Pictues from the last couple of months...

And the beat goes on...

One year down for school counseling. I still LOVE it! I am so glad that I decided to make the change, of course this summer I have been busy with my first time with scheduling and boy does it have it's challenges. Richard is looking for a job. He has been on a couple of interviews but is still looking for a career move. He would love to get back into banking. Pray for us! We got to spend the 4th of July with my parents... we went to Ocean City which we have not been to in years. Ocean City has sure changed over the years... I still love Re

April Showers bring... It's May and still raining!

It is may and still raining here in Maryland. We have been ableto go out on the boat and catch are first trophy fish, o.k., first ever fish. The Tom and Kimball family has lost lots of fishing equipment out in the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, we were teasing each other on the boat saying that per pound this fish is more expensive than a huge tuna that is sold at the famous Japanese fish market. Now, Theo is home from Georgia Teach so we are gonna slap on the fishing gear again in this cold weather and attempt fishing on this mother's day weekend. My mom wants to picnic outside and I do not think that her wish will be coming true this weekend. We are just so happy to have all of our family back home safe and sound of a couple of weeks and more importanly within a hour driving distance.

Happy Mother's Day for all of the mother's and mom's to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Easter, Theo, our little bubble bee

Wishing you and your family a nice Easter!

(Theo this egg was made for you! Missing You!)

Happy Easter!

Our Lady bug Easter Egg and we hoping to have her home for next Easter. This is the egg that was made for you.

Here's to being Young.... and the family that I adore

GO NAVY Beat Army!!!! :)

Salute to all our men and women in the armed enforces that fight for are daily freedom!



Theo with his dearest friend! Thank goodness for Sally!

Having Fun!
My Little Bro is all grown up drinking a beer! It better be a German one!

Dad with one of his favorite girls (wearing the Chinese jade!) Hee!

Theo spending quality time with mom and dad in North Carolina in his third year at Georgia Tech. Go Yellow Jackets!

Theo and Mishel at a traditional Southern wedding in North Carolina at a historic bed and breakfast.

I am so very proud that both of my brother's serve for the United States Navy. They are one of the reasons that we are able to have our freedoms. I hope and pray that they had a wonderful night at their formal. Shel looks like a knock out! :)

My bro's 10th grades thoughts...

Jas, this is what you wrote in 10th grade.

Reaching My Goals

Get an education and stay in school is how I will

Rate my performance. I plan to improve where needed, and

Expect the unexpected in life. I will

Always get back up, when down, and try to

Teach others from my experiences. I plan to

Exchange ideas and thoughts, but I will not fear

Xenophobia. I plan to

Perform at my best, and

Excel in my work. I will

Control my life and be

Truthful. I will try to

Accept my weaknesses, and stay on

Target with my goals.

Information is the key to success and will result in

Opportunities.

Negative attitudes get one nowhere, so I will

Stand for what I believe in and go for my goals.

6 more credits for the impending adoption

Yesterday and today as Richard and I recommitted to the adoption process by continuing to learn and foster our growth in the adoption world. We decided as a couple that we would update our knowledge of adoption care. We signed up for a communications class where we learned or should I say became familiar again with "I Statements", the four danger signs of negative communication and different ways to handle family conversation. It was a great lesson and we actually went back and evalutated some our our last conversations in the last month. It was great to reflect on past conversations though at times it did feel very unnatural. Some things were brought to our attention that we need to work. This class was a spring board to have dialogue about the different ways we communicate with one another.

The second class that we took tonight online was on House Safety. After our fire inspection guy came and wrote us up for a minor infraction (not having our fire escape plan posted...let me mind you that I could have posted in 2.1 seconds... but was not allowed to and told that my soical worker could change the outcome upon her inspection of our home). I deemed it necessary that Richard and I revisit our home inspection and learn to "self-scout" out our home for ourselves. After taking the class, I must admit there are somethings that I have let slip out of my mind in the long...long wait for the adoption. We do have some clutter on our patio and I do need to recaulk Richard bathroom. There was also reminders of what to do with medicines and that second refridgators in the garage need to be locked. We also need to update our first aid kits in our car. I know these are all minor things but it was a good refresher course that at first I was not really wanting to take. It has opened up conversation about the little things in life that we tend to forget about.

