oh... really.

Clover: mommy... (something incomprehensible)

Me: Clover, what did you say?!

Clover: Mommy, I said that I cant lick my belly!

oh... i see.

Ball

This February I will be attending my very first Mess Dinner. Thomas will be wearing this:


(note: Thomas looks much more handsome)

I must wear "appropriate attire". But what does that mean?

I have decided that i would like to rewear something, or buy something used. If anyone has something they dont mind me trying to wear, i am open to suggestions.

I feel a drive to Kitchener and Value Village coming soon.

back to the grindstone

St. Francis de Sales:

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself; I mean,
don't
be disturbed about your imperfections, and always have the courage to pick
yourself up after a fall. I'm very glad to hear that you make a fresh start
each
day. There is no better way of growing toward perfection in the
spiritual
life than to always be starting over again and never thinking that
we have done
enough.
But most important, don't lose heart, be patient,
wait, do all you
can to develop a spirit of compassion. I have no
doubt that God is holding
you by the hand; if he allows you to stumble, it
is only to let you know that if
he were not holding your hand, you would
fall. This is how he gets you to
take tighter hold of His
hand.

Thank you Lord, for the time You gave us over Christmas. Help me not to squander even one second on emotions that arent becoming of you. And for me not to linger on regret when i am less than loving. Bring me closer to You and being like You this year.

32

Dear Rachel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! May today , and this year be the best yet!

Thank you for your friendship and your kindness. Thank you for challenging me gently and

helping me see what is truly important.

I only wish my words wouldnt fail me every time i try to express how wonderful you are and how valuable your friendship is to me.

its so hard to be 3

I sat, numb-bummed, for about 2 hours whilst Oakley slept on the couch. When he woke, i asked him how he was doing. "Not good," he says.

Not good?! how can he not be good he just slept for 2 hours. "Not good?" says I.

Oakley; "It was a hard day."

Final injury for 2009

...and it was me.

So, if you all remember, the first injury was Oakley. He fell and needed stitches (in the form of strips) on his eyelid. Then Thomas broke his toe. Then Clover broke her wrist. Thomas broke his other foot. The the catastrophic break of Jul's arm.

We had a good six months of no injuries, or ER visits. It was so nice. Then while in Kingston, Thomas took the kids skating on a lake. My mom and i joined them after they had started. I dont really remember going skating, or taking my skates off.... or going back to my moms house. But i do remember waking up on the ice (kinda) and i remember throwing up.

I was standing on the ice, doing.. i dont know what. Then i felt like my head had been split open by an ax. I fell while standing. Thomas took me to the Napanee Hospital. I got to have xrays. And then i got to be the butt of many jokes. My skull wasnt cracked, thankfully, but the Dr 'saw nothing'. Get it? Yeah.... it was cute the first few times.

So, i had a 'boxers concussion'. That means i bruised both the front and back of my brain. Not fun. But i survived.

While hooked up to the moniters, my heart rate jumped when Thomas touched me. It was really cool. So i told him to tell me something to see if it would race again. He said "I am ready to adopt again". My heart did nothing. I told him it was because i didnt believe him. But it is true. For those of you who are privy to all the details with our previous experience, we have called the CAS and are starting.

Happy New Year to you all! And please pray for our family as we try to grow.