The Chicken or the egg

Sam has been enthralled with his class pets...chickens the class watched hatch. They really are four cute balls of fur (or down I guess is a better way to put it.) Sam takes us in for daily updates on how the chicks have changed. His little mind is full of new chicken questions. Why are their nails so long? Will the roosters fight? How do you know if the egg will turn into a rooster or a hen?

Do you anticipate the next big question?

How did the egg get into the mommy chicken? His teacher explained that the roosters and the hen spent some time together to make an egg. She warned me that more questions were sure to follow. But who can really anticipate the mind of a five year old...or at least our five year old!

We were driving home from school and I told Sam that his Papa had lots of chickens when he lived on a farm. Sam immediately wanted to call dad. Sam jumped right into the main topic for the call.

"You had chickens? How many? How many roosters? How many hens? Did the roosters fight? Hey wait a minute...if you only had two roosters and that many hens how did you get eggs? No, Papa my teacher says that it takes one daddy chicken AND one mommy chicken to make an egg. That is too many hens. Yeah, mom is right here....Mom, Papa wants to talk to you."

My old man

We started celebrating Bryan's birthday today. We had a great small gathering of friends who came over and enjoyed the sunny evening, our deck, bratwurst, and cake. Bryan might be getting old, but he still can blow out all of those candles...or maybe it was the breeze!

My top ten list

I often think about how blessed I am to have such a great family. These are the top ten reason why I love the busy life of motherhood!

10. the opportunity to get exercise bent over a tricycle.

9. someone to remind me to walk slow and look at EVERY rock and flower.

8. a good reason to eat mac and cheese

7. encouargement to learn dinosaur names that I didn't bother to learn as a child.

6. opportunities to make up words like "no bonking" aka "no hitting"

5. reminders of the important things in life like...worms, finger painting, fruit snacks, bubble baths, fancy socks....

4. making up silly songs

3. rocking a stuffy nose little person to sleep

2. an extra hug or kiss at any time


and the number 1 reason...or 2 reasons...


SAM and RUTHIE!

A big lesson

We had a big scare with Ruthie Roo this past week at my mom's house. I was helping Sam clean the wax out of his ears (too much info? hmmm....)in the bathroom when Ruthie walked in. I noticed that she was headed for the cleaning supplies that had been left on the counter and I firmly told her not to touch. In the space of oh about .5 seconds she had decided to disobey and give the bottle a good squirt. The problem - the bottle was facing her. The next moments, which felt like hours, were filled with her screams and my panic over the Clorox in my 2 year old daughters eyes. Mom and I held her over the sink and rinsed her eyes out with luke warm water and listened to her screams. We gave her (and ourselves to be honest) a break about 10 minutes into it. I held her in a towel and cried with her...hoping no permanent damage had been done. We went back to the sink for round two and she started to scream again. But this time she was screaming a different tune. At the top of her lungs she screamed, "this is why you don't disobey! You get your eyes washed out." If the whole thing hadn't been so intense I know that I would have burst out into laughter. Hopefully it will be a lesson for both of us.

It really is moments like those that I learn about myself from my kids. I wonder how often HE looks down on me and wonders why I don't obey the first time. I can almost hear HIM..."don't touch. You will burn your eyes. The consequences aren't worth it." Yet I forge on and do what I want to do anyway. Then I scream over the pain that it caused me.

I have been tempted in the past week to disobey HIM in regards to our big move to China. Sometimes it just feels too hard. Like when we have strangers walking through our house and I remember everything that I love about our home and I don't want to give it up. Or when I am going through trunks of baby clothes I have been saving. I know that I don't need to store all of this stuff. It is just stuff, but it is sad none the less.

I even find myself pitching a fit in moments when I am trying to be obedient. I was reading a book about helping kids transition into other cultures and I literally freaked. "My kids won't be normal. What if moving to China emotional scars them for the rest of their lives." I cried...hard...screamed actually and then remembered the screams of my sweet little girl. At times disobeying seems easier, more fun, or better, but deep down I know that it isn't.

It is hard to obey...almost impossible at times. But worth the effort in the long run.

"What is impossible for man, is possible with HIM"

Easter Celebration

As Ruthie and I shopped for the food for today she was singing "he died, now he is alive." It was a great way to start a weekend of rejoicing. We enjoyed celebrating with several international and American friends. The photos tell the story of our day better than I could. We hope your day was as blessed as ours.

would you like a bacon candle?

today we were getting our house ready to show. we've been told that little things like the smell of baking cookies can leave people with a good impression of your house. so, tammy and i were batting around ideas for "aromatherapy" for the house. we thought that a candle would be great for this. soon after, tammy and sam went to a nearby store to purchase one - preferably one that smells like cookies. :-)

while at the store, sam came up with the perfect scent for the candle - bacon. he kept trying to persuade tammy that what we needed was a candle that smelled like frying bacon. that would make people like the house. and even more, he told her that people walking down the street would smell the candle and want to come inside to look at the house. he told her that a bacon candle was the sure way to sell our house.

