this will be fun

So I thought it would be really fun to say that our house is condemned.
But it's not.
Thankfully, I suppose.
But we are going to have to leave for a bit, because the water is off until the dreaded leak has been fixed. Dave's diagnosis after digging, is that the new sewer pipe has shifted down & the "solids" (sorry) are leaking out & the liquids are now too.
I know.
Gross.
Hopefully we'll be home soon.

I Can Finally Talk About It...

It all started last week. On Friday we had to use the stairs at the back of the house that go to the basement. We got all of the leaves out and the next day the evidence began to show.

It is all too familiar. The damp-looking concrete block. The little bit of moisture. I thought it was the rain and moisture from the leaves. I SO wanted it to be rain moisture. I had finally hooked up the upstairs furnace (installed in June for air...had yet to run the gas and condensate pump) and began to feel better about the state of things. All ready to begin building that wood play kitchen I promised for Christmas (yeah, I create as well)

Three days later I noticed that the dirt is settling faster near the corner that the water and sewer lines go into the house. I scooped over more dirt...uncovering the outside sump pit and finding water in it again.

Yeah, I have a leak again. Daily more water is going into the stairwell.

I had my heart set on never having to dig that up again. Now it appears that in the bitter cold that is setting in I will have to get into it.

So I sigh often...thinking about the trouble that I find myself in again! I have entered into my own long defeat. I think it may be the water line this time...but am not sure. The water bill has gone up in the past couple of months. It could also be the sewer again....though I really believe that it was fixed right the first time.

I keep blaming Sonya...who has chosen Isaiah 58:11 as a portion of a verse selection for our family:

"and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

creating

We have officially begun our gift making season.
I (Sonya) am especially into handmade gifts this season because of all the toy recalls & etc. going on the past six months. I'm also pretty overwhelmed with the "stuff" we have & just the acquiring habit my generation has been sucked into.
So we are trying to make a good portion of our gifts. Because I really enjoy reading blogs & I wonder if you might like them too, I thought I would share a few ideas for anyone who might be feeling crafty.
A fun site called Sew, Mama, Sew has organized a load of tutorials during this month of November. Each day, they point out a couple of fun gift ideas scattered around the web. Today's idea is Drawstring Bags, but if you scroll down there is a nice list of all the other ideas. I'm planning on making some rice & flaxseed bags, a zippered bag for an artist, & I already made an mp3 player "cozy" for someone unnamed in my family (hmmmm).
Another adoptive family with five kids posted a fun teacher (or aunt or grandparent) idea that I would like to try.
We made cinnamon ornaments another year with our kids, but I just may try it again this year. It is so fun to add little smelly ornaments to all the other gifts.
But I can't give away all my secrets. So let me know if you have any other fun ideas. Have fun creating!

is anyone else getting FOUR THOUSAND catalogs?

So we buy stuff online. It is easier & cheaper to buy things & let them arrive in our mail.
But for the LOVE of all that is good. The number of catalogs in my mailbox from folks I have not ever even ordered from is unbelievable.
So yesterday when everyone got home from school, I started cutting strips. Lots of them.
And the girls started gluing & soon there was a lovely Christmas decoration strung over the table. I realize eventually it will still be thrown away (or burned, I guess), but at least we reused it in a creative way.
So fun. The creativity of Christmas at our house has begun. More on that topic later...

little ones at lunch

Ever since the early days of staying home with my little ones (who are now big), I have loved looking at my kids at lunch. Like in those preschooler days, I mean.
I remember back at our house on Lynn Haven Lane in Hazelwood, with the table pushed up to the front window, gazing at little Stephen eating lunch & snapping pictures, because I just couldn't bear the cuteness.
I have pictures of all the kids nibbling on little lunch foods at those ages, because there is just something about sitting down in the middle of the day, enjoying the sunshine (or rain) & just looking at each other or chatting. I think it helps me slow down somehow, & I like the look of those kids.
Here are a couple from today.

a song of inspiration.

Sara Groves wrote a song on her latest CD about "the long defeat".
She takes the concept from CS Lewis, the idea that we fight our way through the battles that God leads us to, & in many of them we will not see victory. Sara's music & thought-provoking words have been a place of conviction for Dave & I over the past few years. This song verbalizes some complicated, confused thoughts I have had in my mind regarding poverty, the fatherless & the hungry.

