My Mini-Me

Missing her...

Waiting is for the birds! There is waiting with every pregnancy, but you get to feel your baby kicking you all day, and you spend your days wondering who he or she will look like, whether they'll have blue eyes or brown, or green, blonde hair, brown, or no hair at all, as was the case with two of mine, and you have a general idea of when you will get to meet for the first time.

With adoption the waiting is different. I have seen my child! I have seen her, and I have fallen in love with her, but never had the chance to hold her. I see her picture on the magnet board, in my Bible, on the phone, on the refrigerator, on the computer, I see her every day but I can't pick her up and love on her.

I used to worry about whether I could love an adopted child as much as I love my biological children, and the answer is yes. I know, because I already do! I went in to mommy mode the moment I laid eyes on her. John went into Daddy mode the very same day. There are 4 brothers and sisters here that CANNOT wait to meet our sweet Ava.

As I prayed for her tonight, I said, "Lord I just miss her! Please let us be able to go soon and get her!" And then I realized what I had said, and I wondered, is it possible to miss somebody you have never met before? I guess it is!

Orphan-eggs

I overheard a conversation today between Hope and her cousin Sebastian who is very close to the same age. She was saying, "Sebastian, guess what? We get to adopt Ava!"

Sebastian said, "Where is Ava?"

Hope said, "In the orphan-eggs".

I can only imagine what she believes this "orphan-egg" place to look like!

Something fun to do...

....Purchase a wheelchair for a person who is bedridden in Guatemala! I have been following

THIS MAN'S BLOG

for several weeks now, and I have been amazed, touched, inspired by what he is doing for disabled adults and children, many of them orphans, in Guatemala. I was born in Guatemala to missionaries, so maybe that is also why this is so dear to my heart.

Our finances are tight right now, as we are saving up for adoption travel expenses coming up soon. But I believe what this man is doing for the needy and hurting people of the world is true christianity. I am totally excited about helping to provide a wheelchair to someone (like the 12 year old boy who has never walked and can't leave his bed). What a mission, and what a beautiful demonstration of the love of Christ. I am hoping someone who reads this post today would be inspired to do the same!

When you have writer's block....

Just post a cute video of one of your kids!

Some of my favorite families...

I always thought computers were from the devil until I discovered the wonder of "Yahoo Groups". There is a little Yahoo group called Reece's Rainbow, a group of families who have adopted, are considering adopting, or are in the process of adopting a child or children with Down Syndrome and other special needs. I LOVE THIS GROUP! (I wish someone could invent a way to get us all together for a cup of coffee too). Some of these moms I just know by name, and some by their pictures and names, and I have a feeling one day soon I will get to meet a couple of them in person. It is through the courage of these moms, some of whom have multiple children with DS, that our family has been inspired to adopt a child with special needs. These are just a few of the families that I have pictures of. There are many more in the group. Aren't they beautiful?

Here is a link with pictures of other children and families who have recently adopted or been adopted. These pictures always bring tears to my eyes, considering the would-have-been fate for many orphans with disabilities in other countries. These kids have families now! Forever families! So take a look and enjoy these sweet pictures as I have many, many times. I like to imagine what our "Family Homecoming Picture" will look like on this very link in just a few short months!

Thus saith....Hope

Hope has picked up on my tricks. When I need her to do something, say brush her teeth for example, I'll say, "The dentist said that the moms have to brush the toddlers' teeth for them." When buckling her in the car and she doesn't want to sit in her seat, I blame it on the policemen. At the grocery store I blame the Walmart lady, and most everything else....Jesus. :)

So last night when I was tucking her into bed, telling her she is going to sleep ALL night in her own bed, like all the animals do, she said, "But Mom, the dentist said that Moms and Dads need to let their toddlers get in their beds."

