On vacation...sort of.

Ralphcrew is on vacation. Please visit Psalm68 for the next few weeks while we are out of the country on our adoption adventure. Trust me, it's finally about to get exciting.

See you later!!

Oh boy!

Where did June go? It was gone in a flash for me.

Today we are leaving for Eastern Europe to adopt Alec and Zhenya. It doesn't seem real yet. I've read other families' adoption blogs for so long now that I thought it would be different. I'm still a little disconnected.

I haven't had the time to properly care for two blogs lately, so I'm going to invite you to pop over to Psalm68 for the next month or so. Thanks!

Here are our sweet boys...enjoy!

Red, White and BLUE!!

Happy Birthday USA! Happy Birthday Richard!

My son, Richard turned 18 years old today! It was no fun, though, because he is not here to celebrate with us. As a baby and young child I would tell him that the fireworks were just for him! Then I'd have to explain to the other children why there were no fireworks on their birthday. Hahaha!

Well, we did some fireworks, but it just wasn't the same. The constant rain didn't help. Also, Richard wasn't the only one missing today. Wesley was in Nebraska visiting friends. Chipper was at church camp in Oklahoma. So what do we do when the teenagers are out of town on a Sunday? Why, we go out to eat, that's what!

In honor of Richard's birthday, we are Chinese, because he hates it!! We can only go when he's not with us or he throws a fit, not pretty at his age. When you start paying adult prices for your children at restaurants, you find yourself eating at Mom's Kitchen more often than not.

Since I'm a bit blue today, I'll show you something that cheered me up a bit.

Ralph in the Barbie jeep.


Don't know how he got in there.

For some reason this made me think of Alice in Wonderland!

If you ever need cheering up, come over and play with Ralph!

Joy

What gives you joy?


Can you taste it yet?

Do you remember a time when something as simple as an ice cream cone could make you feel like this?

Ralph is my joy! I don't need ice cream when I have him around.