Who is More Excited, Mom or the Kids?

I think I am more excited for the last day of school today!! Yahoo!! One more thing to check off the list!! I love it!

After a stormy night, today has turned into a beautiful day and will warm up to 85 degrees! What great timing, my son is having a bunch of friends over to swim to celebrate the end of their middle school years and the leap into their high school years...I can't believe it! I will have two in high school next year! I am brought back to earth though with my youngest still in elementary school, but next year will be her last year for elementary. Time is sure passing by quickly. As my Ore-gone Sistah says she enjoys the little things in life, so do I Sistah, so do I!

A Great Mom?

My hubby has always been very supportive of me being a stay at home mom. He says that makes it easier for him to do his job. So yesterday, I was running around like crazy for all three kids and we finally ended up back home around 8:30pm. And was my day finished? No!! My youngest wants to bake cupcakes to take to class in the morning since her birthday is in June and not celebrated during the school year...I was not in the mood to bake!! But, I couldn't disappoint my daughter so we got things organized and started baking...I was so tired, I decided I wasn't in the mood to wait for the cupcake pan in the oven so put the rest of the cupcake liners in a 9x13 pan....the result:

I finally finished frosting the 'good' looking ones and got to bed by 10:30. My hubby turns to me and says, 'You are such a great mom, you baked the cupcakes so our daughter could dance around the kitchen because she was so excited.'

I tried one of the above cupcakes this morning, it was yummy!

Can't be left out!

It's official, my son didn't want to be left out and I thought he was going to be my hold out!

Before:After:

I am the only one now in our family of five that hasn't had braces!!

So sad and so tragic

Many of you know that I am a huge advocate for adoptions and family preservation. I received information yesterday regarding the family of Steven Curtis Chapman. As a parent, I cannot imagine this heartache. But with my faith and with the words of Steven's songs, we have to hold onto whatever we believe in and trust in that. Please feel it in your hearts to donate for the Chapman family, this is their request as their hearts are broken: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/. Please keep the Chapman family in your prayers. As you can see, the Chapman's are a beautiful family, but not just in their appearance, but also in what they believe in and the out-pouring of their faith. May God Bless them during this devastating time in their lives.

IHOS!

IHOS...International House of Students! That is what I had last night at my house. On my travels to Vietnam last April, I met the Director of the orphanage in DaNang and found out that her daughter attends college here in Omaha. So from that point on, I have kept in touch with her daughter and for this year's final get together, we arranged for her and her friends to come over to my house and cook for us!

We had two students from Vietnam, one from Togo, one from China, and two from Tajikistan. I also invited one of my friends that is a fellow Korean adoptee because I know how much she enjoys cooking and eating international foods.

My kitchen was a flurry of prepping and cooking and the smells were amazing!! I felt helpless just watching them, but my job was to find pots and pans and whatever else was needed. Oh and I did make rice in my rice cooker.

The food was absolutely delicious! I couldn't stop eating. Everyone enjoyed themselves and all of my family members were troopers in trying pretty much everything. And my son saved the evening (and all of our burning mouths) by contributing in his way and made everyone his 'famous' chocolate malts.

The prepping begins:

Yan telling me to stay away from the cooking:

Watching futbol on tv:

Having fun cooking:The one in the apron was the main 'chef', he is from China. His town was hit by the earthquake so please keep his family in your prayers:Preparing spring rolls:My hubby wanted to prove he could make spring rolls too(luckily, he had our youngest daughter to help him, she was a wiz at it!):The beautiful spring rolls, can you find the one my hubby made?This was the dish that was HOT! The peppers were very, very spicy! Even the 'chef' said they were too hot! But boy was it good!:The finished dishes:Everything was so yummy, I wish everyone could experience international cooking!:

When do we have 'enough'?

I have always talked about how blessed my family has been, both spiritually and yes, financially. So when do we have 'enough'? How much harder should my hubby work to 'give us more'? He's struggling right now with his new job. He's being tested in ways he hasn't faced in his past positions. Reality is, he feels like his job sucks right now. Who hasn't felt this in their careers? I have told him how much I appreciate his hard work, but does that help him when he feels so out of sorts? It's tough for me to know what to say to him during these times. All I know is that I support him no matter what but isn't that easy for me to say when I don't face the issues he does?

Then he has to try and turn his business brain off and turn on the family switch everyday. I know he gets so frustrated with himself if he feels he isn't all here when things at work are tough. But my goodness, he needs to give himself a break! He's only human! And our family dynamics are such that we are very busy with everyone's schedules, but that is normal and it's our family. This is the life we built together and we are proud of our family.

So yesterday as my hubby was facing gazillion dollar issues, I felt like what I was complaining about was so minuscule compared to his issues. But like I tell him, I have to give myself a break too. My issues regarding the family do matter, just because they don't have a monetary value, they still matter. I am trying to raise my kids to appreciate life, appreciate others, be respectful, follow the rules both at home and at school, all in the hopes that they will grow into productive, loving, and caring people. And sometimes dealing with my three kids sucks too, yes I said it. It's all the ages too. When they don't follow the rules, it makes me feel like a horrible parent and that makes me so mad!

