We're Going Green, Baby!

Well, as much as many of you would like to think that I've turned into a tree-hugging, whale-saving, environmentalist, that's not the 'green' I'm talking about.  

When, I say, "We're Going, Green!"  I mean really green.  Green as in a big ole green circle.

LIKE THIS!

And, we're celebrating it!  We're celebrating the green....and the boy who has made it happen.   

None other than our rambunctious, non-stop talking, energy-filled, A.J. 

For weeks now, he's been struggling at school.  He's a straight "A" kid, so academics is not his issue.  It's those darn tickets.  His classroom has a green, yellow, red set-up for behavior.

Green is good.  It's a make-Mama-smile, kinda good.  Yellow is Meh.  A warning.  Treading thin ice.  Then, there's the infamous RED.  That's a dark place.  Thankfully, we've never gone there.

However, that yellow ticket...oh, how that boy seems to bask in the glow of that yellow ticket. 

Man, how I adore that little face!

We've talked, cried, and lost many a privilege over that yellow ticket. Thankfully, things have been improving.  Slowly.  Two steps forward.  One step back. For a while, we had 2 or 3 yellow tickets coming home every week. Then, they began to wither down to maybe 1 or 2 a week.

But, this Friday, before he stepped out of the car to go to class,  I gave him the final day of the week "RAH...RAH....You can do this!" speech.

In the afternoon, I waited with baited breath as I saw him walking towards the car.  He walked slowly, with measured strides.  Head hanging.  Eyes staring at the ground.  

Then, he arduously hopped in the van and made his way to the back, where he plopped down his book bag and pensively looked out the window, without uttering a single word.  

My heart sank.  I said nothing at first.  I began driving away from the pick up line, and then found the courage to muster the words he so often hears. "AJ, how'd you do today?  Did you get a green?", I asked.  He looked down at his feet, contemplating what he would say to me, when all of a sudden, he looked up again! A huge grin had broken out across his adorable little face, and he blurted out, "YES!!!!  I did it! I got a green today!  I got a green every day this week!  I did it!"

We all clapped and cheered and rejoiced.  

Oh, it's the little things in life that sometimes are the biggest, and this was big, indeed!

Just had to throw in some more cuteness for ya!

Congratulations, beautiful boy.  We knew you could do it!

Keep it up!  Go green, baby!  Go green!  Mama and Daddy are proud of ya!  

Tell Me Again, Mama!

"Tell me again, Mama!"

Those four words are not uncommon around our household.  We've been hearing them for a few years now.

Apparently, there's been much talk lately, as there has been in the past, about the rights and wrongs, of what the story behind our children's life, before they came into our families, is.

I believe each family should find the words that work for them.  Our family has found that the truth is the answer, especially with our Chinese children.  But, it relates to all three.  As a matter of fact, it relates to all six of my precious babes.  

TRUTH.   There is such power in that word.

I've heard people tell their children from China that their Mamas loved them so much, that they were left in a place where they could be found, and that they tried to care for them, but they weren't able to.  That all may be true, but we have no 'real' proof'.  We may believe in our hearts the information we were given, because it seems like the logical explanation when a child is left in a very public place such as a hospital, train station or orphanage steps, but that still isn't enough truth for me.  I wanted proof of their story.  I wanted it to be true, not just what I wished or hoped it was.

So, when in doubt, I do what I always do.  I pray.  I search for God.  I seek His answer.

When we decided to adopt, I knew these were questions we'd someday face.  "Why didn't my Mom keep me?", "Did my Mom love me?", etc.  So, my praying began long before I saw their precious faces.

I skirted around a bit with the above suggestions, but something just didn't feel right.  That proof, that truth wasn't there.  I wanted to be able to look them in the eyes and with all my heart know that what I was telling them was solid, not just the desires of my heart to ease their loss.  

Then, one day while reading God's Word,  He clearly spoke the truth to me.  I had my answer!  A perfect answer.  A truthful answer that could not be unproven or denied because it had come from His infallible Word.

“All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before 

one of them came to be."  ~ Psalms 139:16 

That's where their story began.  It didn't begin the day their birth Mamas realized they were carrying a child in their womb.  It didn't begin the day that they gasped their first breath of air.  It began before time began.  It began before they were even a thought in the minds of any human. It began in the mind of God.  That's how special they are!  They were chosen.  Not chosen by us, but chosen by their Almighty Father and Creator.

The story pretty much goes like this:

Once upon a time, way before time began, God decided he would make a beautiful and perfect baby. A baby He knew would bring Him glory.  But first, He needed a very special lady to bring this baby into the world.  So, He searched and searched for someone special enough that He knew would say, "Yes!  I will bring this baby into the world."  

