Friday Advice

Just a little word of advice as we head into the weekend...

Do not listen to the new Steven Curtis Chapman album "Beauty Will Rise" if...

- You have a soul.

- You have tear ducts.

- You are wearing mascara.

- You cry easily.

- You are alive.

You will end up in a river of tears.

Other than that, it is an incredible album and I highly recommend it.

Shane and Brandi Plus Two

You know Shane and Brandi...Brane and Shandi...Shanandi...I talk about them all the time. And you also know that I think they have the biggest hearts in the world and would do anything for anybody. I love them to death. Well, about two weeks ago, Brandi tell us in Bible study that she and Shane are adding two new members to their family...TWO LITTLE GIRLS!!! BAAAAAH!! Two precious little girls from Ukraine...they're so beautiful. I can't wait to meet them! So, of course, I freak out and giggle and clap like I do, but it's still kind of hush hush, so I can't say anything. But then, they got approved to start the adoption process and yay!! Now I can tell everybody! Oh my gosh, I can't even stand it.

So...Shane writes this amazing post today (below)...and after I picked myself up out of my pool of snot and tears, I texted Brandi to make sure it was okay if I linked to it on my blog and I couldn't get her, so I chatted Shane and yessssss, I can. So, read this and you guys pray for Brandi and Shane and their daughters...dude, I have got to learn Russian ASAP. Blue knows Russian, but she and I are not on speaking terms right now.....

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Into the Breach...by Shane E.

EDIT: I apologize for this, but it's been brought to our attention that it's unwise, for various reasons, to use names and pictures when you're talking about adoptions. So this entry is, unfortunately going to lose some of it's punch after I get through trimming it down. I'll leave most of it up to share the news, but the specifics will have to go. I'll bold everything I've omitted or changed so, if you want to ask in person, you can:
________________________________________________

I think Helen Keller said "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all" or words to that effect. I've liked that quote for a very long time. Especially since it was uttered by a person who should not have, by all logic, been able to speak at all and who should have been so ill equipped to face everyday life that she had every reason not to try. I am starting to empathize a bit with this position in life.

One more tangent and I'll get to the point.

I feel like I've understood love and what it means to love since I was about 16. It was around this time that I started to view love, not as an emotion, but as a decision. A conscious choice to behave a certain way and be willing to do certain things for another person. I'm sure I had some help reaching this conclusion, but I can't remember from where. The most stunning example of love is, of course, Christ. In everything He did, but especially in His death. There is nothing that could convince a human being to go through that brand of agony, torture, and ridicule short of pure and abiding love. It was not an emotion or a warm, fuzzy feeling that held Him to the cross, it was a choice; a conscious decision to endure the punishment, that I deserve, in my stead. A decision to do what had to be done, irrespective of the cost to himself, and even to put His own life at hazard.

For me.

It is in this understanding of love, that I can tell you that I love these little girls.
(omitted pictures)


I love them having never met them and I love them because I've decided to.

This is S____, and her younger sister, M____. A couple of weeks ago, Brandi called me from Eastern Europe and informed me that they both were, in fact, registered and adoptable (we weren't sure of either). Now, I should mention that Brandi has known these two for several years and, on her first trip over to this particular region, bonded inseparably with them. It is only because of this that I waived my "no girls allowed" policy and told her to talk to them and tell them we wanted to adopt them and bring them here. She did, they accepted, and here we go.

S____ is a certain age and M____ is also a certain age, but a deifferent age than S____ so we'll be jumping in with both feet; straight into having a teenaged girl, plus one, neither of whom speak very much English. Basically, what we're doing is bringing in everyone who's having babies right now a couple of babysitters. So you know who to call.

So anyway, that's what we're doing. There's a lot of personal preference involved that I won't really go into, we've never really explored to option of "having" a baby, this is something we'd rather do. At least right now. I think there are enough babies. So don't go assuming we can't have a baby, a lot of people tend to do that when a couple our age adopts, this is not the case with us. Also, there's a lot of personal preference that has led us to choose to adopt older kids.

We're, right now, in the beginning stages of paperwork and are waiting on copies of documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates to come in from Birmingham, Montgomery, and California. It's a long, drawn out process but we have at least started the ball rolling. I hope we can go over to Eastern Europe again in the Spring so I can meet them, but that's up in the air. We'll keep everyone posted on the goings on. Please, if you're the type that prays, pray for us and pray for S____ and M____. Pray for their safety, for our sanity. Pray for our finances, our time, our patience, all those things that a process like this one tends to try. If all goes smoothly, the whole process should take 10-12 months. If things derail or go wrong, it could be longer.

Le Twins

On Monday, we had a doctor's appointment with ultrasound. Woot! Normally, I wouldn't have had an ultrasound then, but the last time we checked, the girls' fluid was a teeny tiny high and they just wanted to check up on it. And, it had gone down and was perfectly normal. Nurse said, "Their fluid levels will change hourly...it's totally normal...it just depends on how much they drink and pee out." I'm like..."Nice." Since it was just a fluid check, she didn't do a growth measurement, so I'm not sure how much they weigh. I'm gonna guess about 15.2 pounds and 15.3 pounds. They are all sorts of squished in there. But, we could see both of their faces...one was striking a fierce pose with her hand in her hair. It was awesome.