Pretty clever! Reminded me of the time 4 yr. old Simeon opened the Bible, pointed to the page, and said, "Look Mom. The Bible says: 'Moms and Dads, let your boys play in the mud.' "

I have tried using prizes to get Hope to stay in her bed. Her favorite, lipgloss. I promised her pink lipgloss if she slept in her own bed all night. She was so excited, she said she PROMISED she would sleep in her own bed all night. About 3 am (I guess I was too out of it), John said she climbed up in bed, kissed me on the cheek, went to the kitchen and got a drink, and then came to inform me that she didn't care about the lipgloss anymore. She preferred sleeping with ME over having her very own tube of lipgloss. Imagine that. I am loved.

Oh well, I have to admit she IS pretty sweet and snuggly, and she doesn't snore, so I'm not sure why I'm complaining. Like they say, I'm sure when she's 13 we won't be having this "problem" anymore.

Buddy Walk

There are many things I never knew before becoming the soon-to-be-mother of a daughter with Down Syndrome. One of those things is that the month of October is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. There are many ways people celebrate National DS awareness Month, and one of those ways is the Buddy Walk. The Buddy Walk helps to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with DS, and helps to raise funds for education, research and advocacy programs for people with DS.

So our family participated in our first Buddy Walk today. What a beautiful celebration it was! We only wished that our "buddy" was there to walk with us (I wish she could walk, for that matter!). We pinned Ava's picture to our shirts, and had some opportunities to pass out Reeces Rainbow cards.

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness month, I am posting links to two businesses that are operated by young people with Down Syndrome. One is a company that makes quilts and blankets, the other sells individual packages of ready-to-make homemade cookies. We have hope for Ava's future when we hear stories like this. Please take a look:

Simply Adorable Blankets

and

Creekside Cookies and More

Maybe you can think of some Christmas presents to order from one of these great businesses!!

An actual conversation with my son (age 9)

Son: "Mom, do I have a bruise on my back?"
Mom: "Yes. Why, what happened?"
Son: "Noah threw a rock at me."
Mom: "Why did he throw a rock at you?"
Son: "Because I threw a rock at him."
Mom: "Why did you throw a rock at him?"
Son: "Because it's fun! It was a rock-throwing contest. We were trying to see who could throw the hardest."

(I will never, ever EVER understand what could possibly be "fun" about a rock-throwing contest. I guess that's why I'm a girl.)

A joke that Liesel (age 7) made up

What do you call a mystery that a bed needs to solve?

-A pillow "case"

HA HA HA HA HA! I don't care who you are, THAT was funny!

You might be a redneck if.....

Your kids drag a mattress from the garage to the front yard to do flips on for Fall Break entertainment....then chase Walmart bags around after letting them go into the wind.

GOOD NEWS-Dossier on its way overseas!

Our checklist for adoption:

1. Choose child-DONE
2. Get passports-DONE
3. Complete I-600A (orphan petition through Immigration)- DONE
4. Complete home study- DONE
5. Federal fingerprints- DONE
6. Complete dossier (all the collected forms and paperwork, plus official application to the foreign government)-DONE
7. INS approval received-DONE (This means we have passed the test, and we have been approved to adopt internationally)
8. Apostille (fancy term for official certification) dossier, and mail overseas-DONE
9. Wait for in-country appointment date
10. Travel to meet our Ava!

Another special girl

When we asked for donations for our adoption fundraiser garage sale, people were so generous! We made over $2,000 in one Saturday! I am attaching a couple of pictures from our garage sale, so you can both laugh, AND rejoice with us for God's blessings. We also had a couple of people, including neighbors, who gave us monetary donations, even though we had said all along we would trust God for the finances WITHOUT asking our friends for money! And, out of the blue one day we received an email from some people we did not know, nor had we even heard of them before. They had heard about our plans to adopt a child with special needs even though we had none of our own. This couple felt led to bless a christian family who was taking a step of faith in the area of adoption, and donated $4,000 towards our adoption!!! Talk about answers to our prayers. We really had thought we would have to sell a vehicle, or downsize our house, or have John pick up some extra hours, but none of those were the case. We were so blown away!

