My intentions were good this year. Pictures were made, I spent a good amount time designing and I was going to send out Christmas cards, gosh darnit. But, alas, the flus have won. I am defeated. So, my good people, I am sad to announce that this is the only Christmas card you will be receiving from the Grizzle household this year. The good news: you cannot contact said flus from this version. Merry Christmas from our computer to yours!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Our Elves
Some years I am so exhausted and overwhelmed at the very thought of Christmas (mainly the year I was pregnant). But this year, I have so many big plans and I can't wait to put them all into action. In case you are in a slump and want to piggy back my burst of Christmas Spirit here are some ideas. Feel free to copy!
Last year we got an elf. Asher was very specific about the color of the shoes and hair on said elf so my job of finding just the right one got a little interesting. I found these on Amazon and thought that they weren't nearly as creepy as were cuter than some of the other versions. Since I knew we would be asking Santa to send us a girl elf eventually anyway, I went a head and snagged the pair. They are quite a bit larger than the Elf on the Shelf, so be aware of the dimensions if you decide to order these for your kiddos.
With Asher's help and specifics, we wrote Santa a letter and asked him if he would send us an elf.
Keyes arrived on our doorstep with a small gift and letter from Santa that introduced us to our new friend and explained the reason he was making a visit to our family.
This year Asher had a lot more input on our letter and, of course, requested a girl elf for his sister.
So, Keyes will be bringing Piper along for the fun as well. I tweaked the letter above to introduce her and reiterate the reason for the elves' visit.
Keyes & Piper will arrive on December 1 bearing gifts of Christmas pajamas and an Advent Calendar.
They will be welcomed with another party. I'll share details and photos after the celebration has commenced.
I am going to try to share the shenanigans of our elves (they don't really cause trouble as much as have fun and share suggestions for holiday activities) as well as the Advent treats/games.
Last year we got an elf. Asher was very specific about the color of the shoes and hair on said elf so my job of finding just the right one got a little interesting. I found these on Amazon and thought that they
With Asher's help and specifics, we wrote Santa a letter and asked him if he would send us an elf.
Keyes arrived on our doorstep with a small gift and letter from Santa that introduced us to our new friend and explained the reason he was making a visit to our family.
This year Asher had a lot more input on our letter and, of course, requested a girl elf for his sister.
They will be welcomed with another party. I'll share details and photos after the celebration has commenced.
I am going to try to share the shenanigans of our elves (they don't really cause trouble as much as have fun and share suggestions for holiday activities) as well as the Advent treats/games.
Monday, November 10, 2014
World Adoption Day
Yesterday was World Adoption Day. We were traveling home from South Carolina so I am a little late to post anything.
I have been waiting for the right time to share Baby B's story with you and I think today is it. It is a big story that is covered in God's grace and provision. Let's start with the beginning.
This is an excerpt from an email that was sent to us by "B's" foster Mom. Some details have been omitted for the sake of privacy.
I have been waiting for the right time to share Baby B's story with you and I think today is it. It is a big story that is covered in God's grace and provision. Let's start with the beginning.
This is an excerpt from an email that was sent to us by "B's" foster Mom. Some details have been omitted for the sake of privacy.
I really wanted to share the story of how "B" came home
with me so that you can rejoice with me at the miracle of this moment!
No one, myself included, thought he would survive. So to now have the
possibility of him being with an amazing forever family.... the joy is
beyond words. It is a miracle only God could design. Hopefully as you
and Ben read this email a few questions will be answered.
I’ve been living in China for 4 years now and during that
time I’ve been able to volunteer at a local orphanage twice a month. In
June last year (his Chinese name) was brought to the orphanage
and had an obvious heart problem and serious breathing issues. The
first moment I met him I fell in love and couldn't put him down. After
that first meeting I cried the entire way home. I started pleading with
God for a family to foster and adopt him. At that time surgery was being
planned to correct the heart issues so I thought that he would be
snatched up sooner than later by a foster family. In September I had a
trip to the States that kept me from seeing him for over a month.
During that month the surgery was taken off the table by various
circumstances. Without this surgery, the doctor was very clear, he
would die. After hearing this news my heart broke. This little guy
would die at a much faster rate in the orphanage, and he would do so
without knowing love. I had been praying about what my role in his life
should look like and my heart began to stir. I knew I was being called
to fight for his life. I didn’t know how that fight would end, but I
knew someone needed to be his voice! After praying and talking with a
lot of people here and back home,
everyone confirmed the same thing; asking to be his foster mom. The
problem was that the orphanage would NOT release a dying child into
foster care- and on top of that, to a single, American woman. The first time I saw
him at the orphanage after my trip, I was heartbroken at his
deterioration after one month. I barley recognized him. His breathing
was worse, and he was starting to show signs of heart failure. He needed
out of an institution setting. I knew it was a long shot but felt like
it was a part of the fight; I needed to at least ask if I could have
him. If it was God’s will (I know it is consistent with His love and
character) He would have to move a mountain! B's advocate and I prayed that the
hearts of the people making the decisions would be softened and they
would be willing to place "B" with me as hospice care. I just
wanted to make sure he knew love this side of heaven, before meeting
Jesus. No matter what people had done to him through rejection and abandonment,
God was going to speak blessings over him and through his life story to
other people. I was shocked when they said yes! We all were.
