Who's Coming to Breakfast?

Journeys

Ever been on a journey you really don't want travel?

A journey you might be dreading, but know you have to go on?

And you know with everything in you that it is what you are absolutely supposed to be doing?

But in all reality, deep down, you're not really happy about it. Because it means that you have to give up some things. Some things you really do want. Some things you always saw in store for yourself. Some things you think you deserve.

And you know it's going to be hard. And challenging. And you really have no idea how on earth you're going to get to your destination. In fact, it looks darn near impossible at times.

Surely, someone else should have been chosen for the journey. Someone better equipped. With better judgment. Better ideas. Better plans. Better resources. Someone more patient and less selfish.

But, no. It's you. You are the one that was chosen. You are the one that has to go. You are the one who has to sacrifice, and stretch, and wonder, and trust.

Ever been there?

Yep. Me too.

Right now, as a matter of fact.

Blindly having faith that it is going to be ok. Trusting that I don't have to worry about one single detail of the journey. Because when God calls us to something, he is faithful to see it to completion.

Still, I am of little faith. I am selfish. I am impatient. I am greedy, and pouty, and lazy. (Well, not all of the time!) But at our core, aren't we all? We know that usually the greatest rewards in life come from the greatest struggles. But we really don't want to go through the struggle part, do we? Who would?

"....I could not help but think that somewhere along the way

we had missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it

with what is comfortable. We were settling for a Christianity

that revolves around catering to ourselves when the

central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves."

-David Platt, Radical

Ahhh, that whole 'die to self' thing.....that's hard. And usually it's not fun. Rewarding? Yes. Fun? Not so much. Still, we're on board. We're paddling. We're looking for the joy along the way. And the challenges.....well, we'll just hand those over to someone who can take care of them.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself,

“The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

-Lamentations 3:22-24

Black and White Wednesday- Princess Rylie

A while back, I found a blog that drew me in immediately. Adorned with gorgeous pictures of her kids, I noticed one of her beauties was Chinese....and named Reagan.....and came home from China just a few weeks after Rylie. Well, back in the spring, she offered some on-line photography classes, which I signed up for as my birthday present. I have always loved taking pictures, and a few years ago got a used dSLR camera, although I really knew nothing about its functions above staying in Auto. Well, Lisa taught us some super-useful info, which transitioned us all into shooting in manual. I still need a lot of practice, but have had fun learning!

Of course, I have lots of opportunities to practice with the kids....when they decide to cooperate.

Rylie has been my biggest challenge, though. She hasn't quite figured out the smile-on-demand thing, or how to continue looking at the camera for more than a split second. Luckily, she gave me a great opportunity to practice one morning, while she was playing dress up. She took just about every conceivable thing she could find to put on, and transformed herself into a fancy little princess.

At first, she didn't really get into it.

And I think she was annoyed at the camera being in her face.

Or distracted by her toes.

But, I couldn't let the opportunity pass by.

To capture a moment when this little girl initiated a little session of pretend play.

And one in which she looked so beautiful at that.

Well, I couldn't let that moment pass by.

How I love you, my little princess. And I love capturing your moments of joy.

Starting Over

It seems the most recent theme on my little blog has either been ABSENCE or CATCHING UP. Sorry about that. I truly have no idea where 2011 has gone. August sneaked up on me from out of nowhere! I guess that's what happens with 3 kids. Time literally flies. And I am having a hard time keeping up.

For now, mostly for myself to remember....here are a few highlights!

• Rush's sister came home from the Philippines, where she has been serving for the past year as a teacher at a school for kids of missionaries. Reagan was lucky enough to fly out to LA with her grandparents to meet Sharon as she arrived back in the States. While they were there, they went to Disneyland!!!! She loved every minute of being treated like a princess and had a great trip!
• Rush took Jonah to Disney World for one of their Star Wars Weekends. Being the Star Wars nut he is, he went crazy. He didn't even know he was going until the morning of their flight. We woke him up and had him get ready, just as if he was going to school. Over breakfast, Rush spilled the beans. It was awesome. I think Jonah was in shock all weekend.
• We had a week in the Outer Banks over spring break with Rush's family. It was Rylie's first real beach experience and minus a few moments, she loved it!
• Rush and I were lucky enough to have a few days in Cozumel in May. It was nice to literally have nothing to do. Well, except sit on the beach or by the pool all day long.
• Jonah lost his first tooth!
• My sister had a baby....she lives in Roanoke, so my mom and I packed up the kids and headed for a visit. Sadly, the kids had never been to Virginia Tech before, so we took the opportunity to take them to Blacksburg for the first time! Rush was disappointed (to put it mildly) that he didn't get to come, but the kids LOVED it! We checked out campus, played on the drillfield, hung out at the duckpond and more. I wish we had a little more time there, but overall, it was awesome going back and having the kids with me. Last year was the first time since we graduated that we have missed going to at least one football game per season (since we just got home with Rylie). Fortunately, this year we get to head back to a game and take Jonah with us! Can. Not. Wait!

