Redefining the Dream {by Anna}

Anna at Glitter Small World wrote the entry below recently.  

When I share my heart for Africa with people I often get asked the same question...why would you want to be there for any longer than you have to?  

...I couldn't have said it better.

"someone asked me the other day

why my dream is to live in africa.

it's so dirty there, they said.

it's so full of poverty.

in ways, that could be true,

but let me redefine my dream

for you.

my dream is to wake up to a simple world,

where having a little is enough,

and where i share that little with my neighbor,

and he shares his little with me.

i want to wake up to a world where

relationships are more valued than time,

and joy is more valued than materials.

i want my babies, no matter what color they are,

to be accepted by others,

no matter what color they are.

my dream is to understand how it feels

to live with less.

it is for those who are living with less 

to understand how it feels

to live with more.

i want every family to drink clean water.

my dream isn't to adopt.

that is just one way i can help

get closer to the real dream:

that as the lists for waiting families run long,

they tell us there are no more orphans left-

they have all gone home.

i dream of a day where beautiful people

don't live in garbage dumps.

i dream of a day when other beautiful people step in

and invite those slum children over for dinner.

my dream isn't just to live in africa

but for the grace of africa to live in me.

i dream of a day where i'm more giving

more trusting

more gracious

more joyful

more forgiving

just like that continent has always been to me.

my dream isn't for lucas

to be here.

my dream is simply that by telling everyone

about him,

and where he is now,

that they would want to meet him,

and go there, too.

you see, friends,

living in africa isn't the dream.

africa living in me is."

perservere

One of our recent Bible Study lessons was on James and persevering.  The day after that lesson I had a huge, long, stressful day at work and when I came out of my morning meeting I had this sitting on my desk.

a mocha and a sweet note.   I have such a thoughtful cousin!

pikie

He sleeps so well when someone is holding him...

my babies

Dance Recital 2012

This year the Dance Recital theme was "Rocking Across the USA"

Graysen ready for tumbling

Graysen's ballet and tap costume

Aunt Sissy was very proud of her favorite niece!

Grammie and Papa were also there, but they had to leave right after Graysen's last dance to head to TX!

Gray and her boys.  I'm so proud of my kids for supporting one another in their activities.  She cheers through all of their soccer games and they clapped louder than anyone else for her dances.  There's nothing better than seeing my kids encouraging each other.  

1st Grade Awards

1st Grade is over.

over!

It's so hard to believe that I have 2nd Graders!

All three of my boys received the Reading Circle Award and Reflex Math Award.

Hunter and Mrs. Lonning

Blake and Mrs. Lonning.
He has that look on his face because he tried to run right past her and get the award from his teacher and Christy had to pull him back...that child lives his life on fast forward!

Silas and Mrs. Lonning

2 year family day

January 19, 2010 we saw this picture for the first time.

Our new sons.

May 22, 2010 we arrived home.

6 people who really knew nothing about each other.

May 2011.  We're definitely still adjusting...

but we're getting there.

May 2012.  We're there.

not without flaws of course, but they get me...

and I get them.

Fletcher Moreland 2 months

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much delight your GG would take in you right now.  

I can imagine her feeding you and burping you.

Oh how she would love on you...

At 2 months old you weigh 12 pounds 4 oz.

and are 24 inches long!

You have started giving us intentional smiles...

especially when someone is gone for a few hours and comes back.

You smile for me and get excited almost every day when I get home from work.

I can't tell you what it does for my heart.

I cried several days after I went back to work because I felt like you had forgotten me while I was gone for the day...

now I can tell, you remember, and you're happy I'm home.

I'm happy too Baby Boy!

You are still eating like a champ...mostly breast milk still 

(I'm pumping as much as I can!)

You probably have about 2-4 oz. of formula a day.

(which isn't much compared to how much you eat!!)

You are following sounds much better, and often turn your head when you hear someone speaking.

You are still sleeping with Daddy and I. 

(gasp!)

Nothing is much cuter than when I get out of bed in the morning and look back to see my two boys cuddled up together.

When I say you're "sleeping" with Daddy and I,

I really mean you're in bed with us...there's not much sleep happening these days!

You're still getting up every 2-2.5 hours and eating...

you're a growing boy, I understand...

and when you're a teenager an I never see you because all you do is sleep

I'll miss these nights.

I still think you look like a little old man.

(and I love it!)  

You've not gotten much, if any new hair,

and your ears kind of stick out from your head.

You're perfect.  

a new fridge, a perfect Saturday, wasps, teachers, mothers, and party time!

