So close....

Makenzie fell into the marketing trap on the box of Honeycombs. You dig in the box for a "postopia" code. You then enter your code online where you find out if you are the lucky winner of an autographed Miley Cyrus guitar or $10,000. In an effort to stall on her way to bed Makenzie HAD to check her code online. I informed her that she was unfortunately not the winner. Her reply was "Too bad, I would have given you some money to adopt Micah." She is so sweet!!!

Sophie is like an old man chewing on a cigar

This cracked me up. Mostly because I probably don't get out enough. Sophie fell back asleep on the couch after her nap. Here's what I was watching.

NiHao!!

Here's how we handle adoption talks around here:

Me: Sophie, were you born in China?

Sophie: (huge cheesy grin and waving) NiHao!!!

I'd like to take credit for keeping her Chinese language intact. Dora's World Adventure includes Dora taking a trip to the Great Wall though and when Dora talks -Sophie listens.

Double Digit Boy,

Seth,

You are 10! It seems so hard to believe. Your first 10 years have been filled with many mixed emotions. You have made me laugh many more times than you've made me cry though - what more can a mom ask for? You used to try to make me cry - when you were mad at me you would yell behind you on your way to your room "I not going to kiss you ever again!" I have to admit now that we're past it - I never believed you.

More recently, you are moving on to other women. The other day you were telling me about a drawing on a wall at school. You described it as a heart with the letters L&S written inside. You were trying to guess which girl "hearted" you. I didn't feel the need to share that it could have been a boy who's name started with an L because you were so sure. You said "Who wouldn't like me? I mean, look at me". That confidence will serve you well in life, my boy. You should have other women either laughing or crying soon -- maybe both. You are currently trying to convince me to let you go one year haircut free. Just for the record, I'm not sold!

You are all boy. You are working on digging an island in the back yard. I think you are mainly just working on digging. This year you've had a broken thumb and a broken foot - just from being a boy. You are so interested and wise about all things science. You got upset with yourself for pouring water into the sink instead of outside where you could "continue the water cycle". You frequently teach me things when you get home from school. I am amazed at your capacity to learn.

You are quite the evangelist too. You are always asking to invite friends with you to church. You've done a great job bringing people closer to Christ. You have a heart for adoption just like your parents. You commented that after our adoption from Africa you'd like to "adopt a boy from Hawaii next, so he will have surfing in his blood like Sophie has karate in her blood". Hmmmm.

No matter what people say about the teenage years, I am looking forward to the next 10 years with you my sweet boy. Thanks for making us laugh and for being such a lovable guy. We love you buddy!

The Plan....

So, the plan was to take the kids to an indoor water park for an over nighter to celebrate Seth's birthday. We got a great deal (including a pedicure for me!). It was a surprise to him, so we did it a month early to keep him from getting suspicious. We left the house about 10 am to arrive at noon to maximize our water park fun! Dan got pulled over at about 10:10 and got a ticket for $150. We were determined to have fun in spite of it. We got dressed, and into the water park about about 1:30, played for a couple hours and then went to the room for a snack. Around dinner time, the stomach flu hit. I can't tell you how whimpy I am about vomit - mine and everyone elses. I spent the night back and forth to the bathroom. Seth thought he would join me at about 1am. Dan spent the night "sleeping" on a chair waiting for the next person to go down. He was Superdad and Superhusband. We decided to leave well enough alone and come home at check out time this morning. Our original plan was to play at the water park until 3 and then head home. Even the best laid plans.....

This is 1 of about 4 pictures I got.

Still waiting....

We have officially been waiting 216 days since we turned in our paperwork for Ethiopia. The waiting is so different this time. We have so much more faith in God's ability to place our child in our arms at the perfect time. Sophie fits in our family so well, that it hasn't been as hard this time to wait knowing that He is in control of our family.

It is difficult when I stop to think about our baby's birth family. The hardship and struggle that they are enduring even now that will eventually lead them to relinquish our child. It is difficult to think about things that we could be doing now to help them so that ultimately they wouldn't have to make that choice. It is a complicated thought process for sure. One that as an adoptive parent can lead you down some slippery slopes. Is adoption really the best solution to the problem? I believe the answer is no. But, I do believe that it is a solution for that one child. The bigger picture sure needs more than adoption though. Wow! This was supposed to just be an update, but it went a little further.

So, please pray for our sweet Micah (did I mention that the name we've chosen?). We can't wait to see what great surprises God has in store for us.

2008 is shaping up...

Believe it or not these are 2 seperate incisions!!

Makenzie (11) had to have a lumbar laminectomy and tumor excision twice in 3 weeks! Her first surgery was on December 28th, 2007. Two weeks later the neurosurgeon called back to say that her follow up MRI showed some traces of tumor cells. They went back in a second time on January 21, 2008. The cells have all been benign - Praise the Lord! She has been a real trooper. We have been so impressed by her strength and stamina through this entire trying ordeal.

There are lots of little stories to be told in between the surgeries and we've gotten to know some great nurses at Children's Hospital. We are beyond grateful that she is on her way back to full health!