Growing Pains

Well, Christmas is officially over in the B house. Believe it or not, we had one final pollyanna celebration with M's family on 1/6/08.The family festivities officially began back on 12/23 when we had a large pollyanna gathering with my blended family. It was the first time in 6 years that we were all together (minus 2 nieces). It was wonderful to all be in the same place at the same time...my mom even opened up a 'time capsule' we had all contributed to at the last reunion 6 years ago. It was fun to see how much the kids had grown as she called them up by name and held a string up that represented their height or waist size 6 years ago. The adults were all quite relieved we didn't have strings representing our waist sizes :)!!We are just so blessed to have a blended family that enjoys being together.
Christmas Eve we attended our church for a wonderful program delivered from the perspective of Mary and Joseph-it was written by our pastor's 17 year old son which made it even more special. The songs and dramatic readings were quite moving. After this, we spent time at our neighbor's home-always a treat to get caught up with our neighbors who we never seem to see once the days get shorter. Then we headed down the street to another friends--such fun to be together and enjoy the richness of this Christmas season. Christmas Day we stayed home and were visited by Mimi and Pop-Pop and by my Las Vegas brother and his family. We were even blessed to have a visit with the K family who joined us for dessert...
The Thursday after Christmas, the big boys went across the bridge to their cousin's house and the girls had 2 of their cousins spend the night. It was a special treat to have our one niece with us since she and her family are on a sabbatical from their mission work in the Honduras. Hopefully we'll get to spend some time with them again before they head back over the wide blue ocean.
From 12/2907 until 1/1/08 we were in Maryland visiting our dear friends the C's. Between our 2 families there are 13 children so there is no shortage of activity and fun. Their oldest son just got engaged on Christmas Eve so it was fun to see him and his bride to be planning their early spring wedding! I still can't believe I'm old enough to have friends with kiddos getting married-yikes how quickly the years have flown by!

So, I guess it should come as no surprise that after almost 3 fun packed weeks of time off from school that our transition back should be a bit rocky.We have had many 'opportunities' for growth since we started back last Wednesday. Getting back into my old routine of early wake up and exercise time has also been a major challenge. I'm feeling those growing pains again...I was reminded of this prayer I saw on my Mom's computer desk:

O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers
But give me power equal to my tasks.
For I want to be stretched by things too great for me.
I want to grow through the greatness of my tasks,
But I shall need your help for the growing.


Truly, mothering and schooling our 6 blessings continues to stretch me beyond my capabilities...this task is too great for me and I am so inadequate for the job. Yet, I take great comfort in knowing that "His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in my weakness-when I am weak, then I am strong for Christ's power rests more perfectly on me." This is a good place to be at as we begin a new year...a place of utter dependency and helplessness. Apart from Him I can do nothing but I can do everything He has called me to do because He who called me is faithful...I just need to speak these truths to myself over and over again as I am tempted to become overwhelmed and struggle with unbelief.
Thanking Him for the growing pains and His all sufficient grace,
MamaB

PS: Some household funnies:
**Before our Christmas break Mercy and L were having 'buddy time' in L's room while I attempted to do school with Odesco. I could hear a rather spirited interchange between these 2 and soon after L came stomping down the stairs begging me to make Mercy be quiet since she was 'sturbing'(disturbing) his peace as he tried to draw. I told him he needed to be long suffering to which he replied, "But Mooom, I AM suffering !!" oh, never a dull moment around here :)!!

** Odesco had his check up last week. This boy has grown! He grew 6.25 inches in height and 15 pounds in just a little over 1 year!! I told the doctor I feel like I am watching a puppy grow into his paws and he responded, "Yeah, a Saint Bernard!!" He is also on his 3rd pair of sneakers since coming home...it's amazing what balanced nutrition will do!

** The other night Mercy was making up songs...she was very excited to sing one to Daddy and I...I wish I had written the words down but it basically was about being happy where God puts you and that you need to obey God and your parents wherever He sends you.
For those of you who have followed our adventure this past year, I think you will understand why I had to wipe a tear away. Another evidence of God at work in our little girl's heart.

