World On Fire

A friend of Lincoln's sent him this video. I only wish it went a little slower!! :0)

Enjoy!

Now that we're family...

I'll be moving all my posts about the boys to my main family blog. Thank you all for following along here on this blog and supporting us along the way!

Ashley

Craft Inspiration

I am always looking for fun crafts to do with my kids. I subscribe to Family Fun, and tend to find lots of good ideas in there, but sometimes our inspiration comes from real life. Like this photo that we saw today of a room where our boys will be staying... (cropped to keep other people's kids and waiting children out of the picture)


I commented on the paper chains and Hunter immediately wanted to learn how to make them...so, we sat down and made some for his bedroom! He can't wait to send a picture to S and B to show them that he has paper chains in his room too!


Look! I can post a picture of this adorable little boy with his paper chains...because he has a family! How excited we'll be to start posting pictures of our new precious additions...because they will have a family too!

Yes, son I'll try...

Me: Hunter, you won't be going with us to Ethiopia to get your brothers, you're going to stay here with Grammie and Graysen.

Hunter: No way. I'm going.

Me: Honey, it will be too hard of a trip for you to make.

Hunter: Then you have to close your eyes.

Me: What honey?

Hunter: You have to keep your eyes closed Mom!

Me: You want me to keep my eyes closed when I go to Ethiopia to pick them up?

Hunter: Yes.

Me: That would be really hard, why would I do that Hunter?

Hunter: Because I have to see my brothers first Mom!!!

S and B,

Your brother Hunter loves you so very much. He has been praying for you for almost a year now. He can't wait to get you here with us. He wants to share his toys and teach you all that he knows about life here. He is very excited about reading his bible over again with you. He hopes that one of you will want to sleep in bed with him rather than just in the same room with him. He wants you to teach him Amharic. He is excited that he will have brothers to go to school with, he was rather unsure about Kindergarten before, but is super confident now that he will have his brothers by his side.

We love you so very much. We look at your pictures every morning and are in wonderment that you are actually our boys. God designed us to be a family...and we can't wait to start!

Love,
Mom

One Little Thing

that will link us and our boys together...

until we can get them home. We made them bracelets that are being sent in their Welcome Bags and we are all wearing ours until they get here!

We miss you S and B!!

Me - Trendy?!

Yesterday I was sitting in my sister's salon chair. Like I do every Tuesday morning. Graysen and I have standing appointments. Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9:15 - 11:15. We drop Hunter off at pre-school and then head to Kara's to get our hair done. It's a nice time to catch up with my sister...plus I don't have to do my hair two days a week!

As I was sitting in the chair I over heard an older woman in another chair.

"Well, look at that, that girl must do all the trendy styles in here."

Was she referring to my hair as trendy?! I've never once thought of myself as trendy. Never. Not in High School, not in college, and definitely not since becoming a mom 5.5 years ago!

But, as I sat there looking at myself in the mirror, with my hair nicely washed and styled by my sister, holding my precious baby girl on my lap with her hair neatly braided in double french braids and her finger and toe nails freshly painted I could see it. Just for a moment, I was a trendy girl. I was a trendy mom.

Love is an action word

Read this!

No, seriously. Go read it. I've started a thousand posts (okay - maybe more like 10) trying to say what this woman just said.

and please...if you have any questions, please, please, please ask.

Although we are bringing home our two sons we would love to help bring more home. If you want us to pray for you heart...for your spouses heart...if you want us to answer questions, if you want us to sit down and explain the process...we're more than willing.

Our lives are forever changed

There are really no words. I've been waiting for 6 days to write this post, but still, the perfect words elude me.

We started the adoption process on March 26, 2009. We made the commitment together that night to ourselves, our family, and most importantly to The Lord to follow what we felt like was His calling in our lives. We immediately started researching different home study and placement agencies and decided on the ones that fit our family the best. We finished all of the paperwork and our Dossier went to Ethiopia on July 21, 2009.

On January 19, 2010 we received the call that forever changed our lives.

"Hi Ashley, this is Susan from ***. I have a file for twin 6 year old boys if you're interested in reviewing it."

Wow. In those simple sentences my heart became the mother of two more children.

So, there you have it! We are now emotionally the parents of twin 6 year old boys. We'll call them S and B for now. I can not share their picture over the internet in any way (email, blog, etc.) I can not write their full names on here.

