Smitten

Do you believe in love at first sight?

If I didn't before, I do now.

We got our referral call! She is a precious baby girl. And we are smitten.

I'm sorry I can't post a picture of Her Loveliness or give you more details. You'll just have to take my completely biased word for it. She's breathtaking. We are captivated by her beauty. Captivated by her smile. We are captivated that we get the opportunity to love her. It takes my breath away.

The call came on Thursday afternoon. I was getting my haircut. It annoyed me that my cell kept ringing. The third time my stylist asked, "Do you need to get that?"
Me: "Naaaa!"
Even though I spent Monday through Wednesday (rather unsuccessfully) trying desperately not to sit by the phone begging it to ring, it didn't even enter my mind that it could be THE CALL at that point. The third call was Bill (this I knew from the "I Got You Babe" ring tone) so I called him first as I was walking out. He told me to get my bootie home. Those weren't his exact words (if you know my husband, you already knew that.) What followed, my friends, was the longest 10 minute car ride of my life. But a sweet 10 minutes of joy, anticipation and fear all mixed together with just a touch of frenzied driving.

When I got home we called Julie and received the email with the information and pictures of Her Loveliness. Here we are seeing her face for the first time...

And here are our kids seeing her picture for the first time...

That night as Tate was going to bed I asked him if he had any fears now that the day we've been waiting for had arrived. He said, "No. I love my baby." Then I asked him, "What do you think it's going to be like for these months that we have to wait more and be without her?" His answer floored me..."More time for me to spend loving my baby."

Jack is quite taken with her as well, though in true form of the baby in the family about to be de-throned he said later that night, "Do we have to keep talking about the baby?"

Emmie, who hasn't always been sure what this adoption will mean for her, has a new perspective. "Now I'm so excited to share my room with her!" she said. What a difference it is for adoption to be about a person, not a concept. A real, live little person we are all so excited to meet and love and call our own.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 118:1

Stay tuned...

Memorial Day Memories

Knitting lessons from Grandma...

She's certainly not going to learn anything like that from me, but Granny's got game when it comes to sewing, knitting and embroidery.

We made our first visit this season to "Granddaddy's Lake"...

Remembering the reason for the holiday weekend...

Sweet 16

We were married 16 years ago today. As a little twist to a traditional anniversary post, this one is about the things I would change about my wedding. There are just a few regrets I've had through the years.

1) My dress. It was beautiful and I really loved it, but my Mother's dress sat in a box in the basement. It was really beautiful and it would have been so meaningful to wear it. I didn't like the skirt because it was short, but I wish I would have thought about having a new skirt made from it. Duh!
2) I wish I would have thought to brush my hair or apply lipstick after the trolley ride from the church to the reception. I was just living in the moment (my usual mode of operation), but it would have been nice to have my reception pictures resemble a bride on her wedding day not a girl hangin' with her homeys.
3) This one was out of my control, but I definitely would have censored our sweet Pastor's joke during the ceremony. It went something like this..."There was an ad in the paper that read, "Lost dog. Only has three legs. Missing teeth. Deaf. Blind in one eye. Neutered. Answers to the name 'Lucky'." There are some words you want to hear at your wedding like honor, faithful and cherish. Neutered is not among them.

(My Mom found the above post card in London and brought it home for us knowing what a special place that joke holds in our hearts now. )

4) Neither can I change that I was upstaged at my wedding by my own father. I have had two people on different occasions tell me how handsome he looked in his military dress uniform and then say "When he walked down that aisle...". He did not walk down the aisle. He was escorting me. I was the main event. I was the main dish. He was supposed to be a side item. But, what can I say? My Daddy had it goin' on.
5) Bangs. Power Bangs. It was 1993 after all. Tonight Bill's mom was telling our Em how beautiful our wedding was as we all looked at the pictures together. Emmie's response, "Well, my wedding will be prettier because it won't be so old-fashioned." It will be after you've been married 16 years, sweetie. It happens to the best of us.

