We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We went to Dreamy and Granddaddy's house with the whole crew and really enjoyed it. We put up the Christmas tree, an activity both kids loved. They keep asking when Christmas is. I need to get some advent calendars for them to count down with.

I have yet to download (or is it upload?) the photos from the weekend, but they will come.

I've been ruminating on Jer 29:11-14 for about 2 weeks. Not just the "God has plans" for you part, but that this is from a letter written to exiles telling them to settle down, build houses, make roots. They are not where they want to be, but God tells them, "this is my plan". The section ends with a promise to bring them back, but in between, He tells them to seek His face, seek it with all their hearts. It reminds me that there is always hope and that there is always comfort in seeking the Lord earnestly and honestly.

We went downtown Wednesday for the Veteran's Day Parade. We saw all our favorite things--Azalea Trail Maids, Firetrucks and Grandma and Paw Paw. It was a lot of fun. We also got to see the governor, which was really cool.

Our life seems to get busier and busier with more and more things to do. I suppose this only gets worse as they get older?

We had a great time at the church's fall festival. J got to jump and jump and jump. She played some of the games this year and came home with her Easter bucket full of candy. Last year she jumped all night and came home with about five pieces of candy. I guess those days are over.

K had a blast. He played every game, some of them multiple times. He caught on fast to all the candy to be given out. He jumped and got a close look at the horses. He didn't ride one, though.

The pictures below are from the church picnic a couple of weeks ago. K got to ride in the pastor's jeep. In girl talk, it is an army green one. In boy talk, it is a restored one. I don't remember the model year. K talked about the ride for a long time and is totally ready to go again. Totally ready to drive...



I am doing a ladies Bible study at church this fall. It always intrigues me how each person will get something completely different out of a set of homework. We each have such different histories and perspectives. It has been insightful and enlightened to hear so many different voices.

We tried something new around our house this week--pumpkin carving. It was a first for the kids and daddy, too. J did not like the feel of the pumpkin insides. K thought it was great. I think they turned out pretty well.

I heard a song today that I've probably heard many times before, but never really listened to the words. It is called 'What it Feels Like", by FFH. The song is about having your perfect life fall apart and relying solely on God for everything, turning to Him and following His leading. What it feels like to find the peace and comfort of a loving Father. I think I noticed it today because the Bible study I'm doing was reflecting upon John 6:66-69, where Jesus asks the disciples if they want to leave Him, too. Peter responds, 'To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of life.' I love these verses. They remind me that even when life is falling apart, God is still sovereign and He remains the source of life.

Baby J, 2006

Today I was thinking about the preparations for our first trip to China. I saw a blog with a list of 10 important things to take to China that included Ziplock baggies. I dutifully packed two boxes worth of baggies for our trip, but I never did figure out what I was suppose to do with them. The boxes came back from China, crushed from being packed in a suitcase, but still carrying a full complement of bags. In retrospect, it is kind of funny. My entire parenting experience feels like those Ziplock baggies sometimes. I do "the right thing", not always sure why I do it, often failing miserably in the process. I try to fit the children into the mold of other people's children, dragging them to swim class, ballet, gymnastics, etc, forgetting they are unique individuals with unique needs. I also forget they were created by God, forged in His image, with His plan for them. I forget He blessed us with these wonderful creations, and that He has a plan for us in this process as well. I often feel crushed from the process, but I know God has not abandoned us; He is not silent and He will bring us through.

We have made our first trip to the Pumpkin Patch. J loves the pumpkins. She talks about the pumpkin patch all year long. More than she talks about Christmas. She can tell you event-wise where it falls in the year. She can tell you she got bitten by ants last year and to watch out for the ants. She is sad when they go away. She is already planning her next outing to the pumpkins, as well as what size stroller we will need to carry her new acquisition. I love seeing the world through her eyes for awhile!

K went back to the eye doctor this week. He has new eye drops and we go back again in three weeks.

We play a lot of dress up at our house. Some of our recent acquisitions are supergirl and batman. I have yet to convince either one to be a hobbit, but daddy has them well on their way with superheros.









