"So much depends on......and your big cardboard box"

Hudson LOVES to read books and this is one of his favorites.  It is one of my favorites also as it so simply sums up the life of a iittle boy and the simplicity of their days.  I also love that it came from some of my mom's dearest friends in the country "neighborhood" I grew up in (meaning, the next house was over a few hills and down the dirt road).  

But what I love most about it is what it says in the inside flap:

"The simple playthings, the everyday moments, picking up the hundredth rock-all of these are brimming with possibilities......if you slow down and let the future begin with the small moments of today.  Because everything depends on letting a little boy.....be a little boy

Just think about that last line.  We have got to let our little boys be the little boys God created them to be as their future and their families futures depend on it.  

One thing that drives me crazy is watching moms stifle their little boys.  These bundles of energy who accompany everything they do by a noise (have you ever stopped and listened to them? They typically cannot do much without adding a sound effect...) are made that way for a reason.  They need to play loud and hard and rough so one day they can grow up and be hardworking, protective leaders of their families.  Let them get dirty and messy and stinky.  They clean up.  Let your houses become playgrounds filled with possibiities (and believe me I am a neat freak and have to go to bed with a picked up house but thats the great thing...it can always be picked up).  Let them create and imagine and dream....if only we had more men who dreamed big instead of letting the world define them.  The other day inside his big cardboard box, and that is exactly how he refers to it, Hudson had an empty paper towel holder as a car tunnel and an empty egg carton as his car shop.  Let them wrestle hard with dad, he is training him (and they don't even know it), take apart that bug, jump in the puddle, climb the tree to that higher branch, get up from a fall without a big scene from mom. let him be a risk taker!!  Do you know boys see scars as a good thing?  Jordan LOVES when he has an injury that leaves a scar, kind of like a medal representing that particular battle.  He has one on his wrist from falling on a a nail during a dig thru old debris.  He has one on his chin from jumping down from a high hallway shelf.   Your son was made to be adventurous!!!   Yes, they can wear you out but oh the sweetness of their simplicity. 

So, yes Hudson has a big cardboard box and although we live in a small house with one living room his big cardboard box can often be found wherever he is.....and the other night, he asked to sleep in it.  My answer???? "ABSOLUTELY, i'll help you make your bed!!!"
(and you know who was most impressed that Hudson slept in his box all night?....his big brother!!!)

"Little boy, you remind me how so much depends on days made of now."  

(from the last page of the book)

(and check out my friend Branda's new blog appropriately entitled "days made of now"  

Wordless Wednesay

First Day of School 2010

Four kids, three different schools, three different and very new situations made for a busy first week.  

Madalyn started three days before the other three kids.  It is her first year of highschool and she says it is strange not running into Jordan or Kailee.  Hudson is at the same school but down at the other end and their paths do not cross.  She is enjoying vollyball and the social life of a teenager. 

Kailee began her last year of middle school.  It is a MUCH different atmosphere but she is enjoying it and having fun connecting with friends kindergarten and her soccer playing days.  She is in the second week of Vollyball tryouts and will cheer at her first football game in two weeks.  

 

Another first for my two favorite boys.  Jordan began his Sr. year at the public high school.   He is enjoying it and we just sent off his first college application.   Hudson started pre-K 4 and as we knew he would he is thriving.  I realized as I took this picture that next year my baby will start Kindergarten and my oldest will start college.    Thinking about it now gets me teary so I will choose to be in denial.  

Took this with my iphone and enlarged it so it is terrible quality but this captures Hudson's excitement as we dropped him off.  I was anticapting a hard morning with tears from me as we have never sent one off to preschool since I homeschooled for several years.  Thinking of where Hud was just a little under 2 1/2 years ago and the opportunities available to him now makes my heart swell with gratitude that WE get to be part of his life.    Well no time for tears as he couldn't get into his class soon enough and waved us on.   It all happened so fast and there we were, Mark and I, just looking at each other like "ok, guess we go on with the day"....very anticlimatic.  

Of course Hudson is always full of sayings that keep us laughing.   The boy is dying to learn to read and after his first day asked me to teach him how to do homework.  Before bedtime we sat down with letters and worked on his name.  When I said it was bedtime he became VERY distressed and said "but I haven't learned to read yet!"  I explained it was a process which he wasn't at all impressed with.  

Friday when I picked him up he was tired and when I asked him how his day was he said "I'm tired of holding that bible everyday, it's a little bit heavy"....Oh boy....what a character.  

We worked several times during the week on the letters for his name and I was SO proud of him when I opened his take home folder Friday and he had three papers with his name clearly written on them.  One day at home he even wrote his middle name!!!  This boy is ready to learn!

I'm looking forward to many firsts this year (and will try not to think about the "lasts").    Tapping into the mom network to learn the ins and outs of homecoming "big public school style".   Sheesh....a far cry from the simpleness of a football game and dance in jeans like when I was a teen....a couple more weeks to prepare...

Hill Country Hyatt 2010

Mark and I figured out that we started going to the Hill Country Resort 10 years ago!!  Mark attends a CLE (continuing legal ed) conference here every summer.   Kailee was just three when we started going and we have only missed one year in the last 10 when Mark worked for a large, very non-family friendly firm....why he lasted less than a year and what led to our adoption...another story, another day....
Over the years we have gone from being with the kids every minute on the lazy river, to letting them roam the resort themselves to losing Jordan on the trip when he entered highschool and started two-a-day soccer practice.  That was the same summer Hudson joined the adventure and we were back to the sandy beach and no leisurely reading for mom all day.   This year we lost Madi as she is now in highschool and started two-a-day vollyball practices.  It was SO WIERD stocking the fridge and pantry with meals and snacks for my two oldest as they stayed by themselves all week.   Jordan made sure Madi got to where she needed to be and then some....their laundry was done and the house was even clean when we got home!!!!  There are pros and cons to them growing up but I really don't like not having us all together for fun times!!!


The Sanza's joined us again this year.  We realized they came with us FOUR years ago when we were both waiting for our referrals.  Pam and I dreamed of the day our kiddos would be playing together and so it was this week. 

  

Big sisters Hannah and Kailee spent hours building sand castles with the boys.  

We also have many good friends in the area as it was where Mark grew up so we loved having Mark's oldest, best friend Trey (whom Jordan Trey is named after) join us with his twin girls.

And Cole joined us also.  Cole's "mimi" lives with Mark's mom and Mark grew up with Stacey (Cole's mom).  We just call them cousins as it is less confusing and we spend all holidays together.  Cole and Hudson are only four months apart as are their older brothers (Jordan and Luke & sister's Kelly and Madi).....they are ALL the best of friends.  Hudson and Cole both have Uncles that live in Alaska (Stacey and Mark's brothers)...they married Alaskan girls that are related......to add a little more confusion, Trey and Stacey are cousins.....(i'm sure ya'll don't care but always feel the need to explain)....REGARDLESS it is so fun to have these four, four year olds playing together...bascially all family....

There was SUCH delight for these two carrying water and destroying the sand castle.  Such simple pleasures bring pure joy!  

....and back again....

Only one more full week for Madi before school starts and then the three others start the following week... SO NOT ready!!!!!

good buddies!!

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!!!!