DATE: 11/16/2005 10:56:00 PM
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I've never pretended to live a glamorous life. But, I do think it's a pretty blessed one. Our days are usually not anything special, just ordinary and routine. But, in those times of routine, if I look hard enough, there is always something so amazing. Today was one of those days. Nothing special. In fact, it was so ordinary, that I was tempted to wallow in self-pity. Feeding kids, changing diapers, teaching Lucas, refereeing fights, feeding kids again, changing more diapers, breaking up more fights...........and so it goes. After having a little whiny session to God, He made me realized how wonderful life actually is. We have a house that's more than one room (which is more than many people around the world can say), we have food and are not hungry, we have clothing and shoes, and although there's not a lot, we have money to keep our lights and water running and a few extra luxuries.

My kids drive me absolutely insane on rare occasions. Then I stop and think about those (even close friends) who would give anything for a baby, and I quit griping about my crew of children. I even wonder sometimes if anything we teach them is sticking in their little minds. But then we get a compliment as we did when we were eating out Sunday, and someone says "My husband and I were just talking about what well-mannered, well-behaved children you have." And it blows me away that they're speaking of My boys.

My husband was "hand-picked" for me. There was a song that was popular a few months ago, I guess. A line in the song says "I wonder what God was thinking, when He created you. I wonder if He knew everything I would need..........." I just keep thinking, of course He did. Kyle is such my opposite in many ways, but ways that I need someone to fill in those gaps in my life. He keeps me grounded and sane (and surprises me with Steven Curits Chapman Christmas concert tickets). In the words of Michael W. Smith (who my dear husband listens to with all tolerance because of me) he truly is "the other side of me."

God has given me so much.

Here are some pictures of our day today (which probably have nothing to do with my previous emotional spill)


Noah cheesin' it up for the camera.

Lucas.....he's getting so big!

Lucas and Ellie playing.

Jacob and Noah playing piano.

This isn't from today, but I thought he needed equal "airtime."

Last, but certainly not least, here's Ellie.

Kyle didn't like the 1st picture of Noah, so here's a little better one.










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DATE: 11/15/2005 01:50:37 PM
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BODY:
Our camera has been broken since we came home from Guatemala. However, the FedEx man just delivered it back to us today, so I can start posting more pictures!

Here is a picture that was taken a couple weeks ago with a disposable camera, so the quality isn't all that great.........but you get the idea.

Ellie is doing great. She had tons of blood/lab work done.....just routine stuff for an internationally adopted baby. We'll find out the results on Monday. The doctor also says she hears a soft heart murmur, but doesn't think it's anything major. we have to go back on Monday, and she said she'll listen for it again. So, we're praying that is just as she called it a "functional murmur."

Here's a picture of Ellie and I promise to have some more on here of all the kids later today or tomorrow!


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DATE: 11/10/2005 07:58:37 PM
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BODY:
Noah was in the bathtub tonight and said "Mommy, how do they make chicken nuggets?" (How that topic came up in the bath, I have no idea). I told him I wasn't sure and he said "I bet they take some chicken and wrap it up in crunch and that's how."

We told Lucas the other day that next month he'd be going to the dentist. Our last visit to the dentist with him (at the age of 2 1/2) was horrible (thanks to the dentist scene in the movie Nemo). He came downstairs today and told me "when I think about having to go to the dentist, it just makes me want to cry all day!"

Anything Jacob says is funny, so there's not enough room here to write them all. The one thing he consistently says that's not so much funny as sweet.....anytime we're out shopping and he's in the shopping cart, he'll reach out his arms and say "I need hugs, Mommy." Everyone together now...."aaawwwwww"

DATE: 10/17/2005 10:12:12 AM
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BODY:
Just an update. The boys are doing so well with Ellie. We were really worried about Jacob's reaction. He has been the baby and is very......shall we say.....well, let's just say he enjoys his position as the youngest Brogdon boy. He has been nothing but loving towards her, though. We do have to watch him so he's not carrying her around by her hair or some other body part!

Right now they are playing indoor soccer together (the boys, not ellie!). They play so well together. It's days like this that I love having them so close together. They are the best of friends, and Kyle and I pray that it stays this way forever.

Kyle is loving his new job. In his entire history of careers, however, he's never had to really "dress up." Golf shirts and khakis were about as dressed as he got. Now, he sports dress slacks, shirts, and ties everyday. I kinda like it :) He's getting used to it. Although, we have to find a dry cleaners now. It's one thing to iron my clothes in 2 minutes and quite another to starch and iron men's dress clothes.

Enough of my ramblings. Our camera is broken so as soon as we get it fixed, I promise to have more pictures posted! (Just for you, Alison!)
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DATE: 10/05/2005 01:06:56 PM
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We made it home Friday night. The flight home was exhausting. I do not recommend traveling with a 3 month old alone! What a trip. But, we're home and doing well.

The weekend was a zoo. My parents were here staying with us, company in and out, the boys had soccer games Saturday......it's no wonder that Ellie cried 90% of the weekend.

Life is beginning to get into a normal routine now. My parents left on Monday and Kyle has this week off before beginning his new job. So, we are trying to get a schedule down before I'm left alone with them all! We're also trying to potty train Jacob, which isn't going too well. He's soooo strong willed! I thought he'd be easy, but he's proving to be the most difficult one so far!

Ellie is doing better. We changed her formula yesterday and that seems to have helped some. She does sleep all night, but doesn't sleep much in the daytime. Unless she's in her swing, then she'll sleep for hours on end. I'd leave her in there 24/7 if I didn't think that'd cause a whole new set of problems!

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Here's a picture of her at home. We haven't had the chance to take very good pictures yet, but you get the idea of life with 4 kids!




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DATE: 09/29/2005 03:23:20 PM
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Kyle has been interviewing with the hospital system for a public relations job for a few weeks now. His last interview was well over a week ago, and we had heard nothing from them, until yesterday.

Kyle begins working as Public Relations Coordinator for the local hospital on Oct. 10. We know that God has blessed him with this position. He is very excited about it and it is a HUGE salary increase (which we need to help pay adoption expenses!) We are very relieved that our life seems to be settling down. I will get home tomorrow night, so the adoption process will be over. Kyle will have a week, then begin a job (that we hope lasts a LONG, LONG time!)

I feel a huge weight off my shoulders! Now if tomorrow would just hurry up and get here!


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DATE: 09/28/2005 12:43:34 PM
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Ellie and I went to the US Embassy with our agency rep this morning. We breezed through in a little less than 2 hours and she was approved for her visa. We will get the visa about 5:00 tomorrow and then on to Atlanta on Friday. I still can't believe that she actually gets to come home with me!

After talking with our agency director, I see God's hand in our entire adoption. Ellie's case has gone quicker than anyone's that they've done. As our case progressed, it seemed that all of a sudden things would happen more quickly than they had been happening. For example, to enter the Guatemalan equivalent of "DFACS" (family services), you have to have pre-approval from the US Embassy. That usually takes about 7-8 weeks from the time the DNA testing is done. However, for a small window of about a month, they were getting these out within 4 weeks. Ours was in that window of time. It is now back to 7-8 weeks.

Just little things like that that others may see as "luck" I see as God's hand on our case all the way through. Then, with the events of this week, I can see God orchestrating everything.



Yesterday I read a verse that I know very well, but it took on a whole new meaning for me....Romans 8:28

"And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him"

It sure doesn't promise that everything will be easy, but He does promise that He will take all the good and all the bad and make it into something good.

That something good is coming home with me on Friday.

And all I can do is say Thank you, Lord.