Friday's Funny-a trilogy of Mary Poppins

So Haven climbed up on lap one morning while I was doing my devotions and with little prompting (& completely unaware of me recording her with my phone), she proceeded to sing as many Mary Poppins songs as she knew...she is pining for the day her movie privilege returns!

waiting...an adoption update

Since many of you kindly ask, I thought I would give all our friends and family a quick update regarding our adoption...

No, we have not received the much-anticipated referral yet but we are one family closer to getting our forever daughter and seeing her face for the first time as our agency [Children of All Nations] just matched another family with 2 brothers and thus we move up one more spot.  We began the adoption process in April 2012, completed paperwork by August and thus, we are now in the adoption "holding pattern" of waiting.  I'm not complaining...we are extremely blessed!  Many of you have been praying & blessing us with your love & support and we are overwhelmed by God's provisions and your open generosity.  Lifesong for Orphans provided us with a matching grant and helped us prudently secure support for the anticipated travel costs for 3 of us to Uganda and 4 of us coming back.

  

In terms of an adoption time-line, we are still in the beginning phase with this pilot program but knowing the need is great in Uganda (more than 1/2 of their population is 14 years old and under) and we are 1 of only a handful of families in our agency's Uganda program, means we eagerly anticipate a referral in the coming months...we are highly optimistic but cautiously real.  We pray for patience as God orchestrates the details of us growing our family & giving Haven her much desired playmate.  

Continue to pray & I'll continue to update...we thank you in advance as our journey continues!

responsibility

New year...new goals, right?  Well, I had come across this great find at a garage sale last summer (yes mother, I know you're not shocked), and thought I would see how Haven would respond to getting small rewards (family movie night, date with Daddy, $1.00 toy at Target, McDonald's ice cream, new book, etc) for either working on specific tasks or working on things that 3 year olds struggle with...lately she has reverted to the "untrained" status regarding potty training with #2 and thus her laziness is frustrating...I've tried taking things away from her (Sunday School because obviously they don't want a 3 year old in there who isn't reliably potty-trained) but rewards seem to motivate her better.  She is a smart little cookie but for some reason, is lazily relapsing with her toilet skills.  So we work on things like "no whining", setting the table, clean up room, "be nice" (she likes that one), no accidents with the potty, and doing a Pre-K activity (coloring, puzzles, workbooks, cutting, gluing, arts & crafts, etc).

I'm curious to know if this has worked for any of you, ideas for rewards/results, etc...let me know your thoughts!

Christmas catch up!

I guess after the holiday hustle & bustle of things, it was nice the first few weeks to be resting up & looking forward to the next semester with our college kids...thus my blog went on hold.

After a few prompts (we won't name names, but it sounds like Aunt Onnie :), it's time I attempted to post some pictures from the holidays...just a warning-there's QUITE a few!

Haven helping decorate the tree...

realizing she is about to get into trouble when she was told several times NOT to unroll the ribbon...

...suffering the consequence of disobedience!

our gingerbread house...don't be TOO impressed...it was a kit from Target :)

 opening our presents on Christmas Eve...

 Arlan gave me a new fondu pot, some cocoa mugs & mugs for Haven and her sister...it was great!

 Arlan was surprised with his beloved Illini tickets...good thing we probably saw the best game of the season thus far!

 I also received a journal made in Uganda and Haven received a giraffe ornament to remind her of Uganda (made in China-go figure :)

 Santa found Haven's house by Christmas morning!

 and received her much-anticipated snow globe!

 Christmas morning picture

 We headed out to Iowa on Dec. 26th to be with my family...

 these two are TROUBLE!

 Aisley being a ham!

 and she even took a few steps for Aunt Katie!!

 a good game of BID...we haven't played that game as a family in a LONG time!

 Ms. Burkelle getting her pajamas on

 It snowed while we were in Iowa...of course!

 Christmas Day was spent with our Miller family...sorry the pics are out of order-I'm too lazy to change them all!

 waiting for Christmas festivities to start, so why not do a little mending?

 Ms. Amelia was sick so besides her, here's the crazy crew!

 she's not going to like me posting this picture, but I feel like either Carol or Orlan said something ridiculous, and this is the incredulous look Amber produced----love it!

 a very special Aunt Amber & Havers

 Charlee received the glitziest, sparkliest, PINK cowboy boots a girl could ask for...and she instantly put them on!!!

 Haven received her Bitty Baby carrier for her doll Holly...

And an entire princess dress-up collection...she LOVES it!

 

 

 the boys received their Angry Birds hats

 playing with her new Magformer's

 Uncle Alan received his old childhood bear wrapped up from Haven :)

We Millers LOVE gifting things from the past!

 quite the piano recital was performed by these 3!

 and lastly, Haven expanded her vocabulary for the day with her cousins by learning words such as show stick, "tying up" high/low, etc...here they are dragging around their heifers with their show sticks :)