Christmas Adventures

It's been all things Christmas here lately. 

Addison and I have been binge watching on Holiday Netflix catching ourselves smiling back at the TV in the expected guy-gets-girl classic movie ending. We've even managed to boot the guys to the basement a few times claiming all things cheese upstairs. 

Myriam has been learning about other styles of Christmas celebrations at school making for some interesting conversations. Meanwhile, Baylee has been learning all things potty training being surprised to learn that pee is indeed yellow (we're finally making progress here!).The playroom tree has been redecorated a few times by our little's and Addison taught Myriam how to make snowflakes so for awhile there was a continual trail of white paper pieces cut up all over the floor. I'm happy to report there was no hair cutting... Knock on wood it's been two years since the last self-inflicted mane style. 

Charlie has been focused on basketball in-between learning some new Christmas songs on his guitar. The Man Cub is gaining skills and picks up sheet music very quickly! Not sure I'd let him lead worship quite yet... 

Good to have goals!

Baylee has been playing with her new Christmas Tree stuffy 'Tiny Piney.' Her curiosity around the tree is high but no ornaments have been broken or gifts unwrapped. Yes, I have presents under the tree and all the kids think they have figured out the number system on the presents. I keep telling them, "You're not even close!" That's been fun to watch as they all try to guess what the gifts are and which are their own. 

As for fun, well, we paid an obnoxious amount of money to see Enchant Christmas which was an overpriced display of lights with gigantic reindeer lost in a Christmas light maze. We planned to ice skate but it cost more money and the line was too long for the amount of patience or attention left in our group. Can't say I'd go again but the family time we had was great... And we had no meltdowns or runners. Win!

{ Safeco Field: Enchant Christmas }

Tim's work party was earlier this month making our party line up simple and small. Mom and I went to the NCCTK Christmas Concert providing cheer, songs and laughter. The gingerbread houses are decorated and already being picked at with all Christmas cards stamped, handed out or ready to be sent. Addison and Tim decorated the office tree together and later her and I played cards by tree light. The score was tied by the end of the night!

This past weekend we went to see The Grinch in theaters and after, met Baylee's newest 1/2 sister at the hospital. There was a special moment as Naomi and I entered the nursery being asked who Mom was to Baylee. She without hesitation replied, "We both are!" Tim and I are very proud of the person and mom Naomi has become. We were happy to celebrate with the family!

My kitchen counters have a delicious display of cookies quickly disappearing into the hands of hungry children and Christmas music is usually always playing somewhere in the home.

My favorite part of December this far is the quiet moments sitting in my prayer chair with just the twinkle lights from the tree and fire mantel lighting the living room. Something magical happens starring at the Christmas tree. My thoughts get lost, memories reappear and excitement of 

what's to come brings a contented smile to my face. 

 

{ Welcoming baby Noella. }

I love all things Christmas. 

Yes, there are people missing but the beauty of Christmas remains. 

The Christmas crafts will continue and advent calendar opened daily. This next week Christmas breaks begins for the kids and the wish for snow becomes real. Our Christmas Day movie line up is already decided and groceries purchased for holiday snacks and meals. 

Baby Jesus... We are ready for You!

Merry Christmas. 

Perfect Seven Celebrations

{ Sweet seven. }

This sweet thing when asked what kind of birthday party she wanted, explained without any hesitation, "I want angels. I want everyone to be all in white and have it all be about angels because I want everyone to know that God loves us so much He sent us angels to protect us and love us."

Myriam's request has not changed in two months since asking; her interest and understanding of angels has grown in that time too. With her angel feather wings and angel crown perfectly placed, we together got our best white on and celebrated all seven years of Myriam Judith's life. 

 { No stains occurred during party hours. }

Myriam was surrounded by those she loves: Kendall (the babysitter), Judy (the reading buddy), Papa & Nana, Auntie Lindsay & cousins, Grandpa Doug, Uncle Ryan, Uncle Kari, & Kendra who stopped by earlier today (another sitter). What I loved most was watching all the facial expressions from opening gifts to receiving love. Myriam has no lack of feelers and she got her tank filled full today. 

It was such an honor to celebrate her well today! Myriam has worked so hard this past year and to have a day where it was all about her was perfect. 

{ Can't believe this happened seven years ago already. }

I will never forget standing, maybe pacing, outside the delivery room and hearing the sounds of Myriam's first cries when her bio-dad bursted out the door and shared she was here. It was incredible; no words can capture what happened in that one single moment. Standing here seven years later...a joyful gift indeed. 

Thank you to those who came today and to those who have prayed for this birthday girl from paper pregnancy until present day. 

