Christmas

I am not able to upload pictures yet, but, I thought I'd give an update anyway. Pictures will follow soon:o)

The biggest news this year is that my youngest sister, Candy, got engaged to Scott, her boyfriend of 2 years:o)! We all got to be in on the surprise, which was special, especially since Candy had no clue - an achievement never before accomplished in her lifetime!!

We spent the weekend before Christmas with the Paulson clan. This was our first Christmas without Nancy. It was bitter sweet, and ended up being a very peaceful happy time. We celebrated at Scott and Lisa's house (Bryce's brother and sister-in-law), and it was beautiful. The time the three of us wives were able to spend together helping get dinner was very special. And after all was said and done, the six of us (Bryce's two brothers and wives) had the chance to reminisce and process together. This was especially good for Bryce and I, just to feel reconnected and to hear what's been going on in the others' hearts and minds. It's been a long year, and this time together was refreshing and encouraging. Change is never easy, and this change has been painful, it was good to be reminded that we aren't going through it alone.

Christmas eve we moved to the Butler family's festivities. We picked our friend Frauke up from the airport and headed to Christmas eve service with my parents and sister, Ali, and brother-in-law, Jared. Candy and Scott met us at my parents house later for our traditional cookies, eggnog and Christmas story with the traditional opening of our Christmas PJ's:o). Christmas morning was also very traditional, only with Scott joining us this year:o). We spent the day lounging and with almost everyone pitching in to make an exceptional Christmas dinner.

Oh, and it snowed on Christmas day!!! I felt like it was just for us, Bryce and I, who have been missing home and the white Christmas Michigan is experiencing. It was very cool:o)!

This weekend we're heading north to Bellingham, Wa. for an engagement party for my sister and a cousin who also recently got engaged. We'll get to ski:o) yay! and we're looking forward to meeting up with Elie's god family along the way. We plan on spending New Year's Eve and Day back in Tigard, Or. And Bryce and I will fly to Arizona on the 2nd for 5 days.

Hope you are enjoying this last week of 2007:o)!!

A True Horse Lover

As we're in the midst of the Christmas season my children have been inundated with the nativity story. With movies on TV, story books and their own DVDs they have learned the story well. A very good thing for young children raised in a Christian home.

As they have learned the story so well, they have also play-acted it out numerous times. They have a Little People Nativity set they love to haul out and play with, as well as simply acting the story out... with one unique twist.

Now most little girls would play-act the part of Mary, and probably make their little brothers be Joseph or some such part... baby Jesus if they are really lucky:o). Not my little girl. Nope. She's always claims the part of the Donkey! And even better, she makes her brother ride on her back - as Mary! Her favorite game is acting out the long journey to Bethlehem, with herself in the most humble roll... though I'm pretty convinced that this has more to do with her head-over-heals love for horses, than consideration for her little brother:o). But what a sweetie!!

Celebrating Elora

Our little girl is 5 now! How crazy is that?? Wow. Five years ago we were just adjusting to life as new parents... I remember thinking I wouldn't survive her fifth birthday due to lack of sleep:o)... well, now here we are - I made it!

Elie is sensitive, graceful, sweet natured and ready to be everyone's friend! She is constantly exploring her surroundings with questions and creative explanations, (she taught us how to "make Fudge" the other night... a bit like how you get the cheese into a cheese-it cracker:o).

She is developing a real sense of responsibility too, and it's been fun to watch her take things on without prompting from her parents. Brushing the dog is her newest chore... among keeping her brother in line, like a true big sister:o). She can't wait to be a mommy and teach her babies all the things she knows. And right now her favorite babies are animals.

At times it feels like we have a 15-year-old in the family... and we are all learning how to deal with the things that come out of such a little and "innocent" mouth.

The other day, as Elie was throwing a fit I was gently reminding her to make better choices and that the power of choice is hers. She looked straight into my eyes and said, "oh shut up!"

I was floored. I didn't have any response to that. Never had I seen or heard such open defiance and disrespect from my tiny girl. Bryce jumped in right away with soap for her tongue. I asked her if what she'd said was worth the consequence. "yep," was her sassy reply.

