themolens.com

We’re home today for another non-snow snow day   It started raining ice (is that sleet?) just after dinner last night and continued to do so until around 3:00 this morning.  It’s funny to have a snow day when everything looks perfectly fine outside – we’re expecting a high in the 40’s, so by dinner time most of the ice should be melted & gone.  And of course the weather forecast predicts that we’ll be in the mid 60’s by this weekend.  Of course. 

Report cards came home last week.  Did you expect anything less than perfect from Margaret and Jack?  They both know that I don’t require a perfect report card, but that’s what they ALWAYS bring home!  Jack has never received any grade less than an A – and even though Margaret doesn’t get letter grades yet, she always gets all the check-marks in just the right columns on her report card.  Jack also received the 9-week-award “For always showing a positive attitude” again this term.  He has gotten the award every year since kindergarten.  I keep scratching my head, trying to figure out how such a grouchy boy can be such a teacher’s pet every single year. 

Jack getting a high-5 from his friend  — Up on the stage, Jack’s the 2nd kid from the left. 

(The teachers don’t always dress so oddly, it was 80’s day.)

Later that day, I was working out in the back yard when Margaret called to me.  “Mom, come get Will!”  I thought he was just bugging her so I took my time.  When I got there, this is what I saw:

Yikes!!! Just know, I am NOT kidding when I say that Will is a climber.  That monkey will climb anything!

Share on Facebook

Will had a cough & yucky nose all day yesterday.  When he started getting that red-cheek look, I called off work for today.  I did take Will’s temperature 3 times yesterday, but since my thermometer is a piece of junk, I really have no idea whether or not he officially had a fever.  He did feel warm, however, and according to the “mom’s hand on your forehead & cheek test” I’ll go ahead and say he was running a slight fever.  Of course, this morning he woke up wide-eyed, full of energy, and ready to go to school this morning.  It’s ok, though, because both of us need a day to rest & get healthy.  I just can’t this sinus/allergy/cold/whatever thing. 

We spent most of the morning playing playdoh, but decided to walk down to the lake and feed the ducks just before lunch.  Of course, Will wanted to bring his  “bunny bag” and had a fit when I told him no.  Then of course, he wanted to ride his tricycle and had another fit when I said no to that, too.  (He still doesn’t understand why it won’t go in the grass.)  But finally we made it down to the lake and Will found a spectacular Weeping Willow branch to play with.  He was waving it like a flag, dancing with it, dragging it through the leaves, having the best time.  I walked over to see if the ducks were hungry & tossed in a few pieces of bread.  Will followed me over, using his branch like a fishing pole when — SPLASH — in he goes!!! 

Poor guy, I didn’t even see it happen.  He had gotten himself out of the lake & was full scream ahead before I could get to him.  But I just couldn’t stop myself from laughing.  What a goof — wet up to his armpits with muck-water in the middle of January.  Good thing it is unseasonably warm today!  Honestly, I couldn’t stop laughing.  After all, Will is the only child in this family who hadn’t fallen in the lake yet, so it’s about time he took his turn.  I guess it was contagious, because soon Will was laughing, too.  I did make him walk home (no way I was carrying him – yuck), so he couldn’t have been too comfortable.  It’s not too far, though, a couple hundred feet.  And he did get to take a bonus bath, so that’s not all bad, either. 

Share on Facebook

Yes, it’s Monday.  A fresh mound of laundry is staring at me from the kitchen table.  I just can’t help but shake my head and imagine how much more laundry I will be not folding come August.  Around Thursday of last week, Margaret looked me in the eyes and said we needed to set some goals for me, “Fold the laundry.  Ok mommy?”  So after I threatened (for the the 10th time) to beat them if they knocked over the pile that was actually ready to put away she decided that she is not having any children when she grows up, so she won’t have as much laundry to do.

After speech therapy today, Will and I stopped to do our grocery shopping.  Once I got to the checkout, I looked over my cart & laughed at the amount of junk (convenience) food we had in our cart.  I told him to remind me next time that hungry & pregnant is not a good combination for grocery day.  The cashier & bagger, both older Indian women, overheard me & started giving me the stare-down. 

“You’re pregnant?”  the cashier asked. 

“Yes, I am.  15 weeks.”

“This is your first baby?”

“No, this is my fourth.”

And so then the whole adoption/biological discussion begins.  The ladies were acting so motherly to me, they didn’t even want me to lift the 12-pack of Fresca into the cart, so I didn’t really mind talking to them about it.  I felt bad for the people behind me in line, because the ladies wanted all the details about our bio kids and our trip to China.  Then the conversation turned to them speculation as to whether I am having a boy or a girl.  One lady walks all the way around me, gets this satisfied look on her face, and announces,”It’s a girl!”  And then I’m pretty sure I heard her say she could tell because I have a big butt!!!  What???  I’m thinking I might have lost something due to her accent — but has anyone else heard whether the size of your rear end can indicate the gender of your baby?

