As Halloween approaches and all the children in our home anticipate the costumes, games, candy and fun, Daughter of Purpose is excited to join in this year (although she really has no idea what she's so excited about). I'm actually having a hard time getting them to take off their costumes and save them for Friday! They are so excited!
One of our boys is going to dress up as Indiana Jones--he and I are both quite proud of ourselves for putting his whole costume together for $7. Part of that price tag was because we splurged on the "official Indiana Jones whip." So Indiana Jones is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Apparently all this Indiana Jones talk has gone to the head of Daughter of Purpose. If you need translation of what she is saying, let me know. I don't know if she's only understandable to me because I'm her mom or whether she's understandable to all. Don't forget to turn off the music in the sidebar before you watch it!
The Talker in our family is going to be a bat and his costume is awesome (Thank you, Nana Red!) I'll have to post some pics of that later. Can't wait to see how Daughter of Purpose will get into that one!
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Oatmeal
We learned something new about Daughter of Purpose last night. At dinner, we had oatmeal. It was a breakfasty type of dinner. I thought I had noticed something at an earlier time about oatmeal and Daughter of Purpose, but last night she proved my observation.
As we sat down for dinner, I said to Nate, "Watch this. She doesn't like oatmeal and just by sight of it knows she doesn't like it. Watch this...she won't even try it." As if on cue, Daughter of Purpose turned to me and said, "I no want that." Nate and I shared a knowing glance.
Nate tried to convince her to eat it because Mommy made it and it was yummy and she replied, "I like it, but I don't want it." All throughout dinner we tried to get her to eat it and she would have none of it. What was even funnier was that she never would pitch a fit or anything, but she would conveniently avoid it. She was willing to eat her scrambled eggs and many, many bowls of applesauce, but wouldn't touch the oatmeal. I even made a bargain with her--more applesauce after she took a big bite of oatmeal. She humored me, but I'm pretty sure the look on her face was one of gagging it down!
We found this whole situation funny yet interesting since she won't openly say she's never touching that stuff again in her life, but we're pretty sure that's what is going through her mind. We're pretty positive that it is what she had to eat for breakfast every day of her life until we brought her home. We can't blame her.
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
As we sat down for dinner, I said to Nate, "Watch this. She doesn't like oatmeal and just by sight of it knows she doesn't like it. Watch this...she won't even try it." As if on cue, Daughter of Purpose turned to me and said, "I no want that." Nate and I shared a knowing glance.
Nate tried to convince her to eat it because Mommy made it and it was yummy and she replied, "I like it, but I don't want it." All throughout dinner we tried to get her to eat it and she would have none of it. What was even funnier was that she never would pitch a fit or anything, but she would conveniently avoid it. She was willing to eat her scrambled eggs and many, many bowls of applesauce, but wouldn't touch the oatmeal. I even made a bargain with her--more applesauce after she took a big bite of oatmeal. She humored me, but I'm pretty sure the look on her face was one of gagging it down!
We found this whole situation funny yet interesting since she won't openly say she's never touching that stuff again in her life, but we're pretty sure that's what is going through her mind. We're pretty positive that it is what she had to eat for breakfast every day of her life until we brought her home. We can't blame her.
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Compassion
I've been reading a book called, "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson lately. I'm pretty sure I've underlined more than I haven't, but there is one part that really stood out to me. So much so that I've been meditating on it for the last few weeks.
In reference to the passage in Matthew 9:35-36 it says this:
"Jesus was going about all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES, HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd." (emphasis mine)
Sally Clarkson reflects this: "Instead of seeing the multitude and seeing them with disdain and scorn--or as an overwhelming drain on his time--Jesus felt compassion for them."
Boy can I ever relate to seeing my clan as a "multitude" and boy, can they ever make me feel drained. But this stood out to remind me as to how I should respond to my children--with compassion. I am grateful for this mindset that God had me in this week. He was setting the stage for me to "just happen" to be in the right place at the right time.
As I walked down the hallway, I unfortunately heard this argument between Littlest One and Daughter of Purpose:
Littlest One - "Why don't you just go back to Russia?" (in a very disdainful, angry voice)
Daughter of Purpose - "Fine! I go back to Russia. I go there and be with Nastia (her little friend)."
It was only a few sentences, but yet so incredibly powerful. Again, I am grateful I happened upon their argument so that I could do some damage control. I am so grateful God had me working on my compassion because that's all I could feel for these two precious ones in this moment. I really did think of them as precious at that moment. It was weird, I knew right away that these were two hurting children that needed compassion in that moment--not scolding.
