tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59290065875998544322024-02-06T20:30:24.740-08:00Ready for SevenOur journey to bring our son home...Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-12473774991527173702013-12-28T14:17:00.001-08:002013-12-28T14:17:26.049-08:00a new year all together... i can see it now<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">medicals are all done, with the exception of one x-ray which will be done on monday. embassy appointment and visa to follow. we aren't sure if they will fly home tuesday or wednesday morning, but right now it looks like they will be home no later than january 1st! what a wonderful way to start our new year, all together as a family... i cannot wait until we are together at last! no more being separated again, something that is very necessary for our family. hoping that flights are not crazy expensive. last year it cost us $8000 to get home with the girls (yeah that still stings) so fingers crossed that new year's flights are in our favor!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and just because our son is so dang cute... check him out (daddy took him to the circus): </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHqORZKaVp0arW-YomjxA3stUcZuWA-bg-31GxMu0P61KylF8oQMSVBMZ08dKIcmmDsDIw2Bt1zo0G50eUaK6i2v8muynEw5w6Niy5oVzzm8q1jtH9DSvefFtI9K2HuigYsNPpu4YW0k/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHqORZKaVp0arW-YomjxA3stUcZuWA-bg-31GxMu0P61KylF8oQMSVBMZ08dKIcmmDsDIw2Bt1zo0G50eUaK6i2v8muynEw5w6Niy5oVzzm8q1jtH9DSvefFtI9K2HuigYsNPpu4YW0k/s320/IMG_1089.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-37214819334499981642013-12-20T16:21:00.000-08:002013-12-20T16:21:13.924-08:00bringing our son home SOON!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">well sweet little wilson is everything i thought he would be, and more! he is happy, such a happy boy. my heart felt peace as soon as i saw him, and any fears i had about his orphanage environment drifted away. i can see a sparkle in his eyes, and happiness in his soul. he is a singer and a dancer! oh how he loves to dance. he is very active and high energy, and will fit right in with our sweet kids at home. he is smart, and very clever. he loves to play games and he learns very quickly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one thing that took me by surprise... he is tiny! so small. i knew he was thin, but he is really a very small little boy. i certainly have had to do some additional shopping as i was way off on sizes! </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i look forward to watching our sweet boy grow and blossom before our eyes. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all of our children at home are so excited for their brother to join us. daddy leaves tomorrow to finish everything up and bring him home... they won't be home by christmas, but that's ok. we have many more christmases to come, and we will certainly be celebrating when we are all together once and for all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there is something special about bringing home your last child... what a sweet homecoming it will be! </span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-38013796568575946682013-11-21T20:23:00.001-08:002013-11-21T20:24:54.091-08:00tonight's the night...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...i'm gonna do all those things i have to do before we leave! finish our photo books, finish packing, finish schedules for grandma, make little necklaces of me and the girls so they can hold me close while i'm gone. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i absolutely need to do all these things, and i'm putting it out here to hold myself accountable for getting it done. i've been so busy with work lately that by the time i finish doing all the things i need to do for work, i'm exhausted and just fall into bed. i'm excited to be leaving soon, but i'm going to miss all of my children staying home. to my local friends and family, please surround my children with love and kindness while i'm gone. check in on them, don't tell them they are strong because they don't need that pressure... just let them know you're thinking of them. if you want to bring them a treat or ask grandma if she needs help, that's cool too. please don't forget my big kids. they are responsible, kind, helpful, and loving, but they need comfort and love too. we are so very thankful to everyone who is loving us and helping in so many ways.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we have a couple more days before we are off to see the little boy that stole our hearts. if you see me between now and then, tell me to finish everything i need to get done... really, sometimes i need an extra push!</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-54611905962769860172013-11-19T00:12:00.000-08:002013-11-19T00:13:27.208-08:00thank you!!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we held a small auction fundraiser to try and raise some travel funds... check out our thermometer! we cannot believe that we are so close to our goal! we just have a little bit further until we reach our goal, and that feels amazing. thank you so very much to everyone who donated items to our auction, bid on our items, made donations, and gave us such encouraging words. we are so appreciative of the love and support we have received. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just last night i was thinking about how we have met some wonderful people on this journey to bring our son home. i have met people from all over who hold our family close and surround us with love. the longer i live this life, the more i realize how very special, and essential, this is to my soul. thank you, villagers, new and old... you are appreciated!</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-23686298022120723812013-11-15T21:18:00.001-08:002013-11-15T21:18:35.630-08:00inching closer...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...to the date we leave to meet wilson. feeling anxious and excited and nervous all at once. i was thinking about how often i dream of his sweet face and i cannot wait to actually see him in person and commit every little feature to memory. i know it may sound crazy to think about how much you can love a child you haven't actually met yet, but i think that's just part of the beauty of our human existence. i still look at my children, all of them, and i can remember all my thoughts of what they would be like as babies/toddlers/kids either before they were born (if i gave birth to them myself), or as i waited to meet them (if all i had was a photo to stare at for hours and hours). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i look at them now and see the memories; their faces have changed, their bodies have filled out, and their ages are older, but i smile to myself. i smile because i was right that brother K would be easy, calm, and a warrior. i laugh because i was right that sister K would keep me on my toes and be everything i wasn't, and somehow we would still be close and enjoy each other, maybe for the very traits we lack in ourselves. i smile because i was right that brother C would be unique and strong, close and independent all at once. i catch my breath when i think of sister L, because though she came as a surprise, she is one of the most amazing and breathtaking joys that i ever could have expected. i smile because i was right that sister M is a treasure, one that others could not see, and she is strong and lovable, and loving despite all odds. i laugh again because i was oh so right that sister N is big and loud and fun and fiesty.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i was right about so much, and of course there are unexpected things i never would have guessed, but through it all, these children, their features, their quirks, their lovable selves are forever embedded in my heart and soul and memory. and so what do i think of wilson? well, i think he's a little bit quiet and has a great sense of humor. i think he's a rough and tumble little boy who is eager to learn and full of great ideas. i think he's someone special, someone i love, someone i want to hold close and make it known that he is full of promise and surprises.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as we prepare to bring our last child home, i feel blessed to have family and friends that lend a helping hand. whether you are helping with our children while we travel, joining our auction to raise some funds, donating to our fsp, wishing us well, or taking care of our hearts through our journey, we are thankful and so appreciative. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is the last weekend of our auction. we have adorable kid clothes, awesome kid shoes, uganda treasures, and fun wall decals. if you are interested in bidding on some items and helping us raise a few travel funds, please go here and join our auction page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/621485917892641/" target="_blank">join our auction to bring wilson home</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you'd like to make a tax deductible donation to our fsp fund that will help us with travel funds, please go here: <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/57162/sponsorodonnell" target="_blank">donate to help bring wilson home</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">seriously, it sounds cliche, but every dollar does help. we have some family members that love to get us gifts, and we are so happy to receive an fsp donation for a gift. we are grateful to everyone that has donated to us already, and so thankful for any help we receive, even if it's a $1 donation. we would love to tell our sweet boy how many people helped bring him home.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you'd like to help give our children staying home while we travel some love, whether you take them out for a walk to the park, share some treats together, or help provide transportation to dance lessons, please contact me. we are always grateful for help in this area. our children at home will have a difficult time without us, and it would be a huge gift to have help with loving them and showing them kindness while we are away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it takes a village to raise a child they say. we say it takes a village to raise a family. i know we couldn't do this alone, without the support of our friends and family and community, we wouldn't be able to be the parents, the family, the friends that we strive to be. thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and loving to us along the way.