-- Post From My iPhone

Today was Happy Head Shot Day, the day my brother survived a gunshot to the head in Iraq three years ago. He was in his helicopter and came under fire. His helmet was ruined, but not him, Thank God.



K has a cane now. He has no depth perception and has a hard time ambulating in new places. He is learning to use it, but it is hard having spent so long without it.

J would not smile for any reason. None of the usual smile tricks worked, so here is a pensive Snow White wearing a cape my mother made for me.


The Princess Leia doo.

Today is the six month anniversary of meeting K. It seems like it has been so much longer. I barely remember life before him. He continues to adjust to all the changes in his life, as do we all. They really are doing better as siblings and are having more 'usual' sibling rivalry.

I keep telling myself I am going to be more consistent with the blog and with taking pictures. I promise to try, really.

We have stuck our toes into the adoption waters again. Just testing the water right now...

I seem to have once again fallen off the blog wagon. K has started school and seems to enjoy it. He is doing very well with English and is settling down more. We go back to UAB next month for more testing.



J stays home still. She is doing ballet and gymnastics this year.



They are getting along better and playing more together. It's been a rocky road this summer, but we hold to the belief that this is God's plan and trust in His sovereignty.







-- Post From My iPhone

Have you ever read something that you probably have seen many times before, but for some reason, this time it really strikes you? I read one this morning: Hab 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

J is making a patient list for rounding.




-- Post From My iPhone

We had a whirlwind trip to UAB today for K's follow-up. No answers right now, more testing ahead.

The drive back is always very long, but it does give me time to process. There are times when I think that I am not up to another adoption. In my heart, though, I still feel God is leading us back to China someday. Not any time soon, but I know the road is not done yet.


-- Post From My iPhone

Here are the two darlings with the things they love--Miss Kitty and Batman.

Beyond that, I'm at a loss for what to say.

On second thought, I do have something to say. This blog update made me cry. This young man was severely burned in an accident that killed his father. To be loved by a new family is fantastic. More amazing is that he was able to spend the last few years among people who accepted him despite his special needs, who opened their arms, sought to meet his physical and spiritual needs and showed him the love of God through their actions and not mere words. If only every child in the world had such an opportunity...

A lot has happened since I last updated the blog. Keith had his follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist. His corrected vision (with glasses) is somewhere between 20/100 and 20/200. For perspective, the big E at the top of a vision chart is 20/200. With glasses, he can see that line. The next line is 20/100. He cannot see that line. Without glasses, he walks into walls. Legally blind is best corrected vision of 20/200, so he is close but not quite legally blind. He is going to have an exam under anesthesia of his eyes on August 7. I have spent a good deal of time over the last month on the phone with the public school system trying to get him evaluated and into the regional blind school. It has thus far been a very frustrating and irksome process.

He is doing quite well with learning English. He has trouble with concepts and words that sound similar, like Sunday and Someday. Overall, though, he communicates with us very well.

He is better bonded to daddy than mommy still, but at least doesn't cry when daddy leaves anymore.

J is now four, which is hard to believe. She continues to have sleep issues. She remains our little princess.

These are from the beach this weekend. K looks like he is surfing on his own in the top, but in the bottom, you can see Paw Paw holding the back. They both had a great time. J liked being in the water more than K.
A lot of other stuff has happened that I'm still processing, some of which still makes me very mad. I think some things are beyond repair, but time will tell.

I'm listening to a sermon where the speaker says we should use all that happens to us as a witness. I've spent a lot of time mulling this sermon. I've been uncertain about the direction of the blog for months and maybe it's time to turn the focus a little.

Overall, I believe that our adoptions have been the road God wants us on and overall I believe all that has happened has been His sovereign plan. The struggle, though, is seeing that sovereignty in the daily battles and seeing His plan in the hurtful times. It's the point where faith becomes reality.

This morning the kids were driving me a little crazy and I passed through the kitchen and saw the above. It was quite endearing, somehow, and reminded me how much fun they add to my life, even during the battles.

iphone pic dump: spring '09

Here's the best from my iPhone. Enjoy!








These last ones, with Keith in his Bama shorts, Superman pajama shirt and Batman cape, are a pretty good indication of the constantly moving target that Keith is. He was acting "super" and was just cracking me up.