Bath Time

I read this on Spirit FM and I just couldn't not share with you all.  I must admit...I TOTALLY feel like telling my kids (and husband) this verbatim some days...

"Bath Note"

Dear Kids,

Don't be alarmed, the world isn't coming to an end. I am simply taking a bath. It will take about thirty minutes and will involve soap and water. Yes, I know how to swim. Even if I didn't, forcing myself to drown in a half-inch of lukewarm water is more work than I've got energy for. (Which reminds me, I'm all for science projects, but the next time you want to see if Play-Doh floats, use cold water.)

Don't panic if I'm not out right on time. I've heard that people don't dissolve in water and I'd like to test the theory. While I'm in the tub, I'd like you to remember a few things. The large slab of wood between us is called a door. Do not bang to hear my voice. I promise that even though you can't see me, I *am* on the other side. I'm not digging an escape tunnel and running for the border, no matter what I said a while ago. I didn't mean it. Honest. There will be plenty of time later to tell me about your day.

"Later" means at a time when I am no longer naked, wet, and contemplating bubble gum in the blow dryer. I know you have important things to tell me. Please let one of them be that you have invented a new way to blow bubbles, not a new way to add gum to your hair.

Believe it or not, shouting, "TELEPHONE!" through the closed bathroom door will *not* make the phone stop ringing. Answer it and take a message. Since Amazing Mind-Reading Mom has the day off, you'll need to write that message down. Use paper and a pencil. Do not use your brother and the laundry marker. We can't send him to school with telephone number tattoos.

Water makes me wet, not deaf. I can still tell the difference between the sound of "nothing" and the sound of a child playing the piano with a basketball. I can also hear you tattling at the top of your lungs. I'm *choosing* NOT to answer you.

Don't call your dad at work and tell him I am unconscious in the bathroom. He didn't appreciate it last time. He won't appreciate it more this time. Trust me.

No matter how much I would like it, water does not make me forgetful. I remember who you are and why you are grounded. No, you can't go toShelby's house to play. No, you can't go to Shelby's house to use the bathroom. If someone is in our other bathroom, you will just have to think dry thoughts and wait. Unless you have four feet and a tail, do not think of going outside to "water" the lawn. I know the dog does it. The neighbors don't feel the need to call me when the dog does it.

Unless the house catches on fire, stay inside and keep the doors locked. Do not go outside and throw rocks at the bathroom window to get my attention. I know it works in the movies. This is reality, the place where people don't like to sit in a tub while rocks and broken glass rain in on them. Do not set the house on fire. Call me if there is an emergency.

Emergencies ARE:

1. Dad has fallen off the roof.
2. Your brother and/or sister is bleeding.
3. There's a red fire truck in front of our house.

Emergencies are NOT:

1. Dad has fallen asleep.
2. Someone on TV is bleeding.
3. There's a red pickup truck in front of our house.

One other thing: Being forced to use the last roll of toilet paper for a towel does not make me happy. It makes me sticky with little white polka dots. In the future, when the tub overflows, use a mop to clean up the water instead of every towel in the house. For my sanity's sake, let's pretend it was the tub, Okay? No, I don't want to hear the real story. Ever. Especially not while I'm standing in the pool of water you missed.

By the way, all Play-Doh experiments are hereby canceled.

Be good. Entertain yourselves. Yes, you can do both at the same time. Try coloring, playing a game, or paying that stack of bills on the coffee table.

I'll be out soon. Maybe.

Love,

Your Mom

Could it be true?

I've (unfortunately) always kind of been a "see before I believe it" kind of girl. This, of course, makes me extremely skeptical of all kinds of theories.

I needed a solution to wanting / needing to hold Graysen and help Hunter / do housework at the same time. I needed something that would keep my hands free - so...I got a Moby Wrap.

The woman who sold it to me (who now owns a wonderful little shop called Sprouting Up) told me about all the benefits that it would bring to me and the bonding process with my new little one. Sure, sure I thought...I bonded just fine with Hunter and I never carried him in a wrap...

But now, almost 2 years later, I do feel that in fact, Graysen may be more bonded to me than Hunter was at this age. I still carry Gray around approximately 3 days a week for the first hour or so of the day in the Moby. She just needs it to wake up and feel secure before she starts off for her day. She is much more cuddly then Hunter ever was. She loves to be close to my body, whether it's laying on my stomach in bed, sitting on my lap, standing behind me twirling my hair, or having me carry her around.

