Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from us to you!

Vasoline Explosion

If you ever have reason to remove vaseline from hair--rubbing cornstarch on the affected areas works great. I know this from experience. Don't shampoo first, though that would be the logical choice, it only turns the vasoline into non-removable paste. Cornstarch seems like an unlikely candidate, and you may doubt my advice as you scour the vasoline covered hair, but trust me. It's brilliant.

For vasoline covered ears, ear canals, etc--probably should proceed with much caution and not use the aforementioned solution.

Vasoline removal from walls, toiletry items that have gone down the laundry chute, and clothing? Haven't figured that out.

I think he's out to ruin me.

Tuesday Night

It's become a Tuesday night tradition copied from a friend. One parent and one child leave the house. A few dollars in their pocket as spending money and a few hours to spend together. We usually end up at a venue that sells ice cream. One week it was the half price bookstore, another the secondhand game store.

Last week, it was my eldest and I who ventured out. We had big plans of picking out a Christmas present and then having ice cream. When we got out of the car at the store, I instinctively reached for his hand. We walked hand in hand into the store. It wasn't until we were inside that I realized his hand was still in mine. We were browsing when he let go of my hand to reach for a book.

His action drew my attention to how old he looked. It seems like only a few days ago I was teaching our baby to clap his pudgy hands. Are those same hands now too old to hold? I waited; wondering if he would reach for me. I watched him as he scanned the cover of a book. He devoured the words and turned to me. As he mentioned that it seemed like a good choice for a friend, he took my hand in his.


Seth told me it won't be long before my oldest son won't reach for my hand as we walk into the ice cream shop. "Enjoy it while it lasts," he said.

I cherished each moment.

Christmas Rag Dolls

It began with a simple question.

"What Christmas ornaments do you guys want to make this year? I was thinking about felt Christmas trees. You guys could sew buttons on them."

Felt and hot glue, the definition of crafty simplicity. The response from Eli, "Well, I don't want to do a tree, can I do Wolverine?"

Ever eager to see enthusiasm in the kids; I agree. He kicks it up a notch, "Well, can we put stuffing in them?"

I agree, kind of wondering where he's leading me.

"Well, I don't really want him to be an ornament." Okay...

As I nod, mulling over what I've agreed to, I get squeals of delight from the three who have been listening to our conversation. "I want Peter from Narnia!" "I want Shortcake!"

From four felt Christmas trees to four handmade rag doll/action heroes. Only around here.

It's been six days since we started...still sewing.

Eerie Silence

The first week after a holiday is hard at home. The whole crew undergoes a day or two of detox. Goodies, Grandparents, and less structure tends to produce craziness around our house. Starting back to school after a break is painful. The kids and I struggled Thursday. Maybe it was the weather--cold rain for a day is depressing for anyone. Maybe it was the after Thanksgiving slump. Whatever the reason, I found myself wishing I could drop two of the children off...somewhere. The eldest and youngest were giving me the hardest time. Between five little spirits any one could be having a hard day. Usually the youngest (he's two after all) is the thorn in my side.

He can be a terror. He was on Thursday. His oldest brother came in a close second.

After much reasoning, discussion, and an added grammar lesson (to show him what "a lot" of work really looked like), he got off to a wonderful start on Friday.

And the dear, sweet, baby? He was suspiciously vacant. It took me a while to realize that it had been quiet for too long...alarmed I ran into the living room and found this:

It's a two year old puppy. Sitting in the dog crate. Happily panting.

A short while later he's missing again. This time Ella alarmed me by yelling, "Jojo has (what sounded like) SHOT!" I only half paid attention, knowing we don't have any needles around the house. After yelling again, I realized she was saying 'salt'. Brilliant.

Dinner prep seemed a little easier than usual. No toddler clinging to my leg, begging for food...drink...Bob the Builder...it wasn't until I turned away from the stove that I noticed what he had been up to.

T-shirt Winner

Congratulations, Ryan and Carly! I hope you enjoy this very cool t-shirt. I should have posted this picture earlier--to make a donation to the Laughner's adoption and get a shirt, go visit their blog. Updates from Tom's trip to Ethiopia (happening right now) are also posted.

