The Truth About Haiti

I have found an excellent Haiti blog where I can find out what is actually happening in Haiti. Their first post is about UNICEF & I AGREE with it! It is a problem in Ghana too & it makes me MAD!

Here's the link:

livesayhaiti.blogspot.com

Three Boys That Think Just Maybe They Can Fly...

Watch the second one first.

I Kinda Wish...

Maybe this sounds wierd, but I often wish I was bi-racial. At first I was really aware of the differences in our family just because it was a 'new thing" but now, many times, I forget that we don't all look the same in our family. Luke, however, seems to think about it a lot. He's very sensitive and smart & perceptive. Anyhow, this is my wishing I could be "all things" for my kids & obviously that's impossible anyway.

Funny Faces

I saw Mark holding Nathan on his lap & couldn't resist trying to get a sweet, snuggly picture. The boys had different ideas about how to pose for me though.
Oh well. I love their funny faces anyway.

Muddy Pants & Webkinz

The boys all love their Webkinz & had them "watching" a movie with them. Mark even brought along the 3-D glasses (you can see them on his lap) for his tiger's viewing pleasure!

Hats & Shades

"My Fearsome Three"
Don't mind the couch cushion beside them. Someone threw up on it last week so I was airing it out. (stomach flu)

Nathan Godfred

Hurts

It hurts to have to tell your adopted son that he cannot eat because he has stomach flu. He does not fully understand the good reasons why he should let his tummy rest. He just knows he feels scared - because he already has a terrible & far-reaching fear of not having enough food.

Luckily he is a child & can be distracted for awhile when his Mom reads him a few good stories. But it hurts.

Another Day Homeschooling

Mark is in second grade & is finally starting to like school!
His favorite subject is Science.

Yes, those are breakfast crumbs on the table.

How's that for a cheesy grin? Luke is in Kindergarten. More crumbs on the table...

Nathan is in pre-school.

He balks a bit but is actually really proud to be doing school now like his big brothers.

We had a pretty good morning doing math, reading, printing, and spelling. Then I attempted to cut Luke's hair for the first time & that also went well. Yes!
Now I have a vomiting kid though (second one in a week) so I think I'll be busy with that for awhile. Oh the glamour of my life! :)

No News

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. Mark has had a tummy bug & I haven't felt great either. We are just keeping in a holding pattern for now. Hope to post again soon. :)

Snuggling With Ben

Luke & Ben

Mark & Ben

It's amazing what good therapy an old, lumpy, much-loved dog can be.
Ben is so patient with all the boys. Pretty good for an abandoned Pit Bull mix!

Nathan - My Little Extrovert

Love Notes Always Help

Both Mark & Luke have surprised me with love notes this past week. So sweet, I just had to share them! This orange one is from Luke.

This one is from Mark & I think it's hilarious because he wrote, "You are hot." I know that he doesn't know what that means, but he's obviously heard Daddy say it so he knew it was a compliment! Tee Hee! I love it!

Update

We are doing OK. It's just that we are fighting for our kids - fighting for them to have wholeness & healing in their lives. It's an HONOR and I am so thankful I get to be my boys' Mom, but it is HARD. So, I very much appreciate your prayers! Thank you so much! Your responses have meant a lot to me.

Help!

Usually my blog is pretty lighthearted. I choose not to share some of the hard things we are dealing with in order to protect the privacy of my children.

It is HARD though & I'd sure appreciate it if you were praying for us. For me. Please.
I think the past four months are catching up with me right now & I am weary.

Luke Emmanuel, age 6

Luke just turned six and it was a JOY to bless him with his first birthday party, first cake, candles etc. He is the most sensitive of our boys, with a very tender heart. He also seems to have a passion for God and loves learning about Bible stories. He wants to know all the details & to deeply understand, which seems unusual to me for a child of his age. He is always giving us little "gifts" - notes with stickers, anything he deems special. He, himself, is our gift.

Mark Matthew, age 7

Mark's cutie-pie exterior covers his "lion-ish" heart. He has a strong personality with a well developed sense of justice, definitely a "black & white" kind of guy. He is intense in most everything he does, a little bit of a perfectionist. He is growing to love reading. His favorite subject is Science & he is probably most happy in the outdoors, especially hiking in the woods. He has amazing endurance & can go for miles even with a back pack.

Nathan Godfred, age 4

Getting to know Nathan has been fun because he IS fun!
He is the most outgoing of our three kids & is our charming "class clown" .
We recently went out to a restaurant for lunch & Nathan ended up dancing with one of the waitresses! :) He is also an animal lover like me & can be gentle and still with an animal when it is appropriate.

Chubby, Lumpy...yep, that's our Ben!

This is Ben, our almost-eleven year old Pit Bull mix. He is lumpy (don't worry- the vet has checked them all & they are OK) has a generous figure (& so the nick name "Chunk") & is still a professional counter surfer despite his failing eye sight. He has done so well adapting to us having more kids. He is also a very funny and very nerdy kinda guy & we adore him!

Ugh! I know this is nasty but this is classic Ben.

My Little Superheroes

Another Anti-Perfection Shot

My friend, Laura, posted more of these so she's ahead of me! I am loving this idea of rebelling against the whole "perfect home thing". Anyway, here's what my floor looked like this morning after the kids & dogs came in from the back yard.

I'm not sure what to think of the fact that this is my first post of the new year. Hmmm.... I'm going to click that publish button anyway.