TinkerBell

Schaeffer has been taken by TinkerBell. We Tivo'ed a TinkerBelle special a few weeks ago-she hasn't stopped watching it.

After watching before dinner tonight, she began repeating a phrase from the movie.

"what are these flowers called"

"forget me nots"

"oh, I keep forgetting them"

It is CRACKING all of us up. For Schaeffer, it is funny because she knows it's from TV & she's being cute. For Griff & me, it's hilarious because it is adult humor & she understands it.

What a child.

"The righteous woman (man) leads a blameless life;

blessed are the children after her (him)." Prov. 20:7

'all out of kisses'

My little lip kisser.

I'm sure every parent is over the moon for their kid. They don't notice the annoying personality traits their offspring possess (like I do when sharing common-space at a restaurant), find them to be beautiful and the best-of-the-best no matter what. It must be built in the parental DNA, I've never know a mom to not think their son or daughter was the center of the universe.

Hilariously, I swore I wouldn't become this. I scolded my own mother for teaching me that 'you can do anything if you try hard enough', saying that it gives children false hope for their futures.

But, guess what? My daughter, my sweet Schaeffer Jo, is the best. I'm unabashed in saying that she is the cutest, the smartest and the kindest child I've ever known. I'm sure you're gagging.

Tonight, at bedtime, we had our stories read, prayers said and were giving out hugs & kisses. Schaeffer, my little lip kisser, said that I could only have one kiss, because that was all she had left. She gave me my allotted kiss, Griffin his, and proclaimed to be "absolutely out of kisses, and there would be no more until tomorrow".

She kills me. I did persuade her to give me a few additional kisses-and yes, she can be anything she wants to be.

Three. Tres. Trois.

Last night Griffin and I went to a Bethany Christian open house for domestic adoption. It has been something that we've talked about on and off for a long time--even before we knew I was pregnant with Schaeffer Jo.

The meeting was very informative, with great success stories of well-placed adoptive children. Watching the other couples in the room, it was evident there was an emotional connection happening for many of them-their listening was attentive, their facial expressions telling.

It wasn't so for us. I'm not sure why--we went with an open mind & heart for what God has next for our family, and this doesn't seem to be it, at least for now.

With that said, I'm not sure what is next for the three of us. So, we're waiting. Waiting without wasting the waiting.

"Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.

Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged.

God, your God, is with you every step you take." Joshua 1:9MSG

A apple pickin' we shall go!

Schaeffer spying out the apples...

Our first apple picked

Schaeffer found one at just her height. Pulling & yanking...

She GOT it!

Schaeffer Jo & Kate with our 'bounty' of apples-a FULL 1/2 bushel

Griffin & Schaeffer Jo (making a VERY funny face)

Two worker bees carrying our HEAVY bag of apples to the car

I love fall time. It hasn't mattered where we're living, after we celebrate my mom's birthday (the official beginning to autumn), it is a proverbial fall-fest at our home. From September through Thanksgiving. You're getting the picture.

In light of this truth, today we went apple picking as a family. It was a overcast & blustery, but the apples wouldn't wait.

We had a GREAT time. I mean, memory making, great time. It was sweet for me, as mom, to watch Griffin and Schaeffer walk together, explore together, talk about God together.

Griffin, served as our official 'apple guide', knowing which types of apples to pick & what to look for ripeness. I suppose this is the perk of working many hours at an apple farm as a teen.

The best part? Now SJ and I can start baking! With every apple picked I couldn't help but think about what delicious baked good it could be transformed into: carmel apple cinnamon rolls, spice breads, crisp & cobblers, the perfect galette.

What a dreamy day. There are times when you just feel overwhelmed by God's goodness, mercy and faithfulness. Our family has been so blessed-I am so grateful.

"How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light." Ps. 36:7-9 MSG

Schaeffer Jo's Birthday Pool Party!

Schaeffer's pool-themed party cake

Birthday Girl & her bestie Ellee getting every drop out of their freezie pops

Love, Love, LOVE this picture! it shows the love between SJ & Eli.

Great Grandma Jean & Baby Jane Louise

Crafty time.

We made flip flop & fish sun catchers-- too cute!

Lookin' fab, Mrs. Pancoast!

Birthday Girl on the diving board

As I'm sure you tell see from the so-cute pictures, we had a great time at Schaeffer's pool party. We had been talking about it ALL summer, Schaeffer decided in early June that a pool party would be perfect.