So when is enough, enough? With all that is currently happening around the world, puts things into perspective. But I don't always look at life thru rose colored glasses either. Life happens and I live my own life, thru good times and bad times. We all have to make our own decisions about when we've had enough. Yeah, yeah, there are things out there that are completely out of our control, but if we control the things we can, then we can take that one step forward and live.

Hope and Surprise!

Last night was the Holt Colors of Hope Auction. What a wonderful title and have the word 'Hope' in there. That is what the evening was all about. 'Hope' that the guests in attendance would open their hearts to the needs of the children. We could not determine the number of guests attending, we could not determine if the items in the silent and live auctions were the things the guests wanted, we could not determine if the guests would feel it in their hearts to open up their wallets in a time when everyone is worried about the economy. We couldn't determine any of these things, but we could 'Hope'.

We were not disappointed, the room was full of 'Hope' and the evening was a huge success! I love being in a room when everyone feels our mission!

So what was the surprise? At the beginning of the evening, the President and CEO gave his welcome, the introductions, and with that, I end up standing up when he announces my name as one of the Board of Directors. But then he goes onto to ask me to continue standing...

He continues to say that I have been given special recognition from the President of Holt-Korea and I was given a beautiful plaque with beautiful words of thanks to me for supporting them. I was shocked, needless to say, but so, so touched and honored! I got a little choked up, I was not expecting such an honor. Wow, I am still shocked by it all! I only give from my heart nowadays and what a touching moment to be recognized and thanked so beautifully. And most know I do not like surprises, but this one I was able to handle just fine.

Eugene or Bust!

I have done a lot of traveling in the past few years so I have become very good at being patient. Nothing major for this trip, just the last leg from Portland to Eugene, I had an early flight and the rest of my family had a flight two hours later. Tried standby, looked like maybe one would be able to go on the early flight with me, but then at the last minute, two passengers arrived and boarded the plane. And of course, two other people were ahead of my family on standby and therefore, they got on. So off to Eugene by myself.

I boarded the plane, the third to the last to board and I look like one of the 'last minuters' that held up the plane, but I really wasn't, honest, I had a boarding pass, but oh well. The flight to Eugene from Portland is only 27 minutes so just enough to get relaxed and have to get out. But I actually enjoyed my flight on the little plane, I felt like I was sitting in a massage chair for the entire flight and I was able to relax the whole way.

With our great planning, we had everyone's luggage checked on thru my flight just in case they got on the flight. So with my earlier arrival, I was the keeper of all the luggage! Thank goodness for those luggage carts, I sure wish I would have thought of that invention! Anyway, I stacked all the luggage on the cart and headed to the restaurant for the chowder I have had from a previous trip. In my younger years, I would have been appalled to be seen sitting alone in a restaurant all by myself, but this time around, I didn't mind one bit. It also helped that I had my crackberry with me as I was talking to a lot of people and able to text them too. I took my time eating, I had two hours til the rest of my family would arrive. The chowder was good too, sure hit the spot!

My lunch cost $3.95, talk about a bargain! I wheeled the cart full of luggage to the waiting area and started reading the newest copy of the Holt International Families Magazine. I've read these magazines religiously, I've even had a few articles in them. So is it my 'old' age that I caught myself starting to tear up reading several of the stories? No, for those of you that know me, I am very emotional, but good gravy! I was in the airport and I was about to cry reading this magazine! I have to say, the tears were happy tears. Reading stories from adoptive parents and their experience(s) with adoption and talking about their children, there was something that really touched me. And it was wonderful to read about several families that I know personally.

I am a year older today, does that make me sentimental? Did reading the stories hit a cord with me especially today? What was I thinking subconsciously? I know what touched me was the love I read in the words of these adoptive parents and how they each said how lucky they were for the children that came home to them from around the world. I too know that feeling and I have lived that life also.

What better birthday present is there for me than to be here in Eugene, to attend the Holt Colors of Hope Auction that will be raising money to help the children around the world that are deserving of a family of their own. I am a part of this wonderful event, my family is with me and I will be amongst my friends too...Happy Birthday to Me!!

Two Days Blending

My birthday and Mother's Day always seem to blend together, but as the years pass, I see my birthday as a great reminder of me being a mother. That was my wish as a young girl, to be a mommy and now I am. So Mother's Day for me is everyday. I don't need the actual day to tell me I'm a mom, I have daily reminders. I don't expect gifts either, I don't want them, I don't need them.

My perspective in life has changed. I know I can thank all the people that have touched my life, both good and bad. Without these people entering my life when they did, I wouldn't be the person I am today. It was a rough road and I was not and still not perfect, but I don't want to be perfect either. I have made mistakes, who hasn't, but now I am trying to live my life so I can look at myself in the mirror everyday and truly know I am proud of who I am. When I blow out my candles, my wish is always the same and wishes do come true!

