Ice Storm Means NO SCHOOL!

Yes we are out of school today!!!!!! Cant believe it!

So many things that go through you mind when you all of the sudden have you kids home for a day you didn't expect.

I am thinking we could clean, organize closets, or better yet..... Both. But I am also thinking lets make cookies, try a new recipe (will blog about that later), play the WII, watch a movie..... Option B wins without questions. My dear friend also has reminded me that I have some Haque training to do, so I also have added that to my list.

I wanted to share the pictures of my future photographer.... Ashley! She loves to take pictures of nature and storms. She has a beautiful picture of a lighting bolt, and know can add these of the ice storm. These were taken last night, and we actually have a little more ice now than the pictures show. Anyways we will enjoy our day of relaxation and fun!

Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year to all who are celebrating this holiday. We (The Muellers and The Hamms) celebrated our first last night in Enid at the Imperial Garden Restaurant. There was a lot of people there and I for some reason was very nervous. The people are very friendly and welcoming, I just felt overwhelmed by the number of people. I was called the social butterfly (which usually fits my personality) but last night for some reason that social butterfly was David. He really got to talk to a lot of people and hear their incredible stories. There was a couple of families that I did know and it was good to see them.

I do know that there is some traditions that are done during the Chinese New Year, one of them is handing out Red Envelopes to all filled with coins in them. My girls were much surprised to receive some of the special gifts to be handed out last night.

This year, 2009, is the year of the ox or buffalo. People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. Wish I had a little of the Ox in me. lol We had a wonderful time once I was ready to step out of the comfort zone, and mingle. It was a great evening and enjoyed the company, and all though Chinese food is not my favorite I still found food to eat. The coolest part of the evening was all the little girls and boys dressed up in the Chinese clothes. They were so adorable and full of energy. They are all very happy and full of life. What a blessing to be a part of the celebration with so many families around our area, that felt that calling, and adopted and I am really glad to be a part of this group of people and really look forward to getting to know them better!

Also as we celebrate the New Year in China, we 3 mom's await eagerly and anticipate what the Lord has for us this year. We all feel that this is the year that the Lord will bring our little girls (or boys) home. We are so excited and filled with emotions for what the Year of the Ox brings for Connie, Tina and I. Enjoy the pictures, and have a Christ filled day!

Kaylee and Daddy!

Ashley and Mommy!

Kayden, Kaylee and Kenzie, the 3 Musketeers!

Dale and Aiden!

Surprise Gotcha!

Ty and Kolton, looking good in those hats!

Me, Tina and Connie!

Waiting for God's perfect plans!

Living on Tulsa Time!

Yesterday was yet another trip to Tulsa...... But much worth it. We headed to Tulsa for our 3rd Home Study, and much to my surprise I was not nervous at all. This was also the first time for my girls to meet Rebecca and they were not even nervous. ~ I really don't know where i get that from ~


We had our family interview and she prepared us for some of the events that can happen when we are home and adjusting to live with a new daughter, or sister. Of course my girls were pros because I am sure that Rebecca was getting tired of hearing "Yea, we know that because Kayden, Kambry or Kaeleb went through that". Rebecca was trying to do her job...... :) She also said that would really help us through all of that. Then we went and had an individual interview, and she got personal with all of us. It was expected but I still had some trouble answering some of the questions. Like ~ "What would you change about David if you could" ~ I could not come up with an answer. I love everything about him, except that he doesn't pick us his laundry....... Really it was a hard question to answer. We were there for about 2 hours and then my sweet husband took us out to eat. Yummy!

What is this..... We drive for a home study and they end up doing homework..... They are so dedicated!

Ashley doing that dreaded Algebra!

David my history buff..... Reading a book on Beijing Olympics!

Also while we were there we did something we have never done on our own. I am very excited about it and can't wait to use it to its full potential.

My in~laws bought us for Christmas, the Seal a Meal, so we added to it a membership to Sam's Club!

This card will allow us to buy in bulk and store in our freezer that never seems to be used to its full capacity.

