Bedtime Rituals in the Jag home

Daron was putting the kids to bed recently and told them to go brush their teeth, put pj's on, and brush their bottoms. I don't know why he said the last part, but Justus laughed. I think it is guy humor. I gave him a weird look that probably involved some disrespectful eye rolling. A few minutes later we said we were ready to play a game if they hurried up. Ella proudly came in running to tell us that she did all three and she was the first one ready. I said, "What do you mean you did all three?!!!" She saw the horror and shock on my face and looked as though she was going to cry. Nervous about what this meant I very scaredly(new word) had her go and show me what she did. Yep, she followed directions all right! After she brushed her teeth, she brushed her bottom!!! With her toothbrush!!! I assured her I would buy a new toothbrush tomorrow and tossed it in the trash to her disbelief; it was brand new. Ella was still on the verge of tears and I could barely keep myself from falling over in my snorted laughter. I held it together though and gave her a hug and told her she was a good girl for following such awful directions from her father. I think we will have to wait on our sarcastic humor for awhile!

Interesting.........

So......Daron and I went out the other night. I was persuaded to dance. I acted like I didn't want to, but it was actually kind of fun. Our friends were playing that night; One Shot Molly, and I felt like a groupie. Unfortunately, someone took a picture of Daron and I that I wish was never taken. It was totally harmless, but now it is on the myspace for the band. Since the rest of the world is seeing it, I might as well invite my friends to check it out and see if you like how the camera distorts what was really happening. It is actually kind of funny embarrassing. And yes, to my brothers, it really was harmless and the camera manipulates reality(That's what she said). No, really, I promise! If you don't know what I am talking about, more power to you and ignore the entire post!

Any Amount Can Help...Be Part of the Equation!

Our agency that we are in the process of adopting from, Adoption Advocates International, is taking on an urgent project. An orphanage in Kasoa, Ghana that has referred children to our agency is in dire need. Their water is contaminated and the children are all getting sick with parasites from this contaminated water supply. The orphanage doesn't have much nutritious food left and we want to help take care of some of Ghana's orphaned children. It is so hard to hear of the kids being so sick and not being able to make meals because of contaminated water. Our agency sent their staff over today with $500 to buy groceries for the orphanage, but now they want to raise some money to drill a water borehole. If you can help in ANY way, it would make a difference. I would encourage you to pray about this and see if your family can give even $5 to this cause. How amazing would it be to see clean water be brought into this orphanage that has nothing!

If you decide to give, you can donate right on AAI's website. Click on the blue "Donate Now" button and where it asks what the money is specified for, and write in Ghana Water Borehole Project.

Thanks!

My Kind of Town!

I just got back from a great trip to the Windy City! I met up with some life-long girlfriends of mine(Heather, Lenore, Wilson), saw their hubbys and my great sister and brother in law (Kathy and Mark) and got to enjoy uninterrupted conversations without my kiddos(no offense Justus, Greta, and Ella). I did miss them terribly after a couple of days, but it was a trip that gave me lots of time for reflection, prayer, solitude, and fun! After a couple of days in the city, I headed out to my Grandma Eleanor's home and we got to have some special times together getting ready to bring her out to our area for the next month. Daron wins the best husband award for being a single parent for the last week! He had to be the shuttle all by himself while he brought the kids to school, baseball three times, ballet twice, Norwegian dancing, church, doctor appts......, I have the best husband!

My Car was Repo'd!

I guess it wasn't really my car exactly that got repo'd, but it was starting to feel like my car. With my mom being out of town the last three out of four weeks, her black, Volvo SUV was feeling quite comfortable. LOVED the butt warmers! Well, the good times came to an end and my mom (can you believe her nerve) took her car back. To be honest, I would do the same thing in her shoes............hmmm, I do love her shoes!!!!

smells like teen spirit

I realize as I sit down that I don't really have anything to say today. I do, however, smell that I am in need of a shower after the Ultimate Strength class I took this morning and after doing some finishing touches on two homes I am currently staging. Peace and sweet smelling to you this Monday afternoon!

Any Adoption News? NOPE!

