Staples Family Adoption Fund

Well, it is official. Mike and I are starting the adoption process and have selected our the adoption agency we are going to use. We will be going through Amazing Grace adoptions located in Raleigh, NC. They were economically priced and we liked the fact that they are located locally so we wouldn't have to travel long distances for educational courses.

The minimum we would probably expect to pay for an adoption is around $15,000 upto $20,000 based on the information provided. We have decided to start the process even though we do not have the required funds and are trusting that God will provide us with the ways and means in which to pay for the adoption. In the meantime, I've applied for a part-time job to help pay for misc. expenses related to the adoption process.

We are planning on creating a cookbook and other items for sale through Lulu.com but have also set up a "widget" to accept donations towards our adoption fund. If you would be interested in the cookbook, photos or just donating in general, we would love to hear from you. To make a dontion, here is our widget...





Our goal is to raise approx. $10,000 towards our adoption fund in the hopes that it will cover at least 50% to 75% of our adoption fees. We would also like to thank all our friends and family that decide to donate towards our adoption fund!

God Bless,

Pam & Mike

Celebrating our 3rd Anniversary... Trip to the Outer Banks!

Outer Banks

For our 3rd Wedding Anniversary, Mike planned a short trip to the Outer Banks. We stayed at a wonderful Bed & Breakfast called the "White Doe." Staying at a B&B is quickly becoming an annual tradition for celebrating our Anniversary! I love staying at the B&B, relaxing and enjoying the surroundings to be explored.

We arrived on the Outer Banks ("OBX") Saturday afternoon which is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from home. The first stop was at the Visitor Center just as you cross over onto Roanoke Island. The gentleman working at the Visitor Center definitely helped us plan what we wanted to do for the weekend. After leaving the Visitor Center we stopped for lunch then made our way towards our first tourist stop of the weekend.

Our first stop was Currituck Beach Lighthouse on the very northern part of OBX north of the town of Duck. Currituck Beach Lighthouse is one of the few lighthouses that you can climb. Mike and I enjoyed the climb to the top. The lighthouse is red brick without any paint on the outside. The view from the top was beautiful if not extremely windy! The photo on the left shows the lighthouse keepers home and in the background is Currituck Sound.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse Photos

Below are the stairs that we took to make our way up to the top of the lighthouse. As you get to the top they become more narrow. The center photo is Mike at the top of Currituck Beach Lighthouse. It was a cool, windy day! The last photo on the right is of me at the top of Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Have to love the blowing hair! It was definitely challenging taking photographs at the top of the lighthouse with the blowing wind.

The White Doe Bed & Breakfast

After an enjoyable trip to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, it was time for us to find our Bed & Breakfast and get registered for the weekend. Mike managed to keep the B&B name and location a secret from me up until the day of our departure. The B&B was located in Manteo (pronounced Meh-nay-o. The "T" is silent) on Roanoke Island. This is the website for the White Doe Inn: http://www.whitedoeinn.com/. It was a very quaint and friendly! We stayed in the Roanoak room.

Each morning, breakfast was served in the formal dinning room or out on the outdoor terrace if the weather was nice. Breakfast was a wonderful time to meet the other guests and chat while enjoying a 4 course breakfast. The "4 course" breakfast consisted of (1) fresh fruit, (2) Grits (we passed!), (3) Main Course, (4) Dessert! Our 1st morning found the fresh fruit to be wonderful and dessert was superb with it being an Orange Swirl Cheesecake . On our 2nd morning, the fresh fruit far exceeded the 1st day and the main course was outstanding stuffed french toast and dessert was also a nice Key Lime Tart.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

For our second day of adventures, we took the southern route to visit the lighthouses located along the southern point of the OBX! We decided our first stop for the day would be the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse since it was the other lighthouse that we could climb. The weather for Sunday called for cold, wet, windy and possibly stormy day. We knew we needed to do Cape Hatteras as soon as possible.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is one of the MOST viewed lighthouses in all of the USA and is extremely well known around the world for its distinctive black and white spiral stripes painted on the exterior as well as being the international symbol of the North Carolina coast. It is known as "America's Lighthouse." The brick beacon is the tallest standing lighthouse at 208-feet high and was built in 1870. In the background, note the nasty dark clouds heading inland off the ocean side of OBX. Those clouds were bringing in the wet, windy and stormy weather.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Photos

Ocracoke Island & Lighthouse

After leaving Cape Hatteras Light Station, we continued our drive south. We were hoping to take the 40 minute ferry across to Ocracoke Island. Our original plan was to stop for a quick lunch however our "lunch stop" was anything but quick with us being at the restaurant nearly 2 hours. By the time we were done it was just after 2pm. We were uncertain whether or not we would make the ferry and assumed the ferries ran only on the hour. Regardless, we decided to drive down to the ferry landing and see if we could get the ferry across to Ocracoke Island. To our surprise, the ferry ran every 30 minutes and we were in time for the 2:30 pm ferry crossing. The ferry was a quick 40 minute trip! In no time, we were on Ocracoke island. We just drove the car right onto the ferry where directed by the ferry operators then turned it off and set the parking break!