Our friends the McD's came over the bridge for a visit. This picture cracks me up... Mercy looks like a stylish granny, G is our pioneer girl and M is the resident flower child.

Cookie decorating with the cousins during their sleepover. L was sound asleep on the couch and missed all the festivities.

The adults- minus 3 (Jeff, Doug, and Rich where were you??)..didn't realize how hard it is to get a decent picture of everyone together...

Okay so my brother bought this shirt for himself...don't be fooled- it's just not true-is it Mom?? :) (Actually, we all took turns wearing it!!)

"The Lord has restored the years that the locust has eaten"...I so remember those lonely, quiet Christmases during my teenage years ...God has overwhelmed us with His mercy and goodness in giving us such a wonderful blended family!

The cousins- minus 2 who couldn't make it.

L was quite insistent that we make a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake this year, so we did :)

P and Las Vegas cousin, T with one of the gifts we bought for the family.It's a game called Speed Stacks. It comes with a timer and the kids competed all day...they are still playing with it. I even tried it-it's loads of fun. Believe it or not this is actually a competition sport!!

Christmas Day with Mimi - She gave them sewing baskets! Maybe they'll learn how to sew from my very accomplished seamstress mom and the girls can teach me :)

Fun in Maryland at the C's house~ Mercy and Odesco teach M the fine art of coconut bashing!

The little boys had a ball together...one big slumber party in the finished basement!

The girlies had their own corner of the basement too.

We had the privilege of babysitting a friend's little 15 month old. I have forgotten the joys/challenges of this age, the nonstop motion, and need to keep them attended to every second. It's been a while since I've had to prepare a meal with a little one on my hip :) Keeping C safe and attended to was no problem with the doting, watchful eyes of the 4 above! After C went home, 3 of the littles were begging for another baby in the house!! Mercy and G are bargaining for a Liberian baby and L said, " Mommy, I wouldn't care if you had a boy or a girl...I'd be happy with whatever God gives us!" Hated to burst their little bubbles but I did break the news that a baby is NOT in the picture...our quiver is full :) I told them that we would have to hear God speak directly before we would ever expand our family . Mercy took that as her cue and loudly prayed that God would speak to Mommy and Daddy. These kiddos are too funny!!

Daddy gave buzz cuts to the little boys while I was out running errands. Odesco is pretty handsome bald although he was having some misgivings about his bare head on Sunday morning as we prepared for church. He put on a hood and refused to take it off until he and Daddy had a long heart to heart...now he seems just fine :)

Our final Christmas Celebration... fun 'at the house with all the phones'. At least that's how I describe it to Mercy and Odesco so they know which Aunt/Uncle we are visiting! Uncle Paul collects old phones and has quite the collection-the kids have a ball playing with the real working switchboard and ringing/answering the many phones situated throughout the house---yep, even in the bathroom :)!! Above is G enjoying the coveted role as swtichboard operator.

Uncle Bill surprised all of us with these beautiful wardrobes for storing American Girl doll clothes and accessories. He made these from scratch...what a special keepsake for our little girls-he made G and Mercy their very own! Samantha and Addy don't have to share closet space :) Thanks, Uncle Bill-you made 4 little girls feel very special!!

Mercy has really been trying to figure out the B family tree... she was inquiring of one of my sister in laws who 'borned her.' Here she is asking Grandmom B whose belly she was born out of! She really has a true interest in this and has had me stumped a few times when asking details about my side of the family. She doesn't seem bothered at this time that she has a unique heritage from the rest of us. I'm only sorry I won't be able to fill in all the gaps for her regarding her own Liberian family tree. Thankfully we have a shared heritage in the Lord :)

Hope Has Come!

