Leaving Two Behind

My Titus Andrew,

Today you turned three.  I told you not to, but you didn't listen.  ;)

You might be on the small size compared to others your age (26 lbs and 36 inches tall), but you have a giant sized portion of heart and determination and an amazing mind.  You are 100% committed to whatever you do and I LOVE that about you.

You put your heart into everything whether it's reading books, playing hard, singing, or helping Mommy or Daddy around the house. Sometimes you use that power for good and other times stubbornness wins.  I pray that you never lose that incredible will power to always do your best and give everything 100% effort, just like you do now.

God has such a big plan for your life and He has given you some amazing tools that your Daddy and I already see in you.  We feel such an awesome responsibility to help mold you into the man He wants you to be.

My prayer for you is that your insatiable drive will be directed first toward God and then through Him, toward the journey He has prepared for you.  I think of Paul the Apostle who before he knew Christ, was driven to to pursue and imprison anyone who followed Jesus.  However, once his eyes were opened to The Truth, his same drive was firmly applied to helping others find their way back to God.  May your God-given tenacious drive and conviction be with you always!

Never in my life have I seen such an inquisitive kid and I love, love, love that about you.  I wish I could crawl inside your sponge-like brain and watch as it processes what you experience.  You have a thirst for learning and knowledge.

 

My prayer for you, is that as you grow, your inquisitive mind will dig deep into the wisdom of God because "His foolishness is wiser than human wisdom".  And that your heart will be firmly placed in the trust of Jesus Christ.  I know God has big plans for you Mister Man.  He has protected your life on several occasions.  Your story was a thrilling one even before you were born!
We are humbled and blessed daily that we were chosen to have the best seats to watch you grow, learn, play and serve.

Three is going to be a great year!  So lets celebrate and leave two in the dust.

We love you to Taiwan and back!

20 Questions

A couple of years ago, I saw an idea for asking the same 20 questions each birthday starting at the age of 3 on Pinterest.  I love this idea and can't wait to look back and see how Titus' answers change and evolve over the years.

1. What is your favorite color? Blue
2. What is your favorite toy? My cars and trucks
3. What is your favorite fruit? Apples
4. What is your favorite TV show? Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Soup
6. What is your favorite outfit? Crane Sweatshirt
7. What is your favorite game? Don't Spill the Beans
8. What is your favorite snack? Crackers
9. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe 
10. What is your favorite song? "Jesus Love Me"
11. What is your favorite book?  "Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site"
12. Who is one of your favorite friend? Naomi
13. What is your favorite drink? Orange Juice
14. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
15. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Animals: Digger, Mister Bear, Cousin Bear, Mickey Mouse.  My blankets (3)
16. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Legos
17. What is your favorite thing to do with Mama?  Music
18. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Train cake
19. What do you want to be when you grow up? Work on computers like Daddy
20.  What is your favorite Bible verse?  Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Happy Snow Day

Since it snowed and snowed yesterday we had promised Titus a day of snow fun today. He held us to our promise and Mama was more than happy to oblige.  All in all, we had 12 inches of pure, delightful, beautiful, marshmallow snow.   Most of the areas in our yard were up to Titus' waist and my knees but we found a few areas that were only up to Titus knees and he could sort of walk in it.  He played outside on Friday for 2.5 hours while Daddy and I experienced home ownership at it's fullest by digging out our driveway and decks.  On Saturday we played outside for over hour.  Our little boy is loving this winter snow.  Since more snow is on the way, I'm sure we'll have more snow fun very soon! 

BIG Blizzard of Oz

We finally got SNOW!!!!  I love looking out on my wintery white picturesque backyard.  It's absolutely breathtaking.   12 inches of beautiful white powdery snow. 

Today we stayed inside and enjoyed watching the snow fall, read lots of books and baked cookies while Daddy worked from home.  So thankful we were all able to stay inside and not risk life and limb getting out in the this B.I.G. blizzard of Oz!   Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some fun snow play pictures. 

Hair Drama

In Titus' short little life he has had many haircuts which have resulted in a wide gambit of styles from good to bad, and everywhere in between.  Poor kid!  :(  Since moving, a friend highly recommend a great kid's place close by, so we went and checked it out.  Titus loved sitting in the firetruck and getting his hair cut until the clippers made an appearance....sorry, no pictures to protect the innocent dramatic.  All that to say, we finally received a great cut.  :)

Just One More

Our day's schedule was off a bit, by running errands before the potential snow storm struck our area.  Therefore, lunch and nap time were delayed, but as every parent of a toddler knows even 30 minutes can be enough.

Titus has begun to come up with every reason under the sun to delay nap/quiet time as it is, from going to the bathroom again, to another drink of water, to singing Jesus Love Me "just one more time" or needing to give me "just one more hug and kiss".

I've learned the final hug and kiss though, that ones proves to me much more difficult.  If I let him get "just one more", it turns into a string of a half a dozen requests to give "the last one, okay Mama?" It's such a hard request for me to deny though, I mean honestly to hear my 2 year old practically begging to give me "just one more" hug and kiss....I'm stubborn, but I can't completely ignore these sweet requests.

Today though, I did.  On his second request, I shot him down.

No.

No.

Absolutely no.

Yes, I denied my sweet 2 year old any additional hugs or kisses.

It's a matter of obeying right away.  He knows and understands what no means.  He didn't break down into a fit of hysterics by any means.  He expressed his disappoint and moved on.  I hit the play button on The Little House story CD and tiptoed out of his room offering one more, "I love you", as I quietly closed the door. Soon enough, he was asleep.  I worked on my nap time tasks: dishes, laundry and dinner prep.  Before long my tasks were completed and I readied myself for some personal me time.  My heart stopped as I read about a family whose little boy died at the young age of 5 due to a strange illness.

