In this sweet life: November 2013

November 28, 2013

Still Thankful

It has been a hard year.

But I'm still thankful, not just today, this Thanksgiving, but every day.

I'm thankful for friends who rallied around during some of the darkest days; each in their own way providing comfort.

I'm thankful for a husband who stood strong in the face of enormous pressure and held us together, even as his own heart broke.

Thankful for family who never one wavered in their faith and optimism; who provided arms to cry and confide in.

Thankful that my son has come through his own storm and emerged happy and whole.

And thankful that my daughter is choosing every day to rise above; to believe in good over evil; and proving with each moment her grace.

It has been a hard year.

But we are still standing. We are still blessed. And I am still thankful.

November 20, 2013

A Shopping We Will Go

Psst, a little elf just told me - only 35 days until Christmas! How's your shopping coming along?? Maybe I can help ...

I'm hosting an online gathering for Mary & Martha. I first became aware of the company (then called Blessings Unlimited) last year when finding vendors for the Girls Night Out event at Owen's school. As I looked at their offerings, I was very impressed by the quality and beauty of each piece; in fact they reminded me of the Southern Living at Home products that I had enjoyed.

I appreciate Mary & Martha's core vision as well; Love God and Love Others. Their philosophy of "Meaningful Entertainment ... Made Simple" encourages us to welcome people into our home for food and fellowship, and to do so with grace and ease. In addition, each of their pieces contains a message of blessing and love.

These are two of my favorite pieces. The Copper Luster Glass Pillar is so "glowy" and gorgeous in person. I can imagine so many uses for it, from centerpieces, to holding fruit, candles, candies, pine cones, shiny ornaments, cards, and on and on. I adore anything chalkboard, so the big (22 x 17!) Chalkboard Tray is right up my alley. Mary & Martha also offers books and puzzles for children, jewelry, and lots more home decor.

Sound like something you'd like? If so, take a moment to browse their online catalog by clicking here: Mary & Martha Catalog.

Even if you don't buy anything I think you'll enjoy the tips and photo inspiration, but if you do find that perfect gift or something you'd like to purchase for yourself, simply click below to shop online. Any questions, please let me know!

Shop Jodi's Mary & Martha Gathering

November 11, 2013

Not My Eyes or Smile, but My Whole Heart

November is ... Native American Heritage Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, COPD Awareness Month, National Novel Writing Month, National Blog Posting Month, Alzheimer's Disease Month, American Diabetes Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month, National Pomegranate Month, International Drum Month, National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, National Prematurity Awareness Month, Sweet Potato Awareness Month, and (whew!) National Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month.

But to me, above all else, November is National Adoption Month; and today, November 11th, is the anniversary of the first day we met Owen.

All month, proud parents in the Kazakhstan facebook group have been posting pictures. "Then" snapshots from the sometimes dizzying days of meeting their soon-to-be sons and daughters in the baby houses and maternity wards, and "Now" photos of beautiful, beaming, clearly loved children; often tagged with the line "look what love can do". Each new post makes me smile, makes my heart swell. I adore seeing the shining faces of these Kazakh kids and even more so delight in the joy I know they bring their parents.

Often times, well meaning folks will comment that Owen is "so lucky we adopted him". And I guess from a purely statistical standpoint, they're correct. Human Rights Watch recently reported that in Russia, of the roughly 15,000 children released from orphanages annually (because they were not adopted and "aged out"), some 10% commit suicide, 30% commit crimes and 40% are unemployed and homeless. I can't imagine the numbers from Kazakhstan are any better. It's heartbreaking.

But the truth that any adoptive parent holds close is that WE are the truly lucky ones. I believe that all children are a gift, and to those of us especially who chased paper and waited for years, who withstood delays and disappointments, who emptied bank accounts and took a flight of faith ... well, there is not a day that goes by that we don't feel blessed by our kids.

Yes, we've given Owen a warm home, nourishing food, a wide network of loving family and friends. But Owen has given me the ultimate gift. He made me a mom. And even as I dreamed and prayed for him, I had no way of really understanding what that meant, how very much that would mean, until that day I finally held him in my arms.

Being Owen's mom has given me a new role - one that I think is the most important on earth - new responsibilities and challenges (and yes, new worries and anxieties)! I've marveled in new experiences and met life long friends through both the journey and in this season of raising him.

Parenting Owen has allowed me to fully understand how much my own mom and dad love me. How their each and every decision was made in my best interest, and how very much they want the best for me.

