The faces of Kate...

A few of my very precious Kate. I can't believe that she's almost 3. It seems like yesterday I woke up to the news of having a brand new niece. My, how lucky I am to have her in my life. She's the most wonderful thing I could have asked for. I love my Kate.

The faces of Will...

A few of my favorites of my bright-eyed, funny, loving, and face-making nephew.

A few of my favorites...

Same weekend in Texas, and a few of my favorites.


Brother and Sister


Kate on the swingset, with hair blowing in the wind...



Will climbing on a side table...cute.



Kate in pigtails! Adorable!

Will's 1st Official Haircut

I went to visit the kids last weekend in Texas for an extended weekend. (Another wonderful benefit of working for the State Department of Education) Since I was there, we decided to take Will for his first official haircut. I think he enjoyed it. No tears, which I understand is a difficult feat with 1 year olds. It's funny though, I didn't think he had that much hair, but I realize he did have a lot of hair, and he looks like a little boy now! Oh, he's so cute. Here are a few pics pre-haircut, haircut, and post-haircut. Enjoy.


Sitting on the couch waiting to go...I think we were waiting for Kate to go potty first!


At the place...notice wet hair, but NO tears!



Hanging out at the sink. Will loves to play in the sink!



Look at that profile view...an adorable haircut! Too bad he is trying to get a straw in a cup without a strawhole! Poor guy!

The way to break a heart...

This will be short. I hope to write more soon.

I recently started volunteering at the Youth Shelter for abused and neglected children. Now, if you need a heart-wrenching experience, this is what you need. Be forewarned, it's difficult. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change a thing about it. But it's sad. It's so very sad.

Today was my second day there, and the second one I left in tears. I must do something. So, I'm working on the empty bedroom and will try to get it fixed up and ready to go. I'm calling the Foster Placement office tomorrow. I've got to start the parenting classes and see what lies ahead.

Cutest, most adorable, precious children. I don't know HOW people hurt children. I haven't ever been this close to child abuse and neglect. There were some of the same kids at the shelter today as there were on Thursday. A great little four year old girl that wouldn't leave my lap on Thursday was still there, with her little brother. I walked in her room after nap and she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She saw me and jumped up and ran to give me a hug, "Miss Emily, I missed you so much." We had a good time, played, colored, read books, watched television, etc. I was needing to leave, and I told her I needed to grab my purse to go. She grabbed ahold of me by my sweater sleeves, started sobbing "Please don't go, please don't go." I told her I had to leave, but that I would be back, and if she was there I'd read to her again and we would have a good time. I got my purse and leaned down to give them hugs...and she cried some more "Just take me with you, ppppllllllleeeeeeeeeassssseeeeee", then her brother cried some more and they struggled to let me leave. Now, these were just the two of the kids....there were others, and before I knew it about 5 were crying when I left. No other way to break my heart, no other way.

Now, I'm laying down in my bed tonight to sleep, curled up with my dog that I love and the cat that I love too. Knowing full and well, the life of those children will never be the same and they have profoundly been changed by the bad things, and I pray that a good three hours every few days with a good person like me, will make a little difference. God, Dear God, I pray for the hearts of those kids sleeping tonight with 20 other children on little toddler beds in a cold house in Tulsa. Bless their souls now and forever.

Because I Said So...

I ventured out to the movie theater this afternoon...oh, how refreshing it was to see a great heart-warming movie. I laughed so much. I would guess that 90% of the theater-goers were female, as heard by their laughter. It was wonderful. It's a good movie to see with sisters, or mothers and daughters, or just a group of girl friends. Definitely recommend it! Ignore the film critics, they're wrong.

Overbearing mom: Is it crazy for me to want her to have one healthy relationship in her life?
Helpful daughter (sister): Stop being a helicopter mom, you're hovering.

It's very much worth it....for more information go to the website.