Thankful November 30

I'm thankful that we're now officially in the Christmas season! (Yes, I know, it's been several days already!) So, I better get busy and get my Christmas shopping started... and finished! We need some presents under that beautiful Christmas tree! And Christmas will be here before we know it.

But this holiday season, most of all, I'm thankful for celebrating Jesus' birth... the true reason for the season!

Thankful November 29

I am thankful for precious memories. We put up our Christmas tree tonight. We like to do it when we have a little more time to have fun with it, but the kids were anxious, we're busy the rest of the week, and we have company coming this weekend... So, we decided to do it tonight! After the kids had bathed, Jock was home with supper. I got the corner emptied of what furniture usually sits there, and we were ready as soon as we were done with supper.

We put up the tree a lot like my family used to when I was growing up. First you have to put on some Christmas music. Daddy brought up the tree from the basement, and put it together. (The little kids were a little disappointed when he brought the top part first - Josephine told Daddy, "No, we want a BIG tree!")We have a pre-lit artificial, so we don't have to fumble with strings of lights, and so none of us are sneezing for the next month. We all helped fluff out the branches, as they get a little smashed going down and back up the stairs. Then I get out the ornaments - each child has their own pile and then the kids help with the non-breakable family ornaments.Then Daddy and I put on the breakable ornaments and did a little rearranging. Here is the finished product:We had a lot of fun... then it was off to bed for the kids. Jock and I are still admiring the tree, remembering the circumstances around our old ornaments, and the kids' newer ornaments. We also are continuing my family tradition of getting a new ornament for the kids each year. We have yet to pick out ornaments this year. Last year I ordered special ornaments from Bronner's for each of the kids, rather than us all going to pick them out:We still have to do the rest of our decorating, including setting up our Nativity set. We usually read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible when we do that, so maybe we'll be able to do that Friday night before our company arrives. :)

Thankful November 28

I know they were included in the "extended family" post a couple days ago, but I'm thankful for my talented sisters!

My older sister has started a photography business. She has taken photography classes in the past, and recently started up the skillful hobby. She has a great camera with lots of lenses that do things that I don't understand. She also has an eye for what will look good for a background. This past weekend at my dad and step-mom's house, we'd thought about doing my kids' Christmas photos outdoors. However, it was wet and windy and very cold, and that wouldn't have worked. So we wandered around the house, rearranged some furniture, and put together some props in a corner of the living room. My step-mom is very talented also, with decorating, and has lots of Christmassy things around that worked perfect.

Then Jock and I got the kids dressed up in their Christmas outfits, and Amy started snapping away! Getting three kids to smile and look at the camera all at the same time, with their cousins and the television causing distractions at the same time is a challenge, but she did an awesome job! Then we did individual photos of each of the three. They turned out great! I'll be sending them out with our Christmas cards within the next few weeks, and probably posting them closer to Christmas.

Then, on the way home from Dad's yesterday, we took the long way home to stop and visit my sister, who is a very talented cosmetologist. We visited her place of employment, for her to cut my hair. I usually cut it short about this time of year, as the dry weather cause static electricity which drives me completely nuts! So cutting it shorter helps immensely. She did an awesome job - I don't let anyone else cut my hair anymore.

Thankful November 27

I'm thankful for visits to my Dad's but also for home sweet home. We love to visit Grandma & Grandpa for a weekend. The kids have a blast playing outside with the puppies or their cousins. But it's always a long car ride home, and it's nice to finally be home when we get here. We'll have a quick supper, then off to bed in our own beds, for a good night's sleep before starting back at work/school tomorrow.

Thankful November 26

I'm thankful for my extended family. While we don't see each other often, we always have fun together. The kids love playing with their cousins and seeing their aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and we love getting together with our siblings and their families. We're so blessed to have such wonderful families!

Thankful November 25

I'm thankful for the ability to do my daughter's hair. I'm not the best, but I love doing it, it gives us time to spend together bonding, and although she doesn't necessarily like it being done, she loves the end product, especially when there are beads involved. I'll be working on her Christmas style today, since I have the day off, and since we hope to have the kids' Christmas pictures taken this weekend.

