Two Powerful Posts

Yah, sorry. They're not actually written by me. But I wish I had written them.

Kristin Howerton over at Rage Against the Minivan has posted two blogs today that are so impactful.

The first, a photo essay on adoption. People. Do y'all really say stuff like this? It's not 1976. Be forewarned: If you say this to me when our little girl comes home from Ethiopia, you might get punched in the face.

Or maybe just a mean look since I'm better at mean looks than punching.

Read it so you'll know what not to say...or to avoid being punched.

Adoption Photo Essay of What Not to Say


The second blog is gonna cause some controversy. All I'm saying is you can believe something is wrong and still be loving, compassionate, and kind.

And if you can't find it in yourself to be loving, compassionate, and kind (even if you must agree to disagree with someone), please, for the love of God, don't call yourself a Christian.

Blogger Loses Will to Live

PS: Kristin has the cutest.family.ever. So even if you don't want to read the aforementioned blogs, check out the links just to see pics of her adorbs family.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comment section. But please be respectful. Rude or inappropriate comments will be deleted.

Jack + 3

So, what do you do when you can't surf FB? Have a bunch of kids to your house, of course.

Our friends are on a couples retreat, so we are watching their kiddos until Saturday. It's good for Jack to experience having other kids around. These three kids, 4, 5, and 9 years old, are super sweet and they play well with Jack. Their moms attend a weekly Bible study with me, so the kids know and enjoy each other.

After stuffing them with mac 'n cheese and hotdogs (broccoli for Abby b/c it's her favorite), we started our popcorn party. Popcorn and Cheetos and Doritos and jammies and blankies and pillows and some kids movies.

Aren't they sweet? It's past bedtime but they're being so good I'm letting them stay up a bit longer. Maybe, just maybe they'll sleep in tomorrow? A mom can dream.

What are you doing this weekend?

Why I'm Leaving Facebook

I cannot lie: I love FB.

Because I work from home while watching my three year old, FB has become my watercooler of sorts. Whether it's the weather, politics, or the joke of the day, FB gives me some adult talk time.

FB has connected me to old friends and long-lost cousins. I announced my engagement, my mother's passing, and the birth of my son--all on Facebook. Joys have been multiplied and tears have been divided.

But this morning, something caught my eye. My cousin Lori updated her status and said that she and her family (all 7 of them!) had together decided to take a break from technology until Easter. A "fast" of sorts. They will instead use that time to pray for her daughter who has been suffering from severe headaches.

I thought that was really nice. For her and her family.

I went about my day, and several hours later I started thinking about it again. I've always admired Lori's faith in God, her belief in Jesus Christ, and her convictions that prayer is powerful. But giving up FB? That's big, at least for someone like me that uses it on and off all day long. Every day.

I thought about all the reasons why leaving FB wouldn't be practical for someone like me. I use it to plan social events and lunch dates with my girlfriends. I chat with friends and catch up on their lives. I'm entertained by friends' humor, attempts at humor, pictures of kids, and TMI status update disclosures that are later deleted.

I buy and sell on my local Moms' page. I keep up with adoption happenings on an Ethiopia page. I tell funny stories, or I like to think I tell funny stories. And recently I've started playing Candy Crush Saga.

(I have one piece of advice about this addictive game: If you haven't started playing, don't.)

(Although...these puzzle games are supposed to ward off dementia, which is really the only reason I play.)

(Not really, but saying that makes me feel less bad about wasting time playing a game called CANDY CRUSH.)

But anyway... So then I thought again about my cousin. She and her ENTIRE FAMILY are giving up technology for two months to intercede on behalf of her daughter's headaches. I don't know what all "technology" includes, but I'm guessing TV, Internet, etc.

And then I thought about our future daughter. I wonder if she has a headache today. And if she does, does she have access to medication?

"I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." (John 14:18)

I wonder if she is cold at night. I check on Jack at least once every night, just to make sure his covers haven't fallen off. Does our daughter have warm blankets?

I wonder if our daughter is hungry.

I wonder if anyone hugged her or kissed her sweet face today.

I wonder if anyone hit her or took advantage of her vulnerable state.

And I thought about what I would give up for my daughter. Was it really asking too much to give up FB for a few months?

We're all called to do different things. Soon after we started our adoption paperwork, a friend told me she felt guilty that she and her family hadn't considered adopting a child. She said it had never interested them.

This family does many charitable things to help the poor, but God hadn't asked them to adopt. I told her she shouldn't feel guilty. There are certain things the Bible instructs all Christians to do: be generous, be kind, look out for the orphans and widows, etc. But how that plays out will look different for different people.

God has called our family to grow through adoption. He has put Africa on our heart. We are convinced without a doubt that we are to continue taking steps forward, leaving the results to Him.

And I'm convinced I'm to take a break from FB for a while. To free up my time so I can pray for our little girl. I believe in the power of prayer, and I want my behavior to match my beliefs.

I'm sharing this publicly because I know myself: If I don't share it, I will give up my "fast" before the end of the evening.

