A Peculiar Family

Should I be worried?

2010-12-21T21:22:00.002-06:00

This is what I saw when I walked into the playroom a couple days ago. Should I be worried that my little girls keep their zhu zhu pets in the microwave?

We have a roof!

2010-12-05T19:08:00.002-06:00

Just barely two months after breaking ground, we have a roof! Hopefully progress will continue pretty well through the winter since the house will be closed in. We spent the entire day today working on clean-up. The girls are about to pass out from exhaustion. They gathered nails and filled Pa's trailer with scrap wood to make money. Ruby is asleep on the couch already. They are so excited about the new house!

I'm Thankful

2010-11-28T18:25:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving had special meaning to me this year. I'm so grateful for everyone and everything God has placed in my life. I sometimes lament growing older, but I shouldn't. My life has never been as right as it is at this very time. I have made more good decisions in the past seven years than at any other time in my life. I'm blessed with an incredible husband, the most special children imaginable (and grown children and grandchildren), loving and supportive family far and near, good health, plenty of food on my table every day, life in a free country, and the promise that God is in full control of my future. It took a while for me to realize that I'm not in control, and when I let God guide me I'm much happier. There are so many things to be thankful for, and I never want to forget that every single one of them is a gift!

Back...After Six Months!

2010-11-10T13:23:00.006-06:00

It's been six months since I've blogged, and I think it's time to get back to it! I was reading my post What is reality? And how much is enough? and thinking about how much has changed during the past six months. When I posted in May I wasn't sure if we would ever get to build our house. We had more than a few setbacks, but we finally broke ground on September 25th. What a day that was! This week the exterior walls started going up, and it's really looking like a house. I'm thanking God every day that we are able to build, but I'm also thanking Him for the tiny house we live in now and the many, many blessings He gives us every day.

I'm especially thankful that God placed Tony in my life. My life with him is more than I ever imagined. He's my rock when I hit rough spells and my best friend every single day.

2010-05-07T08:53:00.005-05:00

It was a beautiful day Wednesday, so we took advantage of the weather and went to the Aroboretum. The girls love walking and skipping around the trails looking at all of the flowers. I'm so happy that this place is close to us and free!

What is reality? And how much is enough?

2010-05-04T20:15:00.009-05:00

Tonight I had....I don't know...a moment of clarity...or a dose of reality.

We live in a small farm house with three little girls. It's a tight squeeze sometimes, but it's a choice we made in order to be financially responsible while adopting our daughters. We always intended to build a house, and we're finally in the process of doing just that. I said process -- it's a long and drawn out process. Right now we're working with an architect to design the house. Sometimes I get discouraged and feel like actually building the house is just a dream.

Tonight I had a few moments to myself while Tony took care of our girls. I spent some of that time sitting in the grass in the exact spot that is staked out to be our future family room -- a spot where I might someday sit in a comfy chair in front of a crackling fire. But...I sat there feeling gloomy and wondering when or if we will actually see a foundation being poured and walls going up. I felt discouraged and maybe a little sorry for myself that we are still cramped in our little house with one bathroom and a dishwasher on wheels. I sat there listening to my iPod filling my head with the sounds of Chris Tomlin singing Amazing Grace -- and then it hit me.

I was sitting there on land we own. Acres and acres of land we own. I was surrounded by the stakes that designated where our new house will someday be -- whether that someday is next month or next year. I was listening to an iPod. I was looking out at the sun setting in the west and watching the trees billow in the wind. Tony was inside taking care of our daughters. I have a bathroom and a dishwasher, even if it is on wheels. I go to the grocery store and it takes five trips to bring all the food in from the van.

It's so easy to be in China or Ethiopia and see how other people live -- and die -- and to fall down on your knees and give thanks for every single thing you have. Once you get home and go to a few play dates at fancy houses the mind seems to put a lot of distance between that reality and our reality. But reality is what hit me while I sat there in the grass tonight.

Halfway around the world in Ethiopia there is a mother who couldn't provide her daughters with basic things like shoes, food, a bed, or even a bathroom. Her daughters never slept in a real bed when they lived with her. Indoor plumbing was not a possibility for her and a dishwasher on wheels simply would have been an unimaginable fantasy. That mother had to make a decision we could not even fathom. Halfway around the world in China there is a mother who didn't have the freedom to keep her daughter. Can we even imagine putting our infant daughter down on a sidewalk and walking away because our government and our family left us without a choice? And what about things that happen right here in our own country or city? My sister-in-law lost her husband a year ago, and their son lost his dad. Our friend has lost his wife and his daughter in the past two years. His sons have lost their mother and their sister. How do you live through that?

And what do I have? I have three beautiful, funny, smart, and amazing daughters who love me and call me mommy, because another mommy had to give that up. I get to tuck them into bed every night and feed them breakfast every morning (and lunch and dinner and a snack in between). I live in a house with bedrooms and a bathroom and lots and lots of food every single day. I have sons who are grown up and independent. Our children have a mommy and daddy who love them and love each other. When one of us gets sick, we just get in the car and go to the doctor.

I'm not saying I won't ever revert back to feeling sorry for myself because I want something I don't have. That seems to be human nature, even if it is wrong. I think the main reason I'm writing this is so that when I do start to feel like that I can re-read this and give myself a reality check. How much is enough? I have more than enough. I have everything I need. I have a family and a home and a God who I know watches over us all every day. I think I will be a better person if I can keep that perspective.

The Things They Say

2010-04-30T20:39:00.002-05:00

I know many of my posts revolve around the funny things my girls say, but here goes again...

Heard today from the back seats of my van:

Elizabeth: "Mommy, lions are faster than anything."
Nora: "No, God and Jesus are faster than anything in the whole world."
Ruby: "I don't think God and Jesus really like to run that much."
Elizabeth: "Yeah, they're probably too busy working."

An Angel Now

2010-04-25T19:42:00.004-05:00

It's hard to understand why some people have to endure so much. Our friend, Brent, lost his wife two years ago and his daughter yesterday. Brent and Lisa traveled to China with us two and a half years ago to bring home our daughters. Just five short months later, Lisa died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving behind her husband, newly adopted daughter, and three sons. Yesterday, Brent and his sons suffered another tragic loss. Their beautiful Vivian died suddenly and with no warning. She was 4 1/2 years old. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel an emotional road most of us can't even imagine enduring. In memory of a beautiful angel, here's a picture of Nora and Vivian (on the right). She's resting at peace now and with her mommy in heaven.

Yard Spelling

2010-04-19T20:32:00.005-05:00

There are so many great things about homeschooling. Spelling in the front yard on a beautiful, sunny day is just one of many! I'm so grateful that my kids have the opportunity to learn this way.

Oh, Nora...

2010-04-18T19:49:00.003-05:00

At dinner tonight the girls were talking about us having another kid (yeah, right). Ruby said we could buy another kid. I explained that we absolutely never, EVER buy kids because we are human beings and God's children. Then Nora says, "I know why we never buy a kid. You know why? Because kids can't breath in a box." I went on to elaborate on human beings and God's children. Then she said, "Yeah, Mommy, you know why we're human beings? Becuase we can TALK if we're in a box." Oh Nora, where do you get this stuff?

It's Spring!

2010-04-14T20:43:00.004-05:00

I've been terrible lately about updating the blog. It just seems like we get busier all the time. This past winter was exceptionally cold for Missouri, and we had a lot of snow. Now, it's finally spring, and we're SO glad to be outside again! Here are a few pictures to celebrate the season!

Sisters

2010-03-20T21:26:00.003-05:00

It's hard for me to remember the time when we had to seriously consider whether it would be better for Nora to have sisters or not. Seriously, how could I have ever wondered? All three of them are sisters in every sense of the word!

Keeping It Simple

2010-03-11T20:41:00.004-06:00

Tony and I are such a great parenting team. We have the same values and ideals when it comes to raising our daughters. That's not to say that we are making the same decisions that we made when we raised our older kids. We have a different perspective now. I think it comes with a combination of factors: age, our life experiences, our daughters' life experiences, and the lifestyle we choose to live now.

