Haunted (but thankful!)

On one of my last days in Africa I was brought to the orphanage where M. spent a year. I was saddened. There was very little supervision of the older children, although they had a really nice yard and play area. It seemed the children who were disabled were not cared for. I was sad to think about M. being there for a year, suffering from epilepsy. So today I am thankful for the home and family she has. For the love she has received. Thank you so much HSH and especially S.

Thankful day 10

So I missed a few days. Sorry about that. I have been busy and feeling not so thankful lately. I hate to admit that but it's true. There are many hard emotions that I am feeling. I don't really want to go into all that, so I have been busy. If I am not really busy I try to make myself busy!

• S. had his developmental preschool evaluation today. There are some concerns in his cognitive/reasoning areas as well as his expressive communication. We will come back the first part of December to hear the results.
• I have had to catch up on a lot of paperwork/school work/household things this last week.
• I am most likely going to be starting a weight loss challenge with my sis in law. This may be interesting. More details later.
• I am trying to get things in order to finalize S.'s adoption. He needs to get his name legally changed, it's about time! He's been with us for over two years now!

So, what am I thankful for today? I am thankful for candy corn! I am thankful that it is gone and that I had some kids around to help finish off the bag too!

Thankful day 6 and 7

I am thankful for the weekend, and that J. was home to help me transition back to being a mommy and take care of me while I've been sick.

Today I am thankful for all the people I have come to know who serve and care for the orphaned. There are many and I appreciate every one of them.

Thankful day 5

Today, I am thankful for iTunes on our computer. Not only for the music it plays throughout our house since our stereo speakers blew out (thanks to karaoke and young people screaming into the microphone!); but for the hours of entertainment it provides while E. sits in front of the screen hypnotized by the visualizer feature! A teacher in service day and rainy weather are no match for iTunes. Heaven for a sensory seeking kid and a mom who needed to wash dishes and help get other school kids out the door.

Thankful days 3 and 4

I am thankful for the overtime my husband got at work today. Although it was not really fun to have him leave for several hours, it was nice that he picked up 6 hours for 2.5 hours of work!

I am thankful to be able to cook and clean in my own home today! I really missed it.

Thankful Days 1 and 2

Last year I posted a series on what I was thankful for. Everyday I listed something different up until Thanksgiving. I didn't remember to do it yesterday, but I think I am going to do it again this year.

So the TWO things I am thankful for:
1. How God places wonderful friends in your midst during difficult times.

2. The fact that I am heading home tonight! Although it will be a long couple airplane rides, I will be happy the entire way. I can't wait to see my loves.

Thankful day 28...final post

This first time I saw S. smile (in Haiti)....

S. a few weeks ago...

I am so thankful for many things on this holiday. I'm thankful to be celebrating E's first Thanksgiving with our family. I am thankful for my children, and our growing family. I'm thankful for our health. I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate today with friends. I am thankful for plenty of good food and drink. I thank God for the miracles He has done and will do. I am especially thankful for a loving heavenly Father. He saved me, protects me and knows everything about me yet still loves me!

Thankful day 27

I am thankful for my hot water showers! Especially on a day like today, cold, rainy and blah. I was able to hop in, get all warm and clean and use my lovely shower gel! And today my hubby is home to supervise the little boys while I enjoyed it. Yes. Thank you God.

Thankful day 26

I am thankful for my laundry facilities! I am glad I have a working washer and dryer for the many loads of laundry I have waiting for me in the laundry room...

Thankful day 25

I am thankful for our "stuff". Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the amount of clothes, toys, books and stuff we have. I try not to accumulate too much before I pack up a few bags and drop it off at goodwill, but it always seems we have enough or excess. We have been blessed this year by many hand me downs for the boys and some for the girls. It has been a tremendous blessing to not have to buy clothes for E. so far. And now S. and E. are wearing nearly the same size, but we have enough for S. too! Thank you Lord!

Off topic a bit, but wanted to share a funny story from church yesterday about thanking God:

There was a Christian lady who lived next door to an atheist. Every day, when the lady prayed, the atheist guy could hear her. He thought to himself, "She sure is crazy, praying all the time like that. Doesn't she know there isn't a God?"

Many times while she was praying, he would go to her house and harass her, saying "Lady, why do you pray all the time? Don't you know there is no God?" But she kept on praying.

One day, she ran out of groceries. As usual, she was praying to the Lord explaining her situation and thanking Him for what He was gonna do. As usual, the atheist heard her praying and thought to himself, "Humph! I'll fix her."

