Friday, November 16, 2007
Our little Pilgrim had a big day!!!!
Mrs. Gullman and Ainsley
Ainsley's hard work paid off for her first 100% on both her spelling and bonus words!!!Ainsley and her class did a fantastic job today! It was so fun to see them put on their first Thanksgiving Play together. They were so excited and they did a great job! Ainsley shared the stage with her friend Jeremiah and closed the show with this:
- "We thank God for this land and for the friends he brought us. We praise God for the harvest and all that He has taught us."
The reason I am sharing Ainsley's spelling test here is because this one has a story behind it.
Every week she has done well on the ten spelling words that she is expected to know. But, she has not been very motivated to go the extra mile to also learn the bonus words. After much discussion with us after last weeks test, she really worked hard studying all 15 words. We talked about the importance in life of doing your best, which in some cases includes going above and beyond what you are asked to do! So, needless to say she was pretty excited to show us this test today! Grandpa - are you reading this?
Happy weekend! We have a busy one! I will post pictures of the dedication on Monday!
Blessings, Diana
A day in the life with Her Rubiness!
Thinking about the Water Cooler!
Swifting the Floors is Ruby's favorite thing to do these days!
Favorite cabinet to open and close, open and close, open and close...
And Dump!!!!
How did I know that the Christmas tree was going to be "fun" this year?
Keep in mind, this tree is not at our house! Her lips were red after this picture!
Her Rubiness reacts after she dumps 500 straws on the floor!
5 Minutes Later trying to figure out how to get OUT!Mom, now you know why I sounded so distracted when you called last night!!!!! Ruby is in constant motion. It really is comical to watch her in action around here. She just makes me laugh!!! Jeff and I keep saying we don't remember Ainsley being this way. I am sure she was, we are just too old and too tired to remember!!!! Basically, Ruby is my cardio class every day!
What a constant joy and breath of fresh air she is!!!!
Today is Ainsley's Thanksgiving Play! She is so excited to say her 2 lines! I remember my first memorized Christmas play line... "Santa, the sky looks as thick as pea soup!" Absolutely no clue why I can still remember that!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Blessings, Diana
P.S: My brother Mark is going into round 8 (there are 10 total) of the Nationals today with both of his dogs!!!! Go Mark, Diva & Cutter!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thankful Thursday!
- My date with Jeff on Tuesday night!!! It was so wonderful to get out and catch up!!
- Molly - who made our date night possible
- Katie - who is allowing me to get my haircut and colored tomorrow!!
- My sister Barb who made it possible for us to take Ainsley to Lion King last Sunday!
- Finally catching up with Kim this week and Lisa O. last week!
- The study of Matthew which is teaching both Jeff and me so much!
- My dear friend Liz who is so thoughtful and generous with her time
- For Ruby's upcoming dedication on Sunday! And, what it really is all about!
- For the power of prayer and the gift of hope
- That we will be with Jeff's family next week for Thanksgiving at just the perfect time
- For our two daughters and their secret sister handshake!! Watching the bond between Ruby and Ainsley grow daily is such a blessing!
- For the way Ruby comes out of her shoes when Jeff gets home at night! Priceless
- For my friend Kristi who is motivating me to go back to the gym today!
- For the sore muscles I know I will have tomorrow!
Blessings everyone!
Diana
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Bedtime.....
By about 6:30 I am either ready for Jeff to walk in the door and scoop up his girls, or I am ready for a glass of wine. It is not because my girls are difficult, I think it is just the closet introvert in me screaming for five minutes of quiet time. Ainsley is so excited after school, that she is non-stop energy until her head hits the pillow. And, Ruby is just plain BUSY unless she is napping or in her chair at the kitchen table. On the nights when Jeff is traveling or at a meeting I find myself feeling a little stressed by all of the noise and action! Last night Jeff was at BSF so I was doing the bedtime routine solo. These pictures are from Ruby's room where she and her big sister were having a "big time!" She is climbing up onto her crib to get her blanket out, the backbends are to just make her sister laugh, and the climbing out is to show me that in no way will she still be in her crib when she is three like Ainsley was. My Mom sat in an ice rink, I think I am destined to sit in a gym to watch Ruby flip, tumble, and throw herself in the air! I always wanted to be a gymnast, but I was much better on a pair of thin blades than on a 4" balance beam! Guessing that may be different for our little limber climber!
