Microphones and Umbrellas

Brogan loves to pretend random toys / items around our house are microphones (even though he has more than one microphone to choose from).  When he finds something that is particularly microphone worthy he will carry it around with him for hours.  Currently it is a plastic spoon that I let the kids use to pretend they were cooking.  It is no longer allowed to be used for that because it is his microphone.  He will scream if Addi tries to take it. (We are working on sharing!) What I love...instead of saying "microphone" he will refer to it as his "My God is Awesome." ;)

He is also going through this phase instead of saying, "I want more, please" he just says, "I love more, please."  So if he wants more water, he'll say, "I love more water, please."  :)  Too cute! And I sort-of lied, he doesn't always say "please" with the statement.  That is what I would LOVE him to do, but he is getting better...probably because we CONSTANTLY remind him that he needs to say it. :)

A little story to show that God cares even about our little one's desires.  Sunday it rained like crazy here.  Addi saw a ton of umbrellas at church (yep, we don't have one...well, we have multiple I'm sure, but who knows where).  Anyway, she decided that she wanted an umbrella...in fact, she tried to swipe one. I think it was an innocent act...I mean, would she really try to steal at church?  Anyway, I told her that we would get her one soon.  So Monday we went to Target for some things and as we were walking in she asked for an umbrella.  I told her if I could find one we would get it for her.  Truth: It was not in the budget that I am trying to stick to for the month, so I figured I would be able to distract her from an umbrella by buying her something from the Dollar Spot there and avoiding the umbrella section altogether.  Wouldn't you know that they happened to have an umbrella for $3.00 in that section?  Only one and it was pink...her favorite color.  Now, I'm not saying that it was definitely a God thing - and I know that there are MUCH more important and urgent issues for Him to care about - but seriously, what are the chances that she would want something so badly and I just happen to find a cheap one in her favorite color at the first area we stopped in at the store? Coincidence or not, I whispered a prayer of thanks as I handed the umbrella to my sweet girl.  She was so excited!  She was telling everyone in the store that she was getting an umbrella.  They probably thought, "That poor, deprived child. She must never get anything new." ;)  She loves it...plays with it inside and cannot wait for it to rain!  Note to anyone who may want to try this: Before her bath on Monday night, I let her stand in the tub with her umbrella and turned on the shower.  Water went EVERYWHERE as it bounced off the umbrella and Addi freaked out.  Not my finest mommy moment, but my intentions were good. :)  Oh...and also (mainly for any family that may read this)...money is not so tight that we can't afford to buy things...we are just being frugal and have a strict budget this month since we paid for a certain little girl's birthday party earlier this month. :)

Of course, I was going to be a miser and not buy my little girl an umbrella and yet tonight Jared and I have date night. :)   Priorities...aside from God, our marriage is our biggest priority.  Date night is important.  We don't do it enough, mainly because of time.  That and the fact that we don't like to leave the kids multiple nights a month and we don't have any family in the area, so it costs us $10.00 an hour for a babysitter.  We personally think people should pay us to watch our kids since they are so great and all. ;)  So for now, we only go about once a month...which usually turns out to be once every six weeks or so.  Tonight's the night though and the kids get to spend time with their favorite (and only) babysitter, "L".  She is a blessing and the kids adore her!  She also is struggling with asthma and allergies at this time of year, so if you think about it, please say a prayer for her...I know she can use some tonight. ;)

Polka Dotted Day

This morning I took the kiddos to an Easter event.  On the way, I was a bit bummed because it was cold and rainy and I wanted it to be a sunny Spring day.  Addi put it all into perspective.  She had commented that it was raining, but suddenly she saw the rain in a different light.  She looked at our car windows and exclaimed, "Mommy, there are polka dots on our windows!"  She was so excited...the girl LOVES polka dots.  It was so sweet and at that moment I prayed that she would always be able to see the "polka dots" in the midst of any storms that may come her way.  

Thank you, Addi for an innocent, but beautiful reminder to look for the beauty in all situations.  You are certainly one of my brightest "polka dots" and mommy loves you so much!!  

In other news...

Addi and Brogan got to pet real lambs today...they were in heaven.  Both of them loved it!! :)

Brogan finally has a new favorite song.  For months, it has been "My God is Awesome."  All members of the family loved that song, but I must admit that after hearing it probably well over 100 times, we all got a little tired of it and would sort-of groan when he would ask for that song. So, his new favorite song is "10,000 Reasons."  He made a good choice. :)

The relationship between Addi and Brogan is growing even more.  They really and truly are becoming the best of friends.  Hearing them laugh together is amazing. I know I've said that before, but I just had to say it again. :)

I took about an hour to relax tonight after the kids went to bed...like bubble bath, good book and pampering myself relax.  It was wonderful and I truly feel like a new woman.  Random, I know, but just a friendly reminder to all of you to make sure you take a little time to yourself every now and then.