Myriam will be a world changer someday. She will make others laugh and share joy in the darkest of places. Her love of Jesus will light up rooms, change peoples lives and multiply the Kingdom. Myriam has grown up so much this past year both in heart and height. Mommy and Daddy are waiting in anticipation for how God will use this high energy, intense loving, and curiosity seeking princess in our own lives and those of others. 

Myriam Judith... You are such a gift of love and joy in our lives. 

Myriam: longed for, wished for. 

Your name can't be more true.

JUST US Save the Date

Last Spring the JUST US Team set into a motion the first annual NCCTK Couples Getaway. We had a blast. Couples found it to be a relaxed, non-threatening, no homework style "marriage retreat" that rewarded them with laughter and multiple times of connection for themselves and with others. 

We are super excited to be announcing the dates for next year's

JUST US Getaway May 3-5, 2019!!!!

For all local NCCTK couples wanting or interested in signing up for this awesome weekend, watch the highlights from last year HERE then sign up to have early access to reserve one of the sixty rooms we have set aside for you.  

Formal registration will be in January, but don't wait until then as these spots will fill up fast!

Our Forever Family

{ Papa & his Little Lady }

A year ago today Baylee officially joined our family as she legally gained our last name as her own. 

A day that will forever be etched in our minds and eventually she'll understand the importance 

of that day as well. 

Not much changed that day or since then aside from attitudes gaining strength and the bond between Papa and Baylee intensifying. These two are inseparable and I don't see that changing anytime soon. The most beautiful thing about adoption is how instantly our girls became family. From the first time our family met Myriam in the hospital to the first time Baylee met family - no last 

name needed to be changed to see hearts claiming these girls as our own. 

This month we acknowledge and celebrate the blessing of adoption. Our family has grown through adoption and, even though it can be really hard, we'd never change it if we could. God knew in advance our little girls would be ours forever long before we knew of their existence. That brings us such comfort knowing God has this all planned out according to His plan, His will and His timing. So, we celebrate the gift of a forever family and cherish every Bee Squeeze we can get. 

Happy Adoption Day sweet baby girl!

Fall Mash Up

I love fall. 

I love the scent of crisp, autumn leaves crunching under my feet and the 

warmth of a caramel apple cider between my fingers. 

I have no complaints about being stuck inside under a blanket, nose deep in a book. 

There is a sense of pressure to get all the outside activities completed before the months long of rain settles. The kids have had their first teacher conferences and I'm happy to report all grades and assignments are right up in the A's. Charlie is starting his AA basketball and continues to take guitar lessons. Addison enlightens us daily with her artistic abilities as she always has a sketch in process. Myriam gains more awards weekly with the most recent of being "the quietest kid" at The Good News Club. As far as Baylee goes, well, she's counting up to 60, telling me her phonic sounds to letters and still refuses to be potty trained. We recently sold The Mill Inn to YWAM North Cascades which is a huge win for both parties. We are thrilled to see the local base expand and grow as God cultivates a generation of Jesus followers providing more space to house 

missionaries coming to town. 

Here's a little more insight into what's been happening in our home:

Addison had a class hike up at Chain Lakes which turned out to be a little wet and quite a bit chilly. I'm not sure I've gained a trail buddy but Addi did great as she was groups ahead with her friends leaving Mom to chat with others in the back. You really can't fail on any hike up at Mt. Baker!

{ Lynden Dutch Treat: Myriam Princess Belle & Charlie a runner }

 I hate Halloween. I grew up not being involved in anything outside of handing out candy to the older kids coming to the door with pillow cases full of cavities. Once in a while our parents would lend their firefighter, nurse or sports player outfits to knock on a few doors up and down our street. I think out of punishment for not getting along or attempts to save money, my parents bought my sister and I one clown outfit as Traci was in one leg and myself in the other. We didn't get very far but certainly lends to a good laugh now! 

While Addison was hanging out with her friends this year, Charlie and Myriam took to the downtown shops for a little harvest fun. 

{ Sweetest m & m ever. }

 

It pays for Daddy to have good relationships with all his sub contractors and customers in places where they do Chicago deep dish style pizza the right way. What a treat to receive two frozen Giordano's pizzas from Doug! One piece alone and you think you were about to burst from the intake of cheesy deliciousness. Needless to say, the kids have been having leftover pizza for lunch all week. 

More Prayer; Less Judging

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is 

the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Let me first start off by saying, adoption is hard. I'm not pointing fingers at any given individual, but rather speaking in defense to the silent eyes, body language and labeling that happens when 
trauma speaks louder than words. 
This comes from a place of brokenness, and hearts that seek healing after being beat up and, at times, feeling like a prisoner to the trauma.

