleaning in the afternoon, in preparation for church today. Glenn lost his voice yesterday, and it has yet to return. He is not hurting at all, feels fine, just can't talk. This happened a few times in Russia. I used to say it was the devil, as many times it went on Saturday, and would be back on Monday- so he couldn't preach! I am interested to see how he is tomorrow.

Church went well regardless. Glenn had printed out a lesson for us to read since he couldn't talk. So, the young man that comes, and I discussed it. We also sang a lot. By the time the morning was over, my throat was so dry, but I was just happy to be here at that particular moment! Make sense?! Just seeing God work.

I am looking forward to the week ahead. Who knows what will have taken place by this time next week?! Look forward to the adventure!

Where Have I been?! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow! I didn't even realized that the last time I post was a week ago!!! Yikes! I do have someone who faithfully mentions when I lapse behind in posts :o)

Let's see... the reason for my not posting?! Uh, er, um... we could blame it on Cala's sickness. After she came home last Thursday and started running a high fever, we became concerned. You know, it hits me when my kids are sick, the lack of medical info we have on birth parents. It does make me a bit nervous not knowing possible things to look for. Add to that, that Cala has never been sick much through the past 5 and a half years, and well, I just hate seeing her so sick. It's in those times I realize how much I LOVE that girl! How much I am thankful that she's my daughter!!! I would have given anything to take that sickness for her.

We did take her to the doctor yesterday- she has a viral throat infection, but unfortunately no antibiotic would really help the doctor said. So, it's Children's Motrin, and Children's Tylenol for her. (and lots and lots of fluids). Cala, poor thing hasn't been able to swallow well, and so, her Thanksgiving was limited in what she felt like eating.

What else could I blame my absence on?! Um, um, uh... oh yes! It could be blamed on my doing so much more now for my family! This is a HAPPY thing! You see the past 2 weeks I was unable, due to a really bad flare up with fibromyalgia, to do much at all. Glenn really had to do everything- cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. etc. So, now that I can do these things again, I am so very happy to be doing so! I've been busy.

And then, there's the probable answer, the um, truth to my absence... my MEMORY! Because of fibro, I do have a horrible memory and simply have forgotten this blog! I will do better! I promise.. well, I promise, IF I remember! ha ha

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We do indeed have much to be thankful for... as a nation (as I have traveled much, and lived in foreign lands, I feel I can attest to this)- we have our faults, but we're still truly blessed to have soooo much! We have an abundance when many have nothing. We still indeed have our basic freedom.

Personally, I have much to be thankful for. I had wonderful parents growing up (and still do! They are still around :o)

I have a husband that loves me, truly in good times and in bad. He's seen the "in sickness and in health" lately.

I have three children, three precious precious children. Three children from three different heritages, and still my very own.

I am blessed.

A night I don't want to repeat

Cala came home yesterday from a field trip (a production of Charlotte's Web), very very tired. I thought it strange when she didn't even say hello to me, but opted to hit the couch and fell fast asleep!

When she woke up, she was hot, and I mean hot! She ran a high fever for a couple of hours, it came down, and all seemed well.

Now, I am a night owl, but ever since having to get up at 6:45 a.m., I have been falling asleep much earlier. Last night though, I was up a little later. I was actually just getting ready to go to bed, when at 1 a.m., Cala appears at our bedroom door, hot again. Her temp was not as high, but still too high. She slept in a sleeping bag, on our floor. Glenn got her some medicine, and I decided to stay up until I knew she was asleep and o.k. The time was 3:09 a.m. when Cala finally fell asleep. I was soon out.

Knock Knock-the time is now 5:00 a.m. and I hear Glenn up talking about getting back upstairs to your room. It was Ethan- he had wet his bed. sigh... Once he was settled back in (thank you Glenn!), we were all back asleep.

Then came 5:45 a.m.! I should interject here that since becoming a mother over five years ago, I can indeed be a light sleeper when it has to do with the kids. It's only increased since having the boys home, especially since Seth was just nine months old when we got him.

So, it was 5:45 a.m., and I looked up to see this cute brown face staring at me saying, "Mama, I caca." It was Seth (age 23 months now) saying he needed a diaper change. ha ha Too early for this, but I did my motherly duty... I hollered "Ethan! Bring me a diaper please!!!!!!" (oh yes.. Ethan had come downstairs with the baby). "Oh yes! Baby wipes of course."

