Wordless Wednesday - I think its time to fix the child safety latch on the pantry cupboard...

Why we should NOT adopt - Reason #3

Reason #3: Adoption sounds scary. What if I don't love our adopted child enough? What if our personalities clash? What if she doesn't fit in with our family? (for reason # 1 & # 2 go here)

I have to say, the further I get into this adoption process, the less scared I feel.

Don't get me wrong, I still have my moments. But even in the midst of the moments when I think, "What in the world are we doing?" "Are we crazy?!" "Will I love this child?", I have a peace deep down. It calms me and reminds me that God knows what we are doing, we are not crazy and yes, we will love this child.

In fact, I already do.

The love and excitement I feel for this little girl who has probably not been born, is nothing short of a miracle. It is a work of God.

I have a feeling it may be even more miraculous once we have our little girl home and real life sets in.

It is easy to be in love with the idea of adoption and a little girl I have not yet met. After all, what's not to love? But once she is home and throws tantrums and has sleepless nights will she still be as easy to love? What if we don't bond quickly? Will she still be as easy to love?

That is when the miracle of love will become obvious. It may not appear as a feeling (feelings come and go), but we are committed to loving this little girl. She is ours. She was meant to be a part of our family. We are not complete without her.

I know God will continue to strengthen my love for this child that I have never met throughout this crazy adoption process. I know he won't stop strengthening that bond once we have her home.

He is, after all, the creator of love. I think He can do it!

This Kid Can Eat!

The other night we had sloppy joe sandwiches for dinner.

The older kids each ate one 1/2 of a sandwich.

The baby ate one and a 1/2 sandwiches.

That's right, the baby ate as much as the older three kids combined.

Watch out grocery budget, this kid can eat!

10 Things I Learned in Florida

1. Sleeping children make a 19 hour car ride much more enjoyable. Awake but happy children are also enjoyable. However, whining and crying young ones can make 10 minutes seem like an hour.

2. Florida is the condo. The condo is Florida. When we are driving around Naples we are not in Florida. "I'm right mom," says the 3 year old (just in case you don't believe me).

3. Sand castles are fun, but Sand Mermaids are better (thanks Aunt Leslie).

4. New Years Eve is much more fun when you have good friends to share it with. Especially when husbands clean up the kitchen, take the kids down to the pool for ice cream and let the moms and sisters sit at the table and talk! Fireworks you can see from the condo are also a plus.

5. Parks are just as fun in Florida as they are in Illinois.

6. You can make snow angels in the sand. Snow men, however, are a little harder.

7. It is possible (with only 3 kids) to make over 10 trips to the pool bathroom in one hour. Sad, but true. 8. Even trains need naps in Florida. 9. It is much easier to brave the waves and reach the sand bar when you have a friend beside you. 10. Even though there is no place like home, no one likes to leave Florida.

Wordless Wednesday - So... What do we do now?

Home

So we made it home from Florida.

Driving. Through the night. With a one-year old who had a double ear infection. And we are all in one piece with no serious damage...

Really.

I did get a little sick on the last stretch of our journey home and that sickness has lingered for longer than I would prefer (I'm just starting to feel better and we got home on Sunday).

So, I have been staring at piles of Christmas presents that need to be put away, luggage that needs to be unpacked, and Christmas decorations that need to be taken down for the past two days.

Feeling nauseous

and overwhelmed.

With no motivation to do anything about it.

All the while trying to pretend that I never wrote that last post about "new days" so I can continue to do nothing about it.

Not that I'm complaining or anything, we did just spend a glorious week in Florida with near-perfect weather.

Okay, so maybe I am complaining.

And for the record, what I would really like right now...


is a vacation in Florida!

A New Day

Originally posted January 3, 2008

I always feel motivated this time of year.

A new year, a new month, a new day. Bringing out a fresh calendar and making my new year's resolutions.

The problem is, my motivation can quickly morph into no motivation as cabin fever sets in and new year's resolutions get broken.

What changes that makes my motivation dwindle so much between January 1 and January 22?
Really there is no difference between the days. Each is a new day. One just happens to be the first day of the year, but the day itself is no different.

I am what changes, more specifically my attitude is what changes. I think if I could keep the "New Year" attitude everyday, I would get a lot done!

I need to remember what Miss Stacy told Anne of Green Gables, "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." So, even if I break my resolutions today, I can always begin again tomorrow.

Every day is a fresh start and a clean slate.

That is an attitude I want to have year round.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.Lamentations 3:22-23