Thursday, November 29, 2007

Musings and Observations

Bubba has not had the Christmas Wonkies, yet.  We are still counting down.




I thought I'd share a few observations with you today.

First, we're learning algebra at school.  My friend, Peter, didn't do so well.
Take a look at his answer to this question on yesterday's quiz.



Peter argued, in vain, that he had actually done specifically what was stated, however, he still got it wrong.


Next, in preparation for the impending arrival of Christmas Wonkies, I thought I'd get the other Wonkies cleaned up.
Here's how they looked after the washing machine.


Not, too bad, but I had to wash them one at a time, so it took a really long time.
While one cat was in the washer, I could put the one that just came out in the dryer.
I've heard of people who use the oven to dry the wet cats.
DO NOT DO THIS!  If the oven is gas, you could kill your cat.
Use the microwave instead, it's much faster.

Here are three of them right after the dryer.



Of course, you may have to use a light iron to get all the wrinkles out.
If you choose to clean your wonkies this way, I'd suggest doing it in the warmer months of the year. 
They could get a little cold during the winter months.



Dont trust a duck.  I cant make it any clearer. 
I dont care how cute they are.  This is one of the oldest tricks in the book.



Notice how the Mommy duck uses her children to distract the lady, while she takes the cash.


There's a new thingy to help with your dog while you're taking your power walk.



This is really cool!  I dont think it would work on Heather, though!


This is a picture of Andy and Jonathan before they got braces.



Check out that guy looking on in the background!!!
I think he's an extra from Braveheart!


Dont trust a dog, either.
See how this dog knows he's not supposed to be drinking this?



He thinks he can look all sweet and innocent, and get your tea.
Dont be fooled people!  He just wants your tea!


Our friend, David Bolt, and Bring Me Hope on NBC



Okay.  That's all.  I'm back to Wonkie Watch!


Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Bubba? Wonkie?

This is my cat, Bubba.




It might be hard to tell from this image, but Bubba is a girl. I dont know why her name is Bubba.
That was her name when we got her. I guess they thought she was a boy. I know we did!

Look at her in this image. See how fat she is????
That's how we found out she was a girl!



Daddy calls her Wonkie. He calls EVERY cat Wonkie!!
When he comes home, and he's walking to the door, he greats each cat as he goes by....
Wonkie. Wonkie. Wonkie. Wonkie. Stupid. Wonkie. Barkie.
Oh, yeah....The little black one is Stupid. I dont know why.
Daddy said that his Daddy called EVERY cat Wonkie, so he does, too. I dont know why...
He calls Heather Barkie. That, I do know why!

Bubba is FAT and MISERABLE....so we think baby wonkies are on the way any day.
Does anyone want a Christmas Wonkie???
Everyone knows that Christmas Wonkies are 'special'!

I'll post as soon as the little wonkies arrive! You can let me know which baby wonkie you want!


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Thanksgiving At Grandma's

Thanksgiving was very good.
Daddy had a new brine recipe for the turkey, and it was GOOD!
He braised the other turkey in the small oven with a Caribbean sauce.

It was good, but the new brine was the best.

Here is a picture of Mommy and my cousin Ashton.



Rachel brought us a chocolate cheesecake that she made.



Jaden was an Indian...



Since our family is so large, we usually have a different branch over each year.
One year it's Grand-Mommy, and the next it's Dang Ol' Me-Maw.
This year it was Dang Ol' Me-Maw.

Uncle Al always has Thanksgiving with his wife's Mom and Dad, so Grand-Mommy always kills the fatted calf, and puts the ring on his finger when he comes home.
She plans another Thanksgiving meal for them when they come, which is usually Saturday or Sunday.
So we went to Grand-Mommy's on Saturday for the prodigal feast.

I dont know what this is, but I think it's for dinner!



It's s'posed to be Chicken and Dumplin's, only it's Turkey!


I know Chicken and Dumplin's.
I've eaten Chicken and Dumplin's
and this is NOT Chicken and Dumplin's!

Trippa alla Corsa?

Cousin Wendy goes for the culinary gold!
(Ummm, Wendy....That's tripe.)


What the????

I found the antacid, Wendy!
It's by the left-over biscuits!