Thankful November 24

I'm thankful for Thanksgiving. It's so nice to have a morning to lounge around in our jammies, watch a parade and a dog show on TV, and then go pig out and have fun visiting with the relatives. :) And it gives us a opportunity to reflect on what we're all thankful for, which is a lot!

Thankful November 23

I'm thankful that my husband does his own laundry (well, his clothing anyway), and that my children are learning how to fold their own clothing. Otherwise, we would always be wearing wrinkled clothes pulled from a basket, and never able to find our socks. Sometimes we do still have these issues, but not as often as we would otherwise.

Thankful November 22

I am thankful that my children know how and are able to help with dishes. And even two of them still like to help! For, without their help, we certainly would either starve or go broke buying disposable dishes and utensils. :)

Thankful November 21

In keeping with the adoption theme, I'm thankful for our friends and family who have been such a huge support to us as we've got through infertility, then Kaylen's adoption, then Elijah & Josephine's adoption, and now our current adoption. It's not something that we could have gotten through without the love and prayers and letters of recommendation and commiserating and celebrating visiting and babysitting and preparing meals and thoughtful suggestions and hugs and much, much more.

There are too many of you to list here. I simply could not even name all of you if I tried - I'd be here ALL day and all night, and several more days and nights to list all of you - and I'm not sure I even know all of you. The outpouring of support, friends of friends, etc, has been tremendous. So, if you've helped us in ANY way, you know who you are. We know who you are, and we are grateful for your support. Thank you!

Happy Adoption Day, Elijah & Josephine!

One year ago today, we were elated to finally have a conclusion to Elijah and Josephine's adoption, over 3 years since we started our journey to them. Their adoption was actually final in Haiti on 11/06/2008, but given the circumstances of the earthquake, and their arrival in the United States, we were grateful to have been able to re-finalize their adoption in Iowa. With this, their names were changed to Elijah & Josephine, and we received official adoption decrees and birth certificates (instead of only photocopies of their originals that were buried under rubble in Haiti). We then submitted our adoption decrees with the name change, and received their US Citizenship Certificates in their new full names. What a blessing they are to our family!Like Kaylen's adoption day, this was on National Adoption Day, Saturday, November 20, 2011. :)

We went out for lunch at Olive Garden after church today, to celebrate Kaylen, Elijah & Josephine's adoption anniversaries!

Thankful November 20

I'm thankful for all the adoption professionals we've worked with. There are so many, but I'm making an attempt to name those that have helped us along the way with our adoptions: Kate, Ruthann, Cary, Kia, Randy, David, LuAnn, Linda, Pam, Carla, Linda, Cate, Kiki, Pierre, Natalie, Kim, Deb, Dixie, Jean, Melissa Kim, ...

I'm sure I'm missing some, being on our third adoption process over a course of 6 years. There are a lot of people invovled - agencies, training, home studies, facilitators, lawyers, case workers, liaisons, translators, directors, etc... There are also undoubtedly many behind-the-scenes professionals that I don't even know, nor can name, that have been involved along the way. I'm so grateful for each one of them.

If you're reading this, and you are listed above, named, or not named, please know you are appreciated for your tireless work for our children and MANY, MANY others!

Thankful November 19

I'm thankful for the weekend! :)

(And not much going on this weekend, so hopefully there's a nap in store for me!)

Happy Adoption Day, Kaylen!

We love you, and can't imagine our family without you. We're so glad you joined our family 5 years ago today! :)We finalized Kaylen's adoption on National Adoption Day, Saturday, November 18, 2006. It was such a great day. We had lots of family and friends celebrate with us that day.

To learn more about Adoption Saturday, visit the National Adoption Day website.

Thankful November 18

I'm thankful that the adoption process in Haiti has sped up post-earthquake. Here (the part in red ink) is what Dixie, director of GLA, wrote about it earlier this week on her blog:

"GUESS WHAT! We got our first dossier “post-earthquake” for Canada done today! It took 8 months from the time the dossier went into IBESR until the visa was issued! Is that not the most amazing thing? We are all very excited and I know Berline’s family in New Brunswick must be floating on clouds tonight as they prepare to come to Haiti to take her home! Congratulations!"

