Absolutely Fabulous

Humility by Valance

2011-01-09T21:51:00.001-08:00

We’ve been living in our new digs for four months now.
The house is just perfect for us and I’m finding it to be absolutely fabulous.

I think you’ve heard me say before, that I really loved my last house. We picked it out from a model home, made a few modifications and had it built from the ground up. I got to pick out the floors, the paint, the counters, the cabinets, the molding, the hardware, all the things that make someone just love their house, love their house. My friend Christa helped me paint my living room and dining room a gorgeous Gothic Amethyst. My Monday night prayer and accountability group helped paint the girls’ bathroom a fun Startling Orange. My friend Angela painted murals on the girls’ bedroom walls. It was MY house. It was my HOME.

(prayers and painters)

Then the long story of financial better-ship and listening to God’s plan all happened and we found ourselves moving 6 miles north-east of my beloved house. It was hard to leave it and leave the girls’ beloved backyard play structure that my parents so generously and lovingly gave to us as an adoption gift. It was on this that Yolanta and Katie learned how to play at a park. Swings, slides and monkey-bars are not common in Haiti. Nonexistent in the orphanage.

We needed to move, so we did.
Oh yes, there were tears, but there was no sobbing, for I remember that all this is just

dust in the wind.
I proudly left the house, trusting God.

I’m going to skip over the part about our house selling & buying experience. It’s a fine story, but it’s not all that exciting and probably doesn’t need to be documented.

I’ll recap a few things:

-We sold our house in 5 months in an economy that is having record lows (thanks to our fab realtor George Huertas)
-We expected to downsize but ended up renting a house 100 sq feet BIGGER
-We stayed well within our new price-range that was originally showing us considerably smaller houses

Okay. You’re all caught up.
We moved in on our 16th wedding anniversary in August.

The house was built in the early 90’s and it’s pretty obvious. However, let me remind you, we are reeaaalllly lovin’ it here.
The basement is such a bonus. The homeschool room, the entertainment center for movies, Wii and Yoga, Husband’s office, the game room… it’s all in the carpeted basement where it stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There is a chandelier in my entryway. I LOVE the chandelier. For real.

(my gorgie chandelier, the double doors, the gold trimmed mirrors)

But there are gold trimmed mirrors, pink tile in the kitchen and the entire house is covered in Desert Sunrise colored carpet. And if you are a color wheel expert, you will know that this is on the brink of PINK. Yeah…growdy. There is an added-on yet funky sun-porch that I’m struggling to know what to do with. There are three gas fireplaces in the house. The one in the master bedroom is awkwardly situated and doesn’t allow for a comfortable room set up (because husband and I enjoy an entertainment center in our room).

But the prize exhibit, the piece de resistance, the tip-the-scales into barfy is the valance in the living room. It is just gauche!

(the pinky carpet and the valance. yes, those are gold tassels!)

This one day, not too long after we moved in, I had a dinner party. The guest list was 10 adults and a handful of kids. My husband and I were group leaders for the Love & Respect class being offered through our church. It was a 6 week course that met every Sunday evening. We had never met the 5 couples before the first class. So at the end of the course, we wanted to have everyone over for dinner to strengthen our friendships that had only begun 6 weeks prior. I knew much about them for we’d been discussing our marriages with each other for a month and a half! But I didn’t know everything.

While preparing to have them over, I got properly stressed over what to serve, and called my friend Sarah who’s used to cooking for big groups. Then, I started to get embarrassed about the thought of showing the carpet. Then I started to stress over something totally ridiculous. The valance in my living room! Oh, and the disgusting matching one in my dining room. They are not the easy to remove kind, they require a screw driver to get the hardware off to allow for the removal of the fabric. Nothing hard that I can’t do, but I just hadn’t done it nor considered doing it before they got there. Instead, I decided to make sure I let everyone know, THIS IS A RENTAL. No way did I pick those out! My thought process was, if I just make fun of them and ensure they were not a reflection of my personal style and taste, then everyone would forgive them and no one would look at me sideways and wonder why I’ve decided to decorate my house from 2 decades ago. I mean, SHEESH.

As the group started to arrive, I took coats, checked on my soup and offered people a drink all at the same time. While in the kitchen, I heard a small commotion. A sound that was foreign to the normal coming-in-the-door sounds. I walked around the corner and noticed that my front doors (French doors) were both open. This is unusual as we normally just open the side that has the doorknob. Other people had just gotten there and were standing in a group taking off shoes and chattering so I was having a hard time figuring out what was making all that noise and why in the world both doors were open!?

Then I saw.
A ramp had been placed from the bottom of the front porch, up the stairs and laid across the threshold.
A wheelchair bound teen boy was being wheeled up and into my house for dinner.

Now, I knew this couple and learned about the private struggles they had in their marriage. But I didn’t know they had a highschool son in a wheelchair. Thinking back to their input in the conversations, I could better understand their desperate need for ‘alone time’. I then knew what they meant when they said they were exhausted at the end of the day and didn’t often have time for their spouse. It made better sense now that they discussed schedules and transportation more than they did about their dreams for the future.

I was instantly humbled.

-Here I was fretting about the valances when this lovely couple was just simply trying to get their child out of the car and through the door.
-Here I was preparing conversation starters that would allow me to announce that I have better taste than the original homeowners, while my guests were preparing to have, yet again, the conversation about why, how, their son is forever in a wheelchair.
-Here I was worried that they’ll know my soup wasn’t homemade, that not all my dishes match and that my carpet is pink…and they were, they are, anticipating the day when Muscular Dystrophy will take over the most important muscle and stop beating life into their son’s body. This will happen very soon.

I had been proud to be an obedient daughter of God and leave my house that I loved so much, but then very quickly forgot that all of this is dust in the wind.

God, creator and owner of everything, please give me a love for people and for righteousness and a disdain for materialism and covetousness. I want to serve you with an undivided heart that cannot be swayed by the material things of this world. Amen.

I know it’s okay to decorate our houses in a way that makes us happy and to spend money on things that make us pretty. But it’s another to have a lopsided focus on the important things in life and instead worry about what other people think of me and my home. Do I have my eyes on Jesus? Am I honoring my husband? Am I raising my children to love God? Those are the most important things in my life.
It’s okay for me to find the decorations in this house to be ugly. But when it consumes me and my focus gets off joyfully serving others and being content with what I have, then I AM lopsided and need a dose of humility.

I'm so glad I got it. I can have friends over and not worry about the valances. Yes, I do still think their ugly, and yes, I do still plan on taking them down. But I'll be taking them down with a different motive. I'm not going to worry about other people's opinion or be embarrassed. Instead, I'm going to think about pleasing my family with a beautiful home. Until then, I'll have people over without being embarrassed. And I'll have a thankfulness that I have a house with windows, and healthy children and friends who love me.

(our cool new friends playing Nertz on NYE, making faces at me under my lovely valance)

The many faces of Yolie

2010-10-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

What I love about my middle daughter is... well... everything.
She is a mysterious creature full of wonderment.
She has one of the most gentle spirits I know.
She's organized, funny and lovingly protective of both her sisters.

Yolanta is also tall and very athletic. Seeing as how she did not get the privilege of organized sports or athletic classes or P.E. in Haiti, coupled with growing several inches in a short amount of time when she came to America (oooh what a healthy diet will do for a body!) she is still growing into her long limbs. One thing's for sure, though, she's Sporty Spice through and through.

Instead of a video (like I did for both her sisters in the previous two posts) I've decided to post pictures of her sporty side. She has an athletic build and possesses a natural athletic bent that I'm sure will have her shining bright for the world to see when she's gets a little older (and when she fully realizes her strength, speed and coordination). She's amazing.

She has so many other qualities, too, of course, but this post would be a thousand pictures long if I uploaded one to show every fabulous quality.

Yolanta the Basketball Player

Yolanta the Soccer Player

More soccer

Yolanta the Gymnast

Yolanta the Rope Climber

Yolanta the Tennis Player

More tennis

Yolanta the Rock Climber

More gymnastics

Yolanta the Bike Rider

Yolanta the Archery Shooter

Yolanta the Trend Setter

Yolanta the Silly Face Maker

Yolanta the Tree Climber

Yolanta the Roller Skater

Yolanta the Inner Tuber

Yolanta the Swimmer

Yolanta the Ballerina

Yolanta the Yoga Student

Yolanta the Fisher

Yolanta the Beautiful Haitian Daughter

The imperfection is perfect

2010-09-22T20:59:00.001-07:00

So you know my daughter Amy?
She's the sweetest thing since sugar cane.

What I love about her is she's the quintessential little girl at whatever age she just happens to be. Right now she's eight.

She plays soccer, goes to Awana, belongs to Christian Youth Theater (she has a singing audition this Friday), plays piano, likes American Girl magazines, laughs at her own toots, and writes on her hand. I mean, totally eight, right?

Here is a video of her playing Minuet 1 by Bach (at the end she also plays Heart and Soul).
She usually plays it considerably better than what you're about to hear, but today, when the camera came out, she made more mistakes than ever. I also noticed her hair was in her face and blocked her cuteness. Then her sister made an unexpected (though adorable) appearance, then my iPhone chimed, then the home phone rang, then her other sister talked in the background... and well, I just should have re-recorded the whole thing.

But I decided, this is life. She makes mistakes, sisters dance, phones ring, and that's what I love about my home. It's wonderfully imperfect.

The video is 3:27

Katie from Haiti

2010-09-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

Well, there's no better way to get back to blogging than to just get back to blogging.
Miss me?
I hope so.

My site meter stats have dropped way down so I'm guessing I've lost readers (understandably), but I hope that once I start commenting on YOUR blog, you'll come back to mine. Deal?

Remember back with me if you will, when Katie came home 26 months ago. She was one week shy of turning four years old. It was really fun having the girls home for only one week and getting to celebrate a birthday!

Little lovey spoke zippity zilch English. Nuthin. She spoke Creole in a cute little three year old way. Imagine your three year old child and the English that he knows...cute, right? Yeah, that's what she spoke around here only in a language I didn't understand.

Conversely, her new family spoke a language SHE didn't understand. Learning how to communicate, teaching a new language, building love and trust were the primary things we focused on right off the bat. We called her by her given name, Quetelene, and continue to call her that from time to time. It's just so beautiful and it's the name we kept on her American adoption documents.

These first two years have been an adventure and (as cliche as this sounds) a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. Believe it or not (adoption peeps, I know you believe it) we're still getting used to things around here. Two years really isn't that long. Then again, it's amazing how much wonderfulness has been brought to our lives in only two years. But, I digress and get back to the cute little thing you see before you.

Here is a video of her reading. That's right, folks, I said READING. Not only has this bright little child learned a second language, she has learned how to read. I'm so honored to have been chosen to be her mom and her teacher. Her love language is TOUCH so we spend a lot of time cheek to cheek. I feel like a Koala Mom when I read books to all three girls on the floor, for Katie is always on my back. I love it.

I'm wondering if she has dyslexia. It could be age and just the learning process of reading, so I'm not going to worry too much about it right now. But I'm for sure going to keep my eye on it. She tends to read words in reverse order after the 4th or 5th word in a sentence. Or she'll interchange letters in a word she's already read. But like I said, that could be all part of the learning process.

Ok, prepare yourself for extreme cuteness, here's Katie, age 6, reading a book she read for the first time today.

(She has the first page memorized because that's pretty much all we've been doing today. But trust me, at 10:00 this morning, she'd never even SEEN this book.)

The video is 2:27 seconds.

Have patience and appreciate her mind working when she gets stuck on "number 3".

My life in 6

2010-07-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

1) We sold our house! I've been packing it up and GoodWilling too much stuff. How do I have so much stuff!? I have mixed emotions about selling this house because BOO I love my house but YAY we will be saving money and working toward our future hopes and dreams. Following God's plan is always best, no?

2) Amy has been in Hawaii for a week and is expected home tomorrow night.
Yolanta spent 4 days in Redmond with my sister.
Katie kind of got freaked out that her sisters were gone and behaved oddly.
This is a whole post in and of itself that I think I'll spend time on soon. Security is a funny thing in the life of a 6 year old who was adopted 2 years ago.

3) A few of my friends went on Missions trips all about the same time and I've loved spending facebook hours looking through pictures of Guatemala, India, Haiti.
Jesus' love is pouring out all over the globe!

4) There are boxes everywhere in my house. Everywhere. And since husband-poo had back surger and can't lift anything or do any kind of strenuous stretching or manipulating, yours truly is doing a lot of it solo. Buff arms comin'up!

5) Portland, Oregon summer has been sucky bo bucky this year.

6) Homeschooling has been almost non-existent this summer despite my goals of continuing on. Sigh. I loaded it up with Soccer Camp, Theater Camp, Outdoor Tillikum Camp, VBS, Hawaii (for Amy), Aunt Camp (for Yolie) and a house move. There's no time for school! :) Though today Yolanta learned the proper use of when to use contractions while helping me pack and lable boxes.

Yolanta's Game's
Yolantas Games
Yolantas Game's
Yolanta's Games
Every moment is a teachable moment.

Alrighty, that's it for me now. Sorry it's not a lot of great info or funny stories or deep thoughts to ponder over. I'm hoping to get a good post in here in a while and maybe change up the design of this ol AbFab blog. Any suggestions of things you'd like to read about? I'll try to sneak in a few light posts more frequently. Enjoy the rest of your day!

A comparison

2010-07-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hey, let’s go swimming!

An 8 year old girl:
“OK, FUN!” She says.
Reaches into her drawer and hurriedly takes out the first swimsuit her hand touches.
Whips it on, pulls it outta her booty as she runs outside.

Ready to go in 8.3 seconds.

A mom:
“Uh, well, um, ok.” She says.
Do I have a swimsuit?
Do I have a swimsuit that fits me?
Do I have a swimsuit that fits me TODAY?
Is it a 2piece day or a 1piece day? Try both on.
Is everything shaved? Plucked? Waxed? Remove unwanted hair.
Will I be going underwater?
If yes, do I take off all make-up and reapply waterproof mascara or just go natural?
If not, do I leave make-up as is or minimally reapply?
What about my hair, do I leave hair as is, or readjust to look pool-y?
Change swimsuit.
What do I wear overtop? Sundress? Shorts? Skirt? Sarong? Tanktop? Try all options.
Pack after-I-go-swimming clothes. New tank, new skirt, new undies, make-up, hairbrush, towel. Beach towel or bath towel? Stand there for a few minutes contemplating both.
Regret having spaghetti instead of salad for dinner last night.
Consider feigning the measles and not going swimming. Ever again.
Change swimsuit.
Put on flip-flops, grab over-packed bag and walk out the door.

Ready to go in 2 hours.

July 11, 2004

2010-07-11T20:42:00.001-07:00

Happy 6th birthday, Quetelene!

We braved Chuck E. Cheese in your honor

and had a fantastic time staring at your smile.

You light up my life.

July 3, 2008

2010-07-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

It's been T W O years, since we've had Yolanta and Katie home.
TWO YEARS!
What baffels me even more, is that it took 2.5 years to get them home.
Do the math with me, that's 4.5 years since Husband and I said "Let's adopt."

So much has happened these past ~5 years that I'm beginning to get suspicious that someone has pushed the fast forward button on LIFE.

This is the first picture we ever received of the girls.

This morning I had a special moment with Yolanta and gave her a journal. I got it like 7 months ago from a cute little store called Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland (a store that has a variety of toys from all around the world) and have been waiting for today to give it to her.

The journal I got for Yolanta.

Yolie is a mixed bag character leading some to believe she is a quiet, shy, reserved little girl, while other see her spunky, crazy, hilarious side and think she's a spaz!
Both are accurate. She’s complex and I think she has a lot of memories she’s not telling me about in that pretty little mind of hers.
I’m hoping the journal will not necessarily get her talk about things she’s not willing to bring forth, but at least give her a special way of documenting her feelings. Who knows, maybe I’ll learn more about her from her writing than from our heart to heart talks. Or maybe I’ll just learn regular 8 year old things like her favorite color and what her name looks like written in all the colors of her marker bin. We’ll see. I love you and your mysteriousness.

My beautiful daughter, Yolanta.

I had a special moment with Katie and gave her a book called Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. It talks about the different kinds of children all over the world, how they look and talk differently from each other, but how they all laugh, cry, play and love the same. She loves it!

The book I got for Katie.

She’s getting really good at writing her ABC’s and is for sure on a successful road to reading, but she’s not ready for a journal. Too bad because I’d love to have her document all the memories she comes up with. The thing about it is, they’re largely made up. Did you know she saw Shrek in Haiti? And had a pink cell phone? And 27 pillows on her bed? The saddest “memories” are the ones that involve her biological mother, whom she wants to go visit. Does she not remember that she died, or does she not understand what death is? Oh honey, I love you.

My beautiful daughter, Katie.

I also had a special moment with Amy. I said, “Do you know what today is?” and she replied, “It’s the two year anniversary of the girls coming home! Can you even believe I was an only child 2 years ago!?” I gave her a book titled “Someday” by Alison McGhee. It’s about a mom who shares everyday moments that mark milestones in her daughter’s life. It’s a precious book that actually makes me tear up as I read it to her. I teared up in Target forever ago when I bought it.

The book I got for Amy.

After a few minutes of chatting, something else she said struck me. She said, “It doesn’t even seem like they’re adopted, Mom. It seems like they’re biological! Sometimes I forget that we adopted them!” Part of me says WAIT! Don’t forget the 6 years of only-child-wonderful-ness that we shared! Don’t let those days slip away from you! But then part of me says YES, yes, we are family. They are sisters, daughters, forever.

My beautiful daughter, Amy.