Financially, we are much better off than when our sons were young, but we manage to keep our life -- and our kids' -- much simpler. We don't lavish the girls with big and expensive gifts or indulge them with every little thing they desire, although it's tempting to do so. Instead, we give them more of ourselves and our time. I think this makes them appreciate the things we give them so much more.

What I hadn't thought about until recently is how it allows others, especially family members, to do special things for them. For example, we don't go to McDonald's very often, and when we do go we order the girls threee cheesburgers and a large fry to share. We drink water because it's healthier -- soda or chocolate milk are special treats. My dad wanted to do something special for the girls last weekend, so he gave them money to get a Happy Meal and asked me if I would take them to McDonalds this week (he would have but he's working). They were so excited today when we went and got Happy Meals. They were mostly excited about the chocolate milk and toy. It's not that we can't afford to buy them Happy Meals, obviously, but it made it so special that Pa gave them this special treat. It made me glad that we keep things simple enough that people like my dad can do something special for them that is simple and yet still a special treat. So many kids today have so much that it's hard to think of anything to give them that they don't already have, and I think that sets up some unrealistic expectations.

So tonight when the girls were saying their prayers, Ruby's prayer included "And dear God, thank you for the soldiers who protect our country. And also thank you for Pa who loves us and does nice things for us and craps us up." Ummm...I think she meant "cracks us up." But you get the idea. :-)

A Busy February

2010-02-28T06:58:00.006-06:00

I can't believe I haven't posted on this blog for a month! We've had a busy February! Here's a little of what we've been up to:

Spending time with family.

Going to church.

Spending time with Mason (we get to babysit every Saturday while my son and daughter-in-law work).

Bowling with friends.

Elizabeth has lost two teeth and became friends with the tooth fairy.

Everyone got roses from Daddy for Valentine's day.

And...income taxes, but I won't post a picture of that. :-) And now on to March! Hopefully I will be a better blogger next month.

Only six years?

2010-01-30T19:11:00.007-06:00

Usually you hear people make jokes like, "Wow, we've only been married for six years? It feels like ten." Well, joking aside, it really does feel like it has been a lot longer than six years since we got married. Six short years ago today we were going to sleep knowing we would wake up tomorrow and get married. That was the very best decision I've ever made. Our lives have been filled with about twenty years worth of experiences and adventures since that day! Tony knows what I mean.

When we got married on January 31, 2004, I had no idea how our marriage would lead us to make decisi0ns that would change the course of our lives forever. I had no idea of the paths we would travel and the memories we would make with our sons. I had no idea that we would become grandparents -- twice -- during the first six years of our marriage. Or that we would twice live apart for a few months for the sake of our family and future. And I had no idea that we would become the parents of three very special daughters. It's really hard to imagine what the next years hold for us. I've learned not to guess. Life is a journey, and it's a journey with so many winding roads. I wouldn't have it any other way. I am thankful every day that God brought Tony and I together. I only wish it would have been 20 years ago, but then I guess we wouldn't have been the same people we were when we met.

Happy sixth anniversary Honey. You are so very, very loved.

Awesome Adoption Story

2010-01-06T07:39:00.005-06:00

Several of my friends have posted links to this story, so I finally read it today. What an awesome article! It mirrors many of my thoughts and experiences adopting all three of our girls. It's definitely worth reading. Click here to read it. Scroll down to the part titled "Coming Home."

Staying Warm, Thanks to Tony

2010-01-04T20:46:00.004-06:00

Saturday was cold, really cold -- as in 10 degrees for a high. It was one of those days when you just want to pile on some blankets and read a book. Unfortunately, I needed to hit up two grocery stores for their "1-day sales." I was dreading it and procrastinating all morning and through lunch, but I like to stock up on meat and other necessary items when these great sales are happening.

Then, my awesome hubby said, "Hey, I'll go for you if you want me to. I thought maybe you were looking forward to getting out without the kids." Um, not so much. Usually I would relish the hour or two of alone time to do my grocery shopping, but did I mention how cold it was? So my darling husband, who works so hard to provide for us every day of the week and really deserves to NOT do household chores, took Ruby and went to two grocery stores and got everything on my list while I put the other two girls down for a nap and read a book. How many husbands would do THAT? And all he said is, "I like doing things for you, honey."

Have I mentioned how lucky I am and what an amazing husband I have?

Kids Say the Funniest Things

2009-12-31T16:26:00.005-06:00

I really have to start writing down some of this stuff! Here are a few of the comments I've heard just in the last day or two:

Nora while driving in the car: "I saw two cows eating with their heads close together."
Ruby: "Maybe they are true loves."
Nora: "Ruby, don't be silly. Cows don't have a true love."

Ruby to Elizabeth: "Elizabeth, why do you keep talking and talking and saying so many words?" Oh, that is such a good question.

Nora to me while spelling a word: "Mommy, you thought I was going to say "y" but I said the correct letter." How many 5-year-olds use the word "correct"?

Nora after a visit to see Mason, our new grandson: "Mommy, when I grow up and get big and everything I'm going to be pregnant." Again, how many 5-year-olds use the word "pregnant"?
Elizabeth, following the previous comment: "And then I'm going to tickle you."
Nora: "OK, but that's not what makes babies come out."

Nora: "Mommy, when baby Mason come over to my house he can't play with my guitar because he might bite all the strings off." He's only nine days old.

Nora: "Mommy, I can't remember what's that one animal called that lives in trees and eats leaves and is nocturnal like bats and owls?" Again, 5-years old (she was trying to think of a koala)...

Me: "Nora, you're saying your "s" sounds really well."
Nora: "I know, Mommy. I persevered." It's so funny to hear the word persevere come out of her cute little mouth.

Derrek

2009-12-30T22:23:00.002-06:00

As my son embarks on his life with his wife and baby son, I can't help but think of the days when he was a tiny baby. This picture of me dancing with Derrek at his wedding will always be one of my favorite pictures.
You know how you watch your little baby's fingers wrap around one of your own? I've been watching that with Derrek and Samantha's son -- my amazing, little grandson. But baby boys grow and change and turn into men. My son has turned into a man I'm so very proud of. I look at this picture -- one of my forever favorites -- and I see his very large hand in my small hand (what a change from when he was a baby), and I see our eyes locked together, and I know we share a bond that will never be broken. There is something very special between a mother and a son. I love Derrek so much, and it's such a gift to watch him with his newborn son.

Oh how they have changed!

2009-12-30T06:39:00.009-06:00

As 2009 comes to a close, I can't help but reflect on how much Ruby, Nora, and Elizabeth have changed and grown.

When we ended 2008, Ruby and Elizabeth were still sort of getting their "bearings" in this new life of theirs. Nora was still settling into the role of being a sister. Now, as we end 2009, they have truly settled in and become accustomed to their new home and life. I know that for many adoptive parents, the first year of adjustment can be really difficult, especially with "older" children. We have certainly had our moments, but I can't say it has really been terribly challenging. Maybe we were just prepared and expected the rough spots, or maybe our girls just did especially well (all three of them) with the transition, bonding, and attachment.

The hardest adjustment was probably my own in that I had to adjust to 1) the demands of three children who are all young and close to the same age 2) juggling grocery shopping, doctor appointments, etc. with three kids and 3) beginning homeschooling with three kids. What I didn't really understand when I was "working" is that being a stay-at-home mom is REALLY WORKING. At my job as a business analyst, I set yearly goals that were measured at my performance review every year. Now I have one goal, and it doesn't change from year to year: to be the best wife, mother, and teacher I can be. Some days I perform my job really well, and some days I need to take a deep breath and a step back. I measure my performance not once per year, but every day when I look at my home and family. I will never get a promotion, but it's still the most rewarding job in the world (and there's always room for improvement).

Here are a few pictures of the girls and how much they have changed.

The Dust is Finally Settling

2009-12-28T10:14:00.006-06:00

It's been a wild week, but the dust is finally settling...and I mean that literally. You could write your name in the dust on my shelves. When I pick up the nativity set I have on display you'll still be able to see where each and every wise man was standing. I just haven't had time to keep up with housework. Guess I better make some time now.