But, there is definitely one thing I would NOT change. The groom. I would marry Bill again and again and again. He is the calm to my storm. The Sonny to my Cher. The peanut butter to my jelly. He is my one and only. No regrets about the man. None. I love you, babe.

A great time was had by (almost) all

I've been planning my Idol Finale party for over a month. I spent most of the season envisioning the ticker tape falling down on Danny Gokey, so I've had to adjust my thinking. My heart wasn't totally in it since it felt like I was planning "Adam's Coronation Ball", but a party is a party. And the show must go on.

The thing that has kept me awake at night has been coming up with food for a "moment like this". The kids and I had great fun brainstorming ideas. The Menu was as follows:

Appetizer:
Gokey Smokeys (Little Smokies wrapped in bacon with brown sugar. All kinds of yummy!)
Main Course:
Adam Lambergers
Anoop Dawgs (hot dogs)
Ryan Seafish
Side items:
Matt-and-Cheese
Tatiana Tots
Simon Cowelliflower
Karrots DioGuardi
Allison Ear-a-corn-a (I know it's corny-pun intended. I wanted Iraheta Fajitas, but needed another veggie)
Bikini(girl) Berries
Dessert:
Randy Candy
L'il Rounds (Also known as Cake Balls)
Rice Krispie Allen Bars
To drink:
The Pool of Abdul (Blue Gatorade)
I only invited those who wouldn't mock me for being so genuinely into this crazy show and those who wouldn't taunt and gloat if Adam won. So it was a very small gathering.

We were all thoroughly entertained by Kara DioGuardi getting the last laugh with Bikini Girl. We felt embarrassed for Rod Stewart. We marveled at how Adam could walk in those sweet platform boots. And I showed amazing athletic prowess hurdling over young children to get to the TV when I heard Danny singing.

Of course, the main event was the announcement of the winner. I'm not sure what happened next, but it was shock erupting into sheer mayhem. All I know is that in my excessive celebration, I pulled something in my shoulder and now I am in pain. That can happen when a 38 year old woman pounds on the table and tries to do her old cheerleading jumps. Here is a totally fake reenactment...
I am happy. I love an underdog. I love Kris's modern sound and styling. I love that his win is just icing on the cake since he already gets free cheese dip for life back at his favorite restaurant in Arkansas. And I feel like his win is "sticking it to the man" who is the American Idol Machine. I've loved this season of Idol, but you have to admit it has been one big Adam Love-a-thon.

You should know, not all the party goers were happy with the outcome. In the midst of the hootin' and hollerin', there was a six year old boy crying his eyes out. Poor Jack. He's a rocker for life. Adam was his boy. I assured him Adam will be just fine. He will see those acid washed jeans and fake eyelashes again. I actually think I'll like him better without judges drooling all over him.

So, thank you America. Because of you, our Idol Finale Party turned into a Surprise Party. Surprises are my favorite.

A change of pace

We have a weird life. We are not teachers, professors, or students but we still live by semesters. We work with a campus ministry. And we love it. Still. Even though we are getting kind of up there in age. The semester has ended which means we have a change of pace. Our schedule changes. Our phone doesn't ring as much. As much as I love the students, I appreciate the opportunity to focus fully on my family because I can tend to feel pretty stretched during the school year.

This year we had some really special experiences that highlight some perks of our job for our family. They all have to do with parties. Tate had 5 little boys over for a birthday sleepover back in November. During the party he had a surprise visit from 4 college guys and recent graduates. They came bearing gifts and then retreated to the basement for a massive nerf gun fight, light saber dueling...
and tickle fest...
It was easily the highlight of the night...
Emmie's birthday party was a Dance party. Our two female interns came to help me as the dance instructor and DJ...
The girls had their own choreographed number to perform when the parents came to pick them up...
It was the kind of party that people go into debt for...and these women helped me for free. I especially loved the way all the little girls responded to Becky and Daley who showered them with love and attention...
And finally, how many 8 and 6 year old kids go to Frat parties? Mine do! Here they are trying their hands as DeeJay's...
In case you are concerned, it was a philanthropy, not the kind of Frat party that children should not be allowed anywhere near.

