Chchchch...Changes!

She's holding a worm Folks, after a summer
of mustering up the courage. So proud!

Gosh, its been awhile........unfortunately time for blogging has NOT been happening lately, but that's because life has been full and busy and thankfully, full of good stuff. We said goodbye to summer with our arms outstretched, and there might have been a tear going down my face seriously (I love summer!) as we swam our hearts out in the cooler temperatures and gave fishing a try (no we didn't catch anything...one got away from Adam and one from Dad).... 
And then our Annabelle started Kindergarten - which means Mommy did too - we felt led by the Lord to homeschool this year and its been a joyful time together, a blessed time of watching the wheels turn in her head and seeing her excitement for learning and God-given passions and talents come out.  Its such an opportunity to have this time with Belle and we are loving it. Our Oliver started Preschool, with much excitement, and loves it so far, which is not surprising - after watching his sister go for the past 2 years, he was thrilled it was his turn and that he got to stay and play with all those fun toys they have waiting for you at drop-off!

And so with Autumn comes change...and I feel it.  Most moms I talk to feel it too, feel the busyness of going here and there, and working with their children on the new school year and routine and activities and at the end of the day, I'm tired, too tired to blog.  Life is full and changing!

Though September brought a lot of change to our house, and we're still learning what our weeks will look like, with each day carrying a different schedule, we've recognized we are on the brink of more change too.  So, for our little family, change is where it's at right now! This is particularly interesting to me because if I think back to my former self, my pre-Mama self, change caused great anxiety and a bittersweet knot in my tummy, but now change is where we live and we're about to have new experiences by the truckload with travel and our adoption of our son in the nearer future. 

 

With September brought our precious boy's birthday.  Change again - he is no longer a 1 year old but now 2 years old, and I imagine he's one busy little guy.  We picture him smiling and running, and climbing, and dumping out baskets (if he's anything like his older siblings), zooming cars, and eating and growing, and learning more words each day.  Some have asked - he speaks Korean currently and I hope he continues to once he comes home and begins to learn English also.  I can't wait to hear his little voice!  

 

We are now waiting for news that his case has moved forward - please pray with us that this news comes soon, for as you can imagine we are so excited to meet this little boy and show him how much we love him, and have loved him for so long. We are hoping for news this week actually, so if we cross your minds, please whisper a prayer for our family.  Thank you!!

So we celebrated our little man's 2nd birthday. We mailed a package of gifts to him in late July to be sure he would have his presents in time for his birthday.  And then, we certainly couldn't let the day go by without celebrating someone we love so much, and so on Benjamin's 2nd birthday we headed off to The Pottery Place, where each of the kids chose a piece of pottery to paint for their brother as a gift.  Annabelle chose the doggie and Oliver chose a monster truck bank (surprise, surprise ;-) and these two painted their little hearts out for their brother.  They love him so much. 

Daddy and Belle making cupcakes!

We also celebrated at home - Annabelle decorated with crepe paper and balloons, and we made cupcakes together.  

Belle loves decorating! She got right to it!

And then I tried my hand at Korean cooking - the house smelled so good and I gotta give a shout out to Hannaford, who actually had everything I needed for my recipes!  On the menu was kimchi (OF COURSE), and BimBimBap (assorted vegetables, served over rice with a fried egg on top) and Bulgogi (marinated steak). 

I was slightly overwhelmed....
the kitchen was a HUGE mess, but...

SUCCESS! Wish you could taste this picture!

Annabelle's "I don't want to eat this" face..........

Our kids loved the Bulgogi, which is great, because then they can eat it in Korea! Oliver was eating the Kimchi like it was nothing!  If you've never tried kimchi, its pickled, spicy cabbage - and served with most meals in Korea, and is yummy, but a new, strong flavor. Dinner was delish and though our plates were full and we enjoyed it, it was light in our stomachs - Korean food is known for being quite healthy.  So now I know how to make these yummy dishes for my lil guy to give him a taste of his home country and bring some comfort to his soul.  

Annabelle's "I tried it and I liked it" face!

Our little family party for our little guy
who we carry in our hearts!

And of course we sang and the kids blew out the candles for their brother. Its bittersweet of course, and there were tears shed by this Mama as we took photos of the birthday we're celebrating for him but without him - my heart ached to not be holding him, watching him try to "blow out the candles" - which is always a tricky concept for a 2 year old's birthday.  But there was no option to not celebrate. Our Benjamin deserves to be celebrated and we wanted to pour into that day the love we felt in our hearts for him.  We prayed for our boy, that he was having a special birthday, and we have no doubt he was. We know God is watching over him, and feel a peace that he is loved.
And we documented our little celebration with photos and videos so we can show him one day, how we celebrated the day he was born!

Each day is a day closer to the day we meet him, and I know how the first couple weeks of school were full and went by so fast, that I know autumn will fly and all of a sudden we'll be on a plane, on a very long flight, flying far away to a new place, a beautiful country that is home to our son and await the moment we see him walk into the room.

Its amazing how God takes care of us, takes care of our hearts, when our hearts are hurting and missing someone we love.  I know God took care of me on Benjamin's birthday.  He knew my heart, that I was missing my little boy, that I longed for him and that I never could have imagined he wouldn't be home for his 2nd birthday, but He sustained me and blessed with great joy in watching my husband and kids love Benny in so many ways, and blessed me with the joy of this little boy who I'll be getting to know soon.  God can surprise us with joy and with strength on hard days. He holds us up and opens our eyes to the beauty around us.  I felt that on Benny's birthday, felt His strength, and peace, that peace that passes all understanding, and honestly just felt the blessing of my son, and the excitement I have for his life. I just felt thankful.

We are on the brink of change.  Soon we will meet that 2 year old. Isn't it cool I'm saying "Soon" now?! I don't know when it'll be, we still have potential months, but my heart is encouraged.



Our Prayer Sticks - Look who it is!

Please pray for news, for God to bless this process for Benjamin and our family, for things to go smoothly with paperwork as its reviewed, and for God's leading in our family, that we will trust His timing and sovereignty.  God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

 

p.s. If anyone wants to write or type up a lil note or "comment" below to Benjamin, I'll print it out for him and put it in his scrapbook or a keepsake box in his room. :)  We are blessed by so many family and friends who love him too! He's one blessed little boy with so much love around him.

p.p.s. STAY TUNED - We have one more FUNdraiser - An Adoption Auction Fundraiser - coming up in October.  More news on that to come!


 

Happy 2nd Birthday Benjamin! Mommy loves you with all of my heart, Daddy does too, and Belle and Ollie. There's so much love waiting for you, and ready to come and show you!  I think about you all the time and carry you in my heart through every day. You are loved by so many wonderful people. You have so many family and friends who can't wait to meet you and hoped you had a great, great birthday. In your third year of life, as a 2 year old, we will become a family - yay!  I know God has a beautiful plan for your life Benjamin. He says so in Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Love you bunches, Mommy