everyonesAwriter

"God say yes."

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:38:04 -0700

First he came inside to tell me he bumped his head. When instructed to go back outside (he was wet and muddy from playing) and sit to rest his head (obviously there was no crying or bleeding), he said, “I work it out.” (This is what they’re told to do when there’s sibling rivalry.) He returned just 60 seconds later with this announcement:

“God say yes.”

“Oh… did you ask God to make it feel better?” Totally guessing.

“Yes. And God say yes.”

I love Little Man.

Tonight's Van Ride

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:47:38 -0700

Little Man: Why was mommy in your class?

The Little Missy: Because she was teaching people about God.

Little Man: Why was she teaching people about God?

The Little Missy: Because she’s a pastor.

Little Man: Why’s mommy a pastor?

The Little Missy: I have NO idea.

At this point… I totally lost it.

"And no matter what color skin she has, it will be okay."

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:30:48 -0700

“And no matter what color skin she has,
it will be okay.”

- Well… at least the Little Missy amended her prayer so the little sister she’s praying for doesn’t have to be brown. Not sure if that’s a step in the right direction??? LOL.

"Jesus, pray for my baby sister that she is safe and help her grow big and strong and I love her,..."

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:15:45 -0700

“Jesus, pray for my baby sister that she is safe and help her grow big and strong and I love her, amen.
…Well now, guess some one wants a sister”

- A bedtime prayer by Lil Missy (our ONLY daughter) tonight. (via bencannon)

"Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summers day; bony mules hitched to Hoover..."

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:58:53 -0700

“Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summers day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.”

- To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Annual Birthday List

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:35:00 -0700

Since I posted a list last year with 20 shopping days left, I thought I better hurry up and update it since you only have FOUR days!!! My Birthday is Wednesday and our anniversary is Friday. :o)

Pasted from last year’s and updated for your convenience:

Did I mention that my love languages are gifts and words of affirmation? And I feel like words of affirmation (like well-written greeting cards) are gifts to my heart… so guess which one’s the primarily language?

Here’s what you can get me:

Crate & Barrel has this cute sugar/creamer set where the creamer looks like a little milk carton. I know, random, but I saw it and I likey. UPDATE: still likely, still no havey
~~Douvet set (including the actual douvet blanket)~~ RECEIVED!
Hammock for my backyard with stand UPDATE: Still really, really want, with stand below :o)
Books UPDATE: Reading time is seriously not as available now, but hey…
Strawberries UPDATE: Some things never change. :o)
Plane Tickets to the East Coast ~~for sometime this fall after we have our kids.~~ UPDATE: We have kids, and will be flying East for Cmas - so these are still appreciated. ha!
~~A vehicle large enough to hold said children~~ PURCHASED - Thank you God for providing!
~~I’m addicted to Burt’s Bees lip balm - either the peppermint oil or the pomegranate oil one, in stick form so my fingernail doesn’t get all gross~~ UPDATE: I am currently well stocked, and have fallen in love with a few other options, so there are about four tubes of something floating around in my purse at all times.
Speaking of nails - mani/pedi
A MASSAGE!!!! UPDATE: I’m a mommy to three active ones, and I have back issues - this is definitely still appreciated!
Charms about my husband (hint, hint, Benjamin) UPDATE: First, we need to find my charm bracelet, then we need to keep adding.
~~Red Envelope has this Year of Seeds thing that is just stinkin’ adorable~~ UPDATE: Still love the site, but didn’t see this particular thing last time I was browsing.
An oval domed “shadow box” type frame for me to finally do that art project with my wedding flowers
Chimes for our back porch - but only ones with really deep, rich tones
creative/modern/classic bookends
~~An herb garden of my very own~~ UPDATE: planted one!
ice cream maker
wok
an immersion blender
golf lessons
purses (must be approved by either Barbie P or Joslyn H)
Bath & Body Stuff in wild honeysuckle
Alaskan Cruise
~~Lenses for my~~ camera ~~- I have a Canon Rebel XTi, I need a good portrait lens, and a good zoom~~ UPDATE: Purchased a great portrait lens, still want another prime or two (especially a wide angle), but now I’m looking forward to upgrading the body of my camera. :o)
~~Flash for my camera~~ PURCHASED

Okay, well that should at least get you started, right?

unhappyhipsters: The new house required a team of worker bees...