I have joined the long defeat
that falling set in motion
all my strength and energy
are raindrops in the ocean

so conditioned for the win
to share in victor's stories
but in the place of ambition's din
I've heard of other glories

I pray for an idea
and a way I cannot see
It's too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave

The song goes on, but I think that much reveals what I'm trying to convey. There are some really big problems in the world. Problems that, frankly, my nickels & dimes, my love & prayers, my letters or hope or gifts, just cannot touch. Even adoption cannot solve all the trials the orphans of the world face.
But I say this not to discourage you. Or myself.
I discuss this idea because as we enter this season of bounty & celebration & excess, I want to purposely choose to see myself & my family as warriors in a battle that we may not win, but will purpose to fight.
We take the ones the Lord loves, the ones the world overlooks & we choose to look, to help, to give. We get overwhelmed, we feel weary from the weight, but we know we serve the God who sees. The God who knows & understands & loves all with an even weightier love.
One more stanza from the song....

We walk a while we sit and rest
we lay it on the altar
I won't pretend to know what's next
but what I have I've offered

And yes.
What we have we will continue to offer.

daily words

This blogging every day thing has been a challenge for me.
There are nights that I just look at Dave (with puppy dog eyes, I'm sure) with a big sigh, begging him to think of something to write about. He is the best, because of course I made the great decision to attempt writing every day in November.
But in other ways, it has been really good for me. I am forcing myself to be reflective. I know that I am a more balanced mom when I have some moments to think about what happened today that is meaningful, what truth I can believe today, what am I struggling with.
As a freshman in college, I was really consistent with journal writing. Mostly because I sensed that what was happening was important & I needed to really have time to digest it. I was right. It was important. & This probably is too.
So I write.
& I think & reflect.
We'll see what happens when November is over.

Black Friday!

In years past, it has meant a dash to get some of the best gifts for really low prices.

I am not sure if this year was not as spectacular because of poor sales or just the whole awareness that there are SO MANY more things besides stuff that are important.

That is what my heart feels at least. Unfortunately there is a part of me that just wants good stuff (like a computer that isn't prone to freeze...or a monitor that is smaller than my Suburban...or a camera that doesn't turn off when you set it down because of a battery door issue...you got the picture)

God showed me a nice verse today, for what it is worth. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4:3

Got it - thanks God!

-Dave

happy turkey-giving!

(okay, so the girls didn't quite get the name of the holiday down pat yet)

But we sure enjoyed seeing everyone choose to be thankful & enjoy the chaos of 10 kids & four parents making & serving a large feast.
Hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed.
We each wrote our "thank you, God's" on little leaves & the kids hung them all on our little Thanksgiving tree. Very fun.

Guest blogger- The songs of Fall

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!Our cousins are coming tomorrow and we are doing sooo much work! (Too much for me!) Caleb and I made place cards and napkin rings. We made the place cards out of pictures we got from his Thanksgiving drawing book he got from the school Library. We pasted half of the picture on the paper and half off. I went to Microsoft Word and used the font arioso to type the names and print them. We pasted them on the other half of the card. They looked picture perfect!(well, a couple of them!)
To make the napkin rings, we used little cards and ribbon to tie around the fabric napkins that were rolled up like a scroll. We had to use four paper napkins for the little kids, though!
I can't believe that we might have a white Thanksgiving! If we do, we probably won't not have a white Christmas!
Tonight we enjoyed sitting around the comfortable, but hot fire listening to Adventures in Odyssey.
We also played Ticket to Ride.
Fall has sooo much to look forward to!

