friday night special: rain checked

The past Friday night special was supposed to be a go--as soon as we were finished with our Christmas shopping.  In the middle of shopping, I got a phone call that made me think of everything but cooking and broke my heart.  A student that I had in middle school, and who was now in the tenth grade, had been killed in a car wreck.  I couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe.  My mind's refusal to believe that it was true didn't change the fact that, yes, it was true.  Our student was gone.

How sobering it is to realize that as he went through his normal school day, he had no idea it would be his last.  Or, when his mother told him bye when he left for school that she had no way of knowing it would be the last time she every spoke to him.  God knew though, and He promises to be near the brokenhearted.  So, will you join me in praying for this mother?  Let's storm the gates of heaven asking God to bring her heart comfort and peace, asking God to provide for her every need during this time, and for the hope that we have because of Christmas to be made real to her.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  Psalm 34:18

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:16



T: it was a joy to know you; you were smart and funny.  And, you kept us on our toes since we never knew what you were going to say next ;).

friday night special: an easy favorite

After traveling for Thanksgiving, things are finally back to normal around here (for a few weeks anyway).  Part of being normal means the Friday night special, which Sam and I welcomed back by turning to a favorite--bulgogi.  It's super easy to make because, unlike traditional bulgogi, it uses ground meat instead of flank steak that you have to marinate.  After a day of running around a very crowded town of Christmas shoppers, it's the perfect Friday night special--quick to make and easy to eat!  {It's a good recipe for anyone wanting to try Korean food while still playing it safe with ingredients well known to the American tastebuds.}

And, finally, what's a Friday night special without a surprise attack from a certain pipsqueak cowboy??

Who knew Friday nights at home could be so sweet :).

lingering over Thanksgiving

Snow-covered houses of a Christmas village are displayed on the fireplace.
The tree has been purchased, drug home, and decorated.
The first batch of Christmas cookies has been made.
The Christmas card picture has been taken and is being readied for the cards.
And, the Christmas shopping is underway!

These things are no different than we've done every year at this time, except this year we have some help in crossing things off the seasonal to-do list.  Sam is right in the middle of it all--hanging ornaments, carefully decorating cookies (more like dumping sprinkles onto each one), taste-testing the cookie dough (what's that about raw cookie dough not being good to eat??), making sure the Christmas village has plenty of trees, and looking oh so cute for the Christmas card picture.

Yes, the Christmas season is here and the chaos of getting "it" all done has begun.  But, my heart is lingering over Thanksgiving as I give thanks for the dark cloud that had been with me for two years, and which seemed to get darker this time of year, is lifted.  At family gatherings, there's no longer a place where Sam should be or will be.  Sam is home and has taken his place at the family table--and is eating more than his share of macaroni and cheese ;).


"Praise the Lord; give thanks to the Lord for He is good.." Psalm 106:1

a heart of thanksgiving

Song after song in church this morning was centered on thanksgiving and God's faithfulness.  Perfect as we set our hearts on Thanksgiving.  The fact was not lost on me that, while singing words of thanksgiving and faithfulness,  I was holding a living, breathing example of God's faithfulness to Jeremy and me.  For the child we had loved for so long from a distance is finally home.

During the very long period of waiting for Sam, we had no earthly idea how it was all going to work out, but we knew the One who saw the end from the beginning.  The One who is always faithful, even when we question and doubt.  The One who never fails to provide, even when we tire of waiting for Him to answer.

So, this year we'll celebrate Sam's first Thanksgiving home and give thanks to our Heavenly Father who has blessed us with the gift of raising one of his precious children.  My heart is humbled and overwhelmed.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

the first of many to come

After missing the first two birthdays for our sweet boy, this birthday with Sam was so incredibly precious to us, making us all the more thankful to celebrate with him at home!

In keeping with our Birthday Week tradition, we have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Sam and his birthday.  It was a week of seeking out the best places to eat macaroni-and-cheese, hot dog suppers, trips to a few of Sam's favorite places, and of course, presents.  It was a week of making up for lost time; a week of thanksgiving to the One who brought Sam home; a week of celebration, laughter, and joy.

Sam, I can't believe you're three years old!  It seems like yesterday that we were seeing your sweet, baby face for the first time!  May year Number Three bring you plenty of little boy adventures, uninterrupted hours of playtime,  additional choo-choos to add to your ever-growing collection, and joy unending!  Always remember, you are the child of our heart, and we'll love you forever and ever and ever!

friday night special: out of the freezer

What do you cook for the Friday night supper when you're up to your ears in birthday party preparations??  The answer is simple:  you reach way back into your freezer and pull out the Korean Beef Stew that you thought to freeze for a day like this.  And, then you say to yourself, "yep, that is mom of the year worthy." ;)

The biggest birthday prep we had going on Friday was the cake, which is kind of a big deal at a birthday party.  Like so many people, I bought what Pinterest was selling:  the idea that "you can make this fill in the blank and it will look like this!  Just follow this simple tutorial."

I was up to my eyebrows in cake frosting before I realized that I have ZERO cake decorating abilities.  Baking them?  Sure.  Decorating them?  Absolutely not.  (Oh, how easy it was to forget this truth after too much time spent browsing Pinterest cake ideas.)

But, when it's the night before the party, quitting is not an option and neither is ordering one from the local Publix.  So, I kept slathering the frosting on until I had something that faintly resembled a cake that I had seen on Pinterest.

Thankfully, Sam did not care that his cake looked nothing like a professional had made it.  Nor, did he care that it barely resembled that Pinterest cake.  He won't remember these things, but I do hope he remember the fun we had making it!

(Party pics coming soon :)

friday night special: halloween, hot dogs, and candy

Thanks to my lack of technical ability, the pictures
I took while trick or treating did not turn out.
It helps to turn on the flash when you're trying to take
pictures at night...who would have thought?!

Our Friday night special this week was not of the Korean variety.  It was more of the American, grilled variety, and it was enjoyed around the table with friends.  The hot dog special was followed up by a trip around the block to trick or treat--in the freezing cold temperatures.  Thankfully, Scarecrow Sam was bundled up as seen by his very furry yet stylish hat.

