Reflecting

Claire has been home for quite some time now, and even though the adoption process feels like it is in the rear-view mirror, and we are simply parenting four kids now, adoption informs so much of our everyday.  I see things through an adoption lens, if that makes sense.  I drive through a few car pool lines each day, and I'm struck by the community we live in.  People care for each other.  Families at my kids' schools know each other so very well and look out for each other's kids.  Carpool lines are filled with minivans and SUVs with kids piling out of their cars.  the occasional dog comes through the carpool line.  These kids are dressed well with backpacks full of learning and lunch boxes full of food.  Moms and dads drive through those lines with endless cups of hot coffee and tummies filled with a good breakfast.  All those same kids enjoy the neighborhood pool together in the summer.  And any sport or activity they want to try.  All the kids know all the kids.  Our community isn't without its sorrows and challenges.  But our community rallies around those who are personally experiencing the sorrow.  Our community is FULL of love.  We get to go to a church every Sunday that is AMAZING.  We get choices in everything.  We live within a few miles of a gazillion grocery stores.  I'm regularly struck by the simple - yet so very blessed - of the everyday.  And that on the opposite side of the world (many places in the world) it is the opposite.  Claire is from a deeply impoverished part of our world.  Where mothers quite possibly love their children but have no way to care for them.  What great pain to have to give up your child when you don't want to! How is it that we have such different circumstances? It makes me so grateful for our life, for Claire - deeply, deeply grateful.  But the circumstances of those on the other side of the world don't leave me.  Orphanages are something you can't "un-see" once you have seen them.  I'm thinking about what we might be able to do from our corner of the world to share our blessings.....

December 2016

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

This year Brooks gets to go to the Chrysler glass studio to make his ornament.

Snuggly little elf....

The elf is back!

Walk To Bethlehem with friends

Train exhibit with Claire

Making Christmas cookies

Christmas lights at the beach - warm night calls for windows down and no shirts

Our annual Polar Express ride on the tram through the botanical gardens

Sneaking food before Gigi and Papa's Christmas party

Hurrah Players Christmas field Trip with Tanner and his class

Graham's piano recital

Molding clay - gotta figure out something to do on these cold days inside

Family photo shoot.  Kat is  magic.  It was 35 degrees, and our crew didn't listen to anything we said. And we ended up with these gorgeous pictures

Wow.  Kids have aged us.

Tanner and Brooks' Christmas program with Sunnybrook.

The Nutcracker with Brooks

Dancing Queen

you can't see me....you can't see me...

Pajamas day and Christmas party in Tanner's classroom

Ginger Bread houses in Graham's classroom

Music class with Mrs. Trish

Facetiming opening Christmas presents with Uncle Bear and Aunt Megan.  Kyle made Quinn a surfboard!

Christmas Eve service at church.  We all sat together, and everyone was well behaved.  I'm shocked.  They even asked questions on the way home.

Christmas Eve festivities - opening family presents.

Ammi made a blanket for all the kids.  Mom had one of her friends make the one for Claire - one of the most beautiful gifts this Christmas.

Matching jammies.  Minus one kid.  She is a nudist.

It wouldn't be a Gift Christmas without a late-night trip to the urgent care on Christmas Eve.  (Ear infection)

Not sure why this picture is in here - definitely in the wrong place.  This was when we took the big boys to a fight and the hockey game broke out.

The year of the bike. Sooooo many bikes under the Christmas tree this year.

Ahh.....welcome to Jamaica!!!!! 

Speech therapy Island Style - this girl learned the word yellow in a matter of seconds.  Her favorite slide.

Happy Birthday Brooksy Bear!!!

Painting class for the big kids