Imagination Movers Concert!!!

For months now we have been answering the daily question of "Are we going to the concert today?" Finally (thank goodness), we loaded up the car and headed to Grandma & Pawcaw's house this past weekend. Then... on Sunday afternoon... we drove to the Verizon Theater... and witnessed the concert of the YEAR!! (Well, at least the concert of the year if you're a preschooler!)

Can you see the excitement in this little face?

He had no idea what to expect, but man... he couldn't wait!!

The lights went out... the kids went WILD... and there they were! The Imagination Movers!!

They also brought Warehouse Mouse...

and Nina!

So fun... but there was more to come!

After the concert we went to a little room with several other families and waited to...

MEET THE MOVERS!!!!

They walked around signing autographs and shaking hands with the kiddos.

Then they sang us some songs!

The Choo Choo Soul group was there too (we didn't know they were coming... but they were awesome!!) Caden got a photo with Genevive! Exciting!!

Then we all got a photo with the Movers!!

(I am not sure what kind of camera magic they used to disguise my enormous belly!)

I have to say that I have never seen... or met... such an appreciative group of performers. These are the nicest, most sincere guys. It was for sure worth the money and we would highly recommend their concert to anyone! I really can't speak highly enough about them!

Now the daily question is "can we go see the Imagination Movers again today?"

Discontent

I want to be content.

Most of the time I think that I am. I don't need fancy clothes... or shoes... or handbags. Most of the things my family wears come from Target, WalMart or Ross.

I don't need fancy cars... though we are both blessed to drive very nice vehicles that meet our needs well.

Things in my life don't matter much. I have spent the last year or so trying to let go of material wants and focus on God's desires for me. It's not always easy. Actually it is hardly ever easy. There is still that monster in me that longs for fancy, trendy, brand new... instead I try to be content.

But the truth is... I don't think I will ever be content. I don't honestly think that God makes us that way. I think we can easily fool ourselves into thinking we are... or could be if only _____. And I'm not talking about clothes or cars or houses here... I'm talking about the the deep down feeling in our souls... content.

I, for one, have this passion. Every single day it breaks my heart. It makes me cry... sob. It makes me sick to think about. I fight with God on how he could allow such a thing, and in the same breath I praise Him and thank Him for the little tiny miracles he creates in the midst of such grotesque and horrific situations.

I don't know why I have this passion. I don't know what will ever really come of it. I live day by day in the sorrow of knowing it exists... waiting for God to reveal what my true role is... but doing what I can in the mean time.

And so you may be wondering what my passion is... if you don't already know. It is so hard for me to know where to begin in describing it. But let me tell you this little story...

This year for Christmas I wanted to do something that mattered. I get sick of the buying of gifts just to say you got something for someone. What a waste. So we sponsored several children... orphans, who desperately need families... in the name of different family members. Much to my joy and excitement each one of them has found a family... all except one.

I have been drawn to her for so long. I have so longed to have her in our family, but I knew she couldn't be right now. She was about to age out of the orphanage. About to be sent to the institution to waste away and die. Thrown out by her family because she was different, left to an orphanage because they would not live with the social stigma of having a Downs child. Adorable, sweet, precious girl with no one to love her.

She didn't find a forever family. She died.

What a waste.

And so I know I will never be content with this earth. With the prejudices, the judgements, the hatred, the ignorance. I am not perfect. But I will do what I can for these children, because they deserve a chance. They deserve a shot at being content and being loved. And I know that God is working awfully hard for them as well. I see it here...
in a Beautiful Transformation
in a Redeeming Love
in celebrating 9 months home
and most importantly here, watching each day as new children find their families... slowly but surely.

Maybe for Valentine's Day this year you could consider skipping the candy and roses and donating to make a difference for one of these children. In the grand scheme of things what is really more important... flowers or a life? Candy or feeling the love of a family? Junk that will sit around your house taking up space or rescuing a precious child from almost certain death? If you're content with the way things are in your world... then more power to you. For me, I am happy to struggle with the discontent... it keeps my life in perspective.


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The Blizzard of 2011...

It finally hit... the blizzard of 2011. And of course by blizzard I mean it snowed... maybe an inch... and was mostly melted by that evening. But it was fun for the kids!!

After spending about an hour getting them dressed, we ventured out. Carinna was so excited but not so sure she wanted to walk in it or what to do with it.


Caden on the other hand had an agenda. That morning when I showed him it was snowing he said "Mom, I'm going to get my shoes on!" I then explained that it was way too early and that we would go out later. So then he said "Ok. But mom, first I am going to make a snowball and throw it at you. Then we can build a snowman." So. needless to say he went straight to the snowball making once we ventured out.

Carinna, taking his lead, started to grab a hand full of snow... then lost her balance and fell face first into it! This is her imprint... face to the left, arms at top and bottom. It was a real face plant! It went up her nose, into her mouth and covered her eyes... poor baby... she was mad.

She rallied pretty quickly! What a trooper! Then continued to look to her big brother for what to do next.

Her gigantic snowball! She wouldn't throw them at people, she just handed them from one person to the next!

He, on the other hand, was all about throwing! He is a boy after all!
Carinna only lasted about 20 minutes then we went in to have a snack (donuts! shhhh, don't tell). The dad and boy tried their best to build a snowman, but it just wasn't working! They took a walk around the block then came in for a nice hot lunch! It was a fun day!

The Cousins 2010

He can sing!

Last week Caden had another "program" at school followed by a parent lunch. This time he actually sang! Although, they only sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "If You're Happy & You Know It"... which he is pretty familiar with!

He's in the green shirt. Mrs. Cindy (in red behind him) is his teacher. She is really sweet!

I always forget to take the zoom lens, so my pictures really stink! I think this is the "stomp your feet" part of the song... and of course when you're 3 you have to actually jump to stomp your feet!

It's nice that they work hard to get the families together to socialize! The highlight of the lunch had to be the ginormous brownies for desert! I discovered that I can pretty much bribe them to do anything if they know one of those brownies is waiting!