11 Years Ago!!

For some reason, this momma is having a hard time dealing with the fact that her baby girl is 11. So, we go back and look at old photos. There are so many I could post, but I don't have the time, and I'm sure you really don't care... But here are some special ones to me!

This is Taylor with my Paternal Grandmother, Bonnie. Grandma Bonnie became sick when Taylor was very young, and passed away in July of 2007, so she doesn't really remember her. But this photo is absolutely precious to me...


And Taylor with my Maternal Grandmother Carol. Taylor was the first Great Grandchild, can you tell?

And here is Taylor with my Maternal Great Grandmother, making this her Great-Great Grandmother. Does it get any more precious than this???


Taylor at her first birthday party, enjoying her very own cake!

Here is Taylor and Daddy... why does he look so young?


This photo has always been a favorite of mine. This is Taylor dancing with her older cousin Lincoln at a wedding. Lincoln was always very protective of Taylor!


Taylor's first night in her Big Girl Bed!!


And the beginning of a love that is unexplainable! Taylor meeting her baby brother Drew for the first time!


Time certainly does fly by. And there have been so many wonderful times since that Monday in March, 11 years ago! I am beyond blessed to be Taylor's mother! I look forward to the joys God has in store for us in the future!



God is Good

ROCK SOLID!!!

Another wonderful performance by the Wooster Grace Brethren Church Children's Choir! Today they performed "Rock Solid" after many months of practice! Once again, we were not disappointed. There are so many talented children in our church! It is always exciting to see from one year to the next which kids have gotten to the point where they feel comfortable singing solos. Drew said he wanted to try-out this year, but ended up not doing so. Maybe he'll be ready next year! I look forward to next year with great excitement and great sadness. It will be the only year we have all three of the kids in the choir, but it will also be Taylor's last year! :'(

Here are a few photos and videos from the program!

Taylor was in the "Stomp Band". She was the only girl. There were seven boys, and Taylor! Not sure what to think of that :)

Here is Drew getting into the song!

A video of Taylor singing her Solo! I don't see how Ohio Light Opera could turn her down (yes we are still waiting... UGH) Of course I'm just the Momma! (and that is Toby in the background saying "I saw my Tay Tay")

And here is a video of Drew during the final song. He was really enjoying himself!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post!! It's a big day in the Mills' House!

God is Good!

And We Wait!

AND STILL... NOTHING 3/26

STILL WAITING...3/24 :)

Well, Taylor had Auditions for the Ohio Light Opera tonight. She sang the song "Maybe" from Annie! I think she did a beautiful job! I felt bad for her, we hadn't really practiced with an accompaniment, but she still did well. I was out waiting in the hall, and I could hear her belting it out like a superstar!

We have been very encouraged about her audition not only by the response we received today, but by the people we have spoken to in getting information during the process. They certainly remember her from her part as Gretl in Sound of Music two years ago. (Click on the link for a few photos of her from the OLO website!)

While we are very excited and anxious to hear if she will be cast in Fiddler on the Roof this year, we are also aware that there are only a few childrens parts. While I am biased, I believe she is best for the part :) Granted, I haven't seen the competition. Getting a part means our summer belongs to The College of Wooster and the Ohio Light Opera. (Eighteen performances, and several weeks of grueling practices) But it also means that Taylor is doing what she loves, singing and being on stage.

I will be sure to post once we know the outcome!

God is Good!

Another Anniversary

In the world of adoption, it can be easy to get caught up in all the "Anniversary Dates"! There is the day you got "the call" or the referral, or saw the first photo of your baby (3/18/07). There is the day you accepted your referral (3/22/07)... there is the days when you received all the various travel approvals (didn't keep track of all this)...there is the day you got "the call" about your travel to meet your baby(6/24/07)... there is your gotcha day, or forever day or airplane day, whatever you may call it (7/26/07)! And there is your finalization day (3/10/08)! That is what our anniversary day is tomorrow! Another day to celebrate the joy of adoption.

Does that mean we have a big party? Does that mean Toby gets gifts? Does that mean the world stops for 24 hours? Not for us, but some families may celebrate differently. We acknowledge the day, maybe read an extra adoption book at bedtime or look through his photo book, or watch a video. But that's about it. Is that wrong? Not for us! We have two biological children. Does that mean we should celebrate the day the pee stick turned pink, the first ultrasound, the first movement every year? That would be a little silly I think. So while adoption is special, and it is important to celebrate what milestones you do have, considering for us we lost the first 27 months of celebrating, we also are realistic.

So tomorrow, we will remember our special day in court! We will be thankful for the blessings God has given us over the last 12 months! But to indulge you all... I thought I would post again Toby's Finalization video!

