End of an Era...Beginning of a new Adventure

It was ten years ago that I resigned as a 7th grade English teacher to be a stay-at-home-mom.  It has been the most amazing blessing to be home every day with my babies.  But this year (my second year for the kids to be in full-time school), my heart began to feel drawn back to the classroom.  I subbed 2 - 3 days a week this year, and I found that when I wasn't subbing, I missed being in the classroom.  My own little chicks are getting older and more independent - they will be in 4th and 2nd grades this Fall! 
So...after much prayerful consideration, I am headed back to the classroom!  I have accepted a 3rd grade position at Liberty Elementary.  It's not my kids' current school, but it's the school where we spent the previous 3 years.  It's a great school - small and close-knit, with great teachers and leadership.  It's a place that just feels like home and I am honored to be able to teach there! 

Our plan is to keep the kiddos at Hidden Lakes.  They don't want to leave their friends, and it's a great school (which is just a few seconds walk from our front door!).  I am hoping to hire a shuttle service to pick up the kids after school and bring them over to me at Liberty (just about 6 minutes away).  They can work on their homework while I finish up in my classroom.  We'll see what we are able to come up with, but that is our plan A. 

I remember thinking that I would probably be home for about 10 years - and how that sounded like an eternity.  And here I am!  I can't believe how quickly time is flying by.  The kids have been so supportive of this decision.  We are all going out to a nice dinner to celebrate this new stage for our family. 
Now I have a classroom to put together and 3 college savings accounts to begin!  :)   Let the fun begin!

Just can't stay away!

There is a special place we love to visit for many reasons.  There is no place like it, and we have become addicted.  We weren't going to go this year, because we are planning a Disney trip for this Fall/Winter. 
But we just can't stay away.
So, Hawaii...Pinkston Family, we'll see you in a couple of weeks!

2 years

Today marks 2 years home with Halle Grace!  After 5 weeks in Ukraine, bringing her home was a victory on so many levels.  Finally walking through those doors in the International Terminal and seeing so many family members and friends waiting for us was a moment that I will always hold in my heart.  This little 5-year-old, who didn't speak a lick of English, who had been traveling for about 3 days, and who didn't know any of these people, handled it like a pro.  It hardly seemed real seeing her meet her brothers and grandparents for the first time.  I can't imagine what that must have felt like.  It didn't phase her, though.  She just knew that this was where she belonged, and she has never doubted it.  Like she knew all along she was ours, and was just waiting for us to come and get her.  She truly has the gift of faith. 

I asked her today what were her favorite things about having a family.  She said she likes having parents, likes having brothers to play with, a room of her own, and a church where she can learn about God.

Her favorite things about living in America?
Any guesses?
candy and Hawaii.  The girl knows her stuff.  She said, "In the summer you can swim or go to Hawaii where they have clean beaches, not dirty ones like in Ukraine.  In the winter, you can stay inside and eat candy."
Ha! 

It's been two years full of learning, growing, and bonding.  We've been blessed beyond measure with this little girl.  People tell us what a great thing we've done for her and what a difference we have made in her life.  But for us, it's been the other way around.  She is a living, breathing testimony of God's faithfullness, as well as his miraculous power.  We are honored to have the priviledge of having her for our daughter.  This day is not just about her, but it's about the faith-building journey of a family.  It's a day to remember that with God, all things are possible.  It's a day to celebrate the odd number of 5 that now describes our family. 

Don't get me wrong...it's not all sunshine and roses.  We have the normal battles of tears and drama, tantrums. fights over what she wears, sibling rivalry, pouting, and dishonesty.  But it's nothing we don't all struggle with, deep down, right?  It's nothing God doesn't put up with from us on a daily basis in one way or another.  :)
Halle Grace is still learning what it means to have parents and how to communicate with us.  She's still learning lots of new things and having new experiences.  But she is ever kind and compassionate, always first to help out in any situation.  She is generous and sweet.  She's a a great writer.  She loves to swim, chew gum, create things, play games, and dance.  She wants to be a doctor, an author and illustrator, and an orphanage director.  And how wonderful she would be at all of these! 

Happy Homecoming Day to us!

