Let's Rock!

Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder that my newly revamped band, tentatively called The Sneaks, will be playing this week-end. We will not have our new keyboard player with us, but we have been practicing up a storm and I think it's still gonna be good times! This is one of those rare gigs I have that anyone can come to, so please make sure you join us! It is in the pavilion at my wardhouse, 2080 Pinecrest Lane in Sandy. Contact me if you need directions! I hope everyone can come on out - bring your own blankets/chairs to sit on. And as Lonny wrote on our flyer "For those about to rock....we salute you!" See ya there!

A Close Call

We experienced a little bit (understatement) of excitement this week on the adoption front. I will make a long story short by saying that we learned of a potential adoption situation and were getting ready for the possibility of bringing a little baby boy home. Ultimately, his birthmother chose to parent. We never got the opportunity to meet either of them, but they are in our thoughts and we are praying for them. This is not an unusual occurance on the roller coaster ride of adoption, but it is still disappointing and our hearts are a little heavy. However, we are not discouraged and still know that our little one will come to us soon.

It made me think of a Cherie Call song that I love called "No". (Check it out -it's on the playlist below). In fact while we were waiting for word yesterday, I pulled up our blog and that very song started playing! The song talks about how sometimes we pray with all our hearts, our souls, our very beings to our Father in Heaven and still He says no. And that there are all kinds of "yesses" that our Heavenly Father wants to give us and how He can make miracles happen, but still sometimes He chooses to whisper "wait". Finally she sings about how she prays that the storm clouds above will go away so it won't ruin the big game - but she doesn't stop and think about all those who have prayed for rain. And as the sky opens up, she feels abandoned because her prayer wasn't answered the way she wanted. But if we ask Heavenly Father if He's ever overlooked us, or ceased to love us so, He'll say.....no. When our prayers aren't answered the way we would envision, that is sometimes the hardest part to remember - and the part we should never, ever forget. We are never forgotten, we are always loved. He just happens to see the big picture, that's all.

So we continue to pray, we continue to wait. I do want to mention how all this came about so quickly. A colleague of ours was at her son's softball game when a woman who had been talking on her cell phone called out "Does anyone know anybody who is looking to adopt a baby?". Laura sprang into action and called my BFF Stephanie (another adoptive mommy) who immediately got in touch with us. So many adoption stories are just like that - someone overhears an offhand comment, a conversation is struck up with a stranger - or someone shouts it right out at a softball game. We ask that you continue to keep your ears open and don't be afraid to speak up. It could make all the difference. We love you all, Team Miracle, and thank you for all of your support. Maybe next time, it won't be a drill!!!

Father's Day

I was in our bedroom today listening to Lonny teaching Connor about the finer points of brushing one's teeth. I was immediately struck by the importance of fathers in our lives - not only to teach us about the big things, like strength, integrity and honor, but the little things too. How to ride a bike, to flip the perfect pancake - and how to mow the lawn. Anyone can teach us these things, really, but there is just something about a father's patience and love.

Father's Day is bittersweet for me. I weep a little (sometimes a lot) because I miss my dad. It will be 5 years in September since he passed away, and yes, I still miss him so very much. My heart will always be a little bit broken because neither of my parents are here to play with my little boy and get to know him, at least in this life. That is a sadess that is beyond description. But I rejoice in the knowledge that they have met - I swear sometimes my father had to have given Connor tips on how to push my buttons before he came here! And I am comforted knowing that we will all be together again someday. That Connor will be sitting on my mother's lap while my Dad tells him his secret gravy recipe or what it was like growing up in the shadow of the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. That is what gets me through times like these.





That and when I see my husband and our son together. Lonny is such an awesome father, and Connor loves him so much. They have a wonderful relationship and I know that they don't know how they ever lived without each other. When Lonny comes through the door at the end of the day, they both light up. They have so many adventures ahead of them, so much to teach each other. I am blessed to be a witness to the love between these two. And I am blessed because they both love me.

It is not just about dads. It is about every man in your life that has blessed you and made a difference. Whether it is a brother, uncle, grandfather, a father yet to be (yes I am talking about you Chadworth Von Leichtenstein), friend, bandmate, teacher, scout leader -if they have made you a better person for having known them, they have fathered. Please remember to tell them that you appreciate everything they have meant to you, every big and little thing they have taught you and most of all, tell them that you love them. Happy Father's Day Lonny and to all the wonderful fathers in my life.

