HAPPY ADOPTION DAY!

When I said those words this morning, my son stared at me with a funny, questioning little look in his eye.

He knows he's adopted. He could tell you that I was not the one who gave birth to him. He knows we flew to another state right before he was born, and that he flew on an airplane back with us when he was 9 days old.

But he still doesn't quite get it. He does not ask questions. He does not wonder how it all works. He does not ask whose tummy he grew in.

And that's OK.


I know the questions will come eventually. Some of them will be hard. Very hard.

But here is what's cool.

Adoption is so NORMAL in our world.

While we were having this little adoption discussion this morning, I immediately thought of 9 kids who are either close friends, in preschool, or in Sunday School with him. I LOVE this.

It doesn't mean there won't be issues, or that it will be easy.

But it does make me feel very blessed.

Monday Musings

Spring Break is here! It is the week that we long for throughout the long months of January and February. It is the week we count down the days to. It is the week that makes us think we can hardly survive until it arrives.


It is the week that flies by so quickly it leaves us all a little depressed when it is over.


It's only Monday evening, but here is what I know about Spring Break so far...


1. If a bracket is going to fall off your son's braces, it will do so on the first weekend of Spring Break. When you call the orthodontist's office at 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning, you will discover that your orthodontist also believes in Spring Break. Gone for the entire week.


2. When your orthodontist is out for the entire week, your family is now on a soft foods diet. This now forces the main meal planner in the household to get a little creative. Unfortunately, I am the main meal planner, and unless it has to do with education, creative is not really in my vocabulary.


3. When your family is forced to go on a soft foods diet, expect much whining and complaining from the other young family member who does not wear braces and has no current food eating issues.


4. When dealing with the constant whining and complaining, take deep breaths, remember that you got to sleep in longer than usual this morning, and immediately load the children up in the car when your friend suggests you come over and go on a Dairy Queen run.

5. When you are at Dairy Queen, be prepared to be frustrated at your child when you order him a $3.00 blizzard and he only eats three bites.

6. When you are busy feeling frustrated, take a moment to remember the victims in Japan, the cizitens of Libya, and the hungry and homeless all over the world. Immediate attitude change will most likely occur.

It's amazing how quickly I can refocus if I really stop and think. Here's hoping for a Spring Break with proper focus!

March Madness

My family loves March Madness.

The other morning we heard the DJ on the radio talking about how his kids and wife fill out their tournament brackets based on things like uniform colors, location of teams, and if they like the mascot. My son thought these people were C.R.A.Z.Y.

This year my husband, kids, and I made a friendly little bet on the tournament bracket. We are frantically keeping score throughout the tournament, and the winner gets a day off. For either of my boys, that would mean no chores for a day and unlimited TV, computer, and wii. For me, it would mean no cooking, cleaning, or kid care. I'm thinking hours of reading, scrapbooking, or shopping sounds REALLY good. For my husband....well, let's just hope he's a bad bracket-filler-outer.

I am happy to report I am currently in FIRST PLACE. Tied with my 5 year old, which just makes us all laugh. He has no clue. To fill out his bracket, his older brother read down the list, two at a time, and had him choose the team he thought would win. The little guy chose the first name given to him every single time. Lucky for him, when you read down a bracket, the FIRST team listed has the higher ranking.

So, for now, we are reveling in the glory of being the leaders. I see a beautiful day of rest in my future!

What's Missing?

TRAINING WHEELS!!

Miracles Happen

Several people have asked me if my last adoption post was about US.

NO!

I have had the privilege of being part of an amazing, wonderful, miraculous adoption story.

AGAIN.

I will never grow tired of these stories!

If you would like to read a "feel-good, this is how it is supposed to work out" story, click here. I have read it over and over and still love it. It is a-MAZ-ing.

And if you would like to be a part of this miracle and bless the family in a very special way, go here. You will not only help this great family, you will have a beautiful necklace!

Miracles happen. Everyday.

Spread the word!

Weekend Top 10

A year or so ago several of my blogger friends used to do a weekly Top 10. Then we got lazy, or bored, or ran out of ideas, so we eventually stopped.


But sometimes things happen in life that simply deserve a top ten.


Last weekend was one of those times.


So here goes....10 Things From the Weekend that We Should Never Forget....

1. NEVER say NEVER. You really are just asking for something to happen.
2. God still has a sense of humor.
3. Time changes things....perspective, expectations, judgments, emotions...and it's usually for the better.
4. There are a few decisions in this world that just cannot be driven by money (or the lack thereof).
5. Things like filthy houses and stacks of laundry suddenly become of little importance when God decides to throw down a miracle.
6. Outback Steakhouse is one of my new favorite restaurants (somewhat of a side note, but not completely).
7. I love new babies and new baby names. Especially when they belong to someone else. :)
8. Did I mention God has a sense of humor?
9. Waiting is hard. Whether it is for minutes, hours, or days, patience is not an easy thing.
10. Adoption is BEAUTIFUL. And amazing, wonderful, scary, and joyous. But most of all beautiful.

You Just Never Know

There are a lot of things I don't know.

One of them is what will come out of my 5 year old's mouth at any given moment.

Yesterday my 8 year old was singing the song "This is the Stuff" over and over and over. After he sang the line..."It's not the end of the world....", my little guy started in with the following:

Him: I hope it is the end of the world.

Me: Really? Why?

Him: Then we would get to see Jesus.

Me: Well, that is true.

Him: I might die soon.

Me: I hope not. Why would you die soon?

Him: Because I think I have a bad cold. Can Jesus see everything we do?

Me: Oh, yes, buddy. EVERYTHING.