Stairs & Trim are Done!

Rob finished Nicole's stairs to her room this week. They look great!
He carpeted them and everything. Both cats have been up there, but
I love the bottom right photo of Ollie...he looks bothered by the entire
thing. Tarzan, Nicole's cat, isn't quite sure about this new arrangement.
He still prefers to sleep in Nicole's old room...he thinks the vacant Queen
size bed is just for him to enjoy! We still have some painting and touch
up to do...but for the most part we are done! YEAH!

Nicole's 2nd Annual End of the Summer Party!

Everyone trying to fit up in her room! It worked and it held everyone!

Water ballon toss turned "bad"!

Nicole, Cousin Lindsay, Bailee, Nancy, Christine, & Lauren!
Go Reynolds Raiders!

Mom & Dad's 45th Anniversary!

Not many people can say that their parents have been married 45 years!
Happy Anniversary Dad & Mom!

Family dinner!

The girls and their grandparents!

Debbie and her parents and girls!

The Happy Couple! Congratulations!

The Oregon State Fair!

Nicole and Amanda spent Monday at the Oregon State Fair with their grandparents. They made a very long day out of it. They started out at 9 in the morning and didn't get home until after 11pm! They had a great time...here is just a few photos from their time together.

Here is Papa and Amanda dancing at the Disney Radio Concert at the state fair on Monday. This is priceless!

The girls had a great time at the fair with their grandparents!

Thanks a lot mom and dad!

We've Been Tagged!

The Rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (If you don’t have a blog, email me)
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

We are going to post 2 random facts each about every member of the house!

Amanda:

1. I have over 70 giraffes in my room. All different shapes and sizes. I have collected them since I was 5 yrs old.

2. I love to cook and collect cookbooks. I have 5 cookbooks and hope to get more. I like to try new recipes.

Rob:

1. I saw the Sweet Comfort Band Farewell Tour in Tacoma, Washington when I was in high school. And for you young-ens that was the group that Bryan Duncan was in before he went solo.

2. I have over 350 Hot Wheels cars, some from my childhood, and one that is worth over $200 dollars. My favorite one is called Flash Sider, which is a 56 Chevy Pick up, like my first truck. (SIDE NOTE FROM DEBBIE: I do not understand this obsession...nor do I condone it! Why buy something that you are never going to take out of the package and look at or play with???)

Extra credit from Rob: I am metro-sexual!

Debbie:

1. I hate rodents! Infact, I am scared to death of the things. Rob has tried to tell me for 20+ yrs now that they are more scared of me than I am of them, but I fail to agree with him. And, the worst thing is...Rob cannot KILL the things. (He says this is a bonus point for him!) He catches them in a box, and takes them and frees them! It makes me soooo mad! I have been known to stand on a toilet when I was a kid with my mother and scream, almost jump into Rob's arms, and loose sleep over the stupid things. I know it makes no sense logically, but I can't seem to convince myself otherwise!

2. I attract old people! I can be in a grocery store, restaurant or just about anywhere and end up having to help some older person, or they ask me for help. And the awful thing is...if I see an older person in need...I have to help them or I feel so guilty that it consumes me. It was awful when both of my grandparents lived in retirement homes. I ended up doing all sorts of things that normal people just don't do! I can't help myself!

Nicole:

1. I have one leg longer than the other...my right leg.

2. I hate milk and cereal and don't eat either...with one exception. I can only eat life cereal with a tad bit of milk.


Now we have to tag eight people! We would like to hear from
Greg , Mel , Rachel , Dunlops , Sheldons , and that is all we could come up with! So...now you are it!

Beach...Lighthouses..Relaxing!

Last week while Rob was recooping from his "nose job", we went with my folks to the Lincoln City area to rest and relax. We did some shopping, exploring, sightseeing, watched movies and went swimming. We had a great time. Lately Nicole has become really interested in light houses so we went and explored a couple in that area. Pictured are Yaquina Head in the upper left corner, and Yaquina Bay in the bottom right corner. We had a great time!

