My wish for you

Hello friends and fellow bloggers. I love the Christmas song "Grown Up Christmas List," so here are my wishes for you this Christmas.

I wish this guy to bring you a present or two.

I wish for you and your family to have plenty to eat in the coming year.

And plenty of friends and family to share a good meal with.

I wish for you lots of peace, love and happiness all throughout the coming year.

But mostly I wish for you to find Christ in your heart, not just in this season of his birth, but every day.

The Stover Gurlz wish you a Merry Christmas and very happy and prosperous New Year!

birthday, Christmas parties & fake snow!

I can't decide if I envy December babies or feel sorry for them. They get so many presents in that month, but then they get so many presents THAT month it must be hard to wait a whole 12 months for some more. We have celebrated a half birthday for Elaina, and that was fun, but I just can't let the 18th of December go by without celebrating her and the blessing that she is to our family.



Make a wish big gurl!


You can hardly see the birthday gurl behind all those presents!

My little chef in the making is thrilled to get an Easy Bake Oven! (I had one as a gurl, so secretly this gift is "really" for me.)

Cupcakes at school during snack time!

On to Joely's pre-school Christmas party. Here she is singing to Santa Claus. I am so happy she stood with the other children and sang instead of running over to me crying. (that's what I expected)

The children are wagging their fingers at folks singing, "You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout..."

I'll take a fake smile sitting in Santa's lap over wailing about the Big Guy any day!

At Elaina's "Winter Party," as it is called, they made a gingerbread house, but there was no gingerbread, with LOTS of white royal icing and candy, candy, candy.

Her work of art!

Seriously, who is teaching my kids to do the cheesey smile?

Here is a rare, but cherished, moment. Big sister reading to little sister. Why can't they always be this way?

We went the Gaylord National Hotel to see it "snow" inside. I didn't know that the snow would fall at 9:30 at night, so we walked around and looked at all the Christmas decorations until it was time for snow. Joely was so taken with this "Ho, Ho, Ho" as she calls him.

So, do you see the little white spots?

Joely was reaching up as far as she could to try to catch as much of the snow as possible.

OK, I'll confess, it was foam that was blown out onto the crowd, but it did look like the real thing while it was falling. Not being a fan of snow, at all, I could handle this snow: not cold, no clean up/shoveling, and you can walk in it.

Stay warm and remember: You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout...

my shy gurl

Elaina is so much like me yet does not have my DNA. How'd that happen!?!?!?!


I was horribly shy as a child. I finally got into theatre in junior high and loved it. Now, I can get really shy in certain social settings, and especially one on one, but getting on stage or giving a speech no longer bothers me. I can either "become" another person or use the podium as an imaginery wall. Elaina has hidden behind my skirt. I did the same when I was little. She will sometimes whisper when someone says hello to her. I did too. So when she had the opportunity to get on stage at our church and sing a Christmas song with other kids in her Sunday morning group I was SHOCKED that she wanted to do that.


All day long Saturday she kept saying "I can't wait until tomorrow." The group had to sing their song at both morning services. The song was written by a staff member and included some speaking parts, and lots of humor, so it was not a song that they knew readily. They all did beautifully. Elaina even told me she wanted to become an actress one day.


I love it! However, I am totally surprised at her.

I had to take a picture of little sister too! She is the ham in the family, as never met a stranger, has a great sense of humor, and she can cheese it up for the camera. She is standing in front of some decorations in our sanctuary

Our church likes to incorporate pop culture and all types of media into our services. The theme for this month/this Christmas is "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" If you are as big a fan of the movie "A Christmas Story" as I am then you know that phrase. Each Sunday this month our pastor talks about our lusts/desires for things that take us away from our desire to know God, grow in Christ (e.g. material things, the love of money, selfish wants, and yes, the "traditional" definition of lust). One of the numerous great scenes from the movie revolves around a lamp the father won in a contest. The lamp was a plastic leg covered in fishnet stockings and a high heeled black pump shoe. The lampshade had black fringe on it. The thing was the height of an average woman's leg and was so tacky. Our art and prop group did a fabulous job of recreating some of the other icons from that movie including that hideous lamp. (Although secretly I would LOVE to have one of those lamps. That's how much I L.O.V.E. that movie.)

what a FUN weekend!