I then sent Ethan back upstairs, back to bed. Wanting not to disturb Cala or Glenn (who had just fallen back asleep), I sat there in the dark, forgetting to turn on the light! ha ha I just remember saying, "Son, I hope you're truly clean, I can't see well in the dark, but that'll do until I'm back up." lol

Here's hoping tonight is much calmer.

Voice of the Orphan

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Please listen to The Voice of the Orphan

Nov 13 Dr. James Dobson, Ryan Dobson, and Jim Daly
Nov 14 and 15 Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Nov 16 and 17 Steven and Emily Chapman

to listen, click here >>>>>>ONE PLACE

You can listen to any broadcasts you have missed. These are very touching broadcasts concerning adoption. I urge any of my readers who may not even be interested in adopting to please listen to these anyway!

Voice of the Orphan is a coming together of many organizations to find families for the millions of orphans in our world. The agency we used to adopt Cala, Nightlight Christian Adoptions, is a partner in this ministry. (as well as many other reputable agencies).

Taken from the Voice of the Orphan website, "The United Nations counts 143 million kids around the world as orphans, 143 million children waiting for love and support."

Feeling Official

Today in the mail, we received our Minnesota driver's licenses. I must confess I just stared at mine for awhile. Something so simple, yet another step to feeling "official" here.

Yes... it's a slow news day :o)

Crying on Memory Lane

If you watched tonight's episode of Amazing Race, then you've seen a taste of my favorite city in the world! I simply LOVE Helsinki, Finland. What was so very neat was the other cities in Finland where the teams went, we've been through as well, on the train.

When we lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, we would twice a year take a six hour train trip to Finland's capital-Helsinki. It was there we would get our visas (to stay legal in Russia) renewed. We looked forward to those trips as anyone living in St. Pete could understand. It was a real place of renewal for us, a time to refresh from the daily struggles that is life in Russia.

I confess to having a tear come down my face as I watched tonight's Amazing Race. I wanted to see more of these places I had been. It was so neat to see places in Helsinki that we had frequented. To hear one of the teams say, "kiitos" (thank you in Finnish) did my heart good.

Sigh... It appeared in the clip of next week's episode, that they were in Russian cars! I can't wait to see where they go!!!!!! If it were to be St. Petersburg, you may find me bawling. While content in Minnesota, knowing God wants us here (and no, there is no doubt about that!), I still miss Russia. I think a part of me always will.

Sad Statistics about Guatemala

I saw this posted today on an adoption list. It is sad but true:

Out of 100 children born in Guatemala:

1 will be adopted by a US family
5 will not make it to their 5th birthday
16 will be born with low birth weight
22 will never see the inside of a school
28 will never learn how to read and write
54 will grow up in extreme poverty and malnourished
74 will never make it to the 7th grade
84 will need to travel over an hour to reach a health care facility

Reading statistics like these make me so very thankful, grateful and full of emotion when I think about my precious little boys! Pray for the children of Guatemala! May many more make their way to their forever family!

Fun for Cala

Cala began the Brownies (Girl Scouts) last month. She really enjoys it, and typically will have two meetings every month. This afternoon though was the "Investiture" ceremony at the roller skating rink! This was when the new scouts got their pins and official induction to their troop. She had never been skating ever, and so this was a whole new experience for her.


She said she really enjoyed it even if she did fall over and over again. She came home very very tired, as evidenced by this picture, but there's a student holiday tomorrow, so she can sleep a bit longer in the morning. Of course, that all depends on her pesky little brothers. :o)
Looking at this picture took me back to her being a wee little girl just home from the orphanage, and sooo sooo sleepy. It's hard to imagine she is now 8 years old and has been our daughter for 5 and a half years! I just wish she would quit growing so fast!

My Boys are Sweet

Today has been a really, really rough day with my fibromyalgia. I woke up unable to walk. I had to get up to go to the bathroom, but literally had to hold on to the walls, and anything I could find as I went.

Glenn had gone to take Cala to school and as I tried to get back to bed, I sort of slipped. I ended up in a kneeling position at the bed (good position to pray!). Since the school is not quite a mile from us, I was sure Glenn would be back soon. As it turned out, it was one of those days as I've had when taking Cala, when everyone seemed to show up at the same time.