I don't necessarily think God rewards us when we give up something such as FB or sweets or TV. But I do believe whenever we spend time in prayer our soul is rewarded. As we acknowledge our weaknesses, His strength becomes more than sufficient for us.

I think of the time when Satan tried to tempt Jesus. Jesus had just been in the desert for forty days, fasting and spending time in prayer. He was weak physically, and Satan probably thought it would be a good time to come at Him. What Satan didn't acknowledge was the soul-spirit-heart strength Jesus had gained from His forty days of prayer and fasting.

Tough days are ahead. Every adoption begins with a tragedy--a birth mother and her child being separated. With that awareness comes an even great awareness: God is our all-powerful Redeemer and our Friend. And our family believes that He can and will take all the broken pieces of that tragedy and make something beautiful. Something that reflects His glory and His goodness.

So if you think of me or notice my absence, please take a minute to send up a prayer for our little one. And please do stay in touch. Because of my freelance work, I will still be on the Internet and on email, so feel free to contact me via this blog or at yarrow99 @ hotmail {dot}com. And I will try to update this blog from time to time, so check back or enter your email in the box on the top right.

See you on FB in a few months.

Love and peace to you ~
Luann

Happy, I am.

1. My darling boy was born three years ago today. I love him more than I ever thought it possible to love another human being.

2. Great News Today! ... Our dossier (adoption paperwork) has been authenticated by Washington D.C. and it's now on it's way to Ethiopia! That puts us on the official wait list for a child referral. (<-- That's a bunch of adoption mumbo jumbo which basically means we've crossed another huge hurdle.) Please keep praying that God will bring just the right child to our family.

3. Ken just notified me that the Girl Scout cookies he ordered from a coworker have arrived. Savannah Smiles! Yes!

4. Breakfast at our favorite bakery this morning. Jack attacked his cinnamon roll.

And milk.

The tile ceiling and exposed brick wall make me happy.

Just look at those baby blues, people!

Love his cheesy grin.

If those pictures didn't put you in a good mood, check out these videos. If this doesn't make you smile, you're a hopeless case...

Yes, he was singing quite loudly in the cafe!

Lest you think my life is all puppies and rainbows and Girl Scout Cookies, I should confess that my sink is full of dirty dishes, laundry is piled as high as Mount Everest, I'm way behind on a work deadline, and my now three-year-old is still wearing diapers. :)

Love to you all,

Luann

PS: What makes you happy today?

DIY GIlbert the Cat

If you have kids between the ages of 2 and 5, and you let them watch TV, you've probably heard of a little bald-headed boy named Caillou. This preschool-geared cartoon airs on PBS, and it's currently one of my son's favorites.


We are able to watch Caillou On-Demand, and there's a particular episode that Jack has requested about 87 times in the past few weeks. In this particular adventure, Caillou's cat, Gilbert, gets lost. It's particularly sad because Caillou has just been less-than-kind to Gilbert when Gilbert doesn't want to play with him anymore.

The family looks for him around the neighborhood and at the animal shelter to no avail. Things are looking pretty dim when 24 hours have passed and there's no sign of Gilbert. Just then, Gilbert appears at their front door, and everyone rejoices.

I'm not sure why Jack likes this episode so much, but I'm sure it has something to do with the fascination preschoolers have with getting lost, playing hide-and-seek, and their growing independence. Sometimes I think Jack might also like it because he secretly hopes our dog will get lost. He and Lucy have a love-hate relationship, and sometimes, like Caillou, Jack gets frustrated when Lucy won't participate in his agenda.

Anyway, I thought it would be really fun to get Jack a stuffed Gilbert the Cat. I was sure I could find it online. Turns out, Sprout/PBS made and sold them at one time, but no more. So I turned to eBay, the world's source for everything. And I was right...seems some entrepreneurs over in Ankara, Turkey, stocked up on the stuffed cats. Of course they are charging close to $30 for the 10-inch stuffed animal, and then there's the inherent risk of buying something from Turkey and hoping it actually makes it to my mailbox. (No offense to my Turkish readers.)

So, I decided to try to make a Gilbert the Cat for my son. Friends, it was so inexpensive and easy that it's almost embarrassing. Total cost: $1.40. That doesn't include the thread, polyester stuffing, and Sharpie marker I had on hand, but those probably wouldn't be more than a few bucks if you don't have them in your sewing stash.

Here's how I made Gilbert. (I forgot to take pictures along the way, but I think you'll get the idea.)

• First I printed out a picture of Gilbert on line.

 

• Then I traced him onto a sheet of gray felt and cut it him out slightly larger than the outline. 
• Then I made an exact copy of that cat outline on another piece of gray felt.
• I stitched them up, wrong sides together, leaving a small opening at the bottom.
• And then the fun part... birthing the cat through the small hole. I had so many bad jokes running through my head as I did this, but I'll spare you.
• Next, I cut apart the printed out paper cat so I could trace the eye patch, nose, and collar onto felt of the appropriate color. 
• 

• I glued those on with super glue. (Elmer's didn't stick at all...just absorbed into the fabric.)
• Then I freehanded the rest of the details with a black Sharpie.

