Mother's Day 2011

This week, Clara will "graduate" from Sonshine School.  When the kids graduate each one of them sings a verse to the song "when I grow up, I want to be, I want to be a ...."  Clara's teacher is so patient, because each week most of the kids change what they want to be when they grow up.  But her teacher tells me that everytime, no fail, Clara sings "I want to be a mommy".  It is so sweet, she honestly dreams of that, talks about it, never talks about being a nurse or a teacher or a ballerina....always a mommy. 

This past weekend was Mother's Day and I was thinking about Clara's song.  I realized, that being a mommy was really all I dreamed about when I was growing up too.  I just wanted to be a mommy.  I figured I'd go to college and become a teacher, because that's what my mom had done.  But I never dreamed of teaching a class, I didn't play school, and I certainly never thought about being a nurse.  I dreamed of being a mommy.  Well, I also dreamed of having long hair...but that's another story.
 
I still remember when Harrison was born.  It was like there was no one else in the room except Joe, Harrison and I.  I could not hold that sweet baby close enough.  I could look into his little eyes for hours.  I remember my mom telling me we would spoil him, he didn't need to be held so much.  It was everything I dreamed it would be and a million times more!  And although I'd been a Christian for many years when Harrison was born, I don't think I really got how God loves me until I held Harrison.  I never really got how He would love me no matter what I did, no matter how I looked, no matter where I went.  I became a mommy, and God's love became so real to me. 

Ten years later, we flew to China to adopt our baby girl.  I was adopted as a newborn.  Adoption seemed natural to me. Yet, I'll be honest, the enemy kept telling me I could not possibly love this child like I loved Harrison.  I had a little fear hidden in my heart as we waited for our sweet girl.  More times than I can remember, I had to remind myself to "take every thought captive" and tell the enemy to "get behind me, in Jesus name!"  Then it happened.  The woman in the Civil Affairs office said "Xin Xiao Huan?"  We came forward and they handed us our Clara.  She was a chubby ball of love!  She didn't cry.  She didn't whimper.  She didn't make a sound.  She intently checked us all out.  We were in love.  She was ours.  Again....the enemy didn't win!  I loved her like crazy!  I remember when we got off the plane in Oklahoma and all our friends were there.  Several of my friends just started crying and said "it is so amazing to see how she obviously loves you and knows you are her mommy".

                             My big old boy working hard on the new garden.

                               Our little helper, always glad to help!

                                  My Mother's Day garden with my favorite kids! 

                         My mom with Harrison & Clara on our last Christmas together. 

                                     Joe's mom with Harrison when he was a baby. 

This Mother's Day weekend, I was working with my little family as we put in a raised vegetable garden in our backyard.  My baby boy is 5'10" and working beside his dad hammering and shoveling.  And my baby girl, is playing in the dirt, always ready to help.  When I say to Clara "stop growing so fast, I want you to stay little" she always answers (very sadly) "I don't want to grow up, I'm trying to stay little for you Mommy".  On Sunday, we let four balloons go...two red, one gold lame, and one pink.  The gold lame is for my mom (who loved anything flashy) and the pink is for Joe's mom (who was very feminine).  And then Clara and I each let a red one go in honor of our birth moms, said a little prayer for them and thanked God for the blessings they are in our lives.  I love being a mommy!

                              Our Mother's Day balloon tradition.

Good-bye preschool!

Not sure how it happened so fast, but my baby girl has graduated from preschool!  No more Sonshine School for Clara.  It's a little sad!  Honestly, she was just a baby a minute ago.  Seems like just the other day we were wishing she would talk.  Now we can't seem to get a moment of silence.  Just a minute ago she was a chubby little ball of giggles, now she's a big girl (still full of giggles).  Five years ago right now, we hadn't even seen her little face.  We were on the edge of our seat each day, hoping for news of our girl in China.  Apparently, we blinked and now she will be going to kindergarten in the fall. 

