Amazing Adoption Story

Some of you know that adoption has always been very close to our hearts. Even though we know we are done having biological children, we are not entirely sure our family is done growing. Whether or not it is God's plan for our family to pick up the adoption process again, remains to be seen. But I still cannot get over how my heart is pricked every time I hear or read about a family and child adopting each other.

I saw this story on an adoption blog tonight. It's 25 minutes long, so it's a bit of a time investment, but it's a stunning story. I'm not sure anyone could watch this without being touched by its beauty. I connect with this young lady on many levels, but watching her grow up with so much love surrounding her is such a testament to how God's plan is always an amazing one.

The Arboretum

We've had some sporadic, yet amazingly beautiful days inbetween all the torrential rain this autumn. Fortunately for us, some of them have been on the weekends. So we took advantage of one of them and had some quality time with the family at The Dallas Arboretum.

The pumpkin and gourd displays were stunning! While these make N think of pumpkin carving, it makes me think of pumpkin pie! Yum!









We rarely get Saturday mornings with Gramma since she's so busy with her dog therapy group those days. So this day was especially sweet since we got to spend so much time with her...






Going to the Arboretum isn't always that exciting for little boys. Who wants to look at a bunch of flowers in a park? But little did Monkey know...there were plenty of things for a little boy to do!


Running down big hills with De-dah...




Splashing in fountains...




Riding spitting frogs...




Bobbing for pumpkins...




Climbing pumpkin mountains...




Catching some air....




Roll around in the grass like a puppy enjoying the sun...




Letting Momma win a time or two at wrestling...




Eventually relinquishing some sugar to her as a prize...




Has anyone besides me, noticed that all these shots of Monkey are of him on the run? He sat still for about 5 minutes to eat a lunch of yogurt and chicken, but that was about it. THE.BOY.NEVER.RESTS. He gets that from his De-dah. If you know De-dah, you know what I mean.

Also, if you're wondering why there aren't any pictures of Bubba, it's because he slept pretty much the entire time. He finally woke up in time for a little snuggle with Gramma in the sun...




It really was one of the most enjoyable family days we've had in a long time. The weather was perfect, beautiful sailboats sailing on White Rock Lake, everyone was healthy, and the tickets were free from my work. Towards the end of the visit, we found a little area where there was a jazz trio playing some music, so we decided to sit and relax. At least I did. Everyone else decided to play around on the stage steps. But even so, from my vantage point, it was the perfect way to end the day.




That is, until a cute little Monkey discovers me enjoying the silence a little too much and decides to tackle me.







So much for my silent moment alone...

A Road Trip to Memphis

Some of you are familiar with “Big Mama”, the blogger from San Antonio. She blogged the other day about listening to Beth Moore speak at a conference and this portion of it just really touched me:


http://thebigmamablog.com/4129/who-knew-memphis-was-a-metaphor/

My heart was already full by the time Beth got up to speak so it should come as no surprise that I had tears in my eyes about three minutes into her lesson. She shared that she’d barely made it to Memphis because of the weather. But she knew that if God wanted her to make it to Memphis, then she was going to make it to Memphis no matter what the airlines said or whatever else happened. If she was supposed to be in Memphis, then she’d end up in Memphis. (This is all a paraphrase, but it’s the general point)

And I just felt God saying to my heart that I don’t have to worry about how I’m getting to Memphis or what Memphis will look like, I just need to trust that He’ll get me to Memphis if that’s where I’m supposed to be.

I hope it’s obvious that this epiphany wasn’t actually about getting to Memphis since I was actually already in Memphis when it happened. It was just a sweet reminder that God is the architect of the details and He doesn’t need me to control all these things that I tend to fret about because I am a fretter (not a real word) and He certainly doesn’t expect me to get to Memphis without Him.

Anyway, the Memphis part of that in my life represents several different things that I’ve been struggling with or trying to understand. I don’t know what the Memphis is in your life, but I know that if God wants you in Memphis then He’ll get you to Memphis.


I’m struggling with my own little journey to Memphis right now. I’m fretting about some personal details in my life. I’m trying to orchestrate those details that are really not meant to be orchestrated by a human. While it’s scary to let go of that control, when I actually buckle down and DO IT, there is a strange peace in it. I don’t have to worry about the details, because they are already ordained to happen at just the right time. So why attempt to take control of reins that are not mean to be in my hands?

