Honey!

Not this kind of HONEY... :)

 But... This Kind...


....ever since this little one...


 could talk she called her BIG SIS - HONEY! I don't really even remember how it all started.  Maybe Kinz overheard Erik and I calling each other Honey, we aren't really sure.... But, just like HONEY - it stuck! :)  Soooo.... all of us call the BIG Teenager of the house, HONEY! :) I ♥ LOVE ♥ it! I LOVE that Kinz came up with a little nickname all by herself for her sister and I LOVE that she still calls her that today!

Honey... isn't that little bird on the swing anymore! Each day I watch her change... growing more independent, more mature, more focused on her future and our AMAZING Father!

Yesterday - I grabbed Honey early from school and we went and had lunch together, her choice...


Lunch was YUMMMMY... it was our first time trying BUBBLE Tea - Honey wasn't tooooo sure about the blackish tapioca at the bottom of her beverage (that must have been the 'bubble' part of the tea) :)  We shared a Mango Bubble Tea Smooooothie! :) I thought it was pretty delish - even with the big tapioca pieces! :)  We chatted about school, friends and stuff and then it was that TWO YEAR long wait she had been anxiously awaiting... The ortho appointment to remove all that metal in her mouth!!! Wehooooooooooooooo! SO EXCITING!!!

We drove to the appointment and I came in and read magazines (and tried to peeeeeeeek and see the 'NEW' Honey).  After about 60 minutes - she was done! ...and I was Whoooooping it up BIG TIME in the ORTHO office (I forget how easily teenagers get embarrassed! ha ha! - pretty much everyone in the office knew THIS crazy Momma was EXCITED!!!) WOWIE! She looked SO good! What a TOTALLY FUN Day!!! ...I just couldn't STOP myself from snapping up a bazillion pictures of her!! ha ha!


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♥ GRANDMA ♥


 On October 2nd, 12 years ago - An AMAZING Women went to be with JESUS!  If there is anyone I would consider my MENTOR... an EXAMPLE.... What I want to be like when I grow up - it was my GRANDMA!!!
I want to ALWAYS recognize her Humble, Selfless, God-loving, AMAZING LIFE and CELEBRATE it!  Madison was able to get to know her Great Grammy Annie for a short period in her life but, unfortunately Kinz didn't get to meet her.  ...and because I was pregnant (after lots of struggles) with a high risk pregnancy I wasn't able to fly to Missouri with my Dad and Sister to say Good-bye. I was able to send them something to read at her funeral...

A Caring, Sensitive Mom
A Devoted, LOVING Wife
A One-of-a-Kind SUPER Sister
A Stand Up Terrific Aunt
and HANDS DOWN, the World's GREATEST GRANDMA!

Growing up I anxiously awaited each visit to Missouri to see Grandma.  I loved everything about going to see her.  I loved to catch fireflies with her and put them in a little jar and use them for a night light before we went to bed, I loved to eat lots and lots of her SPAGHETTI RED (I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner - in fact, I think I did), I loved to sit with her on the porch swing and talk to her about my hopes and dreams, I loved to listen to her stories of her childhood, I loved to listen AND see her incredible relationship with Grandpa and the LOVE they shared, I enjoyed hearing about the crazy things that my Dad and Jimmy George did when they were kids.  I enjoyed hearing about, and seeing the close bond she shared with her sisters, I loved to watch how she took such great care of so many people.  She was an AMAZING person!

One time Grandma even had Nanakitty and Aunt Mary pull the car over to pick up a couple turtles off the side of the road, so that when I came to visit I would have a couple pet turtles to play with.  She kept those little turtles - fed them and took care of them for months before I came to visit!  She was always thinking of how to make other people happy - and boy when I saw those turtles I was thrilled!

As I grew up she taught me SO much!  I learned to forgive, I learned not to hold a grudge, I learned to give freely and selflessly of myself when someone is in need, I learned to work hard at whatever I do, I learned to be patient... I learned to LOVE!  I learned to stay FOCUSED on JESUS! I learned SO many life lessons from her as she illustrated her life to me!  I was able to look at Grandma and see just the type of person I wanted to BECOME.

Now that I am older and I am married and have daughters of my own - I hope and pray that I can be the kind of mother she was, the kind of wife she was, the kind of sister she was, the kind of Aunt she was... and someday the kind of GRANDMA she was!

I will FOREVER and EVER cherish each moment I was able to spend with Grandma and I will always have the utmost respect, admiration and LOVE for her.

