Michael

Good Morning!  Are ya having a good morning?  We didn't seem to function in a fantastic way this morning, but hey. . .the older ducks are off and Penny is watching Dora and I'm blogging.  Good stuff.

I rarely blog in the morning. . . especially Monday.  I love my Monday mornings and find that I have lots of motivation to do house stuff so I'd better not waste it.  Yet. . . I'm here so something must be up.  It is.

I began this blog in 2008 right before we went to China to get Simon.  Folks (mom) wanted to follow us on our journey and this was a great way to share.  My intent was to stop after we got home, but we just kept on going.  Hard to believe it has been over four years.  Well. . . today we begin the journey again toward adoption.  Yes, you read that right.  Adoption.  It has come along very suddenly!  I've always kept an ear toward adopting again, but I must admit that I'm rather content where I am.  I love my two boys and two girls.  I love that we have four lockers and our truck fits six.  We all share a bedroom with a partner and our trailer just sleeps six.  It works for us and we love it.  BUT I've declared that God is in charge of my life.  I've asked Him to order my steps and because of that. . . my life is so much better.

I blogged a few weeks ago about a little boy who was going to be left behind.  Oh how I ached for him and wished that he could have a mom and dad.  Something about him grabbed my heart.  I wasn't sure what to do about it, so I talked with the Lord and with my amazing partner.  Together Gary and I prayed and talked and waited.  Then we received the answer: We are adopting Michael.  We love Michael.  We love our five kids.

We are so excited and eager and scared!  Frankly, this is a great place to be.  I know that only God can put this together.  There is so much paperwork: all doable.  We just have to do it.  There is so much expense.  Michael is priceless, but the shipping and handling is about $35,000.00.  I haven't figured out this piece, but a few friends have offered to help us do a fundraiser.  (On a side note--this will be very hard for me.  I help others out, but don't know how to ask for money.  I do know that where God leads He will also provide a way even though it might be hard.  More on this later perhaps.)  I'm not sure where Michael will sleep or how we'll be able to camp or where he will keep his snow boots.  There are all first world problems and we will figure it out.  I do know that he is our son.  I do know that God has given us the green light.  I do know that it might be hard.  I do know that our family will be better because we'll all be together.  I do know that I'll get to be a mama to a pretty special little boy.

Want to know more?  Here is the break-down.

Michael Alan Chang Sprick

Same orphanage as Simon.  (Woo-Hoo!)  It's like a true brother to Simon!

He is 5 1/2.

He has Treacher Collins Syndrome.  He is missing some of his facial bones so he looks a bit different.  We think he is very cute.

His left ear is completely closed, but the equipment might be there for him to hear.  We'll get him checked out when he gets home.

And that lazy eye--that's no big deal.  We'll take care of that for you son.

He is three months younger than Noel, but he'll be a grade behind her.

I love him!

So there it is--our Monday morning announcement.  I'll post a big picture of him tomorrow perhaps.  I think you'll fall in love with him too.  Will you praise God with us that this one is no longer an orphan?  Our friend Kyla told him that he has parents and she said he gave her the biggest smile ever!  Oh I just want to hug him!  Will you pray that Michael will begin to know us in his heart already?  Prayers as well for paperwork going smoothly and funds acquired and God's perfect timing with traveling.  We praise God that our agency was able to find his file.  We praise God that when he comes home he'll have siblings that can understand him and communicate with him and translate for him.  We praise God that He is knitting our family together in ways that surprise and delight us.  

Thanks friends.  Thanks for walking with us.  Feel free to ask any questions.

