Needing Rules..

We have to make a list of family rules for our exchange students.  

I NEED HELP!!! 

I have never made rules before.  We are fly by the night people. 

I need to have a set in stone list of rules so that we don't have a lot of conflict. 

If you have any rules that you use or used with your 16 to 18 year old girls. I would love to have your input. 

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We are going to be a Host Family!!

It is official!! 

We will become a host family for exchange students starting in 2011!!! Whoo hoo!!!! 

I am excited.  Can ya tell?? 

We have hosted in the past when Sephy was little.  It has been over 4 years since we have had an exchange student.  We had our ups and downs in the past with them but I contribute a lot of it to the fact that we where so young.  Sephy was 4 and 5 and Dusty and I where still in our 20's.  The kids where like not even 10 years younger than us.  It is kindda hard to be taking care of teenagers when you your self aren't grown up yet.  So, we stopped and decided to grow up some more, be set financially helps too.  Although you do not have to pay for them to live here, you do have to provide, food and shelter.  Since we can provide this for them with out it putting a financial drain on us we started to look into it.  

We choose a company that is our of California.  It is called AYUSA.  I have had a great experience with them so far.  Great Communication! I strike that, We are looking forward to hosting.  Sephy is overly excited because she will have someone to "hang" with.  

We have our student picked already for next school year.  She has a lot of the same interest as Sephy. She jumped out at us when we where looking at students the other night.  When I get to start communicating with her I will ask if I can share about her.  

I am so excited about this! I can't wait! 

If you are interested in hosting an exchange student and would like more information let me know and I can help you out! 

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12 years ago..

12 years ago on November 21, 1998 I said I Do to a wonderful man.

This was our first year together...1996

(I don't have a scanned in pic from our wedding day. )

This was our 1st anniversary pictures.  Sephy was 3 months old. 

I am very lucky to have Dusty in my life.  I thank God for him everyday. 

Love you baby! 

Happy Anniversary! 

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Smile.. but it hurts..

I am normally always a cheerful person.  I never let the worst get to me even when at times the worst is really not the worst because "it could always be worse".  I stay optimistic in every situation.  When I try and be negative it just aways gets turned around to be a positive in most cases.  Most cases but the one that has been bothering me and having me wondering if what I want is really what is in God's Plan for me.

I know your thinking what has you down.. well let me tell you.

I have wanted another child for the last 8years.  We tried the foster/adopt route that did not work. That just made our hearts break even more along with my families hearts.  I will never go that route again nor suggest it to someone that is in the same situation.

I guess I should back up 10years for you. My husband decided he didn't want any more children and at the time we where separated because of unforeseen circumstances that I will not put on here. He decided he would have a vasectomy. Which at the time was fine by me.  Now I wish I told him no. But that is another story.. anyways at the first of this year he had a semen analysis it was results we where wanting. He is in the normal range just on the lower end of it.  So the past few months it is up to me.  I have been eating healthier, losing some weight, being more active.  The medicine the doctor gave me finally worked write and I had a period on my own.  So everything seems to be falling into place right?  So Why do I feel so down?  Why does it seem that it just isn't going to work?

I can't help but doubt this is really what I want. I laid in bed talking to Dusty last night about what if this is the wrong choice we are making, trying to bring another life into the world.  Will Sephy be put on the back burner while we show new love to this new baby.  Will we have to say NO more often because we have another person now to think of?  Will she get to do all the things her heart desires (within reason of course) if we have another baby?  Will the timing be right for next summer for vacation planning in the works?

I know my heart really desires another child, but is right now really the right time?

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Our Newest Family Member!

Meet (No Name) He is a Terrier little bitty puppy. Only weighs 3lbs. In great health. 

We rescued him from the shelter. He loves his big sister already so much. He is a good puppy. We have only had a couple of indoor potty accidents and they are always in the kitchen near the back door. 

We are crate training him so my nights are long because he wakes up often and makes the funnest crying noises. Nothing like any other puppy we have had.  He was fixed and micro-chipped before we could bring him home.  He loves to sleep in Sephy's lap. 

Here are a few more pics: 

Maybe you can help us name him?  

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