Adoption Update

Howdy Y'all!

So, many of you have asked for an update on our adoption.  There really hasn't been anything to share because we are in a period where the communication is almost nil.

This week we decided to email our adoption coordinator to understand the exposure we are receiving and question her about the budget we have set.  My friend Rhonda didn't understand how the budget works - so I will give you all a lesson.  Each couple interested in adopting sets a match budget that will cover legal fees, agency fees, potential medical fees and potential living expenses.  Then, when a birth mom shows interest in putting their baby up for adoption, a social worker from the adoption agency estimates the cost of an adoption for that particular birth mom.  When your budget matches the birth mom's cost (as well as other factors such as medical history, race, etc), then your profile is given to the birth mom.  So, you can understand that your budget is very important for your exposure to birth moms.

Our case worker, Angie, informed us that she thought our exposure was great.  We have been active for 4.4 months and our profile is given out to 25 potential birth moms each month.  She was comfortable with our budget - but said if we raise it by a couple of thousand dollars, our exposure could increase more than we think.

Angie went on to tell us that there has been some interest in our profile, but they are still analyzing the birth mom to see if she truly sees adoption as the option for her.  She is due early next year.  So, this is where you guys come in - we would love your thoughts and prayers.   This is all we know for now, but we pray that the mom comes to a decision that will give her the peace of mind she deserves (whether that be to keep the baby or give it up for adoption).

I just thought I would share the update that we have since so many of you have asked.

Also - I know I posted these on facebook - but, I thought I would share these adorable chairs we had done (thanks mom!).

If you are loving these chairs - and hoping you can get your hands on one of them - well, if you live near Tyler, TX...go here for your cute chair needs.

http://www.jjsparkles.com/

Toodles!

My Favorite Season

Howdy Y'all!

It is has been a long time.  I just felt like I had nothing to say.  However, today is the start of my favorite season.  You may think I am crazy since it is not the start of fall - but, none of the following is my favorite season: fall, winter, spring or summer.  So, now you probably think I am even crazier...there isn't a season left.  But, YES there is!  Today is the start of football season!

Of course, the "official" start of my season is Saturday and I just can't wait.  Bring it on!

My family and I have done a great job brainwashing my niece...she loves the Horns and I think she had a major crush on Colt McCoy...now her interests will have to turn toward Garrett Gilbert.

My old manager Davey Stormy, aka Dave Storms, is the biggest piggie (Razorback) fan that I have ever met.  In his mind, they are heading to the National Championship game each and every year.  I guess it is nice to have such optimism.  He was super confident in his pig's chances against my mighty Horns a few years ago and this is what happened to him.

(This is spelled with 52 orange soda cans and 10 Big Red cans...the score of the game)

At least I was nice and baked him some tasty treats.

I have also bought some brainwashing gear for our future child.  They will grow up in pig country being a big Longhorn fan.

Even the dog is a fan!

Of course at my Pop's 60th birthday, we celebrated in style!

Even though I am a big Longhorn fan, I really do just love college football in general - so it was fun to see Clemson practice for their bowl game on the sidelines of my brother-in-law's high school football field.  Our nephew Henry met C.J. Spiller and he thought that was awesome.

And, last but not least - I love attending games, but Bertha said it is her turn to finally go and cheer on her favorite team.

If you are looking for me on Saturday, you can find me in front of a TV!

Toodles!

Washington DC or Bust

Howdy y'all!

As I told you in the previous post, we received $600 worth of travel vouchers from Delta when we were traveling back from Hilton Head - so yesterday I talked my husband into a trip to Washington DC next month.

He told me that I had to give him 5 good reasons and here is what I came up with.

1) He loves me. That one is self-explanatory.

2) Our airfare is practically free. We ended up having to pay $66...that rocks!

3) We can learn more about American history. I know this is goofy, but watching movies such as National Treasure and Night of the Museum 2 really made me want to go to DC and soak up the history.

4) We got a steal on the hotel. One of my co-workers told my friend Rhonda and I about this website (travelzoo.com), so I decided to try it out. I found a great deal at the Hotel Palomar - $99/night and free parking! Check out that site if you are traveling soon!

5) We will have tons of fun! Of course we can have fun in Bentonville, AR too - but we will have much more fun there!

Well - that's it for tonight.

Toodles!

Crazy things I learned/experienced on vacation

Howdy Ya'll!

It has been a few weeks since I have posted - life has just been a little too boring to blog about...you don't want to hear that I woke up at 5 am, went to work, came home around 6 pm, ate dinner, went to bed, etc.  :)

My whole family just returned from vacation and I have to share with you some crazy things I learned/experienced.

1)  South Carolina does not believe in driving fast.  I don't think I saw 70 mph once and we were on the road a lot driving to Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC.  It was crazy.  Most of the time, the speed limit was 45...forty-five people.  That is crazy talk!

2)  South Carolina and Georgia love them some roundabouts!  It was funny because we were driving through Bonaventure Cemetery looking for the girl statue from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (by the way, if you go there looking for it, they have moved it to a museum in downtown Savannah) and we turned on the GPS to navigate us back to Hilton Head - and while we were smack in the middle of this big cemetery, it tells us to continue straight ahead to the roundabout.  REALLY?  There was even a roundabout in a cemetery.  Oh my!  Here a few pictures of the cemetery...it is really beautiful, if a cemetery can be beautiful.