We know from past experience, that things can always change with international adoption. But we're hopeful that our adoption wil move along smoothly as well, and we can have our child(ren) home in relatively short order as well. But first, we're praying for our referral. We're thankful that God has a hand in us growing our family, and know that He knows the child for our family.

Thankful November 17

I'm thankful for Turducken! If you don't know what that is, here is a website that will tell you.

The last couple of years we've (and by we, I mean mostly Jock) have prepared one for our "small"-group Bible study. Our group grew over the last couple of years, then split into two groups about last February, and then grew some more. So, this year, Jock has prepared 2 turduckens, and we've invited a few extra families from our church that don't have a small-group, or a couple families who do not have a church family.

They'll be baking all day today - one in our oven and one in another family's oven. The other families in our groups are providing side dishes and desserts. We'll be meeting at the church tonight for supper, fellowship, and some volleyball. It should be a fun night!

Thankful November 16

I'm thankful we survived another Parent Teacher Conference yesterday. Just our 3rd grader this time - the end of the first trimester has come and she's doing well. She's awesome at all the academic stuff, just has a little trouble talking too much. No surprises there, and we talked through some strategies.

I'm thankful that Kaylen has a teacher that totally and completely "gets" her this year. Not that she hasn't before, just I think this one sees through some of her antics more than some others have. I'm grateful that there's more and more accountability for her responsibilities this year, and also that the teacher seems to read our minds some days. :)

Overall, I'm glad Kaylen's doing so well in school yet again, and so proud of all her hard work!

We'll meet with her teacher again for conferences in February. We'll have our conferences at daycare with Elijah & Josephine's preschool teachers in late January, so we have the information we need to sign them up for kindergarten next year - aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

Thankful November 15

I'm thankful for an awesome friend that I walk with regularly. We've been friends since before kindergarten and went to school together from K-12. We went different directions in college, but now live in the same town and have children similar ages. We have a standing date Tuesday nights after our kids are in bed (unless one of us cancels because of other things going on, illnesses, or really bad weather) to walk a couple miles and chat.

Thankful November 14

I'm thankful for Dancing with the Stars. I know... thankful for TV shows... kind of trivial. But we all love watching it! (OK - maybe Daddy just goes along with the rest of it, but we watch it together most Monday nights.) Sometimes we not only watch it, we dance along with it. We LOVE watching Elijah & Josephine dance together (in their PJs & Cinderella dress), trying to mimic the dancers on TV - too funny!



If you want to watch DWTS, they're down to the semi-finals - only 4 stars (Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, Hope Solo, and JR Martinez) & their partners remaining. It's on tonight at 7 pm our time. Then results from tonight's show are on tomorrow evening (where one couple will get voted off), then the finals next week with the last 3 couples.

Thankful November 13

I'm thankful that this past week was "Parent Watch Week" at the girls' dance studio. It was so fun to see what they've been working on, how much fun they're having, and how much they've learned already, after only 9 weeks of class so far. Even the little girls in the preschool class are fairly together on their very short (8-count) tap routine they've learned. And so cute the little analogies the instructor uses for the preschoolers to get them to put their feet and hands in the right places - butterflies, sandwiches, etc. :)

I'm sad I couldn't get photos of Kaylen's class though. I had to sit near the corner instead of in the middle because most of the parents were already there and just stayed after their girls' Hip Hop class - while Kaylen just does the Tap-Ballet-Jazz. She happened to choose a spot on the opposite side of the room, and I couldn't get her with my phone's camera. Also, when they practiced their chasse/leaps pass (yes, I learned a new word!), they started in the corner I was sitting and the girls lined up were standing in front of me. :(

Here are a couple photos of Josephine's class though:

Thankful November 12

I am thankful for this bunch of 8 girls. This is Kaylen's soccer team. Most of these girls have been playing together for several seasons, plus or minus a couple. This was Kaylen's 3rd season with this team, and she really enjoys it. They are a great bunch of girls, a great group of families, and an excellent coach! They had their end-of-season party Thursday night - all the families got together for pizza. :)

Thankful November 11

In honor of Veteran's Day, I'm thankful for all those who have fought to preserve my freedom. Thank you to those who have served in the military, abroad or at home, in wars or during peace-times.

