Two Days Old!

Here's another picture from my Mom. Baby A. was 6 lbs. 15 ounces when born. Holding Baby A. is her Daddy's Mom - Grandmother M. (also known as our Daughter's MIL).

Grand-Daughter # 2

Here's one of the pictures my Mom took right after Alivia was born - held by SIL Jesse.

Can't wait to give them all a big hug!!!

Grand-Baby Alivia is born!!!!

We are in England on our long ago planned vacation with cousin H. Unfortunately, we missed the birth of grand-baby #2!! Our daughter and SIL have welcomed new baby girl - Alivia. She was born on April 27th and mother and baby are doing well. My Mom went to the hospital and sent us many pictures of Alivia with her Dad (our SIL) and Aunt N. When we arrive home, we will have lots to chat about - the vacation of London, Bath, Wales, York and Scotland AND new G-Daughter A. Thank you M&D for taking care of house and family while we are away! I can't wait to hear about their adventures while we are away! Better start getting your stories to match!! Love, A&F

Recipe - Chocolate Sheet Cake with Buttermilk

Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake with Buttermilk! This is a family favorite with the “Morgan” family. Nana Joy makes it very often, as most everyone wants it for the next family celebrations. This is unbelievable and serves a large crowd. This is addicting, so delicious. It is very easy and takes very little time to bake completely from “scratch”. Remember to prepare the frosting first; ready to spread onto the warm cake. Ingredients: Flour, Sugar, Cocoa, Vanilla, Butter, Oil, Water, Baking Soda, Eggs, Buttermilk, Confectioners Sugar, Milk. Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, mix together 2 Cups Flour and 2 Cups Sugar. Boil together: 3 ½ Tabs. Cocoa ½ Cup Oil 1 Cup Water 1 stick of Butter or Margarine Pour into bowl with flour and sugar. Add: 2 Eggs and 2 Teas. Vanilla Mix 1 Teas. Baking soda into 1/3 Cup Buttermilk Add to mixture. Grease and flour a jellyroll pan or large cookie sheet with 1 inch sides. Bake 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Frosting/Icing: Melt 1 stick Butter or Margarine. Combine melted butter with: 3 ½ Tabs. Cocoa 4 Tabs. Milk 1 Teas. Vanilla Add to one box of powdered/confectioners sugar. Spread on cake while cake is hot.

A Short Visit With Cousin Hilary

Aly and I are off to meet up with a favorite Cousin of hers. Uh no, not that Cousin... It's off to England for a short spell to meet up with Cousin Hilary and to do the Jane Austen shuffle, grab some fish and chips and terrify the natives as we abandon the trains ever so often and hopefully drive on the right side of the road. Or is that the left? No, right.!?... Ok, everybody back on the train! Oh yes, Hilary and I will also be doing our best to take home the first place prize in the All-England Pub Crawl Contest. We haven't quite figured out what we're going to do with Alyson and her selective penchant for wine. We figure if we can get a couple of "pints" down her quickly we have a shot at convincing her she is drinking a newly released oak barrel aged Chateau Stonehenge. Our confidence is somewhat low on this scheme but Hil and I will do our "hoisting" best. We'll try to do a few postings while doing the backpack thing sans computer. So, it's off to the airport we go to hopefully grab some standby seats to London. Last time we did this we grabbed standby seats to Europe. We didn't have a city per se, just a location, Europe, no reservations and I think we may have had a hundred dollars on us. It really doesn't matter where you land as much as it does what you do once you get there! Oh well, Tally Ho and all that and we'll see you soon. Special Notice To Burglars, Thieves and Things that go bump in the night: Alyson's Mom and Dad and our terrorizing, massive, bone crushing, flesh eating guardian Salty Dog will be protecting the home 24/7 during our little swim, make that flight, across the pond and back... Flash Forward: "Hil and I would like a couple of pints of your darkest bitter please with an Ale chaser and would you happen to have a Chateau Stonehenge 1985? You do! Thank you. Excellent choice Alyson. Yes, isn't it odd how they serve their wine over here in what looks like beer glasses." I don't know Hilary, I do have my doubts about this working... Oh well, Ta Ta for now.

The Woodpecker Might Have To Go!