Athletic

I just have to record this for posterity. 

Garrett has a new obsession.

 

Athletic clothing

. 

We have been battling every morning for a few weeks now about what clothes he will wear.  He will no longer wear jeans, or plaid or khaki shorts (much to his mother's dismay).  He will only wear "athletic" clothing.  Sometimes I can get away with setting out a regular t-shirt and a pair of "athletic" shorts.  But most days, he begs for an "athletic" shirt as well.  Where on earth does this come from?!?!

One day, he came home from school and announced with great pride that he and Bryce are tied for the most "athletic" clothes in the class (yes, he's keeping track, apparently). 

He has this one "athletic" outfit that we got from Target.  It's a matching blue athletic top and shorts.  When I bought it for him, you would have thought it was Christmas morning.  He was grinning from ear to ear and put it on immediately.  I asked him if he would want to wear it every day.  He responded: "Not every day, but I have a feeling it will be one of my favorites!"(said with that little Garrett grin that just charms the socks off you!)

Almost every morning he asks if his "blue suit" is clean.  When the answer is yes, it's a good day. 

Along those same lines, he was THRILLED the other day to announce that he won the track and field race and is the fastest kid in his PE group (2 and a half classes of kids).   He said it was the best day of his life.  :)

Must have been the "athletic" clothes.
(He He)

Heavenly Birthday

I am a firm believer that Earth was created to be a tiny inkling of the majesty and splendor of Heaven.  I believe this is true of many of our Earthly customs, too.  Therefore, I am sure that the angels threw a great celebration today - the day our daughter, Madeline Kate, entered her eternal home 11 years ago.  And I have no doubt that any earthly birthday party would pale in comparison.

We celebrate with the hosts of Heaven today the life of Madeline Kate...and long for the day we are all together again.  Happy birthday, Baby Girl!

Although we miss our daughter, we are thankful for a God who truly brings beauty from ashes, and who works everything for good.

a few befores and a few more afters

I grouted the fireplace yesterday - all by myself!  I've never done it, but it wasn't too bad.  Here is a "before" that I found from Christmas. 

Here is the final product!

After

And the rest of this post is for Stephanie and Renee (and Shannon - I know you're lurking!)...pics of the house and what we've done since we moved in - 11 months ago.  :)

Here are the stairs I gel-stained.  All the blond-oak colored wood is officially gone from our house! (unless you look inside the kitchen cabinets, which I don't recommend ;)  Someday, we'd love to change out the wood spindles for iron...but, whew, that's a pricey project!

The second picture also serves as a "before" of the formal living.  Not my favorite space - pretty much wasted.  I would love to turn it into a study someday.

Here is the current formal living.  I haven't done anything special in there except the flooring.  Someday...

After

(I know...Halle Grace needs a canvas to go with the boys'...poor thing!)

I love our breakfast nook.  It's not a nook - it's a room.  In our old house, this table was crammed into a little corner (hardly even a nook).  In this house, the breakfast room is huge and two-stories tall.  It's one of the things that sold me on this house. I have my eye on a table at World Market to fill this space...and to finally have a table for 5+!

BEFORE

(the best one I could find...don't have one of the whole room)

I painted over the wallpaper below the chair-rail, which I will have to redo because that's always a bad idea.  Not sure what I was thinking.  This summer, I plan to take it down and texture/repaint.  I also made curtains, and Scott added a much-needed dimmer for the chandelier (which I picked up at a great antique mall in Colleyville - the chandelier, not the dimmer :).  It's one of my faves and it was an amazing DEAL!)

                                 

AFTER

Let's revisit the kitchen transformation, shall we?  I wish I had a true before pic, but this will have to do.  You get the general idea.  It was a beige-and-blond-oak-fest. 

A little before

Where there was once super-gross, beige wallpaper, I textured and painted a dusty aqua color.  I painted the cabinets creamy white and painted the island a turquiose color with several different glazes to age it some.  I found the little chandelier over the island at Lowes - and it just happens to match the antique one in the breakfast room!