Dear Friends and Family,
If you have been reading our blog for any length of time, I don't need to fill you in on the latest happenings of the year...you've read it already :) The quotes below seem to state so well what I am unable to articulate in my own words.
He is our only Hope!
Hallelujah~ What a Savior!
Merry Christmas with love from all 8 of us :)

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity~ Hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory-because at the the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.( From Knowing God by J.I. Packer)

"He comes to us not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace - His peace- in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace"

Christmas is not a retreat from reality
but an advance into it alongside
the Prince of Peace
by David McCasland

That most wonderful time of the year...

We have taken this week off from school and it feels so good to get some cleaning, organizing, baking, and correspondence done. We have also had 2 gatherings with the K family and our dear 'long lost' friends from over the bridge who had not met Mercy and Odesco yet.It seems like when I am keeping the school ball up in the air, some of the other"balls" get lost in it all. It is refreshing to take this break and to give attention to those other forgotten "'balls" and to renew friendships-I am grateful to take my teacher hat off for a few weeks. (I think the kids are even more grateful than me!!) Thanks for checking in:)
Love,MamaB



Mercy loves helping in the kitchen. I admit I don't often welcome the extra set of hands when I am trying to get a meal made in a hurry but she did help make many loaves of pumpkin bread to give away at Christmas.

Odesco's turn!!

The annual decorating of the photo ornament...
Every year since Philip was a baby, we started keeping one photo ornament of each child. Now that they are old enough, the kids decorate their own inexpensive paper mache ornaments to put their picture in later. I write their exact age on the back and then we display them in a row on the tree. I love looking at how they have all changed over the years. At a glance I am reminded how fast time flies and to cherish every moment...even the challenging ones!!

The girls had a very special date with Mimi. They slept over and after church went to see the Nutcracker. Since then I have enjoyed watching these 2 act out the various scenes...I have had little mice dancing around my kitchen....and I must admit they were getting a little too into the Clara /brother scene (when he takes the Nutcracker) !

Odesco...looks good as a blond don't you think??

C helps me out occasionally with Mercy's hair to get it ready for a new 'do'...a definite labor of love!

This picture was the kiddos' idea...as you can see Miss G was not in a picture taking mood...oh well, 5 out of 6 isn't bad :)

Mr. photogenic !

No one escapes the fun of the dress up bin...not even Pop-Pop. He and Odesco had a little adventure during a recent visit.

L has been hard at work perfecting his drafting skills. He has been spending lots of time drawing lately and it has been fun to watch him work so diligently.

Here the 4 littles are waiting for Miss Brittany to join us in the lobby of a local church which does this amazing Living Nativity each Christmas season(the big boys were at a party). Before heading outside with a 'tour guide' to view the various Bible scenes , we were sent to the church sanctuary to wait for our group's turn to be called. We bumped into some old friends and were deep in conversation when I realized Odesco was not in the pew with the rest of the gang. Our friends and Miss Brittany stayed with the rest of the kids while M and I went on an Odesco hunt. We found him almost immediately in the church lobby calmly standing beside a very nice lady who informed us she was looking for a "brown family". Yep, I guess we don't look like we go together!! She wisely asked him if we were his parents and thankfully, he agreed!! We thanked her for taking good care of our little man and slinked away amazed that with 3 sets of eyes, one of our kiddos managed to wander off!!

Odesco really enjoyed viewing the various scenes of the Living Nativity on Daddy's shoulders.There's no chance of him wandering away and getting lost up here!!!

One Year Ago Today....

"You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told." Psalm 40: 5

One year ago today, the Lord changed the fabric of our family forever through the miracle of adoption. One year ago today, we met Mercy and Odesco for the very first time. I stand in awe of all the Lord has done in just one year.Truthfully, it has been a year filled with unique challenges but more significantly it has been a year marked by His abundant grace for every member of our household, for every circumstance encountered. When I think of the huge transition for Mercy and Odesco I am amazed at how far the Lord has brought them. Sometimes in the thick of the day to day 'opportunities' it is easy to lose sight of all He has indeed already accomplished in the hearts of our precious Liberians. I can't imagine life without them and I am so grateful the Lord led us down this path. I am humbled to know that He would entrust 2 more children to us...in spite of our weakness and ever present sin, He chose us to parent these two . There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord in His perfect wisdom sovereignly chose to add Mercy and Odesco to our family for His purposes.