Our grandson, Mason, was born on December 22 and came home from the hospital on the 26th. He is doing great now and is a beautiful, healthy baby. Derrek and Samantha are so proud of him and such great parents. This baby will be very blessed, as we are all blessed by his birth. Here's a picture of a VERY proud grandma and grandpa holding Mason.
And then there was Christmas! We all had an awesome Christmas. The girls got so many nice gifts from so many generous and loving family members and friends. And they learned about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. They each made an ornament for everyone on our Christmas list, and let me tell you that added up to a LOT of ornaments when you multiply by three! But, I hope it helped them learn about the spirit of giving.

The only thing lacking this Christmas was Jonathan and Chris. Tony visited them in the beginning of December, but they were not able to come here around Christmas time due to their jobs. We really, really felt their absence on Christmas day. We miss them so much.
In the midst of all the excitement we had a snow storm! It made for some good sledding and a lot of shoveling and plowing! We also had to move all three car seats to the 4-wheel-drive truck since there was no way my van could even get out of the driveway. Total accumulation wasn't more than 6 inches, but it was blowing and drifting. Every time we cleared off snow, it re-accumulated within hours. There are still areas with snow drifts a few feet deep.
It has been a wonderful week! Now, I better go dust!

Introducing...Mason Lucas Ford!

2009-12-24T13:55:00.004-06:00

On Tuesday, December 22nd, my world got even brighter and even more exciting -- if that is possible! My grandson, Mason Lucas, came into this world at 6:49 pm weighing 8 pounds, and he's 21 inches long. I don't think I'm biased when I say he is amazingly beautiful!

Mason's lungs weren't working properly at birth -- air bubbles formed on the outside of his lungs. He has been in the neonatal intensive care unit since birth, but he's improving every day and doing good. Unfortunately, he will not be home for Christmas. He still has an IV and feeding tube. Please pray for my son and his wife and new baby boy as they go through all the joys and worries that the past two days have brought and the next few will bring. I know it will be hard having their baby in the hospital this Christmas.

Gathering Wood and Music with Family

2009-12-20T19:45:00.004-06:00

This has been a very relaxing day! We started the day today helping Daddy with loading and stacking wood. This is one of the girls' favorite outdoor activities. And they actually are a lot of help! It was a cold, sunny, beautiful day. After we cut and loaded wood, we unloaded at home and Tony split the wood and we helped him by stacking it. It's a lot of work, but it feels so good when you're finished and have a big stack of firewood!

Then we ended the day listening to my dad and step-mom and their friends play music. Those of you have known me for a long time know that I grew up like this. My mom and dad had a band for as long as I can remember, and I grew up hanging around jam sessions, practices, and performances at parties. These days they don't play music professionally as much (but still some), but it's still so much fun to listen to them. Ruby, Nora, and Elizabeth absolutely love listening to them too!

These are the days of our lives! I wouldn't trade them for anything!

You think it's cold where you live?

2009-12-18T05:53:00.007-06:00

My step-sister and her husband live in Nome, Alaska. The current temperature right now is -22 degrees with a wind chill of -50. How do human beings even live in a climate like that? Wow, I would need about sixteen down parkas just to step out my front door! But they do have some awesome adventures. She posts regularly about things that would seem crazy to most of us. Like recently someone hit a moose and they had to process the meat for their church (with the help of an old Alaskan lady wielding a knife like a ninja). Check out her blog here.

It's a Wonderful Life

2009-12-17T09:14:00.004-06:00

It's impossible to know the impact our words and actions have on the lives of our friends, families, and even casual acquaintances. If only we all had a guardian angel named Clarence! Well, we don't, but even without the benefit of a sneak preview into the world without us, I still believe with all my heart that everything we do affects the world and the people around us. Sometimes even things we don't do have a profound effect.

Please remember this Christmas (and all year long), that you can and do make a difference. Any small act of kindness and selflessness might have a "ripple effect" that changes a life forever. Don't ever think that any act of kindness is too small. And don't ever forget that your life is an example of what you believe in! George Bailey didn't think he was a catalyst for change, but Clarence showed him otherwise!

Merry Christmas!

Gobble Gobble

2009-12-15T18:44:00.002-06:00

Most people think turkeys "gobble." Technically, only male turkeys gobble. Hens "yelp" but do not "gobble." If you've ever heard your husband practice turkey calls you know these things. And if you live where we live, you can check your front yard to see if it's true!

Timber!

2009-12-13T06:26:00.004-06:00

A VERY large (and once beautiful) elm tree in our yard died, sadly. Recently, a large part of a limb blew off in a wind storm, and it has been making us more and more nervous that the dead tree could fall on our house if we had a lot of wind. However, it made me even MORE nervous to think about cutting it down. Look how big it is and how close to the house.

,Many of the men around here have discussed the best way to fell this thing. Everyone had an opinion about which way to fell it, and there were even a few who were in favor involving ropes and trucks. You may remember my blog post from September when our friend, Greg, climbed it and cut off a large branch. Some said fell it to the west, but Tony felt sure he could safely land it to the south. Why not get a tree service to take it down, you ask? Well, around here "real men" take down their own trees. LOL But I got really nervous when Tony told me a few months ago that he was going to do it by himself. He didn't want other people standing around and wanting to do it different ways due to safety concerns. Which is a good point, but what about HIS safety?

So, yesterday was the big day. Little or no wind, no cars parked at the nearby church or kids running around outside, and the chain saw was all gassed up and ready to go. At Tony's request, I actually got the kids out of the house and they all (including my granddaughter) sat in my van at the end of the driveway -- just in case. They thought it was a big adventure. I also had my phone in my pocket just in case I had to call an ambulance.

So, Tony cut out a notch on the south side of the tree. That took a few cuts since this thing is big. Then he went around to the north side and started the cut that would fell it, all the while waiting to hear the tell-tale cracking sound so he could do what all good fallers do -- run away! Do you see him anywhere in this picture?

At about this point in time, Uncle John pulled in the driveway. He knew Tony was cutting the tree down and planned to help him cut it up once it was on the ground. We all watched excitedly as the tree started to fall -- EXACTLY where Tony wanted it to go. Unfortunately, the notch was just a tiny bit too shallow, so it got stuck.

Not for long though. Tony safely felled the tree without incident, the girls hopped out of the van, and we all cheered.

I have to tell you, I said a prayer when he started cutting and my heart was pounding. I was very nervous -- more about his getting hurt than the tree falling on the house --- but Tony did a great job and brought that big tree down without incident. But, don't try this at home kids! Tony is actually an experienced tree-cutter and really did know what he was doing.

Baby Mason

2009-12-12T07:08:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe, but our grandson will be here in (hopefully for Samantha) less than two weeks. He could come any day! Summer spent the night with us last night and was making Christmas ornaments. She decided one of them was for her baby brother. How sweet is that? As the time approaches when I will get to hold my grandson in my arms, I'm taken back to that night 4 1/2 years ago when I watched Summer take her first breath. She is an amazing little girl, and one of the loves of my life. I can't wait to experience that all over again with Mason. I am very blessed!

Girls

2009-12-11T20:04:00.003-06:00

Little girls are so sweet. They love to hug and kiss each other and hold hands. There's just something so innocent and sweet about them, and it's especially sweet when it's your daughter and granddaughter.

Me, a teacher?

2009-12-08T15:31:00.003-06:00

Seriously, maybe I'm not so good at this. Today I'm just so frustrated -- beyond frustrated -- that I feel like throwing in the teaching towel. First of all, I need to find a way to manage 1) the phone 2) the door and 3)Elizabeth. From now on I'm taking the phone off the hook during school hours.