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark... 1 : Don't miss the boat. 2 : Remember that we are all in the same boat. 3 : Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. 4 : Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 5 : Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 6 : Build your future on high ground. 7 : For safety sake, travel in pairs! ! 8 : Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 9 : When you're stressed, float a while. 10 : Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. 11 : No matter the storm, with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Name That Movie Revealed

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest If you haven't seen this film in a while you owe it to yourself to open a nice bottle of wine, put plenty of snacks out and sit back to absorb one of the all-time great movies starring Jack Nicholson. Check out some of the cast names and you know why this movie entertained so many of us: Jack Nicholson Louise Fletcher Scatman Crothers Danny DeVito Christopher Lloyd Vincent Schiavelli So many movie lines to choose from... *McMurphy: Which one of you nuts has got any guts? *McMurphy: That's right, Mr. Martini. There is an Easter Bunny. *McMurphy: I'm a gd marvel of modern science. *Nurse Ratched: Aren't you ashamed? Billy: No, I'm not. [Applause from friends] Nurse Ratched: You know Billy, what worries me is how your mother is going to take this. Billy: Um, um, well, y-y-y-you d-d-d-don't have to t-t-t-tell her, Miss Ratched. Nurse Ratched: I don't have to tell her? Your mother and I are old friends. You know that. Billy: P-p-p-please d-d-don't tell my m-m-m-mother. *McMurphy: [about shock treatments] They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on's gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars! (CLASSIC) *[The inmates are playing cards and betting with cigarettes] Martini: [rips a cigarette in half] I bet a nickel. McMurphy: Dime's the limit, Martini. Martini: I bet a dime. [Puts the two halves onto the table] McMurphy: This is not a dime, Martini. This is a dime. [shows a whole cigarette] McMurphy: If you break it in half, you don't get two nickels, you get s***. Try and smoke it. You understand? Martini: Yes. McMurphy: You don't understand. *Nurse Ratched: If Mr. McMurphy doesn't want to take his medication orally, I'm sure we can arrange that he can have it some other way. *Chief Bromden: Mmmmmm, Juicy Fruit. (I loved this simple line) *McMurphy: Get out of my way son, you're usin' my oxygen. ***[Last lines] Chief Bromden: Mac... they said you escaped. I knew you wouldn't leave without me. I was waiting for you. Now we can make it, Mac; I feel big as a damn mountain. [he suddenly sees the lobotomy scars] Chief Bromden: Oh, no... Chief Bromden: [embracing McMurphy] I'm not goin' without you, Mac. I wouldn't leave you this way. ... You're coming with me. Chief Bromden: [laying him down] Let's go.

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Line! "They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on's gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars!" Name that movie...

Being Thankful - Everyday

Being thankful. For so much... While we wait, I have many things to be thankful for: My Mom & Dad are here for a visit and they already are pitching in to help around the house. None of this "I’m a guest” from them!! We are facilitating a great Crown Financial small group Bible study class at Asbury UMC. Everyone is so friendly and beyond nice! A very welcoming church! We have great jobs and are looking forward to DH’s retirement and his SAHD responsibilities beginning. With rumors of a 10-month wait from LID, I guess I can get more things done around the house and we are planning a few quick trips to see family this summer and fall. It is springtime here in Florida and the weather has been great if very dry. More about Mom and Dad; they brought so many gifts and household items for us PLUS lots of toys for Lizzy and I mean TOYS!! Also, My Dad made me a wooden plant stand exactly like his mother’s (my Grandmother). What a great birthday present!! We were hit (broadsided) four weeks ago and no one was hurt. Their insurance company fixed our car so we were very happy about that. We can drive it a few more years and was very glad they did not “total” it. Our son J & K and granddaughter Kilee are all well and prospering. K graduates this May so another significant milestone in their life’s journey moves forward. K, we are so proud of you. Our daughter & SIL are expecting their first child within the next week. Our second granddaughter!! We can’t wait for Alivia Kate to be born. We are going on a vacation to England with a favorite cousin. We can’t wait!! What a treat and mostly because of Sister-IL Tiffany who provided a special rate on the airline tickets. What a unbelievable trip to be making as a last big fling until we get Lizzy. DH still loves me with all my quirks that have been old habits plus all the newly acquired ones. Does one always go crazy with the ups and downs of the adoption process? He’s a very patient man! We are VERY thankful for being blessed with our good health and with more than we need in possessions. We need to share more with others who lack food, shelter and clothes. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

So often DH & I find ourselves caught up in the moment. We push hard to make sense of things that quite frankly we often times can't make sense of.

What we have learned to do is remember that the Lord also said: "My way are not your ways, My thoughts are not your thoughts." In other words we may never understand the "why" of something but there is always a "lesson" in it for us.

Love to our families! Happy Easter! Happy Birthday to sister, T. Happy Birthday to me!!!

Agency Update on Referrals

Our agency is reporting the following: We have learned that the CCAA is working on the next set of matches. We believe this group will include May 31st LID families and the first week of June LID families. We do not know if there will be any additional dates in June at this time.

Recipe - Easy & Sweet Fruit Dip!!

