Thankful #12

12. I am thankful for getting to hear so many stories last week about how God led different families to adopt from Rwanda. Everyone's story was so different; God spoke in so many creative, amazing ways, and yet we all ended up walking this same path. What a blessing to hear of God's faithfulness to us. Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful Break

I'll be taking a little break from posting for a week or so, but I will still be thinking Thankful! Feel free to join in. :)

By Faith (Thankful #11)

By faith we said yes to adoption, and God was faithful to us. He showed us from which country our daughter would come and He made a way for us to get to her.

By faith we started the adoption process, and God was faithful to us. He provided us with the money we needed when we needed it, with loved ones who support us, with people to journey alongside, and with hearts full of love for our daughter.

By faith we wait for her, and God is faithful to us. He gifts us with the strength we need to wait and pray, and He gives us grace upon grace.

By faith we embrace the pain of waiting, and God is faithful to us. He does not waste any pain, but uses it to teach us, to make us know Him more, and thus to make us love Him more.

By faith we stand in the midst of the unknowns of international adoption, and God is faithful to us. He knows the end, He gives us peace, and He helps us trust Him, to know that He will bring our daughter home.

By faith we choose a name, set up a crib, buy a dress, paint a picture of flowers, crochet a blanket. And God is faithful to us. He loves her, He loves us, and He has knit us together into a family since before the world began.

Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful #10

I am thankful for the boys' prayers for their baby sister, for their thoughts about her, for how often they talk about her. They cannot wait to meet her, and I love that they are anticipating her arrival. Cory prayed for her yesterday: "Doo-Jesus, please let the baby sister come home soon, in Jesus' name, amen. Now things will speed up!"

I sure hope so, little guy!

The boys are going to make great big brothers for her. Can't wait. Thank You, Jesus.

The Past Few Weeks

We've been busy the past few weeks. I hate the feeling of being behind on this blog, so here comes a ginormous catch-up post. I seem to do these periodically. :)

The Wedding:

Our church had one of its first weddings (and the first one to be held at the school where we meet). I was on the team of about three other ladies who put it together, decorated, ran it day-of, etc. It was a lot of work, but it turned out beautifully! (If you've never tried to transform an elementary-school gym and cafeteria into a twinkling, elegant wedding chapel and reception hall in two hours, you should. It's something.) I actually ran the rehearsal and did the wedding coordinator's job day-of, which was new to me and kind of fun. And I also was in charge of the flowers: my first time doing artificial ones, and I was very happy with how they turned out.

Boutonnieres: (Hey, I spelled that right on the first try!!)
Bride's Bouquet (arm bouquet):Maid of Honor's Bouquet:
Bridesmaids' Bouquets:

Soccer Tots:

A friend (whom we actually met at story-time at the library and have since gotten together a good bit!) invited us to join her and her daughter Addison at Soccer Tots on their bring-a-friend day. It was perfect timing because Iain had just been saying how much he wanted to play soccer. The boys loved it. It was at an indoor rink, and they did stretches, drills, games, and lots of following directions and running. They did well with all of it, and even Cory (who tends to want to stick right by me in unfamiliar situations) listened and did what they asked him to do.

Stretching and practicing balance and the soccer stance:

Almost all of my pictures of Iain are blurry. He has really started loving running lately and is hardly ever still.

I love this one of Cory as he is gearing up to kick over a cone.

Cory made every single goal he shot. Nice.

The Fair

Our same story-time friends (they are so nice!) gave us tickets to the fair the next day. We found out that from 10-11 am that day, all the rides were free! So all we paid was parking. :)

Iain has wanted me to take him on a ferris wheel ride for two years now (since he saw one in Orlando at a festival there). He's always been too short. So this time, we really hoped he'd be allowed to go. It wasn't a classic ferris wheel (unfortunately, in my opinion), but a Seattle Wheel or something like that. It's supposedly elegant, but it was a bit scary, actually. Iain told me part way through the ride that he was nervous when we started, but not anymore. He kept calling to Cory, "Hi Cory, I'm on a ferris wheel!"

The boys also got to choose one other ride, and picked "the bug roller coaster." Iain loved it; Cory told me when he got off that he was "nervous because it went so fast." Why they both keep using the word "nervous" is beyond me.

The Pacifier:

This is quite a saga. Be warned.