Maybe this is just a coinsidence, and she is just a more "touchy" kid. Maybe, it's because she's a girl. Maybe it's because I carried her close to my body several hours everyday while she was little...

Who knows...but could it be true?

Ephesians 6:12

There is a store in town that has this verse on their flashing sign. It's just a few blocks from my house and so every time I drive past there I wonder what the verse is. I always mean to come home and look it up, but alas, I always forget.

Last night I remembered:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of thie dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the healvenly realms."

Wow. I know I'll remember everytime I drive past there from now on...

My 5 favorite books on my bookshelves

I love to read.  Luckily I'm able to borrow tons of books from friends and family so that my hobby doesn't get too expensive!  I don't actually purchase many books, but here is the list of my Top 5 favorites (in no particular order) that are actually ON my bookshelves:

1. In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (given to me by Kelley)
2. Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (purchased for a book study through church)
3. The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright (one of my purchases on one of my "author kicks")
4. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (I've owned this since my HS choir teacher recommended it my senior year of HS)  (yes, Chrissy, I found it!) 
5. Red Hot Monogamy by Bill and Pam Farrell (purchased after I heard them speak at the Hearts At Home Conference last year)

If you haven't read these books I highly suggest that you do!  

A Natural Little Mother

Here is my precious little girl practicing her Mommy skills.  We take a baby with us almost everywhere we go, although I don't always allow her to take it inside because she refuses to leave it dressed.  

Gray, showing off  how she soothed her favorite baby...  The baby has a white mark across it's face and she brought it to me, pointed to it, and said "hurt".  Then she pretended to cry.  So I told her to cuddle and rock her baby and the baby would feel better.  After she paced around the house several times, she said, "baby good".  

Apparently this is where she changes her baby's diaper (even though it doesn't wear one).  She kept going to this corner and saying "diaper, diaper"...  
This is the first time Graysen has instigated wearing her baby.  She actually brought me the blanket and tried to wrap it around her.  I have to admit...my heart smiled!

Everyone needs kisses!!!

After I got done taking the pictures above she wanted to look at them.  At the end she wanted me to take another one of the baby.  Before I took it she turned the baby's face to face me and shoved it in the camera lens...apparently she noticed that there were no pictures of the baby smiling!  

I notice more and more how much Graysen wants to help me around the house and how she mimics me with her own dolls.  It got me thinking about my childhood and how I always knew that my first priority in life was to be a wife and a mother.  I know now, that this is because my mother took great pride in her job as a homemaker.  She was a dedicated wife, a wonderful housekeeper, and the best mother imaginable!  My mom was always very hands on with my sister and I growing up, involving us in everything she did each day, and making sure that we were learning as we went.  I never remember her showing frustration with us, or laying around on the couch.  She was not an "accidental parent" (I just learned this phrase from a friend...more on that later).  Everything she did had a reason and a method behind it.  I never saw frustration from her about being "stuck" in the house with two young children every day.  

I know that me being adamant about being a stay at home mom was because my mother was one, and I couldn't imagine my childhood any other way...  Do you think you run your household the same way you were raised?

Another reason I'm blessed

There are a thousand (or more) reasons I'm a blessed woman and mother, but here are just two more of them...

I'm blessed to have these two men in my kids life who will play and be silly with them!


You might have to look hard to see Chad in that top picture...you should've seen what he went through to get up there with Graysen...and in the middle of Chuck E. Cheese!

Lincoln just laid in that ball pit trying his best to defend himself...it was a challenge for sure!

My beautiful baby girl

My biggest regret as a parent

I have a confession.  

There are days when bedtime can't be soon enough.  There are times when 10 minutes after we wake up I wonder when it's going to be time for me to leave for work, or when bedtime will come.

Wishing days with my kids away are my biggest regret as a parent.  Even in the midst of my wishing, I am aware I will live to regret it.  I know that someday I will beg for one more day with my children small.  

But sometimes, when they won't sit still at the dinner table, when I have to wipe the runny nose every 2 minutes, when I just can't seem to get along with Hunter...sometimes, I must confess, I wish it was bedtime.  The time when the house is dark and quiet and I can sit and journal my thoughts, eat a favorite snack and sit in front of the TV, or escape in a wonderful novel.  Time to myself when I can spend some quiet time with God letting Him rejuvenate me for the next day to come...

and luckily, they always seem a bit better than the day before.

