tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19741766530749141282024-02-19T01:03:14.974-08:00More than a day's workI'm an ordinary mom seeking to glorify God in the everyday, mundane tasks of life. This is my place to share my struggles, successes, and the occasional soapbox.knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-60260466637286156092013-12-01T18:59:00.007-08:002013-12-01T19:01:53.311-08:00ThanksgivingSo......it has been a VERY long time since I updated this blog and I am not even going to attempt to catch it all up to date at this time. Maybe sometime in the future when I have some extra time, I will go back and blog about all the details of what has happened this summer and fall. It has been a crazy time. For now, I will try to do a drive by update for my own records :) <br />
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<b><u>JUNE</u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7SAtwChxgwpnc4z64qV0OmSGAF6Go_hM6VEk7xhQD7uqg89rc_0cB6VtDWbkwM9MfWVBwEKTV6MsGgScXghYwHXvnwjtf_XUIrckFmouwaxqMlVKqL-9SLVlcKdLasjWJpnFzhbNDnqY/s1600/DSC03456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7SAtwChxgwpnc4z64qV0OmSGAF6Go_hM6VEk7xhQD7uqg89rc_0cB6VtDWbkwM9MfWVBwEKTV6MsGgScXghYwHXvnwjtf_XUIrckFmouwaxqMlVKqL-9SLVlcKdLasjWJpnFzhbNDnqY/s320/DSC03456.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want a bike too!</td></tr>
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In June, I decided that it would be a good idea to do an adventure a day. I realized I was turning into a boring mommy and I needed to figure out how to have fun with my crew again. Also, I needed to overcome my fear of taking all five of my kids places by myself. So June saw us go hiking, to parks and playgrounds, out for bike rides, to play dates at friend's houses, lunch dates, and yes, even the grocery store counted :) And just to make it more fun, I decided to potty train Simeon in the midst of all this. He did great and I was really surprised how easily he potty trained once he realized that mommy wasn't going to give him back his diapers... All of that adventure made for some very tired kiddos!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI_TCrPZHl3RslmqVkOvGnsDwqnJn0NQ79qaehMROp2bFnIr-2b19xGaGdZJHcSHgQyCN4szyhdGq49QKKlyOFVzOeMWy7Sn7hM0AL0aK4PyV2_IepVJ_95Vm6QOajYuLP7khfUM_rYkr/s1600/DSC03460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI_TCrPZHl3RslmqVkOvGnsDwqnJn0NQ79qaehMROp2bFnIr-2b19xGaGdZJHcSHgQyCN4szyhdGq49QKKlyOFVzOeMWy7Sn7hM0AL0aK4PyV2_IepVJ_95Vm6QOajYuLP7khfUM_rYkr/s320/DSC03460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree climbing at Grammy's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ9tRStgHEmMOV84h7QEh_hVF219n4hj5rsNCVnvWjn6vQdmXQyPuqoIxHgAo26I2RVgFxiTFLRA4vf-IkZi5iKIxJhOGZ1BYEr66g8fgYea4OTX-dWj0epPxXnezWWqt5rjs4Phcuw94/s1600/DSC03445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ9tRStgHEmMOV84h7QEh_hVF219n4hj5rsNCVnvWjn6vQdmXQyPuqoIxHgAo26I2RVgFxiTFLRA4vf-IkZi5iKIxJhOGZ1BYEr66g8fgYea4OTX-dWj0epPxXnezWWqt5rjs4Phcuw94/s320/DSC03445.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father's Day 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC9ZzqIa_utlGEZwXCsr1Rtcqxbmbi6nP2CxVBmA8ByZFYS0nNfUlkOziauLpZPoSAnWSa_Erm-uX5rJNB-kJR0_RtXHuYUoRBHuwwPBXgrff49VqFxRBSwbWzcyqzOpvZgxEpEZHwgCw/s1600/DSC03471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC9ZzqIa_utlGEZwXCsr1Rtcqxbmbi6nP2CxVBmA8ByZFYS0nNfUlkOziauLpZPoSAnWSa_Erm-uX5rJNB-kJR0_RtXHuYUoRBHuwwPBXgrff49VqFxRBSwbWzcyqzOpvZgxEpEZHwgCw/s200/DSC03471.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passed out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCwvlHk7uuojUn5IisPc8Dy43TFCuZPhcIkFyfhyphenhyphenaYvXpzqEWBodLrm8oKC-be0zHhDjd2qptkCpsLBy2srqKjNxwbdl_2Rcup5CAjRtHFS0t1Nz0eyzquCP_Mix_qiVV7KfMfKIcwq9_/s1600/DSC03475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCwvlHk7uuojUn5IisPc8Dy43TFCuZPhcIkFyfhyphenhyphenaYvXpzqEWBodLrm8oKC-be0zHhDjd2qptkCpsLBy2srqKjNxwbdl_2Rcup5CAjRtHFS0t1Nz0eyzquCP_Mix_qiVV7KfMfKIcwq9_/s320/DSC03475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playdate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JDhziHvATA2HqU2EBYxSAoI299KCX_nuB-7O2YMIk9T4zR0ATnGKnKrfqs9Ewss5uz09kEv1w2mfnsMsTpFIeH1naj-Ah7ti2rT10OdmrWSRZPYnmbY6Dn-z7MgBV-k9Q3SEgXK8ooYW/s1600/DSC03476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JDhziHvATA2HqU2EBYxSAoI299KCX_nuB-7O2YMIk9T4zR0ATnGKnKrfqs9Ewss5uz09kEv1w2mfnsMsTpFIeH1naj-Ah7ti2rT10OdmrWSRZPYnmbY6Dn-z7MgBV-k9Q3SEgXK8ooYW/s320/DSC03476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playdate</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2K48vByTUdKZCYmwp6JeqlIPWu9lmAL5uNCeKbMqRgv02E3WVGG_jdI133nGRDOHTGasbxdaYMcSHaLTUG3u6ncqYm3IoxpkPSPgIZ0p1wsqlo2CvEo6CpxkuusikqX2sawmY77CboaJ/s1600/DSC03487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2K48vByTUdKZCYmwp6JeqlIPWu9lmAL5uNCeKbMqRgv02E3WVGG_jdI133nGRDOHTGasbxdaYMcSHaLTUG3u6ncqYm3IoxpkPSPgIZ0p1wsqlo2CvEo6CpxkuusikqX2sawmY77CboaJ/s320/DSC03487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playdate</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDakI1nL1ahlAzR07R-UYBzUmf19nr1zFu4Z2IIJNSUDepVrzBcsquPBg4i8RdlXuRRUhVA7UJ7GRcIOEtQN7rbPzHpk3uUS4wNISC8R8389IskozvTO0klhfkgNft4u8VTnhYaY3sh2wn/s1600/DSC03489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDakI1nL1ahlAzR07R-UYBzUmf19nr1zFu4Z2IIJNSUDepVrzBcsquPBg4i8RdlXuRRUhVA7UJ7GRcIOEtQN7rbPzHpk3uUS4wNISC8R8389IskozvTO0klhfkgNft4u8VTnhYaY3sh2wn/s320/DSC03489.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet treats on a hot day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi67fc8TBmGaVk6AIkKohPmelAKTrIye-QsSrN-BTfpvtFSEHRTEYGk2Im54y6XgwyWqRDaWPwZEmZaMsRjsGMCZY-_eeT1eCAsufRBqYfRFjLmB9B7yoTjlACNtEMyaNUy4FsDD5pUgZ8/s1600/DSC03495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi67fc8TBmGaVk6AIkKohPmelAKTrIye-QsSrN-BTfpvtFSEHRTEYGk2Im54y6XgwyWqRDaWPwZEmZaMsRjsGMCZY-_eeT1eCAsufRBqYfRFjLmB9B7yoTjlACNtEMyaNUy4FsDD5pUgZ8/s320/DSC03495.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy baby</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbxishEbJH2Xn1vNr8YPvx84BULqBSnPBxkOFHXYLGgpmu1Mw306PGzO5IhPC3onbAbVmo8Bbl3eRAFiYqEPAawpcdasJqOTsmQWPV7hY8zzbHoUVfUXcbmQzAGeUxF-g7x7Dc_cPE7jX/s1600/DSC03497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbxishEbJH2Xn1vNr8YPvx84BULqBSnPBxkOFHXYLGgpmu1Mw306PGzO5IhPC3onbAbVmo8Bbl3eRAFiYqEPAawpcdasJqOTsmQWPV7hY8zzbHoUVfUXcbmQzAGeUxF-g7x7Dc_cPE7jX/s320/DSC03497.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy boy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGXgYyHD6YbdMALh9yhzT8XeOsxl3Wj0zb4wP-3DJwqvaQo78F3b5tFWYFpW5BuBtuvoNTaFV19lXvO_YWytsMrKJsIj4h0Lv92xVi23_aA5Dh2xOY2saK-yo7mcKZau3CJib5SBPLO92/s1600/DSC03504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGXgYyHD6YbdMALh9yhzT8XeOsxl3Wj0zb4wP-3DJwqvaQo78F3b5tFWYFpW5BuBtuvoNTaFV19lXvO_YWytsMrKJsIj4h0Lv92xVi23_aA5Dh2xOY2saK-yo7mcKZau3CJib5SBPLO92/s320/DSC03504.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising around the house (7 months)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_U8Q7imtVbVT3aHA4M6gMZigW5Ev0Vp8zEqssm-uxtIwB0MKDDq09TD80Z0opFSn3hnDnWhzjh0FJdBQAP00JfdpVBoS6o-HyXttRG2_62d2VKoksMYTMA5K3_n76HLgczEIJiGw6Zv0/s1600/DSC03498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_U8Q7imtVbVT3aHA4M6gMZigW5Ev0Vp8zEqssm-uxtIwB0MKDDq09TD80Z0opFSn3hnDnWhzjh0FJdBQAP00JfdpVBoS6o-HyXttRG2_62d2VKoksMYTMA5K3_n76HLgczEIJiGw6Zv0/s320/DSC03498.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hair do time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOUrIkQI4Hb7dDpPJZGkba67yrxbZ4qQGLTyQmWNnjduHXa1O12uyLi7I8OHfLBnbe1_MtjsgUzOHz095P4YghJUpHI4pKhG7W_34nIQ93slxQeOGTnGieBOuMNePCwFefWWKZdZLsuJF/s1600/DSC03505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOUrIkQI4Hb7dDpPJZGkba67yrxbZ4qQGLTyQmWNnjduHXa1O12uyLi7I8OHfLBnbe1_MtjsgUzOHz095P4YghJUpHI4pKhG7W_34nIQ93slxQeOGTnGieBOuMNePCwFefWWKZdZLsuJF/s320/DSC03505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another sleepy kiddo</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>JULY</u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoDnZr3x8s4ih-8b2Q-8yERmOLsQ6jz08mdbjfRQEUiTs2e0nh2wetacIVM93aLO78o1D2d2H8JALhe_oPw0vaAbE5LEkaVCRYmWNlo4nYHpb8UQqAk6vbzLXbvA8Q06ciftgPlwM0ffS/s1600/DSC03522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoDnZr3x8s4ih-8b2Q-8yERmOLsQ6jz08mdbjfRQEUiTs2e0nh2wetacIVM93aLO78o1D2d2H8JALhe_oPw0vaAbE5LEkaVCRYmWNlo4nYHpb8UQqAk6vbzLXbvA8Q06ciftgPlwM0ffS/s200/DSC03522.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love her expression here</td></tr>
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In July, we signed the older girls up for swim lessons in the hopes of building some independence in the water before we went to Sandy Cove and tried to wrangle five non-swimmers in the pool at once. The girls had a blast and I counted that as our daily adventure. I spent the lessons reading books to the youngest three as well as sweating to death! That second week in particular was H.O.T.!!! I finally figured out how to rig up the umbrella for some shade for the kiddos and myself. During that time I was also getting us packed for our annual Sandy Cove camping trip. Oh yeah, and the Friday before Sandy Cove we got to go to an IEP meeting to start services for Liliana.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVGoDcC68E8GOcJF3kRpemVWkdOE7ulNqh0lpMm3EMW6H_z2xbDRKYdqtLRVZa4S8onhI-R-Tloc8CbJro7ZU3LQfgMFnXN-KbB5hwq1pD3xGMIH17txizqCeaOOwnqiw7JOL9vtAs8bD/s1600/DSC03528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVGoDcC68E8GOcJF3kRpemVWkdOE7ulNqh0lpMm3EMW6H_z2xbDRKYdqtLRVZa4S8onhI-R-Tloc8CbJro7ZU3LQfgMFnXN-KbB5hwq1pD3xGMIH17txizqCeaOOwnqiw7JOL9vtAs8bD/s200/DSC03528.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 4th of July from our newest citizen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C4goRE6QD1YsXrM1KRXKuTVReKaO5lqtFEQqRg4A5Iut02DB2bzpgyGm-3Go66_QO9I06QQTkeme_k71gJBnILGJhtKJdIxbD91ac7qYd9H_awAH33R_iUIMr_QOis900KWEEsnLy1ge/s1600/DSC03538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C4goRE6QD1YsXrM1KRXKuTVReKaO5lqtFEQqRg4A5Iut02DB2bzpgyGm-3Go66_QO9I06QQTkeme_k71gJBnILGJhtKJdIxbD91ac7qYd9H_awAH33R_iUIMr_QOis900KWEEsnLy1ge/s320/DSC03538.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim lessons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qKUfKE6Obb-JXRwNvP22UD-sfAWWkHwtHc-9sE5TgJj43yD83QCERdwFoZr-6eotqefbYS5MCbAalfPphYEJ3aK8MdupjqUpIrA2-SOuYx9ZxmTxux3af-5P0FYyX9J_WqmpABSvYRl2/s1600/DSC03539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qKUfKE6Obb-JXRwNvP22UD-sfAWWkHwtHc-9sE5TgJj43yD83QCERdwFoZr-6eotqefbYS5MCbAalfPphYEJ3aK8MdupjqUpIrA2-SOuYx9ZxmTxux3af-5P0FYyX9J_WqmpABSvYRl2/s320/DSC03539.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim lessons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h56o3C5CDaU-fqsgV4a4wXDgr_BfshixKLFZEw82X48qLte2Mg55d71FVc9MA_-w5Ee4IVXyiPG63nIK8ST2SXEwuXRb5idXNuwGH0wCqR1kCD25X8AdaPwpToglBvhu1SIO8Qo4rp6d/s1600/DSC03556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h56o3C5CDaU-fqsgV4a4wXDgr_BfshixKLFZEw82X48qLte2Mg55d71FVc9MA_-w5Ee4IVXyiPG63nIK8ST2SXEwuXRb5idXNuwGH0wCqR1kCD25X8AdaPwpToglBvhu1SIO8Qo4rp6d/s320/DSC03556.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out - who says you need a double stroller???</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2kzYq11RvfPXy71_rJSXPuLQeQN92PtzlD9S23oWhgGJBlZtlnFeweohyphenhyphen_QO6hpJq2PQZ7GwHWvm9dky_oTK3KCP7K8uQGHsQv6sfMicJrVbxary_JpLwctAFJytLQk58gUM0FBpNVBZ/s1600/DSC03548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2kzYq11RvfPXy71_rJSXPuLQeQN92PtzlD9S23oWhgGJBlZtlnFeweohyphenhyphen_QO6hpJq2PQZ7GwHWvm9dky_oTK3KCP7K8uQGHsQv6sfMicJrVbxary_JpLwctAFJytLQk58gUM0FBpNVBZ/s320/DSC03548.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool dude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq-ExCGIxKqeZy6PhsRT9blMTZF_fvgM5J1Bf1zmGfz0HAcf01lyX-uwkW4t7OXFblU8NzFe6rN2dJmCbGAc4JhTxSnwBk1zsVjz03vGuA-XDxhA39dhFkG7_-XehY-K_NrR_3-q9_55A/s1600/DSC03608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq-ExCGIxKqeZy6PhsRT9blMTZF_fvgM5J1Bf1zmGfz0HAcf01lyX-uwkW4t7OXFblU8NzFe6rN2dJmCbGAc4JhTxSnwBk1zsVjz03vGuA-XDxhA39dhFkG7_-XehY-K_NrR_3-q9_55A/s320/DSC03608.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired girl</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We went camping at Sandy Cove with my entire family plus my cousin, his wife, and daughter, and my other cousin and my aunt. They added even more fun to what is always the highlight of our summer. We have decided that our kids' lives revolve around Sandy Cove. For the first few weeks/months after Sandy Cove we hear lots of "I miss Sandy Cove" and "I wish I was at Sandy Cove" and "Remember when we .... at Sandy Cove?" and other stories and pretend play based around their time at Sandy Cove. I love it since I was the same way when I was a kiddo. Once we move past the missing Sandy Cove we start getting "How many more days until we get to go to Sandy Cove?" Like I said, their lives center around Sandy Cove :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2IfTfm9rZqMgJW7ziU2qzKZIEweJHj_9ZvdgzEMxrltz3r9qPapcbt8w0iGrm_EwrL61yCQu_8lq9zNM0iv7t-Mk1LGt-IGNm_vD31b2eY4dUbnmremOAYqdZtBBW3Zwx49h7Z7_IwLm/s1600/DSC03611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2IfTfm9rZqMgJW7ziU2qzKZIEweJHj_9ZvdgzEMxrltz3r9qPapcbt8w0iGrm_EwrL61yCQu_8lq9zNM0iv7t-Mk1LGt-IGNm_vD31b2eY4dUbnmremOAYqdZtBBW3Zwx49h7Z7_IwLm/s320/DSC03611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meal time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW29PWMqDdVq_OiAkCzDxPMsE78sb2E5LPmTyggZ8yZboxBDeGNgoiyH2_SgUxo_J-X09nrbRNS9M5Hy1UUVPBe-mcOkps0xpZuiNLhYM9sOxufYNvhDJyFJ2dpmS4QqxZVFEwjXsIYNvD/s1600/DSC03618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW29PWMqDdVq_OiAkCzDxPMsE78sb2E5LPmTyggZ8yZboxBDeGNgoiyH2_SgUxo_J-X09nrbRNS9M5Hy1UUVPBe-mcOkps0xpZuiNLhYM9sOxufYNvhDJyFJ2dpmS4QqxZVFEwjXsIYNvD/s320/DSC03618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWqX0_74-nePgw7rnKq1Mn89ro5azW74vwzYQG0wL3Bk262Mu0dCOL09Ey4yRMa2sqYLQujmZoLy4HJogosq820v3625GBBwKW3vuUKZFziIAm6xf0eMKRBxIvjD9edSNr1TVjDpareuR/s1600/DSC03633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWqX0_74-nePgw7rnKq1Mn89ro5azW74vwzYQG0wL3Bk262Mu0dCOL09Ey4yRMa2sqYLQujmZoLy4HJogosq820v3625GBBwKW3vuUKZFziIAm6xf0eMKRBxIvjD9edSNr1TVjDpareuR/s320/DSC03633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream social night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVT5YSCWguShRUthBO8KAvnGBSGfiO6zUj_yIwykuKVzsLwyZ2GmJgYzdqv1VzH18bI0i5bqxOlptQalmbhxlPLl18KtJ4NPmtnIIuXv9z28n7zRqAk6RIXjXseQqSVOh8NHtEmLTVw7p/s1600/DSC03638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVT5YSCWguShRUthBO8KAvnGBSGfiO6zUj_yIwykuKVzsLwyZ2GmJgYzdqv1VzH18bI0i5bqxOlptQalmbhxlPLl18KtJ4NPmtnIIuXv9z28n7zRqAk6RIXjXseQqSVOh8NHtEmLTVw7p/s320/DSC03638.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love her spirit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k5CgW7v8RidbPZn1aaSEBYZNl3RUg8Ad6ZMGMcWow0uDfFT9vX_BrEHcstTQ52384sljdy9Ztubyo0IO-Ddjm7J41-FFd-BgyvOBbeuNq_laN3hQ8P9tToKQwrQOnpMW9jAdlDz6Fn0V/s1600/DSC03658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k5CgW7v8RidbPZn1aaSEBYZNl3RUg8Ad6ZMGMcWow0uDfFT9vX_BrEHcstTQ52384sljdy9Ztubyo0IO-Ddjm7J41-FFd-BgyvOBbeuNq_laN3hQ8P9tToKQwrQOnpMW9jAdlDz6Fn0V/s320/DSC03658.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheels for camping time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kSuU50emBdC4klIADRwYQin1xyUwTp0Cj99sVPumBu-0cD46unZaL_lLaTo0G2gMBV2RGOzTNS4ZeTHMA4EpJgbfHbssq8Wy7iYH-I4cwU2pWBUNwPsIV3nZ4lutBIzU95dYRVd921du/s1600/DSC03670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kSuU50emBdC4klIADRwYQin1xyUwTp0Cj99sVPumBu-0cD46unZaL_lLaTo0G2gMBV2RGOzTNS4ZeTHMA4EpJgbfHbssq8Wy7iYH-I4cwU2pWBUNwPsIV3nZ4lutBIzU95dYRVd921du/s320/DSC03670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket making with Daddy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50H0DFGd0EOkZZBQt2KL-13V_oPQGG0yqBfGd34KnMDhIJ2zItLLvS-SrLspHVlEmUI2gPFntLyC7L4QbcKClIlQcQm8y51T-SKdfreSyTh5QavNRFYKlQquNWFbMEp0ZnIeEsx3Rh05C/s1600/DSC03705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50H0DFGd0EOkZZBQt2KL-13V_oPQGG0yqBfGd34KnMDhIJ2zItLLvS-SrLspHVlEmUI2gPFntLyC7L4QbcKClIlQcQm8y51T-SKdfreSyTh5QavNRFYKlQquNWFbMEp0ZnIeEsx3Rh05C/s320/DSC03705.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the 'Originals'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFZd30HqE5FGTqQh8peXeBAxBbqgrlkjjCQvVzI98d0qkGZFmjYRXb_mvpOKB-8HLDRaf-dQu7HLgOWTTOYi25LkjX_oerCRNOvYMhIqrHdNv93f7BpcIJwwzoXW2-q2L8gWbs14CWeSL/s1600/DSC03680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFZd30HqE5FGTqQh8peXeBAxBbqgrlkjjCQvVzI98d0qkGZFmjYRXb_mvpOKB-8HLDRaf-dQu7HLgOWTTOYi25LkjX_oerCRNOvYMhIqrHdNv93f7BpcIJwwzoXW2-q2L8gWbs14CWeSL/s320/DSC03680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy girl... again</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzm5S3HkcICSv7mprGzXFzZ6xv36fz7o82O-s4rHRJP4Q77C2x9VOe6PLE6olXHBS7lyGGqlYp0g9pY66_OstrvV5oYrDIoCYl-0LyVPnN6iLkE6Zaj7z90fASEwIS3iLmGBl3XRxvRwI/s1600/DSC03692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzm5S3HkcICSv7mprGzXFzZ6xv36fz7o82O-s4rHRJP4Q77C2x9VOe6PLE6olXHBS7lyGGqlYp0g9pY66_OstrvV5oYrDIoCYl-0LyVPnN6iLkE6Zaj7z90fASEwIS3iLmGBl3XRxvRwI/s320/DSC03692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blob</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L_N5r3kmx46AHhxiiNjcX84qTkuBeOPR7b-PwXCBDmUQUsWdIAszLYRb_J2ORUsojNHjJgVZ1JWcQZnZrukl17ZQZD5j2rqcT-aV7Dx7cYjPO-4tWmBn2t-_5IOhfBz9SlAeQKWDRV2s/s1600/DSC03693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L_N5r3kmx46AHhxiiNjcX84qTkuBeOPR7b-PwXCBDmUQUsWdIAszLYRb_J2ORUsojNHjJgVZ1JWcQZnZrukl17ZQZD5j2rqcT-aV7Dx7cYjPO-4tWmBn2t-_5IOhfBz9SlAeQKWDRV2s/s320/DSC03693.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying high</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZp2xAcL8ejQxxDqnQfWFeEpiuiAXyjP92w_L-WR7ZbSI9Rq6CTcE4NlKzieZ7xOmAD8NtAki86Byt2rdjh3kuIRSfzCR7vGCrBkqPsAZ8aY1zYyJc_xLhXdDNttk4C8539oo2QUyUaKA/s1600/DSC03722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZp2xAcL8ejQxxDqnQfWFeEpiuiAXyjP92w_L-WR7ZbSI9Rq6CTcE4NlKzieZ7xOmAD8NtAki86Byt2rdjh3kuIRSfzCR7vGCrBkqPsAZ8aY1zYyJc_xLhXdDNttk4C8539oo2QUyUaKA/s320/DSC03722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgQQ8k5IRXCvO8MJg349JhrrHhWsPtThIdxTxdBqangLTEzGYzoAcTG92Tcr2aDBUUqx_HLYDt7ZXJ9nH-KC34DC-sFXOz499afiNmCjN3O6W4Jx3Gie-xJhL4w_ygDdpgp3xd6YhrPH6/s1600/DSC03725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgQQ8k5IRXCvO8MJg349JhrrHhWsPtThIdxTxdBqangLTEzGYzoAcTG92Tcr2aDBUUqx_HLYDt7ZXJ9nH-KC34DC-sFXOz499afiNmCjN3O6W4Jx3Gie-xJhL4w_ygDdpgp3xd6YhrPH6/s320/DSC03725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXdPj_S55CfVP1IJL0aqGxsFHFdiTM5gtMSFoOqRJ93QO1d3soJXyBl0m-VzsBTwz1OCu0ER0rLoDSWRPtnH5yyaholkBGOBX_YzkgvPLLJs-BhJ-8UcbpQ47Wgt63UDRyYj0PFFQwdBI/s1600/DSC03728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXdPj_S55CfVP1IJL0aqGxsFHFdiTM5gtMSFoOqRJ93QO1d3soJXyBl0m-VzsBTwz1OCu0ER0rLoDSWRPtnH5yyaholkBGOBX_YzkgvPLLJs-BhJ-8UcbpQ47Wgt63UDRyYj0PFFQwdBI/s320/DSC03728.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pony ride</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhrIQQxk8BW0_YtoyHNLSwSesoKsMf9Y_0pGZieHV1gTEge6RhMTklNVtEy9gnsWayUzAm3XlV5va59QqTtQKroKtmQarOsxay9LonM4ambg8TmYCyiz_GpAYlflx-_gl7Bkfr44Y9bX5/s1600/DSC03742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhrIQQxk8BW0_YtoyHNLSwSesoKsMf9Y_0pGZieHV1gTEge6RhMTklNVtEy9gnsWayUzAm3XlV5va59QqTtQKroKtmQarOsxay9LonM4ambg8TmYCyiz_GpAYlflx-_gl7Bkfr44Y9bX5/s320/DSC03742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim8IHvGtAwP9D9vBveSLNIKpCFOFWh63KSsu-3SwtfErDljXI22nk3wl4-0WEG715K_cAUndlvHdooE5MOtxKDw66YSr9YGyLA3KtCEnEZrjTFFoq-e9EeHWuVBEa7HkTV-9zn-_RSjUE/s1600/DSC03756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim8IHvGtAwP9D9vBveSLNIKpCFOFWh63KSsu-3SwtfErDljXI22nk3wl4-0WEG715K_cAUndlvHdooE5MOtxKDw66YSr9YGyLA3KtCEnEZrjTFFoq-e9EeHWuVBEa7HkTV-9zn-_RSjUE/s320/DSC03756.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We LOVE our new, gigantic tent!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ78kV1kJfDD_KA40vWJ0JdPfggTNXDlUziCB6InCfRu5Qvu9H6027VAmsJNGLU8h67t-iPJMuvgAJ3M6PSa_AwZ7qvl7d0bs4u0ghQD6d3Uug6gzDlu-2kCH8TW9tVBZNOSlbjv2AIln6/s1600/DSC03749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ78kV1kJfDD_KA40vWJ0JdPfggTNXDlUziCB6InCfRu5Qvu9H6027VAmsJNGLU8h67t-iPJMuvgAJ3M6PSa_AwZ7qvl7d0bs4u0ghQD6d3Uug6gzDlu-2kCH8TW9tVBZNOSlbjv2AIln6/s320/DSC03749.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photo - it is hard to get all 5 kiddos looking at the camera!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51Njk8UBVASSrh8W_fIlAo2R4z5PqO9VdteNYY12BI4ZDeo8V6gDmaws7qScfxct7RTLHCDG1xhu2Qefs0PeeterBXPGE9gkdzbzvSJhCgEPS9jQEtF_t-LV2PYvPlEUttqpqY69h2F9/s1600/DSC03971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51Njk8UBVASSrh8W_fIlAo2R4z5PqO9VdteNYY12BI4ZDeo8V6gDmaws7qScfxct7RTLHCDG1xhu2Qefs0PeeterBXPGE9gkdzbzvSJhCgEPS9jQEtF_t-LV2PYvPlEUttqpqY69h2F9/s320/DSC03971.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better :)</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We got home from our week of camping on Saturday and we had until Tuesday to get unpacked, wash everything, and repack us to head to CHOP for Liliana's open heart surgery.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L_zr6dT84savEO__6pAcBR2rpkKkpF6lEz1du2wxRYPO-32uUdsaWQs_U9WdYZUNf6Oe25efhsxBWGmAD527nDOyF799tBNJc1XmtlY8FrPGOXTZMt66KEd9ylvI6nwL78Qy9za7N7HJ/s1600/DSC03785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L_zr6dT84savEO__6pAcBR2rpkKkpF6lEz1du2wxRYPO-32uUdsaWQs_U9WdYZUNf6Oe25efhsxBWGmAD527nDOyF799tBNJc1XmtlY8FrPGOXTZMt66KEd9ylvI6nwL78Qy9za7N7HJ/s320/DSC03785.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath in the hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23Poi6GNB3k6_TjVqLp9UHwE9138AaIInrcyxZVs91et9gwzr88hgocVf3ki07lo2oIUMcOf6Ee5x0y22aQPFT_26_3CeF8TynTxHesfkOQBtP-XRHNq8R-vajbV4LDLgBBKpJm2BPprt/s1600/DSC03776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23Poi6GNB3k6_TjVqLp9UHwE9138AaIInrcyxZVs91et9gwzr88hgocVf3ki07lo2oIUMcOf6Ee5x0y22aQPFT_26_3CeF8TynTxHesfkOQBtP-XRHNq8R-vajbV4LDLgBBKpJm2BPprt/s320/DSC03776.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at the hotel</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSohCMSr_3mh6683ZggZvz-7xIQysMlNP4Xh-ZjBClhx08p-twS29Ra1zy6t4F4QZC-FXqHxy9ARRHl3FaK9tuJ0DOQGaBcbHbTUiCHC1y7U23G_5H0LfA2GWanXbvgBL-uHIV4eOo0bcy/s1600/DSC03765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSohCMSr_3mh6683ZggZvz-7xIQysMlNP4Xh-ZjBClhx08p-twS29Ra1zy6t4F4QZC-FXqHxy9ARRHl3FaK9tuJ0DOQGaBcbHbTUiCHC1y7U23G_5H0LfA2GWanXbvgBL-uHIV4eOo0bcy/s320/DSC03765.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading in for surgery - I love her expression here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9Stcdd0H_yfh4GJ6EshXvqwnIu5GmQ3nmbeZzOSxQ0jA-IIeyNb7EsEQFvx5yFp023dkoi8t792poe00Yj6qVt16lOjhCLdyXhSgbfBGjhZ6B4L3XmuMYNfsUmpUYMmvujP4UqvjcEpt/s1600/DSC03786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9Stcdd0H_yfh4GJ6EshXvqwnIu5GmQ3nmbeZzOSxQ0jA-IIeyNb7EsEQFvx5yFp023dkoi8t792poe00Yj6qVt16lOjhCLdyXhSgbfBGjhZ6B4L3XmuMYNfsUmpUYMmvujP4UqvjcEpt/s320/DSC03786.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepping for surgery - the socks were HUGE but the stickers<br />
were a big hit!</td></tr>
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Her surgery started with pre-op on July 30th where we were informed that the cardiac care unit was too full and there was a good possibility that our surgery might have to be postponed. Again. They wouldn't know until the morning of our surgery but we were told we would get a phone call the morning of surgery to let us know one way or another but to plan to be at the hospital by 7am. So we went ahead and checked into the hotel nearby. We had Myla with us since she was still nursing, but the 'originals' went to my mom's and then to my sister's for the time we were gone. (My sister took them to Sandy Cove for her time, which was a bonus treat for them :) Liliana ate dinner that night like it was her last meal for a very long time. She ate about 3 plates FULL of food. Her poor tummy was stuffed, but I think she was nervous. July 31st, we got a phone call at 6am telling us to not come to the hospital and to wait. They would call us by 8am. I was praying like crazy that they would let us go ahead with the surgery and let us know soon. I did not want to have to keep Liliana from eating or drinking any longer than necessary. Sure enough, we got a call around 8am telling us to come in whenever we were ready. She had her surgery and it was a success, though she fought the sedation meds like nothing else. She has definitely been around doctors enough to not want them anywhere near her, but she loved the blanket, pillowcase, and doll that she got.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXViU5ZTsCW0hPCmjiYW18UorG43JMovub7F97jpAtdd3Q2UqEchnWQ0JK4DRmnCq8S4rwUxte777v7UNUCFmjXlozlPdTlQTyqQ2ElDP6y5fh7qTsfchRu_sHfZbJThcO1g4C5HgtujuM/s1600/DSC03789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXViU5ZTsCW0hPCmjiYW18UorG43JMovub7F97jpAtdd3Q2UqEchnWQ0JK4DRmnCq8S4rwUxte777v7UNUCFmjXlozlPdTlQTyqQ2ElDP6y5fh7qTsfchRu_sHfZbJThcO1g4C5HgtujuM/s200/DSC03789.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6AbSmS6EStPjqKwtJuRkekaCUwCVgZKGQ8EHR4Q6ULRyOSYPxjsHvRK3olEdZLSvh6KxAhbNlHtkr74zhr-QNo0YfZdTAXHp1Ga8NRepdf39f3n6mXPm_-lKhZeuCx8fG4Np4IHfYHO2/s1600/DSC03798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6AbSmS6EStPjqKwtJuRkekaCUwCVgZKGQ8EHR4Q6ULRyOSYPxjsHvRK3olEdZLSvh6KxAhbNlHtkr74zhr-QNo0YfZdTAXHp1Ga8NRepdf39f3n6mXPm_-lKhZeuCx8fG4Np4IHfYHO2/s320/DSC03798.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4XJg7PFEqa0sBwnaQUTtkg_21SxlaI0GdX99CWxw8vKezI-eTxvg1p_HykPewl6ke8Axf9r8gr1Q271wG3DabqIFQt9YEfqrSswkFuIhZ3o7pPL3FbCwZ_jj0_fnXbMl00xVcAvFd9qK/s1600/DSC03803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4XJg7PFEqa0sBwnaQUTtkg_21SxlaI0GdX99CWxw8vKezI-eTxvg1p_HykPewl6ke8Axf9r8gr1Q271wG3DabqIFQt9YEfqrSswkFuIhZ3o7pPL3FbCwZ_jj0_fnXbMl00xVcAvFd9qK/s320/DSC03803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post op</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1NAQv_DVBGQGrd6vc-KO9LjVa16iJnlrrqzz6RIxuGWTc36VvyhEkTdhUu9aN5eNFS4Ym2EOD5V4xuE1zWLtxQD3NdaFVN3tuTd3P2Jg-8kMsgtSXTt0nz2WeLnJCVWHDSUrzF5Gg_Kb/s1600/DSC03806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1NAQv_DVBGQGrd6vc-KO9LjVa16iJnlrrqzz6RIxuGWTc36VvyhEkTdhUu9aN5eNFS4Ym2EOD5V4xuE1zWLtxQD3NdaFVN3tuTd3P2Jg-8kMsgtSXTt0nz2WeLnJCVWHDSUrzF5Gg_Kb/s320/DSC03806.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Play room</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji__eER9B03lgFtg941r6jB6oiHQVKpf87q1kEZaijPr-Uld0k4Ja5TTj9aGrkLCrWG1ctKnYR9_SCWrRrSeBJw9haTUeQNY4DGR4dTOe4EhcrgDPJsEknKNzjirftap_iy3m4uzsp9mOT/s1600/DSC03799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji__eER9B03lgFtg941r6jB6oiHQVKpf87q1kEZaijPr-Uld0k4Ja5TTj9aGrkLCrWG1ctKnYR9_SCWrRrSeBJw9haTUeQNY4DGR4dTOe4EhcrgDPJsEknKNzjirftap_iy3m4uzsp9mOT/s320/DSC03799.JPG" width="320" /></a>She healed up very quickly and by Friday, we were released to go home. Liliana was on only Tylenol for pain, since it was very well managed and by Saturday we were having to work to keep her from climbing and doing other activities that didn't coincide will with open heart surgery!<br />
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Did I mention that Myla decided to start taking her first steps while her sister was in surgery. Yes, she is officially my youngest walker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cMi-5pUoiTr-K4UGbDuRH9U4wjhU4o8NVRcUIGJY8I8R5FEGCQeQefY646hYE78rJZZ5XY46MbVycVHprbe8xgto7T_GAswOgyqGB9WbJi_0MSA4MXke6JolFgmSy7TkKmmHvcW8ogPB/s1600/DSC03813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cMi-5pUoiTr-K4UGbDuRH9U4wjhU4o8NVRcUIGJY8I8R5FEGCQeQefY646hYE78rJZZ5XY46MbVycVHprbe8xgto7T_GAswOgyqGB9WbJi_0MSA4MXke6JolFgmSy7TkKmmHvcW8ogPB/s320/DSC03813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx0dqfSwA4zXmtM_SJEDovHha65YHo-PcsWq-8_abhElGj0G5bZC-cx5PnjxI9_WVzcAf9bqo9Ob7wKAEEbijIEj1IgB4V5zXzmbTCDUMpEYu1TeESxtN-LWk1ERUDZwmEqXPBhveXNxW/s1600/DSC03835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx0dqfSwA4zXmtM_SJEDovHha65YHo-PcsWq-8_abhElGj0G5bZC-cx5PnjxI9_WVzcAf9bqo9Ob7wKAEEbijIEj1IgB4V5zXzmbTCDUMpEYu1TeESxtN-LWk1ERUDZwmEqXPBhveXNxW/s320/DSC03835.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adorable even in hospital gear :)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbgh0eQcgo4UW55TTcx1Wp0vyN56_uthyuBO8dhnRCKZi8qEawWo_kIixa8Vo4IaIV5FSS8sHzLm0z3HtO8qMMu-FoLf66BuQnwQ2AoNY1ghxqsd_9ogLUcbYnsGhjV6JHbFjOlTS3mhn/s1600/DSC03852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbgh0eQcgo4UW55TTcx1Wp0vyN56_uthyuBO8dhnRCKZi8qEawWo_kIixa8Vo4IaIV5FSS8sHzLm0z3HtO8qMMu-FoLf66BuQnwQ2AoNY1ghxqsd_9ogLUcbYnsGhjV6JHbFjOlTS3mhn/s320/DSC03852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading home</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>AUGUST/SEPTEMBER</u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt7KHC7EcvjiHSHl8zywAI7vcVS_FyGIKVzkuzA-P4av9_60iTnDRDW2QMGLu_3-Dz1iUGTD1LYd73vDInlhvFtnLn7OJ0fuVRp6uqvQ5HiyB6y_S_GSeY2XJyomQsJeglz1wnC7BRECR/s1600/DSC03898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt7KHC7EcvjiHSHl8zywAI7vcVS_FyGIKVzkuzA-P4av9_60iTnDRDW2QMGLu_3-Dz1iUGTD1LYd73vDInlhvFtnLn7OJ0fuVRp6uqvQ5HiyB6y_S_GSeY2XJyomQsJeglz1wnC7BRECR/s320/DSC03898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting a one room school house</td></tr>
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August was busy with trying to keep Liliana from doing restricted activities and get things prepped to start homeschooling. We played outside some and did some outings, but mostly we tried to keep Liliana on her restrictions. August was also when we discovered that we were no where near as far along in attachment with Liliana as we had thought that we were. It was devastating to me because it felt like all the months of work we had done since February was not any help at all. We figured out at that point that we needed to put some heavy restrictions back in place in terms of other people's interactions with Liliana. I hated doing it because I knew that people didn't understand our need to do that and I also knew that some people would feel really hurt because of it, but we didn't have any choice. We also decided it was time to get some professional help.September we got started with our therapist who is trained in Theraplay - which is a specific therapy designed to help parents and children recreate the natural bonding process through playful interactions that are designed to have the parent in the lead and help the child learn that it is okay to not control everything. Our therapist is a bit of a drive away, but worth every minute. It really started to help me to feel bonded more and we started seeing some positive movement on Liliana's part too. The therapist has been pleased with her progress, and, though we know that we have a long way to go, we have been encouraged with the changes. Also in September, we took advantage of Family Fusion weekend at Sandy Cove.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeiDaXrxxRyIYff16Ma8cpy6vkDlAjLy8uxQ6oLtmj9Ln4jIKthKeY6dC3Cz2uuV16qaIs6aA8FsJ-LiGW_hbczxG-xNe06zhVMeqzQbqRG6hSl1caN7A6lXFP_NwwunkJh9pLvXu1AX8/s1600/DSC03913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeiDaXrxxRyIYff16Ma8cpy6vkDlAjLy8uxQ6oLtmj9Ln4jIKthKeY6dC3Cz2uuV16qaIs6aA8FsJ-LiGW_hbczxG-xNe06zhVMeqzQbqRG6hSl1caN7A6lXFP_NwwunkJh9pLvXu1AX8/s320/DSC03913.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendly's Sundaes </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctIu3q7lG0x59db2Cyp0MV5a-W1DBfnnatMRihJeTrr_AQ_7TfHMvXIHBM09RSVOAvWnXYHDqvDpzBDZvb_KHUG6_RnyhES7tVpdlFB5S-fi6zw1jo270r-TOPJgPuSVNBqj8dmVnelXc/s1600/DSC03921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctIu3q7lG0x59db2Cyp0MV5a-W1DBfnnatMRihJeTrr_AQ_7TfHMvXIHBM09RSVOAvWnXYHDqvDpzBDZvb_KHUG6_RnyhES7tVpdlFB5S-fi6zw1jo270r-TOPJgPuSVNBqj8dmVnelXc/s320/DSC03921.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking around (9 months)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfLkCAqy-RxINSTWXEBtfPMVKdqMV6ZUDeujknMHSyx-XEHesglFdJ5iLbZoyCBadRD3SaMylgjzqHOPYt-AEodqw41NMXsiiaZd3VHGDsq2LA-W9-Hp6ana3cIStq9cfs9ziXYdG3f6i/s1600/DSC03927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfLkCAqy-RxINSTWXEBtfPMVKdqMV6ZUDeujknMHSyx-XEHesglFdJ5iLbZoyCBadRD3SaMylgjzqHOPYt-AEodqw41NMXsiiaZd3VHGDsq2LA-W9-Hp6ana3cIStq9cfs9ziXYdG3f6i/s320/DSC03927.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love her expression here</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlPI-1e7Wj5PpM5a4GZdaQJdapuuBXLyY4YSVpCLuWBzBUnPLF2NQrqQbbPgeGD5N04Q5Mem5JO9Iqk7VnjSaLt9ZAWdMiEcpkWmz1Xs9CyOZULGEfZtVXQ_C5K-glGXHtcc1CJj6kXP_/s1600/DSC03931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlPI-1e7Wj5PpM5a4GZdaQJdapuuBXLyY4YSVpCLuWBzBUnPLF2NQrqQbbPgeGD5N04Q5Mem5JO9Iqk7VnjSaLt9ZAWdMiEcpkWmz1Xs9CyOZULGEfZtVXQ_C5K-glGXHtcc1CJj6kXP_/s320/DSC03931.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S'mores</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZMeJBTQploXEa1LRVCuspPvekeKAAYNOIRI4mQIYuFbZceRoU_OuO227sFsj2rU-K2C4t7Tb4WoQY0gkkdR_hyphenhyphenkRqHuCJRWbXFxjLMEbqB-0HHPXZmnorTIdoDvBx5UQ6YYvdt5yBUqm/s1600/DSC03929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZMeJBTQploXEa1LRVCuspPvekeKAAYNOIRI4mQIYuFbZceRoU_OuO227sFsj2rU-K2C4t7Tb4WoQY0gkkdR_hyphenhyphenkRqHuCJRWbXFxjLMEbqB-0HHPXZmnorTIdoDvBx5UQ6YYvdt5yBUqm/s320/DSC03929.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family poster</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqOolPo_FlKuX9umwZqZnxXga_VNHUbrOXcQfen3EDwmR4_DMdhRoGAf4kFgxsbJwoiebXgPbe7Bv6ooMt0OYGGJ1ZhKUG5ocCqvoFaGft7FTSAVE_xm2eWiXLchXCq-mOBaslUYYXtR_/s1600/DSC03935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqOolPo_FlKuX9umwZqZnxXga_VNHUbrOXcQfen3EDwmR4_DMdhRoGAf4kFgxsbJwoiebXgPbe7Bv6ooMt0OYGGJ1ZhKUG5ocCqvoFaGft7FTSAVE_xm2eWiXLchXCq-mOBaslUYYXtR_/s320/DSC03935.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S'mores</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnz55SR_H1kjzYX-zI579Fp9o_u89LXY_tvtd0ytmyyvnU6Ei-RMeVa6a9OUdVRFGM5hjeGCTGsHDQ2rHUh_8EWT_qH1OKvynktJ2DGuPU4rdWadGezWlk5PY2TmeHW7BEjQvg-ROgc8t/s1600/DSC03946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnz55SR_H1kjzYX-zI579Fp9o_u89LXY_tvtd0ytmyyvnU6Ei-RMeVa6a9OUdVRFGM5hjeGCTGsHDQ2rHUh_8EWT_qH1OKvynktJ2DGuPU4rdWadGezWlk5PY2TmeHW7BEjQvg-ROgc8t/s320/DSC03946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKK8RLoO_Ch5GBDNthbLCrrnoKi4yxYgo93-PRRmzNWktD0BhFLzCYs7zHkuowkaQ3f0PZgNM4BWWlp3rMltihVJaftB59nV_Lwv0knUwR7TDlcuA-FZMGVPlppCoCHcbh3aopz4ckWrH/s1600/DSC03971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKK8RLoO_Ch5GBDNthbLCrrnoKi4yxYgo93-PRRmzNWktD0BhFLzCYs7zHkuowkaQ3f0PZgNM4BWWlp3rMltihVJaftB59nV_Lwv0knUwR7TDlcuA-FZMGVPlppCoCHcbh3aopz4ckWrH/s320/DSC03971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjfI1-jazPLgvjO4s6lzUh19cVKgVJYdVc5KjhKHQvyKxkOWeskWQrAqD2WioJmuuLBXD9FycOyJgbJ4_S0svDJE1fStsbAXvHZILcxhC6MIKmr538qUR715JGMXZlzWCZLOi2ir6OGyu/s1600/DSC03979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjfI1-jazPLgvjO4s6lzUh19cVKgVJYdVc5KjhKHQvyKxkOWeskWQrAqD2WioJmuuLBXD9FycOyJgbJ4_S0svDJE1fStsbAXvHZILcxhC6MIKmr538qUR715JGMXZlzWCZLOi2ir6OGyu/s320/DSC03979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't get all 5....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2w3DDwJj04CDigcfrn9y0B9GLwLGM2FJsYIechbuxv0DK6FEelqDD86besPtFS3nE9C2f5IDYtEd48sMAf-nB0yke58zLfQH5iCicaon-PD-7azBoFFYF5TD_Zh8W9SQK1iCPzD2OfhA/s1600/DSC03980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2w3DDwJj04CDigcfrn9y0B9GLwLGM2FJsYIechbuxv0DK6FEelqDD86besPtFS3nE9C2f5IDYtEd48sMAf-nB0yke58zLfQH5iCicaon-PD-7azBoFFYF5TD_Zh8W9SQK1iCPzD2OfhA/s320/DSC03980.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQUSwg0BK_V7ClgxEPSQONPlcoOOuUMg6YOP4ft0webjcRKgX4RgtN0vGuITTvcqT0YawRPtwxY4TDdssG1FcFNFsslRfe1w3RfdY33sjENJs3NKaC70ypCRa-qvbGQ0xtSuWdnAXDr0f/s1600/DSC03989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQUSwg0BK_V7ClgxEPSQONPlcoOOuUMg6YOP4ft0webjcRKgX4RgtN0vGuITTvcqT0YawRPtwxY4TDdssG1FcFNFsslRfe1w3RfdY33sjENJs3NKaC70ypCRa-qvbGQ0xtSuWdnAXDr0f/s320/DSC03989.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one makes me laugh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRTTEXz7V3nSbUhi5Tz4i7CBPvvGlxOiJer6vFCsFqlqGT6vzuFZRp9tDBrrL83TXIZrr346kQoIxKd0qzaHFPsvBGil4yWaQ6fGLFfqwacpYzRODstPxJmS6ds4lcSw7FrfHSR1QrA5J/s1600/DSC04014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRTTEXz7V3nSbUhi5Tz4i7CBPvvGlxOiJer6vFCsFqlqGT6vzuFZRp9tDBrrL83TXIZrr346kQoIxKd0qzaHFPsvBGil4yWaQ6fGLFfqwacpYzRODstPxJmS6ds4lcSw7FrfHSR1QrA5J/s320/DSC04014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scrunchy face</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mNc-woZM3TMnKkdS17Sy_e4IBcOvoDHN8NdwaJ-6myzaJKzix0kJKuvThletgL77auJUV8h6cjtfOqin8bVygPZZ_23vUMcTE1CbrZLe8Gf1pMIx8BTxbpIj0aoMBukZx8qxUg_ZlRcI/s1600/DSC04021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mNc-woZM3TMnKkdS17Sy_e4IBcOvoDHN8NdwaJ-6myzaJKzix0kJKuvThletgL77auJUV8h6cjtfOqin8bVygPZZ_23vUMcTE1CbrZLe8Gf1pMIx8BTxbpIj0aoMBukZx8qxUg_ZlRcI/s320/DSC04021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this beautiful girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCmXwLjrNZbrbIt1SWO69_CSBSvMlg2FQXW-UjJCYRzbF27bFr9h8BiD42KMCCnqKmuoeUej87Oz_0WsEVxmFdIndbb3ZnG0XlgcrwubgzhqTpCB0P7nAkcq1KVNAqWyq4e8EG4ecXhSC/s1600/DSC04028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCmXwLjrNZbrbIt1SWO69_CSBSvMlg2FQXW-UjJCYRzbF27bFr9h8BiD42KMCCnqKmuoeUej87Oz_0WsEVxmFdIndbb3ZnG0XlgcrwubgzhqTpCB0P7nAkcq1KVNAqWyq4e8EG4ecXhSC/s320/DSC04028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wavecutter riding with Daddy and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGSScfXYlmhLrrJxeoYE1drlOQmApz8FGeqPGGjysGnYxYLYf7IT-P02k5sRDl7zIizXBecuugA44JzGe1DwIP4p8VI0LBri-oSALYvlQHkoYtEZTKucT7ivo5IaCmZpEiX0HDWQFgLAt/s1600/DSC04033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGSScfXYlmhLrrJxeoYE1drlOQmApz8FGeqPGGjysGnYxYLYf7IT-P02k5sRDl7zIizXBecuugA44JzGe1DwIP4p8VI0LBri-oSALYvlQHkoYtEZTKucT7ivo5IaCmZpEiX0HDWQFgLAt/s320/DSC04033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They loved it!</td></tr>
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(You'll have to wait for pictures from Oct/Nov until I get them uploaded!)<br />
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October involved a family camping trip with some other homeschool families. All told, there were 8 adults and 17 children. Yup, fun times. It was freezing cold, but it was so refreshing to get to spend time with such great families and really just relax. We came back refreshed. <br />
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November flew by with a highlight being our trip to Plymouth, MA for homeschooling. We visited Plimouth Plantation and Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II as well as visiting a children's museum in Cape Cod and enjoying being together as a family. It was fun to get away and get to have the kids see first hand some of what we had been reading about. They really loved it. We found a nice beach house that proved to be such a blessing and way cheaper than a hotel. Did you know we exceed the maximum per room and now have to get two hotel rooms? The house not only was cheaper but we also didn't have to eat out at all - which not only saved money but it was a LOT easier too :)<br />
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<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-15517400257743760252013-06-06T18:12:00.001-07:002013-06-06T18:12:11.622-07:00Summer AdventuresAfter a very long month of May, I have come to the decision that I need to find the fun in mommy-ness again. It was beginning to feel like the only interactions I had with my kiddos was meeting basic needs and home schooling. What had happened to spontaneous trips to the park or running in the rain?<br />
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<i>Sigh...</i><br />
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I didn't want to leave the house because it took too much energy to get all five kiddos out of the house and loaded up. Grocery shopping was never happening so our meals were costing more and were getting progressively less healthy. My house was mounding with laundry and mess and I just didn't have the energy to deal with any of it.<br />
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<i>Prayers....</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Fortunately, I am surrounded with a wonderful group of friends who, while I didn't specifically say "Pray for me to be less overwhelmed and more fun", they were praying for me anyway. I felt it. I knew it. It helped.<br />
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So, as is my 'all in or nothing' mentality, I set an ambitious goal for myself. A summer of adventure - which means something fun or spontaneous just about every day - something where we play together and I get to just have fun with my kiddos. Know what? It is working :)<br />
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On Monday, when I got my brilliant idea, I thought I would take the clan to the playground. Yes, it was raining, but I figured that would make it more of an adventure and we would have the place to ourselves. Unfortunately, timing didn't work (why do kiddos take forever to pick up when you have something fun planned to bless them????), but I did manage to get us all to the store for an ingredient for our dinner, and we got to run through a downpour to get back to the van. That counts as an adventure, right?<br />
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Tuesday, we had a wonderful play date with a dear friend and her three girls. Oh yes, and their four grown chickens and four baby chicks. We had a blast, playing, hanging out, chatting, and letting the kiddos enjoy themselves. They all played together wonderfully, the weather was perfect, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch afterwards. The kids got to play with the chickens, bake up all kinds of grass and dirt concoctions, and do some arts and crafts too. It was fun and refreshing. Off to a good start.<br />
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On Wednesday, we loaded on the sunscreen and headed to the playground. Other than a few minutes at the Sandy Cove playground when we went down to Lydia's graduation, this was the first time I had taken the kiddos to the playground since Liliana's arrival. The Sandy Cove playground was empty except for us, but this playground had lots of kiddos running around, so I was curious how Liliana would handle it. There were definitely a lot of other mommies to sidle up to there, but she did great! She stuck with me for the most part and when she did wander a bit, she stayed nearby and kept checking in. I was really encouraged by the progress. To finish off, I gathered up the kiddos and we had a race in the soccer field. Definitely out of the ordinary for me and we had lots of fun.<br />
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On Thursday, we had a normal play date scheduled, so we went to it, but I decided to throw in the girls' bikes to they could practice their balance bikes on a nice long driveway with their friends. They all played and rode their bikes and had lunch together, but I hadn't really gotten to play with them. So once we got home and the tots were napping, I got out paints and q-tips and the girls and I painted. When Simeon woke up, he joined us and then once everyone was up, we made popcorn and watched Little House on the Prairie. Yeah, TV doesn't really count but it was very unusual for us, so I'll count it.<br />
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I have no idea what I have planned for tomorrow... maybe we'll go play in the rain. Who knows? All I know is that I am starting to enjoy my kids again and I am also seeing some good signs of improved relationships - on my end and theirs, so we'll keep going with it as much as we can. Hopefully, I'll remember my camera one of these times and get some pictures to go along with the adventures...knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-28691012747029718382013-05-05T17:21:00.002-07:002013-05-05T17:21:55.818-07:00And the Winner Is....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-khOEOUxbZw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Thank you to all my friends for helping me with this giveaway and spreading the word :) If you are one of the winners, please PM me on Facebook with your email address so I can let The National Center for Biblical Parenting know what prize to send you :)knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-25724801333107189002013-05-03T12:01:00.000-07:002013-05-03T12:01:08.300-07:00If you are still waiting to buy OR if you ordered from Amazon and it isn't shipping for a while...In order to qualify for the $400 in free bonus gifts, you will want to cancel your Amazon order and get either the Kindle version<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400205190&linkCode=as2&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank"> here</a>, or buy the book through their Biblical Parenting's website<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=543&idaffiliate=9" target="_blank"> here</a>. I don't want anyone to miss the free stuff!knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-83119093196798480902013-05-03T11:51:00.000-07:002013-05-03T11:51:17.348-07:00Ordering UpdateSo, launch week has been a big success as far as I can tell and they are sold out of just about every online retailer. Amazon still lets you buy it, but it is back ordered so it won't count towards their big launch week goals. If you would like to purchase the book and still get the $400 in free resources, you will need to buy it from the National Center for Biblical Parenting's website. Otherwise, it looks like the purchase won't qualify for the $400 in free resources deal. Just be sure to email <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="mailto:gift@biblicalparenting.org" style="background-color: white; color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">gift@biblicalparenting.org</a> with your purchase confirmation.<br />
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You can click through this<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=543&idaffiliate=9" target="_blank"> link</a> to purchase. Hope that helps and thanks for spreading the word!<br />
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Stay tuned for the drawing on Sunday night (sometime before 8pm probably :) I will post the winners here on Sunday night, hopefully :)knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-15246669835075710512013-04-28T04:00:00.000-07:002013-04-28T19:14:36.586-07:00Parenting Help...If you have hung around me or my blog for any length of time you know that I am a big fan of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. I own several of their books and refer to them over and over again. So when they offered bloggers a chance to preview their newest book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1400205190&link_code=as3&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank">The Christian Parenting Handbook</a>, I naturally jumped at the chance. <br />
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I have been devouring the book at every chance I have had (and even some I haven't had...). It has 50 chapters which are fortunately fairly short. So I have been able to tackle them in the bits of time that I have. <br />
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The purpose of the book is to help equip parents to develop a Biblical parenting philosophy, but they go way beyond theory. The book is full of ideas you can use right away. So you're able to read a chapter, get up and implement the ideas right away. One of the things I love about their approach is that it focuses on relationship and their main focus then is heart change rather than behavioral change. Behavior modification can work in that it can get your kids doing what you want them to do, but it doesn't address the heart issues behind the behaviors. So you end up with kids that don't internalize the lessons and values you are trying to teach. As the authors put it:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"We're not saying behavior modification is wrong. We're just suggesting it's just incomplete ... P</i><i>arents who simply use behavior modification often end up with kids who look good on the outside while having significant problems on the inside ... Instead you want children to change their hearts. You want them to ask, 'What's the right thing to do here?' That shift in thinking is heart work</i>."</div>
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Heart change is a lot harder, but it works because it addresses the underlying source of behavior. This book helps teach you how to do just that. For those of you who have read the other books that they have published, I will say that I have learned a LOT from this new book. It might be that I needed a refresher (always a good thing) but I think it is because there seems to be plenty of real life examples of how to implement the changes you are working towards.<br />
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This book covers the full spectrum of parenting and applies to all ages too - from dealing with bad attitudes to the value of grandparents and everything in between. They talk about how to parent when mom and dad are on different discipline pages. There are lots of ideas for dealing with kids who argue, identifying the real issue you are dealing with rather than the argument itself, how to diffuse the intensity in conflict, and how to teach kids to add to family life rather than just take from it all the time. <br />
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For me, one of the most helpful reminders came when the book spoke about how sometimes parents struggle with anger when their children misbehave. Yes, I may be right and my child may be wrong, but being right is not as important as being wise in how I respond to my child's misbehavior. Just because one of my wonderful children is doing something that is wrong, it doesn't justify me reacting in a way that vents anger at him/her. It can be easy to fall into a trap of getting angry at our kids and then justifying that anger and blaming their behavior. Ultimately, my child can then use my poor response to justify his/her poor behavior. Responding wisely though means recognizing my child's misbehavior and directly addressing the heart issue(s) that need to be dealt with.. Good reminder! <br />
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I love how the authors filled this book with practical, real-life solutions to common parenting problems. I love that it is more than just another book harping on the need to be consistent (the first chapter is actually called "Consistency is Overrated"). They talk about the fact that consequences aren't the only answer - which is a great chapter because as parents it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling the need to come up with bigger, badder consequences to deal with bad behavior. The authors go beyond just 'here's how to get your kids to behave' to addressing how to help your children learn to serve and honor and go above and beyond <i>without</i> you having to tell them (yes, that<i> is</i> possible)<br />
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I already highly recommend all of the resources from the National Center for Biblical Parenting, and <u>The Christian Parenting Handbook</u> has just become my newest favorite recommendation! Whether you are new to their resources or you have every book, DVD, conference CD, and download available, you will get a TON out of this book! <br />
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Now, here is the really fun part :) I get to GIVE AWAY some stuff. The National Center for Biblical Parenting is doing some giveaways (see below) and they also are giving bonus gifts worth $400 for everyone who purchases a copy of their book<u> during launch week April 29 through May 5 </u>(see below for more details). <br />
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The giveaways are listed below:<br />
<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=545&idcategory=0" target="_blank">The Honor Multi-Media Package</a> ($59.95 value)<br />
<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=548&idcategory=0" target="_blank">Set of 5 Parenting Shifts eBooks</a> ($49.95)<br />
<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=547&idcategory=0" target="_blank">One free Biblical Parenting University Online Parenting Course </a>($99.95 value)<br />
<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=546&idcategory=0" target="_blank">Disciplemaking at Home eBook</a> ($16.99 value)<br />
<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=544&idcategory=0" target="_blank">The Christian Parenting Companion Guide</a> – Includes print copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook. ($49.95)<br />
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Since I have such fun giveaways, I get to come up with a fabulous way to give these things away. So, if you want to be entered in a chance to win one of the giveaways listed above here is what you get to do (you can do as many or as few as you like):<br />
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1. Click this<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1400205190&link_code=as3&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank"> link</a> to the Christian Parenting Handbook on Amazon. Look inside at the list of chapters and comment here on what chapter you are most looking forward to reading. (two entries)<br />
2. (This one is mandatory) Comment on this blog what prize you would want to win (one entry)<br />
3. Share this blog on Facebook (one entry for each day you share this giveaway) - be sure to tag me in the post or comment back here that you shared it again.<br />
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Each thing you do, gets you one extra chance to win (i.e. if you answer the question in a comment on this blog<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> post, you get one entry. If you share this blog post on Facebook, you get another entry for each time you share about it). On Saturday evening, May 4, all the entries will be put in a bowl and Elianna will get to pick a winner for each of the five prizes. The first winner will get his/her choice, the second too and so on. If what you wanted is already won by someone else, you will get the next available prize. These are some awesome prizes, so I hope you win!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just so you know and the lawyers can be happy... <span style="background-color: white; color: #d03a3a;">This giveaway is open to Residents of the U.S. only. Void where prohibited. Must be at least 18 years of age. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #d03a3a;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that we're past that part, even if you don't win one of the giveaways above, you can still score some great free gifts if you purchase a copy of the Christian Parenting Handbook between April 29 and May 5. Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1400205190&link_code=as3&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank">here</a> to purchase your own copy. (yes, it is an affiliate link, if I did it correctly... but please be sure to do that before May 5!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you purchase the book <u>during launch week</u>, you will get a package of free resources valued at more than $400.00. You can learn more on their <a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/parentingshifts/grandlaunch.asp" target="_blank">website</a> about </span>the 8 items contained in the Bonus Parenting Package. In addition, you can get The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide (This is a workbook with audio clips that will help you apply the material in The Christian Parenting Handbook.) for free if you purchase 5 copies or more of the book. Simply make your purchase from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1400205190&link_code=as3&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank"> Amazon</a>, Barnes and Noble, BAM (Books A Million), CBD or Parable.<br />
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To claim your premium, simply forward your purchase confirmation to Gift@biblicalparenting.org and they will email you your special product code for the $400.00 package. If you purchased 5 or more copies of the book, they'll send you the PDF version of the Companion Guide as well as the audio package.<br />
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I am really excited about this book, the launch, and the giveaways. This is going to be a fun week. <br />
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If you want to know more about the book and the launch week, below is a video to help :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VYPFN6rkSiQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-51219790324122536922013-04-25T19:55:00.001-07:002013-04-25T19:55:53.112-07:00Coming Soon....The Christian Parenting HandbookStarting next week, I will be doing a give away to help launch the newest book from the National Center for Biblical Parenting. I received a free copy of the book to read and review and I am loving all of the practical advice I am getting from it and I can't wait to post my full review soon. <br />
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The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1400205190&link_code=as3&tag=mothadaswo-20" target="_blank">Christian Parenting Handbook</a> is available for purchase now but don't run out and get it yet! You will want to wait for launch week. The National Center for Biblical Parenting is going to have lots of giveaways and over $400 worth of bonus freebies if you purchase the book between April 29 and May 5.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.christianparentinghandbook.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4zUOWJEg-CXkTy8bM9HUUZ46dDLViip2DWLV6PwirvOoNYTojShrMMX9GXPTTL6gESsGADooDMPVsqdzZMPlXMWM1ePYRL9yrTtDuhp_ZO0R3z0pD5NW_tS1_XkK32cvim8f6B4aFLcG/s1600/555078_493670000695207_2034248451_n.jpg" /></a></div>
I will be posting my review of the book this weekend as well. We are wanting to help get this book on the New York Times best-seller list - wouldn't that be awesome? A biblical parenting book on the NY Times bestseller list? So hang on a few more days and watch for some really fun stuff soon!<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/parentingshifts/downloads/Sharable_Photos/heart%20approach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/parentingshifts/downloads/Sharable_Photos/heart%20approach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-56181561109045543842013-03-22T11:07:00.000-07:002013-03-28T21:28:38.029-07:00One Month HomeOr almost 7 weeks, but whose counting? In all honesty, I have been working on this post for two weeks straight now. Things are a bit busy...<br />
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How is it going? Hmm, that is a loaded question. We are adjusting for the most part. It has been a rather rocky start, but we are seeing glimmers of hope and progress, so we'll take it. Honestly, this adoption has probably been the hardest thing I have ever done. <br />
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When we were going through the process, we kept hearing that adoption is 'hard'. Okay. How hard can it be? I'll tell you: H.A.R.D. - and we haven't even had a particularly difficult child. <br />
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I started to get inklings that I was going to struggle while B.J. was still in China. I enjoyed my routines and my four kiddos. We have a general rhythm to life and I enjoy when I feel like I've 'hit my stride' so to speak. I like when I feel like I have a handle on things and can manage just fine. And I had that most of the time B.J. was in China. It felt great! But at the same time, I started to worry just a bit about how my mother heart would respond to a virtual stranger coming in and messing with my neat life. Of course, when things are going well, I tend to start to get a bit confident and self-reliant. Not my best place and it usually isn't long until I crash and am reminded that what I do is not from my own abilities and skills. I am nothing apart from Christ and his power in me.<br />
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Yes, I have loved Liliana since we first got her file and I have fought like crazy to bring her home. Yet once she came home, I struggled. A lot. I was resentful and annoyed that this little girl had come and 'messed up' my nice, pretty life. Life was crazy and hard and it seemed like everything fell apart once she came home. I yearned for my nice, simple life with my four kids. I wanted to go back and change something. Anything. I felt like I was rolling in a crashing wave and was trying to find my footing and I couldn't. <br />
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Yup, that was my honest experience. It seems awful to even admit it, but that is what happened. My sin came oozing out and the more squeezed I felt the more my sin showed. I knew what I needed to do. I knew what God wanted me to do but I was fighting it. I didn't want to obey. Kind of like a two year old. <br />
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It was during the second week, I was complaining to God and questioning for the upteenth time about what on earth he was thinking to give me a baby and a new adopted kiddo at the same time and He decided to answer. Clear as day. Unmistakable. He reminded me that I had asked him to use me. To work through me. To use me to make a difference for the kingdom. Ouch. All of my talk about wanting to be used by God and here I was fighting him when he took me up on my offer. The truth stung, but it was true. I had invited God to use me and he had chosen this way to do it. It was time to stop fighting God and wishing for a do-over and to allow Him to work through me to bless and love Liliana. <br />
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Once I stopped fighting God and protesting this plan of his, I started to notice something. My interactions with Liliana weren't all forced. I wasn't having to just go through the motions. I started to notice that I found certain things she did funny (like making silly faces in the mirror and changing them each time she slid in front of the mirror - my description doesn't do it justice). I noticed how much she loves when I kiss her boo-boos - real or imaginary. I watched how gentle she is with Myla. She loves to play hand games and sing songs. She loves to eat. She loves to be held and loved and she eats it up. She loves having cream rubbed on her arms and then rubbing some cream on my arm.<br />
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There are still days where I am irritated by things, but for the most part, we are well on our way to bonding. It is a process and it takes a lot of time, but we'll get there. <br />
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Here are a few things that are purely Liliana or areas we have seen lots of change in 6 short weeks:<br />
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When Liliana first came home, she could barely walk around our house. Now she wanders everywhere and rarely falls. Her legs don't even shake when she stands now.<br />
Liliana can walk across the back yard and only fall a couple of times now. We are working on being willing to put hands down to grass to stand back up, but when she first came home, she couldn't stand for even one step.<br />
Liliana has learned how to feed herself most foods - as long as they are cut to a reasonable size. She has also learned to keep her food on the table rather than throwing it on the floor.<br />
Liliana has started to get picky with food. This is great :) She knows that food is plentiful and she won't go hungry.<br />
Liliana has learned to keep her blankets and such in the crib during nap time rather than throw them in protest. <br />
Liliana has learned to say "no no" and shake her finger and head when she doesn't like something instead of screaming about anything she didn't want<br />
Liliana now signs when she is hungry and says "Eee" for eat.<br />
Liliana is learning to cry when she is hurt (she didn't cry at all for genuine injuries when she first came home)<br />
She has the cutest "cheese" face for pictures now<br />
She has gained almost four pounds since coming home. She has also outgrown her 18 month tops....<br />
She is starting to show her sense of humor<br />
She is sleeping upstairs with the girls and now sleeps till the delightfully late hour of 6:30 in the morning. That was a long five weeks coming<br />
She and Simeon are great buddies<br />
She now can say (without prompting most of the time) up, down, please, eat, side for outside, yay, no no, pray, keem for cream, apple, car, yum, again, and more<br />
She is starting to look to us for help<br />
She is much more willing to accept hugs from and give hugs to her siblings<br />
She is starting to hang with us a bit in large groups rather than running up to every stranger...it is a work in progress on this one...<br />
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Below are some pictures from most recent to just after she came home. I can see such a difference and it is really rewarding and encouraging :)<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKjc4ABOWxoWgiL-Alq0xd6mIJntdM1OsnZlR5MqPmSRYtrs_HZz7Wt8Osk8ScsniNUO2u9127qIptW8FnRg6l9zdxUuwzvlJkW1a6u2M18bMhIz6lC3CuzRiMR4BLxCKbr2jJgnUqiky/s640/blogger-image-1182193396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKjc4ABOWxoWgiL-Alq0xd6mIJntdM1OsnZlR5MqPmSRYtrs_HZz7Wt8Osk8ScsniNUO2u9127qIptW8FnRg6l9zdxUuwzvlJkW1a6u2M18bMhIz6lC3CuzRiMR4BLxCKbr2jJgnUqiky/s640/blogger-image-1182193396.jpg" /></a></div>knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-68015525281458500562013-03-01T12:55:00.001-08:002013-03-01T12:55:57.025-08:00PlayingTwo silly toddlers and a busy ball popper....<br />
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<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-7362942980935353112013-03-01T05:29:00.003-08:002013-03-01T05:29:28.619-08:00CHOP VisitToday, we spent most of the day at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We were there for our first adoption clinic appointment. CHOP offers this as part of their services for adoptive families and it is worth every penny. We were scheduled to meet with Dr. Hachen (pediatrician) and Amy an OT and we did.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echo</td></tr>
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Dr. Hachen noted several things that we had noticed and some that we hadn't. Amy was able to do a very thorough developmental assessment on Liliana. She noticed the same things that B.J. and I had been noticing, specifically, that while Liliana is at age level with some of her skills, in other areas she is very delayed. Amy used a screening tool where you are supposed to stop once there are three things the child can't do, but if you went on, sometimes Liliana could do things that were four and five steps above where she couldn't do the task. Amy said it was not uncommon for children from institutions to have things like that. Most experts say that for every two to three months in an institution, children lose one month of growth and development. Based on that, in some areas, Liliana is where we would expect her to be, but in others, she is very delayed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charming Dr. V.</td></tr>
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During Dr. Hachen's exam, we mentioned some heart things we had been noticing. She listened to Liliana and she heard a clear murmur. She wanted to get it checked, so she had cardiology squeeze us into their schedule right away. So after bloodwork (she was so brave while they drew vial after vial), we saw Dr. Vogel. He heard the same thing and also noticed her very fast heartbeat. He wanted to have an echo done. So we were taken down the hall and they did an echo. Liliana was starting to get tired of all of the testing, but she held on with the encouragement of food and videos on the iPad. They found a one inch hole in her heart which they will need to repair. If they can, they'll do a patch but if there isn't enough tissue, it will have to be open heart surgery. Funny thing is, at some point in the adoption process, I remember feeling like Liliana had a heart condition, so this was surprisingly not surprising. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in radiology</td></tr>
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After we were done with cardiology, we had x-rays done and then we were done for today. They want to do some MRI tests, ultrasounds, and visits with audiology, and urology and depending on results, neurology and a few others that I don't remember right now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2axzKv6o3Q5YR7DP6J9JAZzxr1pPMrKdKa-17Y8Fq-CZK4Ka-Ukbq4TQzFz0z-I-JAYnYZeSXqGYRRpDVMIZvA_nPRGaR0o-E1lhoWnio0pDv96eAhidPETxcxfDyvGR5XT9nz8BRoo5V/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2axzKv6o3Q5YR7DP6J9JAZzxr1pPMrKdKa-17Y8Fq-CZK4Ka-Ukbq4TQzFz0z-I-JAYnYZeSXqGYRRpDVMIZvA_nPRGaR0o-E1lhoWnio0pDv96eAhidPETxcxfDyvGR5XT9nz8BRoo5V/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Liliana was a trooper for the day. She did great and I am so grateful to have the clinic helping us navigate all of this. I know God has something great in store for Liliana and I can't wait to see what He has in store.knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-60343615302007472852013-02-24T18:31:00.003-08:002013-02-24T18:31:25.977-08:00We're still here... (I promise I'll post a real update soon!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We haven't dropped off the face of the planet. We are just trying to adjust to being a new family of 7 and all that that entails - now add in an adopted child into the mix and we are in new, uncharted territory. I promise to write an update soon, but in the meantime, please pray for wisdom for us as parents, for bonding for us all, and for Liliana to know that we are safe and her family. Also please pray for her language skills - the language barrier definitely complicates things. Thank you for all of you who have been praying for us, bringing us meals, running errands for us, checking in with us, listening to us, sending us gifts, cards, and encouragement. We are so blessed by the tremendous outpouring of support from our family and friends and you have no idea how much it means to us. Thank you!!!</div>
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Here are a few pictures of our first two weeks....</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVZX7lbM05MP7b0N2ZJN6rUoHL71lypUA-X1mpJZJjLbvJFRcysTQnkTurIQD-yt0JQT-kIRxuJCn21QI8uPRVB4WbfGwsvQ2b27Cc8DlVI9Tk58sGYCU7-5vSLhJUmFZVnR_SxzWc7OH/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVZX7lbM05MP7b0N2ZJN6rUoHL71lypUA-X1mpJZJjLbvJFRcysTQnkTurIQD-yt0JQT-kIRxuJCn21QI8uPRVB4WbfGwsvQ2b27Cc8DlVI9Tk58sGYCU7-5vSLhJUmFZVnR_SxzWc7OH/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing grapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4mRt5a9Knh8BWKPTfYf3MUDPIM48asQUjCr75MoQw6xmRzZBK5e680xlrL2RkfpkYFw0-8QIWMGF9oJW60xTqwbvw4GygnPnnfdINOEQ-S7UAj8yzRM7a-Pz0FXJ95KxWFq-ebcmz1sb/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4mRt5a9Knh8BWKPTfYf3MUDPIM48asQUjCr75MoQw6xmRzZBK5e680xlrL2RkfpkYFw0-8QIWMGF9oJW60xTqwbvw4GygnPnnfdINOEQ-S7UAj8yzRM7a-Pz0FXJ95KxWFq-ebcmz1sb/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3KgYaCkJzxdj-WJr_MAm2OccfCRsUZ9VVJ42vfOy3emlgTW-_IF9hVi5rIWAuQzfPz_FYmpzNxBubCXNUoKi4X9V_rq7Xij0AadCcahDr3hF_88wH7CoXX78Gogw7qftb6FiUgUK7lcO/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3KgYaCkJzxdj-WJr_MAm2OccfCRsUZ9VVJ42vfOy3emlgTW-_IF9hVi5rIWAuQzfPz_FYmpzNxBubCXNUoKi4X9V_rq7Xij0AadCcahDr3hF_88wH7CoXX78Gogw7qftb6FiUgUK7lcO/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liliana LOVES videos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyqY_a5daInIN22LBU5G-afnUOrIkEH2j44KsQAECCm06aeJavyJ1_n2MrznDXHLB9u9fTbl0fxCOmx9Ns3tdET2nzlda8x2q1hxVAHulDX6fWenFdCAUd0GTVSpL88FRSjxp06q_N1Bu/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyqY_a5daInIN22LBU5G-afnUOrIkEH2j44KsQAECCm06aeJavyJ1_n2MrznDXHLB9u9fTbl0fxCOmx9Ns3tdET2nzlda8x2q1hxVAHulDX6fWenFdCAUd0GTVSpL88FRSjxp06q_N1Bu/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? You don't eat popcorn with a fork???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ngg0F0cYB57byg_04ACyGZpZE4M7nZYRSHIqZpQ9jbqm6BZMWFUZPGohqzZ8XiZMxVI8zAIxH3lpTOklBPO7Hb6PL-CZx2zPyJhx32IEuVEo6dZRUdRswfZ7M5NK0IBOM2-mUD7Bwbvp/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ngg0F0cYB57byg_04ACyGZpZE4M7nZYRSHIqZpQ9jbqm6BZMWFUZPGohqzZ8XiZMxVI8zAIxH3lpTOklBPO7Hb6PL-CZx2zPyJhx32IEuVEo6dZRUdRswfZ7M5NK0IBOM2-mUD7Bwbvp/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE3aWIvaVcumtZrBx6lRaL_Ly8PlazM8bY7bn5IJUoIFcTuCKBOpZDv-q9ubzp-sQ0JfUeYxT7328pmBzmWaVW1GSZ3O3GZT6s-52S1BY27cVKTpG7vKOG_bYg7_SD6Z3Bpz5wBEafzAe/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE3aWIvaVcumtZrBx6lRaL_Ly8PlazM8bY7bn5IJUoIFcTuCKBOpZDv-q9ubzp-sQ0JfUeYxT7328pmBzmWaVW1GSZ3O3GZT6s-52S1BY27cVKTpG7vKOG_bYg7_SD6Z3Bpz5wBEafzAe/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QHGnH7d5g0TtFOV-I1pNhZNuhlN_oRo1w6mI1MGKI_csgm-FZb8JRNts8aKAN6vRR469AkxDdsCWpMFzcBDeJptoEc0CupiI47nrWDy4DK_C5e3MXI3I1KJzclBHcrMgQ6ftjQCUMgTi/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QHGnH7d5g0TtFOV-I1pNhZNuhlN_oRo1w6mI1MGKI_csgm-FZb8JRNts8aKAN6vRR469AkxDdsCWpMFzcBDeJptoEc0CupiI47nrWDy4DK_C5e3MXI3I1KJzclBHcrMgQ6ftjQCUMgTi/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pizza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sl_Syx1zTPoYy5RDThFvYoqcDQnstWexo_THZktSXVHrvZ9evp8-E0NaUD8wNyIKVMiwpEpyiwvELze-WuFndgpAv4fgDEOgylhYhfjbzY8U02odjcSb4mGtL2brO9SMZpX2l-oJ8oM5/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sl_Syx1zTPoYy5RDThFvYoqcDQnstWexo_THZktSXVHrvZ9evp8-E0NaUD8wNyIKVMiwpEpyiwvELze-WuFndgpAv4fgDEOgylhYhfjbzY8U02odjcSb4mGtL2brO9SMZpX2l-oJ8oM5/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedtime story</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-83556990893267956112013-02-12T07:11:00.000-08:002013-02-12T07:11:06.920-08:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHPaz06bhZ_AgdQQZQlIFgscJZjpqRY23c0Jz9pq90B0lxJTFUx2RudRDWeEzWvkUs2QAODCdOPZ7uVNUH7pC9DHtV1BQVJl2Bnrx5L7VLMflTw58eqPGlktIO5cqUrYOUdK9lZSNcriS/s1600/photo+(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHPaz06bhZ_AgdQQZQlIFgscJZjpqRY23c0Jz9pq90B0lxJTFUx2RudRDWeEzWvkUs2QAODCdOPZ7uVNUH7pC9DHtV1BQVJl2Bnrx5L7VLMflTw58eqPGlktIO5cqUrYOUdK9lZSNcriS/s400/photo+(21).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-41306966626112891242013-02-10T18:22:00.000-08:002013-02-10T18:22:47.145-08:00Not a lot of timeWe have been all back together for just over 24 hours and while it is going as well as can be expected, it is busy around here which hasn't given me a chance to blog. The most I have done is to take a few videos to share. I promise to catch up blogging soon though....<br />
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What I can say so far is that Liliana is an amazing little girl. She can already say please, down, help, no, all done, more, hi, daddy, and mama. She can repeat each of her siblings names too. She can copy motions and signs very quickly and she has a great pencil grip, though her scribbles are very light and lacking much pressure. By tonight, she was initiating play with Elianna and trying to take toys from Simeon :). I would say she is getting more comfortable with us. She did a great job in church today, as did all the kiddos. <br />
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She has started initiating me holding her and playing with her. She has a great smile and an infectious laugh. I don't think she is used to as much physical movement as she got today as she was exhausted by the end!<br />
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Elianna and Janaya are quite taken with Liliana and have both told me how glad they are that she is home in our family. Simeon has been very generous and sharing with Liliana and jumped in with Liliana and me to sing some songs today. They also shared some fun times over dinner tonight...they both love to eat. Myla has been a dream as always. <br />
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Please pray for lots of strength, energy, and patience for all of us. It is a big transition and those things are always welcomed. Our house is busier than ever and I wouldn't want it any other way.<br />
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<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-1635382291001330302013-02-10T11:07:00.004-08:002013-02-10T11:07:31.453-08:00Homeward Bound<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
Nothing is quite as sweet as the idea of heading home. Whether it be the end of a day at work, a long weekend out with the family, or two and a half weeks away from the family on a trip to China, home is still the best place to be. Home, like families, comes in many shapes and sizes. No two homes are quite alike, and yet that is what makes each one of them "home" to someone. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
Most of us spend our lives on the search for home. We often do not realize that this is what we are searching for, but we know "home" when we find it. Interestingly enough, home is not a place, an address, or house. Home is a condition of the heart and is built through relationships. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
Finding home in the relationships of the here and now is nearly impossible. Though we may have very positive relationships with many people that give us strength and provide us a taste of home, these horizontal relationships fall short of providing us with that ultimate realization of home. It is only when we have a vertical relationship with God through Jesus Christ that we begin to understand what it means to have God as our Father. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
We need to move beyond religion, beyond traditions, beyond spiritual habits, and seek the One who knows us and calls us by name. We need to look for Jesus as He calls us to walk with Him and follow Him so we may be found in Him. Our Father has a perfect home ...no, I do not mean heaven. Our Father's perfect home is when He is in relationship with the Son and Spirit. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus pulling away from the crowds to get alone with the Father, and we see Him struggling in His mission on earth. In many ways, I imagine this is because Jesus' heart ached for home. He knew what a perfect relationship with the Father was like, and He missed it while here serving us. </div>
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Our Father desires for us to be in relationship with Him as well, and as such, the Father calls us to come to Him through the Son and be empowered by the Spirit to be in relationship with Him. Our Father though still blesses us with relationships here and now. When we have found home in Him, finding home in our horizontal relationships becomes much easier. It also becomes much harder to leave home. Yes, Jesus was with me this whole time and provided home for me while in China; yet the main way He provides home for me outside of Himself is through Rachel and the kids.</div>
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So here I sit, 35,007 feet in the air somewhere above Japan. In one sense I am a long way from home, and yet in another way, I never left home. Still, the feeling I have right now is a longing to see those who God has blessed me with who make home for me. So wait just a little while longer Rach, your husband is on his way, and hold on just a wee bit more Elianna, Janaya, Simeon, and Myla. Daddy is almost home.</div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-53728717269118616772013-02-08T06:38:00.002-08:002013-02-08T06:38:36.790-08:00Hong Kong<br />
<div style="line-height: 0.22in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.22in;">We
made it to Hong Kong at 3:23 pm local time (2:23 am EST). The
ride was smooth, comfortable, and fast. At one point we were
doing over 90 mph. I am sure there were times where we were
moving faster than that since I know there were times when I looked
over the seat and could not see the needle. Border crossing
went off without a hitch. It looks like we have two shuttle bus
options ... one for the airport and one for a mall and dinner later
this evening. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking
at the weather, our hope is that the snow stops early on Saturday
while we are still somewhere in the Artic Circle so that by the time
we turn south and begin heading to Newark the winds may have died
down and the runways are clear. This assumes that our flight
stays in place.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Praying
for the next part of this journey. </span></span></span></div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-81779146618939376632013-02-07T07:02:00.001-08:002013-02-07T07:02:23.486-08:00Snow Close Yet Snow Far Away<br />
<div style="line-height: 0.22in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.22in;">So
apparently after a year or two of very mild winters with little to no
snow, we're going to have the backlog of snow dumped on top of the
Northeast/New England region at precisely the same time as we're
trying to fly into Newark Airport. Fabulous timing. :)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
have very mixed emotions right now as I read the weather updates and
talk to Rachel about what the forecast looks like. This snow
storm is no surprise to God, and He will guide us home. It may
or may not be the route we planned or wanted, but it is the one He
will design. I'd rather not have to deal with all of this
especially with Liliana in tow, but somehow we will make it home.
I am even more concerned about three other adoptive families on the
flight with us. They all have connecting flights to get to.
So while I may be struggling with trying to land in Newark to meet my
family and take a train home, these three other families have
connecting flights to get to and an additional leg of their trip to
take. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please
pray for traveling mercies and that He clears a path like He once did
through the Red Sea. You know, Moses did not expect to take
that route but it is the one that God provided. So while I'd
love to think that such a prayer would result in God parting the snow
over Newark (which it could since He's God and can do cool stuff like
that), He may have another route planned for us just as He did for
Moses and the Israelites. As long as His hand is guiding us, we
will be OK. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in;">
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</div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-49869122290704562432013-02-07T05:18:00.000-08:002013-02-07T05:18:05.176-08:00So who this Liliana anyway?<br />
<div style="line-height: 0.22in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.22in;">Reading
through these blog entries, you definitely get a good sense of what
we are doing here. You get some sense of how I am processing
things, but you may still be wondering who this little girl we call
Liliana is. I mean, I've been staring at her picture for over a
year, but it was not until I met her that I got to know her, and
every day I discover something new. So let me give you a little
peak into the girl I'm still getting to know.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Liliana
is a happy girl who is quite curious about the world around her.
She looks to understand what is going on and figure out how things
work. Though there are clear developmental delays from her days
as an orphan, this little girl is bright (forget that poor brain
development diagnosis). She prefers to sit back and observe at
first and take in her surroundings. She may not say anything
for a while, but she is observing and making notes. She can be
a bit shy in new situations and takes a while to warm up. But
before too long, she is active and involved with what is going on.
She enjoys food. Though her size does not show it, the girl
eats more than any of our other kids ever have, and she is willing to
try all kinds of new foods. At the same time, she does have
preferences and is not afraid to express her preference for one type
of food on her plate over another with a simple "No thank you"
type face and a pointing to something else. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At
times Liliana has an opinion on what she wants to do, and she
struggles to accept when she cannot have it. She definitely
makes plans in her head for how to use her time. Whether she is
strong-willed or not is not clear though I am sure she will let us
know in due time. Liliana is very affectionate and give hugs
(and an occasional kiss). She enjoys tickles and laughing.
She also imitates Daddy. Liliana is a determined little girl
who fights against any physical struggles she may face (which is good
because she's got them). She's got lots of rough spots (like
grabbing at things or crying when told no) that are clearly from her
background and only love, time, coaching, and experiences within our
family and with God will help these rough spots smooth out.
She's got a great giggle and a smile that lights up a room.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
that's Liliana at a glance. Like I said, every day I learn
something new about her. Then again, I learn something new
about a lot of people everyday. </span></span></span></div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-16937296205479720842013-02-07T05:15:00.001-08:002013-02-07T05:15:18.819-08:00Paperwork Complete!<br />
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Today we traveled across town at 7:50 am to the US Consulate with five other families for our visa appointments. The other six families went yesterday. Jason and Kathy had us all complete the paperwork several days earlier. So this was a fairly straight forward process. </div>
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We went up to the fourth floor, through security, up to the fifth floor, through more security, and into the office. The room was set up similar to a bank only the "tellers" were behind glass as well. A very kind official talked to us for several minutes explaining what we should expect and then had us take an oath. Our families were then called one by one to go through the documents. I was very impressed with the officials here. They were all very professional but at the same time, they realized what this was all about. While they remained professional and checked every document, they also recognized that we were all adoptive families, and as such, the officials were very caring and welcoming.</div>
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Tomorrow we get our visas for our children, and by 1:00 pm our time, we will be travelling by van to Hong Kong for a quick overnight stay before flying home.</div>
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This afternoon has been filled with packing. It feels so good to be laying out final outfits for our stay, having meetings about final travel plans and exchanging money back into dollars, and asking questions like, "Does this bag weigh too much?" Of the twelve families here in our group, four of us will be on the same flight to Newark though we are the only ones who do not need to travel further. It will be nice to have some traveling companions along as we all survive the very long flight home with our young ones.</div>
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This morning, several of us were talking about heading home, and someone mentioned how hard of a decision this must have been for Rachel and me to have to be away from each other. The decision itself was actually not too hard in that it sort of made itself. Once we were pregnant, we knew Rachel would be nursing and not be able to travel. We knew Mom would be the best person to ask to come since it is recommended that a dad travelling without a mom should have a female who will be present in the child's life after the trip. Since Mom lives so close, sees our family regularly, is great with kids, and is an experienced traveler, she made the most sense. As great as this all was, accepting the decision of leaving Rachel behind was difficult. Yes, in many ways it was a very good decision for our other children. Though they miss their Daddy a ton and life is not the same around the house, it is much more regular because Mommy is there. So that was good. But this experience of picking up your daughter from China is one that really a Mommy and Daddy should do together if possible. </div>
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Probably though the most difficult part has been living with the decision. Not seeing your best friend for over two weeks is not easy. Beyond that, going through all that we have gone through here in China without Rachel has been hard. Some of it has been hard because there have been special moments that I wanted Rachel there for. Other moments have been hard because they were difficult ones where I needed to turn to my wife for help. I am sure Mom has felt the same way at times being away from Dad. I am also sure that Rachel and Dad have had these moments on their side of this as well. Nonetheless, God has and continues to sustain us until and beyond that moment when we are back together again.</div>
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So in a brief twenty-four hours, our travel days begin again as we head to Hong Kong and then to Newark. Then begins a new adventure and challenge of becoming a family. It will be challenging for sure. Liliana has never lived in a family and really has no concept of what a family is. She is starting to understand what a Daddy is but it is so underdeveloped at this point. Outside of seeing pictures of Rachel and talking with her on Skype, Liliana has no concept of what a Mommy is either, and it may or may not be difficult for her to understand in some ways because she has had a Grammy already. So now Grammy is going to go from a daily person to a sometimes person, and her role will change while Mommy is going to go from a distant person to a daily person and have her own role. Sisters? Brother? What are those? </div>
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The best Liliana can do right now is to understand that Daddy and Mommy are the best nannies she has ever had and her sisters and brother are the best fellow orphans she has ever known. Yet that is not what a family is at all. The relationships in a family are far deeper than any relationship Liliana has known thus far, and the only way for Liliana to understand that is to spend time in those relationships within her family. In a similar way, we may decide to follow Jesus and be in God's family, but it takes time before we move from calling Him God to calling Him Father. When we get that though, we get that we are truly in His family. Such is the journey Liliana is on within both our little Meurer family and we hope also in the family of God.</div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-69510634287575641672013-02-05T18:07:00.000-08:002013-02-05T18:07:59.284-08:00Medical Exam and Pearls<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today was our day to get Liliana's medical exam at the US Consulate. She had to go to four different stations: E.N.T., height and weight, general medical exam, and TB test. She did a great job and did not even cry when they drew blood for the TB test. I think I was more nervous about having documents and going through the process than Liliana was. Oh, and we had to get a picture for her records at the consulate. Unlike the last time we took a picture (for her passport), this picture took only a moment (quite literally). </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivULenImPNRFTRANaxQ70DBIP58LpChF__UnRc7Gr9SHWClO8odRUFjjvsTGEFFx1xVPKhc2_zbGF5Jut0meVD48_1KfNhu2Z2lBqDp-mYbUwk0DCGqikKDD8clofV8_cUBqU7Kp3_wUVW/s1600/IMG_20130203_205229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivULenImPNRFTRANaxQ70DBIP58LpChF__UnRc7Gr9SHWClO8odRUFjjvsTGEFFx1xVPKhc2_zbGF5Jut0meVD48_1KfNhu2Z2lBqDp-mYbUwk0DCGqikKDD8clofV8_cUBqU7Kp3_wUVW/s320/IMG_20130203_205229.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting at the US Consulate for the medical exam...Liliana<br />loves tickles :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Following this, some of us went out to the pearl market to purchase some pearls. Our reps took us to a reputable dealer. I picked up pearl necklaces for Liliana, Rach, and the girls at home. For Elianna, Janaya, Myla, and Liliana, these will be put away and given on a special occasion. Wedding day makes sense but if God calls ones of them to a life of singlehood, I don't want that one to miss out. So perhaps we'll pick an older birthday of some sort ... we'll see. I also picked up a pearl necklace for Mom as a thank you gift for coming on this trip with me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This evening we are taking a cruise on the Pearl River, having dinner aboard the ship, and touring the city by ship. It should be a fun evening.</span>knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-4139366863147152522013-02-05T17:18:00.000-08:002013-02-05T17:18:16.132-08:00Some Down Time<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.22in;">Last
night's cruise was quite enjoyable. The ship was a
simple one that had all the feel of a cruise ship trying
to be classy but missing the mark just a little.
Don't get me wrong, it was great, but it was a simple
affair. The linen white table cloths had a nice
somewhat paper-like purple table cloth over them.
The chairs were covered in white linen as well though they
felt a little like deck chairs. The food was
relatively good (buffet style), and I used chop sticks
most of the meal since the plastic forks were tiny and
thin (I've actually gotten fairly good with chop sticks
... for an American at least ... still need help with long
noodles for sure). So perhaps that gives you a
better picture of the cruise. After the meal, we
headed up to the top deck and took lots of pictures.
Guangzhou has some interestingly lit buildings with lots
of colors. The haze made it difficult to capture
what we saw but it was still good. At some point
there was a juggling clown downstairs juggling to Ricky
Martin music in Spanish, but we stayed up top to look at
the scenery. Liliana ate a ton of food (first to
start eating and last to finish only because Mom cut her
off and in between the girl packed it away). She
also enjoyed the time up top.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">Today
and tomorrow we have some down time. We do not have
a consulate appointment until Thursday. Around the
hotel there is a buzz about heading home soon. When
we arrived here in Guangzhou, we ran into some old friends
from Beijing who were adopting from different provinces
than us. We also ran into some other groups who are
a few days ahead of us in terms of the process.
Hearing them talk about going home tomorrow or Thursday is
indeed a bit difficult. I don't wish the time
away or to short change our experience here, but the time
away from Rachel and the kids is difficult.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">Today
some of our group went to the local zoo. It was a
beautiful zoo with lots to look at beyond the animals.
The grounds were just filled with plants that were a treat
to look at as well. Our reps had us hit the major
animals in the park, and naturally we had to stop by the
panda exhibit. For being such a big symbol of China,
it was really no big deal in the zoo. There was only
one panda, and apparently he was on break. He laid
there in the sun most of the time we were there only
getting up to move to a new spot once. The elephant
and giraffes gave us a better show. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">It
was interesting watching Liliana. She does a lot of
baby babbling (I only know it is baby babbling and not
Chinese because people who speak Chinese even say it is
mostly baby babbling). She was interested in the
animals and even seemed to be trying to imitate a few of
them. Our time at the zoo was short but it seemed to
be just the right amount of time for everyone.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">We
came back to the hotel for some lunch and a nap while we
waited for a phone call about the TB test. She
tested negative and is fine moving forward. Right
now Mom and Liliana are out exploring the hotel as they
head down to exchange some money. Mom's great like
that. She can turn a simple chore like exchanging
money into a little adventure. This evening we have
a group dinner out together. Tomorrow is another
down day. I imagine we will spend some of our time
in the park across the street.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d-oQtQ4OqKJzBmhomXFekkbArH6H3EeNeccaP4Sjc4nWNc3INkFcFRKKmvcQdXePgwvuplRQDh-xaNpDOQmt5In51i59rAomRDbrl9ofAbYuOAmPoxYT9ys8e39uo2-Wnc8XuBc1ZJ60/s1600/Dec+Jan+2012+2013+141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d-oQtQ4OqKJzBmhomXFekkbArH6H3EeNeccaP4Sjc4nWNc3INkFcFRKKmvcQdXePgwvuplRQDh-xaNpDOQmt5In51i59rAomRDbrl9ofAbYuOAmPoxYT9ys8e39uo2-Wnc8XuBc1ZJ60/s320/Dec+Jan+2012+2013+141.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">Tomorrow
is also Janaya's fourth birthday. (Today by the time I posted this!) What an amazing
little girl she is! As each one of our children come
into our family, it is difficult to imagine our family
without them. Such is the case with Janaya.
She has such a wonderful spirit filled with life, energy,
laughter, and fun. She is such a blessing to have as
a daughter, and I love watching and helping her grow to
love Jesus. God has surely blessed us with this
little girl we call Janaya.</span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV3KtfUPNgRqGrtR2impnp4SSC5HCyRpf4pKfX7FvoquWZF3a7N-uDqGpi6hy9bb0YemKwJNfAcPy3bC9Yx2wt36y4juIBGdWARNKctRoKB8DF95WuDrlbzKLq0bC_yOuUQHT9jjF47In/s1600/812734_10152464328155367_371599977_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV3KtfUPNgRqGrtR2impnp4SSC5HCyRpf4pKfX7FvoquWZF3a7N-uDqGpi6hy9bb0YemKwJNfAcPy3bC9Yx2wt36y4juIBGdWARNKctRoKB8DF95WuDrlbzKLq0bC_yOuUQHT9jjF47In/s320/812734_10152464328155367_371599977_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZq994ILVHfw1inq73Is-huMmzHhLgL0xGKvOgXVOJJr_7fnpWteyN2VmjMwvqBy1FRfLGLFcGE0tr1zxhPFkTVwwZKfBAmsJsnIUkgSc2eUNhbsjyyyvTu8gAkrkuiS1NrFUXDmPCQtb/s1600/Dec+Jan+2012+2013+259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZq994ILVHfw1inq73Is-huMmzHhLgL0xGKvOgXVOJJr_7fnpWteyN2VmjMwvqBy1FRfLGLFcGE0tr1zxhPFkTVwwZKfBAmsJsnIUkgSc2eUNhbsjyyyvTu8gAkrkuiS1NrFUXDmPCQtb/s320/Dec+Jan+2012+2013+259.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">Because
of Janaya's vision impairment, we found ourselves
interacting with all kinds of people we had not interacted
with before. We suddenly had friends with children
with all kinds of impairments be they vision, mobility, or
something else. One of the girls' favorite friends
is a little girl who uses a walker, and to them, all of
this is as normal as different colored hair, eyes, or skin
... no biggie to to them. We also met Janaya's
initial vision teacher who has adopted four children from
China. God also seemed to bring several other
friends into our lives who adopted recently. Through
all of these people, God called us into this adoption. </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rrJKrOocpMt9dRm9BdXDQXUan2St5k9-OT4cZ-h4kPqdplTIsz4UGHBJlfqlTKdQkalvv5cLO7V_oJXBwhEmqdIbee0PHamws0rukXoBRAy-5mfeRcJ2ByTibjLnA_P-OKJRcwL-TIlZ/s1600/778828_10152464327790367_536491258_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rrJKrOocpMt9dRm9BdXDQXUan2St5k9-OT4cZ-h4kPqdplTIsz4UGHBJlfqlTKdQkalvv5cLO7V_oJXBwhEmqdIbee0PHamws0rukXoBRAy-5mfeRcJ2ByTibjLnA_P-OKJRcwL-TIlZ/s320/778828_10152464327790367_536491258_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBk0E2dViH7SBGDOAx26-gwMAmE3xeeUxUHKMA6rbFrFuy7hPZO-NZtyjkl3mTh60UORo_VrqtWdfTQ9nSH5MLmpc_3KkygZenTltQUxGjaeeACrlem86scsAfb5g2j2NaHCfuvkC9woH/s1600/843762_10152464328445367_612348934_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDfzWkmSoJxE_TC2CszjZ2dB_lIsmNn4mWlBDkzxz99e726gwr4vQFi8apTR0hxi7-KypNqjguP-9RSCrlsmVyF4K3V3OgbIOzu3j_G4Dm3sSw3qMiHScIH3gAxcuLX8dqIOmLUO0aqHD/s1600/469655_10152464020375367_1467007247_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"></span></a><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">In
many ways, it is fitting that I am here on her birthday.
Janaya's vision impairment led us into the world of
special needs parenting. When she was younger,
plenty of people prayed for God to restore her sight fully
and bring full healing. Of course, God is God, and
He can certainly do that. I've seen Him heal people
of all kinds of things that are only explainable by His
intervention. But I also know God is God, and
sometimes He has other purposes. Yes, Janaya having
her sight healed would be wonderful, and God may choose to
do that at some point. But when we learned of
Janaya's vision impairment years ago, I felt like God said
to us that He had purposes and plans to use it for His
glory. So as much as we appreciated people praying
in those early days for healing, we prayed more along the
lines of, "God, use this as You wish. If
healing brings You glory, then heal. If You have
other plans for receiving glory from this, then go for
it."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"> </span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.22in;">In
many ways, Janaya's vision impairment gave Rachel and I
eyes to see a need in the world and what God was calling
us to do about it. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBk0E2dViH7SBGDOAx26-gwMAmE3xeeUxUHKMA6rbFrFuy7hPZO-NZtyjkl3mTh60UORo_VrqtWdfTQ9nSH5MLmpc_3KkygZenTltQUxGjaeeACrlem86scsAfb5g2j2NaHCfuvkC9woH/s1600/843762_10152464328445367_612348934_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBk0E2dViH7SBGDOAx26-gwMAmE3xeeUxUHKMA6rbFrFuy7hPZO-NZtyjkl3mTh60UORo_VrqtWdfTQ9nSH5MLmpc_3KkygZenTltQUxGjaeeACrlem86scsAfb5g2j2NaHCfuvkC9woH/s320/843762_10152464328445367_612348934_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">Had
God healed Janaya's eyes early on, a little girl named
Liliana would still be an orphan in the Louyang Orphanage,
and there would be one more orphan in the world that God's
heart cries for. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">There
are many times when friends and family say such kind
things to Rachel and me about how loving we are to adopt
or how special we are or how generous we are being or what
amazing people we are because of this. We always
appreciate the kind words, but the reality is that Rachel
and I really are not all that special. In and of
ourselves, we have no special knowledge, talents, gifts,
or abilities. What we do have is an amazing God who
called us to follow Him wherever He goes and who uses the
simple to bring Himself glory. Our prayer is that
when people see us adopting Liliana that they see God's
love being acted out. It's not something we're doing
but rather something He's doing, and He chose to use us as
His vessel so that He might receive all the glory.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDfzWkmSoJxE_TC2CszjZ2dB_lIsmNn4mWlBDkzxz99e726gwr4vQFi8apTR0hxi7-KypNqjguP-9RSCrlsmVyF4K3V3OgbIOzu3j_G4Dm3sSw3qMiHScIH3gAxcuLX8dqIOmLUO0aqHD/s1600/469655_10152464020375367_1467007247_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDfzWkmSoJxE_TC2CszjZ2dB_lIsmNn4mWlBDkzxz99e726gwr4vQFi8apTR0hxi7-KypNqjguP-9RSCrlsmVyF4K3V3OgbIOzu3j_G4Dm3sSw3qMiHScIH3gAxcuLX8dqIOmLUO0aqHD/s320/469655_10152464020375367_1467007247_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: small;">So
happy birthday to my special little girl, Janaya.
You are more than the sum of your parts. You are
called by a King who is pleased that you are following Him
and Who is calling you to follow Him all the days of your
life. I am sure in this life that God will use the
gifts, talents, and abilities He has given you to bless
others and bring Him glory. Your eyes are one of
those things that at times may seem like a struggle but know
that God uses even our struggles many times over to bring
Himself glory. May this story of bringing your
sister Liliana home to her forever family be just one of
many times where you see Him using you and all of your
special gifts. </span></span></span></div>
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knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-51565064878757791742013-02-03T11:52:00.002-08:002013-02-03T11:52:39.027-08:00Guangzhou<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yesterday
was travel day for us. We left Zhengzhou in the morning to
travel here to Guangzhou. The China side of this trip is
complete. We have all of the files we need, made all of the
payments we need to make, and have a Chinese passport for Liliana.
Now in Guangzhou the focus shifts to America. We need to
complete a medical exam and apply for a visa for Liliana to enter the
country.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
was very pleased to see a sunny sky for our travel day. It has
been so long since I have seen the sun due to the fog and smog.
Most skies are gray here (at least during our stay they have been).
So this was a rare treat even if it was only for the morning. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Travel
in China is rarely easy. Traffic is heavy on the roads and
makes most trips take double the amount of time they should.
Flight times are more like dreams and wishes than a reality. We
were supposed to leave at 12:50 pm on our flight. Our plane was
still in its city of origin at that time and arrived at the airport
some time around 2:30 pm. We boarded around 3:00 pm and sat on
the plane until about 3:30 pm or so. Liliana was a trooper
through it all, especially considering that nap time was in the
middle of it. We blew through it until she fell asleep during
the last hour of the flight. By the time we arrived we were all
tired and worn. We had a fairly long hike to our bus (not too
bad though) and a 45 minute ride to the hotel. I think we
arrived around 8:30 pm or so. We all grabbed something quick to
eat and headed to bed.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today
we had breakfast, and I hung around the hotel to play with Liliana,
exchange money, take a walk, and spend time with Rach on Skype.
Lunch and nap time followed and went well. Mom decided to
venture out and take a taxi to a church. She found a Chinese
Catholic service in all Chinese that she enjoyed and then headed to
the market where she had a ball. She was in her element I am
sure. When she arrived back here she was filled with stories to
tell and new treasures to show. Mom has such a love for life
and adventurous spirit. It is one of the reasons she is such a
great person.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
am quite the opposite. Though I love life and do take risks in
some ways, when it comes to venturing out in an unfamiliar city in a
country where I can't read, write, or speak the language all while
trying to navigate public transportation, I'm just not there.
An experience like Mom had today would be more stressful than
pleasurable for me. Add to it the complications of a new child,
and forget it. Still, I am happy that Mom was able to go and
have a great time, and to be honest I had a wonderful conversation
with my wife and also took care of some tasks and had a good morning
with Liliana. Also, I was able to get her to nap well. So
I don't really feel like I lost out. I just chose the type of
day that suited my personality. Besides, we'll venture out
again fairly soon I am sure (but for me I will feel more comfortable
with a larger group or with our guides, etc.). </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
afternoon was filled with completing the paperwork for the visa.
We did this with help from our CCAI reps (Jason and Kathy here in
Guangzhou). It was basically filling in blanks on one form and
then finding and organizing all of the supporting documents needed.
It went smoothly, but it reminded me of teaching first grade in
September only I was one of the students. Despite the teacher
giving only one instruction at a time, having a model up for us,
repeating it, and having a second teacher there to support us as we
went along, inside of most of us we had this need to individually
check in. Yes, I can see the form he is holding up now, and
yes, I can see that I took the same form out of the folder filled
with forms that Rachel prepared for me with lots of labels so it
would be clear, and yes, I can see that my form matches the forms of
two of the people sitting right next to me so I am clearly on track,
and yes, the second teacher does not see a need to help me so I must
be right, and yes, I am a college graduate who functions in society
fairly independently on a regular basis and am able to perform basic
tasks such as reading and writing fairly fluently on my own.
But despite all of that I have this need to raise up my form, look at
my teacher, and say, "Is this the right one?" ...
just like my first graders would do to me those first few days and
weeks of school. I imagine it was just the nervousness we all
felt because we know one mistake turns this process into a pain.
Still, when it was all over, and I was able to reflect on it, I just
had to laugh.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
quick update for those of you praying for Liliana's sleep. Last
night went well. She was so exhausted from travel that she fell
asleep in Mom's arms while drinking her formula. In the middle
of the night, she stirred a bit. I tried comforting her.
Mom had the bright idea of offering a bottle with some water.
That worked like a charm, and she stayed asleep all night with the
bottle still in her mouth in the morning.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
afternoon for nap, Liliana was upset about going to sleep. We
laid on the bed after praying and singing. I kept singing as I
offered her the bottle. She did not take it at first, but I was
able to get her to take it within a minute. This quieted the
crying. I sang for a few more minutes as I stroked her hair.
Then I realized that she was quiet, and I thought I would stop
singing to see if she could get herself from just resting there to
actual sleeping. Within five minutes she was out. We
repeated the same routine for bed, and it worked. So pray she
stays asleep now as I write and go to bed, and pray that this keeps
working. Thank you so much for all your prayers for us.
We feel them out here.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also
pray that the Scripture and the Spirit are able to break through to
her heart. While our family is providing Liliana with an
adopted family and home here, the best adoption comes when she is
adopted by God into His family and when she finds her home in Him
through Jesus Christ. So pray that as we sing songs, pray, read
Scripture, etc. that she begins to have a positive association with
these things and that she leaves her heart open to Jesus.</span></span></span></div>
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-56921176100299341802013-02-01T20:48:00.000-08:002013-02-01T20:48:19.572-08:00A Day of Rest<br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today was a day to rest. Many families took it easy today. Tomorrow morning we fly to our final destination in China to get things ready on the US side of this journey.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though Mom and I planned to take it easy today, Liliana decided that taking it easy would start exactly at 6:00 am today when she woke up. When she did wake up, it was still dark in the room, and she began to cry until we got out of bed. She was slow on her feet and found herself falling down and having a hard time getting up until well after breakfast. I'm not sure why this happened, but her tiny legs are just barely strong enough to hold her body up. Her legs get tired quickly, and she currently has the stability and walking abilities of a child who is just starting to walk. She can walk without holding a hand, but it is much safer with one</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our morning breakfast was leisurely. What do we eat here in China? Well, actually Mom and I have tried to keep our food choices fairly true to local customs. The breakfasts here in the hotels are a big affair. There is table after table of all kinds of food ranging from an omelet station to sausages and bacon, to Chinese vegetable dishes, to cheeses and breads, to pastries, to hard boiled eggs, to steamed rolls, to juices, to salads, to yogurts, to melons, to cereals, to ... well, you get the point. Your meal can be as American or Chinese as you want. I usually try to mix it up with a little of both. Lunches, dinners, and snacks are a mixture of things. Yes, you can get American fast food around here fairly easily, and you can also eat some great Chinese food as well.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">By the way, though she may be small, Liliana can eat! Some of this may be a result of being an orphan. Based on what we saw at Swallows Nest, she was fed very, very well, but who knows what memories she has from Luoyang. No matter what, the girl eats! She also does not feed herself much. So we are doing that for her right now. This is actually good because it gives us a chance to build relationship with Liliana as her provider. In time she will develop new habits, and in fact we have seen growth already.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">We spent the rest of the morning talking with families, packing bags, helping Liliana nap, etc. This evening, we went out for an early dinner (had some great dumplings and Chinese dishes). After dinner we strolled a few blocks. Liliana had her first time out in the baby carrier, and she did quite well. Up until now, Mom or I have just carried her. Today I strapped her on my front facing in to see how she liked it since we will need it tomorrow when we go to the airport. While strolling the streets we got some stares from locals (that's natural). We simply greeted them with smiles. Traffic in the streets was heavy. One intersection had three police officers, a traffic light, and at least one crossing guard. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Traffic on the sidewalk was also busy. Yes, the locals ride their motor bikes on the sidewalk. So at any time, you might get run over just by walking on the sidewalk. Did I also mention that they park their cars on the sidewalks too? Taking a stroll is a risky affair.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">This evening when we returned I received Liliana's Chinese passport. She will travel back to the US using it. Once she lands, it is null and void because she will be a US citizen at that point.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Putting Liliana down this evening was difficult. Rachel was on Skype for a few minutes of it before we lost the connection. This was probably the most difficult going to bed session yet. Mom saw it coming based on how Liliana was acting just prior to bed. She is starting to pick up on our routines. After we prayed and sang, I rocked her in my arms as she cried. Previous nights the crying was more of a whimper and lasted only a while. Tonight is was an emotional release and took much longer. She eventually did go to sleep</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though difficult to go through with her, the reality is that that cry as probably a very good sign of some healthy bonding. You don't let your guard down with people you don't trust, and you don't do things like cry real loud with caregivers about whom you are unsure. So I am praying that this was a breakthrough. I'm sure there are many more similar nights to come, and I pray that in those moments I am able to remember this little paragraph and allow it to mold my thinking and actions.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I stood there rocking Liliana to sleep, singing and humming to her to comfort her, God showed me how this really was a picture of Him and us. This is how we should come to God ... with all of our brokenness, flaws, and pains ... to lay in His arms and cry out to Him so He can bring perfect peace and rest. Over time as we do this, He brings healing. So often we try to fix ourselves up and get ourselves ready to be with God when really we need to come us as we are and lay in His arms.</span></span><br />
knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-82160860917721010862013-02-01T20:43:00.001-08:002013-02-01T20:43:29.342-08:00Liliana's Finding Place and Maria's Big House of Hope<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Several families from our adoption group have children who spent a portion of their time as orphans at Maria's Big House of Hope. Liliana is one of these children, and in fact it is also the place where she picked up the name Liliana and where she met a young (now college freshman) girl named Sarah, who Rachel and I credit as being one of God's instruments for moving our hearts towards adopting Liliana. Her prayers for Liliana and her writing on her blog are a wonderful part of Liliana's story that I love telling over and over again.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of the families here that have children that spent time at Maria's, two of us wanted to visit along with someone whose child did not spend time there but she wanted to see the place. Maria's is in Luoyang, the same city as Liliana's orphanage. So the group of us decided to travel back out there today but before getting to Maria's, we stopped at Liliana's finding place.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">A finding place is aptly named as it is the place where an orphan is found when s/he is abandoned. So here's what we know: On April 11, 2010, Liliana was found in the Shiji Huayang Square at the intersection of Jiudou Road and Lixin Road. She was taken to the police and placed into the orphanage. They estimated her birth date to be March 27, 2010. An investigation was completed. Her parents were not found, and she was officially declared abandoned. An ad was placed in the local newspaper with her picture and the name they chose for her (that name is Dang Cai Tong and yes, we now have a photocopy of the ad). She was never claimed by her birth parents or relatives. How sad it was to see the ad because it appeared on a page with about thirty or more other ads for abandoned babies. This province is filled with abandoned babies.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">The people in our little group heading out to Luoyang knew how important is was to me for us to get to Liliana's finding place. I wanted to see it, smell it, feel it, and hear it for myself. I wanted to capture it as best as I could for Liliana so when she asks about that place years from now, I can show her pictures and speak about it. Although both Maria's Big House of Hope and Liliana's finding place are in the same city, going to Liliana's finding place added a lot of extra time to the travel, especially with traffic. In addition, the fog has been extra thick this week (Clay said this has been the worst it has been in years). So driving is not easy (plus all of the traffic and crazy drivers). So I am forever grateful to our driver, CCAI rep., and the families who trekked out to Liliana's finding place with us. They were so kind and loving to allow me the opportunity to get to Liliana's finding place and go through all of the trouble of getting there. I cannot thank them enough. It was not just a kind gesture but in fact a gift to Liliana as it helps me fill in another gap in her story.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeMXAXxHJ7QI0-0gMFwn8z7Ss8_OPOL_ZD2eMO3H4lBX5pwr_7-yQGqF3Zmsojre1xrkAv_lX3a2mcs-MbKpJ6JtN8sjJrVqejmNM05Ro2TdIeohyZ-tsczq19CatmK9YQgTvMujTtoVC/s1600/IMG_20130130_224037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeMXAXxHJ7QI0-0gMFwn8z7Ss8_OPOL_ZD2eMO3H4lBX5pwr_7-yQGqF3Zmsojre1xrkAv_lX3a2mcs-MbKpJ6JtN8sjJrVqejmNM05Ro2TdIeohyZ-tsczq19CatmK9YQgTvMujTtoVC/s320/IMG_20130130_224037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of the intersection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our CCAI rep. told me in advance that the square where Liliana was abandoned was a very famous and busy area of the city. When we arrived, I stepped out of the van with Liliana. The emotions hit me hard. Think back to what you were doing in April of 2010. I was just finishing my second year of teaching third grade. Rachel was newly pregnant with Simeon. Elianna was about to turn three years old, and we just finished celebrating Janaya's first birthday that February. At the same time as I was living out my quiet little life in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, the daughter I did not know I had was being left in a public square by someone (most likely her mom ... maybe her dad).