One of the Haitian blogs I read has an arts and crafts section and I bought these handcrafted dolls made by a Haitian woman. They were delivered to my door and I presented them to my girls today as little celebratory gifts to mark the 2 years the girls have been home (along with the books). They all love them and look super adorable on their beds.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: raising older children is challenging. There is so much involved and none of it can be fully prepared for in advance. I am eternally thankful that I believe in, love and have a direct line of communication with the Creator of all people. The One who knows what to do. The God of wisdom, comfort and protection. I love you, Lord, and thank You for being a part of my life. A part of my family.

The handmade Haitian dolls straight from Haiti.

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A picture of the girls today.

June 13, 2002

2010-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Yolanta's 8th birthday.

Remember what Amy did on her 8th birthday?

Yep! Ear piercing time!

She was a brave girl and didn't cry though I could tell she was nervous.

On Sunday, she had breakfast in bed, opened up gifts (she got a bike!), went to church, then we spent all afternoon at the roller rink with her friends and cousins for a special party.

This is only Yolanta's second birthday home with us here in America.
But she turned eight.
She was four when we started the adoption process.
Six when we brought her home.
She celebrated her 7th and now 8th birthday with us.

We're still getting to know each other and I grow more in love with her every day.
It's amazing to see the beautiful person God created her to be, and I'm honored and humbled at being chosen to be her mom. Thank you for the special gift of Yolanta. Amen.

(Props to husband who, having just had back surgery, was able join us for an hour at the rink (thanks for going to get him, ma) and was even able to come with us for ear piercing. He's such a good daddy.)

(This is on Sunday, her actual birthday, headed to church. Can you believe she's "the middle child"? Yeah...Amy's 8 months older. Look how tall Yolie is!)

This is today, Monday. She was quiet the whole way over because she was nervous.

Picking out her earring.

Choosing her birthstone.

Katie being 5. Cowboy 5 that is.

Pre holes.

Amy adjusting her hair in the mirror she found at 8 year old height.

Cleaning. Still Yolanta has said very little. :)

One down.

If she WERE saying something, I think by the look of her face it would be OUCH.

No tears. Brave girl.

Post holes. Pretty!

All three girls checking out the selection. Katie choosing what she'll get when she turns 8.

Happy Eigth Birthday, Yolanta. I love you!

It takes a village...or a grocery store.

2010-06-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

I went to WINCO tonight.
Those of you who do not know what WinCo is, well, those of you outside of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon, WinCo is a grocery store. Ugly warehouse, no customer service, bag your own groceries. But you get what you pay for in that the prices are unbeatable.

While I was shopping, a child started screaming. I couldn't see the babe, but using my super-sonic mom powers, I assessed that the child was, based on the pitch of the scream, about 18 months old. Two years old at most.

At first I thought maybe the child had hurt himself and would settle into a normal cry after the first initial scream. But the screaming persisted. Then a flash went through my mind that maybe the child was being abducted! Everyone here is on high-alert since the recent local child went missing. (I'm not going to type his name as people don't need my blog if they google him. Lord, be with him and his family, please.)

Anyway, I realized that he probably wasn't being abducted because the screaming (which by now had, indeed, morphed into a crazy type tantrum cry) continued so the child was still in the store, not being whisked out the back door into a get-away car. Rather, I could hear the child close at times (an isle or two away) and far away at times...obviously the mom was continuing her grocery shopping needs despite the uncontrollable wails from little-man.

As I continued my shopping, the fit continued and it became increasingly obvious that the child had gained the attention of everyone in the store. Everyone.

At one point I did get catch a glimpse of "the scene" and sure enough, it was a little boy about 2 years old trying to climb out of the shopping cart (the front part where little kids sit). The woman pushing the cart, who I'll assume was his mother though they were different races, kept one hand firmly on his belly/front diaper area keeping him in while she studied the back of a jelly jar. The teenage boy stood 3 feet away with his arms crossed.
The baby was in hysterics.

People were looking at each other with varying impressions of what was going through their minds...without actually saying anything.
I saw looks being passed that said-
-Oh my word, I'm so glad that is not my child.
-Oh my word, I'm so glad I am not that woman.
-Oh my word, SHUT UP!
-Oh my, so sad.
-Oh my, I hope everything is okay!

Seriously, the whole warehouse seemed to want to talk about it with their facial expressions.
Then there were those who actually DID say things.
It was during check out, and funny enough, they were checking out at the same time I was checking out just a few lanes down.
While standing in line I heard a grandma say "Here, Frank, let's go down here away from that kid!" Another shopper responded, "No kidding."

They got done bagging their groceries before I did and the little family left the store, child crying (who will probably pass out of exhaustion in the car) teenage boy, arms still crossed stomping ahead of them, and mom looking unashamed yet very aware of the spotlight upon her.

The person in front of me said something that I couldn't hear, but the checker boy responded with, "We get crying kids a lot, but never anything like that!" Then the person mumbled something under his breath but the only thing I heard was "...shuttin'him'up..."
His wife said "Well I walked over and told her that if she just smacked him on the butt he'd be so startled he'd stop crying! But she didn't didn't do it, too bad."

That couple left and as I was bagging my own groceries the checker boy waited till they were gone and said to me, "Well I don't believe in hitting kids so I can see why she didn't do it!"

Meanwhile, at the lane next to me, I overheard a lady in a wheelchair telling horror stories of her grandchildren acting up and all the times she's had to leave grocery stores and that "that is exactly what she should have done" and basically orated her entire parenting philosophy on how this particular situations SHOULD have been handled (in an irritated voice).

As I was walking out, the checker boy, not getting a response from me, turned to the lady next in line and said, "So, how'd you like our cheerleader? We're hiring them young these days, eh?"

The lady laughed and I can only imagine that other isles were exchanging similar opinions and comments.

I have no idea what was causing that little boy to behave so wildly.
I have no idea what was going through that mom's mind as she made the decision to stay at the store and not leave.

-Was she training him to sit in that little spot and no matter how much he cried, she needed to prove that he would not be able to get out? That THAT was where he belonged for the entire shopping trip?
-Was the boy having a diabetic fit and needed insulin?
-Was the woman not his mom and didn't have control over her charge but couldn't go home without milk, eggs and sugar free jelly?
-Was the woman deaf and unaware of how loud the child was screaming?
-Was the woman too prideful to admit that she needed to leave and found herself stuck there with this awkward decision to shop?
-Was the child being abducted?

I don't think it was wrong, necessarily, for people to be glancing at each other or making comments. I chose not to make any comments or share in any sideways glances largely because I had one of my daughters with me. I didn't want to inadvertently get into a discussion with anyone where oppinions or word choice could have gotten inappropriate. At one point my daughter did say something like, "Wow, he's been crying a long time!" To which I remarked, "Yeah, I'm not sure why he's having such a hard time."

I do feel bad for the child...I hope he's okay and is asleep and secure in his bed right now.

I feel bad for the mom and hope she is soaking in a hot tub, having a Calgon moment.

I feel bad for the teenage brother and I hope he helped put the groceries away and is jamming out to his favorite tunes while he does his homework.

I feel a little bad for the shoppers who's temperaments do not stand for such noise and chaos. Their ears were probably close to bleeding and their nerves were probably twitching.

I don't feel bad for me that I had to listen to that sad boy. Don't get me wrong, it was ear piercing and unsetteling, but I'm a mom...I dunno, I felt sorry and saddened more than I felt fed-up or aggravated. Maybe God allowed me (and others) to be there to go to bed tonight praying for the safety and peace of everyone in that family.

What would you have done if you were that mom?
Would you have left?
Stood your ground?

***Okay, I know I didn't post a follow-up about my husbands back surgery, and should have done that first. But I forget that I have readers on here who are not facebook friends. Sorry! He's doing great. The surgery was a success and he's home healing. He already feels relief and we're all having fun taking care of him while he's flat on his back. Post-Op care is in full-swing. Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes!

At least he'll get to watch the World Cup

2010-06-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

My young, sporty, strong husband has to have back surgery.
What? He’s too young to need back surgery, he’s too athletic to need back surgery, he’s too handsome to need back surgery!
I know. These were my thoughts, too.

But, he’s been having major back pain for some time now, and the pain has reached his hip, all the way down his leg, causing numbness.
He walks a little funny – step, thump –step, thump – step, thump…

He’s sought prayer, MD care, chiropractic care, acupuncture, prolotherapy, massage therapy, is diligent with his home exercises… but the poor guy is still in PAIN.
All those appointments during the middle of the work day, all those co-pays and deductables and insurance hassles are really fun for him, too.

After an MRI, he sought multiple opinions on the best course for healing. Two neurosurgeons advised surgery.

SURGERY!
Specifically, Lumbar Microsurgery.
Even more specifically, Microdiskectomy. This is removal of disk (not the whole thing in Husbands, case, just part of it).
Possibly he’ll have Microdecompression surgery which is removal of bone from the spine to better access the disk.

Amazingly, he will be in and out on the same day.
Then he will be mostly on his back for a week, driving restrictions for 2 weeks, no lifting anything over 10 pounds for a month, and other inconveniences basically all summer long.

Most sadly is the inability to play soccer this summer. If he were a girl, he’d be crying about this.

Please pray for my Knight in Shining Armor as his nerves are a little shaken.
Please pray for the doctors to successfully perform the surgery.
Please pray that he won’t be in anymore pain!

Oh, and please pray for me as I will be doing Yolanta’s 8th birthday party at the Roller Rink kinda by myself.
There’s no way he’d miss it, says Husband. But it’s only 4 days after surgery so we’ll see.

Surgery is set for this coming Wednesday the 9th.
Will keep you updated on the patient as progress unfolds.

She could never have known

2010-06-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

When we went to Redmond to visit my sister, we stayed at a hotel. A hotel with a pool, of course!
While the kids were swimming and Grammy was on lifeguard duty, I went up to our room to get out the clothes the girls would be dressing into after swimming.

I poked my head back into the pool area and asked Yolanta, “What are you wearing today?”
She replied, “My blue shirt, the sparkly one!”

As I walked down the hallway, I reflected on all the changes this girl has been through. For the first four years of her life she lived with biological family; father, sisters, brothers, aunts, grandparents. These were all in her small villiage. Then for two years she lived in the orphanage. Then, for two years now, she has lived with us, her adopted family in the United States.

The things this girl could never have known.

-She could never have known that she would be swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool in a hotel.

-She could never have known that she would have choices of things to wear, clothes that fit her perfectly, clothes with sparkles.

-She could never have known that she’d be speaking English instead of Creole. And saying words like “…the sparkly one.”

-She could never have known that she would be surrounded by a white family instead of a black community of caregivers and other orphans.

-She could never have known she’d be living on the West Coast of America instead of central Haiti.

-She could never have known she’d be eating a different kind of food every day instead of beans and rice every day.

-She could never have known, none of us could ever have known, that an earthquake would turn Haiti upside down, and leave us with questions about the survival of her biological family.

So many changes…and these are only a tip of the mountain of changes in her life.

(the sparkly blue shirt)

The changes in her life are good and she will be forever unconditionally loved.
She is on a path of health.
A path of success.
A path marked for loving God.

Some of the changes in her life are sad and leave her feeling confused about her thoughts toward her home country. A longing to be there yet a relief she’s not.

There are changes every day. And not just for her, but for all of us in our family.
Good changes.
I love the changes she has brought to my family because I love her.
-She could never have known 2 years ago, how much she is loved by me.

Homeschooling Peeps, this is for you!

2010-05-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Scholastic Store

Stock up for summer reading!

Take an extra 20% off

Use code: SSSRC20

Offer ends May 24th, 2010

And duh, this is for all the non-homeschooling peeps, too, of course. It's just such a homeschooly thing to blog about books and workbooks at the beginning of summer. :)

Found this picture, fell in love with it.

2010-05-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Pray with me

2010-05-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

My friend is in need of prayer.
Her marriage is at stake.
Pray with me, won't you?

I opened up my other friend's blog and clicked on her play list because I like the choice of worship music she has. Then I opened a new tab and searched images.com for stock photography with the key word "pray".

So there I was, scrolling through hundreds of images of people praying,
hands lifted high,
people on their knees,
children praying,
grandma's praying,
families holding hands,
heads bowed...

...and listening to music that calls for God to be near,
praising His name,
worshiping His holiness,
trusting His faithfulness,
to have mercy on our souls...

...and thinking about my friend,
the pain she is in,
the complications of life,
the sadness she must be feeling,
the outlook of their decision...

...it brought me to tears.

But I know something. I know that God is good and His power of restoration is real.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
I've experienced it.

I also know that listening to God and following His plan is peaceful. It's the way that leads to experiencing His heavenly goodness. Breathe it in.

While reading her blog and listening to her music, my friend (my other friend, not the who needs prayer) posted the below verse regarding something totally different than what I'm blogging about. But, His Word is awesome and we can use it for comfort and understanding and instruction and the benefit of our whole life.

I don't know for sure if my friend who needs prayer reads my blog. She's a busy gal and right now she has so many thoughts to dwell on.

But if you do, please remember that
"the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling..."
{Ephesians 1:17-18a}

Also know that I will be praying for you fervently. Call on Him for comfort; He will be there for you. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles..." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a

If anyone reading this is a prayer warrior, will you agree to pray with me?

Sad Glad Mad Bad Rad

2010-05-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

SAD
Adopting older children is, at times, saddening.

The hardships my children have experienced...
The losses they've endured...
The changes they've undergone...
The death they've known...
The bonding we're still working on...

All these aspects show themselves in our home from time to time. We work together as a family to allow the realities of life to be addressed, and we work towards healing, bonding and love and security.
Don't get me wrong, I am blessed to have these two very special girls in our home. I believe God knew from before Creation that they would be part of the our family. I love them so very much and am thankful for this new adventure we're on. But sometimes these changes are hard to deal with and it makes me sad to remember the broken world we live in. And how to properly embrace it all.

GLAD
My twin sister is dedicating her 3 month old baby to God on Mother's day. We are headed to Redmond to be a part of the service! I'm glad to be a part of this special day as dedications and baptisms are soooo wonderful and important. Having family around to witness and pray is a powerful moment. Plus, I'm dying to hold baby Violet. Smoochy lovey snuggle wuggle swaddle waddle. Yeah, this is the Ooey Gooey Auntie in me shining through! Can't wait.

MAD
There was something on facebook that was disturbing to me.

It went like this: Dear God, this year you took my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett. You took my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze. You took my favorite pop star, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know, my favorite president is Barack Obama.

You know what I'm mad at? Myself. For I giggled and shared this with someone because I thought it was funny. Then I realized I was laughing at the idea that thousands of people gave a thumbs-up at the request of a death. The death of our president. Any death. I was mad at myself for laughing instead of being disappointed at what was really being posted. A request that the president would die. Clever or funny writing isn't an excuse for agreeing to wish someone was dead.

BAD
I've neglected exercise. More frustrating, of course, is the reality of what no exercise at the age of 35 equals. Squishy body, low energy, and no muscle strength. I feel weak and soft! I don't allow fitness or image to become an idol or let my thoughts get carried away on it's importance. But I do believe my body is a temple where Christ lives and by keeping in good health and good shape I am honoring Him. I'm thinking about getting back into running and lifting these 5 pound, I mean 50 pound weights. I need to get my heart rate going and my muscles activated! Thinking about it is the first step. Now, if I could actually get my running shoes on and pick up these 5, I mean 50 pound weights....

RAD
We were invited over to dinner with some cool friends of ours. They wanted to pick our brains about the adoption process! They are not necessarily considering Haiti, but just wanted to discuss our experience and they are praying about the decision for themselves. They asked us pointed questions and we felt at peace to fully discuss the Joys, the Challenges, the Struggles, the Benefits, the Wonderfulness, the Truths about what we've discovered in the journey.

Then, this morning I got this email:
Hi, I got your name from Kate Halpin who helps run an orphanage in Haiti. I am very interested in adopting a Haitian baby and was told that you would be open to sharing your experience with me. could you tell me which agency you worked with, and what the whole process consists of? I am not sure where or how to start. Any advice and contact info of good agencies you could share is greatly appreciated.

How cool is that!? I posted on FB that I just love seeing people respond to the heart tug of adoption. Like I said to my friend at dinner, I believe that adoption is a calling from God. If you feel He is calling you to adopt, do it! It's a miraculous, life-changing journey!

By the way, I copied Meredith on the whole SadGladMadBadRad format. :)

Happy 36th Anniversary, Mom and Dad

2010-04-14T23:11:00.001-07:00

My parents were married when they were teenagers.
They came to know the Lord in their adulthood.
My sisters and I grew to love God through their influence and for that, I am eternally thankful.
Mom and Dad are still together, beating odds and stats as if they wrote the book on marriage.

My folks took on the responsibility of raising one of their grandchildren.
They raise him as if he was their son. They love him as if he was their son.
In fact, his name has the word SON in it.

I love you, Mom and Dad.
God loves you.
Mason loves you.

Happy Anniversary.

She wasn't the paperazzi

2010-04-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

The other day I took my kids to the Children's museum for a field trip.

You know...gotta socialize these homeschoolers, and all. {snicker snicker}

I was actually noticing to myself the diversity in the CM goers and was happy to see many children of many different races and ethnicity. Chinese girls pouring water on Guatemalan boys... African-American boys knocking over clay structures delicately made by pretty Indian girls. Oh the loveliness! :)

I sat at the top of the carpeted risers in front of the stage and watched my and other children put on a "show". Is it really a show if there's no rhyme or reason to the production? It was cute trying to watch the older kids give directions to toddlers who just ran off stage.