OCTOBER has really become a month to celebrate!  In remembrance of my GRANDMA - the cooooooolest person I think I have ever met in my entire life and the MIRACLE of MAKINZI! ...she was born 27 days after my Grandma died.(and guess what Kinz wants for her birthday this year.... a TURTLE!) ha ha! ♥


I would have LOVED to have shared with her about our adoption and this AWESOME Path God has led us on! There have been a LOT of times in my life when I wish I could pick up the phone and call her.  I'm sure she is up in HEAVEN celebrating each referral and will do a HAPPY Dance once we get ours and get to bring our daughterl(s) home! :) 
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FAMILY ♥ FALL ♥ FUN

...It feels like in years past I have been a little lazy about decorating for the Holiday's.  This year I decided to get out the Halloween stuff and surprise the girls after school! :)  It was FUN!  Kinzi LOVES all the decorations.  I was excited to pick them up and bring them home...  Tonight Madison didn't have GROUP LIFE (which is a bummer because she absolutely LOVES it) But... between softball and Church functions we find it a little tricky to sit down for dinner at a normal time and share a meal!  Last night, we DID! Erik and I cooked up a storm and since it was soooo nice out we sat out on the back porch... just our little family! It was GREAT! It was Fun to see which direction our table topics went from:  What God thinks about Homosexuality to a persons Nationality to Homecoming, Geometry and the FALL Fair at school AND adopting and bringing home their sister(s)...  I LOVE CONVERSATIONS with my GIRLS!
 

 This was their favorite part - I made them pose for a few pics! ha ha! So I could 'SPOOKAFY' them a little :)  


This Morning we had THIS for breakfast!!! YUMMMY! I remember these cereals as a kid!!! I LOVED THEM! :)


This weekend.... we're going to have to make our way to a pumpkin patch and get some REAL ones to carve! :)

 

This is just a  picture of our pet peacocks!! :) We were all feeding them last night - they are SO pretty! :) ...and they just hang out in the yard - every once and a while they come a little tooooo close to the house and leave some lovely PORCH POO for us to clean up! :) ...but all in all they are pretty cool pets! :)


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A GOD STORY...

...While we wait nine months to a year to bring home our daughter(s) - It really pales in comparison to having to wait 3 LONG years and a witness a horrific earthquake and then have to LEAVE your son and go back home - to FIGHT to bring their sweet boy HOME!  This IS a GOD story - I believe Each and Every adoption story is! This story touches my heart now and during their process of bringing home their son... we were informed of the Howerton's adoption and were able to pray for them as a CONGREGATION at Mark's brother's church OCC. This GOD Story was shown on TOGETHER FOR ADOPTION.  This story has encouraged me!


I hope this encourages you in your WAIT for your child, or Inspires you to CARE for the ORPHANS or gives you the eyes to see how AMAZING our GOD is!!


Mark and Kristen Howerton tell their family’s stories of adoption (Kristen was one of our Featured Bloggers). While in the process of adopting from Haiti, Kristen was in Haiti visiting their son when the earthquake hit. Their story is a God story. Let it be an encouragement to you that although we most often do not see God at work in our stories, 
He most certainly is.





God Story: The Howerton Family from ROCKHARBOR on Vimeo.
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I Go to the Beach to Breathe

I think the AIR is clearer, more calm - peaceful at the BEACH - I can BREATHE there! :) No dishes, laundry, driving all over the place... It has really been a retreat for our family to spend quality time with each other... stand in front of the MASSIVE ocean and enjoy God's CREATION!!




Since I was a kid, Cannon Beach has always been one of my favorite places to visit.  Whether it is raining, snowing, windy or clear and sunny - I ♥ LOVE ♥ any Day at the Beach and I love sharing it with my family and friends!!  ...this trip actually ended up being a SPUR of the MOMENT trip since Kinzi's Softball Tournament was Rained Out in Salem, Oregon - we decided to venture to Cannon Beach to make a little Vacation out of it.  Erik drove will I googled and called everyone to check their availability for a FUN, LARGE Group for ONE Night! :)  ...We found a little A-frame house (totally overpriced) but, it worked out great for Me and Erik, Madison and Ida and June to have a room and Kara and Kinz slept on a roll out couch! It was a little rainy when we got there (okay, actually it was pretty blustery and a bit of a down pour) - but, when we woke up on Sunday it was GORGEOUS!! Thank you GOD! :)  It was a MUCH needed LITTLE getaway! :)  I feel READY to start a brand new week now... REFRESHED and Renewed!! :)



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♥ Gotta Watchya a couple GOTCHYA Videos! ♥


I LOVE each and every one of these GOTCHYA Videos that have been made - each child that gets brought HOME!