What's next? Now there is more paperwork to be done. We will have a court date (with our POA representing us) in Ethiopia in about 12 weeks. After we pass court we will legally be the boys' parents. We will travel sometime in April or May (hopefully) to pick our sons up and bring them home with us to join our family forever.

There are names to be picked. Bunk beds and a mini van to be bought. We get to put together "Welcome Bags" to send. There is a trip to Ethiopia to plan. There is a lot to be done, unfortunately I'm not getting much done.

We just keep staring at their pictures and praying for their hearts. I can tell you that they have beautiful big, brown eyes. I can tell you that Hunter and Graysen are smitten already and talk about them every 5 minutes or so. Yes, they look alike, but are not identical. We pray together for the transition that they are about to make. We research Ethiopia, for their country and culture are about to collide with ours and we want to help them hang on to as much of it as possible.

Thank you all for your support over the first part of our journey. You have been amazing. You have lifted me up when I needed it. Please pray for our children and our family...all 6 of us!

Our lives are forever changed

There are really no words. I've been waiting for 6 days to write this post, but still, the perfect words elude me.

We started the adoption process on March 26, 2009. We made the commitment together that night to ourselves, our family, and most importantly to The Lord to follow what we felt like was His calling in our lives. We immediately started researching different home study and placement agencies and decided on the ones that fit our family the best. We finished all of the paperwork and our Dossier went to Ethiopia on July 21, 2009.

On January 19, 2010 we received the call that forever changed our lives.

"Hi Ashley, this is Susan from ***. I have a file for twin 6 year old boys if you're interested in reviewing it."

Wow. In those simple sentences my heart became the mother of two more children.

So, there you have it! We are now emotionally the parents of twin 6 year old boys. We'll call them S and B for now. I can not share their picture over the internet in any way (email, blog, etc.) I can not write their full names on here.

What's next? Now there is more paperwork to be done. We will have a court date (with our POA representing us) in Ethiopia in about 12 weeks. After we pass court we will legally be the boys' parents. We will travel sometime in April or May (hopefully) to pick our sons up and bring them home with us to join our family forever.

There are names to be picked. Bunk beds and a mini van to be bought. We get to put together "Welcome Bags" to send. There is a trip to Ethiopia to plan. There is a lot to be done, unfortunately I'm not getting much done.

We just keep staring at their pictures and praying for their hearts. I can tell you that they have beautiful big, brown eyes. I can tell you that Hunter and Graysen are smitten already and talk about them every 5 minutes or so. Yes, they look alike, but are not identical. We pray together for the transition that they are about to make. We research Ethiopia, for their country and culture are about to collide with ours and we want to help them hang on to as much of it as possible.

Thank you all for your support over the first part of our journey. You have been amazing. You have lifted me up when I needed it. Please pray for our children and our family...all 6 of us!

The phone call that ended in this...

Hunter has been trying to prove to his dad that he is responsible enough to have a cat ever since Aunt Sissy got one for Christmas.

I got these messages from Hunter on my phone Friday night:

"Mommy, I would really like to have a kitten that I found on the internet that needs a home and me and Grammie were looking at a cat book that my Grammie has and she has her claws out and she uses the litter boxes and she loves to have kids around and um, she's fantastic with kids, and guess what? What? I love this kitten and I really want her so talk to my dad about it, bye."

"Okay now, mom, I have a question to tell you, guess what? I did my chore chart today and guess what? A chore cart of the kitty. And I cleaned it's litter box, and I even got its food, it's water, cleaned the bowl out, and I did everything for the kitty, played with her."


Guess what those messages did to a Mommy's heart?!

Saturday brought this...

During my blogging break

As suggested by Kelley, here are some of my favorite happenings during my blogging break (which occurred from October 11th - December 28th 2009). I'm not going to include Graysen starting dance class or her birthday - both of which will get their own posts!

1. Going to the Pumpkin Patch and Halloween.

I absolutely adore our trip to the pumpkin patch every year. There's something about getting out in the crisp fall weather all bundled up in our sweaters. I love watching my kids do fun fall activities that always include corn, hay bales, and fields of pumpkins! This year we went to the little patch in Dixon. It was the first time we'd been there (we almost always go to Eckert's), and we loved it! I definitely think we'll go back again next year. There was a fun corn stalk maze (that took way too long to get through), animals for the kids to feed, a huge hay bale thing to jump off of, a spooky house, corn to sit and play in, and a hay ride out to the pumpkin field.