Anyway, a few rows in front of me were two white moms (sisters, I think). One of them had a couple blond boys, and the other had a white daughter and an absolutely adorable brown-skinned baby. She was super cute and I knew without a doubt this baby was Ethiopian. I knew this because I read a blog of someone on the East coast who adopted an Ethiopian princess and this baby looked exactly like her.

After a few minutes, my kids and I leave the stage area and head towards the Kids Kitchen where they can push a cart and load up fake groceries and be checked out by other kids. While standing there thinking about a facebook status, the mom of the Ethiopian baby came up to me and I for sure thought she was going to strike up a discussion about bi-racial families...you know, since we both had one. It's the inevitable conversation starter now that I've entered into the world of adoption. I love it.

But no! Her pick-up line was this:

Her: Hi, there, I recognize your girls. I read your blog!

Me: (face reddening, stutter forming) Oh...uh...wow...I feel a little famous right now.

I feel famous? That is my response? Sheesh.
Oh well. I don't do well under pressure. The pressure of responding politely and correctly, apparently.

Her: Yes, I was watching them on stage and I knew they looked familiar and it just dawned on me where I've seen them before. I didn't know you lived in the Portland area. I, myself, don't live around here. I'm visiting.

Me: (I think to myself, I know, your sister, right? I've already figured it out.) Oh, do you comment on my blog? Maybe I've read yours.

...we chit chat for a while and I attempt to wow her with my other-country-identification powers and ask her:

Me: Now, she's from Ethiopia, right?

Her: No. She's from the states. Her father is African-American and her mother is Haitian.

WHAT? I didn't even recognize a Haitian face! I soooo got it wrong. That probably wasn't even her sister. My people watching/facial feature/assessing skilz are weak.

We chit-chat some more and oddly, I did more talking that she did. I normally find it easy and comfortable to allow people to do most of the talking while I do the listening, but for some reason, I was all gabby gabby with this mom. But that's okay. She has my blog site and as soon as she comments (or emails) I'll get an opportunity to know more about her. Right Cathy? :)

There's a neat set of circumstances that led up to even going to the children's museum that day. It was a last minute decision, we had chores to do before hand but had to exit the house at a specific time, we said a prayer that the cultural pass would be available so I didn't have to pay the high admittance fee, the front row parking spots at both library and CM that we got... it was quite amazing the events that led up to getting there. Ordained?

So after Cathy left, I had the perfect FB status update and walked away pleased with having met another Haitian adoptive mom and blog buddy. Did I just say blog buddy?

Looking forward to getting to know you better. You know who you are.

Good Friday - It Really Happenend

2010-04-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

It Really Happened
Theology
By Peter J. Leithart
Thursday, 01 April 2010 08:36
It really happened.

Some 2000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem and was placed in a nearby tomb. On the third day after His death, women came to the tomb to dress the body and found the tomb empty, heard from angels that Jesus had risen from the dead, and shortly after encountered Jesus Himself. Then Jesus appeared to His disciples, and to many others.

It really happened.

Romans and Jews conspired to give alternative explanations of the empty tomb from the first, and alternative explanations keep coming. None of the alternative explanations works. None of them can explain the rise of early Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus, the persistence of belief in Jesus in the face of massive murderous threats, the dramatic change in the disciples that took place after Easter and Pentecost.

The only plausible explanation is that Jesus rose from the dead. The only explanation that fits the evidence is that it really happened.

And if it really happened, then the world is a very different place than we might have thought.

If it really happened, then the world is the kind of place where there is not only life after death, a disembodied existence in heaven, but what N.T. Wright calls “life after life after death,” embodied life in a new heavens and new earth.

If it really happened, then the post-Enlightenment effort to explain the world by scientific naturalism will never be successful. Things have happened that our science cannot explain, and there is more in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in philosophy.

If it really happened, then the power of tyrants is shattered. The worst the tyrant can do is kill. The power of tyranny is the power of death. But if death is reversible, if dead people do come back to life after life after death, then the tyrant’s sword is finally useless and certainly not fearsome.

If it really happened, then Jesus is who He always said He was, the Son of God, the King who would sit on the throne of David.

If it really happened, Jesus is sitting on that throne right now, ruling all things. He is the new kurios, the new world ruler, the new emperor, to whom all principalities and powers are called to submit.

If it really happened, then the universe is being governed by Jesus, and there is no corner of the globe, no edge of the universe, where He is not king. Nothing is outside His rule, and we have nothing to fear.

If it really happened, we have been given a preview of the end of the age. Jews believed that resurrection was an event of the end, which it is. But the end has already begun. Jesus has been raised, the firstfruits of the resurrection, and that means that the end has come. The end will be resurrection, restoration, a new creation. The end will not be disembodied spirits in a disembodied world. The end will be this world transfigured into the new creation, into a new heavens and new earth.

If it really happened, then no situation and no person are hopeless. No marriage is beyond repair, no child beyond recovery, no pagan beyond the reach of the gospel, no sin beyond forgiveness, no womb permanently sealed, no one and nothing beyond restoration.

If it really happened, giving up is simply not an option, because if bodily death is reversible, so are all the other little deaths that we suffer in life. If it really happened, hope is not a delusion, but the driving power of abundant life.

If it really happened, then we've got a load of work, because not everyone has heard the news that God has conquered death. Jesus is King and Lord, and He sends us out to announce that He rule. He establishes the church to be the first form and bearer of His kingdom. He intends to overcome all evil and sin, all injustice and wickedness, and calls us in the power of His resurrection to share in His war against all that damages His good creation.

Go to the darkest shanty town of the darkest city on the darkest continent, and there too the Risen Jesus is king. Wade into the waste of the most ruined life, and there too Jesus is the Living Lord. Sort through the wreckage your own sin has caused in your own life, face it in faith and hope, and you will see resurrection life at work through the Spirit, and the liberating power of God's forgiveness.

Because it happened. It really happened.

BFF Chopstix

2010-03-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a 2 minute video of my daughter Amy and her best friend Elisabeth playing chopsticks on the piano.

Someday I'll post about Amy and her BFF and how I don't think it was by coincidence that God placed a brown skin girl in Amy's life from when they were each just a few months old.

Someday I'll talk about how these two girls, who are so very different, can't seem to get enough time together and are always scheming for opportunities to land at each others house.

Or about how my super talkative daughter and quiet, shyer Elisabeth could sit in a closet and giggle and solve the worlds problems for hours on end. Oh the things they chat about!

Or how these two girls, who both tend to want to be the boss in their friendship, respond surprisingly well to being bossed around by each other. They have a magic between them.

Or how after every time they get together, I see a little bit of Elisabeth in my Amy and a little bit of Amy in cute little Elisabeth. Maybe they're not so different afterall.

Or about how they learn life's lessons together. Sometimes, not easy ones. I'm so thankful Elisabeth has a Godly mother who understands the value of character-molding. Together we can get through the rough spots.

But today, enjoy the sound of this classic piano favorite and watch these adorable 8 year olds concentrate on their parts like fabulous piano players!

They have a little timing issue in the middle, but with the help of their encouraging and ever-so-wonderful piano teacher, they manage to pull it together before the song ends.

Great job, girls!
Here is the video:

SPAM -it's not what we're having for dinner

2010-03-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of spam in my comments lately.
Inappropriate, nonsensical, mumbo-jumbo type spam.
Some are going to really old blog posts and others appear in more recent ones.
Regardless, I want them to stop. I delete about 3 a day.

I may have to turn on the word-verification thingy which means no more anonymous commenters. Don't forget you can sign up for a google account and not have to give your name if you'd like to leave comments on my (and everyone elses) blogs without giving your name. Just give yourself a nickname and sign-up.

Disturbing

2010-03-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

We went to Barnes & Noble this afternoon.
We frequent the library, but sometimes there's just no beatin' a bookstore shelved with fresh, un-cracked spines.

Anyway, I was lookin' around and just one divider away from the children's books, and directly on the main walk-way, and on the tables in the middle of the walkway, (read: right there in plain sight) I noticed the books were a little scary looking. I glanced at the section title and was surprised to see I was in the TEEN section.

I jotted down a few notes.
These are either titles of books, the picture on the cover, or a subtitle description:

a skull
a bloody dagger
Ever Lost
The Naughty List
Betrayal
vampires
demons
sexy
deadly secrets
Impossible
Dead
Uglies
the devil
horror

And this was just ONE bookshelf of several in the TEEN section. I was too depressed to continue browsing that area and felt I had enough substantial evidence to prove that there's a generation of teen readers being bombarded by unhealthy literature.

Is this what my girls have to look forward to for entertainment reading in a few years?
Sad.
I will not allow my children to immerse themselves in these kinds of books when they hit their teen years. And prayerfully, I strive to raise them in such a way that they will trust my discernment and not even desire these books or feel the need to sneak them when I'm not around. Lord, please help me!

Remember:

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This post is not to sound pious, rather just an expression of sadness at today's options for kids.

These are hot off the press books I was looking at. These are the recognized authors being praised for powerful literature for fresh, young minds. I bet they are well written and can hold the attention of just about every teen out there today. But look at the content! Is sexy, deadly, demonic type stuff what we want our kids fantasizing about "FOR FUN"? It's bad enough that we adults get sucked into this material...now our kids have it. It was just one divider away from the little kids.

Of course, I was at B&N, not a Christian bookstore, and I was in the general TEEN section, not the Religious section. So yes, I know there are healthier options out there. But I have to go looking for them. They're not on the main walk-way, not on the front tables. And that, my friends, is the sad part. And quite frankly, a little disturbing.

Why do we even HAVE this table?

2010-03-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the movie The Emperor's New Groove?
You know, with Kronk and Yzma? Hilarious.

There is a spot in the movie where these two crazy characters are going down to the secret lab and Kronk pulls the wrong lever, sending Yzma down to the alligator pit. As she's being dropped, she yells out WROONNNG LEVERRR!

When she comes back to the secret lab entrance, she says (with dripping alligator in hand), "Why do we even HAVE that lever?"

Here you go...I found it on YouTube. It's 1 minute and 4 seconds long. But the first 11 seconds will give you the scene I just described. So funny.

So, I have this awesome homeschool table in our awesome homeschool room.

But why oh why do my girls prefer the floor?

Why do we even HAVE this table?

Picture Perfect

2010-03-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

For all you readers who like to follow the progress of how my kids LOOK, this post is for you!

I know that on the adoption blogs I read, I always appreciate the photos that show how well the kids are adjusting and shining in the their new life of proper nutrition, unconditional love, new clothes and the security of family.

So for those who'd like to see those things in my girls, here you go!

Amy: age 8
Yolanta: age 7
Katie: age 5

I've yet to use my new vocab word, though.

2010-03-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Most moms would probably agree with me when I say that the things we used to have time to do before we had kids – we no longer had time to do once baby was born.
You know, things like reading novels, vacuuming the car, going pee.

But, once we get the hang of mothering, despite how many children we have, we start to find a little bit of time to carve out to bring some of those things back into our lives. Piles of pictures of our babies start to take shape as photo albums. Dusty old cookbooks are pulled out to make some of those yummy desserts or family favorites again.

I don’t scrap book or cook, but I do read. I used to read everything on the front tables of Barnes&Noble (fiction and non), and biblical parenting manuals, essays, short stories, news reports...anything! Then I’d hit a wave of reading absolutely nothing (except my Bible). I’d go to the book store and everything was new and unfamiliar.

Do you go through waves of reading and non-reading?

I just finished a book called Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

It’s a good novel about a couple of sisters who find themselves in arranged marriages to Americans and are forced to leave war-torn Shanghai, China. I really enjoyed learning about Chinese customs and ways of living (bound feet, yikes!), historical events of the war, China towns that popped up in California, etc. I can only imagine what it would be like to be an illegal immigrant (for in the book many people snuck over to the US) and the struggles that friends and family members have to keep loved ones safe.

So as I’m reading, I came across this word: filial
I’d never heard that word before but used the context to figure out what it meant.

Then the author used it again only a chapter or two later. I thought about underlining it but only if I could go back and underline it the first time it was used. But I didn’t.

Then about half way through the book, filial was used AGAIN. Now I really wished I’d underlined it in case it popped up a fourth time. But I didn’t.

I’ve never marked up a novel before. It just feels naughty.

I’ve often thought about notes I would make in the margins of my book (if I were to turn into ones who DOES mark up novels).
I think about words or phrases I would highlight or underline.
I would make speculations on what I think is going to happen at the end of the book.
Take note of places to look up on the computer. People to research.

But here’s something about me: I’ve never read the same book twice. In fact, I don’t even keep my books anymore. I used to, but after a while I realized “why the heck am I creating a library of books that I will never read again?” It was taking up too much space and as the time came to make room for homeschooling, I sold all my books for a dollar a piece. Glad I didn’t mark them up now that they’re in somebody else’s home library!

Girls Night Out in the making

2010-02-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

Not only does Cool Moon Ice Cream have a zillion handmade, all natural, funky and delicious flavors to choose from, but they have super cool people who work there, too!

The same night I blogged their flavors, totally on a whim since I was jealous that my parents went there without me, I got an email from them thanking me for the "press" and offering me and my family a free scoop!

Now I'm Fer Sher going there as soon as possible.
Who's coming with me?

Tell me, what flavor would YOU get?

2010-02-22T19:35:00.000-08:00

Have any of you Portland locals been here yet?
Cool Moon Ice Cream

My folks are headed there tonight and I'm dying to know how it is.
Just LOOK at these flavors!

Bing Cherry Almond Chip
A Cool Moon original: Oregon Bing Cherries, toasted almonds, liquid chocolate crackle and a hint of natural almond extract.

Buttermilk Marionberry Swirl
A luscious swirl of Oregon’s signature blackberry accents tangy buttermilk ice cream

Butter Pecan
The classic butternut with Pecans instead of Black Walnuts

Cardinal Zin
Bittersweet chocolate with luscious zinfandel wine, dark sweet Oregon cherries, and a touch of Balsamic vinegar

Cherry Vanilla
Oregon Bing cherries with Indonesian and Madagascar vanillas

Chocolate Cherry
Milk chocolate ice cream with Oregon Bing cherries and a healthy shot of Kirschwasser.

Chocolate Sorbet
German bittersweet chocolate and our own fudge sauce in a dense, rich sorbet

Chocolate Zinfandel
Bittersweet chocolate with luscious zinfandel wine and a touch of Balsamic vinegar

Citrus Pistachio
Pistachios in creamy orange scented ice cream. Orange juice, lemon and orange zest, candied lemon peel, Grand Marnier

Coffee Caramel
Strong coffee ice cream with swirls of our own caramel sauce

Coffee Toffee
Strong coffee ice cream with locally made English Toffee rubble (crunchy toffee, chocolate, hazelnuts)

Cookies & Cream
Our Fresh Cream ice cream with all natural chocolate sandwich cookies

Espresso
24 shots of Batdorf & Bronson’s Dancing Goats blend espresso plus a dusting of ground beans. Great coffee makes great ice cream.

Fresh Banana
Cream, bananas, that’s all!

Fresh Cream
Our custom ice cream base frozen all by itself. Simply: cream, sugar, eggs.

Candied Ginger
Smooth ginger ice cream with nuggets of candied ginger

Ginger Chai
Indian Chai spice mix from Portland’s own Dragonfly Chai with a handful of spicy candied ginger

Funky Chocolate Goldmine
Reverse Cookies & Cream! Our dark chocolate ice cream with “inclusions” of all-natural vanilla sandwich cookie

Good Bye Yellow Brickle Road (we thought of the name first: May 2008)
Locally made English Toffee rubble (toffee, chocolate, almonds, & hazelnuts) in our light butterscotch ice cream

Gracie’s Caramel Nib Supreme
Natural cocoa nibs in a smooth caramel ice cream

Kulfi
Our interpretation of a classic Indian Pistachio/Cardamom frozen dessert. A splash of rosewater lends the scent of authenticity. A Diwali staple.

Lavender Lemon
Aromatic and zesty all at once—a virtual garden of earthly delight!

Lemon Ginger
Lemon ice cream with spicy candied ginger nuggets

Lemon Sorbet
Our reinterpretation of the classic lemon Italian Ice—fresh squeezed juice, lemon zest, and sugar!

Lime in de Coconut Sorbet
Freshly squeezed lime juice meets Thai coconut creme in a puckery summer delight

Mango
Our rich ice cream with Indonesian vanilla and fresh mango-- “The King of Fruits!”

Maple Nut
The classic, made with pecans and pure Vermont maple syrup.

Marcona Almond
Roasted almond nuggets in a rich toasted almond butter ice cream. Real Amaretto rounds out the trifecta.

Mint Chip
Dried Oregon peppermint, peppermint extract, Belgian chocolate. Minty with just a touch of green!

Mocha Mania
Rich house coffee with a tenacious fudge swirl

Mocha Toffee
Exotic coffee blends, Belgian chocolate, crunchy English toffee—What’s not to love?

Morning Sunrise
Lightly tart lemon ice cream softened with a wash of strawberries

Orange Sorbet
Freshly squeezed orange juice and orange liquor

Orange Sherbet
Freshly squeezed orange juice and orange liquor mixed with a small amount of our rich ice cream base

The Oregon Berries
Beautiful ripe, local fruit, Tahitian vanilla, and our local ice cream base.

Blueberry

Raspberry

Strawberry

Summer Berry (Marion, Boysen and Blue Berries)

Endless Summer Berry (Summer Berry fruit blend plus raspberries)

Fresh Peach
Perfect fresh fruit, Tahitian vanilla

Fresh Peach Sorbet
Just the fruit, Ma’am!

