A Message From Chili . . .

Hi everyone, Chili Pepper here. I have something to tell you, and you aren't going to like it. I'm sure it's written all over my face that I've got some bad news. Brace yourselves, are you ready for this?

My Mom and Daddy brought home a puppy this past Sunday. Yep, you read it right - a puppy! Of all the insane things you can do on a Sunday afternoon - why would you pick that? At first I thought, 'Maybe it won't be so bad', but that's before he started gnawing on my legs, chasing me everywhere, waking us up in the middle of the night, and using MY crate! He even went on MY trip to the park with MY Daddy and played with MY four pups Josh, Emma, Hannah, and Eli while we were there. Just as if he belonged there, can you believe it??? And Mom and Daddy just think he's soooooo cute. They're calling him "Roman", but don't you think "Egghead" or "Twerp" would be better suited? Wait, that's right - you haven't had the misfortune of seeing him yet.

Personally, I think he's hideous looking, but I guess you can judge for yourselves. I've posted some pictures of him below. I hope he didn't break the camera or anything with his ugly face.

Ho Hum,

Chili Pepper

Muggle!

Well, Pidge already sort of let the cat out of the bag (hope it doesn't eat her), but here are some photos of our new baby budgie. We've decided to name him Muggle, in keeping with our Harry Potter theme. I'm pretty much totally convinced that Pigwidgeon is indeed a girl - and I'm at least 50% sure that Muggle is a boy. We're hoping they love each other - but not that way, if you catch my drift.

I don't know if it's because my camera was running low on batteries or what, but all the photos we took today turned out blurry. I decided to post them anyway, and I hope you can get some idea of what a cutie pie he is. He should be able to come home in about three weeks.

We can't wait!

~ Jen

The Nightly Adventures of Pigwidgeon . . .

Here are some fun pictures of Pigwidgeon (Pidge) doing the nightly rounds. First, Pidge ran over to see what Eli was up to:

"Hey there Eli, whatcha building?"

"Hmmm, I can see you're busy,

I'm going to ask Hannah what she's up to!

Hey Hannah, what's new with you girl?"

"What's that you say?

You have a secret?

Well, tell me all about it!"

"NO WAY!

I'm getting a new buddy?

Well, that is exciting -

here's a kiss for you, then!"

"Wow, I'm overwhelmed!

I think I'll watch some

Animal Planet with Emma

while I try and process

through Hannah's news!"

"Emma, you're so crazy,

you always

get me laughing!"

You Know You're An Adoptive Mom When . . .

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent When . . .
1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.
7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)
8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.
9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!
13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

-Author unknown

I saw this today, and wanted to share it because it gives a glimpse into how unique the blessing of adoption really is. As a family with two adopted and two biological children, we tend to draw alot of attention in public. We've been asked some interesting questions, and I'm always willing to share our story - after all, it's a huge part of our testimony! There are times, however, when people use terminology that is less than sensitive. I really try not to be overly sensitive, because I think it's so hard for people to know they've said something hurtful unless they've been in your shoes. Or, more importantly, the shoes of an adopted child. The only time I've ever been bothered over a comment is when an insensitive comment is made within earshot of Hannah. Today, I was walking with my kids and Havila, when someone we know saw us and said in a very incredulous tone "You got ANOTHER one?" (referring to Havila).

Oy! Another one?

Is it just me, or does this appear to be a phrase you would apply to inanimate objects - like shoes - or skin tags? That actually doesn't bother me as much as the word "got", because I think back to how many times Hannah has heard people ask things like "how much did she cost?", and the time that another child asked me "Did you buy them?"

The tone of the question too - as if two were "quite enough of that adoption nonsense", and three is just pushing it way too far!

And so I decided to post this, not because I'm angry or venting - I'm really not upset at all. I thought that maybe someone would read it, and it might prove educational. I hope that it might help someone understand that many adopted children find themselves wondering if they really belong to their families. Words may seem like harmless things, but they can pierce the heart of a child, even when your intentions are completely innocent. Words like these can give the wrong answer to the question of belonging that lies in their hearts. I truly hope that one day, adoption will be so common that it won't so much as raise an inquisitive eyebrow!


~ Jen

Valentines Day!

Our cookies, my fridge adorned with precious homemade Valentines, and two of my Valentine Elves!

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day! The kids and I are still struggling with colds, but we managed to get our traditional Valentines cookies baked! They were less elaborate than usual, since I seem to have lost my heart shaped cookie cutters and I didn't have the gusto to go back out and get the frosting I'd forgotten. However, they were just as tasty and we had fun making them together. Eli had a great time at his school Valentines Day party. As soon as he got home, h began sharing out his candy between his brother and sisters. I think that's just amazing, he has such a sweet spirit! Here are some cute videos of our day, enjoy!

Love,

Jen

A Change . . .

I need to post a correction (announcement?) to my blog.

The Princess formerly known as Caroline will now be going by a new name. Ever since they first received her pictures, my sister has not felt "settled" with the name Caroline. After going through dozens of names during numerous and lengthy emergency sister teleconferences, we had a short list of names she loved, but none of them was "the one". So my sister decided that it would be really special if the baby were named by her Daddy! I personally believe that's why she couldn't settle on a name, because Clint was meant to name this baby.

Now, I won't lie and say this whole prospect didn't make me a bit nervous. Clint has a history of falling for names like "Zephyr" or "Sunbeam Wavepool". But I was very pleasantly surprised with the verdict . . . (drumroll, please) . . .

Her name is Kelly Elise.

