Grateful Edition:January 2013

This year the gratitude journal is a family ordeal and we are recording our thankfulness each evening. 

Cross country skiing. The perfect moment of snowfall and looking back on Micah and M. Using my own Kitchenaid mixer! Hug from Aspen's mom. Chatting with Colleen for 20 minutes. Yoga. Flying with Ben. The Deacon's message. Chatting with Micah and M on Facetime. Seeing Micah and M. The hugs. Ethiopian celebrations. Immigration extension. Spending time with Aaron and Nichole. Coming home to sleep in my bed. Dinner with David and Miranda. Celebrating Melkam Gena with Ruth's family. Meeting K. Smells of squash. A nap. The freedom to stay home. Our home study done. Flexibility and productivity. Homemade snow plow pizza. Chai from Sandy. A walk home. Homemade soup. Chai. A warm home. Morning coffee. Photography. Truth from Micah. Time to read. Snowshoe and sled time. M whispering to God. A warm home. Insight into parenting. Time to journal and reflect. Wisdom in tea. New recipes. Books on CD. Sammy. Colleen. Sharing a drink. Back massage. Freedom from pain. Field trip with M. A.R. getting first place in diversity writing! Basketball game with M's and Jon. Going back to bed. A nice walk. Chai (again). Miranda. Time to sort through things. Coffee. Dinner already made. Time to rest. Micah's support. Brainless shows and audio books. Training with coffee. Warmer weather. Yoga. New poses. Adoption gathering. Cuddles with M and M. Relaxing time. Tea and rice bags. Freedom from a three day long migraine. Acts of service. M's compassion to the homeless man. Lattes. Time to knit. Time away from Laramie. Car conversations. Morning walks. Breakfast dates with the little man. Cookie making. A feeling of peace. Colleen's help. Kiss from the little man at school. Stuffing. Tea and ginger cookies. Forced time to read. M's excitement for soccer. Quiet mornings. Coffee. Twinkly lights. Safe travels. Lemon bars. Children books. Jr. high "most important person" reflections. A quiet house. A chance to start over.

A Son's Compassion

This evening the little man and I were driving home after running some errands. As we were preparing to pull out of the parking lot he noticed a gentleman sitting at the corner, holding a sign that read, "In need, anything helps." M. asked what the sign said and what the man was doing.

I explained to him that sometimes there are people without a place to call home and they are in need of help.

Instantly he told me that he could sleep on the floor in our room and we could let this man have his room.

My eyes start to well up with tears.

I gently tell him that we would probably need to talk with Aba about this first, but that we can do something else to help him.

Immediately he pulls his lunch box out of his backpack and takes out a granola bar.

My eyes well up with more tears.

We pull up beside this gentleman, I roll the car window down and M. reaches across the car to hand off his granola bar.

As we pull away he begins to express his confusion and sadness with the fact that some people are homeless..... and I don't have any easy answers for him.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Playing a game of memory again as a family. M. was getting several matches and with excitement told Micah and I,
"I just can't stop myself!"

We were getting ready to leave for church and I asked M. to go to the bathroom. He then told me, "My body must be magic, because every time you say that I have to go to the bathroom!"

Go Pokes!

Snow Shoeing

Our Version

Homemade Snow Plow Pizza (leeks, Italian elk sausage, garlic, Gorgonzola cheese on a homemade crust)

Melkam Gena

A Time to Remember

This morning I flew out of Denver, traveling to Albuquerque to celebrate and remember the life of my uncle, Kenny. He was my father's youngest sibling and he will certainly be missed.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Playing memory as a family and the little man was on a role. You will notice his pile of matches compared to mine. Micah didn't even have a chance to get one match. After the game was over we congratulated M. and he informed us,
 "I just won at memory because I was using my brain and it's high in fiber."

Happy New Year!