Another Day, Another Placement

Well, I just got off the phone with a social worker and we have two more children coming into our home today--a five year old boy and four year old girl. It's an emergency placement and shouldn't last more than a couple of days while they sort out alternative care providers from the extended family. They should be here within the next couple of hours. We'll keep you posted.

Lydia's Day

So, it's the last day for my family's visit, and the focus of the day is on Lydia's time with her Nana. With Lydia's increasing interest (and subsequent involvement) in dance and ballet, Nana is taking Lydie to the Danskin outlet to shop for leotards, tights and the such, and then it's off to the movies for "Marley and Me".

The rest of us? Well, we're haning out at the homestead, keeping the toddlers occupied, installing the microwave (yeah, it's still not in), and various assundry other household tasks like laundry.

Abby's Prayer

As I knelt besides Abby's bed tonight, I laid my head down besides her to catch my breath. She promptly sat up, placed her hands on my head and, through her paci began praying...

"Dear Jesus, please heal Daddy (I didn't know I was ill) and help Gabie not poop in the bath tub (a feat that he had accomplished just one hour earlier)."

Mind you, these prayers were genuine to her!

Happy Birthday, Abby

Well, not yet, but as far as Gabe and Abby are concerned, every celebration is Happy Birthday worthy. Apparently this is the appex of festive expression. And today we are singing to Abby because we had her dedicated at church as Abigail Yari Joy.

So, even though we'll be saying this again in two weeks, "Happy Birthday, Abby!"

Let the Games Begin

Ah! The joy of time off that equals hanging out, playing games and watching movies with family. We have enjoyed playing heavy doses of Apples to Apples, Skipbo and Imagine If. We got a good dose of laughter last night as we tried to imagine my brother-in-law with Kramer's hair, Angelina Jollie's lips and Richard Simmon's lisp all the while leading one of those exercise videos! "Come on girls, work it!"

We have been drinking lots of coffee too. Good coffee, I might add. Jacki, one of our volunteer staff, recently tipped me off to Hemisphere Coffees in Mechanicsburg, OH. Our current favorite is Scottish Grogg.

Here's hopin' that you and yours are able to enjoy some of the simple things of life with those you love this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Well, we were dreaming of a white Christmas, but ended up with a rainy then icy then unseasonably warm and weird sort of Christmas weather wise. But once all the hub bub of preparing and transistioning was behind us, we settled into the day quite nicely.

We ended up just sitting and relaxing into the wee hour of Christmas Day, enjoying the peace of having all gifts wrapped and chit-chatting with my Mum about simple things. Then we woke up this morning with one very excited and eager 10-year old saying that "Santa" had already been here (I try to make it obvious by drinking the milk and eating the cookies for her. This year I even left a little reindeer poop--aka M&M's.)

The kids were so appreciative, especially Lydia. That's really rewarding for a parent. Abby was most stoked about her candy--and she ate lots of it am. Gabe? He was last seen trying to carry every peice of play food, Little People and hot wheels that he could possibly contain within his grasp. He is a gatherer!

Katie and I hadn't gotten gifts for each other for years and this year we decided to. It was good to hear her tell her mom on the phone, "I got everything I hoped for!" It's good to know that I am listening a bit after all these years.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Back to "Normal"

Well, today the girls were returned to their home. It was determined that, though mom was not fit to take care of them, others in the home were. Seemed like the right decision as I took in the process and heard lots of testimony and history. (Quite an education!)

Lydia is a bit sad as she was really liking the notion of sisters closer to her age. But, we have family coming in tomorrow from Kansas, so we have something to look forward to that helps move on. Besides, Christmas is almost here!

So now we wind down a bit and put our noses to the grind of getting last minute details done before family arrives. I am installing new cabinets in our dining room, trimming out Lydia's closet, and putting in a new over-the-stove microwave. Katie and Lydia are doing last minute cleaning and room prep as well as collecting some of the girls' last minute things. Gabe and Abby? Well, they're taking their naps.

A Big Family Feel

We actually pulled it off--waking, feeding, dressing and loading six children for church this morning. And we were fashionably late, no later! How fun it was to sport a family of eight and have friends interact with the girls as though they had always been with us. We could defibnitely get used to this big family feel. The older girls are so helpful, and all three of them are quite responsive and pleasant. They do have their typical sibling conflicts, just to keep our feet on the ground and expectations low enough for them to have space to fail.

After church we had a successful lunch time at the food court, afterwhich a successful stroll around the mall. Right now, all are resting.

Oh, did I mention that we are just finding out that the middle girl is allergic to our cats? So much for "no known allergies". Benedryl is keeping her afloat.

Cheaper by the Dozen

I find my thoughts being drawn to this recently released movie with Dennis Quaid and Renee Russo. Now with six children in the house (I know, a far cry from 12), I find my thoughts rushing to rethink every aspect of home organization. Granted, I won't move towards a naval admiral approach to running our home, but there is a need for us to run a bit tighter ship, if you will. =O) One thing true--the older girls are a big help with the littler ones. What a fun adventure! What a challenge! Well, we're out to get more coat hooks, and pajamas and clothes for the girls. 12 passanger van here we come!

