You know how they say there are some experiences that bind people together forever, well I feel that way about my travel group to China. Of the 11 families we traveled with 10 families are still in weekly contact. I just think that is amazing and the support we are building for one another is strong, but more importantly we are building a community for these girls. Our Pingjiang Princesses will always have that connection back to China together and some super cool girlfriends. This picture is Emily, Chloe and Sophia on the famous RED COUCH. Kisses to all the girls!!!

Next Saturday will be our two year "Gotcha Day Annv." and I am feeling very nostalgic and also adoption seems to be everywhere I look. I bought buckets for the kids yesterday with little shovels to play with out in the yard and Emily said "Where is Maggie's" and I almost wanted to cry. There are two TV shows that I have run across over the past week talking about adoption, our pastor is waiting for travel news, the Shockley's will be getting Ethan soon and low and behold a long lost friend from California found me on the Bethany Forum and they will be traveling soon to adopt a beautiful daughter from Russia. Adoption is everywhere and I just know that God smiles down every time we say the word, after all He was the first to adopt all of us into His family. So I am going to take the next week and honor God with some fun pictures from our adoption and just thank Him for this miracle in our life and how adoption brought our home alive and allowed us to see God's True Love for us. Hang on Maggie - "Mommy will be there soon." Picture of Carlee and I in China with Emily - could not have done this trip with out my best friend!

I just love this time of year for our family. Scott has just finished basketball and now he is home every day by 3:30, no where the kids have to go, sun setting late, rocking Emily, playing and reading with the kids and just a calmness around the house. We play outside and eat dinner together most every night. It is these times when I fall on my knees to the Father and thank him for the blessings in my life, but it also reminds me of all those who don't have a moment to "Take a Break." As a family we are praying right now for God to show us a place of service outside the walls of our church. My husband has been talking for years about wanting to be more of a servant and teaching our kids to be servants. There are so many in need and we want to give away our time, treasure, and talents as it talks about in Matthew .... Love Ya All and don't forget to "Take a Break."

Sorry for being absent a few days, but we have been working on the house. I have to say our home is such a blessing. We live in an extremely wealthy area (which we are not) and it took us a year to find a home we could afford near Scott's school. We found a 25 year old cottage (which Jeremiah calls a train caboose). It had only 1771 sq. feet and one bathroom. We now have 3000 sq. feet and 3 full baths. We have worked so hard to make our house a home our kids could enjoy and as a family we would love. I have to say there a so many things I would like to do to it, but when we are splashing around in the pool, having family dinners together, shooting hoops, jumping on the trampoline or just sitting by the firepit I send a little prayer of thanks up to the Lord for blessing us with this great home. We live and play in our home hard. We always have people over, players from school, and friends. I love sharing my home with others, which is why I am so excited for all my China Travel Mates to come here for the reunion (not to mention that my kids are wild and crazy and I get nervous when we are at other people's home) .... This picture was just a fun day of hanging outside by the pool.

I have been joking with my friend Steffie (who is purchasing a 10 passenger conversion van like mine) that all you needed to be really cool in what I have named the "Ghetto Yacht" is a super cool pair of sunglasses. Now I used to be a shopaholic, but after Elijah and Emily arrived it just doesn't happen anymore. My aunt came in town with the coolest pair of shades and I ask her where they where from and it just happened to be from my favorite store. You guessed it TARGET. Wonder how I missed them the other day at Target. Oh, yes that was the day when my kids were EXPRESSING THEMSELVES as I tried to shop, so tonight I swooped in quickly and got them. Just my style and just my price. Yeah Me ... Tag Steffie you are it...

For those of you who don't know. I am dysfunctional when it comes to the computer. Verna has not only created my blog, but often stops by for upgrades and touch-ups. We met when traveling to China to get our daughters. I can't say how much of a blessing it has been to blog with all my China Friends and what an outlet blogging has become for me. Thank you Verna!!! So I bestow the name "BLOG FAIRY" upon my China Sister!

Tee Hee.

just a couple of pictures from a good week. 1)Emily-helping mommy fold laundry (she is pretty good) 2)fun afternoon of playing and the relaxing by the fire pit...

