Doug's Famous!

Ok - maybe not really, really famous, but he is guest posting today an an dad's perspective on adoption at Death By Great Wall. Check it out - it's really, really good (and I'm not just saying that because he's my husband!) 

Sunday Reflections

I watched a friend recently go through an adoption disruption. It was hard and painful. The child left their home last week. This was her Facebook post yesterday:

Just went to church for the first time in like over a year. I went all alone which was perfect for me. 

I felt like I needed to go. 

This broke my heart. My friend went throughthe most difficult season of her life - without the body of Christ to love her through it. What is going wrong? 

Today, I am guest blogging at Death by Great Wall on the very topic of how churches can help adoptive families. Seems timely. 

Wordless Wednesday-Family

A room with a view

When we left off, the mood in the car had taken a decided turn for the worse. Everyone was tired of being in the car. Fortunately, we had finally arrived at our destination. While the youngest and most vocal child was not soothed by the surroundings, her parents were - and that significantly improved the tone for all! 

This is the view from our living room and master bedroom...ahhhhhh...

Katie settled right in - the girl knows how to appreciate nature! 

However, the real mood changers arrived shortly! 

The house we have rented sits on 4 acres at the end of an inlet off of Puget Sound. The tide differential is over 10 feet - but the bottom is mud, so it's not great for swimming or beach combing - but the view is pretty awesome! 

The house comes complete with it's own rowboat - which the girls are making sure to take full advantage of! Fortunately, my husband once earned an eagle scout badge in rowing...or so he says! 

There's also a lovely sunroom off the master suite...Becky and Cami have settled right into the whole "kicking back at the summer house" program! 

We are extremely blessed by this man - he is an excellent husband to Ashlee, and an even better father to our grand baby. It has been especially nice to get to spend some time with him this week without all the distractions of being in southern California and the competing priorities there. 

Over the weekend, we went to the Olympia Farmer's Market - it was pretty awesome, and the girls got their first shaved ice. (yeah - I know - I am a lame mom that this was their first shaved ice.....) 

As awesome as the house is and the scenery and the fun stuff - the real reason for the vacation is the best reason...just being together as a family and enjoying our time. 

There is something special about being away form the normal "stuff" at home that allows me to really let go and enjoy the small moments. I get reminded of the blessings of being a wife and mother - the joy that resides in the giggles and the smiles. 

Being able to stop and see the beauty that is God's creation settles my soul. To look out the window and see the splendor that He created - and to watch His children enjoy it and grow it refreshes my heart and rejuvenates my spirit. 

I still am doing the same amount of cooking and cleaning and laundry every day (actually more for we are a family of 8 this week and not 5!) but having the view changes shifts my perspective too and I am able to see the beauty in the work while seeing the handiwork of God. 

The Adventure

If the previous trip was an odyssey, we are now off onto an adventure! We decided several months ago that Doug would - for the first time ever - take two weeks vacation this summer. Being that I was in desperate need of a "cutest baby in the entire world" fix - it's off the the Pacific Northwest! 

Don't you love the first five minute in the car (of a 1200 mile trip)? The car is clean, the kids are happy, the anticipation is high and the mood is GOOD! 

 1200 miles =3 days of driving for us (we could do it in two long days - but why torture everyone??). Our first stop was at Pop-pop's house for a couple of days - and the required visit to the local zoo. The past two years they have had an exhibit of Lorikeets this time of year - and I checked the website and they were going to be there...but the website hadn't been update in over a year...and they weren't there. Major disappointment on the part of a certain 6 year old - identifiable here by the look on her face! 

 Mood slowly improving.....

 and back to the regularly scheduled cuteness! 

 We take a family photo here every year- this is most probably the worst one ever and poor Cami is smushed - but here it is anyway! 

 As a consolation prize for the major mommy fail/rookie mistake* at the zoo, the park has a small amusement park - and this was Doug and dad's favorite ride - a bench in the shade! 

 Cami LOVES rides. Becky takes them very seriously and is very cautious. No where are the differences in their personalities more evident than at an amusement park - 

 Fortunately for Cami, Katie is an easy sell for all the rides - so she had a buddy for the roller coaster (it was a super  small and somewhat suspicious roller coaster, but I figured it was never too far up so even if it failed, they would be safe!) 

 ALthough it appeared that Katie wasn't enjoying herself on the roller coater, she must have still trusted Cami's judgement because a few minutes later - they were on the tilt a whirl. My little thrill seekers.....

 Meanwhile, my cautious child....this was her favorite ride - 

 It just scares me to think of these two together someday in a real car. I wonder how long I can keep up the story that you can't get your driver's license in California until you are in college???? 

 One of the fun things about visiting Pop-pop is the pool at the hotel. It's just the right size, never crowded..and even Pop-pop joins in on the fun! The girls loved having him in the pool with them...

....but I think they tuckered him right out! 

After two days there, it was time to head north. Funny how the second day on the road, the mood is not quite as cheery starting out! We drove and made a quick overnight stop 1/2 way between my dad's and Ashlee's. 

The mood at the end of the third day in the car! A noticeable difference from the beginning of the trip - but soon to improve! 

Tomorrow....it gets much better! 

** rookie mistake.....mom's of trauma kids everywhere will tell you that changes in plans, especially when they involve something not happening that was expected, can be a major trigger for kids from hard places. It is a broken promise in their mind, and for a kid who has had many broken promises and loss, their loss and lack of trust feelings are easily triggered by broken promises. I know this. I know how much the girls love the Lorikeets. I should have called and checked before telling them they were there.