All in all yesterday was a great day, one of the few days were I felt that we were actually getting somewhere. We still have one more home study to go, but I felt a sense of accomplishment, and that we are getting somewhere. Our next step: Required Reading and Haque Training........ Have I mentioned how much I don't like reading. I am not going to get down because we are so much closer in this well planed, God willing journey! I leave you with a promise from God on encouragement:

May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say

2 Thessalonians 2: 16~17

What a busy week.......

Hello to all,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. We have a very busy week ahead of us. With basketball taking over the week, we will be living in a gym eating concession food and taking out a loan to pay to do all of this.... Someone should examine my head! The great thing about this week is that we will be having our 3rd home study on Wednesday. This does mean that we will be driving to Tulsa amongst all of the basketball frenzy. This home study will contain a interview with our entire family, and also individual interviews. This

will also be the first time for Rebecca to meet my beautiful girls. I am not sure if the girls are nervous or not. I do know they have confidence and I know they are honest, so they should have nothing to worry about. David and I have to fill out a questionnaire and go through the special needs list before we return to Tulsa as well. I am very excited about this home study, and I also will be missing the Youth Group.

Thank you all for checking my blog, leaving comments, and praying for our journey. Please keep my friend Tina and her family in your prayers. PS ~ Happy Birthday Tracy and Amanda......

Well we survived the 2nd home study yesterday at Dillon......... No really it was very comfortable, and Rebecca is so sweet. She did get personal, but nothing we were afraid to talk about or share with her. We are having our 3rd home study next week on Wednesday @ 5:30. This home study will include Ashley and Kaylee, with personal interviews with all of us and interviewed as a family also........ I was so nervous about yesterday, I think it is because I always have this uneasy feeling that something is going to go wrong. Everything is going right to plan, but I have waited for so long to be in this journey to get our little girl, I still find myself thinking something is going to stop us....... I really should stop and focus on where we are and what we are doing and know that with out a doubt this is where we are suppose to be. We also had a phone interview with our agency last night, went much faster than expected. Karla said I had most of the answers to the questions that most families ask, because I have already traveled to China, and have been so close to the process of adoption that I understood most of the steps and paperwork involved. I will count that as a blessing...... Thanks Connie! :) So all in all yesterday was a great day and very productive..... Now on to required reading and Hague training!

Signing off for now! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Wow! Two events in one day!

We are on a roll today. Yesterday I scheduled the 2nd visit for our home study and now I just scheduled a phone interview with our agency on the same day....... Monday is going to be a record breaking day for the Mueller's. We have not had that productive of a day for the adoption in quite some time. Of course I am sure I will be very nervous, so please remember David and I on Monday @ 10:30 and 7:00. I am so excited as well. =) What a day, lets keep this pace up!

You have a wonderful day, Rejoice and be glad in it!

PS ~ Good luck Oklahoma Sooners! Go OU all the way!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of you!

What a wonderful way to end the year of 2008, we spent it with family and many friends. It was wonderful to gather at my In~Laws home on Christmas Eve, talking, eating and opening gifts. Then on Christmas Day we went to my aunts for more eating and fellowship. We are so blessed to have both sides of the family with in 20 miles of our home. It makes the holidays wonderful and exciting. This year was a little different for many reasons, 1. Danny having a clean bill of health, due to the miracles of God, we spent this Christmas thinking how different it could be. 2. This will be (God willing) the last year to spend it as a family of 4, adding our precious little girl to this crazy household. We look forward to what this year brings for us with the addition of my 3rd daughter. 3. It was also different because my Grandma was not feeling well on Christmas Day, which happens to be her birthday as well, so she did not join us due to feeling so crummy......... It was not the same with out her there. 4. The girls had a 2 week vacation, which has not been that way in many years, so the time spent together was wonderful. 5. We were able to spend time with very dear friends of our, J & R, and this is a very special treat for they live many a 1000 miles away. We have enjoyed the time so far and look forward to the time that will be given to us later. So many things to thank God for, hope you had a great year as well

Many pictures to follow!!!!!!

Ashley and Kuyler @ Christmas Ball!

Aunt Eileen and Mema

Christmas Eve was spent at Mema and Pappa house.

Aunt Ronda, Pappa, Aunt Doris and Uncle Bart.

