In case you aren't on my email list...he-he

It took Gabe and I an hour an a half to make guacamole yesterday. Not
to mention the 45 minute trip (due to traffic) to the store to pick up
our handy dandy Trader Joe kit that has all the ready to purchase veggies all together. Gabe
somehow was not as excited about the guacamole as I was and was less
than thrilled to be buckled to the cart despite my vroom noises and
aisle dancing. And back to the preparing...this is also not mentioning
the packaging time, the shipping, the harvesting, watering, tilling,
and planting time that went all into this guacamole.

And I haven't even talk about the chopping time with my really dull knife,
Gabe wanting to help and me thinking it was a good idea for him to sit
on the counter and watch me. he-he-he. I was pretty excited for Eric to
run to the fridge and kiss my toes for all of my loving. Turns out he
had eaten pizza at work and wasn't hungry for the guacamole at all.

What is your point Abby?  I often ask this to myself.  This sure is a
special time of the year. I am convinced that God has put a little
bubble around Christmas to keep it filled with the joys He intended for it despite the material
butchering that has been done to it. Neat to think that this joy is meant for all year long.


The joy comes when it isn't about me and how I can feel by giving and decorating and cozzying and
caroling...cause even though my motivation starts for others, it sure is revealed to me to be tainted. (when I huff and make Eric feel bad he
ate already...cause if it was about him then I would have been happy he wasn't feeling hungry......:)

There is good in preparation I am finding. :) selfless preparation. We have been trying to do more
worship this year. Not a guilt trip for spending or baking or
decorating or eggnogging...but that all those things can filled with
even more joy when the focus is out of thanks and praise to the manger
king. Cause my heart desires so much to honor the Bday boy, but it
seems like just about everything seems to get in the way of this.
Myself being the biggest hurdle. But I have hope knowing that most of
those obstacles can be part of the preparation and celebration when
done for our Immanuel; He sure is with us.

This video was put
together by several churches awhile back. Parts really struck
me...again not a guilt trip but an encouragement to worship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU



And
if there are some favorite versions of Christmas songs of yours you
would like to share to help focus and worship...please do...cause I of
course have some for you to check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWkiNa1nphY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lasUhPa07w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKZ5g6a5Ehs


And let me know what you have going on that others might enjoy and be encouraged by to prepare or relationalize their Christmas:
*Dec. 6th Christmas Concert at The Point of Grace                              2223 E. Kenwood
                            Milwaukee, WI  53211
*Caroling Dec. 7th and 14th with me, Gabe and some students to group homes in Milwaukee. Come join us :)
*Baking with your neighbor day. :)  You choose the day.
*http://www.elmbrook.org/articlelink.asp?iid=941
*Come and play with Eric, Gabe, and I. You choose the day. We will be here.
Have a memorable month.
Love you,
Abby

Loves like a hurricane....

This song has been on my top two list for a few months now. (that and wild thing) ..no really, I can't seem to get tired of it.(not wild thing, but the other one) You should check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI
The song talks about the greatness of Perfect love. It really is unbelievable. Really. Coming from a human perspective that is. My love gets annoyed when someone isn't listening to me while I am talking to them, gets frustrated at Gabe when he spills the contact solution that I gave to him to play with, only thinks about the lonely widowed neighbor when I see her, wonders why some people just don't get it.

Loves like a hurricane. intense. powerful. makes a lasting impact. touches everyone in it's path. I want to love like that. I want to be thankful like that. This week we'll be especially thankful together feasting on traditional foods (can't wait), making small talk with family members close or extended. Feeling thankful, maybe not feeling really thankful at all. Pretending to be, or not afraid to admit that we are not at all. I am amazed that God doesn't look at our sometimes half sincere thanks and sometimes not sincere and wonders what in the hay. Is broken . Or just wants to give up on us completely. Heaven knows why He doesn't. Cause I would have loved like a mild mist and then gone home. :)

Problems come a lot when I fake thankful. Problems come when I don't ask that to be taken away and am sorry for it. Problems come when I judge people for not being thankful and pretend I am never in the same boat. Problems come when I don't take the time to talk to them about what hurts or even just pray with them. Days when I don't feel the gratitude I wish I did, I am learning to go on my knees rather than blame the hungry children in Africa that are making me eat my lima beans or the loud neighbor that kept me up that "made" me crabby.... hold on for the next day (moment even!) and ask for a renewed heart, and every time He comes through. Every time . There is always something wanting to get in the way of our thankful, our peace, if we let it. Good thing nothing gets in the way of How he loves. Loves like a hurricane...

