Hair

Faith's hair this morning from the front. I did the sideways cornrow because the front has the most "frizzys" So, I can just take the front out and redo it instead of having to redo her whole head.
5 braids in the back. I did orange today as Faith seems to be in a feisty mood:)
A couple of days ago the kids were having fun with shades and hair:) Thursday Sport got his first haircut. It went well. I cut it shorter than I cut my husband's beard and yet it still is plenty long. The morning hair brushing sessions were getting a bit tough as his hair was getting long enough for snarls.

Well, this morning was spent getting kids up and feeding them breakfast, doing hair, and now it is time for lunch. It is amazing how time flies!!!!

Keeping our minds focused on the Main Thing

Did you all get your Above Rubies magazine this week? I love that magazine. What a great magazine to encourage, convict, and spur us on in our Biblical walk as wives, mothers, and daughters of the Lord.

I am currently reading through 2 Samuel in my quiet time, in conjunction with reading Elsie Dinsmore with my kids. I am so convicted of how much I fail in loving my enemies and in keeping my mind focused on God's plan/purpose/timing/etc. For David to be the annointed king and be so deeply convicted about not harming Saul for TEN YEARS!! Never faltering in his conviction to not harm him despite Saul trying to kill him repeatedly. Then, in the Elsie Dinsmore books, Elsie is so deeply rooted in knowing her role of obedience to God, then to her father. When her father asks her to do something that is against God and great, great trial comes her way she does not falter. She does not give in to the wants of the moment but keeps her eyes on Jesus and His promises knowing that either she will have to endure the long trial or God will change the heart of her father. Am I that steadfast? Granted, she is a fictional character but David did have to endure the similar trials. When I persevere through a trial, it is much easier to "walk" through the trial putting one foot in front of the other, then to keep my heart and tongue true to course as well. Thus, I have been focused on Philippians's 4:8 (my last post), clinging to that verse for keeping my mind focused.

The trial has been difficult with bonding. It is going well from the kids' side. I am ashamed to say that I am the one struggling with this one. How does one not totally fall in love with these hurt children? How does one not see a needy child and just fall on their knees with compassion? This is my current trial. I will continue to persevere putting one foot in front of the other, but this time God has upped the ante. My heart and mind is what is to be molded this time and not just my behavioral obedience (The verse "consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds" comes to mind - James 1:3. That is not just asking for obedience like James 1:12, but for a mind change). Oh how much more difficult that is for me. I'm sure in time all will be well - after all, God is sovereign. Many people talk about how their bonding process took awhile from the parents side (again, I am SO thankful for the many blogs who write about the realities of this difficult walk so I can learn from their experiences). I pray many times a day for God to help me to see them as He sees them. This parenting job sure is hard work. Praise the Lord that we have a Perfect example in Him to model.

On a lighter note:
Grace has slept poorly this week. She fell down and hurt the inside of her upper lip on Tuesday. Minor injury but it must affect her pacifier use as she has had 3 terrible nights sleeping (leaving me sleep deprived). But, praise the Lord she slept last night...so I am well rested this morning!! Life is so much easier with good sleep:) It has really made me think about living in other countries without comfortable beds (or beds at all), A/C, time to get to sleep, quiet rooms to sleep in, safety, etc. I am so utterly blessed. I have NO reason to complain about a single thing, especially a couple of nights with intermittent sleep. I am so blessed to have this precious child that being able to be up with her at night should be counted as one of my blessings!!!

Sport continues to do very well with being potty trained - and even at night! He is a good sleeper and in the past week we have only had difficulty going to sleep twice, and NO eating issues! He always has a flashy smile ready for anyone who comes around and is adored by many people. He is really doing very well considering his past.

Faith and Grace play together so nicely - it is very cute. They are never too far from one another. Today is "hair day." I haven't decided on style yet, but everything is cute on Faith:)

Well, one of the munchkins has woken up and wants some love. I GET to go cuddle now!

Faith's close up

Here is the close up of Faith's cornrows done by the neighbor. It was requested that I get a better picture, so here it is:) I am thinking that my neighbor should take up doing hair for an on the side money maker!

The Musketeers

A couple of weeks ago I decided that having 5 children (and 3 musketeers) could be discouraging. The enemy wanted to get me irritated with the negative but God's Word is Truth and He graciously put this verse on my heart...

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

So, I decided to use this verse when thinking about my gifts from Him. I want to see them as He sees them. Not that I am unrealistic and deceiving myself into thinking they are perfect, not sinners, and don't need God. Rather, to stay focused on His view so that my heart can love on them and not withdraw in irritation with the trials of parenthood. I thought that I would share those thoughts of my children with you. I do not mean to brag or boast, but to encourage you to also see your children's "lovely and admirable" characteristics that God has planted in their hearts.