171-H - Yea!...maybe?

Yea! We got our 171-H back in the mail today! It definitely took longer than 3 weeks, but we have plenty of time, so why does it really matter?! ha ha. I told Lincoln as we were pulling up in the drive way that I was going to call and check on the status of it tomorrow...and there it was, waiting for us in our mailbox! God has perfect timing!

Unfortunately, my excitement was dashed when I opened it up and read that we were approved for children 0-18 months...uh, what happened to 0-4 years old?! Reading on, on page 2 it is quoted from our homestudy, 0-4 years...so I'm really confused. I immediately looked over my application to make sure I didn't make a mistake and put only 0-18 months, but I didn't... So, step 2: Immediately call Homeland Security and leave a message (of course) explaining the problem and asking them to call back Step 3: Directly after hanging up the phone shoot an email to AAI asking them what to do!!! Hopefully I'll hear back from SOMEONE tomorrow and get this problem solved!!!

I'll keep you updated....

Are there words?

Are there sufficient words?

a wonderful night filled with great conversation on the way to and from STL with my husband

a super yummy meal at a new restaurant

a hug from a friend I don't get to see enough

smiles of their baby

lots of laughs

encouragement on all kinds of parenting issues

great Christian fellowship

funny stories

plans to see each other again the next weekend!!!

The solution

I spent the first 42 minutes of Graysen's day with her screaming, crying, and latching herself on to my neck.  She kept telling me she was hungry, but I couldn't for the life of me find what she wanted to eat.  I offered bagels, cinnamon and sugar toast, several kinds of cereal (even with milk in it), granola bars, Nutri-Grain bars, bananas, nectarines, juice, milk (even chocolate milk), water, and finally a pop-tart!  

Eventually, we found ourselves sitting in the kitchen chair, eating a pop-tart with both of mommy's arms wrapped around her waist (every time I tried to move one of them she promptly wrapped it back), rocking back and forth while Mommy whispered in her ear.  I reminded her that I loved her more than she'll ever know, (or maybe just until she has a daughter of her own.)  I told her that she was beautiful just like God made her.  I prayed for her day, asking God to comfort whatever insecurity she had this morning.  We talked about going to the park when Daddy got off work.  

Sometimes we girls just need to be wrapped in our Mommy's arms, eating a favorite comfort food, being reminded of how much we mean to someone.  We need to know that we're good enough just as we are, that God made us perfect in His eyes, and that's all that really matters.  I'm so blessed to parent this little beauty...

even when she is screaming "NO THANK YOU" in my ear for the first 42 minutes of the day!!

Commandment # 10 is REALLY HARD

I have been teaching Hunter the 10 Commandments.  We focus on one Commandment every day.  We have a song that we sing together everyday...it's been really fun!  

It just kind of hit me the other day that I only have 1 year to prepare his mind and heart for being away from me all day at Kindergarten next year.  I want him to be equipped with beliefs, laws, and rules that will keep him strong and close to God while he is under other's influences for 6 hours, 5 days a week.  I realize how blessed I have been to (thus far) have had control over who he is influenced by...I have been able to choose which family, friends, kids, adults, caregivers, etc. that he has been with for 5 whole years!  

Here is an email I got from my mom:  

"Hunter mentioned seeing a "remote control airplane" when you were at a "big yardsale" the other day.  Do you think that's something he'd like for Christmas?

 The cutest part is that we were talking about the ten commandments and he told me it's REALLY HARD not to want something one of his friends have!  :)  Bless his SWEET SWEET heart."

This note makes me realize what a precious 5 year old boy I really have!  First of all, he didn't even MENTION the remote control airplane at the sale the other day!!!  I don't know many 5 year old boys who wouldn't bug their moms to death about something as cool as that if they saw it!  I had told him before we went in not to touch anything, and totally obeyed me and didn't touch anything that he didn't ask before hand...  

Hunter just has a heart of gold, and a special woman is going to be a very lucky wife and mother some day. I already pray for my kids' spouses, and am excited to see who God brings into their lives!

Rev Run Tweet

Good morning!  Be happy today!  Never let circumstances control your joy!  Circumstances, schmircumstances!  Be happy!!  People suffer because of desire.