My sweet boy tromping through the maze

Seriously, how much fun is all this corn?!

For Halloween this year Hunter was Indiana Jones. No, I have not let my 5 year old watch any of the Indiana Jones movies. He saw it in one of the costume catalogs that we got and would not be satisfied with any other costume. Graysen was a ballet dancer for the Halloween party that we went to, but on the night of Halloween, she wouldn't dress up (so she wore her candy corn dress her Aunt Becca made for her). She is typically scared of costumes, so I didn't even attempt to get her any kind of other costume. We had a good Trick or Treating night, the Smith's came over with Easton and we went to the Shaner's home. Then we went to First Baptist Church Trunk or Treat.

Graysen in her dress made my Aunt Becca

Indiana Jones

Hunter pretending to be scared of the "Mummies" we made for lunch one day.

2. Visiting Lindenwood

On October 23rd Megan and I took a small group of our dancers to Lindenwood University to tour of the campus, take a ballet class with my former college ballet teacher, and attend the student directed dance concert. It was such a great day spending time with some of my dancers, seeing them outside of the classroom setting. I enjoyed being back on campus, seeing how much things have changed. It was great to see Miss Jan, and awesome to see all the new dance facilities! After a lunch out and some shopping we headed back to campus for the dance concert. It was a great show, the first I've seen in several years. My friend Amy, from my college dance days met us for the concert! I was transported back in time for the day, enjoying my old college campus, professors, friends, and town. Although it made me miss those times, it also made me appreciate what I have now!

3. Jennifer's Baby Shower

On November 8th my cousin and I hosted a baby shower for one of our friends. I have known Jennifer for a few years now, after she and her husband joined our bible study group. I love hosting get togethers, so this baby shower was right up my ally! Babies are especially close to my heart, so I found this to be a perfect opportunity to show my love to her during her first pregnancy!

4. A visit with a great friend.

My wonderful friend Nikki came to Cuba for a whole week in November! I was able to spend an entire afternoon with her, and it was amazing! She was also able to attend Graysen's 2nd birthday party and take pictures for us (she's a professional photographer in the KC area), which was very special. We were very good friends in HS, and she lived with us for a time following HS. She was the guest book attendant for my wedding, and I was a bridesmaid in hers. She has a beautiful little girl named Ella. I just adore my time with her, unfortunately it's too far between our visits.

5. Thanksgiving

I always love Thanksgiving! It may be my favorite holiday simply because you get to gather with your entire family and eat awesome food, but no gifts are expected! So much less stress! This year we had Thanksgiving breakfast with the Redburn's, then went to Aunt Kim's for lunch. This year we also had Chad's birthday on Thanksgiving, so after lunch we went back to Mom's for birthday cake and gifts! :0) The day after Thanksgiving we went to Chuck E. Cheese for Chad's "surprise" birthday party. Hunter was so cute, he really believed he was keeping a secret from Chad for several weeks as we planned his party. So adorable.

6. The start of Basketball Season

So...maybe this isn't really a favorite per say, but it was a huge occurrence in our home. The season has been a bit different this year, I'm not on bedrest, and I don't have a child under a year old in the house! Hunter is old enough to go with Lincoln to pre-season conditioning, and we are blessed that both children are old enough to be dropped off with Dad at practice for a few minutes if our work overlap time is less than 1/2 hour. I have attended considerably fewer games this year due to me working on Tuesday nights this year. Aside from having a babysitter more often then we like, basketball has caused much less stress on our family this year than any other year! I think it's only going to get better!

7. Christmas Carol

I was lucky enough to take my oldest son on a date to see A Christmas Carol at LU this year. It was his first play. I only expected to make it to intermission, but when presented with the opportunity to leave during intermission he said "I definitely think we should stay to see the rest of it Mom!" I was thrilled to see that my son has an interest in the performing arts. He laughed at all the appropriate places, and we both jumped in our seats during one part! I was extremely proud of the well behaved 5 year old I took with me as my date. I hope we can make it a tradition!

Hunter and I before leaving for our date

8. Cookie Baking

We usually do some kind of holiday cookie baking in my family, but this year the bug really bit us and Mom chose some 8 different kinds of cookies to make! We had all the ingredients purchased and gathered at her house...only to find that the oven would not work on December 23rd! Two days before she was to host Christmas for our entire family! So...everything was moved to my house and we had a baking extravaganza here instead! My Aunt Kim was able to join us this year, and my cousin Jayna via phone for a little while. I really enjoyed seeing my kids interact with my Aunt, who I have so many wonderful memories with growing up.