We were in Walmart one day and I mentioned to Cory that when he decided to give up the pacifier, he could pick out a toy. He said he was ready then, so we ran with it. He picked out two trains and I also got him a special blanket to try to help take the beloved paa-paa's place. When we got home, Jeremy and I tried to think of a way to get rid of it, something Cory could do so he had control. So we decided to have him choose a place to mail it to. He went to the big world map, looked for a loooooong time, and pointed to the country his paci should go to: Russia. So we decorated an envelope and addressed it:

...and then he was supposed to put it in. He balked. Would NOT do it. I showed him the trains again, said he could have them when he did it. Nothing. He said he'd do it "next week." I didn't want to lose momentum, so the next day, I did the deed: I snipped it. Then I gave it to him at naptime (and felt like a traitor!). He popped it in his mouth and then his eyes got big and he said, "uhhh ohhhh. It's broken." He asked me to fix it, and I said I couldn't. He asked for tape. Then he cried and cried and cried (and made me so sad!), and finally went to sleep. While he was sleeping, his dear pacifiers disappeared. (Is this getting too long? Oh well. Skip ahead if you must!)

Anyway. He's been having a rough time going to sleep, but trying valiantly. I am so proud of him! He asks for it still, and I tell him I don't know where it is (which is true!). I thought we were doing okay until two days ago when I was rocking him and he said, "I'm nervous that we won't ever find the paci!" Oh no. Poor little guy. He's been waiting this whole time for us to find the thing. We should have made him do the deed himself; at least then he would have had closure. Put this down for a bad parenting decision. We'll know better next time, that's for sure.

Birmingham

We drove over to B'ham last week to see Lindy's new house, and visit with all the Greats (the five great-grandkids so far: my two, Isaiah, Addie, and Penny. Waiting on our baby girl to come even the boys vs. girls score!) and my mom. The boys especially loved Aunt Lindy's "magic wall" - the wall where cartoons were projected from a machine. Lindy has some good (funny) pictures of the Greats here.

And I finished my second dress order: for Addie. Love it!

Our Anniversary:

My mom was in town for a conference for work and so gave us the whole day Saturday for our 6th anniversary. So we went to Six Flags (you know, six years, six flags, ha ha. Ha.). It was my first time, and Jeremy's first in years.

Of course we went to see and take pictures of Thomas for the boys:

After the first two roller coasters, I decided I was really not a roller coaster person. But then by the end, we did the big daddy of all roller coasters (at that park, anyway) called Goliath. And loved it. Both of us. It is over 300 feet tall and almost three and a half minutes long, and goes up to 70 mph (I saw all this on the "I Conquered the Goliath" shirt that I was tempted to buy. :) ). It was so stinkin' fun that I decided I am a roller coaster fan after all. But just certain types. Jeremy is much less picky and went on another one after the Goliath (when I declared I was done so as to end on a high note). So I took pictures.

Of Jeremy:

Of the Goliath:

And then we roped someone in to taking one of us:

After Six Flags, we went to dinner at Chili's (thinking we had a gift card there. Which we do. And it was safely at home.), and then to a movie (Inception and it was great!). We haven't had a full day date like that in a long time (thanks Mom and Mom and Dad!). We also remembered our other anniversaries and the milestones in between. In six years we have:

--bought two houses

--moved three times

--rented out one house to three different people

--had two kids (sixteen months and one day apart!)

--been to three churches (and not planning on adding to that number)

--been overseas twice

--had five jobs (me, all part time and none including my full-time homemaking/mothering job)

--had two jobs (Jeremy, both full-time)

--waited for our daughter to come home for 14 months and counting

--grown and stretched in ways we never would have imagined

--come to love each other more every year

--had the time of our lives.

The End!

Thankful #9

I haven't had my computer for a few days because of Jeremy needing it for work. I could just say how thankful I am for my laptop, but it's not really related to adoption. :)

I am thankful that God has chosen us to parent this baby girl. I can't wait to meet her and introduce her to our families and friends. The wait certainly enhances the anticipation! Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful #8

Thankful that some days pass quickly and easily. While I will not wish days away, ones that are less of a struggle are a blessed relief, a break, an oasis. Breathing room. Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful #7

Broken silence. Today, for the first time since January, we saw an approval come through! One family got their approval; one more heard that theirs is on its way. Tomorrow: many more? We pray so, we hope so, we dream so. I am thankful today for broken silence. Thank You, Jesus!

Thankful #6

I am very thankful for the friends I have made on this journey - several that I have met in person, and more that are friends over the internet. It is such a blessing to walk alongside these amazing ladies in praying, waiting, crying, rejoicing, and loving our kids from afar. And if the wait had not been so long, I may not have gotten to know some of them so well. (Still, I will be much happier to get to know them better after all our kids are home!) Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful #5

This one may seem like cheating, but it is really true. I am thankful that during this stage, there is an ebb and flow to how difficult the waiting is. I am thankful that not all days are like today. Thank You, Jesus.