I said all of that to say this....I have heard several people comment that they have considered adoption, but "couldn't afford it". We have witnessed firsthand that when you do take that step of faith, even though you have NO idea where the money is going to come from, but you take the first step, KNOWING God will provide....HE WILL. Every day since we have said 'yes' to this wild adventure He offered us, called adoption, we have sensed His goodness, His pleasure, His guidance, His peace, and His provision...and we have never been more fulfilled. We truly believe with all our hearts that He wants His followers to care for His sheep (Remember, Jesus repeated Himself three times to Peter?), and I believe orphans are a large majority of those sheep. If you can't adopt or don't feel "called" to adopt, at least consider helping another family who is. Adoption can be messy, and expensive and frankly downright hard, and what better way to cheer someone on than to support them with your finances.

To the upper right there is a "button" with a little white and grey monkey on it. Another family in the adoption realm that I have gotten acquainted with (via world-wide-web) is in the process of adopting a little girl from the same country where we are adopting from. The Cornishes are a beautiful little family with two children, the younger of whom has Down Syndrome. They are in the process of adding their third child through adoption. Her name is Aleksa, she is 5, and she has Down Syndrome as well. (If you scroll way down to the bottom of their site you can see her). If you spend any time on their blog, their love for Jesus is evident, and their joy in being obedient to Him. Please take a look and purchase one of these adorable monkeys.

Maybe I shouldn't mention that I have entered a contest to win one of these darling little monkeys for Ava (of course she'll want the cute little pink one to go with her pink headbands). I don't know how Meredith is picking her winner (Pick me! Pick me!), but help the Cornishes, and help Ava's chances...by buying one!!

I love pink!

As soon as I can get my hands on that girl, she'll be out of that red and black boy's jumper and covered in pink from head to toe. Does anyone know how to make pretty head bands and hair bows? Some instructions please? At least until she grows some hair on that pretty little head of hers!

The art of being content

Today we have been talking to the kids about learning to be content. We have pointed out all of our many blessings, and tried to drill in the fact that we don't have to have 24 Webkinz just because somebody at school does. We can gladly share our stuff, because stuff isn't that important to us. And if a sibling gets candy at church, we don't need to ask if we can have some too. We can rejoice when others have something to rejoice over. And we can express gratitude even when the outcome isn't exactly what we expect.

We had a late lunch today, so dinner was just a simple meal of green chili and tomato quesadillas. John's prayer for the meal was especially long, as he was trying to prove the point we had been driving in all day about having gratitude. He expressed his gratitude for his wife who prepared the meal, and prayed for Ava and the other kids at the orphanage who were probably eating mush for dinner tonight, and he thanked the Lord for the farmers who work hard and risk losing their fingers when they harvest the wheat and the corn, and the tomatoes, and green chilies that we were about to partake of. And of course, thanked the Lord for the dairy farmer who provided the delicious cheese. And he thanked God for such a beautiful day with his family today, at the zoo, and the sweet lady who we visit at the nursing home every Sunday. When he finished and said, "Amen", and everybody opened their eyes, Jude said.....

"Is this all there is to eat tonight?!"

John and I cracked up. Strangely enough, nobody else at the table got the joke!

Footprints on the ceiling

Someone asked for photos of the completed fort beds...Here they are. The whole reason this project started was because one of the boy's bed frames broke and I had been trying to find some bunk beds at garage sales. When I couldn't find any I liked, John suggested he make them. I hate to say that I wasn't too confident at first in his ability to "make" a set of bunk beds, but I think I am married to a genius of a man to come up with this design in his head and put it together from scratch!

Fort beds have been so fun! There are advantages and disadvantages of fort beds, though.

