Twins

I told the boys just because their twins they do not have to have the same of everything but apparently they disagree!

Dawit came home from Ethiopia with a brown tooth.  The tooth next to it is chipped as well so he must have done a doozy of a fall.  So no big deal, dead baby tooth will come out when it is ready.

Israel went to the dentist today because yesterday during the Mothers Day festivities we noticed that his front tooth was getting more and more purple as the day went on.  Went to the dentist today and he has a bruised tooth.  When did he fall or knock his tooth?  Have no idea!  How many times do 4 year old boys fall, knock each other down, bump into things daily?  Too many for this mama to keep track.

Israel's purple tooth.

Matching knocked teeth.

The best smiles even with  brown and purple teeth.

Dentist Loot!!

Loot from the prize drawer even though he didn't get looked at!

So now they have matching brown teeth.  Same tooth.  Weird!  Some kind of twin thing I guess!!

I have been stewing on something.

I have been stewing on something for awhile which means if I had posted it in the moment you would probably never want to read my blog again.  Maybe you won't after this anyway but here it goes.

Working moms, stay at home moms, home school moms, public school moms, private school moms, adoptive moms, single moms, divorced moms, moms of blended families, nursing moms, bottle feeding moms, moms who feed their children only organic, those who don't,  those moms who let their children date during high school, moms who don't, moms who vaccinate their children, and those who choose not to vaccinate,  moms who have 10 or 18 children, moms who have 1, moms who let their children watch tv, those who don't.  We all make choices based on life experiences, how we were parented, our personalities, our likes and dislikes, opinions, discoveries, faith, and our children.

No matter the choice we are all moms.  Moms who care about our children enough to make these choices.  Choices that we have and can make freely.  So let's stop judging others about choices they get to make about their precious children and worry more about the children who don't have a mom to choose for them.

How about we care more about this child...

This is Lekini he is from Kenya.  He is three in this picture.  He has been abandoned and when found he was eating dirt and flies to survive.  He weighed 17 pounds. He was rescued and is doing well,  thankfully!  

Don't you think we should be a little more concerned about the children here in America and around the world who do not have a family to make choices for them than this?

We are all mom enough.  So don't feed into the medias ridiculousness and start caring and speaking up for what really matters.  (I know the article is about attachment parenting....another choice)

It has taken me awhile to get to this point.  In my own mothering insecurities I would make judgements about other moms and their choices until I realized how others were judging me and continue to.  Who my son dates, how much time my daughter spends at ballet, when I stopped breast feeding Katie at 4 months,  public school,  international adoption versus domestic adoption, having six children.  It happens but I am not going to do that to another mom.  We need to encourage each other and step up for the children who so need us to and love them and bring them into our homes.


OK I feel better.  Been stewing on this for weeks and the Time pic put me over the edge!!!  Along with watching Blind Side twice in one evening. 

Happy Friday you super MOMS!!!  Have a wonderful Mothers Day and remember that you are enough no matter what you choose!!

The back porch.

There has been a lot of talk lately about going to Ethiopia.  Dawit and Israel will tell me to turn left when leaving a certain road and we can go to Ethiopia.  They will paint a picture and it will be a map with America, Ethiopia, the middle school, the high school, church, preschool, and last but not least the grocery store.  Sometimes they will throw in Idaho.  They talk about bringing their friends from Ethiopia home(to America).  We talk about Ufyesa their brother and how we are praying and hoping to find him one day soon.  They talk about bringing him home to America as well.

I am glad they talk about Ethiopia.  It is their homeland.  It is their birthplace and we will take them back someday.

Tonight Dawit said he wanted to bring all his friends from Ethiopia home.  We asked him their names and he went on to make up many names of people.  Yo, Ano, Eto, Ano, Eto, Ethiopia, and he went on to make up more names.  Mike asked him where we would put all his friends and without skipping a beat he said, while pointing, "the back porch!"  So sweet.  We can always make room!!

