Can I just say this should be my theme song?

I'm the one with two left feet
Standing on a lonely street
I can't even walk a straight line
And every time you look at me
I'm spinning like an autumn leaf
Bound to hit bottom sometime

Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won't let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can't believe is happening
You're standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can't help but breathe you in

Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
I'm the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You're the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess

Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won't let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can't believe is happening
You're standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can't help but breathe you in
Breathe again

Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You're everything good in my life
Everything honest and true
And all of those stars hanging up in the sky
Could never shine brighter than You
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can't believe is happening
You're standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can't help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You are
You are
Jesus, You are

You are everything

~Matthew West

Chocolate Craving

It wasn't just me, honest. My husband and my two girls had a chocolate craving tonight as well. So we put them to bed and promised if they stayed in bed they could have ice cream for breakfast. I know, I should receive an award for my parenting skills! I set out for Publix and sought out the requested chocolate. After totaling my order of Edy's Chocolate Ice Cream and the almighty Edy's French Silk Ice Cream, one bag of Hershey's kisses with almonds, one Cadbery Creme Egg and some granola bars to look like I had some sense of health about me, I asked the sweet lady if it was obvious I was having some chocolate issues. Now, an hour later and a handful of kisses, one Cadberry Creme egg and some awesome smack your lips chocolate milk, my stomach isn't feeling so good. Maybe I went a little overboard?

Praise him in the good, praise him in the bad

So my last post was a little depressing. But that was how I felt and I just needed to express it. While the day hasn't improved drastically, my hubby and I did turn up the praise music in the midst of chaos and dance the chaos away. Even the children got into it and soon everyone's mood had lifted. Eli is still giving me a hard time today and just hasn't been happy. Gracie's quote for the day (after being told she had to wear very warm clothes again today): I hate winter! Why can't God just X it out! Well sweetie, I feel the same way. We are ready to be able to open the doors and run in and out and not wear layers upon layers. Thank you Lord for the seasons and how with each season we begin to appreciate the next!

Reflection of my heart

Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and think who is this person I've become? I have, and I don't think it's pretty. I'm not talking about the physical apperance or the mirror on your bathroom wall, I am talking about the relfection you give off from the inside. Sin can play such a huge role in who we are when we allow it to define us. Sin can be obvious and it can be sneaky, coming in undercover. That is almost the worst kind of sin to me, when you don't realize it's there until it is on a much grander scale. I've been seeing a lot of that in myself lately. It's not pretty! I'm sure the sleepless nights, exhaustion from taking care of sick children and not getting up early enough to spend time in God's word account for a great deal of my backsliding. I don't like the reflection of my heart that I see coming out in my conversations, my attitudes and my daily walk. I want to be different. I want people to see happiness, joy and most of all, Christ. I want Him to be glorified in my life. But lately I'm just not seeing it or living it. It is more sadness, discouragment and discontent more than anything else. Something has got to change, because I don't even like being around myself! Let's just be honest, who else would want to be around me?

My Spicy Girl

Playing around with the blog. Thanks LA for the suggestion with Picassa!

Trying Something New

As I am learning to be a better blogger I decided to try something new. I saw on my 2007 Microsoft Word a place where I can "blog this". So that is what I am doing and I am going to "blog this". Bare with me, in the meantime I will post some precious pictures!

 

797

On Friday we went to Atlanta to have our fingerprints taken again. This is the last step in renewing our 797. This piece of paperwork will allow us to bring an orphaned child from another country back to the USA. It was painless, although I had a baby on my hip this time and my husband was a little stressed because traffic caused us to be 5 minutes late. But still painless. We met another couple adopting from China, their LID being a month later than ours. We discussed the joys of adopting and the pain of waiting. I saw another family there with their little Chinese girl and it appeared they were in the process of their second adoption. All this to say that this minor experience renewed the joy and the pain for me as we wait. While I read about adopted children all the time, check in on other families, the day to day of life takes over and the emotions of this adoption sometimes get pushed aside. But God sends little reminders, like Friday, to renew my excitement and joy and remind me that in the end I will be the mom to a precious little baby needing a mom and a precious little baby will be loved by a mom who has plenty more love in her heart to give!

Saturday's Quote

Dad to child: Don't eat that! Child in dazed response: Dad, it's just the crusty. I can't seem to get across the idea of germs to my three year old. She insists that eating what comes out of her nose is not only necessary but harmless! How many times do we just get a taste of the outside only to have it allow us to be influenced on the inside?

Happy New Year

It is the Year of the Rat in China and today marks their Chinese New Year. Those that made it home through the snow and ice are celebrating with their families. Here is a website with some information about Chinese New Year. http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html and here http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesenewyear1.html and for kids, here http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/chinese_new_year.html . In our school work this morning we are going to do some Chinese New Year celebrations. Hope everyone has a good day!

Drama!!!!

It is just about time for us to move along and all feel better. The girls are still recovering and the drama from being sick is just enough to push me over the edge! Top that off with some of my silly antics lately and we have serious drama! I decided Emilie Grace needed a little assistance learning to do a cartwheel as she cannot do one in her dance class. Last week at class I watched the other girls get their legs in the air and Gracie's just flopped over. So in all my gracefulness we trekked outside yesterday for me to "teach" Gracie and Madilyn how to do a cartwheel. Now mind you, it has been at least ten years since I attempted one so my efforts were fruitless! The many "ahem" graceful falls I took and lack of stretching my muscles prior to my gymnast debut have left me with a stiff neck from a severely pulled muscle! Heating pads and ample advil have at least allowed me to function today. I do believe I will hire a teenager to teach these tricks next time as the pain I am currently experiencing is NOT worth the feeble effort! Yes, we are full of drama here!

Severe Conditions in China

You may have heard on the news or in the paper that China is experiencing some severe and unusual weather. A country that already struggles in so many areas has been ill prepared for this type of weather. Right now some of the orphanages in many of hard hit provinces are without heat, supplies and other needs. You can read an update on the conditions of the orphanages here: http://www.halfthesky.org

Look at Me!

One day shy of seven months old! Check me out! I can sit up on my own! I can also scoot around and get anywhere and into anything I want. Watch out world! And mom!

Reconnecting

It looks like we are getting past the flu. Add Fifth's Disease on top of that and we've had quite a week! Everyone except the baby and I are on Tamiflu and we all are getting lots of rest. This strange week of having daddy at home and not doing any school work has inspired me to slow down and just lay with the kids, watch a movie, or play dolls. After spending four hours at the ER with Gracie and finding creative ways to play with her (like playing memory and go fish with the stickers they gave her) I realized how sweet it is during these slower times. So God used this illness in our life to help the kids and I to reconnect, give daddy some much needed rest and just enough cabin fever to help us look forward to a busy coming week! God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!