Everyone is doing well here.  Brad and I are still agonizing over what to do about the house.  We looked at a few houses this weekend & are even considering building a new house since we are not finding anything that meets our criteria in our price range.  In the meantime, we’re continuing to pack up this place to get ready to put it on the market.  We are down to 1 family photo & the front of the fridge is completely cleared off — a major feat for me.  It’s almost ready to show.  I just need to tackle the kids’ rooms & give the place a good cleaning.  Maybe one more weekend? 

Margaret disappeared with my camera the other day.   Here’s some of her photographic artwork — a American Girl/Webkinz photo session, little brother, and a self portrait.  I think I was busy making dinner.

Share on Facebook

Aaaah, it’s officially my break time.  Monday afternoon, and we’ve been to speech therapy, Petsmart, and Target.  Will has had his lunch — well, the part he didn’t share with the dog — and is down for his nap.  I officially have 90 minutes to finish putting the groceries away, clear the lunch dishes, sew Jack’s beloved stuffed otter back together, fold 6 loads of laundry, write 8 thank you notes, clear away & pack up the kids’ book shelf, change the sheets on Margaret’s bed, and take out the trash.  So I decided THIS would be the BEST time to sit down & update my way-out-of-date blog  

I am now 14 weeks pregnant with baby #4.  Just saying it is still a shock for me.  Yes, really, I do know that is a lot of kids.  Brad and I keep saying, “We never planned to have such a big family.”  Jack thinks it’s funny now — He says back, “I always thought I was going to be an only child!”  I love my Jackie Boy, what a tease!  My heart is still hurting for the little one in China we were going to start paperchasing for this spring.  But I know for sure that this child is the one God wants us to welcome home right now.  We have until we are 50 to adopt again, if that is indeed His plan for our family. 

In any case, my energy is starting to come back.  I’m not rushing to get the kids in bed early so I can be asleep by 8:30 anymore.  Brad & I actually stayed up and watched a movie the other night, although I fell asleep the next afternoon while putting Will down for his nap.  My nausea is really starting to subside, too.  I only had to walk out of my class dry-heaving twice last week.  (Sorry, too much information.  I know.)  For  while, I was sick from about 1 PM until I went to bed.  So it’s a huge relief to just have a few waves of nausea a day.  They are short & I just need to excuse myself for a moment until they pass.  Margaret & Jack have great fun telling me that my belly is getting fat.  They always say,”but not as fat as Daddy’s” afterwards.  Ha!  Yesterday, Will told Brad that he (Will) has a baby in his tummy, too. 

Brad and I are still agonizing over whether to build on to our house, move into a bigger home, or just do nothing.  Right now we are leaning heavily toward buying a place with 5 bedrooms — but it has to have at least 1/4 acre, located on a cul de sac, with a nice pool in the backyard, & a friendly neighborhood with excellent schools.  Know of a place for us?  PLEASE let me know!!!  We know the perfect place exists, and are waiting “patiently” for God to lead us to it!  In the meantime, we’re painting, scrubbing, packing, and organizing this place.  We hope to have it listed within the next few weeks. 

Just because it’s been a while — here are some pictures for the grandparents:

Will’s favorite hang-out spot.  The tiny cupboard next to the dishwasher.  He’s reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear . . .

Remember the old commercial?  “Jack, Jack, He’s a Lego maniac!”

Share on Facebook

I (Brad) am excited to kick off 2009.  On January 30th I am leaving for 10 days for Nairobi Kenya.  This will be my third trip to Kenya.  The first two trips in 2005 and 2006 were construction projects where we constructed steel buildings to be used as meeting places for local Churches. We dedicated the buildings and fellowshipped with the community surrounding the new buildings.  It was very exciting to experience their worship style.  We sang, danced and gave thanks to the Lord.  Even though we did not speak the same language the message was clear.   The Kenya people were welcoming and genuine, they loved us and made us feel welcome.  These past experiences changed my life and gave me a new perspective on my purpose.   

 I believe that God has created a new opportunity for me to serve in Kenya once again.   This trip gives me an opportunity to use my God given talent of computers and networking.  My friend Eric and I are headed to Kenya to assist in opening an internet café for Pastor Vincent with the Urban Slum Ministry Center.  This internet café will bring in money to help him run his school for the kids of the slums and provide for them a meal a day which is more than they get right now in a week.  A few folks have asked what they can do to help.  I just ask that you pray. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in ministry in Kenya. 

Thank you for your support.

Brad
Matthew 5:14

Share on Facebook