Gun Show

Garyn was standing on his stool getting ready to brush his teeth,

he just got out of the tub and was still enjoying the nude,

he flexed his muscles, giggled and then said,

"Mom, look at this....they are dancing."

(he was flexing his muscle repeatedly)

That was a true laugh out loud moment....

it also reminded me that my little man is growing up...

So, tonight....

I cuddled with him just a little longer than normal!

words from Gigi with a few sidenotes from Garyn..

a few words from Gigi I never want to forget....

So the other night we were putting the kids to bed and the topic of death was came up.  Garyn was asking questions about how people die, why they die, does it hurt, what happens after you die, etc.  Ryan and I were very honest and told Garyn and Gigi different ways people die and we talked about heaven.  Garyn pondered, Gigi kept talking (shocking I know....Gigi talking, Garyn processing thought.)  Anyways, Gigi quickly responded that she wanted to die so she could go to heaven to be with Mylo (a dog Ryan and I had before we had children.  Yes, that means the kids have NEVER met the dog.)  I told her that I love having her here with us and that if she went to heaven I would miss her terribly.  Then she looked at me and said in a very honest, matter-of-fact way...it's okay Mom, I want to go to heaven so I can fly like TinkerBell.  WOW!!!

Today, at lunch we were talking about things we are thankful for....I was thankful to my kids and for Ryan working as hard as he does so we can live such a wonderful life.  Garyn, well, he has been grouchy pretty much all week so that is probably why I find Gigi's response so awesome.  When it was Gigi's turn to say what she was thankful for, she quickly looked up and said I am thankful that Garyn loves me....WOW!!!!

Tonight at our church festival, Gigi had to go to the bathroom and while she was going, her hands were folded and she told me she was praying just like Princess GiGi prays (she looks up and says, no Mom, not me, the other one.)  She started her pray with Dear Jesus, then she looked up at me and said, Mom, what else do I say.....

When we were leaving the picnic, we walked past the church.  She looked at me and asked if we could go be with Jesus because she wanted to pray for the girl who hurt her arm in the bathroom. (this is a little girl who bumped her arm about 6 months ago in our church's bathroom during mass on Sunday morning.  Gigi and I were in the bathroom when it happened.  It was a booboo that needed nothing more than a kiss from the little girls mom, but for some reason Gigi has never forgotten about her.)  With that being prefaced, Garyn looks at her and said, "really Gianna, I am sure her arm is healed by now."  That is my Garyn in a nutshell!

When you shower...

When you shower, what do you think about?

Do you think about all of the items on your To Do List?

Do you think about how good your shampoo smells?

Do you ever get mad if the water pressure is too low, or the water is too cold?

Do you just shower and get out and go about your daily routine and really not think too much about it?

Well, I must say, I am guilty of ALL of the above...

Until this:

Now, when I shower, I usually think of this little boy.... 

 or I think of this story 

http://ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/team-2street-kids-find-many-blessings.html

If it doesn't make you think differently in your shower....you do not deserve one!!!!!!

extra......

So in life it's nice to have "things."  I mean, we work hard, so it's a reward, right?

Well, here at the Sanford's our approach, our outlook on life is changing.

We will still work very hard, but the amount of "things/stuff" we have will be much less (and it has become much less.)  Shopping use to be one of mine and Ryan's favorite activities to do together....now, WOW!! I can think of a million different things to do instead of shopping......

Our adoption process has opened our eyes to so much more in the world...

Really, how many shirts do you need, how many pairs of designer jeans are necessary?  Do my kids really need top of the line clothes to only grow out of them in 6 months....

So, we have decided to lessen our load.....

We are moving to a smaller home and with that we are selling ALL of our extra furniture.

Our kids will be together in the same room.....I mean, why not, they sleep in the same room, same bed every night at this house and we have 4 bedrooms... 

Some might think we are crazy, we are adding more people to our family and we are moving to a smaller home....

I think....it's awesome!!

(good thing I think it's awesome, right?  I mean we are closing on our new home in a few weeks.) 

I see it as:

Less space = little room for useless stuff.  

Less space = more time together.

It is a beautiful home with so much character...

Honestly, I think it is quite fitting for this time in our life....

it is different than what we are use to,

we are so excited to embrace it,

can't wait to learn more about it,

will love it forever and more....

The Lord our God is guiding our family on an amazing journey...

He is shining his light on us in such a BRIGHT way...

It would be sinful to walk away!

So we decided to follow...

NuAfrica

www.nuafrica.org

New post for the NuAfrica blog!

Can't wait to see pictures and here stories.....

the craving...

it will not subside
the craving
to
be
in
AFRICA!

i am ready
for my ethiopian babe
but
really
i just want to be there

holding a child, even if it is not mine

i am thinking it is time i go.....who's with me?

REQUESTING ALL READERS TO READ THIS BLOG POST!!!

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If you are reading my blog, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO READ ANYMORE OF MY POSTS, UNLESS YOU READ THIS!!!

Injera and Chocolate Gravy: Say WHAT?