Gingerbread Men

The kids were not impressed with the taste of the gingerbread house. They decided that they wanted gingerbread men instead. So, we made more treats.

Best of Friends

Ice Storm

Russian Christmas Party

We were invited to a Russian community Christmas Party. It was at the Circle Cinema. The man that coordinates it had games, gifts and treats for the kids. We went with Joshua's friend, Alex. We have an annual Christmas gift exchange and night out with the boys.

We saw the movie, Father Frost. The boys really enjoyed it!

Parties Galore

We have been blessed to attend several parties this holiday season. I attended a party for the hospital. One of the doctors hosted it and it was wonderful!

Paul's work had one at a local lodge. It was beautiful. We were entertained by the Downings. They are a local group that has performed at Branson.

The kids had their parties at school. They had been out the week prior due to the weather and only went through Wednesday last week.

Resemblences

We received another letter from Joshua's birth mother. I still need to get it translated.

She was kind enough to send us a picture of the hospital that Joshua was born in plus additional pictures of herself. It looks like it is already snowing in Ukraine.

She had mentioned that Joshua reminds her of herself when she was little. I have to agree. She is definitely his mother.

She was also kind enough to send us a picture of her passport verifying that she is indeed his birth mother.

We feel so very blessed to have found her!

ICE, ICE! Everywhere Ice!

Oklahoma was hit with a record ice storm on Sunday night. What a mess!!

We did not have electricity from Sunday night to Wednesday night. We luckily had a place to go to stay warm. We stayed at the hospital for two nights. It was quite comfortable and the kids loved going to eat at the cafeteria. Seriously!

We put the dogs at the vet to be boarded since the house temp was in the 50s. BRR.....

We were able to come back home on Wednesday night, there is no place like home!!!

Paul has the fun job of cleaning up the fallen limbs. As for the fallen fence- we will hire some one for that job!

Concerts

I have wanted to take my mom to a Reba McEntire concert for some time. I just knew it would be something that she would enjoy.

Reba rarely comes to Tulsa. Even though she is from Oklahoma originally, her concerts rarely come to this state. Much to my surprise, she is coming here in Feb with Kelly Clarkson. I called my mom, and much to my surprise- she is not interested since she doesn't care for Kelly's music.

I decided to go anyway! It is going to be a great concert.

A couple of days later, I found out that my favorite Christian band, Casting Crowns, is coming one week after Reba. I called a friend and we have front row tickets!!! Awesome!

Gingerbread house

Joshua had been begging us to buy a gingerbread house kit so we finally did. They had fun decorating but were not impressed with the taste. Next up, gingerbread cookies- stay tuned.

Newest Member

We have a new member of the family. Meet Abby!

I had not planned on a new dog. The kids and I went to Petco one day and I saw a very cute and well behaved dog. The dog was with the Tulsa Humane Society. I went and applied for the dog's adoption but was turned down since they thought it was too small to be an outside dog.

I continued to check their web site and saw that they had a few Shih Tzus come in from a Puppy mill. I met Cutie- aka Abby and fell in love. She was a puppy mill mommy. She was obviously not use to humans. She has really made a lot of progress in learning to trust us. She is really sweet and cute.

Thanksgiving

We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving at Paul's mom's house. Wonderful food shared with the ones we love.

The kids enjoyed decorating Grandpa's and Grandma's tree.

Job, job and job

I am currently doing three part-time jobs. People are amazed but really they don't equal the hours of a 40 hour week job.

I work the 2 12-hour shifts during the week for the hospital. Dwindling hours at home for Dillon International and hours at the fertility center during IVF cycles.

Much to my surprise, after only three weeks, I was asked if I would be interested in working as a manager at the fertility center. I am very torn. I started working there to learn something new, not necessarily to leave my job at the hospital.

Both jobs have pros and cons. What to do?? I told my friend that I would let a fortune cookie decide my fate. Well...."Others want to get to know you better". HMMM....

