Adoption is like a box of chocolates..

Well at least the cashier at Wal-mart thinks so.  

Again,  I was asked if we are "done" having kids.  As soon as I mention that we are praying that it's not the end of kids for us and that in fact, we are hoping to adopt.. she says (with shock) "Why?  I mean, adopting is like reaching your hand in a bag and pulling out.. well you don't know what you're gonna get."  

To which I said, "well when we pop out kids ourselves, we don't know what we are gonna get either.  The truth is that God is bigger than anything that we could or couldn't do for our kids, biological or not."  

She didn't have anything to say to that but then told me that her sister has eight kids.  And the cashier just "ain't about to have eight kids herself."  Then I told her that I don't think it matters how many you have as long as you realize that they are a gift from the Lord and to be happy with the ones you have.  And that not everyone is meant to have a large family.  

I don't know this lady.  I don't know if she is a follower of Jesus Christ, so I can understand how a non-believer doesn't understand the beauty of adoption and how God's heart is to care for the orphans.  But sadly, the shocking responses we've gotten over our decision to adopt (or at the very least, to pray about it), have not all come from non-believers.

A good bit have come from believers.  We should know better.  God adopted us and He knew EXACTLY what he was getting, and YET He still did it.  

What are your reasons for not being "comfortable" with adoption (I've heard a good many): 

1.  Don't know what your going to get?  what issues a child may have.

2.  They look different than the rest of the family.  That may harm them latter in life. 

3.  We have so many needy children here in the states (targeted at those who adopt internationally). 

Lets consider those.  Come, let us reason together.  

1.  Don't know what you are going to get or what issues a child may have.  

I don't know about your god, but the God of the Bible is bigger than anything that can happen in this life.  And He promises not only can He restore what the locusts have eaten, but that His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in weakness!  If you refuse one of these children on that basis, you are saying in effect that the Gospel can not work for them.  That their issues are bigger than what God can deal with.  Friends do not get me wrong... to say that statement above, you need to search your heart and understand that YOU may not be willing to work with that child, but the Lord Jesus Christ is.  

2.  They look different than the rest of the family and that may harm them later in life. 

oh the joy of knowing that God does not care about our looks (except for modesty, of course).  With all do respect, lets weigh this one.. which would harm a child more:  looking different in his family but being loved and accepted for who He is as an image bearer of the One true God and finding a home and family all his own OR wandering the streets, orphanage or hopping from home to home in our broken foster care system all because someone was uncomfortable that he wouldn't fit in with the way their family looked?  You tell me which one is harder to deal with. 

3. We have so many needy children here in the states (targeted at those who adopt internationally).

Yes, there are so many orphans everywhere that need homes.  But as my friend Megan (mom of three adopted children) said, "well yes there are kids in the states, but they are sitting in a foster home with basic felt needs met.   Children overseas and are very often sitting in their own feces."  No other words needed on that one.  

Friends, please don't misunderstand me, I know that God speaks to each family individually.  But do not be mistaken, God's word says this :

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27). 

Now how your family decides to "look after" them is a matter of prayer for your family, be it financial support to those wanting to adopt, or ministries that care for orphans, missions trips that visit orphans or adopting an orphan into your family.  The point is this:  It is something that we all should have a part in, especially those that bear the name of Christ: Christ-ones. Christians.   

grace to all of you.. 

A day in the life of me..

Eva pulling up in the window. 

Alex wearing a onesie, a craft apron and his brothers shoes. 

Jorge painting in the kitchen.

This was a good day.  Everyone was happy and enjoying life.  

It's kind of a long video.. but I think its cute. 
 

O happy girl

Baby girl was up from her nap and was happy to be seen.  My favorite thing in the world is when she scrunches her nose and does the heavy breathing thing.  adorable. 

Goings on..

He could seriously do this all day long. . 

His new craft apron.. cutie pie. 

Alex does more water painting than color painting. 

Jorge's apron.  he loves it.. 

Eva's crib time training.  She likes it.  she lasts about 30 minutes at this point.  She's learning. 

Oh this video is so cute.  Eva wants the popsicle, eats the popsicle but acts like she is in pain eating the popsicle.  LOVE IT! 

Before I forget..

Jorge is saying some of the cutest things lately and I knew I had to blog them or else I will forget them. 

Yesterday in the van: 

Jorge: "hey Alex, can I kiss you?"

Alex: "NO." 

Jorge: "Alex I want to hug you and to give you a kiss like daddy kisses mommy."  

(no worries people, its not that kind of kiss). 