Owen makes me laugh louder, try harder, believe more. He's such a joy to be around! So many times this year he has made me smile and begin again, even when the pain of the tragedy we face threatens to swallow the light.

Everyday, my son (oh, how I still love to write that word!) makes me see wonder, delight in small things, and cherish the moments. With him I get to relive cherished traditions of my own childhood, and create new ones that I hope he will one day treasure with his children.

Each time he hugs me, or reaches his small hand up to mine on the walk to the bus stop, I am grateful for my blessings. Every night I still gaze in wonder at his sweet sleeping face as I thank God for him. Owen has given me his heart; and I have gladly, joyfully, given him mine. Forever.

So you see, how could anyone ever think that I'm not the lucky one?

November 5, 2013

Where'd the Mechems Go Now?

Last week we headed north east, so this past Friday we pointed the swagger wagon south west and met up with our friends Marc, Le Anne, Rhys and Elloree in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Our home for the weekend was the Kieffer's RV, where we slept in comfort and ate campground gourmet - spice rubbed grilled chicken, Greek potatoes, cinnamon sugar biscuits and Persian kabobs - thanks to Marc, a fabulous chef (if you are ever in Charlotte, NC, stop by one of the three Mellow Mushroom restaurants Marc and Le Anne own).

Loved the whole experience of RVing. Watching the kids have a blast running around during the day and relaxing by the camp fire at night. It's refreshing to the soul to be surrounded by nature's beauty, kids laughing and playing without electronics, talking late into the evening with wonderful friends, then climbing into a warm nest (with plumbing!).

Yeah for Marc's cooking!!

Rhys and Owen making campfire biscuits

These two ... Le Anne and I say all the time
that they must be related. Or they are going
to end up married!

Natural Bridge State Park

The Natural Bridge is an amazing geological formation. The Cedar Creek carved a gorge in the limestone terrain, leaving a bridge arch (which you drive across on US 11) that is 215 feet high. And now for your free history lesson from Wikipedia:

The Natural Bridge was a sacred site of the Native American Monacan tribe, who believed it to be the site of a major victory over pursuing Powhatans centuries before the arrival of whites in Virginia.

Some believe George Washington came to the site in 1750 as a young surveyor on behalf of Thomas Fairfax. To support claims that Washington surveyed the area, some tour guides claim the initials "G.W." on the wall of the bridge, 23 ft. up, were carved by the future president. Legend also has it that George Washington threw a rock from the bottom of Cedar Creek over the bridge. In 1927, a large stone was found, also engraved "G.W." and bearing a surveyor's cross, which historians accepted as proof that he indeed surveyed the bridge.

Thomas Jefferson purchased 157 acres (635,000 m²) of land including the Natural Bridge from King George III of England for 20 shillings in 1774. He called it "the most Sublime of nature's works". Jefferson built a two-room log cabin, with one room reserved for guests, beginning its use as a retreat. While President, in 1802, he personally surveyed the area.

Natural Bridge was one of the tourist attractions of the new world that Europeans visited during the 18th and 19th centuries. Vacationing guests from all over the world took day trips from Natural Bridge on horseback or horse-drawn carriages to explore the countryside.

I don't think any of my pictures do it justice; it's really quite awe inspiring in person. We walked the whole Cedar Creek trail, stopping along the way at a recreated Monacan village and ending at the Lace Falls (and of course visiting the gift shop after!).

Modeling a little buckskin

Silly Le Anne

Wax Museum and Factory Tour

Can't pass up a tacky tourist attraction (we are planning a trip out west to see the World's Largest Ball of String!), we next visited the Wax Museum.

Bette Davis. But who has her eyes?
Bonus points if you got the musical reference

Photo for Bob's family - Robert E Lee (center) is a relative

The Natural Bridge Caverns

And then we went underground - 34 stories underground! I learned from our summer trip to the caverns in Wisconsin that stalactites and stalagmites look mostly like mud on pictures, but I couldn't help myself from snapping some anyway.

Marc and Le Anne - love these two!

Don't let it fall Bob!

Virginia Safari Park

This might have been the highlight of the trip. Well, if you consider camel slobber as hysterical as Le Anne and I did! The Virginia Safari Park is a 180-acre drive-through park with animals from 6 continents. We had so many laughs as bold, curious, funny animals stuck their heads in the RV looking for food.

The petting zoo was really good too; a wide variety of animals with well maintained grounds and friendly keepers.