                             

After

I don't have a before of the dining room (I have GOT to get better at doing that!).  But it had beige "apartment quality" carpet and the same beige walls that covered the whole house.  I hung gold curtains that I made for our old house and painted the walls a pale gray-blue.  We had wood floors put in and found this great light fixture on clearance at Lowes!

                                                   

Our family foom - A little bit before...

I think Grant actually took this picture awhile back.

Before we moved in, we had Matt Colvin build our built-in where there once just a giant empty cut-out.  Didn't he do an amazing job? 

                     

After

We also had hard wood floors put in and I made curtains.  We painted the accent wall (would have painted the whole thing, but the rest is too high to reach).

The bedrooms are still a work in progress.  As each one gets finished, I'll try to remember to post.  Halle Grace's is finished - just transferred everything over from the old house.  Still working on the boys'.

Lots more projects we want to do...all in good time!

And, just for fun, here are a few of my very favorite things in my house. 

                                     

These are canvases I had the kids paint last summer.  They are hanging in the playroom.  Can you guess who's is whose?

                         Our new family portait                 

 My Tassimo - makes the BEST cappuccino!

Fave splurge - my Anthropology lampshade

Pottery handprints that my mom made with the kids.

And as a final thought for this super-long post, a little dose of reality at my house. 

The laudry room (and my closet) is my downfall!  Everyone has one, right?)

As the Pioneer Woman would say, "just keepin' it real, Folks!"

Fun Weekend!

We had a visit from Brandon and Katie Thursday - Friday.  They are the sweet missionary couple we met and stayed with in Ukraine 2 years ago.  It was fun having them and getting to return the favor a little!  They are moving back to the North Eastern part of Ukraine this summer to join another mission team there.  We look forward to following their adventures!  

 Halle Grace remembered them when I showed her pictures, but those memories from Ukraine are sure getting foggy!  I finally started working on turning all the adoption posts of my blog into a book (using Blurb) .  That will be her "baby book" - can't wait to get it finished!

Scott and I made lots of progress redoing our fireplace surround this weekend!  All we have left to do is grout, but here are some pictures of the process.  I didn't get a "before" picture, since he started demo when I wasn't home, but here is part of the old fireplace in a Christmas pic (below).  I know you are super-jealous of the plain beige tile!  We have been dying to give it some much-needed personality.  We ended up choosing a 3x6 slate tile and building the hearth up (I'm not a fan of the "floating" look of the old fireplace).

Here, Scott is putting up the cement board (I think there is a more official name for that stuff).

 

Here you can see the hearth he built.  He's so handy!  I love him so!

(Are you thinking - they should have covered those floors!?  Yes, I know.  We should have.  :(

Tilin' time!

This is how it looks now.  We are letting everything set for a few days so it's good and dry before we grout.  But so far, so good, don't you think?

And just for grins...the first day of Spring at our house!  Can you believe that?  This is Grant's newly painted bird feeder.  No visitors yet.

To celebrate the new season, I fell in love with and bought myself this happy table cloth on sale at Target yesterday.          Welcome Spring!!!!

Spring Break Staycation

Look at all the fun we've been having this week!

Monday I took the kids to see the Percy Jackson movie.  Grant has been reading the books like crazy (he finished the 3rd one this week - read it in two days).  He keeps asking me if I remember this Greek god and that one...I don't remember much about Greek mythology (sad for an ex-English teacher, huh?).  But I gotta tell ya that I loved this movie!  I went in with zero expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was!  There were some intense scenes for sure (Medusa for example).  Halle Grace (7) covered her eyes a couple of times.  Garrett (7) was completely engrossed in the whole thing.  Grant (9) kept comparing it to the book, but loved it anyway.  I think I may have to read the books now.  :)

Tuesday it was cool an rainy, so we mostly stayed inside.  We painted these fun bird houses for our backyard.  Halle Grace's is the pink one and Garrett's is the other one.  Grant hadn't finished his yet.  They were so excited about their projects and had many discussions about which one the birds will like best and why!

Today was a beautiful day!  We went to the Fort Worth Nature Center and did some hiking and picnicing.  It was a perfect day for it and we had a blast!

I came home to Scott (home from work early) doing some serious demo on our fireplace.  He said he just got in the mood to redo it (the tile surround).  Works for me!!! 