Anyway, the boys came in my room and noticed my dilemna. Ethan (age 3) says, "I hep you" and proceeds to come over and put his arm around me :o) Seth (age 23 months) comes over and actually tries lifting me up! Ha Ha! He had just been told to put the lollipop down and comes over and says, "Mama, here, you take my candy. It help you." ha ha

What sweethearts my sons are! They love their Mama.

Glenn soon came home and helped me, but I was sure to tell him how the boys had helped their Mama. They were proud to hear it and I was proud of them!

2 Heroes, 1 Clown

Wonder Woman in Minnesota HAS to be layered with a long sleeve shirt PLUS a sweatshirt, plus tights if she's to make it out of the house without a coat hiding her costume!

As my good friend, Suz, said... this is a smile that just melts your heart. It's like Kryptonite!
Yes, we could have gone all Justice League and gotten Batman, or even just Super Heroes and gone with his favorite, Spiderman... but uh, we needed some comic relief!

Why Don't They?

I enjoyed today. Cala and I went to the grocery store and the post office together. I like living in a small town where I feel safe enough to let Cala run in the post office and check the mail for us. She loves doing that, and I have fond memories of doing the same as a child. Not so anymore in the area I grew up in, for I would never allow a child out of my sight at all there! Mind you, I still have that mentality now, so none of my children are truly out of my sight still. I just mean, I can stay in the van and watch Cala as she runs in the post office without fear of someone nabbing her, and that's nice.

On the way to the grocery store, we had a deep theological discussion. Yes, she's 8, but so full of questions about God! It's wonderful. Children are so simplistic in their ideas of how things ought to be, and yet we could learn a LOT from a child. Today, it was like this: "Mama, are there two Gods?! There aren't are there?" I responded with, "No, just one." She asked, "But I heard Jesus, God's son was actually God." "Well, you heard right Cala, and that's hard for us as people to understand, but it's true." Then I hear, "Mama, why don't some people believe in God like we do!? Why don't they just believe it's true?!" To that, I have no real response but I did say, "Dear, I love you, you're my daughter, but the honest truth is I can't MAKE you love me. It's the same with God. He loves us all soooo much, but He wants it to be OUR choice." She simply said, "I wish everyone would just choose God." "I do too, dear... I do too."

I thought I would share a couple of pictures from Cala's 8th birthday a few days ago. We keep both American and Russian traditions at birthdays and holidays. Russian birthday tradition is to have a birthday pie. Well, I didn't get around to making one, and baking the greeting in the pie crust as I did in Russia. So, my sorry attempt was to buy a pecan pie (which is what Cala asked for!) and to uh... yes, I put Cala's name and age in COOL WHIP! It didn't work so well, but as you will see in the picture... either Cala loved it!, or she was making fun of me. I choose she loved it. :o)

It's true... I'm still here :o)

Wow! I've not been this long without blogging in a while! No excuses, just one thing after another I guess keeping me from it!

I'll not try to "re-hash" everyday just will say this: We had a great time with my inlaws, and are very much looking forward to them coming back in the middle part of December. They'll be here two weeks then, and that will include Christmas.

A couple of days ago, we had to apply for our Minnesota driver's license. We had to take a written test. We were allowed to miss 8 questions. Glenn missed 8. I missed 10! Boo-hoo. So, yesterday, I was not sure if I would go re-try or not as I was having a very rough time with fibro. At the last possible moment before having to absolutely get ready in time to make it, I decided to go! I'm glad I did! I had a different test that time, and passed, missing 7. Now, in Florida, it's never possible to turn left on a red light, but it is in Minnesota. AND how much space should you give someone on a bicycle when wanting to pass them?! Well, here in Minnesota, it's 3 feet. I had originally answered a car's length. I was trying to be nice! ha ha

Yes, I do feel like quite the expert at this point on Minnesota driving laws. I will receive my license in the mail- in 4 to 6 weeks. (in Florida, you get them on the spot, so this was new to me, but alas, "we ain't in Florida anymore!" lol). Glenn will get his in a couple of weeks they said- different city/different county where I went yesterday. (the original place was closed yesterday but suggested I go to this other city).