Just like that.  A life truncated.

My heart broke for this family.  I offered up prayers of peace for this family.  But, my flood of thoughts could not be stopped.  I was overwhelmed with anguish for this family.  Those sweet little hugs and kisses and sticky messes and toys on the floor are a thing of the past for them.

Motherhood has changed me so much, but I can guard my heart very effectively.  I was overwhelmed.  And like a ton of bricks it hit me that I had denied Titus a final hug and kiss.

I was soon descending the stairs with tears in my eyes, the only thing I wanted was my little boy, in my arms.  He continued to sleep as I drew him up out of his crib and carried him to the rocking chair.

I didn't feel guilty for parenting as I saw fit earlier.  I know there isn't anything wrong with my saying no.  I wasn't trying to right a wrong.

I just needed to draw my arms around my little mister man, feel his shallow sleeping breaths continue in rhythm and love on him and memorize the details of his tiny face for a mother who wasn't able.

Dear Monday

Dear Clutter,
I'm on a mission and my name is Ruthless.  If you aren't loved, needed or used often you are out of here.  Don't believe me?  Check the piles ready to be loaded into the back of my minivan.
Be afraid,
Hoarder no more

Dear Warm Winter Clothes,
How I love you big worn out old comfortable sweatshirt, you rank right up there with my cozy slippers and heating pad on my winter love list.
Love you to town and back,
Always chilled

Dear Laundry,
You are my nemesis.  The thorn in my side.  You never quit so I'll keep on keeping on.
Unfortunately yours,
Me

Dear Naptime,
Why are you trying to flee our home?  Oh how I miss your schedule, you and your 2-3 hours of complete peace and quiet.  You've been trying to leave us for months now.  I know once you finally flee you will rarely come back to visit.  Rest time doesn't hold a candle to you naptime.
Miss you forever and ever,
Mama needs a break

Dear Year of the Snake,
I think you're going to be some kind of wonderful.
Lets make it a good one,
Me

Dear January

Dear January, 

You had me at day one. With the calendar flip, you wooed me with your fresh starts and best is yet to be promises. How did you know that blank slates make my heart sing?  That being said, you wore me out!!!!  My legs and arms and feet are sore because of packing, unpacking,  cleaning, painting and then the flu.  You filled us all up with happy moments.  The purchase of our first home.  Choosing paint colors.  Hot chocolate dates with my little Mister Man. Discovering and gaining wisdom through our year long study at church of the book of Proverbs.  Silly made up games.  The joy of watching Titus find his first penny.  Snow.  Exciting adoption news.  You surely kept us on our toes with your hodge-podge  of crazy new adventures.  2013 is going to be an overflowing, ever changing and an adventurous year.  There were no perfect days, January, but His fingerprints were on each and every one. The big things and the little details and everything in between, He was there. I'm so thankful. Truly. 

Til we meet again, 

Alicia

 

New

new

house

roads

places to explore

new

routines

responsibilities

roles to learn

new

faces

friends

names to remember

new

life

normal

everything all around

new

place to belong

reasons to smile

opportunities to give thanks

Soooo, yes we are working on navigating all this new.

It can be overwhelming and exciting at times, but for the most part....all is well.

We are very blessed!

The hands and feet of Jesus

We have been exceedingly blessed to meet and get to know most of Titus' precious caregivers from when he was in Taiwan.  They have touched our lives more than they will ever know.  We love and pray for them often and enjoy getting together with them whenever we can. I cannot even put into words the blessings they have been in our little family's life. Their hands and hearts loved and cared for our little man before we ever could.

Adrian and Kalyn, like us, live in the great state of Kansas and about once a year they have had a reason to travel to travel to KC and drop in for a visit.  We are always blessed by their time and are so thankful that they care so much about our little boy.  They are an amazing couple.  Truth be known, they even celebrated their first year of marriage serving in Taiwan.  Their hearts and life amaze me!  Thank you Adrian and Kalyn for your love and care for our family!

Kelsey is another young lady who was also one of Titus caregivers and is a friend and alumni of Adrian and Kalyn's.  In March 2011,  during their spring break from college the three of them took a road trip around the Midwest and visited many of the families of the babies they took care of.   We missed seeing Kelsey this year but she has a great excuse; currently she is a very busy lady, serving for a year at THOGL caring for 23 babies. You can follow her adventure at: http://goservelove.blogspot.com 

 In October of 2010, soon after we brought Titus home this sweet trio also came for a visit to see our little guy.  Titus has grown and changed so much since that first year.  

 Natalie, was also a caregiver of Titus'.  She currently resides in the St. Louis, and has an amazing heart for the orphan.  So much so, that within less than of year of she and her husband marrying they decided to adopt.  They are currently in the process of adopting twin baby boys from Africa.  I have loved following Dan and Natalie's journey and can't wait to see their precious boys finally in their arms. 

While serving in Taiwan, Natalie wrote a sweet letter to the babies.  I remember reading her letter while we were waiting to bring our baby home and bawling but also feeling once again reassured that our Titus was loved and cared for.  I even printed her letter and saved it for Titus to read someday.  http://littlethingsbigstuff.com/2010/07/27/a-letter/

And if I'm not mistaken Titus is the baby pictured at the bottom of her post.  :)

In 2011, Natalie traveled to KC where we met up for brunch to catch up and for her to once again see and hold Titus.  

"Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now."  Author Unknown

Thank you to each of Titus' caregivers for blessing our family so much through volunteering your time, your energy and your wants and desires all to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  You have blessed us so!