Advantages
-No more clutter hiding under the bed
-Easy to vacuum the room
-No more stubbing toes on the metal frame
-FUN!
-More space to play
-Great space for reading under the bed
-Cool to show to the neighbor kids
-A fun project for dad and sons

Disadvantages
-Footprints on the ceiling
-Harder to make beds (but who cares, you can't see them anyway)
-A lot of thumping feet in the middle of the night
-Hard to carry a sleeping 6-yr. old from the couch to his bed
-Hard to tell when the sheets are dirty and need to be washed (Is that an advantage or a disadvantage?)
-Contrary to what we thought, it doesn't keep kids from crawling in bed with mom and dad early in the morning :)

Reece's Rainbow

Boys......Will be Boys

Hope's prayer

Every day this is Hope's prayer:

Thank you Jesus for Mommy, Daddy, Simeon, Jude, Liesel, Hope, Ava, and Bliss. Help Ava to have a nice mommy and daddy and help Ava to have a great trip on the airplane.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Ecosystems

I thought this was funny. I was looking over Simeon's homework papers. He missed 3 problems. One of the ones he missed was:

Question: What would you like to learn about ecosystems?

His answer: I don't really want to learn anything about ecosystems.

(Shouldn't he at least get half credit for being honest?)

More Urban fun

I love this picture...

One of the things I love about having both boys and girls, is watching the creative play that comes about from the influence of having opposite gendered siblings. A few examples that come to mind:

1. Liesel, when she was 3, pretending to "nurse" Spiderman. Simeon hollered, "Liesel, Spidey does NOT nurse!"

2. Jude at age 3, dressed from head to toe as Snow White (even with high heels), playing outside in the mud with trucks..Now that was a funny picture, I wish I could find that one!

3. Simeon playing tea party with Hope.

4. The boys building a princess castle for the girls out of giant Legos.

5. Liesel making a frog kingdom, complete with bride frog and groom frog, and a "Just Married" sign.

6. This picture of Hope dressed as a princess looking through camouflage binoculars.

Boots

I hit the jackpot at the Goodwill and Salvation Army yesterday and today, on winter boots for everyone in the family. Everything was half off, and I got the greatest pair of long white snow boots for myself. I just know they will come in handy VERY SOON when we travel to meet our Ava!

Fishing and a Rainstorm, cont'd

Fishing and a Rainstorm

(I don't think this man fishing off the dock was very happy to see us)

It was a beautiful day for fishing. I haven't decided whether I love fishing or hate it! I decided today that I hate the actual act OF fishing, but love watching my husband and kids loving the actual act of fishing. I was not the least bit disappointed to find out that my fishing license has expired, so it would be illegal for me to hold a pole in the water. I was more than happy to get out of the job of baiting minnows on the hook, or helping reel lines in. But when faced with the choice between staying home and doing laundry, and going fishing.....Fishing it was!

Thankfully each kid caught something, although little, except for Hope. But she doesn't know the difference anyway. She pulled a minnow out of the minnow bucket and ran over to me and said, "Mommy, look what I caught!" I took a picture of her "catch", the same as everybody else's. And she took the little minnow and pretended that it had been separated from its father, the crappie. The minnow was kissing the crappie, and saying, "Oh, Daddy, Daddy, I missed you."

We watched geese, ducks and gulls, fed them Pringles and animal crackers, heard thunder and watched a storm roll our way. I enjoyed hearing the squeals of excitement at the prospect of a "bite" and watching the grins as they reeled in their bass, crappie and perch. We watched the sun set, and people on jet skis. And I went a little camera crazy, I think. And then we got to drive home in the pouring rain, all of us drenched.

So, yes, I think I have decided I like fishing, as long as it is with the people that I love the most. The only thing that would have made it a better day, is if Ava had been with us.

This one is for Shelley

I want my mommy

As usual, I woke up this morning with two kids sprawled sideways in my bed. I said, "Hey, whose bed is this, anyway?" Jude said, "I didn't sleep in it, I just rested in it." I said, "Well, yeah, why don't you just let me rest in YOUR bed and kick YOU all night?" He just giggled.

Hope woke up in the night saying, "I want my mommy!" She had been put to bed by the babysitter last night so we could attend a wedding, and I guess when she woke up at 12:30am she thought I wasn't home yet. Anyway, I laid with her until she went back to sleep, but then a thought plagued me for the rest of the night.....