Pre-Baby vs. Post- Baby Body

Lots of moms talk about how they wish they could have their pre-baby body back.  I can't say I would agree.  My pre-baby body wasn't all it was cracked up to be!  Now...I might want my high school body back, but let's get real right?!  I listen to moms all around me who complain about their stretch marks.  Talk about how they tried their entire pregnancy to avoid them, and are just devastated when they appear.  

I wouldn't want to change my post-baby body.  The stretch marks on my belly, breasts, hips, thighs, and calves are permanent reminders of carrying my babies, the most important thing I've ever done.  

Why are women ashamed to have visible proof of their motherhood?  Isn't that part of what God created us to do?  Become mothers (whether through pregnancy or adoption)?  Why would we be embarrassed of that?  Now, while you won't find me running around town flashing my stretch mark tattooed stomach, I am proud of it.  

I know that my body did an awesome thing...I don't ever want to change that.

The Great Name Debate

People often ask what we will name this baby...  Unfortunately, like the other kids, it is not an easy answer.  With Hunter we immediately said "Hunter, if it's a boy, and Emmaline if it's a girl".  No question.  We picked out Claire and *R* (we're keeping it secret because it's back on the list for this baby!) very quickly for the 3rd pregnancy.  When we got pregnant for the 4th time we decided to keep *R* as the boy name and went back and forth between Graysen, Vanessa, and Zoe for the girl name.  Lincoln eventually ruled out Zoe and we had Hunter pronounce the remaining two the night before we went in to have the baby.  He pronounced Graysen more clearly, so that's the one we went with!  

This baby is a bit more complicated!  Since he will already have a name we have several things to take into consideration.

• If he is old enough to recognize / know his name, we have to weigh what changing his name would do to him.  Let's face it, he's going to have enough adjustments; is changing his name really that imperative?  

• If he is too young to recognize his name, we have to see if we can find out who named him.  If it was his birth mother or father we will debate very heavily on changing it from his first name.  They will have picked that name for a reason (like all parents do), and I'm not sure that it's my place to change it.  If the stranger who found him, or a worker at the orphanage named him, we will have to weigh the importance of keeping an Ethiopian first name.

• If we decide to change the first name and give him one that we have picked out, we will move his given name to his middle name...

• ...but do we give him an American middle name as well?  (So that he has two?)

• We currently have 5 boy first names and 1 middle name picked out...if we decide to keep his given name as his first name we will choose one of those four for his middle name I suppose.

• I have heard that some parents decide that they will for sure change their child's name, and refer to them as that name during the entire adoption process, and then when they meet their child they just can't change it.  The child just IS their name.  I can totally see this happening to me...

Awesome shoes!!

Check out these totally cute shoes!!!  I can't wait  to own a pair...someday.  

Michael Jackson - Black or White?

"Michael belonged to all of us.  He has been a part of our lives from the beginning.  Every child has danced the Moonwalk or tired to sing like Michael with a hairbrush mic or a white glove on his hand.  Michael was not Black or White; he was ours.  When he danced or sang, there was no ancestry involved, just a powerful, creative artist.  When we watched or heard him, he was ours; he was a part of us.  I hate to hear African-American, White, Asian, Mexian - all these divisions over which none of us has any control.  We are just people - we love those who touch our hearts, who give us comfort, who make us want to dance and sing with laughter and joy.  Michael did this for us."  - Ebony

I love this quote for several  of reasons...

1, because I did love Michael Jackson's artistic ability.  

2, because I sincerely wish people would let him rest!  Give it up people, he's gone, who cares how he died or why, or who he really left his estate to...it's all over now, move on!!

3, because I love the section about "labeling" people.  I think this has finally put into words (more fluently then I ever could) how I have always felt.  I hate labeling people when it comes to races.  Ethnicity I think is different - that's about where you were born, your heritage.  The color of your skin should have nothing to do with who you are, or what you're capable of.  

Rev Run Tweet

"Ignoring certain people and events during the day can save you so much trouble and leave you feeling so peaceful.  Pick your battles wisely."

In Process Update

Here is the update we recieved today from AAI...

Dear Adoptive Family,

We were able to call a number of families yesterday with referrals. Some of the babies that we had referred in July turned out to need to go through a new abandonment procedure which will take three months. Those families were contacted and offered the option of accepting a different referral or waiting through the abandonment. We regret this very much because these babies now have to wait longer and families’ expectations in terms of time have to be adjusted. However, we do support the Ethiopian government’s efforts to ensure that only children who have no one able to parent them in Ethiopia are being placed for adoption.

