Where has my baby gone?

Mya (22 mo) has been interested in sitting on the potty for a couple of months now probably part of being a 4th child. She can now say pretty much whatever she wants to, and often repeats phrases, songs, etc complete with intonation. Yesterday, she kept saying "potty, potty" so Zach sat her on and sure enough she went (and with a dry diaper). We thought, oh, that's a nice fluke. Today she did it again!! Sounds really nice doesn't it. She also asked about 3 more times to sit on the potty with nothing happening so we'll see, she might just like the time by herself :). As great as it would be to not have to do diapers anymore, I'm really not ready to start potty training. But, who knows, maybe Mya will train herself! :) She all of the sudden seems completely a toddler. Where has my baby gone?

A real snap shot of adoption

Here is a must read post about adoption by my friend Shadley.

One thing I resonated with, "parenting is not for the faint of heart." It is hard regardless of if the child is biological, adopted, foster, or a step child. But oh, what a gift they are, not only in the times of joy, but also in the times of trial and struggle. May we support and encourage one another in this all important endeavor of parenting and adoption.

Goodwill, Craigslist, and Garage Sales

One of my favorite things to do is to transform something used and old into something beautiful (or at least useful). This paired perfectly with having a fund to use for decorating and furnishing our house (from downsizing in Albuquerque) and having a summer with relatively few outside responsibilities. The kids and I had fun going to garage sales, goodwill, and getting on craigslist to find great deals and then completing projects like refinishing dressers, mirrors, coat racks, tables, and pictures (Oil brushed bronze spray paint is my friend!) or finding the perfect storage for our school room and toys. We'll give a tour or our house in a later post, but here is a taste of our summer...

4th of July

Ok not going to make it through the summer by the time school starts (already 1 week down :)). 4th of July weekend we had Zach's sister and family up. It was a fun time of crazy unpacking and getting settled in our house but we still at least managed to get in some sparkler time with the kids.

Steven Curtis Chapman Music Video

My dear friend, Shadley sent me this link. It is Steven Curtis Chapman's music video called "Meant to Be" which is in the upcoming Veggie Tales movie. I have to admit that I got a little teary the first time I watched it (ok and maybe the 2nd). Two reasons, one it is about adoption and two, our friends are in it! How fun is that! They sent in a video and pictures to Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's organization that gives grants for adoption) when they adopted Esias. Dan, Shadley, and Esias are the first family shown in the video when they were in Ethiopia and then it also shows their kids (Eden, Elly, and Esias) in the teal shirts later on in that same chorus. Check it out! I really have no idea what the Veggie movie is about but it is called "It's a meaningful life" and comes out October 2.

Relaxin' With Emers in the Sled on a Hot Day

Life at the Clootens

In Madison at last! We lived with our friends Matt and Allison Clooten, along with their adorable girls Madison and Ruby (age 6 mo at that point) the whole month of June. Are you already getting the picture of what amazing people they are, taking in our chaotic family for an entire month!

It was a huge blessing to be able to live together for so long. Allison and I got to tackle lots of projects (she's speaks my love language :)) in the midst of caring for 6 children age 7 and under, stay up late talking, watch movies, geek out on Apple products, do art projects, fly chalk dragons in their driveway, Craigslist shop, fill up their garage with our home purchases, build huge lego ships, see their girls sit up on their own (my kids loved being the helper "big kids"), and further solidify our friendship as "family".

We love you Clootens! Thanks so much for your hospitality and friendship!

Our Journey to Madison

We left Madison on Friday, May 28th (the day after school was out and going away open house at Greg and Caitelen Schneeberger, of course no pics) and then spent the weekend with Eric and Rosie Hansen in Denver. It was a wonderful time of catching up with old friends (yes, of course no pictures:)). We then made the looooong trek to Sioux Falls, SD (Mya was not a big fan and screamed at various times and pretty much the last hour of our 12 hours drive) to spend a couple of days with my sister and fam. The kids had a blast with their cousins, but we on the other hand may have worn them out :). We spent the next few days in Minnesota with my parents and then finally arrived in Madison on Friday, June 4th. It was a very fun way to make the trip across country, visiting people we love on each leg of the trip.

Loving our time with the Wordens (for some reason I only have pictures of my kids and Emily :()






Fun at the Dam by my parents house in Hastings, MN. We got to see a huge barge come in and dock. The kids were enthralled!

Beachtime! Our kids were loving the water back in the midwest!