Sam wasn't quite sure why we were walking up to people's houses and saying, "trick or treat," but he went along with it and enjoyed the treats that were dropped into his pumpkin... :).

In spite of the cold, we had a great Friday night with some very dear friends.  How wonderful it is for us to journey through life with them!

happy harvest from scarecrow sam

As I sat sewing tiny scarecrow clothes late Saturday night,  it hit me that this was such a "mom thing" to do.

Like a lot of "mama duties," there's no glamour in spending Saturday night sewing a Halloween costume, but there's incredible joy in it!

And, watching Sam have such fun at the church Harvest Festival?  There was joy in that, too :0).  He had a great time playing games, riding on the hayride, and stuffing his pockets with candy!

I hate that most of the candy has disappeared from his pockets...maybe there was a hole in one that my needle overlooked...guess I'll just chalk that up to remaining cavity free ;).

friday night special: korean stir fry

After a very long work week and a particularly long Thursday, I was more than ready for Friday with my favorite little boy!  Our time was well spent---planning a Thomas party!  To say Sam is excited about turning three and having a party would be a bit of an understatement.  From his place in the buggy, he took to showing off his party plates and cups to anyone in Wal-Mart that would listen.  And, what better way to end a fun Friday, than easy to make Korean Stir-Fry.  Not only is it oh, so good to eat, but it doesn't take long to get it on the table, which is a good thing when you have a hungry two year old nipping at your heels!

The party planning continues along with my carefully planned attempt to see if Sam will go for wearing a costume to our church Harvest Fest.  We'll see how agreeable he is to the idea...I'm really hoping to have a really cute scarecrow in tow on Sunday ;).

the friday night special that almost wasn't (documented)

Last Friday, Jeremy was home, so we put him to work cooking burgers.  Since it was Friday, Sam and I couldn't eat just a plain 'ole burger.  Of course, we had to do something Korean--enter Bulgogi Burgers.

This was not my favorite recipe, but I can't really explain why.  It's just something strange about eating all those Korean flavors on a hamburger.  My mind and tastebuds couldn't understand what was in my mouth.  As for Sam, I'm not sure if he ate so little due to the taste or due to the fact that he had polished off a strawberry smoothie not long before supper.

Pepper, however, loved the burgers and has requested we make them every week ;).

seven months home, seven months of changes

Sam,
This week marked seven months since we brought you home!  You have grown and changed so much in seven months.  Not wanting to miss anything, I've really tried to notice all the changes--watching your vocabulary grow, counting the new words you learn, celebrating milestones reached.  But, the other day I was forced to admit that maybe you've changed more than I realized....

At some point, you changed your name to from Sam to Thomas without mentioning it to us.  Thankfully, I was made aware of the change when you told the lady at the fabric store your name was Thomas.

Another change that snuck up on me is in your level of independence.  I recognize that you're growing more and more independent but didn't know that you had reached the level of being so independent that you go out and get a job!  Apparently, you're now working on the railroad and loving every minute of it.  I'm still trying to find out how you get back and forth to work each day...maybe the Cozy Coupe??  I have noticed it's using a lot more gas than it used to....

Now, I admit to missing some of these changes that have happened right under my nose, but I simply cannot  understand how you've aged so much in just seven months.  You are telling people that you're nine years old!  What happened to years 3-8?!?!  And, if you're nine that means that I'm....past thirty...well past thirty....this does not do good things for the fine lines I'm trying to keep at bay.

With your increase in age, you have taken on a more mature appearance.  You've told me and told me about this mustache you have, but I still haven't been able to see it--even with the closest of inspections.  I guess with your ability to age years in mere months, you also have the ability to grow invisible mustaches.  This is a change that I'm glad I can't see because it would make me feel so very old to see you with a mustache!



Oh, my sweet boy, what a seven months it's been!  I'm so glad you're home and love you so much--even when you make me feel old ;).

the late friday night special: pajeon & kimchi-less fried rice

My method of cooking is make it work/use what you have/ingredient lists are merely suggestions, and I employed this tried and true method for this past Friday's special--Kimchi-less Fried Rice and Pajeons.  Sam never knew the fried rice was missing kimchi and ate the vegetables that I added in place of it.  {See, I told you ingredient lists are just suggestions.}  Along with the rice, I tried a new recipe for a pajeon*, which is a savory pancake with vegetables, seafood, etc. cooked into it.  I know the words "savory" and "pancake" seem weird when put together, but it was actually pretty good and didn't have any really crazy ingredients.  It's a good dish to make/eat if you're wanting to try Korean food without eating something like seaweed soup...

Supper ended with an empty bowl and a full tummy for a certain little boy, so I would chalk this Friday night special up to a success!

Pictures...thanks to the computer being crazy again, just imagine Sam stuffing rice into his mouth while Pepper looks on with her most pitiful "feed me" gaze. :0)

*According to my internet research, pajeon is eaten when it rains in SK.  (I'm not sure why, but maybe it's comforting to them like a warm bowl of chili is to us on a cold day.)  Store this tidbit of information away for future use in case you're ever on Jeopardy; you can thank me for it later ;).

out of the scraps

I had an idea for a quilt and knew just what fabric was needed.  Instead of making a trip to the store,  I turned to my drawer of fabric scraps.  That's right--scraps were going to be used to make this entire quilt top.  After rescuing a nice large pile of scraps from their life of uselessness in the top drawer, I stood looking at them and mentally arranging them in my mind.  It was then that the word redemption popped into my mind.  Yes, they would be redeemed into something more than scrap drawer dwellers.  They would become something else entirely with little resemblance to the pile of scraps they once were.

Spending time working with this hodge-podge of fabric pieces reminded me of how life can be--full of mess-ups, leftovers, and scraps with no clear purpose or direction.  A depressing thought to be sure and especially so if left there, but....we're called to be more than inhabitants of the scrap drawer.

And, thankfully, we have a Redeemer, who through His sacrifice, is willing and able to deliver us from it--using our scraps to give us a life of beauty and meaning.  Now that is true redemption!

