What's a Life Book?

There's a new venture on the move, inspired by Jude! Adoption facilitators encourage adoptive families to create life books for their children. It's similar in concept to a baby book; it captures the child's story in a keepsake format. However, when we looked into this...we didn't find much. There were a couple of options that were pretty anemic...few pages, black and white. Then there were the "guides" we found that encouraged families to either write the child's story (novel style!) or to scrapbook a life book.

As it turns out, there are a few books I'd like to write...but this isn't one of them (yet), and I am NOT a scrapper - and I have no aspirations to be!

So, we decided to publish a life book. Check it out! www.celebratelifeincolor.com

Tell everyone you know in the adoption community! This is full-color, high-quality, fill-in style life book with 55 pages that you can insert in the order of your choosing. Our need prompted us to solve a problem...the adoption community has very few truly quality life book resources.

Thanks to Jude, we're trying to change that.

Car Wash!

So here's a funny one: Jude LOVES the car wash. By that I mean that he gets positively giddy at the very thought of going through one. We always pick an automatic one because it's those that he seems to love the most, and we try to pick a nice long one. Tonight we spent the evening just the three of us: Papa, Mama, and Jude, and we found ourselves at a car wash. Take a look...

Growing in the Lord

I was pointedly reminded the other day that I had not made a post for some time, so I thought a video might be good. Jude attends the Wednesday evening kids club at our church and his teacher extraordinaire is Mrs. Rose Lybrink. Here's a little of what he's learning...this one's for you, Mrs. Lybrink (or just plain Brink as Jude sometimes calls you - as in, "Mama, are we going to church to see Brink now?"). Enjoy, and thanks for pouring out into the lives of so many little ones.

Laughin' time

From time to time Jude says to me, "Mama, is it laughin' time?" It's cute, and I think it's because sometimes we say things like "dinner time", "church time", and "sleeping time". My response to that question is, without exception, this: "Son, it's always laughin' time!" Life is just too short for any other response. The video's grainy, but well worth a listen. Enjoy!:

We love our Chiro!

So...we switched chiropractors some time ago. As you know, sometimes you have to makes these kinds of switches in life when your philosophies don't line up. Anyhow, we're now with Dr. Grigg at Chiropractic Unlimited in Grand Rapids and we love him. He is SO good with Jude. Check it out:

Mama's Graduation

In addition to raising Jude this last year and nine months, I've also finished my master's degree. Jude got to see his mama in a graduation ceremony, and in another year or so, he'll get to see his papa in one also. What better way to send the message that education is important than to value it ourselves? Jude was great - the morning of the ceremony we had to leave for Big Rapids by 6am and we didn't get home until the afternoon. He was very well behaved, and it was such a joy to look up into the stands and see my family, including my two guys - the most important family I have.

Babe's First Trip to the Barber Shop!

We haven't had Jude's hair cut since he's been home for a couple of reasons:

1. I love his fantastically coiled curls, and everyone I've talked with wants to cut, cut, cut them off - not cool. God made them, we love them, and we're keeping them as long as we can!
2. We wanted to find someone who knew what he was doing and who would walk with us to care for Jude's hair well.

Well, we've found him! Today I took Jude to see Paul Frazier at International Profyle Barbershop in Kalamazoo. Paul came highly recommended, and we are well on our way to becoming fiercely loyal! He is clearly accustomed to trimming up little guys, as he was great with Jude (very patient with those three-year-old wiggles). He was also patient and kind with my sometimes ignorant questions, which I deeply appreciated (seriously, Paul, if you're reading this...more than you can imagine), and Jude's looking as darling as ever.

I have to say, Jude wasn't too sure about climbing up in that big chair and he wanted me to stay very close...but Paul won him over in no time. Take a look:

After Jude's appointment, we went to see his Papa at work, and Matthew, of course, told him he was looking good. Then, he called his Grandma LaLa and left her a message that said (in "Judanese" of course), "Gamma, I dot a hurcut. It went gate. Uhm lookin' good. Bye!"

A Bubble Machine for Easter

We don't really do baskets for Easter, but we do give token gifts in celebration of Christ's resurrection. This year, Jude got a bubble machine, and he positively loves it. Take a look....

