Nine Is Fine

My baby girl is nine. I find it hard to believe. Yes, I shed tears over it, but I'm fine. It's neat to get to know her and see who she is becoming. I truly enjoy her and her company, and I'm incredibly proud of her. We had a "Pink Poodle Paris" party, and it was very fun. We went to Hacienda with Grandpa and Grandma Morehouse before coming back home for presents and cake. Madison was thrilled when they sang to her at Hacienda! She beamed! We had a wonderful time celebrating Madison and her big day.

Things That Make Me Laugh

I thought I would share some things that make me laugh in hopes to spread the laughter. The first is a montage from America's Funniest Home Videos. This is one of our favorite shows, and I saw this clip when it aired, but my friend Karen recently emailed the link and I've been enjoying watching it over and over.



Last night Saturday Night Live's Best of Chris Farley was on NBC. I've seen this many times, and it always makes me laugh. I was looking for a video of when he does Bennet Brower on weekend update (you know, the guy who air quotes things like, "eat my own dandruff"), but I couldn't find one. I tried finding other Farley videos, but apparantly everyone posting on YouTube feels the need to make a tribute to Farley with sappy music OR EVEN WORSE post videos of themselves doing Chris' sketches. Anyhow, instead of a funny Farley video, I'll post a funny Will Ferrel video that enables me to laugh every time I hear a cowbell.



Finally, I'm sharing a clip from a Japanese game show that I which would catch on here in America. I love Human Tetris!

Milestones

We've had a couple of exciting milestones be reached recently. MAX is actually talking at his language class as much as he does at home, which is very helpful to his therapist. He's also just becoming more and more independent, and he rides a "big bike" now instead of a tricycle. His milestones are small, but fun nonetheless. MICHAEL decided last weekend to take the training wheels off of his bike, and without much trouble, now rides without them. Pretty exciting since my goal for him was to do it by the end of summer. But the biggest milestone of all has to do with MADISON. Today we found out that after 6 1/2 years of speech and language therapy, she's all done! She won't be needing or receiving speech services next year. We were all so happy, and so grateful. I truly believe that God healed Madison, and enabled her to overcome her delays. I'm so proud of her because she worked soooo hard for soooo long, and always did what she was asked to do and never complained. Great job, Madison! We're all so happy and so proud of you! Praise God!

Our Ground Hog Day

Today is Ground Hog Day at our house, but not in the traditional sense. For us, this means we have trapped the ground hog that has been living under our porch for quite some time now. We borrowed a live trap from my nephew, and Ryan set it up, hoping that before he went to work the ground hog would be in the trap and he could take it out in the country and release it. (CARSONS - we know when you lived here you would take trapped animals to the end of Fulmer Rd, but it's full of town houses now. The ongoing joke between Ryan and I has been that when we caught it, we would take it to your house!)

Alas, it was a beautiful plan, except our friend didn't find himself trapped until about an hour after Ryan left for work. So, since there is NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH that I am picking this thing up and putting him in the van and driving him to the country for release, he will spend over 9 hours in the trap. Let me say, he's clawing like crazy trying to get out. He gets an "A" for effort. But, it's pointless. He's just going to wear himself out. I want to tell him to relax, it will all be okay, he's just moving to another home, out in the country, away from our porch (By the way, I have this fear that it will be like a dog, and in a week it will have found its way back home - is anyone schooled in the instincts of the ground hog?)

Leave it to me to find a spiritual lesson in all of this. (I'd call it "Caged Wisdom", but that was already taken by the wonderful tv show "Arrested Development"). I see him fighting his circumstances all day, knowing that his effort will not be enough. And really, his situation isn't as bad as it could have been - we did get a LIVE trap, not a DEATH trap. Plus, he has iceberg lettuce and peanut butter to get him through this time, which is better than the grass I was watching him eat the other day. There are times I have been like a trapped ground hog - clawing and fighting, trying to change a situation that was out of my control. Would I fight so hard if I knew it was going to be different in a little while, I just had to wait this time out? Can I rest knowing that God will, like Ryan will for the ground hog, come and bring release when His timing is ready? I want a faith that is bigger and more mature than a caged animal. I want faith that rests in God's will, and isn't easily shaken by an unexpected change. I don't want to waste energy fighting something beyond my control. I want to embrace where I am, maybe even enjoy the iceberg lettuce, and dream about where I might be when I'm released in that new place God takes me. Thanks, ground hog, for the reminder to rest in God, and don't worry, you'll be in your new home soon.

American Idol - Rewind

So last night I was watching American Idol Rewind. In case you don't know, this is the syndicated reruns of past seasons. Now they are on season 2, and I saw the episode when it was the top 4 - Ruben, Clay, Kimberley, and Josh. This was my favorite season, simply because they were all such good vocalists, and I would have felt good about any of them winning. It's so weird to watch the older episodes. Simon's hair was very bushy,Paula is so refreshingly lucid, and the stage isn't like a giant spaceship. The performances were all good, with the exception of Clay singing the theme song from Grease (is grease really the way we are feelin'?). One odd thing is that each contestant was to sing 2 BeeGee's songs (yes, you read that correctly), and Clay and Josh each chose the same song. I doubt they would allow something like that now. Anyway, it was interesting to rewatch this past favorite. As for the current idol season, I'm disappointed to see Michael Johns go. He was never my favorite, but I really enjoyed his Dolly Parton performance, and just about any other performance of his more than ANYTHING Syesha has done. So, best wishes, Michael Johns.

