So far behind!!

I have been so poor at updating my blog lately.  I hope I still have some readers left!!  I still have some great Disney pics and stories I want to share but I figure I will catch up from the holidays.  It was a wonderful Christmas, simple with tons of time with family.  Its the way I would like it to be.  Sierra was a bit overwhelmed with the attention and was not her usual cheerful self.   It only proves my point...simple is better.  Sierra had a week off from preschool and we had fun spending it together.  I have to return to my full time job on Jan. 31(after a 2 year leave) so I we are trying to have as  much fun as possible.  I really can't imagine what it is going to be like but summer vacation is not too far away.  I have NEVER had to work before my kids were in school but I have been blessed to have these 2 years home with her.( I should clarify that when my boys were little I did home child care for 14 years...so I did work but I got to stay home!!!)  The preschool she attends has an all day class plus before and after care and after all.....both Scott and I are done with work at 3:30!!!  She likes going for 3 hours a day for now but the change to all day will be tough for her too.  But.....
So we have some fun things planned.  In 2 weeks we will be traveling about an hour and 15 minutes to meet a family we met briefly in China.  We have been cyber friends for a while and just realized that we live about 2-21/2 hours away so we are planning a meeting soon.. Can't wait!!
We hope to visit a nearby Children's Museum with another friend too!
I am also going to re organize my house so that while I am working things will be easier to keep neat.  I really need a dumpster to get rid of so much stuff we don't need.  But we are planning a yard sale in the spring and much stuff will be there!!  Wish me luck on this!!
I am still working at the farm 3 mornings a week and will miss it when I leave.  It is fun to work doing physical labor and I won't have as much of that in the school.

Here are some shots of the past week or so.  We have had very cold weather, snow, and unseasonably warm weather...all in the same week!!  I got some cross country skiing in...so I was happy.  Hopefully there is more snow coming this weekend!!


My buried car!!

 A winter wonderland!

 Sierra's brother Paul has a snow mobile and came over to give Sierra a ride.  Again we are so lucky to have over a hundred acres behind our house perfect for snowmobiling and cross country skiing!


Ready!!!

Set!!!

 Go!!!  And look who is driving all by herself!!

Sierra drew this picture of me the other day.  I thought it was pretty good!!  I loved the detail in the eyes!!

So I wish everyone a Happy,Healthy and safe New Year!!  Please continue praying for my friend. She will need our prayers and support in the coming months!!  It is a reminder to all of us that we can not take good health for granted.  No one is immune from serious illness.

Christmas and miracles!

As I sat in church on Christmas Eve listening to our Pastor talk about miracles in our lives, I immediately thought about the birth of my 3 boys.  There is nothing like becoming pregnant and giving birth that shows a real miracle.  I mean really...everything that must come together in order for this perfect little baby to be born.  It is truly nothing short of a miracle.  And it blew me away.... every.....single...time!!!  And then I turned in my seat and saw this

and I knew I was looking at another of God's miracles. The actual miracle of her birth was experienced by her other mother.....her China Mommy.  But the circumstances in which she became a part of our family is a miracle none the less!!   I remember the beginning of our adoption story...the part where I had to convince Scott that it is something we should do.   And then we met sweet Grace, who quickly transformed Scott's heart and we started the paperwork.  And who would ever have thought that we could tackle the mountains of paperwork , and doctor visits, and fingerprint appointments and police clearances and time restraints.  But we did...and it was a miracle!  And then that call on May 19th 2008, when our adoption advocate said Kathie I think we have a little girl that would be perfect for you.  And that little girl turned out to be the most perfect fit for our family.  Coincidence???  no... a miracle!  And don't forget the miracle of Scott, who had an intense fear of flying...who because of that fear had NEVER flown before,  who got on that plane and flew non stop for 13 hours so that he could meet and bring his daughter home!!

And so this Christmas has reminded me of all that God can accomplish.  I thought a lot about my children the last few days, and  the miracles that brought them to me.  I am blessed beyond belief that they are in my life and that I have been entrusted with their care.  Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

Prayer Request

I have a  prayer request.  I have a dear friend who was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  She has a huge support system of family and friends but I know she would appreciate all your prayers too!  Thank you!

Osbourne Family Christmas-Disney cont.

The first night in Disney we went back to Hollywood Studios where we had been earlier in the day.  Imagine my shock at the transformation.  Although I knew the streets would be lit for Christmas I had no idea the beauty that was waiting for us!

Music was playing and the lights were dancing to the rhythm.  So was Sierra!!

You have to see it to believe it!

Disney!

We returned from Disney late Friday night ( really early Saturday morning ). I have wanted to post more but I am just so overwhelmed with all we experienced/ It was my second trip to Disney and Sierra and Scott's first. It is an amazing place and one leaves there with a profound respect for all those involved behind the scenes. Magic, dreams, wonder, laughter,joy, beauty, fun,colorful.are all words that come to mind when trying to describe the feeling of Disney. And to watch your child as she sees for the first time the castle or shakes hands with Mickey or kisses the cheek of one of her favorite princesses,its as the saying goes "priceless" Disney does it right. They make you and your children feel special. They work hard to make their park the best, and it shows. The hardest part is deciding what to do on any given day. There is sooo much to choose from.

Tonight I will share with you some pics of our dinner with the princesses. Scott's brother and his wife had arranged for the 3 of us to have dinner with the princesses at a restaurant in "Norway". Sierra was dressed in her favorite princess dress and tiara and her seh excitedly asked me to put her hair in a bun. She wasn't thrilled about the leggings or the sneakers but I am somewhat practical too. There is nowhere to go in Disney without having to walk and it was COLD that day. From the moment we entered the restaurant to the moment we left..our girl was in awe!! What a memory for her to treasure forever. And the last princess to make an apeearance???? Her favorite...Ariel!!

            I love how she has an itch and is scratching just as I take the picture! I have another too!

                                                               Daddy and Cinderella!

                                                                Dadddy's favorite princess

         Sierra made the waitresses day when she aked if she could have a picture of her too.  She was a   student from Norway!

                                                                  Mmmmm.....dessert!

A night filled with joy and wonder...more magic to follow soon!

We Are Back!!

What a trip. No one does it better than Disney. Here are a few pics with more coming over the next few days!!

The long awaited first glimpse of the castle

Sierra spotting it for the first time, walking with her Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve!

                                                            Note the winter coat and hood!!

More to come in the days ahead!!

Going Away

I will not be posting for a little while.  We are leaving early in the morning to go visit some friends!!!

See you all when we get back!!!