3)  You notice all the stuff in the trees...it is called Spanish Moss.  We learned from Savannah Dan (a guy who takes people on walking tours of Savannah) that it is not a moss at all.  It is actually a plant that is in the same family as the pineapple and doesn't hurt the trees at all.  Just don't touch it!  It usually has chiggers in it.  Spanish Moss was the reason for the first car recall in America.  Henry Ford used Spanish Moss to stuff the seats in his Model T Ford - however, his customers complained about itchy skin - so, he had to recall all SEVEN Model T Fords.  He actually still used the Spanish Moss - but, put it through a treatment where they boil it to get rid of all the bugs.  Much to my surprise, Spanish Moss was also used to stuff lots of other things (mattresses, pillows, etc) until about the 1980s when they started using synthetic fibers.

By the way, if you are ever in Savannah - take a Savannah Dan tour.  It was super interesting for all ages - even my 11 year old niece had a great time.

4)  We had some interesting air travels.  First, we boarded our second leg of our trip to Hilton Head and we believe Linda, the flight attendant for Delta, had been sipping on something a lot stronger than water.  It was quite interesting.  Then, on the same leg of the trip, we left the gate and they determined that we had mechanical problems.  But, that wasn't the interesting part - a few people started de-planing and Linda the flight attendant and the pilot stopped us because they said if they didn't unload the luggage first, the plane would tip over.  What in the world??

Then, on the way back, they switched us from Delta to US Airways because of a luggage/people balance on the small turbo prop planes.  We accepted the change and $600 worth of travel vouchers - and we were going to land back in Northwest Arkansas only 58 minutes from our original flight time.  When, we got back to NWA - we got the last laugh on everyone because we not only had our $600 worth of travel vouchers,  but our original flight on Delta was delayed and we arrived before them.  HA!  We got lucky - now, I have to see if I can talk my husband into a trip to Washington DC since we will have free airfare.

Well, those were some of the crazy or interesting things that we saw/experienced.  Here are a couple of more pictures for your enjoyment.

Me, Hailey and Tony in Johnson Square in Savannah, GA

This church and steeple in Savannah, GA can been seen in the opening credits of Forrest Gump.  That is my favorite movie ever!

The Mercer House - the scene of the murder in the true-crime book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Bertha wake-boarding in the Atlantic Ocean.

Me and Tony at The Wreck of the Salty Dog...Hilton Head Classic!

Me and the best sister ever.

Aren't these oak trees beautiful?  Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SC

Boone Hall Plantation - this house has been seen in the North and South and The Notebook.

Rainbow Row in Charleston, SC.  I would love to live there - I just need a few million dollars to buy a house.

Lighthouse in Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island.

All in all - this was a great trip and I would recommend it for all.  Hilton Head is a great place where you have lots of activities - beach, biking, golfing, etc.  Go, Visit and be Happy!

Toodles!

Bucket List

Howdy Ya'll!

First of all, I have to say that this is the first time in over a week that I am using a real computer in my house.  I just haven't felt the urge to sit in front of a computer and do anything which is why there hasn't been a posting on here since last Thursday.

Now - on to the subject of the post...

Do you have a bucket list?  I don't know if I have one, per se, but I do have a desire to visit all 50 states before I die.

This is my map that I keep at work that shows all of the states I have visited - and it has already been a total of 31 states.  I find this amazing considering by the time I was 18, I had only been to about 4 states.  I have also been able to visit 3 of the 7 continents.  Not that I would ever visit Antarctica (most likely), but I would like to get to Africa, Australia and South America before I die too...I have already covered North America, Europe and Asia.

I need to start thinking about things to add to the bucket list - because I think it is awesome to have those kinds of things in your life.

Toodles!

Another Love Besides My Husband

Howdy!

I know a lot of you already know - but, I am a Shoe Freak.  They are just a fun way to accessorize your outfit.

I don't discriminate with my shoes - I love all shapes, types and colors.

I love the flip flop/casual sandal.

I love a good wedge shoe.

I love pumps!

(Even though these looks like flats in this picture)

I love the UGG too!  So comfy!

Cute "tennis shoes" are fun to wear.

(Is that what you call these?)

I love fun, fun flats!

And Converse are the best!

I love expensive shoes, I love cheap shoes - most of all, I love cute shoes.  And, as many shoes as you see pictured here, I still have about 100 pairs I didn't show you tonight.

However, a girl has to add to her collection, right?

DSW sent me a coupon for my birthday and I took it with me to Dallas, but never had a chance to make it to one of the stores down there.  I noticed today that I could use it online - so the hunt was one tonight for at least one pair of cute shoes.

So, I found these and I am so ready for them to get here!

I also found another pair of black sling-back pumps with little tiny white polka dots with red accents.  Super cute!

Hope you enjoyed a little peek in my closet.

Toodles!

Feeling Naked - but, Fully Clothed

Howdy Ya'll!

Have you ever forgotten something and you just don't feel right all day?  There are two things that if I accidently leave them at home, I just feel naked all day long.

Every morning, I take of my wedding rings after I shower because I don't want to get my hair product or lotion on them.  And, one of the last things I do before I leave for work, is put the rings back on.  Of course, there are days that I just completely forget...walk out of the door...and I am single for the day.  :)  Today was not one of those days because I remembered today!

The other that I just feel lost without is my phone.  Seriously, I can't function without this thing!

This morning I didn't actually forget it - I had to leave it. I decided to try and put the new firmware on the phone this morning at 7:05am - and at 7:25am, it was still working its magic and uploading to my phone. Now folks, I normally leave for work at 7:15 am so you can see that I was already about 10 minutes late. So sadly, I had to leave my phone behind.

All morning, I reached for it so I could listen to Kidd Kraddick in the morning or Pandora or just my own tunes...and nothing. For lunch, I suggested a meal close to my house, The Crumpet Tea Room, so I could grab my phone before heading back to work after work. There was two positives to this - we got to have an orange roll from The Crumpet Tea Room and I got my life back!

Hopefully, I won't forget my wedding rings or phone anytime soon and life can remain in balance!

Toodles!