And the BIG NEWS IS.......

Hey there, Friends! I'm sorry to have left you hanging like that. HEHEHEHE.. well, sorta. O:-)

Before I start all the "blah, blah, blah," about our Thanksgiving... I KNOW many of you are wanting to know what the big news is??

SOOOO... my sister (Kerry) and her hubby (Shannon) are going to adopt. If you've heard me talk of my sister before, then you KNOW I'm just CRAZY about her and her family. Our children were all born in "stair-steps." Ashley (her daughter) was born in 94, Brent (our first son) was born in 95, Clay (Kerry's son) was born in 96, then Zach in 97. We had this really neat little pattern going with our first 4 (combined) but SHE had to go and mess it up. LOL!!! (Of course Gabe came along in 2000)

Seriously though, she's diabetic and because of that, Clay was a HUGE baby! (OVER 10 POUNDS) Now, my sis isn't like me... she's a LITTLE BITTY thing! Clay got stuck during his birth and it was too late to do a section. (Sorry if that's "TMI" but it's a VERY IMPORTANT part of the story). See, her doc didn't know he was so big (not sure how they missed that, but oh well) and he was practically born dead. (Due to that, his heart was TERRIBLY ENLARGED) PRAISE GOD, he DIDN'T die (or least that he didn't stay that way)! He was airlifted to Jackson, MS and his parents were told to prepare for the worst). GOD stepped in, and Clay was brought home just a week or so later. He's been healthy since.

HOWEVER, my sister & her hubby, again due to her health.. decided that 2 would be enough. (I don't know if that was the ONLY factor, but it was DEFINITELY a MAJOR one)

Well, GOD has recently shown them that HE wants to add to their family. They felt strongly that it would be a child from Russia - and GOD has MORE THAN CONFIRMED it over and over again!

They will set out to adopt 2 babies. (Two is the limit if you're not getting siblings, and very young siblings would be VERY RARE)

If you get online and research these orphanages - oh MY! It'll just BREAK your heart! (Little beds lined RIGHT NEXT to each other.. stories of children with no one to hold and love them.. it's just SO SAD)

Needless to say, I'm EXCITED BEYOND WORDS! (See, I gave you a little hint the other day.. I said the baby wasn't coming to OUR house.. what I didn't say, was where it WOULD be going) O:-)


Now... to catch up on the holidays.....

I told you I'd be fixing a turkey for Link's family dinner. It turned out REALLY WELL, I'm happy to say! I actually remembered to take out that little bag of.. I don't even CARE to KNOW what's in it.. O:-) HA!!!

See, to tell off on myself a bit... The VERY FIRST turkey I ever made......... well, I sort of didn't know there was ANYTHING inside the bird that needed to come OUT. (Sorry if this offends anyone that doesn't eat meat) ;-)

At any rate.. I was VERY PLEASED that I didn't burn it, or under cook it, or leave something inside that wasn't suppose to be there. HA!! Dinner at Link's parents was AMAZING! (They're ALL FANTASTIC cooks!!)

After lunch, we made dough ornaments. That'll be another set of pictures I'll need to load and share. (Man, am I SERIOUSLY BEHIND on pictures, or WHAT??)


We'll be doing supper with my family tonight. (If you didn't know.. my Daddy is a truck driver) HE wasn't home for turkey day so we'll be oinkin out AGAIN tonight. (Hopefully I won't.. I've started yet ANOTHER diet)

HHHMMMM... WHAT ELSE???

Well, I COULD tell you that I'm now OBSESSED with learning how to do blog makeovers! (I LOVE my Christmas one, but I always feel terrible asking the lady that's doing the makeover to keep making changes) Jennisa was VERY PATIENT with me and I think she did a GREAT job! (You can find her at onceuponablog.org)

A VERY DEAR friend of mine has been encouraging me to learn, and well, honestly, I'd REALLY LOVE to know how! I did find a spot online that gives some REALLY GOOD instructions. My biggest problem NOW is to figure out how to work my Photoshop program. (I'm SOOOO DINGY and HATE to read instructions) I suppose if I'm going to get this figured out, I'm going to HAVE to though. =-/ (Heheheh)

If any of you know of a "step by step" visual type thingy.. could you let me know? O:-)

Okay, I KNOW I'm forgetting something.. I suppose whatever it is will wait until next time?



Oh, and I've also STILL not made it around to commenting on your blogs. I'm SO VERY SORRY! I'm sure you understand.. the holidays are CRAZY, and WONDERFUL, and WONDERFULLY CRAZY! ;o)



I hope to see you soon..

Love,