Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I’m A Cool Dude!

It was rather enlightening when Cayden came to me with a baseball-cap on backwards and informed me that he was a ‘Cool Dude’ and was in search of a pair of sunglasses to add to his ‘look’.

I’m not really sure where Cayden got the idea of what a ‘Cool Dude’ looks like.  It’s certainly not from me. The primary purpose of my clothing attire is ‘super comfortable’ and definitely  not ‘cool’ or ‘in-style.’

I could only laugh, run for my camera and ask him to stop moving long enough for me to take a picture.  I couldn't resist the cute look he had going on.   The pose he gave me really has me wondering.  Who has become his role model?  It’s certainly not Franklin, or even Toopy and Binoo.  It does make me aware that he is watching and he is learning.  Here’s to hoping he is only watching and learning from us when we are at our best.

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Good Intentions

Christmas is usually the time to show appreciation to friends, teachers and family by purchasing or making a gift. Usually I like to gift people with my delicious Chocolate Chip Truffles. This past Christmas I had very good intentions to continue with my Christmas ritual. But after putting an effort into a bake exchange for 12 people, my ambitions sizzled.


I spent as much time on the presentation of these treats as I did on actually make them. I did enjoy being creative and putting such a great effort into it all, but I do think that maybe next time around I won’t go so crazy. The effort was certainly appreciated by those who did receive them.


DSC01992 Melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Chip Truffles.


DSC01985 Some cute paint buckets in Christmas colors.


DSC01987 Some ribbons and tags.


DSC01989 And, voila.


DSC01990 A variety of tags make it even more fun.


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I am embarrassed to say that many people on my list did not get checked off. There is always next year. Or maybe even Valentines Day? The ingredients for these decadent treats have been patiently waiting in my pantry. And today seemed like an ideal day to spend some time making use of these ingredients. I definitely did not go crazy and make 13 plus dozen. Just enough to treat my family, considering I was slapping away reaching hands last time I made them and got accused of not sharing!


Tip Junkie handmade projects


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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Just Like Tigger

I could not imagine what life would be like if I needed to bounce all day.  I mean, we all know that Tigger was born to bounce. Remember the story where all his forest friends got mad at him and he wasn’t allowed to bounce?  It was hard on poor Tigger. He wasn’t his happy self. A piece of his personality was taken away.  But was my dear son Cayden also born to bounce?   

We sit down to a nice dinner, lovingly cooked by yours truly.  We anticipate quiet chatter about the day.  Instead, we have Cayden, standing beside his chair, bouncing between chews.  Were trying to work on his school memory verses.  After each word he repeats, he bounces.  We sit at the table to play a nice board game.  Every time he’s not making a move, he stands beside his chair and bounces.

Maybe this is a sign that he’s going to be a great basketball player. Or maybe a track and field high jump super-star.  I’m not really sure.  At times it is incredibly annoying. At times is just plain funny.  And at other times it takes me back down memory lane. When life was only fun and there was nothing to worry about. I could only show excitement at everything just like him.  Everything in life was just so wonderful. So why not show enthusiasm and just bounce?

Most times I’m OK with all the bouncing. But sometimes, I just want peace.  I try not to complain to much because I know that as each day passes, the bouncing is likely to subside.  It will one day only be a memory.  A memory of a very happy little boy who really shows his excitement by bouncing it out.

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Little Children

It has been a little over one year since our family started the process of adoption.  When we first considered adoption, we had 3 different avenues we could follow. 1) Private adoption 2) International adoption 3) Children in Government care.  It was not a super easy decision  which route we should follow, but Jeremy and I did make a final decision based on what would be best for our family.

We decided that we would follow the avenue of the adoption of a local child (or children) in government care.  We learned that there are many children waiting for loving families and that although the process could take a long some time,  it could still be more speedy of a process than International adoption. 

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The emotions that led up to our final decision to adopt were rather interesting.  I think that I had first brought up the option of adopting approximately a year before we made a final decision.  Jeremy, at the time, was not quite sure. So, we let the subject drop awhile longer.  Then Jeremy brought the subject up.  At this time I was not quite sure.  We flip-flopped for awhile, never with both of us feeling ready to adopt at the same time.  Finally, a year ago we were both confident that it was time. We were ready to move down the path of adoption together, hand in hand.  Since we made this decision, we have never doubted ourselves.

In the trail of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti comes a whole new wave of emotions regarding adoption.  Many families are in agony as the children that they have been in the process of adopting for up to two years are stuck in the chaos.  The Haitian government is in ruins.  What is left of all the adoption paperwork is uncertain.  The Haitian Judge in charge of the adoptions is dead. Some families were only waiting on their own governments travel visas in order to bring their child home. Many do not even know if their waiting child is alive.  It is a heart-wrenching time for many adoptive families.

