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! 

Sweet Claraisms

When Clara and I were coming home the other night I said "you seem tired."   She told me "no, I'm fast awake".  I realized I was WAY behind on posting Claraisms.  So, here are a few of my favorites from the last few months.

 - "I didn't just cut my hair.  It accidentally fell out."

 - "The more you drive the more spearamints you get."  (Talking about her brother gaining "experience" learning to drive.)

 - "I have lots of spagito bites."  (mosquito bites)

 - "Sorry, Buddy!  I didn't mean to hit you in the no-no zone."

 - "When is the 4th of July?  Is it on the 4th?"

 - "Mom, we should take some water in the car so we don't get hibernated."  (dehydrated)

 -  Me to Clara, "why does your breath smell like perfume?"  Clara, "I don't know."  Me, "Really?"
     Clara, "well, I had stinky breath, so I put some perfume on my tooth brush to make it smell better."

 - "Buddy likes mozzarella sno cones"  (margarita sno cones)

 - "I know how to sing The Star Spang Bangled"

 - "Can we get some of those Monnavida sticks" (mozzarella sticks)

 - Hanitizer (hand sanitizer)

 - Hearing some thunder right before bedtime Clara announced calmly, "I don't think I can sleep through that."  

 - "I love going barefoot with my socks on."  

 - Clara learned the books of the Old Testament, including "Problems and Clementines."  (Proverbs and Lamentations)

And a couple of things I've said to Clara that I didn't ever really anticipate saying to a child....

"Please go brush the cheese out of your hair."

"Did you just glue your hair to your shirt?"

This sweet girl keeps us laughing most of the time!  There are so many things she says that just cracks us up. Unfortunately, if I don't write them down I forget.  I'm sure she'll be glad for my memory loss someday!  This child loves physical comedy and a good joke more than anybody I know.  One night she set the table and she always writes our names on the napkins.  So, she planned a "trick" in her mind.  She put our names on the napkins, but on the other side she put someone else's names.  When she had us turn them all over to find we had someone else's name she just burst out laughing.  She laughed so hard she was crying!  I've never seen a kid do that!  That little belly laugh is like music to us, absolutely the sweetest sound ever!  What a joy she is!!!

11-12-12 Great rejoicing!!!

Some days are just special!  They are etched in your memory forever.  You remember where you were, who you were with, the lighting, the smells, the weather.  November 12, 2012 is one of those days for our family.   It was 8:15 p.m.  Clara smelled all clean and fresh from her bath.   She was snuggled in with me in the big red chair, her daddy and brother were kneeling next to the chair and we prayed. And Clara asked Jesus into her heart.  Her sweet little voice repeating the prayer with her daddy, asking Jesus to live in her heart forever.  And then her big brother praying over her, praying that she would always have the passion for Jesus that she has right now. Be still my heart!

Clara has been asking questions intermittently over the last few months.  And on Sunday she and I talked about it, making sure she understood what it means to give your life to Jesus.  When I asked her if that was something she wanted to do, she said "yes, but not today.  Maybe tomorrow...or Tuesday.  Wait, Tuesday isn't good, I have dance."  Classic Clara!  So Monday night we were all in the living room.  Joe had just read a little devotional to us and I asked Clara if she remembered what we talked about Sunday.  Yes, she remembered.  So, I asked her if she was ready to pray and ask Jesus into her heart.  And she gleefully said yes.  I wish you could have seen the look on Harrison's face, it was priceless.  His eyes lit up, he had the biggest smile on his face, he was absolutely joyful.  I remember clearly the night Joe and I sat in Harrison's bed at our old house and prayed that prayer with him.  And I will never forget Harrison getting baptized...with his goggles on.  Hee! Hee!  I love these kids!  What a delight it is to be their mom!

Skinny runner boys

Hmmmm!  What can I say?  That is my boy and his team mates.  I've heard them called many things...skinny boys, runner boys, naked boys...crazy and a little wacky seem to fit too.  What a season these boys had!

