2 years ago today

We sat in a court room and finalized the adoption of our 3 (at the time) children. Sarah, Alana and Malakai miraculously became "ours" legally. It was a long wait to finalize them; 2 1/2 years for the girls and a year and a half for Kai but it was well worth it! We couldn't be more amazed at our children and how God has blessed us beyond our measure with these 3 (and of course the others too).

Baptism

Tomorrow Sarah is being baptized and Jonah went over some scriptures with her and they talked about it. Tonight, tucking Alana into bed she asks why she can't be baptized since she has Jesus in her heart. I asked her what it meant to be baptized. Her response? "Well, Jesus was baptized too. He died on the cross and then fell into the water." I had to laugh at that one... And that just a short week after Resurrection Sunday and me thinking that she actually got it :) Prayerfully she does.

Our adventerous misadventure

The day before Easter Jonah decided we were going to go on a hike. So, we packed a lunch and headed off to a nearby waterfall that Jonah had heard about. He checked it all out online and it said that it was an easy paved 1/2 mile trail. Perfect for the kids, right? NOT!
We get there and it is dirt, no problem at all, we can do that. But then it starts getting a little rocky and what's that? Dad is pointing out poison oak to the kids? Oh, and there's some more. Oh, and here there is only 6 inches to get by without touching the poison oak on either side. Malakai's wobbly 3 year old step is at least a foot in each direction at any given time, especially when dodging rocks. We stopped, surveyed the situation with an 8 year old and 3 preschoolers walking; Jonah with a toddler on his back and me with an infant on my front. Could we do this without coming home to a night of misery with scratching, itching kids? We decided no, it wasn't worth it and after just 300 short yards turned back around to the car.

Then came the problem of where to eat lunch? We are out on a one lane country road with hungry kids (and a hungry Mom too) trying to find a good plcae to eat. We found a great little picnic bench under an oak tree that was perfect for climbing. No one was around and the kids got to roam. They discovered some really neat flowers we hadn't seen before and Daddy found this amazing green vine that produces these funny looking spiky fruits that smell like cucumber when you cut them open. They had a hand pump, just like they have in Liberia and the kids played and played in the water. Can you say "school"? Even though we didn't get to do what we had planned we had a really great time. I love being with my husband and my kids, what could be better?


Judah loving being high up in the tree.


Mom pumping the water and the kids getting soaked.


On the way home we had all the windows down and I looked back to see Malakai with his hair flying and his mouth wide open. Do we really need a dog? ;)



Cool cat, Isaiah


Eating lunch


Sweet Alana


Sweet Sarah


Malakai getting some climbing help from Dad


My cutie Judah

Some Easter pictures

Isaiah displaying all of the bunny ears. Each child got one and he rounded them up to put them all on his head. Silly boy... Isn't he handsome?


Tradition in my family is that I make the deviled eggs (why in the world are they called this BTW?) I have been doing this since I was about 11 years old and even though I am ready to pass it on to someone else ( can you say sister-in-law? Janet) I get pressured into it every time. Here are some of the kids helping me peel eggs.


Aunt Judy gives all the kids bunny ears to wear, they loved them.


My Justus bunny, such a cutie pie...


Last but not least my cute little brother, Kelly and his courtship friend Laura. They are officially in love and the best part is that the rest of the family loves her too!


The night before Easter we went to church (which was great) and then came home late and made our resurrection cookies. The kids LOVED this and they really got the message. After beating the nuts as hard as they could (they really had to pound to break them up) we told them that the Roman soldiers beat Jesus that hard. Kai's eyes were as big as saucers and says, "Oh Mommy, dey huwt Desus bad! I no like dat!" We were really hoping that Isaiah would get it but he still doesn't seem to completely understand. I think there are a lot of things that cause him trouble in the language arena. He is such a smart boy but doesn't have the words to respond many times.

A very sweet time for me was with Sarah. She stayed in service with us. They had a cross that was painted red with nails all over it. Our pastor told us that for Good Friday service they had everyone hammer in a nail to the cross and then they painted over it with "blood" symbolizing that our sins were covered by Jesus' blood. Afterwards Sarah told me that she almost started crying looking at the cross and thinking that Jesus went through all that pain and agony for HER, just for her. And she was so glad that her sins were washed away by his blood. What a precious moment for me, to realize she really gets it. She is being baptized next weekend, something we have put off for a few months now. She is very excited...