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Last week I was CONSUMED with reading Tricia's, Helping Mayan Families, and Mayan Families blogs/websites I just didn't get to my own. Last week 25 AMAZING women went to Guatemala to provide Christmas parties, gifts, medicine, love, and all around cheer to HUNDREDS of people in The Land of Eternal Spring.


I cried every day, happy tears, reading about all the work that was done down there in just a week. But so much more is needed.


I want to go on this trip next year.


I also noticed I have not shared pictures of my gurlz in a while. So here are a FEW of the things we did this past weekend. I will spread out the events over a few blogs, to make it worth your while to come on back for more! :~)


I broke down and took the gurlz to see Elmo's Green Thumb. Not money I should have spent, but the memories and happy times are worth the extra month of paying it off. Joely is crazy for Elmo, Elaina likes him, but my almost 6 year old is moving on from these simple characters. However, she enjoyed the event as well. They both were dancing in the aisles, but those pics are either so blurry or so dark I didn't want to waste your time with those.


We had good seats on the floor, so the gurlz could see all the action.

Elaina sang at church (for another post). If you know my shy child then you are wondering if that is a true statement. Now, it was with about 20 other children, and she did not volunteer for one of the speaking parts, but I'll take these baby steps.

El and I also went to a Mother Daughter Tea with area Girl Scouts (she is a Daisy). (this will also be another post) But in between church and the tea, I snapped some photos of them, and then us, in front of our little tree. (I used the timer, so I will blame the camera for the poor quality and NOT the person who pushed the timer button.) :~P

I LOVE the happy smiles in the above picture.

Somebody tell me where to get a grant for an eye lift!!!!!! (I'm starting to age.)

Love my gurlz.

feeling so many emotions

Tonight the gurlz and I went to our first Christmas party of the season. We have been members of a group in the Northern Virginia area made up of families who have adopted from Guatemala. This group tries to get together about 3 - 4 times a year. When we do get together it is so much fun to watch the children interact. They laugh, run, share; they have no expectations from the other children except to just play.

I feel so blessed that my gurlz are in my life. They came home to a forever family. They are fed, clothed, bathed, sometimes read to when I am not exhausted, and most of all loved. There are over 143 million children around the world who need a forever family too. They need a story read to them, to be tucked into bed at night, and for someone to wipe away their tears.

I only set out to make a family, to adopt a little girl; someone I could have tea parties with, make a blanket fort with under the dining room table. I never knew that adoption would change me like this. I have seen the need, I have read the statistics, my heart has been moved.

Here's a way to help out orphans.

I hate that neither of my gurlz came home at 6, 7 , 8 months of age. I missed many of their firsts. But I have them now. I have seen and will see so many other significant firsts. They came home.

Last night I learned about a family who was adopting their second child from Guatemala, to add to their already large and loving family. However, that child will not be coming home. She was only weeks away from coming home to her forever family but was tragically killed in a home invasion. I just can't imagine their pain, their sorrow. I can tell from their blog that they are a strong Christian family, but I am sure this rocks them to their core.

A memorial fund has been established to help this family out. They still owe a lot from their adoption of Josi. They had just sent their last payment for the adoption last week. This horrible tragedy should never have to happen to anyone.

If you want to do something for this sweet family and do not know what to do, here is a wonderful way to honor precious Josi. They have a chip in button on their blog you can donate any amount to in Josi's name. Together we all can show our love to this family in their time of crisis. The chip in button is on their side bar of their blog where you can give your donation. Once you get through to Pay Pal, you can add a comment to your donation.

http://azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/



Here is my joy. These are the faces I am lucky enough to see every day.

100 Things

I stole this from my cyber friend, Holly, who stole it from someone else. Please feel free to steal it from me. Everything I did is in bold and in red.



1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (yes, if singing in a Jazz band counts)
4. Visited Hawaii (it is on my list of things to do)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (I don’t do bugs)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (it is on my list)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (it's on my list)
27. Run a Marathon (does a half marathon count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (it's on my list)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (it's on my list)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (I don’t do mud)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (it's on my list)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (it's on my list)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (it's on my list)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (it's on my list)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (it's on my list)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (it's on my list)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem (BIG time on my list!)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (is fish considered an animal?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

So, what have you done?

What an honor!