I was suppose to let the center know my decision by today. Last week's meeting at the center between Office Management and the Docs to discuss the position and salary was canceled due to the ice storm. The office manager said that she was really studying the position since it will be a new position. They will hold a meeting Monday. I am starting to wonder if they are looking at different options that may not include me. Who knows. I guess if it is meant to be then it will happen.

Awesome Movie~~~

'Bella' receives critical acclaim while literally saving lives
By Michael Foust
Dec 6, 2007


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Movies often are judged on their entertainment value, but one particular low-budget film gaining steam in theaters is being judged on something else-the number of lives it has saved.

It's a bold claim, but one that "Bella"-a pro-life movie that surprised film observers by winning the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award-apparently can support.

"It's been amazing," lead actor Eduardo Verastegui told an audience in Nashville, Tenn. "We've received so many e-mails and letters from young ladies who just days before were scheduled to have an appointment to have an abortion, and after they saw 'Bella' they kept their baby."

But "Bella" is making headlines for other reasons as well. On its opening weekend Oct. 26-28, it finished second nationally in per-theater average, finishing behind the horror flick "Saw IV." "Bella" opened in 165 theaters that weekend but ia now showing in more than 450 theaters passing the $5 million gross mark, according to figures at BoxOfficeMojo.com. By comparison, another recent low-budget film, "Facing the Giants," grossed $10 million during a 17-week run.

Despite the fact it's been in theaters now for more than a month, "Bella"-rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief disturbing imagery-still ranks No. 1 among all movies on both The New York Times' reader's review poll and Yahoo user's poll. Fan reviewers at the movie Web site Fandango.com have it at No. 2.

The movie's story follows a young unwed pregnant mother, distraught over her situation. A co-worker, played by Verastegui, befriends her and helps her cope.

"Bella"'s recognition at the Toronto International Film Festival put it in the same company as "Chariots of Fire" and "Hotel Rwanda," both of which won the same award. It was made for a reported $3 million.

"This is not "King Kong" or Spiderman," Verastegui said. "It's a small-budget film-a little film with a big heart. The only way this film is 'flying' is by word of mouth."

It's also been helped along by several pro-family organizations. Focus on the Family has promoted it as has the Family Research Council and other pro-life organizations nationwide. It's even received high praise from secular reviewers who have applauded, among other things, the performances, screenplay and cinematography.

The movie impressed veteran movie producer Stephen McEveety ("Braveheart," "The Passion of The Christ") enough that after seeing it, he signed on as executive producer to help promote it.

"Bella" is the first film released by Metanoia Films, a new company formed by Verastegui and four other partners. Verastegui himself is well-known in Hispanic cultures, having starred in Spanish soap operas and even being named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in People en Espanol. But after taking the lead role in the U.S. film "Chasing Papi," Verastegui had a change of heart as to his involvement in edgy productions. Metanoia Films subsequently was formed.

"In my opinion I was poisoning our society with the projects I was involved 'with'," he said. "One day, I made a decision, made a promise to God that I would never use my talents to do anything that will offend my culture, my family. That's when I had this conviction to open a production company to produce films that will have potential not only to entertain but to make a difference."

Verastegui, one of the movie's producers, said he wanted to make films so clean he could "invite my mother or my grandmother."

"At the same time I was so passionate about promoting the gospel of life, the sanctity of life-to show in a very subtle way and a very artistic way why life is sacred, life is a gift from God," he said.

The movie certainly has filled that life-affirming role. About 18 months ago, Verastegui learned of a young man in Miami whose girlfriend was pregnant and had made an appointment to get an abortion. Verastegui talked them into cancelling the appointment, went to Miami and showed them an early version of the film. The woman decided to keep the baby and named her Bella.

"Even if 'Bella' doesn't sell one more ticket," Verastegui said, "I rejoice in the Lord for Bella and for many other babies . . . who are around because of this film."