Family Page

  Proverbs 24:3-4

Updates

8/6/07

Where does the time go???!!!  We are doing great!  Greg Jr. started football practice 7/30 and is having a good time with the team.  I can't wait to see their first game!  Kevin continues to play soccer.  He competed in a couple of 3v3 tournaments this summer.  One went really badly and the other went very well!  His travel team is practicing now for their fall tournaments.  Kyria is doing great!  She is pretty much potty trained.....well, she goes #1 in the potty and will NOT go #2 in the potty if her life depended on it!  What's up with that??  She and Mom really have a time with that mess!  HaHa!!

My niece was born last Wednesday, 8/1/07.  Elizabeth Marie Warren was born a little before 10AM and weighed 6lbs 8oz and was 19 inches.  She is beautiful!  Greg Jr. gets to share his birthday with his first cousin now!

Love to all!!

6/12/07

We've been super busy!  In addition to the the "usual" stuff between school and sports and work, we've had cookouts, a wedding, a baby shower, a couple of family birthdays (mine & Kevin's), and a cookout party for the soccer team for Kevin's birthday!  The boys finished their 3rd and 9th grade years up.  Kevin's soccer team had a successful season.  More information on that on their team website on our Links page.  Kevin will be competing in a 3v3 soccer tournament on Saturday and Greg will be participating in a basketball tournament at BLAST this weekend at Mt. Vernon University.  It is an event through the Nazarene church.

Kyria is doing great.  Well, except for tonight.  She was running down the driveway and fell.  Skinned both knees and is VERY UPSET!  Other than that, she is doing great.  She is such a doll!

I've added some pictures from our busy couple of months!

4/23/07

I've added some pictures from Kevin's soccer game and Tristen & Gavin's 2nd birthday party.  We are doing well.  I got to see a dear friend from my childhood this past weekend.  Martha and I were best friends in grade school.  Kyria and I met her, her husband, Andy, and their daughter Molly.  It was great to see you, Martha!!

4/5/07

We are trying to get back to "normal" since Grandma's funeral.  Her love for us and our love for her will remain with us.  I've added a couple more things spoken at the funeral to Grandma's Page.  This is as much for me (and our family) as anything.  I visit the page sometimes and watch the picture presentation and read over the words spoken at the funeral.  She was so wonderful.

I finally added some pictures from January 2007 - March 2007 you can see by clicking on the camera above.  Lots of different things going on in our family.  Kevin started soccer practice with his recreation team and his travel team.  (Of course this means Greg started soccer practice as well.)  Greg Jr. is playing basketball any and every time he gets the chance.  Kyria is growing and growing.  We took her to JCPenny last month to attempt to get her picture taken.  She has not allowed us to do this since we brought her home in August of 2007.  I couldn't believe how well she did!  It just shows how she has grown, is now trusting us, and is comfortable in her surroundings.  She is such a doll!

Happy Easter to you all!  My God Reigns on the Throne!!!

3/28/07

My Grandma passed away this past Saturday.  I just don't have the words to express my feelings and emotions.  We ALL loved her dearly!  She was an amazing lady and we treasure the time we had with her on this earth.  I've shared some things from the funeral you can see here.  Please keep the family in your prayers.......especially our precious Grandpa.  Grandma was his everything.  They truly were "one."

12/14/06

It's THAT time of year!!  As we celebrate Christmas, we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is my EVERYTHING!  I added one of my favorite Christmas songs to play on our home page.  It is "Hand of Sweet Release" by the Gaither Vocal Band.  I heard for the first time a couple of weeks ago a song by Third Day titled "Merry Christmas" and added it to Kyria's page.  I hope you have time to listen and enjoy these two songs that are very special to me.

 God's blessings to you and your family this Christmas and throughout the New Year!!

11/19/06

We celebrated Kyria's 2nd birthday today.  She will be 2 on Tuesday, 11/21!  She had an Elmo's World cake, ice cream, and some presents.  I added some pictures from today you can see by clicking on the camera.  Also, below is a little video I took of her with her guitar Papaw got her.  She loves her guitar!  It may take a couple of minutes to load....

Kevin's soccer team did AWESOME last weekend in Roanoke, VA!!!  We were all a bit nervous because we ended up being the only U9 team in the tournament and had to play in the U10 bracket.  We won our first game and were SO excited!  We won our second game and was EVEN MORE excited.  We then won our third game and was heading to the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!  The team we played in the Championship game was HUGE!  I hope one of the other parents got a picture or two of that game so everyone can see the David & Goliath looking game....David lost this battle, though.  :-)  So exciting for the kids to make it to the Championship game playing "up."

Kyria and I went to a celebrate adoption gathering Saturday morning.  It was nice.  We were then heading to my friend's house to do some baking and hang out together.  I was going to run through McDonald's first to get Kyria a Happy Meal when I pulled right in front of someone and we HIT HARD!  I can't believe how bad those darn airbags hurt!!  I've got some nasty bruises and am so sore!!  Thank God the woman in the other car was not seriously hurt and Kyria and I weren't seriously hurt.  I don't understand how I didn't see that car coming.  I still feel so badly about the accident.  It's hard to forgive yourself for something like that.  I don't think the other car was as damaged as our car, but I'm not certain.  We think our car is totaled.  It was a mangled mess on the front passenger side.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday!  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and many blessings to you and your families!

