Happy Birthday to Rick

For some reason I have a blogging phobia.  Sometime in the last year I started getting really paranoid about everything I have to say on my blog.  What if someone misunderstands me and gets angry?  What if my besetting sins are shockingly obvious to everyone but me?  What if I am a straight up dolt?  I'm not sure why this just occurred to me after several years of blogging.  I am sure my besetting sins are obvious to everyone whether I blog or not, and I am quite sure I am a dolt.  No one has to read this blog anyway, so I am just going to let it all hang out and try to do some more writing.

Today is Rick's birthday.  He wanted to go for a hike up Kamiak Butte and take a family picture.  We made it to the vista and snapped a picture.  Bronster used a small tree as a tripod and we all squished in, although the lighting wasn't at the best angle it turned out OK.  It became painfully obvious that our lack of PE in my slave driver school is causing us all to do more huffing and puffing than usual.  I need to work in more activity during our days.  We came home and has sausage tortellini soup with Oreos for dessert.

I admit that I am not a great gift giver.  Occasionally I do a really great job, but it is rare.  I'm not much of stuff person so it pains me to buy things that people may or may not love.  Rick is particularly difficult because he likes things I know absolutely nothing about like drill bits, and baseball cards.  I'm sure this means I haven't been paying attention for the last 25 years or so which makes me feel like a total jerk.  He really doesn't ask for much so I feel particularly beastly when I come up with nothing for his birthday.  I made him dinner.  Lame sauce.  I don't suppose that the thought actually does count, because really I would have bought two tickets to the Mariners spring training game in Arizona, but it was a bit out of my budget again this year.  I can always hope that I will do better next year, I left myself a lot of room for improvement.

Happy Birthday Rick!  You are an incredibly patient and selfless person.  I don't deserve you, and God will more than make up for my lack in the long run.  I do love you with or without the perfect gift to give you.

Happy Birthday Nes

Today is Nesradine's eighth birthday.  He requested lasagna, and chocolate cheesecake for his birthday dinner.  He had sent a birthday wish list to his grandparents the day after Karsten's birthday.  One of the first things he memorized after he joined our family was the order of birthdays.  This was actually rather impressive for a four year old that barely knew English, and had nine people to keep in order.  He had asked for a Wii, K'nex, Legos, Avengers, white pants, and black pants.  He got the pants, and some how talked one of the guys from camp into getting him Avengers.  He got money from the grandparents and is determined to get a Wii. While we were at the cousins he discovered Kendama's, I decided that would be a fabulous gift, so I got him one.  He loves it, but it is driving Soren crazy.  I found out later that Martha has nearly knocked out two people that have let her play with theirs.  Things I should have thought longer about.

Nesradine is still the sweetest kid on the planet.  He is very concerned about other people.  He shares his stuff, and will give you whatever you ask for before he takes his share.  He is tough.  He plays sports with the big kids and rarely ever cries.  He will take a hit, brush off and dive right back into the game.  He does have a keen sense of fairness, and if he thinks he is getting cheated he keeps at you until you make it right.  If you ask him for something he will give it, but if you take it he will hunt you down.

He has blessed me far more than I have blessed him.  He is affectionate, and patient with me.  He has had some emotional times, but they are few and far between.  I am hopeful that we will be able to return to Ethiopia and see his mom.  He is very concerned about who his dad is, and I hope that someday he will find those answers.  For now we tell him that God is his father, and Rick is too.  He has all the protection and love he needs, even though we know that he will always ache for the parents he has lost.  I have so much hope for him and all the people that he touches.

I'm thankful for...

Adoption

Birthday cakes made by big sisters

Late flights that give extra days in CA

Disney land

Gifts from guys who are really sweet and shouldn't have

Families singing Happy Birthday

Pink cheeks and big smiles

Teens and holes in the walls

My life is very, very full.  It is good, it flies by quickly.  I need to commit to writing on my blog on a regular basis.  Even if it is only posting a picture, that is semi-focused just so I don't forget all that is happening around me.