Eating fruit is VERY enjoyable when it is dipped in this easy & sweet dip. Wash and cut into bite sizes your favorite fruit: strawberries, banana, apples, melons, cantaloupe, kiwi, grapes, pineapple, peaches etc. Fruit that tends to turn brown should be tossed with lemon juice or cut into pieces at the last minute. Cut fruit into chunks as you need it; as needed to refill tray. One 8 ounce brick of cream cheese, softened (at room temperature) One 7 ounce Jar of Kraft marshmallow Creme (Fluff) Mix the two ingredients together with a strong utensil, fork or spatula. Store in refrigerator until serving. Serve in a pretty bowl with the chunks of fruit encircled on a tray or serving dish; use toothpicks. Delicious! Enjoy!!

Name That Movie Revealed

Casablanca A 1942 film set during World War II in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. It focuses on Rick's conflict between, in the words of one character, love and virtue: he must choose between his love for Ilsa and his need to do the right thing by helping her husband, Resistance hero Victor Laszlo, escape from Casablanca and continue his fight against the Nazis. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) : Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong. Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) : But, Richard, no, I... I... Rick: Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louie? Captain Renault (Claude Rains): I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist. Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go. Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. Ilsa: But what about us? Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night. Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you— Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. [She begins to cry] Now, now... Here's looking at you kid. The obvious quote from this movie is: "Here's looking at you kid", however, the line "We'll always have Paris" was an oft repeated & remembered movie line that was also delivered in the climatic final scene of this movie classic... And Kim M. shared this famous line from Casablanca that could just as easily been the movie line challenge: "Of all the gin joints in all the world she had to walk in to mine". Such a great movie. Such great lines. Such a true Classic...

Loving Levi

I hope you read this article. I really can't describe the story for you. It's entitled Loving Levi. The article appears in The Southeast Missourian, a local paper near where I grew up. fm

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines. "We'll always have Paris." Name that movie!

Quilt Square #15 - South Carolina!

Quilt Square #15 Thank You Blumer Family *South Carolina

More Quilt Squares - Thank You!

I love going to the mailbox. Absolutely love it. Except for the bills that is... #10 From The Riggs-Sanders Family * New Hampshire #11 From Stephanie * Delaware #12 From The Smith Family * Georgia #13 From The Tappenden Family * CT #14 From Michelle * California

Recipe: More From Grammie; Molasses Cookies

Grammie Merrill’s Molasses Cookies - These are an old-timey favorite. Great to bake and freeze for later. Eat alone or add to a bowl of vanilla ice cream – or better yet make your own ice cream sandwiches with these. Yum-yum! 1 Cup sugar ½ Cup Molasses ½ Cup solid shortening 1 Egg ¼ Cup boiling water with one heaping teaspoon of baking soda 3 Cup flour (scant) 3 teaspoons vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream first three ingredients together using electric mixer, then add the egg. Add boiling water with soda. Mix well. Add flour, mixing until incorporated. Add vanilla. Drop by teaspoon full. Bake 9 minutes. Serve warm or save in freezer for later.

Saved by Mom!!

I was desperate a few weeks ago when JoAnn's did not have any more of the ribbon I was using for the "100 Wishes" card. It was pretty special, pink, with the word "Imagine" printed on it. Mom called the main JoAnn's product line and didn't get through but gave me the number to try. I tried it and found two stores with spools of the ribbon even though it is discontinued. Yipeeeee!! I have some on the way via snail mail. JoAnn's did require a hefty ransom - the shipping fee was more than the cost of the ribbon! Oh well, the very sentimental and her money is soon parted.....

College Ice Hockey - Frozen Four Time!

Congratulations Gators!!! Next up is a reminder to cheer for my MAINE Blackbears; semi-finalist in this year's NCAA Hockey FROZEN FOUR!!! Check them out on ESPN2 tonight: Boston College vs. North Dakota kick things off in the first game starting at 3PM followed by my University of Maine Blackbears vs.the #1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers at 8PM. Remember! On ESPN2: Tonight at 8PM! NCAA Frozen Four Championship at Milwaukee, WI. Go Maine - Go Black Bears (almost as ominous as Gators). ac

Books for Lizzy - Thank you, Mia

I have kept to my pledge not to buy lots of clothes and stuff for Lizzy :) However, I have figured out that there are some things that can be purchased even though we do not know the age of our future daughter. Books are one of those. So my mild shopping addiction on line is easily satisfied when I find out something as common as books could be bought now (and enjoyed by us now too!). The picture is of the books purchased from sister-in-law’s web site. Usborne Books - the books kids love to read! Hosted by: Mia Morge Place: www.ubah.com/HOS55738

