A Wonderful Poem

I remember my friend, Karen, received a gift from her husband with this poem or something very similar on it and it inspired new thinking for me.  (I copied this from www.frugalhomestory.blogspot.com )  I love the heart of this poem.

1 Corinthians 13 for Mothers

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love,I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love,my children learn cleanliness, ­not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction,and fault them for every mess they make, but have not love, my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy," the taxi-driver to every childhood event, the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.

All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance,

And what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture, dishes with missing place settings, and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings, But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children.

-Adapted by Jim Fowler

Kite Day a Few Months Back

Kites

My kiddos received some kites for Easter.  They had so much fun with these dollar store things.  You'll notice Ellie being persistent in trying to get hers untangled and ready to go.  Ayla thinks she is helping by turning over Ellie's kite for her, when, in fact, Ellie had already turned it over.  Then when you think Ellie is all set, the neighbor runs by and hits or tangles up Ellie's kite.  I love seeing that mechanical, persistent personality come out in Ellie.  She actually had many fun times with her kite, just not in this video.  And Ayla cracks me up, pulling the tail of her kite up and down the street thinking she is flying her kite!  And Sienna is helping others and having fun as usual!

Okay, Karen...

I have no good excuse like Karen for my lack of blogging, so I will try to do this tagged thing.  I didn't even know that terminology!  So let's hope this works!

This is called the Random Things Meme...and here's how it goes:

Rules of Engagement:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).

3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

 

Six Random Things About April:

1) My parents didn't give me or my sister middle names.  (They said it was hard enough coming up with first names!)

2) I have always enjoyed shots.  Meaning needles!  I guess it is my fascination with medical stuff.  And, no, I have never done drugs.

3) My favorite animal growing up was the kangaroo.  I loved how they kept their children so close to them.  They should be the homeschool mascot!

4) My best friend lived with my family when I was in eighth grade.  We found new friends in 9th grade!

5) All my children are adopted, but I got to birth one of them.  Figure that out!

6) I used to consider myself a perfectionist, but now, gladly, I am definitely not.  You should see my house!

 

Now to tag people...hmm...

How 'bout Sabrina because she never ceases to amuse me,

Rachel you are on my mind because you are bringing my sweet girl my way soon--thank you, thank you,

Valerie my cousin that I wish lived nearby,

Jess who is so full of life,

Holly whom I always want to know more of, and

Jenni whom I never get to see!

I would also like to add a seventh, my sister, Olivia, as I finally tracked down her new blog. Check it out!

Let's hope I did this right, Karen.  That was fun and I've learned how to hyperlink.

Now, I am off for my nightly shot.  Really! We are believing for more babies and have started the process to be pregnant again with our adopted embryos.  That should solve the confusion for anybody out there who read #5!  Pray for us!

My Ayla Janey is Two!

I have been horrible at blogging this summer.  Hopefully I haven't made Sabrina's abandoned blog list yet!

Back in June, my Ayla turned two!  She is nearly potty-trained and can ride a two-wheeler bike (with training wheels).  It is very cute.  She can talk up a storm and scream bloody murder whenever she feels wronged or wants something someone else has.  Not so cute.  Ayla is full of hugs and kisses for everyone.  Even as Sienna is on vacation with her grandparents, she asks to hug and kiss her before she goes to bed.  I explain that Sienna is bye-bye and we move on.

My friend, Jamie (you are a blessing to me), took some pictures for me for Ayla's two year pictures.  We think they turned out beautifully.  It helps when you have such a cute subject to film!

Ayla, we love you so much!  You really brighten up our lives and as a page in your scrapbook says...You fill a place in our hearts we never knew was empty!

2 yrs old on a 2-wheeler (with training wheels)