A weekend at the lake.

Every once in a while I do something I regret later.

For example, as I flip through the pictures from this weekend's lake trip with Kenny's family, I find myself wondering several things.

A.  Who had my camera?
B.  Why is there a very unflattering picture of my hiney in a bathing suit?

...and

C.  Why exactly was I trying to stand on my head in a bathing suit on an intertube while being pulled by a boat?

And while I'm fairly certain it was my husband who had possession of my camera at the time, the other questions will remain unanswered.  And the pictures unseen.  Don't even try.  They've been deleted.  I'm just hoping that anyone else that may have gotten the same shot can show me a little grace and delete their pictures as well.....

Instead, I'll share the decent pictures from the weekend.

Brave boys standing up while tubin'... don't worry, we were only going about 12 and a half miles an hour.

This is all the incriminating evidence you will get from the two of us.  And this may or may not have been after we stole (I mean, borrowed) a jet ski to escape our kids...

Absolutely impossible for him to make a normal face in a picture...

This is the shenanigans that go on while the adults are taking too long deciding how to take a family picture...

Finally.  The family picture.  Minus any shenanigans.



Contemplating his approach to skipping rocks...

...followed by a lesson from Aunt Stacy, rock skipper professional.

Change of venue.

Our baby sister has moved.

At least, that's what Sam told me.

I haven't intended to be vague about our latest adoption adventure, it's just that there's been nothing to share.  Not vague.  Just no news.  And the old "no news is good news" doesn't apply here.

We submitted a pre-application finally in March, but were quickly told we would have to wait until June to submit a formal application for Korea because, as I explained earlier, they are continuing to slow referrals from Korea to almost a creeping halt.  As we prayed through this situation, we felt that it just wasn't God's perfect timing and tried to be content to wait.  Although, through my "contentment", I must admit, I had already been exploring other options.  The closer we got to June, the more I felt like things just weren't going to be swinging in our favor and I was correct as I read an email from the Korea coordinator saying that they still couldn't accept new applications.

Call me impatient, but we made the decision to adopt again last August.  It is now June, almost a year later.  It was time to move on.

Fortunately, Kenny felt the same way.  I immediatly felt at peace about our decision to move on.  God's timing is perfect and He doesn't need me rushing him.  But when He's moving, I need to jump on board so I don't miss what He has in store for us.

So paperwork has been signed, sealed and delivered to start the process through Lifeline's China program.  The projected timeframe is 12 to 15 months.

And even though we don't know this little girl, have seen no pictures, have no ideas about her personality or what she may look like, Sam has already claimed her as his.  I was holding the foster son of a friend the other day, when Sam walked up and said, "What is that??" 

"It's a baby.  Don't you think we need one?"

And with complete sincerity and utter disbelief that I would even ask such a question, he responded, "Mommy!  I already have a baby sister!"

Well, of course you do.

She just moved to China.

Sprinkler 101

Nothing quite says summer like spending the afternoon playing in your great grandparent's front yard in the sprinkler.  Something I did too many times to even count.

Adding a few water guns just ramps up the fun.

I won that fight, by the way.  I'm bigger and smarter.  Maybe not faster.  But smarter. 

For now.

And nothing quite says redneck like using a rubbermaid tub for a swimming pool.  I know how many Ethiopians you can get into a 1982 Pinto, from experience.  But how many can you get in a 32 quart rubbermaid container?  Well, we at least know you can get three 4 & 5 year olds.

And since riding a scooter while wet isn't in the least a dangerous activity, we added that to the fun.

Sheer concentration required.

But ending the day with an ice cream cone, which I remember being almost a daily occurance, made all the fun worthwhile.

The Sixth Love Language

It's only taken me almost 3 years, but I think I've finally figured out my kids.

Some years back, there was that book written by Gary Chapman about The 5 Love Languages.  We were all encouraged as couples to learn each others "languages" to improve our marriages.  And as corny as it all sounds, most of it really is true.  Different people feel loved by different actions.  It's just a matter of figuring out how best to show your spouse love.  Although I think these "languages" really can spread across any relationship you have

And just for your information, my Love Language is "Acts of Service".  Just in case anyone is wondering how to love me.  My house is always open to being cleaned...  I think Kenny's is "Words of Affirmation"......  guess I should remember that, huh?

So what have I finally figured out about the boys?


Well, it's not anything I haven't know from day one.  I just have changed my outlook.  These boys love, love, love them some food.  Like all day, every day.  They get way too excited about their favorite dinner, or a new snack or something as simple as a bag of M&M's. 
I wouldn't say that they eat too much food.  Which is evident from the fact that Sam can still wear a 4T in the waist, but has to have a size 8 for length.  They just really appreciate food way more than your average kids.  Food is important to them.  I don't know if it was from a lack of it during their first few years.  Or maybe a lack of variety of food, but either way food is #1 on their list of things that matter each day.  Most days, they want to know first thing in the morning what we will have for all meals during the day, which requires more planning than I sometimes care to do.  And often, what we are having for breakfast is a topic of conversation at dinner the night before.  Or at the least, during bedtime kisses.

Back in April when I hurt my back, Sam came home that Sunday evening and carefully sat on the bed next to me.  As we were talking about what he had been doing all afternoon (which included what he had eaten for lunch and dinner), he had a worried look on his face.  I was telling him what the plan was for the next day and how he was going to school, but Daddy would probably take him.  He got real quiet and said, "Mommy.........who's gonna make me lunch on Tuesday?"  Wow.  It was Sunday night.  He knew he had school on Monday, so he was covered there.  But Tuesdays and Thursdays, he stays home with me.  I guess he figured Daddy would fix him breakfast before he left for work that morning, but his concern was all the way to Tuesday at lunch time and who was going to make sure he had something to eat if I was still laying in bed.  It was at that moment that it hit me just how important food is to them.

I was so focused on making sure they were getting a variety of good things.  And making sure they were not eating to the point of making themselves sick.  Because they did that when they first came home.  Charlie has a better handle on knowing when he is full now, although if it's a favorite dish, would probably continue to eat if we didn't stop him.  Sam would eat and eat and eat as long as the food was in front of him.  Most meals I still have to cut him off.  And some days he's asking for lunch about an hour after breakfast.  He also takes any chance he can to take advantage of someone who doesn't know him.  He looks at them with those big brown I'm-an-orphan-please-feed-me-eyes and you can't help but fork over whatever it is you are eating.  That's why we have a strict 1 doughnut rule for church on Sunday.  He was hanging around the coffee and doughnut table with those sad brown eyes and before I knew it, I had been told, "I gave Sam a doughnut.  I hope that was okay." at least 4 or 5 times!  And then he would come home and lose the generosity of others all over my kitchen floor because 6 doughnuts is just way too much for a 4-year-old belly.

So, while I still want to teach the boys healthy eating habits and you still have to eat your share of fruits and veggies, I'm looking at food now more through their eyes.  It's something they get excited about.  It's one of the only things that will get me unsolicited hugs from Charlie.  It keeps Sam in a perpetual good mood as long as he has enough of it.  When I make a special meal or buy a favorite snack, it communicates love to them.

Food makes my boys happy.  And if it makes them happy, then I'm happy.

Here's to pepperonis and hummus and scrambled eggs and salsa and watermelon and peanut butter and sausage and pretty much anything with chocolate. 

And yes, we had milkshakes from Chick-fil-a for lunch today. 

Just because we can.