June is Quite a Special Month!

June is quite a special time for many people -- school's out, summer's starting, all kinds of fun abounds.  

We are no exception.  

A quick review of the last 5+ years of the blog {5+ years?!? Really?!?!} reveals:

Five years ago around this time we were heavily in the midst of our adoption process, anxiously awaiting paperwork, jumping through various hoops, fundraising, and clinging to every silver lining and ray of sunshine we could find.  We were renovating our kitchen and feeling just a little bit off our rockers.

Four years ago this month we were just beginning our official "wait" for the adoption, dabbling in gardening, and ramping up for what would be a whirlwind of a summer.

Three years ago found us playing at the beach and toying with the idea of becoming "beach people" -- you know, the ones that pack up and go to the beach for fun on a regular basis.  {In case you are wondering, NO. We haven't become regular beach bums...we have maybe been to the beach a handful of times in the last three years despite living less than 5 miles from the beach.}  We were reviewing books and enjoying out first summer as a family of 5.

Two years ago was more reviews, summer planning, and lots of prayers for a little guy in Russia named Kirill who finally got to come home with his Mama to Alabama.

One year ago even though there were crickets chirping on the blog, we had a bit of excitement with a ride in an ambulance ride {mine. Clumsy ol' me!} and lots of fun summer stuff mixed in with some less than fun stuff, too.

But all of this pales in comparison to what happened TEN YEARS AGO.  

Happy 10th Birthday, Katie Kat!

What is Art: Something You Not Only Hear But Also Feel

The ability to express emotion through music. Beautifully.

This is a song that makes me smile every time I hear it.  
It is written and performed by the closest thing I have ever had to a little brother.  It is inspired by and dedicated to his two sisters, one of which happens to be my oldest friend.  
Enjoy.



THIS, my friends, is art.

Just a Thought

Employ your time in improving yourself 
by other men's writings so that you shall come easily 
by what others have labored hard for. 

~Socrates~

I Lost a Month Somewhere...

I guess it must have been the finals, 

or the Cinco de Mari, 

and definitely the generalized chaos that has been life lately.  

I really have no explanation for the lapse.

So maybe I will just give Jenn's Sensational Haiku Wednesday another go and  pick up again next week?  

Sound good to you? 

Great.  

Here we go:

This week’s theme is: Chinook

Endangered species

fighting against the current - 

will they reach their goal?

Protected from harm

by law and signs posted, still

the net swoops in -- caught.

Though honored by some

great Chinook is to others

no more than a dish.

What Is The PERFECT Activity For Someone Who *Hearts* TED? {Like ME!}

A TEDx Event, of Course!

The theme was 
Where Tomorrow Begins

We heard about LOLLIPOP MOMENTS:

The seriously deep science of being in two places at once:
{really cool stuff but, in full disclosure, it gave me a bit of a headache trying to follow it!} 


Making magic 30 days at a time:



And the why behind the fact that parents and kids feel so different from each other...plus something cool about Olympic athletes, too: 


I so *WISH* I could link you to the live talks. 

{Especially Dr. Sameer Hinduja and Dr. Kevin Lanning...
 They have given me lots of food for thought to get me through the grind of finals!}

 
 They were incredible! 

What exactly is a Super Fun Saturday?

 Up at an absurd hour to drive to Miami, sparkling and white...

 

5 Kilometers of mayhem, of which there are no photos, later...

 

We crossed the Finish Line at the COLOR MANIA 5K

 

 

That, my friends, is a SUPER FUN SATURDAY!!

 

Toddler Insomnia Can Be A Cruel Trick...

Not sure why, but this little darlin' has been refusing to go to sleep of late.  It has made for some very late nights and some VERY cranky mornings.  I had to snap a picture of her snoozing on the floor just to prove to myself and Daddy that she really *does* sleep sometimes.  {Full disclosure: she popped up nearly immediately after the shutter snapped as if to say "Sleeping? Who's sleeping?  I was most definitely NOT sleeping..."}

But really, isn't she cute?  She's such an angel...when she sleeps. ;)