Connor's Birthday

Since I am new to this blogging business, I will have a little catching up to do! I thought I would start with a VIP - Very Important Party! Connor turned two last Sunday and I thought that called for my immediate attention!

Connor LOVES Thomas and Friends, so we had a Thomas themed party. We had "train tracks" leading up to the front door with railway signs that read "Connor Station" or "Birthday Station". We had an "Arts and Crafts Station" where the kids could work on various projects - there were Thomas murals and Thomas paper bags to color.

Connor had earlier received a Thomas tent shaped like a train and was eager to make it "go". So he and Lonny got underneath it and choo-chooed around the yard. That was the early entertainment portion of the party.



As the kids worked on projects or just ran around being kids, Lonny manned the grill, I put the finishing touches on the masterpieces in the kitchen and Chad and Angela helped herd all the madness. Then it was time to chow!

The menu consisted of all of Connor's favorites, with some grown-up versions too. Served were: Tortilla Chips and Mango Salsa, Fresh Fruit, Cherry Jello Salad, Daddy's Baked Beans, Mac-n-Cheese, Hot Dogs and Sausages. Everything was soooo good!

Then it was time for presents! As ususal, Connor made out like a bandit. He got tons of Thomas stuff - books, puzzles, some more trains to add to his See See (his name for Thomas), a bubble mower (thanks Alaska!), a keyboard with a microphone (he is a budding musician, takes after his mommy) and a Harley Davidson T-Shirt from Cancun (thanks Grandpa!) and those are just some of the highlights!

Afterwards, the kids worked on more craft projects at "Arts and Crafts Station". They made custom door handle holders and decorated sugar cookies. These went into their Thomas bags that they had colored earlier.


Then...time for the Sugar Blast!! Cake Time!! We served Island of Sodor Cake (a Thomas cake from Harmon's) that featured a train track and a wind up Thomas that ran on it. The cake was marble with butter cream frosting. I had a hard time pulling Connor's attention away from his new trains long enough to eat some! We also had Cookies-n-Cream ice cream.

It got a little chilly so we lit the fire pit. It was nice to sit around and chat. As the guests started to leave, each child was given a Thomas goodie bag with candy, fruit chews and a puzzle book. Connor and Hope entertained everyone by being little "kissing cousins". They had so much fun together!

The party broke up around 10:00 - two hours after the birthday boy's bedtime. An exhusted but happy boy went right to sleep clutching his Thomas in his hand.

We cannot believe that it was two years ago already that this little blessing came to us straight from Heaven. We are humbled by the knowledge that this angel was sent to be our son - and we know that he always has been. We are grateful for him and thank Heavenly Father every day for this miracle named Connor.

Meet Our Family

In an attempt to keep up with the rest of our cute extended family, we have decided to take a deep breath and jump into the world of blogging! So here goes....

I am married to the most incredible guy! We were married September 28, 2001 on a beautiful autumn day. I sang the song "Songbird" to him at our wedding and so it has been very special to us ever since. Lonny and I are best friends! Right from the start we found so many things we love to do together - camping, hiking, travelling and playing tennis. Lonny has been an amazing tennis coach and we need to find more time to play, but we are fanatics! Lonny also loves to do projects around the house, ride his HARLEY and enjoys all kinds of water sports. I am a yoga enthusiast, love to cook, bake, decorate and perform - I sing in two bands! I also love to write songs and feebly attempt to play keyboards. I am also passionate about University of Tennessee football (go Vols!) and have dragged Lonny and Connor on board with me. I even forgive Lonny for being a Dallas Cowboy fan!

But most of all, we love....BEING CONNOR'S PARENTS!!!! Connor is the joy of our lives....he just turned two and he completely has captured our hearts! Connor came to us through the miracle of adoption. He is our little blessing! Connor loves Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his friends. He also loves bubbles, macaroni and cheese, playing on the slide and doing anything his dad is doing. He is talking up a storm and is learning so much every day. We are so thankful that he is in our lives.

Right now we are in the process of looking for another little person to join our family! We have been approved and are working with LDS Family Services. To see our web profile go to: http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/viewsingleprofile/0,12272,2133-1-9232-1-1,00.html - Whew! That is a mouthful. If you know of anyone who might be interested in placing a child for adoption, you can direct them to our web profile. We are excited to have more little feet running around our house and to get to know and love our next set of birthparents.

Thanks for checking us out! We will try to be faithful bloggers!! And thanks to Angela for giving us the encouragement to go for it!!