We started assembling the guest list, working on the party favors & selecting food. It was so much fun to plan a party with my gal.

On the day of the pool party, God out did Himself with the weather! It was GORGEOUS. There was not a cloud to be found, the temperature was hot--but not too hot.

It was magical. The things I had dreamed about.

We ate hot dogs. Devoured cake. Gobbled up chocolate chip cookies. Freezie pops.

We've begun to talk about Schaeffer Jo's next birthday party--and I can't wait.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 3:15-17

Hip, Hip Horray for School!

Schaeffer's first preschool art project: her face & clothes. The second: the apple tree.

Happy dancey, big girl, school girl.

I can't help myself from gazing at these pictures over and over. I want to frame every art project that has been sent home in her new 'school' backpack.

I can't believe that Schaeffer Jo has already been in school 2 weeks--and has LOVED every moment of it.

I know you'll savor these glimpses into her school days, and please, don't worry, I'll continue to be 'that' mom--and take lots more pictures of my girl going off to school.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deut 6:6-9

Nobody likes me, I'll just go eat worms...

Have you ever felt this way?

On afternoons when Schaeffer is napping & I find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to have the perfect playdate. The friend 'combo' of mother & daughter--a girlie friend for SJ & a mommy friend for me.

I can imagine us going on educational field trips, having picnics in the park, having crafty tuesday, even wearing matching sweaters.

ok, maybe not the sweaters.

Many of my 'girlfriends' have these kinds of relationships--and I wonder if there was some kind of electric first meeting? Did their special relationship take extra time to foster? Was it like spending time with yourself?

I don't know what it is--but I do know that I want that type of relationship, both for me--and for my daughter.

And, I know what God says about it.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Ps 37:4

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to

bring praise to God." Romans 15:7

Glimpses of a sweet summer

My first niece, Jane Louise entered the world August 11th, 2010

She's sweet as can be--we're all in love

Happy 3rd Birthday, Schaeffer Jo!

We thank God for you each and every day

SJ & Griffin 'driving' old Bluebird @ Ford Lake

The magical wildflower field that Schaeffer & Eli ran barefoot through

during our day the the Lincoln Park Zoo

2 kids + 2 doughnuts + 2 balloons = this

Eli @ SJ on the Lincoln Park Zoo Carousel

Me & my girl

Happy days @ the Lake

Great Grandma Jean & Schaeffer Jo with her new tricycle

Summer, good to the last drop.

We've had the most fun celebrating Schaeffer's third birthday. Early on in the summer she decided (very emphatically) that she would like to celebrate her birthday with a 'friends' pool party.

So, a pool party we had. God blessed us with a gorgeous day-it was one of those totally magical blue sky with big sun perfect summer days, and everyone who came had a great time.

In keeping with tradition, we also celebrated SJ's birthday with birthday breakfast--it was a sweet time of celelbrating the gift that God has given us in Schaeffer. There was much to eat, much conversation, and much laughter.

There are so many mental images I have from this summer, but there are some that I feel as though if I don't write them down, someday far from now, they will escape my memory and be all but forgotten.

Early in the summer, we had the luxury of spending a few weeks together at the Lake with Sara and Eli. There are so many sweet memories of the two kids together, playing on the slides, eating fig newtons on the dock in the sunshine, giggling in the back bunk bed.

Later in the summer, when Sara was more pregnant, we spent a magical day in the city together. Schaeffer and I took Eli to the zoo, we had a picnic & the kids ran barefoot through the most beautiful wildflower field. Everything about it was perfect. Sara and I swore to memorize everything about it--and that's just what I've done. I can still hear them giggling as they tickled the trees with sticks & threw grass up into the wind.

There have been many days spent with G.G. this summer, days spent making pickles, perusing though the shops in ludington, riding tricycles in her front yard. We've done life together at the lake, Grandma has cried with us and laughed with us--a true member of our family.

The week we spent at 'MeMaw Laurie's fun place' we just didn't want to end! We lived by the pool--making new friends in Elise & Cooper, and laughing as Schaeffer had her first smore went on her first midnight star gazing trip, to watch the 'twinklers'.

We've played in the fountain, rode the carousel, swam in the pool, even had a few beach days. I broke my arm, had three different casts, and survived P.T.

We've squeezed every drop out of this summer, it's one for the books. We've made memories for a lifetime, and can't wait for next year.