When we make our next referrals we will be offering baby girls to families whose dossiers went to Ethiopia in mid-November and baby boys to whose dossiers were sent in mid-February. We have taken some preschool aged children into care recently and believe that they will be ready to offer to families in the next month or so.

When I was in Ethiopia last month our doctor asked me if we could purchase a machine for administering oxygen for babies in distress so that we wouldn’t have to send them to the hospital. We received donations to purchase the equipment and Gail reported last night that it is in place and in use already by one of the babies from Opportunity House. We are very grateful.

We would like to remind you all that the time spent waiting for a referral is a good time to work on some sort of project to support our humanitarian work in Ethiopia. We had a family call to ask about adopting a second child through AAI recently. We asked what they had done to honor their commitment to help the children left behind. Oops! It hadn’t happened. We take this aspect of our application process very seriously and the government in Ethiopia also looks to us to help. With regard to our ongoing humanitarian commitment there, the dedication of the Dessie School is to take place in early October and we still need $15,000 to $20,000 to finish that project. If you are new to AAI, you can read about this project here. 

This update is a little rambling, but I (Merrily) wanted to get it out to you this weekend as I’ll be out of the country again next week. Janelle and I will travel to Thailand where we will visit orphanages to identify children with special needs that can be placed for adoption. I will have email, and I’ll be back in the office on Sept. 28th.

Merrily and Susan 

You have no idea how BADLY I want one of the pre-school aged children to be ours.  I know it's not anywhere close to realistic knowing that there are 6 months of Dossier's before ours, but a momma's heart can't help but wish you know?!  

I'm so glad that our Agency demands that we, as adoptive parents help our children's birth country!  I would never want to be a part of some place that didn't require that!  I am anxious to see how God leads us to help in the years to come.  Remember, we're collecting personal hygiene items to take to the older kids when we go (which will "fulfill" that requirement)...  We are picking up one extra thing of deodorant, or hair clips, or something every time we go to Walmart.  I have also requested to forgo all of my Christmas presents in hopes that the gift givers will supply some of these things as well.  We will ask our dentist for donations of toothpaste and toothbrushes before we go as well.

Some things I want to remember

Life always seems to pass me by far too quickly.  Once in awhile Graysen will do something that flashes me back to when Hunter was a little boy and I remember something about his childhood that I have already forgotten (in his 5 short years)!

• Graysen now calls everything that she doesn't know the name for "lay lay".  She just points and calmly says "I want lay lay."  It's always something different...I've yet to find a common theme to this word, but she's been using it non-stop for 3 days now!
• Hunter has always (literally since the day he was born) reached for my neck as a comforting spot.  When he's sick, tired, hurt, or scared his hand immediately goes to my neck.  He wraps his hand around the front of my neck (like he's going to choke me).  He's always very soft, never too rough.  Over the years I've had several people question me about it, or even tell him to take his hand off of Mommy's neck, but he knows that I don't mind, and I'm glad that we have a bond where he knows that Mommy will never mind!
• Hunter calls Mandarin Oranges "Capital Oranges".  He knows that's not the correct name, but he can't ever remember the word Mandarin, so he just uses Capital.  Maybe he always will...
• Right before Hunter reaches the door to his pre-school classroom he always stops, turns around, blows me a kiss and yells, "I'll miss you mom!"  I blow him one back and tell him that I'll miss him too, but I'll be waiting for him when pre-school is over.  Then he runs in...gone from me, and in someone else's care for 2.5 hours.  
• I hope I never forget the sound of Hunter and Lincoln playing baseball in the back yard.  This is a favorite for them recently.  I love to hear Lincoln yell "strike one", and "home run!"  I love Hunter's laugh when he hits a great hit and him screaming while running around the bases trying to get away from his Dad.  

Books to give away...

I have Amazon, but I just find that I don't make enough money to make up for all the bother that listing and mailing entails!  

So...

Here are a few books that I'd love to give to a new home if anyone is interested...just leave me a message (or email me) with the book you'd like and your mailing address!

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner - gone

All We Know of Heaven by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Wish You Well by David Baldacci

So B. It by Sarah Weeks - gone

Wedding Season by Darcy Cosper - gone

FAME!

Who is going to the theater September 25th?! 

You know I am!!!  