I'm sure there is so much more I could list, but I think those are the big things.

In other news, Rylie is doing great! She's progressing well in speech therapy and her therapist seems really pleased. She LOVES her Sunday School class and adored bible school last week. The girl pays attention....she knew a lot of the words and motions to the songs they learned. I was really surprised at how much she remembered!

There's some big news coming down the pipeline. I know I alluded to it months ago and left a lot of people hanging. Sorry about that! I promise I will share soon.

And, I am going to really try to get back on the blog bandwagon consistently!

Reagan's Take on Love

Apparently, Reagan has a boyfriend.

Is it just me, or do these kids start early?!?!

She told us of him yesterday....a little boy from preschool. An older boy at that.

His name...Joshua.

She asked me when she could go on a date with him.

Yikes.

She also said she fell in love with him.

I asked how it happened.

Her response: "First, you run around the playground and then you fall in love."

Simplicity. :)

Jonah's response..."You're too young for that! That stuff is only for kids in kindergarten and up!"

Hopefully, way up. I have a feeling Miss Lovebird is following in the footsteps of her womanizing older brother. Although, at least he waited until Kindergarten!

6 months later...

A little over a week ago, we officially reached the 6-month point of having Rylie as an official part of our family. What a ride it's been. In such a cliched way, I can easily say it seems like she's been here forever, yet I often find myself needing to stop and remember that it's ONLY been 6 months. Nothing in the grand scheme of things. Such a little amount of time to expect her to be fully grafted in to our family. The range of emotions I have felt over the past 6 months are more vast than anything else I have ever experienced in my life.....more than I could have ever anticipated. I read this post, and feel like I could have written it myself. This is such a huge process....such a gigantic step of faith....why would I expect that everything would immediately fall into place? That everything would feel perfect from day one? It hasn't and it didn't. But wow.....what a difference 6 months can make. I am sure people have judged me and our family in many ways over the last 6 months....our responses, our emotions, our choices. But ultimately, we have an audience of One, who has led us down this road, and we know He will not fail us now.

I would be lying to say this little girl doesn't try my patience in ways I didn't know were possible. But she has changed us. She has changed me. So much so, that big things are in store for us. Big things we are currently pursuing. Big things that will stretch us again, and try us again, and teach us again. Big things that will force us to rely on each other and God in new ways....again.

Big things in store.....stay tuned.

Long Time No See!

Oh my poor little neglected blog.....

I've missed you so.

I'm sorry I've been absent. For 3 months almost. Sheesh....

Where the heck has the time gone?

Basically, there's no way to cover everything that's gone on.

Christmas....great. Rylie got a little overwhelmed, but still had a great time. Jonah and Reagan...on cloud 9, as expected.

New Years....no biggie. I worked.

January, I'd rather not even remember. Except for the fact that the hubby and I celebrated a decade of marriage. 10 years? Not sure how that happened!

February...I know there was a groundhog. And some hearts. And I hit the #33. For some reason, it still surprises me I'm a legitimate adult. I got to spend some much needed time with my girlfriends at the beach right after my birthday. Oh, how wonderful it was! We even went to a movie. I cannot remember the last time I went to a movie! How cute is this cupcake my sweet friend, Lisa, bought me?

Mid-February, Rylie had her cleft palate repaired. We're so thankful to have that surgery behind us. It was better than I expected....but I think it was because the surgery team did such a good job of preparing us for the worst. The first week after surgery was tough. We jokingly said "China Rylie" was back because the screaming, thrashing fits of rage came back in full force, much like when we were in China. It was difficult to see the past 5 months of work go out the window for a while. Fortunately, we're past that. She's still a little clingy, but it's improved dramatically. Soon, we will start speech therapy with her. She tries so hard to talk, but it's pretty much all unintelligible. At least she seems motivated!

Jonah had a little run-in with the law due to something that happened on the schoolbus. And by "the law," I mean Rush. Don't think that will be happening again. ;)

Today, we had our 6-month post-adoptive report visit with our awesome social worker who did our home study 3 years ago. It was a great time of reflection, and really helped us revel in the progress that has been made since we met Rylie almost 6 months ago. When we really stop and consider the changes....in her life and in her behavior, it's remarkable.

And the change in ours?

Well, I'm speechless. And thankful. The Lord sure is faithful. All. The. Time.