11/6/06

I can't believe it is November!!!  Where does the time go?  Greg Jr. finished his football season up.  His freshman team went 4 - 4 and the varsity team went 5 - 5.  Unfortunately, the varsity team did not make the state playoffs.  Kevin finished up his recreational soccer league.  His team went 6 - 1 - 1.  They had a really good season!  His travel team plays next weekend in Roanoke.  We are the only U9 team in the tournament and are playing U10 teams.  Hopefully, we'll play competitively against. the other teams.  Go Strikers!

Kyria is doing great!  She is talking a lot in sentences now.  So amazing!  She cracks us up, too!  Kyria and Kevin did the Trick-or-Treat deal on Halloween.  Kevin was the Emperor of Evil and Kyria was Pooh Bear.  Greg Jr. came home from football practice and put his Freddy Krueger costume on to run around the neighborhood for a bit.  It was fun.

Some of our friends finally received their referrals this past Friday.  The girls are beautiful!

Catch everyone later!

10/19/06

Kevin's soccer team did great at the tournament last weekend!  Their official record was 2 - 2, but they coulda/shoulda been 3 - 1.  We were so proud of the team!  Greg Jr.'s football team also had a big win on Monday night.  Congrats to CHS freshman football team!  I added a few pictures from the soccer tournament and of Gunnar.  He's getting really big!

10/9/06

Not much new stuff to report.  Greg Jr. & Kevin are doing well in school and playing their fall sports......Greg Jr. playing football for the freshman team at Capital HS and Kevin is playing recreational and competitive soccer.  We are heading to Lexington, KY for a soccer tournament this weekend.  You can check up on Greg Jr.'s schedule and team record on his page and Kevin's soccer teams have their own websites on our Links page with information and pictures.  Kyria is doing great!  Next big thing for her (and me) will be the dreaded potty training!!

We have a couple of friends currently waiting for their referrals from China.  Both families are due to receive their referral with the next batch at the end of this month or possibly within the next couple of months.  Keep them in your prayers.  We only had to wait 6 months from the date our paperwork was sent to China until the date we received Kyria's referral.  Both of the families currently waiting sent their paperwork to China over 1 year ago!!  Not only have they had to wait this long, but have had to deal with updating paperwork in order to even travel to China.  I'm very excited for them to receive the news they have been waiting so long to hear!  I remember so well the day we received "the call" from our adoption agency.  The anticipation I felt the whole day was painful!  I finally got the call while still at work at just a few minutes before 4PM on June 24, 2005.  What a wonderful day that was!  Hang in there dear friends......your call is coming!!

8/27/06

School starts tomorrow!!!!  Greg Jr. goes to 9th grade at Capital HS and Kevin goes to 3rd grade at Pinch ES.  Where does the time go??!!

Kevin's competitive soccer team played in a tournament in Parkersburg this weekend.  His team did really well.  They ended up in 3rd place, but could have won every game they played.....in other words the team played right with their competitors.  We weren't sure what to expect.  This team has never played together previously and had never played 8v8 with goalies.  We were all very proud of our team.  You can see some pictures from this tournament on the Capitol City Strikers' website on our Links page.

Jeff brought his German Shepherd Dog, Bruno, over to play with Gunnar tonight.  It was so cute and so funny!  I don't think Bruno liked to be bothered with a little whipper snapper puppy!  I had to post a few pictures of them you can see by clicking on the camera above.

8/22/06

Today is the 1st Anniversary of Kyria's GOTCHA DAY!  What an amazing day!  Greg and I briefly relived that day one year ago and the moment when the orphanage's nanny brought Kyria into the room and we saw her and held her for the first time.  We are so....so....blessed to have the honor of calling this little girl "ours."  We are so blessed to have experienced the birth of two sons and to have experienced the miracle of adoption.  God is so good!  You can go to our Adoption page and view our travel journal from last August.  I take a trip back every once in awhile!

This past weekend me, the kids, Mom, Dad, and Jeff went to Moundsville, WV to visit my sister and her husband.  We did some site seeing while there as well.  Dad, Jeff, Greg Jr., Susan & Bill went to the Par 3 golf course and me, Mom, Kevin, & Kyria found the abandoned Putt Putt golf course.  We had a lot of fun, but it is so sad to see what used to be a beautiful and alive park (when we lived their in the 70's to mid-80's) to a "ghost" park now.  We actually stayed in a house on the grounds at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville.  This house was right out of the '60s!!  I don't think one thing was changed on the inside since it was built most likely in the early to mid 1960's.  It really resembled the inside of the house Mom & Dad had built in 1965 that we grew up in.  Pretty funny!!

