Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Park with Friends

We have had a great spring so far this year. Warm air requires us to be outside and burn off some energy. 
Maylin has been working on her skill of crossing the monkey bars. At the point this picture was taken she wasn't able to make the reach to the second bar.

 
Pierson flipped over the bar landing on his hands. He was particularly proud of this new skill. 
  Of course it wouldn't be a trip to the park without snacks.
 And drinks. (I just love Her little hands and her messy hair).
 One friend is modest... one friend is not. :)
 I love a spring day at the park especially when it is with friends.

Friday, April 22, 2011

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Mine grows (or doesn't) by the loving hands of my two kiddo's. 
 They have helped a lot this year. They have helped me rake, shovel and water the plants we have planted.
 I garden in my white sparkley skirt don't you? Maylin cracks me up. One day she is dressed like a princess the next day she has t-shirt, jeans, and rain boots on so she can listen to the slurp of her feet in the mud.
 Pierson likes to hoe the beds.
 I love my little helpers. No mater how well (or not so well) the garden grows this summer all of our hard work together has been worth it. It is fun to watch them get excited about taking care of their plants. Most importantly it has been great doing something together!
Tip of the week... Don't let your kids wear foam flip flops when there is an upside down rake around. That doesn't go over so well. If you mistakenly do let this unfortunate combination happen... make sure you know if your child is current on tetanus! :)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Maylin visits an Economic Fair.

 My sweet little cousin Sara's school was holding an economic fair. Each 3rd grade student developed a product and "sold" them. It was really a cool concept. Everyone who came to shop was given seven play-dollars to spend. Maylin thought she was in Heaven! She got to walk around and see what she wanted to buy.  Of course we first went to see Sara and got our Pet Rocks that we pre-ordered.
 Money exchanging hands.

 The students were very excited about selling. Most of them were standing  on their chairs yelling information about their product. It was a little overwhelming for Maylin but she hung in there and walked around looking at each 'booth' to see what she wanted. What was it that she wanted in the end?
Glow in the dark finger nails followed by cotton candy!
I am just thankful she never asked to get the color spray put in her hair!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Family

Today is one of those days... One of those days that I have been relishing family and family time. I have had the urge (practical or not) to just run away with my family, to cherish every second. 
Watching my kids grow before my eyes, missing family members who have moved away and mourning those who have past has left me craving time to hold my kids and savor every second of family time we are given. 
God has given me the gift of family.There are many facets of my family. First there is my immediate family.
  My loving husband who is my rock, my comforter and supporter. When I am having "one of those days" he always knows how to comfort me. Notice I said comfort me not "fix me"! I appreciate that more and more everyday! Just a hug makes me feel as if nothing else in the world matters.
   My kids who bring me endless joy. I never knew how deep my heart could love. It is a different kind of love than I share for Adam. Not better or worse... just different and boy is it deep! Sometimes just watching them play makes my heart ache with overwhelming emotions.
Then comes my mom and sister's family. A mother just can't be replaced. As a mom now I am catching a glimpse of how deep a mother's love is. I now understand the reason for the rules that drove me nuts as a kid.   It is a blessing to see my children love her as I have.  
 Nothing can replace a sister. Most of the time I am numb to the fact that she doesn't live "down the road" anymore. I don't think about it much because I don't want to. When I do stop to think about it I have to quickly move on to keep the tears from forming and my nose from turning red. Moments with my sister and her family are cherished times. Oh the memories we have shared over the years. Our lives have changed dramatically over the years. We've gone from silly sisters who fought, laughed and cried together to being Mom's. Growing up I don't think either one of us would have guessed we would now be mom's to six Asian children! Doesn't life throw curve balls that end up being the best things that ever happened?!
Then there is my extended family. 
 Spending time with cousins, aunts, uncles and in-laws is something that I just can't get enough of. Family is family and that is just something that can never be replaced.


Today was one of those days... One of those days of playing outside with cousins from near and far. Catching up with an Aunt and Uncle, laughing with my kids, loving my husband, and cherishing every moment of spring. It was a perfect afternoon. If I closed my eyes for just a moment I could pretend that this time would never end. Hearing the laughter blow in the breeze, the sound of basketballs bouncing, the squeaking of bicycle tires grinding... life like this could go on forever and ever and...
Nope, there is an annoying thing like reality lurking in the background. Time with out-of-town family has to be cut short, basketballs have to stop bouncing so my car could leave and the laughter turned to "get out of the way of the car kids!" so that I can leave for a meeting that may or may not have been 99.9% pointless. Today is one of those days (like most for me) when 'organization' seemed to be 100% useless and contrite. 

