Blogging

So, I'm guessing if you are reading this, you are a blogger. I don't think many people "stumble" upon a blog. I have no idea who my readers are. I know I have friends that occasionally pop in, other adoptive families that pop in, etc. Who is reading isn't really all that important. I'm not sure if I care if anyone is reading (though it is fun to see the counter going up). I have no time in my life for scrapbooking right now... I JUST DON'T!! Blogging takes me about 10 minutes, and I can do it quickly after the kids are in bed, without any stickers, scissors, glue, paper and mess!! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Scrapbooking, I just can't do it right now. So Blogging gives me a chance to talk about the things I love (adoption and my family) and in a sense, Pre-Scrapbook! When the day comes that I have free time (I know it will happen), I can simply sit down to millsfamily5 and go back and recall all that was going on, all the wonderful outings and excursions we go on, and scrapbook them for the children much easier.

Why am I babbling about this you may ask? Well, I was away this past weekend at Women of Faith. Yes, that is a women's Christian conference. I was in a room after the conference with one of my girlfriends and she had several family/friends with her that I had not met before. They did not know much about me. I think they knew I had an adopted son, but that was about it. So we are eating and chatting about all sorts of things... life, travel, kids, (husbands leaving their wives behind when she steps off the motorcycle and they dont' realize and go racing away!)... when the subject of Blogging and Facebook came up. It became pretty clear that they were not fans of either. I sat quietly, observing these ladies reactions and comments. I was not hurt by what they were saying, but I was shocked that women of faith would be so harsh and judgemental. Their opinion was that people that blog and are on facebook are only on there trying to create an image of their perfect family, in other words FAKE. And if they were being honest about their lives (some people blog about EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING) that it was just inappropriate. "Who cares about them doing laundry" they said. So there's a double standard :) Don't be fake, but don't be honest.

I am not sure what the real issue was with these ladies. Why they felt it their place to "call out" people who blog as not being worthy. Why they felt that it was really a problem. I don't think anyone forces them to go out and read them? It just amazes me that people see it necessary to put down others at all.

I did not say anything while I was there. However, at one point my girlfriend mentioned something about my blog, and the look on some of the girls faces was priceless. The one girl ran out of the room laughing (I'm not positive that is why, but I think she had some egg on her face). I am just hoping that they got a glimpse of the judgement and immaturity they were showing.

So if you think blogging is stupid, why have you read this far?

God is Good

First Grade Field Trip

Today I got to go to Rolling Ridge Ranch with Drew and his first grade class. We had to drive ourselves, so I took Toby with us as well! It was a beautiful day here in Ohio. I think Spring has Finally Sprung!! Here are some photos of our day!

We had 3 wagons full of first graders and their parents. This was the wagon in front of us. We were some of the first people there, and the animals were HUNGRY!!

A close up of one of the Osterich, or was it an Emu? Those things are CRAZY!

Here we are inside the gate, and the animals charged us for food!

YIKES!

Drew was having a lot of fun!

Another shot of the wagon in front of us further down the trail!

Toby having fun with the billy goats. They had lots of babies, and he wanted to hold them all! He is so sweet!

Drew holding the baby duck.

Toby holding (read Squeezing) the baby duck!

We had to get photos of the monkeys for Toby! He LOVES his monkeys!

After we left, we stopped off at Heini's Cheese for a few treats! YUM! Toby was good for a while but then he began to get tired! So we took off for home, and naps... both He and I!!

It was a lovely day, I got to spend some amazing time with my boys!

I'm off to Women of Faith tomorrow night in Columbus. It will be a wonderful refreshing weekend, but I will miss my gang!!

God is Good

Easter Fun!

A week ago, we took the kids down to the Easter Egg hunt at the local park. Taylor was "too big" this year to partake, so she helped out by taking Drew to his area while I stayed with Toby. She got her egg hunting cut short by a year. Last year, she was only 9 at the egg hunt, since it was in March. This year, she was 11 for the egg hunt because Easter was in April. She never got to be a 10 year old at the Easter Egg Hunt! I think she'll survive!

Here are the kids with the big bunny! Toby wasn't freaked out this year! He was actually very excited, and ended up blowing a kiss to the Bunny as we left! It was so cute!

After church, I forced the family to get a photo together! You would have thought I was killing the kids, but they all survived, and this, sadly, was the only decent one. Poor Toby! But everyone else looks great!

After we changed, we stopped at my parents house to visit quickly before heading out to Nate's mom's house! Here are Toby and Daw-Daw at Grandma Debbie's house. We kept finding Dawson sitting next to "Willie" (as in Hillbilly Willie!), carrying on a conversation, so we decided to snap a few photos!

The adults hid the Easter eggs, and here is what happened when we let the wild animals loose!

Drew was pretty successful in finding the eggs!

Here is Derek counting his loot!

Daddy was helping Toby find his eggs!

I think Lincoln had the advantage with this egg! Hope there was something good in it :)

Back inside, Drew is checking out all his goodies!

And here is Grandma Debbie and Graham reading the Easter Story, along with the Resurrection Eggs, to the kids! This has become a family tradition!

Hope you all enjoyed your Blessed Easter Day!

God is Good!

Toby's Four!

Well, his actual birthday isn't until Tuesday, but we had Toby's birthday party today. No matter how many people show up, it is a special day! I can't believe Toby is actually four already!! It seems like just yesterday, we were celebrating his 2nd birthday with him half way around the world, and us only wondering what his birthday party was like! Today, we celebrated with a few family members, and we made the most of his special, Curious, Day!!







We love you Toby!!!

God is Good!

Happy Easter

Remembering what my Saviour had to go through... unimaginable! And all he asks of me is to follow Him!

I love this song. We used it on one of Toby's Videos! And I love how this video is clearly showing Mary's struggles from The Passion of the Christ! As a mom, I get that in a small way! Enjoy!



God is Good!

Little Drama Queen!!

Today was a big day for the Mills' Drama Queen! Taylor's final performance of "Cricket on Grandma's Hearth" was tonight and they did a great job. The crowd was pretty thin, but I think it had a lot to do with it being so close to Easter Weekend and Spring Breaks. Taylor did a great job, and we were very proud of her... Here are some photos and a short video of the final scene...

This was before the show. The kids were dancing and having a good old time!

Was she looking at the camera? Actually, I think she was looking at Toby, who waved at her the entire time she was on the stage!

Here is "Emily" having a heart to heart with Grandma about being kind and the Easter Miracle.

A part where Taylor was off to the side, but doesn't she look so grown up?

The curtain call for "Emily's" family

Here is a brief video of "Emily" and Grandma, the final scene of the play, about their Easter Miracle.

And then, to top off the Day... we finally got a call from Ohio Light Opera this afternoon. She has been offered a part in the upcoming Fiddler On The Roof production!! She will be the youngest daughter. They are doing a split cast, so she will be in half the shows, like she was for Sound of Music. She is SO VERY EXCITED!! As are we! We should know more in the coming week, but for now, we can stop running after the mailman... He probably thinks we are stalking him!!

God is Good!