sweet, sweet baby

There is nothing quite like a new baby.  Brooklyn may be our fourth little one, but we will never get tired of this sweet baby stage.  We are smitten!  Andy and I often lay in bed gazing at her while she sleeps, kissing her little hands and face, and declaring her baby perfection.  We are living up every precious baby moment.  Children are such a blessing!

The Shubin Family

It has been such a privilege to support other families through the adoption process. It is incredible to watch as He provides, little by little, for their adoptions. I can’t wait to meet their new little ones some day. It will be so exciting!

The next family I’d like to introduce you to is the Shubin family. David and Erica lived in Phoenix when they adopted the first time, and I vividly remember meeting them, long before they adopted. They joined our local adoption group, and came to our first gathering at a local park. They longed to connect with other adoptive families. They were starting the adoption process and could not wait to have their son home! The stories of how God provided for Silas’ adoption are beautiful. I encourage you to check out their blog to read more.  Part One.  Part Two.  Part Three.  Part Four.

David and Erica just started a creative new fundraiser, as they wait to bring their daughter home. They are putting together a beautiful puzzle that will be formed as their adoption support comes in. Each person who donates $10 toward their adoption will have their name written on the back of a puzzle piece, and the puzzle will be framed in double-sided glass so they can talk with their daughter about her journey home and all the families who prayed and supported them through this time.  I love it!

Now, I’ll let Erica introduce their family….

 

"My husband, David, and I live in Florida and have four children. Nichol is 13, Skyler is almost 12, Olivia is 8, and Silas is 5. We adopted our youngest son, Silas, from Ethiopia just over 2 years ago. What started as an act of obedience to answer God's call to adopt, and an opportunity to round out our family (two boys and two girls), has turned into a heart-changing, life-changing process of refining us to realize that we have a home, we have the love of a heavenly Father who redeemed us, called us to love orphans and WHY NOT adopt again. We have asked the Lord to break us for the things that break His heart. He has called us once again to adopt. This time a daughter, a toddler girl to bring into our family to love and cherish forever. We didn't have to fund raise the first time. The Lord had a different season of refining for us. He called us to give up everything financially to pay for our adoption. We did exactly that. Going against everything the world says makes sense and it was the best money ever spent. Now, having very little to start another adoption, we have been called to fund raise and have others stand in this gap with us, to partner with us to raise a ransom to bring our daughter home. SHE is worth it. ALL of these kids are worth it. It's a humbling place to be, putting it out there, sharing the financial need in a public way and trusting that the Lord will provide every bit. HE is faithful."

Erica
"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."

The Shubin's family blog can be found here: The Road Less Traveled.
If you feel led to give toward their adoption, you can receive a tax donation if you give through their church.  Check out their blog for more details...
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Opportunities to support other adoptive families:
~Buy a beautiful pendant on Cate & Sean's blog.  I wrote about them here. (scroll down on that post)
~Purchase a custom dress or skirt through Poppy Dip.  I wrote about Sallee's family here.
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Puppy Puppy, Please!

Keandre is our resident puppy.  He has one of those stuffed animal backpacks with a 'leash' for Mommy or Daddy to hold, and it is one of his favorite possesions!  Of course, maybe that is because I have never put it on him and actually used it to keep track of him. 

We aquired this particular item when he found it at our favorite consignment store.  He dragged it all over the place until it was so filthy I offered to buy it before they could suggest that it was now my responsibility to purchase it.  That way I felt kind and gracious, you know? ;)  After all, it's not my fault they're floors were so dirty....

Keandre likes to put on his teddy backpack, complete with 'leash' and talk his big brother and sister into playing puppy with him.  If they are not available, he approaches me with his sad puppy-dog eyes (pun not intended) and says, "Mommy, no one is pulling me!"  Ah, sweet boy.  I will pull you. 

On the subject of puppies, I have to mention one of my favorite children's books, by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.  The illustrations are by Kadir Nelson.  Amazing!

What would YOU bring?

We've been on a mission to downsize the number of belongings we own.  We are very aware that in this world, our possesions own us.  They distract us.  They require much of us -- our time, our money, and our devotion.  We talk often about how there are many people in the world who have only the bare necessities, and they do just fine and feel blessed!  And there are also those who have very little -- maybe not even a roof over their heads. 

Do we really need all this stuff?