Happy Birthday Penny

My baby girl is three.  "Free" as she would adamantly tell you while holding up anywhere from three to five fingers.  She has wanted to be three for awhile and has insisted that she was at times.  The girl has an opinion and isn't afraid to share it.  I hope that never stops.  I hope I can teach her how to share opinions with grace, but I hope she never stops sharing what she believes.  I adore her.  Seriously.  She is unlike any other child I have. . . much like every child I have.  Unique.  Different.  So necessary for our family to function.  Each child fills a spot in the puzzle that is our family.  Penny is funny and strong and silly and a do it herself kind of girl.  When she gets an idea in her head--watch out!  She has thanked God every night since August for the beach.  She has since added Strawberry Shortcake, the Doodlebops and Cinderella to her nightly list of thankfulness.  She'll do things when she wants (cough cough potty training!) and then she'll do them well.  She adores me and I love her for that.  She is playing better and better with others.  She tries different foods.  She loves to sing and still will stop to listen for music.  Her curiosity  about the world around her has taught me in so many ways.  I love seeing through her eyes and thankfully, she loves to tell me all about what is going on in her head.  Her hair is crazy beautiful--she gets that from her father.  She idolizes her siblings and learns far too much from them--she doesn't miss a beat.  The child gallops most of the time when she needs to get from here to there.  She loves to get "one more hug" and I let her.  Her kisses are the best (dry and closed mouth) and her breath is sweet in the morning when she still snuggles with me.  I can't imagine my life without her and pray that God never lets me experience that here on earth.  She is truly a special gift from God.

Happy Memorial Day 2012

She loved the pool as long as she could touch.

Umbrellas belong in the house of course.

A favorite!  She still squeezes my neck so hard and I love it!

Dancing at a soccer game--dressed in her finest.

She was able to really participate in Christmas stuff this year.

I can't work in the kitchen without Penny being involved.  Sometimes her involvement is too involved.

Playdough=hours of free time for mom.

This is the night she decorated Noel's face with lip gloss (see the bit of shine?) and then fell asleep next to her.

Praising Jesus in her sleep!

Dancing!

My girls

My little girl is three.  I love you so very much.

Handle with care

I'm sitting and I'm crabby about it.  I was crabby last night and a few times this morning.  I hurt my back. . . or rather my back is hurting me!  I did nuthin I tell ya.  I was just watering new plants and then WHAMO.  This is the third time that it has happened to me in the past 11 years.  So. . .it doesn't happen often and I'm thankful for that.

But I dislike sitting when I have stuff to do.  I dislike not being able to be efficient.  I dislike getting excessively frustrated at my kids for tearing apart my plans (grr Noel!), peeing on the floor while sitting on the toilet (grr Penny!), pouring juice all over the floor (grr Garrison!), and using five pumps of soap when I HAVE CLEARLY STATED YOU USE 1/2 A PUMP! (grr Simon!).  Yes these things are not a big deal and normally I'd handle it pretty well, but I didn't.

Something else I'm not sure I handled well was at the bus stop on Monday.  I'm the only grown-up who shows up in the morning.  Ever.  There are a few older kids who cut in line every single day.  They do it because they can.  Now, it doesn't seem to bother anyone except for me and another mom who e-mails me about it.  So Monday I said something.  I said something.  I still run it over and over in my mind--should I have said something?  I want my kids to respect lines and others and not take advantage even if they can.  I'm all about integrity.  So I said something.  Perhaps next year we establish line forming the first week.  Should I do that?  There are only 13 more bus stop mornings left and I'm known as "that mom" to the kids.  I can't confirm this, but if I was a kid I'd think that about me.

That's enough.  I need to get up.  I need to empty the dishwasher.  There is another full load sitting on the counter.  It may take me half and hour, but I need to manage this house.  Too bad I don't have one of those bracelets that alerts others if I fall and can't get up.

"No one needs you more than I need you!"

I quickly ran into Meijer to get Epsom Salts.  Gary's heel was punctured yesterday and we discovered this morning that the wound was deeper than we originally thought.  Gary has a way of getting sick or injured in very strange ways.  Once he was stung by a bee and ended up on antibiotics when his whole hand swelled up because he had gotten a staff infection from some bacteria that had entered his body at the sting sight.  I'm telling ya--a regular injury or illness for the majority of the world and a strange thing for my hubby.  This puncture wound was made by a pen.  Who is walking in their bedroom and a pen gets catapulted and goes into the heel of a foot?  Gary.