And then there's the question of learning. Ruby and Nora can quickly rattle off words on flash cards, but I discovered today that when you write several words on a page (spaced well apart and written neatly), Ruby takes about 30 seconds (which is really quite a long time) to come up with each word, well most of them. Words that she has known by sight on flash cards for months simply elude her -- even simple words such as "name" and "out" and "are." And then I make it worse by becoming frustrated which makes her nervous. I know...not good. Meanwhile, I'm trying to maintain my patience and helpfulness and the other two girls are in another room misbehaving and so I have to stop with Ruby and go in there and straighten them out -- by yelling which is also not good. And by this point Ruby really can't concentrate.

So now it's 3:30 in the afternoon and my kids have not learned much at school today, I have accomplished nothing, AND I'm in a really crummy mood. I just sent them to the playroom so I can gather my thoughts. Oh, and I can hear them up there arguing, which is not going to help much. Oh, and now the phone is ringing AGAIN, and I just can't answer it at this point. Oh, I didn't answer it so now my mobile is ringing. This is what kept happening this morning. I would let one ring so then the other would start ringing.

What is wrong with me? Do I need antidepressants or something? Or maybe just a stiff drink? I feel like a terrible mom today. Actually, I feel like burying my head under my pillow and waking up tomorrow to start over again.

Seeking Hair Advice

2009-11-21T20:16:00.004-06:00

Help! I need advice! Hopefully some of my African American friends can offer some up!

Ruby is very frustrated with her hair. It's getting longer now, and it is super kinky and thick. I usually keep it in corn rows, which looks really cute, but she gets tired of that (mostly of the time it takes to braid and later take down). However, she does like it that once the braids are in we don't have to mess with her hair much for about two weeks. She gets so frustrated when it's time to take down the braids and comb it out that she's about it tears. It's really hard to comb out -- takes a lot of time and hurts her scalp. (I use a great conditioner and then a detangling product and make my own shea mixture for moisturizer.)

So here's my question. Is it OK to relax her hair and let it grow, or would it be better to cut it shorter and leave it natural? I don't want her to think that straight hair is "better." I want her to love the way she looks naturally, but the problem is, right now she doesn't. She really dislikes having curly, tangly hair and is very unhappy with it. I'm not sure how to best handle this in order to make sure she has a great self image. I think she's beautiful just the way she is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Goats

2009-11-17T16:43:00.002-06:00

This week the girls are learning about goats in school. We just finished going through lots of cool facts about goats, and their end of the day reward was a goat coloring sheet. After learning all of their "goat facts" Elizabeth proceeded to color her goat pink and green with a purple beard.

What I Know Now

2009-11-05T19:45:00.004-06:00

A friend of mine posted something similar to this and inspired me to come up with my own list! Although I have a 22-year-old son and have gone through "these years" before, it was different. In those days I was not a stay-at-home mom, and now I am -- and I had one son instead of three daughters. Here are some things I have learned in recent years...

1. If you think you have a plan for the day, think again. On most days you will accomplish only about half of what's on the list.

2. If the phone rings and you're having a serious conversation -- especially with your sister -- this is when the noise level will rise and kids will misbehave.

3. The phone always rings at nap time, school time, or shower time. It doesn't mean you have to answer it, and it's OK to take it off the hook!

4. I'm pretty sure there will be a time in my life where the term "shopping" once again brings to mind Ann Taylor and Coach instead of Gymboree and The Children's Place.

5. Little bitty socks in large numbers take a long time to fold, especially when they're inside-out.

6. There is nothing happier than the sound of children's laughter, and there's nothing more disconcerting than their silence -- trouble is usually afoot!

7. It doesn't help to buy three of the same toy. There will still be arguments over it.

8. Little girls might forget their school work once in a while, but they will never, ever forget the name of a princess or the color of the dress she wears.

9. Nothing can lift your spirits more than the smile of a little girl in pigtails.

10. Nothing beats hearing a little girl tell you that you're the most beautiful and best mommy in the whole world.

11. If you want to see the world through a child's eyes, listen to their prayers at night.

12. Every day and every child is a gift from God -- treat it as such. Some days are easy and some are frustrating, but God will never give you more than you can handle.

School Days

2009-11-05T17:49:00.001-06:00

When the girls had their school pictures taken I didn't expect much. I was pleasantly surprised -- they turned out great!

No Television: Day 6

2009-11-04T12:46:00.002-06:00

I'm amazed! The first few days without television weren't really hard for the girls, but they did ask about it -- especially cartoons in the morning. Yesterday they didn't even mention TV, and so far today none of them have mentioned it! Just goes to show that watching TV becomes a habit!

No Movies or TV: Day 4

2009-11-02T12:37:00.006-06:00

I don't generally allow the girls to watch a whole lot of TV. Tony and I don't watch much TV either. However, we somehow slowly slipped into the routine of watching PBS cartoons in the morning -- every morning. And often (ok, most days) we would watch all or part of a movie -- usually "princess" something -- in the late afternoon or evening.

Well, last week the girls were really struggling to concentrate and remain focused during school hours. And furthermore, they were having bouts of sullenness and moodiness. I started to suspect that the problem was with the TV, so I decided that we would avoid it for a while. I didn't ground the girls from TV or anything. I'm just finding other things for them to do. They've been making cookies, doing jigsaw puzzles, coloring, playing with their toys, and playing outside more (since the rain finally stopped). Today is the fourth day of no TV for them, and they seem to have their behavior back on track. School was great this morning, they have not been bickering, and they didn't even ASK for the cartoons this morning. They woke up and headed directly to the play room.

So...here's my theory. I don't allow my kids to watch anything even remotely inappropriate, so content is not the problem. TV doesn't cause a problem in our house because of what we watch. The reason too much TV is a problem is because it uses up countless hours during the week when kids could be doing something -- anything -- that encourages them to use energy, imagination, innovation, concentration, and creativity. Television is just a big time waster, and it puts kids in an entirely different frame of mind than when they are engaged in active play. It seems to stunt their ability to entertain themselves, and instead makes them feel like they can't find anything to do unless something is suggested or provided for them.

Having said all of that, I also realize there have been and definitely will be times when I just need to turn on the TV and let the kids sit and calm down...or let myself calm down...or just find something more for them to do on a rainy day. I'm not suggesting my girls will no longer watch TV or movies, but I am sure that I'm going to make TV less of a routine or habit in their day. No longer will we wake up and turn on PBS cartoons every morning simply because that is what we do!

And on completely different note... I'm not a very artistic person, but I'm finding that in order to be an effective kindergarten teacher, I really have to stretch in that area. The girls get a kick out of my drawings and like to watch and guess what I'm drawing on the board. Tony thought my dinosaur was a cat when I first started drawing its head, but did say it was pretty good once it was finished. We were all laughing at that one!

And, of course, whatever I draw they draw. They're actually a lot better at drawing than I am!

Part of the lesson was about the unique characteristics of insects -- one being that they have six legs. I think I counted eleven on Nora's ladybug (however, she does have six legs on her other insects). Guess we'll keep working on that part of the lesson. LOL

Trick-Or-Treat

2009-10-31T20:28:00.002-05:00

Just pictures...

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-28T13:29:00.003-05:00

We went to the local pumpkin patch this morning. It was a beautiful, sunny morning, and we had lots of fun. The only drawback was that Tony wasn't there with us. We had planned to go as a family last Saturday, but ended up taking a rare opportunity for Tony and I to go away overnight alone (for the first time in over two years). The girls stayed with Granny and Pa. So, this morning Pa came along and we found our pumpkins. We'll be carving them later today, but that's another blog post. Ha ha!

My Son, the Homeowner

2009-10-27T20:16:00.004-05:00

I am SO proud of my son and daughter-in-law. They are 22 years old and have just closed on their first home! There is NO WAY I could have purchased a home at that age. I hope they know how proud I am!

