What Rebecca Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Happy "60th" Birthday Again

In timely fashion, I wanted to wish my dad a Happy Birthday. With Faith's surgery on Wednesday and his birthday on Thursday it seemed rushed and not given it's proper due. I usually make a really big deal out of birthdays as a way to celebrate the one day that belongs to that person. So taken from my friend Classic mama, I am choosing to honor him here on my blog. The top ten things I love about my Dad:

10.) The funny way that he says "doesn't matter", especially when working on projects.....and mostly he right....Doesn't matter.

9.) I love your sense of humor...and the fact that you still laugh at your own jokes.

8.) I love that even though you always worked when I was little, that it was for us to have a better life, and on the weekends I can remember special times to Granny and Pappy's. My favorite photo is David in the wheelbarrow and me on your lap in our backyard.

7.) I love that when I called to tell you that I was pregnant with Adam, you said Good, and in those words I knew you were just as happy as I was.

6.) I remember the time we were heading to Aunt Carolyns for Thanksgiving, and you kindly asked, Did you check the oil in the car? Oil? what oil? And you mumbled under your breathe, my oil stick dry as a bone, poured the oil and said Let's go. Who knew about oil?

5.) That my children, love you and adore you. PopPop is a favorite in our house, and we remember him in our prayers nightly.

4.) I love that no matter when I call you and ask you what I should do like home repair, and you tell me to call someone else, that you come up anyway and check on it, or do it yourself. Your drive to help others has taught me to do the same.

3.) I love that you Love Mom after 39 years of marriage.

2.) I love that on my wedding day when I was getting my make up on, you came to my room and said "you know, just because your getting married today, doesn't mean I won't be here for you. I'll always be here for you kid, just ask."

1.) The top thing I love about my dad, is he is my dad. The Lord has given him to me and I am so grateful.

So, Happy "60th" Birthday Again Dad!

Picture Day

So, on Monday before "Baby" would have her surgery this week, my husband and I took the kids to Sears for their photos. Kinda comical considering I am right on time with "Baby's" pictures. She turned 2 in November and here I am in March getting the photos....funny last year's excuse was the adoption, this year I simply have no excuse but sometimes I am lazy.

Here are the photos! Enjoy

Easter Egg Hunting

So yesterday, I packed the two children into the car and drove almost two hours to a friend's house for an Easter Egg Hunt. This hunt is the best one in town. Not only do we get fabulous prizes, but the FRIENDSHIP that we made with these people will last a lifetime as we are connected through our daughters. Loreen and Dan are two fabulous people we met while traveling to China to adopt our daughters. Their daughter, along with another couple (who we love), and Faith all belong to the same orphange. So I will follow with another post of the blessings of these wonderful people, all of the great friends that we met on this journey, I wanted to just quickly show a photo of the girls of Feng Cheng.

Friday!

So, today like every other day, I pack up the kids into the car very early, drop at daycare and then head to work. Today at work, I decided to take 15 minutes to hang some pictures in my office. So as I look at the photos on the wall, I am drawn to the one with Bill, Eric, TT, BB, AA and myself. If my memory serves me correct AA was 6 months in age. This photo is a great memory for me. One, because it reflects all of us at the season in our life, and two because I remember the kids putting on Santa hats, thinking that it was all a bit corny, but did it for their "Stepmother".
I like to look at that time, the smiles on the photographs and ponder where was I then, and where am I now. Easy to saw...grown. You see, when looking on that photo, I realize that I have done alot of wrong in my life when it comes to my children and step-children. I remember a time when I wanted it my way...all the time. Adjustments had to be made, in order to to blend our family and make the household non stressful. I can honestly say from my standpoint, that stress has turned into joy.
So here are some things I have learned:
1.) Expect the unexpected. Letting go of my preconceived expectations for my relationships with Eric, Tanya and Brandon, and realize that I was bound to encounter surprises - both good and bad - as we got to know each other. Rather than trying to fulfill my own agenda, I have committed my relationships to God and trust Him to lead all of us.
2.) Don't try to replace your stepchildren's natural mother, instead I seek to be a friend. This was the hardest to learn, but having learned this, took the pressure off of me and them by simply being me rather than trying to be someone I wasn't. I now know that my role as a stepparent is important, and that I am in a unique position to lend perspective. Refraining from criticizing their mother - even when I disagree with choices - remembering that my stepchildren love her and I need to respect them.
3.) I now view my stepchildren as God sees them - people made in His image that He dearly loved. Realizing now that they are a gift to ME !!!! Their relationships have blessed me and make me who I am today.
4.) Have some patience Becki!! Acknowledge the pain my stepchildren have suffered due to the divorce of their natural parents, and know that it will take some time for them to adjust to the situation. I know that it is every child's wish to have their parent's together, and I was an obstacle. Met with resistance alot of times, I feel short of the grace of God and was inpatient and insensitive.
5.)Make myself more AVAILABLE! I have always tried to have availability for my children, doing activities with them, and taking them places. I just wish there was more of this. I wish that I did more one on one to show them how special that they are to me.
6.) Love them unconditionally. As a model of how God loves us, so shall we love others.

