Recent Projects

I recently finished some projects I had started ages ago.  I began this project shortly before we received our proposal for Malia.  I am embarrassed to admit it took so long to complete this project...but that's what happens when something much more important comes into our lives.  I made 18 placemats and love that I am no longer using a bunch of mismatched/Christmas placemats all year long!

The second project was to sew a shower curtain for my main floor bath.  This entire bathroom has taken years to complete.  We wanted a claw foot tub and about a year ago we finally installed all the plumbing...which is ridiculously expensive!  I really wanted a shower curtain to fit this tub, but couldn't find anything in our little city.  We had been using a simple and cheap shower liner...which looked awful.  I used some fabric bought years ago at a clearance sale...for a ridiculously low price...and matches my bath perfectly!  I love it when I get deals like that!  This was a very simple and inexpensive project and I love the end result!

Yellow Belts

Last week we tested for our yellow belts in TaeKwon Do.  We all passed...and we couldn't be prouder!  We had to break a board as part of our test...something which stressed all of us.  I knew the boys and Martin would not have a problem but I would never have thought that I could do that.

I was a little too slow in catching Morgun break his board.  :(

 Martin has been the brunt of a lot of teasing this past week.  His wife soundly beat him in every aspect of the test...yes, I am bragging...just a bit...not because I think I'm good at TaeKwon Do, but simply because it is SOOOO much fun bugging Martin!  Seriously, who would have thought I would do better???  We won't mention that a few weeks ago, at a local tournament Martin placed 2nd in sparring (against green and blue belts) and he and I faced off in our patterns...and yes, he beat me!  Nor will we mention, that Martin is truly better in every aspect...except in handling the stress of testing...:)

Attention Span of a Two Year Old

I've been trying to video Raina and it is nearly impossible.  I know my sister has been patiently waiting for some recent videos.  However, every time Raina sees me with my camera she stops what she is doing and insists on "see".  I finally managed to get a short little clip of her feeding her baby before she came to see what I had recorded.

There are days I find it next to impossible to accomplish anything with Raina constantly getting into mischief.  Today was one of those days.  First she was begging for "Dora music"...translated as wanting to watch a Dora movie.  I allowed her to watch for awhile.  As soon as the movie was over she began whining and begging for more.  I tried to convince her to help me dust, but that only works when Malia is "helping".  Then she began getting into everything, still whining...eventually I found the perfect solution.
 Last night the boys completed their session of TaeKwon Do, and as has become the custom, each kid got to pick a treat from the Osler General Store.  Raina picked a ring pop.  She didn't finish it last night...and I couldn't have been more grateful!  I put her on a stool with the ring pop and a National Geographic Magazine.  It kept her occupied for more than a half hour!!   And as a result my house is as clean as can be...for the moment!

Amazing Grace

Today I turned to one of my all time favorite songs for comfort and strength.   It is a song I turn to for many reasons.  It reminds me of two of my biggest prayer warriors who have passed on.  Amazing Grace was my Grandpa and my Moms favorite song.  It reminds me to be a prayer warrior for my kids.

 Today I turn to it is because I am hurting for one of my kids.  He has been bullied relentlessly for the past few years and it is really beginning to take a toll on him.  Yesterday, an incident happened that left him shattered.  Needless to say, I am shaken as well.  I hate seeing my kids hurt and wish I could take it all away...but I can't.  So I pray.  I pray that my kids will turn to God's amazing grace for comfort and strength.  Would you please pray...for my son...and his mama as well?  Thanks!

Project Hopeful

My sister Kathy shared this video and I simply had to post it...it says too much to ignore. 

Rhonda & Cam

My nephew Cam got married last weekend to Rhonda...one of the gals on my soccer team.  (She has the hardest kick I have ever seen...you really don't want to get in the way of a ball she has kicked!) 

It is hard to believe that this "little" nephew of mine is all grown up.  It seems like a few short years ago that we were loving on him and toting him around in his body cast.  I felt so sorry for him at the time, but am so grateful that the issue with his hips has been resolved.

I pray that this marriage will always be Christ centered and filled with love!  Congrats Cam and Rhonda!

While at this wedding I realized something that is becoming more evident every year...that I am considered to be an "older parent".  Hard to believe isn't it?  I feel so young...the same age as all the moms in Malia's Kindergarten class...(not!)  I realized that Rhonda's mom is a whopping 5 years older than me and Rhonda is the youngest and last of 3 daughters to get married.  I know her mom was very young when she had her girls, but non the less it is an odd feeling.  I can not imagine my oldest getting married in 5 years...and definitely not my youngest!  I'm guessing it won't be long before people will begin to think I am my children's grandma...lol!!...I sure hope not!  It amazes me that God knew exactly what He was doing when He planned our family and that He continues to give us the energy to keep up with our kids...I quite enjoy being an "older parent" ;)

Morgun

This kid never ceases to amaze me!  Some days he reminds me of Martin and the next he does something that I would do. I clearly remember Martin and I trying to figure out who this kid was when he was an infant...his personality is so diverse...and he still stumps us sometimes!

Morgun has an amazing sense of humor.  Recently when I was kissing Martin..(.just to bug the kids and get the usual "yucky"  or "ewww!" response), Morgun says, "Ok!  Enough of the exchanging of food!"  He's the kid that made his gingerbread house/yard very realistic by adding some chocolate chips and spots of yellow in the snow...so like his Dad!

 I came across the books Morgun is currently reading...yes, that is an old Math text book.  What kind of kid would snatch a math text destined for the garbage?!?...And "read" it regularly???  He loves solving problems from this text.  Morgun prefers to read comic books rather than chapter books, and grumbles when I make him read chapter books.  As for the Bible...it's a recent challenge from his Dad...if he reads the entire Bible he will be paid $100!!  Now that's a lot of money for a kid saving for an Ipod!...(although I do think he will have enough money for the Ipod in the next month or so.)

I smiled this spring as I watched Morgun in all our puddles.  At first it was breaking ice with his bike and now it's finding the mud with his quad (sorry, no pics of that).

I love, love, love watching his expressions, especially when he is observing how something is designed/created.

And who can help but smile when you see that grin?

But, of all the ways this kid makes me laugh and smile, it is his love for God's creatures that warms my heart the most.  He loves playing and talking with little kids...adores his sisters and is oh, so very gentle with them...(most of the time).  He is the kid that makes a bee line for Linden every time he sees him.  He is so sweet and gentle!

He has a collection of ladybugs and each one has a name.  I'm not 100%  sure why he suddenly has this keen interest in ladybugs, but based on their names and his understanding of what ladybugs represent in the adoption world I have a fairly good idea.  Their names are Joey, Luke, and Lilah.

As you know, I would love to adopt again.  In fact, I would love to adopt 2 kids at the same time!  Morgun shares my sentiment and recently decided that the only way we "could" adopt again was if the little boys name was Joey.  I have no idea where he came across that name, but he is adamant!  He loves the sound of that name!

Alex likes the name Luke, and so I have been suggesting perhaps we should adopt 2 boys...Joey and Luke...hence the ladybug named Luke.  As for the name Lilah...it is the name Morgun and Malia had picked out for Raina.

Playing with Joey...