Merry Christmas!
May your Christmas be filled with hope, peace, and unwanted affection from your brothers!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
about a girl
Last December, I overheard a friend musing about "Dressember" and I tuned my ears in. When I got home, I googled it did a little research. I learned women who participate wear a dress every. day. of. December. But the cause seems to resonate - exercising ones own femininity to advocate for women and girls who are exploited for their femininity.
I did a mental count of the dresses in my closet that I could wear in December. One. A few of skirts, but only one dress. The website specifically says DRESS in the FAQs. It was too late for me to participate last year, but I looked around and started doing little things to advocate for women who don't have opportunities and freedoms like I do. I had purchased plenty of fair-trade jewelry and gifts, more than I ever need. But I stopped shopping the clearance rack at Kohl's and started buying fair-trade clothes for myself. There is no way I can imagine being able to buy clothes for the kids this way, although I wish I could. But I wear the same clothes for years.
So, I bought a dress. Black, simple, made of the softest cotton I've ever worn. This was in the spring.
Fall came around, and I bought another dress. This one, cream-colored fleece and goes great with leggings and any scarf.
I was still thinking about Dressember in November when we were going to get our family portraits taken. It was the excuse I needed to buy one more dress...denim... from Target.
I slipped. But that brought my total up to four seasonally-appropriate dresses, and that was enough for me to commit to Dressember.
While I'm in full support of the mission of Dressember to leverage fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women, I've never been comfortable with pledges, or asking people to "sponsor" me, or raising money in general. I didn't commit to that part. I did buy the official "Dressember" pins. I'm wearing them and talking about my commitment to wear dresses every day in December to create awareness about human trafficking. Just look at my annoying Facebook page!
But this challenge isn't about me; it's about a girl. Often too young, confused, desperate, victimized. Broken. Lost. But not beyond hope. I've selected two organizations to promote that I have personal connections with who are offering hope. Breaking Free is a local nonprofit that helps over 500 women escape systems of exploitation through advocacy, direct services, housing, and education every year. In Cambodia, the SHE Rescue Home exists as a safe-haven for girls normally aged 5 to 16 who have been victimized for their femininity. I have in the past and will continue to support these ministries.
Two more fair-trade organizations I've had good experiences with and directly support women who have escaped sex-trafficking: Good Paper (greeting cards) and Elegantees (women's clothing).
I did a mental count of the dresses in my closet that I could wear in December. One. A few of skirts, but only one dress. The website specifically says DRESS in the FAQs. It was too late for me to participate last year, but I looked around and started doing little things to advocate for women who don't have opportunities and freedoms like I do. I had purchased plenty of fair-trade jewelry and gifts, more than I ever need. But I stopped shopping the clearance rack at Kohl's and started buying fair-trade clothes for myself. There is no way I can imagine being able to buy clothes for the kids this way, although I wish I could. But I wear the same clothes for years.
So, I bought a dress. Black, simple, made of the softest cotton I've ever worn. This was in the spring.
Fall came around, and I bought another dress. This one, cream-colored fleece and goes great with leggings and any scarf.
I was still thinking about Dressember in November when we were going to get our family portraits taken. It was the excuse I needed to buy one more dress...denim... from Target.
I slipped. But that brought my total up to four seasonally-appropriate dresses, and that was enough for me to commit to Dressember.
While I'm in full support of the mission of Dressember to leverage fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women, I've never been comfortable with pledges, or asking people to "sponsor" me, or raising money in general. I didn't commit to that part. I did buy the official "Dressember" pins. I'm wearing them and talking about my commitment to wear dresses every day in December to create awareness about human trafficking. Just look at my annoying Facebook page!
But this challenge isn't about me; it's about a girl. Often too young, confused, desperate, victimized. Broken. Lost. But not beyond hope. I've selected two organizations to promote that I have personal connections with who are offering hope. Breaking Free is a local nonprofit that helps over 500 women escape systems of exploitation through advocacy, direct services, housing, and education every year. In Cambodia, the SHE Rescue Home exists as a safe-haven for girls normally aged 5 to 16 who have been victimized for their femininity. I have in the past and will continue to support these ministries.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Brett is 9 years old!
