Life can get busy

It is amazing how life can become so busy, so fast.

In June we found out that we were going to be parents again. (adoptive parents)
We made our trip to California and brought home our Joy! She will be 13 weeks old this coming Friday and time just seems to slip by so fast.

Joy is doing great. She is growing and interacting more each day. We are trying hard to complete all of the adoption requirements so that we can be sure to finalize in the December time frame.

Hopefully with a long Holiday weekend coming up we can post some backfilled blog entries to catch back up.

Los Angeles Temple

For today's journey we drove to the Los Angeles Temple. Talk about an experience of contrasts! We drove through N. Western Rd and Sunset Blvd to Santa Monica to get to the temple. We passed through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to get here. Everything is crowded and loud. There are people and billboards everywhere! And then you pull into the temple grounds.............and peace. It's so wonderful. It's beautiful, calm, and tranquil. There are hymns softly playing from speakers in the landscaping. It was heaven in the midst of this telestial world. What a wonderful blessing to be able to go.

We would have gone inside, but yours truly left her recommend at home - argh! Oh well, walking around was so restorative to my soul.

Outside the visitor's center is a display called "Tribute to Women." (something like that, I can't remember exactly) It is great! We have pictures below.

Driving back to the hotel (11 miles) took an hour and a half at 7 o'clock at night! whew!

I am so grateful for temples - little patches of heaven on Earth!



The LA Temple - it's huge!


Us!


A cool tree, we have loved the trees here in LA


The family - notice the FIVE children :)


Eternal Courtship


A Mother playing with her children


Seek Learning


The Compassionate Woman


Talents


This one was about teaching


Grandmother and charity


Walking in the foot step of her mother
(Reminded me of my family right now)



Virtuous Woman


Praying Woman
(something I've been doing a lot of lately!)


Emma and Joseph and the organization
of the Relief Society


First Steps


Preparing Her Son

Exciting News!

The reason we are in California is to adopt a sweet baby.
Abigail Lili Joy Turpin was born on June 1, 2007 in California.
We got a call about her last Wednesday. Yesterday, one week later, we signed all the papers to make her ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is still in the NICU learning to eat, then we will bring her home to our family and friends waiting in Houston.
Everyone has been so supportive and kind - we are so grateful!
Here is Miss Joy:



While we have been gone, the girls have been in Theater Boot Camp run by Cyndi and Jeremy Selim. This is a short that they created yesterday.
We love it! Oscars for everyone!

Los Angeles Arboritum

We got to go to the LA Arboritum today and had fun looking at the beautiful gardens.

Our feet are killing us after walking so much.

Here are lots of pictures of the plants and peacocks!

California

We have been in California for a couple of days and saw Malibu Beach.

A Movie and Ice Cream

Sammi and I went to see the movie "Meet the Robinsons" on Tuesday night.

We had a lot of fun watching the movie in 3-D and went to Baskin Robin's after the movie was over.

The Nina

We went to see the Nina, a full size replica of the ship Christopher Columbus used to come to America.


We were amazed at how small this boat was. They traveled for 33 days with 27 people and horses, other animals, plants and food enough for a years journey.

Jason Birthday

Birthday time again. We went to my parents and had cake and let the kids go swimming.

Bowling

We had a coupon for free bowling for up to 10 people. We invited the Balls to come and bowl with us. We had to pay for shoes which was as expensive as taking everyone out for a movie. Everyone had a lot of fun and Sammi had the 3rd best score. We also learned that Debbie used to be in a bowling league. (I guess that is why she won by sooooo much!)