My Mom spent a month in Arizona, and arrived back in the very chilly northwest early this week.  She drove over to retrieve her car and her dog.  Note, her dog, not my dog, yay!  Karsten turned 13 on Monday.  I had the day off of work on Tuesday.  I had a haircut in the morning, and then we went out for lunch and manicure.  I have to say, that could be addictive.  The sun was even shining, which means it was pretty much the perfect day.

Mom left town, we had parish group dinner at our house, and the next day Brant and Rachel and crew rolled in.  My house is feeling the effects of lots of bodies, lots of food, lots of feet, lots of people sleeping everywhere.  I have one broken window, and one butt print in the sheet rock.  My teenage son learned that wrestling at 13 does a lot more damage than wrestling at 5.  My introvert side is screaming for a little quiet time, but I am training it to make the most of what it gets and be content with constant streams of social interaction.

In the midst of all this my oven has been dead for two weeks.  I could seriously use a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie, maybe that is God's way of giving me a Lenten fast.  I have been maximizing my 22 qt roaster that I bought as the turkey roaster for Thanksgiving.  If you have a kitchen and you think you need to get a second oven, let me tell you those roaster's are the bomb.  I think I got mine for right around $40.  It has baked cakes, cheesecakes, giant batches of sausage stew, baked potatoes, and turkey.  I am loving it!  My new oven actually made it into town on Friday, but so did Brant and Rachel so I asked them to hang onto it until things in the house settled down.  I have had more than my fair share of broken appliances, and home improvement projects during large family gatherings.  I have learned that it is worth the wait to have a little less chaos when there are extra people in the house.

My kids had a few dicey moments this week, and I have to say I am so impressed with them.  They have handled all of the chaos graciously.  They have managed their homework, jobs, social lives, family, chores and sleep well.  They have been helpful to me, and to their friends.  God is good, and I am so grateful that He has kept us in His hand.  Every time I am sure we are headed for a disaster, things shake out and all is well.  They have a much better grip on life than I ever have, glory to God!

I am thankful for...

Cousins cheering each other on

Girls dressing up and dancing together

Lots of bodies filling my house with love

Pretty fingernails

Mothers of teenagers, seeing faith working out

Martha telling me she likes me, unsolicited

Holes in the wall, signs of good times

Work and all the food it supplies

Friends taking care of my kids, just because they want to

5th Teen in the House

Karsten turned 13 today, which makes five teenagers in my home.  I can say that I would take five teens over five toddlers any day.  They are a lot of fun, even though they eat a ton of food.  I think back to the days of sitting at the table until they cleaned their plates after hours of battles and wonder why in the world I wasted all that time.  Today I would jump for joy if they would stop eating for an hour or so.  Karsten wanted Mongolian beef for his birthday dinner.  I haven't quite mastered that one yet, so we headed over to New Garden in Pullman and gave the rest of the diners a show.  I guess just having us walk in the room and sit down is pretty interesting for most folks.  We enjoyed dinner and came home to have white chocolate, raspberry cheesecake for dessert.

I didn't want to let the day get by without acknowledging Karsten's big day.  He turned thirteen.  He is an amazing young man, and I am so God has kept him around this long.  He had more than his fair share of close calls as a toddler, but I am sure God has a plan for this guy.  He is a hard worker, and continues to be diligent in everything that he is asked to do.  He cares for the people around him, especially the kids that others tend to exclude.  He has lately started to give the attitude of his mother.  He is mocking those that think they are all that, but he is still lacking in the appropriate amount of sarcasm.  People think he is cocky, but we make sure he stays  humble at home.

He has been given many gifts.  He is athletic and likes to play sports.  He has never been driven to win in sports where he is an individual.  He does well in track, but he is not out to  beat everybody.  He tends to be more competitive when he is playing team sports.  I think his drive to win increases when he has others counting on him.  He is amazingly sweet to his sisters.  And both of his brother think he is the best.  He is my go to guy.  He acts like a first born even though he is the middle child.

I know God has big plans for Karsten.  He has many friends, and he loves to be around people.  I am very blessed to have him, he gets better every year.  Happy Birthday my sweet boy.