Quiet is not as cool as you think

Well, Samuel has been gone for a week.  It is so quiet around here.  I don't like it.  At all.

At first, Elena was in her glory having all the attention.  Yesterday, on the way to the bank, she asked me if she could pray that Samuel come home very very soon. I told her that he will come home when he is suppose to, but maybe she could pray that it FEELS like soon.

I need to pray that, too.

Seriously.  I miss that boy.

Terribly.

8 weeks is a long time.  2 weeks is doable.  1 week is nothing.

As I mentioned before, my babies will be in the same continent together, in fact in bordering countries.  But they will have to wait until they are both in the good old USA to meet.  

We had our embassy appointment on Monday and everything went well.  WOO-HOO!  Now we just wait for the visa to be issued, then apply for the exit permit which takes 3 or 4 days, and SHE IS HOME!!!   Unfortunately, visas are taking WAY too long.  As of April, they were taking 1 week.  Now minimum 3 weeks.

Of course.

I am nervous.  But not.  I have such a wonderful network of friends to support us, who have been praying, worrying, getting excited, calling, getting frustrated along side me, can't wait to meet her, love her already, love her skin, love her hair, love her name, love her, period!!  And yet, still making Elena feel like she is worth her weight in gold, kind of friends.

And our children??   They are totally sold out, too!

GOD is good to us.

My mom, sister and I went to a Lilly sale yesterday.  Afterwards, we hit an outlet mall.  While we were walking to a store, I saw this lady with a cool stroller that I may have to get.  I ran over to her, with my mom running behind me.  This woman was blonde and had 2 white-blonde haired daughters.  As we were talking,  we realized her 2 bio little girl are my adopted daughter's ages.  Almost EXACTLY!!  It was awesome.  And then, she introduced her oldest daughter who was 8.  She had the most beautiful dark skin EVER.   And her smile?  It lit up the world.

It made me glad.  She was a domestic adoption; came home with them from the hospital at 2 days old.  This couple decided to adopt from the start.  In fact, it could be said the adoption was a honeymoon baby.

I love hearts like that.

And you know what?  She didn't care that my girls are internationally adopted.  In fact, she was thrilled!

Parents of adopted children, domestically or internationally, get that.

<3


Anyway, we are off to see a beautiful baby boy.  Oh, and my daughter and son-in-law, too.  I need me some grandson time.  The drive is a killer, but seeing that family is worth it.

Modifying Participles

I teach grammar to some high school homeschoolers.

I really enjoy grammar.

Most times, I correct people, in my head.   I have learned not to correct them in public.  People would rather be ignorant than corrected.


Unless they ask, and if they do, they usually change their minds before the day is over, not really knowing just how bad their grammar is in real life and therefore ask me to 'knock it off with the correcting, already'.

Mind you, I DO NOT have perfect grammar all the time, but I know when I am saying something incorrectly, and I cringe inside, remember the rule in my head, then move on.

Today we reviewed for the final.  I am proud of some of the students; their efforts and hard work is exemplary.  The others, they are the ones that challenge my (our) sanity.

ANYWAY, our son leaves in about 36 hours.  I am getting nervous.  I think he is, too, and it is the same kind of nervous that I have.

I will miss him.  He is thinking he will be homesick.

He will.

But GOD is good, and he will pray through it.

I am counting down the days until he comes back.  Elena and I will have two count down calendars.  One for when her little sister gets here ( again pushed out another week, so HOPEFULLY July 15) and one for when her big brother gets back home.  And we will be praying daily.

Speaking of Elly-Bug, I am taking this time when it is just the two of us, to really perfect reading.  She is right on the cust of taking off.  We are in that in-between stage, when she will sound out all the sounds of almost any word, regardless of how long or hard it is, but doesn't make it flow.

It is my goal, that when her little sister gets here, she will be able to read to her if she so desires. <3

How is eating vegetarian for the past two weeks going, you ask??   LOL  Fine you didn't ask.

It is ok.

Granted, Samuel, Elena and I are not full vegetarians, we eat organic fish & chicken sporadically, today, I took them to Burger King ( nothing in the fridge, shame on me) and they both felt gross.  I guess their body is cleaned out and it is revolting to that kind of food.  Samuel is the one who told me he felt sick, and for the first time in his life, he understood why people hate fast food.

He is the kid who always threatened to have a fast food diet when he moved out of the house.

Gross.

I think he may be changing his mind.

:D

Ok, off to church's mission classes for the kids.  Mission should be the heart beat of every believer.

After all...it is HIS heartbeat.

I am tired.

Seriously, parenting is exhausting.

Wifing ( I made that word up) is exhausting.

Last night I watched the tail end of Fireproof.  Again.

I remember when it first came out, how people either loved it or thought it was so cheesy, it was bordering on insulting.

I liked it.  

A lot.

I certainly wasn't holywood-ish.  But that was part of its charm.