Sport thrives on physical touch and smiles and gentle voices. When he is hurting he just needs some (OK, a lot of) rocking and he is good to go. He hurts a lot. He wants to be looked at and noticed a lot. He craves human touch and meaningful interaction. When disciplined (placed in time out for not sharing, telling me "no," etc) it seems like his heart breaks. Sending him to his room, alone, is not a good thing. He is very appreciative of food. He says "thanks for the food mom" at least 20 times during each meal. Of course, the girls can't be outdone so they say it after him, then he says it again, and...well it is a wonder they actually get any food eaten with all of the thank yous!!! He does not like to be too far away from me. He likes to look at books. He is learning to initiate play more and more and play with trucks and cars. He likes to sit when Buddy is playing PS2 and pretend he is playing with him (he doesn't know his controller isn't plugged in:) I think Buddy will have a partner in his love of electronics very soon! He loves to wrestle - and Buddy is a good partner for it).

Grace is curious, yes - another kinder word for mischievous, but mostly I do believe that it comes from a basic wonder of how thing work. She learns quickly (obedience is a different matter:) She is a thinker, analyzer, and is very smart. She 90% potty trained in one day at 21 months and her vocabulary is excellent for a 25 month old). She watches and watches a person do something, trying to figure out if she can imitate it (like how to get out of the locked house, etc). She knows what behaviors she is allowed and will sneak into areas where she cannot be seen to engage in those behaviors she knows she is not allowed. When told "no," she will watch to see if I will follow through or just let her do it. She is very maternal, and loves to take care of her babies and Faith (or any baby she happens to see). Gentleness is not her current gift though:) Empathy is high. She has a genuine love for people - although certainly does not sit still long enough to demonstrate it physically. She no longer has the 45 minute temper tantrums when told "no." I think that now that the other two are here and she sees them playing she is quick to say she is sorry so she can get out of timeout and get back into the action. We are working on heart issues. She continues to be constantly thinking about how to get her way, but also knows that there are consequences to her choices (like running into the middle of the road means she has to ride in the stroller and not get to walk next to us which is her preference). She is extremely strong-willed and I cannot wait to see how God molds her into a leader for His kingdom! She sure won't take any gruff from people who tell her "no!"

Faith is a typical 24 month toddler - "make sure that I am the center of your world and think I am the cutest thing ever." When she is naughty will she flash a smile that melts your heart thinking it will result no discipline. When disciplined, well, she lets you know that you have wronged her! With that said, she is quick to obey if you let her know who is in charge:) She is a cuddler and is very sweet. She has a good vocabulary for a 24 month old who 4 months ago was in a home with a totally different language so we can understand her needs. She certainly wants to keep up with her siblings, while being treated like the princess she believes herself to be:) She has attached very strongly very quickly and is a joy.

If you, like us, are in the trenches of dealing with behaviors, temper tantrums, bonding and attachment issues, and just raising up these arrows to be "launched" for God, I would encourage you to list out the pure and wonderful traits of your children and stay focused on them when you have disciplined them for the same thing for the 15th time in one day, hear ungratefulness in every word, and they have defied your authority for the 10th time before 10 a.m. Remember, God is sovereign...even over your children!!!

Beautiful

Beautiful is our beloved first born. She looks just like me...everything else is her father's (to our great delight she also has her father's dimples:) Except horses. That comes from my mother. Beautiful's athletic ability is natural. God gave her great hand/eye coordination and height for softball and basketball (her favorites, and a heart to submit to her coach. She is also a great swimmer. She loves to be read to and I love to read her Nancy Drew books and, more recently, Elsie Dinsmore books. She is a cuddler (her love language) and her favorite times with me are watching a movie or reading a book with her head in my lap.

Beautiful LOVES horse. Is obsessed with them. Wants one more than her next breath of air (well, maybe not). Living in town that has been hard. However, we are working hard to find places for her to go ride and get to care for horses. She is content with brushing them, or even mucking stalls, just to be near them. I would love for her to have a horse, but am not sure how that would fit into our life:) My mother (the one with the passion for horses herself but lives 8 hours away so isn't close enough to have Beautiful ride with her) has offered to buy a horse and have it boarded for us. So, we'll see. So far we have friends that have agreed to let her ride weekly. We haven't the time to think farther than that at this time.

Beautiful is very social. She enjoys hanging with her friends and playing sports, and other such active things. She finds modesty to be very important and flirting with boys to NOT be important. She has embraced the importance of purity. She loves Jesus and is learning to hear His voice for her. She is ever ready to serve any person in need outside of the family (particularly if it has to do with animals:). She will find stray animals all over town, catch them, and get their owners located. Her desire is to board and care for stray/abandoned/abused animals and have her own shelter (of course, while having lots of horses:) God has given her a heart for service in caring for His creation. She is very, very precious.

Buddy

Buddy is an incredible son. He came to know the Lord at a tender age and his love for Jesus is evident. Now, he does greatly enjoy pestering his big sister, pushing the buttons of his parents, and purposely doing things to the Musketeers to make them mad, but part of that is being an 8 year old boy...right?