Aunt Kim helping Graysen make Sugar Cookies

Hunter: "Seriously Mom, quit taking pictures and just let me make cookies!"

This flour is so much fun! Let's do this every year!

This is real life

Last night I slept from 4:30 p.m. - 7:50 a.m. 15 hours. straight.

Sure, I could've gotten up, but it was easier not to. It was easier not to deal with real life.

My children weren't misbehaving. My husband has been extremely helpful lately.

So, why the ridiculous amount of sleep? I'm stressed. Welcome to my life as a high school / college student. This is what I do. I hibernate. The world could be falling down around me, yet, I sleep.

It's partially this time of year. My world fell apart around this time 4 years ago. I faced what I never dreamed I would have to; the loss of a child...for the second time in a row. As much as I try to stay busy and avoid any memories, thoughts, or recollections, they come flooding back, replaying in my mind as vivid as they were the days they were happening.

I'm also mentally exhausted. It hit me the other day that if we had just gotten pregnant in March '09 when we started this adoption process we would already have a baby. Do I regret the decision to adopt rather than have another biological child...never, no way, absolutely not. But, the honest part of international adoption is this: it's heart wrenching. You attach yourself to a child or children thousands of miles away on anther continent. You've never seen them, you don't know their life story. All you know is that you've committed to loving and raising these kids for the rest of your life. And you can't hold them. You can't tuck them into bed. You miss setting plates for them at meal times. You wonder when their birthday is and if they've ever heard of Santa Clause. You can't wait to teach them to pray and see them ask Jesus into their hearts. You miss your kids. Everyday.

So, I woke up this morning, rested and ready to tackle another day. Another great day with my two children here with me. Ready to do a couple of loads of dishes, a few loads of laundry, and to clean my bedroom. It's another typical day in our home, yet I'm always on pins and needles, waiting for the phone call that will change our family forever...the one that tells me I've got another child coming home.

Project 365 - First 2 weeks

I'm super excited. I just read about this little challenge called Project 365. Although I didn't learn about it until now, Day 9, I'm going to hop on board and see what I have from the first 9 days as well. I'll try to do a bi-monthly recap, and I'd love for you all to join me!!

January 3rd. Seeing my children hard at work hiding the word of God in their hearts is irreplaceable!

January 7th. Hunter immitating Chad while wearing his MS&T hat. Ha ha, are you proud Chad?

January 9th. Hunter had so much fun exploring the snow with his Aunt Sissy and Chad. Thank you for taking him out when I was too wimpy!

January 10th: Graysen is Kara's mini me.

January 11th: These are the days I will miss. I love it when my kids create a game and play nicely together!


January 12th: Graysen is learning to get herself dressed. If you'll notice the jeans are on backward, but she would NOT let me change them! She was very proud!


January 13th: My precious little girl. These are her favorite PJ's of all time.


January 14th: Graysen and Adelyn. She loves babies these days, especially real ones! She just wants them to sit on her lap though...

Enough about me...what about you?

I just found out that today is "Delurking Day"!

I've never heard of it, let alone participated in it, but I'm excited to start!

I know most of you (maybe all of you!), but some of you don't know each other...and I always love to learn more about my friends! So, whether you're a dear friend, a relative, or a new reader who tends to lurk around here once in awhile, I'd love to hear from you!

Please answer one, two or maybe all of these and introduce yourselves!

1. Where are you from?
2. Tell me about your daily life. What's a typical day like for you? What's your favorite part of the day?
3. What book or movie changed your life?
4. If you're a fellow blogger what's your URL? What do you write about?
5. What's your favorite food or drink?
6. Now that I've canceled our Dish TV, what should I order first from Netflix?

Mothering

"Inspiring Natural Families since 1976"

Mothering Magazine might be my all time favorite magazine! I won a subscription to it at a National Breastfeeding Fair a little over a year ago and have not put it down since! I keep almost all of the volumes as references.

I am encouraged, inspired, and challenged every time I sit down to read.