Wa-lah: Gilbert the Cat

He's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Felt isn't super cuddly material, and his collar is a bit misplaced, but Jack loves him. And that's what counts. 

PS: Lest you think we're a bunch of crafty geniuses over here, let me confess that at 9:30 last night me, my husband, and Jack all had super glue stuck to our fingers. Thank heavens for acetone.

PSS: Jack's one complaint: It doesn't have a tag. He's one of those kids who likes to rub the tag when he's sleepy.

Random Thoughts and Observations

Big Boy
When Jackson and Ken are playing hide-and-seek, and Ken is the one hiding, Jack stalks around the house saying, "Where is that Big Boy?" He pretends he doesn't see his daddy, even when it's obvious there's a large man under the kitchen table. In order to extend the game, of course. Cracks me up every time. Especially when he comes to me with a goofy grin on his face and says, "Mom! I can't find Dad. Where *IS* that BIG BOY?"


Re-do
I'm in the process of redecorating Jack's room, transforming it from a Nursery to a Little Boy room...that will someday become a Big Boy room. Our generous friend Patti gave us a loft bed, so thanks to Pinterest and Disney Junior, I'm making the under-bed area a clubhouse. ("Mickey Mouse, Clubhouse! Come inside; it's fun inside!") I chose red and white polka dot material for the "stage" curtains, and after measuring, cutting, sewing, measuring again, and hanging, Ken's reaction was, "It reminds me of Minnie Mouse." Oh dear!

I realized that he's right. It does look Minnie-ish! And while Jack has a bit of a thing for Minnie, I'm not sure I want his room to resemble her polka dot dress. I am going to attempt a masculinization of the decor, and then I'll post some pictures.


Oh Dear!
Speaking of "Oh Dear," my almost three year old says, "Oh Dear!" on a regular basis. He also says, "Oh My!" I'm glad he's not using less savory expressions, but sometimes he sounds like a 75-year-old grandma when he speaks. Not that there's anything wrong with 75-year-old grandmas.


Three Good Words
Ken and I try to pray with Jack several times throughout the day. Before meals, before bed, etc. We usually pray a simple prayer, thanking God for all He's provided and asking for His intervention in any situations that come to mind.

Occasionally I ask Jack if he'd like to say the prayer. He has never turned me down. When he was younger, he would bow his head, scrunch up his eyes, and mumble some incomprehensible words. Now that he's almost three, his prayers have become much more mature. Unless we prompt him, they are always three words long:

"Dear Jesus ...[sigh] ... Amen."

To tell you the truth, I am fascinated with this prayer. In three short words, he covers all the bases.

dear

     adj. beloved, loved, adored, cherished, precious, precious treasure

     adv. at a high cost 

Jesus

     noun. from the Greek, meaning, "God is salvation."

amen

     exclamation: uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning "so be it." Used to express agreement or assent.

     noun: from Hebrew, meaning, "truth or certainty."

From the mouths of babes...

Frozen

I heard last night on the news that last year at this time Chicagoland had gotten about 3 inches of snow, total. This year? 48 inches. Plus all the sub-zero temps. I feel like we live in Antarctica. Fittingly, we're going to see FROZEN this afternoon. It will be Jack's first movie theatre experience. I wonder how it will go. To be continued...

Adventure

I like to be adventurous. I have an insatiable curiosity to see and do everything. When I was younger, my adventures were usually tied to traveling. I liked going to out-of-the-way destinations...some of them known for recruiting and harboring terrorists. 

Now that I'm in my forties and have a husband, child, dog, and mother-in-law to take into consideration, my adventures are somewhat different. Today's outing was going to pick up bagels in the middle of a snowstorm. As I pulled our baby blue minivan out of the garage and traversed the snowy streets, I thought about how much my life has changed. I wouldn't trade my past adventures for anything, but I wouldn't trade the present for anything either.

Blue Mini

Speaking of blue minivans...and my son's affection for Minnie Mouse... 

After Ken's New Year's Eve accident, which totaled his pick-up truck, we decided to invest in a family vehicle. It was nice to have a truck for moving and hauling stuff, but it wasn't very practical. It was a manual transmission, so I couldn't drive it. It only had one row of seating, so it wasn't conducive to a carseat for Jack. And with the hopes of adopting a little one in the next year, we decided the car I drove, a PT Cruiser (which is deceptively small), would not meet our needs. So we "upgraded" to a minivan.

A minivan.

People. I drive a minivan. I live in the Midwest. I make casseroles. I attend potluck dinners at my church. And I recently bought a pair of mom jeans.

But anyway...back to the blue Minivan. When we explained to Jack that we had a new blue MINIvan, he thought we were referring to Minnie Mouse. So our new Honda Odyssey is affectionately known as Blue Minnie. Thanks, Disney Junior. 

Full Circle

Now I must return to my sewing machine. Wish me luck as I attempt to masculinize my son's Minnie Mouse-inspired bedroom decor.

Happy Saturday!

Luann