I remember when Jeremiah was 3 years old and Scott and I decided that going out to eat was just not fun nor worth the effort with a wild and crazy 3 year old. I have just hit that point with Elijah and Emily. We tried Target yesterday and I don't know if I have ever been so embarrassed in my life as a mom. I do have to say that I think it was a man who created those buggies with the seating that causes your kids to face each other, not to mention that they are a beast to push. So I blame him a little for the incident. Any way back to the story, after asking repeatedly for them to stop touching each other, please say kind words, and stop standing up in the seat .. I took their gum away they were going to purchase and they both completely had a break down. You could hear them both crying and pleading for their treat back. People were staring and then Elijah and Emily didn't help any by stomping their feet in the buggy. So we left and they cried all the way home. I placed each child in their room for an hour, for fear of what I might do if I had to look at them anymore. Then they fell asleep due to all the crying. I keep asking myself, "Where did I go wrong?" So if you were trying to figure out where all the noise was coming from yesterday, it was here in Brentwood, TN ...I remember Verna's Target story not to long ago. Must be something in the air there. On the bright side, staying at home will save me some money!!!

The sun is shining, the kids aren't arguing, my pediatrician gave me a go ahead on three little girls on the COP list, and yes, MY LID CAME TODAY - 2/28/07. One huge step closer to Maggie Bright ____ Oatsvall. Let the count down begin! This is a picture the day we got Emily sitting in the hotel in Changsha. I can't wait to hold my Maggie and put a pink bow in her hair.

Well in keeping with my Favorite Person Friday this is my Honey's Week. I meet Scott Oatsvall when I was 14 years-old and fell instantly in love. We have had our share of ups and downs, but a year has never past when I didn't fall deeper in love with him. There are so many things I can say about him, but what it all boils down to is "I fit perfectly in his arms." He is a great dad, loving husband, godly man, awesome coach, good friend, and an all around great guy. He has seen me at my best and worst, yet he never fails to tell me I am beautiful and there isn't anything he would change about me. Thank you Lord for sending this man into my life, he makes me a better person. My top 3 memories (I will keep these clean - Hee, Hee) 1. Senior Prom in California 2. He sang to me at our wedding "Always and Forever" by HeatWave 3. His face when all 3 of our children entered our family.

16 years and counting .... I love you, Scott- Favorite photo of Scott and Jeremiah (at 4) ... Just hanging out at work ...

Go to pathood.org .... you can see a picture of Jadyn Grace Hood. My pastor and his wife Amy have waited so long for this precious daughter. She prayed for over 4 years to adopt and the stubborn Pat Hood said no till one day God changed his heart. They did paperwork in July 05' and their LID was 10/21/05 ... I can't imagine the wait, but I guess I should, because that could be us. Please take a look at her and send prayers their way!!!!

After 7 games this weekend, I will have to say that my child played great, but the part I am most proud of is his heart. He has great sportsmanship and he loves his teammates. Highlight of the weekend was Steve McNair's (NFL Quaterback) kid was playing and when Jeremiah got him to sign his shoes he told Jeremiah that he had a pretty shot !!!! I have to agree with Mr. McNair. Well, we came in second and the guys were super tired, but they played the championship game in the Allen Arena which is at Lipscomb University and the court was huge and our little guys looked so small, but they had a blast!!! All in all a great weekend !!!

Today my precious Elijah turned 5. We celebrated with Krispy Creme and McDonald's. He was extremely proud to be 5 and I got so many hugs today that I wish his b-day was everyday. Happy Birthday to Elijah James Allen Oatsvall ... Mom loves you sooooo much!

It was 60 degrees yesterday and while we were playing outside Elijah proceeded to put on his swimsuit and ask to go swimming. Of course being a good mother, I said "NO." Now we all know that little sister isn't going to be left out of anything, so she gets her swimsuit on. I just wanted to read my magazine in the sun while they played, but they wouldn't stop begging to swim, so I caved and said give it a try. Needless to say they didn't get past their toes before they realized it isn't swim weather yet !!!