Pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating

(Notice the bare Hobbit feet in 48 degree weather!)

We had a fun weekend of halloweening. After searching 3 stores in the driving rain on Friday, we finally found pumpkins for carving and each of the kids picked their own.


Dad began the festivities by carving the face that Maimie drew on her pumpkin.



The older kids drew their own designs and carved them themselves.

Jacob with his "mac" symbol pumpkin

Joseph made a spider face

Mikaela's floral design

On Saturday, the kids dressed up for trick or treating. Mikaela and Jacob stayed home to pass out treats while we took Joseph and Maimie out around our neighborhood. Mikaela chose a "Dorothy" costume (from Wizard of Oz), Jacob dressed as Samwise Gamgee (from Lord of the Rings), Joseph gathered his loot as a pirate, and Maimie--perhaps the littlest Trekkie ever-- was Lieutenant Ohura (from the original Star Trek series).

We're going back to China!

Can you believe it?! We are so excited to be starting the adoption process again. We have talked about adopting again ever since returning home with Maimie. God has really given us a heart for China's orphaned children, and we've discussed several ways to care for China's orphans as a family. After much prayer, we feel God is leading us to return to China to bring another child into our family.


On the evening of October 2, we made the decision to adopt. The next night we ordered Chinese food for supper and broke the news to the kids. They were all very enthusiastic about having a new little sister.
We already saw an example of God in the details. I filled out the application for Lifelink on October 5 and wrote a check for $250 (application fee). That same day Steve received a phone call from CEFCU promising us a refund from an expired home refinancing application. Our account was credited $245. Nice! The application was sent on the 6th of October.


On Sunday, October 11, Maimie's birthday, we broke the news to Grandpa and Grandma. Mikaela and I made hair ribbons that said "Big Sister" and tied them in Maimie's braids.


Today,Tuesday will be our first homestudy visit with Laura, who was also our case worker for Maimie's adoption.
The process will be different this time around. We are beginning with the special needs/waiting child route. The estimated wait from beginning (now) to travel is about 12 to 24 months. We have asked for a little girl from age 1-3 with an unrepaired or repaired cleft lip/palate. We are, of course, open to whatever God may choose for us.

Guess who's 4 now?

Maimie turned 4 years old on Sunday! She's been asking for weeks if it was her birthday yet. Maimie knows her birthday is October 11, but she just kept asking every day if it was her day. On Sunday she told several people at church," Tomorrow is my birthday." Oh, well.


She took treat bags to Sunday school to pass out for the other kids. After church we went to Jacob's football game while Maimie took a nap. She then watched one of her fave movies, Aladdin.


Sunday evening we had a Ni Hao, Kai Lan birthday party and invited Grandpa and Grandma for pizza and cake and ice cream. Maimie played pin the flower bow on Kai Lan's hair.


Then she opened presents. She was just so animated and thanking everyone for her gifts. It was a lot of fun.

Playing Wii swordfighting

Indianapolis Colts Game

Yesterday was a big day for our 3 guys. Jacob's JFL team took a bus trip to the Indianapolis Colts game, and Steve took Jacob and Joseph.


That morning they were all up by 4:30am and out the door by 4:50am. (That can only happen with guys!) They rode in chartered buses for the 3 hour trip to the new Lucas Oil Dome.


After watching the Colts game, Jacob and his JFL team had the opportunity to suit up and scrimmage other JFL teams on the astroturf.

What an exciting time!

In the beginning and Humpy Dumpy

There's nothing sweeter than a little sweetie saying a Bible verse. Maimie's speech is improving to the point that you can usually kind of figure out what she's driving at. Here she is saying Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Sometimes created comes out sounding like cremated and I have to chuckle!


I've got a new favorite nursery rhyme. Humpy Dumpy. I have to say, the title doesn't really conjure up images of the usual large white egg with the blue collar and little blue legs hanging over the side of a big brick wall. But never mind that. Just listen for yourself:

15 years ago

Mikaela at age 3

Fifteen years ago this past Saturday, September 26, Mikaela was born--a bit prematurely. She weighed a mere 5 pounds on the day we took her home from the hospital.


Such a tiny little thing in a pink ruffly dress that she wouldn't grow into for several months. I remember watching her sleep and eat, holding her as much as I possibly could all day. I found such joy in being her mom. I still do.


And now she's 15. Mikaela had a couple of her friends over for a movie and cookies and milkshakes on Friday night. Then on Saturday I took Mikaela and Maimie shopping for some clothes and things for her birthday. We had a simple celebration for supper before Mikaela left for the Cabin. Happy 15th birthday, Mikaela!

Time well spent

Chinatown

Sometimes in the busy-ness of everyday life, I forget to enjoy. At times I feel like I couldn't fit in one more thing edgewise even if I wanted to try. It may not be until after the fact that I realize the significance of what has just occurred.
Just over a week ago Mikaela sat behind the wheel of the Honda for the first time. I drove her out to a quiet country road and let her get in the driver's seat. I silently prayed for patience and calm. Mikaela did great. I think she even enjoyed herself. She won't get her learner's permit until after the first of the year, but I wanted to give her an opportunity to practice first. I only grabbed the wheel about 2 or 3 times, mostly when there were oncoming cars. Of course at that time I realized that my baby was growing up. I knew that there would be a day coming when she will borrow the car keys and leave by herself.
But that's as far as it went in my mind until later... Someday she will drive off to college. And someday she will drive into my driveway with a family of her own. I thought about how I bought that car when I was pregnant with Mikaela 15 years ago. I had been driving a jeep until then, but it shook me all around and I was so sick. For me the Honda was symbolic of leaving the impractical behind and moving on to making more responsible decisions. My life before and my life after kids. Now here was that same child--the one who rode in the back eating french fries in her carseat--sitting in the driver's seat. Funny how all of those thoughts crowded into my head and swept over me like a hot scratchy blanket in the sweltering heat. Maybe I should have enjoyed it more. Maybe we should have driven to get a milkshake afterwards and talked. Maybe I should have brought my camera and taken a photo of her behind the wheel. I guess it's too late to do it over and enjoy it more. But hopefully we made a good memory for Mikaela anyway. And perhaps next time I'll think about the camera and the milkshake. Time moves too quickly sometimes. I want to spend the remaining time that I have with my children in ways that will make happy memories.

Maimie playing "elefun" game