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-7793367250343442822013-11-10T12:34:00.001-08:002013-11-10T12:34:21.211-08:00fundraising and support<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we have less than two weeks before we leave! we are fundraising with a small auction on facebook. you can go here and request to be added: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/621485917892641/" target="_blank">bring wilson home fundraiser auction</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we have lots of kid stuff, some beautiful items from uganda and some really neat wall art decals, as well as a few other things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you would like to donate to our fsp fund to help bring wilson home, you can make a tax deductible donation here: <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/57162/sponsorodonnell" target="_blank">donate to help bring wilson home</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">any amount helps, no matter how small or big and we are so grateful for everyone who has supported us on our journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anyone local who is willing to help daniel's mother with a few things related to our children at home while we are gone, please email me or call me, we would all be so appreciative of help in this way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thank you to our village for the love and support as we prepare to bring our last child home!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-36391036957713073952013-11-10T11:39:00.000-08:002013-11-10T11:39:00.942-08:00less than 2 weeks...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">today marks less than 2 weeks until we leave to go meet wilson! i am beyond excited. i need to pack and i need to finish our photo books. i need to prep some things at home for grandma, and line up a few more resources to help with the children at home. i am trusting it will all work out. deep breaths. this is what a very good friend tells me. i suppose she's right. she's visiting her little boy right now and is sort of a fly by the seat of her pants mom like me sometimes so i'm going to take her word on this one. i'm anxious about leaving our children at home, but so excited to meet wilson and see that sweet little face in person for the first time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">feeling thankful that we have daniel's mother who will come stay with our children and take on the task of helping our kids feel safe and loved while we are gone. feeling extremely blessed that we have two of the kindest, most responsible and loving teenagers that were ever born. whatever karma stores i built up, i've been repaid multiple times over with brother K and sister K. i know that they will provide so much comfort and stability for the three youngest children who are going to miss us terribly. it's going to be hard for all of us to be apart, but at the end of it, welcoming our last child into the family will be worth it. and then our ordinary life goes on, and i long for the ordinary... the jumping in puddles, running to the park, dancing before dinner, racing to get homework done at the last minute, looking for any excuse to play in water, games all over the place kind of ordinary life. we'll have one more little boy to love and any future trips will be all together. that day is coming soon! </span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-88302664691654449062013-11-06T15:44:00.000-08:002013-11-06T15:44:29.686-08:00i can't believe my eyes...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it's really true... we have a date! our appointment is november 25th! we are excited beyond words. we are going to meet our sweet little wilson and my heart is so happy!</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-17766874461509534362013-10-31T23:14:00.000-07:002013-11-01T13:14:58.581-07:00good things come to those who wait<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it's hard to wait. so very hard. i am filled with a desire to run to sweet wilson and let him know how very loved he is. i want to scoop him up and twirl around until we are both too dizzy to keep going and collapse on the floor laughing. unless he gets motion sickness, in which case i will skip all that and go straight to playing with cars and coloring and trying to get to know this little boy whose one photo i have stared at seemingly a million times. the longer we wait, the harder it is. and i know he has waited longer. i imagine how hard it is for him, that's the most difficult part of it all. i long to give this child a family, a home, and surround him with love and acceptance. i don't require perfection, acceptance or even love in return. i was thinking about this last night actually, as i reflected on our three youngest daughters. it is very clear that two of our youngest children know how to love, and are open to giving and receiving love and family. it comes more easily to them, than it does for one of our young daughters. and that's ok because i look at each of them individually, and i meet them where they are. i think that is the key to unconditional love. staying away from comparisons and loving each child as the unique spirit they are. every day i strive to be a better person and i can see huge growth and progress in each of us, including myself. i'm a better mom today than i was yesterday. my children are at various stages, and i adore them all. it doesn't matter who does their homework first, who remembers to do something without being asked, who comes running and wraps their arms around me first when i walk in the door. each night i enjoy time with my children individually and i focus on them alone. it reminds me to love each stage and each spirit. so dear sweet wilson, i love you already just as you are, and i cannot wait to meet you! </span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-62125416450251947322013-10-23T14:45:00.001-07:002013-10-23T14:45:51.905-07:00fall and falling...