Thankful #4

I have had plenty of time to research, think, dream, and pray during this adoption process. Sometimes you hear of people not really thinking through issues that may arise after the child is home... we certainly have had more than enough time for that. We have read books, talked with other adoptive parents, done an online course, prayed, and talked. We may not know the answers, but we know what to pray about, how to find answers, and at least some of what to anticipate. Thank You, Jesus!

Thankful #3

This time of waiting has made me treasure my time with the boys more - not in the "this is the last time I will have just them" sense, but in the "every day with my children is a gift" sense. I heard a quote on some youtube video a few months ago that I have hanging on the wall over my desk: the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days. Somehow the longing for our daughter to join our family, the desire to have her spend these ordinary days with us has made me more awake and aware of how priceless these days are. Thank You, Jesus!

Pirate Speak

When they play pirates (which is a lot), Iain's name is Johnny Host, and Cory's is Johnny Penny. Not sure where they came up with that...

Cory: I'm fighting the llamas, and they are too scary for you!

Iain: Um, they're not too scary for me. I'm four. And they are just the right size.

Me: Cory, would you like your bagel now?

Cory: Yeah, sure. As soon as I fight all the camels and stuff.

Iain: Pirates like to go to Indonesia.

Thankful #2

I am thankful for the lessons I am still learning during this time about the sovereignty of God. I have learned more than I could have by reading a hundred theology books. Or at least, I have digested it better. The doctrine of the sovereignty of God has become part of my life in a very deep and real way. Thank You, Jesus!

Thankful #1

Waiting is hard.

From mid-August until October 1, I gave up something I really enjoy for the sake of prayer for our little one and the others who are waiting for their families. Since that is drawing to a close, I think I will focus this month on another way to pray: thanksgiving. So my challenge to myself is to come up with at least one thing every day that I am thankful for--and here's the kicker--that relates specifically to this waiting time. It's easy to be thankful for other things, even adoption-related-but-not-waiting-related things. But can I find His hand in the waiting? I'm going to try...

1. I am thankful that the longer the wait goes on, the more my heart seems knitted to my daughter's heart. I love her more than should be possible to love someone you've never met, never seen. This is, I know, a gift from God who is Love. Thank You, Jesus.

Summer Funnies

Today is the last day of summer! Just thought you should know. And these boys crack me up. Thought you should know that, too.

Jeremy: Look out the window at that moose, boys!

Iain: Where are the people worshipping it?

Me: What do you mean?

Iain: Are they inside that restaurant?

Me: Iain, it's just a statue of a moose.

Iain: Oh. I thought it was an idol.

Cory, writing on paper: This says, "I'll love you forever." (hands card to Iain)

Iain: You'll love me forever?

Cory: That's what it says!

Iain: These cards tell what I will do with my whole life.

Me: What do they say?

Iain: I don't know.

(He drew the face on the magnadoodle, and then made the same face himself)

Iain spent a good deal of one bath time "baptizing" his ducks. We heard him in there, saying, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Sometimes it was, "the God and the Son and the Holy Spirit." He told Cory that they would baptize the mama duck first because she loved Jesus the most. Then when I was getting him ready for bed that night...

Iain: I don't love Jesus anymore.

Me: Why not?

Iain: I will love Him when I am ten.

Me: Is it because you don't want to get baptized?

Iain: Yes. I don't want to go under water.

Me: That's okay. You can still love Jesus and get baptized when you are older.

Iain, relieved: Okay.

Last night, Cory told me after he was in bed that he was hungry. So we snuck out for a midnight snack. And Cory was in a silly mood:

Birthday Boy!

I can't believe this guy is FOUR!

Like last year, we had another two-part birthday for Iain. Or, I should say, we tried to...

The morning after my cousin's wedding in Tennessee, we gathered everyone at the hotel pool for a little party-time fun. We had planned to get doughnuts and lollypops (birthday boy's request), but that morning, poor Iain took a nasty tumble in the parking lot, cut up his nose and forehead, and worked himself up until his stomach, shall we say, wouldn't have handled the sweets very well. So we promised him doughnuts on his real birthday and had a treatless party.

After some group shots of all the cousins (my generation and down),

we did our first party activity: decorating hats.

If you know Iain, you know he loves his hats. As witness:

And then it was on to present opening:

And swimming (in the freezing cold water):

Iain loves his cousins. Most of them aren't really even his cousins (they are mine, which makes them his...second cousins? First cousins once removed?), but many of them are so close to his age that they are, for all practical purposes, his cousins. He loves playing with them, so having them at his fourth birthday was a very special thing.

On the real birthday (about a week later), Iain was sick. The poor little guy. He had a nasty fever, vicious cough, and a horrible wheezing sound coming from his lungs. So he and I spent a good bit of his birthday afternoon at urgent care. Not fun. We did get him doughnuts that morning, but he didn't want them until much later. And when he did eat them, it was a pitiful sight.

