The Classiest Woman

Long overdue blog post. One of my best friends, my grandmother, went home to be with the Lord this October.I read the following tribute at her funeral. We had "the long goodbye"...she has suffered from Alzeimer's for many years. I am truly so joyful she is now full of mind in the presence of her Savior.


I am sitting on a plane on my way to Dallas trying to formulate memories of my sweet grandmother into words I can read today. I am having a very hard time; this is a hard thing to do. Not because I don’t have memories, the fact is I have too many memories and too many words to describe the woman she was to me. All the words that I am coming up with seem way too simple, way too concise, to describe the magnitude of her life and her effect on me. Simply put: words can’t do her justice. When I think back on my childhood, all the special memories that come to mind include her. She is there in my mind and heart for every single one of them. I can’t just pick one, it is impossible. She was a very present, a very constant, and a very special part of my life from day one. For that I will be forever blessed, forever grateful, and forever changed.
1Corinithians 13: 4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. If anyone embodies this verse, it is my grandmother. She was the kindest, the sweetest, the gentlest, the most encouraging, and the most humble person I know. She loved well. She loved her Lord well. She loved her husband well. She loved her family well. She loved her co-workers well. She loved her church well. She loved her 5th grade Sunday School girls well. She loved me well. Her love and the way she showed love is one to emulate. She was truly inspiring.
Not only did she love me well, she was an extremely fun grandma. Weeks spent with her in the Summer were not complete without her amazing cooking. Her Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy on the side, and banana pudding will always be my favorite meal of all time. Many have tried to replicate this, but it is never the same. She also loved to shop, and every single trip we took to the mall ended with me getting a whole new outfit complete with shoes and accessories. These shopping trips lasted way into my teen years and I would always look forward to wearing my “Mee-maw” outfits. She loved all things girly, and would paint my nails in an array of bright pink colors and would let me put on her lipstick at an age I think was probably a little too early. My favorite books were her favorite books. My favorite movies were her favorite movies, and every time I see The Sound of Music, Anne of Green Gables, and Singing in the Rain, I am instantly transported back to her TV room curled up next to her, watching our favorite movies under a fluffy blanket, and drinking a Dr. Pepper float with Blue Bell ice cream, with Paw Paw snoring next to us on his chair.
When my mom called me with the news last week, the very first emotion I felt was Joy. Pure Joy. Joy that she is in the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ. Joy that she was with my grandfather again. Joy that she was of full mind. Joy that she was truly home.

This Girl

This Girl is JOY

This Girl is FEARLESS

This Girl is PRECIOUS

This Joyful,Fearless,Precious,Enchanting Girl of mine will be entering Kindergarten in three short days. A New Chapter.

*Ryann and I had a staycation of sorts this past week,in celebration of the last week of Summer.We enjoyed lazy days at the beach,we visited the zoo, we shopped for school supplies,we snuggled on the couch as we watched movies. It was a joyous week with my girl. I am most grateful to be her mother. She is truly a gift.

Summer 2012

Summer comes late to Seattle. A cool, rainy month of June slowly turned into a gloriously beautiful sunny skies filled July and August. It is during these months, that I often wonder why more people don't move to Seattle. There is really no better place to be in the Summer...It is so pretty and perfect, that I almost forget the rainy Spring, almost being the key word. Here is what we have been doing...

Our Summer began with a visit to Dayton, OH in order to visit the most beautiful baby in all the land, my gorgeous brand new niece, Emma Ruth Hentschel. We love her so much already, and had a fantastic, peaceful week cuddling this sweet, precious baby girl.

Ryann had her very first dance recital at the beginning of the Summer. Her tap class did a train conductor dance. The theme of the recital was transportation:) It was ridiculously cute. Of course, as eager parents of an only child at her first extra-curricular performance, we thought she was the best one;)

I know what you are thinking, why are there not more train conductors in this world with outfits like this?

gangsta train conductor?

Some of our Best Friends, The Woods, came to visit us in July. We love them so very much and it was such a delight to have them here with us. We miss them so much!

Barrett Wood always has been and always will be one of my favorite people in this world.