Pineapple Orange Sorbet
Tropical fruity perfection with a splash of orange liqueur for spirit

PB Squared
The PB “double dose!” Peanut butter ice cream with locally made peanut butter cookie crumbles

PB Cookies & Cream
Locally made peanut butter cookies in our Fresh Cream ice cream

Peanut Butter Crackle
Peanut Butter Ice Cream with liquid chocolate crackle crisps

Perseid Meteor Shower
Bittersweet chocolate ice cream with white chocolate flakes. A summer occurrence in Oregon!

Pina Colada Sorbet
Pure Pineapple juice, Coconut Crème, and a shot of Meyers Dark Rum

Righteous Chocolate
Our own classic mix of German bittersweet chocolates

Saffron Sunshine
Morning in New Delhi – Kashmiri saffron, nutmeg, pistachios, and toasted almonds

Saigon Cinnamon
Suberbly rich ice cream featuring this classic spice

Spicy Thai Chili
Coconut, peanut and hot chili meet in this zesty popular flavor

Oregon Strawberry Sorbet
Ripe Willamette Valley berries and sugar. Pure summer in every bite!

Toasted Coconut
Our rich ice cream base with coconut creme and toasted shredded coconut

US Mint
Cool Oregon mint extract and our creamy ice cream base

The Cool Moon Vanilla Triumvirate
The best friends you know you can count on—together or individually:

Bourbon Indonesian

Tahitian

Mexican

Vanilla Caramel
We make our own dark caramel sauce and swirl it into freshly frozen vanilla ice cream

Vanilla Chocolate Chip
The classic, made our way, with liquid chocolate crackle and German chocolate bits

Vanilla Fudge Twirl
Our Indonesian blend vanilla liberally laced with our hot fudge sauce

Malted Vanilla
Bourbon Indonesian vanilla ice cream with malt powder added for that incomparable malt ball flavor

Update on my health. Wow, I sound like a Grandma!

2010-02-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

Update: I forgot to mention that my chriopractor is a: Full scope chiropractor, proficient in the best of techniques, with an emphasis on cervical specific adjusting and over 30 years of experience with NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association).

Remember that car accident I was in back in September? I was rear-ended.
Well I'm still feeling the affects of the whiplash.

The chiropractor said today that my atlas and axis are misaligned and this is causing the limited rotation in my neck, the sharp shooting pains at the base of my skull, the headaches, the tingling sensation down my arms, the insomnia...
Yeah, I've got all that. :(

This is everything my acupuncturist said so I'm glad it was confirmed by a second Dr.
My needle guy referred me to the back guy because he said he's one of the best in Oregon when it comes to helping people with this very issue.

Something I found on the Internet:
"If the atlas is not properly aligned, it compresses the immediately adjacent arteries acting almost as a guillotine. (stronger pressure from the bones, but obviously no incision). The result is a disruption of the blood flow to the brain, which in combination with other factors can lead to migraines. Furthermore, this disruption of the bloodstream can of course lead to a whole range of further health problems over time. "

Also, there is strain between my C5 and C6 vertebra that is causing my hips to adjust which causes one leg to be longer than the other.

And he said not to do my Denise Austin Yoga Body Burn anymore.

Slow, easy yoga: yes.

Fast, challenging yoga: no.

Wwwaaahhhhh

I love this video. I love my friend Alika who came over to my house every single morning for 2 weeks straight at 8am to do this with me.

Well, I guess I better follow Doc's orders.

So long Denise....for now.

Amy is baptized

2010-02-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or can you see Jesus' love radiating on her face?
So precious.

Here is a 2 minute video of a cute 8 year old girl in her ladybug earrings publicly proclaiming her love and obedience to God.

Today will be remembered....eternally.

Being a Stay At Home Mom

2010-01-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

A sweet friend of mine emailed me the other day with these questions:

What are 5 great things about being a SAHM?
What are 5 challenges about being a SAHM?

As I started to think about the reasons I would give her, I soon realized this was a great blog post!

5 Great things about being a SAHM

1. It allows me to homeschool my children. This is a calling I am very passionate about so staying home allows me to fulfill this calling. Along with homeschooing is my fervent desire to mold, shape and guide my children’s lives. To direct their hearts towards righteousness. Homeschooling my girls all day long is not just about academics, it’s about their morals, their character, and their hearts. I wouldn’t be able to FULLY and WHOLE-HEARTEDLY ensure that my kids’ values were being brought up and trained the way God is calling me to bring them up if I had to go to work every day or if they went to school every day. A teacher or a daycare worker would be doing those things for me. No thanks.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “Hey, wait! I love my kids just as much as you do, and I go to work and they go to school.” This is not about who loves their kids more or about who’s doing the better thing. It’s about what I feel called to do and how I’m supposed to do it. Raising our kids and living our lives is going to look different from each other because we are all have unique callings and goals. That’s okay!
And anyway, perhaps if I didn’t homeschool I WOULD go to work. Not sure. But that’s another thought for another blog post.

2. It allows me to take on the majority of the house cleaning and cooking responsibility. It is my honor to be the one responsible for keeping the house clean, the laundry done, the cupboards stocked and dinner prepared. Now, I have a great, hardworking husband who helps me out tremendously. He does not treat me like I am his servant; he does not have high and mighty expectations of me, his wife that I am to fulfill. We are a husband and wife team-he has his roles, I have mine. I take pride in my roles. My husband works really hard to pay the bills and I am thankful I can stay home. I love being able to keep a happy home and please my husband by lessening the need for him to do household chores. It is my way of saying “thank you for working so hard.” He feels respected and showers me with love and offers to take up housey chores and responsibilities as his way of saying “thank-you for working so hard.”

3. It allows me to fulfill my other desires such as writing, running and ministering to women. Some women say they feel like they lose themselves if they do not work outside the home. I am, first and foremost, a Child of God. I find my identity in living my life for Jesus Christ. Living for God means living life in accordance with His Will. I firmly believe that right now, God wants me to focus on two things: 1) Making my husband happy 2) Raising my children to love Jesus.

God has given me desires, talents, gifts, strengths and ideas. They are not to be forgotten or wasted! I love to write (hence my blog and, if you’re friends with me, my super long emails). I used to write for a publishing company (while staying at home) that wrote testimonies for churches. I loved being a part of this fabulous company that worked for the Kingdom and allowed me to use my writing skills. I’m currently writing a children’s book with my best friend. I love women and have a heart for young moms and newly married gals. I’m walking along side a young wife right now who is struggling, offering my advice and wisdom (since I’ve been married for 15 years) and praying with her. I host and facilitate a mom’s group focused on parenting. I love to run! I have run marathons and half marathons… I know I can be a working mom and do all these things, but my point is that I don’t have to give any of it up. In fact, I believe staying home has allowed me to be MORE of the woman I was designed to be because I have the time to do them.

4. I don’t have to go to work! Before I had kids, I worked for Intel. And really, I enjoyed it. Since I am a people person, an extrovert and just a general social butterfly, going to work every day was satisfying and enjoyable. There was a great sense of accomplishment having successfully done my job, received raises and accolades. But I can’t tell you how freeing it is not to HAVE to go to work every day. I don’t have to worry about my performance and how a manager is going to assess my efforts. I don’t have to worry about accrued days off in order to take a day off. I don’t have to work with people who are hard to get along with every single day. I don’t have to go to work! I don’t have the stresses of working for a boss or dancing around office politics. My husband and I can live on 1 income, he is blessed to have a job in this economy, and the stress/responsibility of earning a paycheck is not mine. That is a load off and stress reliever.

5. I get to govern my day. I am not limited to before work hours or after work hours. We all agree that days go by fast and I am thankful that all the things I want to get done (including laundry, visiting, appointments, schooling, playing, cleaning, relaxing, being creative, shopping, etc) are not forced around my work schedule. My kids are able to be part of all sorts of social engagements and sports and music, etc. that don’t cut into evening time because I can take them during the day. All these things BECOME my schedule—according to MY needs, MY desires for my family and MY privileged availability. I feel freedom in managing my whole day, every day.

5 challenging things about being a SAHM

1. There is an organizational and prioritizing requirement that takes diligence in being a SAHM. Someone once told me they couldn’t stay at home or homeschool their kids because they would become lazy and selfish. Yes, I agree that this can become a danger. I don’t live for just myself. As I said earlier, I live for God, my husband and my children. Since I know my purpose in life and have definitive goals, it is easier to stay focused and not lose sight of my duties and responsibilities. I do, however, find myself with too many lazy and/or unproductive days at times. It’s these times that I am the most disorganized and have my priorities out of proper alignment for too long. Like I said earlier, being free to do whatever I want is a bonus, but it can become destructive if I am not diligent in pursuing the right things.

2. Getting private time is rare. Since I homeschool, being at home means being with my kids alllllll day. Some SAHM’s send their kids to school, so have more flexibility to find alone time. As much as I enjoy being around my husband (I really do) and as much as I enjoy being around my children (I really do), I sometimes need to be by myself. I have to be creative during the day if I need a break. I take my kids to my doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, errands…they are always with me. Always being with me in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, it’s what I want. It just makes it hard when I need solitude or a moment to myself. It can be done, though!

3. There are expectations of SAHM’s to prove their worth in society. It is one of those things that can (if I’m not careful) cause insecurities about choosing to stay home. Being confident, prayerful and motivated often combats the sting of the stigma. But often I feel like I should be prepared with clear, lofty, beautiful explanations when I’m in conversation with businesswomen just in case they ask me any questions about what the heck I do all day.

4. Finances can be tricky. We don’t have nearly as much spending money as when we both worked. It takes longer to pay off debt with not as much money coming in. Going out to dinner doesn’t happen as regularly (of course, this could be on the Great list and not just the Challenge list). Having only one income forces families to live more within their means. Having a double income can, not always, but can cause us to go deeper in to debt or live just outside of what we can truly afford. We make a LITTLE bit more, but we spend a LOT more. It’s the American way. I understand that some families could not afford to live on one income and need the double income.

5. However, another challenge for moms who stay home but want to work, is finding that awesome job. I mentioned earlier that I used to work for a publishing company. I was able to write, proofread and edit from my home, on my own time. I was able to incorporate work time with nap time. My friend and I are creating a children’s book that will one day make us millionaires. Or maybe just thousandaires. Either way, we’ll probably pull in some dough allowing us to be financial contributors. It also gives us the satisfaction of doing something productive outside the home using our skills, gifts and talents. So why is this on the challenge list? It can be a tough to find that right opportunity to allow a mom to stay home AND work. But if you want to work, keep looking! Many moms do it and find it is essential to staying well balanced in life. I encourage the Proverbs 31 woman in all of us and strive to be like her, too. I know that even though it’s hard to figure out how that is going to look for each of us, it can be done!

What about you? What are some other great things about staying home? What are other challenges?
I’m sure there are great things about being a working mother and if you blog about it, be sure to leave me a comment so I can go check it out. Remember, my list is not a comparison about why I think it’s best to be a SAHM, but rather, 5 great things for ME and why I want to be a SAHM.

Listen

2010-01-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

This morning as I lay in my super duper comfortable king size bed, all cozy and well rested from a full night sleep, I became aware of a sound outside. An irritating sound that did not coincide with my dreamy environment.

Men yelling.
Machinery.
Shovels scraping the concrete.

All of it offended my senses as I adjusted my pillow and stretched my body and wished the annoying racket would all stop.

Right then my husband texted me from work and said "Watch the main video on CNN."

Grabbing my fuzzy robe and sipping a drink of water that sat right there on my nightstand, I headed to the computer.

I watched the emotional video of a Haitian women being rescued, pulled from a collapsed bank after having been buried for 6 days. Completely hidden from the sun, completely out of sight from everyone.

But out of sight does not mean out of mind. For her husband made it to the rubble and knew that his bank-teller wife had to be there and he prayed she was alive. Most men hanging around that area are looking for money, not survivors.

6 days after the earthquake, after removing just the right rock, Husband called into the small dark hole, "Jeanette? Are you there?"

Yes! She is thirsty, in pain, and alive! She calls out words of love to her husband and everyone jumps into action.

Jeanette begins to hear the most beautiful sounds she has ever hoped to hear in her life.

Men yelling.
Machinery.
Shovels scraping the concrete.

I went downstairs to be with my children as they ate their breakfast.
Standing at the kitchen sink watching the men across the street cutting down a tree, I listed to the racket they made....and it was beautiful music.

Thankfulness

2010-01-16T17:40:00.001-08:00

Like you, I have been immersed in the earthquake tragedy.

Everyday I see agony, pain, death.

I see my children's faces in the faces of the children on the news reports.

The resemblance hits home.

I find myself with such a gut-wrenching feeling of misery for the people there.

However, I also find myself with such huge heart felt thankfulness to the global reaction to donate, help and rescue.

Every time I see or hear of another organization (there are soooo many!) giving a percentage of the profit, or a collection being taken, or any effort of any kind by anyone....I stop and say "Awesome. Thank You."

I'm thankful to America who is Number 1 in donations to Haiti right now.

I'm thankful to the small groups and bible studies who pray and give.

I'm thankful to people like George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, the Trail Blazers, Madonna and so many other multi-millionaires who are giving to Haiti.

I'm thankful for Haitians helping Haitians. So many news reports show civilians uncovering buried civilians. One gentleman spent 3 days buried and after he got out, went out and started digging.

I'm thankful to our adoption agent LeAnne who has been sending updates from Dr. Bernard to let us know he and his wife are okay, and that the children at the orphanage are all okay.

I'm thankful to Bryn (who has spent months in Haiti) who keeps her Facebook status current with the information to which she is privy. She is still working on finding out from Dr. B where, exactly, the kids are as they are relocating them to safer structure. She's also trying to confirm the welfare of the staff at the agency. Keep trying, Bryn.

I'm thankful to the birth father, who selflessly allowed his children to leave his country, his home, his arms; to be raised and loved in my country, my home, my arms.

I'm thankful to my friend JulieBeth, an adoptive mother from the orphans of Ethiopia, who gave to the American Red Cross in honor of my girls' birth father and other children at the orphanage.

I'm thankful to my husband who gave his money and his blood to help.

I'm thankful for my 5 year old daughter who prayed and thanked God that when she gets to heaven, she will see her birth mother again.

I'm thankful to my mother who remembers that life renews itself and babies are still being born.

I'm thankful to my brother-in-law, who's missionary heart compelled him to call and ask for specific things to pray for while he worked.

I'm thankful to my friend Tiffany, an adoptive mother from the needs in the USA, who encourages others to adopt.

I'm thankful to those who have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father who pray without ceasing. He hears. Keep praying.

All this giving... it too, hits home.

Please, leave a comment and tell me what YOU are thankful for.

Tragic Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

This is the Presidential Palace
Before and After

We don't have much more information that what is being reported on the news. I follow several blogs of those who already have or are going through an adoption. I also follow blogs of US Missionaries and Aid Relief workers, etc. I've been relying on those blogs for information on orphanages and hospitals that I can't find on the news.

My heart goes out to all you in the middle of the process- waiting, reading, praying, to find out if your children are alive. Lord, please be with them. All of them. Amen.

I've learned that all the HFC and NLL kids are OK! These are the kids my daughters lived with for 2 years at the orphanage. I'm sooooo thankful to learn all of them are accounted for.

Dr. Bernard, his wife and the staff at his house have also been accounted for, but the staff at his office smack dab in Port-au-Prince are still unaccounted for. The agent who helped us through the adoption process told me that Dr. Bernard, the 69 year old director of the orphanage, had to jump from a 2nd story window of the Mayor's office.

I wish I was with Anderson Cooper right now. CNN is doing a fabulous job of reporting. I'm saddened to see the death toll will likely reach 100,000. Bodies being pulled from rubble. Inmates escaping collapsed jail. Hospitals crumbling. Anguished voices from within the debris growing silent.

Please, I encourage you to join with my family in donating in anyway that you can to help a country that was already in desperation. I'm hoping that this tragedy could be the thing that finally turns Haiti around. May foreign governments come in and help rebuild a country that so desperately needs direction, honest officials, water, clean agriculture and prayer.

We will likely not be able to find out if the girls' biological father survived the earthquake.

Facebook Bra Color

2010-01-08T16:34:00.001-08:00

So there's this thing going around the land of FaceBook where women are to put the color of their bra as their status update. That's it, just the color. It apparently started out as a Breast Cancer Awareness thing. As most of those chain type games do, it evolved into something different; a sexy sort of game to drive men crazy. That was even one of the updates I saw: "Forward this on to girls only and lets drive the guys crazy!" And then today it morphed into a whole new game stating: Our bra colors worked so well, now put a status update depicting your hair style:
Give it to me straight
On top
Wild and messy

Now, I'm not mad at anyone who included me in this tag nor am I offended at all the colors of bras being thrown around the world wide web. However, since I'm pretty sure %99 of my readers are women (hi dad) please keep this in mind --

Do you really want other men picturing you in your red bra? Because they did.

See, there's another thing -- Maybe it was different for you, but I saw oodles of ladies posting their bra colors and not ONE of them was white. Seriously, not one. I did, however, see more than one red, pink, black, blue, lace, light blue and green. So either that's a huge coincidence or everyone wanted the image of themselves to be far prettier (or sexier) than just a plain old white bra. Which tells me that YES everyone really was mindful of that fact that others would be thinking of them in their bra.

What was the last thing they were thinking when they saw the word BLUE on a facebook status? "Hmmmm, what can I do help find a cure for breast cancer!?"

It seems that the generator of this "game" could have been more honest and said, instead, "Hey, put the color of your bra in your status update, don't tell any guys, and we'll see how long it takes for them to figure it out!" Leave breast cancer out of it.

Or, if it really and truley was intended to bring awareness (and maybe it was, like I said, these games morph), then to have said something like "Hey, put the word PINK in your status update, and for every time you see the word PINK today, go donate a dollar to the Susan G. Komen foundation." Or go give yourself an exam. Or call your mom. Or send flowers to someone you know who has it.

