Rolling a Rock Up a Mountain

I am a pretty optimistic person. I always try to look on the bright side and be happy. At the same time, I am an anxious person and that gets in the way. I am forever reading inspirational books and looking at my thinking and and my feelings and trying to get better at dealing with stress. This winter has been filled with transitions for everyone in my family, both immediate and extended. I won't go into detail, because it is all pretty private, but adjustments to school, learning, life stages, medical issues, personal issues, relationships, work, etc, etc. have all impacted our daily functioning and balance. I am in the center of it all, trying to roll the rock up the mountain. Sometimes, it slips out of my grasp, only to roll down to the bottom again, but I stubbornly pick it up and start rolling. My husband helps me often, but he has to come and go, due to his own rock that he rolls at work. So I have lots of time with my rock. I notice my rock as it rolls up the mountain. It is gathering bits along the way. Some smaller rocks, some plants, an animal or two (or three or more), some really shiny gems that are awesome and beautiful. My rock is constantly growing and changing. Once in a while, the mountain evens out and the rolling is smooth and easy. Sometimes I even feel I am running to catch up with my rock when it rolls ahead of me. And sometimes, like I said, it slips backward. But always we catch it and start again with the right attitude; the faith that while we may never actually reach the top, our rock is our rock, and our mountain is our mountain and we are strong enough to keep rolling.

My Black and White Team and Constant Companions

Going to the Nutcracker Ballet

Mary Alice made the cats and dog each holiday bowties

Megan volunteering at soccer with her friend.

Visting the Butterfly Garden

Christmas morning

Always room for a new doll. Why doesn't their hair stay that way??!

My boy turned 19!! How did that happen??!

Celebrating the January Birthdays

The never ending homework. They are such hard workers.

Another of Megan's funny notes.... only if I buy them bunk beds tomorrow..... written on her Kindle drawing app.

Our new gerbils, who were adorable and snuggly together for many weeks, then right after this was taken one decided to attack the other and now they have separate cages!

Re-organizing the family room into a learning center, to support the high distractibility of me and the girls.

The core of the family. Celebrating Eric's birthday. Love you so much, honey!!

A Collection of Notes

Living with Megan and Shanna is pure joy.

They are so enthusiastic about writing and often can be found leaving little notes around for family and friends about the important stuff of life.

Here are some of my favorites:

For a friend who was out sick at school.

For one of my friends. (I think that's me!)

 A note of protection....
Please save the donus. No being eat the donus.

A sad but true observation...

Hi Shanna, I thought we could be in the same class but we can't. Sad news. But if we could that would be fun because we sisters :). Thanks

A work order from Shanna. Completed by Dad.

A speech developed completely on their own during a playdate of the girls and two friends. What energy!

Another love note.

A checklist.

Ha ha. This cracks me up. Posted on the trampoline: 1. No Squirrels OK. 2. No nuts OK. 3. No bugs OK.

Notes of appreciation,

Admiration,

And more instruction. Please save the cupcake that we can spit the cupcake?

Invitations,

remembering the important things,

Especially when there is a lot to do!

Notes when Daddy goes away

and just because the world is a beautiful place.

I just love getting these little insights into the mind of the Littles.

They know what is important in life.

Funny Conversations

Megan (to Shanna): So, are you busy today?
Shanna: Yep, how 'bout you?
Megan spreads arms wide
Shanna: Big?
Megan spreads arms wider
Shanna: Bigger!!??
Megan spreads arms even wider 
Shanna: So Big??? WOW! Lots of work! Busy everyday, every single day, too busy (big sigh)

Shanna (to Megan): Megan, my office near hospital. What's your office?
Megan: My office is near Wegman's
Shanna: I don't want to go to Wegman's. I go to hospital.

Mommy (to whoever is listening): Mary Alice had a big fly in her room last night.
Shanna: How 'bout me?
Mommy: You did not have a big fly in your room last night.
Shanna: Why?

Megan left her jacket on the bus (3rd day of school) and I found it in the bus garage "Lost and Fountain" as Shanna calls it.

While we were organizing the art table one day, Shanna asked to use the label maker to label the drawer with her colored pencils. She typed out "SHANNA'S PENCILS". I double checked her work and noticed that she inadvertently left out the "C" and the "L"...... :) Obviously, I fixed it before printing!

Shanna's language is growing everyday. I was telling her "Remember how you used to say "a neeny bit"? Now you say "A little bit"." She said "you mean when I was little?"  :)

Everyday, Megan gets off the bus with a note and a scrawled name and phone number of a new friend that she wants to have a play date with! There are some problems in the recording. 

It makes me smile. Every bit of it.

Joy and Sorrow

"Joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed."
— Khalil Gibran

We have had our share of joys. I post often about them. We have been blessed with so many wonderful things in our lives. The girls bring unbridled laughter into each day. For example, this conversation overheard at bedtime between the girls in their room:

Shanna: My baby's leg hurts.
Megan: My baby's leg hurts, too.
Shanna: No. Your baby's TUMMY hurts. My baby's LEG hurts.
Megan: (slight pause) So...... can your baby walk- or what?
Shanna: No. My baby's leg is broken.
Megan: Ohhhh.

These conversations go on ALL day and sometimes into the night!! We smile around corners as they ponder the ways of the world.

Another conversation on the road (Megan- looking at the addresses on a plaza of buildings while we are stopped at a red light):

Megan: Look, Shanna! Number 1!
Shanna: Number 1, Megan???
Megan: Yes, Number 1!
Shanna: How 'bout Number 2, Megan?
Megan: (sadly) No, no Number 2.
Shanna: How 'bout 3?
Megan: No, no 3.
Shanna: How about 4 or 5?
Megan: No, Shanna. Just number 1 and  number 7!
Shanna: Oh! Number 7! Wow, Megan!


Now, who wouldn't laugh at that?

They are like two peas in a pod and their love affair grows daily. Two days ago marked the 4th month of us meeting Shanna for the first time. They love to wear matching outfits and do the same things. Sometimes, one wants to be different and we encourage them that "that's okay!"

Painting time!

Big hugs!

I ordered another baby carrier for Megan and she was thrilled!

They are working on using their knives properly. Switching hands seems so needless to them! We are making great progress!

They are like puppies, always curled up together.

Cindy, Look! Yoga! Shanna showed us these moves.

She told me one of her friends from Shantou does this (Teri--It's Emily)!

In love with my sister.

So now for the sorrow, which apparently was asleep on our bed.

Marion, my sweet mother in law has been diagnosed with cancer. It is devastating news. Apparently, growing silently in her lungs and moved to her brain. The doctors are very hopeful and she is receiving aggressive radiation and drug therapy. She is the epitome of a Cancer Warrior; facing it head on with a positive attitude and a brave mindset. As she does with everything in her life, she does not feel sorry for herself, but rather takes action. She becomes informed and does what it takes to succeed. I am praying everyday that the medication does its work and that she heals. She is tired from her treatments, but she is taking care of herself. We love her so much.

She & Tom came for dinner last weekend.

Megan is sporting Gramma's new wig.

Shanna & Ye Ye Grandpa Tom

We think Gramma looks great in her wig!

I saved a few miscellaneous pictures so that I don't end on a sorrow:

This is Shanna's ESL Teacher

This is her 2nd grade teacher. Right now she is bridging between Kindergarten and 2nd grade.

Remember the 100 good wishes quilts we made for the girls? Well, we are doing another one for Sofia Bao, Megan's friend/sister from her orphanage. I am sewing a few minutes at time every few days/weeks and it's coming along nicely. I think the fabrics are so pretty.