Happy New Year!

Well, we're enjoying another nice 4-day weekend. Yesterday we just stayed in our jammies and sweats all day - didn't venture outside once - even to get the mail. Today we went to church and then after Kaylen's nap we went to the new (actually I think it was new last winter) outdoor ice rink downtown. It was so much fun, and a beautiful place to go skating! We took Kaylen once last winter to an indoor place, but she did so much better this year. She fell down a lot, so her pants and mittens were soaked, but she was even "skate-walking" on her own (no holding on) quite a bit. Jock was right behind her to catch her when she fell though.

I think we'll have to go again in a few weeks - maybe a few more times this season, and she'll have it down in no time. If we wait until next year again, she'd probably forget it all! Besides, it's a good excuse for us to go too, right?! Here are a few pictures and videos. I literally have been laughing out loud at the videos - and probably could for hours!














Also, want to wish Erin a very happy birthday today!

Wishing you all a safe and happy new year. Good luck with those resolutions. I'm not much for resolutions, but it is a good chance to renew my motivations for some things that I'd like to be doing more of, or be more diligent with as the new year starts. May all your hopes and dreams come true for the new year!

December 2007 Tidbits

Well, we made it back to work and daycare today. I was so tired this morning - had to break out the caffeine - of which I usually have none. Funny how four days of relaxing and having run really takes a toll on you, huh?!

Thank you to those of you who sent us wonderful Christmas cards. We've enjoyed every one! It's so fun to see the pictures and hear about your families and what you've all been up to this year.

Happy 1st Birthday today to Emma!

And, I'll leave you with a few random fun photos from the last month or so...

L-The beautiful artwork on our van (the wave went ALL the way around!)
R-The cowboys (with princesses in the back right)




L-Grandma's little helper
R-an adorable picture of Kenny

Elijah & Josephine - Dec2007 Photos

We got new pictures of the babies in Haiti before we went out of town. This month we got one of Elijah & 2 of Josephine. We love them and miss them so much. We pray they are having a Merry Christmas, and that they'll be home before next Christmas to celebrate with us here!
We should also have a process update by this time next week. Praying we've received IBESR approval this month, but it could be anytime in the next few months. It's only been 3 months, and it's been running 4-7 months.

Merry Christmas

Well, it's been a busy several days, but it's been great!

Friday after work, we headed up to my dad and step-mom's. Saturday we mostly relaxed and did some food preparation for Sunday. Somehow everyone who hadn't stayed the night at Dad and Terry's made it in - after Dad plowed the snow.
We had a great time - enjoyed creamed turkey sandwiches, hamburger soup, chili, and some other family-favorite yummies. We then enjoyed opening gifts, and then playing Apples to Apples that someone had received. It was so entertaining playing with four generations - ages almost-90 down to 9, and also was very nice getting to know my step-siblings a little better. I felt so bad for Gracie and Bill - Gracie got sick at lunchtime, so Bill had to take her home. That's the worst, to be sick and miss a fun party! I sure hope she got to enjoy the party for the other side of her family yesterday and their family today!
Then everyone who wasn't staying that night made it out later after Dad plowed the rest of the snow - including the big 4- or 5-foot drift that had developed about half-way up the driveway. The wind finally died down Sunday night, so he didn't have to get out the truck to plow the drive again so that we could head home Monday morning. One of the many highways in the area that had been closed on Sunday was still listed as closed on the DOT website, but it was just fine. There were several areas where we could tell there had been huge drifts across the roads. The roads were slick, but once we got to the interstates, they were clear and we made pretty good time.

When we got home, we ate a quick bite for lunch, got Kaylen down for her much-needed nap, and got busy cleaning and preparing for Jock's family - mom, brothers, aunts - to come to our house Christmas eve for a dinner of appetizers.
We ate, visited, and opened gifts, and then we excused ourselves to attend the candlelight service. It was a bit long, but a very nice service. Kaylen even sat through the whole thing, like the big kids. When we got home, Jock's mom was still at our house, but the rest of the party had dispersed. We visited and watched most of It's a Wonderful Life with her. Kaylen had another late night, but had fun playing with a few of her new toys a bit longer, before we got ready for Santa, and sent her off to bed.

This morning, we got up around 7:45. Kaylen had been up for a while, but was so quiet, we didn't even hear her playing and singing in her room! She did tell us that she knew Santa had been to our house - she saw the cookie crumbs and empty glass on the table, and she saw that the stockings had been filled. Now, she's not supposed to go downstairs without us in the morning, but she said she could see all that from just going down one step. I'd believe that for the stockings in the living room. However, I'm not sure how she could have seen the kitchen table without having gone ALL the way downstairs and ALL the way around the staircase, but maybe she got real smart overnight and got out a (non-existent) really long-handled mirror to hang down over the stairway railing or something - HA! :)

We had a fun time opening the gifts that Santa got us, and that we got for each other. Jock had a migraine coming on, so he went back to bed for the rest of the morning. Kaylen had a great time doing one of her doll's hair while I fixed us breakfast. We then read/watched the Christmas story from her Children's Bible/DVD. Then she enjoyed her Barbie Island Princess movie. We then had a very quick lunch, and got Kaylen down for another much-needed nap. Jock watched his movie while resting this afternoon, and while I tried to figure out how to download the pictures and videos from my Christmas present - a new digital camera!

