Over and Out

This will be my final post on this blog, except to give you my new address. *Sniff, sniff* We are moving. As this chapter of our lives comes to a close and we relocate, I think it appropriate to "relocate" in blogland.
I referenced this before, but right after the master's amputation, he felt conviction to return to the pastorate. Maybe he feared God would take the other leg? One was enough. He sent out four resumes, and after a LOOOONG process, he was called on Sunday to a congregation in East Texas. On Sunday morning, when we were explaining to the children what to expect from the day, I told Abby that Daddy would preach and the church would vote to make them their pastor or not.
"So, they will listen to Daddy and then make a decision?"
"Yep"
"I hope they are not too picky."
But despite Abby's lack of confidence, the church voted (93 for, 2 against) to call him.
The master is on cloud nine. He would be if the church was in Zimbabwe, but added to his bliss of being in the pulpit, is a return to his home turf--his best friend since childhood and his family. The transition will be made easier for the older children, as we will be close to our old home town, and they already have special friends there. I have a few friends I will enjoy being closer to, as well. I'm sad to be moving further away from my parents, but three hours is much better than Zimbabwe, huh, Mom? I think we are going to a good church, and a good fit for our family.
I have SO much to get done. I started packing last week. A little presumptuous, perhaps, but I'm glad I did. It's still a massive task, even a week into it. I have no self control when it comes to blogging, so I'm going to have to go cold turkey for the next two weeks. I'm going to miss all of you!!! Be good, and I'll see you two (maybe three) weeks!

Three Cheers

New leg! New leg! New leg! The master came home from his appointment in Houston yesterday with a brand spankin' new appendage. Woohoo! He will wear this leg for three months and then he will be fitted for his final prosthesis. He is not supposed to bear full weight on it for a week, so that is why he is still on the crutches in the picture. He is standing straighter than he ever has. After he took it off last night, we put it on the coffee table and just stared at it in wonder. It is a beautiful sight, let me tell you. With only the limited time he is allowed to wear the leg (he slowly has to build up time wearing it, so as not to cause blisters/soars), he can tell he will be able to walk better and with no pain. Whew! Sure am glad this whole ordeal is going to be worth it.

Wedding Pics

The lovely couple! They should be holding hands in this picture. You know, make people think they like each other. ;0) Wasn't her dress BEAUTIFUL??!!

We have here a junior bridesmaid and two precious flower girls. The one on the far left is my niece. You may notice that Marina is missing her hair. That post, my friends, will have to wait for another day. I'm finding my happy place....

These two boys will melt your heart. I love the way they are standing in this picture because the body language says it all. K is such a sweetheart and gentleman. In many ways, a grown man in a boy-size body. Ian is a lover boy and more than a little naughty. Seriously. Ladies, lock up your daughters.

And the other lovely couple. Now you see what I meant about the mamaw forearms. I gotta start lifting weights. I so wish we had these pictures for our profile book. The ones I used for the page of just me and the master were pretty old.

Goin' to the Chapel...

Yep. On Saturday my little sister is getting hitched. She will be joined in holy matrimony by her illustrious brother-in-law (you know him as "the master"), and will be preceded down the aisle by her nieces and myself. I think the two older boys have a job, too, because they have been fitted for tuxes. I'm a little sketchy on the details. What with daycare and vending machines, I haven't been able to play the part of your typical sister of the bride/matron of honor. I do know that I will be wearing a green sleeveless dress that will show off my mamaw upper arms, but will thankfully conceal my permanent post-partem pooch. This wedding will mark the end of my bridesmaid career. I've been a bridesmaid five times and a maid/matron of honor twice. I'm turning in the flowers and hanging up the satin.
Jen will tie the knot in the same week that the master and I mark our ten year anniversary. That seems strange to me. She and I are separated by only 16 months. After a seven year struggle with secondary infertility, my mother gave birth to me. Then--surprise!--six months after, she was pregnant again without even trying. We were each others best playmate, rival, enemy, and friend. For the first 10 years of our lives we were regularly mistaken as twins by outsiders and referred to collectively as "the little girls" by family and friends. When I learned to swim, she learned to swim. When I started piano lessons, she did, too. Mom and Dad bought us both cameros when we turned 16, mine was red, hers was blue. I left for home for college, and two falls later, she followed me to the same university. We've been--more or less--a package deal from the start. So it still strikes me as odd that I beat her down the aisle by a decade. I'm sure there have been moments when she wanted what I have: a home with a loving husband and adorable kiddos (though perhaps not so many). And at times, I've envied her peaceful evenings, single girl wardrobe, and--by virtue of her manlessness--keeping Daddy at her beck and call. They've been good years for both of us, but I'm glad we will soon share the title, "happily married."