We met with Dr. Mac and he said I'm now measuring full term plus some change. He said my weight gain was excellent. What's that now? Whoop whoop! That's what I thought. He said my blood levels were looking fantastic...I said, "Thank you...I make it daily." The girls are apparently doing super duper...so super, in fact, that Dr. Mac sat and thought about it for a second and decided to let us go home for Thanksgiving! YAY! I was SO extremely excited to hear that. Now, we'll get to see my entire family AND David's family! Turkey turkey, here I come. And sweet potato soufflé...equal parts sweet potato and butter...hey, "excellent weight gain" remember? I can get a little crazy for one day.

We also discussed C-section versus the other. He said that if the girls hadn't turned to good positions by mid-December, we would schedule a C-section in January sometime. (Which, I thought was nice because then I could know the date). I joked about David wanting them to be born late December for the tax deductions and Dr. Mac looked at the calendar and said, "Ha...I think you'll make it a lot longer than December. I'm thinking the end of the first week in January or beginning of the second week." And I didn't say this, but I was like, "December 31 and the end of first week in January are 7 days apart...." You know boys and their time telling. So, I'm STILL thinking December 31. But, we'll see what God has planned.

As for their positions...these kiddos have traveled far and wide to get where they are right now and he said they could still move even more. Here is an anatomically accurate sketch depicting their current positions.

Also, it's 62 degrees in the house and I'm about to die of heat exhaustion.

Showah!

Here are some pic-a-tures from the fabulous shower on Saturday!

I'd like to apologize in advance for my double-chin. In. every. picture.

Tiffany made me this SHMADORABLE corsage bracelet...and David a matching boutonniere. Oh my gosh, they are so cute. I'm saving them forever. They had little pear jewels and precious little flowers on them. She is so talented. Tiffany is a florist...well, florist isn't the right word for her. That makes her sound like a little old lady working in this little tiny hut making flower arrangements. Tiffany is a Magic Flower Person. It is AMAZING what she can do. She creates the most stunning arrangements, bracelets, headbands, anything you want. You should see her weddings. She needs to be on TV. She needs to come and decorate my house.

Here are those sweet pea invitations and hats. Brandi designed the invitations. It says..."Join us Saturday, November 14th at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Piper Lee and Harper...David and Ruth's perfect pair." See the litte pears hanging from the tree? Tee hee! Get it...pair...pear...so cute!!

Mom eating Tris' bruschetta...oooh so good.

Carter's thinking..."I'm not so sure about these festivities."

Malinda's heavenly macarons. Crying is inevitable when you eat them. She made original, chocolate and mint...all three are divine.

So pretty!

Delicious cupcakes from Senia and Erin. Reid's thinking..."Hey, wait a second...I'm sitting here eating pureed carrots and there are two types of cupcakes up there. This isn't working for me."

Me want cupcakes!

Yay! Friends and food...can't get much better than this.

Me and the Liza gal.

We have no idea what we're in for.

Yay for little brothers! Little only in age...obviously, he's taller than me.

Holland is not pleased with the situation.

No idea.

We played a game where Erin (with remote) played a song and whichever team (guys vs. girls) got the song title and artist right first, won.

Mom and Dad knew all the oldies.

Mom spent the entire night trying to get a hug from Shea.

Shea stayed a safe distance...good thinking, Shea Bug.

Playing the baby song game.

I was, of course, protesting something.

Heck yes, the girls got the answer right.

Boys thinking....thinking....but it wasn't enough. The girls won!

S'mores Bar outside. Woot woot! Malinda can roast a mean marshmallow...delicious!

Fun times with buddies.

So purty.

Noah's 50% vampire. And 100% weird.

The sistah and the Boogs.

Me and the Brandar (sans eye patch).

No words...

Such sweet things for the twins!

How about this is an Edwin face.

Tris' sugared pears...so pretty! Shea didn't believe me that it was sugar on them, so I said, "Well, lick it." No worries...she took that one with her to eat.

Shea thought I looked better with a bow.

Me and the parental units.

The hostesses! And the most fab gals in the world.

This would be Zack.

I wish I had taken pictures of all of the awesome stuff the girls got, but here are a few things...

Jenny made these...how sweet! I know exactly where I'm hanging them, too!

This was from my Mom...I'm not going to explain it...but if you've seen Baby Mama, you'd understand.

Mom also got the girls their first set of nail polish.

Mom and Dad got them these precious turquoise bracelets when they went out West...handmade by a Native American woman in New Mexico.

Look how tiny!

Pear heads!! I can't get enough of these.

Erin and Ben got them little Baby Legs!! Oh my word, I can't wait to put these on them.

Look what Megan made for them. Little pear onesies...ahh, sigh....

Through God's provision and our flipping awesome friends and family, these two gals have gotten everything they need. Such a blessing. I can't even express how thankful I am. It's very humbling. Now, I just have to put the final touches on the nursery and wait for the munchkins.

