What a delight you are my sweet Tyler! Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
A Call to Action
New Adoption Legislation - A Call to Action
Two very important pro-adoption bills have just been introduced in Congress and your support is needed to get them passed into law.Here is an excerpt from a letter written by Kidsave President Terry Baugh:"The Families For Orphans Act (Senate Bill 1458 and House Bill 3070) has just been introduced in Congress. It demonstrates our collective commitment to the millions of children living outside of permanent parental care and proactively addresses a global gap in the most basic of human rights – the right to a permanent family.... The Foreign Adopted Children Equality Act (Senate Bill 1359 and HR 3110, aka The FACE Act), which makes important changes to law that will help more teens age 16-18 be adopted and attaches the rights of citizenship to children adopted overseas at time of adoption. Both bills are sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator John Inhofe in the Senate and Representative Diane Watson and Representative John Boozman. Now we must ensure that these bills become law. To do this, your voice is needed. Speak for those forgotten and left behind who cannot speak for themselves by joining in our Call To Action.
What can you do?
Call Congresso On July 28, 29, and 30 call your Members of Congress (two in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives)o Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staffo Tell them as a constituent you are requesting their boss’ support by becoming a co-sponsor of the Families for Orphans Act -- S. 1458 in the Senate and H.R. 3070 in the House and the FACE Act -- S.1359 in the Senate and H.R. 3110 in the House. If you get voice mail leave a message.
o Find your Representatives at http://www.house.gov/ and for information on your Senators please visit http://www.senate.gov/.
o If you get voice mail, leave a message.Get the word out! Send this email to friends and family and post to your Facebook, My Space, Twitter, blog or website.
Learn more http://www.kidsave.org/advocacy.shtml
On behalf of the kids, we thank you for helping.Terry Baugh, President
"I can't say enough about how important these bills are, especially the FACE Act. Anyone who has adopted internationally will tell you what a nightmare it is navigate immigration to make sure your adopted child is a US citizen and has proof of this. This act would mean adopted children become citizens after their adoption is complete in a foreign country and are determined to be orphans by the US government. (Right now adopted children do not become citizens until they arrive in the US if their parent saw them before they were adopted. If their parent did not see them until after the court process was complete, the child has to be readopted in the US, and then the parent has to apply for an expensive Certificate of Citizenship and go for an interview with immigration.) The act would even grant retroactive citizenship to children who have been adopted but whose parents did not go through the naturalization process for them before they turned 18. Right now, those adoptees have to go through naturalization on their own as if they are an immigrant, even if they were adopted and have been in the US since they were infants.
Please call your legislators July 28 -30 and get this call to action out to more people.
Two very important pro-adoption bills have just been introduced in Congress and your support is needed to get them passed into law.Here is an excerpt from a letter written by Kidsave President Terry Baugh:"The Families For Orphans Act (Senate Bill 1458 and House Bill 3070) has just been introduced in Congress. It demonstrates our collective commitment to the millions of children living outside of permanent parental care and proactively addresses a global gap in the most basic of human rights – the right to a permanent family.... The Foreign Adopted Children Equality Act (Senate Bill 1359 and HR 3110, aka The FACE Act), which makes important changes to law that will help more teens age 16-18 be adopted and attaches the rights of citizenship to children adopted overseas at time of adoption. Both bills are sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator John Inhofe in the Senate and Representative Diane Watson and Representative John Boozman. Now we must ensure that these bills become law. To do this, your voice is needed. Speak for those forgotten and left behind who cannot speak for themselves by joining in our Call To Action.
What can you do?
Call Congresso On July 28, 29, and 30 call your Members of Congress (two in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives)o Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staffo Tell them as a constituent you are requesting their boss’ support by becoming a co-sponsor of the Families for Orphans Act -- S. 1458 in the Senate and H.R. 3070 in the House and the FACE Act -- S.1359 in the Senate and H.R. 3110 in the House. If you get voice mail leave a message.
o Find your Representatives at http://www.house.gov/ and for information on your Senators please visit http://www.senate.gov/.
o If you get voice mail, leave a message.Get the word out! Send this email to friends and family and post to your Facebook, My Space, Twitter, blog or website.
