Birthdays and More

The first order of business is letting you all know we are up and running again at this house. It was hands down two of the craziest weeks we have had in a long time. And quite possible ranks as the craziest two weeks of all time! Within 4 days this week we had the following: Judah in the ER all night with a virus that seemed to center on his liver. Shane diagnosed with asthma so the medicine regimen has begun and we are already seeing results. Thank you Jesus! Tristan with zero appetite and an ear infection. Eden with a raging double ear infection as well as pneumonia. Heidi with just fever and crabbiness! Judah's liver enzyme levels are back to normal (whoot), Eden seems to be much better and overall order seems to be returning. We have spent quite a bit of quality time with the doctor this week with a few more appointments over the next week and a half to follow up with Eden and Shane. So thankful at this point for medicine that has helped us all recover relatively unscathed!

We celebrated a birthday in the midst of everyone being sick which is always fun! This is Shane's last year in the single digits. We can all shed a tear over the fact that my boys seem to be turning into young men right in front of my eyes! Shane has had some attitude issues lately which we are hoping he is reserving for us and not his teacher or classmates at school. I told him today I am about to sit on him in hopes that all his internal frustrations and attitudes will leave him in one giant fart as I squeeze the air out of him! He told me he hopes it stinks. I assured him that if it smells at all like his stinky attitude lately it will not disappoint in the smell category! Someone help!!

He chose his favorite past time of bowling for his birthday date with Mark and I. We took him out for dinner and then to the lanes for a couple of games. I chose to sit the games out and watch this time since a majority of that day I had been in the bathroom spending quality time with the toilet. He refused to cooperate with my attempts at photographing his date so I have nothing but a few blurry pictures as he dodged the camera! He is still my sweet boy who loves to snuggle on the couch! He is an absolute treasure and a young man who has the tenderest of hearts that we pray continues to be soft and pliable in the Father's hands!

And then there is Heidi who is determined to dress herself most days in the most interesting of combinations. On Monday when I took her to the doctor she chose to wear leopard print pants with blue/yellow striped shorts over top of them. I am past the point of caring what people really think of how my children are dressed. Then I went to Target a few days later and realized that mix-matched prints and colors is the new thing! Heidi is on top of her game after all! She is cutting edge and I just didn't know.

Sisters! If only they always hugged and looked this sweet. Wouldn't that be nice?

Have I said lately how much I love having little girls? This little lady is almost enough to make you rethink your position on having more children. Except for the antagonistic streak that seems to fuel her interactions with her siblings. She is a hand full at this stage of her little life.

We are doing well and enjoying the strange weather this winter. Although I find my heart already yearning for spring. I watched the birds in our yard this morning and could almost feel spring. I know we have a lot of winter to endure yet but before long my kids will be running out the door in their bare feet to run free! I am dreaming of my garden, getting my hands in the soil, hanging laundry on the line, throwing frisbee, breathing deep and being energized by the newness of life that comes with spring!

My confession of the day is this: an almost suffocating desire to breathe in the beautiful Ethiopian air! Maybe it is knowing my mother is going to be there within 2 weeks with my brother. Maybe it is feeling an undeniable stirring that we may have another child in that beautiful land. More than anything it is a desire to experience again the simplicity of living life without all the stuff that clutters and consumes my life. Unless you have experienced the beauty that comes from people who have nothing yet smile in the face of uncertainty you cannot grasp how simply we can live and still be fulfilled! Stuff, things, homes, clothes, latest fashion.....none of it is lasting. People, relationships, children.....this is where life is found! I just love the people of Ethiopia and cannot wait to return. I have this feeling it will be sooner rather than later.

It really hit me again on Sunday morning as Judah and I were leaving the hospital and we saw the big old news vans in the parking lot. I knew Joe Paterno was on the brink of death and almost a stone's throw away from the hospital is the huge stadium that was built in large part due to his commitment to his players and the university. The reality was so vivid to me in that moment. He has left an amazing legacy and impacted more people than can be counted. The huge stadium is testament to his work. And this is cliche' and we have heard it a million times. But it all stayed here as he left this world for eternity. When we stand before God it is not about what we have managed to amass. It is all about how we have loved others, given to others and served them! May I be found faithful on my day of passing!