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:02:49 -0700

unhappyhipsters:

The new house required a team of worker bees to transform it from double-wide to indoor/outdoor masterpiece.

(Photo: Jacqueline Schellingerhout; Dwell)

This is the 7th Mother's Day in a row I've cried.

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:35:17 -0700

Today however, was the first one of those seven that involved happy tears. For years I’ve struggled on Mom’s Day, and today, even though my happy tears, I was thinking of my friends who still may cry sad tears.

It’s an excruciating thing to be caught up in - the lack of motherhood. For many we’ve had to grieve our own lack of being a mommy, and for others, you may grieve the lack of having your mommy, or perhaps of having a healthy relationship with your mom. Know that today, I was thinking of you and praying for you.

And then… God spoke to my heart. You see, this was all processing during our worship service at Mars Hill, and as we sang, “Jehovah Jireh, my provider, Jehovah Nissi, Lord You reign in victory,” that louder than audible voice said,

“It’s not about the title you didn’t have. And it’s not about the title you just got. Because it’s not about what anyone else calls you. It’s about what you call Me. It’s about My titles. My Names. Who I Am.”

And I know that I now sit in the blessed spot where I’m crying the happy tears and not really waiting anymore - and many have waited longer than me, or are still just starting the crying process and have no clue if/when it will end… But I do know that through it all, God will still speak His Name to each one of us.

So I sang His name, His titles, a little louder.
Sing with me tonight.

Countdown

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:28:18 -0700

Today we had to say “good-bye for now” to our kiddos, as we come home and give them some transition adjustment time. Over the next four days their foster parents will continue to read through their photo books we gave them and talk about Daddy Ben and Mommy Kathy being their “forever family.” On Tuesday we’ll pick them up and come back to Sac’to for a few days, then have the heart-wrenching job of taking them back again. All of this is part of a plan to allow them to ask questions, learn us, their new home, and also be able to say good-bye to the old one. Then the current plan is that on Monday, April 26, we pick them up “for good!”

I love the write and describe the emotions I’m processing, but it’s been such the adventurous roller coaster for the past few days that for now I’ll just stick with the facts. I’m sure I’ll get back to the other stuff later. :o)

For those who have been asking - Because we are adopting through the foster-care system here in California, our kids will technically still be foster children for at least the first six months in our home. After that we’ll put all of the paperwork through for adoption. Until adoption finalization, we are unfortunately unable to share their pictures or names online. So until that day…

The Little Missy - our daughter is 4 years old
Little Man - our middle child is precious boy who will be 3 in June
Young One - the baby is a 21 month old little boy

We love you all! Thanks for all of your love, prayers and support!

Tears

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:26:00 -0700

Today I cried because of my joy. But it wasn’t what you think - where I was so happy, feeling so blessed, that “happy tears” came to my eyes. No, they were most definitely “sad tears.” Because my joy, my blessing, was bringing tears to the eyes of others.

One of the hurdles in adoption is that you usually only see one side of it. And as adoptive parents, your constant thought is, “I’m getting my kids!” But this afternoon, we were exposed to the feelings of others, very honest and very real - and I was reminded that my ‘getting’ also means I am ‘taking.’

There are many people in my children’s lives that are ready to love them. And there are also many people in my children’s’ lives that already love them. There are foster parents, therapists, workers, and of course birth/first family, and they all love my kids. And as deeply as I feel in my heart that these are my children… my children have also been their children. And wanting the best for my kids means they are gracefully allowing us to invade the picture they have painted, and choose to add a few bold strokes of our own.

Respecting that, honoring that, and being sensitive to that is something Ben and I will always have to navigate. I guess I just wasn’t expecting to work through it today, in the middle of speech therapy.

I thank God minute by minute that not only can He can comfort my heart as I wait for final move-in, He can supernaturally touch the hearts of others as they process move-out.

A Letter to My Daughter

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:53:00 -0700

On Friday, I watched you bounce around and got to hold you for the first time.