I know that part of bringing a grave and horrible thing to people's mind (such as breast cancer) to help find and fund a cure means getting the message out there. The walks and runs and ribbons and donation centers, etc. are means of doing that. And though I don't go donate my money every time I see a pink ribbon, I have, in fact, donated SOME money and I have run in the Race for the Cure. I haven't pictured women in their colorful bras during this time except maybe when I share grievances with women who will have had a mastectomy and need support.

I don't have breast cancer. Neither does my mom or either of my sisters. I have, though, had skin cancer and am a survivor due to early detection! Thank you, God.

There is a special woman in my life who died of breast cancer in 1994. She was my mom's best friend. My whole family is friends with her husband on facebook and though I don't want to put words in his mouth, I just can't help but think he doesn't feel supported or think that his wife's death has been brought to a better light by having scores of women brag about their cute bras.

Some might argue that I'm being too prissy or don't know how to have fun and that I'm making a big deal over this. We all know that men are visual creatures. I promise you, there are many men on FB that pictured you in that red bra. Probably a married man.

One sweet gal commented that due to the rampant breast cancer all around her family and friends, that these types of things are "motivating". You know I love you, girl! I'm just curious, motivating you to do what? See the positive side? Laugh with those who weep? Awesome! Continue to be motivated! But for underwear games, I say, let's keep it to women only and help the guys keep their minds sober. Let's play a different breast cancer awareness game if guys are included. And let's make sure if it's in the name of 'awareness' that it truly is to become more aware of how to help in anyway shape or form.

Since this post is less about breast cancer and more about modesty, here is a verse I like:

"Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swines' snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. "

But since I am sensitive about the subject of cancer, here's a great stat I found from the American Cancer Society website, and a reminder to all you ladies, give yourself an exam (and have those mysterious moles checked out while you're at it):

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

1. Get serious about a health plan that includes healthful eating and regular exercise. This is on everyone's list, I'm sure.

2. Read the whole Bible in 2010. Thankfully my husband and a girlfriend are doing it with me so we can keep each other accountable. Also, my church just handed out Bible reading charts on Sunday. Convenient!

3. Blog more often. Have you noticed already?

4. Spend more time with 2 certain friends of mine. You know who you are, ladies!

5. Pray earnestly , fervently and daily for the salvation of 4 friends of mine. I love them dearly and want them to experience freedom, peace, unconditional love and eternal life with Jesus.

6. Take a class of some kind to explore and expand my mind/brain (either the artistic side or academic side). Theology? Pottery? Creative writing? Poetry? Debate? Culinary?

7. Become more organized in my daily activities of homeschooling, dinner planning, devotions, etc. Organization is the key to a happy, productive ME.

8. Have people over or dinner more often. Though my timing was bad already. The other night we invited 5 different families over for Pizza and Star Wars and they all turned us down! To be fair, it was last minute and on January 2nd. Everyone was tired.

9. Finish the secret project my BFF and I are working on. Are you excited?

10. Talk to my mother-in-law more often. Love you, MomB.

Speaking of turning 35

2010-01-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm teaching my middle child how to Round.
"So mom," she says, "If we round YOU, you're 40!"
--pause--
"Go to your room, little girl."

(Hey, at least I know she understands the concept!)

December 27, 1974

2010-01-02T20:16:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to my twin sister!

If you're doing the math, that means it's MY birthday, too.

Also, it means we turned 35.

Here we are on our birthday, cheek to cheek.

Love you, sis. Can't wait to meet your baby. Thanks for being my friend.

Since I've been gone oh so long...

2009-12-20T22:41:00.000-08:00

I'll post a cute picture of my kids!

I'm stealing this phrase from a fellow blogger who also has taken a long break from her blog:

"Is it just me or does the first blog post following a long break require all kinds of painful thinking, rethinking, writing, rewriting, and then a final oh-well-ing?"

Thanks, Cathy, that's totally how I'm feeling!

Gifty

2009-12-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

"Now to find his aunt Lovie a birthday present so he could ask her a few questions. The gift was necessary. Among Hayeses, present-giving was both incessant and evanescent;
mounds of gifts were exchanged on every known ceremonial occasion, and it had long been clear to Raleigh that the contents mattered less than the ritual of (sloppily) wrapping and (rapidly) unwrapping as
many little surprise packages as possible.
His daughters, genetically infected, were always disappointed when on their birthday he presented each of them with "one really nice thing." In the continual family potlatch, merchandise rotated, season to season, Hayes to Hayes, without memory, as handy objects lying about junk-jammed houses were offered up, with bright paper slapped round them as "little surprises."
For Valentine's Day, Reba was likely to give Lovie the same brass figurine of an elf under a toadstool that Little Em had given Reba for passing her realtor's exam. There was no true Hayes who would not rather open a surprise grabbing of junk than dollar bills wrapped in wax paper. "

Handling Sin

by Michael Malone

pp 149-150

May your gift giving experience be very much unlike the above quote.

The only thing I appreciate about this passage is the writing style. I read it a couple of times over because I just really liked the way the author described this whole process! Great writing, Mr. Malone. And after meditating on the writing, I stopped and pondered my gift giving with my daughters and with my friends. Gosh, I even had one of those "gasp! Is this describing ME?" moments for a second, but quickly agreed with myself that No, it's not.

Gift giving and Gift getting is not my ultimate love language, but I do usually take care in wrapping a gift (only use bags when at a baby-shower and the mom-to-be has a thousand and one gifts to unwrap). I do appreciate a well wrapped gift when presented and will always comment as sometimes the wrapping and the card are more my favorite than the gift itself! I'm just funny that way.

The gift itself is a hard one for me to purchase. I'm not too terribly creative and sometimes pull my hair out trying to find "the thing" that best describes my desires to say Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas to that particular person. It actually drives me bananas, to tell you the truth. Yeah, again, I'm just funny that way.

Alright, I'm going to end this post rather abruptly, I know, but I'm starting to ramble and long posts scare people and I'll lose readers. Plus, my husband just brought me a bowl of ice cream and it's starting to melt.

I'm thankful for my husband

2009-11-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

Isn't he cute?

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of the holiday...

2009-11-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

...here is my oldest showing her thankfulness for her math homework.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 18, 2009 = Portland

2009-11-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

This is my twin sister, Jenny and Me. Don't we look exactly alike? Not. I'm not even sure we're really twins. Okay, I'm pretty sure we are due to that whole 'she came out of my mother 7 minutes after I did' thing.

Anyway, here we are in my 8 passenger SUV headed to visit my little sister, Abby. Jenny is Abby's doula. On Wednesday, November 18th, we got the call that Abby was in labor! Since it is November and there are mountain ranges to cross, and Jenny is 5+ pregnant, she gladly accepted a suggestion that we go pick her up and travel together.

We rotated who had to ( I mean GOT to) sit by kids, who drove, who slept, etc. There was always 2 adults in front, 2 adults in the middle, and the kids shifted around as kids are wont to do. Especially since this was our itinerary:

Portland to Redmond = 3 hours
Redmond to La Grande = 5 hours
Pit stops and drive-thrus added 1 hour
Grand total: 9 hours one way.

Then we woke at 6am and did the whole thing again in reverse.
Seriously, 18 hours of driving in about a day and a half.

Say ME if you have the best traveling kids in the whole wide world!

ME! I do! I do! I do!

All four kids (my three plus my nephew whom my wonderful parents are lovingly raising) were sooooo good the entire time! No tears, no complaining, no puking. They played barbies, soldier, coloring, iPoding, and car games

absolutely fabulously.

Here is a picture of my cute parents in the front seat. I know...they don't look old enough to be who they are. You know, grandparents of 11 Gkids!

And finally, though we missed the actual birth because my little sister is a mean birther (determined and a power-pusher), we made it to La Grande and met my newest nephew!

Get ready, you're gonna love his name:

Portland Blaze Lenon

Proud mommy.

Tiny infant son: 5lbs 12 oz

Happy sisters.

Happy Grammy.

3 generations.

Happy Grampy.

Back at the hotel we put the kids to bed and convened outside in the hallway for chatting, crosswording, pizza eating bonding.

Conversations are different when we're not crammed in a car breathing each others breath and listening to children make up jokes.

Sadly, due to the H1N1 hospital rules, children under the age of 18 are not allowed inside. So Mason, proud big brother, was not allowed to meet his little pal.

So the next morning at 6:45am, as the snow fell, Mase waved from the parking lot up to his 1 day old brother and tired mother. Bittersweet.

Welcome to the world, Portland Blaze. You have so much love surrounding you by this family, it's beyond belief. It's powerful.

A date with Amy

2009-11-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Amy and I went out on Saturday, just the two of us. Husband took Yolanta and Katie to the beach for the whole day...everyone had fun.

The first place Amy and I went was Starbucks. We each got a Chai Vanilla Latte and I'm mad at myself for not taking a picture of the two of us sitting there like girlfriends chatting the morning away over our drinks.

Amy and I have been painting pottery for years. It's one of her favorite things to do and we used to do it several times a year before the girls got home. We introduced it to Yolanta and Katie and they love it, too! So Amy and I decided to go again on our date.

We painted a bowl and she picked out all the colors and design... we were supposed to share the painting part of it, too, but somehow she ended up doing most of it (which of course was how I wanted it!)

I love her concentration on her rainbow stripes.

Look how long her hair is!

And look how OLD she looks!

She's only 8 and she's a small 8...but in this pictures she seems 10 or 12.

wwwaaaahhhhhhh

Cute smiles.

We then went to the mall. She's a natural shopper, this girl is!

This is her current favorite store: Claire's.

Admiring how she looks in the mirror. Especially with her newly pierced ears!

Yes, we bought the hat. Who could say no to this girl?

Then we had lunch at her food court restaurant of choice: Panda Express. Amy was born on the wrong continent I'm sure because she could eat Asian food evey day!

Then we went and had free samples of See's Candy and I love that the first thing she said was "Can we buy some for my sisters?"

So we did.

Now brace yourself....

Look how looooonnnnngggg her hair is!

She wanted a change and despite the fact I asked her 1,842 times "Are you SUUUURE???" she wanted to chop it.

She wanted ME to chop MINE, too. I was really close to agreeing, you guys. I mean, I really contemplated it. But I just am not ready. And if you're not ready to make a drastic change, don't do it!

(Right Hillory?)

This was the initial WHACK that the stylist did before washing it. I actually like it THIS length as it looks very cute on her. But no, Amy wanted to keep cutting. Sheesh!

Such a grown up feeling to get your hair washed by a professional, eh?

This picture is my favorite. Why? Because she looks exactly like me, here, when I was 8.

Right mom?

Amy specifically used the words A-Line when talking with the stylist. She even said "I don't want a bob."

She must hear me talking about hair styles enough to have picked up the correct lingo!

Oh my gosh. Her face!

{me kissing screen}

So short in back! And just look at that face. Total genuine smile. She loves it.

Stopping by that fancy dress store in the mall -- just for fun.

"Oooh, I like this one."

"Where would you go if you had this dress on?"

"Which dress looks best with short hair?"

AbFab!

She is such a sweet and tender hearted girl.

I love her beyond measure.

She is a lover of God, a lover of people, a lover of books and a lover of goodness. She knows Jesus personally and has a maturity that surprises me daily.

She's emotional and deep. But at the same time silly and spunky.

The way she has embraced the adoption and made Yolanta and Katie feel loved-- moves me.
The relationships she forms with her sisters, her mother, her father and her friends are genuine and meaningful.

Joy is her middle name and she brings it, makes it, inspires it and shares it.

What a treasure she is. Thank you, God, for the gift of my daughter Amy Joy.

Letters to Soldiers on Vetran's Day

2009-11-11T21:11:00.000-08:00

My girls attend AWANA and a couple weeks ago they were asked to write letters to soldiers and bring them back the following week to be mailed out to the troops.

I reminded the girls of their assignment and a little while later they returned to me with these letters. I was on the phone with my mom at the time and read them aloud to her and it brought tears to her eyes.

Indeed, I pray these letters brings hope to the brave soldiers fighting for peace, justice and freedom in this war-torn world.

The pictures do not do justice (because I took them with my phone instead of my camera).
I'll write it out for you (complete with misspellings).

This first one is from Yolanta.
It reads:
Dear soldiers i hope you wont get hurt i hope that you win.
Yolanta
(with a million little hearts everywhere)

This second one is from Amy.
It reads:

Dear Soldier.
How are you?
Thank you for fighting for america! I am sure you are srong, brave, fathful. I pray you win.
Amy Joy Penn
(With a big heart surrounded by little hearts.

Sooo wonderful.
Sooo tender.
Sooo adorable.

10 on the Tenth

2009-11-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

It's Ten on the Tenth!

I started this last month from this here bloggy friend.

Okeedoke.

1. There are soooooo many blog posts I want to write that I find myself avoiding my blog. Does that make sense to anyone but me?

2. I want to hold Sarah's twins. There are bizarre phenomenons that happen in the lives of twins and I get this fuzzy neat feeling whenever I'm with them. Don't forget people, I am a twin!

3. Homeschooling my children is easy. But only when it's not hard. Much of the time it is hard. But that's only when it's not easy. I'm not sure what's more challenging: educating my children now that they are getting smarter and smarter and require considerably more than "The opposite game" or "Can you find the letter E?" Or perhaps it's getting harder because I now have three children instead of one child. And they all three have a different learning style and they are all at three different academic stages.

4. The love of my life, much of you know it's name as COFFEE, is starting to betray me. Is it my age? Is it too much of a good thing? My menstral cramps seem more severe when I drink caffeine, and my stomach seems more sensitive to the acidic wonderfulness. I've been drowning in tea as of late to test my suspicions.

5. Thanksgiving will be held at my house this year. It was a crazy idea that swept over me 2 days ago and now I feel a little scrambley. Confident and excited with a hint of frantic panic not far from my nerves.

6. Husband and I went to bed at midnight last night and found ourselves talking in the dark till 2:00am. Tears and laughter, prayer and hand-holding. I don't care how tired I was today, it was worth every second.

7. We might, just might, be putting our house on the market. It's in the early stages of still thinking about it, and we don't even know where we would go if it sold. But I'm feeling the winds of change blowing and it was confirmed with a peace of being willing to let go of my beloved house that I know you all know how much I love.

8. Last week I had the opportunity to hang out with 2 new lady friends. One came over to my house all afternoon and she was intrigued about the life and experiences of an adoptive family. So either I freaked her out or sparked a serious interest. We'll see. The other friend I went over to HER house for the afternoon and turns out we have lots in common and will probably grow to be fast friends. I'm excited to see where both these new friendships are headed.

9. I have zero upper body strength. I can do, quite literally, three push-ups. Sakes alive I'm weak! My long time ago friend but current facebook friend Sarah B sent me a link to go for the Hundred Push-Up Training Plan. Think I'll start that...tomorrow.

10. I'm off to take a bubble bath and read a book. Doesn't that sound divine!?

Hearing is NOT overrated.

2009-11-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

Remember this post about the fact that I have elf ears, and then later I determined that I had elephant ears? Funny, it was almost exactly one year ago.

Well apparently only the outside of my ears are big.

Let me back up...

I have a cold right now. I've had it for a week or so. Coughing, headache, sinus-y issues. Nothing I can't handle. Until Saturday, Halloween.

My ear plugged up. And I mean REALLY plugged up. I'm sure anyone who saw me walking around must have thought I was on a self-prescribed jaw exercise regime -- or that I was trying to catch flies. I kept opening my mouth and pulling on my earlobe trying to unplug my ear.

It never unplugged and sound was diminishing.

Sunday morning I felt completely deaf in my right ear and started to have visions of me wearing a hearing aid and learning ASL.

Plus I still had this nasty cold where I lost my voice and had a dry cough every 90 seconds.

My mother-in-law was educated in the medical field and instructed me to go see an Ear Nose and Throat doctor right away before I permanently lost my hearing.

I took her advice and called first thing Monday morning. Of the 3 that were covered by my insurance and in my close-ish vicinity, the soonest I could get in was today, Tuesday morning at 9:30am. Thanks, Rachey, for watching my girls.

The ENT started looking around in there and decided to flush my ear to clean it. He used an ice-pick and hammer and it made me cry out in pain! So he switched to a toothpick and just kept jabbing away. He finally used a needle to scrape and finish the job.

Okay, so these are not the technical medical terminology for the instruments, but that's what it FELT like. Seriously, I had tears running down my cheeks it hurt so bad.

Apparently I have teeny-tiny ear canals.

The good doc said he has never seen such tiny ear canals on an adult before and had to use pediatric instruments! Looking at the degree on the wall, he's been doing this for 13 years. In 13 years I'm the first adult patient needing kid tools? I must be really special. Specially deformed.

Turns out I also have (and I quote) a shelf in my ear that blocks part of the canal. I'm having a hard time even visualizing that. A shelf? Are there books on it?

So with the combo of having wee ear canals, a shelf and mucus flowing through my sinuses from this cold, my ear was easily plugged up and blocked with lovely (disgusting) debris. Utter deafness.

I can't begin to tell you how bad it hurt to remove it. The water flush felt okay, if not super loud and a lot like a tidal wave in my head, but the scraping literally made me cry like a girl. And gave me a headache.

I'm on prescription ear drops to help my ear heal from all the scraping and avoid infection. Though my ear hurts a bit, I CAN HEAR! In fact, when I started talking to the doctor in the operating room---okay, doctor's office---I sounded funny even to myself because I could hear my voice from both ears! And there was no muffely sound accompanied by it. Fabulous!

