Manger scene from the heart

I absolutely love decorating the house for Christmas. It's a time of digging in boxes and checking out what you had in storage. I remember when Alyssa was 2, she would walk around with tinsel around her and just stay busy while I was putting lights on the tree. Austin's favorite part is hanging ornaments on the tree. For a couple years all the ornaments were at the bottom of the tree, but this year they are making their way to the top. Sigh---it's just a small sign that he's getting bigger.
As I was making supper one night the kids called me to the living room to check out their manger scene:

I love it!! It's so creative.......from the heart .......totally from a kids perspective. They wadded up lights for the manger, used some snow bears for Mary and Joseph and Jesus. There are 3 wise man (other stuffed animals) and 3 gifts of jewels laying by the manger and then there is an angel bear. Just a regular bear with fairy wings.

Isn't it precious? These are the things that make the holidays special. Just having fun...........
These are the precious things that kids do :)

If you need a good laugh.......

This is my day today. Both kids are at home, with a case of the runs out the back end, and the dog is in heat. Does it get any better?? This has truely been an experience. I wish I had taken a picture of Austin checking out Bella. He looked like a car mechanic laying on the floor under Bella looking up and trying to figuer this all out. Let's just say, it's been some interesting talks about how our bodies work!!! And the kids are so funny about these doggy diapers, it's just a hoot to have this all happening. Anyways, let's just say the only thing that could make this a more interesting holiday season is to have that dreaded lice note we got from school last month to actually be true in our house. I think at that point I would evacuate and move. We're all sitting on the couch watching tv and I'm figuering out what I need to do to be prepared for birthdays and holidays :) And in case you're wondering.......... I called the vet and this dog heat thing lasts 3-4 weeks. Yikes!!!! I should have called last month and scheduled her appointment, it just kept slipping my mind. Mental note: don't forget to do those things that need to get done.

Glimpse into Aidan's Thanksgiving

Check out how Aidan spent Thanksgiving:
http://www.glahaiti.org/toddler_house_blog
Sounds like it was a pretty special day :)

Thanksgiving Reflections

Okay, this is so last week's news, but before I jumped in Christmas I just wanted to reflect on Thanksgiving. We had a great time of reflection that week. Let me talk about Haiti in general for a moment, and not specifically about adoption. We definately feel tied to Haiti because Aidan lives there, but we've also developed a special place in our lives for the people of Haiti and referring to the state of poverty they are in. Our church had a Hungar for Haiti challenge in which we ate beans and rice for the 3 days prior to Thanksgiving. It was a time of reflection of what a typical Haitian might eat and ultimately so we can be in prayer for them, as well as prayer for our hearts towards them. I have to say it was powerful stuff. I can't even imagine life without all we have. On a physical side, I felt terrible just eating beans and rice. Not only was I hungary, but I had a terrible headache and really was miserable. Wow---what an eye opening experience. But the devotion that really struck me the most that week was something that was printed from Amy Sherman, author of Sharing God's Heart for the Poor............
"We would feel embarrassed to wait in line publicly for a hand-out of free food. We would be in anguish to watch our child starving to death, having no means to earn bread for her. And if we would feel all these things if we were 'in the shoes' of the poor person,.............then we must understand that he feels them too. We must not allow ourselves to believe that 'they' are somehow fundamentally different from 'us', and that while we would be pained to live their life, they are 'used to it' and so not bothered by it."

WOW!!! How often haven't we thought that..............that 'they' are use to it..........It's easy to think that Haitians in poverty are lucky to be getting beans and rice each day, but wouldn't it be even better if they could have more than that? Wouldn't we want more than that? And then it goes hand in hand with the quote..................."The Lord provides everything that everyone needs...........it's just up to us to share it, or distribute it"
This really goes against all that the culture shouts out to us. Going into Christmas it's so easy to get wrapped up in the me, me, me mentality.............but Thanksgiving was a great time to think about all we have and how we can share what we have.
And then to totally blow my selfish thinking...........one afternoon when I was crabby and cranky from not eating 'normal' I thought...............'i'm just going to sit for a minute and drink my water bottle and maybe some tea'...............and that whole thought process hit me like a ton of bricks that many Haitians don't have that luxury of clean water to drink at any given time, and the idea of a comfy cushiony couch is probably not happening either. We are so blessed. There was so many thoughts that came up that week, it was a great reflection time.