Yesterday evening, I went to Cala's school for a parent/teacher conference. That was really nice and this teacher has really studied a lot on things that pertain to Cala. I am so confident that Cala is right where she needs to be. This school is refreshing, very much on top of things!

That's about it for now. Hope all is well with ya'll! I hope to soon post some pictures- Glenn cut all the kids' hair yesterday. That was quite comical.

Still here, just busy....

Just wanted everyone to know I haven't forsaken the blog, just way busy with my inlaws here. They are wonderful people, and I feel very blessed to have them as my inlaws! I know people who absolutely do not get along with theirs, and I think that's awful! I feel sad for them. My inlaws are like another set of parents. They really are. I've known them since I was just a baby.

We've been keeping the roads hot here, even took them almost 2 hours away to a cheese factory in Wisconsin! Yes, we are dedicated cheese lovers.

Today they got to see snow. Now, to a Floridian, that's a real treat. To a Floridian who has since lived in Russia for years with countless measures of snow fall, it's not so thrilling. I do admit I love to watch it, but not to the extent of those who rarely see it. (never in their home area, that's for sure). I was happy for them to see snow coming down, even though it was too wet to stick. I assured them not to worry, for there will be plenty of the white stuff coming down and on the ground when they return in December.

Tomorrow is yet another day of hitting the road. This time, we are heading to North Dakota at least. This is a new state to all of us, so I am happy about that! We may go into South Dakota too, not yet sure.

I know one thing... it will be sad around here when the grandparents leave on Saturday. I will assure everyone that Christmas time will be here before we know it!

Eight Years Ago Today in a Land Far Away....

Eight years ago today in a land far away, my daughter was born. No, I didn't yet know her, she wasn't born TO me, but I feel she was born FOR me. She was so very tiny, weighing in at just three and a half pounds, and very, very early. (yet born in God's perfect time).

We had longed for a child so long, and were sad to not have yet have one. We were in Arkansas around her birth, because we know where we were when we got word about our niece in Paraguay being born. (she's just 12 days younger than Cala).

Eight years ago today, a precious baby girl was born, and she struggled. She struggled for her very life. She would spend the next two months in the hospital before being placed in an orphanage, and she would spend the next year sick off and on from various ailments. She was so frail, I can imagine.

At age 2 years, 1 month, she would meet her parents. We would meet our daughter. It would be at age 2 years, 7 months, that she would forever come home to live with us. We would at long last be a family.

I look back today and am thankful. OH, I am not like many in the adoption world. Admittedly, I don't long to really meet the bio- mother (I have a hard time even saying that word really), but I do thank her. Cala has asked me if she will be in heaven. I said, I hope so. We can't know, we can only pray so. She lives in a place where we are very familiar with the spiritual condition. It's sad to think this woman may very well die in her sins. YET, I pray she's in heaven. You see, I do want to thank her if she is... I want to say thank you for having my daughter. Thank you for not taking the road many many do in Russia, the road of abortion.

Thank you for giving life to this precious girl. Her loss was truly our gain.

My daughter is my joy. I am grateful to God for what happened in a land far away, eight years ago today.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Last of Spirit Week

Today was Spirit Day, by wearing the school colors of blue and white. Tonight was the high school's homecoming game. (we've heard the hollering from our house, and we live about a mile away!) :o)

Cala said she walked in her class this morning and told them, "Hi! I'm your new gym teacher!" She's a character. I would love to be a "fly on the wall" at her school sometime to observe her there.

Well, not much news here... just getting ready, and getting excited about my inlaws coming in tomorrow! It's going to be nice having them here! They love to play card games like we do. So, we are looking forward to some late nights next week.

Catch you tomorrow!

The place I missed the Most

All the years living in Russia, when someone here in the states would ask, "what do you most miss about the U.S.?", I would without a doubt answer, "Wal-mart!" My other answer would sometimes be "a bathroom where both the toilet and the sink are in the same room." Today, I spent way too much time in Wal-mart and had a cultural moment. I started having flash backs to Russia, actually longing to be there, no matter how little choices I had in products. It seems there are many different kinds of green beans here, and I am left wondering which one to choose! Made a mistake recently, and bought a brand that I will never choose again. Now, I go with the Great Value (Wal-mart) brand! There's 50 choices of cereal or more, where as in Russia, I would have given anything to see more than 5 ! My baby son and I today went up and down the aisles, and I just absoulutely had a moment of, "what has happened here? Is this me?! My son?! Me? Living in the states? ME?! Living in Minnesota????????" I guess it still takes time to let it all soak in.