Here is a good source of Veteran's Day History information. "...it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations..."

Thankful November 10

Oops - I'm a little late getting this one posted.

I'm thankful for the beauty of God's creation... Even when it's snow (or a few inches of slush as this was yesterday morning), and I'm not ready for it.

I'm also thankful that we all stayed safe on the roads, and the girls weren't too upset by not having boots yet. We improvised by giving Josephine some of Kaylen's old ones that were way too big for her (somehow Kaylen must have skipped the size that fits Josephine now). Kaylen, being the oldest, didn't have the luxury of hand-me-down boots. She stayed on the sidewalk for the one recess they got to go outdoors.

Thankful November 9

I'm thankful for the extra-curricular activities my children are able to participate in - sports, dance, Awana, etc. It brings each of them so much joy, and it brings a smile to my face to see them experiencing these activities.

Thankful November 8

I'm thankful for the education my children are receiving, including:

* My oldest in 3rd grade in public school, being taught the 6 pillars of character, reading, writing, science, social studies, art, physical education, music, and many other of life's lessons. I'm also thankful for the top-notch teachers in our school district who go the extra mile to keep her challenged in areas where she is learning at a different level from most of her classmates.

* My preschoolers at their full-time daycare, learning all sorts of life lessons, including listening/following directions, being kind to your classmates, and table and playground manners, in addition to normal education stuff like letters and numbers, writing their names, cutting, gluing and coloring, and much more.

* My son who needs special attention for speech therapy - and the free services he's provided, in the convenience of his daycare setting, through our state education system's local Area Education Agency.

Thankful November 7

I'm thankful for my job and Jock's job that afford us many things we wouldn't be able to have otherwise. Yes, we have our frustrations from time to time, and we are always glad to come home at the end of the day, but we've still gone back to these same jobs for several years each, and that says a lot about the quality of our jobs, our employers and our fellow employees.

Thankful November 6

I'm thankful that we live in a place where we can worship our God freely. Where our children can learn about the one true God, about his character, and about the great gift that he's given to us in Christ Jesus. Along with that, I'm thankful for our church - a family of believers who we can share our faith with, worship, sharpen each other's knowledge in the faith, and help each other live it out in our lives.

Thankful November 5

I'm thankful for extended family members, who come to visit us when they're in the area. It's so nice to catch up with those we haven't seen for a long time, whether it's been several years, or even just a month or two.

Thankful November 4

I am thankful for the availability of medical care and medications we need -- or want for comfort.

I've been struck just in a few days of Thankful November, by how much we have and how rich we are here in America... and how much we take for granted. When we have a head cold, we easily drive across town to the pharmacy, and have a wealth of medicines available for use. Sure, we could get by without some of these, but even when they are needed, they're available to us, with a quick call or visit to the doctor and a quick trip to the pharmacy. There are so many in the world who suffer through, and many that don't... because they don't have this luxury we have here.

Thankful November 3

I'm so thankful for a dry, warm home. It was rainy and windy most of the day yesterday, and even saw a few snowflakes mixed in. Our warm home and snug blankets kept us warm as rested yesterday, trying to recover from our colds that are ailing us, while the wind howled and the rain hit the windows.

Thankful November 1-2

So I've been seing lots of people post on Facebook what they're thankful for each day of November, leading up to Thanksgiving. So I thought I'd start as well.

I'm a day late, so I'm going to do two in one today:

I'm thankful for a wonderful husband, who loves me despite my shortcomings, is here when I need him, helps me in so many ways, and is an awesome daddy to our children.

I'm thankful for my three beautiful children. I'm so proud of them each and every day for the people they are and the people they are becoming. They're sweet and funny and silly and serious and smart and thoughtful and kind and ...

And here's some fun pictures from this weekend - we had a southern belle, a knight, and a Cinderella. :)


And we all enjoyed the loot - they were even so kind as to share a few pieces with Mom & Dad. :)