He went to the grocery store, bought a whole bunch of groceries, took them to her house, dropped them off on the front porch, rang the door bell and then hid in the bushes to see what she would do. When she opened the door and saw the groceries, she began to praise the Lord with all her heart, jumping, singing and shouting everywhere! The atheist then jumped out of the bushes and told her, "You ol' crazy lady, God didn't buy you those groceries, I bought those groceries!" At hearing this, she broke out and started running down the street, shouting and praising the Lord.

When he finally caught her, he asked what her problem was. She said, "I knew the Lord would provide me with some groceries, but I didn't know he was gonna make the devil pay for them!"

Thankful day 23

Our friend's daughter, R.J. as a newborn

I am thankful that the girls are going to a friend's house for a sleepover tonight. My friend T. and I have known each other for about 9 years, we met at our former church. She has a little girl E.'s age (3). For the last year we've been talking about having a girl's sleepover at her newly remodeled home, but we just hadn't gotten around to doing it. Tonight is the night. T. is taking them out to McDonalds, a local school play and then to her home for a movie and snacks. I get to join them as soon as J. is home from work. So much fun!

Thankful day 22

I am thankful for our church, for the support they have offered our family through the adoption process, and for friends I have made there. We've been attending just over a year, but feel very much at home. We leave feeling very content, filled and renewed. We learn something new about God's word at every service. I am also thankful for the Micah Project (our orphan/adoption ministry) that is just getting started. We are working hard to raise awareness, support others and serve the fatherless around the world.

Thankful day 21

I didn't post yesterday about my thankfulness, but I thought about it and thanked my Heavenly Father. I am so thankful for our pediatrician. He was referred to me by another adoptive mom friend. We were going to an older, "old school" doctor, who made me feel like a stupid mom. He was always giving me lectures on the importance of car seats and bike helmets. I mean, I had 3 kids, didn't he think I knew that? When I had S. as a baby I needed someone who understood international adoption and didn't leave me feeling like a loser when I went home. Dr. T is wonderful. He has worked in many different countries, including Africa, working in an AIDS clinic. He has been very thorough with my boys and listens to all my concerns. We LOVE Dr. T.! I switched all my kids to him (he works in the same office as the "old school" doctor) and we have all been happy.

Thankful day 20

I am thankful for our siblings. We have 6 total; I have 1 sister, J. has 2 sisters and 3 brothers. They are all so great and we love to visit and spend time together. Sometimes it is years between visits, since two of J's brothers are in the military, but whenever we get together it's like no time has passed. There's always a ton of smiles and laughter. We also have 5 brothers and sisters in law, and seven nieces and nephews. Soon we will add another sister in law to the mix, and who knows how many more little ones.

Thankful day 19

I am thankful for our parents. They have done so much for us and we are so blessed to have loving parents (and siblings). Our kids have no idea how blessed they are that they have 2 sets of wonderful grandparents.

Thankful day 17 and 18

Today I am thankful that my sister found the love of her life. She tied the knot last evening in a beautiful castle! It was magical, wonderful and romantic. We all had a great time! I will post some pics soon, but unfortunately I did not have time to take a single one. I am sure we will get a bunch since the photographer loved my kids! Here is the venue where we stayed and had the wedding....so cool. J. and I slept two nights in the most "haunted" room of the castle. It was so quiet and peaceful. We hired a nanny for the weekend, so she and the kids stayed in a house nearby. It was so nice to have help with the kids while I fulfilled my matron of honor duties! Thank you Lolo.

Thankful day 16

I am thankful for my husband's sense of humor. It is one of the things that made me fall in love with him 15 + years ago. He is one funny guy, but can really be goofy too. I love him!

Thankful day 15

I am thankful for how much adoption has benefitted our lives and family. Before we began this journey several years ago, I really only viewed adoption as a way to enlarge a family. Now I see it so much differently, my entire worldview has changed.

• PSA 68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
• PSA 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed
• ISA 1:17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
• JAM 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Adoption has allowed us to connect with many families all over the world!  The connections I have made have truly been a blessing in itself.  Adoption has allowed us to travel to foreign lands, a dream I've had that might not have become a reality.  Adoption has enlarged my heart.  Adoption has allowed me to reach out to children with special needs.  Adoption has helped teach my children about the world and God's many children who need homes.  Adoption has enlarged their hearts too!

Veteran's Day

I am also very thankful for the many veterans in our country! We have several in our family. Thank you so much for all you have done for us... we appreciate you (and your families).

Thankful day 14

I am thankful for our two cars. Without them we would be homebound much of the time. I know a lot of people live their lives without a car. They take the bus, ride their bike or walk to their destinations. If we did not have a car, we would have to move into town, or hire someone to come drive us to the nearest bus route! I think it's about five miles away. Can you imagine our family, riding bikes to the bus, then taking several buses to get to a doctor's appointment? I am really grateful for our mini van!