My little light (s)

I had a few moments where I almost lost it this morning at church...but they were good ones.

Griffin--he just makes people happy. He brings so much joy to people. I LOVE LOVE the way that he draws people in with his smile, charm, hugs, sweetness, and energy. It's just neat to see other people love on your kid.

Ellie--I had a conversation with a guy named Josh today, who said that Ellie makes him want to be smarter. haha! But in all seriousness, he said that she humbles him and encourages him with the way she loves/cares for other people. It was fun to be able to tell him how we specifically have prayed for her the past 7 years: for COURAGE, COMPASSION, GENEROSITY and then to have this guy (who doesn't really know her) give examples of ways he sees her do those things. It was pretty cool.

Emma--she's my dollface. She is so sensitive and it's softening me and teaching me to be more gentle and careful with my words to others (and her). She is mindful and aware of how things are said/communicated and her feelings are very real. It's neat to see her become a little girl and care about things that are important.

Ellie is 7, not possible

Who wouldn't want an ice skating party in February, right? :) Ellie was so excited for a Winter Wonderland party for her 7th birthday. The plan was to start at Tam-O and do some ice skating. Then head back to our house for sledding, hot chocolate, and some fun winter games. But...the weather didn't comply!


But the girls all still had a blast ice skating. It was fun to watch them because they all thought they were professionals, but it was quite the challenge for them. Emma went from sobbing on the ice in total fear, to smiling and sliding along the wall.

 

Back to our house we went...
Hot chocolate and coffee. Nana and Papa. Craft time (decorated little Valentine's Day boxes), and some cake/ice cream! A fun, simple, LOUD party!

Ellie, cannot believe you are 7 today. Watching you change throughout this year as a first grader has been incredible for your dad and me. You were so timid and unsure of walking into Maplewood back in August. Now today you are excited to celebrate with friends, and we are so proud of how you love them. You are courageous, you ask incredible questions about life, your feelings get hurt when people are mean to you...and yet you pick yourself back up and move on.
We are so proud of our big 7 year old. We love your heart for Jesus and how you desire to read about Him and learn. Thank you for your active heart and mind that we know will help you LEAD so well among your friends and peers this next year. We love you Ellie!

The journey, just the beginning

We are just in the very early stages of pursuing an adoption for a little boy...in Ethiopia. We are incredibly excited, a bit nervous, confident of our calling to this, and pumped that we are diving in. We have talked and prayed about this for over a year, and have finally decided to begin our journey. Our girls are thrilled, to say the least. After we told Ellie and Emma that it was really going to happen (they have been a part of praying with us in this for quite some time) they both went to school the next day and told their classes that they were going to have a brother from Africa soon! Hahaha...I love their joy and excitement. Although it's not going to be soon, most likely.

Lifeline adoption agency says the average process takes 12-15 months, but Ryan and I are gearing ourselves up for 2 years. :) We would love for it to happen sooner, and God willing it will!

In the meantime, we begin the paperwork trail, and it's oh so daunting. I don't think I can read through the Ethiopian manual too many times or I might start having anxiety attacks. An adoption or a pregnancy--BOTH require emotions and our physical bodies. Neither is better or worse, just different. So we are beginning a very different journey to our son. I know it will seem more real and more exciting and more glorious, once we've seen his face on a picture. In the meantime, this is how we're praying:

for this boy, who may not even be born yet, to be carried in his mother safely and with as much dignity and care as possible.

for our finances...I really have no idea how the money will come in, or if the money will come in. I don't know what God is going to do with this, but we are trusting Him and beginning to take strides to make some changes in our spending.

for the city of Sylvania, oh. That our community would fall in love with the TRUTH that more of us can change the life of an orphan. We would love to see this spread, we would love to see more trans-racial families in our community!!

My sleeping cherubs

Love my babes...

1,000 gifts

This is a book I'm reading...AND it's amazing. I highly highly recommend it. The author's name is Ann Voscamp and she is a mom of 6 kids, and a wife of a farmer. But she is young, vibrant, relevant, has a history/dark past like none I've seen, AND she loves Jesus...a LOT.

I have a separate journal designated just for what this book is teaching me, so I'm not going to "throw up" on my blog. BUT, I have to write something down today. Ann encourages people to keep a journal, counting to 1,000 in GIFTS and BLESSINGS that we have. She believes that eucharisto (joy that comes in gratitude/thanksgiving) will happen as you do that. And she's right...it's true. My perspective is changing on a daily basis.

Today...my blessings.
A Sunday: a lazy one at that.

I'm thankful for:
PBS kids
kids that love to sing
a great napper
snow flurries that came out of no where
Ryan who went to Kroger for me...to get just a few things
And a date night to look forward to, 30 min.from now!!!!! YES!

An ordinary day

Love these mornings with the kids still in my home. Yes Griffin currently reeks of poop and Emma hasn't brushed her teeth yet (its 11:00) but we've had a blast today. Played airplane and doctor, had some cheezits, jumped on the bed, vacuumed the floors, and now...playing with blocks. This might be Griff's first ever tower. Love!

Snacks for dinner

Crackers, bologna, sunchips, and peas....Mmmmm....

Now onto the ice cream shop!

These are the days to remember...