Happy Spring Break!

Happy "Metcha-Day" to us

This is my blog entry from two short years ago today...
As a mother, this is the memory that is the equivilent to the moments I held each of the boys after they were born.

In she walked – this precious little girl. It’s one of those moments you know will stay in your memory and in your heart forever. She had on a purple turtleneck, a denim jumper with a butterfly on it (which she was very proud of!), yellow knee-high socks, and silver sandals. Her brown hair was in a ponytail, and I was just dying to take down that hair and play with it! She was very polite and we spoke to her via our translator. She started telling us all the things she likes to do – she likes Cinderella, dressing up, baby dolls with strollers, cooking, and dancing. Then she belts out in PERFECT speech this Russian poem about sunflowers! Precious! We knew right away that she was meant to be ours. We showed her the photo book we brought with pictures of our family, our home, friends, etc. She pointed to the bed in “her” room and said, “I want to lie down on THAT bed” (in Russian, of course). Little does she know the hours I spent choosing that fabric and making that bed look perfect just for her! When it was time for her to go, she gave me the biggest hug and would not let go. I also got a couple of kisses on the cheek…while she probably got all wet from my tears! What a precious gift this little girl is!

It's amazing to read this post and realize that, although she has been through so many changes, she is still that same little girl who charmed us that day.  She still loves the same things...she's just added more to the list.  She still can't get enough hugs and kisses.  What an amazing journey it's been since that day!  We're still on that journey...and God continues to knit our hearts together.  We have learned that it is a process, with some days easier than others.  We stand on God's promises and are so thankful...

"For he who begins a good work in you will be faithful to complete it..." Phil 1:6

Click here to see the old video of Halle Grace's Russian sunflower poem

Super cute beach towels

A friend just announced that her family is adopting from Ethiopia! They have three children and are hoping to adopt a little boy. They have a sweet story on their blog about the way the Lord led them to this new adventure.
Since I am a sucker for a great adoption story AND a sucker for cute monogrammed stuff...I am passing this along from Heather's blog:
BEACH TOWELS!

Heather is monogramming these cuper-cute beach towels as a fundraiser for their adoption expenses.  I just ordered the pink polka dot one for Halle Grace.  Heather and her family live near me, but she ships anywhere!  :)
You'd have extra cute kids at the pool this summer, and you'd be bringing the Cheatham family one little step closer to bringing home their little boy! 

It's Spring  Break around here, and we're off to take in some Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief!  Whoohoo!

Two March Twelvths Ago

Two years ago, we sat nervously in the State Department of Adoption in Kiev, Ukraine. Our appointment was at 11:00am. We were walking in blind faith, having no idea what to expect. We were hopeful, but realistic as we knew that many families don't find their child at their first appointment. We were prayed up and ready for whatever God had in store!
After reviewing several files, and due partly to the pushiness of our amazing facilitator, finally we were shown the file of this little girl named Vica.

We just knew she was ours! Our guess is that this picture was taken sometime before her 4th birthday (she was 5 when we met her). She has changed so much since then! Her curls are gone (booooo), but her hair is much thicker, her wondering eye is corrected, she has more freckles, and she's grown into our beautiful, sweet-as-pie, loving little girl.
After hearing her tell us about life with her "bad mommy" (her words, not mine), when I see this picture, I see a survivor. I see a little warrior princess who has endured so much, but is stronger for it. God has transformed her life and she knows it. She thanks him for it every night...and so do I.
Halle Grace Victoria, today we celebrate the day your were chosen! Love you!!!

Hinshaw Projects - another update

We have teeny tiny baby carrots, basil, thyme, and parsley!!! Whoo-hoo! I have never done this before and am super excited that it is actually working (so far). It truly makes me marvel at God's creation. Looking every day for our zucchini and cucumber to catch up. The strawberries are coming along in the pots outside (plants, not seeds).