Learn more http://www.kidsave.org/advocacy.shtml
On behalf of the kids, we thank you for helping.Terry Baugh, President
"I can't say enough about how important these bills are, especially the FACE Act. Anyone who has adopted internationally will tell you what a nightmare it is navigate immigration to make sure your adopted child is a US citizen and has proof of this. This act would mean adopted children become citizens after their adoption is complete in a foreign country and are determined to be orphans by the US government. (Right now adopted children do not become citizens until they arrive in the US if their parent saw them before they were adopted. If their parent did not see them until after the court process was complete, the child has to be readopted in the US, and then the parent has to apply for an expensive Certificate of Citizenship and go for an interview with immigration.) The act would even grant retroactive citizenship to children who have been adopted but whose parents did not go through the naturalization process for them before they turned 18. Right now, those adoptees have to go through naturalization on their own as if they are an immigrant, even if they were adopted and have been in the US since they were infants.
Please call your legislators July 28 -30 and get this call to action out to more people.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Happy Birthday Ava Joy
Happy birthday to our sweet baby girl! She has brought so much joy and personality into our family these past 2 years. Can't even imagine life without her sweet smile, cute little voice, high pitched scream, and her love for snuggles! We thank God for her everyday, what a blessing she is to our family. We love you Ava Joy
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Let the fun begin.....
Living a life fully surrounded by men all their days on this earth has really started to rub off on my boys......Imagine constantly having soccer "boys" in your life from the time you entered this world. This is the life my boys have been blessed by! I love that they have 20 plus Uncles around all the time. These men love my children and give them a sweet picture of what it looks like to live a life full of JOY and to love Jesus with all they are. BUT with a life lived with men in their early 20's to early 30's, most whom are single, come the wildness of boys!
The other night Dustin and I go upstairs to read and tuck the boys in where Tyler, clearly delighted, says that he has made a challenge for Dylan. I of course am ready to pounce in case there is something dangerous involved, ie jumping off the top bunk or out the window!! Dustin calmly asked what the challenge is...."If Dylan wears a diaper all night long, I will pay him a dollar!!" I look at Dylan who is wearing a diaper that Ty put on him (he hasn't worn a diaper in a very very long time)....he isn't sure if he likes this deal or not. He decides that he must have his dollar now or he will not participate! Tyler of course is not going to pay up until the morning and Dylan has fulfilled the requirement. Well.....Dylan decides after 30 mins of trying to sleep that a dollar just isn't worth it!
I couldn't believe that "challenges" were going to start this early. I decided that boys do strange things and I was going to embrace it as long as things stayed "safe". I was pretty proud of myself for getting to that place. Well of course a few nights later, I was once again amazed by the next round of "boy". Practical jokes!! Bryce pulled back his blanket to get into bed when he jumps up saying his bed was soaked! Ty is laughing so hard and says, "I got you!" He had poured a whole cup of water on Bryce's bed and pulled up the blanket! Oh. My. Goodness. I seriously am NOT ready for this!
The other night Dustin and I go upstairs to read and tuck the boys in where Tyler, clearly delighted, says that he has made a challenge for Dylan. I of course am ready to pounce in case there is something dangerous involved, ie jumping off the top bunk or out the window!! Dustin calmly asked what the challenge is...."If Dylan wears a diaper all night long, I will pay him a dollar!!" I look at Dylan who is wearing a diaper that Ty put on him (he hasn't worn a diaper in a very very long time)....he isn't sure if he likes this deal or not. He decides that he must have his dollar now or he will not participate! Tyler of course is not going to pay up until the morning and Dylan has fulfilled the requirement. Well.....Dylan decides after 30 mins of trying to sleep that a dollar just isn't worth it!