We try to find creative ways to help this ongoing discussion feel relevant for our children.  Today, we discussed what we would take with us if we suddenly had to move away, and had only a few minutes to pack.  We could only take a few items each, and it was better if they were items that were very important to us, and not easily replaced.  While eating lunch and discussing our options, we each declared our top picks: 

Keandre, age 3
elephant & doggie (stuffed animals)
paci (his pacifier -- yes he is still addicted!)
gum

Destany, age 5 3/4
pillow & favorite blankies
'pics of me with Mommy & Nichole' (her birthmother)

Lucas, age 7 1/2
pillow, blankie, and ducky (a fav stuffed animal)
bunny rabbit (the family pet)

Kiara
computer (full of irreplaceable pictures!)
scrapbooks I've made for the kids
my wallet
(Lucas suggested I might want my cell phone.  Destany thought I might want some chocolate for the trip. :)

Andy
old pictures of family & friends (the non-digital ones)
computer hard drive (Good thought, honey.  Thanks!)

Before naming our items, we decided that we would each be able to purchase a few items when we arrived at our new home.  Here is what each person prioritized:

Keandre
a puppy dog  (A new pet?  Hmmm....I'm not sure about that one!) 

Destany
cd player/radio
board games & puzzles
a puppy dog (she agrees with Keandre)

Lucas
cd player/radio with a clock on it
a bunkbed from IKEA
a new fish and fishtank

Kiara
ipod
camera
Bible

Andy
Bible
a new bike (he's happy to leave his old one behind!)
a dishwasher (you think maybe he's afraid of living w/o one?!)

This conversation has been a great motivation to keep getting rid of stuff!  Today alone, we have compiled 10 paper grocery bags full of items to donate, plus a few bags to drop off at the consignment store.  And we have just begun!

Then, during rest time, Destany decided she has too many clothes and shoes.  She made a huge pile in the middle of her floor, and said she is giving them to our friend, Abby Tracy, who lives with and ministers to street children in Uganda.  Oh my.....what a blessing to see your child apply Biblical truths and hold loosely to her belongings!  (Anyone who knows her well knows she LOVES her clothes and shoes.  She is a little fashionista!)

Is Love Colorblind?

Amy's blog entry on this topic is very well written, and definitely worth the few minutes it will take to read.  I think I will have to memorize this so I can better explain myself next time this comes up.  Oh, how I cringe when someone says they 'forget' that my children are black, or don't even see their color.  This is part of the beauty of who they are -- who God created them to be. 
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Check out Part Two here.  Again, worth the read!  Please, please read.  This is reality.  This is truth. This is important for us all to understand.
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Part Three -- posted on Amie & Tim's ministry blog. 
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What kinds of conversations have you had about love, color, culture, and how we see each other?

Funny Friday

Keandre woke up all ready to help Daddy mow the lawn.  He thinks he's dressed like Daddy: wide-brimmed hat, protective glasses, and work boots.  Oh, how I love his creative sense of style!  He looks so serious because I pulled him away from his work, and he is anxious to get back to it! :)

Destany's thoughts on Glee gum

Destany and Lucas are writing blogs now, too.  I figure we can call it home schooling. :) 

Here are a few of Destany's thoughts on Glee gum.

Here is Lucas' blog.  He says he is ready to start typing some of his own posts now.  Love it!

all natural gum

My kids love gum.  And I'd love to give it to them as a treat from time to time.  But it drives me crazy to see the list of ingredients on those gum packs at the grocery store!  So today I did a search for 'gum without artificial sweeteners'.  The first to catch my eye was Glee Gum.  Check it out at www.gleegum.com. 

When I mentioned it to the kids, they were so excited that I decided to pack up all four kiddos in the car and we trekked over to Sprouts to buy a few packs.  Yep, I was feeling pretty energetic today!  Our Sprouts had cinnamon, tangerine, and bubble gum flavor.  All were a hit with the kiddos, including Keandre, who promptly swallowed his but did better with subsequent tries.  I wasn't overly impressed, as it loses its flavor fairly quickly, but I won't be the one chewing it anyway.  As long as the kids give it a thumbs up -- which they did -- that's all we need! :) 

What do I love about this gum?  Great size, no artificial colors/flavors/sweeteners, and it's 'green' -- made from sustainably harvested rainforest chicle.  To top it all off, it will look great in a gumball machine we have laying around that is currently full of marbles.  (Yeah, I'll admit that was not the best idea we've had.  Choking hazard, anyone?)

Here is a coupon for Buy One Get One Free boxes of Glee Gum.  To purchase it locally, go to Glee Gum's home page and search for a local store using your zip code.  We had several options within a mile from our home.  

For those of you with children dealing with sensory or attachment issues, check out Cate's blog post for an idea on using gum to help your child and encourage healthy bonding.  We will be using this idea in our family on rough days, along with healthy doses of loving affection and prayer, to help close the gap between us and our sweeties' hearts.  (Destany's OT said chewing gum will help her with her sensory issues, so that is an added plus!)

Enjoy!