For Harrison, it started off rough!  He got sick and fought bronchitis for two weeks at the beginning of the season.  He skipped varsity tryouts at the alumni meet because he was still sick.  The first day he felt 100% for practice, he misjudged just how tall he is and didn't duck quite far enough while he was running and took a tree branch to the head.  He got a few staples in his head with that one.  And just a little bit of crap from his teammates.  But, it just motivated him and he worked really hard and had a great season.

Sometimes, you watch your kids growing up and you kind of think you know what their little niche will be.  I kind of figured Harrison would play basketball.  When he was young we kept saying he had a long distance runner's body.   But honestly, when they are little you have to run with them...well, I think we know where that ended.

When Harrison went to high school we prayed that he would continue to make good friends and good choices.  We prayed he would find his place.  Well, that first day of cross country practice when his coach prayed with the boys before practice, he knew he had found his spot.  These coaches and teammates have become a brotherhood.  Even though running cross country can be miserable (it was 112 degrees when practice started), the guys have so much fun together there really isn't much complaining.

It's funny, when you're at a meet and you talk to other parents and they ask which one is your kid, answering "the tall, skinny white kid" doesn't really clear it up.  Okay...for H's friend Ryan, we can say "the hairy one" and he's easy to pick out.

The picture above shows what is is really all about for these boys.  Brotherhood.  I've never seen athletes or kids who love each other, encourage each other, and feel each other's joy and pain like these guys.

They leave it all on the course.  It's exciting to run your personal best time.  But the boys really want it for the team.  They want to win the team title.  Not once did I hear a boy talk about wanting an individual title, all-state or anything else except the team title.  And at the state meet, they wanted it so bad for their seniors.  These two senior boys this year have been such great leaders and encouragers.  Unforunately, one of our senior boys (Seth) got sick and wasn't able to run at the last few meets, including state.  But the boys still wanted to win it for Seth and Shook (our other senior).

Third at State wasn't how they wanted the season to end.  But they had a great season and they ran well the entire season, winning both conference and regionals.  By the end of the day of the state meet, there were smiles.

And then....there was pizza....lots and lots of pizza.  And soda.   And cinnamon rolls.  And ping pong.  Cuz that's how they roll!

50 Somethings in Nashville

Several months ago my friend Jenni (from high school in Nebraska) had a crazy idea to plan a girls trip to Nashville with anyone that we graduated with that wanted to go.  Fast forward to October and eleven 50 Somethings converged on Nashville for a girls trip of epic proportions.  Okay, that might be exaggerating a little bit.  On second thought....maybe not!  We came from all over the country.  Several came from Nebraska.  But we had representatives from Georgia, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Washington.

While we were in Nashville, people would ask us if we had all been best friends in high school.  Funny thing was, no, we weren't.  There were a a couple of sets of best friends from high school.  But honestly, we all kind of came from different circles in high school.  I was the only one who didn't actually graduate with the NPHS class of 1980.  NOT because I flunked out, but because I moved.  And there was Kelly, who isn't actually a 50 Something yet, she's a class of 1981 girl.  I went to the same church with Jenni and Mitzi.  Cynthe and I played basketball together and were in band.  Laurie, Lori, Janine, Mitzi and I were cheerleaders of one sort or another.  The other Joy was a friend since junior high...she was the tall, beautiful blond Joy.  I was the short Joy.  Bea and Dawn I didn't know very well in high school, but now it seems like we've known each other forever.

