Happy Easter!

 This weekend was a whirlwind of activities for our family.

Keishun played 4 games on Saturday in a basketball tournament. They won the first 3 and then lost the Championship. Here they are with their semi-final first place ribbons and trophy:

Here is a collage of Easter weekend photos:

 

The kids all loved their Easter baskets that I put out. 

Isaac said: "You're the best mom!!" 

Awwww.

 

And here is an adorable picture of our glow-in-the dark Easter egg hunt and BBQ dinner that is becoming an annual tradition the night before Easter. Look at our friend with her cute baby bump holding the eggs before we hid them in the front yard after sundown.

 

And last but not least, this makes two out of two daughters deathly afraid of people dressed in animal costumes. 

Stay away, Easter bunny!!!!

 

Bahahahaha....I love these photos.

 Big brother to the rescue!

Icecream and Integration

Today I had an interesting moment with my daughter and it sparked some research of my own that I wanted to share.

After preschool, we had about a half an hour before we needed to be at the other kids school for pickup. Since today was her birthday, I thought I would take her to Dairy Queen for icecream. 

We sat at a booth and I looked over her head to a large wall size poster showing off one of the first Dairy Queen's in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I noticed that the black and white photos featured scores of people lined up for their first taste of vanilla goodness. 

What I also noticed was that every single person in line was white. 

I squinted and saw the date:

1952.

Well, that explains it. Integration hadn't occured yet.

I frowned and looked down at my brown skinned daughter happily lapping up her oreo blizzard and feeding me bites in between. 

As we shared a booth. 

It did not pass by me that had I been a 34 year old mother in 1952...

this scene playing out before me, would have never taken place.

She wouldn't be allowed to be my daughter.

And we certainly wouldn't be enjoying Dairy Queen together.

Often times, we as white people are able to go about our days and weeks not ever thinking of how it was and how it could have been without the Civil Rights Movement. 

Sure, we give a nod to it every January around the 21st.

And sometimes we might seek more info a few weeks later during Black History Month.

But how often do we let it really sink in that the life we live as an interracial family is one that could not have existed as it is just 50 years ago. Ice cream at a Dairy Queen was ordered at the "Whites Only" and "Colored Only" windows. 

And if you dare mix it up and try to make a statement...you suffered.

We have heard of people like Rosa Parks and those who fought for racial equality in the 60's. 

But have you heard of Patricia Stephens Due?

Me neither.

And yet, her life was a fascinating one. 

Utterly devoted to making the world a better place for 
people of all colors and nationalities.

You can read about her and the time she defied Jim Crow laws at her local Dairy Queen, here. 

I know that I will never take for granted the fact that I can enjoy my daughter's favorite treat, sitting with her in the same booth.

I will never take for granted the brave Americans who walked before me in a country where things were very, very different. And that through personal persecution and sacrifice, paved a way for me in the year 2013 to be the mother to 4 black children. 

I hope every time you dip your spoon into a Blizzard, you will be reminded of these historical heroes too.

Birthday Girl

My Baby Love is two years old today.

I have to say this has felt like a long time coming because she has behaved like a 2 year old since she turned 1. 

2 and 3 are my favorite ages that my kids were, so this is going to be a fun fun year. They learn and grow so much and go from babies to little people in just 12 short months. She already seems bigger to me.

Billy and I were watching videos I took of her as a baby and it is hard to imagine she was so little. It will become even harder to reconcile as she hits her 4's and 5's. But we won't talk about that. ;)

Here is the video we showed at her first birthday party. 

It only covers birth to one of course, but it is still fun for me to be reminded of this little life God gave me.

The greatest gift I have been given for her 2nd birthday is to be in contact via email with her birthmom this week for the first time in Jasmine's entire life. This has been an amazing two days of correspondence and her birthmother said just being in direct contact has begun to lift some of the fog of grief that has weighed her down these two years. 

Praise God for the healing process that comes in open adoption.

I will write more about all of this later.

For now,

Happy Birthday, Jasmine Faith.

You outshine the brightest star.

You are eternally loved. 

 

What Do I Put In Their Easter Baskets?

It is one week before Easter, peeps.

Can you believe it?

This year has already flown by for me. 

Managing a family of seven will do that to you.

Over the past two weeks I have been collecting my kids Easter basket treats. We budget how much we want to spend per basket, cash the money out, and then that is what I use to shop with. Today I stuffed the baskets and will go buy cellophane bags to wrap them in. Over the years I have made sure to get each of my children the same large white wicker basket, which makes it easier all around for me to shop and gives everyone a fair amount of goodies.

Shopping and stuffing baskets for five kids on a budget is no easy task, so I thought I would share some of my ideas with you.