Thanks for taking this journey with me Richard. I love our open little discussions.

Most Romantic Valentine's EVER!

It all started out as a normal Valentine's a cute card.... out for a special dinner when I recieved cute little cards.... I opened the first card and it was a scratch off that said when? where? and what? The when was within the year before next Valentines, the where was rent it and the what was a guy movie. Not, a great start but even the best wife's can sit through an occasional guy movie right. So... I guess I will have to use this coupon along with all of the great other coupons such as a great back massage. I do have to give Richard a "A" for creativity... we always talk about the different ways one can show love and it is not always by buying things. But with that said here is what he did... gave a pair of hoop diamond earrings, which I am taking back because of the unsafe claspe and Japanese. Yum! My absolute favorite. My second card said, "pack your bags we are going to Perry Cabin." I know that I live right by the place but I have NEVER been except for dinner one time. I have always dreamed of going there. The rooms were AMAZING! The service was AMAZING! Did I not feel like Cinderella in a fairy tale?


Mom, just to give you an idea... this is what was listed by Perry Cabin's Website. Copied from: www.perrycabin.com


Water View Master Suites
The Water View Master Suites are the most spacious and luxurious of all rooms at The Inn and feature spectacular views of the Miles River. The Suites have opulent sitting areas separated from the king bedded room by French doors, and offer the perfect setting for a tranquil retreat. Overstuffed sofas and suede chairs adorn the cozy sitting area where most are warmed by a working fireplace. The bedroom area features king beds in either an ostrich leather sleigh style or a traditional turned wood New England Bedstead. Spacious bathrooms are resplendent with Italian marble tile, dual vanities, custom-made mahogany closets, a separate shower and tub, plush robes, Frette linens, and Molton Brown amenities. The décor and mood is nautical, yet with a decidedly romantic ambiance.
The Suites offer a balcony, terrace or veranda and have beautiful water views of the picturesque St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River. For your convenience, mini-bars, pop-up televisions with built-in DVD players, fax machines and dual phone lines for easy Internet connection are in each room. Whether for business or pleasure these rooms are equipped to surpass your every need, tempting you to linger in the ultimate of comfort and convenience.
This was our view....

I could not ask for more... eating dinner with my hubby at the Sherwood Landing resturant. The dinner was named, "The Taste of the Chesapeake." The closest we have to five star dining in Maryland and esspecially the Eastern Shore. The the historic room their were flowers that that said " Do you want to"Make a Memory with me at the Bon Jovi concert on Feb. 28th? Love, Richard." Richard, not only do I want to make a memory with you at the Bon Jovi concert but you have made many of my dreams come true this weekend. Thanks for all of the special touches. You could not have chosen a special place and time. I love you and we will always "know how forever feels."

And...the sweet Manley girl more interested in the great conversation then in the game! We gotta love the beautiful girl! Though we can always pose with a football! Hee!

Super Bowl 2008 and the New York Gaints WIN!

Good Friends and god eats what more can one ask for! Thanks Amber, Tom and Aydan for hosting a super fun Superbowl party!!!!!!!!!

The Wagner Gals!

My Little Bro and his chick!

The Princess

Thinking of you!

Comment Graphics at pYzam.com

My furry baby and her cuz's!!!!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Boy, are we not ever ready for 2008! We have had our highs and lows of 2008. I finally got the job of my dreams as a school counselor through hard work and dtermination. We are still waiting for the arrival of our little one. This has been a long road. After much soul searching we are hoping that Richard has found a job that he will like and will continue to challenge him and he can grow with this company. Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2008! Here's to bringing home our babies!