What can I say about these fabulous ladies.  Well, first I'd like to say this...some of them haven't been out with the girls for a LONG time!  Just sayin!  The three of us that have lived farther south use the term "ya'll" naturally.  The rest of these ladies felt it was a must-use term while they were in Nashville.  Pretty hilarious if you could have heard them.  A certain, wall flower of an art teacher among us coined the phrase "oh hell no" as her mantra for the weekend.  There was much discussion about some "pontoon" song...I still have no idea what that is about.  A lot of "red solo cup" talk.  The word honky-tonk was used a lot (I admit I used it a few times myself).  Names like Vince, Faith, and Tim were dropped all the time...I really have no idea who they were talking about.  (Just kidding...I know...Gill, Hill and McGraw.)  You see, I know nothing about country music.  I honestly don't care anything about country music.  I just wanted to spend some time with my friends and have some giggles.  And I'll admit, I enjoyed the music too.

We laughed a lot.  There were deep discussions about hot topics (hot flashes).  There were no less than 10 pairs of reading glasses among us.  We found out that at least one of us (not me) wears boots with her pajamas.  A certain lady who shall remain nameless (Janine) can still draw a bar fight with the 20 somethings.  Some girls would rather shop, others would rather dance.  We all seemed to like to eat.  Some of us like to sleep late (that one is me).  Others can rise and shine quite early, even after a late night.  Bea can find the bright side of any situation (I love that).  Cynthe and I can find the same random things hilarious.  We have a few grandmas in the group (you'd never guess which ones they are) and then Bea and I are the crazies with 7 year olds at home.  Thank God we have several who are great planners and great with details.  And a few of us (okay, mostly just me) who will gladly ride their coat tails.

When I was flying home I was thinking about what it was that made this trip so special to me.  It finally hit me.  When I was growing up, we moved several times.  I was always jealous of those kids who lived in the same house their whole lives.  The kids who had gone to school together since kindergarten.  I was the girl who moved there in 7th grade and moved away the last part of our junior year.  I had wonderful friends in North Platte.  But when you're a teenager, sometimes you feel a little on the outside when you don't have that history with everyone.  So, to be included in this trip, was such a blessing.  Thank you ladies for making me smile, making me feel special, bringing back old memories and making new memories.  Each of you holds a special place in my heart!

                                      Oh....did I mention I met Vince Gill???  : )

                                          This says it all!!!  Love you guys!

                                              On the town!  Beautiful night!

                                      Waiting to see Kellie Pickler show.

                                      And we met Mac Davis too....just sayin!

Gentlemen....start your engines!

It's official....we have another driver in the family.  It actually happened on August 28, it's just taken me a couple of weeks to process it all and sit down and put it on paper (or in this case, the computer screen).

In the wee hours of the morning Joe got up and staked his place in line at the DMV to get a driving appointment for Harrison.  Seriously, he was there at  5:15 and was #14 in line!  What a system!  ANYWAY....being the nice dad that he is, Joe sat in the dark to get Harrison an appointment.  And later that morning took him back to take his driving test.  AND HE PASSED!  The lady who tested him actually said he is "too cautious".  Seriously?  Who tells a teenager they are too cautious?

So, we went to lunch to celebrate his new license and his birthday.  Then Joe and I hid in a parking lot nearby and watched Harrison drive off by himself for the first time.  It's weird, people, it's just weird!  One minute they are learning to walk.  Then they are pushing their friends around in their little Cozy Coupe.  And in what seems like a minute, they are driving off in a car.  It's not enough that he is nearly a foot taller than me?  But he needs to drive too?  What next?

Since he's so "grown up" he didn't want any party or "fuss" for his birthday.  He really just wanted the keys to the car.  So, we opened a few little things at home.  Clara was so excited to give her Buddy a new Bible that he could keep in his car...one of the few things he asked for.  And Joe caught this picture of Clara watching Harrison.  Melt my heart!  Look at how she looks at him!

All Harrison wanted to do was go out to eat...and drive his car, of course!  So after dinner we had to snap a few pictures with the obligatory car (which was a total blessing given to us a few years ago, and we were able to bless him with it).

                                                     It's a boy thing!

                                          Then Pee Wee had to get in on the act!

                                   Cant you just hear him, "MOM....c'mon!"