Gabe, Where are you From?

"Guatemama!"

The Latest Rendition from Gabe

"Old McFarmer had a piggy, e e e o o."

Ready or Not...!

As of 4:30 pm this afternoon, our family of 5 has grown to 8! Three girls--10, 8, 5--will be with us at least until Monday afternoon. Such a buzz right now in our hallowed halls! (Or is that lots of girly screaming! =O) ) Not even the opening of gifts can equal the surprise that comes with foster parenting...nor the joy.

Tribute to Our Staff

As the holidays approach and our volunteer staff here at HDC prepare to depart for Christmas break, I am reflecting on how much each of them has grown, how much my appreciation for each of them has deepened, and how blessed I have been to have them in my life.

Here's to Audrey, Ben, Erica, Ryan and Jacki! You're the greatest!

Of Cheese, Wine and Eyes

I have noticed these past couple of months, that I have been having to look under my glasses lenses lately in order to read or look at things close up. Am I getting older? You bet. But I am realizing that there are advantages to aging. For starters, I am a whole lot less cocky and arrogant than when I was younger. I have lived long enough now to know that I do NOT know everything nor have the answers to all of life's questions. I have also come to grips with the fact that I am not perfect, rather a work in progress (committed to the process) and a clay pot with Infinite Treasure inside.

So, graying hair, expanding body parts and increasingly limited mobility aside, there are aspects of growing older that are to be embraced and valued from the perspective of growing up in the faith we have in the One who has begun a good work in us.

Encouragement in the Small Things

Perhaps you have felt it.

Encouragement in the little mondain things.

Getting the laundry done. Cleaning up the basement. Washing the dishes. Getting the kids dressed. Processing your e-mail. Paying the bills. Getting up in the morning. Tying your shoes...

Knock Knock

We're on a roll! Gabe made up his own knock knock joke. Out of the blue: knock knock...who's there...doggy...doggy who, Gabe...doggy on the door! I know, you're bustin' a gut right now, but try to contain yourself.

What do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

We're sitting at the table, finishing up dinner. Our discussion is following the flow of what we think our two-year old son, Gabriel, will be when he grows up. After being drilled (and flat out rejecting every suggestion thrown at him) as to whether he would be this or that or the other thing, he finally blurts out, "I going to be a monster!" and flashes a soft, I-know-I'm-being-a-comedian grin. Such aspirations!

Novication?!

So, our almost three year old Abby takes a dish towel out of the drawer, sticks it under her shirt, pats her now-padded-belly, and declares, "This is for my novication!" What?!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Well, we've been back a full 24 hours now from our weekend get-away. After a fairly uneventful day, Katie spent the evening out with a girl friend while I and the kids set up the Christmas tree. We usually have this done the day after Thanksgiving, but life with two toddlers seems to have slowed us up a bit!

I don't know if you'relike me, but I often feel I have to rearrange the entire living room (Katie would say it's the entire house some years) in order to create the perfect space for the tree. Not this year. These days we are in "user friendly" mode. We cleaned out the corner and set up the tree. That's it!

We Were 16 Going on 17

We just celebrated our 17th anniversary! Wow, it's hard to believe when, in many ways, it seems like just yesterday, well, at least last month. =O) A couple of our good friends stayed at our house with the kids so that we could attend a Weekend to Remember marriage conference in Philly. On top of that, they freed us to stay an extra day! Wow! If you've ever had toddlers, you understand the HUGE blessing of having time away. Don't get me wrong--we love our children, but our relationship needed some TLC...and we got it.

Some highlights... Renewed our wedding vows! Had a fondu dinner out on our anniversary night. Received some strong encouragement and renewed vision for our marriage and family. Got some new books and resources. Did some Christmas shopping. Spent some extended, relaxed time together. We communicated! We got to know each other again!!!

An Eppdate

Lydia, now 9…
You got game? She’s a geography wiz!
Digging deeper into piano lessons—
Ice skating too (her new sport of choice), while the saddle takes a rest.
Acting as Mrs. Beaver in Narnia and one of The Three Trees in Easter play…

“Abby, get down!” …she’s 2, and she’s finally ours!
Believe it, she’s speaking in deliberate, annunciated sentences—
Bounding, twirling, as she learns with Elmo and Caillou.
Yikes! She’s climbing something again!

Gabriel, 22 months, turns two in April.
A gatherer of small things, he’s tender of heart.
Bruises come often as he tries Abby’s stunts.
Easy going, cute smile, hearty laugh: a real “guapo”!

Katie—
A devoted mother and genuine friend;
Two toddlers keep her on her toes.
Investing in our children, she’s a home school mom who…
Enjoys photography and scrapbooking to capture our family’s memories.

Chris—
Home is where his heart is.
Reading books like “Sex God” by Rob Bell—check it out!
Initiating, instigating, involved;
Sharing with staff, students and youth as he works on for EMM.org.