Many people around the world are now considering adopting a child from Haiti.  It is how many feel they can reach out and help. The message being sent to all who feel a calling to adopt from Haiti is: “Wait and Pray.”  Wait until some of the chaos is gone. Pray for the safety of the children.  Pray that they are united with family.  Pray that when the time is right, the path to adopt will be open. 

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The journey of adoption is wonderful.  But I must say, it does require a bit of patience.  I am so happy for the very recent adoption of a 10 month old baby boy into the loving home of my cousins, Martin and Wieska.  They have been truly blessed. 

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

It’s Planner Time!

You know it’s time to start using a planner when you triple book yourself one night, double book the next day, and then again double book the day after that.  Yes, I know, not very good organization and maybe a few too many activities.

I received two messages when I got home yesterday. One was a reminder call of a Family Connections meeting for tonight that had been scheduled for the past month. The second message was a reminder call for some post-moving house cleaning for a single mother of 4. Which I volunteered myself for a few weeks ago. The third is  an ongoing Thursday evening Bible study group that Jeremy are part of. Yikes! What to do! 

I thought through it all carefully.  I had to take into consideration what was most important.  Maybe… disregard house cleaning.  Go to Bible study for one hour, then fly out to the Family Connections  meeting to catch the tail end of it.  Then I started feeling a bit guilty about not following through on my commitment to help my friend house-clean for a mom-of-four who lost her husband just a year ago.  So…maybe disregard Bible study.  House clean for a few hours, then fly out to the Family Connections meeting.  This sounded like a bit better of a choice.  A quick call to cancel Bible Study and plans were set.

I love to be busy. I also like to relax.  So today ended up being a bit of both.  It started with the usual workday. Followed by kid pick-ups.  Then one hour of helping Ivan with homework. Then fire some cleaning supplies and a salad into the trunk of my car.  Meet up with Jeremy at friends for a very last minute dinner invite. Tag team Cayden, leaving him with Jeremy to take him home to put to bed, while I continued on to a whirlwind of house-cleaning.  Last stop was a drive way up the mountain for the last outing of the night.  Then home to relax and catch up on some favorite shows on my PVR waiting to be watched.

Yes, life is busy sometimes.  But I love my life.  I am intent of filling my planner with all upcoming events…tomorrow.  We’ll see how the scheduling is going … next week.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hockey Night in Chilliwack

 

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We were up by 1.The score was 3-2. It was the final minutes of a very tight game.  The opposing team had position of the puck. Skated with it through the neutral zone.  The  puck was passed across the ice to the player skating in on me.  She received the pass and skated across the blue line, into our territory. 

She wound up to take a slap-shot.  I positioned myself between herself and my goalie. (Girls can’t really shoot, right?) She shot. I blocked it. Then… I went down in a heap.

Yes, some girls can really shoot. I am a living testimony of this.  I hobbled off the ice.  My ankle swelled to twice the normal size following this play. I iced it.  Wore slippers to work  the next day just so I could somewhat comfortably move around.  Got called “hoppity” by my husband. But it was all  worth it. 

I re-think the play.  Yes, the puck bounced off my ankle, back into neutral territory. It was a good play. We won the game.  But, I did pay.  If there ever was a way to slow me down, this was it.  Would I sacrifice my body for a play like this in the future? You bet.  That is what competition is all about.

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Is It Wake Up Time Yet?

As Cayden gets older,  I  sometimes feel that he is growing up way to fast. I do have to look on the bright side,  I do come across some benefits that come with him getting a little older.

One of these is, his understanding of myself and Jeremy’s  appreciation for weekend “sleeping in.” He tries his best to let us sleep in, but at around 8:00 he’s ready to test whether we are ready to get up.  He is greeted often with a response along the lines of, “not yet. 10 more minutes. But you can go ahead and play with your toys quietly.”  That usually gets us and extra 1/2 hour.

This morning he came right up to my ear and whispers, “Is it wake up time yet?” I quietly told him that no, it wasn’t  but that he could go play quietly.  Quietly he left, then just as quietly he came back.  He lifted up my arm and pushed one of his stuffed animals under my arm and without a word, left again.

About 15 minutes later he was back.  Obviously ready to get us moving and on time for church.  He says to me, “which socks should I wear.”  I didn’t really care, but he insisted that I come and choose.  It was really time to get up anyways, so I headed to his room to make my “choice”.  To my surprise he had lined up in a neat little row all five pairs of new socks he had received in the mail from Ivan’s family in Korea.  Including his two new pairs of gloves Ivan's family had sent.  

It was so neat to see how he had patiently “staged” his new items at the foot of his bed, on top of his comforter.  It's these moments that make me forget about the sadness of how quickly time is going by, and appreciate the growth that comes with that passing time.

DSC02456  This type of character sock is very popular in Korea. We all have received a pair or two of our own to show off.

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His “motorcycle gloves.

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His “comfy” gloves. Bear or dog? Were still not decided

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He’s not quite looking wide awake yet. But definitely in good spirits after a few “on-time” bed times in a row post-holiday season.

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