                                         
We couldn't have a 16th birthday without a few friends and dessert.  So, I broke with the cake tradition and made the boy his favorite desserts, key lime pie and apple pie.  A few of his friends and our adopted family the Merideths joined us.  Since I'm the funniest person I know, I made it a "CARS" theme.  Hee!  Hee!

                                                Blessed with good friend!

                                       Love Tow Mater in the background!

                                              Colton leading the singing!

It's both fun and funny, wonderful and challenging, having a 16 year old.  Mostly, it is a blessing just watching them grow into the person God has designed them to be.  It's fun when they ask your help to use the ATM for the first time.  And yet extremely weird that they are big enough to have their own account.  It's a great life lesson to learn how to jump start the car with your dad.  A little challenging when it needs to be done again a few days later (when Dad is out of town).  It was funny when the battery was dead and Harrison couldn't figure out how to get in the trunk since the buttons weren't working.  Ha!  He's never had to get in a car with a key, guess we've always had a button.  Man...times have changed since we used to keep a fork with us in my friend Lori's truck in high school....because they didn't have a key, you started it with a fork.  If we lost the fork, then one had to be "borrowed" from Pizza Hut.  As a rule, it's pretty wonderful having a son that lives in the center of my heart.  I'm amazed at the things the Lord is teaching him already and his maturity in putting God's word into practice in his life.  Never take these days with your kids for granted.  I'm telling you, they go by so fast!  

Good-bye Six!

In just a matter of hours my baby will not be six anymore.  She will be seven (I do realize if you are old enough to read, you probably had that one figured out).  Seven!  How can that be???  Seriously, it seems like just yesterday I was carrying her on my hip.  Weren't we just in China discovering who our little Clara Ruth Huan Pierce really was?  It seems like it was last summer that she was running around the driveway in just a diaper.  It is going by way too fast.  Next week she will start first grade...all day...from now on.  WAAAAAAAAHHHH!!

A little over six years ago we sat at our computer and looked at our Clara's picture for the first time.  We thought she'd be a tiny, petite, dainty little girl.  But she kind of looked like a football player.  She was chubby.  Her hair had been shaved.  And she was wearing boy clothes.  I remember my mom saying "well, she sure looks healthy."  When we went out to eat and showed the Chinese lady her picture she told us "what a handsome boy".

These are the youngest pictures we have of Clara besides her finding ad photo.  Wondering how the blond girl holding Clara came into the picture?  She's from Bixby.  She just happened to be on a mission trip to China, working in the XinHui orphanage with a group from Edmond a couple of months before we found out Clara was our daughter.  Weird huh?

And....the guy in the top photo with Clara is Ken...we were acquaintances here in Edmond.  It was his group that was on the mission trip.  He is now Papa Ken to my kids.  And the other guy...that's Troy.  Funny thing, I met he and his wife casually several years earlier, right before they were leaving for China to go get their daughter.  And as only God could do...he ended up in XinHui on a mission trip....holding my baby girl.  Seriously!

So, six years after we first saw Clara's picture, she is turning seven.  She's not a chubby little football player looking baby.  She is tall, thin, beautiful, artsy and oh so girlie!  Oh my, is she girlie!  When she was still crawling, I caught her eating a cricket.  She was such an avid eater that she would have food all over herself and everything else.  She had the deepest belly laugh.  And that child could make the biggest mess wherever she went.   Now, she dances and prances wherever she goes.  She sparkles and glows and lights up a room.  I have to giggle when I am doing laundry and I empty the lint trap and it is full of glittery sparkles.  She is forever fixing her hair in some sort of Fancy Nancy "do".  And a couple of weeks ago I smelled perfume on her breath.  She had stinky breath so she sprayed perfume on her toothbrush and brushed her teeth.  Isn't that what every girlie girl does?!  Oh my, how fast these past six years have gone!  This little one has been the biggest and most wonderful surprise of our lives!  What a blessing God gave us when he sent us Xin Xiao Huan.  Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!   Wo Ai Ni Clara!