This quilt was made for a child who lives in a Guatemalan orphanage.  I do not know who he is or anything about him, but I know the One who formed him in the womb.  Will you join me in praying for the sweet little boy who receives this quilt?  May it bring him comfort and may he know the redeeming love of His Creator (and the love of a forever family soon).

friday night special: korean stir-fry

Tonight's menu item was a quick and easy Korean Stir Fry, and it was oh, so delicious!!  Usually Sam is chatty and silly during suppertime, requiring a few "take a bite" reminders.  Tonight, though, he barely made a peep because his mouth was constantly full.  His hand was in constant motion, scooping and shoveling stir fry like he was in an eating competition.  There was one word was spoken after he finished his first bowl--"more."

save it for when you're older

Sam,
The speed at which you've learned a new language has astonished us.  I don't know of one adult who would be able to go to another country and learn the language in less than six months.  It's a difficult but incredible feat to be sure.  For all the happiness that I feel at your ability to understand and use English, I'm left feeling a bit, um, irked at your use of one particular word.  The word no.  Out of all the new words you've learned, this one seems to be your favorite evidenced by the fact that you use it with surprising frequency.  I'm left wondering--really, must you use it so much??  It's starting to make my eye twitch.

To ease the twitching of my eye and to keep you from further overuse of this word, I'm going to give you some guidelines for when you should (and should not) use the word no.

First of all, it's best not to use this word when talking to your Uppa or me, especially when we're saying something like, "Pick up your toys." or "Eat your peas."

Second, this is one of those words that I want you to overuse when you become a teenager.  Use it all the time when your classmates and friends try to get you to do something stupid.  Use it on yourself when you're tempted to not do the right thing.  By all means, use it with abandon in these situations!

Third, using this word when we ask if you just let Pepper eat off your spoon or if you just pulled Roux's tail is wrong since more times than not, based on past occurrences,  you should answer those questions with a yes.

Finally, the use of no at any age is acceptable and encouraged when you're asked a question like, "Is there any mama on the planet that's as awesome as yours?"

The best thing you can say in response to this and to all other requests and instruction from your marvelous parents is, "yes, of course!"  Adding in a "I have the best parents in the world!" wouldn't hurt ;).

~Love, your totally cool and always awesome mama~

friday night special: Korean Beef Stew w/ a side of computer problems

Thanks to computer problems that occur when the only person in the house who knows how to fix it is out of town, this post about the latest Friday night special is late.  This seems to fit with my mantra of late, "better late than never."

For this supper, I enlisted the help of my BFF, Crockpot, because she does an excellent job of making supper all on her own, leaving me with time to play with a certain little two year old.

Because of the previously mentioned computer problems, this post has no pictures :(.  So, close your eyes and picture what I'm about to describe...first, picture a steaming bowl of yummy goodness also called, Korean Beef Stew.  Then, picture our 100 lb canine vacuum cleaner planted beneath Sam's chair, eagerly waiting for the crumbs to fall.  Finally, picture Sam using the straw from his milk to drink the broth--made from rice wine, soy sauce, ginger, etc--from his bowl of stew.  I've decided that I'll save money next time by leaving out the beef, simply making the broth and calling it "Korean Soup."  Give Sam a straw, and he'll be as happy as a lark :).

Sam, I hope the memories of these Friday nights will fill our hearts for years to come and keep us warm when we're out in the cold, harsh world.  And, may they point us to the Father, who loves us and blesses us with times like these!

friday night special: jeyook bokkeum

Today brought a little of the unexpected.  Flat tire.  Two hours of waiting for roadside assistance. Occupying chairs in the local Firestone for two solid hours while waiting for new wheels.  And, the last unexpected event that I could handle came this evening when I found myself actually saying the words, "No, that's the cat's hiney!"

On a day like today, I'm especially thankful for the routine and expected, like the Friday night special.  This week's was Jeyook Bokkeum, a spicy Korean pork dish.  Sam left the table with a full tummy and a smile, so I think he liked it :).

P.S.  I'm vowing not to leave the house tomorrow.  Maybe this will keep some of the unexpected away from Sam and me....we had all we could handle of that today.

six months home

Six months ago, our adoption journey had come to a glorious end!  The precious child that we had carried in our hearts for years, knew only through progress reports and loved through pictures was now where he belonged--in our arms.

These days, with the memories of that journey still freshly written on the walls of our hearts, we relish the times that we have with our sweet Sam, and we give thanks to the Author of adoption who has blessed us in more ways than we can count.  Our hearts are humbled by His goodness.

P.S. Let me say that a mark of a good man is one who will carry his wife's purse without complaint.  I'm thankful for the numerous times since that day in the airport that Jeremy has carried my purse while I've had my hands full with Sam.  Just one of the many things that I love about him :).

friday night special: chamchijeon & kimchi fried rice

Tuna.  I'm not sure who in this house loves it more--Sam or our two furry felines.  So, when I found a Korean recipe based around tuna, I knew that Sam and I had to try it out.  With recipe in hand, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.  The result of our hard work was chamchijeon, which are little tuna cakes.  (Something similar here would be crab cakes.)  And, to go along with these little bites of deliciousness, we made kimchi fried rice.

Inspired by the fall-like weather, I thought this would be the perfect time to teach Sam the word, "picnic."  He was all about having a picnic and eating our supper outside :).

Thanks to those nasty little insects known as mosquitoes, we couldn't play in the yard for very long after supper, so it was to the Lego table we went because nothing says fun like Legos, especially when you have newly acquired choo-choos that can go on the Lego table!

Grandparents' Day

In honor of Grandparents' Day, Sam spent time earlier in the week making cards for all of his grandparents--several of whom are his great-grandparents.  He painted, doodled, and signed each one before helping me send them off in the mail.  I know he's too young to understand why exactly I had him make these cards, but he's  not too young to understand the love his grandparents shower him with when we see them!  If you're a grandparent reading this, Happy Grandparents' Day!  Where would the world be without grandparents to pass on their love and wisdom?!?  If you're not a grandparent, go hug your grandparents and tell them how much you appreciate them!  The time we have with them is never enough.

,

Notice the card in the back that's for "Dat."  He insisted on making one for his Uncle Matt, aka Dat, because he was sending one to Nana :).

