ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

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Love Without Boundries

Even though we are no longer adopting from China since we have brought Katie home we still support adoption. You can help support adoption by visiting http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ Love without boundaries helps to find homes for children with special needs and to care for their health needs while waiting on their forever family.

Green Cleaning products

For a chance to win some green cleaning products go to http://danaelaineellis.blogspot.com/2009/07/eco-store-usa-giveaway.html
they even have green baby products.

Review Room!

July 06 LID's are now out of the review room! YEAH!!!! Now we wait again, next step referral.(still a very long wait). One more step to Katie!!!

As most of you who know me I don't often write but I have added a link on the side to my adoption journal.

I have recently returned from a MUCH need vacation to the beach. It rained some on our 2nd day but I was able to relax a lot. I sing to myself often just making up words as I go about whatever I am doing. It was nice to be among friends who love me for who I am. But reality was a hard slap in the face on Tuesday morning.

Girls Nite

Last night I went to my friend Elizabeth's house to be include in a girls night. Mike had poker night so it worked out perfect. Several of my friends that I haven't seen in a while were also there. It was really great to catch up with them. We made pizzas. We ate and talked for awhile and then we play trivial pursuit. It is also nice to be around friends.

Tornados

I am sitting here in Macon Georgia for the annual CEC conference (council for exeptional children). On the way here I did not see any but went through 2 counties with tarnado warnings. Needless to say I was a little nervous but I made it alive. Tomorrow I will be presenting about my trip to Japan and how I implimented what I learned into my classroom.

Compassionate Kids

I started a new blog that is calle Compassionate Kids. I will relate activities that I am working on with my students that will help enable them to become more compassionate. To visit this blog go to Compassionate Kids.

Heifer.org

I am currently trying to apply for another educational grant. This time to Honduras as a part of their Read to Feed program. My application is due by the middle of March and will find out if I win by the middle of April. I have been interested in Honduras ever since I sponsored a child from Honduras with Compassion. This was several years ago when I was working with some teenage girls and we decided to do this together. I will soon be purchasing the Hope basket from www.heifer.org in honor of soon to be daughter Katie Hope.

Children Reading to Fight World Hunger

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day. After telling someone that My husband would never buy me chocolate for Valentine's, that he would buy me cards take me out to eat at a very nice restaurant, but he would NEVER buy me chocolate. He bought me chocolate, along with a bear and a balloon. Thanks sweety, I LOVE YOU! Have a wonderful day.

Long Time No Type

I am sorry folks that I have not written in a very long time. Life has been very busy once I returned from Japan. I am doing great and so is Mike. The adoption is still a year from now. I think that I will get a t-shirt that says "This Time Next Year". The wait time is now 16-18 months after your paper work has made it to China. As of this Sunday we will be longed in for 6 months. After we receive our referral we will then wait another 1-2 months before we travel so as I said before "This Time Next Year". Until next time take care. I miss all of my friend who I haven't seen in a very long time. I have also started another blog for our adoption call Our Journey to Hope I know that I talk about the adoption on this sight but this one will be totally dedicated to our Daughter.

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family.Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

The Time Has Come

On Sunday I will be flying out to Japan for the trip that I won from the Japan Fulbright Memorial fund. I have another blogsite that you may follow that is dedicated to my students so that they can follow my trip.

http://leaptrott.edublogs.org/

Quilt 6 & 7

Today I received quilt pieces 6&7. They were from the same family. One was from our flower girl at our wedding, she was 3 then and now is in college. The other was from her parents. They were our youth pastors when we were in the youth group. I was happy to see the pieces. It put a smile on my face after a very stressful day at work.

