Fitting Story

Today we did another yard sale. Our entire neighborhood was having one so we chimed in and set our stuff up as well. The sale was to begin at 7:00am. At 6:30am people were roaming our garage as we were busy trying set stuff out - they were asking for MK's bike, tools, etc, none of which was for sale! We were very pleased with our sales results especially when our last customer helped us go above our goal. You see, she was Chinese. Ryan was outside and they were discussing a set of items that we had placed a price on. Of course, I am all about bargaining and so I more than understand this tactic. The lady told Ryan she would pay $10 less than what we had it priced for. Ryan met her halfway at $5 less and the lady gave a firm, "No." OK, well it was the end of the sale, we really had no reason not to give it to her for her desired price so Ryan approached her again and said, "Ok, you can have this item for $10 less than we are asking...." At this point MK appeared on the scene. The lady noticed MK. MK politely ignored her. The lady asked Ryan where she was from. Ryan said, "China and we have another daughter in China as well. In fact, we are doing this yard sale to raise money to bring our daughter home." With this, the lady handed Ryan all of her money which, coincidentally, was the original amount we had placed on the item. She smiled and said, "You are doing a good thing. You can have this money to bring your daughter home." How fitting, the last customer to place money in our hands during our sale for Maddox was from China.

My Nannie

Today my Nannie turns 90 years old. Her mother lived to be 101 years old. There was a period of time that I spent a good bit of time with my grandmother as a child. I remember waking up to the smell of a fresh, hot breakfast being cooked but I would not get out of bed. Instead, I would call for my Nannie to come get me. And she would come. Then, together, we would make our way into the kitchen to find my Papa standing by the stove making a full fledged breakfast and he would say, "Good morning Bethie! Today we have (so and so and so) and it will cost you $$$. I will send your dad the bill." When breakfast was all done, Nannie and I would sometimes set out on a walk to the neighborhood pond. During our walk, we would collect the best rocks we could find. Once we made it to the pond, we would throw the rocks, one by one, into the water. Quickly, we would count the ripples before they would disappear. We would then make our way home to watch one of my Nannie's favorite tv shows - The Price Is Right. She still loves this show. I would curl up on the couch with my favorite plaid blanket, a blanket that was later used daily to warm my Papa when he was ill, a blanket that I now have and share with my own family. It is special and could tell a story of its own. Following a dose of daily tv, the kitchen would light up again and preparation for the second meal would be underway. My Nannie and Papa only ate two meals a day - two big, satisfying meals. And then we would go to the local park. The park that had the biggest slide ever and one of those merry-go-round thingies that still make me sick. Or I would go into their backyard and play. There wasn't much to play with so my Nannie would always give me spoons to dig with and, being that it was different, I always found it fun to dig with spoons. Sometimes we would load up into their big car, roll down the windows, my long hair flying everywhere and listen to Alabama's 'Play Me Some Mountain Music' as we made our way into town. One of two things would happen next, either my dad would come to pick me up and I would take this as a signal to hide and "scare" him upon his arrival, OR I would be given a bath and stay the night. If the bath was to occur, Nannie had her own way of doing this project. She would first take my hair and use bobby pins to pin it away from my shoulders so as to not get it all wet. Then, she would carefully run the water making sure not to get it too hot. And then she would turn the radio on. We didn't have a radio in our bathroom at home so this was always a special treat. After getting all squeaky clean, I would climb into bed and she would read to me. I always chose the same story about a young boy who would get lost and the policeman would help him. Nannie always read a certain way, with a certain voice. Sometimes, now, I hear my dad read and he sounds just like her only with a deeper voice. Today, my Nannie still loves to read. She loves to receive letters and phone calls. She loves to play bingo with her assisted living pals. She aches. She putters on. She loves my children. I, of course, tease her and tell her all the time that I know I am her favorite - this is not true yet I do know that we will always have that special bond that formed between us many years ago! Happy Birthday Nannie! And many, many more.

Day 40

But who is counting???? :)
LSC = Letter Seeking Confirmation
LSC is what we are currently waiting on from China.
And, as usual, anticipation is running on high in our house!

Kisses In The Wind

We hold you in our heart and touch you in our dreams.
You are here each day with us, at least that's how it seems.
We know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, We love you so and God will keep you strong.
Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, We blow you kisses in the wind.
May God hold you in His hand until we can be with you.
We promise you, our little darling, We're doing all that we can do.
Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, we blow you kisses in the wind.
May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that we send to you each night.
--- Unknown

Halloween

Halloween is always a fun filled time in our home! Saturday we FINALLY found time to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve. Sunday it was church time, and then the carving began. The children chose to do a nerd style pumpkin this year.

Then not too much longer after the carving, it was time to get dressed up. This year, the boys were much more interested in the accessories. In fact, forget costumes, they just wanted daggers and axes and funky styled hats - a sign of the aging for sure.

And MK, well, she has a drawer filled with all sorts of tu-tus and princess dresses and crowns and shoes. Then I remembered the ladybug costume. I bought this ladybug costume just weeks before we learned about MK....it is hard to believe she can finally wear it!

With costumes prepared and bags awaiting candy, the children scarfed down their burgers and set out on an attempt to tackle our entire neighborhood for their desired candy. MK visited one house and soon announced she was tired....but, that did not stop her for long as she was off to another house in no time. I asked her what she was going to say when she visited each house and she said, "Thank You!" She would not say "Trick or Treat" for anything but she was all about the thanking!

Another sign of the times.....Pryce and Colin announced that this year they would no longer be toting their monogrammed pumpkins that they have always carried in years past. They have now graduated to pillow cases.

And then, after giving out of gas halfway through our neighborhood trek, we made our way back home for the annual trading event....as always, this was a highlight.

After an evening full of fun and one last picture taken, it was off to capture some much needed zzzz in our home!

School Projects and Adoption Gathering

Pryce just finished reading the Boxcar Children. Part of his reading included doing a comprehension guide as he read. The guide also included projects. One particular project was to design your own boxcar from a large box. After a few lines being drawn and a few cuts being made, here you have it.....the boxcar, complete with a sunroof! While we were on a boxcar note, we chose to eat like the Boxcar Children did. Our meal - cheese cubes, bread, fruit and milk.

MK has really been stepping up to the test lately. She loves to sit with us and practice writing her name while the boys do spelling and she loves learning Latin. She has also developed a liking for puzzles and completed this ABC one all by herself for the first time this week.

In other news, we had our friends who have adopted from China over on Friday evening. We try to gather together every other month. As we were preparing for our guests, I realized that we have been doing this "gathering" for exactly two years. What began with four families, is now booming with nine families and together we have brought home nine children from China, two families are waiting for their daughters in China, one son from Ethiopia and one family has adopted domestically as well. My children love these gatherings. After everyone left, C said, "I really wish we could have adoption gatherings every Friday!" and P said, "Yeah, I love it when they are all here!" and MK said, "My puppy is having a 'doption party and you can come. You want to?" There was no answer from the boys.

The very first "gathering" for our adoption friends.....

This was taken in October last year....we had just learned of little Cynthia who was waiting on her family in China!

This was January.....

And this is NOW! (Note there are a few new faces and a few missing faces yet the red couch tradition still stands!)