The SMITH FAMILY bring home BROTHERS! ...and bring me to tears with their smiles!



Blessings of a Burdened Heart from smith on Vimeo.
 

Thank you DUNLAP FAMILY for sharing your AMAZING Journey to Yohannes! ♥





I don't think I can watch one of these AMAZING GOTCHYA Videos without tears just rolling down my cheeks! It is AWESEOME to see how GOD creates FOREVER FAMILIES!
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SHOP and GIVE with PURPOSE this YEAR!

WOWIE!!! This IS SO INCREDIBLY AMAZING!!!!  

One of my dear friends at...


...with the help of her SUPER Sister-in-law, has created CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!!! Seriously! HONESTLY - No need to leave your office, room, den, kitchen, bedroom, phone... THIS IS where IT'S AT!!!  :)  I would get started now... or PASS ON THIS INCREDIBLE 'IDEA' this YEAR... To make your GIFT GIVING - GIVE back!!! ...You are a HAPPY consumer and your recipient will FEEL Sincerely BLESSED; That WHAT you purchased went towards an ORGANIZATION, ADOPTION, MINISTRY or an OUTREACH to HELP those in NEED!!

We may not all be pursing adoption personally -  but... GOD has TOLD all of us to CARE for the widows and the orphans and the POOR and the NEEDY!! 

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.


Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

 Isaiah 1:17
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.


If you would like YOUR fundraiser to be added to this list, please email Miss Mamamimi herself at bringourangelhome@gmail.com

Apparel:


Cookbooks:



Jewelry:


Bags & Totes:


Hair Accessories:


Artwork:


Christmas:


Aprons:


Misc:


If you Go to Mamamimi's AWESOME BLOG -  DOMESTICATED DIVA - you can GRAB her BUTTON and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE - THANKS to one COOOL Chicka and her awesome Sister-in-law by providing such an AMAZING Resource!! 

HAPPY SHOPPING! :)


Photobucket

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CARING FOR THE ORPHANS

 
My Own Little World by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.

There's a child
Been abandoned out on the street
Now she's waiting for someone to be her miracle

There's a wife
Somewhere halfway around the world
Begging God for a litte girl she can call her own

Well, worlds collide
And colors fade
And a man and wifre
Brought their little girl home today

And there's one less
One less
One less broken heart in the world tonight
Yeah, there's one less
One less
There's one less broken heart in the world tonight

We are called
To the widows and the orphans
But it's easy to ignore their silent crys
Oh, but every single time
Somebody reaches into the darkness
Makes a choice to help the helpless
They let mercy save a life

And there's one less
One less
One less broken heart in the world tonight
Yeah, there's one less
One less
Yeah, there's one less broken heart in the world tonight

Well the truth is we are all the orphans
But love has left the 99 just to find the one

So let worlds collide
Colors fade
Let your life
Be the miracle today

One less
One less
One less broken heart in the world tonight
Tonight I know there's one less
One less
One less broken heart in the world tonight

One less child without a home
One less birthday gone forgotten
One more soul rising from the bottom

One less night alone
One less child without a home
One less birthday gone forgotten
One more soul rising from the bottom

One less
One less
One less broken heart in the world tonight

 

...After finding this on a few of my 'BLOG' Buddies beautiful Blogs - I wanted to post it on mine as well... So, at a push of a button - I can hear the song and see the lyrics again and again! 

CARE FOR THE ORPHANS.
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OCTOBER CHANGES...

It has REALLY been an AWESOME month watching SO many people get their REFERRAL to their child - even MORE exciting is HEARING how MANY sweet children will NOW have a FAMILY - FOREVER!

Our New OCTOBER NUMBERS are...


WOWIE! We are in our 30's!!! YAHOOOOOO!! ♥ LOVE THIS! ♥
This number represents 34 FAMILIES bringing home an ORPAN! 
This Number represents 34 LITTLE GIRLS that will have a FAMILY FOREVER - SOON!! 

This number is where we are in OUR Wait for our little girl - TWO years old or younger. (what I have learned is that this age is all the way up to TWO years and 11 months and 29 days! :)) Which is even more encouraging and EXCITING that our little girl could be almost 3!



This number represents the SIBLINGS waiting to COME HOME!
SISTERS Together FOREVER with our FAMILY!