A mailbox full of excitement

Today I received in the mail two nice packages. The first one was a check from the Georgia Council of exceptional Children for $200 for a mini grant I won. The only problem is I don't know which grant it was for. I applied for one over a year ago and won only to be told they didn't have the money and took it away. I also apply for one for a divison out of the CEC. The check came with no letter and I have receive no emails or anything. I will somehow have to figure out which of the two it could be so that I spend the money for it's intended purposes. The other package was from the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund. I now know which prefecture I will be staying in once we divide into our groups of 20 from Tokyo. My host city and prfecture is Kiryu, Gunma Japan. I am still very excited about this trip. I think I will call my blog "Where in the World is Mrs. Leaptrott" It is something one of my paraprofessionals wrote down in our lesson plans for when I cover Japan. I like it. It is not very orginal but it will work for my students.

Quilt Square 3&4

Today in the mail I received square 3&4 for our daughters 100 wishes quilt. One from a dear lady at church. It is pink with the work love all over it and the other one is from Mike's parents with Snow White and their names airbrushed on it.

Quilt Square 3 and back to school

I started back to work on Monday. Let me tell you gettin up early(between 5:30-6:00am) is for the birds. I have not minded being at work but I am extremely tired. I also receive quilt square 3 from one of my students and his parents. They haven't completed the wish card but they will eventually get it to me. I already have a full load of students. The new class that they created to help out with our numbers is not serving its purpose but that's o.k. I guess. I am just about ready for them to show up but ready or not come Friday morning they will be there.

Helen

Went to Helen this weekend with a friend for a few days. Did a little hiking, shopping, looking for her a house and adopting a dog. I also took a few moments to take out my camera and took some photos. I really have missed using my "big" camera, my digtal rebel. I miss the feel of it. I have a few shots that I wished I had taken a little more time with because there are some washed out places because of all the white but I didn't really go for shooting, another day maybe.

Farewell to the Candy Man

Today I attended the funeral of one of the greatest men I have ever known. Colonel William LeRoy Kinney died Sunday. This 94 year old man has live a long life showing others how to be Christ like. He has extended his heart to many, many people. He was like a grandfather to me. He and his first wife, Mrs. Ruthie used to baby sit me and my brother and then my other brother and sister after we adopted them. He came into my life when I was just a baby. He was known then as the “Candy Man” at church. He always had candy and hugs for us little ones and this never stopped even after I grew up and moved away. Every time I would visit Zion Baptist Church, I would go and see him and he always gave me a hug and a kiss along with a piece of candy. He even had candy at his funeral. This made everyone smile and cry. He was always willing to help those in need. He would take people to the doctors, pray for them, help out with finance, and call the department of family and children services to help others get on their feet. One lady at DFACS asked how he came to find so many people in need or how did they came to find him. A story was shared today about 2 men who showed (in the pouring rain and soaked to the bone) up after church services wanting a place to crash. The preacher asked him “What do you think?” and the Colonel said that “every man needed a dry bed to sleep in.” That night they put them up in the hotel next to the church. The men asked if they could repay them and they said if you like you can come tomorrow and stack chairs. These guys actually showed up. The Colonel stated that he could count of one hand the number of people who have paid him back. He would do this even if it cost him. Such as the time when the people he put up in the hotel stole everything from the room from towels to the T.V. He was a man who loved everyone regardless. He was an investor, not just in stocks and bond but in the lives of others. He would never take credit for the deeds he has done, but always gave credit to his father in heaven.

He also shared in the excitement of others and never forgot them. I had told him a while back that Mike and I were adopting from China and when I went to see him last month while he was very sick asked me about my China doll and when I was going to get her. I told him it would be a while. This is a man that I would have loved for my daughter to have met. I just hope that I can in some small way be able to exhibit the Character of Christ that this man has. Good bye, I love you and will miss you.

The photos was taken in January of 2006 with his 2nd wife Bobbie whom he has been married to for 10 years after the death of his first wife, Mrs. Ruthie Kinney.

WE'RE IN BEIJING!

Or at least or paperwork is. I have tracked it from Atlanta, GA to Memphis, TN to Anchorage AK to Beijing China. What a trip!