HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Megan's pumpkin ~ Halloween '07

Goodbye Summer....

It was the most beautiful FALL day here today. The sun was shining, the breeze was slightly blowing and the leaves rustled in the air... The kids are ready to trick-or-treat and wear jackets in the cool mornings. It is definitely time to say goodbye to summer.

Goodbye days on the river....

Goodbye skateboarding on the drive...

Goodbye horseback riding at the farm...

Goodbye afternoons in the pool....

Goodbye playing with the hose...

Goodbye popcicles on a hot day...

Goodbye summer... We'll see you again very soon!

Pumpkin Carving

We spent the afternoon at a friend's annual pumpkin carving party ~ Pumpkinpalooza as they call it. This year, some of us decided to paint instead of carve ~ Megan really wasn't interested in touching the "pumpkin guts."

It was a lot of fun as always! The kids loved seeing all their school friends and playing in the yard. The grown-ups enjoyed the tasty soup buffet and warming up by the fire. Thank you Jodee and Jamie for allowing us to mess up your yard once again this year. We look forward to the event each Halloween!

Fall, Dad, Laundry and Everything Else....

Fall is definitely upon us here in Illinois. It's been a cool week and the kids are pleased to be wearing pants and jackets for a change. Not sure how long that will last, but for now it's fun thinking about piles of leaves, pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

Not too much going on here this week. I am trying to keep it quiet one as I prepare everyone for being gone. Dad is going to have his hands full of scout meetings, dance classes, birthday parties and homework. I thank God I have my father to help out so we can go to Haiti. If it wasn't for him, we would not be able to drop everything and leave the kids for an entire week.

I am getting through the mound of paperwork for our home study. I have most of it completed and signed. We go for our first fingerprinting tomorrow and have all had our physicals this week. There is lots to do, but like I said before, it is all WORTH it!

Oh! One very exciting thing is happening here today! I am finally getting a new washer and dryer! I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be the owner of large capacity, high efficiency appliances. No more drying a very small 4-towel-size loads for 2 hours in a teeny-tiny machine. I will let y'all know how it all works out after I do some major laundry tonight!

Hope you are all having a great week!

Hugs!
Colleen

Quiet Can Be Good!

It was a quiet weekend here ~ a nice change. Mike was on call, the kids attended birthday parties and visited with friends and I got lots done around the house. The weather was gorgeous as Mike and the kids spent time 4-wheeling around the neighborhood.

Hope you had a nice weekend, as well!

Hugs!
Colleen

If...

...prayer and faith can move mountains, then I will get through the hill of paperwork!!!

Yesterday Mike and I met with Laura, our social worker for our adoption homestudy. As she explained the process to us, she handed us form after form we were to complete. By the end of our one-hour appointment, I had a stack of papers almost 2 inches thick...

My first reaction would usually be to scream or cry; however, I had no desire to do so. I feel so okay, at peace and unalarmed with it all. This adoption process is definitely not an easy one. There is so much paperwork to complete, appointments to make and deadlines to meet. It is certainly understandable if anyone going through this were to freak out, melt down or lose a sense of calmness. I am; however, okay with all there is to do. I know I will get through it taking it one piece of paper, one appointment and one step at a time. It will get done.

I have to say I owe my peace to the Lord. Two months ago, I decided to give our adoption idea to God. Once I surrendered my worries, wonders and concerns to Him, I have seen first hand just how faithful God is to us! He led us to a definitive decision about adoption, placed Jonathan in our lives soon after, and is helping see us through the process. I truly believe God is standing right beside us as we work on adopting Jonathan.

Who couldn’t see this process as something very do-able when it is all for one beautiful, wonderful AND…...MOST ADORABLE REASON!!!


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Patience...

I am learning patience through this adoption process. I always thought of myself as a patient person. I am a mom of three children, was a teacher of 25 nine and ten year olds, and the wife of a surgeon. I have learned to go with the flow and let things go. I carefully choose my battles and realize life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

As we prepare the mountains of paperwork for Jonathan's adoption, I am learning I am at the mercy of government officials, professionals and the USPO. These people work at such a different pace. I find myself wondering and worrying, waiting for letters in the mail, praying for approvals and wishing phone messages are returned. There is absolutely nothing I can do about this process and I am learning this more and more each day.

This is all good and I know God is forever taking care of this entire situation. I am to learn lots during this journey and I know one of those things is patience. Not only do I need to be patient with the people and process of the adoption, but I need hold tight onto my faith in the Lord. God has a wonderful plan for Jonathan ~ I truly believe this. I have to remind myself to trust in God. God is in control and will work in His time!