I'm alive and well, just no time to blog these days!  I told Lincoln yesterday that I wished I had an hour to devote to blogging every day, but honestly, I don't sit down except when I'm pumping, and it would be kinda hard to blog and pump at the same time!  Ha ha.  I haven't even had time to upload my pictures off of my camera, so this will be a no picture post!

Here are a few of the highlights from the last few weeks...

1. The night of May 2nd there was water on the floor of the kitchen every time I got up to pump.  I just kept mopping it up with a towel, not being awake enough to think through why there continued to be water on the floor.  When I got up the morning of the 3rd I realized that our fridge had quit sometime the evening before.  All the ice had melted out of the freezer and was leaking all over the kitchen.  Yuck.  A big thank you to my husband (for not freaking out and getting us a new refrigerator), my sister for keeping both of my kids (at work) while Lincoln got the new one, a local business man for giving us the hook-up on the new fridge, and my father in law for helping Lincoln remove the old one and put in the new  one.  Whew...by the time I came home from work the new one was in and all the food that was able to be salvaged was put back.  Awesome...almost like it didn't happen!  
2. Saturday the 5th was a Saturday morning of my dreams.  The kids and I got up slowly and then walked / rode our bikes to a local craft fair.  We looked through there (okay, this part was slightly stressful after a little while because my kids started touching things...ugh.), and then headed over to the local coffee shop.    We all got smoothies and Graysen and Spike and I listened to some High School kids play, while the boys played foozeball.  It was my perfect Saturday morning...well, it would've been better if Lincoln could've been there with us.
3. The night of the 5th Graysen got stung on the bottom of her pinkie toe.  She cried a little bit and it was red and a little swollen, but nothing out of the ordinary for a sting.  Sunday morning she woke up with what I thought was the flu.  We had a big day planned, but I just canceled it all (church, a meeting after church, and 2 birthday parties).  Monday she continued with the sickness, and by Monday evening her whole foot was huge and swollen.  Lincoln took her to the Dr. Tuesday morning and he told us she was allergic to wasp stings!  He put her on an antibiotic, an allergy medicine, and gave us some new medicine for her nebulizer.  Yikes!  She will play with shoes on from now on!
4. The week of the 7th was Teacher Appreciation Week.  We have really loved our boys teachers this year, and so I set out to give them one small gift each day.  I wish I would've taken pictures of them each day, but here are the things I did:  

Monday:  

Tuesday:  A box of Swedish Fish with a note tied to them that said "You are oFISHally the best!"

Wednesday:  A mason jar filled with Smarties and a note that said "Thank you for helping us become Smarties this year"

Thursday:  A mason jar full of Hershey's HUGS and a note that said "Teachers can't survive on apples alone, they need hugs too!"

Friday:  

(of course with their first letter and name!)

7.  We are so blessed to have a group of friends to do life with.  We meet every Wednesday night, and we're able to celebrate our families ups and support each other through our downs.  We were all able to celebrate this precious little one's 2nd birthday together recently!  

Heather, Kenna, and Mike

8.  Mother's Day was fabulous.  My husband got me my mother's ring several weeks ago, so that was my "gift" for the day, but really just having my whole family together was the best gift ever.  Lincoln took the day off work and we were able to substitute in the boys 1st Grade Sunday School Class during the 9:15 service and then attend the 10:30 service.  Subbing was a blessing because their regular teacher was gone to visit her mom out of town.  It made me really happy that I was able to help another mother/daughter spend the day together!  During the 10:30 service I had to take Spike to the cry room, but that, also was a blessing to be in a room together with 4 other mothers and celebrate mother's day with them and our babies.  After church my mom and Charlie and Kara and Chad all came over and we were able to have a nice meal together and then ice cream cake!  Everything I have ever done right in my mothering journey is because of the Grace of God and the example my own Momma set for me.  I can't thank her enough!  

a cake, flowers, and cards my husband  kids made for me!

Graysen promotes at preschool!

Graysen had her preschool promotion program!  They were precious! She sang all her songs so loudly, that at times, she was the only one we could hear!  She was very proud of herself, and it allowed me to look back and realize just how far she's come in one school year.  I'll say again (as I have many times before) how much we love Solid Rock's preschool, and we wish desperately that they had an elementary school as well!

Graysen, standing on the stage, ready to sing all the songs!

Afterward with her 3 big brothers

Graysen and her best friend Madi.  There is way too much cuteness going on when these two are together!

"Please can we go swing?!"

The girls and their aunts (who have been friends for years as well!)

...and with their mommies!

Aunt Sis and Chadie
(Graysen came up with this pose all by herself!)

Grandma and Papa had to do the same pose.

Graysen and (most of) her boys...it was getting dark, we played a little long!

We're all looking forward to another year at Solid Rock next year...here's to hoping Madi and Gray get into class together again!