On Saturday, to celebrate the one year anniversary of the kids' homecoming, 21 of us went to an authentic Liberian restaurant that we located with the help of the Internet. Everyone who was there at the airport to welcome home our Liberian children was able to join us for dinner. Before leaving for the celebration Mercy asked,"Will there be brown people there?" Yep...lots of brown people :)
Below is a description of our experience as written by MamaK on her blog...she captured the experience perfectly so I thought I'd share her thoughts here:
As we Squeezed into the tiny yet quaint accommodations of a Liberian restaurant, our rather large group of 21 seemed to over take the place. The small, nearly invisible staff graciously handled our intrusion with patience and wide eyes. Even the noise didn't seem to bother anyone who happened to step into the place, yet another testimony to the easy-going boisterousness of the Liberian people in general. The few patrons who were able to find their way around us were very curious about all these white folks in "their" place. Those who did inquire of our seeming displacement, quickly turned from curious to congratulatory. The adoption of four beautiful Liberian children is worthy of all the hoopla.
It was definitely a cultural experience and I'm so glad we were able to 'taste' just a little slice of Liberian life:)
Mercy told me the food did not taste the same but she really enjoyed the hot spices. She also told me that the fish she ate in Liberia still had the eyes in it and it was," YUM!!" Well, I am grateful that we did not eat fish with eyes still in it . One of the soups had many unidentifiable animal parts floating around in the palm oil broth...when packing up the leftovers, I subtly placed that dish under the other empty platters...I was not interested in bringing that home and I didn't think Mama K would want to transport it home either. Odesco was more interested in consuming the KFC we brought along for the less adventurous eaters but he enjoyed all of the rice dishes. Mercy was very impressed that L actually asked for and ate 'fu-fu'... which is made of ground up cassava roots...it is a sticky yellowish blob ~ you put it in a bowl and then pour soup on top of it. Mercy mentioned many times her excitement over Luke's consumption of one of her favorite Liberian dishes..I think their sibling bond has risen to a new level :)

How blessed we are to be walking this path alongside our dear friends, the K family. It really is amazing to consider how the Lord moved them from across the country 5 years ago, joined our hearts in friendship, and then called both of our families to Liberian adoption at the same time! Not only that but our paperwork lined up simultaneously and 3 of our kiddos were actually brought home together. He is a God of details .... nothing escapes His attention. As the verse says above, even though I desire to proclaim His wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us ,there are too many examples to tell of them all.

It is good for my heart to recount His wondrous deeds yet again!!
Thanks for sharing our joy!
Love,MamaB
Now for a walk down memory lane and a few pictures of our special celebration.

THEN: 12/02/06

Our first glimpse!!!This is my all time favorite picture.( I equate this to our delivery room pictures with our biological children!!) We are watching Mercy, Odesco and Jenkins as they approach the glass doors in the airport with Auntie Melodie. I just love everyone's expression as we see our children(siblings) for the very first time.

First Hugs!!

After our hellos above, we had the kiddos quickly pose for one final picture with Auntie Melodie before she boarded her next flight.They have changed so much in just one year....

NOW:

Odesco has grown a bit, hasn't he?? He now has a pair of capri Liberian pants!! Dont' worry, we didn't let him out of the house this way...see the picture below :)Mercy and Odesco wanted to wear their Liberian garb to the restaurant. G just tried hers on at home and decided she would rather be warm !!

Much better...Odesco loves wearing these dress shoes

Mercy fit right in... this was one of the ladies who worked at the restaurant.That's sweet Felicia with the hat on in the background.

Mama and PapaK...