Later this afternoon, we headed over to Jock's dad and step-mom's house. Sandra made her famous Pisole (not sure if that's spelled right) soup, and we had fun bowling on his brother's new Wii game system. Even the kids got the hang of it after a while. I think Adrian was better than me at it. I don't think Aaron got the button-pushing down by himself, but Kaylen finally did, and even got a strike! I did too - my very last try I think!

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas! Much fun was had by us all, and amidst the holiday commercialism that tries its best to steal the show - we did manage to remember the real reason for the season. Thank you God for the most precious gift of all this Christmas - our Lord, Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas to you all!
Love,
Jock, Lisa, & Kaylen

Our Christmas Card

I told a few I'd post my Christmas photo card - it's basically a little collage of our pictures from throughout the year that I created with my scrapbooking software.

A Fun Christmas Survey

Since I read Juli's blog, I got tagged. If you read this, you're tagged now too - email or blog your answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper mostly. I like to tie ribbon on them too!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, much better for my allergies, and for not having to deal with keeping it watered & cleaning up after a real one, and don't you have to pay the sanitation department extra to haul them away? Also, who knows if/when we'd ever get a tree if we had to find time to go out and get a new one every year.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually right after Thanksgiving. We did ours on Thanksgiving Day this year, while watching the Macy's parade.

4. When do you take the tree down? I like to leave the decor up for 2-3 weeks after Christmas. The season goes too fast!

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but either in small quantities or the less thick variety - I think they call it Milknog.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I'm not good at picking favorites. I'm sure dolls or something. I have one that I still have and kept fairly nice - it a little suitcase-type case. We also got huge teddy bears one year - I was little so mine was almost as big as me. I remember getting sleds one year from Santa.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? Hmmm - it's a toss-up - probably the teen/pre-teen boys, and the adults who already buy themselves the stuff they want.

9. Easiest person to buy to buy for? Kaylen

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know really. Jock has some funny stories (for another day!), but I don't.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually too late. And I don't like fighting crowds, so that's not very good of me. I had to go out this morning, and even now I'm not quite done yet. You'd think I'd learn!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so - but perhaps, if it was food.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom started several years ago doing soups for Christmas dinner - whenever we all got together. That's really nice and easy, because you don't really want to spend all day cooking - you want to have fun with the family! Also, for goodies - frosted sugar cookies, haystacks, peanut clusters, fudge, divinity, Macaroons, Chex party mix, and pretzels dipped in almond bark.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored - with lots of ornaments.

17. Favorite Christmas song? There are too many, but here's probably a few of my favorites: O Holy Night, Silent Night, Breath of Heaven, Mary Did you Know (although I don't really care for the version on my playlist - but I couldn't find a good one!), Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World (with organ & trumpet), The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...), Sleigh Ride

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Both.

19. Can you name all of the reindeer? Yep! But I'm not going to list them here and let you all cheat. Just remember the Rudolph song - if it's a correct version, they list them at the beginning, "You know ..."

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Either is good - we have a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Fighting crowds, rushing around/busy-ness, and this year in particular - politics!

23. What I love most about Christmas? The Reason for the season, sharing it with friends and family

24. Favorite winter outdoor activity? Ice skating. Sledding is also fun, but I haven't done that for years! And caroling - in my hometown some from our church would go out - and we'd be driven around by one of our neighbors on a horse-drawn wagon.

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch!

We watched Mr. Grinch (the old version) on TV a week or two ago, and Kaylen has also watched the Jim Carey version once or twice this season now as well. It's one of those songs that you can't get out of your head, but you also can't remember any of the words. So I decided to post them here. (Note: the version on my playlist skips a couple verses.) How did they come up with all this?!

You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch - You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus - And as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch!
You're a bad banana, With a greasy black peel!

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch - Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders - You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch!
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch - You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch!
Given the choice between the two of you, I'd take the seasick crocodile!

You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch - You're a nasty, wasty skunk!
Your heart is full of unwashed socks - Your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch!
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote,"Stink, stank, stunk!"

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch - You're the king of sinful sots!
Your heart's a dead tomato - Splotched with moldy, purple spots, Mr. Grinch!
Your soul is an apalling dump-heap, overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, mangled-up in tangled-up knots!

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch - With a nauseous super naus!
You're a crooked jerky jockey - And you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch!
You're a three-decker sauerkrautand toadstool sandwich,With arsenic sauce!