With one budding song writer, and one daring toddler in the house, I can not complain that life is dull (or quiet) around here!!!! And, on the days I feel stressed I just take a deep breath and give thanks for these two healthy, and energetic girls!
Tonight Jeff and I are going on a date!!!! I can't wait!
Happy Birthday Kimber!
Blessings, Diana
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Six Month Anniversary of Ruby Tuesday!!!!
Six months ago (11:00pm Central Time May 7th/11:00am China Time May 8th) today our prayers were answered when Ruby Mei was placed in our arms on the 26th floor of the Civil Affairs office in Nanchang, China! Jeff and I will never forget that day as long as we live. It was the beginning of our life as a family of four. In six very short months this child has blessed us in so many ways. This thankful Thursday I am thankful for...
- Mei who found Ruby and did the right things to get her placed with the Yugan Police
- The Yugan SWI who placed Ruby immediately with her loving foster mother
- Ruby's biological mother who loved her enough to give her up
- Amy Pearson at AWAA who took care of us for 17 months
- Mary, our guide in Nanchang who created such a special Ruby Tuesday for us
- Jeff for never giving up, and for teaching me so much about trusting God
- My Monday Night Prayer Sisters who prayed with me and taught me so much
- To the CCAA for matching us with Yue Meng Ru
- To Ainsley for patiently waiting to be a big sister
- To our Family Group and our families for living each day of our wait with us and for celebrating every milestone along the journey!
- To everyone who signed our guest book at Myadoptionwebsites.com
- To Joe and Jen who journaled with us
- To Ruby Mei for being courageous, and so brave six months ago
- To all the special families and children in AWAA's Travel Group #124
- To God for teaching us so much in the last 2.5 years..
- For our healthy & beautiful daughters and the special bond between them already.
Ruby has taught each one of us that love has no boundaries! She has blessed our hearts and our home ever since we knew her name. But especially on Ruby Tuesday, six months ago, when we got to whisper "we love you Ruby Mei" in her precious ear.
Blessings, Diana
Monday, November 5, 2007
'Her Rubiness' & Her Loyal Subjects...
'Her Rubiness' has two faithful servants in this house. They greet her in the mornings, they follow her wherever she goes, and they clean up after her. They will even test the temperature of the bath water if she will allow it. When 'Her Rubiness' first met these royal subjects she was not one bit pleased. However, over time she has grown to "tolerate" them. And, quite honestly, they have learned to "tolerate" her too. She likes to greet them by shaking their tails and pulling on their beards. Some days it is like having three toddlers around here! Thankfully, only one of them is still in diapers! This photograph is where you can find her loyal subjects when it is meal time in the castle!
We refer to her subjects as Caymus (named after the vineyard in Napa) and Piper (named after the champagne we served at our wedding.) They are both Portugese Water Dogs imported from Wisconsin!
Not much else going on here. It was just the girls yesterday, and Ainsley and I had a great time starting her first scrapbook of our beach vacation. Ruby, unfortunately is fighting a cold and a flu bug so we are hunkered in on this cold, almost winter-like day! Ironically, flu shots are on the calendar for Thursday for the girls.
On a fun note, I get to boast about my big brother again... He is now going to National's next week with THREE dogs!!!! Way to go Mark! We are so proud of you!
Three more days until the six month anniversary of Ruby Tuesday!
Blessings, Diana
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Thankful Thursday!
I can't believe it is Thursday already! Happy November!
Today I am thankful for:
Today I am thankful for:
- For the lessons my children have taught me this week.
- For my trick or treaters, "Hannah Montana" and the "Little Ladybug"
- For the memory of watching Ruby enjoy her first piece of chocolate and the melty fingers that went with it!
- For the doors that God has opened for me because of our adoption of Ruby
- For this blog, and the sweet messages and emails I get from you.
- For time spent yesterday with my childhood friend, Jenn, who lives in Steamboat
- For a very positive post placement visit with Amy
- For a safe & fun Halloween. And, a very fun party with our neighbors!
- For my mother-in-law who had a birthday yesterday
- For the hilarious emails and photo's my Dad & Mom sent to Ainsley
- For the precious relationships between grandparents and grandchildren even when they are far away
- For the vacuum I am going to use in a minute to pick up the box of cheerios Ruby just dumped on the floor!
- For having absolutely nothing on my schedule today so Ruby and I can find some Mums to smell!!!!
Blessings, Diana
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