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Will had something VERY IMPORTANT to tell me today.  He had to pull on my sweater & get my full attention so he could tell me “Will loves Elmo”.  He was quiet for a moment, and then in a flurry of wild signing & broken speech, he added, “Will loves Santa.” 

A little while later, as I was laying him down for his nap, Will told me he was scared.  I gave him a big Mama Bear hug and asked if he could tell me what was making him feel scared.  He couldn’t get out the words, but he did manage to sign that he was afraid there was an alligator driving around outside.  I asked him if he wanted me to go check for alligators.  He did.  After I returned to tell him the coast was clear, he looked so relieved.  He pulled up his blanket, stuck his thumb in his mouth & closed his eyes. 

What a kid.

PS.  You can probably tell from the picture that Will LOVES chocolate, too. 

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The kids would all be in agreement that this was the best Christmas ever!  We had a relaxing morning at home for the kids to open gifts and play at their leisure.  It was a beautiful day in the 60’s, so the outside toys got put to good use.  We had plenty of time to just be a family and reminisce on a whole year of our newest little Molen monkey and also look forward to next year, when we will be a family of 6 — and have complete & total mass chaos on Christmas morning.  How will Santa fit all of the gifts for FOUR children down the chimney ???  As for this year — Santa way overdid himself.  With mommy feeling under the weather for most of December, Santa shopped (I mean built toys) pretty much unchecked this season.  Let’s just say that it will be next to impossible to top this year as far as gifts go. 

The first look:

Will passing out gifts on the back of his new tricycle:

The joy of giving — Open mine first Dad!

Thank you Santa!!!

Outside by 7:40 AM– thank goodness for a warm day:

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After a brief ice shower yesterday evening and freezing temperatures overnight, the kids and I were treated to a “snow day” today.  Now, when I was a kid, a snow day typically meant at least some snow had fallen and accumulated on the roads.  Not so in the South.  Even a small ice shower can tie up the roads for hours.  We were up & dressed, sitting at the table eating breakfast when Brad walked back in the front door – not up to braving the icy roads on his way to work just yet.  It wasn’t until about 10 minutes before we were ready to leave for school that we thought to turn on the tv to check for delays! 

The kids played together beautifully all day.  They made plenty of noise and lots of messes, so I know for sure that they were having fun!  At lunch time, Margaret looked out the patio door and saw the first snow beginning to fall.  We jumped up from the table, threw on hats, coats, and mittens and ran outside just in time for the snow to stop.  These children are persistent, though, and a few minutes later, the flurries started back up even thicker than before.  Nothing accumulated, but the kids sure did have fun. 

By Friday, it’s supposed to be in the 70’s. 

Happy to see just a few flakes . . . . . . . . . Really happy when the snow starts to come down harder!

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I am learning that sometimes God chooses to answer our prayers in a way that is different than what we have in mind.  He also answers our prayers with timing that is perfect in his plan, but unexpected to us.  Of course — every good & perfect thing is from above, so we give thanks & praise for the many miracles God performs in front of us throughout our lifetime.  And so here is some evidence of recent miracles that have been working in our lives:

Yes.  Both are what you think they are.  Most unexpectedly to us, we have learned that our family will soon become a family of 6.  Baby Molen #4 is due July 12, 2009.  Since Jack and Margaret were both breech & born by c-cection, this child will also be born by c-section during the week of July 5. 

Grouchy pregnant lady disclaimer:  A quick note about adoptive family etiquette — and I’m sorry that I feel compelled to mention it.  Families who adopt do not therefore become pregnant as a result of the adoption.  There is no release of stress or break from “trying so hard” to conceive.  We never really tried all that hard to conceive a 3rd child, but felt pretty strongly that it was our intended path to adopt Will.  Please do not tell me that you knew I would get pregnant because we adopted Will.  It honestly hurts my feelings.  Only one being knew the plan for family, and I trust my God in heaven to place the children in our family in the order that He intends.  It’s simply my job to love them.

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Here are some fun pictures of the kids playing outside in the cold.  Of course, Jack is playing football with his dad.  Is there anything else?  The kids also built a little swing for the tree in the front.  (I can’t keep them out of that darn tree!)  It’s crazy dangerous & not very fun, but they love it – so what’s a mom to do?  Will spent half the time running from me and pulling off his hat.  He thought it was enormously funny.  Stinker!

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