State Champs!

Last weekend my tennis team went to the USTA state tennis tournament.  There were a total of ten teams in our league representing cities from all over the state and after a weekend of play our team made it to the finals.  I re-injured my ankle on the first day of play and didn't think that I was going to be able to play the rest of the weekend.  I spent a lot of time scoping out the other teams and helping with strategy.  I made the call on Sunday that I was okay to play and our incredible coach had faith in me and put me in at first court singles.  I played my heart out and won 6-3, 6-3!  It was a great feeling to be able to contribute in the end to a hard-fouhgt victory.  Two of our team members had to leave on Saturday (including our captain), but here we are right after the win:

Because we won state, we now move on to Regionals.  We represent Alabama and play the other winners from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.  It is at the end of July.  I am not sure if I am going to be able to join them because of our adoption, but I will definitely be there in spirit if I can't be there in person!

Oh yeah, and we each got a glass trophy and bag tag for the win.  The kids loved the fact that I got a trophy and thought it was so funny that it was so small.  It is kinda dorky, but I have it on my desk at home in the kitchen.  It makes me smile just to look at it.  And as far as the bag tag, those are COVETED in the tennis world!

Anxious

Not that this should come as news to anyone who actually reads my random thoughts on here, but I am getting anxious.  Really anxious.  The end of June is right around the corner and I want the referral of our baby girl so badly it hurts.  I am trying to keep myself occupied (which isn't that hard considering I have a ton of stuff going on at work, a house under construction, kids out of school, and my tennis team is going to the state tournament this weekend), but even with all of that, the adoption occupies the vast majority of my thoughts.  I was so disappointed/hurt/angry about the last time we were expecting a referral and it didn't work out, and I just don't want that to happen again.  I don't know if my psyche could handle it right now. 

And we have been waiting SO LONG.  I mean, to put it in perspective for you, we started this process on January 15, 2011.  And our homestudy/dossier was sent to Russia on July 7, 2011, almost one year ago.  We were registered in Vladivostok in late August 2011 and were told six months until a referral.  It has been 10. 

I know that God has a plan, and I am trying to find comfort in it, but right now it is getting the best of me.  Please say a quick prayer . . . for me.  That I will lean on the Lord and not on my own strength as it is failing me right now.  I have these moments where all I want to do is hole up in my room and weep.  And it is not because I am feeling sorry for myself.  I know that I am so blessed - all I have to do is look at my wonderful husband, three amazing kids and the rest of my family and friends.  I just know that someone is missing and she is sitting (crawling? walking?) in an orphanage in Vladivostok, Russia and I want to bring her home.

Soft spot

I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I've got a soft spot for musicals.  So last night the Tony Awards was on my list and it did not disappoint.  I know that I have at least a couple of friends of the musical out there - come on Shay, I'm talking about you, as well as some others.  Here is a recap of some of my favorite performances . .  Sit back, relax and enjoy (or don't and miss out on some good stuff!)

The opening song from Neil Patrick Harris was priceless. He should host the Oscars.

These were up for Best Musical:

Newsies (an old Disney classic) is just 100% classic Broadway. The dancing is amazing in this.
I've gotta see it!

Leap of Faith - you know that anything with gospel singers is gonna be good.


Nice Work if You Can Get It - with Matthew Broderick.  It would be awesome to see him on Broadway.


And finally, Once. I'll go ahead and let you know that it won. The guy singing also won best actor in a leading role in a musical which was huge for him. I love this movie and the music from it - such a good love story. I don't think that they played the best song last night, but who am I to judge?  There are definitely some amazing musicians in this show.
 

Oh yeah, and Annie is coming back to Broadway in October.  I'm gonna have to think of a way to get Ann Park up there to see that one.  We'll be practicing batting her eyelids at daddy . . . better yet, at Papa!!

Celebration of Sam, the Three Year Old

Two Wednesdays ago, we finished the day by celebrating our wild, crazy, and sometimes terrible resident three year old.  Sam requested a bouncy house and a Buzz Lightyear theme.  He got both.  But mama wised up and only invited six other little boys.  Along with siblings, there were about 10-12 kids total and somehow I avoided having my house wrecked.  We also kept the bog kids and little kids separate in the bouncy house which was really great.  The little ones had the best time bouncing and things got really fun (or funny however you look at it) when Papa joined in the fun.  It was a blast, and I drank a well-deserved glass of wine, or three, after it was over.

yellow cupcakes with white icing (a very specific request from a three year old!)

Cher Cher getting a little loving before our friends got there

Ward and Ladd Bailey having fun

Ward helping Sam blow out his 3 candles!

Paul Vincent left a little icing for later!

the bad big boys!

Papa joined in the fun!

Sam tackling Papa!

So much fun!

a picture of mama (to prove I was there!)

So annoying

So I just realized that not only is MobileMe going away, which is how I shared all my photos, but Kodak Gallery is now becoming Shutterfly.  I switched to Kodak because I could not stand Shutterfly.  And I was hoping that iCloud would hold photos, but it does not.  Guess that means that I will be getting an external hard drive to back-up all my photos.  How do you back-up all your photos on your computer?  I would die if I lost them.  I have uploaded some to Koadk (soon to be Shutterfly), but not that many (probably less than 1/4) because it is such a pain to do - well, not realy a pain, but it just takes so long and it usually messes up/times out, etc. at least once in the process.