Today is our first meeting with the social worker. I pray all goes as God plans. I will listen carefully to my heart as He places the answers there for me during our interview. The good Lord has already place Jonathan in my heart. That is enough to show me of His faithfulness, devotion and provisions!

I pray God blesses each of you as He has blessed our family and little Jonathan.

Hugs!
Colleen

A Loop-D-Loop Kind Of Day!

Some days seem like a roller coaster ride. Days on the way up the hill are full of fun times, laughter and lot happening. The coast down can be dreary days of trying to get something done when in turn nothing gets accomplished. Today was one of those days when I was cruising at warp speed down the hill ~ upside down and in a spiral turn. The huge list of things I had to do and planned to get done flew out the coaster car as I looped around the turn.

Kate stayed home sick today. She had a stomach ache during breakfast this morning, so I decided to keep her home. Normally, I would send her to school hoping she wouldn't yak up her rice crispies on or near her teacher, but knowing she had been sick on the cruise I thought maybe she was really under the weather....

...By the time 11 o'clock rolled around this morning, Kate was jumping on my bed signing along with Ariel on the TV. I figured then I could have sent her to school without a concern for her christening her teacher with her breakfast. It was also by then I realized I had to cancel my hair appointment, forget about the trip to Sam's Club and stick to the laundry later on. However, I had a blast today. The roller coast ride was fun-filled spending the day with my little girl. It was like old times of watching cartoons, fixing lunch together and playing with my sweetie.

So, the roller coaster ride of life does have its ups and downs. We can always count on those up days to be followed by swoops downward. As long as we hold on tight and take it for what it is, the ride can be fun!

Thanks for a great day, Kate! And, although you will be going back to school tomorrow, I cherish days like today!

Happy 6th Birthday, Tater Tot!

Today is Kate's 6th birthday. Our little baby, peanut and tater tot is all growed up! Well, at least it feels that way. Kate is now in kindergarten all day, taking dance classes, riding horses, making play dates, and arranging the family's scheduled based on birthday party invitations. Some days it seems like she no longer needs us...

...Then, there are the times when she crawls into bed and asks to snuggle, wants us to read her a story at bedtime, and holds our hands as we walk. Glimpses of our baby girl shine brightly throughout our days. Those are fond times we always cherish!!!

Happy Birthday, Kate! We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

The Next Step: Our Home Study

As of today, we have officailly been assigned a social worker for our adoption home study. We are working on scheduling appointments for Mike, the kids and myself. Please pray that all goes well and according to God's plan for us and Jonathan! Thank you!

Hugs!
Colleen

Simply Magical!

What a week! We had a fabulous time aboard the Disney Magic spending quality time together as a family. The kids had a blast, Mike relaxed and I enjoyed every minute with my peeps! Who could ask for more?

Apple Orchard...

The Monfils Peeps headed to Jonamac Apple Orchard Sunday for fun and apple pickin’. The kids had a blast climbing the hay, running through the corn maze, and, of course, playing in the silo of corn. We had some lunch and cider donuts, as well. Mike had his chocolate peanut butter fudge he buys every year ~ and as usual, had difficulty sharing with the kids. Daddy needed another lesson in sharing…

Although it was a crowded day at the orchard, we had a nice time with sunshine and a cool breeze. As we were walking back to the car ready to leave, the band played “Rocky Top…” It was a great way to end the day (for Colleen anyway… The kids thought I was nuts for knowing the words to that song. Guess Mom is becoming an embarrassment to them. It’s inevitable, I suppose.)

We haven’t spent time together as a family for a while, so it was a pleasant day for us. Sure makes me ready for a week of R&R with my peeps next week on the Disney Magic cruise ship! So, today, I plan to get the suitcases out and get to packing. Saturday can’t come too soon!!!

Hugs!
Colleen

Port Canaveral....

...here we come!!!


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Jonathan has been battling a pretty servre cold/virus recently. He has a lot of growing and developing to do to catch up from his malnutrition. Any set backs or illnesses really hinder Jonathan gaining strength and becoming completely healthy.

We are asking everyone to pray for him as he recovers. God has placed him in very loving and caring hands at Three Angels. We know he is receiving the best care possible! There are two mission trips scheduled before our November trip, so we feel very grateful there will be extra people to love on him (and the other children, as well!!!)

We are so blessed to have found this little boy and so blessed to be working with such an incredible organization. It is amazing the commitment everyone has who is involved with Three Angels! I am learning so much about love, compassion and good will through this adventure, not to mention extreme humbleness and ultimate gratitude. God is forever faithful and for this I am forever thankful!

Hugs!
Colleen