Look Who's 4!

One very special young man just turned 4!  Being that he has never celebrated his birthday before (or had any idea how old he was or what a birthday is), we kept it very low key.  We baked a from scratch chocolate cake.  Cuz he knows the word chocolate.

Of course.

He watched us frost it and cover the top in rainbow sprinkles.  At one point during the cake preparation, he put together that something very special was happening

Just.for.him.

And he was speechless.  He began to tell each person that came into the house that a CAKE was going to be eaten.  I have never seen him get through a meal so quickly as he did dinner that night. 

When we lit the candles and sang, he was so filled with HAPPINESS, it was like his little chest was going to explode. 

He just BEAMED and sang right along with us.  When we all sang out his name, he stopped and looked at all of us, his little head turning all around as if to say,

"This is really all for me?  Are you serious?  I cannot believe it."

His eyes were all watery.  I so wish there was a way I could've captured the moment.  Except I wanted to be IN the moment and not behind a camera.

Remember we're going for low key?

So I'm channeling my inner Virgin Mary and pondering all these things in my heart.

When a present appeared, it was just...I hate the word precious...but that's what it was.  He was just so beyond touched.  He could've been forceful, pushy, demanding...I mean, think about it...life in an orphanage is survival of the fittest.  If you want something, you've got to make it happen.  He also could've frozen.  With little experience with having personal possessions, a present could've been overwhelming.

He looked at it from across the room.  He pointed at it and whispered to me to look at it.  As if I didn't know how it got there.  ;-) 

When he opened it, it was slowly and gently...and when he saw the picture of the box and realized what it was...there was sweetest, softest "Oh" sound followed by a gasp of joy.

There are times in your life when you know you did the right thing.  Randall and I are not perfect people.  Those who know us, know that.  The fact that we have six amazing kids is because God is good, not because we are.  When we were given the opportunity to adopt again, we could've said no.  We've known since we saw his face that Levi was special.  We've been thankful a thousand times already that we said yes.  But in that moment when we sang to him and he realized just how very loved he is?

there is NOTHING that compares to that.

Just nothing.

There are so many days when we go around as people doing trivial things that don't matter...shopping for this, going to that...and life has a way of becoming shallow if we don't fight against it.

Levi's birthday reminds all of us that life is about bigger things than getting by or amusing ourselves.

It's about loving your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind...And loving your neighbor as yourself.

There are literally millions of orphan "neighbors" waiting to be loved.

Support,  Encourage,  Foster, or Adopt.

Millions of Mias, and Violets, and Levis are waiting for someone to say You Matter.  You are Worth Celebrating.  The World is Better Because You are In It.  

This week Levi turned 4.  He spent his first 3 birthdays without a family.  Never again. 

 

Vermont

Oh, Vermont...how we love you in the Fall.  Your spectacular leaves in every shade, your birch tree trunks and delicious maples.  Your crisp, clean air.  I feel healthier just being with you.

And so I eat fudge.

One must always maintain balance in life.  Ahem.

We decided Levi was ready for a gentle excursion away from home so we headed for a day trip to the woods...just us, an uncle, and 88 acres all to ourselves to explore.


Vermont did not disappoint.  Look at the wildlife we found!  A bear baby and a moose!

Levi literally gasped when he saw the woods.  He did a slow, deep breath as if drinking in the scene, burst into a gigantic smile and took off on the trail with his sibs.  He stopped to show us the largest of sticks (which to a 4 year old boy is big stuff) and to tell everyone to be careful.  Mostly, he giggled with glee.

Per usual, Gabe and Joe were off doing their own Survivor Man things on the mountain.  We're up there enough that they know their way through the woods (and Joe now carries a map on his i device).  They check in with us just enough so I don't start to worry they've been eaten by marauding bears and take away all their privileges.  Like sharing my fudge.  It's a little agreement we have. 

Also per usual, no one wanted to leave and mom was left to be The Enforcer.  After all, she knows exactly what happens when little ones are not home before dinner and in time for baths and bed.  They will be their father's responsibility the next day.  Mama don't play.

So home again, home again, jiggity jig as my Grandma would always say...Sasparillas in hand and Sting on the playlist.

Oh!  One more thing we found in Vermont...that dad's in big trouble in just a few years.  Our little girls are growing up into gorgeous young women.  (Gulp.  Pass the Kleenex.)