It was so fun getting to know Miss Caroline Wood. She is such a doll; I love the look she is giving Ryann in this picture. Caroline,I sometimes look at her this way too:)

Our July was capped off with a visit from Mark's parents. We were so excited to have Grandma and PaPa Lamb with us for a week. It was a fun-filled week that included: World Concern's Mud Run, The Lavender festival, a beach day, a zoo day, Downtown Seattle, and a vigorous hike to Bridal Veil Falls. We had so much fun, and are so blessed to have such wonderful, caring, parents. We so enjoyed our time with them.

So there you have it, a fun-filled Seattle Summer.

Olympic Fever

I am a little obsessed with all things Olympics. Alright, a lot obsessed. My sweet husband appreciates (I think) this quirk about me and surprised me last month with tickets to one of the final days of the track and field Olympic trials, which were being held in our neck of the woods this past weekend in Eugene, OR.
We had such a fantastic weekend in Oregon. I loved every second. Being that I ran track in high school, it was so fun, because I actually understood everything going on, which doesn't happen often when it comes to sports:)
Thank you, Mark. This was one for the memory book for sure.
These pictures are for Annie, my fellow obsessed friend.

Our seats were right in front of the high jump,which was so exciting

We saw the 110 meter hurdles final, here are the three going to the Olympics

Jackie Joyner Kersee handing out the medals to the Hepthalon Olympians

The highlight of the day was seeing Allyson Felix win the 200 meter final.

Such a FUN day! I was totally geeking out at all the Olympic things going on, Ryann, was a little less than enthused:)

Nine, Ten, and Eleven

*As of April 1, 2012, we have been waiting nine months
*As of May 1, 2012, we have been waiting ten months
*As of June 1, 2012, we have been waiting eleven months

It has been a long time since I have blogged. A friend asked if it was because I was sad that the adoption process was taking so long. The blog delay is not because of sadness, or anything like that, it just that I haven't had a chance to get around to it lately. But, that doesn't mean I don't think about our little one in Ethiopia a lot, a whole lot. Dear one,you are on our hearts everyday

As I reflect on nine months waiting on you, our little lady number two, my mind goes to 5 years ago, when I carried Ryann for nine months in my womb. It was nine months full of anticipation, excitement, and at times, anxiety. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was really uncomfortable, swollen, tired, impatient--counting the days when I would see her, the precious baby I had harbored for nine, long months.

I have carried YOU for nine months, in my heart. It has been nine months full of anticipation and excitement. Much like, telling my family and friends that I was pregnant five years ago, I was so very excited to tell our loved ones that we were indeed adopting YOU. Mark and I had talked for years and years about adoption, and it was so fun to tell everyone that we were acting on our hopes and dreams of adding you to our family.

These nine months have also been filled with anxiety. The highs of being finished with paperwork and being place on the official waitlist were quickly replaced with lows, as the wait times grew longer. and longer. and longer. I have shed many a tear, but have never doubted, not once, that this was the Lord's plan for our family. YOU are God's plan for us.

These past nine months have also been a tad uncomfortable. People, for the most part have been really supportive. They have asked really good questions, and have even asked how they can pray specifically for us,which has really touched me. A few people have asked really weird questions too...which is another post for another day. I love honesty, but some of the tones and implications behind some of these comments give me pause. Being somewhat uncomfortable is good for me. It has allowed me to really formulate answers and thoughts in my head and not just answer out of pure emotion, etc.

Finally, these past nine months have been filled with Peace, of all things. This has been a surprise to me, but oh so wonderful. I have such a peace about YOU. I love to just sit and think about you. We talk about you so very often. I pray for you. I pray for your mother. I pray for your father. I pray for your country. I pray for us. I pray for our country. I pray that we look to the Lord always as He designs and defines our family, that we will ultimately be His Family.


Nine Months Waiting with Little Lady #1



Nine Months Waiting for Little Lady #2

5

Ryann,
I have loved your 4th year of life immensely. I love watching you with your friends, at School, at Church, at AWANAs, at Ballet. I often arrive early at these places to pick you up...just to watch you. You love well, Ryann...Unabashedly, Extravagantly, Fiercely. It doesn't matter who the person is, how old they are, what they look like, where they come from, you instantly want to be their friend. I often describe you as aggressively friendly, but I need to change that because that term sounds way too negative because the love you show, my dear, is a love to emulate. You teach us so much everyday. We love you more than words could possibly express. Happy 5th Birthday, dear one.