Once we were on Ocracoke Island, we drove to the small fishing village of Ocracoke to see the lighthouse. Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest, operating lighthouse in North Carolina. It is a quaint, small white lighthouse standing at 75 feet tall and was commissioned to be built in 1822. In 1868, the lighthouse was cemented and whitewashed giving it the appearance it has today. The light shines 14 miles over the ocean.

The Beach!

Ok... So what is a trip to the coast without at least a few stops at the beach? Not a complete trip! Of course we had to "enjoy" the beach! Needless to say, the beach was not a very welcoming environment this weekend visiting OBX... With the stormy weather, it was cold, wet and very windy on the beach. There was also LOTS of blowing sand. We did have the beach all to ourselves with not a sole to be seen for miles!

What I enjoyed the most about the OBX beaches is that there were wide expanses without any development... No HOUSES, NO HOTELS, NO BUSINESSES! Even with the yucky weather, the beaches were beautiful.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

On our last day in OBX, we stopped at our last lighthouse that we had yet to visit called the Bodie Island Lighthouse located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The lighthouse isn't open for climbing but it is in a beautiful setting set along the coast towards the sound side of the island. The day started out beautiful and partly cloudy yet still windy!

I think the Bodie Island Lighthouse is probably one of my favorites especially since it was less commercialized with a nice walking and nature trail provided. Admittedly, the blue sky may have helped!

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Finally, we had to make a quick stop to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. There really wasn't enough time to do everything and completely take in the whole memorial. The Memorial is a wonderful tribute to the first days of motorized flight. It was cool to see the location of the 1st four flights that the brothers took and where they landed in relationship to each flight from the point where they "took off." The first 3 flights didn't go far yet they were a major accomplishment. The 4th flight was over 300 yards and just under one minute in flight!

Mike and I had a wonderful time on the OBX. We look forward to many more future trips to the area to explore, enjoy the beach and new adventures!

Pam

OBX!

We had a great time on the Outer Banks even though the weather was cold, very WINDY and a bit wet! We saw all but one lighthouse and also stopped at the Wright Brothers Memorial...

The B&B, the White Doe Inn, was wonderful and we enjoyed our stay.

Photo's to be posted shortly.

Pam

Our Home... Progress! A little homesick :(

Well, we've been in our new home for just a little more than a month. We made great progress initially with the unpacking but now it has slowed down as we get to the last boxes and try to figure out where to put those odds and ends.

We've also had confirmation that our new family room sofa and chairs should be delivered in approx. 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. It will be wonderful to have a sofa again so Mike and I can cuddle together. I also look forward to having the family room put together so I can move forward with the painting plans.

I deny being homesick but in the back of my mind, I miss going out to eat with my parents periodically or my friends. Barb... I miss our monthly trips to Sawatdee!!! Oh, do I miss good Thai food!

Part of the problem, is that I feel lonely for friendship here. I've been meeting neighbors but there are no established friendships yet. There is my neighbor, Elizabeth, that just moved in last week that I do look forward to getting to know better. She seems to be very sweet and friendly. Tomorrow night I think is BUNCO night for the neighborhood ladies, but I have to talk to another neighbor to confirm. In the meantime, I'm desperate to make friendships. I've been a little dissapointed with C3 in the lack of outreach to new members or attendees. I think I might have to wear a big sign on my back (or at least put the sign on the truck!) that reads...

HELP! DESPERATE for FEMALE Friends...

Love to Scrapbook... Talk to ME!

Love Bible Study... Talk to ME!

Love Thai or Asian food... Talk to ME!

Signing off...

Pam

Outerbanks this weekend!

Well, this weekend is our Anniversary trip to the Outerbanks. Mike has managed to keep the location of our Bed & Breakfast a secret other than I know it is on Roanoke Island. We are looking forward to the weekend get-away. Mike has also taken off Monday, so we are staying over Saturday and Sunday evening at the B&B.

There are no specific plans other than to enjoy the beach, visit some of the lighthouses and other sights to be seen. My hope and prayer is that this will be a relaxing weekend for Mike and I to regenerate and refocus our marriage on each other as well as our future.