Clara has absolutely LOVED her Sonshine School class this year.  She went Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after her public pre-k class.  The bonus, she got to ride a bus from one school to the other.  You know she's all about transportation!  At Sonshine School she was in the World Explorers class and each week they learned about a different country.  It is so fun to hear her talk about things she learned.  One day I had the news on and they showed Vietnam and Clara said "Vietnam, we visited there one day in Sonshine School."  She has visited places like "Bazil" and "The Nedderlands" this year.  It is always humorous to hear what she remembers about each country.  What a blessing Miss Kari (her Sonshine School teacher) was for Clara this year!  At Sonshine School graduation the kids got to dress up as whatever they want to be when they grow up....Clara wants to be a mommy.  (I love that!) 

                                   Our little ballerina before her recital!

                   Harrison was afriad her face was going to be sore from smiling so much!

                                     Miss L.E., Clara's precious ballet teacher!

                                Miss Kari, Clara's wonderful Sonshine School teacher!

                                 "When I grow up, I want to be a mommy!"

                                         The big preschool graduate! 
At least once or twice a week Harrison says "I cannot even imagine how boring we were before Clara".  Hmmmm!  Not sure how to take that!  But it is true, she is hilarious and lights up our days!  She is her own little person.  She is always cutting and coloring...there are a million little pieces of paper (each one colored individually) all over the kitchen floor.  She loves to fix her hair.  You just never know what she'll come up with next.  Maybe one pony tail, maybe five.  Possibly a collection of clips or bows throughout her hair.  She LOVES to be a helper.  Honestly, she is always willing to help with anything.  She's a girlie girl, but she can hang with the boys (which is her brother's dream girl).  When she plays basketball with her friend Stone, Clara is the dribbler and Stone is the shooter.  Clara never shoots, Stone never dribbles.  It's hilarious!  She loves to keep track of the rules....and she loves to tell on her brother if he breaks them.  You know when she's done something she's not supposed to, because she comes to you with both hands strategically placed over her behind.  She loves to be funny and the ultimate compliment from Clara is if she tells you you are funny.  Her latest thing that just cracks her up, is snorting.  She thinks it's so funny, she'll just break out a big old snort anywhere to get a laugh.  Harrison finds this a bit annoying.  I have to admit, I find it pretty hysterical.  This pretty little girlie girl with a big giant sized snort.  What a goofball!  I love her more than all the numbers!!!

                                      Clara and her Buddy at graduation!

Somewhere...

Somewhere in China, there is a woman I have never met who is dear to my heart.  In my mind, she is young and beautiful.  A part of her heart lives with me each day.  She is a woman who chose life.  In a country that demands that women make hard choices concerning their children....she chose life.  In October 2004 Harrison started asking for a baby sister.  In December 2004, we knew God was telling us to adopt.  Sometime in December 2004 our Clara was conceived somewhere in China.  We had no idea.  We prayed for her, named her Clara, and dreamed of her for months and months and months.  And in July 2006, when we finally saw her picture and knew who she was.  We realized that we had begun praying for her in December 2004...about the time she was conceived. 

As I lay in Clara's bed, saying night-night prayers with her tonight, I couldn't help thinking of that woman in China and saying an extra prayer for her.  Oh how I pray that she knows Jesus.  I pray that she has peace.  I pray that God gives her a knowing in her heart that her baby girl is loved.  That her sweet, chubby baby girl is the delight of someone's heart.  That her baby's smile lights up a room.  That her belly laugh is the sweetest sound in all the earth.  That she has a brother who says (on a regular basis) "can you even imagine our life without her?"  That she has a daddy who is wrapped around her little finger.  And a mommy whose heart sings every time she holds her girl.  Lord...please...give that woman's heart an extra hug, let her know what a blessing she has been to us. 

