Thankful

 This is Jamie's Dad, Tony, working his magic on Hadassah on Thanksgiving Day.  :)  It was so sweet to see her snoozing away, so content, with her Papa.  

Eventually, one of the dogs, JJ, got a little jealous and had to join the snooze party.  :)

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for family.  I do not take for granted that we have healthy, functional relationships, and that when we are together we truly enjoy each other's company.  I love each and every one of you.

She is Seven!

Sophia Ruth, my beautiful firstborn, turned seven yesterday!  I remember so much about the day she was born.  It was a really magical day and I love that 10 days of waiting past her due date, 12 hours of labor, and 2 hours of pushing, resulted in a beautiful, 9lb, 14oz, 22in baby girl!

Sophia is such a joy.  I love her spunk, her creativity, her artistic ability, and her love for life.  I love how she has always loved helping me in the kitchen and around the house, but now she's an actual help!  It's wonderful!  Seven is a really great age.  Sophia is a great reader now and loves reading herself to sleep at night, just like her Mama.  :)  Her faith is so delicate and real, I pray each night that the Lord will bless her with a deep and constant faith in Jesus, that will allow her to glorify Him with her life.

We had a great time celebrating her birthday with both sets of her grandparents, her Great-Grandma, GiGi (Jamie's Grandma), us of course, and her Great Aunt Cathy and Great Aunt Connie and Uncle Kerry.

Prior to her party starting we found some of my old wraps and gloves from dances of old (we were at my Mom and Dad's house).  So, we created a dress for her to wear for her party.  :)

The cake had a fun surprise inside!  It's a rainbow.  :)  I have seen these on various blogs and gave it a shot.  It was pretty simple, just a little time consuming.  The result was so fun though!

Today we arrived back home from being out of town for Thanksgiving and Soph's bday.  Jeni and David (and kids) were just heading back to their home after being in our city to be with David's Mom and step-Dad for T-Day.  So, it worked out for them to stop by our house to give Soph a gift and spend a few minutes with us.

That is my nephew, Ben.  Cora was off playing with Riley.  Ben is such a doll!  He was super sick last week and in the hospital with some nasty virus, so it was so good to see him happy and healthy again!

I just love birthdays.  It is so fun to plan and plot and prepare special parties and cakes and gifts for one you love!  I will never tire of celebrating the lives of my kiddos!  They are so precious to me and definitely a source of great Thankfulness for me.  

I love you Sophia!  It is a joy being your Mommy.

You didn't think I'd ever be back, did ya'? ;)

Hi Everyone!  I have missed writing in the space so much!  My last post was on September 1st.  If you know me in real life, than you know this was the day before a rather eventful day for us.  See, on Friday, September 2nd, we started our move to a new city and new home.  We had lived for just over 6 years in the same small, quaint city.  We had purchased a house and made lots of wonderful friends, some of which were our actual neighbors.  We had been attending the same church this whole time as well, another source of great friends!

So, over Labor Day we moved.  We went from a house we "owned," that was situated on the perfect sort of street.  Mature trees, green lawns, friendly neighbors, lots of kids, close proximity to fields for playing and playgrounds for climbing.  We could leave without locking our door, we could leave toys and strollers outside for days - never fearing they'd be stollen.

Sophia was not even one when we moved to the city we just left.  Both Riley and Haddie were born while we lived there.  All of their friends were there.  Our church home was all they really knew of church, and so on...

But, after about two years of praying and seeking the Lord over some pretty personal issues, dreams and hopes, we got to move!  I will always think so fondly of our time there.  We made a lot of memories and met and befriended people that I pray will always be in our lives.  But, it was time to go.  I honestly have not missed living there for a second, and that helps me realize just how ready our family was to make this move.

So, we now live in a big city, on a busy street, in one side of a rented duplex.  I always have my door locked, even if we're home, and I would never leave toys or strollers out front - unless I was feeling generous I guess.  ;)  We weren't here two weeks and Jamie's car window was smashed in and his GPS stollen.  We did have a handful of friends here, and we already knew what church we'd be going to - so all of that made the transition much smoother!  But, our kids have had to make all new friends and Jamie and I have had to be open to going deep with some new folks so that we too could cultivate true friendships.

Our journey to get here was a long one, and is a story for another day.  We are so happy though.  We adore our church and new church family, and in spite of the challenges of big city living, I feel perfectly safe and secure in our new home.  It helps that the renters on the other half of our duplex are a group of single men from our church!  Just one of the many ways God has shown us favor and blessed us since moving here.