He did open his present from Grammy and Papa on his real birthday, and played with it a little. But besides that and the smoothie he got from McDonald's on our way home from urgent care (and yes, I got myself a big soda - it was a long few days!), the day was a bummer.

Now he is four. And here is what he says:

Favorite thing to do: play baseball. "My next favorite thing to do is play trumpet."

Favorite food: cheetos

Favorite color: "yellow, orange, blue and red. And black."

When I grow up, I want to be: "I wanna be...a fireman!"

Iain, these days you like to spend your time making music, reading, drawing, watching movies (you could do this all day long if I let you!), jumping on the "trumpalump," and playing trains. You are so much more independent than you were just last year. You get yourself dressed. You brush your own teeth in the morning. You drink from a cup with no lid. You can get something from the basement for me if I need you to. You can write your name and several other letters. You go outside to play.

You're such a good big brother to Cory. You and he play so well together, most of the time. You say your favorite thing to do with him is play music. You let him play with your pirate ships and you make complicated train track towns with him. You bring him his bear when he's sad, and you call me when he gets hurt. You tell me that when the baby sister is old enough, you will play hopscotch with her. :) You love to wrestle with Daddy, or have him read you books.

You're a smart boy! You love learning and right now, you're fascinated with volcanoes and planets. And you love music, pirates, and yes, you still love Bunny.

Happy birthday, Iain! We love you!

(Iain's other birthday posts: zero, one, another one, two, three, another three)

'Tis the Season

(Our family at my cousin Jessica's wedding in Tennessee at the beginning of the month)

If you have read any of my posts about adoption, if you have known anyone who has adopted, or if you have or are adopting yourself, you know one thing: waiting is hard. It's really, really hard. But when I read this post, it really started me thinking about how I can embrace this time of life, this in-between time of waiting for our daughter. (Read the post I linked to. It's really good.)

I have been adamant throughout this time of adoption that I would not wish the days away. Although I can't wait until I hold my baby girl in my arms, I will not be so caught up in wishing for that day to come that I miss out my boys' childhood. They're so young and they change so much in these years, and I will not miss that by wanting the days to pass faster. This is their childhood and I want to be fully present for it.

That said, when I read that post, it got me thinking more about not just living this time of life, but really embracing it. Cory, despite my best efforts to keep him so, is really no longer a baby. He is completely potty-trained now (even at night!), he is doing more on his own than ever, and both he and Iain are just growing in independence by leaps and bounds. I am in an unusual position of knowing a baby is on the way without physically feeling it. I know I'm not done with babies yet, so I don't have to feel melancholy that I'm done with sweet-smelling heads, tiny clothes, little laughs and cries. It's the best of both worlds, really: knowing there is more baby-loving to come and enjoying the freedom that comes with slightly-older kids. I need to intentionally make the most of this time, doing things (with the boys and apart from them) that we won't be able to do for a while when the baby gets here.

Things like:

--going to the kids' museum in SC, and other day trips

--letting them play with toys that have tiny parts, and leaving them out

--skipping naptime sometimes in favor of something more fun

--going camping

--working on more complicated art projects with the boys

--doing more at church than we'll be able to commit to later

--writing a lot

--sleeping through the night (this is a very new one for us!)

--being flexible with our schedule

--going out on dates alone

--um... trying hard to think of things here. Help me out and add a couple in the comments, will you?

Iain's Last Day as a Three

A blog by Iain: all words are his own.

That one, I'm holding the Thomas. The Thomas wants to go home. I found him up in the play place. I thought, "I never found a Thomas." Then I snatched him away from the play place and then goed down the slide.

That picture is where Isaiah is laughing because Iain maked Isaiah laugh:

That picture is what Cory is doing. He is almost down the slide. It's Chick-fil-a.

That picture is Cory going to tickle Isaiah. He looks happy!

I'm on my way to go down the slide. I was making the face because I wanted to make Isaiah laugh.

I'm down the slide and I want to tickle Isaiah. I have Thomas in my hand. I do have Thomas in my hand! I was making that face because I wanted to make Isaiah silly.

Cory's going to tickle himself. He wants my Thomas, but I said, "no." (Cory adds: "I tried to find a Thomas, but I couldn't.")

I am pretending I'm a dinosaur!

Isaiah's laughing at Cor. He's laughing at him, but he's not looking at him. And nothing else.

That one, Isaiah's dancing with Aunt Jenna. Funny.

Now Cory is hubbled up in the slide. (Cory adds: "I was stweamin' because I knowed Iain was comin' down.") (stweamin' = screaming)

That day was good. I got balloons at the end. And I played with my new Thomas.