Slowpoke

People say that children repeat what they hear.  I guess this says just as much about my word choice as it does Dean's common behavior:

[bathroom door of kids' bathroom closed with Dean, 5, inside]

[Lael, 3, knocking on door wanting to use the facilities, herself]

Lael: "Are you really, truly going to the baffroom?"

Dean: "yes"

Lael: "Are you really, actually not playing?"

Chicago

It's unbelievable being married TEN years.  I can't even begin to imagine what the coming 10 will hold!  I love you, Eric.

outside Wicked on our "fancy night".  We LOVED the show so much that we bought tickets the next day for the matinee.  Also bought the album on iTunes and can't stop singing the music!

Millennium Park

Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park

Anniversary toast in our original wedding flutes

Rainbow after the Shoreline tour out of Navy Pier

Marina city- just one bit of the architecture I fell in love with in this city!

lunch at Fox&Abel- soooo good.

statue we passed every day

lighting fixture in the Shedd Aquarium

view from the John Hancock Observatory

architectural detail on one of the bridges over the Chicago River

my sweetie, lying in our perfect spot near Museum Campus

I cannot gush enough about this trip.  Perfect.  Perfect.  Perfect.  We took in so much in just four days and it will remain better in my memory than words or pictures could ever explain.  For my sake, though, I'll list some bits to keep it all in my mind nicely.

4:30am rise

"Once" on the plane

diamond necklace

Macy's 

Shedd Aquarium

Riding the "El"

Planitarium

Navy Pier

Architecture boat tour and downpour

reversal of the river

John Hancock Observatory, ears popping on elevator

Sears Tower

sore feet

bike ride

Wicked

Catch 35

Art Institute of Chicago

shakes at Ghiridelli's

Get Smart

Oak Park and Frank Llyod Wright

Love

Let the Window Begin and Pray It stays Still

Today marks fourteen months since our names were added to our agency's wait list for our daughter.  The most recent timeline prediction we received estimated our wait-to-referral to be 14-17 months.... today puts us in that window for the very first time.  As much as I'd like for this to mean that it could be "any day now", I know that there are still families ahead of us, and that we have not received the "90 day call" yet.  For Every Child said that when we look like we might get a referral in the coming 90 days, they'll give a call saying as much just so that we can be ready and prepared.  Not to say that there aren't surprises in the adoption world- I can think of a few stories of people who unexpectedly got the referral call- but we won't set our expectations upon such bright stories.  Right now, my hope is that the window doesn't shift or move.  Then again, if it does move, our plan of action doesn't change and our faith is still set upon a God who does not forget His promises.  So let the adoption roller coaster ride continue!  :-)

Chicago was AWESOME!!!!

Eric and I got back last night from our incredible 10 year anniversary trip.  Each moment was perfect and I am more in love with my husband than ever.  It was magical and wonderful and I'm still all dreamy and gushy about it.  Such a wonderful trip!

About the miracle we brought home years ago

Then

Now

My dearest Grant,

BIG, BIG, BIG Happy Birthday!  You are my oldest and first child, coming in at a whopping eight years old!  Boy, these years have flown!  I am proud of you.  Daddy and I are so blessed by God to be your parents.  I cherish your ability to lead- trying hard to get others to follow your way.  May the Lord always be your leader so that you take those who follow you in the right direction.  I love your energy and the way you play so hard and don't think twice about riding your bike for 3 hours in 90 degree heat.  I'm thrilled that you have learned so much these past few years and are so good at math, and working with money.  A love of numbers will serve you so well- people use numbers for everything... you'll see!  You've become a great help around the house to me, and are a superb older brother to Dean and Lael- and one day, to your newest sister.  She is going to be one lucky girl!  And, I absolutely can not forget that you have also grown to be so good looking!  Just this month alone, I have had other mommies come up to me and say "I didn't know Grant was your son!  He's so handsome!"  One even used the word "hottie" and wanted you and her daughter to be betrothed.  You don't know what that means, I know but just trust me that it's crazy.  I laughed, but am preparing myself for the day when a beautiful girl will grab your heart.  It seems so far off, but if the next eight years fly by the way these past eight years have... that day will come much sooner than I'm ready for.  Right now, I am pleased that you still hold my hand, and cherish the quiet time we have in the morning over Bible reading and coffee and your favorite cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats.  And even though your height is gaining on me, and your feet are only an inch smaller than mine, you will always be my peanut.

Love,

Mommy

A Little Experiment

I am going to go without our microwave for a week.  I've always held that it just can't be right- heating food up that way.  When I had Grant 8 years ago and was a new nursing mom and every piece of new-mommy literature cautioned against heating up breast milk in the microwave it really stuck with me.  The reasons were 1. that the uneven heating might create "hot spots" in the milk and burn baby and 2. that the microwave breaks down vital nutrients in the milk.  The same must be true of other foods, I reasoned.

But I don't cook in the microwave, and only re-heat things so I figured my exposure was minimal and never really did much about it.