A Few of My Favorite Things - April

Time flies by and I don't get much time to just sit and write (or think for that matter).  But April was a fun month, full of wonderful things.  So, I thought I'd just compile my top five "favorite things" list for the month of April. 

#5 - Old Friends, new beginnings
As I wrote earlier, on April 2nd my sweet friend Mary got married.  It was one of my favorite days of the month...and of our long friendship.  There is nothing like rejoicing with friends in the blessings God has given them.  Last night we got to go spend a couple of hours and catch up on her first month of marriage.  God is good!

#4 - First paycheck
Watching your "baby" grow up comes with lots of joy, and a touch of sadness.  This month, Harrison got his first real job.  He will be mowing the entrance yard for our neighborhood this year.  He left one Saturday afternoon, pushing the mower down the street to get to the entrance.  He came back,hot and sweaty, but with a sense of accomplishment knowing he had done the job himself.  A few days ago we got to deposit that first paycheck into his savings account.  I'm really proud of him for working hard and saving that money, knowing he'll be driving in 15 months.  WHAT?  Driving?  In 15 months???  Excuse me while I go cry!!!

#3 - Royal Wedding Fun
I've admitted before, I love weddings.  And I was pretty darn excited to see the Royal Wedding.  And now that we're not Amish anymore (we actually have cable and a DVR) I didn't have to get up at 3:30a.m. to watch it.  We recorded it and invited our friends Lauren and Jenny over to watch.  We set a pretty little brunch table for the girls.  We borrowed some fabulous hats from a friend.  And we had ourselves a Royal Wedding watch party.  William and Kate did not disappoint.  It was beautiful.  Kate was beautiful and her dress was fabulous!  Clara and Lauren had quite a time dressing up and having brunch.  Watch out for these two friends, they are QUITE a pair!  : )

                                           Perfect Royal Wedding day attire!

                                     Lauren and Clara enjoying their Royal brunch!

                                Lady Jenny and Lady Lauren of Edmondtown. 

                                     Lady Clara and Lady Joy of Edmondtown.

                                  The future princesses of Edmondtown.

                                       Lady  Giggles and Duchess Silly Pants! 

#2 - Easter
I love Easter.  Twenty-nine years ago on Easter I became a Christian.  I was down in the Wichita Moutains with a bunch of jocks from OSU to see the Easter pageant.  One of the stars of the basketball team at OSU led me to the Lord.  It was the middle of the night, tons of people were camping out, hanging out, waiting for the outdoor play that started at sunrise.  I remember watching and listening to this group of athletes, they were on fire for God.  And I realized that I had always gone to church, but I did not have what they had.  So, right then and there, a big old basketball player knelt down with me and prayed.  It was the single greatest choice I ever made in my life. 

                                              I love them more than all the numbers!

                                      Indoor egg hunting this year....cold and rainy! 

                                                           The Easter booty! 

                                                      Ahhhhh....14....gotta love it! 


#1 - Watching my boy run!
And my #1 favorite thing in April was....(drumroll please)...watching my boy run!  My big old hairy-legged boy has got some wheels.  Boys always keep a running tab on who is the fastest.  All through grade school I heard about it.  I would hear "Bradley is the fastest, then Micah, then Lawson..."  Apparently they  raced at recess and those first children scorekeepers (aka Harrison) kept a running scorecard.  It would change from time to time.  But I always had a good idea who was fastest according to Harrison.  And honestly, all those boys...still on the fast list.  This spring...Harrison got to add his name to the list.  Actually, he had a great couple of cross country seasons.  But this spring in track he really rocked.  And last Saturday, I got to see him win the conference championship in the mile and get second in the 800meter.  It has been so fun seeing him work hard, think through the race mentally, and cross that finish line.  The kids he runs with are a great bunch of kids too, so that makes it even better.

                                                      And they're off! 

                                           One lap down, three to go. 

                                                Focused on the goal!

                                                  Heading to the finish line!

                                               Gold medal!  Great job Harrison!