Welcome to the club, Sis. 'Bout time you showed up!

First Kill

So I'm wondering if my son became a man on Saturday? He has slain a wild beast. My dad started taking K out to the lease as soon as he cleared diapers. And I potty train 'em early. At age five, he actually wounded a buck that they never recovered.

This was youth weekend, and Papa and the master had been totally pumping K up that this was THE year. I worried that he would be too nervous to shoot. K cannot bear to let anyone down. Sure enough, the master says that K was trembling. He watched the little doe for a good ten to fifteen minutes, while the master whispered encouragement. K kept saying, "I can't do it, Dad, I can't do it. I'm shaking too bad." The doe disappeared behind an oak. In desperation, the master appealed to K's sense of duty and said sternly, "Now Son, it is getting dark and this is your last chance to shoot. When she comes out from behind that tree, you put a bead on her and pull the trigger.....YOUR FAMILY NEEDS THIS DEER."

When she emerged a few moments later, K dropped her. When he called to announce the big news, I was at first puzzled and tickled by his closing remark, "And now, the family will have meat!" (As if we do not have a freezer full?!!)Later, as the master explained the scene in the stand, I realized how sweet it was. 'Providing for the family' gave him the extra bit of calm and courage he needed.

Of course, our horde will finish off the ground round from that little deer in two sittings, but he doesn't have to know that now, does he? And it sure will be some tender meat.

The Die is Cast

I have a quirk that drives the master crazy. Whenever we are finishing a room, before we put away the supplies, I grab a brush and in some way, completely screw up the next room on our list to tackle. I look at it as a way of guaranteeing that we won't procrastinate. I grew up in a household where every home-improvement project was placed on the Thirteen Year Plan. Except now that my parents have lived in their home for well over twenty years, we may have to rethink that title. I guess the pendulum swung in the opposite direction for me, because I want it done yesterday. For some things, the pocket book demands that we wait, but we can almost always can afford paint, so brush in hand I grab the KILZ and go at it. The master calls it, "painting the doorways."
And he says I don't just do it with home remodel.
Yesterday we announced to the church that we were hoping to start our second adoption. We asked for them to pray. We don't have a homestudy. We haven't filed with INS. We still owe money on Marina's adoption. But I feel that October 14th marks the beginning of the journey to S_____ #6.

Crocodile Smiles

For Ian's 5th birthday! I planned a last minute party--as in the day before--for Ian's birthday. This was the weekend closest to the date, which is today, but originally thought that we would not have it until next week because of the holiday. Then something came up for the the next week....and then the next....and finally I just said, "Phooey. If we don't celebrate the kid's birthday this week, it will be October before we get around to it." I decided this on Friday afternoon. I printed some homemade invitations up and rushed down to his school to pass them out as the last bell rang. We had the party on Saturday. I had planned a StarWars party at a Laser Tag place in the morning, and what we had was an Alligator Party at a Gator farm in the afternoon. But the birthday boy had a blast, and that is the important thing! He is my go-with-the-flow kid, so no worries about places or times for him. Several of his new school friends came and he LOVES the Gator Farm. They have several varieties of reptiles--crocodiles, and turtles in addition to alligators--and a very educational, hands-on presentation of the park. The highlight of the day was watching Gwendolyn, their new Nile crocodile, take a snap at a chicken leg. The pop of her jaws sounded like a gun shot. Seeing how fast that crocodile moved, it is hard to believe that Steve Irwin was killed by a sting ray.

It was a fevered few hours trying to pull off an impromptu 3-D alligator cake, but the result was so cute! The general idea I stole from a website but made a few adjustments. I used the Herbie cake pan from K's birthday, my bundt, muffin, and round cake pans, two big marshmallows, fruit slices candy, one rolled out tootsie roll, and lots and lots of green icing. Ian said that I am very 'creatable.'

Happy Birthday Ian!

First Day Of School

First day of school for the three oldest Su_______ Children. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Mrs. Harris's pre-K classroom! I'm not a big proponent of putting your child in pre-K, but since it is offered at their school regardless of income, and because he just missed Kindergarten by three days (and because another year of Marina and Ian constantly at each others' throat would put me in an assylum), Ian is off to school this year. Abby can't wait to display her academic talents in first grade, and K will be the teacher's aide for third.

Walking!