In Other Words

2009-10-12T08:53:00.003-05:00

What is the fascination people seem to have with quotes? Why is it better to use another's words to state what we think or feel? Who knows...but here are a few I like. :-)

Don't worry about the people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future. -- Author Unknown

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. -- Desmond Tutu

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. -- Albert Einstein

Love while we're here before time passes by. -- Lyrics to a song by Kathy Mattea

Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them. -- Leo Tolstoy

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. -- Eleanor Roosevelt

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. -- Alexander Graham Bell

Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile. -- Franklin P. Jones

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. -- Winston Churchill

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. -- Abraham Lincoln

Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. -- Dale Carnegie

The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity. -- Doug Horton

Venison Stew for Dinner

2009-10-11T19:11:00.001-05:00

Tony shot a deer yesterday! We've spent the entire afternoon (well mostly he has) processing it, and now I have a pot of venison stew cooking for dinner. I'm really proud of Tony! This is the second deer he's bagged -- the first being last year! I'll spare you all the pictures.

Sock Sermon

2009-10-08T19:48:00.003-05:00

Is it wrong to expect four and five-year-old kids to put their socks in the wash right-side-out? Am I over the top? One the of the things I love about summer time is the lack of socks in my laundry basket! Now it's the beginning of "sock season" here in the Midwest, and I just finished Preaching my sock sermon. I really, really dislike turning all of those socks right-side-out when I do the laundry. Just think...3 little girls times 2 feet times 7 days equals 42 socks per week!

P.S. I will admit it's not ALL about the numbers. I also made my son turn his socks the right way when he was little, and he was an only child at the time.

Life's Choices

2009-10-07T08:35:00.006-05:00

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the choices I've made in my life. One reason is because I think God is still teaching me to be comfortable with the really good choices I've made in the last six or seven years of my life.

Recently, Tony and I began talking about having someone he works with come over to our home for dinner. We have been to their home a couple of times, and they have dropped a couple of hints asking when they will be invited to ours. You see, they know we don't live in a large, beautifully-furnished house in the suburbs (like they do). Maybe they think it would be interesting to see where/how we live, or maybe they just really want to visit our home. But why am I reluctant to invite them? So let me digress...

Only a few short years ago, Tony and I lived in Florida in a beautiful house with a nice yard and a swimming pool. We both drove sports cars, we traveled, we threw parties -- you get the idea. Five years ago, we bought the 12 acres and farm house in Missouri, where we live now, as a place to visit once in a while and "someday" build a new house on when we got ready to move away from Florida(plus it had belonged to my grandparents and we didn't want it to leave the family). Well, we made some choices -- and very good ones! Three and a half years ago we decided to go ahead and leave Florida due to the economy and job market (and me wanting to be closer to family), so we sold our Florida home and probably half of our belongings and moved to Missouri. This allowed us to pay off most of our land in Missouri, which we now own outright. We have only a small mortgage payment.

Then we decided to grow our family, and that meant making a choice between building that new house we wanted or adopting -- and deciding to live on one income so that I could stay home with our daughters. And then a funny thing happened -- we adapted to living a much simpler life and are happy living without the stress of all the "stuff" we used to think we wanted/needed. We most DEFINITELY want to build that new house on our property, but it's because we need more space and another bathroom. However, we have a ways to go before we can comfortably spend money on building a house. A bank would easily loan us the money to build right now, but we've become pretty conservative with our spending these days.

So why am I reluctant to invite certain people to our home? I shouldn't be. I know that in my heart, but for some reason I still care if people judge me/us by the house we live in. And the truth is they probably wouldn't make any judgment -- it's just my own insecurity. Typing these words makes it even more crystal clear how crazy it is to feel this way. We live conservatively, and that is a very smart move anytime, but especially in a poor economy. And more importantly, living conservatively makes us HAPPY. So, what is the point of all of this? I think God is still working on me. I'm happier than I've ever been, and I love my life and my family, but maybe I still have some pride that I need to set aside. We have so much, and I'm so very thankful for that!

Baby Shower Fun

2009-10-05T18:30:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we went to my daughter-in-law's baby shower. It's so unbelievable that I'm going to be a grandma...again! We had a great time, and baby Mason got a LOT of gifts!

From the Mouth of Nora

2009-09-30T12:09:00.002-05:00

Nora was in rare form yesterday. We were eating dinner and out of nowhere she said, "Pa used to be fat but he's not anymore." My dad has been loosing weight...I guess she noticed! Then, about two minutes later she said, "Mom, I don't like OLD. I like young, because young you LIVE. Old is not good!" I have no idea why this was on her mind, but she's always thinking!

Amazed

2009-09-25T20:27:00.003-05:00

Sometimes my daughters just amaze me. I look at them in wonder and can't believe that they are mine, and yet I share them with another mother too. What a gift. I'm very thankful.

What makes a "super-mom"?

2009-09-22T11:07:00.005-05:00

A recent facebook post has got me thinking...what makes a super-mom? The context of the facebook post was about being a super-mom by working all day at a corporate job and still managing the grocery shopping, dry cleaners, dinner, and then spending time playing and doing art work with the kid(s). The emphasis was on doing all this AND working all day. It sort of made me feel like a super-dud.

I spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week with three kids. I don't earn any money, juggle off-hours emails and phone calls with my work team, or dodge traffic twice per day in a 45-minute commute. I don't wear a power suit or have power lunches -- or power anything for that matter. Wait, I take that back -- I sometimes eat a Power Bar for energy. I don't have goal-setting meetings, annual reviews, or annual merit raises. The only people who report to me are under four feet tall. What do I do? I wake up, feed the kids, dress the kids, teach school, some days pay bills and deliver the kids to practices and classes and doctor's appointments, clean house, do laundry, buy groceries, cook dinner, bathe kids, put them to bed, spend a little time with Tony, and then go to bed. Then I wake up the next day and do it all again. And some days I don't even feel like I do it all very well.

So, in today's world, what does "super-mom" mean? It seems to imply successfully juggling a career and family. I'm not the definition of today's super-mom, but I'm not June Cleaver either. My house is not spotless, and some days I don't even manage to put on make-up, much less a dress and pearls. I'm just a regular, boring, non-super-mom. For the record, though, I wouldn't have it any other way. I just hope super-moms realize it's a pretty big job being a non-super-mom too.

Jack, My Little Buddy

2009-09-21T09:59:00.003-05:00

Jack has been gone for over a month now, and I still miss him -- we all do. Nobody knows better than my friend, Linda, how much I loved Jack. She knew me when I brought him home as a little puppy. Plus, Linda loves her dog, Brandy, so much, and Brandy is getting old now too. This past weekend, Linda and Greg brought their boys to our house for some camping fun. Well, they brought something else too. Look at what they gave me...

This was one of the most touching gifts I have ever received. Needless to say, I dissolved into a crying, blubbering, hugging mess. I just love it, and the picture even looks like him. What an thoughtful and awesome gift!

Linda and Greg are involved in a family business that makes and sells these personalized rocks. They are awesome! They can be made in just about any size and can be customized to your specifications. The web site is www.rockyourworld.us.

Scavenger Hunt and Acorn Math

2009-09-17T11:08:00.005-05:00

I'm trying to have school outdoors as much as possible while the weather is good. Plus, it seems like Nora just learns more if she can keep moving. She has a really hard time sitting still at the table. Or course, we still have to have some "table time" to practice writing, but there is much we can do outdoors. Today we had a scavenger hunt (which ended with eating apples we scavenged at Pa's house), and then we did math with acorns. The girls also love having their pictures taken, so we took a break for a quick photo shoot. Then they finished up with sight words, spelling, and coloring pictures. It's going to get a lot more challenging this winter!

Now we're off to our homeschool soccer co-op group!

Chirping Like Birds

2009-09-14T10:22:00.005-05:00

This week we're learning about animal homes! Today we have been on a walk pretending to be birds and finding nesting materials (and looking in the trees for nests). It was a beautiful morning for a walk, especially with kids who are chirping like birds. This is what we made...

Have we forgotten?

2009-09-13T18:29:00.003-05:00

Friday morning the girls and I went outside to say the Pledge of Allegiance. They noticed immediately that our flag was flying at half staff and wanted to know why. I explained, as best one can to three little girls, that we fly the flag at half staff on certain days to show respect for people or events. Then I tried to explain about that awful day on September 11, 2001 when the "bad men" killed a lot of innocent people. I was choked up and trying not to cry as I looked for words to explain terrorism to small children -- and in a way that would not make them fearful of it happening to them. September 11, 2001 is a day that will be locked in my memory forever.