Friends

Little Z dressing up as a knight in shining armor


Me and K


All the kids, minus one of hers.

This past weekend we had 16 people in our house for a overnight visit. Only 3 of them were adults (well one "child" was 18 :)), the rest kids aged from 11 down to Justus at 3 months. I had never met this family before but knew K from a yahoo group for those who have adopted from Liberia. She went and got her 2 boys just as we were starting the process. It was such a blessing for our family to spend time with them and have them stay with us. A house full of 13 kids and it wasn't loud and noisy or crazy! The kids were all well-behaved but had a lot of fun too! K and I stayed up till almost midnight talking and getting to know each other in real life. It was wonderful. We are both young with large families (although she has me beat with 8 children at 28 but she has been married for 12 years! You do the math). It felt like we had been friends for years and I am bummed that we don't live closer together. K's family is going through a very tough time right now and they are being tested beyond what seems possible. If you feel so inclined, please pray for their family, espeically over the next few weeks.

CA homeschooling legislation, we need your help!

Many of you may or may not know that homeschooling in CA is being threatened right now with a new ruling that deems homeschooling illegal. As a homeschooling mom who feels very strongly about HSing her kids it is pretty scary to think they can take away my right to do what I think is best for my children. There is new legislation coming up to the "governator" right now that would overturn the current ruling and make homeschooling a fundemaental right of parents no matter their educational background. All you need to do is make a 15 second phone call (seriously, this is all it took). It is all automated.

If you are in support of homeschooling as a choice for parents, call
Governor Schwarzenegger' s office at

916-445-2841.

It's entirely automated.
Press "1" (English),
then "2" for legislative bill.
Then the recording asks if you are calling regarding ACR115 -
press "1".
If in favor, press "1". That's it. It took all of 15 seconds.

If you take the few seconds to make this call, thank you so much!

A praise report

I just got a phone call from Isaiah's doctor at Loma Linda saying that he does NOT have Sickle Cell disease and he only has the trait. Woohoo, great news and one more worry/thing checked off my list! Thanks for your prayers too all my faithful blogger friends and mostly stalkers... :)

Easter Story cookies

To be made the evening before Easter
You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until You're
half done with the recipe)!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the
wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested.He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing
bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given
vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar.
Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and
brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tearsshed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He
loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff
peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and
empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

Try it and I'd love to hear how your's turned out and what your kids thought about it!

Aye, Matie!

Malakai has been in a pirate loving phase. Of course he is always the good pirate (is there such a thing?). When he is feeling a bit dramatic he asks to put on his pirate hat and we have graced our dear city many a time thus far with my son looking like a "pirate". Well, the top to it all happened when he cut his eye really badly but thankfully no stitches were needed. I finished putting a bandaid on his eye, he looks at me and says, "Aye, I be a piwate, matie." It was really cute as up till that point he never used the lingo. I guess he just put the one eyed thing together with being a "real" pirate. He thought he was pretty cool.



The accident had just happend (he already had on the bandana), thus the sad look on his face.

The little J-man

Oh yeah, I'm adorable, uh huh!


I love these hands of mine, just can't seem to take them out of my mouth, seriously...


"Why you lookin' at me?"


Yo, yo, yo!


Love those fingers...

Justus is now 3 months old and LOVES his new Bumbo seat. He's not really one for laying down and loves to look at everything so we bought him this seat. It gives him the chance to watch all his crazy siblings as much as he wants, and of course suck on his beloved fingers (or hands) too.

The Big 20K giveaway!

Ginger over at Clark Chatter is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Vision Forum. All you have to do is go to her blog and leave a comment telling her how you tie heartstring with your child.