Then, He planted the seed in that special lady's belly that formed the baby and the baby began to grow.  Oh, how quickly that beautiful baby grew and grew!  Just as God had planned.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful.  Psalm 139:13-14

But God, who of course knows everything, knew that this baby would not stay with that special lady, because He had other plans for him.  Plans that were as special as the baby He had chosen.  

He didn't stop at just making the baby. God wasn't done yet.. That was only a small part of His plan.  As that baby grew and grew, God had more planting of seeds to do. This time, He planted seeds in hearts.  Two hearts in particular.  He planted seeds in the hearts of a Mama and Daddy.  He knew that the two people He has chosen loved Him very, very much.  So, one day He whispered into their hearts, "I have a beautiful and perfect baby for you." God smiled because He knew this family would do what He asked, and they really, really wanted this beautiful and perfect baby.  But most importantly, God knew this family would teach this baby about Him and His amazing love.  God also knew that the baby would love Him so much, that even as a small child learning about Him, this child would begin to share Him with the world. The child would speak to others about Him in places most grownups don't go to share Him, like schools and playgrounds. 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 

Time went by and finally, this baby was born into the world.  Because God had already placed in the birth Mama's heart that she wasn't keeping this baby, she followed through with another plan.  She chose for him to be adopted.  Yes, the same way that Jesus adopted us, His children..

The baby was watched over and protected by God until the perfect family He had chosen for him, was able to bring that baby home.  Boy, did it seem to take forever!  Although they were a little impatient, especially the Mama, they knew that sometimes God's timing does seem like forever to arrive.  So, they waited....and they waited,. and they waited, all the while trusting God.

The Mama and Daddy knew time was getting closer.  Every day they woke up wondering if this would be the day.  Then one day, there was a phone call!  The phone call they had waited such a long time for.  Their baby was ready and waiting for them to bring him home!  Oh, that Mama and Daddy cried lots and lots of happy tears, They also thanked God, over and over, for His miracle and His goodness, because they knew that God always keeps His promises.

Not long after, they saw that beautiful baby for the first time ever.   The moment they held him, they knew....it was perfect.  All of it.  God's plan.  The baby.  Their family.  God smiled from Heaven when the family was finally together, because He knew that indeed, it was perfect. (Of course, everything He does is perfect!)

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good". - Genesis 1:31

At last, they all went home as a family.  The baby joined his brothers and sister and lots and lots of other family members.  He was loved and he loved back with all his heart, because he knew that God loved him so very much, that He made a special plan just for him.  A plan that He makes for all of His children that ask Him into their hearts.

"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." - Jeremiah 29:11

The best part of the story is that the baby grew up knowing the truth.  The real truth.  The truth that said that he was so loved by God, that He handpicked him and chose him, out of all the millions and millions of children in the world, to fulfill His purpose, and bring Him glory.  Wow!  Can you imagine what an honor is it to be chosen by God for something like that?!!

This truth filled the entire family with joy, and they all lived happily ever after.

The End.    
©Ohilda Bombardier    


Shortly after sharing their story with the kiddos, I hear those words, "Tell me again, Mama!"   What joy it brings into our  hearts that our children realize, not only that they are treasured and adored, but they know, that they know, that they know,,,,who they belong to, their real Father, Jesus Christ.  While the world may want to add all the messiness about their beginnings, how they were found, where they were found and even trying to guess the 'why' of it all, into the equation, the fact remains that their days were ordained for them, even before time began.!

So friends, that is our story.  No, not just the baby's story, but all of us who are blessed and honored to have been adopted and chosen into the family of God.

If you're not sure if you belong to that family, please don't hesitate to ask me.  I'd love to share i it  with you, and Jesus would love to call YOU His child.   Email me HERE.

 

♪ ♫ Playing in a Winter Wonderland ♫ ♪

What a beautiful day out in the country! For those of you that haven't been keeping up, we left the city life we led in Florida, and now live out in the country....in a whole other state!  A state we call, The Promised Land.   (You can read the details HERE if you want.)

So, here we are!  

Last night we had our first real snowfall of the season, the Big Winter Storm of 2014.   This morning, the kiddos couldn't get up fast enough to throw on their snow boots, thermals, coats, gloves, ear muffs...(well, you get the picture), and get outside to play in the powdery, white stuff.  Boy, was it beautiful, not to mention fun!

Our snowy wonderland!

Anyone want to ice skate in the pool?

Or maybe ice skate on the road?   Notice the tire marks. That was a car rolling backwards.

My sweet babies having fun!

Oh, yeah!  Let the snowball fights begin!

Smart boy!  Plenty of snow and a place to duck for cover!  

Okay, I know I'm biased.  But aren't they cute? 
I am one blessed Mama!  :)

I love this crazy kid!!

