Rockstars

I wanted to share Laila's and Isaiah's talents with you. They both love to sing and took some time to sing for me on video tonight.

You are going to have to turn this one up. She sings softly at first, but then gets more confident.

It is so precious to hear her sing worship songs!

This boy needs to be in movies or commercials.

Speaking of rockstars, I am feeling a bit like one tonight myself. I was craving pinto beans and cornbread today and decided to make some for dinner tonight. On the way home from school, you should have heard the moans and groans in our truck when I announced what we were having for dinner. Then, I had a bright idea. I would take some of the pinto beans and make refried beans. Then I put beans, rice, and cheese into a tortilla to make burritos. They were a huge hit. Rick said I went from zero to hero. He was right. I got the meal I was craving and everyone else got to eat something they like, too! I love those moments. They don't happen very often.

Adoption Reality

I have seen this blog post linked on several blogs.

I am sharing it with you because I know many of you may not see it otherwise.

This describes adoption so well. It is the reality of what most families face when they adopt.

We have experienced much of this and still do.

God has called us all to care for orphans.

For some that means adopting, for others supporting adoption and for others serving orphans around the world. Our family has been called to all 3!

The family pictures you see and the coming home videos make everyone feel warm and fuzzy, but the reality is that adopti0n launches you into the spiritual battle of a lifetime.

That battle doesn't end once you get them home and they join your family.

That is when it truly begins.

2 1/2 years into it, and I see that battle changing and know that it will continue throughout our lives.

In spite of all the struggles, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Isaiah and Laila have been the most amazing blessing that I could have NEVER dreamed up on my own.

Click here. Read this link.

How can you support someone who has adopted? I dare you!!

Time For Healing in Me

This songs speaks exactly to where I am right now.

It is my theme song.

It is what I am seeking this month and beyond.

Minute by minute, day by day.

I suspect it may speak to some of you as well.

Soak it in

Claim it.

Live it.

A Great Day!!

Today has really been such a great day. It started this morning with some lazy time around the house. I made coffee and watched Pioneer Woman. Then the kids watched Monsters vs. Aliens. There was a chill in the air that reveals that summer is ending. That part makes me sad. I hate to see summer end!!

After lunch, I took the kids(minus Lauren, she was with a friend at Elitch Gardens today and Rick who is out of town) and 2 other friends out bowling.

Abba-doo

Sister with an attitude

Isaiah getting ready to bowl

We decided after our first game of bowling, to do a round of "crazy bowling." If you don't know what that is, you should google it. Basically, you bowl a crazy way each frame. This takes the competition out of it and just makes it fun.

Abby and Laila kicking the ball down the lane

Kathleen bowling with socks on her hands

Cody, Kathleen, and Kimberly

Sam cuddling Laila

Kimberly kicking it down the lane

Sam rolling it between my legs.

Oh, how I wish you could truly see the expression on my face!!

We were bowling with our eyes closed, turning in circles 5 times and then bowling while dizzy, and bowling in slow motion. The funniest one was when we were told to ask someone from outside of our group to bowl a frame. Cody asked the man in the lane next to us. Thankfully, he was a good sport. It was also pretty funny when Isaiah bowled his ball down the wrong lane. I cannot take my eyes off that boy for even a second!!

Many times, anything we do that has any sort of competition to it ends with anger and tears. That did not happen today. It was so much more fun, and we all still liked each other when we left. We will definitely do that again!!

Good times!! Isaiah had more fun than his face shows.

Afterwards, we came home for pizza and a movie. They were so hungry. Laila actually ate 4 pieces of pizza!! Early bedtime is next on the agenda. That is my favorite way to end the day!!

Minute by Minute, Day By Day or Have Your Cupcake and Eat it, too!

I woke up today with my new mantra in mind. Cody was the only one that had school today. So, after taking him, I decided to embrace this morning off with the kids. We went for a walk/scooter ride to the doughnut shop near our house with our Groupon in hand. Technically, it is a cupcake shop, but they also serve doughnuts. The fryer was broken, so the only option today was cupcakes. Embracing my new mantra, I said, "Well, then let's have cupcakes for breakfast.(Are they really that much worse than eating a doughnut? I am guessing not!)

Our choices(from left to right)

Vanilla w/ sprinkles(Abby), orange dreamsicle(Isaiah), turtle(Lauren), orange dreamsicle(Laila), rootbeer(Sam), and vanilla w/ sprinkles(me, I actually traded mine out for the black/white one before I ate!))

I think I should get some kind of "Fun Mom" award for this one. You better believe I have gotten all the mileage I can out of it today!!

Cupcake Crew

Our Groupon was for 1 dozen so here are our other choices:

Key Lime, Black and White, Mint Chocolate Chip,

Tiramisu, Turtle, and Lemon

Laila was the Cupcake Keeper on the ride home.

We even buckled them into the wagon.

After this little adventure, we went on another one. We were meeting a friend at the park so we decided to walk/bike/scooter there. We did have cupcake calories to work off!!

