This Guy.....

.....says that when I jump on the trampoline with him, "it makes his belly scrambled."

.....ran excitedly into the house one day. "Mommy! Mommy! I saw a meerkat in the forest!" he yelled. I wasn't aware that we had those in Ohio, so I asked him how he could tell it was a meerkat. His response? "Because I heard it say meow, meow, meow!"

.....told me disgustedly, "Mom, there's a dashery in Shana's room. There's a dashery in Adrian's room, too." It took me a bit to figure that one out, but I finally realized he meant "disaster." And I had to agree with him. Does anyone else out there have issues with kids keeping their rooms clean?

.....thought that he and his brother needed to look like this yesterday. So I got to hang out with 2 little old ladies:

.....also thought that we needed a monkey hanging from our "tree" in the kitchen:

Oh Jalen.....what am I gonna do with you??? Love you, buddy!

Another Zoo Day

Earlier this week, the middle school students had an extra day off school as an incentive if they passed all of their Ohio Academic Achievement tests the first time. So I decided that we should do something fun on Shana's day off. What did she choose? The zoo. It was a gorgeous day, and Jalen, Jordan, Shana and I headed off to Fort Wayne for a zoo day and a picnic.

Thoughts of Her.....

Amidst the hugs, darling colored papers, cards, gifts, and chocolates from my children on Mother's Day this past weekend, I found my thoughts traveling around the globe to another mother.....a beautiful, strong woman that loved her boys very much and did the best for them that she knew how. I wanted to wrap my arms around the world and hug this woman who first gave life and love to 2 of my kiddos.

 "A" knows things about my boys that I will never know. She experienced all of the "firsts" with them: the kicks and hiccups inside her tummy (did they fight back then, too?); the hard labor and delivery of Jalen, and then being told that there was a Jordan coming along, too; another hard labor and delivery (hours later) of a second new little life; holding them to her breast for the first time; first smiles; first steps; first words; etc, etc, etc. Yet I am experiencing so many things that she will never be a part of. She gave up two of the most precious things on earth to her; and through her sacrifice I have been blessed. We are two women, on opposite sides of the earth, who are mothers to the same children. We share them and their story, and our hearts will always be connected. I love her dearly, and am grieving for the tragedy that had to happen in order for these two gorgeous boys to call me "mommy."

This earth is a fallen and sinful place, but what satan uses to tear apart and destroy, God can redeem. He can bring beauty from ashes. And while I don't fully understand this whole adoption thing, I know God's ways and thoughts are higher than mine. "A" was His "plan A" for my boys all along. But the brokenness that satan threw into the mix had to be redeemed....I was a part of that redemption plan. And I will forever be honored, grateful, and humbled because of this great, sacrificial love and opportunity.

Yesterday.....

.....my baby brother graduated from college as a doctor of pharmacy! Seth finished at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA - we are so proud of Seth and Casey and their 3 kiddos for all the hard work they've put in over the last 6 years!!! Seth also had the great honor of speaking at the College of Pharmacy's Hooding Ceremony yesterday, which we were privileged to attend.

And here is a video of Seth's speech. He did a great job! (Please excuse the poor quality....I really was NOT jumping on a trampoline while filming it, I promise. That's just what a low-quality video camera will do when it's zoomed in all the way, I guess!)

Congratulations, Seth and Casey! Love you guys!!