Where HAVE I been?

Busy.

I should be wrapping presents right now but really wanted to update the blog.

The weather is AWFUL here; lots of ice.  Dave is out trying to bring the girls home from the gym and first encountered a bad accident and stalled traffic so he went another way and is now crawling up and around the hilly road.  It's been almost an hour on a ride that should have taken 20 minutes.

So....in hopes of not having school tomorrow I'll be brief now and then tomorrow I'll do a post with photos.

Sarah was not chosen for the musical. She was heartbroken but handled it so well!!!  She may apply to do some of the technical things so she can be part of the cast that way.

Grace attended the National Training Camp (Karolyi's Ranch).  She had a blast!

We went to Michigan for Thanksgiving and had a great time.  It was so nice seeing family.

I'm moving to another school--yes, in the middle of the year.  That's a story for another time!

I got my new camera and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Dave just made it home with the girls!  Thank God they are safe!

Hoping school is out tomorrow and I find out BEFORE the alarm goes off!!!

Comfort zone and disappointment

Sarah auditioned for the school musical, High School Musical Jr. this week.  She is an AWESOME dancer and a good singer.  Unfortunately, she was not chosen to be a part of the cast.

When Sarah found out that she had to sing as part of her audition she cried that she just wouldn't do it!  I so understood how she felt.  I would NEVER sing in front of anyone.  However, as a Mom I knew that I had to push her to move out of her comfort zone.

Sarah is not a bad singer.  She  can carry a tune and it doesn't hurt to listen to her (like me).  So, we had lots of discussions about not letting allowing our fears dictate what we would do.

We went shopping for an outfit to wear at the audition, downloaded a song that was PERFECT for her range and Sarah took the plunge!  For the dance audition she received a call-back.  Not so surprising as she is an AWESOME dancer.

For the vocal audition Sarah said she was so nervous that she shook, from her toes to the top of her head.  Originally we were told that it would be a private audition in front of the judges only.  But, because of the number of kids trying out, they put the kids in groups of ten.

Sarah not only got up in front of the judges to sing but in front of her peers!  How's that for stepping out of your comfort zone???

Unfortunately Sarah was not chosen to be a cast member.  She was so disappointed.  I was so sad for her.  I did my best to comfort her.  I hugged her, I said all the right things (I hope) and I told her how proud I was of her that she conquered her fear!

I cannot tell you how hard it was to watch my sweet daughter go through this disappointment.  However, I hope that the comfort I gave her, as well as our discussions, have helped build a foundation for her to draw from.    Life is full of disappointments and I want to give Sarah the necessary skills to deal with whatever comes her way.

The best part?  Sarah is being honest with her friends in her disappointment and is anxious to apply for a tech position so she can still be a part of the musical.

God may have waited to answer my prayers for a child but when he did he sent me the best!  I love you Sarah and I am so proud to be your Mom!

Happy Gotcha Day Analiese

First layer that Analiese was wearing

Second layer she was wearing

Analiese's choice:  Japanese steak house

Five years ago we were handed one of the most wonderful blessings in the world; our third daughter.  Our meeting did not happen as planned and looking back it was just a tiny hint of how unique our daughter would be and how she would do things her way!

Min Qiu Xia shyly came to us, called us Momma and Baba and fell immediately in love with her Daddy!  That has not changed, she is a Daddy's girl through and through!

Qiu Xia was dressed in two layers and she WOULD not allow us to take anything off of her.  We would eventually have to force her to remove the top layer because the fever she had sky-rocketed and we desperately tried everything to bring it down.

Our sweet girl had an awful ear infection when she came to us and the worst teeth I've ever seen in a small child!  But, in spite of her medical conditions, she was happy and content.

Now, five years later, we know that Min Qiu Xia, Analiese, was really only two years old when she came to us, not the three years the Chinese told us she was.  She also is not the quiet child they described, but the most gregarious child around!

Analiese brings sunshine to everyone and melts the hardest of hearts!  Everyone knows and loves her!  She "works" at the gym concession stand and gets paid with food.  She charmed the young boy who runs the stand and he looks forward to the days she is there with him!

There are days where we are just exhausted parenting this child; she walks to a different drummer than the rest of us. Even though she loves to please us, she doesn't hesitate to do things her way, even if it will get her into trouble!

The past years have been a journey.  Whereas another child's spirit may have been broken with the challenges Analiese has faced, Analiese seems to thrive and grow stronger.  Her medical procedures continue and she still faces years of speech therapy.   But, Analiese handles it all so well.  When we go to Scottish Rite to see the speech therapist and the orthodontist, it is like a visit with friends!

I am always told what an awesome job we have done as parents to Analiese.  We certainly can not take credit for the sunshine she spreads.  We can only thank God that we have her in our lives and pray for wisdom in helping her channel her enthusiasm for life!

We love you Analiese!

Happy Halloween!

Visit to the corn maze

We had a great weekend last week.  We had NOTHING on the calendar.  So on Sunday we took a two-hour drive into the mountains and visited a wonderful corn maze.  We had a great time finding each pit-stop and checking off on our cards.  It was very interesting to see the girls sense of direction--or lack of.

After we found our way through the maze the girls jump and played on the hay bales.  We were a little concerned for both Grace and Sarah because of  their allergies, but all for nothing as they weren't bothered at all!

After the maze we stopped at road side store and bought some wonderful home-grown apples--Arkansas black--that were just delicious!  They were so much better than anything we could ever purchase at the grocery store.  We also bought a great pumpkin for a steal of a price!

We don't get many weekends that we have the luxury of taking a long drive (that doesn't involve getting to a meet or dance performance) and just enjoying our family.  I guess that what's makes the adventure even more enjoyable!