WAY behind....bad, bad blogger!

So...I'm a bad blogger, I am so far behind!  I am always writing in my head, but apparently it doesn't make the trek from my brain to my fingers as often as I think it does.  With that said, here are a few pictures from the fall/early winter.  I'll get to Christmas in another blog (could be Easter by then). 

                                        Clara and her friend Jack.

                Clara's 1st grade class ready for the Storybook Parade.

                                Ready to watch the parade.

                                      Clara and her friend Jordan at the Christmas party.

                                A little pumpkin racing after the parade. 

                                      The Christmas picture with Mrs. C.

Clara had lots of fun with the Storybook Parade, the Thanksgiving Feast and the Christmas party at school.  Being homeroom mom I enjoyed getting to experience it all with her.  What a sweet class of kids she has this year.  And I will just gush about Mrs. C if I get started...let's just say she is fabulous!

                                There's really no explaining these two!

                                The guys got all cleaned up...

                                 ....for this very serious group of girls!

                         These two friends have met their match in each other!

                                                          H & Sloan

                                Again...no real explanation for these guys! 

So...the teenager had a couple of big nights in December too.  He went to North High School's formal with his friend Sloan from church and a bunch of other church friends. It was a fun night and lots of memories were made.  They not only got all dressed up, went out to dinner, to the dance and party...but they got to practice their mechanic skills too.  In their suits, they got to jump one of the guy's cars. 

Then, a week later, the formal for EMHS took place.    Another fun night with good friends and more memories to be made. 

                                Harrison and Madelyn, his sweet formal date.

                                        I like to think I'm still his #1 girl though!

                                      Much ado about nothing! 

                                         A handsome group of guys.

                               The girls and guys all looked really nice!

 

                                   Harrison and one of his best friends, Jaclyn.

It is fun watching all these kids grow up, but it happens way too fast!  We are blessed by the good friends that Harrison has.  They make me smile!

And to add just a little more fun to the season, Clara started playing basketball for the first time.   Clara is having a blast!  It is hilarious to watch, since none of the girls on our team have ever played before.  Clara is very focused on "all-time defense".  She is guarding her girl at all times!  I mean ALL times, even when we are on offense.  Harrison helped the coach a little with the girls on game days.  But to be honest, he found their team name "The Snow Leopards" a little ridiculous.  It's better than the other option.  When Clara got her jersey (from the YMCA) she was so excited to see what she assumed was her team name on the front...it said "Y".  So she was trying to talk her teammates into being called the Y's.  Bahaha!!!  And honestly, the team was split 50/50 on the Y's and the Snow Leopards.  You gotta love her!!!

Ahhhh, brotherly love! 

                                   Coach Tara has the patience of a saint!

                                         Flying piggy tails!!! 

                                            Our little baller! 

 

                                       And she is happy as a clam!!!

What a fun year!  I love being their mom!!!

Most special night

Christmas Eve 2012 was a most special night for our family.  Our sweet Clara Ruth was baptized during the Christmas Eve service at our church.  As precious as the night she prayed and asked Jesus into her heart was, this night was particularly emotional for this mama.  As I prayed for Clara in the days before her baptism, God just kept showing me how precious each of us are to Him.  He reminded me how He had rejoiced when I gave my heart to Him.  And brought to mind all the things He did to bring Clara to this place at this time. 

God put the idea of adoption on Harrison's heart in the fall of 2004.  We said "yes" to adoption about the time Clara was conceived.  And we prayed for her daily from that point on.  One of our prayers was that she would come to know the Lord at an early age and serve Him all the days of her life.  God knew that this little one would be our baby and He stirred our hearts even as she was being formed in her birth mommy's womb. 

So, as I stood back by the baptistery and waited for Clara to be baptized, I was overwhelmed with how BIG our God is!  And to make this evening even sweeter, Clara was baptized with one of her closest friends, Katie Mei.  Katie is also from China and our families are very good friends.  In fact, Katie's little sister Lauren is Clara's best friend.  This time last year, Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  She went through chemo last spring and is cancer free now.

So, I stood there with Katie's mama and soaked in the sweetest moment.  Two friends, giggling, testing the water, joyfully waiting their big moment, confident in their faith.  Two mamas smiling and savoring the peace that comes with knowing your child loves Jesus.  Even as I write this, I am overwhelmed with all that God did for these two to know Him.  We are so blessed!!!  Thank you Lord for allowing us to parent these children you entrusted to us!