Yes...I am still alive

Okay! I have not been great at updating the blog in the last two and a half months, but at the orders of my friend Kristen (Hey, girl!! I am updating!!), I am going to try to play catch-up! Here goes! Here are random things that have happened since I last blogged!!

• School started back here and I have been busy planning preview events, which limits blogging time. I now have a minor break before the next one!
• It is actually kinda fall-ish here! Wish it would come all the way!
• I got a new car...well, new to me! I kept my old one, but I got a red VW convertible Beetle with a tan top and tan interior! It is too cute! I have always wanted one and it took me 30 years, but I got it! We love it!
• My hubby also got his dream lawnmower! He is so excited and very deserving of it!
• We paid EVERYTHING off...except the house, but that is a tax write-off, so we are alright with that! We had paid everything off except my hubby's new truck in February, but now we owe on nothing!! We are now able to put money back in savings to pay for the adoption that might happen in 2-16 years!
• We had our fingerprints taken by the USCIS (immigration) on September 9 for the adoption! We are now waiting on approval, which we were originally told would be 4-6 weeks. Now we have been told that approval is taking an average of 83 days, which puts us at the beginning of December for approval. That means that instead of being LID (logged-in or in line) in China by the end of October, it looks like it might be the end of the year....or later!! Boo!!
• I out shot my husband on the gun range by 6 points! And I only started shooting two days before and he has been shooting all his life. He is probably not going to be excited for me publishing this, but I ROCK!! I have bragging rights for awhile!
• I have been in book mode....reading anything that I can! I love to read, but I have spurts on when I can do it and I guess that I am in one now. Just finished "Fireproof", which I would recommend the book and the movie and I started the "Love Dare", which I also recommend. I am also currently reading, "The Shack", which has been highly recommended to me, but I have not been able to make it through it yet. I have about five other books in waiting for me to read!
• I have most of my Christmas gifts planned out for the family. I think that I have made great choices this year and that they will be appreciated. I have not purchased anything yet, but I have plans!!
• I have been to the deer lease with my hubby three times this year. That is a record. I am trying to learn to do more things that he enjoys to do...plus, if I do not go with him, I may not ever see him! :)
• I am planning a project to do for our extended family at the orphanage in China. One of our team members gave me the idea to make fleece scarves for the kids for Christmas so I am going to start that soon!!
• I am in love with the new 3G iPhone. I usually do not buy into the hype, but I am on the verge of purchasing it! It is just so cool!!
• We bought Rosetta Stone to start learning Chinese for our next trip. I have only done about 15 minutes of it and need to start doing it more often, but it is going to be hard!! I am excited about it though!!
• I am ready to start new home repair projects around the house, but we have been so busy that I have not been able to start. I told my hubby, no more plans for weekends for the rest of the year! We will see how that goes!
• I have other things going on, but those are better left for another post! I will try not to wait as long before I post again, but this should catch you all up on us! :)