thoughts

Hmmmmmmmmmmm……………

My friend Kim surprised me with an “early” 35th Birthday cake and gift this evening. I feel really great turning 35, it feels like I have been this age for quite sometime. I have felt very grown up, in a good way. Not all my decisions are made with a level head. But, my husband and I try to talk about the past, look forward to the future, and LIVE in today. God does give us a gift each new day!!
I will try and blog every few days while in Michigan. I will not be able to download photos until I return home.
Big hugs,
God is good, life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

American summer vacation

Heading to Michigan……………… T-2 days, and we’re off for a classic family vacation, AMERICAN style!! A 12 hour mini-van trip from New Jersey to the Great Lakes state of Michigan for a month. This is our family ritual since moving away from the Midwest a few years ago.
Here goes the kiddos packing list:
5 pair underwear
4 shorts
4 shirts
2 pair pants
1 dress
1 pair flip flops
1 pair tennis shoes/sneakers
1 bathing suit
I-pods
Stuffed animal
Hair brush
Tooth brush
5 ponytail holders
3-5 books
1 craft activity
Scooter/ or roller blades /helmet
2-3 movies of choice

I’ll let you know how this goes!!!
Big hugs,
I am blessed,
Carrier

Summer-PMS

Sweet summer……………….. It starts today for us here………….. Great intentions, planning on being quite flexible. Well, this lasted probably 3 hours, now I ma annoyed by bad behavior from my pre-adolescent oldest. Oh my, PMS at its best, YIKES!!! Please say a prayer, and blow a kiss.
ARGH!!!
God is good, life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

More pics.........................

This is a photo post. ENJOY!!!!!!!

Let's Party!!!

So, let’s just say yesterday was great!! It was Nate’s Party at the fire station and it was a lot of fun. To start the weather was beautiful, about 75’ and sunny. The entire thing was cute, the fireman were really into it, and brought a good nature, yet educational approach to the kids. They each got to touch many of the special fire equipment , and hose. It was just time for them to climb in the truck, when the alarm sounded and a “REAL” emergency call came to the station. It was about 1 minute and they were all suited up, and out on the truck. VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!
After the station we headed to the park and enjoyed games, pinata, and cupcakes.
All and all, good times. (Thanks to Kim C. for the GREAT pictures)
I am blessed,
Carrie

The loot...........

As promised, here are the winnings from the raffle. The Vanna white, is my darling Claira.
xo,
Carrie

Changes

Today was a great day on many levels. It was 5th grade graduation. What is this? Another way to celebrate the little things, our children making the journey through elementary school. Watching my oldest child stand on the stage with 100 other 5th graders and prepare for the adolescent world of middle school. It was simply amazing. I always am amazed by Gods grace in my life, and the joy I have in watching these blessings grow before my eyes.
Secondly it was Claira’s 3rd grade end of the year picnic. Once a “cling on”, always a “cling on.” She has always been my shadow. The kid that nursed the longest, held my hand, sat on my lap, would ask to go to Starbucks at age 3 to share a café mocha. She has always enjoyed hanging out with her Mom. Today was much of the same, helping me set up for 3rd grade picnic. Then sitting with the room parents while the other children played.
I enjoy the fact that she “likes” me.
Tomorrow is Nate’s 4th Birthday Party, at the Fire Station. (more pictures later)
God is Good, Life is Hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

ME

A whole lot of spelling errors, I should slow down and take my time..............
Wisdom is learning from ones mistakes, soooooooooooo hopefully you'll see better than 3rd grade typing. Do you like the music? It is new, and I thought it would make a nice addition.
Today is filled errands, and the last week of school:)
more later,
Carrie

Nate is 4

My little guy Nate is now 4.............. Wowie time does fly. We do joke that he was a baby for a day, or so it seems. Everything he does seems amazing, he is social, bright, handsome, athletic............. The whole package!! For his 4th Birthday we game him a 2 wheeler bike. Bob and I explained that he would be frustrated, and it would be hard, but just like his sisters he would "get it." He said, "I already know how to ride a bike." (We thought sure you do.........)
Sure enough, he jumped on that bike and rode down the street like he was entering "Tour De France"................ You go little Lance.........
Today, Nate who is 4 finished 07-08 preschool. He preschool teachers asked what he liked most about his co-op preschool experience. He proclaimed, "I LOVE BEING the KING"!!

I am blessed,
Carrie

Talents............

My kids are funny people, I enjoy spending time with them, especially when we have a real chance to chat. Tonight was the all school talent show, both girls opted out of "showing their stuff", yet they had plenty to say about others. They were really very positive about their class mates, and critiqued quite nicely.
Watching all the little faces in anticipation of their friends numbers coming up next, lots of cheering (no booing), it was a delight!!

A day in the life................

People are always quick to use the "lucky" phrase, and it seems cheap. I feel blessed to be an appropriate statement. Funny thing is I am not really LUCKY, however I am blessed. We had a raffle at my son's preschool and I won 5 things............ Never in my life, have I won 5 things at one time!!!!!!!!!
I won tickets to the Daily show w/ Jon Stewart, a J-Jill gift card, Mary Kay make up, Avon skin care, and a handmade necklace and bracelet. All for 80.00$$ in tickets.
AMAZING!!! I'll post pictures later.
Creative, and Blessed,
Carrie

drawing by friend pjgreetings.com

many years................

I am blessed with 3 living kiddos.............
My story goes something like this, raised in the midwest by christian parents. I met me husband in "junior"church when I was 10 years old. It was NOT love at first sight, we wer church friends, then best friends for a LONG time.
Three weeks after we married we were in a horrible car accident, where my neck was broken, and many other bones. I had a long and painful recovery, lasting the good part of a year. After this I became very sure of life and what I wanted, no more fun and games. Soon after we tried to have a baby, and we had a miscarriage at 13 weeks. Adoption had always been on my heart, so without any real knowledge of infertility, we decided to apply for adoption. We waited only 6 weeks, and our little Sarah was born and came into our family through adoption (11 years ago this month), 18 months later we applied for adoption again, this time we were blessed 4 months later with our daughter Claira (9 years old).
Enjoying our girls, and never again having a spontaneous pregnancy, we decided to try infertility treatments. Many failed IUI attempts, and then IVF. Our first IVF attempt I became pregnant with Gabriel. It was a bumpy road, lots of bleeding, and times of bed rest. It then appeared everything was OK. Each time I saw the ultrasound I was anxious, and then THRILLED!!! It was amazing, I loved watching my body change and feeling life inside me. Then at my 20 week ultrasound they saw things going "all wrong." (More details later) Needless to say Gabriel went home to heaven at 30 weeks.
The next year we re-applied for adoption and were chosen within 2 months. It seemed to be a lovely situation, and I walked with this woman for 5 months of her pregnancy. All was fine, and we traveled to be with her during the birth. While we drove the 12 hours to be with her, she changed her mind. This was well within her right to do, none the less it was devastating.
We then decided not to have anymore children, and God had another plan. Almost a year to that date we were blessed by another adoption, our son Nathaniel. (story later)

God is good, life is hard, I am blessed!!
Carrie