Adoption is Greater than the universe- John Piper

What a beautiful picture, hey? I just want to say a few things about adoption. How many of you that are reading this have thought about adopting but just have never gotten around to it? I cannot tell you how many people I talk to that tell me they always wanted to adopt or that they would like to adopt when they find out how our family was made. Did you know that 9.9 million women have considered adoption but only 16% of those women have taken steps to adopt. Of those 16%(1,584,144 women) only 31%(that's only 491,084!) of them actually DO adopt a child! Wow, that isn't very good odds is it?
Growing up I always dreamed of having a few bio kids and then adopting a few more. The first night Jonah and I had dinner together when we were still friends we both talked about the same thing. We never dreamed that our family would be the way that it is because we just assumed God would bless us with bio kids first. Not to be. I can't tell you for certain whether we ever would have gone on to adopt but I am pretty sure we would have since we started foster care and were placed with the girls before we ever found out there was something wrong.
So, have you thought and dreamed of adopting a child that needs a home? There are so many of them you know. I think that the desire is there because God put it there for you to do something with, not just think about it. There is a reason why you have thought about it and dreamed about it! I don't really know what this post is about, maybe to challenge you? Make you seriously think about adopting a needy child, not just thinking about it but, researching it and getting more information? Taking the next step and applying to adopt?
And if you have never dreamed of adopting a child, have you thought about supporting orphans or adoptive families that are trying to adopt? As Christians I believe it is something that God calls us to do, "Taking care of widows and orphans in their distress." There are so many things you can do! Give money, give time, say prayers, give hand-me downs, go help and many more things too.
Just think about it, that is all...

Fun, fun, fun

Saturday night I was handed a note from Sarah that said, "Show Tonight before bed. Prepared by Sarah and Alana Winger. Please come." So instead of reading a story we all sat down on the couch for the show. It wasn't really much of a show to be honest, they hadn't really 'prepared' anything, but just wanted to dance for us. Alana was presented first but couldn't dance without music so Daddy put on some "slow ballerina music" for her to dance too. She twirled and twirled till she fell on her head, as Alana gets very dizzy VERY quickly. We all laughed and then cheered for her together. Then it was Sarah's turn who asked for some crazy music and danced like a child on intravenous sugar doses. Thus we went down the line of children (with Judah doin' his groove thing with each of them) until finally they had to do their grand finale. All 5 of them danced to their hearts content in our little family room and Jonah says, "We NEED more kids, this is just too much fun!" I can heartily agree with him. I never thought having 6 kids would be this much fun (especially with 5 of them 4 and under, you would think I'd be crazy insane most of the time) but it is SO MUCH FUN! So, those of you who only have 2 or 3 kids and think it is SO difficult I have some advice for you. Have a few more kids and it WILL get easier and much more fun, I promise! :) 3 was by far my hardest number thus far. I am so glad I have 6 kids and can't wait (OK, so I wouldn't mind waiting 2 or 3 years;) ) for God to increase that number as He wants too!

Don't know what to post

I just thought I should post, since it's been a few days. Justus turned 3 months old yesterday and is growing by leaps and bounds. He has a doc appoinment tomorrow to see about his exzema, it is so bad. (Nikki, thanks for the sites!) His cheeks are completely open and oozing sores and no matter what I put on it or do to help, it will get a little better and then just get worse again. I bought some soy formula yesterday (which I didn't really want to do since soy has lots of estrogen, who wants to give that to their son?) and am cutting dairy out of my diet hoping that it will help. There are many other allergens that can cause severe exzema like this and if this doesn't work I may have to resort to either an elimination fast or stop breastfeeding (which I am not willing to do). It looks like I may be going on a VERY strict diet. I know that the doc will probably prescribe steriods for him tomorrow but that is not a cure, it will just cover up the problem for a while (and who wants their child on steriods anyways?), so I really want to find the root of it if I can.

Jonah went back to work this week at his station. For the last 5 weeks he has been coming home every night because he has been in classes. It was hard for me to adjust to him coming home each night and now it is a little hard to readjust to him NOT being home each night. I really like a warm body in my bed so thank goodness I have a little guy that loves to snuggle.

Yesterday was another Costco trip because, again, I had coupons I needed to use for things that we really needed. For a treat, we ate dinner there (gotta love that you can feed 6 people for only $8) and I pondered why I felt so different this trip from my last one. I think I am finally getting used to the stares (whether good or bad) and also I am just trying to focus on my kids. A friend of mine, Ginger, and I have the same philosophy when we are out with our kids. Be happy, show the world that you love your kids and are having fun with them! Yes, with 5 kids 4 and under (and an amazing 8 1/2 year old) that can sometimes be a bit challenging but I find that usually, when you are being silly and having fun with them, they are having fun and being silly too! It is much harder to disobey or turn sour when you are having a good time. I do NOT want people to look at me and say, "Oh, that poor woman. Look at all those kids, she looks so downtrodden and worn-out." I want them to say, "Wow, look at that woman with all those kids! She looks great, her kids are so well-behaved, and they are all having so much fun together!"