The "Elise" part is after Hannah, because God used our Hannah in many ways to bring her little cousin into the right family. Hannah is so excited that her cousin will be named after her! It's especially neat because each of our children is named "for" someone except Hannah. So now she's got one up on her siblings - she's got someone named "for" her!

I think the name suits her, it sounds so sweet and feminine!

Great job, Kelly's Dad!

Pigwidgeon!

If you've read Harry Potter, then it is perfectly obvious to you that the title of this post refers to my new pet bird.

If you haven't read Harry Potter, why not?

While you ponder that question, here are some video clips of our budgie Pigwidgeon, or Pidge for short. I know it's very silly to post things about your budgie on your blog, but my sister and Mom have expressly requested it, so I hear and obey!

Feeling Pink! Emma's First Ballet Class!

Ballerina Girl

You are so lovely

With you standing there

Im so aware

Of how much I care for you

You are more than now

You are for always

I can see in you my dreams come true

Don't you ever go away

I was so proud of Emma today at her first ballet class! She did not show herself to be a protege (quite yet!), on the contrary, more than ever she proved how much she takes after her Mama. We are both very challenged in the coordination department! I have confidence that she'll get better with experience, but watching her today filled me with admiration and pride. Emma may not be the most coordinated, or the quickest to learn new things, but for everything she lacks there, she makes up for in sheer determination.

Emma has the heart of a lion.

As I watched her struggling to move correctly and failing miserably, I kept thinking that at her age I would have probably crumbled with discouragment self consciousness. I watched her with a smile plastered to my face and my stomach in knots, expecting at any moment she'd burst into frustrated tears. But her confidence and intensity never waivered, even when she began to draw exasperated looks from her classmates. She ended the hour long class with the same drive and raw effort that she began with. She was put into a class with girls her own age who have been taking ballet for several years, so we decided it would be easier for her if she moves to a class where they are learning the basics. Thankfully, the girls in that class are close to her in age as well. I thank God for my sweet, passionate little girl. I am so blessed that I can look on my young daughter and admire so much about her.

My ballerina girl, I love you so!!

Little Caroline

Well, just look who grew some hair!

We have always felt that she was very clever, and now we know it for sure! My sister and Clint received these updated pictures of Caroline last month. The best part was that they were taken the day before they got them. How neat to see how she has changed since her referral photos. I think that she is just the most precious thing - and I really don't think that's because I'm a very partial Auntie!

In any adoption, the joy of seeing your child for the first time is inextricably tangled with the pain of not having them with you. China's winter storms, and the extreme hardships they have wrought upon China's orphans has made this pain even harder to bear. We know that Caroline's province has been affected, but we have no way of knowing how hard her particular orphanage was hit. In these times, the right thing to do is remember that God knows exactly where she is and what her circumstances are. Adoption rips away any illusions we harbor of being the ones who ensure our children's health and safety. I pray that God will keep our little Caroline safe, warm, and healthy. And that He will speed my sweet sister and her sweet husband on their journey to their baby girl.

Caroline, you are loved. You are prayed over by the minute, and thought of each day too many times to count.

Be well, sweet angel baby - your Mommy and Daddy are coming!

Love,

Your Auntie

The Random Musings Of a Half Baked Mom

That title doesn't sound right, does it? Let me start by assuring you that I don't mean that I'm "baked" in the 1960's sense, just in the frazzled and tired way. Now, all of the people who assured me that having four children was no different than having three - that I'd hardly feel it as a bump in the road - I'm pretty certain they were baked that other way. And not just "Half Baked", either.

Things are all pretty much as I last left them, nothing terribly chaotic has happened - I think I've just started to feel the strain of having too many balls in the air I'm trying to juggle at once. Between Eli's "Welcome Home, we're going to poke and prod you everyplace" barage of medical appointments, and playing the simultaneous roles of full time teacher, Mom, wife, accountant, cook, housekeeper, administrative assistant, and newly appointed hairdresser (see frightened children above) - I've suddenly found that my batteries are running low. In fact, I can hear them making that ominous "beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . " like a cordless phone in its death throes - or the machines in hospital rooms that monitor your vitals, if you want a darker analogy :)! I've decided I'd better do something about that, lest the whole operation go belly up. I need something . . . like a book club, or a girl's night out, or a month in the Cayman Islands. Ok, I'm stretching it with that last one, I know! I've decided that at least once a month, I'm going to have to find some "Me Time" somewhere in our schedule. I hate that term "Me Time" because it sounds so humanistic and self absorbed. But it's shorter than saying "Must-Leave-House-Without-Children-Or-Fly-Into-Psychotic-Rage Time". Stay tuned . . .

Okay, I've had my cry out, now I'll update you on the kiddos (whom I really do still love with all of my heart)!

Our newest news is that Emma is going to start ballet classes (be still my heart!!). I can't say which of us is more excited! This is something I've dreamed of since the ultrasound annouced "It's a Girl", and Emma has wanted to do since she was about two years old, but I wanted her to be a bit older. Well, then life happened, and two adoptions in three years made our finances a bit . . . ahem . . . "skinnier" than they'd previously been. Can you say Rinnie to the rescue? My Mom, aka Rinnie, has offered to pay for her lessons. She will be reporting to class, complete with powder pink leotard and specially fitted toe shoes this coming Friday. I'll post pictures of her first class, if I manage to get some decent ones. I want all of my children to find their special nitch, but I confess I've got all of my fingers and toes crossed that this might just be Emma's nitch. I'll let you be the judge, here is a video of Emma and Eli doing their best Astaire and Rogers impression! What do you think? Clearly a natural, right? By the way, that is Havila sitting on the couch in the video, isn't she a darling? I watch her three days a week, which I realize adds to my hectic schedule, but just look at her . . . could you quit that little angel?