The kids are doing great!  Greg Jr. continues to practice with the freshman football team, Kevin's soccer team has its first soccer tournament this weekend in Parkersburg, WV, and Kyria is growing up so quickly!  She just talks and talks!  Gunnar is getting BIG as well!  I keep meaning to take some pictures of Gunnar, but I haven't gotten around to it, yet.  I'll post one of him next time.  Well, the kids start school on Monday, 8/28.  I still don't know how in the world I'm going to get 3 kids up and ready in the morning and then make sure Greg Jr. & Kevin both get to their separate schools on time.....7:15 AM!!!!  Yes....Greg will take one of them, but they still have to get up and get ready.  It takes all I have to crawl out of bed in the morning!  Let alone getting 3 other people up and going!  Oh well.....I suppose we'll get the hang of it.

Blessings to all!!

8/15/06

Busy....Busy....

Greg Jr. has been doing 2-a-day practices with the freshman football team at Capital HS and Kevin has soccer practice twice a week.  Busy, but fun!  I took Greg Jr. and his friend to Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago.  We went to the Reds vs. Braves game and then to Kings Island for a day.  It was fun, but tiring (for me!).  Kyria is doing great!  I'm thinking about attempting the dreaded "potty training" very soon.  I think she's ready, but it's me finding the time to focus on it.  Gunnar is doing great!  He's such a smart dog and we think he's gorgeous!  J

Enjoy a few pictures!

8/1/06

Happy Birthday to Greg Jr.!!!!  He's 14 years old today!!!

We finally brought Gunnar home this past Friday night.  He's done great!  I've added a couple of pictures of him and a picture of his sire (daddy) and dam (mommy).  I think that's the terminology I'm supposed to use, but I'm not sure.

Greg Jr. has been working out with Capital HS 9th grade football team 3 nights a week since school has been out.  He goes to "2-a-day" practices on Monday.  That should be HOT!  He's planning on playing linebacker and will probably be a backup quarterback....but we'll see.

Kevin has been practicing with his travel soccer team a couple of nights a week in July.  They will be going to 3 tournaments this fall.  He also signed back up with the recreational soccer league so he'll be playing on Saturdays as well.  You can see his soccer teams' websites listed on our Links page.

Kyria is doing great!  She talks and talks.  She LOVES the Backyardigans, too!!

Well, I'll be posting more later!  Bye for now!

7/3/06

A few things have happened since I last posted.  Greg Jr. competed in a basketball shooting contest and basketball team tournament June 15th & 16th.  This was through the Nazarene church youth organization and the event was called BLAST.  I believe the team won 1 game and lost 2 games, but Greg Jr. won 1st in the shooting contest.  It was called Hot Shot and it is a timed shooting contest.  He got 62 points in 1 1/2 minutes!

Kevin played in a West Side World Cup Soccer tournament on June 17th.  His team lost in the championship 3 - 0.  His team was in 1st place going into the championship game, but the other team out played us.  That's Ok, though....we'll get them next time!!  J

We bought a puppy!  I kept saying I'd never have a dog inside, but NEVER say NEVER!  Actually, I'm already falling in love with this little fella.  I'll let you know how I feel in a few months, however!  He's a full blood German Shepherd Dog and looks great!  I found pictures of his "mother" and "father" as well.  We should be able to bring him home at the end of the month.

The kids are enjoying their summer break.  Greg Jr. has been working out with the 9th grade football team 3 days a week and Kevin has been going to an enrichment program 3 mornings a week.  Kyria is just hanging out with everyone!

That's all for now!  Later!

6/11/06

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Dear KEVIN!

Happy Birthday to you!!

WE LOVE YOU!

5/30/06

I finally decided to update!  I kind of did an update in April after we returned from Florida on Spring Break.  I put a link to our Florida pictures above.

Well, the boys are very excited that this is the last week of school.  Their last day is Friday, June 2nd.  I can't believe in just a few short months they will be in high school (9th grade) and 3rd grade!  Where in the world does the time go??!!  They both did pretty well this year.  It was an adjustment year for all of us, I think.

Greg Jr. will be playing in a basketball tournament in a couple of weeks through the Nazarene church and Kevin is still playing some soccer.  He'll be participating in a 3V3 tournament in a couple of weeks.  His recreational team - Elk River Strikers - did very well this season.  We are not supposed to keep score, but we do anyway.  J We "won" 6 games and "lost" 1 game.  We knew our last game of the season would be tough and it was.  The kids played hard and did well, but we ended up on the losing end of that game.  Oh well.....hopefully we'll have another shot at them next season.

Greg Jr. will start working out with the high school's 9th grade football team next week.  Yeah!  I LOVE watching our boys play sports!  FUN....FUN

Kyria has been doing great....except for breaking her elbow!  She is one busy bee!  I don't remember the boys being so busy and active!!  She's still really shy around people she doesn't know, but around those she does know....watch out!  She'll talk and talk.....

I've added a few pictures under Apr 06 - Jun 06.  Enjoy a good laugh!