We are in the midst of March Madness.  I don't really care about it, but Jared does.  His watching the game is the reason I found no guilt in taking a bubble bath instead of spending time with him tonight. So it was a win-win for both of us.  Technically, it wasn't since the team he had chosen to win, lost.

I guess that is enough random musings for now.  Enjoy your week!  May it be filled with lots of polka dots! :)

Some Prayer Requests

I have so much on my mind to post.  Many lessons that I have been taught recently...funny kids the things do,...etc.  I start to write a post and words just sort of fail me.  So, for now, this is what is on my mind.

Addi's party this weekend was a huge success!  She loved the bike Jared and I got her, but she fell and skinned her knee that night.  We felt terrible.  We thought she wouldn't want to ride it again for quite some time and would need coaxing the next time we wanted to get on it.  This morning she woke up, put on her helmet and said, "Can I have my bike, please?"  Music to my ears and the sweet girl rode/sat on it in the living room while we got ready for church.

We took the kids to their first concert tonight...Third Day.  Ten days before we started dating officially in 2003, Jared and I went to their concert together.  It was fitting that Third Day was their first concert.  Addi LOVED it.  She got tired, then got a second wind and pretty much rocked out the entire time. :)  Brogan enjoyed it, but was tired.  He fell asleep in his daddy's arms early on.

Please pray for Addi.  She is having a rough time being three.  I think it's just a growing phase...she's gaining a little more independence, she is growing and her brain is developing even more.  She is usually an excellent sleeper (unlike our little guy) and lately has been waking up throughout the night crying.  Pretty sure last night she had a night terror...it took her a while to wake up enough to even realize that we were with her.  She is sassing a bit more, refusing to nap, etc.  She is really a great child, one of the best there has ever been. She is just struggling a little bit right now.  It hurts my heart to see her this way though...especially not sleeping.  I don't know what to do for her.  I keep praying for guidance and patience.  Seems like I have been praying  A LOT for those things recently.  I am weary and worried.  I HATE not knowing what to do to make everything completely better in my children's lives. Good news...she is listening very well when it comes to her behavior in public.  This makes me so happy!  She is also SO lovable.  She loves for me to hold her and sit with her, etc. She is a delight...a pure joy, but sweet pea has a double dose of stubborn and just like her mama, desires to do things her own way all.the.time.

Please also pray for Brogan.  He has been sick so much recently.  It seems like when he gets sick, he stays sick for quite awhile.  Croup, then sinus infection, then pneumonia and now his teeth are super sensitive...he is getting four in at once.  I just want him to feel great.  Again, just bothers me, some.

Also, please pray that I can find a mentor.  I need one.  Parenting is so tough.  Much tougher than I thought. NOT because my children are horrible (because they are not), it just comes with so many more emotions than I ever imagined.  I feel like I am failing way too often.  I know I'm a good mom on most days, but I want to be a GREAT mom every day.  I put too much pressure on myself.  Most nights I go to bed feeling like I a failure.  Jared says I'm crazy and my kids sure do love their mommy, but still, I feel lost. I question so much of what I do.  I feel so unworthy and unqualified.  It keeps me on my knees, which is great, but a little guidance and encouragement from a Christian woman would be wonderful.  Thankfully, my mom is a great role model, but I need to talk to someone sometimes who didn't raise me...someone who isn't so closely involved in my children's lives.  I've already decided that one day I am going to mentor a mom with young children.  I NEVER realized the need until I experienced it...it's vital.  If you're a mom with small kiddos, get a mentor.  If you're a mom who has raised your children, be a mentor - maybe even my mentor? ;)

Anyway, prayers appreciated!

Dandelion Blessing

While on our walk today, Addi saw dandelions and just had to pick one. She was so proud and so excited about that little yellow flower.  A little while later, we stopped walking and found a white dandelion and I showed her and Brogan how to blow the "petals" off.  They thought this was great.  Somehow during the excitement Addi lost the flower she had picked early on into our walk.  She realized this a few minutes after the fact.  I tried to get her to pick another one, but it wasn't the same.  We were almost home, it was almost lunch time and then nap time.  I did not want to turn around to find the flower.  However, when I saw the dejected look on her face, I couldn't help it.  We turned around.  We FINALLY found the flower.  Addi was happy...ecstatic even...she thanked me for helping her find it. For a few brief moments, I felt like such a great mom (something that I don't feel like often).  I am so glad that I did not miss the opportunity to show Addi that I care about what she cares about.  It only took a few extra minutes, but it showed her that her feelings are important to me.  About a minute after finding the flower, Addi decided that she didn't want it anymore.  I had picked one for her as an alternative to the lost one.  She had not been interested in t at first...however, once she had the option between the two, she decided she wanted the one mommy gave to her instead.  I felt double blessed and will probably never look at dandelions the same. :)