How lucky am I to have two days blending into one to remind me that I am living the life I wished for!

The Best Laid Plans...

I am very much the planner so had my Monday all planed out to prepare for my trip to Eugene tomorrow...well that all changed last night!! I am not a happy camper right now. My hubby decided to be the big kid that he is and jump on the trampoline with my youngest daughter and not even a minute later and I see her grabbing her ankle....not a good sign especially on a Sunday evening...also not good when my 41 year old 'child' says he heard a 'pop' sound...

So at 8:40pm, off to the hospital to get the ankle checked out...diagnosis was a very bad sprain, but bad enough that she is home from school today. She cannot walk on it and has to ice it every hour.

I am still traveling to Eugene, but will fly out with the rest of my family on Thursday. Oh what a week this will be....I have no way of getting my errands done today so had to change my plans. I am happy to know we can still go to Eugene, I would have been so sad on top of being mad if I couldn't go! In the large scheme of things and life happenings, we are lucky for just a sprain.

And an update with my mom moving here. We already had a fight, not good when it was only her second day here. So I have learned that I have to distance myself with helping her unpack. I am taking the very deep breaths.....

Change

Today will mark a change for my mom, a huge change at that. She is moving back to Omaha after being in Arizona for over 20 years. Life changes so with my sister and brother in law, also in Arizona, are starting their plans for 'retirement' or close to will be planning their lives in Colorado. So that left my mom facing Arizona with no family. Her choice was Colorado or Omaha. My mom is still very young and still able to work, so Omaha was the better choice for working. Where my sister is planning on moving, the commute would be an hour to get to any bigger city.

This change also affects my family. My kids haven't had too much interaction with my mom, their Nana, so will be a great change for us. My kids are busy and growing up so fast that I think it is important to have my mom involved in their young lives too. My kids never knew my father so I think it is very important for them to be more involved with my mom and my side of the family. Yes, distance played a huge role in the amount of interaction with my side of the family, also finances were not available for us to travel years ago. Now it's getting too busy with the kids' schedules to travel so when we do travel for our kids' events, we make the best of it.

I wish my mother well for this change. Luckily, she still has friends here so will have their support also. I think this change will be good for everyone involved. With change, we have to be patient and take a deep breath when needed. I'm looking forward to having my mom here, I haven't had my family near me since I was a sophomore in college...wow, that's been a very long time!!

The Simple Things in Life

I just returned from having lunch with my daughter at her school. My hubby joined me also, as we had planned a lunch together, but I thought it would be nice to give our youngest child some extra attention. Our family is so busy and hectic, I try my best to give each child their share of attention. Lately we have been running around to track meets and soccer games, both for my son and for my oldest daughter's boyfriend's soccer games. So along the way, my youngest daughter has to go along no matter what.

The entrance to the school always makes me chuckle, the door handle is about at the level of my knees so even for me, I have to sort of bend down to open the door. And ahhhh, the typical sounds of kids in the halls heading to the lunch room. Sure brings back memories.

The lunch room is loud and the students know their set tables. I had to laugh the other night as we were discussing lunch at school and my youngest daughter wanted to eat the mac and cheese from the menu. My oldest daughter was shocked to think that she would pick a school's lunch over mom and dad bringing her some lunch. So it was decided that we would bring in cheese bread; kinda like cheese pizza but with more garlic.

As we sat at the table eating the cheese bread, little by little, our daughter's classmates came with their lunch trays and sat at the table. I was shocked to see that out of four girls that chose the mac and cheese, 3 had nothing else on their trays except for milk. One girl had mini carrots. No fruit, nothing. My hubby pointed out to me that at least there is less waste. I so agree! I remember how shocked I was in years past having lunch at the school with my other two kids how much food was being wasted and thrown away in the trash. But now it almost seems silly that our kids are only eating one thing for lunch. I don't know how they survive the rest of the day!

Sharing one tiny square of the cheese bread with all the girls at the table, they were all so excited to have that little morsel. My hubby has to make the conversation 'educational' and starts asking what new thing they have learned so far today. The common response from everyone, 'Nothing'. But of course we found out from one girl that she learned how many feet were in a mile so yep, you guessed it, my hubby took that and continued to steer it towards more math. I just laughed and asked him if we could have a conversation that didn't deal with thinking since this was their break from learning.

I steered the conversation to my favorite topic, it's not really my hubby's favorite and this is why: I ask the kids to guess how old my hubby is. The responses: '50, 49, 52'....So he turns the tables on me and asks them how old they think I am. The responses: '30 something, 42, 39'. Pretty close huh? My hubby is 41 and I will be 41 in a week. My hubby asks the kids why they think he is older. 'Because you have grey hair'. Poor guy, he's been turning grey since the age of 25.

Lunch does not last very long, so off they go to recess, but first we hug our daughter and she is all smiles. How long will that last without her looking at us as being embarrassing? Will she still want to hug us in public? Until then, we will take all that we can. She is only 9 yrs old, but reality is, our time for the simple things is closing in.