Where is summer going???

I am finding it so hard to blog lately.  We are over half way through summer and I had not been "home" all day for the first time until last Monday.    I love summer and am not one of those moms that can't wait for school to start.  School with teenagers is so very busy with sports, lots of homework, studying, school projects and summer brings a peace that is hard to find during the school year.      There are so many projects I wanted to get completed this summer and I am frustrated I am just now finishing a HUGE painting project.  I have only spent 2 days in the water and have had no girl time for me BUT....life isn't all bad.   I have spent lots of time with the kids even though much of it has been driving from one end of the country to the other.

Our most exciting news is Jordan came home!!!!  He decided that home was where he wanted to be for his Sr year.   I think he has struggled with his decision for a few months but we knew this was one of those times we needed to "let go" and trust the Lord with him and that he needed to "own" his choice.    One thing our pastor says often is "God is in control of the outcome so we must trust Him with the process"...Wow!!!  Wish I would have grasped that over the many months leading up to a few weeks ago when he told us wanted to come home.   Last summer we made him come home from his MN summer before he wanted to and made him go to camp, this year he told us he wanted to be home in time for camp.   Jordan would have done fine in MN but it was hard to let him go and we are thrilled that he chose us!!!!  

As for the rest of the kids, Kailee attended cherleading camp in early July and was named MVP.  She was also chosen to attend a leadership camp for church and was gone last week.  SUCH a blessing for her as she has missed youth summer camp the last two years as we were in MN.  

 Madalyn said goodbye to her friend Libby that came home with us from MN...we so enjoyed her 18 day stay!  I love Madi's freckles in this picture...this week she is with Jordan at SR HIGH camp, how can it be???

Hudson had his sleep study and was SUCH a big boy as he was cleaned, glued and wired up.  The night was long as he was so uncomfortable but we are anxious to hear the results and hopefully can move on to the next plan with his reconstruction and speech.    He is growing SO MUCH lately, and is ALL BOY, loving life as always.

Please read the post below and pray for our special little lady!!!

Pray for Abby Grace

Abby Grace was Hudson's cribmate and best friend in Pingliang.  We traveled with her mom and dad when we met our sweet, scared babes together on March 30, 2008 in a crowded room in Langzhou.    AG had a cleft lip/palate also and much more serious heart condition than Jenn and Sean knew, requiring unexpected open heart surgery the week she came home.  Yesterday AG had the second part of her open heart surgery and is doing well with pink toes and fingers but please keep her in your prayers.  She recovered so well the first time and we are praying for the same this time.
 

I was able to see Jenn and Abby when I went to Charleston in May.  She has grown SO much and it was amazing to me how many characteristics and mannerisms she and Hudson share.  They both cut their eyes the same way and have many of the same facial expresions.  Hudson is only four months older than Abby but it was very obvious while we were in China together how he "took care of her".  He would feed her cheerios, clue into her cry above all of the other babies cries and Abby told me in Charleston, Hudson would rub her back as they fell asleep at night.  We have always wondered what Hudson remembers, he was only 2 1/2 when he came home but one thing he does say consistently is he "cried and cried at night in his crib"...he says "I would say 'mama, mama' " .  When I asked Abby if Hudson liked their bed she said "no, he would cry and cry".  Jenn told me Abby has asked since she came home for them to "tickle her back like Hudson did" at night.   From the first night we had Hudson in China he would tickle his face at night to go to sleep and refused to let us do it.  It was obvious he needed this self soothing to go to sleep and after Abby told me this I wondered if not having Abby next to him was the reason.  Nights were SO hard for Hudson until  about the last  9 months and he prefers a warm body next to him, no wonder if he spent the first 2 1/2 years next to AG.

We sure hope to get Hudson and Abby together again soon.  We love this girl and she will forever hold a special place in our hearts as Hudson's first sister!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

July 4th, 2010

We spent the 4th of July weekend in New Braunfels with family.  Madi's friend Libby is visiting from MN so we wanted to show her more of TX.  We spent Friday at the River Walk,  the kids and dads floated the river on the morning of the fourth while Stacey and I spent a quiet morning at home making dinner and today the girls spent the day at Shlitterbahn.  It has been a fun weekend, back to the real world tomorrow....hope all had a happy and safe 4th! 

Libby and Madi

A little volleyball before fireworks

Cole

The boys and their dads

Father's Day 2010

A perfect Minnesota Day for brunch on the deck at the Country Club...sure wish Mark would have been with us!  At least I was with my dad! Happy Father's Day to two wonderful men!

Catching Up

Life has been crazy busy and I have been a very behind blogger.  We have been in MN two weeks.  My niece graduated and so I came early to help my sister do all the things my mom would have helped with.   Abby had a great party and Mark (with the help of my brother) made 350 tacos!!!  He fries his own shells and people LOVE them, it was Abby's request.  Yesterday I spent the day with my sister-in-law as she started her chemo treatments.  I was hoping to spend some time again with Diana but between Sienna's surgery and my busy schedule it is not going to work this time.    We sure wish the MN weather was nicer but Hudson has been able to swim in the lake a few days and yesterday spent the afternoon fishing with his sisters.
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While I have been gone three friends have met their sweet  babes.  When I was in YWAM 20 years ago my leader was Todd.  He was engaged to Vickie at the time and they still run a YWAM base in NC.  They have waited three years to bring home their daughter.  Vicki is a gifted writer and I know I will love to watch her blog about their newest daughter Gabby.  I met Courtney not too long ago.  She recently moved to our town and mutual friends introduced us.  They were waiting to travel to pick up their baby Caleb when we met and since we have been here have traveled and returned home.    I can't wait to get back home and meet this precious boy!!!  My other dear, dear friend Melinda is in China right now with their sweet son Ben.  Melinda had me as her secret sis when we were waiting for Hudson and was SO faithful with prayers and gifts.  She only lives about an hour from us, Kailee and her daughter Myranda share the same birthday and have become friends and we are blessed to call them friends.  This is their second adoption.  They have a little girl Shayle that came home shortly after Hudson and we are excited to meet the newest member.  Hop over to their blogs and see their adorable little ones.  Please pray for these  families who are getting used to the "new" normal, most of you have been there and pray for Diana and miss Sienna.  Many of you have also been thru surgeries with your little ones and know the anxiety that goes along with surgeries.   For those of you who received TA's in the last couple weeks, can't wait to watch you go and will be praying for you....I never get tired of watching families brought together.

When we get home from MN we will be making another visit to the neurologist.  Hudson has had at least one more seizure two weeks ago and suspect seizure's during the night.   We are hoping to keep him off medication but will see what his Neurologist says.  We will also have his sleep study July 9th and then will hopefully be able to switch surgeons after that.  We have been on hold with surgeries and speech for two months now and need to get the ball rolling with something.    Hopefully just intense speech therapy.

I posted lots of pictures below playing catch up over the last month....hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

My dad's backyard..

Jordan turns 18 June 10th

This is the 2nd year in a row we have been in MN for Jordan's birthday.  Mark is famous for his tacos and these boys look for any excuse to get them so it was the 2nd annual Taco birthday feast.   Last year Mark fried 100 taco's for these boys, this year they didn't eat quite so many.  Jordan will be staying up here when we head back to TX next week and we are blessed to have been able to get to spend some time with his friends here.