Adoptions issues are flyin' all over the internet.
Today someone sent me to the New York Times' "Adoption & the American Family" blog. I need more time to read more entries, but the one I read was fascinating to read as an adoptive parent, & might even be interesting to some of you. The conversation surrounding adoption across cultures is emotional & opinion-laden.
More entries, by other authors, can be found in the column on the right.

something big

Has God asked you to do something big?
Change careers? Move away from everything you know & love? Lose someone very close to you?
I am learning about what comes after the asking.
One year ago we were on the cusp of bringing home two darling little girls we knew not very much about, but loved dearly already. We felt like we had hiked a long upward trail, & were so very close to seeing the view from the summit.
It happened much differently than that.
Meeting our girls was delightful. Life changing. Amazing. But it was not the summit. The summit has been unfolding for the past year. Inch by inch, as we view glimpses of who they are & who we have become as a family. Bit by bit the picture has opened more huge & more beautiful than we could have imagined.
I'm going to drop the metaphor now.
Pray for me, the mom of this crew, & wife of this blessed man. I want to glorify the Father who brought me to this place. I want to learn what this season of my life is supposed to teach me. I want to invite God to lead me where I need to be.

I also want to wake up happy & thankful for this place I find myself.
Three thankful thoughts to end today's post:
Our freezer is full of food. The freezer is not ancient & works efficiently.
We're healthy & have so far avoided nasty throwing up viruses. I can handle a few snotty noses.
The little girls & I were home this morning & Ana sang quiet little nonsense songs to herself as she played. It was a joy to watch her be calm & quiet.

needed

We sure had a tornado of a weekend.
Friday night in the house I grew up in all my life. Saturday night in "Gamma Gampa's new house" as Ana would say. It was a blessing, as Dave said yesterday, to see so many friends come that have been an important part of our family's life. At lunch on Saturday, in the midst of kids & adults of all ages, many who I do not see often, I remarked to my mom, that the home was already a better fit for the large group. My parents open their home often, to loved ones who are loud & well-known, but also to new friends & strangers. If God allows, the home with serve as a base for ministry for them for many years.
Our little girls were pretty overstimulated this weekend. That means lots of laughing (not always appropriately), running & wild tumbling. Also Ana burst into tears a few times today at odd times.
We take for granted that the girls are pretty well adjusted. They have been home for so long that the fearful, uncertain first few months are faint memories. There are just so many fun, happy memories to replace them. But in situations like this weekend, when they feel a little insecure because of unfamiliar circumstances, we see their need for us pretty clearly.
We need to watch carefully & notice changes that are easy to miss. We will take the next few days to cozy up a little more. I will sit down on the floor more, playing with blocks & babies a little more often. I will bring them downstairs to help me switch loads of laundry & upstairs to change sheets on beds. I will push them on the swings instead of watching them out the window while I work on dinner. Most of my efforts around the house will probably be slow going, but my sweet girls will have a chance to soak up my attention & even out a bit.
Speaking of goals for this week, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Helping our family be grateful is good for all of us. We are thrilled to have my cousin & her family visit for the holiday...more kids & fun, more thankfulness, hm?
We'll try to read a favorite book on or around Thanksgiving, helping the kids remember the details of the history of our country.
May your family be blessed by the spirit of Thankgiving.

Community

Well.

We helped Tom and Connie (Sonya's parents) move today.

It was neat to see everyone chip in to help with the big day. There were people we have not seen for years there to help out. It struck me that Tom and Connie have probably helped each of those people in their time of need. It was nice to see those people desire to help them as well.

When a community of people come together to do great things, the work goes fast and the product is so much better than one could do on his own.

I hope to have helped that many people when I am in their place. Not for the help...but just to know that life has been well spent.

-Dave

Moving Time

Well, we are going to help some family move this weekend! Should be exciting time. We'll try to keep you updated while we are working!

New kind of Christmas Catalog

We received our World Vision Christmas Catalog in the mail the other day. No, there were no "Black Friday" sales advertised. It is basically a list of ways to help others. So often at Christmas we have seen (and even been) others so caught up in gift giving that it can become a challenge to not "overbuy" and just give the stuff away at the next garage sale.

We have been talking at our home about giving. Sonya and I believe that Christmas (as other times) allows us to teach our children some truths. In the Bible there were several examples regarding Jesus that can provide some insight. The wise men brought Jesus gifts, not because a baby (or the Son of God) would need them, but because they were a sign of respect and adoration. The same is true for the woman that anointed Jesus' feet (John 12). Others felt that the money could be used to help the poor - but Jesus defended her actions.