We moved here with great purpose, planning and intent.  All of that is also a story for another day.  But, as we dive in to life here, we feel so peaceful and joyful over seeing so much come to fruition.

And, as of today, our house that we just moved from, which has been for sale this whole time, just received a viable offer!  We are so thankful and hopeful that it will sell and we'll be out from under that!

Now that I've broken the ice I plan on writing here regularly again.  My absence was nothing but us moving and getting settled.  I chose not to make time for it as I felt rather swamped with life in general, but, I am excited to get back to it!

And, just FYI, if you move somewhere new and meet a whole bunch of new people all at once, be careful about engaging in witty banter.  See, the one with whom you try to engage with a cutesy story, may not be the person you think it is.  Instead of being the host of your community group, it just might turn out to be one of the guys that lives next door.  If that's the case, he will look at you quite quizzically, having no idea what you are talking about.  Once you realize this, and see the look of horror (and amusement might I add) on your husband's face you seek to make it right.  Unfortunately you can't remember the name of the person you thought you were talking to, nor the name of the person you actually are speaking with, thus you try to cover (and fail miserably) and then leave in a hurry, contemplating whether or not to ever return to your new church.  You will also be so embarrassed that the amusement your husband is experiencing will not be shared.  You know, just FYI.

On a Friday

 Last Friday Riley got to help me make the batter for his birthday cake.  He is super into helping bake and cook right now and I try to encourage him in that and let him help me.  It always requires some extra deep breathes on my part, but I know the memories will be worth it!  Plus, I think it's really important to empower my kids to be knowledgable with basic things like cooking and cleaning and managing a household.  I know if I don't involve them in the process now then it will be harder to teach later.  We had a lot of fun mixing up some yummy chocolate cake!

 Just because he's cute.  :)

 Last Friday was also a memorable day because Sophia got to have her friend from across the street, Mireya, spend the night!  They have been playing together since sometime last summer and have become good buddies.  We're moving soon and I am so sad that these two girls won't get to be playmates anymore.  I'm so glad they got to have a sleepover!  I took a bunch of pictures of them together, than let them choose their favorite two.  I then printed them off of the computer and put them in simple black frames.  Then they each got to glue on some sparkly beads to decorate their frames and also got a keepsake to remember each other by.  

Aren't they sweet?  

Three!

"I three now Mom?"

Yes!  Sunday, August 28th, Riley turned the big 3!  He is excited to be three and was SO excited for his birthday party.  With a nice mixture of relatives and friends, cool weather and some yummy treats, the party went off well.  Riley asked for a "Lightening" birthday party, so I did my best to make a race track cake and had Piston Cup favors ("You did what in your cup?"  -Mater =)  ) and  "Cars'" tatoos and balloons.  Riley got totally spoiled with some great new clothes and some awesome new toys, books and puzzles!

 All day he had to check in on his cake to look at it.  I had to tell him, more than once, that he couldn't lick the frosting.  :)

 The Kids' Table.

 Riley, before opening all his loot.

 Jamie and I got him Buzz and Woody from "Toy Story," and this was his face upon opening the package.  Priceless!

 He is in little boy heaven.

Happy Birthday to Riley!

Some things I don't want to forget...

Just one year ago, on his 2nd birthday, he still wasn't calling me Mom, nor was he hardly talking.  Now, he is crazy verbal and talks, talks, talks, all day long!

He has a little southern accent, which is so cute.  He pronounces "Woody,"  "Wue -dee."  

He is learning fast that words hold power, both for good and for bad.  i.e.  When he's mad at one of us he will say, "You're not my Mom," or, "You're not my baby sister."  I'm trying to teach him to express his actual emotion in that moment, such as, "I am mad at you Mom," as opposed to doling out a hurtful insult.  He is also learning to be complementary and to express thanks verbally.  He's also very good at saying, "I love you."  

He loves to be with me at all times.  This is precious to me as I know it won't last, but it can also be a bit tiring.  :)  I try to soak up all his offered cuddles and relish the fact that he enjoys my company so much right now.  

He is really into super heros right now.  He often becomes, "Super Riley!"

He loves to playact.  When he's playacting "Toy Story," he is always Buzz, Soph is Woody, Haddie is Jessie and he always makes Jamie and me Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.  Ha!

He loves playing on the "pad pad," and the computer.  He's getting pretty good at some games and I have to rip him away when his time is up.  