4/6/06

We are finally feeling better!!!  Since I wrote last, Greg Jr. and Kevin were really sick with the flu and then strep throat.  Kyria still has a horrible cold.  When will the sickness end??!!  I'm really excited to say that we completed Kyria readoption!  What is readoption??  Well, we "officially" adopted Kyria while in China.  Both the Chinese government and the United States government recognized the adoption while we were in China and we filled the paperwork out over there for her U.S. citizenship.  Once we landed in the U.S. on September 1, 2005, Kyria was a U.S. citizen.  I don't understand why, but we had to file a petition in the county court for the State of West Virginia to "recognize" our adoption of Kyria.  The main purpose in this that I wanted to accomplish was to get Kyria a State of West Virginia birth certificate.  What frustrated me about this is that if I would have used an attorney, most of the local attorneys charge around $1,200 to file the paperwork.  I heard about a few who would do it for $600.  It cost me $145!!  No way was I dishing out $1,200 to file a few pieces of paper with the county court!  It was a really neat experience.  We went before the judge for a hearing.  The judge officially recognized our adoption and approved an order for the State to recognize the adoption.  Mom was with us and took a picture of me, Greg, & Kyria with the county judge.  You can see the picture by clicking on the camera above and going to April 06.  The judge and everyone in the courtroom were very kind.  We say "THANK YOU" to them!

3/28/06

Sickness!!!!  That sums up the past 3-4 weeks!  First it was me.  Then, a friend of mine and her daughter went to visit another friend of ours in the Parkersburg area.  I didn't think Kyria acted quite like herself, but I just figured it was being at someone else's house and too many different things to see.  Well, we stopped at McDonald's on the way home and she just puked all over the place!  It was pretty nasty!  She was really sick for over a week!  We were afraid she was going to end up in the hospital for dehydration, but once we started her on Pedialyte it was amazing how she bounced back to life!  Greg Jr. is sick now with something else.  I'm wore out from all the sickness!  Anyone want to come visit the Jones' household?  J Anyway, I've been exhausted from having a sick baby and lack of sleep.

The boys are playing their sports whenever possible.  Greg Jr. is going to Speed & Agility training and a basketball training class once a week.  Kevin is going to a basketball training class once a week and he started his outdoor soccer season.  Go STRIKERS!

We are really getting excited about our Florida trip in April!  We are planning on spending 2 days at the Disney parks, 1 day at Universal Islands of Adventure, 1 day at Kennedy Space Center, and stopping in St. Augustine on our way home.  We are going by RV.  What fun!!  The traveling party consists of me, Greg Jr., Kevin, Kyria, my brother - Jeff, and our Mom & Dad.  Greg is staying home to dog-sit Jeff's German Shepherd - Bruno.  Actually, this isn't his type of vacation.  He'd rather spend the week at the beach and actually enjoy some rest and relaxation.  J  However, this is the type of trip Jeff and I have always talked about and to take the kids will be a great experience for them.  I'm going to take A LOT of pictures.  We always have a blast when we do things like this!

Well, I must go now and fix Greg Jr. something to eat.  He hasn't eaten all day and his temperature is back up to 103!  Good grief!  Talk at ya later!!

2/26/06

I can't believe another month has gone by!  I wanted to post some more pictures, so I thought I'd just drop a word or two in as well.  Kevin finished his Upward basketball season up this weekend.  His team - the Panthers - were UNDEFEATED!  Congratulations Panthers!  On Friday night, Greg Jr. went to Elkview MS basketball team's lock-in at the school.  The boys played the parents at 7 PM, then they had a 4 on 4 tournament among themselves, and then I think they just ran around all night.  He said he didn't sleep all night.  Once again, I tried to take Kyria to a studio to have her picture taken.  This time I tried Target.  She ran all over the store and had a blast, but as soon as she saw the room where the pictures are taken she got so upset!  Greg took a few pictures of her in her Easter dress.  I posted the one of her laying down in her crib.  She's so pretty!  Well, I'll chat later!  Love to all!

2/20/06

Busy, busy, busy!  Greg Jr. finished up his basketball season with Elkview MS.  They did pretty well.  I put a few pictures of him in our Family Photos.  He's keeping up his school work, playing on a basketball team with some of the kids from the Elkview MS team, and plays a couple days a week with his Dad at Stonewall MS gym.

Kevin is about finished with his basketball season.  He has one more game with Upward basketball through Elkview Baptist Church.  They are undefeated!  I'll try to get a picture of him this week to post.  My camera does not take good action shots indoors.  Kevin is doing well in school.  Next month he'll start practicing outdoor soccer.  Let's go Strikers!