Even sweet hubby got in on the fun!

  

Little Missy holding her own as she gets ready to plow 
her brothers with snowballs!

This girl blesses my heart!

Yes, they did argue about who would wipe the slide with their bottoms.  Kai won.

We tried convincing Fred he was a snow bunny.  Didn't work.  He found no fun in what everyone was laughing about, and quickly headed back inside to lay by the warm fire.  
(Yes, I know.  He is dire need of grooming.  It's on the list of things to do!)

So, after all was said and done, the general consensus was:

Hurray for snow days!!!

As always, thank you, Jesus, for providing an awesome day of family fun!

Ooooh....and lest not forget.  I have one more thing I am very thankful for....

...my toasty warm, Bear Paw® boots!  They rock!

Stay warm, safe and be blessed, friends.

 

Time Flies....

One of the biggest pieces of our hearts!

Oh, how we adore this little man!

It's been quite a while since I've updated on how we're doing, and boy, it's been chaotic and crazy and busy.  But that's our life and we wouldn't change it.  The lows allow us to reach for highs, and the highs allow us to see how God brought us through the lows and to the place where we stand now.

Today, I wanted to give a quick update on a very special little man, our A.J., who just happens to turn SEVEN YEARS OLD today.  SEVEN?!!  How could that possibly be?  It seems like it was a just a year or two ago, when we were handed this precious bundle.  Yet, at times, there are days when I can't even remember life without him in it.  Sometimes, I even forget I didn't carry him in my womb, as I said to Scott one night, "Remember when I was pregnant with AJ....."  and he looked at me a bit bewildered.  We both laughed.  I totally had forgotten I didn't.

So, here's where this little man is in our lives right now.  HE IS PERFECT!  He is still definitely, "AJ".  The entire family refers to him as "my little bowl of sugar", because I don't think there's a sweeter little boy on earth.  That is, when he's not running around hog-tying the dog, leaping from the bunk bed as if he could fly or wanting to desperately come over and help cook by tossing some ingredient in when I'm not looking, and then sheepishly saying, "I added some sugar for you, Mama.", when I am making hamburger or something that definitely does not call for sugar.

He is rambunctious and definitely all boy.  He loves to imitate his Daddy and can give you a hundred reasons why it's perfectly okay to go outside without a jacket when it's 35 degrees and raining.  Sometimes, very few...but sometimes, he *almost* makes a little sense.  ;)

He's a star student in school and a math AND reading wiz.  He is very proud of his accomplishments and beams when he is praised.  He has a wicked imagination and his 'stories' can go on for quite a while.  Sometimes, needing time limits before he begins to tell them so that the others can get a word in edgewise.  

He is funny.  Hysterical kinda funny.  He comes up with stuff that cracks me up, usually out of nowhere when we're driving in the car or something.  He has a fantastic memory and if you make a promise, you best be sure and keep it, because he will never let you forget.

He loves God with all his heart and gives me chills many times when he's saying prayers.  He also loves the Bible and soaks up our Bible study every night, remembering details that sometimes I don't even catch.

He's a fanatic for all things electronic and hence the reason those things are under tight control around here.  But, also loves to use his imagination playing and is a pretty darn good artist.  He's created  things from complex leprechaun traps to ingenious ways to have Hot Wheels roll through things from one end of the living room to the other without stopping. 

But want to know what one of my favorite things about him is?  He's a Mama's boy!  Oh yes!   My little man has been sick on and off for a couple of months and he absolutely soaks up the fact that he's in our bed, being snuggled, kissed, hugged and loved on.  That makes it sound like he doesn't get that stuff EVERY DAY - don't be fooled, he does.  He just likes the 'added loving'.

I love that he's told me that when he grows up he's going to live next door with his wife and kids so that he can be close to me, and when there are lightning storms and he gets scared, he'll bring his family over so we can cuddle.  Oh, how I wish sometimes he wouldn't grow up.

So, today, our sweet baby boy is seven years old.  Wow!  Where has time gone?  I wish I could have captured every smile, every tear, every emotion, and every moment and put them in a place where I can rewind them over and over as he grows.  He is growing way too fast.

AJ, thank you for being such a huge blessing to our life.  You are a gift from Heaven and we praise God for his goodness, every day, in giving us the gift of YOU!

So much to be thankful for...

Something magical happens....

When The Triplets get new PJs!

Oh, yes, it does!

They break out into huge GRINS....

complete SILLINESS....

and even possible CACKLING!

Some may call what happens to them HILARITY...

from the tops of their heads ...

down to their ticklish, wiggly, piggies.

But me? I just call it ...

PRECIOUS PERFECTION!