On Sunday, you told your foster mom that you had a best friend. You said it was me.

Today, you learned that my name isn’t just Kathy - It’s Mommy Kathy. One day soon we’ll get to drop that last part.

Tonight, you clutched the photo book I made for you so tight to your chest, even after we had already read it four times.

We played during bath time, laughed over ice cream, and even sang a song together. Tomorrow we’ll get to play more, and even go for a ride. Next week you get to come visit my house, and slowly we’ll continue to introduce the idea that I am Mommy - your forever mommy.

And you, little missy, are my daughter.

Today I met my children.

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:18:15 -0700

My kids did not grow under my heart - they grew in it. And today, I met them.

It’s not a line that most people ever say in their life. Usually it’s “today my child was born,” or something of the sort. But today, I got to look into the beautiful brown eyes of a little girl who is 4, a little boy who is almost 3, and another little boy who is 21 months old. They were each able to tell me their names, and a complete stranger introduced us. We won’t be strangers for long.

Today I met my children.

We played on the floor and rolled the ball around. Ben pretended to be a fireman with the boys and I talked about necklaces and hairbands with the girl. We sat for a snack, and I learned more about their likes, dislikes, and nap times. One boy fell asleep on my lap, another on Ben’s.

Today I met my children.

Next week we get to go back and spend more time with them, integrate into their lives for a few days before they come and integrate into ours. They’re gorgeous, and I can’t stop staring at the pictures.

Because today I met my children.

Everyone else in the world posts their preggo pics, so I thought...

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:57:00 -0700

Everyone else in the world posts their preggo pics, so I thought I’d post one of my own. :o) Tomorrow Ben & I get to meet our maybe-babies!

unhappyhipsters: The humans thought the pillow was a suitable...

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:36:00 -0700

unhappyhipsters:

The humans thought the pillow was a suitable response to her seasonal affective disorder. Gladys was not amused.

(Photo: Alexis Tjian; Dwell)

"God sure waits an awful long time to be perfectly on-time."

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:17:02 -0700

“God sure waits an awful long time to be perfectly on-time.”

- On Friday, we get to meet our maybe-kiddos. We’ll be taking a trip with our social worker to visit and hang with them for a few hours, and then have the long trip home just to dream and pray.

"Elephant pregnancies last up to 22 months."

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:32:23 -0700

“Elephant pregnancies last up to 22 months.”

- Umm.. WHY is this my husband’s favorite animal? Hmm, we started the process with Koinonia in August of 2008, therefore… our adoptions should finalize by June, right?

You must watch this. It makes me very, very happy. Yes, I was in...

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:20:02 -0700

You must watch this. It makes me very, very happy.

Yes, I was in marching band.

Yes, I was a drum major.

No, that’s not the girl twirling a baton.

My Workspace. When not productive at desk, I moved to the...

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:11:38 -0700

My Workspace.

When not productive at desk, I moved to the couch. When not productive on couch, I moved to the floor.

IGrewUpInALearningStylesClassroom

Yum-O

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:25:47 -0800

I was given a bunch of lemons by Marjie McWilly and fam, and decided to make some lemon curd. Yum. It’s in the pressure cooker right now, except for that last half-jar that went straight into the fridge. I have a feeling it will become a late-night snack later on some toast, mixed with my strawberry jam from last summer.

My birthday may be five months away, but if anyone wants to get me, oh say… a “happy Spring!” gift - find me cute jars from a goodwill somewhere. :o) I promise to be just as excited about them as I was about the 3 glass gallon jars that Dani & Mom-ell found me a couple months ago for use in making tons of 8-week sweet pickles this year. Woo-hoo!

Expecting God's Touch

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:31:52 -0800

I have a friend, Maribel, who has been waiting for a kidney. It’s been a long time now. Her attitude is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I mean, who else is on 15 hours a day of dialysis and still goes as a counselor to kids camp?

We’ve been praying for God to complete the work that He has started on her life. And then I got a magnificent e-mail yesterday. On Tuesday, she’s getting a transplant.

Here’s Maribel last year - sharing her testimony in advance. Keep praising while you pray.