Well, it took me to the fifth baby, but I've finally caught THE first step with pictures!!! Every time, when they took those first teetering wobbles, the camera was out of reach, and I've had to settle for scrapbooking pictures of their "early" steps. Randy has been standing up in the middle of the room for days with perfect balance, so I knew it was coming any moment, but unfortunately, I don't have the time to stay with him every second, my finger on the shutter. But for some reason this morning, I just sensed that this was it. He'd been standing up beside the laundry baskets and looking like he wanted to take off and go. I got the camera and sat down a little in front of him. He took the bait. And WALKED to me.

I'm so glad this happened today. I really needed a pick me up.

Beautiful Ballerina

We have a beautiful ballerina that lives in our home. Beautiful in more ways than one. After a terribly stressful week of last minute rehearsals, doctor's appointments (Ian has lost his hearing. More details forthcoming), ball games, and a couple of cases of stomach virus, Abby performed in her third recital. This year, we placed her in a class with girls slightly older than her, because of schedule conflicts. We worried that she would not be able to keep up, but after a few weeks she seemed to be enjoying her class, and the teacher's bragged about how hard she worked and especially how well she behaved. Still, we were surprised on recital night when she won THE award for best student in her dance school. That has to be at least a hundred other kids. I'm so proud of her!

Hooray, It's Adoption Day!

On May 11, 2005, the judge said, "Da" to our orphan petition, and Olga Tr_______ became Marina Joy S_______. Last night, we celebrate Adoption Day. We thought our long journey was ending. Hmmm...

This was actually our first time to really mark the day. Marina's first adoption day was three days after baby brother was born via C-section and coincided with Abby's dance recital. I think we said, "Happy Adoption Day, Marina!" But, that was about it. Poor baby.

Our birthday tradition is to have a party on a weekend close to THE day. Then on the birth day itself, we watch the home movies of their birth and first weeks and read their baby book. For Marina, we have modified the custom a little to incorporate adoption. Last month, we had her big party (in her case, parties), then on THE day, we watched her refferal video and clips from trip one, and we read her life book. Last night, we watched her homecoming video, and read some of our adoption books. There is no video of trip two. There are some things in life you do not want to commit to memory. We also read some of our favorite books about adoption. Some of you PAPs might want to look in to these:

Little Miss Spider by David Kirk- This is one of our more recent addition to the adoption issues library. It contains perhaps one of my most favorite quotes on adoption:

For finding your mother,

There is one certain test,

You must look for the creature

Who loves you the best.

Marina's Little Book-This is a book that comes with a personalized cover. My niece--also adopted--has the same book, but her cover says "Skylar's Little Book." The art in this book is somewhat cheesy, but I love the words. Presents a Christian view of adoption in simple terms, emphasizing that they are not a mistake and that God has a plan for them. Most adoption books talk about the adoptive parents waiting so long to have a child. I know this is true for many (maybe most) adoption stories, but we like this one, because it omits that part, fitting our situation more closely. You can send for your own copy at mmoran@syringa.net .

All About Adoption- This book is just what the title implies: a thorough introduction to adoption, the issues that adopted children face, conflicts and feelings. This one is still way over Marina's head--she picks her nose as I read--but, I think it will be a great opener for important discussions as she grows, and it also helps the older kids understand what it means to be adopted.

Seeds of Love: For Brothers and Sisters of International Adoption- This was our standby when we were waiting to bring Marina home. We must have read it a hundred times. It's a must have when there are siblings in the picture. The older kids enjoyed hearing it again. It was the first time we had read it in two years.

The picture for this post is not from Adoption Day, but it just about sums up the adoption for me, and I love it. I think it is from Grandma's camera, because I do not have it on my CD's. The first time I saw it, I caught my breath. Then I cried. That's me standing in front of our nation's flag with her newest citizen in my arms. She is mine, she is home, she is free.

Happy Adoption Day, Marina!

Randy is the BIG ONE!

Happy Birthday to Jeremy Randall! We had a big blow out bash for him yesterday, complete with enormous inflatable water slide. Birthdays are the one occasion when I throw my penny pinching ways out the window and go all out. The slide ended up to be well worth the money it cost to rent. The kids--ours, nieces, nephews, and neighbors--had a blast on it ALL AFTERNOON! Rest assured that we did not send the birthday boy down the chute. He just watched and smiled from a lawn chair. He dug in to his cake with fervor, tried to eat the tissue from his gifts, then went to his bed for a nap. It was a full day.

The first picture is from the day before yesterday. At least, it feels that way. How could a whole year have past?