All Quiet on the (Mid)Western Front

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth--just hanging with my extended family.  Expect a return to normal next week!

Three Small Discoveries

1.  Luke is at the age where he just wants to move all the time.  I don't think it's necessarily a boy thing, since I remember Katie did the same thing.  Apparently the best way to get him to slow down and cuddle is a very high fever.  He woke up on Thursday and Friday from his afternoon nap with a temp around 103, and all he wanted to do was lay on my lap.  Poor little guy.  Thankfully it's gone--I think it was just another side affect of that infernal teething. 

2.  One of David's gifts is his ability to think very creatively and outside the box.  It's probably one of the (many) reasons he's so good at his job.  I believe we might have the makings of another creative thinker in Katie.  Our couch and chair abut and form a little space between them.  At one point we had them spaced a little farther apart so Katie could hide there, but now they're close together so the kids can climb on the arms.  We had some balloons stuck back there where Katie couldn't reach, and when she started fussing about wanting them, I suggested to her that she find some way to get them out.  She found the broom, and if you think like me, you are thinking she used the broom to pull the balloons out.  Instead she used the broom to pry the chair and couch apart so she could crawl in and get the balloons herself.

3.  My pacing seems to suffer when I use the jogging stroller (no kidding, you say).  I discovered on Saturday that even if it is, my non-jogging stroller pace is conversely improving.  I have a 30 minute play list, and this weekend I finished my 3-mile run with a whole song to spare.  So I've gone from a 10-minute mile to a 9-minute mile.  Yay!  It will improve even more when I hit the sea-level plains of Illinois for a few runs.  Unfortunately, I know from experience that while it's awesome to run at sea-level when you're used to high altitude, it's not so nice coming back.

One Step Closer

We got the email on Friday that our homestudy has been finalized, notarized, and sent to our adoption agency in Colorado.  We are officially one big step closer to adopting.  It sounds like everything else is at the agency for our dossier, so the next step is to submit everything to US Immigrations.  The estimated time for turnaround on that is a month, but as with most governmental paperwork steps...who knows. 

On the one hand, it's really nice not to have any more paperwork to deal with (at the moment).  On the other hand, it was nice having something to DO.  I've been reading a great book of adoption stories, and several of them have mentioned the importance of living, rather than waiting during this period.  We are blessed to have two delightful children who making living so much fun!

Take Your Running to the Next Level

Do you feel like your exercise routine is lacking?  Are you tired of just running longer, or faster?  Let me suggest an excellent way to take your running to the next level:

Pros:
--double or triple the workout!
--legit reason to walk at any time (see above)
--plenty of room for water, keys, phone, and music device.
--if you think 50 lbs of kid isn't enough, you can add some weights in the bottom
--stares of amazement as you power up the steep hill (or possibly they think you are crazy)
--added arm and shoulder workout from twitching the stroller back and forth on the path
--great momentum on the downhill (hand brake a must)

Cons:
--you are pushing two kids in a double jogging stroller...enough said.

In the Boat or On the Water

We did another Lectio Divina for my weekly Bible study, this time on Matthew 14:22-23.  It's the passage where Jesus walks out to the boat over the water.  As we considered the passage, one reading asks us to meditate on where we would place ourselves in the passage.  I considered two options--hanging out in the boat after Jesus calms the storm, or walking out over the water to Jesus.  I liked the boat option better--the water was calm, the disciples were back together with Jesus, and they worshiped him and acknowledged him as God.  Calm, steady, straightforward, and at peace.  I wish our adoption would be like that.   
I'm not a huge fan of water, and after watching The Perfect Storm in high school, I was even more sure that sailing the ocean was not on my bucket list.  Our adoption certainly has the potential to feel like Peter's boat in the storm, buffeted by the waves because the winds are against it.  Well, it already does in some ways.  Even so, Peter was willing to a) ask Jesus to call him out, and b) actually get out of the boat and start walking to him.  Crazy man.  Unfortunately, Peter began to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the winds around him.  I guess we're in the storm already, and the question is whether we will focus on Jesus or get distracted by the wind and waves that will most certainly come.  I'm sure we'll need to take courage, as Jesus reminds the disciples, especially once our daughter arrives home.  Staying in the boat would easier, but in the end, I guess walking on water would be pretty awesome.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, 
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.   
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, 
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (NIV)

Be Still My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


I sing hymns to the kids every night before they go to bed.  It's a pleasure to revisit old hymns and introduce them to my children, but I also find that God uses these times to speak to my heart as well.  My soul has been rather restless this past week.  I've been thinking about where our daughter is and what she's going through right now.  I think it's been brought on by watching Luke--he's the same age that our daughter will (probably) be when she arrives, but she certainly won't be at his developmental stage.  It's hard not to compare her first year with Luke's first year, and all the things she'll have to deal with.  We don't know if she's in a foster care situation or an orphanage, but even if she's in the best situation possible, it will still be hard for her when she arrives.  I try really hard not to think about the worst case scenarios.
I sang Be Still My Soul to Luke, and then when I put Katie to bed, the bookmark was on I Must Tell Jesus.  And that's what I do.  When we sing in church, I pray that someone is singing to my baby.  When I hold Luke in my arms and pray with him, I pray that in her orphanage or home, there is someone praying over her too.  And I try to remember that Jesus will bear her burdens along with mine.  


I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Knitting for Patience (and Photos!)

There have been several scientific studies on the therapeutic benefits of knitting.  Most benefits are the same as any meditative activity, and I've certainly found that my stress levels decrease with regular knitting.  Although I can't say for sure, it also seems that when I don't knit regularly, my stress levels seem to increase.  I usually have two to three projects on needles:  a simple one for my knitting group (portable and doesn't require too much concentration), a second complex one for when the kids are asleep, and then a big one to pick up when I'm between projects (usually a blanket).  I finished my blanket a couple weeks ago, and the hat (complex) and skirt (simple) were finished last week.  Instead of picking up a new project (or three), I did a flurry of finishing...one of my least favorite parts of knitting.  Lack of patience and increased stress go hand in hand, so I figured it was time to knit for patience.  I've cast on a lovely shawl/scarf using a 100% silk yarn that just glows.  :)

Here are some of the fruits of my finishing flurry (coming to an Etsy shop near you...someday...):