Did I move and not know it???

Seriously, am I in Texas still??   We are having a winter wonderland here.  As of 1:40pm, we have about 5-6 inches and it is coming down constantly.  For this neck of the woods, that is crazy!  We get excited to see 1 inch of powder. Hey, the ski bibs I bought at the resale shop have sure been worth the 6 bucks I paid for them

Hudson was NOT impressed with the snow!

Here is round 2 of playing in the snow.  As you can see, Dillon got himself ready.  Yes, he is wearing black leather church shoes, no socks, thermal long johns and a jacket over a coat.  Ahhh, to be blissfully unaware of social "norms"!!

The kids have eaten everything in the house, played outside a few times, watched 2 movies, and did my new Pilates dvd with me.  I don't see how homeschool moms do it--I like having my kids in school during the day ;))

One month ago today!

I was spending my last few hours in Haiti!!!  It almost doesn't seem real.  Know what I mean???  In some ways, it seems like a fuzzy dream that is far away.  But, my heart and brain are forver changed.  I'll never ever be the same after that crazy, fun, exhausting,scary, funny, super hard week!!!!!!!!  Thank you Jesus for working that surprise miracle that allowed me to go.  Thank you Haiti for breaking my heart, encouraging me, teaching me, and changing my "eyes" to see the world in a new light.  Everyone, GO somewhere.  Don't sit in your comfy  home thinking "oh, that is for other people."  You can do it!!  You will never be the same.

Fun at the stock show

My 10yr old neice, Alyssa, showed her steer at the stock show Thursday.  Now, I'm clueless when it comes to livestock.  Apparently, it wasn't a plain ole cow, something made it qualified to be called a steer!  I don't know what!!  We went to watch Alyssa show.  It was very interesting to see about 60 kids walk out with their steer and the judge quickly decide which one met his specifications.  Even though Woody(the steer) was certainly the most beautiful and well-behaved steer, that silly judge didn't pick him.  Oh well, Alyssa was happy spending the day with her daddy and steer, AND missing school :))
Hudson had fun with Nana as you can see in the above picture.
I'm a total city girl with no experience living in the country or having animals.  I feel kind of bad that our kids will never do anything with animals or such.  I can see that it would teach great responsibility and patience.  Mike used to raise and show hogs when he was in high school.  Let's face it, I don't even like to touch dogs or cats--much less cows and hogs!

Five Oaks Church - Haiti Ribbon Cutting

(BE SURE TO PAUSE MY MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE SO YOU CAN HEAR THE WORDS IN THE VIDEO)
This is the ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the new orphanage/church/school building that I was at in Haiti. A precious church in Minnesota worked for years to get this built. 

The interesting times of being a conspicous family

I thought I might take a few posts in the next weeks to address adoptive family issues.  Since we are a conspicous family, we get lots of inquiries.  One of the purposes of this blog is to educate on adoption and such so I'll be addressing common questions and misconceptions. 

People like to ask us questions about our family being transracial.  Some questions are generally curious, some are sweet

just uneducated, and some are downright rude and intrusive.  I like the ones that children ask.  Children don't dance around the issue, they just ask what is on their mind.  

One really stupid question that adults use to ask us after Abby came home was "So, do you plan on telling her she's adopted??" 

HUH?  I mean seriously, she will be looking at herself in the mirror and notice that hey, something's different here!  Abby noticed very early, like age 2.  She use to rub my fair skinned freckled arm and then rub her mocha colored arm. 

This was the first time Abby drew herself with an eye for skin differences, at age 5.  Before then, she'd always drawn herself with white or peach colored skin.  I scanned the picture and saved it in her memory box.  I think it is so precious!!!

Cheapo, Going gray, and drive by's...

If you've been reading this blog long, you already know I'm quite frugal.  Okay, some call me cheap(my kids especially!).  I like to consider myself a good steward.  Today, it hit me that yes, I'm a cheapo.  Hudson and I stopped in at one of my favorite resale shops near my home.  I needed  a plain sweater to wear with jeans.  I was so proud when I got home with a Gap sweater that looks new for 4.99.  I opened my cupboards to get the ingredients for homemade oatmeal cookies.  Seriously, every single ingredient was off brand.  From vanilla down to the butter and eggs, it was all Wal-Mart's off brand!  Plain white labels stared back at me :)  Then I knew it was true---Yes, I am cheap!

Now, on to the graying.  My gray hairs that are popping out at an alarmingly fast rate are not cute.  You know the pretty, sleek gray hairs some women have?  Mine are like little tiny brillo pad slivers shooting out from my auburn hair.  If you think I'm gonna pay to color it--go back and read the first paragraph.

Drive By's...  Not the kind you are thinking of.  In our family, we have drive by diaper dumping!  It seems that little Hudson has an affinity for pooping in public.  Never fails, we are at a store and it happens.  So, I take him to the minivan, change the diaper and then what??  You can't drive around with a stinky diaper!  So, we drive up to a gas station trash can and leave a friendly deposit!

Ahhh, the fun times of being a middle class mommy of many!  You are all probably wondering why I'm posting on such random topics.  Well, I'm out of books currently.  Oh, I did just start "He Speaks To Me", the Bible Study by Priscilla Shirer.  I want to see her style because in 2.5 months I'll be sitting under her teaching at PINK Impact(ladies conference at Gateway)!!   WHOOOHOO, I'm so excited that I am already planning my outfit :))  I have to look fairly cute while rockin out and worshipping with Miriam Webster from Hillsong and Kari Jobe!!!  Wanna come?

14....NO WAY!!!!!

In honor of Carter's birtday, here is a throwback picture to when he was 8yrs old!  I dont have any baby pics scanned in on this computer.  Darn, cause he was gorgeous!!  In an effort to not be overly dramatic, I'm just gonna keep this simple.  At 1128am, 14 years ago, Carter was born.  It was an icy night and we slid our way to the hospital.  He was perfect in every way.  I loved being pregnant, loved giving birth, loved having him.  I was a dumb, young mom who made lots of mistakes and didn't enjoy every second with him.  OH, what I'd give to have a do-over and spend one day cradling my newborn again.  But, alas, we don't have do-overs in real life.  Instead, we learn and grow and  hopefully, don't repeat those same mistakes.  Carter, you are a blessing!  All I ever wanted to be was a mommy.  You are funny, smart, handsome, sensitive and a mighty warrior for Jesus.  Our prayer for you is not that you'd be cool, go to a good college and get a "good job", make money and be happy.  Our prayer is that  you'd be a servant, that you'd follow Jesus wherever He leads you and live a life of true significance.  We can't wait to see how God uses your life to change people and the world someday!  Happy Birthday.

A funny on me....
  So, Sunday morning I was preparing to speak to our Adult Bible Fellowship class about my trip to Haiti.  I guess it was heavy on my mind.  Sunday evening I was doing the dishes and got Hudson's sippy cup out of his backpack that he'd taken to church nursery.  I died laughing when I saw it.  We always write his name on the cup before going to nursery.  Guess what I wrote instead of Hudson???  "HAITIAN"  It was hilarious!!