But it's not always fun and games. In fact, there was another dance party that didn't go over so well this year. Every year our students have a formal and Bill and I have never gone in the past for various reasons. This year we decided to go and I learned a valuable lesson. While I don't think we are too old for college ministry, I do believe we are too old for college parties. I felt like such a poser. I'm 38 and I'm at a party with 18-22 year olds. Not that I don't love them, but I have never felt so old in my life. I was miserable. Bill on the other hand, was unfazed. He was a "maniac, a maniac on the floor". Here's a picture that captured our different experiences that night...
I think we'll be staying home next year and going to bed at 9:30pm like normal middle-aged people.

I've had a few days to recover. There is no longer an ache in my heart for "what could have been". I refer, of course, to Danny Gokey's untimely departure from American Idol. I was prepared for it, though that didn't keep me from crying. Yes, there were a few real tears shed. I know I should be embarrassed that I cried about American Idol. My youngest two were laughing at me. Thanks a lot, guys. But Tate, the sensitive type, offered to buy me Danny's CD when it comes out.

We're all glad Kris is in the Finale, though. Emmie was jumping up and down screaming. I appreciate his humility. No need to follow Simon's advice to be cocky like him. Even if we didn't adore his voice and his spin on every song he sings, I always love an underdog.

I'm feeling like I am in an unhealthy relationship with American Idol. Does anyone else feel like there is some serious manipulation going on? Last year there was Simon's claim that David Archuleta had a "knock out" of David Cook in last years Finale, when it a) that was not at all true and b) it seemed more like a ploy to inspire Cook fans and Archie-haters to vote for Cook.

Now this year, we've got the judges drooling over Adam Lame-bert. I know he's really not lame, but it just makes me feel better to say it. If he really is a "rock god", won't we figure that out for ourselves? We don't need "experts" to tell us who to vote for. And we certainly don't need Katy Perry wearing it in rhinestones (Puh-leaze!). If you LOVE Adam, I respect that. He is cool. He is talented. As for me, I don't mind the guy-liner. I'm okay with the black nails. And I totally dig his hair. But I just don't love his voice. If I want someone to hit those high notes, Mariah Carey is still alive and well.

Simon, go to counseling. You need to stop trying to control the viewing public. And while you are at it, get over yourself.

We Salute You

It is such a loss to me that me kids don't have their Granddaddy anymore. He died when they were 5, 2, and 4 months. Tate is the only one with genuine memories of him and those are fading. But even in his absence, their love and honor for him continues to grow.

The 5th graders have a big spring project. They do a research paper on a historical figure, present it in class, create a display board and dress up as that character in a Wax Museum for family and other students to walk through. Tate chose Jimmy Doolittle, a pilot who led the air raid on Tokyo in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Doolittle went on to become a General in the Air Force. This wasn't a random choice. Tate chose Jimmy Doolittle as a tribute to my Dad who was a pilot and a Lt. General in the Air Force.
He got to wear my Dad's uniform and hat. I can't begin to describe the feelings I had seeing Tate in it. He had a framed picture of my Dad at his table and he wrote the following words of explanation on it "I chose Jimmy Doolittle because my grandfather was a pilot and a General in the Air Force and I wanted to research someone in honor of him. My grandfather was a big inspiration to work hard and persevere. I wish he was here." Be still, my beating heart.

Below he is in Wax Museum form. The characters would come to life if you asked them questions about the person they represented. He knows just about everything there is to know about James H. Doolittle.
He worked so hard on his display board. The vision was all his, and I just helped to tape things on. When we were all done he leaned back and sighed saying "Ahh, I love my project." What a blessing for him to know the satisfaction of a job well done.
Jack has been telling all the kindergartners about James H. Doolittle for weeks. Not the usual figure for a 6 year old to be into, but Tate's brother and sister were so proud of him...

Lt. General Martin G. Colladay, also known as Daddy and Granddaddy, your legacy lives on. You are a worthy hero. We are proud to have belonged to you. I, too, wish you were here. I know you would have been proud of Tate as well.