National Junior Honor Society Induction

Way to go Rachel!!! I am so proud of you! I love you and I love the choices you are making and the fine young woman you are.

Lessons from Chickens

My friend has chickens. She also has baby chicks....hatched from many eggs from different hens.

I learned something about hens today. A mother hen doesn't care if the eggs are hers or not. If she is ready to brood and there are eggs needing incubating, she sits on all the eggs. The broody hen takes care of all the eggs.

I have three girls: two adopted from China, one in the foster care system. They are my children. I love them. I will take care of them. It doesn't matter if I gave birth to them or not. Just as the broody hen loves and cares for the eggs of other hens, I do the same.  Many of the baby chicks look nothing like the broody hen. My children bear no physical resemblance to me. It doesn't matter. They are mine. I love them and I will care for them.

Easter

 The girls' Easter baskets were full of fun things to take camping. Yes!! We are going on our first camping trip of the year in two days. I am so excited! Nothing better than camping with my girls.

 Rachel took pictures of flower and a ladybug in our yard. I thought the pictures turned out pretty good.

 Our Minion Easter eggs....we are missing a few....lost in our backyard...Erin Joy hides the eggs too well.

Love Her!

 Erin Joy has been spending her after school hours in my classroom educating my stuffed pandas. I love it!

 Her box of many uses is now an "I love my family" box. I love it!! I had no idea there was writing inside of her box until I was taking a picture of her playing on her iPod inside the box and noticed the writing.

I love you, Erin Joy!!! My sweet, compassionate, caring daughter. I am so glad you are mine.

Monkey Girl

Erin Joy needed new shoes. I bought her new shoes yesterday. In less than two hours, she ruined one of her new shoes by dragging her foot along the pavement while riding her bike. No wonder she goes through shoes so quickly! 

Her old shoes....

Her less-than-two-hours-old new shoes.....

Climbing the big quarry truck near our house left her covered in dirt and grease. Glad she had a fun day ruining her shoes and clothes.

 She and her friend are definitely monkey girls!

My Favorite Skater

Rachel really enjoys ice skating and I enjoy watching her. She gets better with each performance and I am excited to watch her perform this year. I love her and I am happy that she has set goals for herself and is determined to achieve them.

 And if you look closely, you can see me taking video in the background....

Rachel's Band

I am impressed with Rachel's band. They certainly sound much different than they sounded two years ago in beginning band (thank goodness). I was sad when our band director retired, but he was replaced by an excellent, young, fresh-out-of-college, band director. Unfortunately, their current band director had to fly to Michigan for a death in the family. Fortunately, their former band director directed the concert tonight. Anyway, you really should listen to them play....they really do sound great for a middle school band.