Kyria is doing great!  She walks and runs everywhere!  She is sleeping better now.  Usually through the night, but every once in awhile she gets up for a bit in the night.  She had her 15 month checkup last week and she weighs 17 lbs 7 oz and is about 30 inches long.  She is only in the 10th percentile for weight on the American charts and the 25th percentile for length.  I checked on the Chinese girls' charts and she is about the 50th percentile for weight and 50th - 75th percentile for height.  So, it looks like she is average or above average for a Chinese girl.  She absolutely through a fit!  As soon as she saw the examination room she started screaming and didn't stop until awhile after we were in the car!  So stressful!  Today, our social worker came for our post adoption visit.  We have to file a few reports within the first year we are home from China.  It was a nice visit.  After this, we tried to have Kyria's 15 month picture done at a studio this afternoon, but she had a COW!  We couldn't even get her to sit down for a second to snap a picture!  I was so disappointed!  I love pictures and I can't get any studio shots of her done!

Well, I suppose that's it for now.  I'll probably post soon again.  If not, wanted to let you all know we are heading to Florida on Spring Break!  We are going to Disney, Universal, Kennedy Space Center, & St. Augustine.  We are so excited!  I'll post a lot of pictures when we return.  Later!

1/7/06

What a game last Monday!!!  Did anyone else watch the underdog Mountaineers take it to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl?  So exciting!!!  It is so awesome to see them do so well!  Way to go team!

Well, we've just been up to the same things.  Greg Jr. had 2 basketball games this past week.  Elkview MS beat Hayes MS by 2 points in overtime last Tuesday and they beat East Bank MS by almost 20 points last Thursday.  Congrats to the Elkview MS basketball team!  Kevin had 2 basketball games today.  His Upward Bound Panthers won big and his Hoover League Pinch team lost to an undefeated Clendenin team.  Pinch played hard and did their best.  Congrats to both of Kevin's teams!  The boys are finishing up their 1st semester in school right now.  I can't believe another year is gone and another school year is half way through!  Time just keeps rolling along......

Kyria is beginning to walk on her own.  She walks between things, but still crawls some, too.  She imitates and says just about everything we do.  One of her top teeth finally broke through the other day.  She has 7 teeth through now with another top one working its way through.  It's killing me, though!  I remember Greg Jr. teething.....all those sleepless nights!  I remember being pregnant with Kevin and people saying how I'll have to go through bottles, diapers, potty training, etc. all over again.  I would tell people the thing I dread the most is teething!  Kevin also gave me many sleepless nights while teething.  Now, Kyria is no different.  I'm EXHAUSTED!  Anyway, she is doing great and she is just beautiful!  J

Look what I found the other day.  It's a picture of me and 2 of my oldest and dearest friends from my childhood in Moundsville, WV!  I've known both of these ladies practically since birth!  We lived in the same area and attended the same church.  So many memories I have with them.  The first picture is from 1981.  It is me, Corinna, and Rhonda.  I was 10 years old and they were 9 years old.  The second picture is from, I believe, 1991 and was taken at Rhonda's brother's wedding.  So neat!  I can't believe the second picture was taken a little over 14 years ago!  Ladies.....we're getting old!  Oh...and I guess we need to take another picture, too.  J   I love and miss you both!

12/27/05

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!  This was our first with our precious girl, Kyria.  She is doing great!  She is just about ready to walk on her own.  She has taken 6 steps by herself and then slowly falls to the ground.  She has 4 bottom teeth, 2 top teeth, and 2 more top teeth about cut through her gums.  She EATS ALL THE TIME!  I think she is taking a big growth spurt.  I don't know how much she weighs (I'm guessing at least 20 lbs), but you can see she has put some weight on.  She is sleeping well at night....usually from 9 PM to 7:30 AM and takes about a 2 hour nap during the day.  She talks and talks, too!  She imitates everything we say.  Last night she started saying "balloon" and "bubbles".

Kevin had a great Christmas.  He was the most into it this year.  He was so excited for Santa Claus to come.  Kevin is busy playing in his 2 basketball leagues and going to school.  The kids are on break from school now until Tuesday, January 3.

Greg Jr. made a decision to go to Herbert Hoover High School next year, instead of Capital High School in Charleston, so he transferred to Elkview Middle School from Horace Mann Middle School right before Christmas.  He seems to like it OK.  I think school is school to him no matter where he goes.  The culture at these middle schools and high schools are so different!  Hoover has about half the enrollment of Capital.  Greg Jr. decided he'd like to attend the smaller school.  He also was allowed to join the Elkview MS basketball team, but he didn't dress his first game with the team.  Hopefully, the coaches will let him play this year and the team will accept Greg Jr. willingly.

I've added some new pics to 10/05 - 12/05.  Enjoy!

Well, Greg & I are the same.  Just trying to keep up with work, home, and the kids.  We love keeping up with the kids, though!  God is so good and we are so blessed.  We have had a difficult season the past few years, but I'm looking "upward" and am hoping for a calm and blessed 2006.

Happy New Year to you all!!