In memory of the best grandparent in the world...DP, how I wish Sam could know you!  He would adore you just like we do.  Although you're not here with us, your legacy of faith and love lives on as we tell Sam about you and teach him about the God you served so faithfully while you were on this Earth.  Love you and see you in heaven one day!!

pizza, Thomas the Train, and memories made

Friday night Sam and I turned our kitchen into a pizza parlor and made Kimchi Pizza.  Kimchi--the national dish of SK-- is fermented cabbage.  Trust me when I say it has a very pungent smell and taste.  In my humble opinion, the only way to eat it is with lots of bacon on top of pizza ;).  While the finished product has not been our favorite dish made so far, the process of making it was the stuff memories are made of.  Sam helped roll out the dough, "chop" the kimchi, and taste test along the way.  The rolling pin he used to roll the dough belonged to my great-grandmother, and as I watched him, I couldn't help but think that she had no idea her rolling pin would be used to make kimchi pizza or that it would be used by her great-great grandson who joined her family all the way from SK.  If she was seeing this scene from heaven, I hope it brought a smile to her face.

After counting down for the past month, this morning was the BIG day for Sam---the day he was going to meet Thomas the Train!!  We had a blast watching our sweet boy take it all in and enjoy his special day.

Sir Topham Hatt made an appearance and took pictures with all the kiddos.  While waiting for our turn to meet the Railway Conductor, I kept thinking that Sam was going to freak out and have one of those "Santa Claus moments"--you know those moments when kids are screaming at the sight of Santa but parents take the picture anyway.  Surprisingly, we didn't have one of those moments.  Sam told him hello and took his picture with him; although when I asked if he wanted to stand next to him, he was quick to say no {understandable since the costume was a little on the creepy side}.  Once we got on the train, Sam spent most of his time looking out the window and exclaiming over all that he spotted; it's not every day that you get to view the world from inside a train car that the Number One Blue Engine is pulling :0).

In spite of the heat, it was a GREAT day with our sweet Sam!! There's truly  nothing better than making memories with our favorite little boy!  And, since he has the memory of an elephant, we'll be reliving this day for a long time to come as we talk about it over and over and over again.

a long three years it was

Three years ago, we took a huge leap of faith and answered the call of adoption that had been on our heart for years.  We didn't know where our journey of adoption would lead or how long it would take, but we did know God would lead us.  Through it all, He was faithful--never leaving us to journey alone.

August 2011: We walked into the adoption agency knowing only one thing--God was calling us to adopt.

September 2011:  Began the arduous task of completing enough paperwork to kill a small forest.

October 2011:  Had our first home study visit & lived to tell about it

November 2011:  Unbeknownst to us, a beautiful baby boy, who would become our son, was born on the other side of the world.

January 2012:  Completed the many hours of adoption ed credit...yes, it's as exciting as it sounds ;)

April 2012:  Home study completed and approved!

The process of waiting for a referral begins.  We were expecting a referral in a/b 8 mths.

June 2012:  Forget 8 mths, a call beginning with, "There's this baby..." came, taking us completely by surprise!

July 2012:  Completed even more paperwork and sent it, along with all required fees, to SK!!!  A miracle of miracles..

November 2012:  Our sweet boy turned 1!!

January 2013:  An adoption law that would come to affect us greatly, in terms of how long we'd wait, took effect in SK.

Feb-May 2013 Complete and total silence while those in charge in SK determined how the new law would apply to international families.

July 2013 Our paperwork had moved up the line and was being readied for submission to the government.

Aug 2013 Paperwork submitted to government for EP

November 2013 Received EP and our sweet boy turned 2!!!

December 2013 after much waiting and wringing of the hands, we were given a court date!!

January 2014 went to SK to meet our sweet Sam and to go to court

February 2014 the hardest waiting of all--waiting for final approval, which came on the 27th

March 2014 After three years of walking this journey, SAM CAME HOME!  To God be the glory!

friday night special: the easy way

The uppa brought "the crud" home with him last Sunday when home from a weekend on the road, and we all took our turn with it this week.  In times past, when I came home from school not feeling well, I would eat cereal for supper and be done with it.  That's not possible now that I have a certain growing little boy who is always ready to eat ;).  Thanks to my (limited) Korean cooking experience and to Pinterest, I have the perfect go-to recipe for times such as these.  Sam was none the wiser about the simplicity of the recipe and left the table with happy taste-buds and a full tummy!

the better late than never friday night special

For Friday's feast, I put the Crockpot to good use and made dakjjim--Korean-style braised chicken--the perfect dish to eat when you need some comfort food!  Made all the more comforting by sharing it with my favorite little boy and my favorite large canine :0).

If you've been wanting to try some Korean food, this is a good one.  It's very similar to what we would call a stew.  Give it a try; I promise there's no wild and crazy ingredients!

Sam's thought process when eating food that he enjoys is simple:  why use one spoon when you can put one in each hand?

five months home!

It's been five months since we brought our sweet Sam home.  How things around our house have changed in such a short period of time!

Seeing Little People lined up waiting for their school bus is not out of the ordinary.

Our kitchen cabinets are no longer used to simply hold dishes; they are also used to provide the perfect cover for trains wanting to remain incognito.

The bathroom door has become home to this Pororo whistle-style harmonica, which is often used to make as much noise as possible before 7 a.m.

Our refrigerator is covered with all things Sam; my favorite being original pieces of art from Pipsqueak Picasso.

The sound of laughter is frequently heard throughout our house, filling our hearts with joy!

friday night special: (somewhat) spicy soba noodles

100 Words of Sam

Since Sam's been home, I've been keeping a list of all the new words that he learns.  For a word to make the list, Sam had to use the word spontaneously (meaning on his own w/o being told) and in the correct context; plus, the word had to be mostly intelligible*.  After four months home, Sam has reached 100 WORDS!!!!

One of the best things for us as Sam's parents is watching him learn and grow.  It brings such joy to our hearts!

*Washing Machine and Lawn Mower are two words that he uses quite a bit; however, I didn't put them on his list because I have to add, "I promise he's saying washing machine." ;)

friday night special: a fusion of flavors & fun

We couldn't have the uppa home on a Friday night and not fire up the grill because he really does make the best burgers .  After scouring the internet and finding a Korean BBQ sauce recipe, I enlisted the help of my favorite assistant and started cooking.  When we combined our sauce with the uppa's burgers, we had a little Korean-American fusion of flavors--perfect for this Friday night!