I couldn't believe that "challenges" were going to start this early. I decided that boys do strange things and I was going to embrace it as long as things stayed "safe". I was pretty proud of myself for getting to that place. Well of course a few nights later, I was once again amazed by the next round of "boy". Practical jokes!! Bryce pulled back his blanket to get into bed when he jumps up saying his bed was soaked! Ty is laughing so hard and says, "I got you!" He had poured a whole cup of water on Bryce's bed and pulled up the blanket! Oh. My. Goodness. I seriously am NOT ready for this!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
32 pairs
of all the crazy things my boys come up with, this may be one of my favorites! As Dustin was about to walk out the door for work, the boys were telling him goodbye. Yet Dylan kept yelling that he couldn't come down the stairs to say goodbye and that Daddy needed to come up stairs. I must say, I have never seen anything like it! The boys were howling with excitement....Dylan was "running" around with "a bottom fatter than his head", says Tyler. The goal was to get every pair of underwear on him to make his bottom fatter than his head! 32 pairs!!
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
"Is it ready yet?"
Ty has had a loose tooth for months now.......every single day since last November he has asked us if his tooth was ready to come out yet. OK, mind you in November, it barely moved! Finally last week it was just about time, but Daddy was in California, so I told Ty to wait so Daddy could be here for the big moment. Dustin came back and was so busy, there wasn't much time to pull the tooth. After a long day of soccer, we got a babysitter so we could hang out with some friends. When we got home later that night, she says; "Oh, I pulled Ty's tooth out. He was having a hard time falling asleep, so I got a wet paper towel and pulled it out." I SCREAMED!! I couldn't believe MY BABY LOST A TOOTH! and I wasn't there to see it. The next morning he was sooooo excited to show us a HUGE tooth missing smile. It was so cute. He was very excited for the "Tooth Man", aka Daddy, to put some goods under his pillow. Being the good parents that we are we discussed how much he should get for his tooth.
Mommy: "$.25"
Daddy: "Are you serious?!"
Mommy: "I mean it's a tooth! OK $1.00 for the 1st one and the $.25 for each additional
OK assuming that we were on the same page I went to sleep only to be woke up with joyous laughter as Ty shoves $2.00 in my face!! Oh, how great is communication! I gently reminded Dustin how many teeth one loses and how many children we have........
My little music man
Ty has always had a love of music since he was just a baby. He has asked his Daddy to teach him how to play guitar since he could talk. Finally, a month ago, Dustin started to teach Ty some chords. Ty picked it up so quickly! He learned to play four chords in just 45 minutes. In a month, he has learned how to play two worship songs; Sing Sing Sing and The Splendor of a King. Here he plays the Splendor of a King from memory. (He was a bit bummed he messed up). He has also written many worship songs of his own. He LOVES it and we are in awe of his ability, but also his joy and desire to worship the Lord through music. It brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear him sing.
Monday, April 20, 2009
a few more.....
As I have mentioned before, my boys think that any "bathroom" talk is hilarious. I am told that you can't really change this behavior, only "channel" it, as grown men still think that it is funny! (and I live with one and know that to be true). So we are sitting outside, enjoying a nice lunch in the sun when Dylan just starts saying "pee". To which I immediately say, "Dylan no bathroom talk." To which he replies, "Oh Mom, I'm not! I am saying the letter 'P'. You know it is the best letter of the ABC's." I am thinking yeah right, I bet. But proceed to ask him why the letter 'P' was so great. "Well", he says with a HUGE grin, " poop and pee and puppy and penis and pop corn, and pretzel all start with 'P'!" He sure got a rise out of his brothers! I had no idea what to say, so I took joined in the belly laughter.......
