Melt My Heart!

Aren't these two just so amazing!?

Each year we draw names to see who buys gifts for whom.  We spend Christmas with friends, so we put all of our names in a bowl and each draw one. Then Keith or I take each child out for supper and to shop for the gift they get to choose.  We all love and look forward to this tradition- I'm not sure if the parents or the children enjoy it more!

Tonight it is Annika's turn.  And she got to go with her Daddy.  I think they were both pretty excited about that!  They are shopping for a gift for Douglas and I can't wait to see what they come up with! 

Sometime Things Don't Go As Planned...

Note: This sat in my draft folder waiting for the final picture for a couple of days:)

Casper was so excited to see this recipe on his math paper yesterday.  He wanted to try making it right away, but we were pretty busy at the time and he did not have time to try it until late this afternoon.  He was so excited when I said he could do it all by himself!

After measuring and boiling and trying to "drop by teaspoonfuls" he was pretty discouraged at the crumbles that fell off of his spoon.

He sent an emergency text to his daddy requesting that Daddy bring home some ice cream and lo and behold!  The "cookies" turned into "ice cream topping" just like that!  Disaster turned to success!

Stir, Roll, Pat, Cut...

This morning as soon as Annika finished her school work we started on a fun little project.

Eliana needed to get in on the action too, of course.

We stirred and kneaded.

We rolled and cut.

We got pretty involved and got a bit of flour on our faces.

And now we have lots of Cinnamon Salt Dough "cookies" drying in the oven.  They smell wonderful and we can't wait to hang them in our windows to look pretty and smell good!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness { or Keeping It Real }

It has been a long week.  And a hard one.  I have been sick.  A frustrating illness that is very real but somewhat unexplainable.

All week I have been a step (or two or three) behind.  It has been one of those weeks where I quickly iron a shirt for Keith as he gets ready for work in the morning.

I had to bake about 30 dozen cookies before a cookie exchange on Friday.  The problem?  My oven was not working.  A little hard to bake cookies without an oven.  My sweet husband bought me a new stove that was supposed to be ready to pick up on Wednesday.  Only it wasn't.  And Keith couldn't pick it up Thursday morning so I did.  And the boys and I hauled it in the house and got it ready to go.  By then I was ready for a nap (remember, I've been sick) but I had cookies to bake.

So I baked cookies.  It was do or die type of baking.  Just get in there and get it done.  I made two kinds of cookies.  Neiman Marcus $250 Cookies and Pumpkin Cookies.  Thankfully it went well and the cookies turned out great.

On Friday morning I felt horrible.  But I had not attended this annual event last year due to illness and really felt I should go.  I knew I did not have anything contagious so off I went.  The boys spent the day with Keith and I took the girls with me. It all ended up fine.  I made it through.  I felt better as the day progressed.  Oh yes, and I came home with about two dozen each of twelve kinds of cookies!

But you know what? I feel (some) better today.  It has been a hard week.  But God is so good and so gracious even when things seem difficult.  I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day in a new week in a new month.  So here is to a joyous December!

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22,23

Another picture from Texas.

Nine Days and 3,000+ Miles Later...

We are home again.  It is always amazing to me how much I love my house after being gone for a while.  It seems so welcoming and comfortable.  I love the familiar cadence of our routine.  I love sleeping in my own bed and sitting in my own chair.  I love preparing meals in my kitchen and sitting down at the table with my family.  In short, I love being at home!

We had a wonderful time in Texas and even ended up staying an extra day even though we had gone two days early.  We went to Homestead Heritage with my family on Friday and had a lovely time.  I just have a fun family... what can I say?! :)

The table decorations.

German Chocolate Cake

Thanksgiving Day was very special as my grandparents, parents, siblings, and two great-aunts all gathered together for a very bountiful dinner.  We had three turkeys, one smoked (yum!) one fried (super yum!) and one roasted.  I'll spare you the details of the rest of the menu, but let me assure you it included cornbread dressing (no stuffing or filling, thank you very much!) and lots of other wonderful things.  My youngest brother thought maybe he is going to write a song about his undying love for dressing and cranberries.

