Saturday

I have been chastised for not posting much in the last few days, so here's a long one to make up for not posting sooner.

Today "officially" started the 2008 Joelton Vikings football season with a jamboree against the Springfield Yellowjackets. I think both teams were afraid to truly "show their stuff" in an exhibition game for fear of the competition stealing their plays to study for the next week as both teams walked away with no score, tying at 0-0. It was a short 40 minute game so had it been a real game, someone would have probably scored.

Here are some photos of Josh (#74) in action. In the first one, he is opposite #54 so you can't truly tell it's him (unless you are his mom!!!)

Someone said to me today at the park, "What's wrong with you? You aren't your normally bubbly self." I told her I supposed I was just tired. I went to take some photos of our Children's Minister's renewal of his and his wife's wedding vows. It was their 25th anniversary. I came home and looked at all the photos and thought, "Hmmmm... I was off today." As the night has continued to progress, I have begun to run a fever, my body hurts, my tummy feels a bit rumbly and I have a general funky feeling. I'm not sure if I'm coming down with a virus or what.

Last night, Kevin's company bought tickets for people to go to the Sounds game -- our minor league baseball team. The company provided food and a special area to sit up on a deck overlooking the field or in seats behind first base. We managed to get a few extra tickets and took Josh's friends (well, they are our friends too) Braiden and Kirstin with us. We all had a good time. It was really nice to get out of the house and do something regular and to not think about adoption for a while. That's what I'm very much looking forward to when I get home (that, and no more fundraising *smile* -- and especially to having our little Ellie home!!). Here are a couple of photos from last night. We all had a good time even though the Sounds lost.

We also signed Josh up for basketball today. Apparently, basketball practice starts the Tuesday after Labor Day and is on Tuesday and Friday night. Since we are already practicing football on Monday and Thursday night, I can see this being a bit much. It will make our days pass quickly until time to return for Ellie. Josh liked basketball a whole lot last year and the exercise value is worth it for us. Fortunately, he'll be playing at a school that is about 5 minutes away so it won't involve a lot of gas or driving time.

On another note, there are many families (I've heard between 40-60) that are caught up in a situation in Kyrgyzstan related to the adoption of their children. Most have already visited their children for Trip 1 and my understanding is that some visited as long ago as January of this year. Because of so many problems with the court system in Bishkek (we were in Tokmok's court system), with the judge originally not hearing cases for some reason, a new committee being established, a new Minister of Education coming on board, etc. etc., the delays continue. So many families are waiting to go through court so they can bring their babies home. I cannot begin to imagine how hard this must be for those families and would not insult them to indicate that I did. So, in the effort of trying to bring about some miraculous change, this Sunday night at 8 p.m. CST, there will be a candle lighting/prayer vigil for these families with the specific requests that these prayers will open the minds and hearts of the officials to move the process along so the children can come home. Please join in for a few minutes tomorrow night and pray not only for those officials but those families who have gone there, held their children, left them (thinking it would be 6 weeks before they returned) only to be waiting for month after month with no definite answer as to when they can return. Pray for their continued strength and faith. Pray for those babies in orphanages waiting for their families to return for them. Pray for their health and for their caregivers.

And, last, the answer to the question asked of me, "Where do you get those cool numbers marking the numbers of days you have left until you travel?" I google the words "Number X" where "X" is the number of days left. Then, after I get results, I click "Images" and get the most lovely array of choices. I was going to do a countdown calendar, but I decided I liked the numbers better. And, to that end, here is another number for today -- 48 days.

Oh, and a "brag on your husband moment". I was entering work (with a short break to blog before I hit the bed) and my sweet hubby is cleaning bathrooms, washing clothes, vaccuuming and generally cleaning the entire upstairs for me. He IS such a good man.