So sad, with a thankful heart.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

Today, a friend shared THIS LINK with me. My eyes welled as I read of the agony that this mother must have gone through as the precious child she had carried close to her heart for eight months, was cruelly ripped out of her womb.

While China's one-child policy still very much remains in effect, this heinous act happens world wide.

After reading the article, I feel a need to take a moment to thank our precious angels' birthmothers for their courage and tenacity. I pray that God bless them abundantly. Although, we will never know the circumstances of what they went through to assure the birth of their baby, we do know it must have been a difficult path to walk. I pray that God fill their hearts with his unexplainable peace and that they may somehow know deep in their hearts how happy, loved and treasured their babies are. It is a gift we could never repay. We are reminded that the miracle of adoption blesses our lives every single day when we look into the faces of our sweet babies.

This post wasn't intended to be about the upcoming elections, but it is inevitable for me not to bring it up knowing that we can stop these atrocities from happening in our own backyard.

We are God's children. We have the opportunity to make our voices heard and remove from office those that agree on the killing of millions of innocent babies. We can make a difference. Please vote on November 2nd!

Mama's Homeschool Steps Out

Literally.

The past week has been absolutely gorgeous here in SW Florida. We've been blessed with cool, breezy, no humidity mornings where we've not had the need to turn on the air conditioner. The kids love it and I love it!

This morning, I thought we'd have a special day of school by taking "school" to the park! It was very cute because when we got in the car packed with a blanket, school supplies, books, laptop, and snacks, Kai said, "Mama, you can't have school at a park." I said, "Sure, we can! That's another great thing about homeschooling, Kai. We can have school just about anywhere!" They got a kick out of that!

So, we arrived at one of their favorite parks, laid out our blanket, Amanda grabbed her laptop and everyone settled in. We started our school day, just as we do every day, with bible study. I was quite surprised how attentive they were sitting there listening to the story and during discussion time.

Reading and talking about Gideon and the importance of obeying God.

Everyone hard at work!

We had reading time and then ran off eagerly to the much anticipated playground equipment to burn off some energy. We came back, had a snack during story time, and then did our math work.

WOOT! WOOT! RECESS TIME!

Back to work!

Afterwards, we packed up and decided to take a little "nature" walk through the park. We saw neat birds like herons and egrets and walked the boardwalk in search of alligators. We've discussed many times about habitats and which animals live where. I often don't even have to bring it up because the little ones are very quick to let me know where we are and which of God's creatures may be lurking around.

This boy takes his math very seriously!

My girl's wings are spreading and she is doing amazingly well!

My China-man tackling those tough word problems!

We then took a walk through some very neat cactus gardens that AJ insisted on wanting to touch (no worries, I did not let him) and then through some pretty stunning rose gardens and a few small flower gardens that were surrounded by beautiful, fluttering butterflies.

Stopping at the pond and checking out the lily pads for frogs.

Nothing like finding real alligators to fit in perfectly with our reptile lessons this week.

I am enjoying homeschooling my babies so very much. Every night I thank God for the opportunity to be home with them and to be allowed this honor. Watching them literally bloom before my eyes is an amazing gift.

Heading home after a great day of school!

I remember saying to God when we started, "Lord, I'm doing this because I know you have called me to do so, but I am pretty sure that although I know you never make mistakes, you may have just picked the wrong person for this particular job." As usual, he probably laughed while sitting on his throne and said, "HA! Here she goes again." I am so thankful that again, I was obedient and stepped out of my comfort box.

I do want to thank some wonderful, veteran, homeschooling Mamas who have given me such great advice. I remember in particular being told that the most important piece of advice they could give me was to take not take it so "seriously". I thought at first, "Hmm...that's weird. How could you not take school seriously?" Well, now 2 months into it. I find that truly has been one of the best pieces of advice I have been given.

The first couple of weeks, I was so stressed about making sure we were "sitting down ready for class" at 9 am. I felt it was imperative for me to adhere to a stringent schedule. Now, I've thrown that all out the window. Oh yeah, we definitely have class every day. We still do bible study, reading, math, Spanish, science or social studies every day, with a day here or there of music and or art. But, I no longer adhere to schedules. If we wake up a little later, we just start later. If we wake up earlier. We then start earlier. If reading goes past the 30 minutes allotted, great! If it's less time, so be it. We're ALL enjoying school so much more now. The kids know the routine and know which subjects follow which. They look forward to school and on the one or two occasions, where we've not had school because of doctors' appointments or for whatever reason, they truly have missed it.

I am so thankful that I have been blessed with such wonderful friends that are not only amazing Mamas, but they are homeschooling pros. Your opinions, thoughts and ideas are invaluable to me. Please know the door is always open to receive whatever you wish to share!

To teach is to learn twice. - Chinese Proverb