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">i love fall... it's my favorite time of year. i love the smell of october and the way the leaves crunch under my feet. i love sunshine warming me on a crisp and otherwise cool day. i love the beautiful leaves as they change from greens to bright oranges, reds and yellows. everything looks so pretty and inviting to my senses. i wish i could share my favorite time of year with sweet wilson. how i long to bring him home and have him join in our park adventures, carving pumpkin messiness and have him help me bake sweet treats on a cold day. i realized something else the past few days, and that is i am falling in love with the idea of sweet wilson. when you only have a photo and just a few pieces of information, it's easy to let your imagination run wild. i have no idea how close my dreams are to reality. i don't know if wilson is happy and ready for a family to call his own. i know that no matter how he feels, happy or scared, excited or anxious, i have enough love to hold him and help him through it. not too long ago i thought i would be preparing to travel and meet wilson for the first time soon. today i'm not sure when i'm traveling, but i am ready. i am anxious myself to meet the sweet little love that stole my heart and made me think of our ever expanding family as not quite complete yet. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">sweet wilson,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">i can't wait to meet you. we long for the day we get to look into your eyes and say "i love you". you are in my every thought, my dreams and my heart.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">xoxoxox </span></span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-17954427182317637032013-09-30T20:59:00.003-07:002013-09-30T20:59:56.026-07:00a special message from your brothers, sweet wilson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9P-1rjqQOjxoGRQIlntDr542vs6NzgI1PWxy_5LesfWE5rMHxH4jBdr7DItk9913rnFHAfcZE6ReBfITN6cJUwCuU9ED9Hnt5eDM0_A_whFNP9emzOZ2Kx2VAiKFlyn0BGjw8Wk_hm4/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9P-1rjqQOjxoGRQIlntDr542vs6NzgI1PWxy_5LesfWE5rMHxH4jBdr7DItk9913rnFHAfcZE6ReBfITN6cJUwCuU9ED9Hnt5eDM0_A_whFNP9emzOZ2Kx2VAiKFlyn0BGjw8Wk_hm4/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you are loved so very much!</span></div>
Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-28183844195633044612013-09-26T21:38:00.000-07:002013-09-28T21:39:26.959-07:00getting closer...things to do<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">must make photo book... think about packing (light)... teach grandparents how to use skype on my computer... getting excited. and a little nervous to leave most of the children at home. but mostly excited to meet our sweet wilson.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">i'm continuing to practice being patient, though it's definitely not a strength of mine. i am lucky though that i have 6 children to keep me busy! it's hard to miss a child you love with all your heart, though you haven't even met him yet, but i do know it will happen soon and i am filling my time with fun activities with the kids. i am ready, so ready to meet you, wilson!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-8495385765237927182013-09-23T22:44:00.000-07:002013-09-28T21:59:58.118-07:00dance troupe african dancing<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tonight we took sister L to an african dance troupe workshop where she learned traditional african dancing. she is going to try out for the dance troupe in october so we thought this would be a great opportunity for her to get comfortable with the dancing and instructors, and just simply being around other kids and people she doesn't know. those things are still so hard sometimes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">she was fairly uncertain at first, but once things got going, i saw a fire in her eyes! she was grinning ear to ear, and trying her best. they moved fast, so fast, and a few times she was totally confused, but dancing is in her blood and her body knows how to move with confidence and grace. i had the time of my life. sister N and sister M were dancing with me on the side. the drums were beating so loudly that i got lost and thought i was back in uganda. i felt like i was home, surrounded by family. the drumming and dancing was powerful, and i felt myself come alive from somewhere deep inside. i almost cried at one point, watching sister L feel at home and i know that if she can get into this dance troupe, it's going to do something for her that i cannot. she needs to be surrounded by this community family and keep this very important connection in her life. i don't know what the criteria for getting accepted into the troupe is. sister L was definitely one of the younger participants in the workshop. i feel nervous and excited, but i'm doing my best to play it cool. whatever happens, we will maintain our support of this troupe and find more ways to be involved and grow our family with positive influences and love, while also seeking out ties to africa, and uganda. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is what happens when you adopt, suddenly your family expands... and not just with the children you adopt, but with remaining birth family members, friends in birth countries, and the friends we make here at home as we seek out support for our children. on the ride home from the workshop, i thought about wilson. what will we do for him, for his ties to his birth country? how much more will our family grow? we are lucky to have met some wonderful people adopting the same time we are and we will continue to seek to grow our family here as we support wilson and surround him with love. how lucky we are indeed to grow our family in such a beautiful way.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-5478807042102201462013-09-05T13:38:00.000-07:002013-09-26T23:40:21.323-07:00magical words today!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we were submitted! hooray!</span></span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-53496397948976190212013-09-04T21:48:00.000-07:002013-09-26T23:58:51.240-07:00another child ready for school<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">today we took sister M to visit her kindergarten teacher... she was shy but oh so curious.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi491m7FK0yY2W8VMwo6_ZdKQQjpxNc-R4t80khyF_9o5dzHGxbYwtaiVZbJ35gES9153ctL6Zbs_8Bla_0PRoc-muwfbDt2OlaEBqftz9urkj4lVviRvAtbyrNZW8sAMtUtzlmRVpNjAE/s1600/IMG_3077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi491m7FK0yY2W8VMwo6_ZdKQQjpxNc-R4t80khyF_9o5dzHGxbYwtaiVZbJ35gES9153ctL6Zbs_8Bla_0PRoc-muwfbDt2OlaEBqftz9urkj4lVviRvAtbyrNZW8sAMtUtzlmRVpNjAE/s320/IMG_3077.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i caught myself thinking about what a wonderful teacher the kindergarten teacher is, how thankful i am that sister M gets to start her school career here, and i felt a small sense of loss for wilson. he will likely start first grade after coming home and i know what a struggle that was for sister L. every child should be able to transition to school with kindergarten. of course you can work out half days or some other schedule, but kindergarten should be a rite of passage for all children. it is the perfect mix of new things, fun things, learning and playing, all designed to prepare children for the long days of school that lie ahead without the actual stress of a full day. we cannot get wilson home fast enough... we love you sweet boy.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-17991827892061608912013-08-24T20:32:00.000-07:002013-09-26T23:46:32.504-07:00waiting waiting waiting<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">well dossier is off... i did take a few deep breaths before we mailed it. i did close my eyes and have a little trouble letting go of it when i handed it to daniel to mail it. please please please arrive safely and quickly! and now we wait and wait and wait until we hear that we have been officially submitted. though i know this is a much smaller wait than the next waiting period, it still feels big. we are hoping that all of our checks and double checks mean there are no last minute surprises in the way of changes or additional paperwork. i must have went over the checklist at least ten times and color coded each time with a different marker. we're ready for our son, and we will be so excited to hear those words "you have been submitted"! deep breaths and a wish for patience.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-90318277950189789432013-08-23T13:15:00.000-07:002013-09-26T23:27:00.533-07:00best.husband.ever.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">who drives to salem multiple times same week so we can get our dossier off?! this guy:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRvRtcWAXuogxDfluvhie_9eu55rd-Ef-sXAec26xH9smBFnXO_u6lPQq-rLm2xxEnhDGe9sSN-gHtVlAzhFA68HTV5DB8YVgw7vot0VEwCUXI5z40GHuRR1Q8NQOyAzLprgqs4AXlL0/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRvRtcWAXuogxDfluvhie_9eu55rd-Ef-sXAec26xH9smBFnXO_u6lPQq-rLm2xxEnhDGe9sSN-gHtVlAzhFA68HTV5DB8YVgw7vot0VEwCUXI5z40GHuRR1Q8NQOyAzLprgqs4AXlL0/s320/IMG_4725.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-91283756072467722202013-08-18T23:41:00.000-07:002013-09-26T23:13:01.612-07:00things i’ve learned being a mother of six children<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_5245214226d5b5796826992">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">-- i can always survive on less money than i’m used to.<br /> <br /> -- having a teenage driver in the house can save your life and improve your mood greatly.<br /> <br /> -- i never get as many showers as i’d like, though i’d like to think i get as many as i need. i’m lying to you right now. i definitely don’t get as many as i need. if you know me in real life, you pr<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">obably know this to be true. if you love me, you hug me anyway. if you’re my husband, you lick my filthy foot just to prove me wrong and don’t think that wasn’t duly noted… indeed it was.<br /> <br /> -- i’m fairly certain i’m getting my money’s worth on health insurance benefits.<br /> <br /> -- forget closet space, i need some magic shoe storage solution for the overflowing abundance of shoes that pile up in front of the door, daring our guests to a climbing challenge before they even enter our humble abode.