Now, for Today~~

We finally got some snow...enough to make things beautiful and to make some snow angels on the deck.

and an itty-bitty snowman

my favorite photo today

Christmas 2010, part 4

JT woke up at 3 a.m., and woke up Bryan because Bryan's tv was still on. Then by 4 a.m., Luci was waking me up.  Growl.  So I sat with her in the living room (Santa covered up the stockings and his surprises, just because this might happen--mommy sitting with Luci in the middle of the night).  By 5:45 I gave up and woke John up...Luci never did fall back to sleep, neither did Bryan or JT, so I thought John should share my Joy.  oh, Joy.

Here John is presiding over Christmas morning...notice it is still DARK outside.  Later we found out that everyone else in N Alabama got lots of snow but we only got about 3 flakes.  oh Joy again.

JT loves his new keyboard for his Rock Band video game. I love his HAIR.

Luci was very happy with her egg slicer.  Really!  She loves hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, and two egg-slicers have bit the dust this past year.

Loving the make-up that Santa left in her stocking.

And, the yearly present of a Princess dress...this is Rapunzel, complete with long hair.

Loving my new Kindle e-reader...and the book light that goes with it.  Bryan said I was doing it wrong...I don't think so, son, it works!

Bryan got a new tv and a video game...no pictures of him, he's off somewhere playing....

Christmas 2010, part 3

Christmas fun with Heath, Shanna and the girls

First things first...dress up, then do presents!

playing Kinect

Christmas 2010, part 2

Christmas with John's folks....

Everyone loves to be seen with Luci.  This is Frank, John's stepbrother.

Grandpa Olen

JT--he sees enough of Luci, so here he is by himself.

Grand-Je (Jeannie) and John

Grandpa again

Grand-Je and Suzi the dog

Cindy, Frank's wife

Cindy's mom

John's brother David and wife Faye

Jeannie gave Luci a really neat gift--an Amaryllis!  Here they are planting it.

Grandpa's funny chair...it looks so comfy but it slides you right out onto the floor.

Even Bryan had a hard time with the chair.




Maybe all of Grandpa's chairs are like that....

Jeannie really knows how to put on a good spread.  It was all delicious!





I put Bryan in charge of picture-taking...and ended up with about 50 photos similar to this one.  Maybe I need a new photographer?  Thank goodness it's a digital camera and he's not wasting real film.  (On a side note, look at how straight his teeth are getting!  Braces should come off in the Spring.)

Christmas 2010

Our church's Christmas party was last Sunday. 

John and JT



Luci before going on stage

Luci, Heather and Rachel

Waving to her adoring fans

Luci with Rachel W.

So happy it's over!  Luci was very nervous on stage.

Visions of Sugarplums....

JT slept on the floor in Luci's room on Christmas Eve.  Usually I am with her, in her room or on the floor in the living room.   (Can you say, "Sleep Issues?") 

Luci is sleeping horizontally on the bed--her head is in the middle somewhere and her feet are hanging out over JT.  It was so funny to see that I had to take a photo.

Yes, Luci has too many stuffed animals, and no, Santa is not bringing any more animal friends this year!

Merry Christmas Song from Third Day

This song has a hanky alert.



Luci and I have been watching her China videos over and over again for months now. The "China Videos" are videos of her meeting us in China and several days of that journey. We've seen them so many times that we have every movement memorized. Luci loves to have "Mommy pretend you are me and say what I'm thinking!"

So I do--mostly things like, "I love that kid (JT) with the orange hair and no teeth! He has as many teeth as I do!" (JT was missing his two front teeth on that trip.)

and

"Why does that man with the toothbrush on his lip (mustache) keep kissing me? He's nice, but wow, he tickles!"

I noticed things from these videos that I was too busy or too enamored of this little girl to notice while it was going on 5-and-a-half years ago, when Luci was 9 1/2 months old. Like, Luci's eyebrows all knitted up during our first meeting. How those eyebrows relaxed over the next two days.

How we were supposed to go in alphabetical order (we are "W" so we would be last) but the Willinghams just pressed on and got to the babies first (sorry, Lanes and Beardens! I can mean my apology now, but I sure didn't mind being first that day.).

How upset one of the other girls was at the hand-over, and how the third girl didn't look at her parents (at least not on the video that we have) during that first meeting.

