Say goodbye to the 80's

I have never been more happy to see carpet go in my life.  When we moved into our house almost every carpeted room had this hideous salmon colored carpet in it.  Our bedroom was the last to go.

I am planning to do a new color theme over Christmas break maybe new curtains, paint, rug, and bedding but am happy just to have the carpet gone for now.

We did this same flooring in several rooms but I only have pictures of a few so far.

Family room before

Family room after.

I am so happy we did this.  It is so much easier to clean.  Next up the kids rooms and upstairs hall pictures.

15 Months

Waiting 15 months today (insert the sound of a sigh)  I know we were quoted 20 months but I really just thought they way things were looking at the beginning of the year we would have had our referral by now.  I guess that is the thing about adoption, it is always changing and unpredictable.  

Things are still moving, in fact our agency just got 3 new referrals (and they skipped us twice again by giving referrals to those with HSTK dates after ours)  

I know, I know, I am waiting for MY baby, God has the perfect baby picked out for our family but sometimes the waiting just SUCKS! 

I am hoping this 3 referrals every other month continues....but Korea is moving their capital out of Seoul to a neighboring city in December and this move could cause a major delay with the Ministry of Child welfare while they relocate.  This is a major move 2.5 hours through the city.   They have already said to expect EPs to slow down and when EPs slow down....so do referrals.

On a brighter side Jeff and I were shopping for some new furniture and this little treasure was sitting right there in the furniture store for me. 

I have been bugging Jeff about buying me a rocking chair since this is my last baby to rock.   I saw it from afar and thought it looked smaller than normal rockers and would be perfect but also saw the big bold $800 so never moved in closer.  When we went to finalize our couches I walked right buy it and saw the $800 was crossed out and the clearance price was $199 YAY!!!!  The salesman said it had been there forever because it was too small for everyone.  It is a beautiful solid wood Kincaid piece that I'm excited to use one day and will be awesome to hand down to my kids as well.  

Letters to my son: How to be a gentleman

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Dear Son,

We have a culture that has embraced the feminist movement where many girls try to prove they can do it themselves or may even seem offended if you open the door for them.  I say chivalry is not dead!!!!  More boys need to be raised to be gentleman.

Gentlemen:

• Speak with gentleness and honor.  You don't really have a temper but learn to control an anger so that disagreements can be handled by talking it out not yelling it out.
• Hold the door for a lady (even the car door) and allow a lady to pass first.  You can always practice on your mom :)
• Use table manners
• Don't fart or burp in front of a lady
• Help a girl when they are struggling with something heavy
• HAND OVER THEIR UMBRELLA WHEN IT IS RAINING to a lady or hold it for her
• Stand when a lady enters a room

Keep in mind the word Gentleman is self explanatory or how to act - GENTLE!

So give it a try as you grow over the next few year.  Practice here and there until it becomes habit.  Your future wife will thank me.

Letters to my son: She kicked me

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Dear Son,

The girls are beating you up....what to do????  This is a tough one.  You grew up with many of these girls playing sports, games, and wrestling.  Pushing them down, beating them up with a pool noodle used to be normal childhood play.

Now you are in middle school and the girls still kick you and hit you.....and it is frowned upon to kick and hit them back.  What is a guy to do???  Well don't just take it....dodge those swings run if you have to but let them know you can no longer hit and kick back so they are not permitted to treat you that way either.

If that doesn't work tell Mom and I will have a talk with their Mama's :)

Love you,
Mom

Letters to my son: Choose your friends wisely

Dear son,

Choosing friends over the next few years might be some of the most important decisions you make.
Middle school and high school years are full of pressures from friends.

Mom has told you many stories how in the end your friends may not be by your side.  They may just leave you in the ditch...literally (remember the story).

There may not be any stronger pressure than that of your friends trying to get you to participate with them in wrong actions (drinking, drugs, sex).

Resisting these pressures that you know are wrong makes you into a man of honor and integrity. Giving into their persuasions and going along makes you a fool and coward for not standing up for what you believe.

Stay strong and make sure your friends lead you down the right path and if not you do not need them as friends.

Love you,
Mom

A different kind of boating weekend

Last weekend was a beautiful weekend for boating.  Jeff took the day off on Friday to spend the weekend on his boat and the kids and I joined him when possible via car.

Friday night Jeff docked close to restaurant and after work and school for me and the kids we drove down to meet him for a nice dinner.  The evening was beautiful.

It was a perfect evening for just sitting and enjoying the view

The next morning after soccer we met Jeff at a near by planation for a tour and just to enjoy the day

 Meeting Dad on the dock to walk up to the plantation

A beautiful mass of American Lotus flowers

Getting educated on the courting candle - we may need to get one of these

Banana being shown how the boys would carry buckets of water into the house several times a day

On the roof 

 If you look close you can see the mast of our boat above the first tree line.

The kitchen outside the main house

 Carrot informed us that she just wanted to live that life SO BADLY....marry well my girl that is all I can say :)

 Jeff with is boat in the background

 Enjoying an afternoon stroll on the grounds before we went to the boat for the night

 Carrot likes to bring fresh flowers on the boat for decorations

I enjoyed a relaxing evening of crocheting and being served while soaking up the sun on a beautiful autumn day.