Orphan Sunday 2011

I left Russia last October a changed person. Never had I seen in person such sad, emotionless faces on so many children. Many who had known more trauma in their few years than you and I may ever know. Some who have never been kissed or hugged, or been told "I love you." While the orphanage staff takes care of their physical needs (even some struggle to do that for the numbers they are providing for), they are not able to give them the love and support they need. I think back to the day Landon was placed on the couch in Moscow, Orphanage #20 to meet us. The look on his face is the same look that was on the many children we had to leave without.

Until our "Gotcha" Day when we were taking Landon out of the orphanage forever to be with us, we were never able to see his living quarters. But, on that day, as if God knew He wanted to paint this picture in my mind and heart forever, we were taken into "his" room and told to change him into the clothes we had brought. After doing that, we scooped him up, and told him "Say, Paka Paka to all your friends, Landon." As I turned and helped him wave, I looked out, and saw these expressionless faces that looked like they were saying, "Why not me?" Oh, if only I could! The very thought gets to me everytime. I actually struggled for a while after returning from Russia with thoughts like, "Why, God?" "It's not fair" After wrestling with those thoughts for some time, I was reminded in a still small voice that WE are His hands and feet. God COULD just save every orphan all by Himself, but He wants to use US.


Here is a short video for this year's Orphan Sunday. I know this year we were only able to make our church family and friends aware of Orphan Sunday, but next year I pray we are able to do something bigger...I don't know what yet- my mind jumps from organizing prayer groups, special Sunday School awareness classes, to organizing a mission trip to serve in orphanages. I'm praying for some guidance here. :)


http://vimeo.com/28012514

Just some final thoughts to leave with you:

These are a few things that we have seen in Landon first hand...

1) Not all kids know how to be held- you know, the squeezing of the legs around your waist when you carry a child. Yes, this is a learned behavior from being held this way.

2) Children under 1 year old can eat by themselves with china table settings and huge metal spoons

3) Not all kids know what a present is, or what to do when you hand them a box that is wrapped

4) Not all kids know what it's like to be rocked or held while falling asleep. These kids learn how to "rock" themselves back and forth to fall asleep (not so gently, either) :(

5) Kids are resiliant and God is good- He allows us to re-teach and re-mold

Thank the Lord, Landon has adjusted so well and so quickly- Our overly affectionate boy now begs to have us rub his back while falling alseep, and wants "one more" kiss, and asks us to help feed him now. He loves opening presents, and loves being held and carried. When I think back to just a year ago this time, I am amazed. With God's help and grace, our little boy is new! Yes, he is still Russian (and boy does he know it! :) ) , and yes, he still has a past full of hurt, but he has a WHOLE lot of love now and seems to really love life...and his family! And, that, well, THAT makes all the money, all the paperwork, the hours on the airplane, hours in a car feeling so SO carsick, and anything else I had frowned at last year OH so SO worth it! And, as crazy as it may sound, I would do it all again in a heartbeat, and pray that if it is God's will, we may.

See a trend? We have a boy who loves to LOVE. I thank God so often for His grace, for making something beautiful out of such beginnings....

You may not be called to adopt, but please, PLEASE pray. Pray that God will tug on the hearts of those who are to adopt, and that they would follow that call. Pray that God will provide for them (emotionally, physically, financially). Pray for the orphans that are waiting for this "family" that they met to return to them (I can only imagine how hard that is to understand...I know how hard it was on my end!), Pray for all those who are waiting for their forever families....pray that until they can feel physical love that God will wrap His arms around them, and provide for them in a miraculous way. And, pray for all those who are working with organizations and agencies worldwide- that they will have the wisdom to match families and children. And, last, but not least, please pray for those who have already been adopted- that they will be able to work through their past hurts and become something new and beautiful.

Catch up time!!!

Wow, boy does it feel good to sit here and BLOG! :) I really have been missing my journal outlet! Not to mention the memories I know it will make to read about later as the years have gone by (enough of that talk...slow down, time!!).

Our fall has been crazy busy so far! We drove out to Kentucky the end of September to see Aunt "Doily" (Jill...that's how Landon says her name) ;)  get married, we took a family "trip" to Duffield's Farm, Poppie's birthday, the Cubbies hayride, I went back to work, and now Halloween festivities!
Rather than telling things in my normal novel format, I will be changing to a picture book pace in attempts to get everything into one blog post.

Ready? :0)

Our handsome ringbearer right before walking down the isle!