Stranger Danger - A little loss of innocence

Addi is a social butterfly.  She LOVES to talk to anyone and everyone she sees.  We encourage her to be friendly, however, perhaps we have encouraged it a bit much.  A couple weeks ago, she let someone hold her...someone we had never seen before.  The lady seemed very nice and was with her husband and two children, but I couldn't believe that she would just pick her up and I couldn't believe that Addi would allow her to do so.  I immediately took Addi and politely excused ourselves.  Last week at the park she saw a little girl about her age who was with her grandpa.  Addi asked us if she could just stay with them for a little while.  Of course, we told her no. These people were complete strangers.  This past Saturday at the park, her and her just-as-social three-year-old friend, met two girls who were probably around 9 or 10.  They were having a picnic and offered the girls food.  Both girls were excited and wanted to stay with them.  The other mom and I declined the food, but again, we had didn't even know them. Yesterday while walking in our neighborhood, a high school student got off the bus and Addi ran up and hugged her.  Of course, we had never seen her before either.

Since she is now three, Jared and I think it's time to start teaching her about "stranger danger."  It hurts my heart to have to introduce her to something in this world that could cause her to fear.  We have been able to shield her and Brogan from so much...I think they totally believe this world is a completely innocent place to be in.  We are struggling with how to do introduce this information to her, and still keep her friendliness and innocence in tact.

I'll tell you...parenting doesn't seem to get any easier as our children grow.  I am so thankful for a God that we can call upon any time of the day or night for strength and guidance.

On a lighter note:

Conversation late last week:

Addi: "Hey, Brog.  Do you want to get married?
Brogan: "Yeah!"
Addi:( Faces him and looks at him for a few seconds) "OK, done.  Yay, we're married!"

Haha...thinking you can marry a family member is definitely not an "innocent" thought we want to protect.  At least she chose a great guy. I can already tell he's a keeper for some blessed lady someday...far, far, far away from now. ;)

Praying for Orphans

I have had the amazing pleasure of following a friend (via her blog and emails) as her and her husband were on their journey towards adopting a little boy from China. They came home today with their precious baby boy! I am so excited for them...thrilled that they have the privilege to be parents to this sweet, adorable little guy and thrilled that their son now has the privilege to have two loving, amazing parents and a new life outside of an orphanage.

Our family has been praying for this family throughout the process, but I kicked up my prayers a bit throughout the last few weeks while they were in China.  By doing this, I learned two things:

1.  I truly believe God has called me to a ministry of intercessory prayer.  What does this mean?  Well, for a long time I've been compelled to pray for people in certain situations - even waking up thinking about situations in the middle of the night.  Most often I would utter a quick prayer and then lay awake thinking about other stuff (things I needed to do, my own circumstances, the kids, etc.).  I have felt guilty about this because, for whatever reason, I truly believe that God wants me to pray specifically and fervently at times for other people and I do not listen to His prompting.  I have realized the last few weeks that I find such joy in really taking the time to pray for others.  It helps take my eyes of myself, my situations, my desires, my needs and makes me feel as though I am doing my part in God's kingdom.  Yes, praying for others can definitely be a ministry...especially when life is so overwhelming and you can't devote time to do ministry in the church as often as you'd like.  There is a lot I don't understand about prayer.  For example: Does my prayer really impact someone else's situation?  Is that why God compels me to pray for others?  Or is it because by praying for others I am changed?  Maybe that's His goal in intercessory prayer.  I truly don't know...and really don't care...I just want to be obedient.  He knows why He places people on my mind...I just need to react to his prompting on a consistent basis.

2.  It made me really think about how blinded I am to the needs of this world.  I spent a couple years working with people in China on a daily basis (my main interactions were via email mostly and Skype a little bit...and I must say, THANK GOD that there are people in China who can speak English!).  I dealt with people in manufacturers that were located in different areas - some very poor from what I understand.  I know they worked very hard (a lot of times more than 12 hours a day for very little pay).  I also knew there was a huge population of orphans in China.  It made me sad to think about, but honestly, it's one of those things that I just didn't let myself think about too much.  Praying for my friends compelled me to start doing a little research on the orphan population in China.  Most of this research led me to other blogs about people who are adopting from China...more pictures of horrible living conditions within China...it truly is a different world.  Do you know that there are quite a few orphanages who cannot even afford to do adoptions?  So, these babies grow up without ever having a chance to be loved by their own set of parents.  Some people are giving up their children in hopes of a better life because they can't afford to care for them...heartbreaking. So much of what I have read has brought tears to my eyes and/or made my mouth drop open in shock.  My friends were blessed to have their son come from a great orphanage, but apparently this is often not the case.  Children are tied to beds, have very little opportunity to play or interact with others, etc.  It is so incredibly sad and I.cannot.get.it.off.my.mind.  It makes me want to do more. Makes me want to help in someway.  I just don't know how (other than by praying) yet.