11/22/05

Kyria is 1 year old!!!  Her birthday was yesterday, 11/21, and we celebrated on Sunday after church.  We also had her dedicated to the Lord on Sunday during the church service.  It was wonderful.  Kyria is doing great!  She is pretty much eating table food now and is just about off the bottle and formula.  I have a little bit of formula left, so I'm going to finish that up.  She has 6 teeth now (2 top and 4 bottom) and is almost walking.  She can stand straight up from a squat position all by herself and she walks around now holding on to the furniture.  Oh....we tried to have her picture taken at a studio and she did not like that!  We got 1 pose of her and we were lucky to get that!  It's a beauty, though!  She went to the doctor today for her 1 year checkup.  She is 18 1/2 lbs and is a little over 28 inches.  She got 4 shots!  She does so much better now with strangers and with the people at the office, but when they have to actually touch her she gets VERY upset.  She breaks out into hives!  Anyway, I'll post some recent pictures of her you can see by clicking the camera above and going to 10/05 - 12/05.

Kevin is doing great.  He is playing basketball right now for a church and for the community league.  He is really liking basketball and does very well.  Greg Jr. is also playing basketball.  He made the middle school team for the third straight year and will be playing varsity this year.  I love watching my boys play ball!!

We'll be heading to Ohio to my aunt and uncle's home for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  We love the holidays!  Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!  Go MOUNTAINEERS!  (For those of you who don't know, WVU Mountaineers play Pitt on Thanksgiving.)  :-)

10/31/05

Happy Halloween!!  We just finished Trick-or-Treating tonight.  Kevin did all the work while Kyria rode in her wagon.  Greg Jr. walked around with some kids.

We are doing well here.  Greg Jr. finished his football season with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses.  The last game was QUESTIONABLE!  Long story, but if the refs were not "for" the other team.....it sure looked that way.  I think we lost 22 - 20 (or something like that).  Kevin finished up his soccer season.  He got his cast off his arm last Tuesday.  He's not been feeling too well the past week.  Just tired and weak.  Must be the weather or a cold.  Kyria is doing really well.  She pulls up to anything and started walking around the furniture.  She crawls really fast!  She now has 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom).  She is eating more solid foods and not as much baby food.  She's kind of in between.  Doesn't care a whole lot for either right now, but she's getting her fill.  She weighs about 18 lbs now and wears 12 months clothes.  She'll be 1 year old on November 21!

Well, I go back to work tomorrow.  I've had to do this with all 3 of my kids and it is so hard to do.  I'm so thankful for my Mom and Dad who are so loving and supportive with our kids.  They watch Kyria during the day and help with getting Greg Jr. and Kevin home after school.  I thank God he placed me in this family.  My parents and brother & sister are all GREAT!

I've added some recent pictures you can see by clicking above and then 10/05 - 12/05.  Enjoy!  Love to you all! 

10/3/05

Hey everyone!!  All is well here.  Greg Jr. is doing well in football and Kevin broke his arm playing soccer, but he's managed to play some soccer still.  I've added a picture of him with his cast in the pictures above.  I've also added a slideshow of still shots of Kyria linked from the home page and Kyria's page.  Kyria loves this song!  Every time I play it she stops what she is doing, crawls to me, and watches the slideshow.  Too cute!  The slideshow may take quite a few minutes to start.

09/16/05

Everything is going great at home!  The boys are going to school and practicing & playing their sports (football for Greg Jr. & soccer for Kevin) and Kyria is really adjusting well.  I believe she is starting to realize we hang out at the ball fields a lot.  She doesn't seem to mind....yet.  She is very happy and healthy right now and just a joy to us!

I added a few pictures under 7/05 - 9/05 of Kyria.

Also, if anyone is interested in adoption, our adoption agency is coming to Charleston (Bible Center Church) on Friday, September 30th at 7 PM to hold a free adoption seminar.  See the flyer for more information.  You'll need to zoom in on the flyer to be able to read the words.  Kyria and I will be there.  I've been asked to speak.  I have no idea what I'll say, but I suppose I could just babble a bit about our experience.  :-)

09/2/05

We made it home!!  What an exhausting journey!  I posted some information on our travel journal about our travel home.  Again, it was exhausting!  One big reason is that Kyria is so sick.  She's starting to feel better now.  She had two horribly infected ears and pneumonia.  Our pediatrician (who I think is the best) is working to help her feel better.  Kyria had antibiotic injections yesterday and today and then will go back on the Omnicef tomorrow for 7 more days.  We also found out from our pediatrician that Kyria must be on American formula for at least the next 3 to 4 months to help with her nutrition.  I was pretty nervous about this, but I just finished feeding her some American formula in a bottle and she took 3 ounces.  Praise God!  Next week we'll go back to the pediatrician to start looking into vaccinations and she will have an ultrasound on her kidneys.

