Friends and love blooming

I had been asked to work today to cover for a meeting another Pharmacist had to attend. I lined up a very good friend of mine to come keep Elisha for the few hours I'd be gone since everyone was out of town on the hill (all Tim's family) Well, the meeting ended up being changed, so I didn't go to work, but my friend, Patty, still came over. She had been looking forward to seeing Eli and me.

It was so wonderful! She had the uncanny ability to include both of us in her conversations, so I didn't feel like she just came to see Eli, and he didn't feel neglected either. After a sad visit with the Doctor yesterday- yes, most likely strep for me AGAIN!! it was nice to have some cheering up!!

Our plan worked wonderfully- Eli didn't want to nap- I had to lay down- so Patty played with him while I rested a little while, and then he went to bed early for me tonight so we can both sleep. What a great plan- and so far, it's working!!

Thank you, Patty, for making us both feel loved so much!! I actually felt like I was at home in PA, and my loving mom was relieving me of responsibilities so I could rest for a little while and get that spring back in my step.

After Patty left, Eli forlornly looked out the window asking when Ms Patty was coming back- and when he could go play at Ms Patty's house.

About a month ago, Tim lovingly jumped in and helped me plant a couple hundred bulbs I had purchased the year before for a bed that we were never able to finish. I didn't think any of them would bloom-but I knew they had little to no chance if I left them in the bag until this fall. They were barely sticking their heads above ground when Tim left on Tuesday.

This is from Wed- I'll have to get another pic in the morning
to catch the vibrant velvety soft beautiful petals
on the tulips that have come up!!

Today- as I gaze in wonder over the area we worked together, I see beautiful little red tulips all over- and I feel as though each one is a hug and a kiss from my sweet love. Thank you, God for your always impeccable timing. You know just when we need those love nudges- first Patty coming over and loving on both of us, and then the flowers, showing me not only the love from Tim, but from you, in having them bloom just when I am missing Tim the most.

plethora of pics

So, here are the happenens in our family over the last week.... Kinda like the Morton Salt commercials- when it rains it pours- I've been trying to get more pics :0)

Tim arrived home late Friday night from his week long conference. Saturday morning was such a gloriously fine day, all the way around!! Papa got the lawn mower serviced and mowed the lawn- nothing quite like the finished look of a freshly mowed lawn- especially when done with such love and by such a great Papa!!!


Eli, standing on the lawn mower's sulky that Tim uses. He was making some pretty accurate noises, too:0)

You can see him making the mower noises here- along with shifting the gears. He almost has it figured out- hope he's still this interested when he gets to be a teenager..... :0)

I got my tomato plants in the mail- and we've had a week of unusually HOT weather- so it has been so hard to not go stick everything in the ground. It's supposed to get back to seasonal temps, and seems to be getting there even as we speak- so Eli helped me replant them into Styrofoam cups, and, of course, water them all down well :0) We'll have to wait just a bit longer before they find their home.

We counted, found the tallest and the shortest, watered them all and had a blast.
He enjoys being outside so much- and we are all happy to be able to spend some great time outdoors as the weather has been so nice!!

Eeehhgggg!!! Dirty gloves!!

Saturday afternoon, Papa went to church for practice for our family production the next morning at church, as well as a worship concert the youth were having as a fund raiser.

Eli and I went and worshiped with Papa as the last band played. We all had a blast!! He loved dancing and singing and having a grand old time- of course, eating pizza was a bonus, too- especially when he got to sit on Papa's lap and snatch a bite there, too!!

Sunday morning, Tim was able to get the first few hours off work for our first family production of Kidstuf on Sunday morning. It was fabulous!! Everyone did such a great job, and Eli loved every moment of it!! He was so caught up in watching Papa, that after it was over and everyone left, Eli went up on the stage and repeated everything "Gordo" did. Accurately!! he even was going to try the belly flop on the floor- like Papa did when he was trying to show he could sky dive.

The tulips are all blooming again. I actually started cutting some and bringing them in the house. I got a beautiful vase from my secret mom at MOPS and the flowers are so incredibly cheerful to look at- like bringing a bit of spring indoors!! And I realized, after a few years, just how many different varieties of daffodils I have out there. They are so beautiful!!

One of the fun things about hot days- POOL time:)

I found this great little pool at Walmart on clearance at the end of the season last year- he loves it!! He actually smiled and laughed a lot as he played in it :)

There is a little waterfall that comes down the middle- you can make out the water falling just behind his head. It is well water- from our well that is almost 300 ft deep- so you can imagine the temperature:0) This is also a great pic that shows how windy it was- like a hurricane in his little tropical jungle.