How Luci looked me in the eyes as we talked to her in the lobby of the hotel that first few minutes. How she looked at each of us, in the eyes and how she continued to do that as the days went on. Even when I fed Luci her first bottle, she looked at me, eye-to-eye. Very unusual for these babies, according to the International Adoption Clinic.

How calm Luci seemed in our first meeting, but those eyebrows--she knew something was going on. How she was so silent in the lobby but once we got her up to the room, she babbled. (Oh how I love hearing that baby voice!)

How she really did not cry there in China, and how even-tempered she was (she still is, but she will let us know when she's upset!).

How lovely she was (still is), and her happy nature shows through.

How excited the boys were to see her, and how they jockeyed for attention with her. (Bryan had all sorts of comments on the video--he was our designated camera man; and JT showed off some gymnastics tricks that he'd practiced for his new little sister.)

How selfish I was in not wanting anyone else to hold her--the boys and John just had to wait. :)

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Here are some photos from the first dvd. These have never been shown on the blog before. I can't get the videos to transfer to my computer; once I get Bryan to figure it out, I'll post one or two.

A Blast from the Past

In a former life Before I married John, I taught school in Texas...two years in Kindergarten (one of those was in Louisiana) and then 5 years in third grade. 

I had some truly wonderful students and some that had me scratching my head in puzzlement and on my knees in prayer. 

Let me tell you about one of the wonderful kids!  Two months ago, I got a Facebook message from a woman whose name I recognized, but had not heard anything about since 1991.  Robin was the mom whose notes to me came on a pad of paper with this quote:  "Now I know why ferrets eat their young."  :) (Robin, I'm pretty sure that was you--if not, please correct me!)  Robin's email asked me to email her daughter, one of those terrific kids from that previous life, and wish her a happy birthday.  KC is the daughter's name. 

I was happy to!  KC was one of the brightest little girls in my class the last year I taught in Texas.  Cute, cute cute, and smart and funny. 

I was lucky as a teacher:    Those kids became my nieces and nephews every year, because I did not have a family to go home to.  I loved them, and I loved teaching. 

So, for all practical purposes, KC was one of my nieces that last year in Texas.  Turns out that she and Luci share a birthday!  

Now KC is in Germany, the wife of a soldier who is deployed right now.  She is mommy to an adorable little Ellie, and guess what?  She has gone through school, to be a teacher, because she loved the year with me 'way back in Texas.  That really tickles me, KC.  I hope you have as much fun teaching the young ones as I did.

Thanks for contacting me, Robin.  KC, so glad that I got to be your teacher all those years ago.  You were a great girl and now you're a great young lady.

That's My King! Do You Know Him?

"If you homeschool, you'll be imprisoning your children at home." Oh Yeah?

Today Luci woke up and asked her usual question, "Where are we going today?" 

"Nowhere.  We get to stay home all day."

"YAY!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We've been busy with Friendship Center at church, going to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Daisy Scout party, karate, karate party, brunch with Friendship Center folks, library class, Huntsville Botanical Gardens tour, picking up John and Bryan at the airport, church worship, Christmas shopping trip, and that's all in the last week.  The rest of this week is busy, too.  

Unsocialized?

Sequestered?

I think not.

HOLY HUMOR

During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these:

FOUR GREAT RELIGIOUS TRUTHS:
1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's Chosen People.
2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms?"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.
Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was very nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
"Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."
"How come He doesn't answer it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?"
The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelly, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).
For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelly would say,"And all girls." This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include
this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Kelly, why do you always add the part about all girls?" Her response, "Because everybody else always finishes their prayers by saying 'All Men!"

SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
"Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother. "I don't need to," the boy replied.
"Of course, you do" his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house."
"That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house, and she knows how to cook."

Citizenship!

Yesterday I went through all of Luci's paperwork again.  Just for fun, I guess.  (Fun?  More like emotional roller-coaster!)  Anyways, this valuable paper is among her belongings...it arrived in October, 2005, about 6 weeks after our return to the U.S.A. with Luci. 

This morning Luci and I were having a discussion about this nearly-magical piece of paper:

Me:  This certificate is fantastic! It gives you all the rights and privileges of anyone born in the U.S.A.  The only thing you can't do is be President of the U.S.A., 

but you can do anything else!

Luci:  Can I be a fairy?

