Several folks have asked about our site. It's under construction. Actually, it's more or less in the 'to do' list. Under construction implies Doug is working on it, and really, it's that Doug wants to work on it. Our site has been put on the back burner while Doug finishes up websites for Craig's (my brother) church and our church. You can check out Doug's fine 'puter skills by looking around at gracemaryville.org.  That is our church. Craig's church is cvcc.org. 

HOMESCHOOLIN'

Audrey & I are plugging away at learnin' the books. She loves it! She is definitely stronger in the school-loving genes that came via her father than her mother's view that school was sheer torture!  Audrey just gushes with thank you's and "oh, you're the best mom ever for being my mother and teacher!"

She really has taken to it. In fact, she's already harnessed the power of learning during her sleep, so she says. Our verse last week during Bible, was 'Psalm 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.' She went to bed the first night only knowing 2-3 words. The next morning she confirmed to me, very matter-of-factly, that she taught it to herself while sleeping. And she proceeded to quote it flawlessly. Sure enough. I almost punished her for lying, thinking surely Doug had been working on it her with her. Nope. She was indeed telling the truth and it kinda freaked me out!

HEALTH

Well, I've been horribly under the weather. It started off with fever, sore throat, fatigue, and aches. I thought it was because of the tremendous heat here in Knoxville and that I had spent a solid week outside during the hottest days of the year while working at my garage sale. Sometimes heat will send me into a flare-up with my Fibro. I had also pulled a muscle in my back. Then I was told it was tonsillitis. So the doctor gave me a steroid shot and some antibiotics. And really, all that did was give me heart palpitations, allergic reactions and a lovely Sunday spent in the ER!!  After 2 weeks of that I was told it was mono. Then last week I found out I am extremely anemic, in addition.

So, really, my only goal for each day, is getting dressed. And honestly, those goals were set pretty low, too, because some days the goal was to change from one pair of PJs into the other! I mean, come on, I at least want my husband to see my in clean pajamas at the end of his hard day!

Doug's had to work from home a ton the last few weeks. On one hand it's a huge blessing that he is able to. On the other hand, it's a source of guilt for me, because I desire him to have a 'normal' job with 'normal' hours like 'normal' men with 'normal' wives!

Cursed DELL company

Doug ordered a new laptop MANY many weeks ago from Dell. He has got to have a new computer as his mega expensive HP bit the dust a few months back. Dell has been hyping up their new colors of computers. Doug didn't really even care about the colors, but he chose brown, because it was the most "manly" of the bunch. We are now learning he chose unwisely.

The company can't seem to make colored computers like they are advertising. So, each day his laptop is supposed to ship, he gets a new email saying it will be delayed another week. This has been an all too familiar process they are taking him through every stinkin' week. Like adding salt to the wound, every time Doug calls Dell, they put him on hold for an hour and connect him with someone who can't speak English. He'd ask for plain black (shoot, he probably take pink polkadot), but then they'd have to cancel his order and start over, and we're afraid that would just take another....YEAR!

EMBRYO ADOPTION

We are going to be moving ahead with the adoption. After weeks of lawyers talking back and forth and the doctor getting involved, it was basically presented to us that it was their way or the highway. So, we are continuing on with paperwork and a waiting game. We are trusting that God will protect us and that we will not fall victim to a potential hole in the contract. If you cannot conceive and birth your own child, any and all other options are difficult, costly, fearful, and hold hidden caveats. We feel we at least have chosen the best of all possible options.

Why is it taking so long? Well, all along the way, Doug and I keep stopping to talk and think and pray. It's hard to figure out! As new info comes into play, we're always stopping to assess if things are still right. We took a break from paperwork so that Doug could dedicate several weeks to getting our church's website up and running.

Our next step does involve a gross of paperwork and about $800. For us, that's a massive chunk of change. So, to ease the financial burden, we decided that Doug would take on a side job to earn a little extra cash. That extra job required a lot of his time - time taking away from the adoption, but time to earn money to mend some financial snags!