Anyway, watching it again reminded me...

STOP DEMANDING YOUR RIGHTS.

As Americans, that is such a foreign concept for us.

My son reminds me all the time of his rights.  I remind him his basic rights are to serve others;

And to surrender himself for HIS glory.

Which flies in the face of what the world is telling him.

And telling me.

Glad I saw the movie again.

Last week, I took the boys ( Samuel & Co.) as well as Elena to Six Flags.

Again.

I find it hilarious how sometimes the boys want to go on the kiddie rides, so they snatch Elena from me and use her as an excuse to HAVE to go on certain rides.

As if she needs 3 chaperones.

Mind you, they also go on those rides that will take 5 years off your life in 2 minutes.

You can't get me on those for nothing.

The most adventurous ride I like is the Buccaneer boat. 

True story.

My son leaves in 6 days.  He is gone for 7 1/2 weeks.

Most people tell me we are crazy to send him.

It hurts.  But not in a bad way, just in a human way. 

At the same time, I will not be one of those people who say " Jesus said we would be persecuted."

Duh.

I mean HE did say that.

But not as something to exhalt ourselves, to use for an excuse and to let everybody know that we are so holy.

Because in the end, we make choices.  We live it out as best as we can, we take the hits, the knocks and the consequences fo those decisions.

Good or bad.

And we move forward.

I am excited for him.  In a terrified way.  lol.

After all I am his mom.

I am already counting the days until he comes home.

If you are of the praying persuasion, please keep him in prayer.

And finally,

WE GOT PICTURES OF OUR DAUGHTER!!!!!

Woo-Hoo!

She is beautiful.  And it has nothing to do with her looks.  It is because she is our daughter.  <3

Legally, we can not post the pictures publicly.  Just friends and family.

But when she gets home!

<3  

Yous are all going to sick of all the pictures.

Excuse my Jersey.

May HE Always be on HIS Throne

We had our homeschool state fair this weekend.

One would think that since we are at the tail end of our 21 year homeschooling, I wouldn't need to hear speakers anymore.  In fact, I should try my hand at speaking.

As if.

But seriously, I went mostly to work.  I had 2 shifts and heard one speaker.   He was fantastic.  Even when I was working, my 13 year old went by himself and listened to another one of his talks. Samuel was impressed.  He was challenged.

As was I.

I purchased all his talks on cd.

Funny things was that though I saw the speakers' bios and lecture sinopsis before hand, in the flyer, he was not one that I was interested in hearing.

Go figure.

On Sunday we went to my son's future in law's for dinner.

What lovely and delightful people.  I may or may not have mentioned just how much her mom impresses me.  What grace and serenity.  And her laughter.

I could use a lesson.

Or 2.

Anyway, this weekend, my husband and I were discussing life.  Faith, nutrition, relationships, work, finances, family.   All of it ties into itself, and it got me thinking...

I KNOW all of it is lived out according to our views of who GOD is.  It is Christianity 101.

But once again, because I have a short memory, am busy, or just plain life gets in the way, no matter what...


IS HE GLORIFIED??????

Sometimes one aspect of our life may contradict another.  Because we are not living the world's way.  It doesn't make sense.

Such as the fact that my husband is becoming a vegetarian.  Yet, when you go to someone's home for dinner, do you live out your wants, or is the relationship more important?  Being a vegetarian does not make one more holy, just like being an omnivore doesn't either.  But being graceful and receiving that which is put before you is a holy act, one of humility and thankfulness.

My brain hurts.

Living it out for HIM is an every-breathe-you-take job.

We fail, and HE is merciful.

But at the end of the day....May HE be on the Throne of our hearts.  May we place our heads on our pillows and be thankful for our victories, as we relied on HIM, and thankful for HIS forgiveness, as we failed yet again.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen."  Praise the LORD!  ~Psalm 106:48

Bufol Boy went back home. 

Woe to me.  

LOL.

But the first birthday party was just...perfect.

He got a cake all to himself, he got to go to his uncle's piano recital, he got more kisses than he asked for, he was loved/held/play with/ so much, he didn't know what to make of it.

Speaking of recital, this is the most casual he ever dressed for a piano recital.  I was too busy to notice until I saw this picture.  Later that night.  :P  Had I noticed, he would be wearing an oxford shirt with a tie.

For Baby Boy's birthdat party, Elena wanted swirly hair.  A few days before, I made braids on her and at the end of the day, when we took them out, she was in love.

I told her we would do braids after her bath the night before the party.

Since her hair straightens in about an hour, I put loads of mouse before braiding, loads of hairspray right before taking them out, and this is what it looked like after HOURS into the party.

And she loved-loved-loved it.

My niece graduated college!!

She did it!

And we are all so very proud of her.

There were quite a few people graduating with her.

It took a while.

But it was glorious.

3 weeks from today, our son leaves for his mission trip.