<br /> <br /> -- spinach goes in everything.<br /> <br /> -- come september i am birthdayed out. is that a word? yes it is, i just made it up. between baking, planning and celebrating, i am exhausted and cringe at the very idea of another birthday. i ponder what this means for my seventh child on the way, who has a november birthday, and i know without a doubt i’ll find room for one last celebration.<br /> <br /> -- a 15 minute phone call to my best friend can solve 90% of my problems.<br /> <br /> -- running keeps me sane.<br /> <br /> -- it’s not the end of the world if my children's clothes don’t match. striped shirts and plaid shorts with polka dotted socks can be overlooked (though at first it may take some serious effort), but please i beg of you, do not give my children any clothes with characters on them as they will probably disappear.<br /> <br /> -- online bill pay is my favorite invention of all time.<br /> <br /> -- i can narrate a riveting story of an event from two weeks ago with intricate details, while being interrupted fourteen times, stopping to wipe a bottom twice, washing my hands four times, getting three different snacks for five different kids, wiping tears and cleaning up a scraped knee, counting to two because i never have to make it to three, and never skip a beat. i hope you can keep up. <br /> <br /> --i know enough about minecraft, magic the gathering, d&d, naruto, and pbs programs to get by.<br /> <br /> -- my desk is always messy, and it laughs as i try to find my lost keys for the third time each week. my sewing machine sits out unloved for over a week because i know the second i put it away i’ll just have to drag it out and finally finish those pants. half-finished books will eventually get done when they taunt me enough. and yes, i assign personalities to my projects until completed. don’t judge… it’s how i get it all done.<br /> <br /> -- reading your favorite childhood books to your kids does something strange to your heart… i think it’s related to love.<br /> <br /> -- using the same cup all day is a necessity.<br /> <br /> -- kids never get tired of hearing you sing the same song every single night. and just when you think you might want to switch it up a bit, you discover you can sing on autopilot and before you know it you’ve made it through the entire song without realizing it. isn’t the brain an amazing thing?<br /> <br /> -- it’s true… spray paint gives new life to all sorts of things!<br /> <br /> -- bedtime is for suckers. and small kids.</span></span></span></span></div>
Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-31807821344787035402013-08-16T01:12:00.000-07:002013-09-27T01:12:35.606-07:00working hard<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">working so hard to get everything completed and finished so i can breathe a little easier. this paperwork is significantly more difficult than the paperwork for our previous adoptions, and we don't want wilson to wait any longer than necessary. we are so close to having all of the paperwork done. we aren't close enough with funds for this adoption, but i cannot even think of that right now. i'm simply trying to get through all the paperwork first and then i will try to tackle a fundraiser idea.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-69088169472041190322013-07-22T23:06:00.002-07:002013-07-22T23:06:59.846-07:00“Time for some thrilling heroics."<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">daddy is the unsung hero in our house. he can turn a moonlit
bike ride up and down our street into the most rousing adventure, complete with
gold coins tumbling through pockets cut on the sly, war ammo rocketing every
which way, and portals that open up out of nowhere, all for the sake of
hatching dastardly plans with one little boy. he also reveals a pretty slick
trick silencing the ever freaky, panic inducing bicycle bell with none other
than the mysterious one glove that showed up on his handlebar sometime in the
night with nary a trace of its rightful owner. in the midst of it all, i glide
up and down the street smiling, thankful to be a part of this moment. i feel
the most profound joy, stained with sadness, as i marvel at the magical
connection between boys and fathers and long for another little boy to come
home. </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">i saw this the other day and laughed: “The worst part of life is waiting. The best
part of life is having someone worth waiting for.” i laughed, but then i
thought it’s probably true, and i will try to remember it. waiting is indeed so
hard for me, the worst part by far. but the flip side to that must surely be
the little boy who also waits… and sweet boy, you are definitely one of the