1.  To ensure the food tastes just right, you need to have a taste-tester at the ready.
2.  Our Korean BBQ Sauce--Sam approved.
3.  Remember this Food Fact:  The best food always ends up in your tummy, on your face, and throughout your hair.
4.  Playing choo-choos right after eating is the perfect leisurely activity, allowing your food to settle before moving on to number 5...
5.  Tree Climbing--something you only do when the uppa is home :).

back to school

After four wonderful months of staying at home with Sam, I went back to work this week.  It's not as bad as it sounds though because I am only working part-time.  While I would love to be able to stay at home full time, no one has offered to send us a check for doing nothing or to pay our bills, so the trusty 'ole paycheck is still needed.  Since Jeremy travels certain days of the week, I will be at home those days and will work on the days he's home.  This allows one of us to be at home with Sam and to not use daycare/babysitter, which is important to us.  {I'm not knocking daycares or babysitters...unless it's the daycare I worked at in college..it was unfit for your pet goldfish!}

My return to work has been harder on me than it has been on those in the house with the XY chromosomes.  On top of the typical worries that a mom has when not with her child, I worry that my being away from him will damage the bond that we have or that he'll think I'm not coming back and on and on it goes.

To the working moms who know all to well what it means to leave your children for the day, carrying worry and guilt with you as you drive off, I have a new found respect for you!  And, to the adoptive working moms, who know what it's like to worry about bonding, attachment, feelings of abandonment, and all the other worries going through our minds, I understand!

Working moms have a heavy load to carry.  I've only been carrying it for a few days, and I'm worn out physically and mentally!  Thankfully, there's One who promises rest for our souls, and it's to Him that I must go.

May we all find our rest in Him and cherish each and every moment that we do have with the sweet babies God has given us!

friday night special: bibimbap

Friday night found Sam and I taking a trip around the world with our taste buds once again.  On the menu:  bibimbap, a Korean dish that basically means "mixed rice."  Bibimbap holds a special place in my heart because it was the first Korean dish that I ever ate.  It was served at a traditional Korean dinner that we attended with the president of the agency during our first trip to SK.  This was also the day that we met Sam for the first time :).

Cooking Korean food with Sam on Friday nights has become the highlight of my week.  It's such a sweet time with my favorite little boy on the planet!  I wish I could accurately describe the look on his face when I start heating sesame oil in the skillet.  It's as if his nose carries him to the kitchen and keeps him glued as close to the stove as I'll let him get.  When the finished product is finally placed on the table, he sticks his little nose in his bowl and breathes in deeply, savoring the smell of comfort.

I know a day is coming when he'll turn into one of those funny creatures known as teenagers and spending Friday nights at home with mom will probably not be the highlight of his week, but for now I'll breathe in deeply and savor the moments I have with my sweet Sam!

re-adoption paperwork--completed and filed

Although Sam's adoption was finalized in SK, we knew that we had to readopt him here.  This would allow us to legally change his name and apply for a Tennessee "birth certificate."  It wasn't something I was looking forward to doing because I knew there would be paperwork involved (which I think I'm allergic to thanks to the overexposure of paperwork that I've suffered as a SPED teacher).

When we received Sam's citizenship certificate in the mail last month, I knew that my excuses for procrastination were used up; I had to suck it up and start working on gathering the necessary documents.

After another few weeks of procrastination, I finally had everything ready to go this week.  So, several ink cartridges and paper cuts later, we filed our petition for re-adoption in court this morning!

"FILED" one little word that takes a huge load off my mind.

We had to submit FOUR stacks of paperwork like this.  This is our copy to keep.

Friday Nights w/ Sam

1.  How I love the plethora of recipes on Pinterest and Friday night dates w/ my sweet boy!

2.  Sam continued to take huge bites of deliciousness all the way through his second bowl, washing all of it down with chocolate milk.

3.  That face.  My heart is melted.

four months home!

I had no clue that the past four months would find me learning the names of every Thomas the Train character ever created.  Or, that I would be saying things like,"No! Don't pee in the cats' water bowl."  I also didn't know that I would be waking up each morning and reading the same two choo-choo books over and over.  Nor did I realize that my chair would become the hiding place for a certain little boy's favorite toys.

Four months ago, we brought our sweet boy home, and our lives were forever changed.  We will always thank God that He saw fit to bless us with Sam, who fills our house with so much joy and laughter.

Sam, we can't believe it's been four months since we brought you home.  Your uppa and I have enjoyed each and every moment with you.   Always remember, you are the child of our heart, and we will love you forever and ever!!!

a new way of watering flowers

After suitcase living for the past two weeks, we're back in our house and our normal routine.  Being in Pigeon Forge was wonderful and visiting the homeland is always my favorite, but I must say it feels good to hang around the house all day without having anywhere to be.  There was plenty of housework for me to catch up on, but Sam saw that I took frequent breaks for playtime.  Since it's hard for me to resist that sweet voice and tiny hand tugging on mine, there were several chores that didn't get done...oh, well, they'll be there for another day.

An outside chore that I've passed on to Sam is watering the flowers, which he loves because it puts him in complete control of the water hose.  While watching him do his thing, I was reminded once again that this little boy has his own way of doing things.  Sam's method of watering the flowers involves drinking from the hose to fill his mouth with as much water as possible and then showering all of the water onto the thirsty little flowers below (and to think that all these years I've been watering my flowers wrong).  The flowers were thankful for the [secondhand] water, and I'm  thankful for my sweet boy who makes the most mundane tasks memorable.

Now, I'm off to work on a list of additional chores that Sam can apply his creativity to ;).

experiencing Pigeon Forge

For us, there's no better way to celebrate ten years of marriage than a trip to the mountains, so this past week we headed east to Pigeon Forge!

Unlike last year when we were in Pigeon Forge, we did not spend the time in the car looking for "big trucks" or get excited when we spotted a bulldozer on a construction site.  The hotel elevator held little excitement for us and was nothing more than a way to avoid climbing flights of stairs.  The swimming pool wasn't a place where we noticed "annyas."  Macaroni and cheese was never eaten for breakfast, and we did not frequent the kid friendly "theme" park for toddlers simply to ride a train around in a circle more than twenty times.

