Spring in Saskatchewan

 

 

 

We are experiencing the most unusual spring.  Temperatures have been well below normal.  Last week we reached -38 C with the wind chill!  It's been snowing and blowing.  Winds have reached up to 80+ km/hr.  This has led to roads being snowed shut and as a result buses have not run the past 2 days.  Last night we finally headed out to take a look. 

 

This is along our drive, which amazingly has been drivable.  The spruce trees are a good 6 ft.  So thankful these trees have done their job to keep the drive open.

 

This is our main route to our nearest town.  For the past few weeks this road has often been down to one lane and it is impossible to see cars coming when driving around a curve.

 



 

This is the intersection at the highway and our main road.  The signs are barely visible!

 



It is actually a beautiful view.

 



You may wonder how we are coping...

 

We're doing just fine!  I would love for spring to arrive, but there is no point in getting all ornery and frustrated...last time I checked my bad attitude has no impact on changing the weather.  lol!

 

Instead, we have been treasuring these days...with hot chocolate, waffles, movies, and all things family!  I've been sewing like a maniac and will post pics soon.  I am grateful to have this weather to get things done...without all the extra work spring mud brings!

 

Earlier this winter Morgun's ski trip was cancelled due to cold weather.  The alternate date was set for March 25th.  I laughed...thinking there was NO way we would still have enough snow at the end of March.  The school choose not to cash any cheques...obviously doubting the trip would actually happen.  So...on Monday I will be joining the boys on a skiing field trip...at least if it's not snowing so much that visibility is reduced or the roads are icy. :)

Poor Baby!

My poor baby is sick with chickenpox.  She has a fever, aches and pain and of coarse, lots of itching! The poor girl has chicken pox everywhere...in her mouth, ears...everywhere.  So much so that she keeps complaining "Mama, I have a wedgie!"   She has been crying at night, and for the better part of the day.  Except when she is watching TV.  So, she has been watching a LOT of Dora. 

We have tried everything to keep her comfortable.  An oatmeal bath seemed to help the most, along with Tylenol.  The Epsom Salt bath only resulted in more tears.  Tomorrow we'll go back to the oatmeal bath.

 

The anti itch cream seems to help as well.  However, at first the poor girl cried and cried as I applied it.  It was so very cold and her whole body was full of goose bumps.  I think it must literally have hurt. 

 

I have been trying to keep Raina away from the mirrors, because when she sees herself she cries even more and says, "Mama, my face no pretty!" or "Mama, my face yook weird!"

 



What's In A Name?

 

 

 

We have finally decided on a name.   His name is Jackson Marcus Chen!

 

We all love the name Jackson and it is very fitting that it means "God has been gracious/God has shown favor".

 

The name Marcus was not a name that was on our official list.  As we searched for names, we thought it would be kind of neat to have a name that reflects the word that God gave me during this adoption process..."Defend".

 

With every adoption God gives me a word.  During this adoption process the word has been "defend".  I'm not exactly sure what God is exactly trying to say.  The words I had during the process with our girls totally defines their personalities and who they are in our family.  This word has me a bit stumped.  I'm not sure if God gave me this word to show that our son will be a defender for all that is godly, or if it is a reflection of what this process has been for us.  Never before have we had to defend our choices in expanding our family as much as this time.  "Defend"  also happens to be in the verse we choose for the dog tag Stacy, at Jubilee's Jewels... http://jubileesjewels.com/adoption-fundraising/defend-necklace  designed for us for our adoption fundraiser...Deuteronomy 10:18 "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing."

 

Marcus means "a defense".  And the added bonus is that it gave us the opportunity to name our child after his Uncle Mark Hyde, who happens to be an awesome role model for our kids!

 

The last name, Chen is actually Jackson's given last name.  It is important to us to keep at least part of our kid's given names.  Chen means "morning" or "great" in the Chinese language.  In Hebrew the name means "loveliness" or "grace".  It can also mean "pure or true man".

 

I suppose all these meanings could be interpreted as our son having a lot to live up to.  For us, it is our prayer that our son would be all of these things...which quit honestly is a simple reflection of someone who loves God with his whole heart...and that is our prayer for each of our children.

 

And last of all...yes we are aware that his name can, and will, at times be shortened to Jackie Chen!  Jackie Chen happens to be one of Martin's favorite comic relief characters!  :)

Meet Our Newest Son!

 

I am a bit stunned and COMPLETELY thrilled!  We have a proposal!  Meet Chen Wenlong, born May 8, 2011!

 

 

We are still trying to decide on an English name and will post it as soon as we're sure.  We have some ideas, but with 3 other kids thinking they must have input...well, let's just say, we'll let the name we want grow on them for a bit.  ;)

 

 

Chen Wenlong was born in Taiyuan, Shanxi.  It is a more northern province. 

 

According to our documents our newest gem is living in a foster family and has been since he was 5 months old.  Wenlong has a repaired (unilateral) cleft lip and palate. 

