"I don't have a family"

Happened across this blogpost today. Thought I'd share.

And it begins...

Anna started her new 4s and 5s Sunday School class on Sunday. On our way home from church, out of the blue, she earnestly asks me if she can bring her own Bible to Sunday School next week. Because all the other kids bring THEIR own Bibles. And she didn't have one.

WOW. Could I have felt ANY worse that my kid was Bible-less? (And are these kids even able to read yet?!)

Then she brought it up again tonight. I assured her that next week she could take one of the two small kids Bibles we have, with a handle for carrying. Nope, she told us we HAVE TO GO TO THE BOOKSTORE to buy a Bible like the OTHER kids had, "with Jesus and his friends on the cover."

Um...isn't she four?! Isn't it too soon to be thinking your mom's ideas are totally dorky? (Come on now, a Bible with a handle--it doesn't get much more practical than that!) So we assured her that we would send some sort of Bible with her on Sunday (most likely one with a handle), and take a look at the ones the other kids have, so we can know what kind she wants. She seemed satisfied, and informed me that she'd ask her friends if it'd be okay if she showed her mommy and daddy their Bibles.

Whew. Something tells me that fifty years ago, parents weren't having to deal with this sort of Bible snobbery!

Easy muffins for kids

Found this great recipe for muffins in a parenting magazine a few years ago. My kids (and I) love them! (I've even got some baking in the oven right now.)

Makes 12 regular-sized muffins
Ingredients:

16 oz. canned pumpkin
1 box (18 oz.) cake mix (chocolate or lemon work best)
Flax seed (optional)

Mix pumpkin, cake mix and flax seed together, spoon into sprayed muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for several minutes (I set the timer for 25 minutes and check them, then bake longer if necessary. And flax seed is a great way to get some added nutrition. I put it in all sorts of things--pancakes, waffles, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, and biscuits!)

Pumpkin is full of fiber and vitamins, so this is a pretty healthy way for your child to enjoy a treat--and each muffin only contains 3.5 grams of fat. Enjoy!

Mondays

Back when I used to work in a California legislator's office, the mailman would bring the mail inside to us daily. Every day I'd ask how he was, and every single Monday, without fail, he'd answer, "Not bad, for a Monday!"

For some reason Mondays just "feel" weird to me! I always seem to be a little out of sorts--the weekend's over, Kevin's back at work, I'm maybe a little in denial about the week starting up again. I have a hard time getting motivated.

So what are your Mondays like? So far today I've cleaned out my fridge, unloaded (and reloaded) the dishwasher, made the kids breakfast, gotten them ready for the day, and figured out dinner for tonight, shredded BBQ pork sandwiches...but not a whole lot else. I think we'll play outside a bit and maybe walk to the park, and I have plenty of laundry to keep me busy--if I can just get going!

Happy Monday!

One year ago today

Happy first birthday Kaitlyn!

We love you so much and are so glad you're our daughter!

Pass the dressing, please.

Okay remember this post? How I was gonna attempt to do this? Well, so far I've made ONE smoothie, with romaine lettuce in it. It was tolerable. But then I got to thinking: I love salad, and I love smoothies, but why try to mix them? If I can eat a big salad with my dinner, and I can drink a yummy blueberry smoothie for breakfast...isn't that the best of both worlds? Why suffer through drinking liquified lettuce if I don't have to?

Thus went Brianna's Green Smoothie Experiment. Am I a quitter? Heck yeah! (But at least I'm not drinking lettuce.)

Nearly 1

Katie Jane turns 1 on Friday! Can this really be? Has it REALLY been a year since she was born? Where is the time going???

I feel like it's been a pretty hard year, with all of her medical issues, recurring infections, etc. But she's doing well, and is so much fun, and a true blessing to our family. She has brought me more joy than I can describe!!! I remember being pregnant with her and having someone at church (who I don't know) ask if she was an "accident" and when I said politely (biting my tongue, because who really likes being asked that question about the baby you love growing inside you?!) that she wasn't, this person just couldn't believe why on earth we'd add a baby to the mix with three toddlers. All I can say is, I'm glad that we did because I just can't picture life without this little girl!

Whatever you think of family planning, I assure you that timing isn't everything, that blessings come in all different forms, and while I know many probably question our timing and sanity on a regular basis, we, and the Lord, think it's just fine! It can be hard sometimes seemingly going against the grain, but when I look in my baby girl's eyes I know that I am blessed.

Don't you see that children are God's best gift?

the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?

Psalm 127:3

just chillin' with our little sister.

Whoever said no girls allowed?! (And check out our shirts--these belonged to our dad when he was a little boy!)

February 10, 2004

Every girl turning four should start off her birthday with a special bubble bath...

With princess soap...

And lighted candles...

And several onlookers...

If your whole family and most of your friends get really sick and your guilt-ridden mom has to cancel your small birthday party, Andy, Jeannett and Henry will save the day...

Daddy will put up the streamers and balloons they brought and you will be so happy...

(Your brothers will be happy, too.)

You'll blow out four candles on some leftover brownies with frosting...

And then your bestest friends in the whole world will eagerly watch you open your gift...

As you find out that somehow the Gibsons knew that Snow White is your favorite.

But the next morning, you'll end up with a high fever, too (and so will your brother).

(And so will your other brother.)

I guess we take separate vacations now

I'm back. We've been out of town, but in different places. Kevin's out in Denver and I've been at my parents' house with the kids (about one hour north of here). Both of us left Thursday morning.