But, this year we did all these things and more :0).  What a great time we had with our sweet Sam, experiencing one of our favorite places with him.  Life really is sweeter when it's experienced with through the eyes of a little one!

ten years ago today

Ten years ago our hearts and lives were joined as one in our little country church.  And, in those ten years, we've carved out our place in the world--made it through college and started "real jobs."  Went from being apartment dwellers to homeowners.  Acquired several furry roommates (some weighing as much or more than me).  Joined a church other than the ones we grew up in and began to walk out the truths we'd been taught our whole lives.  Celebrated life's victories together and grieved together during times of loss.  Answered God's call of adoption and traveled halfway around the world to bring our son home.  Grew a little older with the marks of time showing in the gray hairs and fine lines that are suddenly showing up.  Through it all, we drew closer to one another and to the One who knit our hearts together a decade ago.

My love, here's to us marking our first decade and to the many, many more that lay ahead of us!!  Happy Anniversary!!!

"I have found the one whom my soul loves." Song of Solomon 3:4

sam's money jars

When we were home a few weeks ago, my Aunt Maxine and Uncle Deloy gave Sam $10. Once we got back to TN , his little, train-obsessed self couldn't resist buying a choo-choo.  Now whenever Sam hears the word "money" or sees it, he starts saying, "Choo-choo?"

Always up for a teachable moment, today I taught Sam the two year old's version of what to do with money.  I didn't use fancy curriculum or books or a long drawn out speech.  I simply used some clip art, empty jars, and very basic vocabulary to teach him the three things we do with money:  give to church, save some, spend some on things like choo-choos.  Of course, I also gave him some money to put in his jars :).

At two years old, he doesn't know a penny from a quarter and a one dollar bill is the same as 'ole Ben Franklin, but that doesn't matter right now.  What matters is that we take every opportunity we're given to teach him what is right and true--a daunting task for sure but one that I know God is continually equipping us for!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

to the best father we know

The day he became a father was a day over two years in the making.  A day that had seemed at times like it wasn't going to happen.  A day that required a flight half-way around the world.  A day containing excitement mixed with grief and trauma.  A day he fell in love with the little boy who stole his heart.  The day he became a father was a day that forever changed the way I look at him.

You've heard me say before that custody day was extremely difficult.  Sam was screaming; I was crying (and probably on the verge of screaming).  I remember looking at Jeremy as he stood there holding our hands, and he said in a very matter of fact voice, "It's going to get better."  In that moment of emotional meltdown, he provided exactly what I needed to hear--a confident, quiet faith that we were going to make it through. My respect and love for him grew exponentially in that moment.  Jeremy, thank you for being such an amazing father to our sweet boy!!!

If Sam could put the words together, I'm sure he would say something like, "Happy Father's Day!  Thank you for teaching me how to shoot my cowboy gun and for how to make huge balls of playdough that I can throw while mom's not looking.  Thank you for always making time to play choo-choos and blocks with me (You really are the Master Builder.)  And, thank you for teaching me how to catch a football and to say, "hut-hut."  Now I'm ready for college football!"

"The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself but for his family."

three months home!

Three months ago, we arrived home with our sweet boy in tow.  The time has flown by!!
Here's where we are at three months home:
~Sam's vocabulary continues to increase at lightening speed.
~Speech is coming along and has really picked up in the last month and a half.  There are about 50 words that he uses spontaneously.  Most of these words are nouns and adjectives, so maybe right now he won't be seen as a great conversationalist ...but just wait until he learns more verbs ;).
~The nightmares that he suffered when we first brought him home are completely gone!  He sleeps through the night in his own bed.....(yet I still have dark circles under my eyes???)
~He continues to be a good eater and will try anything we put in front of him.  Lately, some of his favorite words to hear are "macaroni and cheese."
~Wearing different shoes is not a big deal anymore.  He chooses between his old, trusty black ones and the gray ones we bought him.  Apparently, his rubber boots are for when we go outside to play or feed the donkeys.  We tried to get him to wear them to town one day, but he said, "No. Shoes."
~He rides in the buggy at WalMart.  That may sound silly, but it was really a big deal at first.  We'd go to put him in it, and he would freak out--no thanks to people staring while he freaks out, so I'll just carry him.  It wasn't until he rode in a smaller buggy at the fabric store that he did so without freaking out.  Ever since then, he'll ride in the WalMart buggies, too--for which, my back is truly thankful.
~Potty training is underway!  Ever since we brought him home, we would have him stand at the potty and "tee-tee" in between diaper changes.  But, last Saturday, he started spending the afternoons and evenings in underwear.  I use a timer to help myself remember to make him go, and thankfully, it's working--the cool, Elmo potty seat also helped quite a bit ;).
~He continues to have a fondness for little blonde girls!  And, it just so happens that he can spot them everywhere.
~Finally, even after three months of parenting, I continue to learn something new everyday.  Parenting is not a job for the faint of heart, but it's the best job in the world!

For your continued prayers and encouragement, THANK YOU!  You bless my heart more than I can say.

 And, to the One who has blessed us with Sam, my heart is overwhelmed by Your gift.  May You be honored in the way we cherish and love him.

edible advice for sam

The list below is for a certain little black-haired boy...here's to hoping he'll follow it!

Things You Shouldn't Eat:

1.  Grass--the bright green color may be appealing and make you think it'll taste good, but don't be fooled.  There's a reason you don't see people eating salads made with the stuff.  Besides, grass is not on the list of vegetables that I feed you.

2.  Scraps of food set aside for Pepper--just because the food was on your plate the night before, this doesn't mean you still have a claim to it.  All food left on plates at the end of meals will be set aside for Pepper.  Knowing this, please, keep from sneaking bites of food scraps as we carry them to Pepper.

3.  Sidewalk Chalk--it's used to make lovely artwork on the concrete slab in our backyard and provides us with hours of entertainment.  However, it does not double as a handy snack to eat while outside and will only leave you feeling thirsty if you eat it.