So I'm in Meijer because we are out of salts and I hear something. . .something that makes me very very happy.  I stop.  I stop in front of the band-aids and first aid cream and I sing softly.  "You bring meaning in my life.  You're the inspiration. You bring feeling to my life.  You're the inspiration."  It is one of my favorite 80's songs. You're the Inspiration by Chicago  It would have been Jim and my's song when we went together in 7th grade, but it was already taken by another couple who were "going together".  It is my go to song when I pretend sing into my hairbrush.  (We built this city is my go to song for karaoke.  Just in case you needed to know.)  So here I am at Meijer singing and remembering.  Remembering skating parties and middle school and camping and and and.  It was great.  I was in a hurry, but pausing for a minute to sing and celebrate--totally worth my time.

Wednesday

Wednesday was crazy great.  Ever had one of those days?

Alarm went off at 5:40 so I could go and get spots reserved for the afternoon parade.
Upon arriving home practice speech for that night.
Smile as every child wakes up early.  Every one.
Pack lunches blah blah.
Noel home in the morning and get groceries.  We needed them.
Have Gary call mom to ask if she can take Noel to her ball game at night.
There is a miscommunication.
Clear up the miscommunication.  We are good to go.
Pack for parade.  Put Penny in diaper.  No panty pooping at the parade.
Feed girls.
Greet boys home from school.
Rush the boys to eat their lunches.
Get stuck in traffic on the way to the parade.
Awesome time at the parade.  Awesome.
Shanda takes her niece Tessa home with her from the parade.
Home.
Think about speech.
Lose Tessa when Kevin arrives to pick her up.
Penny poops in her panties.  ARGH!
Make a new recipe for supper.
Gary and I think it is delicious.
The others do not.
Shanda gets ready in five minutes.
Shanda gets word that her ride is late.
Shanda calls her contact person for her speaking engagement to say she will be late.  Not a problem.
Gary leaves with all the ducks except one for Garrison's ball game.
Shanda looks in the mirror and laughs.  God has it.  It will all be fine.
Shanda calls her parents.  They do not seem to be concerned that the game will begin in just 10 minutes.
Shanda's ride arrives at 6:05.
Shanda's parents arrive at 6:06 seemingly unconcerned that they are late.  They are shocked when it is revealed that the clock in their car is wrong and they are indeed late.  Shanda shoves Noel in the car and they are off.
Shanda forgets the garage code and just leaves out the front door praying that no one will rob them.
Shanda and her sweet friend Debbie arrive at the church and make awkward small talk.
The speech goes great and God is completely glorified!  Amen!  It was fun and wonderful and teary and so very cool.
Shanda and Debbie go to visit her mom and stay and talk for an hour.  Another great blessing from God.  Shanda enjoys a Diet Coke and then enjoys extra time at home with Gary later because she is not tired.


It was a great Wednesday.

How is _______________ going?

How is potty training going?

Pretty great. . . and then pretty "what are you doing Penelope!!!!!"  ARGH!!  In the past three weeks she has gone poop once a day except two days when she didn't go at all.  This may be the only area of her life where Penny is regular.  Of all of those poops, one has been in the toilet.  You'd think that given the celebrating that occurred following that poop she would want to do it again, but NO!  I realize that she will not go to college with a poopy pants.  She also today went pee on a pillow.  "Why did you do that?"  "I wanted to pee on a pillow."  You asked.  I answered.

How is the speaking going?

Pretty great. . . I get to speak again tomorrow night.  That makes three times this year.  God is so very cool to give me these opportunities.  I'm much less stressed about it now than the first time, although this is a much smaller crowd and a much lighter topic.  I'm going to talk about how valuable every woman is!  Don'tcha think we need to hear more of this?  I know I do.  I've also felt a wonderful urge from the Lord about when I get paid to speak.  I certainly am not making a living on this, but I have made $75.00.  God has laid on my heart all the wonderful work that International China Concern (ICC) is doing with special needs kids and with families.  They not only saved Simon's life, but they did such a great job of raising him when Gary and I couldn't.  Every time I speak and get paid, I'll be donating 10% to this organization.  It'll be my thing.  I'm not sure yet how to communicate my thing, but God will help me figure it out.

How is the landlord thing going?