What a good boy! A pleasant change of pace for Landon, here. At the rehearsal, he sprinted up the isle, flinging his glove (aka pillow) off into the pews somewhere, and ran up the stairs to the platform, and jumped off. After picking my stomach up off the floor, I was mortified and nervous about how he was going to be on game day. Thank God, our boy was behaved! ...even though Aunt Jill wishes he would have had a repeat of the rehearsal!

My mom came with us to the wedding. What a lifesaver she was! It was so nice to have an extra pair of hands! She also made the suit you will see Ethan wearing in the upcoming pictures- TOO CUTE!!!

Here is Landon with "Chick" - a close family friend who actually used to be one of our youth group leaders when Greg and I were in Agape, and who bought Greg's truck from us this summer. Well, one day I was in the bathroom getting ready, Landon came running in yelling, "Mom, come, Chick!" So, I take his hand, and follow him into our bedroom only to see him  point to the TV. I had left the Disney channel on. Phinneas and Ferb was on...and here is the character he calls, "Chick" I almost lost it. I cracked up! It is now another "Jar Jar" funny look alike story!

Chick AKA Major Malcolm

Landon looking at Uncle Drew with Ethan looking at Aunt "Doily" Jilly

Our hard to capture family photo with the beautiful bride!

Two days after we returned from Kentucky, was my Poppop's birthday. We gathered in a little room hin his assisted living facility and surprised him with some cake and ice cream! While we were there, we took the opportunity to get an updated 4 generations photo!

Poppop (Poppi to Landon), My dad (Grandpop), Me, Landon, and Ethan

On October 8th, we were able to go to the local Duffield's Farm for pumpkin picking and a hayride. It was here that we discovered just how yummy their homemade cider, homemade and hot cider donuts are! 

Me and sleepy Ethan on the hayride

Family photo in the pumpkin patch

Daddy and Landon on the hayride!

Just two weeks later, our church kids' group "Cubbies" (for Landon's age group) went to the same farm for a hayride! Needless to say, he thinks hayrides occur weekly now, and asks for them almost daily "when Mr. Sun up." The night before the hayride, was our 11th wedding anniversary. Greg got me a new camera! Horray! The old point and shoot I had smelled like it was burning wires for the past 6 months or so, and was so slow at taking pictures that I constantly missed some great "faces"! I kept saying, "I can't wait until Christmas- all I want is a new camera!" Well, I was surprised a bit early! :) All the rest of these pictures were taken with my new camera!

Here is Landon with his friends, Sophia and Tyler. Both are the children of girls Greg was in our church youth group with! We are still friends with them today, and it is so neat to have the three of us with kids at the same age!

Daddy couldn't join us on the Cubbies hayride because he was working, so Poppop came along!

What a fun time it was with him!

Me and my boys!

 Here is Ethan's smile- captured on my new "fast" camera!

Next up, painting pumpkins! A family tradition Greg's family has done for years!

Landon's first time painting! He loved it!

Group shot- yummy hot cider and painting pumpkins- what a combo!

Our finished projects! Can you guess which one is Landon's?

Mommom got a cute Mickey Halloween candy corn hat. Landon enjoyed putting it on Ethan!

And, here is a serious kiss from an awesome big brother

Looking forward to a weekend home together! Hopefully it won't be so long before our next update!

Beauty From Pain

What a new meaning to an "old" familiar song! Oh how our lives have changed in the past year! Last October, we traveled to Russia, and met Landon on October 5th. In one sense it seems like yesterday, and in another, we feel like we have known and loved him forever!

It's amazing how hearing a song can really take you back. A few weekends ago, on our way out with the boys to Kentucy for my sister in law's wedding, a song played over my MP3 player that I hadn't heard in a long time. It was the song titled, "Beauty From Pain", by SuperChick. Two years ago, this was a song that I played over and over again, crying and praying to God, begging him to show me some form of beauty that was to come from the pain I was experiencing at that time: the pain of unsuccessful tries to get pregnant and the pain of a miscarriage. I was in a very sad place two summers ago.

This is the chorus and some of the lyrics that I had sung over and over as reassurance to myself, and as a prayer:

I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how you've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames

After all this has passed, I still will remain
After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

I cling to Your promise
There will be a dawn

You will bring beauty from my pain

Now, TWO years and TWO boys later (still jaw dropped myself!) I hear this song and cry very thankful, happy tears and think- God, you ARE faithful! When I had NO idea where my pain was leading, You did! You had such a happy ending already laid out for us- an ending I could have never dreamed of! I can now look back and truly say I am thankful for that pain, and thankful for those failed attempts, because if not for them, we would not be the parents of our precious boys.

Mother Son Date Night at Chick-Fil-A!