4.  Butter by the spoonful--butter is so tasty and makes everything better when added to the pot, but it's not meant to be eaten alone.  Your waistline and arteries will thank me for this decades from now.

5.  Food off the floor--if you drop or *throw* food on the floor, you know by now that you'll have to pick it up.  When we tell you to pick it up, we don't mean eat it after getting it off the floor.  Pick it up and throw it in the trash or in Pepper's scrap bowl.  (We'll talk about the 5 Second Rule when you {and your immune system} are a little older...)

6.  Peanut Butter with a straw--eating peanut butter out of the jar makes for a much better snack than sidewalk chalk.  Eating peanut butter with a straw will get you no where and cause your hungry stomach to start wishing for anything to fill it, even chalk.  Save yourself some time and frustration by always using a spoon when eating peanut butter.

7.  Money--feeding your piggy bank coins you find around the house is great; putting a penny in your mouth is far, far, far from great.  Because I learned this lesson the hard way, I have a story that starts with, "When I was a little girl..." and I will make you listen to the telling of it until you wish you never found that penny if I catch you trying to eat money again.

As always, love your totally cool and awesome mama

the cat speaks

Sam,
Over the past couple of months, we've inched closer and closer to becoming friends.  You learning how to behave properly around cats has really helped this.  However, there are still some things standing in the way of true friendship.  I will lay them out as clearly as I can and wait for you to address the issues.
-My being soft and extra fluffy around the middle does not mean that I'm a pillow for you to lay on.  So, stick to those (useless) throw pillows your mama keeps on the couch if you want to lay your head down for a little siesta.
-I am 100% cat; there's not one ounce of me that resembles a rabbit.  That being said, please, stop comparing my ears to those of a rabbit.  It's offensive being compared to vermin such as rabbits.
-My tail is not for pulling and is completely and totally off limits.  Always, always remember this.
-It's a well known fact that cats sleep most of the day.  But, my 16 hours of napping are threatened when you take it upon yourself to wake me up whenever you see me sleeping.  You are not an alarm clock, so stop waking me up.  Let me sleep.
-Last but certainly not least, the faint stripes in my fur may resemble a train track to you; however, they are not train tracks!  Keep your trains, especially the motorized ones with the moving wheels, far from me and my striped fur.

Well, that's it--the issues standing in the way of our friendship.  It's your call, tiny human, as to what you want to do about them.

Sincerely,
Roux the Cat

road trip ready

The suitcases are packed and loaded into the car.  The bag holding Sam's snacks is located nearby, so I can get to it easily.  There's nothing else to do but get on the road and head toward the homeland!  While I am so excited for Sam to meet our friends and family, I'm also a little nervous.  Since having him home these past two months, we've worked to make his world stable and predictable.  Now, we'll put that to the test as we take our first road trip with him, sleeping somewhere else and meeting a lot of new people--all of whom want to see him :).

The challenge is going to be making sure that he feels safe and secure, even though he's experiencing so many different things.  It's natural for any person to be anxious in new situations and to wonder what's coming next.  However, because of what Sam has experienced, his interpretation of new situations may be different than most people's.  He'll definitely be wondering what's coming next, but he'll also probably be wondering if he's going to have to go with any of the new people he's meeting.  {The previous new people-us- he met and played with did end up "taking him."}

We've prepared him as much as we could and stressed over and over that "mama, uppa, and Sam" are going here and coming back, etc.  The only thing left is for him to experience this and see that he's still with us.  All this may sound a little crazy to some, but it's just another example of how things are done differently when your child is a toddler when he comes home.

If you have an extra spot on your prayer list, pray for us this week.  Pray for our sweet boy to know that Jeremy and I aren't going anywhere without him and for him to have a great time meeting his extended family!

the rug in sam's room

By day, it's where block towers are built and train tracks are laid.  It's the place where books are read and Lincoln Log cabins are constructed.  It's where laughter can be heard and imagination runs free.  And, when a certain little boy {read: cat chaser} is no where to be seen, it's the favorite spot of one fluffy cat named Lucy.

But, when night arrives, it becomes something else entirely.  When night arrives, it's the place where one tired mama finds herself on her knees, praying to the Father.  It's where a mama's heart is poured out for the child of her heart.  It's the place where much needed wisdom is asked for.  It's a place of thanksgiving and praise to the One who has blessed her beyond all measure and given her the sweet boy who is sleeping so soundly that he's unaware of the conversation taking place.

"Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord; lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children.." Lamentations 2:19

rainy days & rubber boots

Today marks TWO months home for our sweet boy!  And, Sam and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than playing in the rain :).  Thanks to the rubber boots gifted to him by his Aunt Andy (and to the fact that he actually allowed them on his feet), the puddles left by the rain were no obstacle for Sam.  In fact, the rubber boots were a magnet, pulling him to every drop of water he saw.  Before we came inside, we stomped in every puddle we could find and even fed a donkey or two.

A wonderful two months and a wonderful day with my sweet Sam--my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to the Giver of every good and perfect gift!

the Mother's Day I've been waiting for

Two Mother's Days came and went during the 21 months that we waited for Sam.  On these days, I often felt that I would always be a mother by heart only--carrying Sam only in my heart but never in my arms. (I know that sounds dramatic and illogical to say, "never," but feelings often aren't logical, are they?)  It was hard to know where I fit on those days, too.  With every fiber in me, I felt like Sam's mom, but legally, I had not been declared his mother; not to mention the fact, that he was half a world away--too far for me to mother him in the typical sense.  These were days that I would cling, often white knuckled, to the hope I had in the One who created Sam and knew he'd be our son.

So, with all of that, you can imagine the excitement that I have felt about this Mother's Day!  On this morning and every morning, I am so thankful to hear a tiny voice calling for, "mama" although it usually is a tad on the early side.  I am so thankful for the little boy who wants to hold my hand as we go down the road, even if my arm goes numb.  I am so thankful that my sweet Sam was sitting beside me on the pew this Mother's Day morning, even though he had no idea what all the fuss was about as mothers were recognized.

Sam,

What a blessing it is being your mama!  You are a precious gift from God, and I will cherish you always and forever.  Your sense of humor and outlook on life makes me laugh, and your sweet spirit fills my heart with joy.  You are the child of my heart, and I'll always thank God for you.