 

He likes foods with strong flavors, is beginning to talk, and his favorite toys are cars.

 



We expect to travel sometime in June.  I can hardly wait!!

 

NOW...

 

...it's time to get a room ready and do some shopping!  FUN! FUN! FUN!  :)

 

...And to pray some more. To pray that everything will fall into place.  It will be interesting to see everything come together...cause I know it will!  It always does!



Adoption Update

  I've been trying not to be a pain in the butt, not to call FOI too often.  Even the kids are getting antsy for a proposal.  Today I couldn't hold back anymore and I called FOI today for an update.

 

Here is what I learned:

 

We are 9th on the list.

FOI has been matching 3-4 families each month.

We've requested a younger child, which of coarse makes the match take longer because that's what most people have requested.

 

All of this means:

 

It will likely take another 3 months before we get a proposal.

This puts us in for a travel date sometime in late summer or early fall.

 

Yulin did mention that if we were to take a child with a more "severe" disability, it may not take as long.  A more "severe" disability means something like...blindness, deafness, more than one "disability".  For us, this is a no brainer.  We will accept any child God has for us... and yet it is a loaded question that is difficult to answer.  Yes, we would take a child with a greater disability than cleft lip/palate or club foot...but it would depend on what the disability actually was. 

 

I have an incredible sense of peace about this process taking longer, which is amazing.  Up until now I've felt this mama urgency that says we need to get to our son asap.  Would you join us in praying for us, for FOI as they search for a child for us, for our child, for the entire process, that it would proceed in the way God sees fit?  Thanks!

 



Family Day 2013...and a Sneek Peek

Today is Family Day in Canada.  That means no work and no school!  Yah!  We don't have anything special planned...other than to do what we feel like doing at the moment.  Love those days!

 

The kids are playing, and for the moment all is calm. 

 

Martin isn't home today, so we're not really having a "family day", but we'll enjoy it non the less!  Martin left on Friday to go snowmobiling up north and should be home sometime late this afternoon.  He's been trying to sell his sled, but so far hasn't had any reasonable offers.  Unfortunately, his sled has been having some mechanical issues, so I'm not sure how much sledding he actually got to enjoy.  I do know though, that he will have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the bush!

 

I am so grateful that Martin had this opportunity.  This man of mine has been working incredibly hard this past year and if anyone deserves or needs a break it is him!  He has pushed himself physically to the point of exhaustion.  He comes home day after day, tired, soaked and cold.  Yet, he never complains.  This adoption journey has once again pushed him and stretched him beyond what he thought he was capable of.  To see his strength come from God warms my heart and makes me proud!  To see him make the right decisions even if it is the most difficult of all decisions, to see him consciously work to truly trust God in every aspect...is simply amazing!

 

As you all know, the child growing in our hearts is still not home.  As we wait, we pray, we dream, we plan.  I have been impatient, and am still trying to find the balance between trusting and pressing on, pushing to bring our little one home.  It is a delicate balance.

 

In the past 6 months I have slowly been collecting items for our little guy.  I've been looking for ideas for his bedroom decor and sort of had an idea of what I wanted.  We will be reusing Raina's white crib, so I wanted something to complement a white crib.  I was picturing soft whites, with some blue.  Something light and airy, but all boy. 

 

This fall I spotted the cutest monkey sleeper at Costco.  A few months later I found the softest little stuffed monkey at Osh Kosh.  Ok.  So neither item fit what I had in mind, but I simply could not pass up on these cute items!

 

 

And then...I found the perfect fabric for our little guys bedding!  And the above items are a perfect match! 

 

I think I see a sock monkey in this boys future!  :)

 

Oh Deer!!

 

 

We've been seeing a lot of trails on our yard lately.  This one cuts right through my garden.

 

We've also seen a lot of this. 

 



Unfortunately, we've also been seeing a lot of this. 

 



Yup!  My cedars have been demolished!... 

 



...by these beautiful, but pesky creatures!

 



 

Our dog disappeared late this summer and the deer seem to think they own the place.  They have nibbled at, and destroyed all the cedars on my yard, even the one's up against my house!  They did all the damage to the cedars in one or two nights.  That tells you there were more than a few deer having night lunch!



 

 

I must admit that when I first saw the damage they had done, I was sick to my stomach.  I even awoke one night thinking about all the damage, the cost to replace all those cedars...and it made me sick to think of it! 

 

Almost immediately I kicked myself back to reality!  Inspite of being disappointed, I reminded myself that they are only cedars.  Cedars can be replaced.  What a silly thing to stress over!

 

I suppose I know what kind of yard work I will be doing this spring!  I usually enjoy yard work, but after starting 2 acreages, planting thousands of teeny, tiny trees, weeding, watering, replacing them for the past 20 years...well, lets just say I'm getting tired of it.  For the past 2 years we have not planted any more trees and I seriously thought (other than a few more replacements), we were done...guess I was wrong!  Oh well!  At least I've got 2 capable boys to help me this time!  And in the scheme of things...what's a few more cedars?? :)