It is not a coincidence that I am finally getting around to writing this post on December 17th. I do believe that the strongest memories are feelings. This morning I woke up remembering the feelings I was experiencing exactly 9 years ago, the morning of the day we were going to meet Brett. Elated, nervous anticipation. Sure that at any moment, I was going to wake up in my own bed, still waiting to become a mother. But I didn't wake up in my own bed. I woke up in a hotel bed in Augusta, GA and we were hours away from meeting our son. This weekend, we canceled our travel plans due to deep cold, blizzard conditions. Nine years ago, we had driven for 3 days on slick, icy roads. Nothing was going to stop us from uniting with our soon-to-be son.
And in what feels like a flash, Brett is 9 years old. He stands 55 inches tall and he has passed his last car seat on to his sister. We did not know the path that was laid before us when the adoption agency called with a "healthy baby boy", but, now even more than then, we know that Brett Theodore is "God's gift" to us, and we embrace the calling of being "God's gift" to him.
Brett is enjoying the 3rd grade. His favorite class is gym! He also likes art, STEM, and the various projects they do in science and social studies. Brett takes swimming lessons and also participates in basketball. In his free time, he enjoys doing craft projects, playing with his brother and sister, and playing video games. In the warmer months, he loves to ride his bike and play football or baseball with the kids in the neighborhood.
Brett is a helper and a gift giver with a big heart. He loves to prepare and eat food! He loves mac’n’cheese and mashed potatoes. When I asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted, he said one word – “candy”. So I made him a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and covered it with chocolate and Reese’s!
Brett really wanted a $200 robot dog. We found a cheaper alternative. It has a dancing mode, which is very amusing!
We had a few grown-up friends and family over for dinner, and our baby-sitter Bonnie surprised us with her ukulele playing of "Happy Birthday". Papa and MeeMaw took him to Pizza Ranch and he picked out a Lego set and inventions kit.
The following weekend, we took the kids to Monster Jam at the new US Bank Stadium. It was a lot of fun!
And in what feels like a flash, Brett is 9 years old. He stands 55 inches tall and he has passed his last car seat on to his sister. We did not know the path that was laid before us when the adoption agency called with a "healthy baby boy", but, now even more than then, we know that Brett Theodore is "God's gift" to us, and we embrace the calling of being "God's gift" to him.
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| Brett, 3 years old |
Brett is enjoying the 3rd grade. His favorite class is gym! He also likes art, STEM, and the various projects they do in science and social studies. Brett takes swimming lessons and also participates in basketball. In his free time, he enjoys doing craft projects, playing with his brother and sister, and playing video games. In the warmer months, he loves to ride his bike and play football or baseball with the kids in the neighborhood.
Brett is a helper and a gift giver with a big heart. He loves to prepare and eat food! He loves mac’n’cheese and mashed potatoes. When I asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted, he said one word – “candy”. So I made him a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and covered it with chocolate and Reese’s!
Brett really wanted a $200 robot dog. We found a cheaper alternative. It has a dancing mode, which is very amusing!
The following weekend, we took the kids to Monster Jam at the new US Bank Stadium. It was a lot of fun!
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Lydia is 8 years old!
Lydia is 8 years old! Lydia has grown up so much in the last year! Out with the pink and purple; in with the blue and green. Out with the rainbows and butterflies; in with the guinea pigs and endless chapter books. Out with the princesses and ponies; in with the ancient Rome and gladiators!
Lydia has the same teacher she had last year, which has worked out really well for her. In first grade, her teacher recognized that she was quite bored with the math curriculum, so she challenged her to complete the 1st and 2nd grade curriculum. This year, she joins a 3rd grade class for math. It is hard work, and we are proud of her! Lydia also LOVES to read! She devours all kinds of books.