On a side note, Austin said that day that he was thankful for Aidan. I couldn't help think that being thankful for Aidan also meant being thankful to God for his leadings, being thankful that God is a God who knows our thoughts and directs our actions, thankful that God is alive and active in our lives, and thankful that God is amazing. Because without all this, Aidan wouldn't be part of our lives. I'm thankful for Aidan as well!!
I'm thankful for Alyssa and Austin too.............

Proud mom moment

Alyssa had show and tell for school. She came home Monday and put her 2 items in the box to take to school on Tuesday. Monday while getting ready for bed she grabbed our photo book of Aidan and put it in her show and tell box and took something else out. She said she wanted to take that, but I didn't ask any questions.
Tuesday after school she said she did her show and tell and everyone was really interested in hearing about her brother............and it was all good.
Today I dropped her off at school and her teacher said Alyssa did a great job showing everyone about her brother! She told the class that her family was SO excited to have Aidan be part of our family and she couldn't wait til he was home! The teacher said it was really neat. That just made my heart melt.............that the kids are actually embracing this and it's real................that Alyssa has feeling of love toward Aidan already and that she's excited for him!!!!!! I'm thrilled that she wanted to show everyone her pictures.............it makes me proud of her.

Aidan's moving up...

This past month has been filled with excitement for Aidan! He, and some of his friends, movied up to the toddler house---which is with the big kids. They say he's doing well with his change. He walks around with a smile on his face. We knew this was on the horizon for him, so while we were there we visted it. It's a walk up the rode from the main house at GLA. He will get some class time at this house and also have english classes!! I think it will be a great step for him as there is probably more activity and learning going on........... and I'm sure he's learning leaps and bounds from the big kids. Here is a couple pictures of his new enviroment.

His update also included that he had the chicken pox.....which we had heard. They said he had one of the worst cases.......my poor little boy.......but he's doing fine now and no problems......I guess that's one less vaccine he'll have to have, right.

Alyssa's hospital adventure

Nothing serious....no broken arms like the Huizenga's........but Alyssa was sooooo brave!

She was running and slipped with her socks and hit the wall. She had a pretty descent cut right in the middle of her forehead. Paul was with the kids while I was at dog school with Bella, so they cleaned it up and put a band-aid on. By the time I got home and checked it all out.....it was past 9:30...........but.......off we went to the hospital. We thought we better get it checked out since it's such a visible area. Sure enough, they used this glue stuff that sticks the skin together. He said it gets better results than stitches. Alyssa was so glad to hear that and that stitches weren't needed. She did so good talking to the Dr. and answering questions, what a big girl!!! The first question out of her mouth once we were done was......."so mom, where are we celebrating.....is donautville open or chuckie cheese?........ Do I get to stay home from school tomorrow?....."

She's so funny. She settled for a sucker from the nurse.........and since she got out of bed at 6:45 and was dancing around saying she could stay home and watch movies all day.................I sent her to school. She was excited to go and tell her friends..........so just as well. I would have let her stay home for the morning if she was sleeping................but that will be our secret----she doesn't have to know that:)

National Adoption Month

So Nov. is adoption awareness month......it seems like we've had alot of adoption stuff going on so it's been on our mind. We welcomed home a family with their children, we attended a West Mi Haitian gathering, I attended an adoption tea time, I've been in touch with another family who picked up their son while we visited............ While racking the large number of leaves we have........I've had lots of time to think about everything. It amazes me that each day I think about it, I really think about our whole process in a totally different perspective.