What will we be doing for Chinese New Years! Mom and Dad want to celebrate Chinese New Years by going out this weekend instead of next by saying that trying to get Dim Sum will be to chaotic. I tend to agree, however we have committed to going to a Super Bowl party. I feel as though I have to go because Richard has always wanted to have a Superbowl party ever since before we got married (hmmm.... 7 years ago) and we have totally held off. So... I have been reading some of the Greater Washington Blogs and their seems to be alot in Northern Virginia so if Richard isn't busy paying "Uncle Sam" then mayube we will venture out and do one of those activites.

still waiting....

It has been over a year since I have posted. During that time I have recieved my GUCO degree and have even started a new job within the same school system. I do love my new job. It is many hours though the waiting for Haley to come home has taken its toll. We have renewed our finger prints and refiled for the I600A. Our friends J and L have had their little boy F home for several months now. They are so lucky and deserving to have such a wonderful little boy to call their own. He is the light of their life. He is SHEAR JOY! Several women are pregnant at work. It is very frustrating. It is also frustrating that several of them have had a baby and have now had a second baby in the time that we have been waiting. I know that God has a pupose and a plan and that we may not always know what the plan or purpose is. Many people continue to ask or are even afraid to ask about the adoption process. Many people say, "Oh.... you are still doing that?" Yes, I am still doing THAT! My brother brought a friend to the house the other night and wanted to show the room that he helped to add crown molding too, paint and decorate. He was so proud of the Lily Pultizer room that he had created. Frankly, I felt alittle silly, showing the room. Still has an empty crib, sheets that have not been changed in two years ever since the first social worker wanted the room decorated to take pictures. If a baby ever did sleep in the crib I would have to apologize for the two and some years worth of dust that is compiled on the bed. Now, that work has calmed down and school is over with I plan on working on this site so eventually I can use it... if and when we make it to China for friends and family to view. I also want to add pictures and a nice heading to make it more reader friendly. We will need to start looking in how to update and do some reading on blogging with blogger. I have read some great adotpion stories. Many I feel, at this point, are to good to be true. I had to contact my adoption agency (homestudy agency) and ask why it has been a month and we are still waiting on our I 171C. It is like that little saying goes "It's not the breaths that we take, it is the moments that takes our breath away." I am anxiously waiting for that day to see you, hold you and smell you. You will be the love of my life like my parents, your daddy and you.

More Baby Moon Pics!

See Haley your Mom and Dad did have a life before you! Though very little because we were waiting for your arrival!

Two fantastic Baby Moons this summer!

Richard and I had the opportunity to take two very special baby moons this summer. The first one was cheesy, but some thing I always wanted to do...the Poconos in PA! The other was a sophisticated historic inn in Ash ville, North Carolina that I have been reading about in the Southern Living magazine. The spa was amazing! Several grottoes with hot and cold pools, fresh mint water, relaxing spa music playing under the water. I can not say enough about the Grove Park Inn and Spa in Ashe ville, North Carolina. We were greeted by a top hat concierge that got our luggage out of the car, followed by champagne and roses in our mountain view room. It was the perfect setting and for those history buffs I would truly recommend seeing the arts and crafts decorations of this Inn. Not to mention the Biltmore... what a fantastic mansion for that time.

And that my friends was 8 months ago...

We are still waiting... 18 months and counting... not including the six months of paperchasing and the waiting on the domestic side of the adoption process. Not bitter just waiting....longing....with much anticipation...

My cousin's Steven WONDERFUL CHINESE WEDDING with American touches and many Chinese touches. What a great way for our family to reconnect with each other! A wedding of a life time!!!!

One of our favorite places in October...the beach!

Exactly one year since we thought we would be a family of four, but currently still a family of three! Chessie is waiting for you too, Haley!

chessie getting use to a baby... Jen K. baby

A belated post from the Garambone's +1 in belly from last year!