{Join with me in praying for those mothers who carry children in their hearts; may their children come home sooner rather than later, and may they press into their Creator as they wait.}

walk a while in these shoes

I was vacuuming this morning, and I moved Sam's new shoes from behind his basketball goal, where they've been  laying all alone for weeks, collecting dust.  I'm waging war on the dust bunnies and notice he's playing with a shoe.  "Oh, look, he's playing with one of them--Yay! He's actually showing an interest in them," I thought.

The chores were done, and I was getting him dressed to go play outside.  "What if..," I thought.  So, I casually told him to go get the shoes and put them on.  (His black ones were in another room, leaving just the news ones in view.)  Imagine my shock when he DID IT!!  Yippee, I'm thinking...and inwardly I dance toward the door.  On the way, he spots his shoes and told me he was "all done" with the new ones...oh, no, here it goes--except I asked if I could take his picture before he changed shoes.  I really intended to let him change shoes after the pictures, but he forgot about it and took off toward the door.  Back to dancing toward the door as I bask in the glow of progress.

Once outside, he walked around for awhile like a newborn baby calf and at one point actually started  limping when I told him to use his new shoes to kick the ball.

There's no telling if he'll do the same tomorrow or not, but that's okay because, no matter what, we'll celebrate this step forward.

I'll keep you posted ;).

the liebster award

To me, the Liebster Award is kinda like Amish Friendship Bread; it's passed around to those you want to encourage and give a little something sweet to, except it's for bloggers.  Lisa, whom I met last year at an adoption ed class, was sweet enough to nominate me for this award (yay!).  Lisa and her family are in the process of adopting a little girl from Taiwan.  She is the author of the blog SmushedKisses.  Take a look at her blog and encourage her as she journeys toward the day when she'll bring her daughter home.  During the adoption process, the smallest bit of encouragement can go a long way!

Based on the "rules," I have to answer the questions Lisa asked me and give 11 random facts about myself.  Here it goes--

Why did you start blogging? I started blogging to document our adoption journey and along the way discovered that I not only enjoyed it immensely but it was incredibly therapeutic for me during the very long wait for Sam.

What is a fond childhood memory you have? The day my little brother finally got the hang of riding a two-wheel bike.  My sister and I had worked with him for days, and we were so excited when he finally got it!

Have you started any new traditions for your family? If so, what? Birthday Week--we celebrate birthdays for a week and get a small present each day during that time.  It's my favorite week of the year!

What scares you? Snakes!  This fear was made worse by one getting in my HOUSE...I still have flashbacks.  Yuck.

What is your guilty pleasure? Tea, tea, and more tea.

What is an accomplishment of yours that you’re most proud of? Blowing the Praxis tests out of the water---these are tests I had to take to become a certified teacher.

Dogs or cats? Why? Cats.  Definitely cats.  They're soft, cuddly, and quiet.  Plus, they purr :).

If money were no object and you could vacation anywhere, where would it be? At the risk of sounding like a complete nerd, I'm going to have to say that I would go to every one of our National Parks.  Go watch Ken Burns' PBS documentary on the Parks and tell me you're not inspired to do the same ;).  {Besides 20+ hour plane rides aren't required.}

What is your favorite post on your blog, and why?  Any and every post that I wrote specifically to Sam is my favorite because they made me feel connected to him even though we were miles apart.  A particular favorite would be the one I wrote for "teenage Sam."  Teaching Middle School has given me a firsthand glimpse at how hard it is to be a teenager in today's world, and I desperately want Sam to hold fast to what is good during that time.  A favorite that's not a post to Sam has to do with some of my very favorite people, who just so happen to provide beautiful examples of marriage.

If you could only do your hair or makeup, which would you choose, and why? It would have to be hair.  There's simply too much of it to not wash and brush it often.

What is your favorite candy?  Chocolate in almost any variety.

11 Random Facts about Me:

~I'm a Southpaw.

~I took French in high school but am far from fluent in it.

~I'm not a fan of deep water.  (Let's just say Jeremy will be in charge of teaching Sam to swim.)

~To me, gumbo is an appropriate food to eat for breakfast.

~Reading is my  favorite thing to do when I'm not chasing after Sam.  And, yes, I know that makes me sound like a nerd.

~Jeremy has said that I "know how to rattle those pots and pans."  I think this means I'm a good cook.

~My dream job would be working for the FBI investigating white collar crime.

~In high school I ran the 1 mile and 2 mile races at track meets; today my running is limited to racing Sam down the driveway.

~I'm a little bit of a control freak...and God has given me a son who appears to be the same way...interesting combination ;).

~I married my love at the ripe old age of 19.

~Louisiana is my home sweet home.

Drum roll, please....here are the nominees I have chosen.....

1.  Melody Cook--my psueduo-sib and fellow old soul writes Melody's Musings.  Check it out and encourage her to write more :0).

2.  Jes Tidwell--being a mom to 5 and a pastor's wife means there's always something to write about.  You can read about her adventures of motherhood and life at Jestidwell's Blog.

3.  Laura Parker--we've never met in person, but we used the same adoption agencies and brought our boys home from SK close to the same time.  Her blog is A Seoulful Home; make sure and check it out, too!

Questions for my nominees:
1.  Why did you start blogging?
2.  Have you ever been out of the country?  If so, where?
3.  What is your guilty pleasure?
4.  What music could you listen to on repeat?
5.  What is your favorite post on your blog?  Why?
6.  Do you have any hobbies?
7.  If your personality were a color, what would it be and why?
8.  Is there a recurring dream that you have?  Tell us about it ;).
9.  Have you ever met someone famous?
10. Do you prefer a trip to the beach or a trip to the mountains?
11.  What was your first job?

Okay, nominees, here are the RULES :).

1.  Answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
2.  Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3.  List some bloggers with less than 1000 followers who you feel deserve some recognition and        encouragement.
4.  Notify the bloggers you nominated by leaving a comment on their blog.
5.  Create a list of 11 questions for your nominated bloggers to answer.
6.  Thank your award presenter by linking back to their blog.
7.  Have fun with it!