Joshua smoking the turkey.

Frying the turkey.

Then we all gathered in our stuffed state and sang a few song for my sweet Nan-Naw.  We took pictures (not that you can see everyone in any of them).  We took pictures of each of us with Nan-Naw.  It was so good to know that everyone was there together.

All of us.

{ thankful }

For God.  For His love, grace, and forgiveness.  For His continual guidance and blessing.

For family.  My husband.  My children- the sons I carried and gave birth to, the daughters I carried in my heart and flew half way around the world meet.

For family.  My parents.  My sisters.  My brothers.  My many nieces and nephews.  My Nan-Naw and J.  These are my people.  My family.  And I am thankful for each and every one of them.

For temporal blessings.  A house.  Clothes.  Food.  Enough and more than enough in a world where most do not have enough.

For freedom.  Where we can live as we choose, educate our children as we choose, and worship God without fear.

For traditions.  For cornbread dressing and German Chocolate Cake on Thanksgiving.  For the many small but significant things we do between now and Christmas.

For friends.  The people I count on.  The ones I have laughed with and cried with.  The ones who understand my jokes.  The ones who understand when I'm quiet.

For all of these thing and many others I am truly thankful.

Over the River and Through the Woods...

To Grandmother's house we go!!

We are in Texas.  As far as most of my family knows we are just leaving from Pennsylvania this morning.  But we decided to leave early.  Like this (at 3 PM on Friday) :

Me: Maybe we should just go today.
Keith: Maybe we should.
Me: I think I could be ready by 5.
Keith: Okay.  Pick me up at 5.
Me: (to the children) We are leaving in 2 hours, bring the suitcases up...
Children: (in unison) WHAT!?  YEAH!!!

This is not word for word our entire conversation, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how it all went down.

And we have been driving ever since.  Or so it seems.  We have stopped at night to sleep, using Priceline to book hotels along the way.

My how the scenery has changed!

  We did inform one of my sisters (the one we are staying with first) and one of my sisters-in-law.  But, as far as I know, the rest have no idea that we plan to be at their church this morning.  I can't wait to see my mom's face when we walk in!

 

Fun times!  Fun days ahead!  All Eliana can think about is that Grandma has a swing set... the boys are planning on farming and helping Grandpa and the uncles to their heart's content...and Annika is looking forward to helping in the cheese house.  Keith is looking forward to going with my dad when he delivers cheese to stores.  And me?  I plan to help Mom get ready for Thanksgiving and visit with my sisters and brothers and learn to know the little nieces and nephews I hardly know.  I plan to enjoy every minute of soaking in the all the things about family that never change.

Saturday Evening Musings...

Today was the day to make my annual trek in search of the perfect Christmas dress fabric.  There is only one requirement (besides that I have to love it:) it has to have snowflakes on it. Each year since Annika has been home (This is the first year that I have two Christmas dresses to make!)  I have made this trek.  Most years I am joined by my friend, Janelle.  So I sent her an impromptu text this morning and off we went to Lancaster County to where all the little quilt fabric shops are!  And... success was ours again this year.  I am so thankful for these sweet traditions!

Keith kept everyone except Eliana.  I rarely only have one little person that I am responsible for and it was so fun to spend time with her like this!  I love to tell her that she is a good girl and hear her unfailing response, "Me?!"  it warms my heart every time.

When I got home everyone was hard at work!

Casper raking leaves...

  Keith cutting up a tree that had fallen...

Freeland mowing...

I failed to get a picture of Douglas working, but here is a picture of his bedroom as seen from outside I figure it works as evidence that he does work sometimes :)...

And here are the girls sitting at their little table coloring.  I found the table at a children's consignment shop yesterday and they have put it to good use already!

