The brown built-in

This post is closely related to this post. Please help me convince my husband that we need to paint this built-in! (Sorry about the junky-ness of the shelves)

We also need recessed lighting and I'd love to re-paint this room a different shade of white. It's not the perfect house for me as far as taste goes but it sure is affordable! That means a lot in this family.

Fun Party

I had the privilege to be on a journey along side a good friend adopting from China. While we are anxiously awaiting her arrival to her new home, I spent some time trying to distract her family with a wonderful shower!

The food and cake and decorations turned out lovely! Almost as lovely as this group of women I love. <3

 Scrumptious! Look at that cake!

We had a little book to write a prayer for Hannah. My hope is that she will look back on this when she is older and know how cherished she is.

 Me and the oldest made this fun banner at the last minute. We used purple yarn, ripped fabric leftover from another project and scrapbook paper.

 My daughter hand-stitched the little owls. Aren't they cute?!

 The paper lanterns topped off the look I was going for. What is a Chinese adoption party without pink paper lanterns? (That's Hannah's mom pictured)

I spent hours (easily more than a dozen - probably more) on centerpieces that I hot glued by hand (calluses on my left thumb - ouch). I found a tutorial here. I went exploring with my kids and they helped me to find all the branches I needed at a nearby park. The lovely containers pictured is one I bought at a friends thrift store that funds programs for special needs young adults. One is a dressing pourer (is that a word?) and the other is a Manischewitz Grape Juice bottle (who knew?)! The pretty glasses were filled with pink glass beads, of course! This one is the one I started with but once I realized that this single centerpiece wouldn't fill the big house we had the party at, it snowballed into 4. Once I carried them into the house, they dwarfed and I was glad I didn't just make one dinky one. I guess they filled up our house more than the host's house. It was a labor of love.

 Me and my girls.

 My daughter was a lovely helper handing the gifts to be opened.

And, not to be outdone. This is the final masterpiece of the party. The story is here.

I just love a good party.

Hannah's Needs

I have the priveledge of helping host a shower for a dear friend who is adopting a sweet little girl from China:

Her needs are listed below as per the invitation sent:

· Changing pad cover – pink

· Crib sheet – pink

· Clothes –

o play clothes size 12-18mo or 18mo summer

o Play clothes size 18mo or 18-24mo winter

o Pajamas summer size 18mo

o Footed winter pajamas size 18-24mo

o Winter coat size 18-24mo

· Girly Toys

· Asian baby doll (age appropriate for 1-2 year old – example – FAO Schwarz 14 inch Classic Baby Doll - Baby Avery at http://www.fao.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4401037)

· Diapers size 3

· Bath toys

· Little girls purse or small backpack

· Things to entertain an 18mo old on plane to put in purse or small backpack

· Hair clips & bows (she doesn't really care for huge bows – she prefers smaller ones)

· White bookshelves – 2, I need small ones – approximately 3 feet tall.

· Girly picture books (all of ours are about trucks & sports!)

· Hooded towels – large ones (not for infants)

· Bibs – both plastic for eating and cloth for drool

· Socks

Target Gift Cards

*Her theme is owls and birds and her colors are pink and yellow*

Nearly 14 years later...

(This post is a blatant attempt at avoiding the 5 baskets of laundry
waiting to put folded and put away)

The above picture is me almost 14 years ago. I was 7 months pregnant (it was a size 5 for heavens sakes!). I've moved seven times since that picture. I most likely donated it to a thrift store pretty soon after I wore it during one of those moves (within a few years anyway) anticipating that a single mother would never need a formal dress. I've been to only 2 formal events since then but only shopping for a formal dress once. It stands to reason that it would be one-in-a-million to find the exact same dress while shopping for a formal dress yesterday. It was my size and the label said it came from the store that I bought it at the Parks Mall originally - Agaci. I wish I were creative enough to write a story about it's life until now.

It's a wee bit tight (4 babies ago!) but I still love it. I hope it is not out of style (was it ever in?) because I plan to wear it soon.

Blessings through Generations

(Ready for the Daddy Daughter Dessert Night)

Exodus Chapter 34 says 'Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

What sins have passed down through your generations? For me it is depression (read: selfishness). I've always struggled. It is so easy for me to throw a little pity party for myself. It is just the way I have always been (why do I have to be - I can change that, right?). I was reminded by our small group leader that even while the sins can be passed through generations, prayers and blessing reverberate even more so throughout eternity. Wow. Let that sink in. I've never been challenged to pray for my kids. I'm always so worried about me. I'm worried about my 3 year old messing his pants every day, I'm worried about my teenager - hoping she's not turning out like me, I'm worried about my grade-schooler and how she will do in school. I'm worried about the baby and how he does in this wild family. I never thought to pray for my kids' spouses or even their children. That's been a challenge. What a great way to get the focus off myself.

Psalm 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children.

What did you learn?

I'm Crunchy.

• I do not cloth diaper
• I do not make homemade cleaners
• I use bleach
• I do not do a special diet
• I eat sugar (high fructose even)
• I don't sew my children's clothing
• I take medicine
• I don't have issues with most toys and childhood distractions
• I have no quams with public school

• But I do like oatmeal, every day. Actually, I like it more soggy than crunchy. With a healthy amount of sugar. So yeah, I guess I'm not crunchy. I'm okay with that.

Timing - Part Two

The Other One and his first Christmas present.

So since graduating, my dear, sweet and smart husband has been looking for a teaching job to open up. Many interviews and disappointments later, he decided to leave it to the Lord and His timing. It's been agonizing for him. He feels compelled to teach and he feels gifted in such a way (he is a very good teacher). It made me sad to see such a wonderful gift go unused and to see him discouraged. So, in the meantime, he has taken several tutoring students in our home to keep his skills up and hone them - it also helped make ends meet since Another One was born. A Facebook message two weeks ago, a job application and resume' submitted, and two interviews later - he now has a teaching position! You may wonder how that fits with Part One of my story. Without giving too much detail for security, his job will be working with at-risk teens in the state care system. BAM. There is the exact place the Lord was nudging us towards. Exactly.

I wish I could say I'd be fostering, but lets face it. It's crazy here. I really do want to get involved and my hope is that I can find a way to help out once he gets acquainted in his school. I have a heart for children who have no loving family. I have a few strikes against me for fostering anyway: taking kids to work. While it is safe, I can't always completely supervise my kids from my office - I have to trust they are staying out of trouble within earshot. I can do that better with the children I have reared on my own and understand their temperaments, not so much with others - even children I know well. You are not allowed to home-school foster children. I'm afraid this might cause a chasm with a foster child and it may look preferential.

I really want to. Our life is full of crazies right now though. I look forward to the possibility some day.


In HIS timing.