Don't stick a Q-tip in your ear by the way.
And if you have miniture ear canals, I'll be seeing you at the ENT for the recommended twice yearly flushing. We can get coffee afterwards.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T22:09:00.001-07:00

We're not huge Halloween fans around here...avoiding witches and ghosts and all things scary.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, lovely, admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

We do not sacrifice our children or try to summon the dead. eesh.

Deuteronomy 18: 10-12

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or consults the dead. Anyone who does these is detestable to the Lord.

We do, however, carve pumpkins, dress up in happy costumes and head to the Harvest party at church!

Amy dressed as a cheerleader (which I can totally see her being when she's older), Yolanta as Sharpay (from Highschool Musical) and Katie was a princess (of course).

Doesn't Yolanta look JUST LIKE her?

Ahem.

All in all it was a fun holiday, except that I was SICK. Still am, actually. So I didn't get to go to the harvest party at church but I hear it was pretty awesome. Husband took the girls and they came home pumped up on sugar, bags full of candy and laughing their little heads off.

Grandpa

2009-10-26T17:18:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days, where you woke up thinking about your grandpa because he died exactly one year ago?

I have. It's today.

Also, we attended a funeral today. So that made me think about him even more.

And then I read a blog post of a lady who was in the process of adopting a baby girl from Haiti, but the baby died before the adoption was finalized - one year ago today. So I left a comment that maybe her baby was sitting on my grandpa's knee while Jesus told them a story.

I love you Grandpa. I miss you.
I love you Grandma, and I'm sorry your husband is gone.

I love you dad, and I'm sorry your hero and best pal is gone.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Last year.

Be Brief, Brother, Be Brief

2009-10-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

12 points are a lot to cover in a 40 minute sermon.
But Pastor Phil did it and did it well!
He of course stuck to his seminary teaching of the 5 B's.
(I'm quoting Pastor Phil here!)
Be brief, brother, be brief.

A Jesus Church...

1. imitates Jesus

2. is Spirit filled

3. is evangelistic

4. is a holy church

5. is serving

6. is expectant of Christ's return

...hey, are these things true of my own life, too?

Servants of Jesus...

1. endure hardships
2. live to please God
a) Do your feelings get hurt easily?
b) Do you crave appreciation?
c) Do you long for recognition?
d)do you struggle with obscurity?
3. lead by example
4. are tender hearted
5. are hard workers
6. are great encouragers

...am I a servant of Jesus?

These 12 points were found from:
1 Thessalonians Chapter 1 Verses 5-10 and Chapter 2 Verses 1-12

10 on the Tenth

2009-10-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

I read this blog as I like her "every day" kind of feel. She hosts a 10th on the 10th that I think I'll start being a part of. If I remember.

Okay... it's pretty simple.

List 10 things on the 10th of the month.

Some ladies do themes like "10 things I love about my husband" or "10 things I hope to do with my kids" or "10 things I complain about." Well, no one has ever done that (that I've seen) but wouldn't it be sinfully fun to do?

This is an especially special day to start because it's the 10 month of the year!

Yeah, I'm nerdy like that.

My list theme is going to be Ten Random Things. Which, secretly, means I have no theme.

I also have no pictures this go'round. But that will hopefully change starting November 10th.

Here we go!

1. Ten rooms in my house that need to be vacuumed.

Yes, I have been blessed with a big house (that I LOVE by the way).

1a) Family room

2a) Dining room

3a) Formal living room

4a) Husband's home office

5a) Amy & Yolanta's shared bedroom

6a) My and husband's bedroom

7a) Katie's bedroom

8a) Guest bedroom

9a) Homeschool room

10a) The hallways/stairs

Never mind needing to sweep and mop the kitchen and bathrooms!

2. Ten times I have checked Molly's blog today to see if she has posted a sneak preview into the photos she took of my family.

3. Ten times I have called my sister today. And I think she has called me 10 times which makes 20 times I have talked to my sister on the phone. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. Not allllll days are this phone incessant, but today was. Oh my gosh, IS! She just called me again. We're twins so she probably knew I was talking about her.

4. Ten little fingernails I wish I had repainted. As I've mentioned, we had family photos taken today. My 8 year old had chippy florescent yellow fingernails! Yikes.

5. Ten times I have looked at my cell phone wondering if maybe I've missed The Call. You see, my friend Sarah is pregnant with twins and I have been honored with the task of photographing the delivery! I don't care if they don't let me in (she might have a c-section) my camera and I will be there!

6. Ten times I have talked to God today. This isn't an actual exact count so maybe it's not valid. It's probably more. I offer up little prayers and talk to my Creator all day long. I love God.

7. Ten minutes I have spent trying to think of something to put for #7. This list is harder than I thought it would be. And I've got a random theme going...seems like it would have been easier. It's hard.

8. Ten miles. Ten miles is a long way to run. But guess what? I used to be able to run ten miles quite well. I've run it several times. I've run marathons and half marathons. Ten miles was part of my training. But, sadly, I have not run in months. MONTHS. Seriously, I wonder if I can even run for 10 minutes. And 10 minutes is about how long it takes me to run ONE mile. Ten tears streaming down my cheek now.

9. Ten days left till my book club night. I love book club night. My BFF and I go together, it's walking distance from my house, and the book we're reading is FANTASTIC! Here's a picture of the book. It's called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. I recommend it!

10. Ten minutes I sat and listened to my daughter practice the piano. I adore her 8 year old playing and hope she continues to play for 10x10 more years. The other 20 minutes of her practice I couldn't hear very well because I was giving my 5 year old a bath. But during those 10 minutes I soaked in every note.

That's it! Gosh, it's just after TEN o'clock. That almost counts for another one!

I almost cried a little.

2009-10-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

There was a 20 year old in my house today.
She is gorgeous.
A college student.

As I am asking questions about her and getting to know her (what 20 year old doesn't love to talk about themselves!?) she begins to tell me about a guy.

Of course.

"But," she says, "he's old."

"Oh really?" I prompt.

"Yeah, he's like in his early 30's."

October 5, 2001

2009-10-05T23:52:00.000-07:00

My little Amy Joy turned 8 years old today.
And to celebrate, we took her to get her ears pierced!

I have so much to say about Amy and the beautiful person God has created her to be and will post on that soon. Very soon.

But for now, enjoy these pictures of the day she put holes in her ears.

I love you, Amy! Happy Eighth Birthday.

Hats and Harmony

2009-10-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

I love the sound of harmony. The Anderws Sisters have that classic 1930's sound and it's filled with 3 part harmony. This 7 minute Disney cartoon was one of my FAVE-orite cartoons when I was little. And now my girls love it, too.

It's catchy and jingly and you'll be singing it for days.
Rated E for everyone.

September 26, 1955

2009-09-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my daddy!

Here is his blog to check out his post about the advancement in cars, computers, phones and TV's since he's been born. It's a fun post.

Dad, I love you.

You are inspiring, loving, friendly and confident.

You are super, is what you are!

(This was supposed to be published yesterday, you know ON his birthday)

MVA Update

2009-09-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

Doc said not to run yet.

I won't have that long of a wait, though. Within the next month or so. Yay!

I'm feeling pretty great, really, but am pained with neck strain, a few headaches and a confusion about things now and then.

I'm confident that my health plan is the right one with the natural remedies and acupuncture and prayer.

Thank you so much for the comments, emails and concern. You guys are AbFab. :)

My friend Angela is doing well, too. She has ailments and issues regarding her neck like me, and is on a great path of recovery that her ND has come up with. Love you, Ang!

MVA

2009-09-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Motor Vehicle Accident
That's what that stands for.
And that's what I was in last weekend.

I've been hinting at it on Facebook this past week with vague clues as my status.

Whiplash.
Concussion.
Doctor visits.

You see, it was my BFF's birthday last Sunday, so on Saturday night I gave her the customary gift card to Starbucks (that's how we take care of each other on our birthday's) and took her out for NW Portland window-shopping and Fondue dinner. Wonderful!

Don't we look laffy!?

So far so good.

It was 10:00 pm and the night was over (remember in our 20's when the night BEGAN at 10?)and I was driving her back to her car.

There was a car in the middle of the highway (for you locals, it was I-405 SB) stopped with it's right blinker on! He had apparently missed his exit to head over to PDX or to OMSI or wherever he wanted to go and was trying to get over.

Isn't it in the top 10 rules of driving that if you make a mistake in your navigation and miss an exit, that you just have to pay the price and go down to the next one? I mean, stopping in the middle of the interstate when the cars around you are going 50 (or some people who don't realize it's slower at that stretch could be going the usual 55+) and you try to stop, blink and get over? Wow.

So the car directly in front of me slowed and actually had to swerve out of the way so as not to hit him. I was aware of the whole situation and with my hands on the wheel at 10&2 (for real, that's how I drive) I slowed my car waaaaaaaaay down. No screeching, no swerving, no fishtailing, no freaking out. Just slowed my car down to avoid crashing into the car in front of me.

The 20-some year old girl driving her dad's BMW behind me, however, did not slow down.

She crashed into my car so hard that the rear-view mirror came off.

The airbag did not deploy and I understand it's because it was a rear-end impact and not a head-on collision. Had I been pushed into anything, I'm sure I would have had my face in an airbag.

But the car in front of me proceeded forward and I never saw him again.

After calling 911, ODOT came-police did not. Since we were not obstructing traffic (we were pretty much on the side of the road at this point) and since no one needed to seek medical attention at the scene, cops weren't dispatched. This is mysterious to me because what if the girl who hit me was intoxicated!? (Or me, for that matter--I was not!). How would that be determined? It wouldn't be! We will never know if she was under the influence at the time of the accident.

So, after experiencing pain and dizziness and other accident-like symptoms, I went to the Doctor. So did my passenger. We both suffered a concussion and the affects of Shock.

I have other pains and issues related to my ribs and shoulders and neck and spine and head and am seeking care for those by a trusted doctor.

Acupuncture, Chiropractic adjustment and Homeopathic remedies are my friends right now.

One of my FB status updates was this: Claim numbers, case numbers, insurance companies, phone menus, tow truck companies, rental car companies, doctor appointments...I've been on the phone for a week!

My brother-in-law commented: I'm just glad you were not in the hospital for a week!

So true. Thank you, Rog, for reminding me that it could have been so much worse. I'm very thankful Angela and I were not hurt more than we were. Not to minimize our pain and suffering, because what we're going through really does hurt and it SUCKS. But thank you, God, we are alive.

My friend who has not (yet) given her life to God, recently asked me about Jesus and if I thought about Him during hard times. I told her YES, I couldn't even consider going through hard times without the peace and comfort He brings.

My running partner Donna wants us to do the Portland 5k Run Like Hell in October. Is it safe to train? Will I hurt my body to run? It's only 3 miles, but still. I have vertebrae issues now! I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday and will ask him.

Part of me says "oh, it wasn't really THAT bad of an accident."

But it's left me emotional about things, a smidgen scared about driving and a little crazy feeling. So that makes me think that yeah, it was bad.

My pastor pointed out 3 things about Mary today and how we should emulate our lives like her.

1) she went to the feet of Jesus for instruction-
Even though her sister Martha was busy making dinner, Mary knew where she should be.
2) she went to the feet of Jesus for comfort-
When her brother Lazarus died. Jesus wept! (even though He was to bring him back to life)
3) she went to the feet of Jesus for worship-
She poured expensive perfume over his feet (she gave her best to Him)

Just like I told my friend, I will sit at the feet of Jesus for instruction on how best to handle this accident, my health, my time, my healing.
I will sit at the feet of Jesus for comfort when I am hurting, frenzied, crazy feeling and when I think about my friend who is also hurt.
I will sit at the feet of Jesus for worship and thank Him that I am alive, that Angela is alive, that the driver of the vehicle is alive. That we can walk. That we didn't spend a week in the hospital!

Photo Caption Request

2009-09-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

My 5 year old Katie.

Practice Hospitality. Romans 12:13

2009-09-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

I live in Portland, my twin sister lives in Redmond.
3 hours drive.

The weather is lovely because it's hot and sunny in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter. Not a lot of rain. It's desert-like out in the country. There are real live cowboys walkin' around. Sunriver resort is just around the corner. Bend is half an hour away with all the chic shops and cute yuppie houses.

The whole area has that Small Town feel that makes me feel like I own the place since I know where everything is.

Then there's my brother-in-law who is an AbFab cook and whips up yumminess in the kitchen whenever I'm there. And then there's my 3 beautiful nieces who crack me up with their wonderful, unique personalities. Oh, and did I mention my twin sister? Yeah. She's the main reason I come.

Smith Rock. This is a really fun place to hike and spend the day. It's about a 15 minute drive from my sister's driveway!

Another homeschooling pro: we can come and stay here anytime of the year! My sis homeschools her kids, and our kids are the same age. Field trips and cousins makes multiplication and Oregon history not even seem like work. :)

Little Girl (Happy then Sad)

2009-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

I snapped this picture from my iPhone the other day.
Here is my 7 year old Amy after eating TCBY.

Frozen Yogurt
Reading comics
Jelly bracelets
Pigtails

Could she be any more 7 years old?

I love it.
I'm pretty sure this is what I looked like when I was a little girl, too.

Enjoy this picture.

I am so sad.

I googled jelly bracelets to maybe link to a fun page.

I had forgotten something that I once heard about. The pages I was taken to were not fun. I don't even advise you, the reader, to google it. It's x-rated in content.

I used to wear these bracelets when I was little and never did they mean anything sexual. They meant fun and friendship and cool and neat; the same reasons my innocent daughter is wearing them.

I'm disgusted that someone stole the right for me to comfortably let my children wear these around town.

Proverbs 3:32

For the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

3 Word Prayer

2009-08-22T14:35:00.001-07:00

I absolutely loved this post and was inspired enough to copy her idea.

Initially I had a long and detailed blog posting about the differences in prayer.
The lengthy, the quickened, the needs, the thanks, the requests, etc.

But erased it all.
Like the 3-word prayer, sometimes just getting to the point is sufficient.

Here is my 3 Word Prayer:

Please heal Jill.

What's yours?

hair Hair HAIR

2009-08-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

If you're friends with me on FaceBook, then most of these pictures will be re-runs.

I've been working with my girls' hair and have been getting increasingly better at it. I honestly pray over their heads and over my ability to give them pretty hair. Hey, I need all the help I can get! And it's super important to me that my ethnic children have pretty hair.

"Hair is the richest ornament of women." Martin Luther

Here is Yolanta's hair that I did one Sunday morning.
Cute, huh!?

And here is Katie's hair all poofy and fluffy and adorable ready for church.
I just love it like this.

I can't do those gorgeous corn-rows, however.

My girlfriend Rachel went to a ballet recital or softball game or SOMETHING and there was a little brown cutie with adorable hair. My friend asked the mother (whom Rachey did not even know) if she did her daughter's hair and the lady said "No way! Weedor did it for me."

So Rach thought of me and my needs and got Weedor's information.

I called this mysteriously named lady and found she only lives about 5 miles from my house. Not being a confident driver, she asked if I could pick her up and bring her back to my house to do the hair session. Having laundry to fold, homeschooling so accomplish and a new book to read (The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf), I gladly went to get her instead of spending the day at HER house.

It's amazing how skilled these black women are at manipulating these teeny tiny curls into position. I'm always mystified and awe struck! I gawked on with my jaw open as she whipped out these perfectly straight parts and braided microspic sized portions of hair. I sometimes have a hard enough time trying to find the scalp let alone fashion the hair into a kazillion braids!

I made "hmph" sounds while Weedor giggled at my astonishment.

It's part of her culture. Part of her upbringing. It is for most black women all over the world.

I even remember photos of my girls in the orphanage and several pictures showed teens braiding kids' hair in the background.

Even my Yolanta and Katie knew how to braid when I went and visited them in Haiti back when they were only 3 and 5 year's old. I brought little dollies and hair ties and the first thing they did was rip out the store manufactured rubber-banded braids and re-braided them and put lots and lots of hair scrunchies and rubber-bands in their hair. They were practically born with the skill.

It took 3 hours for Yolie's hair to be braided.

It took 3 hours for Katie's hair to be braided.

It took 20 minutes for Amy's hair to be braided.

Yes, she was at my house all.day.long.

Weedor is from Liberia. I'm guessing she is about 35 years old. During a war that broke out, she, her husband and their 1 year old son took refuge in another country. Through connections they were able to get to the states. That was 15 years ago.

All their family still live in Liberia. There is still war there, too. She indicates it's very dangerous and very sad and she fears for her family.

She travels every year to visit her mother and siblings.

Weedor also sends the exact same amount of money every month for support.

This month she found herself $50 short.

She didn't know where she was going to come up with it even though she and her husband have well paying jobs. They now have 3 children and, like everyone during these hard times, find making ends meet harder and harder to do. Let alone be the major source of income for another family thousands of miles away.

She prayed.

God moved.

I called.

Hi, we don't know each other, but I was wondering if you could braid my daughter's hair for me. I'll pay you! :)

I just love how God works.

I had a little extra cash this month, she needed a little extra cash.

I wanted my girls' hair braided, she had the skills to make it happen.

She is a really neat lady who's name and number I will keep. I see myself being friends with her as I really enjoyed her company. I didn't even read any of my book that day we chatted so much!

I'd also like to call her in the future when I'd like to do something fancy for my girls again. Who knows...maybe it will be at just the right time!

Amy's hair doesn't stay in braids nearly as long so we ended up taking them out just 6 days later. That's okay by me...I don't think she looks as cute with them in as her sisters do. ssshhhhh.

After seeing her hair like this, now she wants a PERM!

I guess I better get used to all this fuss over hair. They are girls, after all!