Monday night started swimming lessons again for Eli. He LOVED it!! I was concerned it would be a repeat of last time, with tears, crying, being somewhat miserable the whole time. Nothing could be farther from the truth!! He had a blast. There are 3 little boys in his class and 2 little girls. He seemed to hit it off with the other 2 little boys, and they had fun splashing and blowing bubbles while the other kids were taking turns. 1 down- seven more to go:0)

I mentioned Papaw getting the peeps in the mail the other day. We finally got over to the barn with Papa to see them. I was hoping for another picture like last year- now realizing that you can never stage photos to catch the same effect as you had previously in a candid shot- especially with a 2 year old :)


He wasn't so sure about trying to catch them this year- one of the chicks snipped at his hand when they first came, so he says he is "skerd" and doesn't want to hold them.

I love to see him and Papa together :0)

So, Papa grabbed a little peep- and Eli reached out to pet it....

Watched the other peeps going by,

Made some chicken noises and some faces...

Then started blowing kisses at the little chick- instead of petting it:0)

Blowing those lovely kisses....

Papaw brought us over a load of mulch yesterday. Today, after Tim left for another conference (This one in Georgia), Eli and I went over and borrowed Papaw's mule. I was able to get quite a bit done before it started raining hard (and my shoulders gave out....)

Here is how much I got done....

Here is how much I still have to do....Just to finish this bed. Love it when it is all finished, though!

As I was putting down the mulch, and looked at the difference it was making in how the plants looked, as well as thinking how different it will look in a few months when the weeds would have taken over had I done nothing, I was struck at how much this is like our spiritual lives. Spending time with God and in His word is like spiritual mulch, keeping the weeds that sprout up and choke us at bay.

I was also thinking about how, by spending time and covering the ground thoroughly now, I won't spend all my free time this summer pulling weeds. (I hope!!) Kinda the same spiritually, too, eh? Get that good foundation, prevent the weeds from forming and growing, and you have a lot more time to do other things...

Thank you, God, for speaking in the stillness of our lives, for carrying us through all kinds of storms and holding us close always.

Firsts

Now that Eli has been home over a year, we don't have as many firsts as we used to. Last week was the exception.

Our church had a marriage seminar, nestled in the beautiful setting of a state park, last weekend. I asked Tim a few months ago if he'd like to go... and he said he'd love to. How loved I felt- he took the day off work and reworked his schedule so we could have some time together.

My first- it was my first night away from Elisha since we brought him home from the baby home!! I was a bit nervous building up to the weekend about how I would handle this separation. Not that I don't think others can care for him- I don't want to miss anything!! Also, I have become so accustomed to being the main caregiver- sometimes it's a little hard to let go. I was a bit concerned about Eli, but he seems to be doing fine and I knew he'd be with my Mom and Dad.

The original plan was for my parents to come out here to Ohio, stay the weekend- Tim and I would be gone for the first night, and then I could have some great time with my parents for a few days. Tim was leaving for a week long conference on Sunday, so I knew it would be extra nice to have my parents with us.

My Dad had another engagement come up that they'd forgotten about, so slight change in plans, and Eli was going to PA to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. Probably easier for Eli to adjust, since it wasn't the super familiar surroundings without Mommy and Papa around. Not so easy on me. We met halfway for lunch, and then buckled Eli into Grandma and Grandpa's van. He was so excited to ride in their van, he didn't even seem to care that we weren't getting in with him. We got extra long hugs- especially Tim, since he wouldn't be seeing Papa for almost 10 days!!

God was so gracious. It was an absolutely beautiful weekend and Tim and I got some much needed time together and with our other friends from church that we just don't seem to hang out with much anymore. The weekend was a great refresher course on loving and understanding each other. And being able to hike around in God's beautiful creation on such a glorious day- not worrying about anything- what a breath of fresh air!! (Literally :0)

After church and lunch on Sunday, we parted ways and I drove to PA and Tim drove to IN. Mom told me Eli had actually paid pretty close attention to what I told him. For the last few weeks, when we talked about his going to visit Grandma and Grandpa, and what we were going to pack and how long he'd be there, several times he said, "And Mama and Papa, too?" I told him Mama would be there Sunday, after he woke up from his nap.

Mom told me several times on Friday and Sat he would tell her that Mama was going to be there after he woke up from his nap on Sunday. He had a blast!! When it was time to leave to come home on Tuesday, he said he wanted to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house. He helped Grandma make bread, and wash dishes. Mom has so much more patience than even I do.

It was wonderful to be home with them for a few days. Mom insisted that I rest up- take a nap- she even volunteered to keep the monitor for me on Monday night so I could get a really good night's sleep. How nice to feel so loved and cared for and pampered by my Mom, while she played with and got to know Eli a lot better.

