Don't Want to Forget

Destry came with me when I went to Tyrell's doctor appointment yesterday, and we had a really nice visit. We were talking about an excellent article I had read about strengths and weaknesses of home educated children going into college. We discussed some areas that we want to improve in, such as taking timed tests and meeting firm deadlines, and how we want to always do a little better than we have in the past.

At that point, Destry said, "Really, I am a perfunctory student."

Admittedly, this can be a fitting description, when he quickly hurries through his work just to get it done so he can go outside instead of completing his work to the best of his ability with the goal of learning. But I couldn't help it--I laughed out loud.

'Perfunctory' was a vocabulary word last week. Were he truly a perfunctory student, he would not have used this word in our casual conversation, and I told him so.

Zulu Knots Revisited

I hadn't fixed Kiana's hair in this style for quite some time. I forgot how much I like it!! It turned out so cute, and her face is so bright with her hair up like this!!!
It doesn't take too long to fix her hair in zulu knots (otherwise known as Bantu knots). The most time-consuming process is making the parts and separating the hair into sections. Then I just twist each section, wind it upon itself, and secure with a fuzzy. The worst thing about it is it only looks nice for two to three days, but it doesn't take long to redo since the parts are already in place.

It might just be one of my favorite styles of the summer!

Raining and Pouring

As you know, if you've been following my blog for any amount of time, an adoption journey is a huge faith walk. Time and time again, prospective parents learn to trust and lean on the Lord as every step is out of our human control. And time and time again, the Lord reveals His faithfulness to us, delivering peace, comfort, patience, and confidence in His perfect will and timing.

He has poured blessings on us throughout our journey to Tyrell. But one thing I love about Him is the way He just keeps on proving His faithfulness.

You may remember that we had girl clothes. I still had girl clothes saved from when Kiana wore them, and my Bunco friends blessed us with several darling girl outfits when we were expecting to parent Cleara's baby girl. Even after Cleara decided she wanted her mother to parent her daughter instead of us, we were presented to numerous birthmothers expecting girls. I even wondered over this, curious what the future would hold.

We didn't have any little boy clothes. We didn't have any "gender-neutral" clothes (Kiana wore mostly pink and purple!). When we learned Crystal was expecting a boy and was considering us. . .well, we just didn't worry about it. We had learned, along this ride, to trust God and things will work out as they are supposed to. God is able to work out the details.

And work out the details He did!!! The way He uses His people when they are willing to be used brings Him glory every single time. My friend Breanna insisted I take the newborn boy clothes her son just recently outgrew. She was just sure I would need them. She was right, and we were so blessed to hurriedly pack her clothing as we rushed to the airport to meet Crystal and our new son.

We were subsequently flooded with generosity. My friend Jenn offered more newborn clothes that her little boy recently outgrew. My friend Shela went through some boy clothes and picked out four or five outfits of each size through size 12 months. My friend Misti pulled out her 'boy' tote and passed it my way. My friend Corin offered me my own personal garage sale of her boy clothes, which were the perfect season as her son also has a July birthday. My friend Kristina offered some boy clothes she has been collecting as she expects a baby in just a couple weeks. My sister brought down some outfits from her son. My friends Bree, Andrea, Jenn, Diane, and Misti bought cute little outfits and gifted us with them. My mom, in-laws, and some aunts sent sweet little boy outfits. (And I'm just talking about the gifts of clothing, because that's the focus of this post and God's provision that I want to note so I don't forget--I'm not even mentioning the gifts of diapers, wipes, Moses basket, Bumbo seat, photo shoot, etc. at this point).
Would you check out this pile of clothing! We had not one article of clothing for a little boy. Yet God, in His wonderful provision, working through His people, has provided an abundant wardrobe for our little boy. These piles represent sizes 0-3, 3-6, and 6-9. I have a box packed with clothes from 9 mo to 24 months.

God will provide. Genesis 22:8
How much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? Luke 12:28

God is so good to reassure us of His continued provision and blessing as we now face repayment of our adoption loan and the myriad challenges every parent faces in striving to raise children in the 'nurture and admonition of the Lord.' We are reminded, yet again, that He is able to bring us through every trial and supply every need that faces us.

Oh how great is thy goodness,
which thou has laid up for them that fear thee.
Psalm 31:19

Sunday Sentiments

There's within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
in all of life's ebb and flow.

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
stirred the slumb'ring chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace,
resting 'neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face,
that is why I shout and sing.

Tho' sometimes He leads through waters deep,
trials fall across the way,
Tho' sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
see His footprints all the way.

Soon He's coming back to welcome me
far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall live with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
Fills my ev'ry longing, keeps me singing as I go.

L. B. Bridgers

I was so blessed by some of the songs we sang today, including the one written out above. Truly, Jesus is the sweetest name I know. He alone provides grace and rest. He alone gets us through the trials of this life. He alone keeps me singing as I go.

Lend a Hand. . .

to help a brother. . .

Stuck in the Mud!!

Special Photo Post for Aunt Marcy

Well, if you're getting tired of seeing pictures of our sweet, newest blessing, you can blame this post on his Aunt Marcy who is dying to see more pictures! :)
This is pretty much what things look like around here all the time. Tyrell is getting lots and lots of love. Easton and Kiana love to touch him. . .and hold him. . .and feed him. . .and sing to him. . .and read books to him. . .and share toys with him. . .(they are lots of help!)

Tyrell is really enjoying this little play center. He just kicks his feet and waves his arms and looks at all the cool things right where he can see them. Kiana likes to explain what all the toys are.

Tyrell is starting to enjoy the swing Uncle Sheldon and Marcy purchased back when we adopted Easton. It's seen a lot of good use--such a handy thing!Easton and Kiana think it's for their babies too--pretty cute!

Biggest sister burping her baby brother.

Biggest brother lovin' on his littlest brother.

Easton loves to hold and feed and talk to Tyrell. I think Tyrell likes Easton, too, because he just looks and looks at him.Hope that will tide you over, Marcy! :)

And I'm still trying to decide whether or not to go private, but I just want to publicly thank everyone for your reassurance and for letting me know you're reading. It makes me feel *so much* better to know who some of my readers are, even as there are still some locations unaccounted for on my traffic feed.

Go Private?

I'm thinking about going a little more private with my blog. It's such a hard decision. I think it's a pain to have to login to read private blogs, but yet it sort of weirds me out wondering who all reads my crazy thoughts and looks at pictures of my kids! The more I think about it, the more I wish I knew who was reading it, and people just don't necessarily leave comments to let me know. That was one feature I liked about xanga that I miss--I could see 'footprints' of who had viewed my blog!

But it would also be a pain to remember emails to invite people to read my blog, and I'm sure I would forget someone, which would make me feel badly. . .hmmmm. Several people already leave comments with some regularity and I so appreciate those people conversing with me, giving back as I share my personal thoughts, experiences, and family life.

I've set my blog to private a couple times lately trying to figure out what I want to do, but I'm reluctant to actually make it permanently private. So, how about a compromise?! If you're reading my blog, let me know! You can click on 'follow' if you read it regularly. And please, leave comments, so I know you're reading. Let me know who you are.

It's just good manners, after all. :) Proper blog etiquette--don't be a lurker, just spying on someone's thoughts they share. Come out of lurkdom and give back. Go ahead, reassure me that I don't really have to go private.