We are trying to teach our kids that gift giving involves an honoring of those they choose to give gifts to. A chance to show others they are cared for and respected. At the same time, when we compare our wants (and even needs) to those struggling for food, or a way to live, or fighting against disease, it can seem awfully petty. So, we also look at the way we can help others in great need at Christmas as well.

We have supported World Vision in the past - but when we see the impact it had on the community in which our Ethiopian girls were born, we were excited to see the REAL LIFE impact of that ministry. Not nameless faces on TV or in brochures, but real people. That is why to some degree our giving will include World Vision. Maybe mosquito nets, or money for a goat, or even clean water. If you haven't seen their catalog before, check it out. Maybe it would interest you as well.

We have chosen to set up a page encouraging those that have been with us through this year to help provide clean water to those that have the greatest need. You can find out more at our World Vision fund raising page.

How Cool is That?

Have you heard of OLPC? Maybe you have heard of the push for the $100 laptop (which ended up being closer to $200)?

Well I read about it yesterday and was totally impressed! I particularly found the article/video on the NY Times website insightful!

Basically, they have developed a light weight, low power, water/dirt/drop proof laptop for third world countries with the goal of every child having a laptop!

• As an educator I am excited about the learning possibilities.
• As a tech-liking guy I think that some of what they put into it is INCREDIBLE!

(especially the wifi - it is different than standard!)

• As someone that has visited third world countries I am excited to see the initiative to help!
• As one that has adopted from Ethiopia I was especially excited to see that Ethiopia was one of the first countries to get the project (from what I can tell).

Now granted, I know when we are thinking of places where they can't even afford to build a school should laptops really be a goal? There are many many needs out there and I see this as an excellent opportunity to try and meet at least several of them.

If you really want in on it, they are only making them available to the US for 2 weeks...so act fast! Don't worry, they are $400 for us - we buy one and donate one!

-Dave

joy

I think I need to remember that joy is a choice. I can choose to listen to the Lord speaking to my heart, or I can choose to complain about the things that could bug me.
So today, this moment anyway, I am going to be aware of the blessings that God fills my life with.
Each one of my kids is a gift.
They are in process & I am blessed to watch them grow & become.
They have been hand selected for me by the Father of everything good.
They respond to my attitudes because they are still "joined" to me.
That won't be true forever. This moment is a gift.
Taking care of my kids is my assignment today. And for a while. Maybe I can get really good at it, as I learn & trust the leading of the Spirit of God.
My husband is amazing. I mean, really amazing.
The stuff I got done today is good. Maybe not my best, but I can try for that again tomorrow.
There is enough.
Enough food.
Enough warmth.
Enough clothing.
Enough strength.

why I lose my temper while making dinner

(we are pretending you were wondering why)

--I started making it too late
--I really don't have all the ingredients I thought I had
--a little girl is screaming & no one seems to want to find out why
--my feet are sticking to the floor
--oops! my signature is needed immediately on some form or another (of course, that is all supposed to be taken care of after school)
--someone is begging for a snack because they got skipped over at snack time
--I can't seem to hear my news show being broadcast on my kitchen radio
--no one emptied the dishwasher & there are dirty dishes all over the counter
--the dining room table is (or was) being used to make paper "footballs" (ask Caleb if you want to know how to make them. he has made 109 in the past two days)
--my hair is in my face
--my beloved needs a little unwind time (seriously, he does)
--a little girl dragged in a little chair to stand on "to help Mommy" & I keep tripping on it
--the milk froze in the downstairs frig (side note: tonight I was comforting a hurt child on the steps & happened to be looking at a sticker on the back of the frig that Grandma put on when she bought the frig...ready??...Aug 25, 1979!!!)
--my feet are still sticking to the floor!
--an unnamed child is taking turns irritating whomever he can find
--Abi wants to know why I won't ever let her "have a party"

So there you have it. I could keep going, but really? Is this really necessary?
Someday I'm planning a post where I describe how to prevent losing your temper while making dinner.
Stay tuned.

sisters

We are coming up on one year home with our little girls.
I thought it would be fun to highlight what a precious gift sisters are. Abi prayed for a sister for quite a while before we even began our adoption process. It's like she could imagine the fun & the tights & dresses & tutus & all that, even though she had two brothers.
Anyway, our three girls do truly enjoy each other. They sleep in the same room, their beds lined up in a row. They giggle & snuggle & try to tolerate the stuff that isn't as fun.
All in all, they are darling & we are so thankful they have each other.

rack da leeeeves. issokay. issokay.