Although I don't necessarily think of our family as a "natural" family, my beliefs line up with this magazine more than I ever thought they would! Of course I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding. More nights then not we have a family bed. I am a baby wearer (still). We tend to agree with most of the discipline techniques and ideals discussed. I would say the only thing that we don't participate in is all of the wonderfully healthy eating habits they suggest...not something I'm proud of.

I get very excited for my monthly subscription of Mothering to come, and when it does, you can guarantee that I will be taking a nice, long, hot bath in peace and quiet to soak in all of the wonderful articles that are sure to fill the pages.

Delaying Formal Schooling

It's no secret that I'm very nervous about my children's educational career. We held Hunter back a year, choosing not to send him to pre-school until age 5, and Kindergarten at age 6.

I recently read that Britan has officially recommended holding children off of formal schooling until age 6 as well, putting them more closely in line with other European Countries (like Germany and France). The article said that it would allow children more time to learn while playing, which I have always valued. I think there are a million real life lessons that can be learned while playing with toys and each other!

I felt better about our decision and my strong feelings after reading all the stats this article provided. I think we made a good decision for our son.

Words of Wisdom from a 5 year old

"You're surrounded by joy!"

These are the words I was awoken by this morning. I opened my eyes to see one baby on each side and Hunter was right, I was surrounded by joy.

Where he gets this stuff, I will never know. But I'm sure lucky he was right!

Are there days?

When the vaccum falls over 3 times when you try to put it away?

When sweep the kitchen floor just to find 5 minutes later that your 2 year old has gotten into the brownies and they are now all over the floor?

When you try to label pictures because you've realized your memory is already failing you and your kids will NOT play by themselves? Am I wrong to think that my 5 and 2 year olds should be able to play in their playroom stocked with toys by themselves for 15 minutes?

When you make your bed only to find both kids have thrown all the blankets off and are jumping on it a few minutes later?

When you break 2 glasses while unloading the dishwasher because they are still too hot? Darn me for being dilligent and getting right on unloading as soon as they are clean!

Today, I think I'm going to quit trying. Tomorrow is another day.

Happy 2010 from The Redburn's!

We hope that this letter finds you feeling refreshed from your Christmas vacations and celebrations. We pray that you all were able to stop and enjoy the real reason for the season and celebrate Jesus' birthday with your friends and families. Hunter requested birthday hats this year for our Christmas dinner rather than a birthday cake for Jesus like in years past! What good is a birthday party without the hats right?!

Lincoln is still working the weekend day shift at the Walmart DC. He loves his job and doesn't look to change anytime soon! He has also started making some deliveries for Phelps County Rental during the weekdays this year. It's just on a "need" basis, so we still have some days to enjoy as a family. He is also in his 6th year of coaching boys basketball at the St. James High School. He loves the opportunity and responsibility of helping shape young boys lives on and off the court.

Ashley stopped doing in home daycare in May 2009 and has been soaking up the time with her kids every day since then! She couldn't ask for anything more then to be able to be home with her children experiencing life with them and making their house a home for the entire family. She is teaching all forms of dance and Zumba at The Dance Studio in Rolla three nights a week this school year. She appreciates being able to get out of the house for a few hours each night and continue a passion that she has had for 23 years now!

Hunter Lee turned vie in August of this year. He started pre-school two mornings a week at an awesome Christian Church herein town and is very much enjoying being introduced to the school setting. Mom and Dad couldn't ask for a better place to send him for a few hours a week. We are thrilled with the instruction and staff! He is very much a "boy". We are thrilled with his imagination we see while he crates huge worlds with his action figures and his sister's doll house. He still loves to play all sports and enjoys cheering for the Tigers while at his Dad's basketball games.

Graysen Faith turned tow this year! She has turned into a beautiful, very passionate little girl. Whether it's that she adamant it's "her turn" while playing Bubby, or because she wants a certain pair of shoes for the day, she definitely lets you know her opinion! She talks up a storm and is your typical little girl. She has an obsession with shoes, clothe,s hair bows, and nail polish! She started dance class the week after she turned two. She loves it! She is often showing anyone (even strangers in the store) her dance moves - and to make Mommy even more proud she even uses correct French terminology! Her favorites include turning with arms in fifth position, shuffle step, posse' (foot at the knee), sote' (jump), and plie' (bend of the knees)!

In family news, we started the adoption process in March of this year! We are adopting form Ethiopia and are just waiting to receive a referral (picture, medical info, and name)! We hope to hear something in early spring and then travel to Africa to bring our much awaited baby brother home before Christmas 2010. Although we are anxious to add another blessing to our family, we of course know that it's all in God's timing and He already arranged thing to work out perfectly!