When an orphan in an orphanage wakes up in the middle of the night, who do they call for? Their favorite caretaker? Their mommy who abandoned them? Or do they just learn not to wake up in the middle of the night? Or do they wake up and not call for anybody? I stayed awake for an hour, bothered by the sad fact that there are so many millions of children who have no mother to comfort them in the night when they wet the bed, have a bad dream, feel cold, feel sick, or, just like my kids, get lonely in the night.

So as all 4 of us laid in our bed this morning (thank goodness it's a king) and talked about this. Hope said, "But Ava has a new mommy and a new daddy, and a brother and a sister now." She was grinning from ear to ear. I feel so blessed.

And then Jude said, "Can we adopt about 10 orphans? We can make the dining room into another bedroom." What a clever boy!

A few people have responded to our adoption news with the question--How do our kids feel about adoption? If they could have been a fly on the wall in our bedroom this morning, they would know for sure!

Another funny kid story

I was telling this story the other day, and realized I had never written it down anywhere. So what better place than here.

Once we had a lizard, a bearded dragon, named Elvis. We named him Elvis because he had some spiky things on the sides of his cheeks (do lizards have "cheeks"?) that reminded me of big sideburns, and so Elvis seemed to be a fitting name for him. Later we realized he was a female, but that is another story. Wow, thinking of that lizard brings back some funny memories. We spent more time looking for him than anything else!

So anyway, one day Elvis turns grey and quits eating. We took him to the vet and found out he was infested with intestinal worms. We did all we could do---dropper fed him, gave him medicine, soaked him in water to hydrate him....but he died.

Several months later there were a bunch of neighbor kids over here, and I heard an argument breaking out, so I went to intervene. One said, "Miss Charissa, isn't it true that Elvis died because he got hit by a car?" And another kid said, "No, he got shot!" So I corrected them both: "Boys, you're both wrong. Elvis died because he had worms." Their jaws both dropped open, and they said, "He had worms?!"

So I went back to my duties, and later I had a thought that I felt like I needed to clarify. I went back to the boys, and I said, "Were you talking about Elvis our lizard, or Elvis the singer?"

It's a good thing I clarified. I can just imagine them going home and telling their parents, "Miss Charissa said Elvis Presley died....of worms."

Halleluyah! It is finished!

The last piece of the puzzle-the medical certificate-has been completed, on letterhead, all the blanks filled in, every line dated, doctor's license number included, signed by a legitimate doctor, and now notarized by a notary whose license will NOT expire before August of 2008.....and is now on its way to Virginia to complete the dossier which will then be reviewed, certified, apostilled, and then finally on its way to Ukraine. Everything is now out of the Urban's hands, and in Dave's, the Lord's and Ukraine's State Department of Adoption!!!

Thursday

The doctor left early on Wednesday. No forms waiting for us at the front desk. We tried real hard to be patient and wait for a phone call today. Finally in the afternoon John called to get an update. The form is now signed, but not notarized. The notary was out today and won't be back until tomorrow....This is almost starting to get funny. An entire week. Check back tomorrow for an update.

But just look at that sweet girl to your right. Isn't she adorable? Doesn't she look like she is just waiting so patiently with her arm stretched up over her head? So cute.

Proverbs the 3rd for October the 3rd

It was very fitting to read Prov. 3:5-6 today. Trust in the Lord with all your strength and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. I have peace. They weren't kidding when they said adoption is a "hurry-up-and-wait" process. And they lied when they said adoption is the easy way to have a baby!