I wish that could be everyone's motto.  There is always more room.  As we look at the waiting child lists just in Ethiopia we are burdened.  Our whole family is because there are so many children who need us to step up and become their family.  How about this group of siblings?  They are just precious and just need some one to step out in faith and love them and give them what they desperately want.  A home and a family.

Read their story here.
/http://holtinternational.org/blog/2012/01/a-family-thats-all/

I am praying that soon they will have that family that they so want.  Please pray with me.  They have been on my heart for months.  Thank-you

Things that make me smile.

Have been sick for the past several days with a really fun cold.  Have not moved much which made me notice some funny  things around this crazy place.  So in my congested stuper I took some pics of the things that make me smile.

The boys own cell phone tower.

My kids walls.

Big kids bulletin boards.

There are always cars lined up in our house.

The unexpected things Israel says.

Dawit brushing his dinosaur's teeth

Dawit's dinosaur toothbrush taped together after a rough brushing.

             

Sometime it's the little things.  

He did it!!

My sweet husband did it!  He got ordained last nite.  It was a special nite. Sean sang a special song and our District Superintendent did a wonderful job explaining ordination and giving Mike his charge as well as our family.

Mike spent countless hours reading, studying, traveling to Boston, and writing papers.  He did this all while raising a family, adopting our sweet boys,  keeping  up with the endless house projects, coaching cross county and track and field, and running children and young families ministries.  Yep he is amazing!

We are super proud of him.

Reverend Mike James

Sean Singing for his Dad

Whole family with Elders and Pastors

Love you honey!!

Parenting is tough!

Parenting is tough!  Yep I am great at stating the obvious.  Parenting an 18 year old and 4 year old twins and everyone in between can be a bit overwhelming some days.   Our 18 year old just made his decision on where he is going to college and boy does that come with a lot of emotions.  So happy and excited for him and so sad all at the same time that he is leaving.  We have challenged all our kids to take an adventure during these next four years and well he took our advice.  He is heading to California.  People keep saying that is so far from Vermont.  Yes it is, but if you knew my son you would understand when I say, but it is a lot closer than Africa, cause who knows after these next few years where he will be.  So I will take California for now.  While dealing with the emotions with our first born leaving  we have these cracker jack of boys who keep me on my toes. 

Sean was that same cracker jack who kept me on my toes and on my knees.  He was a toughy.  Strong willed, creative, smart, loving, did I say strong willed?  But such a joy to watch grow and mature and become the young man he is today.  He loves God.  He cares for others, He loves to worship His God, and has a desire to share with others the hope that can only come from Him. 

Parenting is tough.  I know I already said that but it really is.  I made so many mistakes.   I lost my temper, let things go that should not have been let go of.  Was not consistent when I should have been.  Gave in because I did not want to hear anymore whining.  Sometimes just went into my bedroom and shut my door because I could just not handle it anymore.  Having 4 kids in 6 years was hard but Sean is 18 going off to college and doing well.  I marvel.  How did he make it?  How did I make it? 

You know that song just put one foot in front of the other.  Thankfully with God, He and I did that.  We just kept walking forward together.  I look at Dawit and Israel and think keep making those investments in them.  Teach them the little things like keeping their mouths closed while chewing and what lying is and what the truth is.  Investment after investment.  Praying for them and walking forward with them.  Tickle them, laugh with them, make  messes and have fun.  Put a tray of baking soda out and have them experiment with colored vinegar.  Just keep investing.  I will continue to make mistakes and want to take back words that I wish I had not said.  But I cannot look back and get stuck wishing  things were different or that I handled things better because before long they will be graduating from high school and leaving to go on their great adventure.

Why am writing this?  To encourage myself and others who are feeling a little tired and at their end.  Just keep walking forward and if you know God, walk with Him.  He has the strength to even carry us when we are too weary to walk.  Parenting is tough but well worth the investment!!

A little baking soda and vinegar and yes they are still in their PJ's.

Look mom it is bubbly.

By the way, parenting is never perfected.  After 18 years of being on this journey I am still learning and growing.  Parenting is never boring.

From one imperfect mama to another, just keep moving forward!!

Watch.

Please break our hearts for what breaks Yours God.