Lunch with friends

So I agreed to treat my girls to an Orange Lunch: macaroni & cheese, mandarin oranges and carrots. (Though, I forgot the carrots!!)

The girls decided to set up a picnic in the living room.

Special guests included:
Puppy, Sydney, Horsey, Katelyn and Baby Emma.

All in a days work for the Adams girls. Gotta love it!!

Family Play Time

I love that my kids look forward to playing with Daddy when he gets home from work.

The other day, the girls invited him to play Duck, Duck, Goose with their "buddies" (stuffed animals.)

Meanwhile, Austin was up a nearby tree!!!

I love my family!

Attachment, Isaiah and God

Over the last few years, I have been learning a lot about "attachment."

It is common for kids who have been in foster care or are adopted to experience some form of Attachment Disorder. As an adoptive parent, I have a felt need to understand it more fully.

Attachment Disorder is defined as the condition in which individuals have difficulty forming lasting relationships. They typically fail to develop a conscience and do not learn to trust. They do not allow people  to be in control of them due to this trust issue.

What causes this? It can be fairly simple...

                                        (To see more, click here.)

The baby in the first cycle, learns to EXPECT the care-giver to meet needs. The baby in the disturbed cycle learns to EXPECT that the needs will NOT be met.

As I have studied this, I have learned that the brain does not develop properly. The child feels neglected in the moment and the brain never learns to respond as a normal brain does. The brain development is compromised with long-lasting effects. The good news, it can be retrained.

Why am I rambling on about this?
Well, this week I have been contemplating my attachment to my Father, God.

It started with my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) lesson. The notes on Isaiah 1, talked about how Israel was God's child by a deliberate choice on God's part. In other words, God adopted Israel.

Isaiah 1:3 talks about an ox and a donkey each knowing it's master. Even a simple-minded animal forms attachment. Yet, Israel does not attach to God. They hardly recognize God's provision for them.

Why? They did not trust God to meet their needs, so they stopped crying out to Him.

Let's backtrack:
In Genesis, God created man & woman. They were in perfect communion with the Father. Then that darn "apple" was eaten! Sin entered the world. Suddenly Adam & Eve were detached from the Father. Sin separated them.

So, what happened?
Adam & Eve had a need - they could have cried out to God, but instead tried to take care of it themselves- the need was not met- trust was not developed.

And so this cycle was inherited by us all:
We all have needs- we try to meet them ourselves (through media, other people, food, pleasure) - but that need is never met, we are left wanting- we learn not to trust anyone.
The cycle begins again.

What's more, just like a child with attachment disorder, we fail to develop a conscience and do not learn to trust. We do not allow God to be in control of us due to this trust issue. 

Yet, just as a brain can be retrained to develop attachments (painstaking work, but possible,)  so can our wills be retrained to develop attachments with our Father.

It all goes back to crying out to have our needs met. We have a God who is perfect. He WILL meet our needs- WHEN we CRY out to Him.

Healthy Spiritual Attachment Cycle:
We have a need- we actually take it to the Lord- He will ALWAYS meet that need- trust develops.

How much easier will it be next time to take it to the Lord?  We will soon EXPECT him to meet our needs.

Oh Lord, help me to take every need to you as I KNOW you meet my every need. Help me trust you fully. Attach me to yourself.

Move that Bus!

Oh yeah- you may have heard the buzz..... Extreme Makeover Home Edition (EMHE) came to town!

I have to admit that enjoy watching the show when I can. Often, I turn it on just in time for the "reveal." Just in time to shed some tears (every time!)

Well, to see it first hand... overwhelming.

EMHE came to the Oregon School for the Deaf. They built a new residence hall and then remodeled their haunted house: the main fund-raising tool for the school.

Here some glimpses into their week in town....
1. I actually teared up when I saw a plane flying over heading with a banner stating "Good Morning Oregon School for the Deaf!"

2. The bus pulled up to surprise students, staff and friends at a picnic. My friend, Genie was attending the picnic and got to be surprised! I can't even imagine!

3. Kerick (as well as many friends of ours) were able to volunteer some time. He said it was amazing how everything was organized.

4. Some of the students were sent to Minnesota to go to a hearing clinic and get hearing aids- many for the first time. An ASL interpreter from our church accompanied them. I can't wait to talk with her about it!

5. Our other friend, Araya, also interpreted here. She told me she was amazed by the generosity of the people helping students with hearing aids.

6. Then, one of my favorite stories is about our friend Kara. She was able to get a free hearing test from the EMHE group. She knew she had hearing loss and sort of drug her feet to go. She had no idea that they would fit her with state of the art hearing aids for Free! She just got her "new ears" on Friday and FULLY heard her kids' voices for the first time! sweet!

7. I drug the kids over for the big "reveal" of the dorm.
Let's just say- there was a lot of waiting....

But the time finally came to Move That Bus!!!
The cameramen positioned themselves....

The bus drove to the side....

The students and staff rejoiced! The hands waving is the sign language for clapping!

