Hair Color

Whenever I thought about Chinese people, I always thought of their straight, very black hair. My girls must be the exception to that thought.

First of all, Eva's and Joy's hair have a brown, almost reddish color to it. When Eva first came home, she did not have any hair, so I've nothing to compare it to. Joy had black hair when we first met her. Now they both have a lighter color to it.

 Joy's Hair

 Eva's Hair is a tad darker than Joy's

Ivy's Hair

Ivy's hair is so thick and wavy.  She has curls around her face.  The hairs on her head are so think I could floss with them.  Not that I'd want to...but if I was in a bind...maybe.  Anyway, I've noticed some lightening on Ivy's hair when she is in the sunlight.  Is it possible that my well water is doing this?  If so, is there something I could buy to prevent or repair it?  Regardless, their hair is beautiful, highlights or no highlights.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, it is a day late, but it has been busy around our house.  On Wednesday, we put up our Christmas tree.  Jordan will be busy with work and school, but wanted to get the tree up while she had some time off.  So, we did a little decorating for half of Wednesday.

Mike's mom bought us this sweet Christmas ornament in 2006, right after we returned home from China with Eva..

Then, in 2007 after returning home with Joy, she purchased this one (get it?  "Joy"ful journey?)...

I love putting these ornaments on the tree every year.  They are very special to me.  Jack actually broke the first one in 2006, which my mother-in-law replaced.

Here is another special one that we all look forward to hanging on the tree.  Ivy thought it was Seth, but it is Mike in 1975...

In between the decorating, we did some cooking and baking.  Jordan was a big help, and I really enjoy being with her.  She usually does all the Christmas cookies for me.

Jordan made this turkey in 1998.  I always forget to put it out.  This year I managed to fill it with Hershey Kisses, which lasted half a day.

Then yesterday, Jordan asked me to go into the living room.  She had a Christmas present for me.  She told me that I needed to open it now, not on Christmas day.  And this is what I received from my thoughtful daughter.  I had one a long time ago, that I dropped down the stairs.  My granny had a green one very similar to this, which I loved to look at when I was a child.  I was so excited when I saw it.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner.  Ivy asked why we were eating so much food and not doing school (my studious child, who I can't keep busy enough in school).  She did not like turkey, but loved the cranberries and sweet potatoes.  Both Eva and Joy asked for seconds on the cranberry sauce.  Mike does a great job.  They are always perfect.

The Thing About the Boys...

...they are old enough to do some serious work around the house.  I miss the cutesy age when they played army all day long, their imaginations as big as the sun.

Seth never came in the house the right way.  He was usually climbing onto our back deck, climbing on the roof, or repelling off something.  I gave up worrying about him.  I'm thankful God gave me cautious Jack.  He always tested the adventure making sure it was doable, safe, before diving head in.

But, now, in a blink of an eye, it is gone.  Gone are the days of sticking their hands in the exhaust pipe to cover their faces black.  Gone are the days of climbing the highest tree on the property, swinging off branches.  I miss the innocent play days.  It is time for other things.  Like working.

And texting.

Wasn't is just yesterday that I counted those toes to make sure there were 10 of them?  Oh, that was almost 17 years ago.

 Now, I have 2 young men in the house.  They are exhausting, fun, difficult, easy, happy, sad, trying, to say the least.  My heart just aches with love for them as I watch them grow, make mistakes, live life.

I'm glad God knows what He is doing, because most of the time, I surely don't.

The Thing About Little Girls...

...they'll let you braid their hair, put in bows or ribbons every day.

My girls will draw beautiful pictures or write stories for me.

There are always little piggies that need painting.

(notice that all 3 girls have different skin tones)

They will bring me presents of legos, wrapped in a bandanna, sealed with a hair bow.

They are always drawing, making their masterpieces on anything available!

My girls have the happiest eyes.

Sometimes, I get wrapped up in the day to day life of caring for my family.  I forget to really appreciate them for who they are.  I don't want to miss it.  Holding Eva's long body yesterday evening made me realize how quickly these last 4 years with her have sped by.  Last night, she woke up crying from a dream.  I lay next to her, holding her tight, rubbing her back.  It is amazing just what a mother's touch can do for a child without saying a word. 

New Shoes

I've been needing to buy Ivy some winter clothing.  I had purchased some jeans/khakis in September, but she prefers the soft fabric of leggings.  Since Ivy is having surgery in less than 4 weeks, I thought I should buy some soft pants for her.  She will be having her cleft/gum line repaired.  The doctor will be doing a bone graft, using bone from her hip, thus the need for soft pants soon.  She's hard to buy for since she is still so tiny 'round.  I had to buy 6/6x, and am hoping that I get the winter season out of them since we're cutting it close on the length.  Once at the mall, I realized that Ivy needed some shoes, too.  We had plenty of sandals for her.  Since the weather is still comfortable around here, she still wears them when she goes out to play.  But, I bought her a pair of black Mary Janes.  

She was so cute because she wanted to put them on as soon as we got home.  Then she was just so proud and excited about those shoes she wore them all evening and then asked me if she could put them in her closet.  It is so funny the things we just assume she knows and take for granted.  I'm glad that new shoes make her happy.

The shoe store had a video screen up and Go Diego, Go! was playing.  As we were walking by the screen, all my children were watching, but wouldn't you know that Joy had to be the one who walked right into a whole display of Iron Man tennis shoes, about 20 boxes, and knocked them all down.  Poor girl was so upset she started crying.  My mother-in-law calls her a "bull in a China cabinet."  

Speaking of Joy, I found her sleeping in a hall closet again.  I guess the darkness puts her right to sleep, and she is still in need of a nap.

A Sad Day

Teaching Ivy about God has been an interesting process.  While I was in China with her, I did not pray for her openly until just days before we left for home.  I knew I could not explain in my words to her about her Savior.  I waited until she knew I loved and cared for her before I lay my hands on her head, closed my eyes and spoke a short, sweet prayer over her heart and body.  She just looked at me, smiled that goofy smile, and softly snorted through her nose, then went to sleep.  She eventually got used to our prayers every night, even expecting them.  Once home, she knew the routine of our bedtime prayer.

Once Ivy started understanding English, and we started school, everything just fell into place.  I like teaching My Father's World to Ivy because it speaks the truth in a way a child can understand it.  So, after I taught about the first days of creation, I told her about Adam, Eve, the Garden, and disobedience.  The story was told so sweetly.  Adam and Eve disobeyed.  I told Ivy how God went to the garden that evening, how He knew they sinned, disobeyed.  How sad it must have been to know that they had disobeyed their creator.  They were banished from the beautiful Garden of Eden.  I, of course, got choked up reading the story to her.  But, when I looked at her, she had tears dripping down her cheeks.  It truly was a sad day.  Ivy understood.  She got it.