At Eagles soccer camp in the summer, they play a game like "red light, green light", but add other colors. So at camp when a coach yells out "green light" everyone dribbles their ball. When he yells out "black light" it means dance party. So imagine how cute and excited they are when they hear "black light." On the way to church Sunday, we are sitting at a red light, when Bryce yells out, "Mom, look, a BLACK light!!" I of course have no idea where this was going and pretend to see what he is talking about. I ask him what a black traffic light could mean. "It means you have to dance your car all over the road!" Oh he was so serious and excited!
Two sweet stories that happened months apart, yet both are so precious and show me the sweetest side of my big boys and their love for their siblings.
One day I took all the kiddos to the woods for a hike. Each boy was responsible to get their own shoes and socks on. They did a great job, however, Dylan chose not to wear socks. So we were only 15 minutes in when Dylan started crying over a blister on his heal. I told the older two we would have to head back out. They were pretty upset about the hike being cut short. Sweet Tyler said to Dylan, "here Dylan, you can have my socks and then your blister won't hurt and we can keep hiking."
Yesterday the boys were outside digging for snakes aka worms (thankfully!) They had come in to clean up and have a snack. Dylan had run back out without his shoes on and Bryce noticed them on the floor. He went to take them out to Dylan and then suddenly stopped and headed to the stairs. Curious, I asked what he was doing. "Well Dylan can't wear his shoes without socks on or he will get blisters." So he ran up, got him socks, and I heard him yelling out to Dylan, "Hey Dylan I have your shoes you forgot and I brought you socks so you don't get a blister."
At Eagles soccer camp in the summer, they play a game like "red light, green light", but add other colors. So at camp when a coach yells out "green light" everyone dribbles their ball. When he yells out "black light" it means dance party. So imagine how cute and excited they are when they hear "black light." On the way to church Sunday, we are sitting at a red light, when Bryce yells out, "Mom, look, a BLACK light!!" I of course have no idea where this was going and pretend to see what he is talking about. I ask him what a black traffic light could mean. "It means you have to dance your car all over the road!" Oh he was so serious and excited!
Two sweet stories that happened months apart, yet both are so precious and show me the sweetest side of my big boys and their love for their siblings.
One day I took all the kiddos to the woods for a hike. Each boy was responsible to get their own shoes and socks on. They did a great job, however, Dylan chose not to wear socks. So we were only 15 minutes in when Dylan started crying over a blister on his heal. I told the older two we would have to head back out. They were pretty upset about the hike being cut short. Sweet Tyler said to Dylan, "here Dylan, you can have my socks and then your blister won't hurt and we can keep hiking."
Yesterday the boys were outside digging for snakes aka worms (thankfully!) They had come in to clean up and have a snack. Dylan had run back out without his shoes on and Bryce noticed them on the floor. He went to take them out to Dylan and then suddenly stopped and headed to the stairs. Curious, I asked what he was doing. "Well Dylan can't wear his shoes without socks on or he will get blisters." So he ran up, got him socks, and I heard him yelling out to Dylan, "Hey Dylan I have your shoes you forgot and I brought you socks so you don't get a blister."
Friday, April 17, 2009
a few of my favorites.......
While dying Easter eggs.....
Dylan:"Nice eggs!"
Bryce:"Nice eggs!"
Tyler:"yeah, nice legs Mommy!!"
While Ty is playing on the I-Phone, but supposed to be getting shoes on:
Bryce:" I just did the nicest thing for Tyler!"
Mommy and Daddy:" What did you do?"
Bryce:"I put his shoes on!"
Daddy:"Wow, that was nice!"
Bryce:"He said he would pay me $5000.00!!"
Out on an afternoon stroll:
Bryce climbs a huge rock, throws his arms out to the sky and yells, "I'm the King of the Jews!"
Getting close to a busy street I tell Dylan to stop running and stay close to me; He instantly drops to his knees and starts crawling!
I usually grab Starbucks when we go to Target, so we walk in and Bryce asks for a smoothie. I tell him not today:
and he says, "but don't you want coffee?"