HOWEVER, I am NOT marveling at God's tadpoles. These tadpoles are worthless! Grant had to turn in his science project yesterday. Here is his conclusion: "Even when provided a safe, predator-free environment, tadpoles still take a really long time to change into frogs". They are still 100% tadpoles...who are stinking up my kitchen. So much that even Grant asked this morning if we could let them go today. Hallelujah! They will swimming in a nearby pond by the end of day! :)

That time of year

We're coming up quickly on two years home with Halle Grace. This weekend will be 2 years since we had our SDA appointment - that blessed day when we were shown the file of a little girl that would be our daughter.
About this time 2 years ago, we were getting settled into our temporary home in Kiev:




(Ha! This cathedral wasn't our home...)

We seem to be coming full circle this weekend, when our friends Brandon and Katie (whom we met in Mariupol and stayed with for over 2 weeks) are coming to stay the night with us! We are so excited they are coming and we're looking forward to reminescing about our time with them in Ukraine. Halle Grace remembers them, so that will be fun for her to see them, too!

Finally changed my blog background. Popped over to ShabbyBlog.com - cute site! I know...I still need a pic for my header. All in good time. I've been up late helping out with the school yearbook...and ready to call it a night! Tomorrow's agenda = clean house.

Project Progress

We have been busy around here! Everyone has a project.
Halle Grace has been asking to start a garden ever since we brought her home from Ukraine. I have been putting her off, but she has finally worn me down! I do not have a green thumb. I'm the kind of gardener that gets all excited about the beautiful plants in the plant store and in the magazines, plants with great hopes, and kills them by August (if not before). So I was hesitant to start a high-maintenance vegetable garden and didn't want to disappoint her. Halle Grace assures me that she will help (which she has been)! We planted a bunch of seeds in egg cartons and have them in a sunny window sill. We planted cucumber, zucchini, chives, thyme, cilantro, and basil. In pots, we have started carrots and strawberries. When it gets warmer, we plan to start some tomatoes (not from seed). We had a little mishap the other day, when I put the seeds on the patio table to get some good sunshine. I came out to check on them, and one of the cartons (twelve little plants!) had blown across the yard and was scattered everywhere. It was a bummer. But we are still hopeful for the rest of them!


Grant's science fair project is raising tadpoles. I'm still not sure how he talked me into this. They are disgusting! This is the 4th week we have had these stupid creatures, and they are still not frogs! The project is due on Wednesday, so the kids are all praying that God will turn them into frogs this week. :)
He has been drawing pictures of their changes every few days, and not a lot has happened. The kids have enjoyed having them, although I am more determined than ever to refrain from ever having fish-type pet in our home.
Here is Grant with Bob and Freddy. Freddy jumped into the sink the other day while I was cleaning out their bowl. He tried to go down the disposal. I admit, my first reaction was to turn on the water to let him "go" easily. I turned on the water, but the little guy held on somehow. I gave in and rescued him. It was disgusting. All in the name of love for Grant and science! :)

Garrett and Halle Grace both had desert dioramas to do this weekend. Ugh. I detest "parent homework". I never assigned this kind of stuff as a teacher. But we got through it with just a few tears and the kids did a great job! Here is Garrett with a couple of kiddos from his class this morning turning in their projects. Garrett's animal was a scorpion. Halle Grace's was the Thorny Devil lizard (don't have a pic of hers yet).

Picture Updates

Today after school, I let Halle Grace have this giant lollipop she got for Valentine's Day. This is Heaven on Earth for her!


Our neighborhood Daddy/Daughter Dance was oast weekend. Halle Grace had the best time ever! Don't they look cute?


These are Christmas flashback pics...since I haven't posted any yet. This is Halle Grace and Zoey at my parents for our Christmas. I miss HG's long hair!


Scott and I took at grown-up trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee for our 15-year anniversary. We went with our long-time friends, the Popes. We had the greatest time just getting away and hanging out. This was taken on the balcony of our cabin.


Joy and Zoey at our house on Christmas Eve.


Garrett and at Mom and Dad's.


This is the little lego sleigh Grant made for Santa. He left it under the tree for hime. So sweet!


Grant with Daddy.


Christmas fun at the Galleria.


Our annual fondue Valentine family dinner! We have cheese fondue with veggies and bread, steak, and chocolate fondue for dessert. Yummmmm!