This Number is where we are in our wait for SISTERS - FOUR years old or younger! :)
We are PRAYING we get to GO to ETHIOPIA and BRING home TWO BEAUTIFUL SISTERS to be a part of our FAMILY FOREVER!

....Whatever GOD Chooses - we will be THRILLED - and LOVE ONE little GIRL or TWO!!!! We still are praying for the day that we get to me her (them) :) And continue to be OVERJOYED, EXCITED, and... okay a little IMPATIENT about the day our PHONE will RING with GREAT NEWS of a REFERRAL of our DAUGHTER or DAUGHTERS!!!

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Inspiring. Encouraging. Touching. AMAZING!

The RUSH family recently shared their GOTCHYA day video - I watched it to the beautiful music & like every GOTCHYA video, become SO tearful with the JOY and HAPPINESS a family can bring to a child who NEEDS them -


DESPERATELY Needs them!! ♥



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LALIBELA

 

Saturday was AWESOME At LALIBELA!  ...we didn't get to visit it personally. :) However, it looks like an AMAZING place to see and experience!!  I hope SOMEDAY to show our child(ren) LALIBELA and what it means to the ETHIOPIAN people...



We all DID get to EXPERIENCE a little bit of the ETHIOPIAN Culture as we shared an AMAZING MEAL TOGETHER!! How YUMMY does this look?  Mmmmm mmmmm!  I have to say this was only my second time ever enjoying these awesome creations! 
IT WAS SUPER DELICIOUS!!!


....What made it EVEN Better was being served by a BEAUTIFUL Ethiopian woman, listening to the music, looking at the art on the walls, AND sharing stories, asking questions to some INCREDIBLE AGCI-EHTIOPIAN - Adoption Families! ♥ (The TOTALLY Killer dudes aren't pictured - but they did captured this moment of us Girls!)  ☺I feel SO BLESSED to have met these incredible people and made FOREVER AND EVER FRIENDSHIPS!!  It is SO nice to bounce things off each other and support each other! ♥  XOX! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!


DOMESTICATED DIVA
IT'S GOD'S CHILD, WE JUST GET TO BE THE PARENTS  (missed you guys! :( Hope you are feeling better!!)
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GOING a little CRAZY!


Okay... so YESTERDAY at work, at home, in the office, doing paperwork, starting a new job, emailing, answering phone calls, scanning, and faxing stuff... I think i went a little CRAZY with all of the ACTION items happening at the exact SAME Time!! :) 


When it was finally time to go pick up the girls... I was SO Excited - to scooooot on out of here! :) ...Madison went to her friends and I grabbed Kinz and took her Pitcher/Catcher practice... once we got there we realized she misplaced her...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! So, we called, emailed, searched my car, Erik's car, the house... no Catcher's mit! :( We were SO bummed... they're PRICEY little things and it has taken FOREVER to work the mit in, until it is FINALLY usable.

TODAY...
I told myself, Erik and the girls... IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT DAY!!! ...First GOOD thing - We got an email from one of the Softball peeps that told us they picked up Kinzi's mit! PHEW!!!
and... this is where it gets a little CRAZY...
After I dropped the girls off at school I called a radio station to try to WIN concert tickets for the girls... (I have never ever gotten anything but a BUSY Signal - but felt like today was MY day to get through) Yep, about 6 tries into it and all I got was BUSY, BUSY, BUSY...
Then the next time I dial.... IT RINGS!!!!!

NO WAY!!!! I was TOTALLY EXCITED!! I didn't even give them a chance to SPEAK...I instantly yelled into the phone, "AM I CALLER 106??" OMIGOOOOODNESS!!! I'm SO EXCITED!!!! I NEVER WIN ANYTHING!" I'm CALLER 106 right?
This is what I hear, "HELLO?"
"YA YA YA I'm HERE!!!!"
There was a little bit of awkward silence...
He says, "WHAT?"
I said, "This is 106.1 right?"
"WHAT?"
The next thing I said was, "WHO IS THIS??"
Then... my goood ol husband at the other end of the phone - tells me "DARCEE, do you need a VACATION??" ha ha ha ha!!! I'm sure glad it's the weekend... I think you're starting to lose your mind!!!" :)
Omigooooooooodness - somehow I dialed HIM instead of the radio station - how did I do that?! HA HA! HA! We both just died laughing!!! and I can't help but...


I thought for SURE - I was the winner of...

CONCERT TICKETS!! :)

Well... anyway, it was a GREAT start to the day! :) It's SO much more FUN to create those SMILE lines than those FOREHEAD Ones. :)

HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

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