8 years ago...we went from this...

to this...

to this! Eden Lily was born October 26th, 2002!

Eden continues to be a joy to have as a child. She is smart, witty, quirky, and thoughtful. She perplexes me daily, much like her father. I love you first child!

Steven Curtis Chapman concert

Our agency was one of the partners in the Steven/Mary Beth Chapman concert/book tour this fall, and our social worker called us one day last week and offered us free tickets to the show! We thought what the hay and took all the kids with us. It started with a "VIP" question and answer time which was fun. Mary Beth was delayed on a plane so it was just SCC and a friend of his. We were able to personally thank him for the grant that we got from his family's adoption foundation Show Hope. He looked really thrilled to get to see one of the "results" of their efforts. SCC is a seriously kind and sincere person. He was extremely down to earth and easygoing. We stayed through the first half of the concert (including his opening band, his sons' band Caleb- which was great) and then the kids got antsy. Eden was itching all over from Poison Ivy (shocking) and Esias was, well, being two. Elly...let's just say I am not sure her buns ever met the seat cushion. But all in all we had a grand ole time and arrived home to have a late but not crazy-late bedtime on a school night! Thanks Bethany Christian Services!

Something's Up.

Something new is happening in our family. I feel God changing and growing us. In the past, we have endured some things, not suffering like some have suffered I realize, but challenges for our family nonetheless. Namely, my constant struggle with balance and vertigo, the illness and death of Dan's mom, waiting, waiting, waiting for Esias, dealing with his health after getting home, etc.

Right now, though things are not perfect, of course, they are good. We are healthy and not in crisis mode. It almost feels...odd. But we are so thankful for this time. Lord, let me not be content in this time and let me continue to lean on you in the good times as we do in the bad. Lord show my children how to rejoice no matter what.

We are so thankful for what the Lord is doing through our congregation and Yezelalem Minch (the sponsorship/community development organization we partner with). There have been lives changed in OUR church! Answering God's call to care for widows and orphans blesses us more than it blesses them. Seriously. Try it!

Edenism

I forgot to post this the other day. We were all outside (the kids and I) riding bikes, etc. When we started to notice we were being eaten alive by mosquitos and gnats. It was shame because it was such a nice day out, so we tried to be tough and suffer through for a while. Finally, I said, "Ok, I've had enough! We're going in!" The kids started running toward the door, apparently just waiting for me to give them the go ahead to end their misery! Eden goes, "Seriously! I just saw a mosquito pull its nose outta my arm!"

Unimportant Rambling

The weather continues to be really nice, though this week it's turned a little more normal. 60s are wonderful to this girl. I love open windows and sweatshirts and football. The kids have been enjoying playing outdoors a ton, we have a crazy chalk speedway drawn all over the driveway that has proven to be hours of fun for the kids and their bikes/big wheels. Daycare kids love it as well. We've been busy but I am not exactly sure why...school just adds another dimension to our day for sure. Eden has homework almost every night, though it is not difficult stuff, just working on her spelling words, finishing up math, and reading her read-at-home books.

Esias is growing like a weed. He started using some more word-sounds too. He regularly says, "uh-um" for "uh oh" now, which is super exciting since that is what the therapists always ask--"is he saying 'uh oh' yet?" So now I tell them YES! Yes he is!!! He also says "kuh" for Luke, Kah for car, 'kkng' for train (weird i know, but it definitely means train!) and a few other things. We have his year evaluation meeting with his "team" to determine what the next year brings when services stop and he gets to go to school for therapy. Yipes. Scares this momma...how do I send my bitty boy to preschool at 3 when I could hardly send my girls at 4/5? We shall see...

Dan is always so great at helping out around the house...both with the kids and the household chores...sometimes all at once.

Madison Weekend

We spent the weekend in Madison, WI with our dear friends (more like
family) the Nielsens. They recently moved from Albuquerque to plant a
church. We have a lot of history together-- Dan and I lived with them
in a three story townhouse in our second year of marriage (their third
I think) while Kim was in PA school. They had the top floor, we had
the bottom floor and we shared the middle. Dan and Zach (famed blogger Vitamin Z) worked together at Parkview Church for a number of years and also traveled around in a
band together for 5 years. So we've lived in close community with
them in the past but since they moved and we've all procreated and gathered up children we haven't had a chance to really do that. Well this weekend, we brought our three kids to their house with their four kids, and that was some close
community :) It was so fun and the kids did GREAT together.
They have Taylor, who is 5 weeks older than Eden, Autumn who is about
10 mo. older than Elly, Emery who is 3 (poor guy gets left out of the
pairings) and Mya who is 2 this month (Esias is smitten with her, she is a beauty who came to them via a whirlwind domestic adoption. It's a pretty cool story. Read it here.). We
had a blast. Madison was beautiful and the weather was more like June
than October. We went to a park, played outside, held Sandy
Fluffernutter the Bearded Dragon, ate meals together, laughed, and
enjoyed ourselves quite muchly :)

Eden has her prized dog tag in her mouth...

Miss Autumn

Belly

Most of the big kids plus some other random children.

Esias and Mya

Taylor, a.k.a. Bear Grylls

Eden must be telling a story...Autumn really liked her :)

Taylor's "gnarly tooth" as he calls it

E could not get enough of making Mya smile

Sandy Flufflernutter, Taylor's pet lizard

Parlez vous francais?

Elly said, "I thought those shoes were for Eden, but their are for armoire!"

Zombie Time

Me: Elly, I think it's about ready for your quiet time (rest time).
Elly: Can we watch TV during quiet time?
Me: No.
Elly: Why not?
Me: Because TV makes you more into a zombie and not so much rested.
Elly: But zombies are quiet, Mom!

Daycare Shenanigans

Sometimes daycare gets a little wild around here! We're not crying over this though.

Of course you need to wear these on your heads.

And the pink clogs.

I realize my son is a mess.

Again with the drool. I thought it was funny that they both had their khaki shorts on- and they both ruined their shirts at lunch.

Ah, brotherly love. E and L are two weeks apart!

Here's Katie joining in, she's 4.

And Miss Elly. That's our little weekday family!

Luke clued Esias into the idea to climb into his crib, but Esias can do it faster since he's taller.

Esias LOVES Luke. Loves him.

Maybe a little too much.

You can hardly see Luke but the nice big hug ended in a bit of a wrestling match.

I bet you want to come hang out with us, don't you?

Sugarbottom Hike

We enjoyed the first 50 degree day with a nice nature hike ending with
a beautiful view. The last time we walked this trail was just before
we left to get Esias and I remember wondering if we'd ever be able to
do things like this again!

Ready to explore!

This giant tree had fallen since the last hike we took.

My husband is cute.

What a fungi.

Eden is trying to count the rings.

How beautiful is God's creation? He is such an Artist.

Some of His best work, I think.

Beautiful!