Here's my precious baby girl as I call her- Today was Crazy Hair Day. We sprayed her hair blue and white. It mostly showed up blue in the back, and looking gray in the front. She was happy anyway. I enjoyed picking her up and seeing mowhawks, pink hair, orange hair, just all out crazy hair! What fun for these kids! Tomorrow concludes Spirit Week with Blue and White Day- their school colors. I think I'm having too much fun. lol

A Blustery Day Indeed!

Ok! So, I don't think I've ever, ever used the word "blustery" but that's the way they're describing it in our local weather. Another word for tomorrow's forecast is "raw". That just makes me giggle. Sorry. ;op It's currently 28 degrees as I write this and getting colder. We had snow this morning, but thanks to the wind, nothing stuck. More of the same is forecasted for tonight, as well as tomorrow.

My inlaws get here Saturday afternoon, but it's supposedly warming up to 35 for a low, 50's for high. That's still really cold for them! They will be sooo cold while here. To us, it's just feeling like Russia in the winter.

Today for Cala was Sportswear Day. She wore a shirt that says "Football" and has a football helmet on it, and then wore her brother's (yes, her 3 year old brother's size 4T) coat. (her heavy coat got left in Florida, but thanks to her grandparents coming this weekend, she will soon be reunited with it). Cala also wore a Tampa Bay Buccaneers cap today, something probably a tad dangerous here in Vikings territory! lol. She looked this morning like she was heading off to a game, and should have had a cup of coffee in hand! ha Tomorrow is "Crazy Hair" Day. Should be fun- we're spraying her hair blue!

Thank you to my Blog Pal

SO I just HAD to write a second post tonight, and say Thank you to my (secret) blog pal. Today at my door, I received a big block of chocolate, personalized from Hershey's in Hershey, PA. What a nice surprise! I thank you, and my children thank you! lol

Can I sit down now?

It's been one of those "go, go, go" days. I was so happy to see tonight come, get supper done, and the kids in bed. Now I can breathe a little bit :o)

I was so thrilled to see that I finally made something that we can have left overs from! ha ha. Seriously, not so many moons ago, when it was just Glenn, Cala, and me, I could make soup and it last us two nights. It's not happened since having the boys home. Two extra mouths to feed makes a difference (especially when one of those mouths, the 3 year old one, loves anything I make!). Tonight, however, I made a soup that made a lot and so that's one good thing to think about tomorrow. No extra cooking :o) Yippeeee! Honestly, I don't mind cooking, but there are days when I'm just glad not to have to.

And now, without further adieu, here is Cala from today- Mismatch Day. Doesn't she look HORRIBLE!???! ha ha

Cala's school day- and a day of remembrance

Cala really enjoyed PJ Day at school! Isn't she cute?!



I enjoyed taking her and seeing all the kids who came in their pajamas, some even wearing a robe!

It's also Wheels Week at school, so Cala took her scooter. She just got it right after we moved in this house, so it's still all new to her and she loves riding it.



*** *** *** *** ***

I've done o.k. today I think. It was 13 years ago today that I had my first miscarriage. I have thought about that baby today, and what might have been (wow! an almost teenager- as he or she - I refer to the baby as Evan- would have been born in May, so would have now been 12.) Yet, I am choosing to think about how wonderful it is to know that Evan is in the presence of our Saviour! Isn't that amazing to think that this precious baby of mine is there with the Master!? He is also there with his brother or sister- I refer to her as Faith- (miscarried in September of 2003). That's a true blessing to know one day I WILL know my other two children.

Please on Sunday, October 15th, remember to pray for those of us who have lost children due to miscarriage or still birth. While in office, President Ronald Reagan declared it a day to remember and honor those we have lost so young. God, in His mercy, chose to give me a daughter with that same date as a birthday ;o)

You can visit my memorial site to my babies in heaven, as well as a memorial for anyone wishing to place a note there at http://www.angelfire.com/blues2/evanfaith