I am so glad he loves my parents and remembers them so well. It is a precious gift to me. He has an amazing capacity for love at such an early age. Tim's parents and siblings all live very close, so it is unusual for more than a few days to pass without seeing them- usually only a week will go by if we are on vacation. Sometimes months will stretch by without seeing anyone from my family, yet, he really seems to get it that all these wonderful people- Tim's family and my parents- are his extended family. He talks about Mamaw and Papaw and Grandma and Grandpa all the time. I just wish we could see my siblings more often:)

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Papaw got the chicks in the mail today. I always knew they came that way, but I've never seen them delivered. I was wondering why the mailman drove up into the driveway. He stopped his truck just as Eli and I were heading into Mamaw and Aunt Paula's quilting shop. I heard a lot of cheeping coming from inside his truck. Then he started to gently lift a box that had lots of holes in it. Yes, a box full of pullets- little, tiny baby chickens. How adorable~~

I just can't believe when I think back to last year... all the differences in our lives. Here is my favorite pic from last year- when Tim and Eli were looking at the newly arrived pullets. I can't wait until Tim is home- maybe Sat morning or Monday we can get another pic with Papa and Eli and the baby chicks.

Happy firsts- and new Happy Seconds.......

More photos

This is the family after the big family brunch and naps were over and we were all hanging out. Guys on the dueling laptops, Eli getting up to speed with them.

We had some great weather a few weeks ago, and Eli and I went out to take advantage of that. I got him a great big cardboard book that folds out into a fire engine. We had a blast. Add to that the fire equipment from Aunt Paula and Uncle Scott for Christmas, and we had a fun day in the sun!!

Palm Sunday was great. Eli was having lots of fun waving his palm branches, seeming to understand what happened on some level that day. He sat and enjoyed the Easter Catata with me in church.

And here we are Easter Sunday at Tim's Mom's family's Easter gathering. I'll try to post more details later about this amazing Holy day.

Picture catch up

I am so behind in posting pics- but the good news (not really) is that we haven't taken too many lately

Here we are enjoying the day at the elementary school a few weeks ago. What a beautiful day!

Eli took a bath the the other day- a few months ago, I think- my how time flies!! and his little hands and feet were so wrinkled up, he just kept laughing. The pictures didn't really catch the full effect. It was one of those total ridge days for the fingers and toes. He was laughing so much with me about how funny his hands and feet looked!

Here are the precious feet pics:)

Here is Grampa and Eli heading toward Mommy's car on Eli's dedication day. Sometimes these behind walking photos are so sweet, aren't they?

The important things

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. I told Elisha about how Jesus walked down the road and the people were so excited and joyful to see him. He rode on a little donkey, and the road was pretty rough, so the people waved the palm branches, like we saw at Papaw's Big Sandbox (St Croix), and shouted, HOSANNA!! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!!

Well, this year, we were able to actually get whole palm branches from Guatemala, where one of our mission outreaches are. He had a blast playing Jesus, galloping slowly down the hall as I waved the branches in the air and put them down just as he would gallop past. Then it would be my turn to be Jesus, and he would yell, "Hosnanana!!! Come name of Lord!!" as he waved the branches.

Tim was singing and had a solo in the Cantata on Sunday, so Eli stayed with me. I was prepared to whisk him away when he got bored and would stop sitting still- but that never happened!! He sat cuddled deeply in my lap, enjoying the Cantata as well as the little snacks Mama brought for him.

Fast forward to Wed this week. I have early morning pharmacy meetings once a month, and usually take Eli with me, since Tim has been working most of those days. He is usually amazing, sitting pretty quietly, eating his breakfast I bring him and being so very quiet. After sitting and being so quiet for the cantata on Sunday, I thought nothing of packing him up and taking him with me, yet again. I was not thinking of how he has been quite out of sorts lately- spring fever my girlfriend called it. I will leave it at this; after getting home and wanting to bawl my eyes out because it was such a bad time- that was Elisha's last pharmacist meeting he will be taken to willingly.

So, Thursday night was incredible, as you've already read about. I was decidedly nervous about Friday night.

Last night was our Good Friday service at church. Tim was Pilate in the drama they did. Eli and I were going to go. I was not thinking about how he was on Sunday for the Cantata. I was thinking about how he was for me at my pharmacist meeting. I was not looking forward to the evening with much gusto!!!

It was sooo amazing!! Elisha didn't know the great worship songs they were singing, so after I asked him to stop singing the ABC's loudly, he began singing Jesus Loves Me while we were singing all about the Cross and what Jesus did for us. It was pretty neat. I can't wait til he knows the words to the songs we are singing. It's the first time he's really paid attention and sang. (Of course, not the right songs or music- but hey- he's still worshipping God :))

He sat, mesmerized through the entire evening. There were about 5 or 6 actors that came on, one at a time, telling about what they saw and felt that night. The only well known figure was Pilate. Each placed a lit candle on a little platform as they were speaking. The spotlight was on each figure. As the last one finished, an agonized, short of breath, gurgly and raspy voice was heard through the church. As that person portrayed Christ through voice, the spotlight narrowed down to only the candles. As Jesus talked, the candles were snuffed out one by one. As Jesus uttered his last words, and commended his spirit into God's care, the last light in the room was extinguished, thunder sounded and lightning was seen. It was very powerful.