Random Thoughts Vol. 8

Happy Spring Break to those of you partaking! Madison keeps asking me why we are still doing school if it's Spring Break. I keep trying to explain that we took time off to go to Pokagon a couple weeks ago, and that we will finish school earlier if we don't take a break now. But, like most humans, instant gratification sounds more fun.

I've enjoyed having some not-so-busy weekends lately. In fact, this past weekend, I spent on inordinate amount of time on the mental floss website. They have lots of great trivia to read and quizzes to take. I'll warn you, it's addicting.

Yesterday I bought the book Mistaken Identity (pictured above). It's about the Taylor University (of which I am an alumnus) students who were in the car accident, and the bodies where misidentified. I highly recommend it. I read the entire book in about 4 hours last night. The story is fascinating, just because it's so unbelievable. But more than that, the story is absolutely beautiful, and a wonderful testament of grace. I briefly saw the famiies on Oprah, and it's exciting to see them boldly share their faith. May God richly bless them all!

As far as American Idol goes, I was happy to see Ramiele leave. She never impressed me. If only Syesha could have gone with her. It's strange, I don't really like Kristy Lee, yet I want her to stay more than Syesha. I think I just never enjoy Syesha's song choices. I'm not so much looking forward to the inspirational theme tonight, and I probably won't partake in the Idol Gives Back fest - some stories are too heartbreaking. I heard someone predict Little David singing "The Greatest Love of all", which makes me want to urp, but since that's a Whitney classic, Syesha will probably cover it, which will induce full-on vomiting for me.

So, I saw this video and enjoyed a good laugh while watching it. I think I actually figured out how to post it - we'll see! Anyway, my favorite parts are the shopping cart and the "I've done all I can do!" quote. Enjoy!

Resting

Tomorrow it will be one year since we went on the baby girl waiting list. Isn't life funny how things work out sometimes? If I had known then what I know now, I would have been freaking out. Today I'm just resting. I'm resting in my big, powerful God - I'm being still, and just knowing who He is. In my humanness, I'm sad to think a year has passed with nothing to show for it, but in His almighty Godness, He's doing something that takes some time. Time is different for God and me. I'm trying to adapt to His viewpoint. I trying to think eternally instead of temporally. And really, I shouldn't say a year has passed with nothing to show for it, because even though our adoption situation hasn't changed, WE have changed. Ryan and I, and even the kids, have grown so much through all of this. Our faith has expanded, we have a bigger capacity to trust God. We have grown in our ability to "wait on the Lord". We are better individuals, a better couple, and a better family than we were a year ago. We have a deeper love and desire for Jesus and all things of Him than we did a year ago. We are more patient (at least I am - Ryan's always had the patience stuff down!), more at peace, more joyful, more hopeful, more loving, more devoted, and more commited than we were a year ago. Imagine what God will have done with us, and how far He will have brought us, when this whole thing is complete! That's exciting, because as much as I want a baby girl in my home, I even more so want to be God's baby girl, His precious child, who acts in a way that is pleasing to Him, and that brings glory to Him. Thank you, God, for your patience with me. Help me to continue to obediently rest in you!

American Idol - Dollywood

I remember one time seeing Dolly Parton interviewed on television and the person asking her if that was her hair. Dolly responded, "You bet it is, I paid for it!!!" How can a person not appreicate that kind of honest wit. I enjoyed Dolly night on American Idol, except I would have loved to have heard more of Dolly talking, because she makes me laugh. Who knew she had written so many songs, and many of them have beautiful lyrics.

So, here are my thoughts: I wish there had been a venue for me to put money down on Syesha singing "I will always love you". I would use it to buy a cricut. I think this song choice may be the death of her. Her only hope is that whoever has been voting for Ramiele realizes they've been misdialing. I wish it was double elimination and they could both go - Syesha for song choice alone. Kristy Lee did a nice job, and at least she's been more interesting to watch than Ramiele. But, her idol days are numbered. At least she can sing "God Bless the USA" on the tour this summer. I will say, I think Kristy Lee is the best dressed girl. Brooke sounded great, but Jolene is a song not to be smiled through. I read on ew.com an article with different Dolly quotes, and her explanation of this song is a riot! All I can say is, Jolene beat the crap out of Dolly, but Dolly kept her husband. Then Dolly went home and beat him up! RIOT! A final thought on the women: for the first time last night, I really liked Carly. I thought it was her best yet. Now, just some sleeves would be nice.

On to the men! Again, like Carly, for the first time, I really liked Michael Johns. I thought it was well done and more original than usual. David Cook and Jason Castro continue to be my favorites - I like their unique sounds. If I had an ipod, I'd download Jason's "Travelin' Thru". I'm a little worried about Jason, so for the first time this season, I voted for David C. and Jason while I watched the last sobfest filled hour of The Biggest Loser (this is a topic for another time, but this round of The Bigggest Loser has been very entertaining!). That just leaves me with Little David, and I just can't find the love. He seems like a nice boy, and he has a nice voice, but I don't enjoy his performances, and his voice is not as good as they say. If he wins, it will be a travesty. And no one over 12 will buy his records.

I want the bottom 3 to be Little David, Syesha, Ramiele.
I think it will be Kristy Lee, Syesha, Ramiele.
I think the bodyguard will kill Syesha (YOU SHOULD HAVE PICKED A DIFFERENT SONG!).

Recent MVPs (Most Valuable Pages)

Here are some pages I've recently completed. These first two are from the "waiting album" I've started for our baby girl. They have blog posts on them, since that has been how I've been "journaling" things.




These pages are from Max's album. We recently had the kids' pictures taken at JC Penney, and I bought extra poses of Max since there are no 3 year old portraits of him.







Here are Michael's basketball pages: