Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

I discovered this awesome site....Pinterest! I still can't pronounce it, but that doesn't matter. I came across this awesome idea. So, I quickly put our design team (Dan) to work! Here are our Random acts of christmas kindness cards. If you have any ideas of what our family could do during the 25 days of RACK, please comment! Happy RACK'ing!!!!

15, really??

How is it possible that we have a 15 year old? Seriously, can anyone 'splain that to me?? This girl is straight up goodness! She is such a giving, helpful soul! She is the best big sister any kid could ask for.We are blessed. Kenz took drivers training this summer. She's not too bad. She is working hard to save up money towards the purchase of a car. She's a hard worker and a great saver! Watch out world. This girl's on her way!!

Lame-Momma Summer

Bubba helped build a tower to the ceiling! A HUGE hit!
The best smile - EVER!
Silas with his buddy, Tess.

I was such a bad photo taker all summer. I have a few, but not nearly enough. Especially considering that in order to remember what we've done, I have to go through pictures. Oh well.

A short summer recap:

• Spent one weekend at Camp Dearborn, where we very quickly discovered that Silas is too young for us to go to Camp Dearborn. Watch out next summer. We're all over that.
• Spent Labor Day at a great lake house up north (thanks Mom and Dad!!). We quickly discovered (apparently long weekends are very eye-opening) that we can be excellent parents if we don't have to work, cook, or clean. It was a relaxing weekend all around. There was a beautiful porch with an incredible swing. It was the perfect amount of outside for me. I could get a cup of coffee and sit outside. Perfection!!
• Spent lots of time playing referee. The boys have come SO far in their squabbles. They are starting to become friends and play together. We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
• Silas is talking a TON. He's got a great sense of humor. He cracks Micah up all the time. He has this stern face that he makes at Micah when they are in their car seats. It's hilarious. I've tried to catch it on my phone several times, but I am trying to drive and all!

Perhaps Fall will afford us more time for pictures and blogging. I'm just sure of it.

Dancer girl

Sophie had her first dance recital ever last weekend. She was beyond excited. We were challenged by the request of her teacher to get her hair into this bun!! But, we did it! Sophie had a huge, cheesy, proud grin on her face through her entire dance. We were so proud of her and happy to see her enjoy herself so much!!

Quitting the FB

I've decided (again) to quit Facebook. I've been noticing that a couple things are happening for me:

1. I blog a lot less. I have my blog linked to FB, I blog and then wait to see if anyone will "like" it or what comments they might have. It becomes too narcissistic for me. I originally set up my blog as a "memory keeper" for me. I can't remember anything. So, I really want my blog to be something that I keep current and don't write for anyone else. To be fair, I keep it public because I really, really enjoy reading other people's blogs and being part of their world (or at least what they share on their blogs)

2. I read someone's post on someone else's wall and think...Wow, they are such good friends. Do I have relationships like that? and then the dangerous step...and does the world know it??

3. I read someone else's status about what they are doing for the Lord or in their ministry and I think - What am I doing? I wish I could be doing more.

So, I think I will save time and spend it thanking the Lord for where I am now and what He has called me to be doing.

One month home

We've been home from China for one month (bet the title didn't give that away, huh?). It's been a whirlwind, really. I'm amazed at how well this little man has adjusted and become a part of the family. It is A LOT of work with these two little kids. Micah at 2 1/2 has a lot of energy and is a very sensitive soul. He cries alot. About everything. I love that little mug though. Silas is a crazy, dare devil with a large piece of accident prone thrown in there. We are pretty much constantly parenting one of the two of them. Silas is still getting rocked to sleep for nap and bedtime with a bottle. We aren't ready to cry it out just yet. He doesn't let Dan rock him to sleep yet. Dan isn't giving up though. He keeps trying. Silas keeps winning. I'm sure his day is coming. We are challenged with trying to make sure everyone is getting what they need. But we are still standing. That's something, right??

Choose your title

• The no go horrible, good for nothing day
• Are you FAAA-REAKING kidding me
• Taking out the weakest member
• and lastly...Mom's quote "This is why I didn't want to come!"

We went to tour a Buddist temple today...yada yada yada. Nothing much reportable. We then went to a factory where they make a lot of the traditional items from Inner Mongolia. We shopped for quite a while. Silas was a trooper! A lama at the temple had given him a small loaf of bread and he happily sat in the stroller (spoiler alert) eating his bread. We got some souvenirs and headed back to the hotel. We discovered that our room hadn't been cleaned, and when you live in a hotel room 24/7, it needs a good cleaning. We asked to have it cleaned and decided to take a walk to the store to get some chocolate, I mean milk for Silas...it was all about Silas.

We got our milk and put Silas back in the stroller. We haven't been buckling him in because he loves to ride in it and we are stupid. HE FELL OUT OF THE STROLLER. ON HIS HEAD. He had a huge gaping, bleeding, meatly looking cut. The store owners came out and told us (I think) to come back in and got us kleenexes. The man signaled for me to follow him with Silas. We walked into what looked like a clinic or pharmacy. He couldn't find what he was looking for so we went into another building. In my head, I had a vision of them stitching up my kid in a foreign country and just decided to head back to the hotel for help. We asked the other American family at the hotel what they thought we should do. We all decided that stitches might be in order under normal circumstances, but that the trauma and uncertainty involved wasn't worth the possible trauma involved. We pulled out the medical kit that I brought and tried to put together some sort of workable solution.

We prayed. Mom went to the lobby and asked if they had a medical kit. The concierge came up with a big metal box with some stuff in it. I asked him if he was trained. "Me? No.First time." He applied betadine and this medicine and wrapped it up. It was just a horrible, horrible feeling. I didn't know how to comfort him well enough. This kid has experienced so much in a few days and it was just traumatic. It was also a bit scary because we are just vulnerable without language skills. So, when you see Silas with a huge scab or scar on his forehead, just know that happened on my watch.