Giveaway

I love a nice comfy t-shirt as much as the next gal. I want to support my friends who are adopting again. Or my friends who are in Ethiopia right now with Children's Hopechest. So, without much thought I want to buy one of their fundraising shirts. But one body can only wear so many shirts between laundry loads, you know? I have a pretty good assortment of lovely, memorable t-shirts. I don't think I need another.

Oh, but I want to buy one...

So, here's the beautiful thing--I'm supporting my buddies and giving the t-shirt away to you. If there are any of you out there. Leave me a comment, I'll have my (previously pictured) lovely assistant draw a name. In celebration of the admirable thing being done by the group in Ethiopia right now, I'm giving away one of the Laughner's t-shirts. You leave me the comment, on Friday we'll let you know who won. Tom and Lori will give you the size of your choice and mail directly to you. Sounds fab--I get to support my friends and you get to win a cool shirt.

No worries if you aren't the winner, plenty of shirts available. Go visit the Laughner's blog and buy one!

Children's Hopechest Vision Trip

This week a group of people we've met through adoption are traveling to Ethiopia with Children's Hopechest. They are traveling to lay the groundwork for children sponsorship programs to begin in Ethiopia. I love the way Children's Hopechest works and have been so excited about the beginnings of a program in Ethiopia. We are eager to see what comes of their trip. If you'd like to watch as the week unfolds--here are blogs of a few people going...

http://ethiopianadoptionspot.blogspot.com/
http://family-from-afar.blogspot.com/
http://afatherseyes.blogspot.com/
http://davidfamilyadventures.blogspot.com/
http://thefifthsparr.blogspot.com/
http://laughners.blogspot.com/

Out with the old, in with the new

Today, Sally donned "Yellow Jumbo" for the very last time. It's a huge relief to all of us that this day has come. Every morning I feel like we step back in time as I tighten her "corset".

This brace has been with us since last summer. She was on medication, newly home from Ethiopia, and much, much smaller. This day has been long overdue.

I wonder if her sillies will diminish now that oxygen can get to her brain.

Sally's new doctor wants her to wear this brace for another year. He was amazed at the 'fantastic work' and doesn't want her to get hurt on his watch. I'm more than happy to keep her safely strapped into the thing (obviously strapped around her torso, not her head).

Her biggest grievance? She wants to wear blue jeans.

And the winner is...

My sweet assistant (pictured in my favorite jammies making a very important phone call) kindly chose...


Amber to receive the Bottomly's book. Enjoy!

I've been thinking about doing this again...keep watching for another post.

Oink

We have seen the swine flu and survived.

Never before has the entire family been sick. Never before have we used so much ibuprofen (2 bottles of liquid and 1 bottle of chewables). Never before have I allowed so many videos in our home. We set up camp in the basement and hardly left for the week.

Nightly, a small, hot child would creep downstairs and climb into our bed. The nights were plagued with coughing and medicine. The days were plagued with Disney and whining. We are finally well, but exhausted.

Amazing Reads and My First Give-Away

I've been meaning to post about some great books for months. Books were once a passion. Reading for pleasure...a long lost love. I re-discovered that love momentarily this summer while I was living off my parents and being irresponsible. Sitting up late at night, knowing I would pay the price in the morning, but unable to close the book.

I read scads of great kid's books, but rarely do I sneak off at night to finish them. I read a few chapters, then promptly close the book and tell my kids how great it will be to read a bit more tomorrow.

Last spring Jill sent me her book list. That girl, she's a reader. Just like I used to be, four kids ago! I used Mother's Day as a reason to get nearly all of the books she listed. I read the first on the trip to Connecticut with Ella. I remember sitting, reading about African orphans, in the airport. Being transported to the slums of Kenya and then looking up, across the aisle at a very well-to-do woman and wondering what was reality. An enthralling, convicting book. As with most convicting books--I push away the conviction. We have FIVE children, people! What more can one family do? Move to Kenya? Run a missions organization? Okay, some fantastic, amazing, incredible families do that. Us, we just need to survive. I've said it before here, I know that we should do something, but what?

I digress...so, I'm on the airplane reading this book. And I'm completely with the author as she struggles to find out where she's supposed to be and what she should be doing. I won't ruin it by telling you, BUT she figures it out, she's doing this amazing thing, and in the last few pages she starts dishing it out to the reader. But remember--my hands are tied, big family...handful of kids. She writes (and I'm paraphrasing because Seth has since stolen the book), 'What's keeping you from doing something?' And she goes on to list a few things that might keep an average person from dropping everything and making a huge life change. Being the CEO of a company, for example. OR "A mother of five children."