Adoption is a beautiful display of scripture in action. 
Tim and I knew God called us into adoption but we didn't have the scope of what that would take from us until years later. In all the training we have had from both our home study and obtaining our foster license, none of that prepared us for the ugly that trauma causes. The courses don't train you on how to respond to complete strangers gawking at your tantrumming child that appears to be undisciplined or having to execute a safety plan due to trauma becoming violent. There's no heart training when things said pierce a mother's heart, completely shattering her belief as a person and able parent. 

This past summer we have witnessed some of the hardest behaviors yet through words and actions and it nearly broke me. My ability to parent and love well was almost shredded. It has been painful to watch knowing so much of what is happening is spiritual and tied to generational sin. And worst yet is the secondary trauma that takes place in our other kids. I can tell you story after story of things that have happened all due to secondary trauma. Things like our Man Cub trying to protect his Mom when Myriam is hitting me, kicking me or saying things out of rage that she doesn't truly believe to be true. Confusion and bondage have her spewing hatred that has left stains on this Mama's heart. Bruises from the punches when anger needs to release itself. 
That is secondary trauma. 

I don't share that to scare you or to set off alarms. I'm simply stating reality in many adoptive homes. 

Trauma is unpredictable; it's real. Trauma is terrifying but can be comforted. Trauma can be the very thing that makes you want to give up and not continue to pray making you think it will never get any better. 

Things in Myriam's pregnancy were completely out of her control. Patterns of living were done so out of habit and generations of doing things a certain way. When we brought her home we immediately attached and grew as a family of five. Tim and I educated ourselves in adoption circles finding support through our church and other families who had adopted as well. 

Myriam has always been a busy little body walking by nine months and never not having a curiosity about everything. We love that about her, but it's also the thing that has gotten her into trouble. 

Last year at school was a challenge even before the first day of school. The transition into first grade was far from smooth and felt safety wasn't established until months into the school year. Our friend Micah has been a huge blessing meeting us weekly for "play time" or better known as occupational therapy. She was a wealth of knowledge and saw some of my most unpleasant moments. Those mornings she would greet me with chocolate treats and supportive hugs, never judging me for not having my crap together was the encouragement I needed to keep going.

Desert Adventures Part Three

Grand Canyon (9th state)
Horseshoe Bend
3:08 time
230 of 791 total runners

32 of 106 in my age division (30-39)

111 of 516 all female

14 miles total

1650 ft. in elevation

Waking up this morning meant packing up the tent and loading the car completely. Addi and I had already packed the suitcases the night before so it was a matter of rolling up bags by lanterns light.  The challenge is getting out of your sleeping bag into the low forty temperatures to dress and get going. I was so proud of Addison for rocking the runners tent life.

Once again, we were met with sludge for coffee and I'm thankful I packed a few Starbuck Via's to make my few sips go down a little easier. There was an overall sigh being this was the last day of the race, but also community tenderness in everyone's steps. I love the enthusiasm that greeted runners and overall spirit of community in base camp. Even though there are hundreds of people you start to recognize faces after a few days. I was entertained hearing where everyone was from and finding out their own running journey. Many of the participants had never ran on trail, elevation over five hundred feet or miles past double digits. I can't imagine how sore every joint and muscle would be without the training I committed to do. 

We again had to drive a distance to the shuttle parking lot near the start line. Addison really wanted to watch me start a race so she snuck in the shuttle rather than waiting this time for the spectator shuttle. With everyday, the start line opened up at seven thirty and then became a rolling start as the runners made their way to the line. This benefited the race congestion especially since many trails were single track. 

{ Waiting for the shuttle bus and blessed with this incredible sunrise. #nofilter }

{ State #9 done. }

{ Day three begins... }

Today's race made for my ninth state as I ran in Arizona near Horseshoe Bend. Originally, the course had all runners going ten miles. With the threat of rain later in the morning and the past few days rain, the Waterslot Canyons proved too dangerous to have all of us crazies trampling up and down a ladder into the skinny canyons. The pictures looked amazing so I was a little disappointed, but grateful I didn't have to swim my way out if a flash flood arrived. That said, the new course added an additional two miles to the final day race. In reality, it turned out to be fourteen miles on the most 

technical surface I've ran on ever. 

Think of fragile crepes, layered fifty thick and not being sure if they are secure enough to put your weight on... this is just a little of what I ran on. Layers of thin sand harden making the surface never flat or level and then add in seven miles of soft beach canyon sand. Parts of the out and back course (there was zero trails just markers to keep you from getting lost) forced you into skinny rock formations that had you scaling down and back up on the way back. Only one person at a time could pass. Absolutely crazy. 

The Grand Canyon by far gave me the most challenge physically and emotionally. The view did not in fact disappoint which kept me running and also knowing the finish line was miles away pushed me to keep running. 

{ A success just to keep the pink ribbon in view while navigating the terrain. }

{ What went down, must climb back up. }