Photos to follow!

Our 3rd Anniversary!

Overall, we had an enjoyable 3rd Anniversary on Wed. May 7th... Lunch out at the Texas Steakhouse in Selma then dinner at a quaint Irish Pub in Clayton. We went to church and heard a wonderful message from Stovall Weems, Senior Pastor at Celebration Church in Florida. The past 3 years have been hard on us as we've journeyed through infertility treatments and my Cancer.

Yet, we've been blessed with our move to NC and finding a beautiful home. We also have each other for support. It hasn't been easy but we are making strides each day.

I'm thankful for Mike's love, our pets and new home as well as our families.

Pam

Meeting Neighbors...

Tonight we went for another walk. Mike and I are enjoying our evening walks around the neighbor. We are slowly starting to meet neighbors. Gabriel is also enjoying the walks and meeting people.

This evening we actually enjoyed a long conversation with some neighbors that were working on some landscaping around their home. Of course, I can't remember her name but her husband is another "Mike!" We enjoyed a long conversation. Another neighbor, Alec, is a huge Colorado fan especially of the Avalanche and Bronco's. I think we will make plans to get together in the fall when the Bronco's play the Patriots on Monday Night football. Alec's wife is from Massachussett's!

Signing off... Pam

Father-in-law: Doing well after surgery!

Well, we heard from Mike's dad tonight and he is doing well after having surgery to implant a pacemaker & heart defribulator. He is at home resting and icing his chest to help reduce the swelling.

We were glad to hear that everything went well with the surgery and now he is recovering. Hopefully he will be able to start returning to work full-time after the 14th of May.

It really is wonderful to hear his voice and now he is doing well. Our prayers were with him and Betty. We will also continue to pray for them over the upcoming days and months that his recovery would go well.

New house photos on the way... Keep watching!

OK... Several people have asked for more photos of our new home as it comes together from all the unpacking. Well, I'm still unpacking and the house is coming together. We are just waiting for our family room furniture to arrive.

I'll try to post photos soon.

Pam

A New Day...

Wow, I feel good today! Last night Mike and I went to C3 for the celebration of the end of the 10 day Daniel Fast that the church was doing. Mike and I didn't do the Daniel Fast for several reasons but we did make a commitment to start working out and to loose weight with the 10 days being the start of getting back to a healthier lifestyle.

Since the start of IVF this time last year and through a total of 3 IVF Cycles, I had gained 40 lbs. I've hated every pound that I've gained especially after I had worked so hard to loose 65 lbs. back in 2006! I was determined not to gain back any more weight but loose those 40 lbs. with the intent to loose even more!

Now, you may wonder what our weight loss goals have to do with going to C3 last night...

It has a lot to do with having a new outlook for today, tomorrow and our future. I've realized how selfish I had been for some time. It was so easy to get caught up with the IVF cycles and focus on myself because that is what IVF is all about! IVF is about achieving our desire for a child through the latest medical treatments. Now, don't get me wrong, WE had to do the IVF and truly felt that is the path God was leading us down. Throughout the procedures, I learned a lot about myself, my husband and our marriage. Then there was the move to North Carolina. I've really missed Evergreen Community Church and our friends to the point that I had started to get frustrated that I couldn't find a church just like Evergreen. I know this was the wrong thinking and that every church is different and do not have the same strengths.

The first time I visited C3 I was SOOO excited and ready to join immediately. I loved the worship and, in my case, the first individual I heard speak was the youth Minister. His message was refreshing and on point. It wasn't until my 4th time at C3 that I finally heard Matt Fry, the Senior Pastor, speak. WOW! He is so dynamic and engaging with a strong biblical approach. However, something was holding me back. I was scared and uncertain of myself. My focus was on MY needs, MY desires for a specific type and style of Church and MY wants.

God touched my heart last night reminding me that the church isn't necessarily all about MY needs, wants and desires but about serving HIS needs, wants and desires. Mike has been ready to become a member of C3 since we attended the membership class whereas I was holding back. I'm disappointed that there isn't a more defined Men's and Women's Ministries but I need to get established in a Church, start meeting people and reaching out to share the Gospel by serving in a Church here in North Carolina.

C3 isn't perfect, but no church will ever be perfect. Even Evergreen wasn't perfect. What makes it as close to perfect as possible is that the church is God focused and biblical based! It isn't about us but about God. C3 is our opportunity to get connected, meet new people, serve and reach out to our new community.

So... Through the 10 days of fasting, I've recommitted to a healthier lifestyle, loosing weight and joining a new church.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ~ 1 John 4:7

Pam