"Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow"

Before.....
During.....
and after!
Today, we took Gabi and Alex to Sweet and Sassy which is an adorable salon just for girls. I was feeling brave- and allowed the stylist to give Gabi bangs, which she has not had in her entire life. To be honest, I'm not loving it- but maybe I just need to get used to it? After hair, the girls had a mini-manicure. What a great way to spend the day!

Waiting for their nails to dry!

Welcome 2008

Happy New Year to One and All! I am so hopeful for the many things to come this year.

If all goes as planned (God willing) this will be a full year for us.

- PRAYING for the arrival of our daughter in March.
-Howie celebrates a milestone bday in March as well.
-Nicki graduates from high school in June.
-Nicki leaves for college in Aug.
-Gabi starts Kindergarten in Sept.

I am so full of hope for our family, as well as for our loved ones.

May this be known as "The Year of the Baby" for all of us waiting!!!

Hip, Hip, Hip HOOORAY!!!

Congratulations to Jodie, Brent, and family. Tonight they welcomed home baby Nate. He is soooo adorable, and they are just such a perfect family. I just LOVE the miracle of adoption. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!!!!

From Our Home to Yours....Merry Christmas!!

Milk & Cookies for Santa. Carrots for Reindeer. Santa Came!!!!

Special Christmas Wishes.....

.....to Gabi...from Aunt Michelle and the kids. How CUTE is this? Gabi's Aunt Michelle (her birthmom's sister) took the most ADORABLE pictures of her kids, and Gabi's two oldest siblings for her. The kids made Gabi signs that say "Merry Christmas" and "I Love You". Yep, I'm crying as I write this. I feel like the luckiest adoptive parent in the world! Thank you so much, Michelle!

From Left to Right: Erica (sister), Alyssa (cousin), Ashley (sister), Aunt Michelle, Caitlyn (cousin), and Andrew (cousin)

Gooooo Penn State!

OMG OMG OMG!!!! "No. 1 Nittany Lions Capture Second NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship"!!!!! I just can't believe it! Last night, a moment came along that happens once in a lifetime! I was able to watch one of my former students play her heart out on ESPN2 in a NCAA Championship game- and they WON!!! I was sobbing as I watched, remembering Alyssa as a mere 8th grader sitting in my office talking about the possibilty of attending a Big 10 college on a volleyball scholarship. Words can't explain how proud I am of her!!!!!!!!

I'm ABOUT to BURST!

Pending verification from STAR---We are MATCHED! We have been found by the MOST AMAZING birth mom! You know that feeling when you talk to someone for the first time, yet you feel like you have known them forever? That's how it is with Angela. She is sooooo easy to talk to. Okay-- here are all the details:

Thursday AM: Called STAR to get some support- was feeling defeated and down about the possibility of EVER being parents again.

Thursday afternoon: Received a call on our 800 number from Angela. Spoke for about 10 mins. She indicated that she was 6 months pregnant. Was unsure of using a newspaper ad to connect with an adoptive family. She seemed relieved when I told her we were also working with an agency. Told her the next step would be for her to call STAR. As soon as we hung up, she called them! :)

Friday AM (11:19 am): Angela called again to tell us that she was choosing us. She had seen our profile online and felt comfortable after speaking with STAR.

Sooooo- at this point it looks like all systems are "Go". Of course we know that anything can happen, but I am "Helplessly Hopeful" that this IS IT! Hopefully, STAR will get her paperwork back from her tomorrow and can review it. FINGERS CROSSED!

Please pray for Angela and her strength throughout this process. Thanks!

Ohhh AND one more thing....... she found out yesterday that she is having a GIRL!

:) I LOVE PINK! :)