"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Matthew 10:30

Medika Mamba is Creole for Peanut Butter Medicine

2009-08-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." Mathew 28:19

Haiti.
Oh, beautiful Haiti.
Oh, poor, impoverished, corrupt, Haiti.

Population: 8.5 million
Childhood Mortality: 129 of every 1,000 Haitian children will die before their fifth birthday.

Here is a 3+ minute video about Medika Mamba.

I never went to Mexico to put on a VBS or build a school when I was in High School like a lot of other youth groupers did.

I never spent any time abroad involved with the Peace Corp when I was in my early 20's like a lot of other soul searching and want-to-help-the-world-ers did.

I never felt the call to move my family to a foreign country to spread the Gospel like a lot of other ministry-minded wives do.

I have, however, twice been to Haiti during the process of adopting my daughters.

Having not witnessed extreme poverty before I was 32 years old, traveling to the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere was shocking to me.

It jolted all 5 of my senses. It's been 13 months since I was last in Haiti and images still race through my mind. Neither time I was there was I allowed to go walking the streets of Port-au-Prince or venture out to the country side to gain a better understanding of the country and experience the way of life as it is for a Haitian. I don't know if I really gained a full comprehension of the reality of where and how this country needs help.

It was, of course, for my safety that I had limited and restricted access to go immerse myself in the aftermath of a crumbling, gang infested, strained, civil war-torn country.

But what I DID see and what I DID experience and what I DID understand are these things:

Haiti needs God

Haiti needs good food and clean water

Haiti needs honest politicians

Haiti needs education

Haiti needs relief

I watch documentaries and read books and news reports of the progress of Haiti.

I actively read blogs of other adoptive families and blogs of aid workers and missionaries caring for the people...the children...the country.

Through this blog, and specifically from this post, I have learned about MFK (Meds and Food for Kids). MFK saves the lives of severely malnourished children in Haiti by producing and prescribing Medika Mamba, a Ready to use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

They are implemented through 12 partners that include hospitals, feeding programs, church run medical clinics and housing projects.

Find out more about this awesome organization HERE.

I want to know. I want to help. I want my children (when the time is right) to understand the country from which they've come. I want to instill a desire to help and rehabilitate and spread the Good News. I want my children to come to an understanding that helping, and loving on a hurting, hungry country is important, worthwhile, Biblical.

Now is not the time to go spend my days in Haiti. Perhaps someday my family and I will, indeed, become a part of Haiti in a way that will bring health and healing and help.

What can I do today?

I can pray.
I can donate money.
I can spread the word of the need for help so that you can pray and donate and maybe even Go.

I know there is poverty here in the sates. I know there is extreme poverty all.over.the.globe.
I know people are hurting. Others are helping. Child Sponsorships are happening every single day. Adoptions are happening. Awesome!

My heart is aching for the people of Haiti. Of course. :)
What makes your heart ache?

Pray. Give. Go.

Peanut Butter, for peetsake! That right there saves lives. Will you help?

Photo Caption Request

2009-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the picture, AmyH.

Heaven

2009-07-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we had Randy Alcorn speak at our church on the topic of Heaven.

Randy Alcorn is a really cool guy, author of over 30 books and a phenomenal Bible scholar specializing on the topic of Heaven.

From his website: He is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

His book Heaven is a 480 page book describing what the scriptures tell us we can expect about going to Heaven. It's a fantastic book that I highly recommend. I read it a couple years ago and it literally changed my understanding and my expectations about Heaven. There's so much written in God's word about it, and I'm so thankful that Randy has taken the time to put all the Scriptures and his biblical understanding into a book for me.

I lent my copy to someone who will remain nameless, but I also own the smaller, condensed version. And there is an even smaller version of his condensed version that could slip in a purse or Bible if ever someone wanted a quick reference.

On Facebook a couple months ago I wrote 25 things about me in the Notes section. One of the things I wrote about myself was that I love talking about Heaven and get excited just thinking about it. And why shouldn't I? I want to go someplace where the weather is perfect, the food tastes out of this world delicious, nothing hurts (physically or emotionally), the land is gorgeous, and Jesus is sitting next to me making me and my friends laugh. Wonderful.

Here are a few topics that are covered in his book:

The Present Heaven and Future Heaven
Will Heaven (the new Earth) be an Actual Place?
What Will Heaven Be Like?
What Will We Look Like in Heaven?
What Will We Do for All Eternity?
What Will Our Relationship with God Be Like?
Won't Heaven Be Boring?
Will There Be Animals on the New Earth?
Will We Have Our Own Homes in Heaven?
What Won't Be in Heaven?
Will Time No Longer Exist in Heaven?
Will We Know Everything When We Get to Heaven?
Will We Remember What Happened on Earth?
Can Those in the Present Heaven See What's Happening on Earth?
If People in Heaven Are Aware of Bad Things Happening on Earth, How Could It Really Be Heaven?
Will We Be Reunited with and Recognize Our Loved Ones in Heaven?
Will There Be marriage and Family in Heaven?
How Can We Know For Sure That We'll Go to Heaven?

And let me give you a hint that all the answers to these questions will make you happy.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that Heaven is going to be: ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

I'll see you there! Right? :)

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Bad Boys Bad Boys --- Watcha gunna do when they come for you?

2009-07-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: I feel kinda dorky now.
It wasn't until I read Youthful One's comment that I realized I was interpreting the word Vandalism with Theft. Really. This whole time I've been thinking that they were guarding against THEFT, not graffiti or careless aim jobs by boys, etc.
I'm sorta retracting this post because now I understand.
Sheesh.

I don't get it.
In case you can't read it very well, it says:

Due to continued vandalism, the men's restroom will remain locked. Please see
staff member for key. Thank you for your assistance. We apologize for the
inconvenience.

This is posted at the Redmond Public Library.

Really. I was there last week and took this picture.

But I don't get it. The women's bathroom did not have this sign and was not locked.

Continued vandalism... I'm assuming of books, right? How do they know it is only men stealing books? Are all the books on How to be a Boy missing? And after a gentleman sees a staff member for the key, couldn't he still steal his manly books and walk out with the key, too?

Is someone stealing toilet paper?
Maybe. Times are tough. That would be sad.

And perhaps if someone had to look face to face at a librarian and ask for a key to go in and steal TP, he'd be less inclined to for fear of being recognized later, I guess. Right?

I don't know.
Hm.

I call myself a runner.

2009-07-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Remember I mentioned I had a half marathon coming up?

It was last Saturday on the 4th of Julie. I mean July.

This is the second one I've run this year, actually. I ran a half marathon with my two goody friends Rachel and Donna on May 3rd. We had such a rockin' time training together because we spent hours running roads chatting non-stop, stashing water bottles in bushes, countless emails and fun 3-way calling phone talks. Then the over-nighter of actual race day was hilariously fun.

Here we are on my porch after a nice long run.

Here we are in Eugene after the race and back at our hotel.

Those of you who train for something that requires endurance, persistence, dedication and physical exertion know that having an accountability group makes it sooooo much easier and actually DO-ABLE! Way to go girls, we did it!

However, I was not satisfied with my end time results. I ended up running very poorly and came in at a surprisingly slow pace. I had trained much better than I raced which is backwards! Most people are shocked at how the energy and excitement of race day can make your legs fly down the course and make you feel like you're Speedy Gonzales! And having run many runs (some big some small) I've always done better on actual race day. But with my friends that day, something came over me and I couldn't get my legs to go.

I wasn't sure I was ever going to run another marathon or half marathon but I didn't want to end my running "career" on a slow note. So I set off to run another one 2 months later to beat my time and come in at a more respectable time. Hence, my 4th of July run.

I told Dad about it and he wanted to run it with me! And the awesome thing is that he decided to run it to help me make my goal! He did also want to get off his duff because this multi-marathoner hadn't run in 3 years. So it was a great way for him to get back in to running and help me meet my goal.

He is a great running partner, always positive, constantly telling me stories to keep my mind off my aching body. Distraction is key!

He would meet me at my house at 7am, we'd go for an 8 mile run and then he'd drive straight to work for the next 10 hours. Wow. And we were running at a GREAT pace. Far better than my Eugene pace and an impressive pace for me. I was excited and geared up for the race on the 4th.

However, come race day, try as he might to get me to run faster, I was just dragging. The sun was out early, the heat was setting in, and I just couldn't find my groove. Dad tried all his tricks... jokes, work stories, work gossip, funny stories, pace/goal reminders... at one point he even ran ahead of me with his arm stretched back making me catch up to him. He was a fantastic coach. My body was not cooperating with me.

In the end, I beat my time by 2 only minutes. I wanted to beat it by 5 minutes. Because I know I COULD HAVE. I've run that fast plenty of times before and all through this training. But it didn't happen.

Oh well. I'm not going to let it get me down. Nor do I think I want to run another one this year. I don't think. :)

Dad is planning on running the Portland Marathon this year! Wow.

And look what my cute family did for us! Isn't this sign Absolutely Fabulous!?

We would have been in it every single day.

2009-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

A few years ago when Dad and I were training for the marathon, we would run by a neighborhood pool just a few blocks from my house.

There was never anyone in it.

Granted we started our runs at 7am, so really, who goes swimming in an outdoor pool in Portland at 7am? Even in the summer.

Though it is only a few blocks from my house, I rarely see it because it's tucked in a neighborhood that I don't drive through to get to my house.

I'm running again (have a half marathon this coming Saturday, in fact) and I remembered that pool. So I ran by it and sure enough, no one was in it! And this time it was in the middle of the day on a close to 80 degree day! There SHOULD HAVE BEEN PEOPLE IN IT.

For privacy, I'm going to make up street names here.

The pool is on Maple Dr.

I, too, live on Maple Dr, but on the other side of First St.

First street divides Maple. I'm on the North side, the pool is on the South side. But if I get on my roof, I bet I can see the pool. Or at least the very trees that hide the pool.

So today...a close to 90 degree day...on my way home from an errand, I drove over to the pool.
There was one guy giving swimming lessons to 2 little kids. That's it!

There were plenty of chairs lining the pool, some in the shade, some in the sun. The pool was smallish and only 5 feet deep. Perfect for my 3 little swimmers!

The swim instructor looked at me.

I said:

Hi, is this pool open to the neighborhood? I love on Maple st.

(Remember, the pool is also on Maple st.)

Yes it is, he replied, as long as you live in Shadow Hills. Then you'll be a part of the neighborhood association, pay your dues, they'll give you a key and you're welcome to swim!

Hm.

I stood there trying to look like a Shadow Hills neighborhood association member who has a key in her back pocket, and said: Ok.

He said: Otherwise, you have to be friends with someone in Shadow Hills.

I said "Hi, what's your name? Wanna be friends?"

He chuckled.

I left.

On my way out I noticed a phone number on the pump house.

I used my telegraphic memory (?) to remember the number and promptly dialed it as soon as I got in the car.

On the microspic drive home I called and left a detailed message about how I lived super duper close by the pool, even on the same street but on the other side of First. And if I was willing to pay a due, would they allow me to bring my three young daughters in for a dip in the refreshing pool this summer!?

I tried to be really nice sounding and emphasize my close proximity and that I have three very young children (not roudy, noisy teens!) and that I'm willing to pay... pretty please?

The pool lady called me back within 5 minutes and said: No.

Fine. I didn't want to go swimming in that dumb ol' pool anyway.

Photo Caption Request

2009-06-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

I snapped this cute picture of my 4 year old from my iPhone. I didn't spend any real time centering it or planning anything and it wasn't till I sent it to my email that I noticed

1) There's a horse on the wall
2) She's wearing her big sister's horse shirt
3) There's a horse statue in the bottom right hand corner on the bookshelf

Serendipitous for a photo, I'd say. Imagine how extra cute it would be if I had my good Nikon pointed and planned on capturing all the horseness and that absolutely fabulous face of the little girl in the foreground!

I feel like this needs the perfect Photo Caption or Title. Anyone have any ideas?

Read only if you have 90 seconds to spare...

2009-06-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was driving in my car and I felt inspired.

Creativity seemed to flood my consciousness and I felt an uncontrollable urge to write or sing or dance or heck, make a scrap book or something!

Here I am with C.S. Lewis. That's what I'm talking about...creative genius! Me and Lew go way back.

I just knew if I could pull over and get my hands on some kind of medium, I could have whipped up the next best painting or served the next best culinary dish.

Those of you who know me IRL know that art and cooking are not my forte. But that’s how creative I was feeling at that moment!

Alas, I drove to the bank and deposited my check, ran in to the grocery store to get milk and by the time I got home, the feeling had passed.

I read on facebook from a singer/song writer that I know (DHJ) that he was feeling his recent attempt to write a song was coming out cheesy.

Now that my fleeting moment of inventiveness has slipped by me, yet knowing I want to update my blog more frequently, I hope my posts do not come out cheesy. I even can’t stand the word cheesy. And so far, this current post has been nothing but cheesy trying to talk about NOT being cheesy.

But I do like to eat cheese. With crackers and a glass of wine.
This is my current favorite glass of wine right now. Love it.

Regarding the things I’ve promised in my last post that I intend to write about, they're still coming. You’re all so kind to eagerly anticipate them. Coming soon. Waiting for another stroke of imaginative wonderfulness to fall upon me.

I’ll give my blog a new look so at least it will be worth your while to have dropped by.

If it took you longer than 90 seconds to read this...my apologies.

An Assortment of Things Yet to Come

2009-06-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Ohhh there's so many things I want to write about!

And isn't it just the way it goes...I go for weeks between posts then all of a sudden, my brain is gushing with things to put down on paper. er, screen. whatever.

But anyway, the sad part is, I don't have very much available time these next few days. But I wanted to give a quickie to let you know that I'm still here and have lots of great things to come.

The first thing: I am not pregnant. My two sisters are. I've received several private emails (and special comments here and on facebook) asking me how I am doing with this news.
If you're new to this blog or don't know me IRL, I seem to have had a mysterious inability to get pregnant again. Hence the emails from y'all asking how I'm doing. I just love friends.
So this is one of the topics I have floating in my fingertips ready to whip out on the computer keyboard.

The second thing: Tomorrow (June 13) is my daughter's birthday! She's turning 7. This is her first birthday to be celebrated with us as her family. Should be pretty special. Will post pictures and give everyone a glimpse into her special day.

The third thing: July marks one year that the girls have been home. ONE YEAR. Holy guacamole. Time went by both super duper lightning fast and super duper creepy crawly slow.
I've got lots of progress reports to share about their development in just one year. Hold on to your hat, they're whole new kids!

The fourth thing: I've got some stuff about homeschooling that I want talk about. Inevitably at this time of year, people often ask "Will you be homeschooling throughout the summer?" My answer is YES! So I want to lay out my reasons on paper (screen?) and share with everyone else who might be wondering.

Will try not to keep you waiting for too long for each of these posts. But, like everyone else who has kids and summer is starting, we're busy around here! :)

2 Truths and 1 Lie

2009-06-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

1. My little sister is pregnant

2. My twin sister is pregnant

3. I am pregnant

No training wheels!

2009-05-20T19:34:00.001-07:00

It took my 7 year old only a couple of days to learn to ride her bike without training wheels.
Just in time for summer. I'm so proud of her!
And guess who taught her?

Her Mother...ah-yeeah.

Being her teacher for...well...just about everything....I know this girl and the way she thinks. Don't get me wrong, I know you can't just explaaaain how to ride a bike and BOOM have someone get it. But it helps to know the right kinds of words to use for her to really hear and GET what I mean. It also helps to have already practiced patience with her as she's learning something for the very first time.

Okay, so it probably has less to do with the teacher and more to do with the fact that she's SEVEN and it's a SUNNY DAY and she's been in gymnastics for 3 years so already has her BALANCE and she's been in soccer all winter long so already has COORDINATION.

But I'm going to label this under Homeschooling anyway.

So, back to Amy.
She's super thrilled and thinks she's all that.
The first person she called was Grampy. He didn't disappoint her with his excitement and "atta girl's"! She's envisioning long bike rides and new privileges like riding around the block by herself. Don't know why she thinks this would be okay, I don't even let her WALK around the block by herself yet. I can only imagine the privileges she will think she automatically earns when she gets her driver's license. Oh my.

I also labeled this under Holiday because it kind of is. Around here, anyway.

Here's an 11 second video of the holiday-worthy magic happening!

Lists are more fun to fill out than read.

2009-05-07T22:06:00.001-07:00

But I hope you read mine. Because I'm needy that way, okay?

Lists are blog-cheats, and too similar to FaceBook.
But today I'm cheating. I'm making a Blog List.

I'm copying a couple of other girls I know IRL (in real life).
I had to parenthesis the meaning of the acronym for my friend cjc.

I am looking forward to these 8 things:

1. Giving Yolanta (my 6yo) a bike for her birthday this summer
She's been riding Amy's (my 7yo) which is too small for her. She LOVES bike riding.
2. My annual beach trip with my BFF
We didn't go last year because the girls had just gotten home and it was too soon to leave them for a weekend.
3. Running another 1/2 marathon
The one I just completed (last weekend) was not my best by any means. I want to run another to achieve personal goals and set new PR's.
4. Jesus returning
Not that I'm anxious for this life to end, mind you. We should all be looking forward to the day when trumpets sound, though! ooh, gives me shivers.
5. The zoo with Sarah
If we can ever find a day that works for us. I love the zoo. She loves the zoo. We both have kids that love the zoo. Yet, I don't think we've ever been to the zoo together!
6. Getting professional pictures of my girls
They've been home for 10 months and I'm longing to get them in front of This Camera.
7. Meeting the men my daughters will marry
I love that I'm going to have black grandchildren (or 1/2 black if they marry white men and/or if my white child maries a black man).
8. To seeing what God is going to do with this secret project I'm working on
Sorry, can't give you much more information that that. If you know, don't give it away!

