Ok, first, let me point out that Randal also has the password to our blog, so I am not the only one who can make updates! :)
Alright, now that's off my chest...we just celebrated Easter - what a wonderful day! We went to church and then it was off to Argonia for lunch with the Stephens clan and a fun little Easter egg hunt. It was Mason's first time, and he had a lot of fun! Both the kids looked great in their new Easter duds & we had a good time with family. We went and saw Randal's parents afterwards and had a good time there, too.
Mason is growing up so fast - can't believe he's going to be 2 in a few months! He is talking up a storm and really learning a lot of new words. He just learned to say "I love you" and it's so sweet! We are working on numbers and manners for now, so hopefully those things will catch on quickly! We got the new Toy Story movies that just came out on BluRay and he loves watching Buzz :)
Madison is getting bigger every day and is staying awake most of the day now to watch what is going on around her. She loves to observe people, just like Mason did. She's sleeping through the night (something Mason didn't do until a few months from now!), so we've been able to really catch up on sleep. She had her three month pictures and they turned out great - I will post some in a little bit along with Easter pictures. Her stuffiness went away for a couple of weeks, but is back (hopefully not for long!). She is really working on her leg strength and wants to kick and stand up on your lap now. She loves to be scared and her giggle is just the sweetest thing :)
Randal and I have been busy with our usual activities. We are throwing an anniversary party for John & Denise, so that's keeping me pretty busy along with stuff for the kids and around the house! The yard is needing some work, so Randal will be busy with that soon I'm sure! I can't wait for the warm weather so that we can go for walks and play on the kids' new swingset from Grandpa Bob & Grandma Sue! Mason loves to swing, and I'm excited that we will be able to do a lot of that soon!
Now for my usual rant about what's been on my mind :) First of all, today I am thinking a lot about the two people in my life who are going through the process of adoption. This is something that has always been very close to my heart and I have always wanted to do someday. I saw a quote yesterday that I think sums up why I have always felt so led to this:
"My friends, adoption is remption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." -- Derek Loux
I thought that was such a wonderful way to word it! I have always been so thankful to be able to be called a child of God and am so in awe of the fact that He is willing to bring me into His presence and call me His own. How wonderful that we all have the opportunity to do the same thing for a child in need of someone to love them unconditionally. It is such an emotional process and takes such a commitment and a strong, patient person, but it is so worth it in the end!
The other thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is what my kids will grow up to be someday...I know it should be a fleeting thought, but I find myself daydreaming a lot about what they will become...what they will be like when they are older...who they will bring into our lives, etc. I have such big hopes and dreams for them, I can't contain them! I wonder if Mason or Madison will be a doctor, or lawyer, or missionary...or maybe a teacher, or an accountant, or an artist of some sort...Will he be a gentleman? Will she be famous? Will they live near us or move away? Will they be a traveler like Kelli or a homebody like me? Will they be musical like Randal and I or not like music at all?
Most of all...will they be happy? Will they glorify God in whatever they do? This is my prayer on a daily basis...and for now I will continue to dream :)