My sweet cyber friend Kristi got one of these awards for her blog, from another sweet friend, and named me at the bottom of her post, which means she is passing it on to me!!! The only requirement is that I have to list my five biggest obsessions (in NO particular order) and then pass it on to another blogland friend.


What an honor for such a novice blogger with a very young blog. Kristi, you've set the bar high, and I hope to be as faithful and as informative a blogger as you!



1. Hi, my name is Terri and I am obsessed with Alabama football!
2. I love shopping for my Guatemalan Princesas, it is like playing with baby dolls all over again.
3. I am obsessed with helping the less fortunate in Guatemala. I wish I could do more.
4. I am obsessed with the Amazing Race. I want to go on that show so badly.
5. I am obsessed with moving back home to Alabama.


Alright, I tag Rhonda, another great cyber friend.

Will find it hard to...

concentrate on work.

I am like a little kid at Christmas, I just can't wait. The gurlz and I are driving to Oma's house on Christmas eve (13 hours) and I am sure my foot will be glued to the front grill. I am so excited.


J is so fascinated with older sister's school bus, I thought she needed one too. (glad she can't surf the net just yet)

Since becoming a mommy, I don't have a wish list anymore. It's all about the gurlz. They both have girlie-girl tendencies (yea!) so there are a lot of wishes for dolls and BARBIES! So it is really as if their gifts are partly for me too. After all, I get to play Barbies and kitchen and shopping and dress up and with baby dolls too!

Life is good!

The Desperate Housewives dolls. No, the gurlz are NOT getting these, but aren't they funny?!

LOST!!

***EDITED!!! *** I found the Cert of Citizenship, whew! I can recreate the SSN from last year's tax return, but it sure would be nice to KNOW where that little card is!!!



No, not the TV show, important documents for my baby gurl.




Yup, I've lost my child, at least her ORIGINAL certificate of citizenship AND her Social Security Card. You know, no big deal.




I haven't finished tearing our place apart yet, there is another corner to tackle, but if they aren't there...If you hear loud sobs and wailing, you'll know that's me!






Now that I have readopted her I need to have all the name changes done and order the new certificate of citizenship before they go up on the price again.






Oh to be organized.

Pausing to give thanks

I have to admit, lately I've been a little down, a little distant from God, and a little tired of always praying to Him for the same thing (I have been praying for one BIG thing in particular for almost 4 years) only to hear what seems to be silence. But I have to stop in my tracks and look at all I do have. I am among the accounted. I have been to Guatemala and a few other places that are so riddled with poverty and lack. Those scenes of little children, dirty and hungry, selling Chicklets on the streets flashes back in my mind and I feel ashamed at my pettiness and ungratefulness.

I must focus on what I do have, like two magnificent children, a family that loves and encourages me, a place to live (while not home, it is safe and warm), food, a secure job, shoes on our feet, a 10 year old car, and consignment clothes on our back. We are rich. We are blessed. I am thankful.

I pray that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving day, and that this will lead you into a Christmas season full of blessings.

a gurl can dream...

Jon Hamm.

People magazine included him on their list of the sexiest men in America, AND Hugh Jackman is yummy. However, Jon with those smokey eyes and that strong angular face. I. Just. Can't. Get. Enough. He should have been the front runner.


He's the star of AMC's hit show Mad Men. The show is in hiatus and that drives me crazy. I love that show and JON HAMM!!!


OK, I'll stop drooling now.

Future career?

Is she a Hootchee Mama in training? Lord, I hope not!

(please ignore the mountain of laundry in the background!)

Joely loves stickers, or 'dickers.' They are an inexpensive way to entertain her; keeps her quiet.

So I was busy cooking, the gurlz were playing in the next room, giggling and laughing. They came running into the kitchen saying, "Mommy look!" I had to laugh, then grab the camera.

No area was untouched.

At least she's "modest."

Near 'Bout Had a Heart Attack!

We almost didn't pull this one off, but we DID beat LS Who!! This means we are headed to the Southeast Conference playoff on December 6 as the Western Division Champs of the SEC. And if we can continue to stay undefeated (Mississippi State and those farmers from the other part of the state), and then Florida on Dec 6...we are headed to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!!!

My first tag!

A fellow Alabamian, adoptive mama, and cyber friend, Kristi, tagged me. This is my first for the blog. Yea!