Going away party with our home group

One of the best parts of Albuquerque (oh there were so many, from friends, to a growing culture of adoption, to a new school, to jazz, to PA education, to green chili, and the list goes on...) was our home group. There were 14 of us who met weekly to learn from scripture together, pray together, and just do life together. I LOVE this group of people and are so thankful for them in our lives. Here is a party they through for us and the Andersons who were moving to Ft. Worth, TX. Of course, I don't have any pictures from our other going away parties, which may be a good thing any way (I increasingly became more teary with each :)) We played guys vs. girls Catch Phrase, always a fun, competitive, crazy time!

Encouragement for mothers

I started our first day of homeschool today and all in all it has gone pretty well. I am trying to see it less as a goal and more of a lifetime. I want our very lives to be about education, in all spheres and facets of our kids lives', and not merely about getting through a curriculum or particular school year. This will remain true whether our kids are at home, in public, or private school. But for now, it is much more hands-on and I need to remember to enjoy it!

Along with my very encouraging post from my husband, I found this post on the Girltalk blog to be extremely helpful in encouraging and giving perspective. Listen to these words and moms remember what our lives are truly about...

Just another ordinary day in the life of a mom. But so often, I go through these ordinary days far more aware of what I am giving than whom I am serving.

I need my gaze lifted beyond my daily duties to my eternal mission as a mother. In his book, Womanly Dominion, Mr. Chanski brings us encouragement right where we need it:

“There she sits exhausted on the edge of her bed, her face in her hands, wondering, “Where's the glory in this?”

She needs something more empowering to keep her going.

She needs to gain and maintain the deep conviction of the glory, honor, and nobility of selfless service. This she finds at the foot of the cross, looking up to the One who earned for Himself “the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9), by “emptying Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” (2:7), humbling “Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:8). There she beholds her Savior who mopped up the damning vomit of her own sin with the precious sponge of His perfect life and atoning death. The love of Christ constrains and compels her to press on (2 Corinthians 5:14). The Spirit of Christ empowers her” (pp. 120-121, emphasis mine).

Are you having a hard time being “the hub” today? Then "fix your eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2-3), ask Him for help and strength, and thank Him for the honor of being a mother.

First Day of School

Today my wife begins school with our 2nd grader and kindergartener.  This is no small task in the light of the fact that there will be a 3-year-old and 2-year-old orbiting around at all times as well.

Simply said, my wife is a champ.  She has more courage, patience, intelligence, and energy than I do.  I would be lost without her.  I praise God that we get to raise our kids together.  I have so many weaknesses that she makes up for that it give me at least a little hope that our kids might end up ok.  :)

Kim, I love you and am beyond thankful for you.

Swimming Spaz

Egyptian Feast at Oak Grove

As most of you know, we were involved with a start up school, Oak Grove Classical Academy which we absolutely loved. It is amazing to see what God has done through and in our little school and it was/is one of the hardest things for me to leave behind in Albuquerque (other than all of our sweet friends). Since it is a classical school, the kids study history chronologically so 1st grade was OT and Ancient Egypt. Here are pictures from their Egyptian feast to celebrate a good year in 1st grade with Mrs. Oertel. We also had an end of the year celebration with the full school where each grade recited something special from their class (first two pictures with the kids in their school uniforms).

Cute Pics of Mya at the Kinneys

We spent a lot of time outside in the Kinney's great backyard. Here is Mya and Emery in their "paint smocks" which the kids also used as their "explorer gear" to go out and catch bugs and explore the outside. Also cute pics of Mya playing with the dollhouse.

Where has the summer gone?

I can't believe that summer is coming to a close! It has gone so fast, yet so much as taken place. My goal is to catch up on posting pictures from the summer before we start school on Monday, so get ready for the fast, furious, and somewhat incomplete tour of what has been happening in the Nielsen household:)

Here are our last few weeks in NM :( We lived with our dear friends the Kinneys for our last month, celebrated Emery & Zach's birthday (and also Cris and Cindy Kinney's), completed preschool, 1st grade, spent lots of time with friends, and said many sad goodbyes. We have missed our friends in Albuquerque tremendously and would love visitors in the far off north (hint, hint to any of you still in the desert :))

Here is one of the important events in May...

Autumn's preschool graduation
Autumn did great in preschool. She was in the Red Birds at Paradise Hills Methodist Preschool and loved her teachers, Ms. Dawn and Ms. Michelle. At the end of the year they ask them a bunch of questions about themselves and this was her reply:
Favorite color: gold
Favorite food: pizza
Favorite Toy: Barbies
Favorite song: Jesus loves the little children
What she learned at preschool: colors
What she will learn in Kingergarten: math
What she wants to be when she grows up: ballerina (she actually tells me: ballerina, soccer player, and mom :))








I love all of her proud faces! She can't wait to start Kindergarten.