Ryann and Her Palm Branch

Ryann sang in church yesterday. It was Palm Sunday. She loved her Palm branch and wanted to make sure it stayed right where it was supposed to be. I thought this was so funny, because I see so much of myself in her, especially as she straightens the palm branch over and over again. I especially love when the little boy has enough of the singing and exits stage right. It was like Ryann was saying, "Oh no, he didn't just mess up my Palm branch." :) I wanted to say to her, it is Okay. Things don't have to be just right all the time...but she has a lifetime to learn that, I am still learning that. Right now, I will let her love her Palm branch.
I love this age so much.

Seven And Eight

*As of:
Feb. 1, 2012,we have been waiting 7 months
March 1, 2012, we have been waiting 8 months

No letters these past two months. I couldn't do it, been in a funk.To be honest, these last two months have been really difficult, struggling with the wait. Struggling, yet KNOWING that this is the Lord's timing, not our own. However long we have been waiting, we have so much more to go...it seems like it will go on FOR-EV-ER. In reality and in the big scheme of things, this wait is just a blip in time...but this blip of "in-betweeness" is slightly maddening and lonely sometimes...just keepin it real.

Six.

** As of January 1, 2012, we have been waiting 6 Months.

To Our Daughter,
Half a Year! We have been waiting half a year for you, little one. This month, I want to focus on how great your father is. He is handling this wait much better than I am. Sure, he gets impatient like I do, but he is far more calm, and can really see the big picture. He is like this with the adoption, as well as every other area of life. We are opposites. I get completely absorbed by details, and he can really see the end game. His eternal perspective is inspiring. I need him in my life. If he wasn't here to balance out my type A self, we would all be a mess. I am always amazed how the Lord has matched us up perfectly.
He really is the best husband.He is so good on knowing how to love me. He tells me everyday that I am beautiful, even if my insecure self has a hard time believing him. I am so incredibly thankful for him and his leadership of this family.
He really is the best dad. He and Ryann have such a sweet relationship.Ryann looks forward to his return home from work every night. He plays pretend with her every single night. It is the highlight of her day. I often think it is the highlight of his day as well. They are two peas in a pod, sharing the same face (I think they look so much alike) as well as sharing the same silly personality traits. I love how he loves Ryann. I look forward to him having a relationship with you too. I know he will love you so well.

Some of my favorite pictures of Mark

1. Travelling and learning about loving other cultures well makes Mark so very happy.

2. Mark and Ryann being silly. This was a big day, the day where we were fingerprinted and filed all our paperwork with Citizen Immigration Services. It was a big milestone,for sure.

3. Mark and Ryann on one of their Daddy/Daughter dates. This was when he took her to see the musical, Mary Poppins...I don't know which one loved it more.

4. Mark and Ryann at a Seattle Mariners game last Summer.Love.

Five.

Merry Christmas from the Lambs: Mark, Erin,Ryann Cate, and Waiting Patiently for #2 from Ethiopia.

**Way behind on posting, so let's all pretend the date on this post reads December 1, 2011**
To our Daughter,
You have been on my mind so much this month. Christmas is a time for family. We consider you already a part of our family and felt like we had to represent you in our Christmas card this year. Ryann wanted to put your name on the card as well,but we don't know what we are going to name you yet, little one...although Ryann has a different name for you each week. The name of this week in Ryann's mind is Jane, after the little girl in Mary Poppins, one of her absolute favorite movies. We all actually love the name, Jane, but we are waiting to officially "meet" you(get a referral) before we decide on a name for you. We talk about you so very often, Ryann and I often wonder and talk about what are you doing at a specific moment.She told me just today, that she (Ryann) is getting to be such a big girl and will help me out all the time with you when daddy travels all over the world. That is a good thing about this long, long, long, wait...Ryann is growing older too. She is understanding more. Throughout all of our conversations about you, she seems to be "getting" it. It truly is a beautiful thing. A precious reminder, that my timing is not "it". I like neat little boxes, checklists that correspond with my timeline for my life. But, Nope, that is not what the Lord has for our family. He has called us to adopt. A process that definitely is not in a neat little box with a neat little checklist. And that is a good thing. A very good thing. It is leading us to YOU. A question I got a lot this Christmas was if we thought that we would have you by next Christmas 2012. I had to say over and over again,"I don't know." That's the truth, I have absolutely no idea, and I am okay with that, today. The Lord knows...and He has proved over and over to me that His ways are best and "it"