We've Been Chosen!

We are soooooo excited! We received a phone call yesterday stating that we have been chosen for our first committee! What does that mean you ask? We are one of three families that are being considered as a forever family for a 7 yr old boy. His name is Luis...he is darn cute! He is hispanic, loves the outdoors and his favorite thing is FOOD! The committee meets sometime near the end of September and then makes a decision as to who would be the best match to meet Luis' needs.

We are trying to not get too excited incase we are not chosen...but it is very difficult. Please pray with us for Luis that God will give him the perfect place to call home.

Nicole Moved IN!!!

This has been a long process that started back in May! And we are happy to say that we are almost completely done...all she needs is a ladder! Nicole loves her new space!

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Rob's Nose Job!

OK...so he really had sinus surgery...but a nose job sounds better don't you think? Rob is home and recovering slowly from his surgery last week. The procedure took about 3 hrs, and he was in the recovery room about 45 minutes. They were able to fix the deviated septum, and clean out all four parts of his sinus. (The Maxillary - in the cheekbones, the Ethmoid - between the eye sockets, the Frontal - in the forehead and above the eyebrows, and the worse... the Sphenoid - deep in the head at the back of the nose). In other words the doctor told him he would feel like someone beat him up for about a week or two and have a horrid headache, but then he should be better!
Today they took out the splints in his nose, that were holding the septum straight, and he had already pulled out the frontal packing himself, so she just had to "suck" out the remaining dissolving packing that hadn't all dissolved yet! He thought he was going to die! But...he lived to tell about it! All and all he is doing pretty good! He has the next week or more off work still...no lifting...no exercising...nothing strenuous! He is loving that!
Thanks for thinking and praying for Rob! He'll be back to his old self in no time...but with a better nose!

Adoption Education 101!

This is something that has been heavy on my heart since we started this adoption journey so many months ago. And since this is my blog...I get to state my opinion! First let me say that I must thank a friend of mine for encouraging me to stand up for my child or children before they arrive, because it will only make it that much easier when they finally do get here. (Thank you Linda!) I believe sometimes as Christians we tend to "critisize" outloud, before we really think about what we are saying. This is not ment to hurt anyones feelings, but rather to educate all of us in this new journey that God has put before Rob and I.

The Bible says the following...
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, .....The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.--- Matthew 25:35,40

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.---1 Samuel 1:27

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.--- Matthew 18:5 (my favorite)

The Gift of Life

I didn't give you the gift of life,

But in my heart I know.

The love I feel is deep and real,

As if it had been so.

For us to have each other

Is like a dream come true!

No, I didn't give you The gift of life,

Life gave me the gift of you.--- Unknown

LEGACY OF AN ADOPTED CHILD
Once there were two women who never knew each other

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
Two different lives shaped to make you one

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it

The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name

One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears
One made an adoption plan, that was all that she could do

The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.

Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?

Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.---- Unknown

If you are still with me, I just want all of you to know the following,

-Yes, we know this is not going to be easy every day.

-Yes, we have thought this through, and prayed a lot about this.

-Yes, we have not gone crazy.

-Yes, we know our life is going to be different than it is now.

-Yes, we are excited.

-Yes, we are going to do all we can to protect, love, nurture and encourage our new child(ren).

All this said...we are excited! And we hope that you can join us in this exciting journey that God has set before us. Pray for us, pray for our son(s), as Barry says....PRAY!!!

Thanks for listening...and of course...this is just my opinion!

Girls Playing at Rob's Mom's House

I must first start by saying that Gramma Harding brought out her wedding dress and veil last time we visited. She was hoping that it might be something that the girls would want to wear someday. Not a chance...sorry Gramma!

Always a bridesmaid...never a bride!
Practising the walk!
Doesn't she look delicious!
She is just a beautiful cake!

Two beautiful girls!
The bride!
Dad got a little "teary eyed"!
The girls just "loved" the big rose flowers on the veils!
What a silly time was had by all!