Our Family

Our Family
Our Family, December 2013

Monday, January 14, 2013

Show Choir Season

Midwest Cup//That's What's Up






It's show choir season.  Chase's choir, "Resonance" competed last Saturday in the Midwest Cup at the University of Nebraska here in Lincoln.  We have this Saturday off, then we have or host competitions every Saturday through the end of February. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm a wear school colors and a button with my son's picture on it-kind of mom.  We spent about 14 hours at the competition last weekend.  We came away with 3rd place and debuted a ballad that, quite literally, brought people to tears.  It's going to be a good year... if Chase can be a good sport!  Show Choir is an area where you can tell if even one or two people haven't put in the time in rehearsal.  When you get a group of choirs that are all within shooting distance of the Grand Champion title, you can't say, "Well, we deserve this because we work hard." or "We want it more!" They all work hard and they all want it, and they're all leaving it all out there on the stage.  So, show choir turns out to be a good place to learn life lessons like saying "congratulations" when someone else is walking away with the 6-ft trophy that you really wanted, OR smiling when they have to stop you in the middle of your show because the microphones aren't working.  It's a place where you join with hundreds of others in singing "Hey, Baby" and "Sweet Caroline" just because you have a few minutes to kill, and you know that everyone will want to join in singing.  It's a place where alumni of the group come to cheer this year's group, and moms from different choirs share stories of the costs involved in having multiple kids in show choir.  I call it the "Show Choir Universe" because it's a world all unto itself.  And, I love it.  Here we go.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Revisiting December

Here are a few of my favorite shots from December. 
 We enjoyed an evening hosted by a good friend for her Christmas album release.  Note to self:  Have a professional photographer at any future gathering.
Hayden and Julia pose after the football season wrap-up concert.  Or should I say, marching band season wrap-up concert.
 Daniel was thrilled by our first big snowfall, but I don't think he realized just how cold it could be outside. Once we had him outfitted in snow pants and boots, he ventured out. A few days later, however, he told me that he liked it better when it was warm. Snow is one thing, but he's missing out on a lot of neighborhood football games.
 We celebrated Christmas at my sister's house and Isaac was able to come home from Denver.  Here he's taking Daniel and Madyson through the "Food Network" magazine.  Later he impressed us with one of his own dessert creations.
A moment of peace and love between brother and sister on Christmas morning.  As Whit commented, "We really do love each other."
This has actually been a really cool thing about Whit being in high school.  We've seen a closeness develop between her and Chase. 
Next week we move into "Show Choir Mode" as the season kicks off with a competiton here in Lincoln.  I LOVE show choir season.  It will pass too quickly.  I take my knitting bag and settle in for a full day of watching choir after choir. 
I guess I have nothing deep to share today.  We've settled into a new normal since Daniel's arrival six months ago.  That, in itself, seems like a huge accomplishment.

Adoption Timeline

  • 5/14/13 - Adoption finalized in Nebraska
  • 6/15/12 - Together in Nebraska
  • 6/5/12 - Birthparent Embassy appointment
  • 5/14/12 - Submitted to Embassy
  • 4/18/12 - Passed Court in Addis Ababa
  • 2/2/12 - Referral finalized with AGCI
  • 2/1/12 - Acceptance of Referral documents shipped to AGCI
  • 1/27/12 - Verbal acceptance of referral
  • 1/25/12 - WE GET OUR REFERRAL CALL FROM AGCI!!!
  • 1/17/12 - D. comes to Hannah's Hope
  • 9/12/11 - Notice of Favorable Determination (FDL)
  • 9/8/11 - Fingerprinting Appt. at the Department of Homeland Security in Omaha
  • 7/12/11 - Homestudy documents received from Lutheran Family Services
  • 4/19/11 - Entered contract with AGCI for an Ethiopian Adoption
  • 2/9/11 - Adoption Application sent to AGCI