WHAT?! I about fell into the aisle. My tried and true excuse, "Mom to five, sorry, I've got big obligations at home."

That gal saw right through me and called me out. What are the chances? Why not three kids or six, or even twelve?

That was back in March sometime. Evidently, I was terribly troubled for a while but have since returned to 'normal'. No thanks to the other books I read over the summer.

So, without further adieu, here is a short but sweet list of some amazing books I've recently (or not so recently) read...

It's Not Okay With Me by Janine Maxwell--The one that socked me in the stomach.

Same Kind of Different as Me This was loaned to me by my Mom. After I loaned it to Seth (after he took a few weeks to read the previous book), he told me, "Stop giving me books that make me cry on the plane. It's embarrassing."

Hope Lives This is a study book, and I'm ashamed to say I haven't made it through the entire book. I could just race through like some gal I know, but I want to actually ANSWER the questions as I'm going through. I'm having a hard time with the answers so I decided to close it until further notice.

Any of Tom Davis' books--I haven't read them all, but I've heard wonderful things about all of them.

Father to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story Jill loaned this book to me last year. It's an amazing story.

There is No Me Without You--Can't have a book list without listing this one, because it's an Ethiopian adoptive parent must-read. And I didn't own my own copy until the Mother's Day book buying extravaganza.

From Ashes to Africa by The Bottomlys--I didn't pay much attention when I was buying this, but how weird to discover that I was adopting at the same time as them. Read their blog, actually. This book would be great for famlies who are just starting their adoption, or exploring the idea of adopting from Ethiopia. So, since I'm not in that category, as a reward for reading this far into the post--I'll give it to one of you. Leave me a comment and I'll have my youngest child draw the winner next Tuesday.

My very first giveaway. Nearing 300 posts, I probably should have been giving you guys my used stuff for the past three years.

It began with careless words tossed from my daughter's mouth. She had no idea the effect they would have on me. I need to believe that.

"I want Auntie Crys to be my mommy. I don't want you to be my mommy. I want you to sell me to another family."

She bounces on the knees of my younger sister. Giggling in the uncomfortable silence. I think she sees I'm hurt, but she's five. The rest of the evening passes in a blur of sadness.

The attachment monster rears it's ugly head. It isn't a stranger in our home. We brought it home with us each time we adopted.

I wonder if I will ever be secure in our relationship. When hurting words are exchanged will I forever wonder if it is because I'm not the mother I should be to my injured daughter. With motherhood comes insecurity.

Remorse.

Guilt.

That night I lost sight of the lovely moments. I lost sight of the times she runs to me for comfort. Cuddling on her bed reading. Hugs in the morning. Sitting by her hospital bed, aching with love for my new daughter.

Her words open the door to the enemy. He creeps in and brings heartache. Instead of looking to my Father, who ordained each soul into our family, I dwell on the grief and pain that has been in our little girl's life. I dwell on the brokenness and sin that put her in our family. I should be praising God for entrusting us with these wonderful little people.

I cannot change what brought my children into our family. I cannot fix the years of hurt. I cannot slip into apathy. Daily, with a thankful heart, I must choose to be a vigilant parent. Keeping my eyes on the One who choose us as their parents. Ever trusting Him to provide us with the wisdom needed.

"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains..."
Ps 68:6

It's early in the morning and Eli is awake. This is nothing new. He's been waking up early since birth. It's a sweet time for the two of us. He babbles and chatters while I get ready for the day. He needs this time just as much as I need the hour before he wakes up.

It's in the early hours that he gets my attention without interruption. I have time to look him in the face and talk. But he asks intelligent questions that I am incapable of answering. Usually, I say, "We will have to look that one up."

He sat chewing a hulking piece of bubble gum two days ago (proudly purchased with his allowance) and innocently asked me if we could make our own gum. We googled "How to make gum". Then we watched a wonderful video about making gum. Quickly realizing that we wouldn't be making our own gum, the video was still cool.

This morning, he was coloring and asked me how crayons are made. So we watched this. And then followed with how balloons are made.