Wednesday

No, the Krispy Kreme donuts did not work. All the phone calls have not worked. My sister suggested I schedule a dr's appointment for a "rash" and pay the $30 co-payment for 5 minutes of my doctor's time....hand her the form and say "Please sign this." Or I could ask for my records to be transferred to another doctor and hope they will be more timely. Either way I have to wait on the office. OK so what should I do? My dear sweet husband has so much more character than I, because I fret and worry even after I say I have put it in the Lord's hands. Meanwhile, he has these ideas that the 5 (or more)- day delay with the doctor, just may be the avenue we need to get the documents in the hands of that sweet compassionate SDA worker that I have prayed for. He knows (and I do too) that the Lord has it all under control. While I want to rush things, deep down I know His timing is perfect and we can just rest in His promise and His plan. Sometimes this is easier said than done though. :)

Tuesday

Still waiting on that doctor's signature. John called the office (I'm too scared to now!) and they said it is all filled out and waiting on the doctor's signature. ARGH! This will show you the difference between me and him...While I was imagining how a NON-christian person (not me, of course) might get even...after obtaining the signature obviously....John was trying to think of something nice to deliver up to the office to motivate her to sign it quicker. I guess the 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts that he delivered yesterday didn't work, because here we still wait. Waiting and waiting. I keep thinking every time the phone rings it will be her telling me the documents are ready now, and that she is so sorry she has kept us waiting. And that she apologizes that she forgot to document that the TB test was negative. And that she wishes us the best. But no phone calls, and the office will close here in an hour. So maybe she really DID mean Wednesday. 5 days seems like an eternity when a little girl waits in her lonely crib for a family to come and rescue her.

Rigamaroo

Definition: giving someone the runaround; not being straight and to the point; malarky; silliness; rubbish

"Rigamaroo" is the word that my doctor just used to describe what I have put her through. She is not happy that she has to re-do the medical forms. They were not completed correctly the first time, so they were sent back. I brought them to her office on Friday. I called this morning, left a message telling them that our dossier is complete except for this ONE little piece of paper, that just needs TWO lines filled out ("TB test negative", "Patient has no health complications that would interfere with adoption"). That's it!! How long does that take? Evidently, 5 days. She called me back and said she has never been through so much "rigamaroo". She said she has already filled this out and told me she will not even be able to LOOK at it until Wednesday.... she has sick patients to see and that she will not put MY paperwork ahead of her sick patients.

Well I have a sick little patient of my own that I am trying to hurry and get home!

Rigamaroo. What a funny word to use in a mad conversation. I'd probably be laughing if I wasn't crying!!

A typical Saturday at the soccer fields

Moms all around me thought I was clever at the soccer games yesterday for bringing this portable sandbox. I wish I could take credit for the great idea but it was actually from Family Fun magazine, I think. Sure beats chasing toddlers all over the soccer field in the middle of the games. Turns out even 6 year old boys like it too. Hope found a little caterpillar that she named "Wormey Girl" that kept her entertained for the afternoon. But then tragically we lost Wormey Girl. Another clever mom told her maybe Wormey Girl had turned into a butterfly and flew away, and that seemed more satisfying to her than my answer of, "She must have missed her family".

Simeon asked his coach if he could play goalie yesterday. It was his first time, and he really did a fabulous job!

And lastly, here is a cheapskate's version of soccer photos. While parents were filling out checks and forms and ordering plaques, plates, mugs, keychains, I was by a tree with my digital camera with the intent of putting this photo on the blog or emailing it to family and friends! Hey, that is one less piece of clutter I'll have to deal with in a few years. :) With my first child I would have bought the deluxe package, and mailed wallet prints to every family member!

We are approved!

Our checklist for adoption:

1. Choose child-DONE
2. Get passports-DONE
3. Complete I-600A (orphan petition through Immigration)- DONE
4. Complete home study- DONE
5. Federal fingerprints- DONE
6. Complete dossier (all the collected forms and paperwork, plus official application to the foreign government)-DONE
7. INS approval-RECEIVED TODAY!!!!! (This means we have passed the test, and we have been approved to adopt internationally)
8. Apostille (fancy term for official certification) dossier, and mail overseas
9. Wait for in-country appointment date
10. Travel to meet our Ava!

