God's gifts from Grandpa's surprise

Catching up on a week and a half of God's kindness to us...

- Making coconut milk ice cream... So easy and so yummy
 - Abel's continued appreciation for listening to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
 - A rare moment to catch Wheel of Fortune before bed, and both kids actually sitting still to cuddle
- Adrianna making Grandpa's birthday card: "To Grandpa, Happy Birthday!  The End!  Adrianna" and "What is a robin's favorite treat to eat?"
...And her hiding the answer under the sticky note


 - Adrianna's reaction to glutenous play dough (hard thanks)
... And again the reminder at how much better she has felt without allergens
- Attempting to create a new play dough recipe that she can use
... And Adrianna having a good attitude about it, even if it was sticky and didn't work with cookie cutters!
- Being there when lots of friends showed up for Grandpa Steve's surprise birthday dinner



... And having a fun time with friends
... And laughing how Steve had a tip off to the surprise when Julie cleaned the top of the refrigerator
 - Abel finally coming out of his shell at music time (after going weekly for a year and a half!)
... And him spontaneously dancing during the instrument play time, and the librarian commenting, "Oh, he just made my heart melt"
 - Taking a road trip for the weekend

 ... And laughing at the cows crossing the road
- Talking with Adrianna about how it's important to marry someone that's your best friend and someone who loves Jesus... and her thinking about that for a minute, and then declaring, "I've been thinking I might marry Will."

- My "babies" playing back-to-back
- Laughing at finding a donkey after Abel had called every four-legged creature we passed a donkey
- Revisiting the Ethiopian market for the first time in almost a year and a half, and the Ethiopian owner remembering us
... And the continuing support from the Ethiopians there

- Joining my dad and Debbie at an Ethiopian restaurant (our first time!)
... And hearing the heart-breaking story one of the workers tell me that she knew Abel was two because she had to leave her son in Ethiopia when he was two



- My dad and step-mom watching the kids for two nights so that Scott and I could have a mini-vacation
- Going shopping with just Scott
- Going bowling with just Scott
- Attending the church where Scott and I were married

- Enjoying coffee and chats with my mom and step-dad

 - More "lessons" with Abel
... And him asking, "Do lessons with Mommy??" and "Mommy, do Old Mac Donald??"
 - Grandpa Steve taking our play group on a tractor hay ride
... And again, the beauty of the place we live
- Grandpa showing the chickens to the play group kids
- Abel pouring over family pictures
 - Adrianna's picture of the moon we saw on our trip, peaking over the mountains, half covered in clouds... a breath-taking moment in time
 - Abel finding sister's dress up
 - Adrianna getting a game day reward with Jenny for doing a good job in school
 - Abel capturing a few minutes in the backyard
- Guess Who? for game night... a game from my childhood
-  Talking with Adrianna about how to know where God has given you talents when you are doing the things that make your heart happy (for me, teaching; for Scott, business; for us, Africa, adoption), and Adrianna saying, "Ethiopia makes my heart happy."

- Another allergic reaction (her antibiotic?) (hard thanks)
... And praying for Adrianna to be able to focus at school after this melt down
... And God answering.  Her teacher's report: "She had a good day!"
- Abel playing with my in-laws while I ran errands
- My big girl being old enough to brush her own hair
 - A symmetrical number on my odometer :)
- Abel talking on the "goat phone" at gymnastics
- Hearing missionaries share of God's working in a far away place

Comments

Bloom Where You Are Planted said…
The teeny wagon makes Abel look even older and bigger! :) Such sweet pics of your precious cutie pies!

Sending so much love to you all! :)
November 25, 2011 at 11:42 AM
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