With Greg away on training all week, I took advantage of a chance to go to Chick Fil A with my two boys on a date. A few times a year they offer special activities for families, and this was our first chance to participate!  They were hosting a Mother & Son Date Night- Midieval Times Theme.

Nothing prepared me for what I saw in the parking lot when I pulled in- a horse drawn carriage ride to and from the restaurant! I immediately teared up thinking of how special it was to be able to go on a date with my boys. These moments bring back those raw feelings of "wow, I'm finally a mom! and I can't believe it- I have 2 boys!" I don't know if that feeling will ever fully go away.

Here are a few pictures of our special night together!

First buggy ride for Landon and Ethan!

(maybe me too, haha! I can't remember ever being on one before!)

Every mom and son received a complimentary take home picture in a magnet frame to take home with them. My grandparents and Aunt Wawa took Ethan to another area of the restaurant so I could enjoy my date with Landon...with 2 hands!

At our table! Landon was given a foam sword - YIKES! Let's just say I got hit in the head more than a few times during our date, and the sword had to be put in time out. :(

They had little shields for the boys to color in with markers!

And yummy food served by a wait staff on plates!

What an upgrade from fast food service! :)

Ethan enjoying (haha) his carriage ride back to our car

I have to add here that on Saturday Ethan was 2 months old!

Give a boy a sword...and watch out!

I later texted Greg that my knight in shining armor gave me a single rose and whacked me with his foam sword all in the same date! We both enjoyed a chuckle over that one. Thank God I have many more years to work on teaching him better dating manners!

Landon, obviously, enjoying his ride back!

And, what a treat! Our ride back was with Aunt WaWa!! She held Ethan for me while Landon and I ate dinner. I don't know who adores her more- me or the boys!! :)

What a fun, special night!  Thank you, Chick Fil A!!

Referral Anniversary

My how time has flown! Last Wednesday, September 21, marked one year since receiving the exciting phone call about Landon. I'll never forget how I felt hearing Cindy, our social worker, tell me "It's a boy!" That day we really did not know much about our boy. We knew he was born in December of 2008, and that we needed to be in Russia less than 2 weeks. We didn't have pictures, we didn't have health information...we didn't know much! A few days later, we received his medical information, and our faith was tested.  I'll never forget how scary the medical inforamtion was, and how torn I was over how to proceed. My heart said, "How could we ever turn down a child!" And, my head was saying, "Just be careful!" A few days after receiving the information, we were sent a video clip of our boy. The moment I saw him, I had no doubt in my mind, HE IS OUR SON! I no longer cared what the medical information was, I just knew we would do what we needed to bring him home! Here is a still image clip from the video we received a year ago this week!

Sept. 27, 2010

September 24, 2011

What a stud!! I can't wait to post more...this picture was from Aunt Jill an Uncle Drew's wedding this past weekend in Kentucky. Landon was their ring bearer!!



7 Week Picture Update

I really wish I had more energy to blog right now, but I am tired and need to take this opportunity to go to sleep, so for now, I will just update you with a few pictures.

Our Lil'est Eagles fan!

If only you could hear the adorable coo that went along with this face! I literally sat him up on my legs and held my camera phone up and just kept taking picture after picture! I can't help it- he makes such cute faces!!

Tail end of a laugh

Mom, how many times do I have to smile? Isn't this smirk good enough?

See, all this excitement, and I spit up!

Let's not forget about this cutie pie! I snatched this shot right after we got back from our first night at cubbies! I have a few more that I need to upload from my regular camera. ...next time!

But, I have to say, Landon did a very nice job saying his first section: "God loves me." (Well, sort of- he said the section, but all he would say is God (then pause for his leader, Miss Kelsey, to say "loves") and then he would shout, "ME!" When I tried to get him to say "loves" he says, "No, Mom, Kelsey say it!" What a kid!

And, last, here is yet another adorable big/little brother picture. I apologize for the huge eye- Landon woke up that morning with a swollen eye from a bug bite. :(

That's all for now, folks! Bedtime for Mama!

But...Hopefully this week when I have a little more time (haha!) I can upload two videos I have taken today that are just too cute! Landon has learned to count to 12...I know, not the traditional 10. We have 12 steps in our house, so hence the 12. :) And, the other is a hilarious video that I took at the request of my DIL as I call him (Dad in law) - the inside of Ethan's suckie that's sure to make you laugh!

