Babies don't keep

The good days in my house make the bad ones seem so trivial. Today, all 5 kids are in a great mood. Lucas is being a polite, little gentleman to his sisters. The girls are using their manners, saying please and thank you. The big kids were incredibly obedient while Baby Girl received her weekly, in home physical therapy this morning. We ate at a lunch table abounding with laughter.

Elizabeth told me she likes it when I call her "My love" and then she proceeded to write the following spelling words without any help from her teacher (that would be me): top, six, red, my, and & cat.

Today, I feel like the best Mom in the world. My sink is full of dishes, my laundry room has exploded into the hallway once more and my kitchen is a wreck but my kids and I have had an awesome day. One full of smiles and laughter, giggles, hugs and kisses.

It reminds me of this poem by Ruth Hamilton:

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.


Ruth is right, babies surely don't keep. See....

And to think. This little baby wrote out six spelling words all by herself today. Crap, where did I put those kleenex?

(Just to clarify, the above photo is of Elizabeth, all of 2 days old. Babies don't keep, not one bit.)

Extreme Family Makeover: Rwanda Edition

My good friend Emily and her family have been in the process of adopting from Rwanda for over two years. On Monday they officially passed court in Rwanda making their newly referred daughter legally theirs. Travel dates were being thrown around like rice at a wedding as they tried to figure out when, how and what is needed for 5 people to fly to Rwanda (that's 5 people because they are taking their 3 children with them. Cool, huh?).

Hope was looking defeated as they thought it would be January before they would travel to bring home their youngest family member. Imagine living your days knowing that one of your children was half way around the world and there is nothing you can do about it? I can't even think of the gut wrenching misery that would overcome my body.

God moved some pretty serious mountains yesterday when they got the call that they could leave for Rwanda on FRIDAY. Friday people, as in the day after tomorrow.

Holy moly.

Bags are being packed, prescriptions filled, errands ran and final arrangements made in 48 hours. These things usually transpire over the course of two weeks and they are throwing it all together over a holiday.

Please be in prayer with me for this sweet family as they travel across the globe to meet a daughter and sister that they've been praying for for two years. Here are some specific requests:

1) Travel, travel, travel. Please pray that all documents needed will be remembered as they hastily pack for 5 people going to Rwanda and 6 coming home. Also pray that packing will not be stressful. Finally, that tummy troubles will not rear their ugly heads as new foods and cultures are experienced.

2) That sweet Sonia will embrace her new family and that her adjustment to her new family will go smoothly. I'm sure I'd be a little terrified if 5 strangers showed up and began calling my name and wanting to hug me. Imagine being less than 2 years old and it happening.

3) Emily's family has a history of migraines. She gets them, her husband, her daughter and one of her sons also gets them regularly. Please pray that migraines stay far, far away from them for the duration of the trip (or forever).

4) That God would continue to be evident in every way as they complete this leg of their journey of obedience through adoption.

You know, even in the midst of all of my doubt it's so clear how God orchestrated the adoption and travel for this family. Thank you God for making yourself known in such a big way.

Bowers, I love you all so very much. Be safe, have fun and enjoy every second loving on that sweet girl!

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If you'd like to follow the Bowers' journey to Rwanda via twitter, click here.