best parts of my life.</span></span></span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-33624623543576046922013-07-10T21:42:00.001-07:002013-07-10T21:42:31.325-07:00still here...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">i know, it's been too long. we are still here. we are still waiting for our little boy. we are still moving forward, though sometimes it seems like the paper chase is forever. we finally got our homestudy in the mail and USCIS confirmation of our file. hopefully our fingerprinting appointment won't be too far out. i'm getting excited. we are ready. for awhile i was worried about work, but things are lining up in such a way that no matter when we get approval to travel, whether it is september-ish or november-ish, it will all work out great. thankful for that small piece to be easy. hoping to get brother c's passport in the mail soon. i'm having dreams of exploring another country with both boys and it makes my heart happy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">if you've had a baby, or adopted before, you know that stage you get to where you want to start buying things for your child. he has a bed, and he has clothes in drawers. i've talked to our doctor and we've thought about all the appointments and things we will need to do when he gets home to get him feeling better and stable. we have plans and specialist contacts. but lately i'm starting to think about the things that always come last in my mind... after all the big things, the necessary things, the medical things. things like bicycles and books, trains and special blankets. things like his own little alligator boots, and cars to race around the floor. this little boy, he already has a big piece of my heart, and i can't wait to hold him in my arms. so i'm still here, but when i'm not busy with six kids in the middle of summertime fun, i'm probably lost in a daydream about a sweet little boy.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-4823080135696751832013-05-20T21:28:00.001-07:002013-05-20T21:29:27.877-07:00and so it goes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">mother’s day came, it snuck up on me ever so sweetly, and it
lingered long enough for me to cuddle my lovely children. i pondered my life
and past mother’s days long gone. i spent moments loving the mothers and
grandmothers i am forever linked with. i felt grateful and amazed at what my
life has become. i felt sorrow for the losses we carry; some for ourselves,
some for our family and some for our children. my thoughts drifted to wilson,
wondering how he’s doing and wishing he was feeling the love of a mother every
day of his life. and then just like that, it was gone. this mother’s day left
and my heart remains full of paradoxical emotions; joy and sorrow, satisfaction
and longing, love and heartache. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">i discovered something new about myself this year, and that
is this: my heart can hold it all. i no longer feel compelled to banish the
hard stuff. life is full of hard stuff, and all of it has a place and a
purpose. my desire to ignore, repel and send the difficult feelings into
oblivion are deeply rooted in my childhood and the care i received from people
who, while they were well intentioned, just didn’t know what they were doing.
it really is as simple as that. i’m very mindful with the lessons i teach my
own children, as well as any children that spend time with our family. this has
always been important to me, and i’ve discovered the driving force behind it
was created within myself, many many years ago… the heart knows what it’s
missing. i take extra care with the hearts i hold close, and when you do that
you have to have room for the hard stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">i knew the wait would be difficult for me, and indeed this
has rung true again. the wait is incredibly hard once your heart has expanded
to hold another child. i suspect it’s never easy to wait for a life to join
yours, no matter how it happens. there is no fooling myself on this one, so i will
just hold that in my heart, along with images of a little boy who is waiting
too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Those are the same stars, and that is the same moon, that
look down upon your brothers and sisters, and which they see as they look up to
them, though they are ever so far away from us, and each other." - Sojourner
Truth</span></div>
Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-35894521984289038752013-05-08T20:24:00.000-07:002013-05-08T20:24:06.087-07:00life<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">a friend of mine posted this on his facebook wall:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” - Nelson Mandela</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">this resonated with me and it's been in my mind the past few days. i discovered that it's been in my heart for so much longer. this is exactly how i feel. life is meant to be lived big. for some people that means fame, fortune, admiration, etc. for me it simply means giving myself to my passions and creating a life, a family all my own. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">i remember a few years ago feeling that my life was a fraud. that every day i went to work, i was inferior to those around me and one day i would wake up and everyone would discover i was a fraud and take away everything i'd been given. for those that know me, there is a disconnect here because i have worked so hard for everything i have in life. whether it is my education, my job, or my relationships, i have worked so very hard. but yet i couldn't shake this feeling. imagine my surprise when doing studies on women in the technical workplace and discovering that so many women felt the same way i did, specifically i even saw the "fraud" discussion being raised. i was blown away. blown away. this is apparently a typical feeling for technical women in the workplace, to feel less than. what a rip off really... to work so hard in school and land a great job, only to feel inferior nearly every day of your working career. or at least, that was true for me for so long. so very long.