Enjoy!



God is Good!

Weekend in Pittsburgh

**this is a long post, sorry... but we had a great weekend!**

Well, Nate is at the National Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, so I thought, what better time to take the kids and head to my sister Katy's place in Pittsburgh. Her birthday was last weekend, so we thought it would be fun to go hang out. We took off Friday at 5:00 hoping to get to Pittsburgh before 8 and maybe stop at IKEA before we head to Katy's place. She had to work until 9:30... well, Mr. Garmin (the GPS) took me the short LONG way!! A trip that allowed us to go through 3 states in 5 minutes, which the kids thought was amazing in and of itself! We ended up pulling in at Katy's workplace at about 8:30 - 8:45!! So we did a little shopping at Pier 1 before they closed, hit Wal-Mart (because I needed a few essentials I forgot to pack... imagine that!) then took off for Katy's house. The kids were so excited, that they didn't go to sleep until around 11 or later. The entire drive into Pittsburgh, once we hit the "city" Drew was on the edge of his seat with excitement. It was really kinda funny to watch him. Then when we passed Heinz Field, I thought he was going to faint! So cute.

Saturday morning, we got up and Katy and Toby made us pancakes! Toby loves to stir!
After breakfast, we headed out to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. I had checked the place out online, but was even more impressed with it. The kids had a blast! Here are just a few of the things we did....

Toby doing some silk Screening! Shelly, you would have been impressed!


Toby was so into his painting (he made at least 3 beautiful portraits) he wouldn't even look away from his easel to get his photo taken!
Here, Taylor, Toby, Aunt Katy and her friend Amanda do some Ink press artwork...
And here's Toby making paper!
The kids really loved Water World. They got to put on crocs and raincoats and go crazy. I rolled up Toby's pant legs, but he still managed to get soaked. Luckily, I planned ahead and had back up pants in the backpack!
On our trip to Pittsburgh, the kids watched the movie "BIG" with Tom Hanks. We all about flipped out when we saw Madame Zelda at the Museum... guess what Drew wished for? And he was very disappointed when he was still 7 when he woke up this morning...
As you can see, we finally broke down and got Taylor a cell phone. She's been very busy texting all her friends. I'm thinking it's going to be a good tool to keep her room clean?!?
In the "Garage" section, the kids got to use different tools. Toby and Drew were using files to file down wood, I INSISTED on the safety goggles, partially because they were getting pretty wild with the tools, and partially because they were so darn cute on them!
Here the kids are in the "Attic" section. Going down the FAST slide! They really liked it and did it several times. But they had to walk through the gravity room get to it.
Here is the Gravity room. It was on an angle, and was nearly impossible to walk in. Toby kept running into the wall. He kept falling down to the left. It was actually kinda comical!
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was a big hit for the kids. Here they sit on his front porch.
And Toby and I are watching as Trolly comes by!
Toby would hardly leave the "castle" and was still talking about it this morning as we were leaving. He wanted to go back to the castle. He liked the Land of Make Believe!
Here is Drew on the Trolly... can you tell he's in Pittsburgh. Of course, he didn't stand out at all. About every other person you saw was completely decked out in Steelers attire!
So after the Museum, we went to IKEA for a while. I bought several things for around the house! I LOVE that place!! I could easily fill a U-Haul, like so many people do when they are there! Then we went to dinner to celebrate Aunt Katy's birthday. I talked her into Damon's...YUM!! We had a nice meal, and the kids were very well behaved, considering the long day they had had!

Sunday morning, we had to hit the road fairly early. I was hoping to make it back for Lydia's funeral service and Taylor had play practice at 2PM. (we didn't make it into town until after 2, so sadly, I missed the service. But I was with them in spirit and continue to pray for the Miyashita's)

But before we left, Aunt Katy wanted to take us to Mt. Washington to look out over the city. Great idea... bad time of year! It was beautiful, but freezing. The kids had winter jackets, but they needed several layers and a few hats and several pair of gloves!! It was just very windy. We did manage to get a few photos!

Here are Taylor and Drew, with Heinz Field in the background!
And here is a photo of the kids and I with the Pittsburgh skyline behind us!
Since it was so cold, we decided to head down closer to Heinz Field so Drew could get some photos! He was SO EXCITED!!! Can you tell?
And here is Taylor in front of the stadium!
Drew didn't want to leave! He kept running back to the gate and begging for someone to let him in!
And a final photo of the kids with Art Rooney. Drew is thanking him for the great season! I don't think he had a clue who he was until we explained it, but he wanted to thank him!