I've been diagnosed...

with a bad case of the "Ivy Sue"!

My son and nephew diagnosed me with "Ivy Sue" today while I was laying on the couch.  After looking down my throat with a flashlight, taking my blood pressure, and checking the reflexes in my shoulder, they decided that it was, indeed, the worse case of Ivy Sue they had ever seen.  I had to get 1 shot in my cheek, and 2 shots in my left foot.  They listened to my neck and I overheard them say to each other that "it is badder than I thought".  Uh oh!  I was told that I had to lay on the couch for days in order to heal it.  

After about 5 more minutes they asked for juice...when I reminded them that I had Ivy Sue and had to lay on the couch for days, they said that actually, they were wrong, the best way to heal Ivy Sue is to make juice to drink!

How silly of me...I should've known!

Praise God!

I have been praying for several months now that our adoption would stir someone else's heart toward adoption.  I have been asking God to use us not only to provide a loving home to one of His children, but also to be an example to others around us and to provide encouragement to another family who has a little spark of interest.  

Tonight I had my FIRST conversation with someone who told me that she is interested in adoption!  Someone who has a heart for The Fatherless!  I am soooo excited!  She told me that she doesn't ever see it happening because her husband is afraid that he wouldn't love the child the same as his biological children.  Well guess what?  Those were the exact words out of my husband's mouth 2-3 years ago when I first presented him with the idea!  I encouraged her to continue to pray about it every day because I did...and look where we are today!  

There are 147 million orphans in the world today - soon there will be 1 less...how many more could be brought to their Forever Families because of our example?  I pray lots and lots...  

My heart has been so opened to the Orphan and I just hope and pray that I can share that with everyone I know.  I hope that I can provide the resources, encouragement, prayer...whatever it takes to get some more kids home!

Thank you Lord for my girlfriend who has a heart for YOUR children...please continue to stir in her and her husband as the days go by and allow me to be here for them - in whatever capacity that may be!  

Where has all the Grace gone?

I think Grace has all but disappeared in this world.  What has happened to us as human race?  When did we start being so harsh and judgmental toward one another?  Why do we stand for that?  

I know that I, for one am going to try to start extending more grace toward others and myself.  Yes, people need to be held accountable for their actions...but what does that mean exactly?  I believe that lessons can still be learned even without "consequences".  I am going to work harder to show my children and husband grace when they make mistakes.  I am going to work harder to show myself grace when I don't feel as though I live up to my own or others expectations.  

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  "

- Titus 3:4-7

This is what memories are made of...

I love long days at my mom's house.  I just think there is something special about a grown girl getting to spend that many hours with her mom again.  Once you have your own house and family it's hard to find time to abandon everything at your own home and spend time with your original family!  

On Sunday the kids and I went straight to my mom's house from church.  We spent about 8 hours!  We were all there - Mom, Charlie, Kara, Chad, Hunter, Graysen, and I.  We helped her prepare lunch and then a little bit later more family joined us - Grandma, Sara, Jeremy, Jonas, and Lincoln.  Char grilled for us, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage - mom had fresh tomatoes from her garden, chips, coleslaw, deviled eggs, it was all awesome!  

We spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening visiting, and playing with the kids.  We snacked on ice cream bars, cheesecake, and poppers.  We played a rousing game of "keep away". It started as family vs. family, but eventually turned into boys vs. girls of course!  We had balls rolling under tables, and bouncing off of walls and ceilings (Charlie's doing of course)!  I was sure a lamp was going to get broken or something, but alas, everything stayed in tact.  

(Another awesome thing about my mom - she totally has a kid-proof house...definitely not one of the grandma's houses that you're afraid to take your kids to because she has to many breakables!)  

I love seeing my kids interact with my family.  I love how Charlie just fits.  I love how we can visit and entertain the kids at the same time.  I love how my mom will change Graysen's diaper so that Lincoln and I don't get in a fight. (ha ha)  

I love making memories!

Ditch the Workout - Join the Party!

Another session of Zumba is starting!  I've been working very hard the last few weeks to put together another fun, yet challenging Zumba party!  Music from this Zumba session will include Meregue, Raggaeton, Belly Dance, Salsa, Beyonce, Hip Hop, Pop, Samba, Soca, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Michael Buble!

This session will be 6 weeks long, followed by another 6 week session taking us to Christmas.  The music and choreography will change every 6 weeks, so there is plenty of time to catch on, but it's not long enough to get monotonous and boring!