Show and Tell

Friday is show-and-tell day in kindergarten. Each week the kindergartners bring something that starts with the letter of the week. Jude brought a helicopter for "H", a teddy bear for "B", his dog named Matthew for "M". This morning as we were rushing out the door we were frantically brainstorming for an A-item. I started naming things: airplane, apple, alligator, Ava. Jude marched over to the refrigerator, pulled down Ava's picture, and said, "I'm taking Ava". He didn't want to put the picture in his backpack, he wanted to carry her to school. He is already a proud brother!

Ten really great things to say to an adoptive parent

1. That's great!

2. You must be thrilled!

3. Congratulations! When will this special event take place?

4. She is beautiful.

5. You are so lucky.

6. I'm happy for you.

7. Tell me about this special child.

8. I'll be praying for her and you.

9. Tell me more about how adoption works.

10. Do you have a picture?

My thoughts on adoption

Our journey to adoption has been very exciting, emotional, educational, enlightening, and spiritually challenging.

I have always struggled inwardly with being a people pleaser. It became painfully obvious that I needed to let the Lord change my heart when I read "Search for Significance" by Robert S. McGee. For the first time in my life I realized that my addiction to people pleasing was preventing me from being a God-pleaser.

I had hoped everybody would be excited with us for this new child we will be adding to our family. I wish everybody could see that children are indeed a blessing from God, even after #2, and #3, and #4. I wish everyone agreed that a child is special, no matter what their birth order, or gender, or age, or ability, or history. I wish everyone understood that some people want to adopt for reasons other than infertility. I wish, when people ask "WHY", I could explain in words to them how I cannot go through my life, knowing the call God placed on my heart, and someday look back over my life with the regret of not doing what He called me to do. I wish I could make people understand that in our hearts we feel that Jesus has done so much for us, and we just cannot help but be obedient by welcoming a little forsaken child in His name. This is such a great privilege. It's the absolute least we can do for Him and for her!!

My friend Jill said this profound statement the other day: "Our God is efficient. Yes, He wants Ava in your family, but in the process He will be working to refine your heart. So don't be surprised by troubles and worries. God is working to strengthen your faith. Those troubles are simply tools in God's hands."

So the Lord continues to challenge me every now and then. I am learning not to be defensive. A gradual change is taking place in my heart. I wish it would happen overnight. But in the meantime I will expect tests and challenges, and questions, and I thank Him that he is growing me through them. And I hope our family, including Ava, will be an instrument that God will use to change some views on disability, adoption, children, and the value of life in general, in the process.

Miss Fancy

Poor Hope is so bored since her brothers and sisters have been in school. While I have been thoroughly enjoying my time with her, I have also realized how nice it is to have siblings for her to play with. Bless her heart, every day she wants me to play hide and seek, take care of baby dolls, and we even dress up together. Today she draped me with her fancy queen necklace with big purple jewels and she dragged out my fanciest earrings and put them on me. Have you ever noticed that after you wear something for awhile, you forget it's there? Well, we went walking down the street to see if our little neighbor girl could play, and it wasn't until I was home that I realized I was still wearing the fancy jewel necklace and long dangly red earrings. This is with my jeans, t-shirt and no make-up mind you!

Reminded me of the story of my dad looking for a job in college. On his drive to his interview he found a rubberband in his car. He hung it on his ear---Don't ask me why he did this but he did! On his way back home after the interview, he glanced in his rearview mirror and realized the rubber band was still there. I will let you wonder whether he got the job or not.....

The Ultimate Catch 22

One of the steps that must be taken in order to adopt a child, is to have a thorough medical exam by a physician. This exam has to be notarized. So what would you do if you found out, after completing this exam, that the doctor's office does not have a notary public, and refuses to meet you at a bank to have it notarized. And no notary at the bank will travel to the doctor's office to witness the doctor's original signature, then what do you do? Hmmmm.....If anybody has any suggestions, please give them, because we are in a pickle!!

Boys and Forts

Like father like son. While John is building a fort bed for the boys room, Simeon is in the back yard digging a hole and making his own fort. (He is supposed to be handing his father nails and bolts....BUSTED!!)