It was not until after dinner when we were clearing the dishes that we discovered that while I had fixed corn to go along with our stew and had it on the table in plain sight, I had forgotten to serve it. All the children really like corn, so it would have made up for the sweet potatoes that I snuck into the stew.
Recently, Julia has been so proud to be able to shake her head yes and no to answer questions. It is fun to interact with her and enjoy her burgeoning communication skills.
When I discovered the corn, I asked her, “is Mommy losing her mind, Julia?”
She immediately smiled and shook her head yes!
I thought Hannah was going to crack up.
I can’t let today go by without remembering that we “got the call” about Julia one year ago today. Isn’t it funny how these moments become so etched into our memories that we can go back and remember amazingly vivid details about such life changing events.
I was dropping our dogs off at the kennel before heading out of town for vacation and Christmas. They were pretty busy that day so I had been waiting for quite awhile to check them in when I got a call. I saw that it was our adoption worker in Iowa. I knew that we would be hearing any day about our referral so I knew why she was calling the moment I saw her name on my screen. I decided to step aside and hear what my adoption worker had to say!
This is our referral picture.
We were sent this picture a couple of weeks before we went to adopt her. I think I about burned a hole in my computer screen looking at this picture. I couldn’t wait to get her in my arms. (Evan is pretty much this age/size right now.)
Today, she is a walking, talking almost 17 month old. We called her “Treasure” while we were waiting for her and she certainly is that! We knew that her middle name would be Joy if we were referred a girl. She certainly has brought so much joy into our lives.
“Ta-Da”
Pumpkin Patch 2010
Halloween night — Hmmm…so they gave me my own candy bar!
Hannah’s 10 Birthday.
She wasn’t so joyful a few moments after this shot – Evan got a handful of her hair.
I mean, she must be a happy girl if she can smile at the season that Bronco’s have been having.
I overheard Ellie talking while she was playing Barbie’s the other day: ”don’t worry, it’s ok…because God is always with you…”
I guess God really is everywhere – even in a five year-old’s Barbie world.
Ryan has learned over the years that a true summer vacation just doesn’t ever materialize in his line of work. The final straw was spending the entire time at Disney World last year trying to keep his wife and girls happy while he was on the phone with a major crisis and dealing with an already very demanding client. Oh, and having a baby in July was about the worst timing for this poor Dad. Talk about stress!
So, having planned way ahead and saving a lot of his vacation time, he made a dream that we have talked about for years come true this year. He rented a beach house for us for 2 weeks in Puerto Vallarta. We will spend Christmas, New Year’s, and our 15th anniversary with our large crew enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. My parents will join us too, making the trip extra special.
Since Thanksgiving, I’ve been shopping, packing, wrapping, baking, and planning for 6 (actually 8, but who’s counting!) people to spend 2 weeks in the sand and sunshine.
I giggled to Ryan on the phone the other day that my mind goes from enjoying the sounds of sleigh bells in the Christmas carols on the radio to daydreaming about the sounds of the ocean and the feel of sand in my toes.
What a fun time of year! Merry Christmas, or I guess I should say, Feliz Navidad!
They are saying that this is the nicest December for snowfall in the high country in quite a few years. Ryan was eager to get out to the mountains, so very early this morning he and the big girls headed out to Vail. They will do ski school to refresh their skills, and afterwards Ryan is looking forward to doing a few runs with them. They are always eager to show Daddy what they have learned.
I am staying in town this time to work on Christmas projects. I reminded them to take in the majesty around them and enjoy the glory of God’s creation since I wouldn’t be with them to ohh and ahh like I always do. I am, however, looking forward to a quiet (read: no carpool, no gymnastics, no getting-people-where-they- need-to-go) day with the babies.
Last year we were in Breckenridge on this day. I sat in the lodge in a state of stunned excitement/confusion over the new revelation that my stomach flu wasn’t the flu, but I was in fact pregnant. What a huge shock since we were sure that door was closed to us. Also, after “waiting” for more than a year, we were expecting a referral any day for child #3 from Ethiopia. Boy, what did God have planned for us? Well, 2010 has been quite a year! It has been a good, very, very good year.
It hasn’t, however, been a year of much quiet or sleep. In fact, it has been exhausting and overwhelming a lot of the time. I will say, though, that it has it has been a season where I have known that God is with me and that I am not doing this on my own strength. Ryan’s dad summed it up perfectly when he recently said that some of our biggest blessings also bring us our biggest challenges. I often think of the poem, “Footprints in the Sand” and that is how I picture this season of my life. So while we have been at times “a walking disaster” as Ryan calls it, I have been filled with a peace and a joy for taking care of those whom God has given to me.
My big kids know that when they hear me humming the theme song to Ringling Brothers Barnun and Bailey Circus that I am feeling the effects of our craziness. “Doot-doot-doodle-doodle-doot-doot-doodle. Doot….”
We were doing a little Christmas shopping this morning. Julia had been in the stroller for quite a while so I let her out to stretch her legs while I looked at one last thing. She was happy to peruse the boxes of Christmas cards and bring them to me to see. She had her trademark delighted look on her face…the one where all you can see are her big brown eyes and huge smile.
A grandpa-aged man walked by her. He commented to me, “Now watching her, puts me into to Christmas Spirit.”
I guess it goes around full circle because his kindness about my daughter sure spread some Christmas spirit.
It’s 5:37 am. I’m snuggling the cutest, fleece snowman jammied little guy as he helps me hold his morning bottle. He always takes this feeding at a leisurely pace. He is way more into the snuggling and the eye contact and the cooing.
Things will get busy soon enough. There is one to get ready for school. One to keep busy with Christmas crafts because she is home from pre-school on Wednesdays. We call it “Mommy Day” because I tell her I miss her when she is at pre-school the other days. Of course, I miss her when she is away for school, but the fruit I see in her from her experiences is wonderful. Then, there is the toddler. She is a busy one! Yesterday she found a pancake turner in a kitchen drawer and carried it around for awhile. Harmless, right? Then I found her stirring the dog’s food and water bowls with them. I was on the phone, otherwise I would have snapped a picture before taking it from her. I decided that there will be many other moments to catch this little one in the midst of exploration/ mischief. I can’t wait to see what she and her brother get in together.
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It’s 7:56 am. Ryan is off to work. Hannah has been picked up by carpool. Ellie has been making crafts since she woke up at 6:50. Evan is sleeping in his swing and Julia is eating her second breakfast and jabbering to herself.
I think I should have a second cup of coffee before starting my day.