Provision

A couple weeks ago, I read Natalie's post about Provision. It's excellently written, and I thought it could give you another perspective. It really makes things personal and got me to thinking.

This has specially been on my mind this holiday season. It's hard to think what Christmas will be like for the children at the orphanage and those that are caring for them. Mid-November, we sent Christmas gifts for Elijah & Josephine and one other child at the orphanage. I wanted to get Kaylen involved, so we chose a child who wasn't yet sponsored, who was about her age, to send a package to. We sent the packages to one of the people traveling there in December. Another need was for small toys or games that could be given as rewards for good behavior for the older children. Another was for baby formula. And yet another was for money to help pay the staff year-end bonuses that are required by Haitian law - equal to one month's salary - essentially doubling the payroll for December. And all this during a time when the orphanage is financially strapped already.

Then we heard that the Christmas mission trip to the orphanage is being postponed due to security reasons. Apparently the postponement of trips like this are not all that uncommon occurrences. I don't know all the details, but my limited understanding is that there is expected to be an increase in kidnappings this time of year. One of the reasons might be due to the voodoo practices in Haiti, that require sacrifices(?). That just sounds scary, and as difficult as the decision must have been to postpone, I'm sure the teams are fortunate to have the security official that is not afraid to recommended postponement if there is a greater risk. However, this just makes my heart hurt for the children. I think there is a back-up plan being organized now to get some candy and small toys sent to the orphanage in time for Christmas, and possibly funds for a nice meal for everyone.

If there is any way you can help out, I'm certain that it would be a huge blessing for management, staff, and children of the orphanage. It just doesn't seem right to have such a beautiful, rich Christmas, when there are so many who are hurting and not able to have the same for themselves. It's amazing how much this adoption journey has changed my perspective on things! I'm going to be praying about how I can help raise awareness and/or how I can help. Will you join me?

PS. I don't want anyone to feel obligated to provide financial support. I think back to a spiritual gifts assessment of the different gifts that God created in each of us. When we were active members of the United Methodist Church, one of the committments was to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Not everyone is in a situation to provide their time to serve, not everyone is a prayer warrior, and not everyone is wealthy and able to provide financial support. Beyond that, even if you are blessed in one of these areas, maybe you just don't feel a calling or responsibility towards a certain ministry. That is a good thing - we can't all do the same things in the same places! I just want to put this out there to maybe plant a seed or encourage you. Maybe there is someone who will read this that has been looking for a mission to support, and this is just what they were looking for!

More ice?!

Well, last night we got back from our travels over the past week. Tonight we went to dinner at Jock's dad's house for his brother's birthday party. Tomorrow we have Jock's work Christmas party - that is, if it doesn't get cancelled because of the ice storm that's on its way. We're supposed to get .2 to .4 inches of ice, then 2-4 inches of snow on top. YUCK! Oh well, not much we can do about it but try to be smart and stay safe. Who knows what'll go on tomorrow. I see on the news a few schools have cancelled or delayed their started for tomorrow - mostly rural areas of SW Iowa though. I don't imagine the city ones will close down unless it gets real bad. It's probably too much to ask that our offices will close but they'll still have the Christmas party. Ha! :)

I just pray we don't have quite the mess that's occurred to the south of us. I heard on the news tonight that 1 in 3 households in Oklahoma is without power. I just can't imagine! I pray they are safe and warm.

Update 12/5

Thank you all for your prayers. We had a wonderful celebration of my grandfather's life yesterday. The Lord has been good to us and sustained us and given us the measure of strength and peace that we needed.

Today my dad and aunts are off to my grandpa's brother's funeral. Grandpa had 3 brothers, the other two preceded him in death, and this last brother survived him - for about 24 hours. This was also his brother who married one of my grandmother's sister. I don't think Grandma was going to go though. It snowed a few inches last night, so she was not wanting to get out in it.

We'll plan on spending some time with her today. I know she was wanting to go through some of the memorials and get started on the Thank You's before my aunt and cousin had to head back to the airport tomorrow. Kaylen is excited to play out in the snow, and with my dad's puppies. She had a little time to play in the snow yesterday at Grandma's, but not much before it got dark after the funeral and inurnment.

Update SatDec1

We have gotten word that my grandpa passed away early around 12:30 this morning. My aunt did get a flight in, but arrived at around 1:30 in the morning. We're assuming the funeral might be on Tuesday, but don't know for sure yet. We're making plans to head out of town probably sometime tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning, but it may depend on when the weather and the roads clear up, and when arrangements are scheduled.
***
Updated: I just heard on the news that the Des Moines airport is closed to inbound and outbound flights, because a plane slid off the taxiway. I'm sad that Ruby didn't make it in time before Grandpa died, but I'm so glad that she got in last night. If it's bad here, Cedar Rapids is probably struggling as well. We wanted to go get some milk this morning, but decided against it - the sidewalks and streets are pretty icy already. The stuff falling is freezing rain, and there was a tiny bit of snow before that. YICK!