There was nothing more important to me in that moment than to hold both of them and have compassion on them. Littlest One needed some help because some moments he's best buddies with Daughter of Purpose and some moments the two of them fight like cats and dogs. It's gotta be pretty hard to be him...the one who was the baby for 6 years and still feels like Mama's boy, but yet has had to grow up and be a big brother really fast. He's never had to share in such a way. He's never had to instruct someone--he's always been the one instructed! In the midst of my embrace, we had a big talk about what he said and how powerful and hurtful those words were and how he could make it right.
Once I let go of Littlest One, I could fully embrace Daughter of Purpose and pour out compassion on her like I never had before. I'm not sure what changed in that moment, but the depth of my love for her went so deep. Before this moment, I knew that I loved her, but there was a depth to this moment that I had yet to experience. I saw her in a new light. I saw what it must be like to live in her shoes and felt nothing but compassion. Imagine what it's like to be ripped from all that you know to this completely different world. Although the people here are nice and loving, proven they will keep their promises, there are plenty of playmates and good food to go around--what must it be like to walk the perilous line of not knowing if this will last or not? What must it be like to have two worlds and two languages in her head? When she wakes up out of a dead sleep--where does she initial think she is? In America or Russia? Does she dream in Russian or English?
The list of questions could go on, but there was something in this moment that said, "This is your child, not a stranger you are raising. This is your moment to make sure she knows that her being here is not dependent on her behavior. She needs to know that she will always be yours--no matter what." I held Daughter of Purpose close and made sure she knew from my words and my actions exactly that--she is my child and always will be. I made sure she understood that she will never need to worry about returning to Russia--no matter what anyone says even if it is her brother.
From that day on, God has given me new eyes for my Daughter of Purpose. She is no longer just one of the multitude that I have been given to raise. She is a chosen child that needs a Mommy that sees her as one of her own and embraces her for exactly who she is. It can be easy with many children to get so busy that I barely have time to look my children in the eyes each day. It's such a simple thing, but isn't that what we want from the Lord? To be seen as an individual by Him and not just one of the crowd? I know I won't be perfect at this goal, but as God weaves this thread of compassion in my life, I purpose to look at each one of my children in the eyes each day and see them as He does...with compassion.
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
In reference to the passage in Matthew 9:35-36 it says this:
"Jesus was going about all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES, HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd." (emphasis mine)
Sally Clarkson reflects this: "Instead of seeing the multitude and seeing them with disdain and scorn--or as an overwhelming drain on his time--Jesus felt compassion for them."
Boy can I ever relate to seeing my clan as a "multitude" and boy, can they ever make me feel drained. But this stood out to remind me as to how I should respond to my children--with compassion. I am grateful for this mindset that God had me in this week. He was setting the stage for me to "just happen" to be in the right place at the right time.
As I walked down the hallway, I unfortunately heard this argument between Littlest One and Daughter of Purpose:
Littlest One - "Why don't you just go back to Russia?" (in a very disdainful, angry voice)
Daughter of Purpose - "Fine! I go back to Russia. I go there and be with Nastia (her little friend)."
It was only a few sentences, but yet so incredibly powerful. Again, I am grateful I happened upon their argument so that I could do some damage control. I am so grateful God had me working on my compassion because that's all I could feel for these two precious ones in this moment. I really did think of them as precious at that moment. It was weird, I knew right away that these were two hurting children that needed compassion in that moment--not scolding.
There was nothing more important to me in that moment than to hold both of them and have compassion on them. Littlest One needed some help because some moments he's best buddies with Daughter of Purpose and some moments the two of them fight like cats and dogs. It's gotta be pretty hard to be him...the one who was the baby for 6 years and still feels like Mama's boy, but yet has had to grow up and be a big brother really fast. He's never had to share in such a way. He's never had to instruct someone--he's always been the one instructed! In the midst of my embrace, we had a big talk about what he said and how powerful and hurtful those words were and how he could make it right.
Once I let go of Littlest One, I could fully embrace Daughter of Purpose and pour out compassion on her like I never had before. I'm not sure what changed in that moment, but the depth of my love for her went so deep. Before this moment, I knew that I loved her, but there was a depth to this moment that I had yet to experience. I saw her in a new light. I saw what it must be like to live in her shoes and felt nothing but compassion. Imagine what it's like to be ripped from all that you know to this completely different world. Although the people here are nice and loving, proven they will keep their promises, there are plenty of playmates and good food to go around--what must it be like to walk the perilous line of not knowing if this will last or not? What must it be like to have two worlds and two languages in her head? When she wakes up out of a dead sleep--where does she initial think she is? In America or Russia? Does she dream in Russian or English?
The list of questions could go on, but there was something in this moment that said, "This is your child, not a stranger you are raising. This is your moment to make sure she knows that her being here is not dependent on her behavior. She needs to know that she will always be yours--no matter what." I held Daughter of Purpose close and made sure she knew from my words and my actions exactly that--she is my child and always will be. I made sure she understood that she will never need to worry about returning to Russia--no matter what anyone says even if it is her brother.