I have so appreciated some of the comments I received on my "mantra" post. I know I am only 2 days into it, but it feels so freeing to let go of so much. There will be setbacks, but today I am soaking in the good and being kind to myself.

Speaking of the mantra, this friend, showed up at my door with this book. God told her to get it for me. She even said, "I wanted to bring you a sweet tea, but wasn't able to get it." Really? Just the thought blessed my heart. It spoke to where I am. It spoke to what God is saying to me. It reminded me that God sees me and is using others to care for me. Thanks, Tricia. I have already started reading it. Just reading the description and the endorsements gets me excited!! My heart resonates with the point of this book. I will let you know how it is!

Teenager, In The HOOOUUSE!!

The last week has been filled with activity celebrating Cody's 13th bday. Yes, you read that right. Cody is now 13. 13 is a milestone in our house. Lots of big stuff happening to celebrate. Cody's requests: a Facebook account, join the Dairy Queen Blizzard Club, get a cell phone, and watch a PG-13 movie.

He set up his Facebook account on Wed. and is trying to get more friends than me. He also signed up for the Blizzard Club and got his free blizzard coupon. We are working on getting a cell phone. He actually has already seen a PG-13 movie, but will be deciding about others as the opportunity arises.

The festivities began last Saturday. The whole day was planned for him. He and Rick left out that morning to Woodland Park where they visited the Donut Mill.

Those were some Mega Momma Donuts!

They spent some time talking about "man" things.

At lunch time, Rick had invited several men over that have impacted his life to come and speak into Cody's life. It was "Men Only" so I didn't get to be there, but heard that it was a really meaningful time.

After sharing with Cody, the men gathered around him and prayed over him

That evening was sleepover time. Cody had 3 friends over to celebrate his bday with him. I didn't get any pictures on Sat., but made sure to get a few shots on Sunday morning.

Cody cooked pancakes for breakfast, and they ate on the porch.

They spent lots of time riding bikes.

That is Cody's new favorite thing to do.

Cody's actual bday was Wed., 31st. We let him miss school for the day. He and Rick went out to Cracker Barrel for a special breakfast. After that, I took him to his dr. check-up. He is healthy!! Then, it was lunch at Chipotle. If you not catching a theme here, food is a very important part of a teenager's life.

He downed this thing in no time flat.

TCBY Waffle Cone Wednesdays

Mint Chocolate Chip, his fave!

We celebrated his bday as a family on Tuesday night with Sloppy Joes, Fries, Watermelon and Ice Cream Cake.

The night of his bday, he went to Life Group and took dessert, Rocky Road Brownies and a Big Cookie that he decorated. It said, "Happy Epic Bday, Cody." This boy did a lot of celebrating!!

Cody,

Here we go. The first 13 years have been exciting. Now we embark together on the journey of teenagerhood. I am proud of the man you are becoming. I see God's Hand on your life. I see how He has designed you for his purpose for your life. I love you and am so proud of you. I love, love, love your sense of humor and wittiness. I see how God has made you into a leader and pray that you will use that ability to glorify Him. I pray for you. I am blessed to have you as my son. What an amazing kid you are!!

Mom

My September Mantra

I have been struggling with my roles, my relationships, and my life.

When I look at my life, I am completely overwhelmed by it all.

I get into this funk that I can't get out of and really become paralyzed to accomplish anything.

Then, I move into "survival mode" completing what has to be done just in time(tyranny of the urgent), ranting and raving to my kids over the condition of our house or the jobs they didn't complete, and just wanting to shut down completely.

I am committing to live differently in Sept.(I hope it will extend beyond that, but for now, Sept. is all I can wrap my mind around.)

My mantra for this month: "Minute by Minute, Day by Day"

I have broken it down for myself into 3 areas: Body, Mind, Spirit.

I have goals for myself in each of these areas.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all of the things about myself that I need to change, I am going to tackle them "minute by minute, day by day."

That is the only way I can conquer some of these areas in my life right now.

I am going to prayerfully and consciously challenge myself, my thinking, my motives, my frustrations, my actions minute by minute, day by day.

Most of the battles that I fight go on inside my head. It is an act of discipline for me to engage and conquer my thoughts rather than letting them take control of my heart.

Another theme that is surfacing in my heart that I need to take minute by minute and day by day is LOVE and FORGIVENESS.

Love myself.

Love my children.

Love my hubby.

Love my life.

Forgive in my heart even when it is not being asked for. Forgive in such a way that I move forward and leave the past behind. Stop keeping a record of wrongs. This is painfully hard for me.

Believe it or not, the pessimist in me struggles with all of these.

So, this month will come and go, but my prayer is that I can choose to live differently and look back to see that choice by choice, I made progress.

It is the first day of this journey. Having a plan and focus gives me purpose.

I know the attacks will come.

I am not naive to the transformation that can occur in me through these choices and the spiritual battle that will result.

I am writing this post to remind me.

My prayer is that I will be a better me, a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, and a better follower of Christ than I was on Aug. 31, 2011.

Minute by minute, day by day.