How to Feel Like You've Accomplished Something With Three Kids in the House

I have never been a "crafty" person. I have tried to sew. I have tried to scrapbook, make flower arrangements etc. All failures. I was resigned that crafting was not my thing. I could find my creative outlet in other ways. After all, shopping and pedicures took lots less effort.

Then this new little girl came into my life and I went to buy my first hair bow and almost fell over! 8 dollars for a really cute one and I was going to need a bow to match every outfit, especially if she was going to become a proper "bow head".

As luck would have it, my wonderful Sis-in-law (who is very crafty) had just learned to make bows and she consented to teach me. I had my reservations since I stink at everything other craft I've tried, but I pressed on and made a bow, and another, and another...and another.

Success. In fact, I am now getting so good, I feel comfortable giving some away. So two Sunday afternoons ago, I sat down to do a craft. I worked for two hours and made about twenty-five bows. Cute, crafty bows

I felt accomplished - elated. In the midst of a time in my life when nothing is ever finished and my children are so needy, I finished a couple hours of work and saw my progress. Something was done. And then I understood my fellow crafty friends. They craft to express and to see finished work. They get to say, look what I have done. I am accomplished!

Eskimos or Joes

There is a very famous restaurant in Stillwater, OK that my family frequents on our trips to my Alma Mater and to see my husband's mother. (mater, mother...ha ha. )

Anyway, the restaurant is Eskimo Joe's. They have the best Cheese fries on the planet and some really awesome sweet peppered bacon. My family loves it and they love Joe, the Eskimo mascot and his faithful dog, Buffy.

On Saturday, I was alone with Aaron for a short while and he asked me what a "Joe" ate. The question puzzled me and I asked for a repeat. Once again he asked "What does a Joe eat?" I am thinking that Joe is a friend, or an animal, or this is an elaborate 7 year old joke. So I ask him to tell ME what they eat in order to ward off getting stuck as the butt of his joke. Aaron, unfortunately, just looked confused and became more emphatic.

"Mom, what does a Joe eat? You know those cold people in fur that live with the polar bears."

I immediately saw the error of our hamburger, cheese fries eating ways. I suddenly realized that Joe's not only causes clogged arteries, but a complete misrepresentation of an Eskimo and the name Joe. My son is doomed.

Moving Right Along

Sarah has officially moved into the realm of full sentences. These aren't great literary achievements, (yet) but she has asked to go to Grandma's house and asked her Baba Golden for a book. In fact, she won't leave his house without a new book. She even said today, "I love Grandma. I love Baba. He give me book. I love Uncle Matt." This morning she told me "I want the black and white dress." Wow!

Don't think the other side of the family has been left out. She has asked for Aunt Margaret, Keith and her cousin Katie. She talks about sledding in the snow over Christmas break and all the family pets. When we left Grandma Stevens house, she wanted to go back and always asks to talk with her on the phone.

I am past counting the amount of words she knows as they are so vast. I know she has a lot left to learn, but man I am impressed. Even now she is sitting beside me "writing" in her notebook. - from left to right and in very English looking scribbles!

Isaac's First School Choir Performance

Sarah's Words and Phrases

Most people who will read this know that I am an ESL teacher. Therefore, I am absolutely fascinated by the language development happening in my household presently.

Here are some of my favorite Sarah phrases - all in English!

1. That's enough - I wonder why she knows that?
2. I go outside
3. Nee sit down. (nee means you in Chinese)
4. Wash your body
5. Aaron did it
6. butter
7. cookie
8. candy
9. mine
10 No
11. No
12. No and
13. No!
14. Mommy
15. Daddy
16. color
17. Backpack
18. car
19. cat
20. woof
21. dog

Response to Comment

To the anonymous posted response that told me It wasn't God who brought Sarah to my life.

Who are you and what makes you think that God can't work through people. And no, the donations that were given were all by Christians following God's lead. Not one nonchristian gave to her adoption. The God loving and following Christians gave small amounts that they were led to give and we were given so much more than we needed.

Who else can know all the ins and outs of what was needed for our family but God. Who else could have put the timing together like it was. Who else could have knitted together our family in a time span that allowed me to be okay with all of this.

My strength comes from God, alone. Left to my own devices I could not mother or have the strength to mother these children. Yes, Miracles do happen and they have happened more than once in my life and are key markers that God is real, God cares, and he is active in our lives. He would like to be active in your life as well, all you have to do is admit that you have fallen short and can't live without him. Believe that Jesus is God's son and that he came to die for you because he loves us more than anyone ever could. And then choose to believe and have faith. Choose to learn and follow his lead.

I love my family and friends, but I must say that nothing they could have done would have gotten us to China if God wasn't with us.

Response to