News from the Mission Front

We have email contact with John and Bryan in Guadalcanal.  I kept asking John how Bryan is doing, is he well, is he happy?  This email was in my in-box this morning:

Mother,

This is Bryan, I would like it if you read Matthew 6:30, it says and I quote, "O ye of little faith?". Lots of stuff happened this week, I got to pray in front of the congregation, even spoke for a minute during the contribution. I also got two girlfriends, they have my email and they're going to teach me to speak Pigeon, they also said that I, "Must come back!" Their names are (Spelling them they way they are pronounced.) Fa-feena, and Jeraleen.

Well, dad will give all the info about whats going on in his next email.

We're going to see the American War Memorial tomorrow, we're hoping we don't take too long and miss the plane.

Love, Bryan.

Oh My.  Luci is all a-gog to hear that Bryan has girlfriends! ☺ I can't wait to hear all his stories!

Belle Mont Mansion

JT, Luci and I went on a field trip today. Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia, Alabama, was decorated for Christmas and open for tours. They are only open a few times a year (sometimes only at Christmas), so we were very fortunate to see the mansion. The mansion is being restored as money is raised; you can see the progress in the photos.

Alabama’s finest expression of Jefferson Palladian architecture. Brick, U-shaped structure, built 1828–1832, was one of state’s 1st great plantation houses. Design strongly suggests influence of Thomas Jefferson. Alabama Historical Commission Property.Quote from Belle Mont website

Another free slideshow design by Smilebox

Skip the Drama, Stay with Mama

Luci and I saw the Disney Rapunzel movie yesterday--it's called Tangled.  It is a good movie!  Lots of excitement and love and a good twist at the end.  This was my favorite song --Mother Knows Best.  It is so tempting to want to keep our kids close but they need to set out on their own at some point (something I need to remember as I worry about Bryan half-a-world away this week!)  To set the scene, Rapunzel  is about to turn 18 and wants to leave the tower for the very first time.  

 

Mother Gothel:
You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...!
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower

Rapunzel:
I know but...

Mother Gothel:
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Shh!
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
The plague

Rapunzel:
No!

Mother Gothel:
Yes!

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth, and
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me
Mother's right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best
Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late
You'll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naive
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague
Plus, I believe
Gettin' kinda chubby
I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you
Mother understands
Mother's here to help you
All I have is one request
Rapunzel?

Rapunzel:
Yes?

Mother Gothel:
Don't ever ask to leave this tower again.

Rapunzel:
Yes, Mother.

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.
Don't forget it
You'll regret it
Mother knows best

 

 

When this was said, Luci got so excited--because it's what we say to each other around here.  Except we add the line, "Love you Most-est!"

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.

 

Luci wants you to know...

that she is available for shoe-lace tying.  She mastered this a week or so ago, and now we can't stop her from tying everything into bows.

And, on the South Pacific front:

John says that several girls are giving Bryan "the eye."  So they are working on getting him married off. 

John and Bryan--International Travelers

John and Bryan are off on an adventure--a mission trip to visit one of our missionaries stationed in the South Pacific and help out on one of his trips into the islands.  This is Bryan's first mission trip, and his second time to be out of the USA--first time was to go to China to get Luci.  (And the first time to travel out of the country without his mommy!  I have been nervous.  Lots of extra prayers!)

Bryan and John landed in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on Tuesday, Honiara time.  They are 17 hours ahead of us here at home.  Because of their destination, John taught a series of lessons to our boys about World War II, the Pacific Theater.  So not only is Bible being lived out this week, but also Bryan is learning and seeing first hand one of the great, tragic battle sites of WWII.

Here is the email I got from John this morning.  I kept asking about Bryan (my baby!) because John kept leaving word about him out of his emails:

Hi darling,

Bryan is doing good.  He went with three other people to a village today.  David B and I stayed here and taught Bible lessons.  Bryan is sleeping right now.  They had to hike about a half mile into the bush to reach a village.  He will be going back tomorrow.  The whole village is supposed to come out for the Bible lessons.  We are staying at the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel in Honiara.  I hope you had a good day.  Everyone is healthy.  We will leave in about an hour to start the night meeting with the congregation.

Love you
John

I can't wait to hear Bryan's stories!

Here is their hotel.  According to reviews, they have renovated some rooms.  I sure hope they got into one of the newly renovated rooms.