I am having peaceful mom panic attacks.

Peaceful, because I know he is in GOD's hands. 

 Everyday of his life.  

We cannot extend it or shorten it if we tried.

And living outside of his little world and seeing GOD'S hands out of spoiled America ( mind you, I love our nation, but we ARE spoiled) will be good for him.

I remember getting lectures from people when we used to take our babies to homeless missions or feeding the hunger in the inner city continually.  I always felt like we were doing the wrong thing.   Only to find out, how else do we teach them compassion if they have no one to be compassionate to?  And how do we teach servanthood if they do not learn to serve others?  And how do we show them that GOD.SHOWS.UP. if we just lived in the comforts of our home and the entertainment of our things?  And only dwell on their own activities that revolve around them?

We can't.

So we listened to the lectures, and then we actively try to do HIS works, no matter what the good-intended people said.

BUT PLEASE do not let the fact that I talk so at peace about being at peace fool you.

In my humanity, I also panic.

It is in my nature.

And my nature is very powerful.

My mom-heart says WHAT??!!??!!  ARE YOU CRAZY??!!?

lol.

Having to stop my own lectures to myself has been a constant discipline in my faith since day 1.

My son is at peace.

He has no idea the amount of work and lack of comforts that await him.

He has to wash his own clothes.

In buckets.

And take bucket showers.

Work like a dog.

Sleep in a tent.  For 8 weeks.

Eat the basics.  Which here in America, we have no idea what that means.

And it will be good.

And HE will show up.

HE always does.  <3

Life is good. And busy. But still good.

Everytime I go to South Street, I realized just how much I REALLY like the Brooklyn Bridge.  I have always admired it; it is pretty awesome as far as bridges go, but now it is becoming a work of art in my eyes. Probably my favorite structure in the city.  I know, I know, there are loads of beautiful structures, but this is slowly but surely becoming my favorite.

Weird, but so it goes.

This weekend, my son in law GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL!!!

The week after he & my daughter got married, they left for VA as he was going to begin law school, and that has been all they know as a married couple.

Here it is 3 years later, and he is done!!

We have the honor to watch the commissioning, or as I would call it, the Hooding, the day before graduation, where they get their sashes/hoods/whatever that thing is called.  It was different and really nice because it was only for the law grads.

As opposed to the graduation that have all the grad and undergrad students graduating together.

Sisters.  <3  My daughter waiting for her man to come out so she could just hold him.  

It is a testament to her, too, as she walked this journey alongside him.  There is something to be said for a young couple starting off from the beginning; struggling and growing together. 

El-Bug was in her personal heaven, as she loves babies, and she loves strollers as well as pushing the stroller.  Here, she got to push a REAL LIVE BABY!!  ON A STOLLER!!  Does life get any better??

The next day was the graduation.

I admit, I cried again, when I heard his name.

My son thought he should get in on the picture taking, too.

And then I realized, he really should, but it should be done this way:

Our 2 oldest.  I am amazed at the way GOD is continually molding them and shaping them.  Maybe amazed is the wrong word.

I believe the word is thankful.

Not for The Faint of Heart. Or The Lazy.

Do my children argue?

Of course they do.

Do they tease each other?

Yup.

Are they required to apologize to each other, way.too.often?

Yes.

Do they tell on each other?

:::sigh:::

Even though they are 8 years apart, they are siblings to the core.

And yet, this is my favorite part.

When they laugh, care about, think about, pray for, play with, teach and help each other.

Being a parent is challenge, because teaching them never stops.

Ever.

Teaching them how some behavior is just not acceptable.

Ever.

How your life is NOT about you.

How your goals should never reflect your selfishness, but instead HIS glory.

How to take the extra, uncomfortable step to be kind.

How HIS Word should be the foundation of all your thinking.

How to be  good relative.

And a good friend.

How sometimes you have to walk away, even when you wish you could hang around.  But if someone doesn't want you around...they just don't want you around.

How to respect other's decision, even though you know it will lead them to disaster.  Or at least pain.  Not that you shouldn't show them the future, but at one point...it is their choice.

How to swallow your pride.

And the hardest part about all this, is that you have to live it yourself.

You have to confess your failures so they know that you need to keep on going , even when you fall.

How I have to remember that life is too short/too long to live it for myself.

As parents, our job is to teach & discipline when they are young, and then to guide when they get older, and to respect when they become adults .  ( Granted, when my adult kids say or do something that just is NOT acceptable, they WILL hear it from me.  Always.)

But in the end,

HE is good.

And our children should reflect that fact. In how they treat others.  And each other.

Everywhere they go.

In everything they do.

Will they fail? 

Yes.

Do I?  

OF COURSE!!

May HE grant us parents the patience, grace, perseverence, integrity, discipline, hope, knowledge, humility to raise the only real investments we have. 

Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’  Deuteronomy 4:10