How Do You Do It

If I had a nickel...

for everyone who says, "I don't know how you do it."

Well, here's how.

First, you take a BUNCH of kids to music camp.

And you make them stand in front of the drop off place for a picture because inside you are bubbling over with serious hilarity and joy.

Do you see the sign?

Freedom!

I don't mind telling you that even home school moms with copious amounts of children look forward to dropping their kids off every once in a while.
Then you buy 6 chickens that were marked down because they are about to expire.

Um, the chickens are already expired.

I mean they're dead.

Stay with me here.

The grocery store is expiring them a second time.

My pride went out the window when I learned how to stretch a dollar.

I regularly buy meat that has a yellow sticker on it.

As long as it doesn't smell bad, we are good to go.

Back to the chickens.

I got six chickens for way less than $10.

I put them in crock pots over night.

Then I had a stroke of genius.

I mean a gigantic light bulb moment.

The little boys weren't old enough for music camp.

So Mom needed to come up with some fun and interesting preschool activities.

"Boys, let's carve chickens!"

I don't think eager begins to explain
the adrenalin going on here.

"I'm lovin' this kind of arts and crafts, Mom!"

At the end of our preschool activity:

1 plate full of deboned chicken

2 happy knife-wielding boys.

1 blessed momma.

The end.

80/20 Club

Three precious children in the 80/20 club.

Joshua, Joshua, and Elisyn

Sonia, tall Joshua's Mom, just found out for sure.

She's in the club.

We have known for awhile.

Elisyn's family knew too.

The 80/20 club?

A club I created after we met with the pediatric cardiologist.

We walked out of there thinking:

80% chance that nothing can be done.

20% chance that something can be done.

Might be 90/10.

Might even be 100/0.

But 80/20 sounded good because it means hope,

for Joshua, Joshua, and Elisyn, and Bryce, and many others.

We were so compelled by God to become Joshua's parents that his heart condition took a back seat to:

Worry that he might not like us.

Worry about how much day to day care he would need.

That's when we knew.

He was our son.
God is all powerful and has a purpose for these hard journeys he has called us to.

There is no better place to be than the center of God's will, unless it is in His presence.

I Have A Pile!

I've joined the club!

I have a pile of stuff in my room waiting for China.

And we are adding to it daily.

After my last post about not being ready, I had a breakdown. Yes, folks, a real live cry-fest. Waaaah.

My girlfriend kidnapped me on Saturday night and took me shopping. She matched all the outfits and helped me feel a lot less lost.

We got:

Clothes for Joshua.

Enough for 7 days while we are in China.

Won't be long now. Visas are here.

Suitcases are out.

Comfort food.

One can never be too prepared.

Personal pharmacy.

What a quandry. I could have cried standing in front of underwear display. Boxers? Briefs? My friend said, "Maybe they don't wear any." Someone told me her boys came in lacy purple girls' undies. Oh, my. We went for whitey-tidies.

Stuff to do.
Legos, backpack, bubbles, pillow pet, crafts, balls, dragons.....
boy stuff.

I'm feeling better now.

Except, I have nothing to wear.

Waaaaah.

My Heart Aches

Katie, in her own words, makes my heart ache.

Oh, to have more of Him and less of me.

Dana posted a link to a blogger who has adopted two girls from China. The Tonggu Momma is pretty famous in the Chinese adoption blogger world.

I think.

Here is the link that explains how to help adoptive families.

An amazing list.

Many of these points we have instituted in the past when foster kids came.

- Like no nursery at church for 3-6 months. Believe me, they were happier on my lap.

- Not calling the kids lucky. Great explanation with an example.

Thanks, Dana. Worth reading.

More Than a Picture

Joshua receiving our gifts.

He looks pleased.

If you listen close at the beginning, you can hear them say his Chinese name, "Fan Kang".

I cannot wait for that first hug.

Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

Sisters

The girls were delighted to find matching bathing suits.

There has been a lot of growth in these two sisters over the last few months.

I can't imagine life without them.

They have taught me more about myself than I ever knew.

They have blessed us beyond imagination.

From very hard times and tantrums to true love and real tears,

it's all worth it.

Every bit.

I don't mind telling you...

I seem to be paralyzed.

Adoption wise.

Everyone I know who is traveling in the next two months seems to have piles of stuff in their bedrooms, clothes bought, gifts ordered, suitcases out,

and all I got is this:
Yep. A bathing suit. Don't ask me why.

No bed. No clothes. No anything.

Maybe I'm in denial?

In about five or six weeks, we are having a boy.

Not much to deny there.

We signed.
Guess what else?

I do NOT have the gift of hospitality.

And I have to buy FIVE gifts for wonderful people in China whom I've never met.

That is intimidating.

Ruby gave me some great ideas but I still haven't done anything about it.

Then there is the travel procedure which I don't really understand.
Where we go in each city for the fun stuff, who has to plan that, when, where, what,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera (Hearing Yule Brenner here).

We did decide to go to Beijing before picking up Joshua.

That's a relief.

Bob wants to go see The Great Wall.

The Great Wall we shall see.

He is so right.

Oh, then there are the plans we need, to take care of those left behind.
But that's another blog post.

I DO have empty space ready and waiting.
We haven't got the bed yet because...

the little boys will jump on it.

And one will fall off and bump his head.

Then mama called the doctor

and the doctor said.......

See?

I'm a wreck.

VBS and School to Career

While everyone else was playing with the panda bears at VBS Pandamania....
and singing on the worship team....
and hanging with girlfriends....
lots of girlfriends....

Erika and her friend Sophie were hard at work learning all about a career in the health care field. They attended an excellent day camp held at the local hospital that introduced them to all aspects of healthcare. They performed and learned about lots of tests, got blood typed, CPR and first aid training, got a cast put on, visited local doctors and outdoor rescue center and there was much more.
She has a certificate. Way to go, Erika.
Erika and Sophie in their hospital garb.They are super cute together and good support for each other.
Announcing: Future OB Nurses of America. So they say.
Erika went on to complete the American Red Cross Babysitting course in a nearby city the following week. Her first words to me when she graduated were, "Mom, now I can earn money for college." That girl is going places! So proud.

I'm A Believer

I believe in early intervention.

Because it really works.

Both my boys and our girl, who had less than ideal birth circumstances, benefited from a little extra guidance and support during their first three years.

On the third birthday, they either graduate or move into the school system.

I am happy to say that last week Micah graduated.

Thank you, Emily.You showed my kids how to learn and you helped me
see potential when I worried about the future.