I have now decided to try Flickr since it is linked to iPhoto.  I will see how I like it. At least you can order photos through Flickr.  Hopefully you don't have to download them to another website.  Right off the bat it does not seem to be that user-friendly, but maybe I just need to get used to it.  My name is "tedholtfamily" if you are ever looking for me.  I think that you have to have an account to view my photos and I am keeping them open only to friends and family so make sure that you find me and I'll add you as a friend.  Mom, I am sure that you are not understanding any of this.  Have dad set you up, or I will come over and show you how it works.  Jeanne is trying it to - for many of the same reasons.  We shall see.

Whirlwind

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind.  We had Ann Park's graduation from kindergarten, Sam's third birthday party and then we headed to Palmetto Bluff, SC for the 5th annual Upchurch vacation.  It all was a blast.  I'll start with the kindergarten graduation.

The kids sang a couple of their favorite songs, including "AlphaMotion" which is one of Ann Park's favorite.  They learn all the sounds that the letters make through the song.  It is precious.  The pictures didn't turn out great, but she was having a fantastic time!

She was so happy when she got her diploma.  I checked Ward out of class to see her and I actually got a cute picture of the two of them - a rarity these days!

I was in charge of the reception afterward and we really sugared them up!  The kids had a great time eating cake, cookies, and brownies, along with a few healthy items as well.  It was a nice celebration to end a great year.  I still can't believe that my precious little girl will be in first grade in a few short months.  This year really went by quickly.

That afternoon was Sam's third birthday party at our house.  Like I said, it was a crazy day.  But that is for another post.

Thoughts for Memorial Day Weekend

Our family is leaving tomorrow to go on our annual Upchurch family trip to SC, but I wanted to share an email that Ted sent to the family in honor or Memorial Day.  It touched my heart and thought that I would  re-post here.  Enjoy.  I hope that it gets you thinking.

Patriot Graves

Monday marks Memorial Day, a national observance first known as Decoration Day. The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868, on the orders of General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Initially meant as a time to remember those who fell during the bloody battles of our brutal Civil War, the holiday's significance has been extended to honor all those who paid the ultimate price for our nation. As they have done every year since 1948, soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment will place flags at more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They will remain at Arlington National Cemetery throughout the holiday weekend making sure that the flags remain upright.

There will be similar observances at national cemeteries around the country. In Fredericksburg, Virginia, local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will place candles at more than 15,000 graves at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Taps will be played every 30 minutes.

Over time, Memorial Day weekend has become more of an occasion for relaxation than for reflection about our patriots' graves and the values for which they gave "the last full measure of devotion." This weekend, I encourage you to do both -- relax and reflect.

Have that picnic, hug your kids and have some fun at the beach. But let's also remind ourselves, and our children, about what happened at Concord Bridge, on the fields of Antietam and the beaches of Normandy and why we are in Afghanistan today. Explain to them the price that was paid to stop fascism and Soviet communism, why there was a Berlin Wall, what happened at Okinawa, at Ground Zero and over the fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Lastly, take a moment this Memorial Day to teach our children and grandchildren to love the things we love, and honor the things we honor. Finally, let's remind ourselves as well as our children that liberty is a gift from God, and that each generation has paid in flesh and blood to preserve it. As General George Patton said, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

July??

Although I have tried not to ask for updates on our adoption, I have been struggling with the silence and so many people asking me questions that I decided to email my contact at the adoption agency.  She gave me a good update, and I thought that I would share some of what she told me.  Of course, it will definitely get my hopes up but I know that I can survive just about anything at this point . . .

Here is an excerpt from her e-mail:


I am in constant (daily) contact with [our contacts in Russia] waiting and watching
for a referral for your family. There have been several children that
have become available since the beginning of the new year, but [our contact in Russia]
 could not (would not) accept them due to health issues......so the
wait continues..... 


I have been told that there a couple of little girls that look good that
are coming up in June/early July, and that one of them is planned to be
referred to your family. That is all that they will tell me (I am about
to drive them crazy!!) I am sorry that I don't know anything else at
this point. Please hang in there for just a little while longer.

I hesistated to share this news, but I know that I have some prayer warriors out there.  Keep them coming.

Poem

I read this poem on an adoption website this morning and it touched my heart.  I wanted to remember it and thought that I would share it as well.

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not remember,
The other you call mother.

Two different lives
Shaped to make yours one,
One became your guiding star,
The other became your sun.

The first gave you life,
And the second taught you to live it.
And the first gave you a need for love,
And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality.
The other gave you a name.
One gave you the seeds of talent,
The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions,
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
The other dried your tears.

One gave you up,
It was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child,
And God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,
The age old question through the years.
Heredity or environment, Which are you a product of?
Neither, my Darling, Neither,
Just two different kinds of love.

Author Unknown

House pics

I haven't posted in a while because my life has been so crazy!!  I have been out of town two weekends in a row (New Orleans and then girls beach trip) and we are headed to the lake tomorrow after the kids early morning soccer games.  Construction is coming along really well.  I feel like they are flying though the exterior, but know that the interior will take much more time.  The electricians are almost through with all the rough-in for the electrical and our sound people have pre-wired as well.

Here is what we are looking like now:

Front elevation - hallway with porch behind and master suite to right

Trim work

porch fireplace detail

back elevation - bay window in master, porch to right

bay window

porch and upstairs computer nook

On Monday they are busting through our current house and truly connecting the two.  It is not going to be pretty and it will be very messy but I am excited to see our massive sliding doors.  It is going to open everything up.

No news on the adoption front, but I am being patient.  It is a daily struggle, but I know that I have no control over it and that it will happen . . . in His time and not mine.