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">so do i still feel that way? sort of. not as much. what changed? i started looking at my life. the truth is i fell into engineering. as funny as that sounds, it's honest. i'm just good at math and such. i love math. adore it. it's my first love really. my dream job would be to be a college math professor, but alas, i don't think it's in the cards. i guess you never know. never say never. but i just found myself good at technical things. i don't have a passion for them though, and that's the problem. i think when you lack passion, you doubt yourself. small seeds can grow so very large over the course of 17 years. the next thing you know, you've got this huge tree towering over you, shading such a large area that the light that tries to shine through is obscured... sure it makes it in, but it's not glorious and overwhelming. i really want glorious and overwhelming, if i'm honest. and i pride myself on my honesty so there you have it. i started thinking about what i do have a passion for. oh that's not as easy as it sounds. so many things. so little time. but when i look at all the things i have passion for, it comes back to family, children and helping others.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">i love my family, and it's no secret that i come from a broken home. so broken i'm not sure how me and my brothers survived sometimes, but that's the irony of it all... we did. we ended up on different paths and it seems maybe our paths are criss-crossing over time and maybe i'll be able to weave them a little closer in time. i adore my children, they have made me, well, me. not too long ago, when we were adopting our girls, i wrote about parenthood and i decided i'd update it now that the girls are home:</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">parenthood has always been one of life’s greatest blessings for me. i
have six of the most amazing children, all of whom i adore. they are
each unique and hold special keys to my heart, inhabiting spaces where
only they fit. i absolutely believe they’ve contributed enormously to
the person i am today, carving away some of my rough spots and smoothing
me out to tread more lightly upon the world. brother K has taught me that i
am strong and capable of moving mountains when necessary; i had no
idea. sister K has taught me to pause and take a deep breath and look at
things from a different perspective; i’m getting pretty good at that. C has taught me to be inventive and act quickly on my feet; indeed i
am quite clever after all this practice. L has taught me the resilience and beauty that one tiny human being can possess; she makes me re-examine my own limitations. M has taught me it's never too late for love and life and growing and becoming all that we can be, no matter how hard the road to here has been; i see this reflected back from my childhood to now and it's powerful. N has taught me that no matter the age, our struggles cannot be forgotten nor brushed aside; instead we must acknowledge them, grieve them and set them free. and with everything i have
learned, i find that i still have incredible amounts of energy that
appears to regenerate with each new day. i am eager to bring another
child into our family, for i am positive i continue to have so much to
give, and so much learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">i want to live my life big. i don't want to settle for a life less than i'm capable of living. </span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-16397160571272789732013-05-05T22:47:00.000-07:002013-05-05T22:47:16.306-07:00sunny sunday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it was a beautiful day today... warm, windy, full of playtime, water, good food, some family visiting. sitting outside for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most times in between. we sat on the grass for dinner tonight, like a picnic in our own backyard. it was nice to go around and give our highs, lows and funnies of our days while we were outside. we started doing our highs, lows and funnies about 5 years ago with the kids and haven't looked back since. it's the best part of dinner. the girls didn't understand the concept for the first few months they were home, but now they totally get it and can't wait until it's their turn. C remains ever adamant that he will go last. the neat thing about having a large family is that you get to watch everyone take an interest in each other, be supportive, and share moments that might otherwise go unshared. i love watching our children learn from each other, and dinnertime has become one of the things i most look forward to. the other thing i notice is that by the time you get done with everyone's days, dinner is nearly over. we definitely have room for one more, in fact, one more kiddo's daily review and i think we'll be set.</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929006587599854432.post-67405089796323502102013-05-04T23:57:00.000-07:002013-05-04T23:57:05.737-07:00i'm buried...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...in the seemingly never ending paperwork. so many forms to notarize! send me good thoughts, so that i can focus and complete everything that needs to be done quickly!</span>Aeolianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09778614579484450715noreply@blogger.com0