November things that prevented stealing my thankful (on top of thousands of others):
the 65 degree day on Gabe's first bday party
touch football with the fam
my latest hummus batch
november runs around the neighborhood
garbage men (we would be so stinky without them)
Eric leading me in prayer before we sleep
sleep (Gabe woke up only one time two days ago!!!!)
organic frozen blueberries only 1.49. (Gabe will eat anything with a blueberry on it)
fair trade stores
Bible study with grandparents
Friends who stop by to chat
Eric rearranging the kitchen adding a dishwasher
advent preparation
toe nail clippers (no explanation needed)
Gabe facing forward in the car
advice on how to handle temper tantrums in public
nieces and nephews
realizing when I am feeling sorry for myself (takes awhile)
parents who would give you their elbows and more
smells of thanksgiving
a truly thankful heart (whup whup)
sharing the joy and peace God gives to friends
kings on the corner with Eric
Gabe thinking everything is a baseball
craft places that help you make pottery


All for now. I wanted to get this down before I got too busy to be thankful on "paper". A whole other thing that gets in the way of my thanksgiving....but I won't go on.

Autumn

It is a remarkable time of the year. The way everything seems to prepare and plan accordingly for the next season to start. This year was even more remarkable sharing Autumn with a one year old. (one yesterday..:):) He stomped and smelled and fell in the leaves, waiting for mom and dad to join in. Not caring about the cold that has started settling in, or worried about what the winter may bring. Just thankful for ways to show his praise.

We were able to take a Sunday drive not too many weeks ago. The woods has always been one of my favorite places to visit. Sharing it with two adorable men has made it even more of a gift when I thought not possible. Gabe has been raising his little hands lately and saying whup whup with glee for just about anything. I could jump in the air or wave my hand. Daddy sneezes and Gabe lets out a Whup Whup!. So to Autumn drives, smells, pies, lessons, and preparations I will let out a whup whup~

Italian Scallion Wisdom

Blessings of this week in (R)October:
October rain on our roof (so soothing!)
Our roof (would be soggy without it!)
Eric's giggles
Eric recapping his day when he comes home
Gabe trying to tell daddy what happened in his day
Eric loving using his gifts at work (and getting paid doing it! gug)
Gabe!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (could write a book on that kid.....LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Listening to Christmas music in October (and July and August and september.....:)
Watching Gabe dance
Playing bingo with international friends (for work I add)
Playing tennis in October
My DNA group (ladies who keep me accountable to daily Bible study)
My feeling better brother after 2 weeks of flu :(
Sister visits (wouldn't be the same without them)
Eric being able to go to a Mustachio Bashio for a friend's bday party
Visiting with dear friends Julie and Becky who come to visit mid-week
Hairstylists that don't get annoyed with me for backing out of Gabe's first hair cut (couldn't do it)
Food drives
The immaculate color out there
Salty stuff ( I confess...I like salt)
I could keep going and going....and going.


But even though I could keep going....I completely forget all of God's promises, all of these blessings, all of the peace I know when under pressure and facing problems. As I was teaching our special needs the other night, the Italian Scallion blurted out (on Veggie Tales) that anyone can persevere when things are easy...this really isn't persevering in fact....but to persevere is to remember love and grace through hard times. Smart onion.

Gabe has been so healthy this week and I am on my knees in thanks. THe last month however wasn't like that. He was teething, drooling, not eating or sleeping, had sores inside and out of his mouth. So what did I do? Got mad at the nurses, Eric, and lots of other people. :) Even Gabe. Which I was so desperately afraid of. hmm.. I thank God for times to learn...times to be lifted when I sure don't know how to act. Crazy how I can be put up with. Thankful for another teething opportunity to show what I have learned...show how thankful I am.

Crackers

Gabe and I giggled a lot today. We were both almost in tears a couple times. I would hop around on one foot and say "crackers" and he would lose it everytime....then I would lose it. What a beautiful way to spend moments on a rainy day in October. Still have the fuzzy goosebumps. Time to snuggle on our eggplant couch with Eric. Grace upon grace.... Here are a few pics of my harvest hunks.

From an Egg to a Chicken

We can't pretend to do justice to explain the gift in our little boy Gabriel. God shouldn't have allowed us this gift. (If we were keeping tallies that is...thank God his grace doesn't work like human reason sees things.) But He did. And it was all apart of us since we were just a few cells. We met Gabe last November and haven't been the same since. And we never will be. His giggles could just about cure cancer. His growth makes us grow. His cries give us purpose. His fits highlight God's patience with us. His dependence teaches us responsibility. His trust teaches us trust. His love motivates. God's plan is remarkable, and grace sufficient.

Digging Potatoes

My Grandpa Joe has always been up there with Clark Kent in my eyes. He seems to transform to be the man for the job in most every situation. He is 87 now, and gets more done in a day then most. He has the wisdom of Solomon it seems. :) Yet gently voices it just at the right times and not for his recognition.