I treated the five of you who read this to a little sample of the dialect of our two precious Ethiopian daughters.
Rake the leaves. It's okay. It's okay. (As in It's okay that she doesn't have a carseat in Daddy's truck, it's okay to go outside without a big sibling, it's okay to only eat candy. You know...really okay things.)
Today we raked the leaves. Dave was a bit busy with furnace issues today (just in case we ever decide to not burn a fire in the woodstove. Or if we run out of wood. hee hee.)
Generally our kids LOVE to rake leaves. I know, it's a little weird. But they like the process, how it's all messy & stuff & they love to jump in the big piles & make complicated houses full of mapped out rooms.
I don't know.
But anyway, I'll share the process via my handy camera.
The actual raking. Dave got his blower in on the job for a few minutes. Truthfully, I think he felt sorry for us. But we were really doing just fine.
Mostly fine.
Okay....with Stephen at a youth group function, we were a little slower than usual.
But oh, the fun!
The girls were not the most helpful, but they really like jumping in the truck, to mash down the leaves.
We are quite the tea drinkers in the fall & winter, so I went in & made tea for all & brought out the tray.
Then after a bit more raking & stomping, I drove "Daddy's boo truck" to the town leaf pile which may seem a little humorous to many of you. See how it kindof goes on & on? Thought I might also share with all you homebodies a recipe that we are enjoying this fall.
It has a lot of whole grains. How can it be bad?

Chewy Yummy Oat Bars::

In mixing bowl, mix:
4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup flour
2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
Mix it good then stir in:
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup toffee bits or you could try butterscotch chips
Bake in a greased 13 X 9 at 325 for about 25 minutes.

So yummy!

One of the many perks...

When you think about teaching, what are some of the perks you may think of?

• Summers Off (or at least spent doing another job or taking classes)
• Kids keep you young
• Decent health care plans? (Hopefully)

Bet you didn't know about this one: I not only get to get my picture in the yearbook, but I get a free...that's right - FREE set of school photos! And if I played my cards right this year, I should get a free set from the grade school AND the middle school!

And people say teachers don't get paid enough!

Anyone ready to trade pics... perhaps a nice 5 X 7 for your mantle? I've got plenty!

Night Out on the Town

We needed a break tonight...

A change from the norm...

So 20 min later we were at the pet store (just to look, of course),

Followed by a round of 7 double cheese burgers w/some fries (shared of course), 7 waters to match and even 10 min. on the play place

Before heading to the book store to read a few and then head home.

All in all it met some of the expectations that all of the kids had.

Sonya and I still imagine something different when we think of a night out!

Thankfully, Sonya was able to go with some friends to a coffee shop later in celebration of a birthday.

My night in...well some devotions, a little of The Office, and this short blog wraps it up.

Pretty crazy, huh? Bet you couldn't roll with me!

- Dave

gotta love that boy...

warm, but comboozled (or something)

Today we....

ate chicken soup with star noodles
consumed vitamin C's
called the pediatrician
made three big pots of herbal tea
went through a big metal tub of wood keeping our home warm
&
cuddled extra long.

I have a cold. One of those stuffy, don't-want-to-move, hacking cough ones.
Ana has an unknown rash by her mouth.
Abi was home from school with the ache-y's.
Almost bedtime.

all the children of the world

Well, okay....
not ALL the children of the world.
just a few of the cutest ones.
Today I had the chance to watch our friends' kids for a few hours while the mom had an appointment. I was thrilled to do it, & it brought back memories of a couple of years ago.
This same mom-friend of mine & I discovered that both of our families were praying about adopting. The months passed & God drew our hearts to different countries & different paths. They ended up waiting through many long months for an infant boy from Guatemala & then later receiving a darling foster daughter. We waited too, then traveled to Ethiopia & brought our girls home. Our big kids & their big kids enjoyed knowing other families were going through big changes.
So, looking back, I am again amazed at God's plans, so different for each family, yet so perfect for us as parents & for the orphans who finally came home (we continue to petition God for their foster daughter, that she may eventually come home to stay).
Pray with us for the many families who are now where we were a couple of years back.
Weighing the options.
Making decisions that will change the life of their families.
Making decisions that mean life for a child across the world or across the city.
Pray for the children of the world.

