Back to School Monday!

Here's our annual "Back to School" photo shoot...today was the day our new school year began.  This year I have a 10th grader, a 7th grader, and a Kindergartner.  We had a beautiful day today to start our school year, and all in all, it went well.  It will take a bit of time to get back into the routine, but in some ways, it feels like we never left it.  I think time just goes by faster when you get older or something!  Here's a photo of Benjamin with his Kindergarten teacher...

Yep, that's me!  Pray for us this year if you think of it.  He did a great job today with remembering to call me "Mrs. Fisher" as much as possible around his classmates, and not trying to get my attention unduly.  We'll see how it goes when the novelty wears off!  Hope your back to school has gone well, whatever shape it takes in your household!

Handmade Doilies by Brenda - New Adoption Fundraiser!

Are you looking for a unique, handmade gift for that special occasion coming up? Well I have just the idea for you, and I can bet that no one else will give the same gift! My mother-in-law, Brenda, makes beautiful, handmade, crocheted name doilies. She is offering her talents as a fundraiser to help us bring Sophia home from Taiwan.


Now for the details...these unique doilies are available in white or ecru/tan, horizontal or vertical, with a lacy shell or pointed edge border. They are beautiful matted and framed, or as a pillow top, and are usually ready in 1-4 weeks. They make great holiday, graduation, wedding, birthday, teacher or baby shower gifts and are excellent for first and/or last names, nicknames, slogans or favorite sports teams. The doilies cost $25 for up to 5 letters and $3 for each additional letter. You choose the color, edging, and of course, the personalization. This is a fundraiser for our little Sophia with a minimum of $10 per doily being donated to Sophia’s adoption...and you get a unique, personalized keepsake for yourself or to give as a gift!

We are taking orders on a first-come, first-served basis, so get your holiday orders in as soon as possible! To place an order, e-mail me at tfisher83@myexcel.com with your desired color, edging, and personalization. I will then send you an invoice via Paypal. As soon as I receive your payment, your order will be processed and filled! (For those orders requiring shipping, an additional charge of $5.00 will be added to cover priority shipping costs.) Please help us pass the word around about this fundraiser, and thanks for supporting our family and helping us bring our daughter home from Taiwan!

Paint Colors

Here are the photos of the two paint colors we used recently in our home...I know some of my friends wanted to see them.  They didn't photograph really well, but you can get the idea.  They are both from Sherwin Williams...a very helpful place, I might add!  (And, no, I'm not getting paid to say that!)  Thanks again to my friend Tiffany who helped me paint...I wouldn't have been able to do it without her!  At least one summer project was accomplished this year!

"cay" in my craft room

"lighthearted pink" in Sophia's room

Grandmom's Pound Cake

Grandmom Christian's pound cake was a staple in her house growing up.  And because we lived overseas, when we were home, it was a really special treat.  I grew up hearing how ornery the cake was, because sometimes it didn't turn out as a pound cake--but as a ten pound cake--way too heavy and a waste of precious ingredients.  I have always been a little afraid of trying it, but I just got a hankering for it and, after calling Grandmom and getting some last minute advice, I tried baking it today for the very first time.  And, I'm proud to announce...IT TURNED OUT BEAUTIFULLY!  

just out of the pan

ready to be eaten...yum!

If you would like this recipe, it's in our Forever Family cookbook that we are selling as an adoption fundraiser...check it out here!

We're Losing It Around Here!

"It" being teeth!  This week Benjamin lost his very first tooth.  It had been quite wiggly for some time, and finally I just yanked and out it came!

I shed a few tears about it, too...not because it hurt him, but because this means my little boys is growing up!  He starts kindergarten in a few short weeks (with yours truly as his teacher--pray for us!) and is really maturing in a lot of ways.  I still have by baby, Nathaniel, but he's growing up way too fast, too!  When Benjamin lost his tooth, Nathaniel wanted me to pull one of his out too...didn't want to miss out, I guess! 

Benjamin was very surprised when his tooth under his pillow "turned into" four quarters...we don't make a big deal about the tooth fairy or anything, but we told him to just put it under his pillow to see what would happen.  He was happy to put the money in his piggy bank and that was that! 

Today's Inspiration

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD;

And He delights in his way.

The law of his God is in his heart;

His steps do not slip."

Psalm 37:23, 31

The Blind Side

We just finished watching this movie...yes, we are behind the times.  I'm almost at a loss as to what to write about it because it impressed me so much.  Having adopted two children out of foster care and away from a life not too unlike what the movie portrays about the "projects", this movie really hit home.  The "what if's" don't come to mind all too often any more, but after watching this movie, I can't help but wonder...what if our boys had not come into our lives when they did...where would they be now?  Of course there's no need to wonder, really, because God had His hand on their lives from the very beginning and brought them into our family in His perfect time.  But humanly speaking, I do wonder sometimes.  I also wonder what our boys, especially our oldest, thought about the scene in the movie where Michael remembers being taken from his birthmom by protective services.  This happened to our boys, and it breaks my heart to think about what was going through the minds of a two year old and a four year old being torn from the only life they had ever known...albeit, not a healthy one.  It will definitely be cause for discussion at a later time!  This movie touches on so many themes that our family can relate to...football, interracial adoption/foster care, education, family life.  (Here's a great review from a Christian perspective.)  If you haven't seen it, give it a try...if you have, what are your thoughts on it?