Me:" well I do, but I gave up coffee for Lent."
Bryce:"Oh like we gave up TV? Is it really hard?
Me: It is really hard, especially today!"
Bryce:"But not as hard as Jesus dying on the cross, right Mommy?!"
Dylan:"Nice eggs!"
Bryce:"Nice eggs!"
Tyler:"yeah, nice legs Mommy!!"
While Ty is playing on the I-Phone, but supposed to be getting shoes on:
Bryce:" I just did the nicest thing for Tyler!"
Mommy and Daddy:" What did you do?"
Bryce:"I put his shoes on!"
Daddy:"Wow, that was nice!"
Bryce:"He said he would pay me $5000.00!!"
Out on an afternoon stroll:
Bryce climbs a huge rock, throws his arms out to the sky and yells, "I'm the King of the Jews!"
Getting close to a busy street I tell Dylan to stop running and stay close to me; He instantly drops to his knees and starts crawling!
I usually grab Starbucks when we go to Target, so we walk in and Bryce asks for a smoothie. I tell him not today:
and he says, "but don't you want coffee?"
Me:" well I do, but I gave up coffee for Lent."
Bryce:"Oh like we gave up TV? Is it really hard?
Me: It is really hard, especially today!"
Bryce:"But not as hard as Jesus dying on the cross, right Mommy?!"
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter
I can't even begin to describe the incredible joy I experienced this Easter. It was as if I was "getting it" for the first time in my journey with Christ. I was so overwhelmed with the ultimate gift of redemption. Jesus died for ME! For ME! A sinner by nature, not worthy of God's love, yet He chose to send His son to DIE FOR ME! WOW, yes I guess I am a slow learner. I was in tears all morning at church in awe of His great love. There was no way this day could get any better! But that afternoon God once again gave me a sweet glimpse of Heaven. As we gathered around to share a meal to celebrate the Resurrected King with our family, friends, and neighbors; I was moved by the love and joy in all the faces around me. I could sense the Presence of God moving over each heart as we laughed and enjoyed each others company. While walking around taking pictures I was struck by the many cultures that were represented, and this verse came to mind: "....from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne......and they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne....Rev 7:9-10 This is one of the most memorable and most powerful Easters for me as we celebrated the greatest love story ever.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Favorite "Ava ism"
Ah man, having a girl is a BLAST! Especially one that is as cute, funny, girlie, and determined as this one! Ava never ceases to amaze us with her cute little humor, sweet little gestures, and LOVE for such silly things. Here are a few of our favorite "Ava isms":
1. Nearly every morning the first few words out of her mouth is " Sower" Or shower! We have resorted to spelling it because when she hears the word, she bolts to the bathroom and will get in clothes on or clothes off!
2. Every little tiny bump, bruise, or scratch is a "boo boo" and requires and "banade" or band aid! Yes even on her cute little nose.
3. Ava loves babies and kittens! Since we have 10 kittens these days (anyone want one or three??)she walks around saying, "I want kiddy!" And is usually fast enough to grab one even if it is by the neck or foot!
4. "come on Mommy, pin!" or "spin"! Every time she hears music the girl wants to twirl in circles! Oh sweetness to my soul!
5. When Ava goes potty, she has to read her book! She also wants to "close the door" (put down the toilet seat) and "plush it" (flush)
6. I just LOVE it when she yells, "Hey boys" or "guys" when addressing her brothers! They love it and jump at her every call.
7. Walking through target one day, just Ava and I, she spots the hand bags, and says, "I bag mommy." Oh I just melted!!
It is so fun to watch Ava as she is talking more and more and the boys are loving her more and more.....each boy seems to "fill a role". Tyler is the one she calls for when she needs to get down or wants to be carried. When have family movie night, Bryce is the one she snuggles with, and Dylan is at all times the one that has to hold her hand and chase her around the house. It is so fun to watch as their relationships grow. How blessed we are with these sweet little guys/gal!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
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