Much love from our home to yours,
Lincoln, Ashley, Hunter and Graysen

Thank you Lord for giving me a sister

who is the best Aunt in the whole world!!!

I am not an outside person. So, when all this now came I might have said a small prayer to God asking Him to NOT let Hunter ask to go out in it...maybe...



So, when Kara called asking if she could take Hunter sledding I was thrilled. Seriously.

Hunter's first experience on a 4 wheeler!

Kara and Chad,

Thank you for being so involved with my kids. You are both the best people I could ask for! I can always count on you to keep routine and discipline while we're gone, and splurge with fun, outrageous activites with them while we're around. My kids are so blessed to be able to make so many memories with you, they will last a lifetime.

Love always,
Ash

Some thoughts on recently viewed movies

I'm not much on reviews of anything, but I've actually watched a few movies in the last week...more than I've seen in several months actually!



After Mrs. Haid's mentioning of Julie and Julia, I decided I'd better watch it. It was one that I wanted to see in the theater as well, but, as life goes with two young children, I didn't make it. I actually really enjoyed the movie! It wasn't filmed the way I expected it to be, but I thought it was very easy to follow and I enjoyed the plot. It definitely made me glad that I am not obsessed with food or cooking...I could NOT do some of the things I saw them doing on there. Gag. I don't care how good it may taste, the prep would not make it worth it to me. It did, however, wish that I had some sort of project to participate in for a year. Something to do every day, something to be accountable for (as if I don't have enough already...). So...I did some research and came up with something! Be looking for a post very soon!!!


Santa Buddies. We watched this as our family movie night on Thursday. It was awesome. A little over zealous for a kids movie about puppies? Maybe, but maybe not! We have all the other "Buddies" movies, and the kids do love all of their adventures. I was expecting about the same thing out of this one, but they far surpassed my expectations. The magic of Christmas must have gotten into them or something! The one thing that I appreciated more than anything about this movie was the Christian Christmas tid bits that were added in. Although it was about Santa Claus, there was also "God Bless", prayer time, and much, much more! A must see, I think. It will definitely become a Christmas movie tradition in our home!


The Blind Side. I can't say enough. This was WELL worth the trip to the theater. Although this movie does hit a little closer to home for me currently, I still believe that this is a story everyone should see! I was literally laughing and crying at the same time - several times!

You're in our dreams

Sweet children,

You are in the dreams of those who are also waiting for you. Your Nini dreamed about you the other night. She got to hold you and look at your face. She says that you are beautiful. A good friend of ours (in our small group) also dreamed that she was getting on a plane and flying overseas to visit children. She feels like they were ours.

I hope that you'll always know how much you have always been desired. I hope you always know that you are a part of our lives, and have been since before we became a family.

Love always,
Mom

ABC Bible Verses - January's Verse

"A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1



I have been wanting to start ABC Bible Verses with my children. I want them to master a verse of the bible starting with each letter of the alphabet. We will take our time considering they are young, but I figured about a month per verse.



After several hours of arguing between my two children one day, I decided it was time to start our ABC Bible Verses. Verse number 1: A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1. Perfect.

I typed out the verse on a colored piece of paper and put them at the table with the verse and two white papers and crayons. After having them repeat the verse after me several times I asked them to draw a picture that shows what the verse means...




Here is Hunter showing off his art work. He drew a happy man (in blue) and a mad man (in red) and wrote the words "happy" and "anger" under them.

Here is his art work displayed on the fridge. The verse hangs above it and we talk about using our soft words many times a day!

Why our heart for the orphan?

So many people have asked us why we would adopt. This question comes in many forms...why when you can have children "of your own" (please don't make me break down why I think this is such an ignorant statment!), why when you already have two, why Ethiopia (meaning both international and a child of another race), why when it's so expensive. Why we "suddenly" have a heart for the orphan.

We've thought long and hard about those questions. Here is a list of some of our answers.

Because we believe that this life is not our own. It is God's, and we must use it for the betterment of His kingdom.



Because we believe that in the end, it won't matter what careers we had, or what gadgets we could afford, it will matter what lives were saved.



Because we believe that each child is a child of God.



Because we see nothing more worthy of our focus, time, resources, and lives.



Because injustice is a wrong worth righting.



