Friday, March 30, 2012

i have a boy who loves me


My son believes wholeheartedly that I can do no wrong. Though I've given him example after example to show him that is not the truth, he quickly takes the blame for any mishaps and declares my perfection. Seriously. How he is blinded to my many faulty steps I take before him is beyond me.

According to my Kaden...

... my food and cooking are the best that there is. He declares it upon every snack, meal and treat he consumes. "No one cooks as good as you, Mom!" To him it is a simple fact that cannot be debated - we've tried.

... I am the best mom in all the world. He tells me often how nice and kind and loving I am. He thanks me often for being his mom and states proudly, "I'm so glad that God made me your kid!"

... I am beautiful. He calls me lovely, beautiful, amazing. He smothers me with hugs and loves to cuddle with me. He greets me often with, "How is my lovely mother today?" And tells me frequently that I look beautiful.

... I am a hard, hard worker. It actually bothers him that I "have to" work so much and he gets to play so much. He is my most willing chore-doer and my most eager helper and my hardest worker. If this mama needs a job done, I know who to call!

... I get all the credit for his life. "Thank you so much for deciding to marry Daddy and no one else because I really like being alive!"

... my disappointment in him is earth shattering. As a kid who is quite impulsive in his words (saying things like "that's freakin' weird" to dinner guests and "what's up peeps?" to his friends, classmates and siblings) I do often have to express my disappointment in his word choices. He quickly tears up with remorse and authentically apologizes. And I had better respond quickly with hugs and words of love or else he'll think I've rejected his apology and no longer want him living in our home!!

... my whereabouts in another 10 years will determine where he will go to college. He wants to be close to me always, close enough to visit me often when he's in college. He also states that he will visit me when I'm old and in a wheel chair too. I will take it!

I undoubtedly treasure these moments... these fleeting, priceless words. I know it won't be long until his eyes are opened to my many faults, when I am the farthest thing from "perfect" in his world. Oh how I cherish today and this little boy who loves me.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

immeasurably more

We thought international adoption, God directed us to foster care. We followed.

We wondered, "is this our forever son?" God said, "No, not this one." He went home. We grieved.

We said, "Never again, this is too hard!" God said, "I am not finished." We said "yes" again.

We were told, "This one cannot be yours." God said, "She will be yours forever." We rejoiced.

We said, "Wonderful, we're complete!" God said, "There is more to come." We said "yes" again.

We thought one adoption would be perfect. God has said, "two". His ways are perfect.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

Monday, March 5, 2012

snow fun


With 5 inches of freshly fallen snow on the ground and rumors of 50 degree days for the remainder of the week, I decided there was only one thing we must do: scoop the kids up from school and take all the kids sledding, before it was too late! It is quite common to go sledding multiple times every winter at the park near to our house, but with the mild winter we have had, not a single sledding trip had been had. So away we went! The little girls loved their first experience sledding the slopes, and even little "Elle" giggled her way down while on a pack on my back. A wonderful time was had by all, and I'm so grateful we were able to squeeze it in before the snow was melted for good!!