So today, my prayer is that when they look at the photos of the family, they remember the silly Santa hats, the smiles, the joy that we shared. As we continue in the seasons of our lives let them remember the good times and just how very much I love all of them.

Tagged for What If

Since Classic Mama tagged me, I feel honered that she picked me. So, here are answers.
What if I could meet someone in the art world to chat with?
I am intrigued by Byzatine art. I don't know of any real famous artist in this time period off the top of my head. But the time of the Roman Empire has always sparked an interest.
What if I could have one wish granted for the benefit of all mankind?
Peace, the kind that is real and true in your inner heart. The book My Hearts Desire, is a great template to explaining this type of peace.
What if I could travel anywhere in the world?
I would sneak in the backpack of Classic Mama and head to Isreal with here. What a great adventure.

What if I could live in a period other than the present, for 24 hours?
If, only for 24 hours, I would like to see what the Depression, was really like. I would love to know first hand the things that they were feeling, that turned into a strong America.

What if I could make over three areas of my body?
My heart so that's is purity reflects Jesus. My belly so that it could just fling back to pre-preganant times and oh course you know that other area, that everytime I turn around, there is something more there.

What if I could become an animal for 24 hours?
Well, I would love to be a fly on the wall.

What if I could bring someone back to life for 24 hours?
I would select my grandmother, Twila, I would want her to see my children. I know she would love them, and they would love her.

Since everyone I know has already been tagged, I don't know who to tag. This was fun!

Easter Eggtravaganza

Today, our church had an Easter Egg Hunt. One of the most EGGciting Easter events in the area!!! Coupled with egg hunting, face painting, crafts, real bunnies, popcorn, moon bounce, cotton candy, hot dogs and "Peter Cottontail", it was a full day of family fun.

Bill and I don't really get to do alot of things together, so it was nice to spend a family day together....finally.

So, hey where do Easter Eggs come from, because today at the church there were 5,000 of them. The egg is nature's perfect package. It has, during the span of history, represented mystery, magic, medicine, food and omen. It is the universal symbol of Easter celebrations throughout the world and has been dyed, painted, adorned and embellished in the celebration of its special symbolism.
Before the egg became closely entwined with the Christian Easter, it was honored during many rite-of-Spring festivals. The Romans, Gauls, Chinese, Egyptians and Persians all cherished the egg as a symbol of the universe. From ancient times eggs were dyed, exchanged and shown reverence.In Pagan times the egg represented the rebirth of the earth. The long, hard winter was over; the earth burst forth and was reborn just as the egg miraculously burst forth with life. The egg, therefore, was believed to have special powers. It was buried under the foundations of buildings to ward off evil; pregnant young Roman women carried an egg on their persons to foretell the sex of their unborn children; French brides stepped upon an egg before crossing the threshold of their new homes.
With the advent of Chrisianity the symbolism of the egg changed to represent, not nature's rebirth, but the rebirth of man. Christians embraced the egg symbol and likened it to the tomb from which Christ rose.

For more about the Egg go to http://www.holidays.net/easter/eggs.htm

When a child is born, so are grandparents

So, many of you are wondering, are Eric and Megan having a baby.... Well why we would be elated by that news, we were eager to find out that they have gotten a puppy. The phone call went like this:
Judy (megan's mom): Hey Bill is Becki at home?
Bill: No, she is at church tonight
Judy: Oh, well I guess I have to tell you, your a Grandpa!
Bill: What? really?
Judy: Yeah, the kids got a black lab and here's the kicker, they named her JoePa.
Bill: sighs of relief!

So the kids have a new puppy and boy is she cute. A great way for all of those parents, to ease you into the diaper stages.LOL.

Here is a photo of there new baby girl....JoePa

A Friend Indeed

As many of you know, I am a nurse, a nurse that absolutely LOVES the art of nursing. So with every opportunity to practice nursing, I dive right in. One of my current side jobs is to work placing a special IV line called a PICC. One may be fascinated about what exactly this is, but the real reason I do this is because of a wonderful man named Peter.
I have always known that we would have a special friendship. What I didn't expect that not only do I benefit from our friendship, his whole family has shown me and my family such love. They are the people that I inspire to be. So where am I going with this?
Wednesday I did a PICC and had the blessing of working with Peter. We made plans to meet for Pizza before church. You know, I could just sit there and not say anything the whole time and just be blessed by the Godly man. I want to thank Peter, it was a great time. I love to hear your wisdom and love for our Saviour. So here's the secret, I really do PICC lines so that I can continue to be blessed by my dear friend.
I can only hope to become the Christian that he is.