I think it is called 'nesting', but regardless of what it is called, I am in a flurry of organization, cleaning and painting. We have lived here long enough to have lots of beat up walls, too much stuff, and lots of dirt.

Rob thinks perhaps something has kicked me into the nesting stage of the adoption, but I think I am just hopeful that the boys will be coming home soon! I have managed to paint 3 rooms, organize 2 major drawers, and purge a couple of rooms. How is it that little girls can accumulate so much stuff??!

And then there is all that homeschooling stuff! So much to do, never enough energy, and so little time!

Daily Musings

"Guess what N? It was so funny!" says L.

"I got up in the middle of the night and woke mommy up because I lost my pillow, and when I came back and crawled into bed I stepped on it!" (as mom is slowly staggering into the room), L laughs.

Wish I found it that funny!

Real Life

One of the things that God has been opening our eyes to is the reality of life that we are often so disconnected with. I don't believe we are heartless on purpose, but the societal rules by which we often live promote lifestyles which consume the majority of our time and energy. There is often very little time to consider the reality within that much of the world faces daily.

This disconnect is something we have faced each time we have come back from Haiti. How do you process the differences in the cultures? We are still processing! This post (you will have to scroll down) from our orphanage brought me back to 'real life' today as I read the story of one 14 year old girl, someone's daughter - the same age as my own daughter, who has faced hunger, slavery, and more difficulty than I ever would wish for my own. My heart breaks.

Yes, life is full of heartbreak, but in the big picture are my trials really the issues that I make them out to be when I consider what much of the world deals with on a daily basis? I don't know where God is leading us -- but I know my heart is challenged as I really pray for those who are broken and prayerfully cover an orphanage who has touched our lives forever.

Interesting Looks!

Tonight as our children headed out the door, this is how they looked. Very interesting you might think!

N sports 2 inch spikes on his hair, while L has made herself a toilet paper roll??? Oh my, what people must think! And A, she decided to be a piece of notebook paper. Definitely creative!

Sharing Clothes??

When we got married Rob easily accepted the fact that his wife may occasionally wear his clothes, and then we arrived at the teenage years and he readily accepted the fact that M may borrow something as well. Imagine his surprise, however, when he discovered his 6 year old was wearing his shirt! Her response (other than the sly little smile), "It fits as long as it is tucked in real good!"

An Uphill Battle

This year N had the opportunity to play for a select basketball team. This was a new team that spent the first half of the season being beaten by an average of 20 points. They worked hard, ran alot, learned lots of plays and really made a tremendous amount of progress. In the end they had actually won 4 games and in the tournament they went much further than anyone ever dreamed! It was great to see these kids develop confidence, learn to work as a team, and to not give up! Go Pirates!!

She's Another Year Older!

We love to celebrate Birthdays at our house, but with 4 kids (soon to be 6) we don't usually have the big kid parties very often (but no ones seems to mind!)

With 4 kids who love to give gifts, aunts/uncles, generous grandparents, and of course a mom and dad -- the gifts could potentially be overwhelming! So we spread them out!

The day begins with breakfast of your choice (chocolate chip pancakes for this kid) and then a gift. N could not wait to give his gift this year so he took care of the breakfast gift.! A couple of month ago his gma sent him her old camera when she got a new one. He was thrilled with the idea of having one, but hadn't even used it yet when he realized how badly his little sis wanted one. He also knows that she enjoys scrapbooking and would probably put it to use a little more than he might. He came to me a week before her BD asking if it would be OK to give it to her. What floored me even more than his thoughtfulness was his sheer delight at being able to give her something that she woud LOVE!

After breakfast we decided it was time for a new look (note the short hair in the above picture and the long hair below!). We headed out to the hair salon and then met up with daddy for her BD lunch. This year is was Qdobas! One standing tradition we have for every BD is lunch with daddy!

Grammy and Papa and her cousin (who spent the night) joined us for dinner that evening (yes she continued opening gifts sporadically through the day) and the celebration concluded with her requested dinner - taco salad and Birthday cake! Happy Birthday sweet girl!

A Superior Rating!

Starting a new school 3 months after everyone else received the science fair assignment tends to leave you way behind everyone else. However, M didn't let that bother her. She received the Superior award and qualified to move onto the next level. Great job sweetheart! You have worked so hard and we are proud of you!