Merndays

Merndays are lame.

So...this weekend, our precious friends Billy and Beth and my sweet little McNugs (Carter...their son) came to visit us! We had such a good time. We don't get to visit with them nearly enough. :( I can't believe Carter has grown up so fast. He's almost 8 months old...and he's basically walking and talking and going off to college. I hate it. Ah, but you have to let them grow up...it's not like they're bonsai trees.

Saturday night, we had a FABULOUS shower, given to us by our amazing friends (remember those friends I always tell you about...the best in the world? Yeah, them.) It was a co-ed shower, so the boys came, too. Yay! My whole family came (sans Peter :(...he had to work. We missed him being there. Love you, Uncle Pete!). Noah even drove 5 hours from college...what a sweetie pie. It was sooooo much stinking fun. Everything was wonderful...the food, the decorations, the fellowship, everything. I didn't take a single picture, so I'm going to have to steal them all from Sara, Dad and Brandi. I did find a few on Facebook from Sara and Dad, but I'll post the rest later.

It is absolutely amazing and so humbling how much these two chillins are loved already...and they're not even here yet. I am so grateful for our friends and for our family. I love you guys.

Ruth, why you smugglin' out watermelons?

Hey hey, I dunno!

The hostesses...(back row L to R)...Liza, Erin, Senia, Cara, Eliza(beth)

(front L to R)...Malinda, Sara, moi, Brandi, Tris. You guys are simply amazing.

Ahhhh...look at the hats Senia knitted for the girls! They're little pears!!!! So cute. Senia, you are so talented...gosh, you blow me away. She didn't even use a pattern. She just did it. Makes me sick...I barely even iron stuff. I'll show you a close-up of the invitation later. But those little pear hats go right along with it. I'm bringing the girls home in these hats...my little pear heads.

So, I'll show you the rest of the pictures later. These gals wracked up...I'm telling you. So many wonderful things. We are definitely very very very blessed.

So...yesterday, I'm fixing my hair and I hear this tick tick tick...sounds like a clock. I ignore it, because I'm crazy and I realize it's probably in my head. But, no...there it goes again...tick tick tick. I look around. There's no clock. We don't have a clock in the bathroom. It's kind of weird when you hear the ticking and you can't find a clock. I kind of had a Captain Hook moment for a second. I never figured out where it was coming from. Oh well. Weird.

We have an appointment and another ultrasound today. Woot woot! I can't wait to see the gals again.

For Your Friday Enjoyment

I get behind on all the "new" and "exciting" YouTube stuff, but these just cracked me up.

Heroes...a great show...kind of got bored with it, so David just watches it now and fills me in. This is the Zeroes trailer.

Zeroes Trailer

There's nothing funnier than a baby laugh and this kid's got a good one.

Best Laugh Ever

Why can't all movies be like this.

Star Wars Paraphrase Theatre

Thoughts for a Thursday

I was just reading on Fox News about this 12-year old girl that sneezes up to 12,000 times a day. No joke. She caught a cold a few weeks ago and hasn't stopped sneezing since. She's been to several doctors and nobody can figure it out. Fewer than 40 cases of something like this have ever been reported. Some doctors are saying it's a neuro something something and may never be cured. I'm like...this is a case for House, M.D. Or maybe Dr. McDreamy. As soon as I finished reading it, I sneezed. I was like, oh my gosh oh my gosh...I've caught it. So, DON'T READ THE ARTICLE. It could be cyber-contagious.

My sister got us one of our car seats for the girls earlier this week. She's the best sister ever. Thanks again, SFW! It's soooooo adorable. And orange...ernge. It's super cute. This one will be Piper Lee's seat.

Because Harper's is green...like a grassharper (Audry came up with that. Tee hee!)

But let me tell you...did y'all know that you needed a doctorate in psychicneuroscience to figure these things out? Car seats are tough! I was messing with it...I was going to put a stuffed teddy bear in it just to figure out all of the gadgets and, somehow, I ended up being strapped in the seat with my arms twisted every which way and I was upside down. I downloaded a manual...it was 28 pages long. That's more pages than my computer manual has. But either way, they're pretty seats (and very safe), so I'm happy.

I don't care if they were written in the 80's or yesterday, Steven Curtis Chapman songs never get old to me. He's my fave.

My man voice is getting worse. I have bypassed tenor and am now a baritone. It's awful. When I answer the phone, I say, "Heeeee---" And then it trails off into oblivion. Sigh.

I have had the overwhelming urge to wrap Christmas presents lately. Not necessarily even decorate for Christmas, but just wrap presents. It's eating me alive. I did go ahead and order the girls' stockings, though. David and I have Christmas with the Krinkles stockings and they're super cute and creepy (with the curly toes), so I got some for the girls that go with them. I don't know if we'll need them this year or not, but I have them ready just in case.

I'm starting my 29th week today. My little book says the baby will weigh about 2.5 pounds by now. Yeah, these critters are waaaaay past that. And they're taller, too. Which is weird. Because David and I are both munchkins. Tall genes run in my family, though. I just got the short straw. Ha ha...I made a funny.