Name That Movie Revealed

O' Brother, Where Art Thou? Blind Seer (Lee Weaver): “You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains. You will find a fortune, though it will not be the one you seek. But first... first you must travel a long and difficult road, a road fraught with peril. Mm-hmm. You shall see thangs, wonderful to tell. You shall see a... a cow... on the roof of a cotton-house, ha. And, oh, so many startlements. I cannot tell you how long this road shall be, but fear not the obstacles in your path, for fate has vouchsafed your reward. O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a musical comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, set in Mississippi during the Great Depression (specifically, 1937). It was released in 2000. Plot: The hero of the film is a dapper, smooth-talking con man called Ulysses Everett McGill. Ulysses escapes from a chain gang and brings along the two fellow prisoners chained to him with the promise of recovering buried treasure from a heist. In truth, he only wants to get back to his wife before she marries someone else. The film stars George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter. The Coen brothers claim to have based the movie on The Odyssey by Homer, but admit to not having read the epic. The film's American roots music soundtrack became a surprise hit, and won a Grammy for Album of the Year.

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines! “You shall see a... a cow... on the roof of a cotton-house, ha. And, oh, so many startlements.” Name that movie…

This is Bob. Bob say Hi to the nice people.

Meet Bob. I have received no small amount of grief because of my decision to bring Bob into our family. What can I say... I liked Bob. Bob and I had an immediate connection. It was a guy thing. I promised Bob I'd look out for him. I'd keep him clean and out of the mud. I told Bob I would take the time to wipe down the niffy sun roof. Oh yeah, Bob and I are going to do just fine together. Bob on the other hand has promised me that he will track with the best of them through the Florida beach sand and that he'll do absolute circles (check out that front tire) around any stroller we come up on while tooling through the neighborhood. He has promised an awesome soft ride via his shock absorbers and to keep the sunshine out of the eyes of Baby Girl! Bob and I are convinced Alyzabeth will enjoy sitting in his lap of luxury :) I guess that would be a good thing since Salty Dog was not crazy about sitting in Bob's lap on the shakedown cruise. Alyson has decided she likes Bob. I think the grief part is because this is what she plans on doing, you know, like buying things for Lizzy. I'm getting the hint that the guys don't do these things. I guess that means I better hold off on the fantastic High Chair I've set my sights on. Oh, you would love this High Chair. I wish I could tell you about it but maybe I better just lay low on that for a while. Come on Bob, let's do a few practice laps until Alyzabeth gets here... It may even be time to remove the Minnie Pearl tag. Oh yeah Bob, lookin' good. fm

Grammie's China - What a Story for Lizzy

Grammie’s China (my Mom’s Mother): Have you all begun thinking about what child will get what for an inheritance? I thought about it growing up a lot concerning “belongs”. We had such close grandparents and one in particular who allowed us to be very vocal about what we liked of her possessions! We would walk in her house and over many years, know that certain things had a slip of paper in it or taped to the bottom of it, that had one of our name's on it. My Dad was an only child so we knew where most all of his parents belongs were going. My Mom was raised in a very unconventional way (boy, that is a long story about how families and foster care worked during WWII!!) and was also treated as an only child. So I will get to the story about my Grammie’s china service that eventually involves our future Lizzy. My Mom gave me several items of Grammie’s that included her china service made by Wood & Sons, England patented March 1917. We believe my Grammie received it as a wedding gift from her Aunts in Canada. The pattern is very unusual in that it features a bird, sometimes referred to as a parrot and lots of orange flowers with green stems and blue accents. I actually thought it was a rather busy pattern. Over the years, I knew I would need to return it to my sisters’ families as it “belonged” to my side of the family. I just thought early on when I married Ford that there would be many of my family “pieces” that would go back to my Maine family or their heirs. That’s the way we wrote it in our wills. Ford and I have a very good life and have accumulated many things that would be passed onto J & L. So now fast forward many years, and here we are adopting. I kept looking at the china and thinking how it did not fit in with any of my décor or favorite colors (except for the blue) and always knew I was just taking care of it until it was passed back to the Maine families. It dawned on me a few months ago that it looks very Asian. You know, the English type of Asian. I asked my Mom if I could give Grammie’s china to our future daughter Lizzy? She said it would be fine. How neat is that, since my Mom’s Mother (Grammie) is not her biological Mom as Grammie and Grandpa brought my Mom into their family when she was abandoned... And raised her. Now I am adopting an Asian daughter who was abandoned. I hope someday she appreciates some of the family history and love that goes along with acquiring a little of our history that will now be her American history. The picture is of a plate from Grammie’s service and a snack plate (with indent for cup) I purchased on eBay. What fun to find these unusual china pieces. I love shopping on eBay!