ich bin hundemüde

I can't even believe it is now June 22nd. Where has the time gone? I don't know about you, but I am feeling life buzzing past me at hyperspeed lately...
Lots has obviously been going on in our little world. Our Irishopian family has been busy with so much.
Let's see, here's a bullet list of what I remember since my last post 6 weeks ago.

*All 8 of my kids got their teeth cleaned.
*3 of our boys did 6 weeks of altar servers training. Only 2 decided to actually commit to doing it.
*Marin and Kieran made their 1st Holy Communion. A weepy day for me...
*I worked with a friend to hold a fundraising yard sale for my ticket $ for our medical mission trip to Ethiopia. We didn't do near as well as I'd hoped we would :(
*Finlay was awarded the outstanding Catholic youth for our area.
*We attended the senior awards dinner where Finlay was awarded some very special awards and a scholarship.
*We attended the class of 2012 Baccalaurete Mass where Finlay lectured. (Man, am I glad I always made my kids participate in our annual Public Speaking contest)
*My god daughter/neice had major surgery on her spine. She is thankfully doing well.
*Finlay graduated and won 2 special awards at the graduation. It was truly incredible! I literally gasped when they called her name the 2nd time.
*Fitsum and Besu had annual check ups where I learned that in the 18 months they have been home they have both grown 6 and 7 inches and gained 25 and 30 pounds.
*We had a small party for Finlay's graduation.
*We went to court for the in country re-adoption and had Besu's date of birth changed by 2 years.
*Fitsum and Rory were promoted from the 5th grade.
*Seamus was promoted from the 8th grade.
*My dear old dad turned 70.
*I helped take 50 kids to a 3 day youth conference. It was awesome but exhausting!
*Liz finished her year with us and moved to another family. We miss her like crazy.
*Finlay went to Germany.
*I got my first speeding ticket in 26 years. "Awesome" (said sarcastically).
*5 kids started day camp which will finish up today.

So I think I have caught all 1 or 2 of my still loyal readers up to speed :)
I head off the meet my Finlay in Germany next week so I will be sure to post some pictures once we get home. I am really looking forward to this trip. Time with my soon to be college girl is precious and I am excited to show her where I used to work many moons ago in southern Germany, before her dad and I were even engaged...

Here it is, the hotel where I lived and worked when I was 20 and 21. My room was the top left 2 windows. Yep, it was kind of like an attic but the views were magnificent! Most days you could see the alps off to the right and we watched the ferries come in from Austria everyday. The Swiss border was a 10 minute walk away and being young, incredibly naive and stupid, my friends and I would hitch hike throughout the European countryside whenever we had a few days off. Thank God, we always met truly kind and gracious people who would put us up and take care of us. It was a wonderful experience, though not one that Finlay is allowed to repeat!




I hope you are all having a safe, cool and blessed summer dear readers. God bless you all wherever you may be. And no hitch hiking please!