Lydia has decided that swimming is her sport. She is in level 4, which requires her to do the front crawl and backstroke for 25 yards and butterfly and sidestroke for 15 yards. She has all the skills except the butterfly.
Lydia has been talking for months about wanting a "guinea pig" birthday. Guess what? You can't just go to the party store and buy guinea pigs paper plates and napkins and balloons. And what exactly do you do at a "guinea pig" party? This was definitely going to require some imagination help from pinterest. The decorations were limited, but I made a guinea pig cake and came up with two crafts. I also made a "sling" for her to carry Milo around in. Lydia praised this as "the best birthday party ever"! And I was just going for passing!
We also had a special day planned for Lydia. Papa and Meemaw usually take each kid out to lunch and they go shopping for a present for their birthday. But for this special lunch, we left Papa at home and it was just the girls at at the American Girl Doll store!
Lydia has the same teacher she had last year, which has worked out really well for her. In first grade, her teacher recognized that she was quite bored with the math curriculum, so she challenged her to complete the 1st and 2nd grade curriculum. This year, she joins a 3rd grade class for math. It is hard work, and we are proud of her! Lydia also LOVES to read! She devours all kinds of books.
Lydia has decided that swimming is her sport. She is in level 4, which requires her to do the front crawl and backstroke for 25 yards and butterfly and sidestroke for 15 yards. She has all the skills except the butterfly.
Lydia has been talking for months about wanting a "guinea pig" birthday. Guess what? You can't just go to the party store and buy guinea pigs paper plates and napkins and balloons. And what exactly do you do at a "guinea pig" party? This was definitely going to require some
We also had a special day planned for Lydia. Papa and Meemaw usually take each kid out to lunch and they go shopping for a present for their birthday. But for this special lunch, we left Papa at home and it was just the girls at at the American Girl Doll store!
Monday, November 21, 2016
surprise fall getaway
Earlier this month, we surprised the kids with a two-night getaway to a hotel water park we had not been to before. It featured seven water slides, and was small enough for the kids to navigate independently, but still thrilling enough for hours of fun. Perfect, almost.
It would have been perfect if we hadn't taken two vehicles (Bryan continued on to Green Bay after) and gotten separated and I hadn't started out at the wrong hotel.
And it would have been perfect if all three of our children possessed the adventure-seeking heart to go on all the slides without Mom or Dad the first time. (By the end of the day, this was not an issue.)
(Okay, in hindsight, I'm actually glad I didn't *get to* sit on the sidelines the whole time.)
And it would have been perfect if a couple of games in the arcade didn't take our tokens and bring overtired children to tears.
And it would have been perfect if, two days before the trip, Brett and Reggie's wrestling match hadn't gotten a little out of hand. As a result, Reggie limped his way through the trip, willing his injury not to keep him from the fun.
It would have been perfect if Lydia would finally be 48 inches instead of 47.5 inches and Mom and Dad did not have to keep talking the lifeguards into allowing her to go on the big slide.
And it would have been perfect if the car battery hadn't gone dead leading to a few heated moments of...discussion.
A few weeks later, the kids are still talking about the "toilet bowl slide"...and that mom went to the wrong hotel. I guess what I remember about family trips as a kid is the cool stuff...but mostly the sitting by the side of the road with the hood of the old brown station wagon up and steam rolling out.
So, in other words, we had a perfect getaway.
Friday, November 11, 2016
wacky balloons and other fall shenanigans
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| I love our maple tree every fall! |
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| These guys are those wacky balloons, you know, those ones you see waving their long arms in used car lots. For functionality, the costumes were one of my worst ideas ever. But, on the upside, the trio did win "most creative" at their school party. When it came down to the business of trick-or-treating, the boys decided to go for ease and speed and dressed as a football and baseball player. |
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| The kids could hardly wait to sort and trade! |
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| They're both cute. |
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| Brett likes to make me coffee. On this particular day, he had breakfast out for me, too. |
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| The bread spider and donut monsters were pinterest winners. The mummy meatloaf was not. |
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| This year, we bought the whole hog instead of half. That's 14 pounds of bacon! |
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