I’m getting inspired from Adoption Stories on Jamie’s blog. If you are considering adoption or have adopted, I’d like to encourage you to head on over and read a few stories or share your own.

I read: 5 secrets to make a marriage last and immediately posted it all over Facebook and Tweeted it to everyone I knew. It was that good. You need to read that blog post, if you haven’t already.

I’m getting more and more excited about renewing our vows and about (hopefully) wearing my dress again…I brought my dress home out of storage but have yet to open the box and try it on. I paid a fortune to “preserve” my dress. Hopefully it was money well spent. We have a date and now I need to order invitations. Are you ready to help me pick some out? I’m going to need some suggestions because trying to get ready for our adoption is taking my focus right now.

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The kids have been busy at art camp the last two weeks and I’m so proud of the masterpieces (proud much?) they’ve created. It is such a thrill to find places in our home to display their art work. We’re going to kick it up a notch and frame some of their work around the home.  I really believe strongly in displaying their creations and I love seeing the little smiles on their faces as they watch me hang up their work.

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This video really inspired me…Does adopting one child really make a difference? Well little Lucy Lane’s single adoption has lead to many other adoptions of one…Its amazing what one person can do and how a single child can make such a huge impact on others.

Lucy Lane Gotcha Day – One Year Later from kristi on Vimeo.

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Our son was recently baptized in our backyard pool by his father and our Pastor. It just doesn’t get better than that.   It was nice to have something so special (and eternal) become associated with our new home.

John 3:5

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Big Daddy and I went away to Little Palm Island to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. It was an incredible 2 nights away.  We cannot wait to go back. I think I’m still full from our first meal there…

I am officially addicted to my iPhone and all the wonderful apps. Including my latest obsession, Hipstamatic. I feel so artsy when I take pictures now! Who knew you could get such art from a camera phone?

I never learned how to french braid and now I have a soon-to-be five year old daughter with incredibly long hair so I had to take to the internet to learn how to French Braid her hair. In case you didn’t know either here is a surprisingly simple video.

Did you know there is a right and wrong way to make Cinnamon Toast? There surely is, and thankfully the Pioneer Woman spells it all out (with a twist) for us. I know what I’m making this week with the Picky Little Eaters!

Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers wrote The Public School Parents’ Guide to Homeschool Parents that I enjoyed. It really isn’t about homeschoolers looking down on non-homeschooling parents or vice versa. In a truly bizare moment I thought I had written a post titled, “What I want you to know about homeschooling” yet I cannot seem to find it. Did I dream I wrote this post? Maybe someone who reads my blog can tell me. I could have sworn I did.

I launched a new blog, www.KarinKatherine.com to act as a portal to all of my online activities, upcoming speaking engagement(s), and link to my 4 blogs. There is nothing to subscribe to on KarinKatherine.com, since it is a portal, but it is an easy way to check out what I’m doing.

Last weekend Big Daddy and I attended the Generous Giving Conference in Orlando, Florida. It was a very humbling experience since there are truly some Olympic givers out there ($350 million in one story). One of the most inspiring stories though was the one below. I don’t think there was a dry eye left in the house. Of course the very mention of the word adoption brings tears to my eyes, but the whole story is wonderful. I know I posted this before, but if you haven’t watched it, please do!

Our homeschool year is coming to a close (38 more days to go) and we’ve had a great time at Passport Academy. I love homeschooling my children. I’m so excited to start planning next year!

You can read more 7 Quick Takes here.

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The landscaping is really coming along at our new house. The funny thing is that it makes the neighbors feel like we’ll be moving in any day now…if only. Looks like another 2 months. I think this yard is going to make me look like quite the gardener. When in truth, I know nothing. I say things like, “Move that pink plant—whatever its called over here.” or “I don’t like that bush or plant or whatever it is.” I’m sure they appreciate my insightful comments. But I do have an eye for placement, or so I tell myself. Thankfully it begins with a good landscapers original vision. I’m so happy that we found someone who listened to us and really created all these little areas for our kids. We were so excited to discover our milkweed plants are filled with monarch caterpillars!

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A friend of mine has been trying to have a baby. Boy do I know how that feels. I was so worried for her and anxious. I wanted to ask, but I knew not to ask. It felt like my own clock was ticking, but Big Daddy assures me it is not. Whatever. Anyway, she is pregnant! I am over the moon with joy and I’m thinking that buys Big Daddy a good 6 months before I start craving another child to homeschool! Oh, and I think her taking a picture of her pregnancy test was a way better idea than mine of including the test IN by baby album. I know, I’m dumb. I blame it on the fertility drugs, hormones, and temporary insanity.

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I received my Constructive Playthings catalog this week. Why does my heart skip a beat with the arrival of a catalog? I loved getting into bed with my sharpie marker in hand and circling to my hearts content. I have passed that trait onto my children. I think that is hillarious. Big Daddy, not so much.

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I saw this ring and thought it would make a great 10th wedding anniversary ring (plus birthday, christmas, valentines day etc.). I also thought it would be great if Big Daddy and I renewed our wedding vows…at our new house next year and I wore my original wedding dress. I can still fit in it, (4 kids later) thank-you very much and I really loved that dress. I have never felt so beautiful or happy in my whole life. I mean the birth of my kids was happy but I sure didn’t feel beautiful afterwards, know what I mean? Anyway, it seems like a shame to just wear a dress once, don’t you think?

If you want to read more 7 Quick Takes, hop on over to the Conversion Diaries and link up if you want to join in.