One Year

A Year is really a very short time, in the scope of things, and a lot can happen in a year. OR a year can seem like a LONG TIME when you are waiting - our counter popped to a year today - a year waiting for the next child God has for us. That is amazing - considering our papers were in China only 6 short months before we got Chloe's referral. (And we thought that was a long time!!!) Just keep praying with us and for us - God's timing is perfect!

A Birthday at the Bilby's

Our youngest son, Aaron, turns 10 today - I can't honestly believe it. All of our boys are in the double digits now - that makes this mom feel OLD!!!
He is a true blessing to us - our resident comedian and wonderfully tender little guy!
My favorite "Aaron" story is how each week he has points to spend in his piano lessons and the last 5 or 6 lessons he has come out with a present for Chloe - he didn't spend his points on himself, but chose, instead, to spend them on his little sister. I love that about you, Aaron - you are so giving! (And Chloe loves it even more!!) We can't wait to see what God has planned for you! We love you!!

Grandpa

I lost my Grandpa yesterday - he fought a long, hard battle and we are glad he is with His Maker, but it made me reflect on all I've learned from him.

My Grandpa was the man who....

...taught me to love oatmeal for breakfast.

...gave me my love of the farm and all animals.

...showed me gracefully how to get out of the cow drop - even with my Sunday Clothes on!!

...inspired my love of a large bowl of popcorn - completely soaked in butter.

...was the smallest man I know, but worked his whole life with huge dairy cows!

...was often stooped under the weight of large pails he was lugging on the farm.

...showed me how important it is to start your day with God.

...I wanted to make sure my kids knew ~ so we went to visit him every time we went back home.

...loved to laugh ~ it came all the way from his toes - I never knew such a great laugh could come from such a small man. It was contagious.

...wanted to make sure his children and grandchildren had a Godly heritage.

...would scare me by falling asleep in his big chair, head tipped back, mouth wide open, and a toothpick dangling half in and half out of his mouth. I just knew he'd suck that toothpick right down his windpipe sometime!

...taught me to drive a tractor.

...would be driving along and close the eye closest to me so I would think he was asleep - scared me every time he did it!

...taught me to bale hay.

...loved every man equally.

...knew no earthly wealth except that of his family and His God.

...I couldn't wait to spend a week with every summer growing up.

...introduced me to newborn chicks...AND later, the fine art of putting chickens in crates to take them to be butchered.

...tried to teach me to milk a cow and gave up and showed me how to attach automatic milkers instead!

...always gave me a hug - even though I knew hugging wasn't his "thing".

...will live on in my memory as one of the finest, most Godly, men I know.

...never complained - but showed me how to find something positive - even when I knew he could have found plenty to complain about.

...was his happiest sitting atop his John Deere tractor or out with his cows. He loved his farm.

...was not afraid of hard work - he worked hard everyday of his life until he couldn't work anymore - and then you could just see his discontent with being cooped up inside all day.

...everyone liked Grandpa ~ I didn't know anyone that spoke a mean word about him.

...was a grandchild's gift ~ a very rare gift.

...knew how to handle disappointment - I could learn a lot from him.

...who earned the respect of many.

...who was incredibly humble.

...is now with His Heavenly Father.

(This isn't the greatest picture of my Grandpa, but I love it with his hand on Micah's.)

Nuggets

It's my two nuggets of knowledge today!!

1st - I JUST GOT IN THE MAIL - Grace Lin's newest book - Bringing in the New Year - and I LOVE IT!! I know, just because I always love a Grace Lin book doesn't mean I always will, but yes, again, she has done it!! This is a fun children's read on Chinese New Year - in very simple terms she prepares for the big holiday. And, as usual, her illustrations are ALL THAT AND MORE!!! If you are interested in purchasing it through Amazon - click on my link here and it does go toward our next adoption!

2nd - A Christmas gift I couldn't live without (or at least I would miss it greatly!!). And yes, I'll admit RIGHT OFF THE BAT, that I am probably the only wife in the world that wanted a mouse (yes, I would love a LIVE one too -that's another story) for Christmas. BUT, I did. I am totally loving my Logitech MX Revolution mouse.

So there are my tidbits for the day - for what it's worth!

News

Well - I got news this week - not the kind of news I'd like - but it's news so thought I'd share it. I must preface this by saying that I have quite the teeth - only one cavity in my 30 plus years - 8 years of braces - you get the picture - I take good care of my teeth - when I go for a cleaning, I never expect to be told I have a cavity, etc., etc. So imagine my surprise when, a few months ago, the dentist tells me that I have a tooth that has decay UNDERNEATH of it - now six months later, the dentist has tried some "clever" ways to fix it, and has decided that it isn't working so - guess what, he says the last resort is a root canal! Can you just feel my pain??? Not only are we talking two - three appointments of two hours each (in my NOT-favorite place in the world) but we are also talking some of the MOST EXPENSIVE dental work you can have done. LOVELY!! I am praying for a tooth fairy - anything to save me before I must face the dreaded ROOT CANAL! I am trying to smile, but after all of that digging around, now it hurts!

Pandora

Well - it's not an update on the Bilby's, but it is a fun website I found. Go to Pandora ~ type in some artists/songs you like and it will build a playlist for you - you can tweak your list by giving the songs it has chosen a thumbs up or down. I was impressed - I typed in a group I really like and found some great new songs!! I like it because it's different from the radio too - new songs all the time - what a fun website!

Favorite Photo Friday

Oh no, look what her older brother is teaching her!!! That's all we need - two drummers in one house!!

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish all the blog readers a Happy 2008! Yes - we went and partied last night with our friends but YES, we came home early to put Chloe to bed! Then, to really show our age, we celebrated with our boys when the ball dropped in New York (that is one hour early for us!!!). Pathetic, isn't it?!!?! BUT, we did stay up anyway and celebrated AGAIN at midnight - so we aren't as old as we felt!!!

I am not a resolution-setter, maybe I should be, but I am not. I do, however, have high hopes for 2008 - I love the start of a new year - a chance to feel like I can start over and work again on the things I just didn't get done last year - the things I am maybe STILL working on, etc. So - that's it for me - I want to be a better wife, mom, and friend - I want to grow spiritually - I want to enjoy life, whatever it throws my way - I want to cherish every moment with my kids - I want to unselfishly love my husband and my kids - AND my annual wish - to FINALLY catch up those photo albums!! I hope you all are blessed incredibly in 2008 - I, personally, am just waiting to see what God has for us this year!