Saying Goodbye

So I really truly have the most amazing first grade class EVER.  I have had the amazing blessing to loop from Kindergarten to First Grade with them.  BUT as they say - all good things must come to an end.  We are rounding the corner to my last week with these sweet kids.  These faces have been the faces that have carried me through.  We have gotten to learn, grow, and love together.  I look forward to seeing their sweet faces everyday! I miss them when I am not with them.  Their parents are amazing.  They have allowed me to love their kiddos.  And I do.  I love them.  These sweet grins, silly laughs, tender hearts have gotten me through these last two years.  When I was missing my sweet Etta and Kab, they filled my day with sweet happy memories and helped me forget for a little while.  So I will probably shed a tear or two in the coming days.  I have been given the gift of two beautiful years with my 22 kiddos.  I can't wait to see what amazing things they do with their lives.  I am so proud of their accomplishments.  I will miss them every day.  

Mother's Day

Last week, I looked upon my sweet sweet first grade friends' faces as they created their Mother's Day gifts.  Their eyes were filled with excitement and innocence.  They could NOT WAIT to sneak into their Mother's room early on Sunday morning (and by sneak - I mean wake their moms up with giggles and stomping) and have them open their gift.  Their sweet view of Mother's Day is one that many adults still have:  Innocence, gifts, celebrations, extra love and hugs, mothers and their children.  Yet as I have grown, I have been introduced to a new perspective on Mother's Day.  Now I see that sweetness - but I also see grief, hurt, loneliness, sadness, tears, heartache, anger - from some of the most amazing women I know.  Women who can no longer hide behind that innocent childhood view of Mother's Day - Women who have been devastated by their loss - angered by what has yet or never may be - and women who spend many days missing their best friend who has been taken from them to soon.  So I will spend this week thinking of these women - praying for them - and knowing that with these lessons - comes a choice.  I love this quote I read this week....

"You can't change what happens to you in life, but you can certainly change who you become after you go through it."




I choose to attempt to become better.  To love with more passion.  To truly try not to sweat the small details.  To trust God in the midst of whatever and wherever life may take me.  I choose to remember those sweet fingers and toes that I never got to touch.  To believe that she is in such a perfect place with so many other sweet friends who joined her before we were ready.  I choose to be grateful EVERY DAY for the mother who loved Odette and Kab - who carried them and took care of them in ways that I NEVER could. I will forever try to love them to the heights and depths of love with which she loved them.  


What do you choose today?


Blessings,
Kristle 

Blessings

Today has been a terrible horrible no good very bad day.  So in the midst of dealing with an icky stomach virus that I contracted through my very sweet kiddos - I decided to air my grievances with life today. We found out last week that there were errors in some of our paperwork, so we are in the waiting process of getting those errors corrected.  What that means is that it is taking a little longer to get through this process.  The bottom line for us - the hardest part for us - is that it pretty much guarantees that  we will miss our kids birthdays.  We will miss celebrating Etta's three sweet years of life, and we will in fact miss Kab's first birthday.   Although there was no guarantee before, it is offical now.  That is pretty stinky.  There aren't really words that can tell you how very bummed we are.  I mean - I am in a funk. I know.  I thought about going on and on about what stinks in our life right now But. Here is the thing.  As I was writing, I felt a conviction so strong. I stopped writing for a few minutes and began to read about the lives of many in Africa - about their suffering - their lack of medical services, food, clean water, etc.

My life - as icky as it seems today- is so full of blessings.  So instead of a list of frustrations, I decided to create my list of blessings.

 Here are just a few...

1.  I serve a God who cares for me more than I can ever imagine.  

2.  I have the most incredible husband - who just happened to graduate college this weekend.  That's right people - he worked full time, completed all adoption paperwork, AND finished a degree.
3. In addition to my husband, I am so blessed with family members who have been and continue to be supportive.  They listened to every ache and groan in the darkest infertility years - they hugged us and helped us through every hard decision that had to be made - they rejoiced with us and celebrated the new calling on our lives.  They have supported this adoption process in every way possible.
4. We have an ENORMOUS support system.  Seriously.  YOU.HAVE.NO.IDEA.  I can easily count on my hands and feet (PLUS SOME) the number of people who are truly emotionally invested in this journey with us.  Our friends have become our family.  They will be Kab and Etta's family.
5.  There is food - an abundance of food.  We never have to worry about what we will eat.
6.  I have my doctor, dentist, chiropractor,etc... on speed dial.  I can get in touch with any of them with a single call.  That is just incredible.
7.  We are healthy.
8.  We have puppies that we can cover in love and hugs and kisses at any time.
9.  We do not have to worry about our roof caving in at any moment.  It is strong and steady and was built on a strong foundation.
10.  Two Jobs.  That is more than many even here in America have.  I need to remember that more often.

So.  That is just the beginning.  My blessings are overflowing. So I just need to read this list over and over and over and over.  When you see us - help us remember our incredible blessings.  But please don't dismiss the frustration that can be a part of this process.  We are just trying to make it one day at a time.  One more second, minute, hour - means one closer to giving our sweet kiddos a life in which they are able to count their blessings in abundance.

Blessings,
Kristle

One day

Today only - our very sweet friend Brenda is donating all proceeds from her Mary Kay sales to our adoption. So visit this site and stock up on your favorite products.... http://www.marykay.com/brendalandin/whatsnew/default.aspx

Thanks guys!!!