Boxed Fun

It all started with this innocent box...
I was about to throw it out, when Amara reached for it...

(I hate how the florescent lights in my kitchen turn all my pictures yellow!)

Kylar had to get in on the fun as well...

I think he ended up flattening it...

Good ol' Costco boxes.

Backseat Conversations

Kylar: "Mom, when I grow up, if I run out of food, can I come to you and Dad? 'Cause I really don't want to have to eat squirells and rabbits!"



Me: "WHAT?!? Why would you have to eat squirrels and rabbits? Of course you could always come to us if you ran out of food!"



Darren: "You know, squirrels actually taste pretty good!" (that's helpful, thanks Dad)



I guess he listened to Adventures in O*dessey where a family had to hunt for squirrels and rabbits to survive. I love that he listens to those shows, but seriously, the things he comes up with afterwards!



What's really cool is that later at bedtime, his Bible reading for the day was Matthew 6:25-27



"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn't your life more important than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds, they don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (NLT)



I love it when God does that... you know, when He's just so real and applicable. Even to a worry-wart of an eight-year old.

My Little Lady

I've probably said this a bunch of times (and will probably say it a bunch more)... but raising a girl is SO different from a boy. And I'm enjoying the differences.

She had to take this purse shopping with us the other day. While at the grocery store checkout, she likes to give the debit card to the cashier, and then tries to punch in my pin number.

Taking her babies for a walk. I like her multi-racial family :) (notice Darren sacked out on the massage chair behind her? He was feeling a little left out on the blog, so I thought I'd include him as well).

Reading a story to her babies. This is one of her current favourite books. It's by Sandra Boynton and there is a little song inside it that goes like this:

"OOOO Suggle Puppy of mine,

everything about you is especially fine,

I love what you are,

I love what you do,

oooo Snuggle Puppy,

I love you! (kiss)"

She always turns her head to me at the *kiss* part of the song to graciously recieve her kiss.

Other favourites. I just love that she is finally a book-lover! She will often grab a book, bring it to me and then back up that cute little behind onto my lap and snuggle in for a read. We sometimes only get 2 pages in when something else grabs her attention, but at least she is initiating the reading. She is also very opinionated about WHICH book we will read at bedtime. I'll point to one and say "This one?" and she'll either shake her head no, or reach for it if it is acceptable.

Love it.

Adoption Miracle

I saw this video on a fellow blogger's page last month and just can't stop thinking about it.




I love what God can do when we follow His leading to take care of the orphans. I don't believe that everyone is called to adopt, but many more people would if finances weren't a stumbling block. I would encourage anyone who has dreamed of adopting, but feels they can't because of $$ - remember, you are a billionare's child! God can and will do miracles when we follow His leading.

Everything but Decapitation

I stopped by our local dollar store today to pick up some items for the our Operation Christmas Child shoe box. On a spur of the moment, I grabbed a dark-skinned doll to throw in the box. Only to find she didn't fit.

Curious to see what she would do with it, I gave it to Amara. She didn't know what to think of it! "Baba?" she asked me (her word for "baby"). Then she put it to her ear like a phone and said "Hi!". Lastly, she looked up the dolls skirt, then promptly pulled her legs off. And then pulled her arms off... and walked around with the limbs! So much for that 1.50 :)

This looks so creepy!!

I have to get over this feeling that I need to buy every dark skinned doll sold in stores. Partly I want stores to carry more multicultural toys, so I want to encourage them stocking these toys by buying them... but seriously! This kid will have more dolls than she knows what to do with if I'm not careful.

I did find this one at the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market a few weeks ago. I'm not regretting buying her - but it will be a gift we give Amara when she's a bit older.
Francine also makes Asian Raggedy Ann dolls - and I'm sure she would do special orders too. Stop by her booth someday if your in the Edmonton area.

Just a reminder... Saturday is the last day to drop off your boxes for Operation Christmas Child!

Weekly Prayer 3

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petitions which I asked of Him." 1 Samuel 1:27
Amara's presence is more recent in our lives, so when I saw this verse I first thought of her...

But then God reminded me of the 3 long years we waited and prayed to get pregnant. The tears after friend's baby showers, the difficult decision to start fertility drugs... then the first ever positive pregnancy test! Kylar's presence in our lives is no less a miracle than Amara's

Both are truly the children we asked for... and so much more!

I wonder who He will bring to us next?

Journaling

Silence...almost.

The scratching of pen on paper, the sound of thoughts recorded. These are favorite times. When my world is quiet and the mind can finally rest. When all thoughts are placed on the safety of paper.

I have journaled since I was about 10 years old (oh how embarassing it is to read those! They generally stay closed) sometimes regularily, often sporadic. But when something big is happening in my life, or when I can't seem to regulate the thoughts in my head, journaling is the only thing that seems to give me peace.

It's also the best way I can connect with God. To put prayers on paper means that my prayers actually finish themselves instead of being distracted by another thought, another "to-do".

A few months ago, I came across this post by one of my favorite bloggers, Ann Voskamp. I think it's safe to say that it has changed the way I do "quiet times".

God, hear me saying...
God, I hear you say...

Listening to the voice of my Maker, my Lover...

has brought healing,

has challenged me,

has sent me on paths I'm not sure I'm strong enough to follow.

But always with the assurance of His presence beside me. As long as I'm listening to His voice, fear can't overtake me.

I also try to journal at least 5 things I'm thankful for. I number them consecutively (I think I'm on 156 right now) so I can see that these are only a few of the many gifts God has blessed me with.

I wish I could say I journal every day. I don't. But I know the times I do this excercise, my time with God is richer than any other.