So, this week, my sister-in-law moved into her rental and there is no microwave.  We talked about how bad they potentially are and she said that she hadn't been using hers for 6 months anyway in an effort to be healthier.  That was all I needed to give it a go- someone telling me I wasn't overreacting or being "crazy".

Yesterday was my first day.  I put a sign on the microwave that says simply "no." so that as I reach for it, I'll be aware and stop myself.  The times I reached for it were when my coffee had gone cold, and when I wanted to re-heat some of the black bean stew I made the night before for that day's lunch.  Easy Peasy on the stove top for both things.  Since I was re-heating little amounts, I found that I wanted my tiny saucepan a lot.  This is will be a vital kitchen tool, I can see.  Just so that is always clean and ready for use, I handwash it as soon as I'm done warming something up.  Again, easy peasy... this really isn't such a big deal.

What do you mostly use your microwave for?  I NEVER "cook" a meal for the first time in it.  I even prefer to do the jacket potatoes in the oven- they just taste better.  And, we use an air popper for popcorn.  I really only use the microwave for re-heating food/drink and melting butter.

I dare say I think this transition will be painless.

Big all around

I don't suppose anyone has noticed that I haven't been posting many blogs lately... but I haven't.  There's a lot going on, and a lot to say- but it seems that I can't do it justice so I don't try.  God is so gracious, and loving, and lavishing.  I'm just enjoying what He's sending our way- new friends, new revelations, answers to prayer, new journeys, new challenges, new ways of thinking, and a fresh new expectancy for what is to come.

After hoping and praying for such a thing for YEARS, we have family en route right now to live in our town (2 days of driving from Texas with a moving truck and a UHaul-pulling SUV- pray for them!)!  Eric's older sister and her family will be here tomorrow settling into their new life and we are so thrilled to be part of each other's lives.

I feel full with a sense of community.

Our pastor has been speaking about stewarding life's resources lately.  One of the resources is relationships.  And- wow!- our small group (we call them Life Groups)  that we are part of is just the kind of community that we desired to be part of.  I'm thankful for these real, honest people and the way that we are being knit together.  Saying "good stuff" doesn't touch it.

Then, there is our adoption.  I don't know anything new regarding our family's case- we probably still have months of wait ahead still.  BUT, I do know that I began to get discouraged the other week.  Impatient.  Even a tad jealous.  Lots of babies lately-  those of neighbors, and friends- and even the pregnant women at church started to make me a bit envious (even though I know that being pregnant three times was enough for me!).  I felt really bad about it because, through this whole long wait I have always rejoiced with those who had things to celebrate.  I've been happy for others and not jealous.  So, I prayed for forgiveness for my bad attitude and for a renewed outlook... for less pout ( "why not me?") and more joy.  The very next day, I got the awesome news in an e-mail that my waiting buddies Kevin and Sarah finally got their referral and were able to see a picture of Miss Hannah Claire.  And the joy flooded back!  I AM SO HAPPY FOR THEM!  Good news goes a long way.  Our day will come, and I'm willing to wait for it.  And, along the way, my heart is swelling over adoption and the nations... again, too much to really put into words right now... but bigger things are yet to come and it is good!  It is good!

Sprinkle in some summer activities like POOL TIME, and parks, and popsicles, and late dinners, and very dirty bath water, and painting and maybe... just maybe... that's why I haven't said much.  Slowly I will get my voice again... there is a lot to share... a lot "brewing" (I find myself using this word to describe things often right now).

But, to end on a light note... I'll distract, yet again, with a picture:

A few months ago, my brother and I were chatting and came around to the idea of a brother sister project.  I am so excited.  1.  because I wish my brother was closer and this may help the miles seem smaller  2.  because this is so very cool that everyone with far away family is going to want to copy it  and 3.  it has something to do with photos (which I love)

This may take forever and a day, but we are going to introduce our old family photos to present day technology and insist that they make friends!!!

Albums and boxes of photos are at my dad's house.  Colin lives near dad.  I don't.  My brother is going to scan the photos, bit by bit, and e-mail them to me.  We'll then have the ability to save them alongside our current photos on our computers/ on CD/ however we choose.  But, also- and here's the exciting part- we can also make hardbound albums for the non-tech sorts in our life to enjoy!!!  

Scratch that... the most exciting part for me is getting pictures of my mom.  I have so few of my very own (she died only a year half after I got married and left home).  Most were from our family camera and I will be so happy to have my very own copies.

Anyway, Colin began trying to scan last week and is still working out the best set-up to do this at high resolution and still be quick.  I responded with something impatient like "I WANT PHOTOS" so he kindly sent me a sneek peek at a selection of low resolution beauties:

my mom and dad probably before I was born

Colin and I one Halloween

me, sometime before 7 years old (this is our first house)

A completely *gorgeous* one of my mother- I did *not* get her figure!  :-)

Another fun one of mom and dad

I'll have more coming- this is too fun to resist!