Not sure about you but I really don't like being apart from my husband! This is the longest we've gone without seeing each other since being married--three nights and four days. I know, I know, that's not that long in the grand scheme of things, but it FEELS long, and I miss him!

I'm excited because we're picking him up from the airport tonight.

Me and the kids had a blast with my parents, and also got to spend Thursday at my dear friend's house--we've been BFF's since third grade. :) She has two sweet little girls that my kids love to play with, so we spent the day outside jumping on the trampoline, taking a walk, etc. They live on lots of acreage and it is SO beautiful! (My kids are total city kids, it cracks me up. Anna's petrified of getting the least bit muddy, Yosef was flipping out because his hands got dirty...hilarious. Guess that's what happens when you live in tract housing.)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing the husband later. I hope you all had a great weekend!

2 years

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families.

Psalm 68:5-6

(I've shared this before.)

This morning

Anna: Yosef is dark brown, Binny is light brown. I'm peach, and you're peach, and Daddy's peach, and Kaitlyn's peach.

Me: Yes Anna, that is how God has made all of us!

Anna: I want brothers to be peach too.

Me: How come? Why do you want your brothers to be peach?

Anna: Because I want them to be like me! I want us to be the same.

Moments and conversations like these are so precious to me. I love that Anna loves her brothers and approaches life with innonence and honesty. I also feel like these moments are straight from God, because then I get to share about how God has made us all special, that God made Yosef and Biniam's beautiful brown skin, and our beautiful peach skin too. That God loves beauty and is a good, creative God.

I used to think talks like these would be awkward, but they're not--they're natural, and precious, and important.

Having a multiracial family is a blessing in countless ways. This is just one of them--having meaningful conversations with my four year old daughter about God's design, and knowing that most likely she will grow up free from some of the social, racial and cultural barriers that so many of us experience.

Twins

This picture says it all. No words needed. The relationship my sons have with each other is pretty much summed up right there.

You always hear people talk about twins having a special connection, and I thought that was only supposed to be identical twins. But I'm here to tell you that my fraternal-twin sons are eerily close, constantly tuned in to one another, and attached at the hip.

If I put one down for a nap first, I get to hear the ultra-concerned "Where's my Yosie?" or "Where's my Binny?" over and over. If one of them gets in trouble, the other's patting him on the back assuring him it's okay. They hold hands, hug, and if some sort of a spat occurs involving Anna, the boys totally stick together.

Sometimes I feel sorry for them because, being twins, they're always associated with each other and don't get lots of individual, one-on-one attention...but then when I TRY to give them that, they whine because they want the other one!

Anyway, here's to having twins!

My new favorite Quaker

I'm reading Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster and it is wonderful! I'm so challenged and inspired and I love all the background he gives from the Old Testament.

For awhile now Kevin and I have dreamed of living a more simple, organic lifestyle (no, I'm NOT talking about eating organic food again.) What I DO mean is living in community with others and where we participate in and are active members of our city...where we can live and work and worship God and eventually where the kids can attend school. Right now the only things we do in our zipcode are sleep and shop. We live on the outskirts and save for the dear Gibsons and the owners of China Wok (yes the fact that Kevin is pals with this man is proof that we eat a bit of Chinese take-out), we don't know a soul. Pretty shameful.

Jesus was incarnational and we believe He wants us to be, too. How can I reach my neighbor when I'm apparently too good for their church or to send my kids to their school? There's certainly no one-size-fits-all answer to how/where/why you should live someplace, but as we talk about our future and hopefully come closer to a solution, we're weighing a lot of pros and cons and praying that God will make it clear what He wants from us.

What I'd love to hear from YOU is, how are you living in intentional community? For parents of transracially-adopted kids, what "organic" opportunities are there for your kids to interact with others of their race? Does this matter to you? To them?

(Oh and Richard J. Foster is a Quaker, which I think is so interesting!)

Encouragement for the day

I read these words today from Elisabeth Elliott on another (wonderful) blogpost--and it was SO what I needed to hear:

Today we may find ourselves summoned to a task which we know is quite beyond us
"Me, Lord?" we quaver, "Who am I?"
God answers, "I am with you."

Lately I find myself feeling a little discouraged when it comes to motherhood...like why won't my twin three-year olds nap, or why do they seem to want to make a mess everywhere...am I doing a good enough job, am I doing the right things...am I instilling proper respect in my children...am I consistent enough, or do I discipline too much...???

Can't we just drive ourselves crazy?! I consider myself relatively laid back, both as a person and as a mom...but I have to admit I have a neurotic streak, especially when it comes to my adopted children. Why is that? I guess I feel a responsibility to be an extra good mother to them, and I worry--are they properly attached? Developing right? Getting enough love? Being corrected enough?

But Elisabeth's words truly put things in perspective. When I feel like being mom to four kids ages four and under is "quite beyond" me, that's because...it is! But the Lord chose to give Yosef and Biniam to me, and picked me to be their mother, and He will give me the strength and whatever else I need to raise them and love them. The same goes for my daughters. Sometimes I can't believe I'm a mom at all...that God has entrusted me with four precious children. Big responsibility? YES. But God is bigger!

I'm so grateful to have read those things today, and my heart feels encouraged. If you have the time, I'd encourage you to scroll up, click on the link and read the post in its entirety--it's a good one. (Side-note: Anna's middle name is "Elisabeth", spelled just like Elisabeth Elliott's name. That's actually where we saw it spelled that way, and loved it! I figure Elisabeth Elliott is not a bad woman to be sort-of named after, either!)