Facebook is my new best friend!

Y'all.

I love facebook. You know, on the internet where you can keep a list of friends and see what they are up to everyday.

It is so EASY to upload photos on facebook--much easier and faster than on the blog. I want to invite you all to become part of facebook. It is SO EASY in comparison to blogging. I will continue to update my blog weekly but daily, it will be facebook from now on...

My name on facebook is Cindy Taylor Oakley. Go to www.facebook.com, join, find me, and we are on our way.

IT'S SNOWING Y'ALL !

Emy LOVES the snow
Luke is not as sure of it. But he likes to get hit by snowballs.

Emy running from Daddy.

These are Luke's hand-me-down pink Dora boots (the only somewhat waterproof ones we have in his size) :o)

My angel, making a snow angel.

Yep, the scarf is pink too--sorry Luke.

Luke was sooooooo COLD

Sweet smiling girl

And my sweet boy too

Eskimo?

Ditto

Swinging in the snow.

And getting very wet bottoms

Mommy got in on the snowball action too!

And snow for the Sandhills of NC--THAT is a BIG DEAL!!

Luke's first snow!!

Emy's second real snow!!

We have had SO MUCH FUN!!

An adoption poem...

Every call has a beginning.
A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother’s heart.
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns…
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock..a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father..
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows praying for someone to care..
And then one morning,
On an ordinary day an orphan’s life changes...
God sends them a second chance...
Through you.--

author unknown

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY EMY--5 YEARS AGO TODAY, YOU CAME HOME!!

Today, 5 years ago, was a turning point in my life. I became a mother..and I wouldn't take nothing for this journey.....it is the best thing that has ever happened to me..

I love you Emy--to the moon and back!!

I love Luke too but today was ALL about my Emy lou!!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY EMY LOU!!
Wanted to share Emy's GOTCHA day with you guys. Here are three pages out of her scrap book. Her gotcha day is on January 10th and I will post some pictures from her SURPRISE party later!! We usually just have a very small party for Gotcha Day but it means alot to the kids...they feel very special on their Gotcha Days...I usually make a very big deal out of it. We usually just have a little cake and a little ice cream and a whole lot of fun!!

These pictures were taken at Raleigh Durham airport on January 10, 2004.

I was holding my sweet angel for the very first time..yep, Darrell has traveled twice (alone) to get my babies from India..thank you Darrell.

We were definitely ALL SMILES.

This picture was taken in India when she was right at 11 months old!!
When Emy came home she was almost 14 months old and right at 14 pounds--my very small baby girl...but boy was and is she ever feisty!!
Start to finish--Emy's adoption took 3 years to complete--we were very happy to see her come home!!

We had a great time tonight--we had a small party with close friends and family for Emy's Gotcha Day!!

Hope you enjoy the pics.

Have a blessed night and Sunday!!

Cindy

Please pray for Luke!

My little man has pneumonia and we are doing antibiotics, Prednisone and Albuterol breathing treatments. Please pray that he feels better soon!!

UPDATE (Wed AM)--As of 2:30 this morning (wed) Luke was only running VERY LOW GRADE fever. I hear very little wheezes (if any)now and he slept until then--YAY LUKE!!

Thanks so much for your prayers.

Lots of pictures--ENJOY

Daddy gave Luke bunny ears!!

Sleeping soundly
Haylei & Emy

Haylei's brother, Cole, & Luke

He always says "say CHEESE"

Emy served me this GIANT "happy meal" from her kitchen.

Their play house--Dad did a great job--it's almost finished.

My daredevil.

More playhouse

Angie & Papa

Megan & Emy

Ma, Pa and the grands

Josh & Cristian

Darrell, his sisters and his dad, "Papa Martin"

Whitney was in the Christmas Play--just a day or two after tonsillectomy surgery--WOW Whitney--GREAT JOB.

Haylei (as a shepherd)

Carrie & Becca (they directed our play this year)--GREAT JOB ladies.

Olivia was "Mary"

These were the kids in their PJ's (for the play of course). the setting was a bed room in the house.

Emy "made" me a snow flake for Christmas--I LOVED IT!!

Emy POSING for the camera

Daddy and kids horsing around at Papa Martin's house.

Emy and her two favorite people at Papa Martin's (Amanda & Kelsey).Both of these young ladies are expectant mothers--CONGRATS y'all.

In the cabinet.

Luke's first present EVER--he learned really FAST what to do and how to do it. HA!

My favorite picture OF ALL TIME!

Emy makes a beautiful ANGEL, doesn't she?

Luke was a "not so happy" rooster in his play.

There's my smiling rooster (above y'all saw the fighting rooster).

HOPE y'all enjoyed these as much as I enjoyed taking them!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!