I can't believe Riley is three.  I am so thankful God blessed Jamie and me with such a precious little boy!

Shirmy

Where do I even begin.  I guess the beginning.  Shirmy moved to the United States in August of 2007, all the way from China.  At the time we were hosting a Bible Study, for international students that attended our local university, in our home.  In September of '07 some other students brought Shirmy, an unbeliever at the time, into our home for the Bible Study.  This began what would be a very special friendship between our family and Shirmy.

Riley (almost 3), Sophia (6 1/2), Hadassah (1 1/2) & Shirmy
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saying Goodbye


In just a couple of short months of being introduced to the Bible, and making friends with a bunch of other Christian international students, Shirmy made the decision to become a follower of Jesus.  It was at this same time that she was also considering moving to New York City because the cost of school was becoming overwhelming.  Jamie and I felt so burdened for this girl we barely knew, and were urged by the Holy Spirit to ask Shirmy to come live with us, for free.  I remember feeling almost frantic for her well fare if she were to leave our little community.  Looking back I am so thankful that I serve a God who speaks into our lives and directs us to act.  I cannot imagine the course Shirmy's life would have taken if she had left our city way back then.  We hoped living with us would alleviate a lot of her expenses and might allow for her to remain in our community, where we hoped she could be nurtured in her relationship with Jesus.  Much to our joy she accepted our offer and thus began her three years of living with us and becoming a part of our family.  

Shirmy, Me, another student
My Birthday, November 2007
Just getting to know each other!


Shirmy moved in with us in early December of 2007.  At the time Sophia was barely three, and little did we know I was newly pregnant with Riley.  In the first few months, even year, there was some cultural tension as we adjusted to sharing our home and space with someone very new to the US and American culture.  As time passed we would learn so much about the Chinese culture and were able to better understand dear Shirmy.  

Riley and Shirmy
Winter 2008


Shirmy lived in our home for three years where we shared birthdays, holidays, saw the birth of two more children, had fun living life together, taught Shirmy how to drive, watched her struggle and grow in her faith, and finally celebrated Shirmy's graduation from Graduate School.  Upon graduation she moved to the city where we're actually moving soon.  She has lived there for the past year and we've been able to stay in touch and visit now and again.  It still hasn't sunk in she is across the world now...

Top: The whole gang (Soph is 4 1/2 and Riley is 8 mos.)  Bottom:  Me & Shirmy
April 2009
Celebrating Shirmy's Birthday!

Shirmy was/is such a hard worker.  Not only was she taking classes to earn a Master's Degree in Business (Let that sink in for a minute.  Can you imagine traveling to a foreign country, knowing their language only on a basic level, and studying master level courses in that language?  Yeah, me either!), but she also worked as much as she was able.

Sophia (almost 5) & Shirmy
November 12, 2009
 Chinese lessons!


Shirmy's story is amazing.  She has faced challenges in trusting the Lord with her present and her future like I will most likely never have to face.  Her decision to return to China this past Saturday was probably the hardest decision she has faced yet in life.  Her Mom, brother and sister-in-law all live in Singapore now, so she returns to only extended family until she can join her immediate family in Singapore.  Though her Mom and brother finally accept her decision to leave America, her extended family (unless God moves their hearts towards compassion) will not.  Shirmy told me they will most likely shame her and laugh at her.  That literally makes my chest hurt to write.  

Shirmy and Me
April 2010
Hosted a party for Shirmy's Birthday!


After we prayed over Shirmy in the airport as we prepared to say goodbye, for only the Lord knows how long, tears were streaming down my face as I looked her in the eyes and said, "I am proud of you." And I am.  What breaks my heart is that she will not hear that from anyone else.

Soph (5), Shirmy & Riley (16 mos.)
Christmas 2009

Soph (6), Shirmy, Haddie (9 mos.) & Riley (2 1/4)
Christmas 2010


If Shirmy had stayed in the States past Saturday she would have been breaking the law as the conditions of her visa required her to leave by then.  She told me that she would be ridiculed and told that so many others borrow way more money than she had to (which blows my mind, because she borrowed A LOT of money to be able to come to the U.S.) come to the States to earn money and then she would just leave?  Since becoming a believer Shirmy has had to come to terms with what the world says and what Christ says.  The faith she displayed in God by being obedient and getting on that plane Saturday will remain one of the most beautiful pictures of God's goodness and power I will ever see.  She was in such turmoil in the days leading up to her departure, only making her final decision three days before she left. But, the girl we said goodbye to was covered in peace, that can only be explained by God's goodness and faithfulness.