The first three months were so hard. Being a first time
mom and caring for a very sick baby stretched me in ways that I still
have a hard time articulating. I could only depend on God. Every
morning was a new gift and reason to rejoice. Every night I would thank
God for another day with "B" and ask for one more. I knew God
would heal him, but I knew that possibility also included him being made
whole again in the arms of Jesus. Even though he was 6 months old I
had to care for him as though he was a newborn. Through friends of mine
I was connected with neonatal cardiac surgeon as well as a neonatal
cardiac and pulmonary specialist here. Both doctors fell in love with "B" and were willing to help me fight to extend his life. Dr. S was
extremely helpful in getting him on the proper heart medications. The
bigger problem was the severity of the pulmonary hypertension. His
lungs were so weak that he couldn't cough or even laugh. She was very
clear that if "B" got sick it would be fatal if it affected his already
weak lungs. I kept him quarantined as much as possible, limiting his
exposure to people and new environments. It worked though! He got
stronger, started gaining weight, and even though his energy was low, he
started hitting milestones! In January the vice-director of the
orphanage did a home visit and she was shocked at his progress. She saw
that he was getting stronger and finally had the health to survive the
surgery! On Sunday February 16th we received approval for surgery! I
contacted the surgeon, he cleared his schedule, we started
pre-op on the February 18th and "B" went in to surgery on the 21st! He
was in the PICU for 10 days and then sent home for the rest of post-op
(how Chinese hospitals operate is a story for another email). One month
later we went back in for the final post op exam and Dr. S was all
smiles… so was "B"! April 2nd "B" received the all clear, was taken
off of all medication and the healing that God promised was realized!
Since then he has changed so much!! He is a ball of
energy, loves to smile and HE CAN LAUGH!!! And he loves to laugh. He
is a little daredevil too -if Asher gets the bunk bed he wants… you will
have your hands full ;). He loves being in the middle of the action,
and squeals with delight often. Our favorite ni-night song is Man of
Sorrows by Hillsong United. I had to stay overnight in the hospital
with him the night before the surgery (there isn’t nurse care here like
in the states). As you can imagine neither of us slept but I walked the
halls patting his back singing that song. It will forever be an anthem
of the power of the Resurrection Life for "B" and me. A few weeks ago
we had an event with the orphanage. It was the first time most of the
workers saw him since I brought him home. No one could believe it was
the same child! He flirted his way in to all of their hearts! ;)
That is just a snap shot of the past year of "B's"
life. I know the journey in front of your
family is also going to take a lot of prayer so I am lifting you all up.
Please let me know what I can be praying for.
~M
"M" shared this with us month's ago and God used it to answer
a prayer that we had literally cried out a couple of nights prior to
receiving this email. There were very specific "neon signs" inside this story. I have read
these words more times than I can count and every time I love it more.
I hope that you read this story and your heart is overwhelmed. Our God loves orphans. He is passionate about His people doing whatever it takes to care for them. If we had a dollar for every time someone told us "Y'all are so awesome to be doing what you are doing" we could have paid for our adoption! But make no mistake, we are NOT awesome. We just want to be like Jesus and we are jumping on the opportunity to join God in this beautiful and redemptive process. The process is hard. It is exhausting. It is life changing. It is faith stretching. AND it is littered with incredible moments of God's people coming along side us and encouraging us. It is a no less than a miracle. We have come to know people that are using their lives to change the world. We have come to know a love that we couldn't even fathom - for "B", for each other, for God and for His people. This process has blessed us in ways that I am yet to find adequate words for. And we aren't even half way done. We feel blessed to get to be a part of this story. BLESSED.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Autumn Chopped Salad
Not sure why I wait until Autumn to make this. I can get all of these ingredients 365 days a year. And I could probably eat this salad half of those days. Even The Hubbs likes it. I feel like that deserves mentioning because it is a salad. Dudes don't generally dig salads, am I right? But this one has bacon. What wouldn't he eat with bacon on it? I am yet to find out. I digress...
AUTUMN SALAD
Ingredients
2 Romaine heads (are they still "heads" of romaine since they aren't really round?)
2 medium pears
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup pecans
8 slices cooked bacon
1 container feta cheese
Poppy seed Salad Dressing
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Instructions
Chop and/or crumble everything. Combine.
Combine 2 dressings. I do half and half of each but you can use less Balsamic if you prefer.
Toss dressing with salad.
Tip:
I divide in half and only toss half of it with the dressing. We eat that half for dinner. I don't toss the other half until it is ready to be eaten - like for lunch the next day. Nobody likes a soggy salad. With or without bacon.
AUTUMN SALAD
Ingredients
2 Romaine heads (are they still "heads" of romaine since they aren't really round?)
2 medium pears
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup pecans
8 slices cooked bacon
1 container feta cheese
Poppy seed Salad Dressing
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Instructions
Chop and/or crumble everything. Combine.
Combine 2 dressings. I do half and half of each but you can use less Balsamic if you prefer.
Toss dressing with salad.
Tip:
I divide in half and only toss half of it with the dressing. We eat that half for dinner. I don't toss the other half until it is ready to be eaten - like for lunch the next day. Nobody likes a soggy salad. With or without bacon.
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