Elisha screamed out at the last of the voice and the thunder and lightning and turned his face into my neck cuddling close. I asked if he was frightened or scared? He said yes. So we sat quietly for a little while, as everyone left in silence. And then we talked about what happened.

Everyone was so happy to see Jesus just a few days earlier. Then, suddenly, they became very angry and they killed Jesus. I told him everyone was so sad when they were talking tonight because they didn't know what we know..... I told him when we come back on Sunday- just 3 days away, we get to celebrate Jesus conquering death and coming back to life, just like we talked about several weeks ago. Jesus died and God raised him back to life so we could be adopted as God's children.

Thank you, God, for becoming so real to Eli. I pray that we as parents will continue to train him as we should. Thank you for giving us the words to say to him and to you as we continue to pray with, for and over him.

Tim came out after everyone left. Elisha went on to tell him everything he had done- what he wore ("Papa wear lred curtain on 1 shoulder, 2 shoulder.... Papa wear white curtain on body... Papa have gold here and here on shoulder") and was pointing out which candle stick Tim used. We stayed to practice for worship on Sunday, and he was quite subdued, a few times asking about Jesus.

He is so happy that Jeylus is in his heart and God is in his heart. I am too!!

Thank you for loving us as much as you do!! May we continue to learn more about you and learn to love you even more!!

Prayers of a child

I worked today- and had a blast!! Hasn't happened for a while- so I was so pleasantly surprised. The day flew by, and before I knew it, I was heading home.

We ate dinner and Tim quickly left for a meeting, Maundy Thursday events and practice for tomorrow, when he will be portraying Pilate in our Good Friday service.

After a quick bath and story, Eli and I were sitting in the rocker, relaxing and doing the night time routine. We had been reading an alphabet book he was given where the letter is underneath a picture that slides back and forth. The letter Xx has a picture of an X-ray. I showed him the bones in the picture, and explained that he could feel his bones under his skin. He was fascinated with that- and wanted me to take his skin off so he could see his bones.

So, we rock some more, sing a few songs, and then he asks about bones again. (bear with me- I know this is a little repetitive- but he IS two.... :0))

Then he looks up at me, very seriously, and says, "Jeyla in my heart?" (the S hasn't quite made it all the way out yet for Jesus) I told him Jesus would love to be in his heart, and all he has to do is ask Jesus to come in, just say Jesus, please come into my heart and help me. So he asked if Jesus would sleep in his crib, and then if He would sleep in the big bed. I told him Jesus is every where and always with us.

Then he quietly says, "Jeyla, please come into my heart." I wonder when a person is really able to understand the significance of that? I wonder how much his understanding is of what he is saying? I feel incredibly blessed to even hear this- I just keep praying that Eli develops such a close bond with his savior. With today being the day that we mark the last Supper, the handing over of Jesus to the Sanhedrin, and preparation for the reason for our Christian faith, I am blown away that he would begin to ask me these questions unprompted, and reply with such simple faith.

Lord, may we all come to you with faith as a child, knowing you dwell in our hearts, directing our paths and leading us in the direction we should go. Thank you for this amazing gift- Your son and ours, both allowing us to realize all adoption means- Eli into our family and us into your family.

Thank you for the Cross and the amazing love it represents. May we realize anew this year just what you did for us, so very long ago.

Update

We've had quite a week! Just a few highlights....

We got Elisha's Ohio birth certificate in the mail this week. It always surprises me how documents that are so precious to us, and treated by us like gold, just aren't that way to the people sending them. His birth certificate came folded into 3's, stuffed in a regular envelope with regular postage. Just like our USCIS form came.

Documents we labor over, sweat over- sending out originals in the nice little cardboard envelopes so they don't get bent. And then, the original that we treasure and guard comes with so little pomp and circumstance.

The date on his birth certificate, when it was finalized, is on our anniversary. On 2/12/00 we pledged our lives to one another and began such a beautiful journey together. On 2/12/09 our son's Ohio birth certificate was complete, almost 3 years to the day that we finished our application to adopt and almost a year to the day that we got "the call" to go back to Russia and bring our boy home.

Potty training is actually moving somewhere now. Just after my last post, he had several accidents, but we took them in stride and he's only had 1 accident this last week- and that at someone else's house. I have been so proud of him- he is really starting to get it!!

We got a playset for the back yard. I am so excited to get it all put together. Eli has seen the pictures on the directions and asked us if he can go play on that playset. I can't wait to see him in our own back yard having so much fun!!