From that day on, God has given me new eyes for my Daughter of Purpose. She is no longer just one of the multitude that I have been given to raise. She is a chosen child that needs a Mommy that sees her as one of her own and embraces her for exactly who she is. It can be easy with many children to get so busy that I barely have time to look my children in the eyes each day. It's such a simple thing, but isn't that what we want from the Lord? To be seen as an individual by Him and not just one of the crowd? I know I won't be perfect at this goal, but as God weaves this thread of compassion in my life, I purpose to look at each one of my children in the eyes each day and see them as He does...with compassion.
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pumpkin Patch
We took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Reedley today. We went to Hillcrest--which is also a Christmas Tree Farm. We got to enjoy a ride on a mini-train while there too! The kids favorite part of that ride was that they rode in the cattle car. It was hysterical! There is so much to do there--if only we'd had more time. Next year we're making time to explore more. 
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sunday School
As we have gotten into our Fall schedule, Daughter of Purpose has adjusted right along with us. I wasn't really sure how she would do with Awana Cubbies so I purposed to stay with her until I felt she was ready to go it on her own. Also, a few weeks ago I tried seeing if she was ready to go to Sunday School by herself and it was a no go. So I thought for sure that I'd be sitting in Cubbies with her for awhile.
Well I don't know what came over her, but at Cubbies she now seems to be fine as long as she sees me check in on her and knows where I will be. I'm usually sitting and helping out the secretaries at a table in the room she's in so it's not like I am very far, but I guess it gives her the comfort she needs and she now looks forward to Cubbies each week. She's even learning her verses! Obviously she's not going to understand the verses right now, but I figured that since she's such a sponge right now--it was a great time to hide His word in her heart.
For the last few weeks, I've also been taking Daughter of Purpose into her Sunday School class and hanging out with her. She's got a great team of teachers in there so I wasn't surprised when we rode to church this last Sunday and she said, "Mommy, we going to Sunday School today?" I replied, "Yes."
This was her amazing response, "I go by myself today, Mama. I not cry. I be okay. I know you come back for me."
Did it really work out? Yep, she did it. She was gushing with excitement when I picked her up and she could not wait to show me the picture she made of Jesus. She's certainly not ready to be in there for two services yet, but this is one incredibly large step toward the end goal.
Daughter of Purpose also just started gymnastics at a local gym that specializes in integrating able-bodied children with disabled bodied children. She is the only special needs child in her class, but loving every minute of it! Next time I go, I will have to take some pictures. The kids and I started out taking Daughter of Purpose to class along with her Nana Red, but today she went happily off to gymnastics with Nana all by herself. I was so proud of her! That was our goal--for her to get the exercise of the gymnastics, but also to have a special day each week with her Nana Red.
There seems to be an overall theme going on here and I think it's "adjustment!" It feels so good to know that she has come to a place where she understands that we are her family and are here for good--we are coming back for her and that she belongs with us!
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
Well I don't know what came over her, but at Cubbies she now seems to be fine as long as she sees me check in on her and knows where I will be. I'm usually sitting and helping out the secretaries at a table in the room she's in so it's not like I am very far, but I guess it gives her the comfort she needs and she now looks forward to Cubbies each week. She's even learning her verses! Obviously she's not going to understand the verses right now, but I figured that since she's such a sponge right now--it was a great time to hide His word in her heart.
For the last few weeks, I've also been taking Daughter of Purpose into her Sunday School class and hanging out with her. She's got a great team of teachers in there so I wasn't surprised when we rode to church this last Sunday and she said, "Mommy, we going to Sunday School today?" I replied, "Yes."
This was her amazing response, "I go by myself today, Mama. I not cry. I be okay. I know you come back for me."
Did it really work out? Yep, she did it. She was gushing with excitement when I picked her up and she could not wait to show me the picture she made of Jesus. She's certainly not ready to be in there for two services yet, but this is one incredibly large step toward the end goal.
Daughter of Purpose also just started gymnastics at a local gym that specializes in integrating able-bodied children with disabled bodied children. She is the only special needs child in her class, but loving every minute of it! Next time I go, I will have to take some pictures. The kids and I started out taking Daughter of Purpose to class along with her Nana Red, but today she went happily off to gymnastics with Nana all by herself. I was so proud of her! That was our goal--for her to get the exercise of the gymnastics, but also to have a special day each week with her Nana Red.
There seems to be an overall theme going on here and I think it's "adjustment!" It feels so good to know that she has come to a place where she understands that we are her family and are here for good--we are coming back for her and that she belongs with us!
1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
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