Happy Independence Day everyone! It isn't exactly how I pictured it: long weekend, BBQs, fireworks, parades, and iced tea. Instead it was more like stuffy head, sleep for 2 days, urgent care, and hot tea!
The kids all came down with a cold this week (one by one) and I got it somewhere between # 2 and #3 and kept it long after #7 was done. Mine wasn't 24 hrs., it has lasted almost 6 days and now is a sinus infection. Bummer....I NEVER get sick....well almost never anyway.
So the family is off enjoying the picnics and fireworks while I sit here disinfecting the house and reflect on what Independence Day means to me. It of course means our freedom in America from British rule long ago. It also means we are free as a country as we move through to the future. I am so thankful for our corporate freedom that so many have bravely fought for and defend still today. I am also thankful for my individual freedom from God to become the woman He wants me to become. And feel especially blessed to be given the husband and children that help me get there. (That husband of mine is one incredible daddy. Let me tell you something....we make one heck of a team!
Two weeks ago we celebrated "Gotcha Day", a day adoptive families celebrate the finalization of their children's adoption. We decided to do something completely different from our other family celebrations to make Micah and Mariah's day set apart. So we went to eat Japanese Hibachi. I always wanted to take the kids there and the chef did NOT disappoint, but had us all cracking up the entire time. We were about 2 hours into our 3 hour meal when Shelby inhaled a piece of rice and it stuck in her windpipe. She coughed and coughed until she dislodged it. Then, she looked up to me with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh mommy, I think I peed!" I checked her dress and sure enough she was dripping! I rushed her to the bathroom where I realized that her resisting me to go potty in between those 2 adult Sprites had just caught up to the both of us. (And it wasn't pretty!) She had completely soaked her party dress and usually I would have had 2 changes of clothes for my child but.....you guessed it....I didn't have one this special day.
I stood there staring at my butt naked child in the bathroom stall. I had no options. None! I paced in circles.....I had NOTHING for her! I told her to lock the stall door and not to open it and I would be right back. I summoned her Daddy and somehow in our made-up-secret 'Team Chinlund' sign language communicated to him that Shelby was butt naked in the bathroom and he flew out the door to the nearest Toys R Us to buy her something to wear! I waited with her until SUPERDADDY returned. I opened the bag to find not one but two beautiful pink dresses and a package of princess panties!
As I was getting her dressed I made sure she knew HE was the nicer of her parents, because I might have been tempted to get her something blue and not so cute....but not her Daddy....he is really the sweetest man on the face of this earth!
We returned from the bathroom, joined our party and finished our dinner. I was telling this story to a good friend just today and you know what? It really was a great dinner! Even with the crazy, unexpected, uhhhhh....glitch. I thank God for my darling husband Michael. He helps me to be the best that I can be and together we really are a great team.
(notice the new dress :)So here is to the fireworks and smores and to all the Superdaddies that are grilling those hot dogs! ....and God Bless America!!!
Aww I really loved this story. Our Independence Day weekends are now spent celebrating Mikey's Birthday. Mikey is a July 5th baby. And we will tell you we love that boy so much!! I can not wait until we can celebrate Gotcha Day. But as of today July 5, 2011 we wait. We have had this little man for every single one of his birthdays. I am have such joy knowing that we were chosen by God to be the parents this boy and his sister need.
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