 (**some of these I am doing and others are over our budget, but I wanted to give a variety of ideas):

  ~Play Jewelry.

~Pink or purple Peeps.

~Princess puzzles

~Barbie toothbrush

~Pink foil wrapped chocolate bunny

~Snap bracelet

~Sunglasses

~Hair accessories

~Earrings if her ears are pierced

~Ring pop

~Jump rope

~Water colors

~Jellybeans

~Stickers 

~Pez dispenser

~Mini princess dolls

~Markers or crayons

 ~Small nerf gun

~Backpack hand sanitizer

~Angry Birds puzzle

~Super hero toothbrush

~Colorful shoe laces

~School pencils and fun erasers

~Temporary tatoos

~A watch

~Match box cars

~Bouncy balls

~Cookies n Cream chocolate bunny

~Baseball cards

~Growing dinosaur eggs (that you put in water)

~Large gummy chicks

~A book

~Glow-in-the dark swords or ceiling stars

~Yo-yo 

~A slinky

~Sippy Cup

~Board book

~Small stuffed animal

~Little chocolate bunny

~Toddler spoon and fork

~Sidewalk chalk

~Bubbles

~Under pants

~Fruit snacks

~Hair accesories or a baseball cap

~Applesauce pouches

~Play cell phone

~Light up spinning toy

~Chunky crayons

~Cotton candy package 

~Playdough

~Clementines

~ A DVD

~Cash in a large Easter egg

~Reese's or Snickers chocolate bunny

~A razor & shaving cream

~Brush or hair pick

~Toothbrush/toothpaste

~Mechanical pencils

~Quarters in an egg for school vending machine

~A lanyard from their favorite college

~Bumper stickers

~Wallet

~Card games

~Their favorite snack or bottle of gatorade/soda flavor

~Gum

~Body wash and new sponge

~Magazine subscription

~Itunes giftcard

~A Novel

~Cell phone case

So...there you have it. 

Hope you have as much fun as I do preparing Easter baskets for our kids. 

Now a bit on why I do this.

I know and my children know that Easter is not about the chocolate or the eggs. But I do these things and so many others because I believe that it is my role as their mother to create beautiful experiences and memories for them. Yes, we all have better things to spend our money on then plastic and candy. And yes, we are all tired and weary from all the demands of motherhood to add one more thing to our list.

But let us remember that receiving an Easter basket means more than "getting stuff". It is the symbol of a devoted mother who cherishes you so much that she took time and money to hand pick and prepare something elaborate with YOU in mind. 

That feeling is priceless.

Pastor John Piper's dad wrote a message about his mother in "A Memorial To Ruth, My Wife" by Bill Piper. He writes:

"Her beauty was that of expanded unselfishness. Her whole life was others, her loved ones, her friends, her neighbors and her church. She knew no resting place. The needs were endless and her devotion always equaled the demands. Deep weariness of mind and body never deterred her."

I pray to my Lord that this can be said about me.

I pray that God will continue to refine my attitude about the overwhelming stress of being a wife and mother to many, so that the legacy I leave behind can be one that brings honor to my family. I fail in this endeavor often. But I know that my Father's grace abounds for His daughter and He will complete the good work He has begun. I also pray this for all of you dear mothers who are weary and heavy laden with the demands that are upon your life. 

 "Deep weariness of mind and body never deterred her."

May we all find our joy in preparing those things that bring happiness to our families.

Go....Fight....PARTY!!

 The girls had their party this weekend celebrating turning six and two years old this month!

I did a Cheerleading theme with the colors being silver, blue, and white for the Dallas Cowboys.

 My dear friend Robin made the cupcakes and my mom made all of the paper decorations.

The centerpieces were paper doll cheerleaders in varying skin and hair colors with a bowl of silver hershey's kisses and a Cowboys pennant.

The party favors were "Spirit Sticks" of gumballs.

 Here are all the little girls that came.

 And here are the boys.

My precious five!!

Some of the family.

Aunt Beth (Billy's sister), Vivianna's bio grandmother, Nana (Billy's Mom), and Grandpa (my Dad).

 The children all decorated cheer posters.

 Time to blow out candles!

Then the cheerleaders I booked showed up to work with the girls on some cheers...

The cheerleaders were so sweet to bring all the girls highschool swag and to make personalized megaphones for the birthday girls. So much fun!

After the cheer routines it was time for presents.

 It was such a great birthday for our girlies!!

More photos:

Vivianna with her 8 year old birth sister.

The resemblance is wild.

Vivi at the end of the party with her birthmom and bio siblings.

Jasmine says "Thank you" to everyone who 

made her day super special. 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jasmine!!!!
Happy 6th Birthday, Vivianna!!!! 
We LOVE you.