MY FAVORITE PARK

Yesterday the girls were out of school & David was in bed sick so I wanted to get them out of the house so he could sleep in peace. I called my friend Anne who is always up for anything & we headed to my favorite park in Lakeland. It's about a 45-50 minute drive but it is well worth it once you get there...although there were a few moments in the car when we were rethinking it:) We had a 12yr old (who had her earphones in the whole time), two 4 yr olds (one who doesn't speak complete English BUT loves to talk & sing non stop), a 7yr old, 6 yr old and baby Enzo who is around 8 months...Now that should give you a little of the dynamics going on in my car! I will just leave it at that.

We stopped and got McDonald's and took It to the park & had a picnic & then played for 4 hours! Yes that's right, the kids were having so much fun we stayed at the park for 4 hours! And in that 4 hours I took 93 pictures:) I will not bore you with all 93 but I do have several I want to share.  ENJOY

This is their "we did it" pose.

Winter wonderland at the zoo

We all had fun with some friends last night at the zoo. It wasn't as cold as I would have liked( there's just something wrong with looking at Christmas lights in shorts!)

Madison was very curious about Santa, she touched his beard & hat!

our friend Haidyn

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Just Dance !

I have never laughed so much in my life last night watching Madison play "just dance"with McKinley & her friend Abby. She was really good & oh so cute!  So of course I will share a little video:)

We are taking the girls to the winter wonderland at the zoo tonight. David & I took Madison to the zoo in China so I know she has been to the zoo before but She hasn't seen it full if Christmas lights and an ice slide:) Don't worry I will have my camera in tow!


Happy Thursday!
Melissa

What it's all about

I captured this picture the other day & as I look back at it I thought This is it ,This is what it's all about!

I think the picture says it all...

INDULDGE ME, PLEASE!

Can I just take a moment to brag on my "middle" for a moment. McKinley entered a speech contest at school a few weeks back & she made it through the first round, then went onto the 2nd round & I found out a few days ago that she will be 1 of 4 representing Bell Shoals Academy in February against other schools... I am SO very proud of her! I can't take any credit, She is so much like her dad & Morgan is the one who is like me:). I went to cheer her on last Friday & she was visibility nervous but she got up there & did it anyway! Wow, she really amazes me!

Today the first graders sang in chapel & she had a little solo (that I wasn't aware of until yesterday) We were outside playing & I said " what are you signing tomorrow?" McKinley said "well i wanted to be a cheerleader, but my teacher said I would be a better soloist... Excuse me, You are doing a solo? Yep", and then she went back to riding her scooter as if it was no big deal. Now to me anything I have to do in public is A BIG DEAL! I am a "behind the scenes" kinda gal and it's just so funny to me how all three of my girls are so different in their personalities.  Now her is a few pictures from this morning.

I love you, McKinley Grace!

It's Official

Well, Madison is all signed up for VPK! She will be starting school 3 days a week for 3 hrs a day in January. I really believe she needs this in order start kindergarten in the fall. Plus, she is such a quick learner and I think she will learn SO much.

Let me go back to last week when we went to the school for a tour & to get information. I told Madison what we were doing ahead of time because for most adopted children, knowing what is going to happen at all times helps them to feel safe. So we always try and explain to her where/what we are doing. Sometimes she understands & sometimes she doesn't. We walked in & she was smiling & happy  but once the tour started & the director took us to the snack room (this is a big room with small round tables & chairs) Madison's demeanor changed. The room was full of 4 yr olds eating snacks & the three teachers all had on little smocks, walking around talking to the children. We believe this brought back some bad memories for Madison because she immediately started crying BIG tears, shaking her head no & backing out of the room. You talk about something that will break your heart. I picked her up & explained to her as best I could that we were NOT taking her back to an orphanage & we would NEVER leave her . We would always come back to get her. She slowly calmed down as we went on from room to room as David showed her some toys & art supplies she would be able to play with.

After we left she kept saying "no school, no school." I honestly never expected her to react his way but after we left I told David that it did have a lot of similarities to her orphanage, the "nannies" all had on blue smocks the day I went to visit her orphanage & all the kids in one big room, etc. It also had a lot of gates and security just like the VPK school we visited.

I spent the rest of that day talking with Madison about what school was and that she would go to learn her ABC's, sing, play, eat a snack & then Mommy would come get her. I also reminded her that just like we take Morgan & McKinley to school and every afternoon we go pick them up, that is what we would do with her. Once I told her that, she perked up and then started asking if she could go to school, and she has asked everyday since to go to school:)

I really like the school & feel a peace that this is where she should be. I cannot wait to see how much her English grows in the next few months.

She was "vacuuming" with a light saber:)

Blessings-

Melissa

Sandy Hook

As I am sure everyone is, I have been heart broken from the events that happened on Friday. Having a 1st grader myself, As Mckinley fell asleep last night & I was laying next to her praying, as I was thanking God for her safety I was heart broken for the 20 parents who no longer have their children.

Someone sent me this poem this morning & said it brought her some hope so I thought I would share it-






twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled wit

h such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."