Here are your Zumba options:

Mondays:  7:30 - 8:30 at The Dance Studio

Tuesdays:  3:45 - 4:45 at STJ Elementary Gym

   7:00 - 8:00 at The Dance Studio

Thursdays:7:30 - 8:30 at The Dance Studio

Your first class is always free and then they are 5.00 each after that.  If you want to purchase a punch card the classes will range from 3.00 - 4.50 each depending on how many classes you want to purchase!

Let me know if you have any questions - I hope you'll join me for some fun!  

Closet Shopping?

I recently read this piece of advice on saving money in a magazine.  

"Before you run out to buy a new outfit, check your own closet.  There's a great chance that there is a shirt or dress that you have never worn or rarely wear.  Sometimes we treat shopping like a sporting event.  At the end of the day, you should actually wear what you buy."

Seriously?!  People honestly have clothing in their closet that they've never worn?!  I am SOOO baffled by this statement.  I have NEVER bought something and then let it hang in my closet.  

Be honest...how many of you actually have something hanging in your closet that you've never worn...or even only worn once (besides that's bridesmaid's dress!!!)??

Rev Run

Sometimes I need some encouragement.  Just a little pick me up in the morning.  Something to get me motivated to get showered, dressed, off the computer or the couch.  (I know, that previous sentence makes me sound like a really lazy, sloppy stay home mom...I promise I'm not!)  I've started tuning in to Rev Run's morning tweets.  (Yikes.  That statement made me sound like a teenager.)  Whew, this isn't really going the way I wanted this post to go.  

Let's start over.  

I'm a fan of Rev Run.  I love his reality show.  I always laugh at the way he relates / communicates with his children.  I get a serious kick out of the way he and his wife communicate.  I think he's pretty honest...like in a "this is what I think of things way".  

None of this information if making any sense.  Regardless...here is one of his tweets that motivated me this past week.  I hope it does you too!  

"One comedian said "I wake up every day and read the Forbes list of the richest people in the world.  If I'm not on it, I go to work!"  Keep going, y'all!"

Rev Run

"Ignoring certain people and events during the day can save you so much trouble and leave you feeling so peaceful.  Pick your battles wisely."

Our STL Weekend!

While Lincoln went on a trip, the kids and I spent the weekend in STL with a dear friend who I don't get to see nearly often enough!  

After we dropped Daddy off at the airport we met Jen at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  Then we all (Hunter, Graysen, Gavin, Jen, and I) loaded up in my car and headed for the zoo!  Graysen's first trip!!!  It was a beautiful day, cloudy, but warm.  It was a Friday during the school year, so there was hardly anyone there!  I've honestly never been to the zoo on a more perfect day!  

We left the zoo about 2:00 and were all starving.  Where better to eat lunch with a group of kids?  Chuck E. Cheese of course!  After Chuck E. Cheese we headed back to her house and spent the evening making lasagna, admiring our children playing together, playing the Wii and Chris' guitar!  

After a (short) night's sleep we got up and headed to the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park.  Jen left Gavin at home, but the four of us still had a great time together!  We ate some Ethiopian food, looked at handmade goods from around the world, watched some wonderful dancing, listened to a puppet show, and let the kids run around the park!  (more on this outing on my adoption blog)

We headed home after the festival.  We were all exhausted and I knew the kids needed a good night's sleep.  We went out to Mom and Charlie's for dinner with the fam.  Hunter decided to stay the night with Mom and Charlie.  That left Graysen and I at home by ourselves for the night.  I've NEVER spent the night with her alone!  (Not even in the hospital!)

Sunday morning we got up early and headed back to the zoo with my sister!  It was a bit more crowded on Sunday, so we had to park pretty far away in Forest Park.  It was an interesting hike through the woods to the zoo!  We were only able to spend about 2 hours at the zoo, but it was very fun!  
Off to the airport we headed to pick Daddy back up!  After 4 circles around the East Terminal, I finally found the parking garage...that's how many years it had been since I'd been there!  The kids had never been inside the airport, so inside we trecked to wait for Lincoln.  

The kids sure were happy to have him home!  

They both crashed on the way home...what a fun weekend it had been!