Because a poor and homeless child is still a child.



Because we know that, while adoption is not a solution in itself to the orphan crisis of 147 million, we believe that 147 million minus one or two is a better number.



Because we believe that Jesus died for redmeption, not just for eternity, but for our lives on this planet, and we believe that we can be vessles of that redemption to children's lives here.



Because we know, that if it were our own flesh and blood we would want someone to love them and call them family as well.



Because when we hear God's calling and direction for our lives as plainly as we heard Him say this to us, we can not say no.



Because really, these children are no different from your own. Not at all.



Because it's just not okay with us to say no to a child who needs a home, when we have one.



Because it's just not okay with us to say no to a child who needs a family when we have one.



Because it's just not okay with us to say no to a child who needs room to thrive when we have room and can make room.



Because it's just not okay with us to do nothing.



Because it's not going to be okay for them if we do nothing.



Because it's just not okay to do nothing.

*Some of these wordings have come from others, but all in all this is exactly why we have chosen to adopt. This is why we will continue to stay involved in solving the world's orphan crisis long after our own children come home forever.

Graysen's First Dance Class

Can it be true? Is it really time for my little girl to go to her first dance class?
This is something I've dreamed of almost my whole life. Silly, maybe, but if we're all honest we will admit that we've all pictured our little boys and girls doing something that we love as well.

Will she realize that I've left the room? Will she listen to Miss Megan? Will she understand what she's supposed to do? She's the youngest one in the room, will she be physically coordinated enough?

Will I still be standing here in awe of my precious daughter dancing 20 years from now? I wonder if this is what my mom was feeling when she watched me during my first class. Did she know that it would be a lifelong passion of mine? Did she know that someday she would come to watch week for her granddaughter?

Will she enjoy it? Will she want to come back next week?

All my fears were relieved 30 minutes later when she cried as I was trying to get her to leave the dance studio because class was over. She didn't want to leave. In fact, she didn't. She stayed the rest of the night with Mommy while I worked.

Graysen with Miss Megan after her first class at The Dance Studio

I got her a dance bag embordered with her name. Her very own tap and ballet shoes. They are the ones that I will save forever. Her very first pair. Her little black leotard and pink tights.

She has talked about Dance Class literally every day since then. She's only been to two classes and can't wait to go back on Monday. She shows me her favorite things from class every day. She loves the crab position, nose to toes stretching, turning with her arms in 5th position, plie', posse', jumping, and shuffle step.

This may be a fleeting interest, and I may end up at basketball games rather than dance recitals and competitions, but for now, I'm going to soak up the amazement that I feel while watching my beautiful ballerina.

make that another one...

Up 2 spots...

I've never been one to scour the unoffical wait list...until yesterday!

Today...we moved up 2 spots! 2 spots in one day, I'm so excited! We're not unofficially sitting at number 11...

X Box Games for Sale

My husband and son got an XBox 360 for Christmas and we have a few original XBox games that are not compatible. I'd love to sell them for 5.00 each if anyone still has an XBox just comment or email me...

Hitman 2
Madden NFL 06
SSX Tricky
Nascar Thunder 2002
ESPN Colege Hoops 2K5
EA Sports Triple Play 2002
NCAA Football 2003
NCAA Football 2005

Whew.

So, I've started this new chore chart. The high I get from Xing something off the list is rediculous really. Between that and the motivation I got from Chrissy's "she does not eat the bread of idleness" New Years Resolution post, I've hardly taken a minute to sit down at the computer!

Plus, Graysen is sick again.

So, sorry for the "act" of a triumphant return only to be let down by so few posts, with such little content. I really do have several swimming around in my head. I've done two fun crafts with my kids the last two days, and I'd love to post pics of those, just not time right now...

now it's time to fold laundry before Hunter gets home from his first day back to pre-school!

Help where I need it the most

God, please give me the patience, love, and skills to be the parent that my oldest child needs. I want so badly to raise him up to love and fear you, but some days I feel as though that is an impossible task. Please help me.

Amen.

Keeping a family together, that's difficult. And that's the mission worth fighting for.
- Spy Kids

Christmas Traditions

Mrs. Haid suggested that I write about some of our families Christmas Traditions. I have greatly enjoyed reading about some of yours, so here are some of ours!

I love classic traditions, but also love creating new ones, so most years contain a collaboration of new, old, and slightly modified traditions depending on our children's ages.

