August Highlights

Last day before school starts here...which means for me too! Reflecting on all the big changes this summer...also thinking how fast it all went...and sorry to see the relaxed pace go to the wayside. These are some tidbits of this past month... The most beautiful hike ever, on the most beautiful day! Me and Rob...a get away for a day...finished thoughts and sentences without interruption, wildflowers in full bloom, crystal clear views of snow capped mountains and not 1, but 2 volcanic peaks. Doesn't get much better than this to enjoy His creation!!! Thanks Nana and Pop for blessing us with that day...the pictures in my mind will be there for a long time:O)

Ru's first soccer tourney with her buddies. A fun group of girls for sure!!

Football season has begun...it seems like back in May...but the first game is this Friday. Last two years for this guy...I'm gonna make as many games as possible...even if it means Matt and Ess eat junk food and I wear hot cocoa stains upon me every Friday...Go Hawks!

Adoption reunion in a city two hours north of us. Got to meet another little boy adopted from New Day...formerly known as Adam...very cool!! Kids had a fun day! It was great to see our two wonder women, Lily and Rebecca, who are tops on my list for all they do on the foreign end of things to see kids transition well and complete the journey with their forever families. These ladies put in such long hours, are away from their families so much, put on smiles and calmness when I'm sure they've had it with the thousandth question...but they do it all for the love of seeing needy kiddos find loving families so they can have a better life. God bless you two!!!

Milestones

It has been a week of milestones for our two-some! Esther turned 4 this week! Matt will be soon to follow. Both Ess and Matt started their first week of preschool...which they just love! That is them posing in front of their cubbies. Matt got his glasses. Doesn't he just look intellectual and adorable? By the end of the first week, he actually started looking for them because I think it is such a stark difference in his world...especially when we are reading. He is even able to find the hidden objects now in one of our books. And the final shot of Matt at the "tooth doctor" as we called it. He doesn't look too happy there holding Lao Hu does he? But I tell you once he got a taste of the bubble gum fluoride...his body relaxed and mouth opened wide:O) The kid loves to eat! Tomorrow is the consult for his deep cavities...hopefully, he will keep his like of the "tooth doctor".

Nana and Pop

Nana and Pop are here to visit us this week. What a blessings to have Grandparents in town!! Thus the new family photo for the blog...thanks Pop! Their timing is the best as we juggle our back to school schedules and fit in fun family time as well. They are camping in our yard with their camper which Matt thinks is just the best:O) Matt and Ess start their new preschool next week and I am so thankful we are through this summer sickness that took us out of the social life for about 2 weeks. Matt has his new sweet lookin' glasses now too...so I will have to post a picture of that soon.

The long and winding road...

These are some of my favorite pictures taken of Matt while we were at the playground the other day. What a handsome guy!! If you could see the amazing progress he has made on so many things...from language to coordination, strength, routines...and his interaction with each of the kids...so fun to watch all the positive growth.

This has been our two weeks of doc appt. and I am so glad the Lord has created this little boy with such a take charge spirit as he has a bit of a journey ahead of him. He will be getting glasses any day, as he is very, very far sighted. Doc was thankful to see him at age 3 as his eyes were starting to cross trying to compensate. He has fluid on his ears that if it doesn't clear in the next month...he will see an ENT to see if tubes will help or ear canals are not properly formed. He was very brave at the dentist and loved the bubble gum flavored flouride. He will be referred to a pediatric specialist for several deep cavities that may require baby root canals. Finally, speech and cleft team visits are just beginning...these will be on going.

What plans does the Lord have for Matthias Aaron Binghe? We will follow this winding road with Matt where ever it may lead and trust in the Father who created his inner most being and be proud parents of this 5th little blessing the Lord has brought into our lives:O)

Life at New Normal...

I read a blog the other day that talked about the clash of one's own vision versus the reality of God's vision post adoption as families adjust to their new normal. It made me chuckle as I think on these past 6 weeks and reflect on a potential title of a new t.v. reality series, like "Where Old Normal and New Normal Meet...the Crossroads", or something like that anyway!