so...would you buy a house that smelled like bacon?

i give my son a 10 for creativity...and a 9.5 for a persuasive argument. BUT tammy bought a candle. she went with a sugar cookie scent.

the bacon candle will have to wait for another day. :-)

SuperSam

Sam's new love is superheros. I am not sure where it came from. He had never watched Superman, the Hero Friends, or Spiderman. I didn't even know that the Green Lantern wasn't something that you take camping. To be honest growing up with all sisters - this is all new to me. In fact I was sure that it should be stopped. Quickly. I mean, what good can come from Sam CONSTANTLY, talking about bad guys and which good guy had the right super power to take care of the dilemma. Bryan (being the expert guy of the household) assures me that this is all normal. I guess boys need to run around in capes to some day grow up to be good men. I was skeptical. Until..

He started to sing a song about JC being more powerful than superheros. He then explained to me that the boys at school were arguing about which superhero had the best power. "I told them that HE is the best superhero. Right Mom?" In that moment I knew that our little superhero would be fine. He has it all in perspective.

So superheros have become part of our everyday life, but we have put a limit on how many superhero questions are allowed at dinner! You would too.

head to head challenge

I have heard so many stories about how stubborn I was as a child. I would pull all of the Kleenex out of the box. Mom would spank me, fold them and return them. My reaction...to pull them all out again, but rip them in two.

As I look into Ruthie's eyes, I see myself at two. She sets her jaw, gets a look in her eye and digs in to get what she wants. Because I was a stubborn two year old who grew up to be a stubborn mother, we often go head to head.

My mom often admits that she pr@yed for me to have a stubborn child so that I would know what I put her through. (Bryan complains that he is an innocent bystander in all of this stubbornness. Hmmm, I really wonder what his mom would say to that.)

So it is mornings like this morning, when I am sure that I dealt with four fits and a tantrum (yes in my book they are different) before 9 that I wonder if I am going to make it until Ruth turns 3. (May 14th for those of you who don't know!) But then it is afternoons like this one - dancing with my princess in the backyard that I know I would have her no other way. She is so full of life, so determined, and I know that once all of her passion is focused she will do AMAZING things.

Until then I plea for HIM to help Bryan and I focus all that wonderful passion HE gave her. (Oh, and I also send her to my mom's house for a few days. I figure she should enjoy all the fruit of her prayers as well!)

Blessing

Sometimes I feel like I should only post things that are deeply profound, interesting, or exciting especially in regards to our move to China. But, to be honest even though a good portion of our time is being used in one form or another to get ready for China - we still are just living life. And my life isn't overly exciting, profound, or interesting...but I do feel like it is blessed. I am reminded of that often through my family and friends.

One person who adds to the immeasurable blessing of my life is Yoon. She is a Korean professor at MSU and a dear friend. We often meet for coffee on Saturday mornings and I look forward to that time of my week. She challenges me with her questions, motivates me in my faith, and convicts me with her generosity.

I am sure each of you have several folks in your life that bless you like Yoon blesses me. If not, I will start praying that you find one. A good friend makes life so much sweeter!

Seven babies who need families.

I just want to start this post by saying that I don't doubt that we are suppose to move to China. It has been confirmed over and over in many ways....but today I recieved an email that brought me great grief. Sometimes I just wonder, "what if we weren't going? How would our lives be different? What would our family look like?"

For those of you in our blog world who don't know - we were in the process of adding to our family through adoption when we received the opportunity to relocate to China. We put the process on hold. It was one of the hardest decision we had to make through this whole process. All that said, yesterday I recieved an email from the Bethany social worker we had met with. There are seven babies about to be born that they can't find families for and she wondered if we would be able or willing to be a forever family for one of them. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Seven babies here in Michigan. Often folks think that in third world countries babies are unwanted, not here in the States. Yet, if a baby is the wrong color or might have a birth defect because a mother made some bad choices, then too bad. Families are willing to wait for two years for a white healthy girl, but need to be begged to take a boy whose mother drank and doesn't know the ethnicity of the father. I know there are good reasons, but REALLY what has our culture come too? It makes me angry at some moments and so sad at others.

So sometimes I just wonder....when will our family be able to be a part of the solution to this social injustice? When will the next member of our family, who I already love, come home? Sometimes it is just hard to wait.

A day of GREAT sorrow.

We are all very sad today. Samuel's pet fish "Watery" died this morning. The little guy has hung in there for well over a year, which I feel is pretty amazing. Samuel wasn't as impressed.

I had to tell him the news when I picked him up from school today. I began with explaining that I had very bad news. Sam started to tear up as soon as I said Watery's name. "Oh he made me so happy and now I am so sad." He cried. I hugged him as tight as a five year old will allow. Then Sam pulled away and said, "I am thinking about Watery being in heaven, but that doesn't even make me feel better." I found myself assuring him that God was taking care of Watery now. I felt a tad guilty - is it really theologically sound to tell my son that fish go to heaven? I finally decided that God is a God of comfort. So I did what it took.

