Judging a Book By It's Cover

Yes, I do. I judge all books by their cover. I choose all the books I read, initially, by the cover. If a cover doesn't grab my eye, it doesn't get the time of day! I only read biography type books. The content of the book has to be based on true events otherwise I am not remotely interested. I need to read books that have depth, that can inspire me and that can teach me how to be a better person, a better child of God. This has always been my favorite choice of books. All through my school years, even though I loved to read, I never did well when we had to read fiction novels. They do not interest me...except "To Kill A Mockingbird"...I really enjoyed that book.

Tonigt was no exception. I had to stop at our local Christian book store. I decided to take a look at the books. A cover grabbed my eye immediately.

I had a feeling this was a fiction novel, but it still had my attention.  I started reading the back cover and skipped to the "about the author" paragraph.  I quickly realized this was definitely a true story.  The author, Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, has been featured on Dr Phil and CNN.  I continued reading the "book teaser" paragraph and couldn't believe what I was reading.  Back in November or December, there was an episode of Dr Phil I desperately wanted to see but I missed it...oh I don't know...I think I was doing something ridiculous...like working!!!  This book was that story.  The author witnessed her minister father and mother being murdered by a member of the church.  The most important part of the story is how the author learns to forgive the monster who took her parents from her.

So you see, if I didn't judge my reading material by its cover, I may have never picked this book up!  I am so excited to start reading it!

 

Yes I know my choice of books may seem depressing, odd, and sometimes pretty dark.  But I have read some pretty amazing stories...all of which were chosen based on their cover.  I have read about a woman who was raped but chose to give her child life and the Lord was glorified through the situation.  I have read about gang members who find God and use their experiences to reach out and witness to other gang members.  I have read about two college kids who give up the comfort of their homes and bank accounts to go live among the homeless to share God's love.  I have read about celebrities who hung out at the playboy mansion, who did drugs and who struggled with their fame, only to find God and use their celebrity to preach the Gospel.  And most recently I read about an average couple who followed the Lord's calling to adopt four kids through the foster system.  I don't want to read made up stories.  I want to be inspired, and how better to get inspired than to read about people who have made a difference in this world.

I already know the next book I'm going to read...

Look at those faces...now that's a cover that has my attention.



Eyes

Eyes.

This is the very first trait everyone notices about N.  He has the most beautiful big eyes and eyelashes that would make any girl jealous.

I still remember a picture we received of N. shortly after we had received his proposal.  I remember falling in love with his big eyes and the emotion they showed.  I know exactly how N. is feeling just by looking into his eyes - they are so expressive.  But they have always been full of life, full of emotion, from the first day we met in the Philippines (in Sept 2008).

Baby F. is another story.  I still think about our first meeting in Vietnam, almost 1 year ago - wow time flies!!!  He was lifeless.  He was a dead weight in my arms and his eyes were expressionless.  I secretly feared there was something mentally or physically wrong with him.  I never actually shared the extent of my fear with anyone, not even hubby.  The other children being adopted at the same time, seemed to be a lot more active, they laughed, they cried and they reacted.  Hubby noticed I was doing a lot of surprise noise making, trying to get a reaction from F.  Nothing.  Hubby asked if I thought something was wrong.  I just shared that I didn't think he reacted to any noises or to voices and he didn't have much expression, but deep down I thought it was a lot more than that.  As the days went on, his personality was starting to change.  He was laughing more and crying more.  Both good signs but his eyes still didn't speak to me.

The other day F. looked at me with his beautiful eyes and heart-melthing smile and I realized that he was o.k.  His eyes now tell me he is happy and healthy.  They almost sparkle.  All he needed was the love of a family, stimulation and the opportunity to try many new things.  As he stood there smiling, laughing, it was at that moment I remembered how sad, how lifeless his eyes had been the day he was thrown into the arms of complete strangers, who looked different and smelled different.  I can not begin to express how overjoyed and excited I am that his eyes now tell a much different story!

He still has anxiety issues.  Especially when that darn doorbell rings!  He scrambles to get into my arms and holds on for dear life.  In his mind, when the doorbell rings it means someone is coming to stay with him and that mommy (and/or daddy) are leaving.  This is not a good feeling for him!  But this "issue" we can work through.  We went through it with N.  I thought I'd be attending Kindergarden with him but nowadays, he hardly has time to say wave goodbye before he rushes off to find his friends.  N. still prefers to be with mommy and daddy but can handle being away from us for a little while.  So I have no doubt F. will work through his anxiety issue.  But as long as his eyes are sparkling and telling me he is happy, that's all this mama can ask for!

The Mind of a 5 Year Old...

Have I ever mentioned how much N. makes us laugh with the things he comes up with?  I can be having a really bad day and he'll just say something that changes my whole attitude.