If I could tell you all the goofy things I've done because my brain has been on tilt trying to force my controls where God wants me to let go and in other areas because my body and brain are on tilt from fatigue of too many long hours, too many germs & too many loads of laundry, dishes, spills, throw-ups etc. It all adds up to one crazy new normal that has probably not really arrived yet anyway...but if you could see it all in a flashback on film it really would make you laugh!!

Here are some pics that represent some photogenic moments of our adjustment...when I had at least enough wits about me to grab a camera and shoot:O)
Bonding at the playground...this is the first day they played like this together! There have been lots of sweet moments like this...along with sibling adjustments moments...but thankfully I believe with all my heart that the positive moments out weigh the tough spots and this will only increase as time marches on:O)

A new form of shopping in our lives...fast, efficient, with snacks, and of course...restrained!!!

I must add this one because my poor hubby has had as much sleep deprivation, sickness, grumpiness and being maxed as the rest of us...BUT he still managed to bless my socks off on my birthday and make me a homemade jamocha almond fudge ice cream cake with almond slivers and dark chocolate shavings! And a cheesy smile on top of it all...thanks for being such a great friend and love of my life!

Nights, mornings, sleep...they have all been jumbled and crazy in the land of old normal meeting new...this is a glimpse into one such moment in time:O) One does what they can do to maintain sanity when sleep is at stake because after 40 years...at least some semblence of sleep is required!! If I told you all the crazy sleeping arrangements we've gone through these past weeks...you would just laugh!! I do need you to take note that both "Lao hu" (tiger) and "Dori" (Dora pillow) are the crucial security items that make new routines more palatable. Those two items have followed us more places than I would like to tell you...with just a few washings in between...but they are part of the adjustment craze that stays the same and thus brings security.

Now lest I paint a picture of too much craziness...let me end with this...Jer 18:6 "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand..." This was in my devotion reading this morning and brought me back to the main thing: God is in control and I can trust Him!!! No matter how our circumstances may appear of feel as we adjust...He is the Potter and has a most excellent work in store and the shaping is just part of the process to get to the finished product.

Changes...

The last 4 weeks have held so many changes for Matt. I have been looking through the many pictures that New Day blessed us with from when Matt first came to stay with them. He was only an infant when he arrived and left there a full fledged preschooler only a month ago. I put some pictures here of Matt with his new sibs, but was struck by the many photos I saw of he and Phillip, (posted below) his foster brother of over 2 years at New Day. These boys shared a special relationship as was evident in the photos I have been looking through. I am so thankful for how Matt has given his heart fully to Rob and I and his brothers and sisters. He has certainly learned how to give and receive love in his 3 years. If you could see the way he tackles and karate chops his big brothers, seeks Ruthie for reading to him and even playing with her Barbies, and how he and Esther romp and stomp in the yard...it would make you smile. We pray for his foster family often and are so thankful for the staff and families that are part of New Day...for it is clear to us that the love he received there at New Day, he has been able to share with his new family...us!

This is by far one of my favorites of he and Phillip...two sweet boys riding in their wagon together to and from preschool!

Family Fellowship

Family fellowship was started years ago by our former Pastor to promote time with family. Our weekly activity time and sharing His Word together has been sparse these past few weeks, but we gave it a try last Sunday eve. Matt and Ess love to sing and have motions. Our fun activity was having a cookie bake off where both the boys and girls team got to add one or more secret ingredient. CJ made us all laugh by calling the boys cookies carna asada (due to their dark flat nature) and our girls cookie he called guacamole (due to the creamy texture when in dough form). When the final taste test was on...CJ and I voted they both tasted pretty icky and the other voters loyally stuck to their team's cookie. You can see the final products below. Eventually, we combined both sets of cookie dough and made some beautiful cookie music. That really was the whole point anyway...that we work better and stronger together as a whole team and family where our gifts and talents can multiply. Just so you don't think we have our act together too much...our brains are still pretty mushy with all this adjustment...I missed not one, but two doc appts. yesterday and Rob put his foot through our ceiling while trying to better our internet connection while crawling in the attic! Nothin' like some humble pie!!