Above pictures, Shirmy, Soph (5 1/2) & Riley (almost 2)
Spring 2010
Playing at the park

Jamie, Haddie (2 mos.), Shirmy, Sophia (5 1/2) & me
May 2010
Shirmy's Graduation!

I don't know exactly what Shirmy's future holds, but I do know that God has something great in store for her!  She will be looking for a job and is hoping to join her Mom and brother in Singapore.  I am praying that God allows her to move to Singapore quickly and gives her an awesome job, as she'll have to work hard for a long time to pay back what she owes her family for getting her to the U.S. in the first place.  I am also praying that God brings her into a local body of believers so that she can be encouraged in her faith.  Sophia is so heartbroken over Shirmy's departure and Jamie and I feel generally sad, but hopeful too.  We pray that the Lord allows us to reunite this side of heaven.  We, along with Shirmy, covet your prayers for her as she readjust to life in Asia.  One thing I know, we are blessed to have had Shirmy join our family and our lives will never be the same!

Riley (almost 3), Shirmy, Sophia (6 1/2), Me, Jamie, Haddie (1 1/2)
August 13, 2011
Last family shot with Shirmy, until next time.

Kids' Day, 4th Edition

This weekend we celebrated our fourth Kids' Day!  For the history of Kids' Day, you can click on the following links to read the original posts:

The Origin of Kids' Day

First Kids' Day, Part II & III

Kids' Day 2009

Kids' Day 2010

***

So, this Kids' Day was a little different than usual.  See, we will be moving soon, and so we decided to do this summer's Kids' Day in the new city we'll be living in so the kiddos could get introduced to where we'll be living.  We made it a weekend trip with two nights in a hotel.  Poor Riley was so confused, thinking the hotel was our new house at first.  :)

We drove to our destination city on Friday.  Jamie was busy with work (he's been working for some time in the city we'll be moving to, commuting to and from home) while the kids and I spent the day with Shirmy.  I will be writing a specific post about this for tomorrow, so I'll just leave it at that for now.  

On Saturday we had breakfast in the hotel, took Shirmy to the airport, said goodbye :( , and then went to our main Kids' Day attraction - the Zoo!  When planning Kids' Day I specifically said I did not want to go to the zoo.  The zoo is always hot, especially in August, and then the animals never seem to be out, everyone gets tired and grumpy by the end and it just never seems to live up to the hype.  Well... somewhere along the way I changed my mind.  We had never been to this zoo, and the website made it seem like a pretty great zoo.  The weather was supposed to be more mild than it has been lately, soo... off we went, to the zoo.  :)

I was both right and wrong.  I was right in that by the end of the day everyone was very tired and grumpy.  I was wrong in that the animals were out and it wasn't a letdown- overall anyways.  :)  And the kids seemed to have fun, so that's what matters, especially on Kids' Day!

 They loved posing on all the animal statues.

 The Big Papa Lion was lounging pretty close to the fence.  He was separated from the females and young this particular day because it was "Bone Saturday," and he was stealing all the bones for himself.

 We actually got to see the real tiger walk about.  This tiger was fun to pose on, of course while getting Haddie down I totally ran into the paw of it and it gave me a nice gash on my shin.  :)  Always the graceful one I am.

 Riding the Carousel was one of the highlights of the day.  Everyone had a great time!  Of course leaving the carousel proved challenging for certain people two and under.  Some screaming, flailing and gnashing of teeth may have ensued.

 Checking out the male kangaroo.

 The Koala.

Ah, the boat ride.  This would be what one would call a low of the day.  Sophia enjoyed herself.  Jamie and Riley had a delightful time.  Hadassah on the other hand (and thus me, as I had the privilege of restraining her sitting with her) did not so much have fun.  Before we even boarded she was screaming and flailing about in my arms.  The entire ride she screamed and flailed.  I felt bad for the childless couple who had the unfortunate luck to be aboard the same boat as "the family with the screaming child."  :)

By the time we left, indeed everyone was tired and fussy, but we had had a lot of fun and were thankful that when, at one point Riley managed to walk away from us, was found by Jamie only a few minutes later (terrifying by the way!).

We made our way back to the hotel and enjoyed a quiet dinner, baths for the kids and an early bedtime!

Sunday we got to worship at the church that we will soon call our own and even got to give the kids a peak at the house we'll soon be living in.  We ended our weekend adventure with ice-cream and sorbet and everyone was indeed happy!

:)