Financial Snags

At the earlier part of the summer, we ran into several financial snags. One being the cost of a new computer for Doug. Another being our flexible spending account that pays for all our medical expenses for the YEAR, ran out the first of May. I guess we horribly over shot the normal expenses because of my surgery in March, and lots of health issues. I'm up over $200 month for prescriptions!

We also have been in the market for a new mattress. Our is 15+ years old and roughly 15lbs heavier because of dust mites! I'm terribly allergic to dust so we deemed it important to get something a little less dusty! And, too, Audrey has been sleeping in a crib with the side taken off.....still......at age 4. I know it's not great. For those of you who are reading this bug-eyed and mouths wide opened thinking we're next to child abusers, think of all the kids in Africa sleeping on dirt floors with mice running rampant! Of course, maybe you won't think us any better of parents when you hear that we decided the best thing would be to get us a new mattress and let Audrey have our filth-laden one! Ha ha. Still, remember,  better than a dirt floor (and it's really not that bad for other people...it just kills my allergies)! With my Fibro it's pretty important to get a good mattress. My sleep is critical to life!

Family & Friends

Mom and dad are still plugging away at the house. It's a ton of decision making. I think they are trying to scale back on the original drawings. And, because Grandma and Papa David will be living with them, it's an extra family's needs to build around (no pun intended!). They will be heading to Vermont to help Craig and Tiffany do some work on their house. Mom and dad just celebrated yesterday their 40th anniversary. Woohooo!

McClanahans are busy as usual. Michael's work seems to be pretty demanding and Tonia is teaching again this year. Hopefully we can see them at Thanksgiving. We miss them terribly.

Craig and Tiffany, Silas and Mercy are awaiting the birth of TWINS in January. This is particularly of interest to Audrey. Audrey just thinks Aunt Tiffany is a superstar for carrying two babies at once in her tummy and for doubling the amount of fun in their house.

Gayle and Dan, Graham and Trevor are 4 super tan folks having spent the summer at the pool. Graham and Trevor are pert near 7 ft tall it would seem. They hardly seem like kids any more. More like little men! Gayle is working part time. It was good to see them over Labor Day. They came here for Boomsday!

Nana and Papa David are energetic and on the move this whole summer. They've seen tons of folks this summer on their adventures and have played more cards than the US poker champions!  It was good to see them this summer.

Mike and Jeanelle Lucas welcomed Sadie Marie on August 7. She was a whopping 9lbs 2 oz. You never would've guessed it looking at Jeanelle. She had such a little belly. Sadie has lots of hair. Jeanelle had quit her job as a full time pharmacist the week before Sadie was born. Their house is up on the market because Mike accepted a job with Honda in Ohio. So, last week they moved into temporary housing while they look for a new house. WHEW! Are they marathon runners or what? I can't imagine quitting my job, having a baby, selling my house and moving to another state all in the same month!!!!!  Hopefully soon we can go see them. Sadie, I'm sure hears from her daddy how wonderful her mommy is, but she needs to hear from me how wonderful I think her mommy is!!

AUDREY

Well, Audrey is still into dancing. She told Uncle Dan, "I've got moves you've never even seen!" She adores spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's. She has played a bunch in her pool this summer. Her little friend, Johanna from church, is still her best friend. She's really taken a liking to playing on playhousedisney.com  She loves the computer. Audrey still loves Sadie Bell Pepper (the dog) like a real sister. In fact, Doug and I have started wondering if and when we purchase a replacement dog, seeing that Sadie just turned 7 and isn't so spry any more. I don't think Audrey could handle life without her dog.

Audrey still asks incessantly for a sibling. Almost every day she makes a request. She is so perplexed why all of her aunt and uncles have given their kids many siblings to play with but we have given her no one. She said that she needs to start praying for a neighbor to get pregnant because Audrey says, the only way she'll have anyone to play with is if the neighbor has a baby.