Dogs…
Our new pup is Puddles, a beagle with lots to learn.
Gretchen, our faithful, now almost 13 years old.
“Stop chewing on that, Puddles!”

Love

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

-Romans 12:9-13

She's Really Ours!

I had just picked up our mail from my work place across the street. As I shuffled through the small stack of envelopes, I noticed a lavendar card-like parcel from my mom in Kansas. With Abby's birthday only a day away, I had already surmised, in that milisecond that it takes to deduce certain anticipated circumstances, that this was for her. then something strange happened. I read the name, Abigail Epp. Something about that visual association created an almost supernatural awakening within me: "She's really part of our family!"

After all months of "temporary care giving", a bridge has been made into the realm of permanent placement, a domain that wasn't even on our maps or charts when Abby was initially placed with us. But now, my emotional and paternal phsyce had received a jolt that somehow seemed to breath life into months of hopeful waiting and guarded anticipation. With the adotion a matter of mere formalities now, we are moving from a two year state of tentativeness to a place of settledness regarding Abby's familial future.

"...You won't let them down: orphans won't be orphans forever." --Psalm 10:14 (MSG)

Farm Show

This is Farm Show week in Harrisburg. It's hard to believe that this is Farm Show #5 for us! Abby and Gabe are really enjoying the carousel and milkshakes, they also really enjoyed the kids area that has "corn tables". Lydia likes to shop and enjoyed watching the barrell racing at the rodeo on Sat pm. Katie likes the milkshakes and just getting out and seeing all their is to see. Chris likes the fried mushrooms, sampling hot sauces and watching the kids react to all the activities.

We're planning to return on Friday as we celebrate Abby's 2nd birthday!

Getting our Marriage out of Fairy Tale Mode

Katie and I have recently celebrated 16 years of marriage. To some of you this is just a drop in the bucket, and to others a milestone perhaps. Either way, I trust you will permit us to share a recent (to us) but not new (to many) “aha!” moment that we trust will be an encouragement.

Now mind you, we are no marriage counselors, only two people who have, by God’s grace, remained standing through some of life’s difficult storms. And while our love is deeper and more genuine today than years ago, this love hasn’t come without it’s share of pain, largely due to unrealistic expectations.

"Realize that unrealistic expectations in marriage can lead to disappointment. You shouldn’t lower your standard but do look at marriage in the context of real life, not the fairy tale world that you may have imagined…" (Taken from an e-letter from Family Life Today, 1/3/08)

First of all, Katie and I have discovered the importance of dating again. If nothing else, it gives our marriage the alone time it needs to simply be with each other.

Secondly, we have found that many of our dreamy expectations of how marriage (and family life in the home) should be, have come from movies and stories of our culture that are merely scripted but often not based in the reality of humanness and the propensity to selfishness, and especially not committed to divulging the reality of the transformation process in the midst of life.

In short, we believe in the victory of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, in the midst of our humanity. He comes to us to embrace us right where we are, changing us through the daily struggles and joys of our relationships with each other by the power of His love and Spirit at work in us.

We are free. We need not try to conform to the happily ever-after stories of Hollywood (although our hope is in the ultimate ever-after reality), nor be discouraged when our lives don’t mirror the ‘ideals’ of the stage of our minds.

Only let us be encouraged to submit to one another in love and to trust Jesus to change us, He who has authored our faith and is now perfecting it until the day He returns or we are taken. And let us walk in the forgiveness and patience that Jesus Himself extends to us.

May you be encouraged in your marriage today. And please, if you have any thoughts or response to this message, feel free to send them.

Here are the other points from Family Life:

Don’t settle for the status quo. God wants you to have a dynamic fulfilling marriage, so take steps to reach for that goal.

Read marriage books and attend seminars like the Weekend to Remember marriage conference to find out what a realistic God-honoring marriage looks like. Talk with your spouse about the expectations of marriage each of you has and analyze ways you can improve your relationship using God’s plan for marriage.

Together look for adjustments in your lifestyle that will allow you to work toward meeting those standards.

Plan some fun couple activities—do some of the things you did while dating. They worked then to bring you closer together, and they can work again.

Get involved in activities that will build your marriage. Join a small group like HomeBuilders where you will be encouraged to keep growing in your relationship with your spouse.

Take note of the things you appreciate about your spouse and give thanks and praise often for the everyday tasks that he or she does that make life better for you. It is easy to take these things for granted, but when we express appreciation we add a little dash of spice to our spouses’ day.

Make your marriage your top priority. Schedule date nights and getaways on a regular basis.


Chris

New Year's Top Story

Well, we started the year with some more exciting news in the step by step process that is moving towards Abby's adoption. We just received a call on the 2nd informing us that the County Commissioners had approved Abby's adoption moving forward, and to expect to be back in court to finalize within four to six weeks. Our attorney's on board and everything seems to be in place. Now we just wait to be placed on the judge's docket. Oh, and Abby's birthday is coming up the 11th! What a time to celebrate...some more! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to Abby!