Freakin' Out!

I am beginning to freak out!  So much to do with so little time.  Well, actually it's more than that...we've never left our kids for more than a few days and now we'll be gone for 13 days!  I know the boys will be fine but I still feel sorry for them.  I bought gifts for them to help the days go by faster.  Gifts that will entertain them, such as movies, books and Lego.  Alex in particular is stressed and has had a few night terrors again.  I am  glad they are very short.  Morgun on the other hand, for the most part,  is taking it in stride.  He does worry that we will not come home, that we will die like Grandma and Grandpa did.  How do you reassure a kid without lying to him?  We plan to come back, but ultimately that is in God's hands.  For the most part though he is simply excited.  The other day he mentioned that he thought it would be really cool if we came back with a little brother as well!  Now THAT would take a miracle!
I have finished all my Christmas shopping, wrapping, decorating and baking.  I've bought most of what we need to travel (who would have thought we would spend over $200 on medications, formula and bottles?!), and I have started packing.  So really, if we were leaving tomorrow I would be ready.  It is all the things that don't have to be done but would be nice to have done...
The girls' room is finished except for a few details.  I'm still waiting for some things for on the walls and still need to adjust and complete the curtains.  I will post pictures when it is done.  My order for the wall decor will likely not arrive before we leave so it will be awhile before I can post the pics.
Malia is very excited to be travelling with us and LOVES to "rub it in" when the boys are around.  I am hoping that she will travel well and not be too antsy.  I am somewhat claustrophobic and do not function well in confined spaces with little ones constantly squirming.  However, I can hardly wait to travel and meet Raina!  How blessed we are!!

Decorating for Christmas

Martin was out hunting so the kids and I decorated their Christmas trees this morning.  The kids were still in their PJs, Alex wasn't feeling well and all 3 were coughing.  Thus the wild hair!  In spite of all that, we had fun!

I can't wait till Christmas...just like a little kid!  It will be the most special Christmas EVER!  With the sweetest gift EVER...Raina!

Updated Photos

We received a few "updated"photos on Saturday.  The first picture was obviously taken at the same time as the proposal pictures.  I would love to know who the woman in the photo is...perhaps Raina's foster mom?

 This is my favourite!  Less that 3 weeks till we leave...19 days till we leave!  Time is flying by, and yet I can't get to Raina fast enough! 

I have completed my Christmas shopping and wrapping. Our business paperwork is caught up and our year end papers are at the accountants! Yes! I hate doing business stuff...boring! I'm just so very glad it is done! Malia has a passport and our visa's should arrive within the next week or so. Part 1 of Raina's citizenship is complete...thanks to our local MP. Everything is finally falling into place and it looks like I will actually be able to finish all the things I would like to get done before we leave.

This week I plan to start packing and figure out what we still need to buy. Hopefully I can also begin decorating for Christmas and do some Christmas baking. I love Christmas and can hardly wait to listen to Boney M and smell the baking...let the fun begin!!

Amy and Curt's Wedding

I thought I should post some pictures of Amy and Curt's wedding.  Lisa is not fond of having her picture posted on facebook, so that is why out of province family have not seen many pics so far.

My sister Lisa  with my nephew Scott.

My niece Laura, with Mandy's boyfriend Justin. (this would be Barb Bergen's son..go figure!)

Curt waiting for Amy.  In true Klassen fashion he cried the moment he saw her...and so did I...when I saw him crying!

 Morgun...ring bearer.

 Brook, flower girl and Morgun.

 Amy and her Dad, Glen.

 Yah!  Married at last!  Introducing Mr & Mrs Curt Klassen!

 Us...all dressed up!  Even Martin went out and purchased a new shirt, tie, pants, and shoes.  He rarely buys anything other than jeans and t-shirts.  I'm not smiling because I had an emergency root canal done less than 48 hrs prior to the wedding.  My mouth was still too painful to smile.

 Our beautiful kids!!

 Amy and Curt's mode of transportation.  Curt is not a truck driver, but has his 1A drivers license and LOVES to drive big trucks.

 Malia was very proud to show off her new outfit and curled hair!

 Alex doesn't care to wear a tie, but was a good sport.

  I had to share this picture of Morgun.  He had been begging to take off his suit jacket and when he was finally allowed, I managed to catch his expression!  Priceless!

Fairmont

I should be working on business paper work...or at the least, one of the zillion other things that needs to be done before we leave for China.  BUT...for now I decided to reflect on happy times and good memories.  Travelling to Fairmont is always one of those times for us.  We have a biannual timeshare there and generally end up going to Fairmont rather than exchanging it, simply because we do not have the finances to fly somewhere warm.     We had booked for the end of Nov-beginning of Dec, but that was not a good time, seeing as we leave for China on the 4th of Dec.  We decided on Thursday that we should change our plans and left home on Friday.  The weather was beautiful...in Saskatchewan it was snowing.

We relaxed while the kids played with Lego and watched more movies than is good for them.  We went to the hotsprings almost everyday.  I had difficulty getting decent pictures of the boys.  They were either under water or coming up for a big gulp of air.

I had planned to do more hiking, but after we saw this mama bear with her 2 cubs we changed our minds!  We also saw a larger mama bear with 2 bigger cubs as well.  We saw them almost every day.  On the last day we managed to get within 15 feet of the bigger bears...in our vehicle of coarse!






I love this picture...it looks like Morgun is standing on the edge, but he is actually jumping into the water!

We celebrated Alex's 11th birthday in Fairmont.  I can't believe how time flies.  He is small for his age and it is beginning to bother him.  We tell him it's not how big he is but what's in his heart and between his ears that matters. 

 

The beautiful scenery was great for our souls!



..for Raina.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
 and gather you from the west.
Isaiah 43:5 

I am anxious, not sure that we are prepared mentally, physically or finacially for Raina's arrival.  However, for today, I will take comfort in this verse and through this song.  I can hardly wait to hold Raina, to love her, comfort her, and teach her about God.  I dream of her...and my worries vanish. That which is important becomes crystal clear. And then, I am reassured again that God keeps His promises and we will be able to do what He has called us to do!