Jared and I researched adoption before we conceived Addi and were really interested in potentially adopting from Russia...that is now out of the question due to the Russian government not allowing US adoptions.  It's been something we've said we'd like to consider doing at some point, but that's been about the extent of our conversations.  Fast forward to now...I can't get it off my mind and it's driving me crazy.  We are definitely not in a position to adopt or even start the adoption process of a child at this time.  Addi and Brogan are so close in age and still so young and we are completely overwhelmed (mainly in a good way) on a daily basis just trying to raise and care for them.  Besides, we have to go at least 6 months after Brogan is potty-trained before we will even consider adding to our family.  He isn't even close to being potty-trained if that gives you any indication of a timeline. ;)  I am not even sure if it's in God's plan for us to adopt.  However, I feel like there is something that I need to be doing...something my family needs to be doing to help this situation.  For now, I will pray.  Fervently.  Our family will pray.  Addi and Brogan actually know some about China now and know that there was a little boy who was there and who now gets to live with his mommy and daddy.  Addi is very relieved by this...I don't think Brogan understands yet. So, we are going to pray specifically for China for now. I encourage all of you to pray too.  Pray for the children in this world (all countries, or pick a country) who have to go to sleep another night without getting to experience a parent's love.  Pray for the caretakers at the orphanages - some who devote their lives to loving and caring for these sweet children (There are some awesome caretakers out there...I've read about them!).  Pray for the biological parents who - for whatever reason - decided to send their child to an orphanage.  Pray for the people who are in the adoption process...there are so many...who are waiting to go get their child - it is a grueling, tedious, frustrating, incredibly painful and difficult wait.  Pray for those who have adopted children and for the children who have been adopted - that everyone will adjust well.  Many orphans don't even know how to attach themselves to their parents because they never received the love they should have.  Pray for those who are considering adoption, but for whatever reason, just aren't sure they will ever be able to do so.  Most of all...pray that God will be glorified and that lives will be changed for eternity because there are people in this world who answer His call...adopt a child...love on that child...interact with caregivers and guides, etc.  Pray that their lights will shine brightly and that people will want to know why they shine so bright and will ultimately come to know Christ as their personal savior.

In closing...congratulations, again to our sweet friends!  We are so blessed that you allowed us to partake on this journey with you.  Thank you for impacting our lives...and helping to open our eyes.

As my friend's blog states:

Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.  God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act.  Proverbs 24:12

Think about what you can do.  Do it.  If that's praying...do it.  If that's supporting someone in the adoption process...do it.  If that's encouraging someone who is waiting for their child...do it.  If that's adopting...do it.  If that's finding out about the needs of an orphanage and somehow supporting that orphanage...do it.  Don't just think about it...do it.

Be careful little tongue what you say...

So, a few months ago I accidentally said "crap" in front of Addi.  She thought this was funny to say for a little while, but stopped.  I haven't heard her say it since.  I'll admit that I have slipped up and said this word some since that time. I know, I know...way to go on keeping my words in check...definitely no mommy of the year award for me! 

Anyway, Addi just said that she would like breakfast.  We are a little low on breakfast options today, so I told her she could have some fruit and yogurt.  She obviously didn't like this suggestion and said, "Yogurt is crap!"  I was shocked and thought I misunderstood her and asked her to repeat herself...yes, that's what she said.  She usually loves yogurt, but whatever.  Here's to praying that she doesn't say "crap" at church this morning.  I guess she could be saying worse, but something about your not even three-year-old saying "crap" that kind-of makes me cringe. 

"I a prince?"

Brogan's mind has been working overtime trying to figure out if people are boys or girls.  I think he gets that he and daddy are boys and that Addi and I are girls. I think.  He is still learning other gender specific names.  Addi whole-heartedly believes she is a princess (as in a Disney princess, not just a princess).  Anyway, she will twirl and whirl around and exclaim how she is a princess all.the.time.  Naturally, Brogan has picked up on this.  He will do the same and exclaim that he is a princess.  Jared and I have told him several times that he is a prince, not a princess.  So now he walks around quite a bit screaming, "I a prince!"  "Addi a princess!  I a prince!"  It's cute. :)  Speaking of cute.  He has certain outfits that I put on him that he must like more than others. When he really likes one that I have put on him, he will stand up, pat his chest and say, "I coot (cute)!"  He also says he's handsome.  We have taught him well. :)

I also love how he pats his chest and says, "I Brogan!" when people ask him his name.  He is a prince.  He is cute.  He is handsome.  Yup, that's our Brogan. :)