</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two years, nine months, and twenty days. That was the last time my little girl was in this square, and now here she was. Back for the first time since she was abandoned, and here I was setting my eyes on a place that changed my life forever before I ever knew it existed.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tried to take it all in. I first grabbed as many photos and videos as I could. Some included Liliana (alone, with me, with Mom and me). Many were just pictures of the intersection and surrounding area. There's no way to know exactly where in the square she was left. We do know that this is a more upscale section of town, and the large hotel on the corner is one of the nicer ones in town. The imax theater across the street did not exist at the time. There are also many tall residential buildings in the area.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYsGFKfJMr5oZOFwYecXlQfRaiRdbMkIhNjON_1AtLvqDPDEtHE46nd4Yp7YPtTzW51szt1sGJuh9-TPq-OYTd-6h41iYyEbEMgV_6f-JrOS4mVe1fXpMTrwwiMtuAfFbxdaxmA3V2SGW/s1600/IMG_20130130_224142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYsGFKfJMr5oZOFwYecXlQfRaiRdbMkIhNjON_1AtLvqDPDEtHE46nd4Yp7YPtTzW51szt1sGJuh9-TPq-OYTd-6h41iYyEbEMgV_6f-JrOS4mVe1fXpMTrwwiMtuAfFbxdaxmA3V2SGW/s320/IMG_20130130_224142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street sign at Liliana's finding place</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CctifhM_O9uyx-1Ym_TS4xHa4Z1sf8HVDz810VN0ksBrBv2QiItHVzv-WgZCHS0tletkzV9q0Pszpr8O58jzkof-7n4ddlMO2okyYX0g6pdVaxRByLUA44nWGZvlZ8dzdir-R4V_GVMT/s1600/IMG_20130130_224219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CctifhM_O9uyx-1Ym_TS4xHa4Z1sf8HVDz810VN0ksBrBv2QiItHVzv-WgZCHS0tletkzV9q0Pszpr8O58jzkof-7n4ddlMO2okyYX0g6pdVaxRByLUA44nWGZvlZ8dzdir-R4V_GVMT/s320/IMG_20130130_224219.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liliana at her finding place</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I finished with pictures and videos I just sort of stood there, walked around, and tried to take it all in. Mom had Liliana at this point and was heading back towards the van. I wept openly as I stood there. My heart just broke for what was lost here that day in April. It still hurts, and I find it difficult to even write about it now. I don't know why Liliana's parents abandoned her. I assume that they were from another part of the city (or another city completely) and chose this location because they were wanting their daughter to be found by someone better off than themselves (many make this choice). I assume that for some reason they could not keep their daughter but they wanted something better for her, and so they chose this spot. I can't ever know if my assumptions are correct, but they make sense given the circumstances. I wonder about her parents. Were they just not able to afford her? Did they already have a daughter and now needed a son so they would have someone to take care of them when they were older? Was it harder for mom than for dad to abandon her? How was the decision made? Did one of them bring her or did someone else? What did they think if/when they saw her face in the newspaper? Where are they now? Have I seen them while I have been here? Do they think about her and have a story they tell themselves about what happened to her?</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2xyIvbt8EoYghYAqBDsTT58xzN2G77ExbJ-EZIKybnw9rNmSjvQQm2RIhQI0qdev9i_rKGk6JmIsVmIYwK5JAZOqN5rAmaNOPB61BcrbnAsIQ9MVyObNXQhpe6EaJt_F5IqjuXI6qiUx/s1600/IMG_20130130_224040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2xyIvbt8EoYghYAqBDsTT58xzN2G77ExbJ-EZIKybnw9rNmSjvQQm2RIhQI0qdev9i_rKGk6JmIsVmIYwK5JAZOqN5rAmaNOPB61BcrbnAsIQ9MVyObNXQhpe6EaJt_F5IqjuXI6qiUx/s320/IMG_20130130_224040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another intersection picture</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0As6Auh1zsUc09lGozUE9Il8hdI3InJNkt-oPL8XSHpbjoQPv2lak1ZsjgDheJMN00pwdN0ScZReOU7paca1ryFkJ35ZOm4dVoLhKQXwUfFV7dpS35piMTXt9yzly-m2xkG3tAT_HaUS/s1600/IMG_20130130_224209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0As6Auh1zsUc09lGozUE9Il8hdI3InJNkt-oPL8XSHpbjoQPv2lak1ZsjgDheJMN00pwdN0ScZReOU7paca1ryFkJ35ZOm4dVoLhKQXwUfFV7dpS35piMTXt9yzly-m2xkG3tAT_HaUS/s320/IMG_20130130_224209.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liliana</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's easy to get angry at these types of parents and to look down at them in judgment. I mean, what kind of parent abandons his/her own child, right? Yet, I do not feel any anger at them at all. Rather, I am grateful for them. I don't know their story and the circumstances that caused such a difficult decision to be made. So, I can't judge them. They made the decision that they made. For Liliana's sake, I wish they would have held on to her and kept her in their family. As much as we love her and as much as she is now fully a part of our family, the reality is that her birth parents family was the place God designed for her live and grow originally. Though they abandoned their daughter, the reality is that Liliana's parents gave her one parting gift when they left her in that square that day ... life.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not every child gets the gift of life. Far too many babies never get the opportunity to live life outside the womb, but Liliana got that chance, and look what God has done. Yes, not every story ends as happily as Liliana's story does, but just because us adults are not doing enough to ensure happy endings for all children does not mean that all children don't deserve a beginning. </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">So wherever Liliana's birth parents are right now, let me take a moment to thank them for giving her life. We pray that she will use that gift to live her life fully devoted to Jesus Christ and that one day they too would know this faith.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">So the journey to Liliana's finding place was long and rough. The time there was filled with difficult emotions, but the trip was well worth it. When I felt like there was nothing more I could take in and when the crying stopped and my eyes were a bit drier, I walked back to the van, loaded up, and headed off to Maria's Big House of Hope.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maria's House was a completely different experience for me. At Maria's, we were able to take a brief tour, and we got to find our children's rooms. Liliana stayed here between nine months and seventeen months old while she was very sick. She was in the Tinkerbell room on the first floor mostly (she may have spent some time in another room upstairs briefly). </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">We toured nearly the whole place and got to see the room of the other family with us on this trip. Near the end of our tour, we got to Liliana's room. When we entered her room, I recognized some of the toys from pictures I had seen. The nanny in the room did not seem to recognize Liliana too well, and Liliana did not respond to her like she did her nanny at Luoyang or nannies at Swallows Nest. There seemed to be a meeting of nannies in another room at the time. So perhaps this was a second tier nanny. Still, she held Liliana, offered her a candy, and played a little with her. We took some pictures together, and then needed to leave to get home before the fog closed the highway and we needed to spend the night in Luoyang.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am so grateful for the ministry of Maria's Big House of Hope. They took care of our daughter when she was quite ill. I don't yet know how sick Liliana was but clearly it was bad enough to warrant going there. Without their work, who knows what would have happened to Liliana. We will be hopefully getting more information and pictures on her stay there when I get home. In addition to this, their partnering ministry, Show Hope, gave us a grant towards our adoption and also gave us a ton of free DVD resources from Dr. Karyn Purvis (an amazing and brilliant woman). So Maria's House, Show Hope, etc. has been a real blessing to us in this process.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both times we were in Luoyang, Liliana got a bit upset. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think either somehow she knew where we were or some spiritual warfare was happening. In ether case, we were able to pray over her and reassure her that she was safe. Riding in the van seems to be difficult as well. Think about it though: van rides always meant change for her. So this is a normal reaction. Lots of snacks seemed to provide good distraction.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Liliana also still does not want to go to sleep. She is a bit afraid too. We've been praying over that, and tonight went fairly well. We discovered that rocking her to sleep is the only way to get beyond the emotions/trauma. So this evening I spent a lot of time rocking her to sleep.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for me, I am missing home as any husband and father who loves his wife and kids would. This week has been all about filling in gaps in Liliana's story and saying good-bye ... good-bye to being an orphan, good-bye to Luoyang Orphanage, good-bye to Swallows Nest, good-bye to Maria's Big House of Hope, good-bye to the Shiji Huayang Square. Next week our focus shifts and we get ready for saying hello to our future.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">With this shift comes a deeper longing for home. Perhaps the biggest reason I want to see us home soon is Rachel. Liliana needs to meet her Mommy. She is going to fall in love with her Mama. Right now she gets to see her on Skype at least. She already places value in that relationship. She loves the hat Rachel made for her. She was looking for it earlier this evening and was sad until I got it for her. She brightened right up as she ran (as best as she can) towards it. Later when I went to put her to bed, she asked for it and seemed to be comforted by it greatly. Hold on just a little longer, Liliana. You will meet your Mommy soon, and when you do you will be blown away! She is more amazing, more brilliant, more loving, more kind, and more sensitive than anything you could have dreamed about a Mommy being.</span></span>knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-88039962055486672742013-01-31T19:26:00.000-08:002013-01-31T19:26:18.416-08:00Waiting for an updateSo for those of you who are obsessively refreshing this blog to see an update (of course you are <i>all</i> doing that right?) I thought I would let you know what's been going on. B.J. wrote the blog post, but his email isn't working, so I don't have it yet to copy and paste for your reading enjoyment ;)<br />
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In the meantime, we are doing well on the home front. We have continued to be blessed with meals, offers of help, encouraging notes, visits, and phone calls. It has made such a huge difference for us. I seem to have recovered from my 'mean mommy' day or two at the beginning of the week and we are back to hitting our stride. I was able to get some great advice from a phone conversation with Scott over at the <a href="http://www.biblicalparenting.org/" target="_blank">National Center for Biblical Parenting</a> (have I mentioned how much I LOVE their stuff???) and we put it into practice today quite literally. By the end of today, I was already seeing some progress which is always encouraging. I'm curious how tomorrow will play out but today's success has me feeling upbeat about it all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7caSXD_dWsBZgqrdSvfw9fiWOotTpQu66Gv-26hDv5fkHwY02HLbUjN6CaIXi1eLOpUMRxClRRweTrXo-07bEX2lTg0uPmjJXMwKN4irQ8borzZmUVWx6_N1Pg3ed0cQbQhe4jqTwuqu_/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7caSXD_dWsBZgqrdSvfw9fiWOotTpQu66Gv-26hDv5fkHwY02HLbUjN6CaIXi1eLOpUMRxClRRweTrXo-07bEX2lTg0uPmjJXMwKN4irQ8borzZmUVWx6_N1Pg3ed0cQbQhe4jqTwuqu_/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elianna folding papers for her star</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvO8yRBkgM0618aPi_2nDwwUw4r_Rn7nkCfaPpvNQ2v_m00Pmc7dbHGuVsEQ9bbt9KAq0m_0KjvOLRbaK26W-5nQTeEpkAGJtt9Ayn3a2G7Oqz_R8RjBuHV124-8nTQLJ-YrlU2fqG5BX/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvO8yRBkgM0618aPi_2nDwwUw4r_Rn7nkCfaPpvNQ2v_m00Pmc7dbHGuVsEQ9bbt9KAq0m_0KjvOLRbaK26W-5nQTeEpkAGJtt9Ayn3a2G7Oqz_R8RjBuHV124-8nTQLJ-YrlU2fqG5BX/s320/photo+(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janaya's star</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGnx69zTh2kTDZvqifx-kUXMHqamaIiC-sH-lUxAKYbtBTDr7z5gt3FeOk0oeODDWFwSmjbu5Nvqjisw4hndORTJh_w6S_2YMk27Dn4Db5uE6iIuFuj9o8sdACBcPsGR1SimfdyDndoDC/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGnx69zTh2kTDZvqifx-kUXMHqamaIiC-sH-lUxAKYbtBTDr7z5gt3FeOk0oeODDWFwSmjbu5Nvqjisw4hndORTJh_w6S_2YMk27Dn4Db5uE6iIuFuj9o8sdACBcPsGR1SimfdyDndoDC/s320/photo+(14).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janaya folding for her star</td></tr>
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This week, so far we have done crafts, played outside, gone on play dates outside the home, done schoolwork (some :), and visited with friends. We had our preschool play date today at our house - which is always a highlight of the week for the girls as well as for me. We get to have a dear friend and her three girls over and the girls play and have fun while we mommies talk and then we usually do some sort of fun learning activity. Then we eat lunch, play some more, and head to naps. After they left, the girls did some picking up before the UPS truck showed up with their new curvy boards (thanks to some birthday/Christmas money they had both been saving...). The curvy boards were a huge hit and they played with them for the rest of the day. Simeon wasn't too sure at first, but by bedtime, he was playing right along. It also worked well for helping them get out some energy, so they were pretty tired for bedtime tonight (SCORE!!) That makes two nights in a row. Last night they were exhausted after spending the evening running and crashing all over the basement at my friend's house. She invited us over, along with my sister and her kids, for dinner and a fun place to play. The kids had a blast and even enjoyed getting to take baths over there, so they were already in their jammies by the time we got home. <br />
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We are keeping busy to try to pass the time. Not that that is hard with four kiddos in the house! I am still trying to get nesting projects done, but the progress is smaller and not as rewarding as the first few things were. Oh well, progress is progress :)<br />
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B.J. and Liliana and Mom are still doing well. Liliana has started having trouble with sleeping and I am guessing it has to do with all of the changes she is going through and maybe a bit of grieving as well. You can pray for that. We have gotten to Skype - usually twice a day and that has helped. I get to just chat with her (as much as you can chat on a camera with a toddler) and watch her play. She loves the hat I made her and wanted to sleep with it last night. She calls it her 'mama hat'. I love it!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAJ8oTGAhC2H-jTfwoEwNjD3Cag75edVZfpP2Tbuwy3TLs7u0p97aWDKO-dLnWMSw2QHJrP4zAlvJnJ825uuuxAG3RO76Ta5RDn5ZQfxSQj-BBE-pkYCiBUmP5-iKHYdSiaWbYTDB7iZb/s1600/photo+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAJ8oTGAhC2H-jTfwoEwNjD3Cag75edVZfpP2Tbuwy3TLs7u0p97aWDKO-dLnWMSw2QHJrP4zAlvJnJ825uuuxAG3RO76Ta5RDn5ZQfxSQj-BBE-pkYCiBUmP5-iKHYdSiaWbYTDB7iZb/s320/photo+(20).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elianna's paper star she made (with a bit of help)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP0EEb_8MfkDhp_KowgF2ghJJloWvXlaARcq_ezN0FzQ8ZhpBO6iH5xcJ1hQxlW9B2C_QAPn_mr021j4-bQCpxmtSQ3Neh-_xsn021DSKENaXneYEtNqOfLJqjIc0-hY6aAIxlfgpQNxd/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP0EEb_8MfkDhp_KowgF2ghJJloWvXlaARcq_ezN0FzQ8ZhpBO6iH5xcJ1hQxlW9B2C_QAPn_mr021j4-bQCpxmtSQ3Neh-_xsn021DSKENaXneYEtNqOfLJqjIc0-hY6aAIxlfgpQNxd/s320/photo+(17).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves to 'help' her whenever she is down on his level :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU00hodR6tKhRriN9z0jpzIEZ0wE1TRk5GBlN_ix3LXDDLcAIoXfgDmG4NLCmwRezKA2SFQNPtgLjAyszuwqEhGrKHbkAELLVaEsshKf9sUbB-J-DO-YiFd2nGlOef6YMJeURRf6b0fIl/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU00hodR6tKhRriN9z0jpzIEZ0wE1TRk5GBlN_ix3LXDDLcAIoXfgDmG4NLCmwRezKA2SFQNPtgLjAyszuwqEhGrKHbkAELLVaEsshKf9sUbB-J-DO-YiFd2nGlOef6YMJeURRf6b0fIl/s320/photo+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entertaining belly time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv-OOFnOa6BPkNy6kfiXpaTPm-cFItkiW7MUXo-xJVvm2vpP17Li_v17Qw4EPcXJsABoCzk7y5E5CQbyyaUTs-I1YMNS5KOBM8LTWo-V7u9KN0dYUoJ8j0eWOOzD8yk9msgO6aDtz-sSU/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv-OOFnOa6BPkNy6kfiXpaTPm-cFItkiW7MUXo-xJVvm2vpP17Li_v17Qw4EPcXJsABoCzk7y5E5CQbyyaUTs-I1YMNS5KOBM8LTWo-V7u9KN0dYUoJ8j0eWOOzD8yk9msgO6aDtz-sSU/s320/photo+(19).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls getting out energy on their curvy boards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DePUcf5TO0EDWlP1GR8qULcN8A5eccwO0ZcnGKJH68vh2bTXttBX1CeMGQARtSApyTZRayKOkDUeaechEqOqw72f9cCrMX2XAwrG-i5tR-Kx7a4eBs104CnLbkKuoEPh6l7be7VDgDkV/s1600/photo+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DePUcf5TO0EDWlP1GR8qULcN8A5eccwO0ZcnGKJH68vh2bTXttBX1CeMGQARtSApyTZRayKOkDUeaechEqOqw72f9cCrMX2XAwrG-i5tR-Kx7a4eBs104CnLbkKuoEPh6l7be7VDgDkV/s320/photo+(18).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janaya on her curvy board</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYN2owGVpde4ScoqKMN4rqoFDVCMQB924AMd8Y2ckP-jLr1nJFsS_GZABE2X6BP0y0fWYd9o4fkRrfzaBDzXKULR8kFxyldCqDpnzNXdwUKBsqkvtxtMswQBimf2LXPxchm30XntUofC8/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYN2owGVpde4ScoqKMN4rqoFDVCMQB924AMd8Y2ckP-jLr1nJFsS_GZABE2X6BP0y0fWYd9o4fkRrfzaBDzXKULR8kFxyldCqDpnzNXdwUKBsqkvtxtMswQBimf2LXPxchm30XntUofC8/s640/photo+(16).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Crash Pad' at my friend/'boss' house</td></tr>
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<br />knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974176653074914128.post-78665828649256036722013-01-30T11:59:00.000-08:002013-01-30T11:59:13.745-08:00PS. for Swallows Nest<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A
quick PS to my last post.</b> We were able to get the blanket
Rachel and Mom designed and made for Liliana and that we sent over to
Swallows Nest last April. We also were able to get her baby doll.
For her birthday last year, Swallows Nest bought Liliana a doll and a cake. So now they are with her once
more.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By
the way, baby doll in Chinese is "wawa". This is also
the word for "baby".</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rachel's PS</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Swallows Nest is a wonderful ministry that is funded through sponsors. You can sponsor a nanny or a child and that amount goes to pay for all of the expenses of caring for these orphans. Some have families working to come to get them and some do not have a family yet. The monthly sponsorship also helps to cover medical care as well. Liliana got a birthday party for probably the first time ever since she was at Swallows Nest - that is another thing that the monthly sponsorship goes to pay for. Feel free to check out the link on the previous blog post to see their website and find out how you can get involved :)</span></span></span></div>
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knlrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12315126722576820214noreply@blogger.com0