To be honest Sam finally felt better when he decided that Watery dying provided a great opportunity to get a new pet...like a dog! Hmmm, we will see about that. I don't have that much compassion for my sad son - at least not today.

Ruthie's counting

This morning Ruthie helped to make yogurt fruit smoothies for breakfast. She had a great time adding the ice cubes; counting as she threw them in the blender.

"one, two, three, five, ten, thirteen, sixteen, a-lot-teen"

I love moments like those. She is so cute and growing up so fast.

Sam is preparing to go!

How does a five year old prepare to move to China?

Out of the blue today Sam asked me if his scooter could be taken apart with a screwdriver. I had no idea where the conversation was going (you would be amazed at how many things he wants to take a part with screwdrivers and other things!) I cautiously replied that I was not sure and he should ask his dad. (My go to answer when I feel like I am on shaky ground, I am ashamed to say!) My next question was - why? "Well, I don't think that it will fit in my suitcase if I don't take it apart," Sam replied.

That is a glimpse into the mind of Sam the man!

The things Ruthie says.

One of the best things about being a mom is hearing all the fun things that the kids think to say. Here are a few of my most recent favorites from the mouth of Ruthie:

I need my privacy!
When I grow up and become a mouse I will eat cheese.
When I grow up to be a pig I will hate being dirty.
When I grow up to be a princess you call me CinderRoo.
I am only a princess in a dress.
I can't count in chinese. I don't go to school yet!
That ouches me.
This place is a disaster! (After walking into the locker room at the gym.)
Look, my hands are empty! I neeeed some of that!
Brother taught me that.

I am not kidding. She has said all of these things in the last week! She keeps us laughing with everything that she thinks to say. But of them all the best is what she said tonight as I was hugging her goodnight. "mommy you are my precious." It doesn't get any better!

Crap juice

Today was the best day ever. Or maybe it just seemed that way because we were finally able to be outside. It actually got up to 67 degrees. We wore short sleeves, walked through Lansing's humble, but awesome zoo, played soccer in the backyard and grilled hot dogs!

Sam decided we should enjoy all of summer's pleasures by eating on the back deck. To add to the celebration we all drank juice for dinner. I gave Ruthie Cran-grape juice (something fun and new). She took one drink and asked "what is this?" I told her and she said, "Oh, I like crap juice!"

From the mouth of a two year old!

Sam the Man

Today when I dropped Sam off at school I had a divine moment of realization.

I was kneeling by the table saying good morning to his buddies when the conversation started.

"We are going to beat up bad guys today," Sam's friend Kalif began. Sam and his other buddy Terry jumped right in. Being the mother I am, I quickly jumped in too. "Oh, we shouldn't beat people up," I told them. "We beat up bad guys," Terry explained with a tone that implied that the conversation was finished. Being the mother that I am...I was not done. "Oh, even if they are bad guys we shouldn't beat them up." Kalif quickly replied, "But bad guys sometimes have guns." "Then we should call the police," I responded. "Maybe you could pretend to be the police." Then in a way that only a child can say to his parents, Sam said, "Mmmmoooommm." I was shocked as I heard Sam's desperate tone to get me to stop. Then one of the boys let one rip. "It wasn't me," Kalif said. "Not me," said Sam.

As I heard Sam not claiming the foul smell on the heels of a conversation about beating up bad guys, it hit me. SAM WILL BE A MAN. I guess I just didn't think about my son turning into one. But he will.

A secret confession. I thought about stopping the teacher on my way out and asking her to move Sam's seat. I didn't.

Just to make you smile.

Their smiles make me smile. I thought you might enjoy them too!

A determined Ruthie

Determined is a great way to describe Ruthie. (At times I have been known to call her stubborn, but my mom quickly reminds me that I was the same!) She has been displaying her determination in her new quest for a baby sister or brother. She has decided that the power to get a new baby is in praying.

For two weeks she has been praying every night for a baby. "God please put a baby in my mommy's tummy. I will be a good big sister!" "God help us find a baby with no family. I will be a good big sister!"

It all seemed innocent until Saturday.

We were packing our bag in the locker room after enjoying a swim, when a family with a tiny baby walked in. "Hey," Ruthie yelled. "How did God give them a baby? I still don't got one!" I smiled sweetly at the young mother and ushered the kids out QUICKLY before Ruthie decided to grab the baby and run!

Our one sorrow in moving to China is that Ruthie's prayers may go unanswered for awhile. As a family we feel very passionate about adopting which we put on hold in order to study in China. We are believing that God will satisfy this desire in our hearts somehow, sometime. Right now we just are not sure how. At times I feel as impatient and determined to make it happen as Ruthie. We would appreciate you joining our family in seeking God's heart in this matter. He has placed a desire in our lives to move to China as well as to adopt. May we trust Him with both.