Friday, April 15, 2011

Church Easter Egg Hunt 2011


 On the prowl!
 Surely there is an egg under this brick!
 I don't think so baby girl! :)
 Daddy helping to check out the loot! Keep your eyes on your prize buddy!
 Stamps instead of candy! Genius! Fortunately Maylin was thrilled as well!
 There has to be more somewhere!!!
 Comparing the goods with friends.

I can still remember the joy of cracking open my eggs to see what treat was inside! It seems that some simple things in life will never go out of style!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wasn't it just yesterday?

Yes actually it was!
  Just yesterday Pierson's tooth became lose (to my knowledge). While eating corn-on-the-cob he complained and told me his tooth was "wiggy".
Then today while making Grandma a birthday card (Happy Birthday Mom!) Pierson looked up with a surprised look on his face. Then he handed me his tooth!
 He lost his first tooth! I guess I should say he lost is first tooth naturally. (Notice he has two gaps. His first tooth was pulled because it was rotten when we brought him home.)

I think he is excited about it!

First Experience with Sour Patch Gum!










Monday, April 11, 2011

Widow's and Orphans

In a month from now I am getting on a plane and heading for India. A dear friend of mine has an amazing ministry of supporting orphanages in Honduras. Her ministry is beginning to expand around the world. Long story short, I began to feel the tug from God to help her get to orphanages in India who have contacted her for help. Thus far she hasn't been able to financially support them. She needs to visit them to prove they are legitimate. God showed me that my passions were the perfect tools to help. Three of my greatest passions in life are God, orphans and travel. I don't remember a time (other than God calling us to Maylin and Pierson) when I have heard God so clearly calling me to do something. 

Exciting right?! Yep.. and scary. After committing to go and raise the money for Tara and I to travel I started to second guess myself. How am I going to raise the money? How are we going to travel in country? How in the world are we going to find the orphanages once we are there? God is settling those nerves and helping me plan the trip. I am trusting Him to provide the final cash. God is good all the time so I will not have fear.  

Our first step was to hold a fundraiser. The idea was to help a widow while asking for sponsorship for the orphans. James 1:27  says: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
This fundraiser was designed to do just that.
The family tried to build more sturdy stairs before we got there to do the project. (It was more solid, but it was practically a ladder. And when we were trying to figure out how to remove them we realized they pulled off without any effort.
We met Mrs. Elma. She is an elderly woman who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She needed a new porch. Her current porch was beginning to crumble. It was what connected her back door to her wheel chair ramp. Without the porch she wouldn't be able to get out of the house. The stairs down the porch literally crumbled under the weight of Maylin's feet. (a total of 41lbs!)
This is what remained of the original stairs.
Brandon getting his morning 'pick-me-up' before we really got cranked up!
We were able to take apart the original porch with nothing but hammers. Needless to say it was pretty rotten and not built to code.  The original joist were about 4-5 feet apart. They should be 18 inches apart!
Super woman aka Kate ripping one of the boards off with nothing but her body leverage.

There were some cute little dogs at the house. This one had 5 puppies who were 8 days old! Oh my goodness they were so cute. But I think they had fleas! Pierson is covered in bites!
GQ Adam! Holding up the new frame!
Chris brought his contractor's expertise! And some very nice tools!
Adam showing Pierson safety tips.
Maylin eating her subway sandwich! (thanks Mom for providing lunch to all 7 of us!)
The kids LOVED the puppies. Amazingly enough they didn't ask to take one home!
Cutting out the stringers for the new and improved steps!
Kate and Katie were a force to be reckoned with! They hung the joists with skill and speed!
The final product was sturdy and quite attractive. Mrs. Elma was extremely appreciative. Now she will be able to leave her house without fear of falling through or off. 

The final product. (minus a quick trim to the end of the hand rails.)  
It was an amazing day. Two lives were blessed that day. Mrs. Elma was blessed to receive a porch free of cost. I was blessed to be apart of helping her as well as having the love and support of great friends who are committed to Christ and service.
A special thanks to those who have contributed financially! I am not sure what I would do without the support of you all! It has been amazing to see the generous hearts of those committed to the cause of helping widows and orphans. I thank you! The orphans will thank you and our King thanks you!