Not sure what Pappa is thinking

Lianna, Andrew, Ashley and Kaylee.

We tried to have Andrew lay across their lap, but he is too tall.

Ashley on Christmas Morning

Kaylee on Chirstmas Morning!

Grandma and Papa eating our traditonal Waffles, Chritmas morning!

The Grandchildren!

Kaylee, Amber, Blaine, Desiree' and Ashley

Aranda, Danny and Blaine

Erica, looking good girl!

Girlfriend, we are so much alike....... :)

My mom and Kason, I guess he is wiped out after a long day of fun.

Jason, Jamie and Kason

David, Joy, Jamie, my mom and Amber. This is when we got together with my Grandma

Kason and Kaylee, he looks scared, but actually was having a blast!

Look how precious that is.

Kason and I, Kason had the most energy out of all us.

Grandma Illene and her 8 Great Grandchildren

We have such a blessed family, only one little girl missing!

The Best Christmas Ever!

May you find peace in Jesus Christ our Savior this Christmas season. I have been so blessed this season. My Lord has really brought to my attention many times, what Christmas is all about. May I continue to be reminded what our Savior did for us. I really tried to put Christ the center of all the hustle and bustle, shopping, parties, family traditions, and of my Heart during this wonderful time of year. I hope you have a wonderful and Christ filled Christmas.


C is for the Child born that night to be our light. (John 8:12)
H is for holy is His name. (Rev.4:8)
R is for rejoice with gladness & joy. (Luke 1:14)
I is for Immanuel, God with us. (Is.7:14,) John 1:14)
S is for the star that led the Wise men to Him. (Matt.2:2)
T is for the truth & grace that was sent our way. (John 1:14)
M is for Mother Mary laying Him in swaddling clothes in the manger. (Luke 2:7)
A is for angels singing songs of joy. (Luke 2:14)
S is for salvation.
- Johnnie DesRochers.

My Heart Goes Out

My heart aches for the Krause family. My condolences to the entire family. "H" is a wonderful man and is loved by the entire church family. "L" is wonderful women as well and I know she is very strong, but I also know that this time of the year will be very difficult. May I be reminded to be there for here WHENEVER needed. We can rejoice that "H" is celebrating Jesus's birth with no other but Jesus himself.


Christmas is all about the family and the birth of our Savior, may I be a light for the very reason. In this time of sorrow, may this family be reminded that the Lord never leave us and is the comfort, and peace needed through this time of loss. We love you Krause family very much and thank you for being an example to this family in so many ways.

Thanks to ALL for the PRAYERS!

My brother received news yesterday that the Dr. is 99% sure that my brother is CANCER FREE.........

Thank you to all of you for your prayers, I ask that you continue to pray. The Dr. is requesting that Danny takes radiation for precaution purpose only. This could be a very expensive procedure and Danny and his wife Aranda can use the prayers, for the continuing of Health for my brother and unexpected expenses through out this process.

I am so thankful for all of you, your prayers, and encouragement to me and all of my family. I still can't believe how fast this happen and that things were fixed so fast........ There is no other way this is possible but through Jesus Christ himself. My God is so good!

A SWEET Project!

Kaylee and I did a very special and great tasting (well someone might think so) project a couple of night ago. It started looking like a puzzle we would have to put together, but we liked it that way because we had no idea were to start. Ashley joined us for a little while, but went to her favorite hobby homework (NOT). We started to assemble and before we knew it we had our very first gingerbread house. We even left some candy and didn't eat it....... But that would not stay the case for ever! LOL the very next day as a was watching the Johnson's little ones I heard Kambry say "YUM" and thought to myself what could she be eating.... I came into the living room and much to my surprise there they were, Kambry and Kaeleb, eating all the candy off the house, saying with every bite.... YUM. Last night as I sat by it I realized such how much they had eaten. Well they did enjoy every bite. Kaylee laughed and said I told you so! She knew kids well enough to say that they would find it and eat it if they could reach it. Yes where I put they could reach it with a short little climb. :) It sure is a cute little house, and I really enjoyed the time with both my girls and just having fun TRYING to decorate the sweetest project ever!

"Look mom we did it!"

