Our Little Drummer Boy

Our Little Drummer Boy from Gina Shiflet on Vimeo.

The Reading Tree

At our house reading is one of our favorite activities.  Especially this time of year with the beautiful weather outside. Crawling up into the tallow tree at the edge of the yard the cascading limbs camouflage the silent bookworm who is engrossed in another world through his book.  Andrew is becoming a fluent reader and enjoys combining two of his loves-books and nature.  This living fort is known affectionately as the reading tree in our yard and is sought after with book in hand when chores and other duties have been completed.  Occasionally, upon ascending the tree with visions of time lost in a favorite book one finds the tree to already be inhabited and must wait with patience for another to finish.

-mom

Can you see J.Michael in the tree?

Did you call me?

Look at My New Big Boy Bed!

I'm a big boy now!

Bella at 3 Months

Bella at 2 Months

Wild Fires

We have lived in Houston now for 6+ years and in our first year we experienced Hurricane Rita.  Having moved from central Texas this was a new weather experience for our family.  So, we have become accustomed to the June-Oct hurricane preparations.  This year with the drought we are facing something new...Wild Fires.  Living in a forest with a record drought year has made the perfect conditions for wild fires in our area. 

Please pray for our friends over at Grafted the Movie who had to evacuate their home Monday because the wildfires were approaching their home.  They have not been able to return and are still awaiting news of when they may return.  We pray that the wildfires do not reach their home and for those firefighters who are working day and night to put out this raging fire. 

While we are about 20miles from the fires we have begun to see smoke on our trips to the store as the wind has changed direction.  It produces a very strange looking cloud that doesn't look like smoke from a distance.  

A Historical Memorial

This was recently passed on to me through a some friends who have also adopted from Arkhangelsk.  We were told while we were in Russia that this city and region is very friendly to Americans because of their help during World War II and we found this to be true.  Although, this story is about the British Navy convoys to Ark specifically.  The Americans were part of the Allied forces and viewed in much the same way as the British-united against Nazi Germany.
 I thought I would pass along this link not just because of our kids who were born in Arkhangelsk but, also because this part of living history is dying out.  If we do not capture these stories now we will forever lose them and forget the great heroism of the past that gives us the freedoms we enjoy today.

WWII Arctic Convoy 

Difficult, Strong and Powerful

Difficult, Strong and Powerful from Gina Shiflet on Vimeo.

An Introspection 3

It has become a tradition in our family to produce a mini-documentary every adoption anniversary (May 20th). It's amazing to see how much Andrew and Kathlena change from year to year and to see the interviews go from "alright sweetie, answer the question please" to "alright, I think that's enough (HINT HINT)" in just three years time.

This year J.Michael helped me with the filming and interviews which was interesting, to say the least. We attempted to use two cameras to capture two different angles but I think we ended up with more outtakes than actual footage. We couldn't turn both cameras on at once so there was always a delay between the turning on of camera 1 to the turning on of camera 2. Then of course, there were the times when we'd forget that one of the cameras was still recording...oops. It was also a typical hot, sultry Houston afternoon and after a while the cast and filming crew got restless as you will see but I won't spoil it. We had a good time making it and I hope you'll enjoy watching it.


So please be sure to visit our adoption blog and see AN INTROSPECTION 3

Stationery card

Many Memories Pink Birth Announcement

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