As we finished our school day on Friday and set off on our field trip to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, I explained that everywhere we saw flags on this day they would be flying at half-staff to remember the innocent people who lost their lives. Guess what? As we drove the 30 miles to our destination, I saw only TWO flags lowered. One was at a school and another at a home. I'll bet we saw 25 flags, and only TWO were flying at half staff. Not even churches had lowered their flags. I was, and still am, dismayed. What would it feel like to be the mother or wife or daughter of a 9/11 victim and see that just eight years later people cannot even be bothered to lower their flag to half staff -- such an easy yet overwhelmingly symbolic gesture.

I hope that as the years go by, we Americans do not forget what happened on that day, or on ANY of the days when we should lower our flags in honor of fellow Americans. If you fly an American flag, and you're in doubt about when to lower it, look on the internet. Do not forget what an important and symbolic gesture it is to fly the flag properly. As a mother trying to teach her children about love of others and love of our country, it is important to me that my girls understand the symbolism of the American flag. You can probably imagine how it changed the perspective of three little girls as we set off for the day watching for lowered flags and instead saw that people didn't take the time to fly their American flag at half staff on such an important day.

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

2009-09-11T16:07:00.004-05:00

Yeah! I have Summer (my granddaughter) for the weekend. Today I took all the girls to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. They had all been there before, but they were still very excited to go. We met a friend and her daughter there, so it was quite the girl party!

San Diego Visitors

2009-09-08T08:08:00.005-05:00

Laura, Derrick, and Isaiah (my sister and her husband and son) were here visiting from San Diego over Labor Day weekend! The girls got in some great play time with their cousin. I got a couple of hilarious pictures where Isaiah dressed himself up in princess/fairy clothes. It was priceless, not to mention pretty darn funny! We had bonfires and made smores in the evenings, took the kids for rides around the field on the 4-wheelers, played games, and just generally enjoyed watching the kids have fun together.

Homeschool Week Four

2009-09-01T20:44:00.002-05:00

This week we're learning about opposites, fruits in general, apples specifically, the letter "A," and the number 12! Today we cut open two different varieties of apples and counted their seeds and compared their sizes, we cut open a lemon and looked at the seeds, we tasted both and compared sour to sweet, and then we made the apples into applesauce and observed how they changed when heat was applied. Then...we ate our applesauce! Yummmm! And after all of that, we went to the zoo! After the zoo we went to Costco, where we looked for things that started with the letter "A" and looked for anything that displayed the number 12 (which Nora was very proud to find on a trash can). We love school!

Ethiopian okra?

2009-08-26T14:23:00.003-05:00

I'm starting to think just about anything tastes better with Ethiopian seasonings! I've had a lot of extra okra from my garden lately, so I'm trying to be creative about how to use it. Well, today I sauteed okra and onions in niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced butter), and then I sprinkled berbere on it as it cooked. It was awesome!

I've also discovered that all three of the girls love berbere on their scrambled eggs and on their black beans and rice! Mmmmmmm.

Words to Live By

2009-08-25T11:00:00.002-05:00

YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON'T HAVE A FIT!

I learned this quote from a 3 1/2 year old little girl last weekend (we were camping with her family). I love it! It applies to young and old in so many situations. It's going to be my new motto! LOL

Nora's New Glasses

2009-08-24T13:03:00.002-05:00

I wish she didn't need to wear them, but could she be any cuter in these glasses?

Another Fun Camping Weekend!

2009-08-23T18:35:00.003-05:00

We went camping again this weekend and had a great time! It was extra fun this time since some friends joined us! They have a 3-year-old daughter, and the girls had a great time with her. We had perfect weather with a high during the days of about 80, and lows around 60. I can't think of better weather for camping!

The Definition of Selflessness

2009-08-18T21:58:00.003-05:00

My sister-in-law, Pam, lost her husband less than one year ago. Tomorrow would have been their 14th anniversary. Yet, today Pam called me to see how I'm doing since I lost Jack, by beloved dog. OK, this is the eve of Pam's FIRST wedding anniversary without Bill, but she's calling to check on ME and how I'm doing since losing my DOG! That should tell you something about Pammie. I love her so much!

Random Thoughts

2009-08-18T18:15:00.002-05:00

Before we adopted our kids, I would find myself wondering what made this or that couple decide to adopt -- not in a negative way, but just curiosity. Now that I'm an adoptive parent, I rarely even give it a thought. When I meet families who have adopted I don't even wonder how or why they decided to adopt. Why is that? It just seems like such a logical and "regular" decision to make now!

So why, when I was filling out the patient sheet at our pediatric dentist this morning, did I have to answer yes or no to "Is your child adopted?" Is that really an appropriate question for a dentist to ask?

Goodby, My Faithful Friend

2009-08-15T19:01:00.003-05:00

My Jack will be missed so much. Saying goodbye to him today was so very, very hard. There's just nothing else to say -- I loved him so much, and I will miss him.

One Year Ago Today

2009-08-11T21:01:00.004-05:00

One year ago today, our family became complete. One year ago we met Nigate and Amsalu in Ethiopia. What an amazing feeling waking up in the morning knowing that this is the day you will meet your daughters! It's hard to believe an entire year has passed. Here are my beautiful daughters then...and now.

Saying Goodbye to Jack

2009-08-10T20:59:00.006-05:00

Jack has been by my side for almost 12 years, and he has seen me through many things in my life. Now I'm seeing him through his final days. He has been having many health issues, and when I took him to the vet, yet again, last weekend, we were faced with the decision I have been fearing. I was not ready to make that decision yet, so I brought Jack home. This is our last week with my long-time buddy and faithful companion. I'm posting this now, because I know I will not be in any shape to write about it this weekend. Saturday morning we go back to the vet, and we will let Jack go.I know that my many dog-loving friends understand how hard Saturday will be for me. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

This picture was taken yesterday...

About six years ago...

The whole gang about five years ago...

My buddy...

Fun at the County Fair

2009-08-09T20:38:00.003-05:00

The girls experienced their first county fair this weekend! They got to practice their milking skills, look at lots of animals, ride lots of rides, and taste their first cotton candy (compliments of Granny). We had a great time!

Sisters

2009-08-09T00:24:00.001-05:00

Simply beautiful...

Two Years

2009-08-06T08:15:00.009-05:00

Two years ago today, Tony and I sat waiting in a small room on the other side of the world for our first glimpse of our daughter. This is what we saw...

We knew without a doubt that we were the lucky parents of one very special little girl. There simply aren't any words to describe what it feels like to meet your three year old daughter for the first time, nor are there words to explain the love we felt for her even before we first met her.

We took her back to our hotel and played for a long time and then bathed her, put her in her new nightgown, and simply watched her as she slept...with tears in our eyes.

Our first two days together were filled with the wonder of getting to know our beautiful daughter. We went for walks, we swam, we played, we snuggled, we laughed, and we cried.

And now, two years later, Nora is a bright, funny, loving, happy five-year-old. She's so charming that people just seem to be drawn to her. She has taught us so very much, and I also credit Nora with bringing us to Ruby and Elizabeth. It's hard to remember what life was like before Nora. She simply lights up everything around her. My little Min Min.

Wednesday

2009-08-05T17:28:00.003-05:00

My Wednesday:

Shucked, blanched, and froze 75 years of corn.
Picked, snapped, blanched, and froze three quarts of green beans.
Taught my girls math, language arts, science, and Bible for 3 1/2 hours.
Fed my family breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Bathed four dogs.
Bathed three kids.
Washed three loads of laundry.
Cleaned the litter box...twice.
Filled and emptied the dishwasher.
Completed all the paperwork to file for our Missouri adoption tax credit.
Made vision screening appointments for all three girls.
Completed the August budget for our household.

If anyone asks me if I "work" today I might just stomp on their foot!