The Good & The Bad; The Cute & The Ugly

The Good and the Bad: Greg started a new shift at work- 1PM-11PM.  It will be much easier on the boys when I go back to work, but a little bit more difficult for me at night managing bedtime all by myself...at least until Ethan grows out of his "bewitching" hour as the Dr. called it (colic?).  When I go back to work on October 17th, Landon and Ethan will be spending every Monday with Greg (all day!) and Tues-Fri they will go to my friend Kristens' (same as last year) from noon-3:30/4:00 when I pick them up from school. I love that they will only be out of the house a few hours each day, and that they will be getting some good time in with their Daddy. It is a little tough in the meantime because from around 6-9/10 or so, Ethan is VERY fussy. Even when I hold him, he isn't content. In order to calm him, I usually have to do a combination of swaying, rocking, bouncing...which is kind of tough to do when giving Landon a bath, reading bedtime stories, etc. Some nights are better than others (tonight is a GOOD night!). Last night- not so good. I was close to tears myself. I had to put Ethan in his crib to cry a few times so that I could devote time to bathing Landon and reading stories without having him scream in our ears. After putting Landon down to bed (I tried to go as fast as I could...probably ten minutes at most), I picked up Ethan, explaining to Landon that it was Ethan's turn for mommy. I tried explaining that I am only 1 mommy and that I have 2 boys, and that I needed to take turns with them. Landon seemed to get it for about 2 minutes. Then he hopped out of bed, and reached his arms up to me in the hallway as I was doing my bouncing routine with Ethan, and started crying, "Landon, Mommy, 2 boys" AH! This was the point at which I almost had my own meltdown. But, not all nights are that bad. Tonight, I am actually blogging, while Ethan AND Landon are sleeping- what a treat!

The Cute: Landon just loves being my little helper. Anything I show him how to do, he does! He has a little wheelbarrow that I believe used to be his Uncle Chris'. He wanted to help me take out the recycles one day in it. Ever since that day, it is his "job" to take them all out on his own! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

The Ugly: I was changing Ethan's diaper when Landon just got a little too silent in the other room. I began calling him, and he didn't answer. I didn't panic, because he does this a lot...so I knew he was just into something he shouldn't be. (Garden of Eden -like?) Well, to my surprise and gross disbelief, I walked in after finishing with Ethan to find that all 3 of our toothbrushes were being used to clean the sink...AND the toilet- GROSS!!!! So, I very sternly told Landon that that is NOT what we do with toothbrushes, etc., threw them in the trash because they were dirty, and put him in time out. Fast forward to later that night. I take Landon in to brush his teeth only to find that all the toothbrushes are missing. So, I ask Landon, "Where are the toothbrushes?" He says, "Trash, mom, dirty!" What? We don't throw our new toothbrushes in the trash! Only mommies and daddies get to throw toothbrushes away. Sigh.... Looking back, this is completely hilarious- at the moment with Ethan screaming in the background waiting on me, not so much.

The Cute (Part 2): Ethan is starting to make the cutest sounds and faces! Here are two pictures I captured on my phone!

He is also getting so big! When I took him for his 1 month appointment, he was 8 lbs, 13 oz (up from 5 lbs, 15 oz at his 2 day old visit!) which puts him at the 30%, and he is now 22 inches long, up from the 19" that they measured him at that 2 day visit which puts him over 100% for height! We are going to have one tall, skinny boy! :)

Landon is doing phenomenal in the potty training department. We rarely have accidents. In fact, last night was the first night that he went all night in big boy undies without any accidents! We had been only putting diapers on at night, and for almost 2 weeks it was dry every morning, so I just HAD to try it. The first night- 2 nights ago- he woke up at 3 AM saying "wet" and he had started to go, but thankfully went mostly in the potty. Then, last night, DRY! Woohoo!!!  Landon's speech is also picking up...for the good and the bad! He is putting 3-4 words together at a time now. My favorite is when we are in the car, and he points out things around us, "Big Digger, Mommy!" or "Look! Big boat!" or... "(insert Landon's version of a siren sound here) Daddy lights, mom!" The bad I'm speaking of is when I put him in his time out chair in the kitchen, and he hops down. I then say, "You better get back up in your chair, or you will have a longer time out." To which he shouts, "No longer time out!" I guess the talking or shouting back has begun.  :(

One of the other neat things to see Landon learn to do is to finish sentences/pages in books that we read. I have begun to pause at the end of each line of the page to see if Landon can remember the rhyming word. To my surprise- he knows the words! He constantly amazes me! Being a teacher, I happen to take a special interest...okay, maybe it's a little beyond that. I tend to love to the point of getting giddy seeing a kid learn. And, being a mom, well, let's just say that you get to see A LOT of that! It warms my heart, and makes for a lot of smiles!  ...especially when that learning has to do with READING! :0)

Okay, Ethan is due for his bottle in about 10 minutes, so I'm going to call it a wrap for the night! I'll leave you with two updated pictures of my two boys together- LOVE THEM!