All I could do was stare at her. Then I sadly told her that my feelings were hurt and I was very disappointed in her choices. I asked my question again, just to make sure she understood what it was I was saying.

"Telling mommy to shut up is worth getting soap in your mouth?"

"Yes, it is," came her haughty reply.

I sank onto our bed and just watched in disbelief as Jadon and Elie continued getting ready for bed. I couldn't believe my little girl's behavior, and I could tell Bryce was just as disturbed, but also had no idea how to proceed.

As I was anguishing over the scene that had just played out I caught Elie watching me from the sink as she washed her hands. Her eyes were full of sadness and uncertainty. She quickly looked back at the sink when she saw me looking at her, but tried to sneak peaks again.

"Elie, " I asked, "what are you feeling, honey?"

She was quiet a moment before she said, "I'm sad because you hurt my feelings and so I hurt your feelings."

My heart just melted, and I saw Bryce choke up. Elie walked over to me tentatively, her hands covered in soap suds.

"Elie, I'm so sorry for hurting your feelings, will you please forgive me," I asked her.

Immediately her countenance brightened. "Of course, Mom!" She stayed beside me, quietly looking at me.

"What is it?"

"Well, I'm just wondering how to give you a hug with soapy hands."

Bryce jumped in again, "El, go rinse your hands honey."

"Oh, huh, yeah," she said, and started toward the sink. She paused half way there. "Mom, I'm sorry too. Will you forgive me?"

I couldn't help it, I was so proud of her, I just beamed. "Yes, I totally forgive you."

She came back to me, "Mom, do you think I could just give you a soapy hand hug? Please?"

I got a soapy hand hug, and it was the sweetest one yet.

As we look ahead into Elie's 5th year of life with us, we are so thankful that she came into our lives. We are astounded at how she is developing on so many intricate levels, awed at how perfectly God takes over where we fall short in our parenting, and so humbled to have this privilege of walking with this tiny little life through all her ups, downs, triumphs, defeats and growing pains.

Happy Birthday to the Sweetest Girl Alive!!!

Tragedy Strikes

We're not quite sure how this happened, but happen it did...

Elie gave up her passies about a year and some months ago, (yes, we are the kind of parents I swore I'd never become, and have let our children (under the supervision of their pediatrician) keep their pacifiers for a very long time), and to help the transition she was allowed to pick a replacement comfort item. She picked a pink pony, aptly named Pinkie. Pinkie has gone everywhere with us since... and even with all the animals that have come into her life between now and then, Pinkie has remained the consistent favorite.

Well, somewhere in Colorado we lost poor Pinkie... she literally disappeared before our eyes. We were unloading into a hotel room one minute, with Pinkie under Elie's arm, and the next we were putting Elie to bed and searching like crazy for Pinkie! We called every place we could think of that we'd stopped or eaten in... no luck!

This was a major tragedy. As we've been on the road for the last month Pinkie has been a huge comfort to Elie in all the changes and especially as Elie has been grieving her Grammy a lot lately. We have had a lot of tears.
We found a Toys R Us, where Pinkie originated from, and took Elie in to find a second Pinkie...
We came out with Gina. The giraffe. She didn't even hesitate. "This is my new friend." She announced. She had several moments in the store of grieving Pinkie, but had very little desire to get a second, identical, pink pony.

And, until today, when her brother gave her Pinkie Pie, a My Little Pony baby doll, for her birthday, Gina has gone everywhere with us! And even though Pinkie Pie has had the spot light today, it was very important that Gina be perched on the edge of her bed tonight.

Whew! Crisis resolved.

Pinkie, wherever you are, we miss you!

Elie's Flare for Photagraphy!

My daughter is developing a love for taking pictures. Almost every time the camera gets pulled out she wants to take pictures too. Usually they look like a four year old took them... but I was quit impressed with these.
She actually got Jadon to smile at the camera! Way to go Elie!! Hmm, do I detect a budding photographer? :o)