We had chili for supper, it was the first time we tried this recipe and it is definitely a keeper!  It had been simmering in the crockpot all day while I was shopping.  When supper was over and all of the little people bathed we sat in the living room together reading, blogging, playing... And I looked around at this family that God has blessed me with and my heart was full to over flowing with gratitude.  It was such an ordinary day.  Such a miraculous, ordinary day!

My Perspective of Sandy...

Sandy, the infamous "Frankenstorm", is in Pine Grove.  I thought I would show you why we feel a little nervous when we hear predictions of "high winds". 

This is our deck rail. It is very charming most of the time that squirrels can jump from deck to trees with ease...

But there are times that it does not seem quite so idylic.

today would be considered one of those less than ideal times.

So far we still have electricity, and we do have a generator if we need it.  We are safe and snug and dry and enjoying time together as a family.

Funk Cure Part 2

After I posted yesterday I sent Keith a quick email to tell him to look at the pictures on the blog. It wasn't long before he called.  "I like the blog post," he said, "I really like it!  In fact I like it so much that I'm coming home early to be with you!"  Talk about pulling a woman out of a funk:)

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In spite of our walk earlier in the day we were all game to try a hike to Swatara Falls.  The children had so much fun running ahead and hiding in the wild rhododendron that grows along the trail.  They would jump out as we caught up to them and try to scare us.

Freeland in hiding!

Annika made it to the top of the falls!

Today I am thankful again for this family that God has blessed me with!

Funk Cure

So I've been in a bit of a funk this week.  Not that I really have good reason to be,  but sometimes life feels heavy and it is hard to shake that feeling off.  Little things pile up, sad news catches you off guard, responsibilities are ever present and down you spiral. Sometimes you have to be pro-active.  You have to shake yourself out of it.  You have to get out and do something about it!

So... we did. We walked the 1.2 miles to Dollar General. We bought a few things.  We stopped at McDonald's and got a little lunch.  We walked home again. 

What!? You don't think that sounds fun!?  Just wait til I show you...

Setting out...

Casper was the official purse carrier.  It kept kind of slipping...

You can see the yellow Dollar General sign in the distance.

A little challenge along the way.

Mine.  Freeland kept stealing it when I took pictures of the others.

One of us thought this very, very funny!

Beautiful!

Getting a little tired on the way home.

Toliver , who had proudly decimated a sponge in our absence, was so glad to see us when we got home! 

CCCWA Mid-Autumn Festival Harbor Cruise

Pat Marcus and Me

One of the main reasons we went to New York City this weekend was so that we could attend an event that Gladney was hosting.  They chartered a boat for a cruise on the Hudson River.  There were about 20 adoption officials from China plus a lot of adoptive families.  Any of you who know anything about Chinese officials know that there were lengthy introductions and speeches.  I lost track of what all these people were directors of, but when they introduced the lady who issues the travel approvals, I applauded loudly!  I know my China adoptive mommy friends would have joined me!

April - "Adoption Rocks"  :)

Eliana with Gongzhan - the Gladney Asia Program Director
Gongzhan is also from Shanghai

The children had a wonderful time.  They explored the whole boat.  The boys said that they offered their photography services to all the Chinese officials on board (I think they actually did take a few pictures when they were asked to.)  Annika thoroughly enjoyed using fabric markers on squares that Pat Marcus plans to use to make a quilt for the CCCWA.  Of course there was some good Chinese food which the children enjoyed since it bore little resemblance to the Dim Sum fare that we had yesterday.

Visiting China Official with Most of the Children
(See Eliana noticing the typical Chinese hand-motion when posing for photos.  This is something she did when we first got her.  But today that memory came back for her, and she kept doing it throughout the day)

The Girls Got Their Faces Painted 

A CCCWA Official

The wind was a bit brisk, but the sun was shining warmly.  And all around us were the amazing views of Manhattan.  

Brooklyn Bridge - from beneath

Statue of Liberty

What an awesome place for a boat ride!