Happy Easter 2010!

Here's a few pictures from Easter:

Decorating our eggs

Checking out baskets on Easter morning

We managed a quick family picture after church.

With our good pals Makayla and Aubrey

Saving this one for their wedding invitation! ;)

Justin took a spill on the playground.

Who's ready to hunt for eggs?!

And above all, may we accept the Gift of The Cross. The Sacrifice of Jesus. Celebrate that He is Risen. By Grace we have been Saved. Happy Easter!!!

My Competition

Looks like I may have a bit of competition.

Here's a snippet of a conversation Lexi and I had recently:

Lexi: I'm going to marry Papa.

Me: Oh, sorry Lex, but Papa is already married

to me. He's my husband.

Lexi: Well... (considering this for the briefest moment) No, Papa is going to be my husband.

Me: What about me?

Lexi: You have to get a new husband.

And that settled it.

Root Root Root for the.... the.... Dodgers!?!?

Never thought those words would be chanted in the Mocabee house.

Of all the teams Justin and Natalie could have been placed on...

The Dodgers?! Really? C'mon!

Obviously, anything less than the Cubs is completely unacceptable to Scott.

As for me, my true disdain for the Dodgers dates back to 1988 when dumb Kirk Gibson hit that dumb home run against the A's in the World Series. Seriously, it's been 20 years. I'm so done watching his gimpy home run trot around the bases. But somehow the clip continues to haunt me on the random video montages that inevitably appear every baseball season.

Whatever. I just don't like the Dodgers.

But I do like these little cuties.

If anything can soften my heart to Dodger Blue, I supppose it will be my own kids. They played their first game last week. Justin played 1st base. After the game, Coach Kirk (of all names) chose Justin as the Player of the Game for his "effort and good catching and hitting."

Natalie played a sort of "first & a half base" position... situated behind the pitcher/between first and second base. With 13+ kids on the field, they squeeze in wherever they can. It suited her fine, as she spent much of the time with her glove over her face, peering up at the sky through the webbing!

Week 2's match up... Dodgers vs. Cubs. Time to pull out all the stops. Decided we needed to invest in real baseball pants. I just think they are super adorable! Natalie was excited too. Before getting dressed she exclaimed, "I can't wait to wear my new costume!"

Please disregard the soccer cleats. I'm saving our money for the snack bar.

Certainty

(Wrote this entry on February 1!!! Kept meaning to come back and post it. Time really does fly.)

I'm so grateful I took the time to journal some of the experience. Even just 2 years down the road, I reread a journal entry or look back at pictures and realize there's so many little things I've forgotten!

One thing I have not forgotten, though, is the absolute certainty I felt when I finally met the children. The years we spent waiting had been difficult. The weeks leading up to finally meeting the kids were grueling. Not so much because we were anxious to finally see them, but because we were terrified. What if these were not meant to be our children? The medical reports had been vague. Doctors had given us great cause for concern. There was not a certainty in those weeks leading up to the meeting. We were not sure if these 3 children were our 3 children.

But there was faith.
Faith that we were to keep going. Faith that the Lord had carried us to this point and, one step at a time, we were to keep pressing on.
So, that's what we did.
As much as I was making room in my heart and already beginning to love these 3 children, I was simultaneously preparing the bandages for the broken heart I knew might be coming. But, somehow, that was okay. We boarded an airplane to travel around the world, and had complete faith that it was what we were supposed to do.

And then...
Oh.
When I looked at those 3 little faces...
There was such a peace in my soul. An absolute certainty that filled every ounce of my being.

I don't take that certainty for granted. I realize it doesn't always feel that way for everyone. That certainty was a blessing. A gift.

In the past 24 months, I've been trying to navigate my way through becoming a mother. There have been many times when feelings have failed me. I've struggled. It often seems like my world is spinning and I'm just hanging on. Days when I don't feel like a mother or... (honesty here)... feel like being a mother. And yet, I know, for certain, that they are mine and I am theirs.
I'm sure of it.
When I tell the children that God had a special plan for the way we would become a family, I mean it.

On those days my world is spinning, I recall that peace, that certainty the Lord blessed me with 24 months ago. It's what will ground me.

Our 2 Little Girls

January 31, 2008. The day we met our daughters.

Here's another excerpt from my journal:

Today we met our 2 little girls. Oh girls, you are so amazing!

Sasha (Lexi), you are such a tiny little thing! The same blond hair as your brother and sister. Stuffy nose, all sniffles today. Big blue eyes. You wore a white dress and a big red bow on top of your head. You are a quiet little girl so far. You haven't had much to say yet, but you sat in my lap and played with some toys. You've been a little nervous about your daddy, but just you wait little girl. He is going to be your best friend very soon. We can't wait to be with you for keeps.

Liza (Natalie), another beautiful, special little girl. Big blue eyes. Long dark blond hair. You came into the room ready to play. You wore a purple shirt and jean jumper with a humongous purple bow in your hair! Such a good big sister. Ready to help Sasha and the other children. Unlike your sister, you had a lot to say! Chatting away from the moment we met you. Naming pictures in books and reciting rhymes. You are so smart and outgoing.

Our daughters. We love you already. We just wanted to scoop you up and bring you home today! Why, oh why, must it take so long?! It was such a special day. We will always treasure this day we first met you. Girls, may you always know that you are God's perfect creation.

Here are a few pictures of our first visit with Lexi and Natalie:

What Were You Doing 2 Years Ago Today?

We were meeting our son for the very first time.

Here are bits and pieces of what I wrote in my journal that night.

A letter to Justin...

January 30, 2008
8:45 pm

I'm so tired. 30 hours of traveling and we've barely slept. But, I won't close my eyes before I tell you about The Day I Met You.

You live in an orphanage in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. It's faded blue and 3 stories tall. There are 60 children in your home. Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 7.

You are 4 and a half years old.
And today we met you for the very first time.

Soon after arriving we were led into a playroom. We took some time to speak with the people who have helped you and taken care of you. We found out a little about your birth family and when you first came to stay at the orphanage. We listened to a social worker, a woman with long, dark graying hair, a mouth full of gold teeth and quite a mustache. Her name was Valentina. She bragged about what a good boy you are. How you are helpful and play nicely with other children. Clearly, she cares for you and is certainly proud of you.

Then, before we were able to talk much more, suddenly there you were!!! A caregiver had led you in, and there you were! Politely saying hello. Big eyes. Dark blond hair. We give you two Matchbox cars, which you gently take with a smile. I'm sitting on the floor, playing with you, but I'm in another place too. Just thinking how this is so amazing. HERE YOU ARE. The words keep repeating in my head. Finally. In front of me. And you are just perfect.

Yes, little one. You are just perfect. I am so thankful that God has been watching over you. You are the answer to my prayers.

Here are a few pictures from that first meeting, 2 years ago, that I never posted:

The next day we would meet the girls. More pix and journaling to come. (Really!)

Snowball Fight!!!

This pretty much sums up life in the Mocabee family!

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