I so enjoyed our weekend away from home.  It had been awhile since I had taken both kids to do something in STL, and it worked wonderfully!  I think Gray is finally at an age where we can start exploring again!  It was awesome to spend some time with Jen again.  It had been 6 months since she was at our home, and I didn't realize how much I missed her until I was with her again.  We are so very similar in our parenting that it was very comfortable the entire weekend!  

I'm looking forward to our next weekend away!

An awesome children's giveaway!

This mom is giving away these three books once a month!  I would LOVE to add them to my collection for my children!  You should hop over to her blog and enter the give away.  She always posts very encouraging, insightful posts - everyday!  She's a homeschool mom who encourages me each morning when I wake up to run my household as Christ would!  

I'm Amazed By You

Son,

I am amazed by you every day.  You are so different than I am.  I am able to learn so many lessons from watching you be who you naturally are.  It surprises me that I could raise a boy who has so many qualities that I have so often wished that I possessed.  I am proud that you are being who God made you to be.  I hope that you never stop doing that.  Life is hard, and things will make you want to act differently, become a different person.  But, at your soul, always remember that you possess these qualities that I admire in you.  

You are not afraid of new things.  You just hopped off my lap to run up and speak a mouse voice into a microphone in front of a large group of strangers in the picture above.  You are not shy in front of a group of people.  I am proud that you are willing to branch out and experience new things.  I wish I could do that so effortlessly.

You LOVE animals.  I am a person who would stay away from animals the rest of my life if possible.  I don't like their dirtiness, I don't like their odd, unpredictable behavior.  You remind me daily that God created all of these animals for a reason.  You desire to learn more about every animal you cross paths with.  You are kind, gentle, and patient with each new animal you meet.  I wish I had your loving heart towards God's creations.  

You love being outdoors.  You don't mind the heat, or bugs.  Sweat or snow never bother you.  I, on the other hand, love being inside with air conditioning or heat.  I despise sweating, and really don't like all the itchy bugs.  You love to explore and create games with all the nature outside.  I have always been more content to sit on the couch and read a book.  Thank you for slowly teaching me to appreciate the nature around me.  

You are not afraid of crowds.  You jump right into any situation.  Here you are, at the STL Zoo.  While I waited in the back for the crowd to subside so I wouldn't have to rub elbows with strangers, you hopped right up to the fence, never noticing that you were right in the middle of a crowd of people you had never seen before.  

You are so very creative.  You can create games (like the one above including a discarded box, movie cases, and action figures) with anything.  You have "levels" that you beat.  You have voices for each character and sound effects galore.  You can play by yourself for hours.  I love your imagination.  I have always needed something or someone right there with me to explain the rules or the game to me.  You are a free spirit who can create an awesome game in the snap of a finger! 

Festival of Nations

There was a Festival Of Nations in STL at Tower Grove Park this past weekend.  I was so excited to take the kids and experience some Ethiopian food!  

My good friend Jen went with us.  It felt so nice to spend time with a friend who is so supportive of our adoption.  She was as excited as I was to try the food, look at the goods, and learn more about Ethiopia!

They didn't have any dancing from Ethiopia, but this was a dancer from "East Africa"...so I figure that's got to be pretty close right?!  He was awesome!  

We listened to a puppet show and Hunter jumped up there to play the voice of the mouse!  

We of course stopped at the Ethiopian food booth!  Here is the menu (sorry it's sideways, my computer is acting up and not letting me turn it!)  I didn't know what ANYTHING was, so I asked the woman.  She gave me one of the sampler plates.  I told her we were adopting from Ethiopia and she was so excited!  She told me that she owns the Ethiopian Restaurant in STL and invited me to come learn to cook "to make the little guy feel at home".  She insisted that I bring him him when we get him home to meet them.  She says she misses Ethiopia a lot, but likes the USA as well.  I fully intend on going to eat there and hopefully sitting and chatting with her.  I would love as much information as she can give me, and I can't WAIT for cooking lessons!!!

I thought it was REALLY yummy!  The lentils and beef dish were my favorites.

Thanks again Jen, for going with the kids and I.  I can't wait for you to meet us at the airport when we come home with the little guy!  

I Confess

What was a I saying about being an emotional eater...?

I admit...I totally made this pan of brownies and stood at the oven and ate two rows out of them...THEN took them to bed with me that night.  Don't judge...I had just been to Hunter's Pre-School Open House and my husband was taking his first flight alone to TX for the weekend the next day!  ha ha  At least I realized it enough to take a picture and confess right?