Building Families Through The Miracle Of Adoption

Nov 3, 2008

We support Congressman McHenry!


I will be the first to say I AM SICK of the political commercials and especially the phone calls! I will be very happy when the polls close tomorrow night. HOWEVER, we support Congressman Patrick McHenry!

When no one else would listen or help (those individuals will NOT get my vote tomorrow)...Congressman McHenry never failed us! He & his staff followed our adoption application, helped us through our RFE nightmare and made sure the US Embassy in HCM had our response even while Halle-Grace and I were in Vietnam! AND NO, I am not being asked by Congressman McHenry or anyone from his staff to write this message!

I think when we are personally in need and someone responds in the way he did, we then realize what true representation means!

Halle-Grace says PLEASE vote tomorrow and exercise the right that she NOW has (well when she is 18) and vote MCHENRY FOR CONGRESS!

Shannon

I am ready to go vote! Thanks Congressman McHenry


HAPPY BIRTHDAY LULU....WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov 1, 2008

Halloween 2008...Halle-Grace's 1st!

CUTE and smelly!

How in the world could something so cute stink?

Sweet as all the treats

"Do you want to get sprayed?"

Nanny makes great treat bags...don't you know skunks sniff out baby food!

Hannah was Sharpay from High School Musical...others said we were dressed as twins!

Aunt Suzie, Halle-Grace and Hannah. Thanks for the treat bag of baby food!!!

Kay Kay with her stinker

Papaw Ronnie with the stinker...we like his treats $

Papa Gene and Nanny with the grands

Lizzy was Gabriella (High School Musical) Zoey was a Tulip Fairy

Mama and her little stinker

Zoey sure was a cute tulip fairy

Halle-Grace and Lizzy

Mamaw Devine trying to hold on to the stinker

Halle-Grace and her uncle Mike who she loves!

Papaw Dale loves this little stinker!

I have NEVER seen Granny so proud and in love!

The cutest pumpkin I have ever laid eyes on!

Halle-Grace just loves Lizzy!

Hunter & Hannah clowning around

They fascinate Halle-Grace! She watches every move they make!
This little stinker was all STUNK out!!!

Oct 30, 2008

Princess visits the Pumpkin Patch



Halle-Grace spent half of today with Nanny and they visited the Pumpkin Patch. She had a lot of fun!!! Tomorrow is "stinker day" for our Halloween Skunk!

Oct 29, 2008

CVS Angels

Jason is going to write the entry for this post. I can't get through it! Here are some photos from our MOST SPECIAL visit from KK, Laura (la la) and Melissa from Carolina Vet Specialist. They presented us with the MOST thoughtful, special, amazing gifts. We are incredibly blessed to know these angels! We have SO many wonderful memories to cherish of Gabby Girl! Halle-Grace will always know her Big Sis! We love you all so much and you ARE family! Thank you guys!

KK, Laura and Melissa shower us with the MOST special "memory gifts" of Gabby girl

KK & Laura made this memory stone and gave us a Home Depot Gift Card to make a memory garden...talk about enough tears to shower the garden for LIFE! THANK YOU!

Special Calendar that spotlights our girls!




Halle-Grace now has a SCOOBY! Anyone who knew Gabby knew her SCOOBY was her FAVORITE!

La La opens the basket...we had to many tears to do it!

Bib reads "My Guardian Angel is a Cocker Spaniel"

Halle-Grace's Guardian Angel t-shirt!

Halle-Grace has DAWGS!!!

Angel of Remembrance

Oct 28, 2008

Celebrate National Adoption Month

Halle-Grace's Little Red Wagon (made by Papaw Dale)




November is National Adoption Month. Halle-Grace's journey will be featured in a magazine and also on a TV show. Last night I traveled to the Debra Kennedy Show for an interview about our Devine Journey to our Tiny Miracle! I will keep you posted on when you can view the show (will also be on PodCast) and when you can get your copy of the magazine.

Halle-Grace's First Carrousel Ride!




Oct 27, 2008

Eastside Baptist Confirms Halle-Grace’s Beauty (posted by Jason)

Yesterday was a great day. Halle-Grace went to church for the second time. Last week we were out of town at the beach, so we missed our regular church, but yesterday we made it back to Eastside to see our church family. Halle-Grace had a chance to meet more people from our Sunday school class and the rest of the church. It was a great time. Although not as many as last time, there were still a couple of people to get a spit bath. Poor Erin Crow got the best one. But hey, Halle-Grace is just making it fair, as last time, her husband David got a double dose. While we were there Eastside confirmed Halle-Grace’s beauty.

Aside from the usual “oohs” and “ahhs” Eastside went a step further and actually stated how pretty she is. Well, they had to speak in code, that is, as to not hurt the feelings of the other parents. During announcements families were told to sign up for a slot to have a picture taken for a new directory. Now some may say that is coincidence, the fact that we just get her back and all of a sudden it is time for a new directory. I hate arrogance, but let’s just call it what it is, the church wants a picture of her. I understand though, she is just soooo darn cute and photogenic. And like I said, they had to speak in code as to not offend other parents. I hope the fact that I understood it to be what it truly is does not upset other parents…oh well, this is the reason I am dead set against any pageants in the future for Halle-Grace…it would be just too unfair for the other girls. : ^ )

Yesterday we also made some family social calls. After church we went to my grandmother’s house for lunch. I can remember going every-other Sunday for lunch when I was a child. With Momaw and Popaw, their children (our parents) and us the children, a full house would be 18 people. This year for Christmas, with all the great-grandchildren included, we are looking at 35 total…it is awesome to see everyone together. Talk about being fruitful and multiplying, just wait til Vietnam and the US sign a new MOU!!

As usual, I drifted off the sleep last night thanking God for blessing us so. Well, that is, I did that after I fell asleep the first time with Halle-Grace asleep on my chest after her bedtime feeding…I need to correct one company’s advertising department, for it truly does not get any better than THIS!!!

Please continue to keep Scott and Krista in your prayers. He is holding his own still at CMC ICU, but is still unable to swallow. Please, each time you feel hungry today, lift him up in your prayers and ask God to heal his vocal chords and allow him to eat once again. We need to get him out of ICU so Halle-Grace can visit her uncle Scott. If he doesn’t get a regular room soon I am thinking of smuggling her in just so he can get a peep at her. Hopefully she would not give herself away by doing the newest thing…growling! Man, what a kid!!

The HAPPIEST dad in the world,

Jason