This is who we almost came home with...

This is Jessie. She is a German Shepherd Mix (probably with Desert Dog - a dog know locally here in large numbers). I saw her picture in a post about dogs who needed a home - her picture was so sweet and I called up Dan to say that we needed to go look at her.

I think he thought I was insane - he's normally the one who says crazy things like that! Our agreement after Truffie/Parker died was that we wouldn't get a dog until all kids were potty trained...which was a few months before we moved to Thailand. We contemplated it a bit while in Thailand but kept coming back to the fact that, for us, it's just not a great idea to have a dog overseas. The expense, flights home and to wherever we're are going, finding food and vet care, plus leaving them for whatever time we're back in the States for R&R. We keep saying that whenever we end up back in the States that we can get a dog then...but I read "Because of Winn Dixie" and then had Jack read it (Megan already had read it) and we watched the movie as a family...and went out to meet her. (We must have said a million times "This doesn't mean we're going to get her, just that we want to go meet her. She might not be right for our family.")

She is really very sweet, but must have been abused, because she was so timid and shy. We got to have her outside in an enclosed area for a bit, then in an office. She wouldn't come near us. The kids were being so good and sweet and quiet and patient, but if we walked up to her, she would flop over on her back in submission or cower. After waiting for a while in the room to see if she would come to us willingly, she just wouldn't. We tried taking her on a walk, but she just wouldn't walk. Dan finally had to pick her up and carry her back. We felt bad, but really feel like it's the best decision for us. She will be a great dog for another family or a couple - but not for us. The ladies at the shelter kept saying how these dogs just blossom when they are with a family for a couple of weeks....But Dan and I kept thinking that maybe she would be great and just need love and exercise to come out of her shell...but maybe her submission would turn into nervousness and having a German Shepherd snap at us or the kids would not be ideal. So, we went home empty handed. It was great being there though...and the kids loved playing with the puppies in the enclosure :)

Random scruffy puppy that Dan liked :)

Megan

Jack

Kylie

Final Performance

The final night performance was wonderful! Lots of friends came out to support Megan and we are so very thankful for them coming!!! We had our friends Karen, Ava and Jonah, our friends Mat, Jill and Elizabeth and our friends Amber and Myriah! We loved getting to see Megan perform and she did a SUPER job! She had a Cast Party after the play - and stayed at school until 9pm that night with snacks, drinks and watching a copy of their play! So fun!!!

Fun Rainbow Swirl cupcakes I made for the Cast Party! They were soooo pretty, but the coloring ran out after maybe 6 or 7 cupcakes.

Before the play started, Jack played our iPad - with all of his buddies swarming around :) They were too cute!

And Kylie played our iPod - watching a kid's show with Jonah and Ava!

Our family with our STAR!!!

Megan with our little friends, Myriah and Elizabeth! They were both too cute - and I think it was the first play for both of them!

Megan and Ava

Opening Night!

Wednesday night was Opening Night of the Jungle Book! It was wonderful and Megan did a great job!!! We loved seeing her and being there to celebrate with her! We brought her flowers to give her after her performance - which she loved!

The Programs for the production were adorable - with 2 pictures of Megan in it and her bio which stated:

Megan (Queen Louise) - Megan has performed in choir at her old school, but this is her first production here. Her favorite subjects in school are art, drama and reading. Outside of school, she collects shells. In the future, she wants to become a teacher or a singer. Megan would like to thank her parents, Kristen and Dan, for supporting her.

It almost made me cry...then we teased her about her "collecting shells". She said she thought they meant what do you do occasionally - not all the time :) It was great night! (And her make-up freaked us out! If we didn't know it was our daughter, we wouldn't have recognized her!!!) There was a professional photographer there who took pictures that we'll get in another week or 2 - so these are just "bonus" photos I took last night!

Chillin while we had a picnic dinner :) We dropped off Megan to get her make-up done and then ate some yummy turkey sandwiches made by the big kids and roasted potatoes made by me - and juice boxes! Then we played 7 rounds of Charades until it was almost time to head over to the play...

Waiting for the play to start!

The Cast at the end

Megan and Brigitte

Moopert and Daddy

Satya as Bagheera the Panther and Megan

Me and my Monkey Queen

The kiddos all together

Jack and his buddy Aaron

Kiddos and Joanna

Megan and her favorite teacher, Ms. Ladner - her art teacher! It was so nice of her to come! I had to get a picture of them together...Megan did a sculpting class last semester after school with her and chose to do another one this semester! Yay for great teachers!

Valentine's Night

Dinner out at PF Chang's :) Crispy Green Beans, Kung Pao Chicken for Dan, Moo Shu Chicken that Megan and I split, kid's Chicken Lo Mein for Jack and kid's Chicken Fried Rice for Kylie...and everyone happy :) Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Morning

Valentine's awaiting us at the breakfast table!

Heart shaped pancakes for breakfast!

My kiddos eating their heart shaped pancakes...and they have turkey sandwiches that I cut out a heart in the middle of for their lunches!