Some of you might be thinking, “Duh, yeah, let go, let God. Obvious, Monkey Momma!” Unfortunately, it’s not obvious when I’m in the forest. And this really spoke to me today. So for the moment, until my sinful side takes over again, I’m just going to enjoy the trip to Memphis.

More Words From the Monkey...

After dinner last night, JK was sitting in his high chair, preparing to get down. I was holding Bubba and attempting to wipe down JK's smudgy hands with a washcloth.

JK: Momma, I hold Baby.
ME: You want to hold Baby brother?
JK: nodding vigorously
ME: Okay, go sit on the sofa and Momma will let you hold him.

This kind of caught me off guard, as he never requests to hold EK. He doesn't really pay him much attention of any kind unless we say something first.

We go to the living room and JK jumps excitedly on the couch. Now, keep in mind, JK is only 26 lbs himself and Bubba is probably around 16 or 17 lbs.

JK: Clapping excitedly. MY BABY! I hold MY BABY!

I put EK gently into his lap, propped up with a pillow.

JK: Obvious exhale as Bubba sits on Big Brother's lap. Momma...Baby heavy! All done. As he slides away from the baby and scampers off the couch.

Yep. There's a reason we call him Bubba. LOL!

Easy There Big Fella!

The routine when Daddy comes home from work:

1. Hugs and kisses all around
2. A quick change into comfy clothes

Last night, JK went into the bedroom with Daddy while Daddy changed into some shorts. While standing there in his boxers, JK playfully tugs Daddy's skivvies.

With N skittishly protecting himself - LOL!

Then the following conversation ensues:

JK: Daddy a big boy.
US: (laughing)
ME: Yes, Daddy is a big boy.
JK: (touching N's boxers again and saying quizzically) Daddy no diaper.
US: (laughing again)
ME: No, Daddy doesn't wear a diaper because he's a big boy.
N: When you stop wearing a diaper, then you'll be a big boy.
ME: So right now, you're a little boy.
JK: (defiantly putting his fists beside his hips, saying loudly) MOMMA, I A BIG BOY!!!
US: (desperately trying not to laugh and doing a miserable job. I think I might have even snorted.)

7 = Perfection

Somewhere in a bible study in my past, I remember learning significant numbers in scripture. One of the things I remember is that the number seven usually signified perfection. It seems unusually appropriate today.

Seven years ago today, I married my best friend, lover, and companion.



The man who makes me smile and laugh daily. The man who always encourages me to pursue my dreams and gently nudges me out of my comfort zone. The man who has the patience of Job. The man whose tender heart and hands are helping me guide two little miracle boys. The man who understands the importance of chocolate, sushi, snuggles on a blue day, and a fresh pot of coffee on a Monday mornings.

Sweetheart, I know I don't say it enough, but you are so appreciated and we are so blessed to have you as husband and Daddy. This family just does not work without you! Even if the last seven years have had their downs, the ups are really wonderful. If we had to go through all of our "junk" again in life to get to each other, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Even though our lives don't look anything like I imagined back then that it would, everything seems...so...perfect.

Happy Anniversary Baby! Here's to 77 years of perfection! I love you!

XOXOXOXO!

mP

I'm Toast

This morning I woke up about 3:30 to Monkey crying. He settled down pretty quickly so I didn’t get out of bed. But then I was wide awake. I laid there until 3:45 waiting for Bubba to wake up to eat. He'd been asleep since 9:00! But he never woke up, so I went into his room to wake him up for a dream feeding. I was engorged, but I knew if I went ahead and pumped, that he’d wake up immediately after and I’d have nothing to feed him. As I lifted him out of the cradle, he woke up quietly and then fed hungrily. Half way through, I put him on the changing table to change his dirty diaper, but I couldn’t see anything. I draped a blanket over his lamp and turned it on. Brighter than I wanted. I could see his squirmy little body. All the books say not to make eye contact with an awake baby in the middle of the night. They fall back asleep easier if it’s all business. So I changed his diaper quietly and with great difficulty, ignored his cute little noises and funny baby stretches. But when I went to pick him back up to nurse again, he smiled the biggest silly smile at me with his tongue sticking out.

*sigh*

How on earth am I supposed to ignore those???

Even though it’s in the middle of the night and I’d like nothing more than to go back to sleep, I smiled back and nuzzled on his milky-smelling neck. I love this boy so much! We had some more precious cuddle time as he nursed himself back to sleep. If these boys only knew how much control they have over us with just a tiny smile or a precious hug. It’d be total anarchy.