Mr and Mrs. G...last year they drove all the way to the airport spending several hours in the car on their wedding anniversary with 2 little boys in tow to join in welcoming our little Liberians . They also took some great videos and pictures for the K family. Several years ago, our family had the added blessing of welcoming them at the airport twice when they arrived home from Guatemala with their sons....how blessed we are to be surrounded by so many children whom God has added to families through the miracle of adoption!

We were so glad Mimi and Pop-Pop could join in the festivities...

J and G...they did not try the Liberian food but enjoyed the KFC and cake!

Big Sis S and "Miss C"

Mr. G's eyes grew very big when he saw Mercy receive this loaded plate. He asked me if she'd be able to eat it all.and he watched in amazement as she happily enjoyed 3 plates full...typically we limit servings to 2 healthy portions but today, we let her indulge just a wee bit :) Note the palm oil smile...I often wondered when we received pictures from AOH what was all over Mercy's face...it is red palm oil which is used as a base in many Liberian dishes!

Good to the last grain of rice!! The picture on the table was a thoughtful and creative gift made by Mrs. G ...a montage of the last year of life in America!

Odesco and friend S... even Odesco is sporting a palm oil smile!!

..

The owners of this restaurant were so gracious -allowing us to bring in KFC for the non adventurous eaters and a big cake to top off the celebration-believe it or not, it was too sweet for Mercy. She prefers her meat and hot pepper over sweets any day!! Odesco though fits right in with the rest of us and loves the sweet stuff!

Celebrating God's gifts to us: Odesco, Mercy, Felicia, and Jenkins

Their Big Nite' On the Stage...

Well, once again our home school group made quite a 'family' memory as the kids performed the Kathi Hill musical, "Operation Christmas Child." Every time I watch one of these my heart is so full...we have been blessed to participate in these annual musicals since P was 4 years old (he is now 12 and was the only one from our family not in the performance this year.) What a rich, nurturing environment for our kiddos to grow up in. I am so grateful that they will have these treasured memories with their friends and siblings. When this performance was done 6 years ago, I was pushing a stroller with baby G and pregnant with L...I have vivid memories of P and C being little angels and now C is old enough to be cast for one of the 'big' parts. How did that happen?!? These years are just flying by!!!
All of the kids did so well...L especially humored us with his creative interpretation of the choreography. Those who were there know exactly what I am referring to! I laughed so hard, I cried. We were so proud of our bunch and all the other children who diligently learned their lines, the choreography, and songs. A special thanks to the 3 moms who made this happen. Thanks for making another treasured memory in the lives of our children and all those who were able to enjoy the show!!
Thanks for checking in...
Enjoy the pictures...
Love,MamaB

Jenkins and Odesco... Goofy boys in a goofy moment...

What a handsome fellow!!

~Sweet Friends in a quiet moment~

Trying to quiet down before the big show... special friend E with Mercy...

Now, the boys had a different idea about quieting down before the show...corralling this lively crew was quite a feat!

Mercy and Big Bro' C just before walking on stage. C had one of the main parts and did a great job as "Private Gomer Smyle" (a take off on Gomer Pyle)...he made us laugh with his accent and great delivery of his corny puns, "Golly" and "Shabam" lines.

Odesco, L, and Jenkins
Aren't these just the most adorable shepherds you have ever seen??
They did a very convincing job of acting afraid as they huddled together when the 'angel' appeared to them.And after some coaching, they actually learned not to carry their sheep by the ear, leg, or tail!

L as a saxophonist alongside the jammin' guitarists
during an Elvis type song~

"Gomer" in action

G as "Wanda Fulweather" doing a silly takeoff on the local forecast.

The whole cast in action.

Mercy performed with her usual enthusiasm and boundless energy. She did a great job memorizing the words to the song she is singing above and even took part in a special dance with big brother, C and 2 other friends! Amazing to think that this time last year Odesco and Mercy were just coming home and now they are such 'little belongers' participating in the home school play... this is truly a testimony to God's grace at work!!