Buddy is the child most like me. Today when he had a chance to go to a movie with another family or stay home and get 2 hours of my undivided attention while the Musketeers slept he chose to stay home (our daughter ran out the door overjoyed at some social time:). We had a wonderful time making cookies - he has asked to be the house Chef (of course I obliged, how could I not?!?! Now I just have to find him the hat!) In fact, I didn't help at all (except with the hot baking stones) and the cookies are delicious, if not a bit too sugary;) Once the little ones went down to sleep, we decided to do something special and it involved a wine glass. Yes, everyone, we sat down and did science experiments!!! (that is what you were thinking, right???) My brother (the one whom my son is most like in looks and interests and intelligence) gave us a box for Christmas of 100 of the most influential science milestones - and corresponding experiments. We started fire with the sun and a magnifying glass, made a telescope with simple materials, and made a precursor to the camera. It was tons of fun. He is my child that constantly wants to learn, constantly asks why, and delights in learning for sake of learning. My husband and daughter would rather do something that involved an animal (dead or alive). So, my son and I enjoy cooking, reading together, doing experiments, reading the Bible (he loves to read the Bible - well, he loves to read period which is something else the rest of the family avoids:), talking about "stuff," and thinking and analyzing the whys and ways of the world. He is my "go to" guy when something needs to be done and usually tries to anticipate a need and meet it. He will come and say "what is next mom" when doing chores and tries to do his sister's chores to my frustration as she needs to learn to do them herself and would allow him to do all of her chores if I didn't intervene! He is very smart and at least a year ahead in school, always eager to do more. When he asked to start his math last week when I was starting to figure out how I am going to home school this year with the Musketeers, our daughter about hit the roof with any suggestion of school in the summer! She was still upset that I put her school desk in her room and she had to look at it in the summer! He is the kid that when I started potty training him (25 months) and decided that during the sitting time I would teach him his letters he told me what they all were. He had learned them through a toddler computer game when I didn't think a then 1 year old could even maneuver the game much less learn from it! He has a soft and gentle heart. Like me, he cannot handle watching any kind of TV or movies that involves any hurting. The kid watched his first Veggie Tales movie (the one about not being scared) and afterwards would cry in fear whenever we would put in a Veggie Tales movie or our daughter would sing the VT song:) I understand and love his heart, I delight in him, and I treasure him as a gift of God.

When I look at him I think, "here is a young man that will make an incredible father and husband one day" and I think it will be very hard on my heart to "launch" him - Provided Jesus doesn't return first - and for the record and am praying that is the case!

Steven Curtis Chapman concert

Last week my awesome hubby told me to find a sitter and specific time frames. He really loves gifts (his love language) and loves to have them be a surprise (I am NOT a gift person and I am afraid he doesn't get filled this way much - I am an acts of service person). My husband is very dependable, and typically doesn't do new things. To get him to go on a cruise for our honeymoon and to Mexico with my family on vacation took a lot of discussion. Imagine my delight when he told me one mile out of town where we were going (it was good he only waited a mile as we were close enough to turn around and get the camera!!!!) We have never been to a Christian concert - having been believers for 9 years. This was also special as Steven Curtis Chapman has such a heart for adoption and we had been awarded a grant toward our Liberian adoption via his organization. This concert was a fund raiser for Shaohannah's Hope.

It was a great evening, but not one of emotional worship of our Lord of blessings. Rather a concert focused on the blessing of our Lord's sovereignty and control, even in the midst of trials that we cannot understand. I had a headache when we left from crying but it was a such a beautiful experience of Job - the enemy will not win despite his attempts to get us to curse our Maker. Steven may not understand why the Lord took his beloved daughter to heaven, but He understands that there are no mistakes, God is in control, and His name is to be praised. During this season of our life with the Liberian adoptions not working out, the fire, the deaths last year, etc I too have walked along choosing to praise Him but not understanding the why's. Yet our trials have certainly been nothing like losing a child.

Steven was supposed to be done at 9 but finished at 9:50. It was so wonderful. He started with Blessed Be The Name of the Lord - saying that he chooses now to sing that song when he sits down to worship. If you have followed my blog you know the special significance of that song to me and that my blog is named after that song -thus starting the concert with even more emotion for me! He shared the vulnerabilities of a dad and family grieving the loss of a young child, while saying that her days were not cut "short" as God is in control of the number of days we are here and therefore none of His plan is thwarted. He shared the Word, gave a gospel presentation, and prayed with us. His two sons were both playing, and received much applause when introduced - his youngest a standing ovation of support. He sang Cinderella, after prefacing the song by saying that he knows that Maria is dancing with Jesus now, and changed the ending of the song accordingly. He also ended the concert with a solo of Blessed Be the Name of the Lord. It was cathartic and I am so glad that God moved in my husband's heart to stretch himself for such a night at this:) I am tearing up just remembering it. For our first Christian concert - it was beautiful. By the way, my husband says we need to make these a more regular occurrence;)