What We've Been Up To

We've had a busy couple of weeks in the Mason household. We're getting ready to have a garage sale this Saturday, we're dog-sitting for my mom who is on a mission trip this week, and I've been working on a writing project for some DiscipleNow curriculum. Whew! I wanted to do a quick post to say hi to everyone. Below are some photos of what we've been up to.

This is a picture of Eden in her favorite "Dora cowgirl" pajamas, laying in our bed. I honestly think that Eden's favorite place on earth is "Mommy's bed." For some reason, she never calls it "daddy's bed" even though he sleeps in there too!! Can I just be honest and say bedtime/night time is so frustrating and hard? Every time I think we're making progress she regresses back to severe clinginess and anxiety. The other night she was laying in bed with us and she looked over at me with the sweetest expression and said, "Mommy." Then she looked over at Gene and said, "Ba-Ba." Then she said, "We are a family." I immediately starting crying and said, "yes baby, we are your family forever." That was the first time I ever heard her say the word "family." It was so precious. I am continually humbled by what God has done in this little girl's life.

A couple of weeks ago, we took Eden to see "Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music." She LOVED it! This is her with her Tickle Me Elmo before we left. She was so sweet singing all the songs. Her favorite was when they sang the ABC's. You know every kid has a cute, unique way of singing the ABC's when they are first learning. Eden's version is: A B C D E F G, H I J K L L L L P, Q R S, T U B, W X, Y Z.

The Chick-Fil-A near our house has Family Night each Tuesday night. Two weeks ago it was "Princess Night." Eden got all decked out in her finest princess gear and we went out to eat. There was a real princess there, a limo, and free balloons and tiaras. So fun!

We took this picture before church a couple of weeks ago just because she looked so stinkin' cute. This whole outfit came from Target...I love Target. So does Eden! The other day she and Gene were spending the morning together and Gene asked her what she wanted to do next after they left the park and she said, "Go to Home Depot and get a Sprite and then go look around at Target." Isn't that hilarious? She always goes to Home Depot with Gene and he always buys her a Sprite when they check out. And of course she is with me when I go to Target. So that's what she wanted to do.

I can't believe we have been home for almost 15 months! And I can't believe my baby will turn 3 in December. Time is flying by. I can't remember what life was like before she was my daughter. Sometimes I grieve over the 18 months I missed with her. I'll see an infant and think about how I wish I could have known her at that age. I wonder what she looked like before her surgery and wish more than anything that I could have been there for her during the scary time of her surgery. It makes me so thankful for every "new" thing she does, because I missed so many firsts in her life. She is such a blessing...and a mess.

The Lord has really been convicting Gene and I lately about materialism. I realize that so many times I show my love to her by giving her something. What we really desire is for her to have experiences and memories with us. We want her to have a heart for the poor and be appreciative of what she is given. We have committed to really scale back on "stuff," and to focus on experiences with her. This will be a challenge with the holidays and birthday approaching. But we are resolved to be obedient and make some tough changes in our family.

Lastly, Eden has been talking constantly lately about her little sister in China named Lucy. Don't ask me where she gets this stuff. We have talked to her about adopting again when we explain to her about her adoption. But she is taking it to a whole new level. She'll bring me a toy and say, "I not need this anymore, I save it for Lucy in China. She is crying and sad and this will make her feel better." She has quite the imagination. Gene and I are hopeful that we will begin a home study late next spring to adopt again. We are praying for God's direction in all of this, but are right now leaning toward going back to China. We think it might be important for Eden to walk through the experience with us on this end, and travel to her home land. We will have to see what doors God opens as we depend on Him.

Hope you are all doing great. I will post again soon!