I wish I had some news to report to all of you that are just as eager to hear as we are. But no, there is no news on the adoption front. It is kind of depressing, but at the same time I keep reminding myself that it just must not be the right time. We have been referral ready since October and it was supposed to be fast, but it seems as if every combination of children have come into the Eban House(AAI's Ghana orphanage) except for what we think(and have prayed a lot about) would be good for our family; a 0-4yr. old little boy. Little girls have come in, older boys and girls, little boys that fit our age, but have 3 siblings........just not a single little boy that is a toddler or older. It makes me start to go a little crazy. Are we not being open? Should we have opened up to one of the little girls, an older boy, a sibling set of 3 or 4? Or is it just not the right time right now and it will be when our little boy comes into the home? Maybe it is taking this long because we aren't supposed to adopt. These are all the questions/thoughts I am thinking right now. I know many of these thoughts are silly. I mean really, it hasn't really been that long, it is just that I have seen people in our agency who have signed up after us get referrals and one even go home weeks ago with their twins. It is actually a very fast process compared to other countries, so I am thankful for that. I also love our agency and the people that are adopting with us. It is hard not to be jealous, and at the same time be excited for them. I love that children are getting placed with loving families; I just wish it was our time and for some reason it isn't.

He is Risen- He is Risen Indeed!!

Easter was a very special day at our home. We had been reading the stories about Jesus with the kids from Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the crucifixion), to Easter morning when Jesus rose from the dead! Amazing to see it through a child's eye. The kids got to hunt for eggs and their baskets in the morning, and then we went to go set up for church. I love our church! The kids have so much fun helping out and setting up, as well as playing with their friends while we get everything ready. A couple from our church, Dale and Alicia, did an amazing job with the set up and had painted tulips on 8 ft. boards that they placed around the church. They also brought in some real tulips for the tables- it was so pretty! The service was great and I enjoyed the message and the different people that came to worship at Alive. Personally I thought the pastor was hot! (is that sacrilegious if he is your husband?)

Table for 50, anyone?/ Cousins

Afterwards, we took the ferry over to Seattle with my parents and met up with Brad's family and Erik for Easter dinner at one of their friends from church's home. Wow! It was a celebration! There were about 50 of us and they had one, long, continuous white linen table for us to all sit at. There were about 14 kids and they were fantastic with great manners, while still having fun! They got to have an Easter egg hunt up on the third floor of this old home that sits atop Queen Anne hill. I was also quite proud of Greta (and slightly embarrassed) when a women commented on Greta's eggs that she got and said, "Well, this is what Easter is all about!" Greta looked at her strangely and said, "No it isn't, it is about Jesus dying for us!" Well said smarty pants!

Later we went to Brad and Ingrid's with my parents and we got to play Settler's of Catan. I only mention this because I won the game against my husband, brother, and sister-in-law! Very satisfying to beat them all. Just to be clear, that isn't what Easter is all about!

Here are some pictures from our town Easter egg hunt:

Greta & Justus's friends: "On your mark, get set, go!"
Egg Pandemonium

1 > 0: One is Greater Than None

A friend led me onto this website http://www.oneisgreaterthannone.org/ and I was so impressed with the organization. It is a non-profit started by eight, 14 yr. old girls that have the goal of making a difference in One child at a time. They urge you to become a part of the equation and that 1 > none. Any contribution we make towards change has value. These girls were inspired by an Oprah show they watched that showed child trafficking in the fishing villages in Ghana (which is where we are adopting from). It takes approx. $4300 to take a child out of the inhuman conditions and care for them for 2 1/2 yrs. The girls challenged themselves to save one child and made jewelry and clothing. Right away they raised enough to save 8 children! I am so inspired by what these girls are doing; each year they will take on one cause to help children in need. This year they are teaming with www.iom.int . They now are selling their merchandise in small boutiques across the country and this spring in Bloomingdale's. 100% of their proceeds are donated to IOM. Check out their site- they are some pretty amazing girls!

Grandma and Grandpa Farm

Road trip to Mt. Rainier

Grandpa & Grandma Farm


Daron's parents were out this week visiting from MN and we got to show them what our week usually looks like with all of our differing schedules. They were here for a 1st Sunday of the Month at Alive, so that was pretty cool. It was our 2 yr. anniversary for Alive and we had a blast at the birthday party on Sunday. We had a balloons, cake, and even a pinata.

Other fun things we did while they were here was to go to a benefit for Greta's Norwegian dancing, a walk up to school one morning, one on one dates with their grand kids, out to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at least once, coffee dates, fishing on the Nordic Dawg with my dad and brother- Erik, and a day trip to Mt. Rainier. FUN! FUN! A good time was had by all.






Justus & Greta trying to make an avalanche? Ella exploring the Mt.

Ella made it to the summit (of this hill) Snowball fight!!!!