Science and Math

2009-08-05T09:04:00.003-05:00

OK, so I know this is only the first week of school, and I'm full of fresh ideas and not yet worn down by the daily grind, but I have to say that so far we're loving it! There are so many fun and interactive ways to learn. We have been learning that on the third day God created the seed-bearing plants and trees. So today we went outside and shucked a big bag of sweet corn. We learned that the kernels of corn are the seeds, what seeds need in order to grow, how to spell the word "corn," and then we had our math lesson. We counted all of the ears of corn (75), and then we separated them into stacks of 10 and learned about counting by 10s. Now we're getting ready to do our writing lesson. So far, so good!

The Wal-Mart Education

2009-08-04T18:19:00.005-05:00

Just in case you ever need this information...

If you find a baby kitten who doesn't even have its eyes open yet and decide to save it's little life and bottle feed it, you have still more to do. You see, one thing that most people don't know is that the mama kitty licks her sweet little babies' back ends. This stimulates them to "do their business." Without the licking...no deal! And a statistic thrown in -- this is why 97% of kittens who are bottle fed don't live. But don't worry, you don't have to lick the kitten's back end yourself. If you have a dog, they can do the job for you.

All of this during my five minutes in the Wal-Mart check-out line. A Wal-Mart cashier has much more to offer than meets the eye.

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-08-03T12:53:00.003-05:00

Today was Ruby and Nora's first day of kindergarten! And, not to be left out, Elizabeth first day of Pre-K (she must do whatever her sisters do). We started the day with the girls' first exposure to the Pledge of Allegiance, which they thought was really cool since they've had a big interest lately in American flags. We then said a prayer -- we prayed that they would be good listeners and learn a lot today. Yes, prayer IS allowed in our school. Then we started our first lesson, using My Father's World curriculum. We worked on numbers, letters, and dexterity with scissors using the story of God creating the world. Pa (grandpa) even came by and gave them a music lesson. They loved that! Oh, and they loved recess too. They're excited about learning, and I'm excited about teaching them!

Shuckin' Corn

2009-08-02T18:05:00.001-05:00

The girls got busy this evening shucking all of the corn for me! And the horses didn't mind too much either!

A Duct Tape Festival -- Who knew?

2009-07-30T17:48:00.003-05:00

There's a town in Avon, OH that has an annual Heritage Duct Tape Festival! Who knew? They even have a web site, www.avonducttapefestival.com. Could this be a future summer vacation destination?

It's a Boy and Nora's Braids!

2009-07-28T17:34:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited! Derrek and Samantha are having a boy! We just found out today, and I'm really happy that we'll have a baby boy in the family.

On another note... I was just fixing Elizabeth's hair, and when I finished Nora sat herself down in front of me and announced that she would like four braids and some new barrettes in HER hair. The results are hilarious. Here they are...

My Little Worker

2009-07-28T06:21:00.006-05:00

Ruby just loves to help -- and she doesn't mind working hard. Tony was out in the garden taking down the corn (which raccoons had finished off), and Ruby wanted to help him. He was cutting off stalks, so she started carrying them to a big pile for him. Our girl was hot, sweaty, and dusty, but she didn't even mind. She just kept going. At some point, while Ruby was working away, Nora said, "Daddy I'm helping you by staying out of the way." Nora and Elizabeth were looking on without much interest in doing any work. I had to take a couple pictures when I noticed Ruby was even wearing her apron. She's our little sweetheart.

One Week!

2009-07-27T08:05:00.005-05:00

One week from today my two biggest girls are starting kindergarten! They're very excited, and it will be good for them to have some more structure to their days. Two great things about homeschooling: school doesn't mean the end to time outdoors and enjoying the great weather we've been having, and I don't have to go shopping for new school clothes!

I'm a little concerned that some portions of the kindergarten curriculum I decided on are not going to be challenging enough for them, but if that's the case we'll just supplement with additional lessons. I'm sure Elizabeth will also get a lot out of working through some of the simpler kindergarten lessons. I love this curriculum -- it is Christian-based plus the lessons encompass a world view! What could be better?

Nora is 5!

2009-07-25T20:01:00.005-05:00

Today, Nora celebrated her 5th birthday. Sometimes I just can't believe that it has been almost two years since this beautiful, amazing child became my daughter. Happy birthday, Nora Lynn!

Budding chefs?

2009-07-23T19:23:00.002-05:00

For the past couple of weeks, the girls have been asking me for aprons. They have several books where the characters are wearing aprons, plus they notice that a number of princesses in their movies have aprons on at some time or another (usually BEFORE the handsome prince comes to sweep them off their feet). So, today after swimming lessons we took a trip to the fabric store. Here's the result. They're so happy!

Summer Time

2009-07-22T16:03:00.003-05:00

It feels soooooo good to have my beautiful Summer Rae here! I love watching my granddaughter playing with my daughters. I hadn't seen her for about three weeks, and that's just too long! She's spending the night tonight (and maybe the next night too), so I'm sure I'll have lots of great pictures and stories. A few minutes ago she looked at me with a big smile and said, "I like to be here!" Well, Summer, Grandma likes for you to be here too!

Camping and Fishing

2009-07-21T07:28:00.007-05:00

We're home from our weekend of camping and fishing! The girls had such a great time camping with their big brother, Chris. We had perfect weather with sunny, warm days and cool nights. We went swimming, boating (and tubing), fishing, and just generally had a great time. The looks on the girls' faces -- and their squeals of delight -- were priceless when they each had their first turn riding the tube. Chris, Ashley, and Tony caught several trout, and we had fun sitting around the campfire and eating smores too. Here are a few pictures!

Another Fun Camping Weekend Coming Up

2009-07-16T21:42:00.003-05:00

It has been a super busy week. We spent Tuesday evening picking up or new (well, new to us) pop-up camper, and then spent Wednesday and today getting it all ready to go -- new tires, fixing lights, cleaning, etc. Chris and his girlfriend, Ashley, arrived yesterday, and tomorrow morning we're leaving for a camping trip! We're going to Roaring River and Tablerock Lake. We will be home Monday, and I'm sure I'll have a lot of great stories to tell and pictures to post.

My Dad

2009-07-11T17:59:00.004-05:00

This morning I took the girls to watch my dad play in a softball tournament. They loved watching him, and I am so proud of my dad! How many people my age have a dad who is still playing softball? And he's good!

I'm the kittens' grandma?

2009-07-07T18:17:00.002-05:00

Nora is so funny with our new kittens. We've had them for a few weeks, and the new has not worn off. She just adores them. So....I was just upstairs doing something, and as I came back down I saw Nora holding Sunny, wrapped in a baby blanket, and saying to him, "Don't worry, Grandma will be right back. Here comes your grandma." So now I'm grandma to two kittens?

July 4th Party

2009-07-05T20:42:00.003-05:00

We had a great 4th, and we didn't even spend money on fireworks! We went to a party at a friend's house a couple of miles down the road. The girls had a blast!

We Love Camping

2009-07-04T16:05:00.004-05:00

We had another great camping adventure! We had planned to camp for three nights, but we cut it short and came home today. With it being July 4th weekend, the crowd was a little rowdy. Last night was very, very noisy with some yahoo running a generator next to us (guess he couldn't get an electric spot for his RV so he just brought along the generator), fireworks, and parties with loud music until 3:00 in the morning. Plus it rained both nights, and the first night there was so much lightning that we had to get the girls out of the tent at 4:00 a.m. and sit in the truck. Regardless of all that, we still had lots of fun! Here are a few pics.

The last picture is Nora beating a bigger kid in the "life jacket relay race" put on by the park ranger. She's something else!

Zoo Fun

2009-06-28T18:49:00.003-05:00

We had a great day today at the zoo. The girls and I go to the zoo quite often, but we usually go on a week day, so Tony doesn't go with us as often as we'd like. The girls were very excited to have Daddy along for a day at the zoo!