Tonight we were at my SIL's house and the older kids were watching Spiderman 3.  As you may be aware, Jorge is obsessed with Spiderman.  So when I told him that he had to come back upstairs because he wasn't allowed to watch that movie, he yelled "OH NO I'm gonna watch this movie,mommy."  Well he got disciplined.  I explained again that he was too young for that movie and that he would be able to watch it when he got older.  I then tell him to go kiss his Vita (grandmom) and tell everyone goodbye.  I round up my other two kiddos and go to find Jorge.  Where is he?  On the stairs hanging over the railing staring at the t.v (with spiderman on it).  I call his name and ask what he is doing.  His response, "oh uh.. I just saying goodbye to 'dem."  Little stinker!!! 

On our way home, I called my hubby (who is out of town) to tell him about the story.  And how Jorge yelled at me and all that jazz.  When I got off the phone this is what Jorgito said" 

"Mommy, I so sorry."  

"for what, baby?"  

"I so sorry that I watched Joshua's movie.  I so sorry I not obey." 

Then during prayers before bed he prayed: 

"And Jesus I so sorry I watch that movie.  It was all my fault. I so sorry I not obey mommy."  

Oh Lord I pray he always be sensitive toward his sin against you.  

NO more band-aids, thank you very much

So my favorite phrase of the day:

(Pediatrician) "Oh yeah, I see it.  Its stuck right on the back of her throat."  

I cried. In relief..  Mommy was right. I knew something was not right. 

FOUR HOURS EARLIER: 

Eva had her vaccine shots today.  You know those little round band-aids that they put on their chubby little legs?  Well, my sweet 8 month old daughter decided to pull one off her leg and eat it, while in her car seat, while on our way to pick up the boys from my friend Christina's house. 

She was crying on the way and I chalked it up to, she's just hungry.  the last time she ate was 8:30 and it was now 11:30.  But when i made it my friends house and tried feeding Eva she kept gagging and then started the screaming.  The kind of screaming that leaves you batty.. You know something isn't right.  I pick her up.  And that's when I see it:  One of the band-aids is missing.  

Christina gets me a flashlight and we attempt to hold a screaming baby down long enough to try to see if we can see the band-aid.  I couldn't see a thing.  Long story short: call the pediatrician and he says if she swallowed it that we will just have to wait for it to pass.  Eva doesn't want to nurse.  Screams non-stop.  I decide to head home and wait for it to pass.  On the way home she starts gagging so badly she throws up.  That I found out as I swerved over on the side of the road and open the door in time to see my gagging child throw up what i had tried to feed her at my friends house.  No band-aid in the throw up.  

She falls asleep from pure exhaustion.  Got home.  Put the boys in the bed and let the sleeping baby sleep.  When she woke up it was nightmare all over again.  Screaming, gagging, crying, not wanting to nurse.  Call the doc and said I'm coming in.  He assures me that if its it there and he can see it, he can get it out.  Otherwise we have to go to the ER.   Although, he does say that "it could just be she is that upset from getting shots." To which I assure him that she is NOT that upset.  The girl hasn't eaten in 8 hours.  That's NOT normal for any upset child and she has cried, nay, screamed for a continual 40 minutes.  

Got to the doctor... and upon examination he says the best thing this mother could ever hear (today): "Oh yea it's there.  Right on the back of her throat."  

I almost wept.  Instead, I scooped her up and snuggled her tight and kept saying "oh baby, mommy knew.  Mommy knew it.  I knew it wasn't right.  We are gonna fix it.  mommy knew."  

10 minutes later it was out.  And baby girl nursed like she had never nursed before.. or like it had been 9 hours since she had last eaten.  No more band-aids, thank you very much.  

My little angel is back to her old self.  Content.  Eating.  Sleeping peacefully. Praise be to God for His gracious deeds!!! 

Wedding Perspective and sippy cups.

I went to a wedding this evening. I really enjoy weddings. As I've gotten older I've been able to grasp a little bit more of the picture of Christ that it represents.

I've also realized how quickly life seems to move after that big event.

Tonight I was talking to the father of the bride and I asked how it felt being at this point in your life, your oldest child getting married, that is. I said, "It must seem like just yesterday when you were changing diapers." His response: "Oh yeah, I have a picture of her holding a sippy cup and her hair all over the place. She couldn't have been more than 2 years old. (he started to tear up) and I told her, honey that is how I will always see you."

Oh MY WORD. It was all I could do not to run home right then and take give my kids their sippy cup.. It is already happening so fast. And I am not the kind of person that really misses when we trade one "season" for another. But I have a feeling I am going to later on. Sippy cups.. that's where we are right now. The thought of my kids getting married, while glorious in theory, seems too bizarre for me to think about. Wont' they always be too young?

I just want to savor every moment. Sop it up with a biscuit. (sorry I'm a little hungry). I'm gonna guess they'll be used to it by then, but I'm pretty sure I'll be a little emotional as the years go by. Just want to live life to the fullest and not regret a single day.

And never get rid of the sippy cups.

too funny!