Wonderful news!!!!  Greg has been offered a job with the Kanawha County Commission's office to work in their IT unit.  What another amazing answer to prayer!!  It has been so hard on all of us with him working so many long hours and shift work at the jail.  We just kept praying and friends were helping us out by praying for us, keeping their eyes & ears open for any jobs.  Thank you!!!!  Greg & I are both so relieved he does not have to go back to the jail.  He missed the kids so much and was just saying how much he'd miss out on Kyria's first months and years with us if he continued to work those long 52 - 60 hour weeks.  We were talking today about this.  We really believe that Satan battled us hard over adopting Kyria into our family.  Right when we were going to submit the first application to adopt, Greg lost his job.  For the next year and a half to two years we battled emotionally and financially.  Now that Kyria's adoption is complete and she is home with us, Greg is offered a position in the field he has been working in for the past 10 years and it is close to the pay he was making before his unemployment.  Coincidence??  I think not.  I think it is victory over the Devil and putting our faith and trust in the one true God.

Thank you to all those who have known us for years and who have lifted us up in prayer through these tough times.  That's what friends are for.....love and support.  We love you and remember you in our prayers.

Last night was Greg Jr.'s first football game of the season.  He plays middle linebacker (which is his favorite position) and offensive guard.  He didn't play the whole game last night because he said his back hurt.  He must have strained a muscle awhile back because he has complained about it for weeks now.  Anyway, we won!  I can't remember the exact score, but it was around 34 - 6.  GO EAGLES!

Kevin starts his soccer season next Saturday, 9/10.  I just love to watch them play their sports!

I'll go for now.  I need a long....long....long....long nap!  :-)

08/17/05

I can't believe we are getting ready to leave for China tomorrow!  So surreal.....  So many things to do STILL.....  We would love for you to follow our trip.  We plan to update daily from China to let you know what we are up to, how we are doing, how Kyria is doing, and show you some pictures.  Our Travel Journal is under Adoption then Travel.  Please keep us and our family in your prayers.  Greg Jr. and Kevin start school while we are in China.  Greg Jr. is playing football and has practice most days.  My Dad and Mom are going to have their hands full!  I'm sure my brother, Jeff, and other friends will be there to lend a hand.  Thank you to our family and friends for your support and encouragement throughout this process.  It's been amazing!  God Bless and I'll be talking to you from China!

08/2/05

We received Kyria's Finding Ad today!  I was so excited!  You can see it at the bottom of our Referral page.

08/1/05

Today is Greg Jr.'s 13th Birthday!!!  It is so hard to believe that my baby is a teenager!  We celebrated last Wednesday and Thursday by taking a trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.  He loves that place!  I escorted 5 boys.  Yes.... my sanity is still intact!  :-)  We also stopped at the Build A Bear Workshop in the area and Kevin got himself the cutest monkey.  He dressed it in a Spiderman outfit and got a soccer outfit for it as well.  He named it "Spider Monkey."  We also got one for Kyria.  Kevin picked out the cutest purple bear and helped stuff it.  Greg Jr. did the bear's birth certificate and named her "Twinkle."  I can't wait to show Kyria!  I posted a few pictures from the trip.

Today we received our itinerary for while we are in China.  When I saw "Meet your child" on Monday, August 22, I cried!  It's so unbelievable and finally almost here!  I'm still looking forward to stepping off the plane in Charleston, WV on August 31st!  :-)

So much to do within the next couple of weeks!  I have to get all of the adoption paperwork in order before we leave, pack & pack & pack, and get the boys ready to start school on the 29th.  I also have to manage working some at my "job."  It will all come together just right.....  I hope!

07/26/05

We now have our international flight reservations!  Oh...My...Goodness!!  We leave August 18 at 6:30 AM from Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV and arrive in Beijing on August 19 at 2:25 PM.  We'll head home August 31 at 12:45 PM through Hong Kong and arrive in Charleston, WV on August 31 at 11:36 PM.  I'll post more of our travel itinerary on the Travel site once we receive more information.  We are getting closer!!

07/6/05

It's a HOME RUN!!!  Greg Jr. finished up his All-Star baseball season on 7/1/05.  The team did pretty well.  They play a week of like a round robin and then the top 2 teams go on to the regional tournament.  Elk District went 1 - 4, but played 3 teams really closely.  The other 2 teams slaughtered us!  All week Greg Jr. was so close to hitting a home run and finally at the last game on Friday night (me, Kevin & Papaw got to witness it) he hit the furthest ball of the tournament that we had seen!  Going....going....gone!  He hit a 3 run home run!  I was so excited!  One of the parents got the ball and brought it to me.  Greg Jr. is very proud of his home run ball!  We ended up losing that game, but the kids played well and the coaches were very good.  We enjoyed this year's All-Star team.  There are 2 pictures from "the game" under 7/05 - 9/05.  Way to go Greg Jr.!

Today I received Kyria's translated Growth Chart and it talked a bit about her personality.  Here's a portion of it:  "WenYing is a lively girl.  She likes to laugh.  She is not afraid of strange environment or strangers.  She likes to be played with by people and to be kissed and held by caregivers.  She likes to have people talk to her.  She keeps talking and laughs out when she is really amused."  We can not wait to meet her for the first time and then BRING HER HOME!  We just love her so much already!

What's Kevin up to??  He's going to a summer camp/school for a couple of weeks and he's loving it!  He's enjoying his summer!