zippy flyers & fun family fall

Probably three years ago, I happened upon a zip line handle at a garage sale, for I think $2. We even moved it to this house, hoping that at some point we would find a use for it. Dangerous boys & all that.
So a few Saturdays ago, our boys were carrying around rope & other sundry items trying to build some adventurous creation. Eventually they enlisted Dad & created a half baked zip line with materials we had...the main problem being that the handle rode on a rope instead of a cable & the speed was a bit unimpressive...but they were all pleased with their accomplishment.
Thanks to grandparents (who must have felt sorry for the boys trying so hard), we bought a cable & the correct connectors to assemble it for real. Dave tightened it again & yesterday they were off!

coffee roasting

Last year for Christmas Dave received a popcorn popper, but not for popping corn.
He came home from Ethiopia last December with the beginning stages of coffee snobbiness (spellcheck says that's not a word. I guess you have to see it to believe it). By January he had figured out where to buy "green" (unroasted) beans from Deans Beans & how to roast beans every weekend, in order to brew fresh coffee for us each morning. yum....
Anyway at some point, I took pictures of him roasting coffee, a nice series of photos, & never actually got a blog post written.
So today is the day.
Even the bag of beans is fun.
Standing outside, with a smoking popcorn popper, he looks like he knows what he's doing, but he probably does make the neighbors wonder...


Whatever the case, he gets the job done & we both love the end result.
Also every dad of five should get a hobby. hee hee.

I do NOT need a jacket

We have a bit of an ongoing discussion at our home regarding when it is necessary to wear a jacket. At wit's end the other day on the way to school, I said to Abi "Just do what I say without any arguing. Wear a jacket (it was 40 degrees, folks. give me a break). After school today, I am going to google a bit & figure out what specific temperature requires a jacket, so this discussion will be over once & for all." The kids laughed at me.
But no one is laughing now (okay, except for Dave, who thinks I am off my rocker completely).
I found doIneedajacket.com.
I am so not kidding you.
You plug in your favorite zip code or city & up pops the answer to the ever-present question (at my house at least). To my kids' amazement & awe, there is also a humorous affirmation of the answer. Make sure your speakers are on & switch over to Internet Explorer if you use Mozilla (don't ask me why).
Oh & I couldn't fail on my second day, so here I am blogging at 10:15, but I'm seriously falling asleep as I type.
So goodnight all.
Tomorrow surely there will be pictures of the garden being taken down.

can we do it?

Inspired by another fun family adopting from Ethiopia, I am deciding to attempt to blog every day this month. Mostly because Dave has been gently suggesting that posting this inconsistently is not really blog-worthy. I can't verbalize a good excuse for not blogging. What makes the most sense to me is that I just don't have any reserves. My brain is pretty used up.
Maybe I can use this little goal of blogging every day in November as an opportunity to refresh my attitude.
So I begin today with five thankyou's.

Thanks, God, that when Maci sat down on the ground (refusing to move) outside of the post office today, I did not try to pull her arm out of socket.
Thanks, Stephen Abi & Caleb, for trying in vain to keep your stuff off of the floor in the family room, just because it "drives Mom crazy". I can tell you really love me.
Thanks, Dave Honey, for the yummy coffee you place in my gripping grabbing hand every morning. & for making sure it is Ethiopian....mmmmm....
Thanks, Ana, for calling me back in at tuck-in-time this afternoon for just "one more kiss". Loving you is a gift I don't take for granted. I'm so blessed to be your mommy.
Thanks, God, for autumn. Pumpkin brownies & muffins, leaves mounded in my yard, cool snuggly weather, a fire in the stove. I love each glimpse of your goodness.

Well, I feel better already.
Almost inspired enough to sweep the family room & mop the kitchen (& fold the clothes & wipe the spotty mirrors & scrub the sinks....). Well, maybe not.
See ya tomorrow.