Still needed at GLA...

The need in Haiti is still dire. Thanks to so many, there's been a huge outpouring of donations to GLA. If you would like to know how you can help, take a look at this. Scroll to the bottom to see what's currently needed.

When Mama and Papa Bring Me Home...

Jude continues to keep us laughing, as three-year-olds are wont to do. And, he's as sweet as they come. We talk about Haiti frequently, as we want him to know about and be proud of his national heritage. We want him to know how much we loved it there, and what a joy it was for us to be able to go there. The other day, he saw a photo from before he came home. "Who is that?" I asked. "Dis id baby Jude when mama n papa bring baby Jude home," was his reply. Very cute.

So, in honor of those wonderful memories, here's a picture from just after he came home. Those of you who see Jude frequently know that it's been a long time since he fit in a sink!

Underwear Basketball

So, my guys love to play basketball, and Matthew is teaching Jude quite a lot, so we think he's pretty good for a little guy. Why underwear basketball? Because Jude is now mostly using underwear and he doesn't like to wear clothes...he loves to be in his drawers! Take a look...

Helping Haiti

Some have expressed to us that you want to help the people of Haiti, but don't know what to do. May we strongly encourage you to consider sending your resources to God's Littlest Angels? GLA is not just an orphanage, though that is much of what it does. GLA is a Haitian baby ministry. Its staff nurses sick children sometimes so that they can go back to live with their families. It employs around 100 Haitian staff member, providing good jobs for those who work there. Right now, GLA needs more help than ever. Donations are being used to purchase tarps and blankets and other supplies, and the staff is currently packaging these to be given as care packages to families in the two communities near Port-au-Prince immediately surrounding GLA. GLA is using this time to provide humanitarian aid to those in need right within its reach. Please consider giving at the GLA website.

Fundraising for Haiti

Matthew, Jude and I were recently honored - yes, honored - to be present at the Friday assembly at Tobey Elementary School in Vicksburg, Michigan where our niece Natalie attends. You see, Natalie and two friends decided they wanted to do a fundraiser and they decided to do it for God's Littlest Angels orphanage in Haiti, where Jude lived before coming home to us. Several days later, the earthquake struck, and the fundraiser gained new meaning. The school raised funds for a few weeks, and asked Matthew and Jude and I to come talk to the kids at the assembly at which the principle would reveal to the kids the amount they raised. We talked to the children about GLA, its history, and what it does today for children and families in Haiti. Take a look:


After hoping for $500 for the fundraiser, Mr. Mike Barwegen, principle of Tobey Elementary, presented the girls who started the fundraiser with a "check" for $2,516.75. We gave Mr. Barwegen the appropriate information so that he could send the money directly to GLA. It was such a joy to be asked to be part of the girls' efforts, and we were touched as GLA and Haiti have become so dear to us.

A subsequent article was written in the local paper and I will post is as soon as it becomes available online.

Incidentally, this inspired my Dad who works at Bay Valley Foods in Wayland to begin a fundraiser as well. At present time, the team at Bay Valley has raised over $300.

God's Littlest Angels - The Toddler House

I cannot do this justice in my own post. Instead, I've included a link to a blog post created by Molly, who has charge over GLA's toddler house, located about a 15 minute walk from the main house where all the babies live. It gives a poignant look at the strength of the Haitian people. Please click the link and scroll down to the post dated 16 Jan 2010. GLA Toddler House Blog

There's so much information on the web - we could all spend hours and hours online daily. With all that's out there, however, I trust you'll find that the link above touched you and lifted you at the same time.

For love of Haiti...

Our blog has been unfortunately all to quiet these last four months, and particularly this last month in light of what has happened in Haiti. Through the busy days of life, we have shed more tears this last month over the happenings in Haiti than we have in the past two years. Somewhere along the way, God has put in our hearts a love not only for Jude (of course), but for Haiti and its people. We have been heartbroken over the earthquake and the ensuing challenges faced by Haiti, including those exacerbated by UNICEF - more on that later.