Well, lately we've been having "issues" with N's behavior at school.  This kid is awesome and loves being funny and LOVES the attention he gets when he does something funny.  I knew this from the moment he came home with us from the Philippines and that it would cause problems in school.  He is also, unfortunately, a "follower".  He does what other kids do.  Sadly, I've known this from the beginning as well, and it is not something he is outgrowing.  I see problems in our future...lots of praying to be done!  He really is a good kid and doesn't act up to be hurtful or disrespectful...he just likes to have fun.

All this being said...the teacher sent home a note saying he was disruptive all week and they really had to be on top of him.  So we have "the talk"...

Me:  N. do you listen to mommy?

N:  Yes

Me:  Well, why don't you listen to your teacher?

N:  Because I love you!

Way to go N...straight to the heart!  This kid already knows how to get out of trouble.  Anyway, hubby and I were really upset with him when we received this note, but you know what?  I've decided (and spoken to hubby about it), this kid is in KINDERGARDEN, he is FIVE years old.  We can't expect him to have listening perfected and we can't expect his active body to sit still during "relaxation" time.  We know he's learning because he blows us away with the things he comes home with.  My mom's jaw dropped when she heard him speak in french.  And hubby's sister couldn't believe how well he writes his name (she really thought we had written it).  He can count in both english and french.  He's picking up on letters and words.  And his coloring technique has improved 99%!  So he's learning what he should be learning in kindergarden and he's having fun.  So now I have to figure out a way to express all of this to the teacher on parent/teacher night without sounding like a parent who doesn't care.  I do care...I just care about the really important things!

Another "issue" we have with N. is that he wakes up in the middle of the night to come into mommy and daddy's bed.  Which we have no problem with, but instead of just coming, he lies in his bed yelling, "DADDDDDDYYYYYY!  OH, DADDDDDDDYYYYYYY!"  So he wakes us both up with his yelling and one of us goes to get him.

The other night as I slept soundly...

N:  Mommy I did it!

Me:  Huh?  What?  What do you mean "you did it"?

N:  I came in your bed without calling you or daddy!

Good grief...this kid even has me laughing at 2am!

So that's N in a nutshell!  He is a sweet and funny boy.  A boy I love to pieces, who will cause me a lot of heart ache but who has given me the greatest opportunity in life...to be his mom!

Jessica: A Different Kind of Being.

Here is something I wrote in Grade 11.  It was a "project" we had to write in english class.  It is probably the only assignment I've kept over all these years (typed on a typewriter I might add).  I just love to read what was going through my head when I was 16...and honestly some things have not changed!  Enjoy...

I am Jessica.

I am sixteen years old.

I have blue eyes.
They match my blond hair or sometimes dirty blond.

I stand tall.
Five feet, six and a half inches to be exact.
Just like my father so people tell me.
I personally like to think I'm my own person.

I love pasta and sauce.
I wonder sometimes why I'm not Italien.

One of the many mysteries in life.

I like school but hate lunchtime.
I wish I didn't go to L.H.S.
One more year won't kill me.

I like dance music better than rap.
I prefer rock over country.
But I give all music a chance.

I prefer to work than to sit around and do nothing.

Sometimes.

I know what's going on in the world.
I read newspapers and watch the news.
The whole system stinks.

I love math but hate physics.
I love animals but birds just don't seem to appeal to me.

I'm always right and everyone else is wrong.
So I like to think.

I hate people who worry about what othe people say or think.
Who cares?

I hate people who put themselves down.
And people who tell me I'm wrong.

I'm NEVER wrong.  (HA HA is all I can say!)

(There are 2 sentences here I "whited" out so I guess I wasn't proud of what I wrote or just didn't want anyone else to see that thought!)

I'm usually in a bad mood.
People say I have an attitude.

I'm a sagittarius I'm suppose to.

There's too much sexism in this world.
No one seems to be doing anything about it.

Women are equal.

I love music and movies.
I've watched Die Hard at least fifty times.

Bruce Willis rules.  (I still think that HA HA!)

The one thing more important then my stereo and music is my cat.
He's fifteen years old.
He's my best friend. (I led a sheltered life)

I babysit a lot.
It sucks.

I wanted to be a vet but that was just a phase.
I want to be involved with the law.

Somebody has to try and make a difference.

I have a dream but don't we all.

I hate History.
I don't understand why we have to learn about it.
I don't care.

I believe in the death penalty.
It may be a sick belief but it's true.
More dealth pnalties.  Less crime.
It could happen.

I don't like politics so I don't know the difference between the liberals and the conservatives and all the other parties. (This is still true)
They only mess up the world more.

I love to be by myself.
It gives me time to think on my own.
People may think I'm a loner but I like being lonely.

I love staying up late but hate getting up in the morning. (Oh how true it is)
That explains why I'm always late for school.

I worry too much and cry too much.

