Thursday, November 27, 2008

GIVE THANKS......

Today as we gather around the table of feast we will give many thanks for the riches in our lives. Our children being the number one thanks. We especially are so very thankful to have Derek home with us for this special holiday. Each year at Thanksgiving we prayed for God to bring Derek home to us soon and this year we have been truly blessed to listen to him run through the house with so much happiness and energy. Thank You God and all who prayed with us.

This year we will be praying especially for my mom as she prepares for her surgery and upcoming battle of her breast cancer. We ask that you will please pray with us as well.

Last night we had friends over and we looked through our pictures from our travel to Vietnam. We were so saddened by the many pictures depicting to our friends the poverty in some areas. Many of the people lived in tin shacks like these. We are so thankful for our comforts of home....be thankful for yours too.


So gather around your loved ones and your holiday meal and be Thankful for the many riches God has blessed your life with.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008






SNOWY DAY PICTURES.....






Norm & Derek headed out into the snowy world on Saturday. Derek loved the nuisance white stuff. He didn't want to come back inside. They had a great time.




Monday, November 24, 2008

Just an update to our prior post concerning my mom...
Her surgery is scheduled for December 10th.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful.....


After an entire day of snow yesterday and through the night fortunately for us we only ended up with about 4 inches of the fluff. Derek loved watching it! We took him for boots tonight so he can play in it tomorrow. Yesterday I picked up a new hat and mittens for him. Here's a picture of all 3 of the kiddos in their winter hats.....


WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS......


My mom, Shirley Snyder, was diagnosed on Wednesday with Breast Cancer. I am asking that you lift her up to the Lord in your prayers. She is in fair health otherwise so she has strength to fight with but the tumor is large and further progressed than we knew. She is going to be having alot of appointments coming up in the next few weeks and will need to make a decision as to how she wants to attack the cancer. Please pray for my brother as he is not accepting it and he just tries to avoid it. Please pray for me as I will be the primary caretaker and will be trying to keep the salon functioning, run her to appointments for surgery and treatments and such, and continue to be a mom to the girls and now Derek as well. I am completely exhausted and some days I wonder how I get behind the wheel of the van and get to my destination. Once I get there I often look back wondering if I paid any attention to the traffic signals or the other vehicles on the road. please pray for strength and faith for all of us through this.


Thank You!!!! Teresa


If you would like to send a card of encouragement her address is:

Shirley Snyder

166 Culp Road

Sunbury, PA 17801


She needs your encouragement and prayers. Just jot a note that you are a follower of our blog and she'll be thrilled to hear from you!!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Just a few too cute pics from today with "Big D"!!!!!


Monday, November 17, 2008

FUN, FUN, FUN......



It's all I can say about our trip to Pitt!!!!!



We loaded into the van bright and early (5:30 am) Saturday morning and headed for the west. We hooked into the GPS (Lucy) and tore out of the driveway. What a trip!!! All was going well until we hit bumper to bumper traffic which delayed us a little over an hour. I hate traffic. Good thing Norm is the driver!!!! We arrived safely at Matt, Lauren, & Max's house around 11:30. WOW....What a BEAUTIFUL home! She is one fantastic decorator. We had an absolute blast with them!!!
We met so many people....Lauren's mom, Patti and family, and Diane and her family. We thought it was a little weird when people we never met before walked into the house and knew us instantly. Blogger world is so huge!!!!!

The boys were a little shy of each other at first but once they got groovin with the toys they played like old times. It was so great to watch them together. They really have a uniqueness to both of them. Max is so easy going and willing to give up anything in his hands. Derek is the fighter, he wanted whatever Max had in his hands.

Then it was time to throw a little cutie into the mix. Diane, Eric & Gwen came over. If you all remember Diane was our original case manager. She got us through so much. It was so wonderful to finally meet her and her family. Gwen was just so happy playing with all of the toys and she didn't really care if the boys joined in or not. She is a living doll. Diane loved meeting Derek & Max. I must admit when I met Diane I was awestruck. I never realized she was so young. WOW...she really hasa way of dealing well with us older folks going through the trials of adoption. I had to actually look away from her a few times and listen to her talk to convince myself that it was really her. After only speaking on the phone her voice was all I knew. That and a picture on the agency website that made her look about 10 years older than she is. What a great lady!!!!!

We went to "The Incline" to ride the trolly car and we did a little shopping and some lunch at the railroad square. It was great. A snowy and cold day but friends warm every day so we didn't mind at all.



I'll leave you with a few pictures.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

TAKING A LITTLE DRIVE THIS WEEKEND.....




We are planning a little (5 hour) drive to Pittsburgh this weekend to pay a visit to Derek's Vietnam Buddy....Max!!!!! We are so excited to see how they react to each other. It has been a while but we have been very diligent in showing pictures of the other 3 tykes who shared a crib together with Derek.




My mom has some medical issues that I will get into further on here if need be (just please pray for her this week) so if all goes well she will be doggy sitting and we will be cruisin our way to the west.
Watch for some great pictures!!!!!

Friday, November 07, 2008

FALL....Leaves are such a pile of fun!!!!!


The weather here has been unseasonably warm and we decided today that it was time to head out for a little fun in the leaves. Norm raked a big pile and Derek was uncooperative in having pictures taken in them. He had a good time though.