Even though we were in the non-VIP section, I wouldn't trade it. We could actually see them react. I can't wait to watch the show (Oct. 31) and see more of the story.

First Day 2010

Well- it is here again.... the first day of school!

This year, EVERYONE (except Mommy) is at the same school.

The kids were up early, sporting their new clothes. Before long, they had on their backpacks and were sitting on the couch ready to go!

When we got to school, both girls gave Daddy big hugs when we arrived at his classroom.

Austin was excited to be in his room by the recess door! When I asked him what he was looking forward to her said, "I might get to have THREE recesses!!" (Dream on buddy!)

Sierra & Savannah each headed to their classroom for a day of assessments and meeting friends. Their actual first day of school is not until next week. They were both very excited!

After school, we got ice cream!!! A special day = a special treat!

Someone asked Austin what his favorite part of the day was. He said, "Just being at school and with my teacher." Awwwww.

Sipping coffee

I was driving down the highway and suddenly it hit me... I need to set up a coffee date with my best friend.

I love building relationships. Perhaps you know what I mean. I love curling up on the couch with a good friend, sipping coffee and asking questions. I absolutely LOVE asking questions and listening to people's answers. People are interesting! I learn so much! And the more I know someone, the more I like them. (Almost always, anyway.)

So I got to thinking about my best friend.

We have done some great things together lately. We have served, encouraged and helped others. We have played together with my family - fun stories! My best friend even taught me some amazing lessons about what it means to love God and love others. We have had a good summer.

And yet, suddenly it hit me... we need to have coffee. We (or maybe just I) have been so busy DOING, that I have not spent time KNOWING. I mean, doing is good. Serving is good. Loving is good. Yet, the more I KNOW, the more motivated I am to do, serve and love.

So....

Dear Jesus,
We need a date. Let's catch up.
I want to know you more. 
The coffee's on.

Wet fun!

Several weeks ago we took a family camping trip to Wallowa Lake. Despite the unusually rainy weather- we had a great time! (The sun did shine now and then!)

We were blessed to stay in a yurt for the first time. It was pretty sweet! (Though, we do love our tent!) We were so thankful to not have to set up our tent in the rain upon arrival.

Highlights included: swimming & throwing rocks in Wallowa lake, playing in the creek, seeing "deers," riding bikes, S'mores around the campfire, the "fire ants" by our yurt, playing on the playground, using
"regular" flush toilets (Savannah's favorite,) and just being together.

On the long drive home, the kids kept asking to swim. So at 7:30pm, we pulled across the Columbia River into Washington. We let the kids go in the river with their clothes on. They were thrilled!

Rain, lake, creek, river = wet fun!

Fun summer

Clearly, one highlight for my kids this summer was.... the new play structure!

The kids drew pictures of what they dreamed of in a play structure. Then, my amazing husband drew up plans and went to work!

He sawed, hammered and took many a trip to Home Depot. The whole family helped out... hammering, painting... and encouraging Daddy all along the way!

Last week, the kids strutted their stuff for Grandma and Grandpa- while wearing their special Sunday clothes!

Great times!  I love my family!

Quick update

We spent the last week serving at an elementary bible camp. Here is a quick overview...

Austin was a camper for Primary Camp (half the week)- his first overnight camp! Fortunately, Daddy was his counselor. They hit the pool twice a day. The water slide was a definite highlight!

Sierra & Savannah were fortunate to have times with their own personal assistant, Amanda. They swam, hiked, did crafts, and, of course, ate candy from the canteen! When I first met Amanda she was about the age of Sierra & Savannah. It is always fun to see kids grow into amazing young adults.

My highlight was an afternoon moment by the river... the same river Kerick was baptized in when he was a camper. I was prepping for my talk that evening, studying a familiar verse. I left that time excited about what the Lord taught me and gave me to share.

As always, I was thankful for the opportunity to lead music and worship. We met in the same room where Kerick and I were married almost ten years ago!

I am still processing lessons from the week. Hope to share more in depth later.

Hold me Accountable?

Well- it has been almost a whole year since I updated this blog. And, though she does not know it, my niece inspired me to begin again. She has committed to update her blog once a week.

So, Leslie. I hereby take that challenge! (That you did not know you proposed!)

My new goal: one update a week. The idea is to provide at a least a quick update of our life. To provide insights, funny stories, and a glimpse into the adventures of the Adams' Family! I hope all you friends and family from far away can feel a bit more connected to us here in Oregon.

As usual, I am feeling a little overzealous....

I have been wanting to share recipes. I added a Facebook business page at "Carol's Cooking with Demarle." So far I have posted pics and a recipe. But it seems limiting. It appears that starting a blog for my business is the way to go. Then I can link my Facebook page to my blog.

So I hereby declare my second goal: one business update a week on my second blog. (Name yet to be confirmed!)

So- will you hold me accountable? Will you help me reach my goals? I respond well to encouragement!!

Looking forward to the year ahead!