Inside of the Valentine's Invitation waiting on the kitchen table for each of us from Dan :)
We're excited for dinner out tonight - we all RSVP'd!

Grand Mosque Tour

Jolee and I at the Grand Mosque in traditional Abaya (long covering) and Hijab (head scarf)

I went with a friend and her parents who are visiting here in Kuwait to the Grand Mosque today! It was a great tour - complete with the 3 of us ladies in an abaya and hijab - which they generously allow us to borrow so that we would be covered for the tour! It was interesting - Zach and Julie toured the Grand Mosque when they were here in December and had a lady who was from the UK who had converted to Islam who was their tour guide. They spoke mostly about how interested they were in her life story. Our tour guide was a very nice Kuwaiti lady who gave us the tour. I felt like it wasn't so much about Islam, but more about the architecture of the Mosque - when it was built, where the different parts were from (Italian chandeliers, German Chandeliers, Moroccan Woodwork, Turkish tiles, famous calligraphy...so very beautiful! I loved that the colors for this Grand Mosque (which, aperantly can be any color they choose - no traditional colors) are blue for the Gulf and beige for the desert! Just amazing, intricate details - stars, hexagons, etc. Just so beautiful!

Fast Facts about the Mosque:
-Commissioned in 1978
-Completed in 1986
-Can hold 150,000 worshippers
-Woman's Prayer Room can hold 900
-Men's Prayer Hall can hold 10,000
-Outside courtyard has water misters to keep it cool during the summer months
-Outside courtyard looks like marble tiles, but with a gap in between each one for water to drain
-No use of pictures to depict people or animals in Islam (because prior to the Prophet, people worshipped Idols and the Prophet said no more - so only geometric designs and calligraphy are used).

-Blue and Beige colors

Beautiful calligraphy done!

Beautiful chandelier outside

Me in the abaya and hijab in front of the Mosque with the Dome and Minaret in the back

Jolee, her parents and Me

Waffle-like door design

Intricate lattice work

I love the stars!

Beautiful ceiling work!

Amazing tiles on the wall

Numbered shoe holders so you don't forget where you put your shoes!

Just amazing!

Beautiful ceiling!

Jolee and I at the end

Matt and Tricia's Adoption Fundraiser

Okay, so remember our good friends Matt and Tricia who played countless hours of Settlers of Catan with us our first year in Thailand? And loved our children? And taught at GES in Thailand? And who we visited in Charleston, SC this year? Well, they are hoping to adopt a sweet little one at some point and are doing a giveaway for a fundraiser to raise the money needed to bring a little one into their home and family! We adore them and are so thankful for their friendship and the way they always loved our kids - they will make AMAZING parents one day and if you want to help them reach their goal, here's how:

How do you enter?
You can enter the giveaway by either donating towards our adoption or sharing about this Giveaway. Entry for the Giveaway will close at 5pm (EST) on Monday, February 13th. Winner will be announced at 8:30pm (EST) on the same day.

Details:

• $10 donation = 2 entries
• $25 donation = 5 entries (so $50 would be 10 entries, etc.)
  ($100 donation is 25 entries.)
• Email your contacts. = 1 entry per person emailed. (Copy us flaglersadopt(at)gmail).
• "Share" the Giveaway (Photo or link) on your Facebook wall = 1 entry (Must use Facebook "Share" option so it can be tracked. ) (Limit one per person, per day.)
• Comment on this blog. = 1 entry
• Blog about the Giveaway = 7 entries (Make sure we see this by emailing link or commenting below with link.)

How do you donate?

• Donate with credit/debit card through our "WePay" page. (You can also click the "Donate" button on the right of our blog.) Please make sure we have your contact info and reference the Portrait Session Giveaway.
• You can give by cash or check to us in person. (This saves us the website admin fee.)
• You can mail us a check. (Contact us for mailing address.)

Who can enter?

• Anyone can enter. Enter if you have a heart for orphans or adoption. Enter if you love Valerie's photography. Enter if you love the Flaglers. Enter if you just like entering giveaways and like having a chance to win something! :)
• We understand not everyone is able to give financially, so you also have an option to win by just sharing about this Giveaway!
• It would be best if you live in the Charleston area, but Valerie Schooling travels often across the US and even internationally. You do not have to live in Charleston to win her mini-session, but you will need to work out with Valerie when she will be in your area and if there are any additional travel costs.
  

How do you win?

• Each entry will be assigned a number. We will contact you with these numbers once the donation has been processed. With Facebook/blog posts, we will assign numbers every couple of days. Contact flaglersadopt(at)gmail with any questions.
• At the end of the Giveaway (5pm EST February 13th), we will use a random number generating website to choose the winning number.
• We will announce the winner on this blog and also personally contact them (provided we have contact information) at approximately 8:30 pm on February 13th.
• Winners should contact Valerie Schooling Photography by the end of February to work out details for the mini-portrait session.

Questions? Contact flaglersadopt(at)gmail. We are SO thankful for your participation in our adoption journey. Thanks so much to the many who are walking with us on the road to give a special child a loving home! ~Matt & Tricia