Congratulations are in order for some of our new(er), sweet friends that we meant through our adoption agency. Kenny and I met them at the initial orientation meeting back in December and at that time of starting the adoption process, both of our families thought we were going to be growing our families with infant(ish) girls. But man, oh man, God has something totally different in store for our friends!
Yesterday, they "officially" gained a son and will soon be travelling to meet him and bring him home. Head on over to their blog, read and see his handsome face and leave them a note of congratulations! We are certainly overjoyed alongside them....for the Lord has done GREAT things for this family!
We love you K family!! And can't wait to meet your son!!
-Kenny, Jill & Garrett
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Toy Ideas
So, my little man will soon be turning 4. FOUR. I cannot believe it.
Last week I took him to the toy store to create a birthday wish list. And, while he came up with plenty, I am trying to decide what he REALLY wants (can't tell) and which items will be entertaining and stimulating in the long run.
Leave me a comment and tell me what items you'd recommend and/or what your kiddos have loved!
Last week I took him to the toy store to create a birthday wish list. And, while he came up with plenty, I am trying to decide what he REALLY wants (can't tell) and which items will be entertaining and stimulating in the long run.
Leave me a comment and tell me what items you'd recommend and/or what your kiddos have loved!
Monday, July 28, 2008
African Food
Yesterday Kenny, Garrett and I met up with some members of our extended family (Kenny's parents, brother and fiance & my dad and step-mom) at an authentic African restaurant to try out some authentic African food.
This restaurant is specific to the country we are adopting from , and I think just the environment and mostly seeing the people from this country did my soul good. I spent so much of my time staring at the beautiful people....everything about them, from the shape of their faces to the shade of their skin and more, was soothing to me. Probably because they are the closest resemblance I have to my future daughter right now. I found myself wondering "Will she have a sharp jaw line, will her face be heart shaped, will her skin be light or dark, will, will, will....". I even began to wonder how accustomed will our daughter be to smelling food like this (even though she probably won't be eating solids like these just yet)? Are these smells soothing to her? Will the aroma of our foods be bothersome to her initially when she comes home? So many questions whirring through my mind!
On to the food:
We ordered "family style" and got to sample a little bit of everything on the menu. While not too many of our party members taste buds enjoyed the food, I found it so much fun! I actually ate a lot. Come to think of it, myself and my father in law were the last ones still eating - that never happens to me! And, for those of you who know me well, you know I am not much of a risk taker when it comes to food. In fact, the two times I have been to Europe I survived on granola bars and toast. Seriously. So, this outing was a stretch for me! But I loved it!
This restaurant is specific to the country we are adopting from , and I think just the environment and mostly seeing the people from this country did my soul good. I spent so much of my time staring at the beautiful people....everything about them, from the shape of their faces to the shade of their skin and more, was soothing to me. Probably because they are the closest resemblance I have to my future daughter right now. I found myself wondering "Will she have a sharp jaw line, will her face be heart shaped, will her skin be light or dark, will, will, will....". I even began to wonder how accustomed will our daughter be to smelling food like this (even though she probably won't be eating solids like these just yet)? Are these smells soothing to her? Will the aroma of our foods be bothersome to her initially when she comes home? So many questions whirring through my mind!
On to the food:
We ordered "family style" and got to sample a little bit of everything on the menu. While not too many of our party members taste buds enjoyed the food, I found it so much fun! I actually ate a lot. Come to think of it, myself and my father in law were the last ones still eating - that never happens to me! And, for those of you who know me well, you know I am not much of a risk taker when it comes to food. In fact, the two times I have been to Europe I survived on granola bars and toast. Seriously. So, this outing was a stretch for me! But I loved it!
This was one of the platters of food we got....it was full of veggies, chicken, and lamb. I can proudly say I tried it all (but still prefer the veggie route).
This was the bread used to dip the food up with - kind of a substitute for silver ware! It was like a spongy, sourdough-y tortilla...yummy!
At the end of dinner, some of us ordered tea and coffee. Again, those of you who know me well know I cannot stand hot drinks. BUT...I ordered and drank all of the hot tea! All in all, it was a great experience (for me anyway). I look forward to doing it again sometime soon! Any takers?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Garrett-isms
Here are a few cute things Garrett has said over the past week or so....
1. Mommy, do you know how to do jumping jacksons? You go, x and jump, x and jump!
2. Oh, Mommy I do not want to break the log! If I break the log, I would go to jail.
3. (while in the bathtub, using the washcloth to wipe off the shaving cream) Aren't you glad we have "Clorox Disinfect to Protect"? (TV commercials much??)
4. (while in a public restroom) Mommy, be careful. You can't see all the germs, but they're still lurking! (apparently thanks to another TV commercial -really, we RARELY watch TV - child has the memorization capacity of, um, I don't know who, but man!)
1. Mommy, do you know how to do jumping jacksons? You go, x and jump, x and jump!
2. Oh, Mommy I do not want to break the log! If I break the log, I would go to jail.
3. (while in the bathtub, using the washcloth to wipe off the shaving cream) Aren't you glad we have "Clorox Disinfect to Protect"? (TV commercials much??)
4. (while in a public restroom) Mommy, be careful. You can't see all the germs, but they're still lurking! (apparently thanks to another TV commercial -really, we RARELY watch TV - child has the memorization capacity of, um, I don't know who, but man!)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
At the car wash....
The boys washed one of our cars tonight - it was too fun to watch! Be sure to enlarge at least one picture and check out Garrett's outfit of choice - right down to the shoes!!
SCC Concert
Friday night Kenny and I met up with our friends, Heather and Jordan, for the Steven Curtis Chapman concert! The very first time I saw his show was during our first year of marriage. We went with our same friends then (plus a few more) and I remember having to leave the concert because I was weeping so hard and so loudly. At the concert, SCC presented/spotlighted adoption - something that was near and dear to my heart even then. But it was that night in 2002 that I feel like God confirmed in my heart that adoption would be an avenue to parenting for me....I just didn't know when or how. Kenny thought I was crazy. I mean, I was bawling like a baby.
About 7-8 months later, when faced with our infertility diagnosis, I was laying down on the floor, weeping once again, and the words from a Steven Curtis Champan song kept scrolling through my mind....."God is God and I not. God is God and I am man." .... and for me that was enough of an answer that night (and many, many days and the next few years to come) to my questions of "Why?".
Then, fast forward a few more years, Heather and Jordan went to see SCC (this time w/o us) and felt the same calling on their lives as parents - and they have adopted their sweet Sammy from Korea!
Needless to say, I was looking forward to this concert! Being only two months after the death of his little girl, Maria, I wasn't sure what to expect the tone of the concert to be. It was such a bittersweet time and quite honestly, a blessing. I heard his words and voice this time in the frame of mind as an "already parent" and was blessed and encouraged. I think my favorite song was this one for obvious reasons:
About 7-8 months later, when faced with our infertility diagnosis, I was laying down on the floor, weeping once again, and the words from a Steven Curtis Champan song kept scrolling through my mind....."God is God and I not. God is God and I am man." .... and for me that was enough of an answer that night (and many, many days and the next few years to come) to my questions of "Why?".
Then, fast forward a few more years, Heather and Jordan went to see SCC (this time w/o us) and felt the same calling on their lives as parents - and they have adopted their sweet Sammy from Korea!
Needless to say, I was looking forward to this concert! Being only two months after the death of his little girl, Maria, I wasn't sure what to expect the tone of the concert to be. It was such a bittersweet time and quite honestly, a blessing. I heard his words and voice this time in the frame of mind as an "already parent" and was blessed and encouraged. I think my favorite song was this one for obvious reasons:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)