A bright spot: no one at God's Littlest Angels was harmed. All Haitian and American staff (just over 100 total) were accounted for shortly after the earthquake. Some nights through the aftershocks the nannies and all the children slept outside in the driveway. Can you imagine 100+ people sleeping in the driveway?! That was only at the main house. Amazing things happened at the toddler house as well. See next post...

Changes Afoot for Baby Jude

Well, life is busy and it's certainly been awhile since our last post. Jude is growing like mad. His life is changing once again as we have sold our house in Otsego and moved. We're in temporary digs for now as we search for another house, closer to family and church, but still mid-way for all the work activities we have.

Another change on the horizon: a new cousin! Uncle Mike and Aunt LeAnn (fondly known as that fine Asian couple Okoma and Akaya as Jude calls them) are beginning the process for their first adoption, so in the next year or so, Baby Jude will have a new cousin to fuss over. Who knows...maybe this will help him learn gentleness. He is a boy to the bone, as we say, full of wrestling and running and wildness.

Pictures below are of Aunt LeAnn helping Jude decorate his own moving boxes so that he would know for certain that his things were coming with us as we loaded the truck. Pushing the stroller up and down the ramp was great fun. There's also one last kitchen project with mama in the old house.

Hope for the sleepless!

Baby Jude is doing wonderfully. A couple of months ago we began taking him to see a chiropractor. We told her of his sleep issues, and she examined him. She found that several of his ribs were out of joint, and that was putting pressure on other vetebrae (it's all connected, of course). I asked her how those kinds of things happen, and she explained that it can happen during the trauma of birth, it can happen just in the normal falling and bumping that little ones do, and any other number of ways; most of the time, it can't really be pinpointed. Matthew and I decided that whether or not it improved his sleep, clearly those ribs needed to be put back where they belong, and better while he's little yet than years later in life. So, he began recieving adjustments. Amazing; within twenty-four hours he began to bang his head much less during the night. In fact, that first night, as we recall, he slept until about three in the morning before he started banging his head or rocking his body. We were tickled. He still cries out in the night most nights, and still picks his head up and lets it fall occassionally, but it's not anything so severe as the slamming and banging he for months after coming home. In fact, I think we're up to about five hours of sleep most nights...doesn't sound like alot, but we'll take it and praise the Lord for it!

Here's Jude waiting for his appointment:


Jude with Aunt LeAnn and Dr. Diane Riddle of Acorn Chiropractic in Hastings. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Diane for Jude. She is very good with him, always allowing him to check out the adjusting instruments so he can learn what she's doing and be comfortable. She's so good with little ones that often he doesn't even realize she's adjusting him!

Baby's First Road Trip - Bringing Back the Free Bird!

This one's photo intensive...

Well, we call Jude's Aunt Jessica the J-bird. She had moved to Tennessee to finish her undergraduate degree, and when she finally found a job here in Michigan so that she could come back, Jude and I and my parents went to Tennessee to get her. We like to joke that we clipper here little birdie wings so she wouldn't fly away again. Jude just adores her. He shouts her name "Jekkika!" until she comes to him or he finds her, and then shouts it some more - precious!
The trip to Tennessee was long (about twelve hours by the time we made our occasional stops), and Jude did great. He didn't really fuss until about the last three hours, and then Grandma kept him distracted with tickle games. Anyhow, here are some pictures from the road trip.

Riding, riding, riding...and kissing mama!


There was a park at Aunt Jessica's apartment complex...


...and even Grandpa became a kid!


Jude learned to drive through the apartment complex. We can't tell who's having more fun here!


Shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse (and testing products with Aunt Jessica) was great fun. Grandpa and Grandma bought Jude his first fishing pole...a simple, good old fashioned cane pole - and we'll be breaking it in this Friday evening!


We had dinner with Aunt Jessica and her dear friends, Shameca and Courtney. (Don't tell anyone, but Jude and Courtney like to make eyes at one another!)


Resting for the trip home the next day.


Jude loved getting into the back of Grandpa's "big truck!" each time we stopped. We also ate lunch in the bed of the truck. It was a good way to contain Jude with all those vehicles zipping about!



Jude was so glad to get home to Papa after three days away.


What a trip!


We just love having Aunt Jessica home!