We are in the planning stages of Isaiah's birthday. I took him to the party store to decide what kind of party he wanted. You would not believe the different themes you can choose from. It was amazing, to say the least. After narrowing it down to 'Thomas the Train', 'Curious George', 'Fire engines', 'Tractors', and 'Cars' he made the decision to have a "fireman" party. This boy is so excited about his party and all the people that are going to be there, it is funny listening to him talk about it. He says, at least 4 times a day, "Mama, der be lots o' people a' my potee?" and "I haf a big chocolate cake?" (which he called black cake until I told him what it was called). This year, he and Alana get to have a party since we only do them for 1,5,10,13,16, and 18. And they are lucky they get even that! If it were up to me we would cut them out competely and just celebrate with family but it is kinda fun to watch them get so excited about it. The problem, his birthday is still a little over a month away, but he thinks it's today; everyday. :)

To all of you invisible moms

I don't know who wrote this but loved it and thought I would share it with all of you...


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I c ould find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-center edness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

A trip to Grandpa's

On Saturday we rolled in to my parents place, as they were going to watch the kids for us overnight so we could have a little "date". They convinced us to leave the baby and Jonah surprised me and took me to a very nice hotel. We had a wonderful time together, just reconnecting. I felt rejuvenated the next morning when we picked the kids up to head to Grandpa's house.
The kids love to go to Great Grandpa's house as he ALWAYS has candy to give them. This was his first time meeting Justus and just loved holding him and looking at him.

Grandpa loved to pretend to eat Isaiah's ear and he would just giggle and giggle about it.
Grandpa also always gives them books and Kai was more interested in his book than posing for a picture.


Look at my handsome boy! His whole face becomes amazingly beautiful when he smiles, doesn't it? When he's pouting or frowning he just looks so pathetic.

And a picture of my handsome, rebel husband who doesn't have the high and tight fireman's haircut everyone thinks he should have. I think he does the whole sideburn, long hair, 80's mustache just because it's different and people tell him to cut it. I think it gives his look some character and fun. It goes with his goofy personality too.
And last but not least a rare picture with me and one of my kiddos. Notice Justus' red cheeks? We have been battling what we think is serious baby eczema on his cheeks and very dry skin everywhere else. Any suggestions? I have been putting candela and shea butter on it as often as I can; I have been taking Cod liver oil and virgin coconut oil to boost the fats in my breatmilk but it seems to get better one day and then worse the next. We go to the doc on Friday so we will see what she says about it. She didn't seem concerned last time but it wasn't nearly as bad as it is now.

Moving on

After a few days at the in-laws we decided to head on back home but take Highway 1 all the way and make some stops along the way. The night before we left(Mon.night) we got some scary news that Jonah's grandpa was missing. He is 86 and was last seen at Costco; no history of dimentia or anything. We were all quite scared that something bad had happened and so we left the in-laws house worried and not in the best of spirits waiting to see what would happen. As we were driving we saw dolphins playing in the waves and stopped to watch. Even with it raining and cloudy it is a beautiful drive.
We drove to Monterey and took the kids to the aquarium. We had a blast seeing all the sea creatures. There was also a Mama otter that had just given birth out in the ocean. We got to see them since they were so close. Amazing...
That night we got a phone call that Grandpa was found in Utah! He has no clue how he got there but he was trying to get to his daughters house (40 min. away from his) and just kept driving... all night long... thru Vegas... and doesn't remember a thing. A state trooper (or whatever they have in Utah) recognized him (missing persons report) and had him come with him. Grandpa's only comment about that was that he had a blast with those guys. It was such a relief to know that he was safe.

And on we drive...
Look at all that stuff and all those kids! Our car we bought for our family of 6 has filled up quickly! We bought it 3 years ago when we had only 3 kids in anticipation for when we would complete our family with 6. Or so we thought. No, we are not done yet... :)
Drove through Morro Bay(see pic of Morro Rock) to get to our next stop, Pismo Beach.

Then the following day we drove to Santa Barbara to stay with my Aunt Jannie. We all adore her and LOVE staying at her house. There is something so special about it. It is an old Craftsman bungaloe that she had redone on "This Old House" a few years ago. It's beautiful.
Even more beautiful is her view of the city and the ocean beyond. We love to sit out here on her veranda couches and have a glass of wine and talk.
Judah having fun at his Great Aunt's house.

And we will continue on next time with a trip to see Grandpa...