Using the computer to learn something, as Ms. Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

Josiah's Birthday

Josiah's age has finally caught up with his attitude. We have long known that he is a brilliant child, reaching milestones far before his peers. That would mean he hit the terrible twos way back...when he turned one. We had all been hoping that he would quickly become a terrific three-year-old (or whatever that saying is)...but the terribles continue. He came to us adorable and well behaved. We quickly ruined him. Obsessed with cars and trucks, lulled to sleep by the 'Bob the Builder' theme song (he usually sings along), if you dare cross him he'll let you know it by flinging a truck at your head. He's got good aim. Truly a talented little boy. We adore him which is probably why he's so rotten.

Today, he sang "Happy Birthday" to himself throughout the day. He was thrilled with the cupcake cones we made and ecstatic when my parents called during the celebration to sing to him.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Josiah!

October 2

This day will forever be burned in my heart. The day we could have lost our daughter.

It seems like a dream.

Sally doesn't realize that she's a walking miracle. On hectic days, I forget, too, that God saved her that day and brought her out even stronger than before. I forget to thank him for placing her in our family. I get overwhelmed and want everyone to please. Just. Calm. Down.

But it's wonderful, in the early morning, as I read my Bible to stumble upon verses that I've underlined and written "Salomae 10/08" beside. Today, I saw one and it warmed my heart.

The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalm 28:7

I will try to cherish our children and praise God for them. Their loud, silly chattering. Their toys scattered all over the floor. The books on sofas, rugs, and tables. Their incessant questions.

All of the things that seem like a nuisance are reminders that we have five miracles growing up in this house. I should enjoy the madness and mess, because it easily could have been one less child asking questions and scattering toys.

Oh, but it's so difficult to remember the big picture.

Yeah, right.

Just put that back in my purse.

Was it just last year?

When I saw this picture, I had a few thoughts...
...I look tired and old. Maybe if I wouldn't smile with such freaky absurdity...
...I shouldn't pose next to Jill.
...Jill looks great!
...this picture looks vaguely familiar.

First Day of School

When I'm not blogging, I'm doing very important things. Like unpacking boxes and painting. Trying to find school books that I ordered and packed up. There are about 342 boxes in my basement labeled "homeschool". The other half are labeled "kid's books". Why wasn't I smart enough to label them more precisely? Oh, yeah, I was frantic.

Frantic has been my life for the past few weeks. I've put all other household needs on the back burner as I am scraping together gumption to finish our schoolroom and find our materials. It is nearly mid-September. I'm waiting for one of the neighbors to call the police, "The lady next door says she's homeschooling, but her kids are playing outside ALL DAY LONG. There are a lot of them, you'll probably need back-up."

It all came together today. I took it easy and we did some crafty things. Tomorrow, math books will be cracked and spelling placement tests will be taken. For today, drawing on the new chalk wall is very important. I was most thrilled to just sit and enjoy these five for the first time in what seems like weeks. Homeschooling--it forces you to sit still and spend time with your children. What a beautiful thing.

Should have brought my autograph book...

to the AWAA Africa reunion in Branson. I would liken it to (and forgive me if this is lame, I'm running on fumes) watching years of reality tv and then spending a weekend with the cast. Doubtful that Seth felt the same way I did. He's not given to dramatics. How do you meet people that you have shared years of your life with, but never chatted over a cup of coffee? It's "Give me a hug--so good to really meet you!" over and over again. Walking away and feeling like you met a long lost friend and movie star at the same time. Weird. And wonderful.

The weekend was a welcome respite from the trenches of moving. Since there are pictures from the weekend on all of the other blogs...Here are a few from the eyes of Everett (using his new birthday present--which his sister dropped from 5 feet up and broke, but he doesn't know that yet...)You may notice that the froggy ride was a hit with the big kids (this was only their second ride, by the end of the day they were doing "big stuff"). Josiah wanted to ride this thing, but wasn't pleased once the frog started jumping. In the photo above you can see him screaming and the attendant taking notice. Shortly after we were removed from the ride. Poor baby spent the rest of the day eating and riding the stroller.

Lots of pictures just like this--we stayed at the same hotel as the Steiger's, Laughner's, Schmidts, and Martin's. One night we took over their breakfast area and had dinner and ice cream. Our enormous clan got more than a few strange looks.