Our Countdown

I try not to look at The Countdown on the sidebar but today it caught my eye and actually gave me a good giggle.

Praying For Abby

One of the cool things about the blogosphere is all the amazing people you "meet" along the way. I've been inspired and brought to tears yet again and I would like to introduce you all to Miss Abby. At three months old she was adopted from Guatemala and is now 4 years old. In July of 2008 she was diagnosed with a high-risk, aggressive form of Leukemia. Certain genetic complications have put her chance of surviving the treatment at about 20%. I am praying for her and her family... will you pray for them, too?

You can find out more about Abby here: The Riggs Family Blog

The List & A Legacy

I've been pondering a post I wrote for The Classy Closet. It was about how much I believe we are affected by the environment we grow up in. For some of you stopping by my little blog for the first time, I found out just shy of my 30th birthday that I was adopted. Almost a year after Mama passed away a family friend unknowingly mentioned my adoption in a hastily written note. She obviously thought I had been told.

I was like my parents in so many ways to say I was shocked is an understatement.

DH and I may not share DNA with our adopted child(ren) but how we raise them will have an impact on their lives. What we expose them to can become lifelong interests and memories. I've been thinking about the things my parents encouraged that I hope to pass on:

**A Love For Reading. I was the kid that spent summer nights under her covers with a flashlight devouring books. My imagination was transported by "A Wrinkle In Time", "Charlotte's Web" and I could hardly contain my squeals of laughter from "Mrs Piggle Wiggle". I loved the library and B. Dalton bookstores. I think it's a shame the aroma of Starbucks overwhelms the smell of books at Barnes & Noble.

**Sports. I was an over the top tomboy and loved all things sports. They (almost always) kept me out of trouble and focused.

**Music Appreciation. Honestly I sucked at playing instruments. I gave the violin and clarinet a whirl in elementary school and was a total failure. I couldn't play but learned to love and respect music just the same. For the record, I did find out later in life I have a pretty decent singing voice which is now reserved for future lullaby's.

**A Love For Man's Best Friend. DH and I were raised with dogs and our herd is part of the family. Some of the most stressful times of my life have been soothed by a smile from our mastiff-lab-goofball mix or a nudge and kiss from our husky. Bad things seem to melt away after a long walk with a true companion.

**Faith. I will train them up in my faith and what they decide to do with it as adults is up to them. Like Mama, I will pray they stay the course.

**Take Road Trips. We never flew as a family.. we always drove. Some of my best memories started in the wee hours of the morning leaving our home in the '68 Dart. Mom, Dad, me, 2 toy poodles and Goldie (our gold fish.. I couldn't bear to leave her behind).

**The Value of a Dollar. DH is the hardest working man I've ever met (next to Dad) and we're both cut from the same work ethic cloth. In life, we believe it's very important to pull your own weight.

The list grows daily as more things come to mind. DH and I may not be able to give our adopted children our heritage but we sure can leave them a legacy.

Are You a Go-To Parent?

Or Know Of One?

The makers of Supernanny are looking for stellar parents for an upcoming reality show. Please check out Miss Christy's blog (Butterflies In The Car Line) for more details!

The Call That Didn't Come

During Nantie's last home study visit, "D" asked if we had gotten any calls for emergency placements. For the record, we have not (trust me, ya'll will know). Come to find out, "D" had heard they were going to call us on a set of 3 month old twin girls both with broken bones. If that isn't hearbreaking I don't know what is. They were working hard to place the girls with family and were obviously successful.

Please keep the defenseless, innocent ones in your prayers.

I'm A Classpert!!

You heard me RIGHT!


The lovely ladies at The Classy Closet have bestowed upon me and our dear friend Bridget (of Don't Blink) a very distinct honor. We have been named, "Classperts" and we're going to write about all things classy. Thanks, Classy Lassies, for giving us the wonderful opportunity to be a part of your amazing team!!

Now ya'll surf on over and join us for some classy fun, ya hear?!

Nantie Goes To The Board & We Stay Home

I have to laugh at how quickly Nantie's home study has gone (compared to our 7 month timeline). "D" is presenting her to The Board for review less than 2 months since the start of the process. If all goes as planned she should be certified in a weeks time. Yay!

Things are already different for 2009. To conserve vacation time to be home with our little one when "The Call" comes, we've cancelled all our annual vacations. DH has a couple trips planned with his coworkers but he'll bow out if need be. Sacrifices we're happy to make.. trust me!

2009 is going to be a stellar year.. I can just feel it!

Perfect Moment Monday

On Friday instead of answering phones, putting out "fires" (IE: handling problems) and dealing with customers, we were sledding along amazing trails up in God's Country. Lucky for DH, Missy and My Kiwi we do not have voice activated communicators in our helmets and they were spared my renditions of, "A Bright Sunshiny Day".

It was a perfect day.

I Capture
Perfect Moments.

Snow Fun

It's not officially a day of sledding until someone gets stuck:



It was a fantastic ride.

Happy New Year.. We're Here!

DH, Missy, My Kiwi and I made it to the lodge with minimal issues yesterday afternoon. Aside from the raging winds, the only drama we had was a deer deciding to jump into the front passenger wheel of the motor home (denting the hubcap and taking 3 lug nuts with her). Don't worry, although it gave us a fright she actually hopped away, unharmed.

We kicked back last night watching movies and are now getting ready to ride the trails. We're parked just ahead of the web cam so you can't see us..


Here's Missy kicking back last night watching "Rudy":


.. AND, we're off..