We all have our faults

I don't believe in suicide.
It's the cowardly way out.
People say that's being cruel.
I'm sorry that's the way I feel.

I'm definitely not in love and don't plan on being any time in the near future.
I can wait.
Won't my parents be happy.

I'm overly concerned about the system.
It needs help.

So do I.

My name is Jessica and this is 1994.

About Me...

I saw this at A Different Drum (a blog I follow) and I figure while hubby is watching his football/baseball/hockey games (yes really he's watching all 3) I'd entertain myself by completing this!

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you.  Frank Sinatra.
2. What has been your favorite age so far?  31 - I became a mom.
3. Where did you meet your husband? At a lab doing an inspection of mushroom cans!
4. How many children do you have? 2 (for now)
5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? Yeah (not solo) but I was never asked again!!
6. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite gender? Smile.
7. What really turns you off?  Show offs
8. What do you order at Starbucks? A bottle of water.
9. What is your biggest mistake? Never completing piano lessons.
10. As a child, what did you want to grow up to be? A lawyer...I was never getting married or having kids!
11. Say something totally random about yourself. I cried when John Ritter died.
12. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Definitely!
13. Did you have braces? Yes - only bottom teeth.
14. Favorite Social Network? Facebook.
15. What is the most romantic thing someone has done for you? Yuck - I'm so not a romantic!
16. When do you know when it’s love? When you can talk to the person about ANYTHING.
17. Do you speak any other languages?  Francais.
18. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? Nope, never, not gonna happen.
19. What magazines do you read? Country Sampler & Parenting.
20. What is playing on your iPod right now?  I don't have an iPod.  I'm so out of touch.
21. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yuppers
22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away?  Absolutely
23. Do you watch MTV? Nope.
24. What’s something that really annoys you?  When the 1st question out of someone's mouth is "What do you do?" and that determines how much of their attention they're going to give you.
25. Which television show were you sad to say goodbye to? Definitely Three's Company :-)  LOVE John Ritter.
26. Can you dance?  No but I like to think so!
27. What’s your favorite place in the world?  On a campsite!
28. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?  Nope.
29. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be?  Some of the U.S. adoptive families I've met online...they seem so awesome!
30. If you could change one thing in the world for your child, what would it be? That they wouldn't have to deal with all the garbage out there - wish things could go back to the simpler "good ole days"!

Just copy and paste and change your answers to fit you!

Hope you learned something new about me!

Jess :-)))

Cakes

So I've been taking a try at making special cakes (kids only!!!)  So far I've made one for F. and my niece who are the same age.  This weekend the whole family will be together so we're celebrating my other niece's birthday even though it's not until November.  SInce I "kind of" enjoyed making the first cake I volunteered to make this one.  I figure home made are so much more special than store bought.

I've gotta say I actually enjoy making them.  Clean up...not so much.

I put the actual cake together at the beginning of the week and froze it.  Today F. gave me exactly the time I needed to decorate it.  His nap was the perfect length of time, although clean up will have to wait until his afternoon nap.  Thank goodness for 2 naps!

So here are my cakes (no laughing please)...

Sesame Street sign

Box of Crayola crayons

Identification Booklets

This past Sunday there was an "activity" at our local pharmacy, Jean Coutu.  There was a police woman there with her sidekicks.  They were offering a free service to have your child photographed and finger printed so in the event anything happened to your child you would have a booklet with the necessary identification of your child(ren).

I was completely on board.  I thought this was a great idea.

So after church, off we went to Jean Coutu.

Both my boys were photographed, and fingerprinted.

The nice police woman went on to explain how to make the booklet "complete".  She said to "pluck" some hair folicles, seal them in a smal baggie, and attach it to the booklet.  As a proactive mom, of course I am going to make this booklet as complete as possible.

And then it hit me.  All this is being done so that if anything happens to my boys, we will be able to identify them or they would be able to use this infomation to help with the search...

OH MY GOODNESS, what if something ever happened to my babies?  How would I go on with my life?

The police woman told me to have these booklets on me at all times. If anything were to happen to my boys, and they needed this info, I would be in no state of mind to know where I kept these booklets at home.  What kind of state of mind WOULD I be in?  Would I be as helpful as possible or would my mind/body just shut down?

Seriously?  I have to think of this stuff?

I remember being in the mall with N. and after I paid for something, I turned around and he was G-O-N-E!  I still remember the feeling of the room spinning and I was in such shock I couldn't even yell out his name.  The room spun and spun and no noise could escape my mouth.  He had just gone around the desk where I couldn't see him to look at a toy.  Let's just say I hugged him for a really long time until my shaking subdued!  I just can not imagine how worst the shaking and numbness would have been if he had really gone missing.

I still think it's a great idea and I recommend that all parents should have one made up in the event of...but be prepared it stirs up a lot of disturbing and unsettling emotions.  Let's pray together that we would never have to use these booklets!