Pretty great. . . most of the time.  This is an additional job.  As soon as I started to realize that we'll be spending about 10 hours a week on it it has gone better for me.  I mowed both lawns yesterday.  I haven't push mowed since middle school (my folks FINALLY got a riding lawnmower!) and it was nice to be outside and walking for a couple of hours.  Yes--couple of hours!  My allergies were NOT happy with the situation.  They'll figure it out.  I was not impressed with the amount of crap--literally and figuratively--that I found while mowing.  Note to self: next time bring gloves and a garbage bag.  Pick up first.  Also--wear shorts with pockets so you don't have to hold your keys while you mow.  Reality of life too is that I'm meeting people who are very different than me.  This is good.  This pushes me and excites me.  I'm being confronted with ideas and attitudes that may or may not be correct.  I've also learned that when I moved out of apartments in Miami and Chicago, I left nothing behind and I cleaned.  This is not what happened in apartment 3 on Oxford Court.  Nope.  Gary spent a couple of hours with trash bags and a thrift store is coming tonight.  Dirty dishes.  Shampoo.  A knife taped to the wall?!?  What is up with that?  New stuff to me.

How is the Mandarin thing at school?

Pretty great.  Very great.  Awesome.  Love it.  Can't believe my kids are speaking only Mandarin in class.  Can't believe that God gave us this opportunity.  So in love with Him for doing that for us--talk about blessing!

How is your life going?

Pretty great.  God is my Rock and my Salvation.  There are some things coming that I'm scared about.  I'm also confident that God has ordered my steps and He'll use me. . . use our family for mighty things.  Life might be hard, but I am blessed.  BLESSED!

Fleece

Parents made decisions every day.  Some of them will affect the rest of our lives "Should we have two or three children?" and others only affect the moment "Should we have tacos or grilled pork for supper?"  Some  are made very easily because of our faith.  "Should I steal from this 80 year old woman or not?"  Some are not even real decisions "Should I give one million dollars to my church?"  Um. . . wish I could but I don't have that kind of dough.  :)

We are trying to give our kids more decision making power in an effort to "train up a child in the way he should go".  We are trying for a month a new "ipad/phone/wii" system.  Each child gets a certain amount of time for the week and when their time is gone, they are done playing.  They need to make the decision about how to spend their minutes.  We hope it will encourage them to be more intentional rather than asking us ALL THE TIME if they can play Angry Birds.  Gary and I made that decision last night.  We often talk about a particular child and what their strengths and weaknesses are, how we should spend our money, what sort of discipline we should use in a particular situation, how we are going to coordinate our ever filling schedule. . . decisions.  Sometimes made together, sometimes not.  Sometimes we work with our kids to make decisions.  We have been known to get their input regarding dinner planning, shows to watch on television, and even consequences for poor behavior.

Then there are decisions that Gary and I just need more help.  There doesn't seem to be a clear right or wrong.  Have you been there?  We've been thinking and praying about a particular situation and after a lot of thought Gary felt like we needed to lay out a fleece.  Laying out a fleece comes from the story of Gideon in the Bible.  God asked him to go and fight Midian, but Gideon wasn't so sure.  So he asked God for a sign in that Gideon would lay out a fleece at night and the next morning the fleece would be wet while the ground was dry.  God made it happen.  Gideon still wasn't sure so he asked for another sign the next night only this time he wanted the fleece to be dry while the ground was wet.  God did what Gideon asked and then Gideon knew that God was indeed calling him to service.  His decision was made.

It isn't wrong to lay out of fleece, although I would caution against doing it often.  God speaks to us in so many different ways!  God may choose to answer questions through a laid out fleece. . . or through fasting as He did with me this winter. . . or through His Word. . . or through a sermon. . . or a whisper to your heart. . . or a conversation with a friend. . . or peace during prayer time. . .or or or!  I'm so thankful that I serve a God who cares so much about me that He will answer me and help me with decision making.

As far as the fleece that was laid out last night in our home--it was neither wet nor dry.  Hmmm  A little wet here and a little dry there.  It looks to me like God didn't choose to answer our particular question in this way.  I'll keep waiting with expectation for God.  He will let us know at the perfect time!