The finished project

Hanging of the Greens

Rejoice!

For unto you a child is born

Isaiah 9:6

Ok the stress is gone...... Another beautiful Hanging of the Greens service. The youth group did fantastic and the service is so wonderful. The Hanging of the Greens service is one of my favorite services, the other one being our Family Christmas service at church. I love when the church is all lite up with Christmas lights and candles, and the piano is playing and the youth is all dressed up. The meaning of Christmas is really captured in this service, with each and every symbol we see during the Christmas season, explained why we display them. Did you know........

The Christmas tree points upward toward heaven, and represents the Cross (made of a tree).

Candles wax represent the body of Christ, wick symbolized His soul, and the flame portrayed His divine nature.

The Evergreens are the most universal feature of Christmas, They are ever green, ever alive, even in the midst of winter. They symbolize the unchanging nature of God.

Poinsettia, called the flower of the night, with many points has also been called the Star of Bethlehem.

The Christ of Christmas:

The greatest gift of Christmas is the Gift of God in Christ Jesus. All that we do at the Holy Season points to that expression of Holy Love. Christ came as a babe in Bethlehem, God's gift at Christmas. As Christians we seek to pass on our heritage to our children and to those who, by faith in Christ, become part of the family of God. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and mine that GIFT goes on.

This year, the Youth did the entire service, and they did wonderful. I think secretly they like doing it, but they would never say that out loud...... :)

My prayer is this:

To all that read, you will know the true meaning of Christmas, will not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, focus on Christ and your family. I pray that this Christmas will be different, with new memories to cherish and old traditions to carry on through year after year. Merry Christmas to all, and may it be a Christ filled Christmas.

The Coolest Youth Group Ever..........

My two beautiful daughters. I am so proud of you both!

Me and Erica

Erica, your the coolest! I SO enjoy the time we get to be with each other.!

The Lord never leaves us!

Oh my so much has happen since my last post. I must start with PRAISE TO MY LORD...... He is a God that answers prayers. Last week, my brother was diagnosed with a certain cancer. Let me share the miracle that happen with in hours.

My brother was not feeling well, decided to go to the doctor and see why? After missing the Dr's office by a few minutes, (they had closed) his wife made the decision to go to the hospital and get answerer's. After a very quick diagnose for the Dr, he was told he had cancer and they needed a cat scan to see how much had spread. The cat scan was ordered and given that night, much to the family's surprise the test was read that night. The cancer was contained to one area, and could be easily removed. Then the surgery was scheduled for the very next day. The miracles of finding out that you have cancer and then having a surgery scheduled the next day.... Amazing, but let me add that this was all done after 8:00 pm at the hospital. God was there with us during this time of confusion, fear and the unknown. Can you believe that there was someone there to read a cat scan after hours..... I can, because that the power of My God.

The surgery was very successful and the results of the tests done after the surgery will be in on Thursday. My brother is doing extremely well, a little pain, but also to be expected. I was a very hectic 24 hours but a 24 hours were we knew God was there and was not going to leave us. I thank the Lord that my brother is good, and feeling better. I also thank each one of you who was praying for him and my family. Lord thank you for meeting us at the hospital even before we knew we were going.

He has not ignored the suffering of the needy, He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cry for help.

Psalm 22:24

Update!

Hello,

Long time no Blog...... I know I have fallen behind. I think what could I blog about today, not much has happen and then I think "Are you fooling yourself April, so much has happen" I wont bore you with all the details. I will share with you that we are in the Basketball schedule full swing.... 4 games this week!

I also started decorating my home last night in a mad dash for I have 3 special children here today. And yes you guessed it, I didn't get done! Its alright though because I will work a little here and maybe get done before Christmas Eve. Speaking of that I can't believe that Christmas is already here, I can't grip about the Christmas music being played at Wal-Mart, because it is after Thanksgiving, really it is! I have begun to shop for Christmas, and I have a few gifts.

Still at a stand still for the Adoption process! We forgot we needed David's passport, and still waiting for something else to come through. Wanted to Thank you all personally who ordered a Poinsettia, from the Fund Raiser, it was very successful and we appreciate all the help you have provided for the 3 families.

Much Love to All