What's Ant Acid for???


Prunes!!! Yummy!



After dinner, we got to decorate the tree!
Here's uncle Al and Andy bringing in the tree fresh from the forest!




The Engineer and the Mathematician handle the construction tasks.


Amanda supervised the decorating.



The stair-rail got treated, too!



Cousin Wendy Demonstrates the 'Soulja Boy'



I almost forgot about these!
Daddy said when he was little they had this little six-sided thing
that you looped yarn on and tied knots where the yarn crossed.
When you cut it out of the frame, it made one of these to sit hot pots on.
They used to have like a million of these things!



Okay, maybe more later!



Saturday, November 3, 2007

A Precious Gift

** Warning … Proud Dad Post Follows **


Have you ever seen the movie “The Polar Express”? You know the part where Santa picks one child out of all those there to come up on his sleigh with him to receive one special gift? Can you imagine how special that child feels; to be the ONLY ONE among all the children to be singled out for that special honour? That kid is me. Of all the people on the planet, God chose me, and only me (well, Lori, too) to receive a gift so special, that only those who have ever received one like it can really know just how special it is!

It was four years ago today, and that special gift was brought to us, and said, "Hello Mommy. Hello Daddy". Her name was Xin Zhi Dan, and she was a little more than three years old. Those were the only words we would hear her say until we got home!



So this is Forever Family day. Not quite a birthday, but not unlike one, either. The following is Lori’s journal entry from the day we knew she was ours.

2003-04-30
A special friend from the CWA China family made a plea for Special Needs Child #6. She said that this little girl was on her heart and that somebody needed to bring her home!

Carol Nelson, a CWA adoption counselor, asked folks to make the next 24 hours a time of special prayer for Xin Zhi Dan #6, that her Forever Family would find her. I looked at Xin Zhi Dan. She was precious. There must be somebody out there to adopt her!

So I prayed for her..... Later on in the day, I felt like my heart had been pierced. I couldn't explain it. I felt like the Lord was telling me that Xin Zhi Dan was MY daughter! I could not stop thinking about her or looking at her sweet face. I had to tell Roy..... When I confronted Roy with my thoughts and feelings, we talked about it. Xin Zhi Dan was 3 years old and Roy really felt like we should be waiting for an infant. So, we let it rest.

Over the next week or so, I was still struggling. I thought of Xin Zhi Dan almost every waking moment. I still kept praying for her. I prayed desperately to God to reveal to Roy and I if SHE was our daughter. I prayed all day long, and I asked the Lord to send me a sign. (I'm big on signs!)

I decided that I would not mention Xin Zhi Dan to Roy again. If it was meant to be, I wanted Roy to bring it up. Well, late in the evening, there was no mention of Xin Zhi Dan. So I thought, OK God, you have given me the answer. Xin Zhi Dan belongs to another family. I would have to put that to rest. That very moment, Roy walked up and picked up my Bible. He never picks up my Bible! He has his own Bible. In the back of the Bible, I had a picture of Xin Zhi Dan. I had been praying for her. He did not know that. My eyes were amazed watching God at work! I knew what was going to happen. He opened to the back of my Bible and pulled out a picture of Xin Zhi Dan.

"Why is this in here?" Well, I was just sitting across from him crying. I told him about what I had prayed for. So we both started praying for God to show us what to do. We talked with a couple of friends who also lifted us and Xin Zhi Dan up in prayer.

And God answered.....


Thank you, God, for this precious gift!

~Hon's Daddy!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Fall Festival

That's what they call Halloween these days. Halloween is not one of my favourite holidays, but I DO enjoy the candy!

We did not go from house to house, but instead, our church has a Fall Festival.
People dress in costumes, and set up games and booths in the parking lot, and give out candy.
Most of the town shows up.

This is Evan and Ashton...



Amanda and Jaden were princesses....





I went as The Hon...



Something must be wrong with the hay or water in town, because the horses are really small....





Mr. Larry's daughter, Mandy, came as Little Bo Peep, and her puppies were the sheep....





Mommy and Daddy said the BEST halloween they ever had was October 31, 2003. That's the day they were flying to China for the very first time to bring Amanda home!


~Hon!