Gabe and I went to visit Grandma and Grandpa the other day along with my aunt Carolyn and cousin Tatum. The drive there brought Fall goose bumps offering more refreshment than a cold glass of lemonade in July. :) Yet the best part by far was being at the Floyd ranch on Mushroom road. Some would compare it to the Garden of Eden. (since their address really is Eden) We were welcomed by the fallen hickory nuts, the heavy laiden apple trees, Uncle Rich's 30 some cows, and the smell of late September. (Grandpa always says that the sun doesn't feel better than it does in late September. ) Grandma always greets us at the door with smiles, hugs, and kisses. Never once felt like I was taking up her time. Hospitality in the truest sense.

Grandpa was out in the garden with his pitchfork ish looking gizmo and his sturdy red walker. He makes due with the knees and hips that he has, shuffling along cautious he doesn't fall. I don't pretend to know the feeling of having a body that doesn't work like it used to. I look at Gabe and am thankful that he doesn't know the joys of being able to walk and run without falling. Because the frustration could be a bit overwhelming. But imagine our elderly who know exactly what once was and isn't anymore. God never designed our hearts and minds to struggle through such times. With what my grandparents and seen and done and still do today, I can't imagine what grandma and grandpa think when I complain of not having a washer or dryer or being stuck in traffic.

It turns out that grandpa was digging out his potatoes from his garden of Eden so that Carolyn and I could take some home. He spent practically all summer planting, weeding, watering, watching, waiting, and now harvesting....all so that he could dig up his and grandma's potatoes for someone who often times eats a chip without thinking twice about the work that went into it. I am sure that he set aside that whole morning so that he could get those potatoes out for us. Literally the whole morning. He disappeared just after lunch to go in the basement to get us some bags to put them in, put his shoes back on, shuffled back on out to the garden to pack up our potatoes.

If only I could always remember the thoughtfulness, selflessness, and love that went into digging those potatoes that morning...

Since Kindergarten

I thought that it was only appropriate to title our blog "since kindergarten" since God has allowed me to know the love of my life....since kindergarten. Not sure how many people can say that. I often think about the days of dodgeball and spelling bees wondering how often our paths crossed, glances given and words exchanged. Yet only One knew that we would be lifetime everythings. If I were Marty Mcfly, I would definately take the Laborian (or whatever their time machine was called) to Waucousta Lutheran Grade School in the early 90's. God couldn't have picked a better match for this heart. As we get to look at and live life together almost hourly, I seem to daily love even more than before how his hair lays, how his hands can palm a tire, how he rhymes for Gabe, nicknames all the neighbors, always takes me at my word, observes things I miss, has my weaknesses covered, and most importantly is faithful to His Savior. Many of my weaknesses are his strengths and my strengths, his not so strengths. His wit makes my tummy giggle. His dependability inspires me. His love makes me love more.

On Jan 5th of 07, he asked me to marry him on a mountain in China. I felt even closer to him when I could call him my husband, and even closer than that when I saw him become a father to this beautiful little boy named Gabriel. When my selfishness or his selfishness gets in the way of the purpose of our Union, God continues to bring us back and shape us to fit together even better than before. Life with Rosey cheeks (since we are the Roses) has offered so much undeserved joy that we couldn't have faked or imagined. And if I have learned anything about God's grace...it can only get better.

Korean Foster Moms

I was following a friend's incredibly inspiring and encouraging adoption story via her blog the other day. Normally I don't take the time to follow any blogs too closely. I am not sure why I don't, because I know I could learn a lot from the thoughts and stories of many. I guess my fear is lack of moderation. But back to the point. :) (You may become quickly annoyed by the ease that I use a smiley face...:) My fingers can't stop smiling.) Tears started forming in these miracle eyes (Eric teaches me more about these miracle machines weekly with his recently new Lenscrafters position) of mine as I saw my friends meet their son for the very first time. I rejoiced for the hearts of my friend. For the life of that little boy. As I studied the pictures through my happy tears, my heart quickly shifted to an ache. I ached for this tiny, beautiful lady in the backdrop of it all. In the caption below the picture, my friend pointed out that this lady who could hardly muster up the heart to be there, was the lady that had been taking care of little Josiah until my friends could come and pick him up. I cannot pretend to know the emotions and heart of this wonderful woman. Since November 5th of 08, when God blessed us (understatement) with our little son, Gabriel Rose, our hearts now know a bit more about what love truly is, and what love was created to be. And I can understand a bit more about why that Korean foster mom's heart hurt so.
This lady inspired me to write a blog for all the blessings and lessons and stories we go through just about hourly. If there wasn't a God (a gracious and loving and understanding God), this lady would be giving away love almost in vain. According to human reason, I mean. She spent months taking care of a little soul, and now this little soul wouldn't be there to hold or kiss. And maybe he wouldn't even remember her. And imagine how hard it may be for her to unfold such love again. But thanks be to God, who sees what is done in secret, in our hearts. He reaches out His hands to heal, to bless her for her love. He can mend her wounds. Josiah's life has been so blessed by her. So I dedicate this blog to Korean Foster moms. Take some time to think and pray about this lady.