Cindy and Greg

Hello, we’re Cindy, Greg, and Summer.

Greg and I were blessed with Summer through adoption, and it’s been quite a crazy few months as we settle into our new life as a family. By trial and error, we’re creating a lifestyle that perfectly suits all of us, not only as a family, but also as individuals.

So far, we’ve learned… we want a home that is warm and welcoming, a safe haven sans the clutter;  fewer distractions allow us to focus on what’s really important; and a flexible routine, consistent and honest communication, and a sense of humor all work together to produce a harmonious atmosphere that benefits us all.

Our goals are to:

• keep our lives uncomplicated and focused
• nurture our bodies, our minds, and our spirits
• cherish our relationships and be good stewards of our community
• learn practical life skills while enjoying some of life’s little pleasures
• make smart financial decisions (adopting a teenager makes you rethink your finances QUICKLY)
• enjoy peace in a chaotic world (again it’s that whole adoption thing :0)

About us:

Greg works in his dream field of global IT services; he travels between our home in Virginia, Ohio, California, London, Melbourne, and occasionally ‘the girls’ accompany him… a wonderful perk of the job :0) He loves gadgets of all kinds, cooking especially Italian, and music (he plays the saxophone).

Cindy is a work at home mom. After 19 years in the mortgage/real estate field, in 2008, she created a small business that offers services to real estate agents including virtual assistance, referrals, home staging, and pet sitting (yeah, I said pet sitting, but more on that later). She loves her work and is thankful for having found her niche in the business world. She loves decorating/organizing, reading, baking, and history.

Summer is a junior in high school, is a creative cook & a budding writer (she’s creating her own blog!).  She dislikes taking gym class, and hopes to go to college, perhaps to Dad’s alma mater, Indiana University (Hail to Old IU!).

She is the light of our life and our reason for starting this blog. We wanted a space to share our successes and useful tips/advise, be encouraged when we face difficulties, and hopefully find kindred spirits who have experienced the joys and the challenges of adopting an older child.

Together, Greg and I enjoy traveling, photography, theatre and concerts, and cooking. We admit to loving a good massage and to visiting spas when we get the opportunity (two of those little pleasures noted earlier). We also love our family ‘fur-kids’: Murphy, a bossy but lovable Bernese Mountain Dog, Tucker, a timid but friendly German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix, and Zanzibar, a hefty ‘cuddler of a Tabby cat.

Our hope is that you find inspiration, encouragement, helpful tips, and perhaps enjoy a good laugh as you read this blog. We don’t have it all together. We don’t expect you to have it all together, either. We can get there together!

Keep Smiling :0) Cindy