My God sent husband
My precious daughter from China
A son to call our own. Perfect
A daughter JUST like me. Wonderous
All the wonderful friends that have blessed our lives.
I give thanks
God is forever faithful
We are into preparing for the holidays. We have Thanksgiving, Kevin's birthday, Claire's birthday, and Christmas before the end of the year. Thankfully I have been bitten by the layaway bug and have 99% of all shopping done.
Hannah took this picture....I love it
Always has a cell phone handy.
We are having regular teen troubles around here. I guess those wings have to be tested and we DO want her to be independent in her thinking, but wow....it is about to kick my booty. I have no idea when she will get her phone back....her achilles heal. Then to add toddler squared running around, we are truly living the dream. Kevin and Claire seem to be getting along better, it really runs in cycles, we are now in a good cycle. Kevin is learning to play more independently and Claire isn't sure if she likes his new found independence. She sure has loved having someone to completely boss around. Nothing else exciting going on around here, just living life and working. I hope to make the holidays as stress free as possible, lots of hot toddys by the fire followed by s'mores!!
Happy Birthday Sesame Street. You have taught us well.
Claire took quite a tumble during a wonderful chasing game with her brother. So sad to see fun come to a crashing halt. Needless to say, she has quite a goose egg to prove it. I received another lesson in how LITERAL an almost 5 yr old can be. She has continued to ask about "when the goose egg in my head will hatch". Funny girl, I can't seem to make it right that she doesn't have a goose egg IN her head. I tried to explain swelling, and how the egg was ON her head not IN it....no go, she can't FEEL an egg on her head so it can't be true. When she rubs her head she only feels hair and no eggs. I guess when all the swelling goes away, she will believe the egg hatched....
Funny story about Kevin....I can watch him in my periphal vision while Claire and I are playing together. He watches INTENTLY to what we are playing...we happen to now be playing teacher and student (guess which one I am) and he rushed to get books and began jabbering whatever Claire has just said. He LOVES to do things to please us. He watches reactions to things done around the house and trys to often do those things that make us happy. The moments are sparodic but are coming more often. HE is really two yrs old and lives up to the terribel twos alot. His constant chant now is "do by self".....he doesn't seem to notice that he only really has one hand. Husband always says "to him it isn't broken". I have learned more patience in the last few weeks. The joy on his face after he accomplishes his task is sooo worth it.
We had a great time gathering candy. Kevin caught on really quick. We have many generous friends that weighted their buckets down with candy with each stop. Their sugar high might last for weeks. Hannah was a great doorbell ringer when it was too high. She was "too old" to recieve any candy, but her siblings gladly shared their harvest.
Going to find her pumpkin
His first pumpkin patch trip
Such a sweet helper
Yep, this was the best one
Her pumpkin hat
Concentration
Finished products
He is REALLY proud
Aunt Kim saving her from the horrid photographer
Sort of a smile
He couldn't believe there was pizza for breakfast.
Such a handsome boy
Sisters and brothers
I have taken lots of pictures but haven't had time to post. Duane's mother passed away last week after a brief illness. How she will be missed. She has 4 beautiful children that will miss her terribly. I will post MORE pictures after our halloween festivities.
I let them choose and this is what they picked.
I have days that I REALLY miss China. Celebrating the Moon Festival has really had me missing the people and wonderful culture. This too shall pass, but I do love looking at the wondererful buildings.
They put these eyes on their heads and left them all evening. I really felt like someone was watching me. They think they looked much better on them than on any art project they could make with them. They crack me up.
Every call has a beginning. A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother’s heart . A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him. A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns… Casting its first light on a chosen threshold. A gentle knock..a closed door opens, a sacred invitation sent by the Father.. leads to the other side of the world. Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows praying for someone to care.. and then one morning, on an ordinary day an orphan’s life changes... God sends them a second chance...Through you..
--author unknown
Favorite Poem
We are a family now, a whole,of which you are a part,and you are just as much our child as any in our heart. We do not love you differently,nor would we give up less of all that life has given us to bring you happiness.There is no limit to our love,no boundary you might cross,no price you may be asked to pay,no need to fear its loss. We are now one, the five of us,windows of one home. As long as we have life and breath,You’ll never be alone.~Nicholas Gordon