Please Pray for Linsey

2009-06-26T21:05:00.002-05:00

Linsey, who lives in Missoula, MT, traveled to Ethiopia at the same time as we did to bring home Abdisa. Abdisa was around 4 our 5 months old and so sick in Ethiopia that he was in the hospital twice and nearly died. He was very tiny and malnourished. Yet through all of that she was trying to help us with Ruby when Ruby was so sick. She’s just a really great person. She and her husband also adopted Danny, who is about 3 ½, and even though we met him in Ethiopia he didn’t pass court until many months later and came home several months ago (she made a second trip to bring him home). Linsey also has two biological daughters.

Anyhow, the point of this is story is that Linsey has been really, really sick for about 10 weeks, and doctors cannot figure it out. She has been hospitalized several times, and she now has a feeding tube because she cannot keep food or water down. She is going to Mayo on Monday to try to get some help. It just breaks my heart that she’s going through this. She needs help daily just to take care of her kids. If you knew Linsey, you would know how hard this is for her. This is her blog address: http://wiesemannadoption.blogspot.com Please, if you are a praying person, say some prayers for her. She and her family really need our prayers and support.

So Many Still Waiting

2009-06-26T13:21:00.002-05:00

I just heard news today that some of my friends waiting to pass court for their Ethiopian adoptions failed...again. For some, this is the third attempt, and the Ethiopian courts continue to ask for some additional piece of paper -- and then assign another court date a moth or more out. Some families are adopting kids who were abandoned, and all of those cases are on "hold" until who-knows-when pending an investigation into a few orphanages. There are even families who got their children's referral around the same time we got ours -- and they continue to wait. Meanwhile, our kids have been home for 10 months. But what is even sadder, is the KIDS continue to wait. My heart just aches for so many of you who I know and love through your blogs and through emails. I will continue to say prayers for you and for the children in Ethiopia waiting to come home to you. Don't give up hope -- they need you so badly. And when you finally get them home -- when they walk in the door to their new home for the first time, the first night you tuck them into their bed, the first time you sit on the steps eating a popsicle with them -- it will all be worth it.

My Father's World

2009-06-23T20:49:00.002-05:00

After much deliberation, I've finally selected a homeschool curriculum. Beginning July 1st, Ruby and Nora will start kindergarten using My Father's World curriculum. You would not even believe how excited they are! I've had a few people tell me how much they like this particular program, so I hope it's great! I ordered it today, and assuming we like it, Elizabeth will use it next year also.

For now, Elizabeth will use the K-4 A Beka curriculum -- since I already have that one. My Father's World is a Christian-based homeschool curriculum, and it formulates lesson plans around Christian ideals, morals, and Bible verses. I'll also be using a book called "The Complete Daily Curriculum for Early Childhood," which has some great lesson plans as well. My sister gave me this book as a gift a few months ago, and it is great -- I will be able to use it for K-4 as well as kindergarten!

Today I also created my Daily Log Sheet and Lesson Plan Sheet in Microsoft Excel so that we will be compliant with the state of Missouri's record-keeping laws. Technically, I don't have to keep a log until they are seven years old, but I just think it will be good practice to start in kindergarten and learn as I go. Missouri is one of the best states to live in if you're a home-school family. I'm very grateful that we have the freedom to make this choice. I just hope I have the patience to follow through and be successful!

Aren't I beautiful?

2009-06-21T17:00:00.005-05:00

I know I do "hair posts" frequently, but I just think it's so cute how excited Ruby and Elizabeth get when I braid their hair. They love posing for pictures of their stunning new "look."

3rd Post? Yes, but too funny to pass up!

2009-06-19T12:38:00.003-05:00

I know I've already posted twice today, but this was just too funny to pass up. The girls put one of their kittens down for a nap and covered her with a baby blanket. Right now, they're in their bedrooom whispering quietly so they won't wake her up. Check out the pictures...

Harvest Time

2009-06-19T12:01:00.002-05:00

I LOVE watching my girls eat -- especially now that we're getting vegetables from our garden. Yesterday then had fresh zucchini with lunch. Today they had greens (Swiss chard) and broccoli, all from our garden! And they get EXCITED about eating this stuff! How great is that? They ate their bowl of greens and asked for more greens instead of more grilled cheese sandwiches! We also have collard greens ready to harvest, which they really love. Ruby is especially excited about the corn and asking when it will be ready, because she remembers eating corn on the cob in Ethiopia. I'm so happy that my girls love to eat -- and that they love to eat good food!

No place is safe!

2009-06-19T06:59:00.004-05:00

Sunny and Belle are no longer timid little things. One of them just raced out and jumped on Tony as I'm typing this. Belle discovered yesterday that she can climb a ladder. They've been checking out every nook and cranny of the house! They are just too cute!

Sunny and Belle

2009-06-17T15:47:00.004-05:00

The girls got two kittens today from the local animal shelter. Could they be any cuter? We have named them Sunny and Belle...so far -- we'll see if those names stick or not. They are absolutely adorable. They are brother and sister kitties, but Sunny is a male and a little bigger. He is pretty bold, but his sister, Belle, is more timid and has been hiding out a lot so far. I'm sure she needs some time to get used to three little girls wanting to hold her and play with her.

So Wise

2009-06-16T08:10:00.001-05:00

Me, hugging Nora on my lap: "Nora, you're getting so big now. You're growing up so fast."

Nora, with her hands raised in a shrug: "Mommy, that just happens with little kids."

She says the cutest things!

VBS Fun!

2009-06-15T15:50:00.003-05:00

Vacation Bible School week at our church started yesterday, and all three of the girls had a GREAT time! I debated on whether to send them since it's in the evening (not like the old days when VBS was during the day), and I didn't want to disrupt our family time for an entire week. I'm so glad I got over it and went ahead and signed them up. They loved it so much that they woke up this morning wanting to know how soon we could leave for church!

Oh How the Years Go By

2009-06-11T10:03:00.006-05:00

My son, Derrek, is a 22 years old today. When your kids are little, you think about how amazing it is to watch them learn and grow and change -- and it happens so rapidly that it's hard to keep up. Well, the changes come more slowly now, but I can honestly say that I continue watch in amazement as this young man who is my son changes and grows each year. I'm so thankful that he is mine, and I'm so proud of him!

Family

2009-06-08T17:49:00.004-05:00

Granny (the girls' grandma that is) came over with a huge bowl of spaghetti for dinner tonight and for lunch tomorrow. My dad brought me some Diet Coke this afternoon. And my aunt, Darlene, came by to bring the girls some activity worksheets and check on us today. What a great help! I'm so lucky to have such great family living nearby.

Superman or Tonyman?

2009-06-06T19:16:00.004-05:00

Tony always gets a lot done on the weekends, but today he has been SUPERMAN! Since I'm still in a drug-induced fog and my foot is killing me, he's on double duty. This is a short list of what all Tony has accomplished today:

Cut all the grass, and we have A LOT
Scooped up all the dog poo, and we have a LOT
Waited on me hand and foot, including bringing me ice for my foot, drinks, meds, propping me up, and getting me everything I need, including the hammock under the shade trees
Made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of us -- and did all the clean-up
Put air conditioners in the windows (our old house does not have central air so this is a pain-in-the-butt annual ritual)
Brought in kale from our garden
Played with the girls and took them out to ride their bikes

I'm sure I'm missing a few items that I didn't notice while I was laying prone on the sofa like a big, useless lump!

It's Done!

2009-06-05T21:19:00.002-05:00

I got home from having my foot surgery about 3:30 today and am laying low. Not posting any big blog updates while under the influence of Demerol though! Tony is taking great care of me, and I'm firmly planted on the sofa watching DVDs. I hope this fixes my foot because right now it hurts like someone ran over it with a dump truck! Oh, and it's really quiet in the house -- the girls are spending the night at Pa and Granny's house.

The Feeling of Summer

2009-06-03T16:36:00.004-05:00

Even though summer is not officially here until June 21, here in the Midwest it feels like summer to me! Here are some of the things I love about summer time!

My girls eating pop ice... My flowers blooming...
Spending time with great friends...
My garden growing...
The first, tiny tomatoes on the vine...
A pretty, yellow flower that will soon be a juicy cucumber...

Any my wonderful husband driving all the way from work on his lunch break to watch his girls play soccer...