I'm amazed to think that Aidan is going to be part of our family......... I'm amazed at all the tiny steps God led us to get us to this point. When I think about the VERY beginning of Aidan's story.......it actually started about 3 years ago. Actually 2 years and 9 months.........which is exactly how old he is. See I didn't really ever realize that our restlessness from God started the exact month he was born. ..................it took us 16 months to follow all God's leadings....but God had a plan the whole time.............. During that 16 months it AMAZES me how some things occured........................and just some of the obvious ways that doors were closed..........I had requested things in the mail about something I was pretty interested in..........and amazingly we never recieved it......... I went to attend a meeting on foster to adopt, and was 5 minutes late..............and the doors to the building were locked and no one was there to let me in.........interesting, huh?......The list could go on and on how God led us............I remember having such a restlessness and praying a prayer in church...................it went like this......................Dear Jesus, I encourage you to mess with me. Feel free to mess with my comfortable lifestyle, my predictable patters, my long-held convictions. Do not allow me to settle into safe, status quo Christianity. Mess with me until I think like you think, act like you act, love like you love. Persistently, patiently, powerfully- MESS WITH ME!..................
I wanted to feel God in my life. As I reflect back................I've definately felt and seen God's will being done....................God has a plan..........and I know it's different and better than any of my plans could have been.
I also think about how exciting it will be to see Alyssa and Austin interact with another sibling. Alyssa is quite an entertainer and "mom" to her cousin Kendra. I look forward to seeing that.........................I think about entering a new phase of sorting and organizing clothes to hand down to Aidan...............see---having 1 girl and 1 boy I haven't really had to organize while I sort through clothes we've grown out of. I just pack them in a box and drop off at good will or pass on to a friend..........now i"ll have to put a little thought into organizing hand me downs. For anyone who knows the true me.........I'm a messy at heart so this will be a new adventure (challenge) for me.........................I thought about how next time we're doing yard work and spring clean up----Aidan could be joining us..............which is fun....but also the amount of work getting done will be less as we will be chasing and keeping an eye on a young one again................
I've thought about our trip to Haiti and sitting at the embassy....... Sitting next to a birth mother who was there to release her child for adoption. Thinking about these birthmothers and what a difficult decision it must be...........knowing not only are their children going to be adopted........but probably leaving the country........forever. What alot of courage it takes......Was she wondering what I was doing at the embassy? Did she think about what the family was like that her son would be going to?..........................I wonder exactly what Aidan's first 2 years have been like........I know God has protected him..... completely...................Aidan patiently waited for us.......until we surrendered.......... and followed God's leading.............and eventually was joined together. He's brought us joy already...........completed more of our family circle..............I hope he is as thrilled with us--as we are with him.........................
I wonder about how Aidan got the scar on his face.........we'll never know. Was it a skin issue?....birth mark?.........was he all boy and climbed out of a crib?.......
I think about what I dread the most...............the dirty diapers!.........I've heard horror stories about the parasites and explosions on airplanes traveling back home. Going through all the medical check--ups won't exactly be fun and a piece of cake. Getting his ear checked out. His ear canal is closed off on one side............what will this all involve?...........I pray God will send us to the exact specialists we need to give us wisdom...........maybe it's no big deal........maybe it's correctable.............maybe he will just not know any different and compensate with hearing from his other ear...........I'm sure there are lots of opinions out there...........we just need a messenger from God to help us.
I thought about how i wish I could comfort him while he had the chicken pox. To give him a calming bath and read books to him......................I wonder if he'll like swimming in the summer. I can't wait to watch him play and empty buckets of water and fill them back up again........and empty them again...........he loved to play and stack the blocks that way............
I wonder how he'll react to Bella the wonder dog..........i'm sure they will scare each other at first..........but maybe they will be the best friends in the family. Alyssa can be a little too cuddly and dress up the dog...........Austin can be a little too----what's the word-----rough, while fighting Bella with his lightsaber......
I'm excited to change up Austin's bedroom and get bunk beds to make room for Aidan. It's something to do..........
I'm scared that "our way of life" will be disrupted for a while....til we get in the swing of things...........I wonder if we should be learning more creole? I know he understands stuff.........so how will we communicate at first?..........will he test us and we'll have to have a week of discipline to start with? or a month? or will he cuddle and love being held?..................I know life will have it's challenges.......but I know he is our child...............I love him..............and yet I'm looking forward to falling in love with every part of him. ...... No matter what happens............i remember God saying..............."I will equip you".....................oh little Aidan.............we look forward to being with you and wish you were home with us.............soon