So I have to tell you seven random things about myself:

1. I sooooooooo want to go on the reality show "Amazing Race" with my Mama. She wants to go on it too!

2. I love watching Alabama football, but couldn't tell you much about what is going on in the game. All I know is we are supposed to cross the goal line more times that the other team.

3. Summer is my favorite season. Give me 100 degree weather over any degree under 60 any old day. You can even throw in the humidity. I like my weather to hit me in the face when I walk out the door.

4. At one time in my life I modeled, and was headed to New York City after high school. I had an interview with a representative at Ford Modeling agency too. But I decided to go on to college instead. Glad I chose college, cuz an edjukashun iz importent.

5. I'm a sap. I cry at weddings in movies, when someone dies in a movie, especially when a dog dies in a movie, and Hallmark commercials. Since Hallmark is about to enter into their biggest season, I guess I better stock up on tissues.

6. I like books. Oh, not to read, mind you. Just books. They look so good on the shelf. It also makes you look smart to have all those books surrounding you. Maybe one day I'll actually crack some of 'em open.

7. Chocolate. That's all I have to say about my favorite food group, snack, and reason to get up in the morning. Chocolate.

Now I'm supposed to tag others, but I don't know who to tag. So feel free to tell me random things about you in the comments.

Happy Adoption Month!

I am so happy this is Happy Adoption Month!

And yet, there are so many children around the world who can't come into a family through adoption, for many reasons. But there are numerous ways to get involved in their lives. Here are a few of my favs. Go check 'em out and I hope you'll get involved too.

Global Orphan Team

Mayan Families

One happy Adoptive Mama!

Trunk or Treat!

The gurlz have yet to ever ring doorbells on Halloween night. We have always either gone to a mall or to our church for Trunk or Treat.

Our church uses Halloween as an outreach to the community, letting folks know that it is alright to come to church, that you can have fun at church too. Last year over 5000 people came to our Trunk or Treat, I can't wait to hear how many people came this year. Trunk or Treat is how we found our church three years ago.

The back parking lot is turned into a carnival, with moon bounces, small carnival rides, a rock climbing wall, carnival food, and of course, lots of candy handed out from the trunks of cars. Some folks go all out and decorate their cars, even wear outfits that coordinate with their car theme. Some folks just sit in their trunks doling out candy to children. The kids could care less what you or your car look like, just give me some candy!!!!!!

Speaking of candy, did you get your "Mommy tax?" You know, the pieces of candy due YOU since you had to schlep outside in the cold, with or without costume, just so you could contribute to your dentist's vacation house fund? Of course, what you are really doing is "checking for poisonous pieces of candy."

So, who taught the gurlz to smile cheezy smiles?

Joely's bounce house.

Elaina's bounce house.

I bow down to the prolific bloggers!

It has been 10 days since I last posted. Shame on me. How do you super bloggers do it all? I have "written" several blogs in my head these past few days, but I don't know where my brain filed those, so you're gonna get this one. I so meant to blog BEFORE we went on a little trip, but where did the time go. You Super Cyber Friends make blogging look so easy!

The Gurlz and I went out of town last Friday to drive to Alabama, my home state, the motherland, God's country, the place I LONG to be. We went home to have a court date with the Probate Judge of Morgan County to re-adopt my babygurl, and legally change her name.

While we were in Bama, we drove up to Lynchburg, TN, for the Jack Daniels BBQ, we watched Bama B.E.A.T. Tennessee in SEC football on the TV (we are STILL #2 in the nation, and have a perfect record). We went to a Trunk or Treat event at my parents' church, visited friends and family, had the court hearing (which lasted all of about 7 minutes) and ate way too much!

Fun was had by all!

It is easier to readopt in Bama than in Virginia, and since that is where we are trying to land and I still have some mail sent there and house some possesions there, it is technically home for us. At any rate, my gurl's gonna have an Alabama birth certificate, and the doctor's office can stop calling her a name I no longer recognize.

Their Pappaw, my Daddy, who Joely is named for. Feedin' her FAVORITE person goldfish.





Happy Halloween, ya'll!

My cuties!

Oma and her bundle.



Who dat in there?

My Barbie Mariposa



My little angel

This is where you have to stand for this game when you are two.