06/25/05

Praise the Lord!  We have Kyria's referral!!

06/20/05

So many things going on!  Greg Jr. & Kevin finished their school year up.  Yeah!!  They both did super on their report cards!  Greg Jr. was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society on 6/1/05.  He is now practicing with the Elk District All-Star baseball team.  Their first game is 6/25/05.  He also is scheduled to workout with the middle school football team on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays until football practice starts up in August.  Kevin finished up his Spring soccer season.  I think they lost 1 game (we try to keep score even though we aren't really supposed to).  Kevin went to a week of basketball camp.  He didn't like it much.  I don't know if he was just too young or if the chaos of around 100 kids there made him nervous, but he did great, though!  I was really impressed with how well he dribbled!  He starts a summer enrichment program tomorrow at a local elementary school.  It's just 8 AM - 11 AM Tuesday - Thursday for a few weeks.  He really likes this program.

Oh....my Mom just called and she & my sister are in HAWAII right now.  They just landed!  I'm thrilled for them to experience this, but boy do we miss her when she's gone!  Mom...if you are reading this while you're away...we miss you and love you!

I had Kyria's name translated into Chinese by a company called Good Orient.  You can see it on the Home page and on Kyria's page.  I wouldn't have a clue if it were translated correctly or if there is such a thing as translating correctly.  Do they just make up characters?  Anyway, I think it's beautiful!

A lot of rumors are going around right now as to when we should receive another batch of referrals from China.  It could be late this week (Friday) or early next week.  There's no guarantee we'll be in that batch, but a very good possibility we will be.  I can't wait to see our baby girl's face for the first time!!

I'll try to add some pictures later this week....and hopefully add Kyria's picture as well!

05/23/05

I'm so excited! Our agency, America World Adoption Association, received referrals today through Group 193! We are in Group 195!!  That means we are next and should get Kyria's referral picture and information in mid to late June!  HOORAY!! (says Daddy!)

05/1/05

Our Celebrate Adoption Day fundraiser event was wonderful!  Thank You......Thank You.....Thank You.....Thank You.....    to New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, a very special Praise & Worship team, The Praisemen, 3 By Grace, Frontline, all of the volunteers, and everyone who took time out to come to this event.  We loved seeing you all there!  Please know that you played a special part in bringing our little girl home and more importantly you were a part of something amazing the Lord orchestrated.  What a glorious time we had!  The fellowship and singing were awesome!  I don't know what else to say, but may the Lord's name be glorified!  God Bless and we love you all!

Click to see some pictures from the day. 

04/16/05

Just a couple more months to wait for Kyria's referral picture and information!  We are getting anxious!

Kevin started his spring soccer season and Greg Jr. decided to play baseball again.  He took the past two baseball seasons off, but thought he'd go at it again.  I'll post some pictures of them later.

We finally have the kids' rooms ready!  We moved Greg Jr.'s room downstairs and remodeled the bathroom.  We painted Kevin's room and gave him Greg Jr.'s double bed and finally got Kyria's room ready for her to come home!  Since we've done the whole "nursery" thing twice already and because Kyria will probably be 1 year old or older, we decided to not go true "nursery," but instead all "girl!"  If she needs to sleep in a crib there's room to put one up in her room until she is ready for her twin bed.  We are very happy with the way her room looks and very excited to have her home soon!  There are pictures posted.

We are organizing our Celebrate Adoption Day event that is scheduled for April 30.  From 2 PM to 5 PM we are having a hot dog sale and bake sale.  There will also be games for the children during this time.  Beginning at 6 PM there will be a Gospel sing featuring The Praisemen, 3 By Grace, and Frontline.  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone there!  I'll post pictures from the day later.

03/08/05

We are approximately halfway through our wait!  We are looking to get our referral for Kyria in June.  Very excited!

Greg Jr. participated in the Kanawha County Social Studies Fair on February 28.  He did not place, but that's Ok.  There were a bunch of entries in his division of State & Local Studies.  He also was sick with the flu all last week.  He didn't make it to school Tuesday through Friday.  Lots of homework awaiting him!  I posted a picture of him by his display.

Kevin finished up his basketball season and indoor soccer season.  He did great in both!  Kevin has the flu now.  He came home from school Monday sick and missed today.  He'll have a lot of homework awaiting him this week as well!

Greg has been offered a job as a Correctional Officer at the jail and he starts March 16.  Please remember us in your prayers.  This job is going to be a difficult transition for us.  It involves shift work and I hear it can be a dangerous job.

God is always watching over us!

01/25/05

Greg Jr. & Kevin received their report cards this week and both did fantastic!  We are very proud of them for working so hard.

Horace Mann Middle School held their Science and Social Studies Fair last week and Greg Jr. was one of the students chosen to go to the Kanawha County Science and Social Studies Fair to be held on February 28.  He's pretty excited!  A day out of school!  :-)  He did his project on Marshall University's football plane crash of 1970.  I'll post a picture of him by his project from that day.