I did these 8 things yesterday:

1. Prayed
I do this daily.
2. Drank coffee with my girlfriend
We had to reschedule our weekly visit and having her here on a different day monkeyed with my schedule. This is Sunday, right?
3. Matched my coffee mug to my outfit
Yes, I do this. Check it out here if you'd like.
4. Ran 3 miles in 31 minutes and 9 seconds
This is a beautiful pace for me. No where near what I did on race day, goshdarnit.
5. Made spaghetti for dinner
I know, super easy. But it's super yummy and my whole family likes it. So back off!
6. Cracked up at my 7 year old who mistook Backstreet Boys for DC Talk
Admittedly some of their songs do have the same sound...but the lyrics have completely opposite focuses! Funny.
7. Went to the grocery store 2 times
Totally annoying. But I forgot the creme for my coffee so back to the store I went!
8. Played Scattegories, Crazy 8's (oooh, totally appropriate for this list!), Old Maid and Candyland with my children
Gotta love building relationship children, am I right?

I wish I could do these 8 things:

1. My Haitian daughters' hair
Seriously. My poor children. I'm getting better at it (I hear you, Tiff) but I just don't do it well.
2. Cook fabulously so we're not eating spaghetti all the time
I've been longing to be a good cook for a while now, but I lack the desire to practice and GET better at it. Yeah. I know.
3. Sing beautifully
I'm a fine singer, but not a beautiful singer. I'm not sad about it or anything, just wish I was prettier at it. lalalalalalalalala
4. Correct my form in running
I've got kind of a silly form where my leg kicks out behind me sideways and my knee buckles inward. DGB told me I was too old to correct my form. Too old? Psh! I'm only 32*
5. Garden and grow and green-thumb and all things related to yard
I suppose I cooouuullld do these things, but similar to cooking, I need to really dig in and keep at it to get better at it. Sigh.
6. Recite verses and have better Bible retention
I feel like I know my Bible fairly well and have a few words hidden in my heart, but I am not fully dressed with the armor of God as it says in Ephesians 6:10-18.
7. Speak fluent French
Part of the reason we adopted from Haiti is because it's a French/Creole speaking country. I have taken several years of French and can understand much of what is being said in the French subtitled movies we watch, but I can not speak it fluently and confidently.
8. Get Pregnant

I watch these 8 TV shows:

1. American Idol
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. The Office
4. Scrubs (Watched the show finale this week)
5. The Big Bang Theory
6. Contemporary Christian Music Channel
7. The Bearenstain Bears
8. Netflix

These 8 things bring me Peace and Comfort

1. The Holy Spirit
2. My husband
3. My children
4. My family
5. Prayer
6. My friends
7. A good sermon
8. Singing praise songs

*A-hem.

Mixed Emotions ~ Baby Craze

2009-04-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

Let's just get it out of the way right here right now: I'm not pregnant. (hi mom!)

There's been a lot of pregnancy announcements via phone and Facebook lately, however.

My friend Sarah even called to announce she's having twins! Yeah, I know, that's neat. But guess what? She already has four kids!

[getting out abacus]

This will mean she'll have six children.
Did you hear me?

I don't think you did. Tiff, you heard me. JulieC, you did, too.
She'll be having her SIXTH child.
Holy guacamole! Congratulations, lady.

I'm a twin. I'm the one on your left in the light green. That's my womb-mate on your right. Hi Jen!

There’s a joke that the girls drinking the water at this church are all getting pregnant.

A friend of mine came over today. I've known this gorgeous lady since the 4th grade. She says it was 3rd grade, but it was really 4th.
I think. Anyway, she brought her 7 month old baby and we talked babies and motherhood the whole time.

(Amber and Clay)

I received another announcement last week of a "surprise" pregnancy. Unplanned. Unprepared.

So I've been in baby land the past couple of days. Contemplatively speaking.

I love words but right now I am stumped. A gold star goes to the person who can find the word that best describes my feelings.
Beware...they're all over the place.

Happy to have been pregnant in my life
Happy to have had a biological child
Happy to have adopted children into my home

Sad to have needed a cesarean and never had the urge to push
Sad to have only raised one infant (my youngest came to me when she had just turned 4)
Sad to have not had the experience of raising a boy

Happy to have breastfed a child for 7 months
Happy to have been able to be a stay-at-home mom
Happy that I did not suffer from post-partum depression (for more than a few weeks)

Sad to have said good bye to the fun days of raising a single child
Sad to have spent a gazillion dollars on infertility tests only to have the docs shrug
Sad that it took another gazillion dollars and 2.5 years to adopt

Happy that I only had to lose baby fat one time
Happy that my only child is no longer only and has sisters forever
Happy that if I get pregnant, or am called to adopt another child, or have no more children added to my home, that I will be fully satisfied and content with life.

Happy that I follow God and trust His plan for my life
Happy that the children in my home are undoubtedly the greatest on the planet
Happy that I'm light years away from 35 and have three kids 7 and under

Happy that I've been pregnant once
Sad that I've only been pregnant once
Sad that I've only been pregnant once
Sad that I've only been pregnant once

Time with Him

2009-04-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Everyday when I wake up, I start with a quick prayer to God thanking Him for the day.

It's just a quick shout-out to my Creator every morning.

Then I go to the bathroom.

Then all throughout the day I talk to God and sing praises to Him and generally lift up most things in my life to Him.

But what I don't do every.single.day. is spend a generous amount of time with God reading my Bible and devoting actual time to Him and with Him. I do this often, but not each and every day.

I'm not legalistic so I don't believe that I HAVE to have devotions or that I'm not a Christian if I forget to read my Bible.

But what I DO believe, is that spending time with God is how I draw close to Him.

James 4:8 "Draw close to God and He will draw close to you."

And when He draws close to me, I can better hear His voice.

And when I can better hear His voice, I can better understand His will for my life.

And when I can better understand His will for my life, it's easier for me to stay on the path He's laid out for me.

And when I stay on the path He's laid out for me, I will be blessed with happiness, protection, love and wisdom.

And when I am blessed with happiness, protection, love and wisdom, I can be a better wife, mother and friend.

When when I am a better wife, mother and friend, I can be a more respectable witness of Jesus Christ to those who don't know Him.

At church a couple weeks ago, the pastor said "One of the reasons people feel like God is so far away, is because they are not spending time with Him, reading their Bibles."

Then I went to a women's event last weekend and the pastor's wife said "When you pray, it's a good idea to have your Bible open. This allows God to speak directly into your life through His Word."

Now, I know that God is not limited in any way. If He wants to talk to me, He has infinite measures He could use. And, knowing God, they're probably all beautiful, soft, gentle and loving ways. Right, Meredeth? And I also know that God gives me my own freedom and my own will to do whatever I want. But guess what I want? I want to do what God has intended for me!

I can guarantee that the King of Kings has a better life planned for me than I could ever even come up with on my own.

Hebrews 12:2 says "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."

When I fix my eyes on Jesus, I'm allowing Him to be the author of my life.

Fixing my eyes on Jesus means to spend good, quality time with Him. In his Word.

Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Who can't see a path better in this dark world than when there's a light on it!?

Do you read your Bible every day? I'd love to hear your story...

My Harvest

2009-04-15T22:34:00.000-07:00

I did not plant you, true.
But when the season is done,
When the alternative prayers for sun
and for rain are counted,
When the pain of weeding
And the pride of watching are through,
Then I will hold you high,
A shining sheaf above the thousand seeds grown wild.
Not my planting,
But, by heaven,
My harvest–
My child.

Carol Lynn Pearson

First Easter

2009-04-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

The tomb is empty...

...and my heart is full.

Kismet's Blog

2009-04-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

I'd like to direct your attention to a blog I read.
Some of you may already read her.

It's short so I encourage you to take the 25 seconds and pop over there.

It's one of those kid-conversations that leave you pondering the complexities of the child's mind.
The understanding they have.
The wonderment of their belief.
The beauty of their innocence.

Then there's a question at the end that I know Kismet would love to hear the varying responses. It will make you think.

We're currently in the middle of the 3 days before Christ is raised from the dead. Thinking about Heaven, His home and our future home, is only appropriate as we're supposed to get excited and prepared for our final destination.

Enjoy.
These pictures will make sense after you read her blog. :)

What should I blog about?

2009-04-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been folding laundry and thinking of a blog post but then think things like

-That's too boring

-That's too personal

-That's too uninteresting

-That will take too much time to compile the photos

-That will take too much time to compile my thoughts

-That's copying someone else's blog

That's where I am right now.

I've got a few things floating around in my head but for the life of me can't figure out a great post for you all to feast your eyes on.

I made a list a while ago of things I'd be blogging about in the upcoming months...but they're all intense and will require lots of thought and fine writing.

Beats posts like this, right!?

Will get to it. I'm enjoying reading YOUR blogs, though. Keep writing!

Happy Holy Week.

Another FIRST - sort of.

2009-04-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

My six year old Yolanta lost her first tooth!
Well, since she's been home, that is.
Hip Hip Hooray!

This is actually her 5th lost tooth, but the first one that we got to experience with her so it was pretty fun and special for us all!

My heart was saddened when I saw her come in to the orphanage at 4 years old and then pictures started coming in over the next couple of years and her teeth were falling out.
Milestones going by without me.

Here is a picture I received from the orphanage one day with her cute little front tooth missing.

I love this crazy picture because she's obviously so proud of that missing tooth and she's doing everything in her smiling ability to show it off!

And here's another picture I received a while later with her two top teeth missing. Wish her eyes were open, but there's no denying she's awfully gummy.

Here she is holding up her tooth and smiling in such a way to show it's her upper left tooth (next to her big tooth). So cute and so proud.

Yes, the tooth fairy comes to our house which was totally new and fun for Yolanta. She'd never heard of the Tooth Fairy!

Under her pillow, well actually sitting NEXT to her pillow, was a little stuffed animal and a box of bulbs to plant in the back yard.

It will be fun to see those purple flowers come up and be reminded of that fun day when she lost her tooth. Even though it's not, it feels like its the first tooth she's ever lost because it's the first one I've saved.

I love you, baby! Stop growing up. I've already missed so much of your life and the rest is going by too quickly! But okay. You can grow up. I'll let you. :)

Here's just a super cute picture of Amy and Yolanta enjoying math homework and a pretty red ribbon and lots of sisterly love.

Sensing my Daughters

2009-03-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

I'm currently on the shores of the Oregon coast enjoying the grandeur of the ocean.

I love the ocean and can appreciate it with all five senses God gave me.

That led me to think of my children and how I appreciate them, too, with all five senses.

{I jotted down my thoughts under each category with the anticipation of going back through and formulating better paragraphs and correct sentence structures and helping you, my blog reader, to create a better scene description in your mind. But I've decided to leave the incomplete sentences and random wording as-is for this is a true mental note of my thoughts. I like it better this way.}

Sight

When my daughters are falling all over each other and their fingers are intertwined and arms are wrapped around each others necks; the dark skin contrasting with the light skin is so beautiful. Sneaking in on them in the middle of the night and noting the relaxed brows and jaws and taking in the innocence of their beings. Looking at a picture of my entire family, amazed at how obvious we're not 'natural' but feeling natural nonetheless.

Hear

When my daughters call my name and the word Mama is ringing through the house. When two of my daughters are learning English and their Haitian accents are mixed with American phrases mixed with youthful understanding of sentence structure. When my oldest and biological daughter sings harmony at the piano with her father. When all three of my girls are laughing at their father who's doing a funny dance in the kitchen pretending he doesn't know he's on display.

Taste

When my children are done playing soccer and gymnastics and hip-hop and afterwords I kiss their foreheads and am met with salty skin.

Smell

Moisturizing my ethnic daughters from head to toe with healing herbs and fragrant oils. The new smells of oils and hair, lotion and skin, coconut and body. Then there's my firstborn who's clothes and blankets and skin and hair and breath flood my nostrils and jog my memories of 7 years ago when she was an infant.

Touch

Laying in bed with three little girls all vying for a piece of my body to rest their arms, legs, heads; to be touching as much of me as they can. Feeling the weight of bony bottoms on my lap. Caressing the faces of multiple children throughout the day and noting the different bone structures in each. Rubbing lotion on every inch of their bodies. Reaching back in the car while I'm driving and holding the hand of a girl. Any girl.

Thank you, Lord, for the five senses you've given me. I do not take for granted that not one of them has been impaired.

Mercy Me & Me

2009-03-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

We went to The Rock and Worship Roadshow last night!

WOOHOO it was so much fun!

For you other Christian Music fans out there, here's a list of the bands we saw:

Addison Road (she is 8 months pregnant and still had enough energy to sing beautifully!)
Tenth Avenue North (cool new sound and fun attitude)
Hawk Nelson (wow, talk about energy! Quite the performer)
Jeremy Camp (what a heart of God he has. Amazing testimony)
Mercy Me (Absolutely Fabulous)

Here's a picture of Mercy Me before they me me and David:

And here's a picture of the band AFTER they met us. Yeah! We became part of the band! They asked us to finish the tour with them, but we only had the babysitters till 10 so we had to decline.

We also got to get in to the Rose Garden before everyone else and pick our seats so we were rockin' close. Literally! And I'm glad we got this privilege because the place was SOLD OUT! Which means about 11,000 people showed up. According to the blog on their website, 1,000 people had to be turned away. We had the highest attendence of the whole tour so far.

It really was a fun night out with my husband and I'm glad that in a time where God is being thrown out the window and extreme liberalism is trying to rule, God is still on His throne and we can gather to praise His name!

Shamrock Run

2009-03-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

It was so

hm....

....what's the word....

Exhilarating
Cold
FUN
Freezing
Rainy
Invigorating
Tiring
Wet
Accomplishing

All those words will work!

I ran the 8k (4.9 miles) Shamrock Run this morning at 9am.

Smack dab in the middle of Downtown Portland with 22,000 other runners!

My friend Donna and I ran it together and had a great time. She's a positive person and runner so when I was thinking thoughts of "Why in the world am I running in the cold and the rain?"

She'd pipe in with "It's not that bad! Look at that pretty flower over there."
Hrmph.

Or if I started to think "We've only gone 3 miles?" Donna would break into song "Oh Mickey you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind, HEY MICKEY!"

Well, okay, that one perked me up and I sang along a bit to that one. Gotta love Mickey!

She was a great partner and we stuck together the entire time. Not once did we walk! Having a running partner helped us both power through the hills and the cold.

This is the first event I've run with a partner other than my dad. My dad is my original coach and trainer. Love you, Dad!

My Time: 50:33
I'm quite proud of myself as this is running a 10 minute and 19 second mile. That's faster than I've been training and I had the elements to contend with and hills I'm not used to. This is encouraging also because I only have 7 weeks left till the Half Marathon (13.2 miles)!!

Portland is proud for being weird and since this was a celebration of St. Patrick's day, there were lots of people dressed in leprechaun attire and green hair and all sorts of random shamrock diggs. The bag pipes were playing and beer was served to the runners during the race (yes during) and after the race. I mean, who doesn't want an iced cold beer after running 5 miles in ice-cold weather? My fingers were blue just holding the frosty drink. A-hem.

I didn't bring my camera and since the race was just this morning, it's a little soon for pictures from the web.

I grabbed my iPhone after the race and had these pictures taken of us.

Of course, do you notice how it is NOT raining in these pictures? Notice I said they were taken AFTER the race.

Yeah.

It rained pretty steadily the entire race and the wind howled and the temperatures were low. But just shortly after we crossed the finish line, the sun broke through and the city warmed up. Another famous Portland behavior.

Thanks for the great run, Donna. We did great!

Missed you, Rachey.

I like a good read.

2009-03-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Because things have been a little busier than normal, I haven't been keeping up with all the blogs I like to read lately.

And this morning I went to my bloglines and realized how far behind I am in keeping up with everyone.

As I started to click through, I realized something.

I'm a little bored with some of the ones I've been lurking. I find myself reading the first few lines or maybe paragraph, skimming picutures then clicking off. I've actually been doing this for quite a while now. Why do I still have them bookmarked?

I'm going on a quest in the next couple of weeks to find new blogs to read and delete the ones I'm not really that interested in anymore.

In case you're wondering if I'm going to stop reading YOUR blog, know that if I know you personally, I am still interested in your blog! Those are the ones I most love.

If I leave you comments, then I'm still going to read you.

If you leave me comments, then I'm still going to read you.

I love comments. Don't we all?

Really, I highly doubt anyone who is reading this right now is one of the ones I'm deleting. Like I said, it's the ones I lurk and have never ever left a single comment before. So they don't even know I'm there! Therefore, will never know I'm now NOT there.

Anyone have a blog or two that they read and just absolutely love that you think I'd love too?

Leave me the link and I'll check them out.

I'm gonig to start looking through the links people have on their sidebars to get a feel for what you all are reading.

Happy Blogging!

The things that matter to girls.

2009-03-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my sweet friend Angela in my kitchen for our weekly cup of coffee.
She is debating between the two mugs as they both look so cute with her outfit.

We do this every week. The matching, that is.

Then we wondered, are we the only ones who do this?
Are we the only ones who love it and think it’s fun and funny?

Hm. Which one? Black or Pink?

See, the pink looks so cute with the shirt!

See the black mug on the counter? That's actually the one she went with. Good choice.

Hm...these brown giraffes look cute with my brown shirt.

But the brown in the tree and and hint of brown edges on the Eiffel Tower look so chic with the green!

I’m putting it out there…. anyone else enjoy matching their coffee mug or tea cup to their clothes?

C’mon…tell the truth.
I know you do it.