I love Christmas lights, so I always drive Hunter around and we drink Hot Chocolate and look at the lights. He REALLY enjoyed it this year, but got tired after about 1/2 of STJ, so he asked me to remember what road we were on and we would finish another night. So sweet.

We also always make it a point to celebrate Jesus' birthday in some typical way. Most years Hunter has made him a birthday cake that we take to my Grandma's on Christmas Eve, but this year he asked to wear birthday hats, so...that's what we did during Christmas dinner at the Redburn's!

My Grandma has made each person in my family a stocking. Mine is from when I was born, she made Lincoln his the Christmas before we got married, and each child one when they are born. She's even made one for the new baby, but we don't have his name at the top yet (because we don't know it!!), but we sure hung it with pride next to the rest of ours this year. How lovely it was for all 5 matching stockings to be hanging side by side on the fire place!

Our Christmas celebrations start with a drop in potato and cheddar and broccoli soup dinner at my Grandma's house. After everyone gets off work on Christmas Eve we all just gather slowly at my Grandma's house and have soup, meat and cheese trays, and cookies. This year my Grandma just wasn't feeling up to it, so we had it at my Aunt Lisa's house. This made it kind of nice because now all three "sisters" can host a family gathering during the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day).

My family has always had a tradition of getting and opening new PJ's on Christmas Eve. We always wear them to bed that night so that we have nice, new PJ's for Christmas morning pictures. We have now modified this tradition to be for my kids. They always get PJ's (this year matching ones!), and us kids (Lincoln, Kara, and I) either get house slippers or PJ's (whichever we need the most that year).

We also always get a new Christmas ornament. My mom always picks these out and it usually has some semblance of something that has happened in our life the past year. We also open these on Christmas Eve and they don't go on the tree until the next year.

We get up early on Christmas morning (whenever after 4 a.m. that the children wake up) and open gifts. There really is no separation as to what's from who, there's just a pile for each person. We have always spent Christmas morning with my Mom. In years past Mom and Kara have come over to our house when we call them, but this year we spent the night at Mom's. I think this will probably become our tradition now, as she and Charlie have a large enough home for all of us to sleep comfortably.

We also always leave milk and cookies for Santa. In years past I'm pretty sure we've left Chocolate Chip, but this year we left one of the sugar cookies that Hunter and Graysen made.

We always eat Christmas lunch with my extended family, although it rotates whose house we're at. When I was growing up it was always at our house because that's where my Grandma lived as well.

I would like to implement a 3 gift rule next year - although because there are so many people that purchase gifts for my kids it's going to be hard. I suppose we will have to allow 3 each from Us, Santa, Mom and Charlie, Kara, and Redburn's. That's still 15 presents...way too many!

Lincoln's family doesn't have many traditions that they still carry on from his childhood, but we have made a few new ones that we greatly enjoy.

Christmas with the Redburn's is celebrated as an extended family. That means Marcinda, her brother, her sister, her parents and everyone's kids and grandkids. We always gather on the Saturday before or after Christmas (depending on where in the week Christmas falls). This way we can all be together all day long without anyone having to run off to celebrate with another side of the family. We would rather all be together without interruption than to celebrate on the actual day.

We have all made our own stockings out of gift bags with snowmen on the front of them. We've all decorated our snowmen to fit our personalities and they look so cute all sitting out together. We also draw names for the next year for stockings. That way each person only buys for one other person every year.

Lincoln's siblings have started the tradition of trading siblings to buy gifts for. When there are 8 siblings it gets rather expensive, so we would rather purchase nice gifts for just two of them rather than trying to find good deals for all 8.

We love Christmas and are always willing to try new things. I can't wait to see what the kids request as they get older and what they are willing to let go of...

My top 10 Goals for 2010

In no particular order...

1. Continue to make a concious effort to be present in each moment.
2. Support (physically and emotionally) Hunter as he starts his school career.
3. Welcome a new child into our family.
4. Find the work situation that is best for our family and our new schedule with a school aged child.
5. Celebrate my 6th wedding anniversary with my husband.
6. Look at more Christmas lights with my kids. (Make it all the way through the STJ lights, visit Santa's Magical Kingdom, and Lion's Club Park)
7. Pay off more debt than we did in 2009 and be more involved in the finances of our family.
8. Cook more meals at home.
9. Attend the Hearts At Home Conference.
10. Grow closer to the Heart of God.