It comes in MANY colors.....
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
In just a moment....
My dear Sophia
It's January 12.
A day that in one moment everything in your life changed.
A moment that is in your memory.
A moment when everything you had no matter how much or little it was, was gone.
In an instant.
In just one moment, one tick of the clock everything you knew, everything that was home, everyone that was family changed.
It's a moment, an instant that can never be changed.
On this day, two years ago, you lost your parents. Sophia I know you tried. I know you tried to reach them. You also had a little brother, Djemson that needed to be protected. Who was most likely just as confused as you were, if not more.
The tears you cried that day, and the weeks that followed I simply can not imagine.
If I could be there today to hold you, to pray with you and over you, I would. I would be there in a moment. Instead I'm here, and you are there. I hope you re-read my last letter and know that I pray for you every day.
Today is different though. I pray your heart is comforted. I pray you understand that we want to honor what your parents started. I pray that you know that we love you and Djemson.
I also want you to know that exactly eleven months after that devastating moment I saw your picture for the first time. I heard your story.
That moment is forever in my memory.
A moment where everything changed.
In an instant.
One moment, one tick of the clock, where everything that was life as I knew it changed.
There were tears that would not stop. I don't think I had ever felt that physically ill over someone who I had never met before. I cried for weeks, for you and Djemson. I laid in bed awake each night wondering about you and realizing that everything I knew was changing.
In just that one moment our lives were forever changed by you.
I love you my sweet Sophia.
I love you for that moment of changing our lives.
I love you for all the moments yet to come.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Todays to do list:
Keep the stove going and the house warm.
Go to the neurologist for a follow up.
Nap.
Make comfort food for dinner.
I didn't get my exercise in yesterday, but I've already done it today. That's right @ 5:35 this morning I was down stairs on the bike riding. I don't like getting up that early, but it feels good to get it out of the way.
I have 3 loads of laundry to fold (the ones I washed and dried from yesterday) that I'll fit in somewhere. I didn't get everything done yesterday, but I did get lots of play time with the kids. We got Rory's Story Cubes for Christmas, and Sam really likes playing that game. It is helping him with his imagination, and story telling skills. He enjoys it, and I did enjoy his fish or turtle trying to get on the plane in various stories!
Enjoy the day!
Go to the neurologist for a follow up.
Nap.
Make comfort food for dinner.
I didn't get my exercise in yesterday, but I've already done it today. That's right @ 5:35 this morning I was down stairs on the bike riding. I don't like getting up that early, but it feels good to get it out of the way.
I have 3 loads of laundry to fold (the ones I washed and dried from yesterday) that I'll fit in somewhere. I didn't get everything done yesterday, but I did get lots of play time with the kids. We got Rory's Story Cubes for Christmas, and Sam really likes playing that game. It is helping him with his imagination, and story telling skills. He enjoys it, and I did enjoy his fish or turtle trying to get on the plane in various stories!
Enjoy the day!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Todays to-do list
I need to start writing out my to-do list. Really simple things that slip my mind, but at the end of the day I think "huh...I didn't get that done" So here goes today:
Check all the windows and close the storm windows. It's cold outside, and I need to keep in as much heat as I can
Clean the kitchen window of the NASTY web thats in there
Laundry
Turn the 'sit-up' reminders back on for my phone.
Ride my bike for 25 minutes
Take some photos for items to list on craigslist
Plan some coupon shopping (No worries, I'm not going to go clean out our local rite aid!)
I'll be back through out the day to cross items off the list!
Laundry
Ride my bike for 25 minutes
Take some photos for items to list on craigslist
Plan some coupon shopping (No worries, I'm not going to go clean out our local rite aid!)
I'll be back through out the day to cross items off the list!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
A New Years Letter!
Dear Friends and Family,
Well it seems we didn’t get Christmas cards out this year. For one reason (or maybe 100 reasons) it just didn’t happen. So lucky you gets our e-version of a New Years letter!
Well it seems we didn’t get Christmas cards out this year. For one reason (or maybe 100 reasons) it just didn’t happen. So lucky you gets our e-version of a New Years letter!
The past year has brought it’s share of surprises and excitement...and yet at the same time its share of sadness.
In March we celebrated Laurie’s one year anniversary from her aneurysm. As we looked back over the prior year we were amazed at how far God had brought us. We followed that up by celebrating 2 birthdays (Laurie’s and Eliza’s 3rd birthday) and then a trip to Haiti! It was then that we got to meet and spend time with Djemson and Sophia. We loved our time there and we miss them! We also are amazed at how quickly Emma, Sam and Eliza have loved them, and how often they ask when they will be home. They pray for them, talk about them, and draw pictures of them.
May brought about our ten year anniversary, but it was the middle of gearing up for Emma’s dance recital with practices! We were very proud of Emma and the work she put in to her dance class this past year, and we look forward to this coming recital in June. We were able to go away in June for a weekend for our anniversary, which was a nice time away.
May brought about our ten year anniversary, but it was the middle of gearing up for Emma’s dance recital with practices! We were very proud of Emma and the work she put in to her dance class this past year, and we look forward to this coming recital in June. We were able to go away in June for a weekend for our anniversary, which was a nice time away.
June also saw the end of preschool for Sam, and the completion of 2nd grade for Emma. Both did an excellent job in school and while they looked forward to the summer, they were sad to see the school year end. We were able to fill the summer with trips to the library, stops at the park, lots of playing at beaches and lakes, a weekend camping trip and Sam’s 5th birthday! We had a great summer of the kids being home.
The end of August brought Laurie’s first seizure. We are thankful that she was in a public place with the kids and not driving (as was the original plan to just ‘head home’). After a whirlwind week of doctors appoints she started Keppra and has been seizure free since. In November she was able to resume her normal activities including driving the kids to preschool, running errands and more.
School started late for Emma thanks to Hurricane Irene, and she was very disappointed, but 3rd grade is going well. Sam and Eliza are both in preschool this year ~ Sam goes 3 days a week and Eliza goes 2 days. They like being at the same school and love their friends and their teachers. We are blessed to have them! September also brought Djemson’s birthday and Don’s birthday. The fall also brought the beginning of soccer season where all 3 kids played. It was a great fun season. We also saw the completion of collecting every piece of paper for our Dossier. We were excited to see that we have all those papers!
School started late for Emma thanks to Hurricane Irene, and she was very disappointed, but 3rd grade is going well. Sam and Eliza are both in preschool this year ~ Sam goes 3 days a week and Eliza goes 2 days. They like being at the same school and love their friends and their teachers. We are blessed to have them! September also brought Djemson’s birthday and Don’s birthday. The fall also brought the beginning of soccer season where all 3 kids played. It was a great fun season. We also saw the completion of collecting every piece of paper for our Dossier. We were excited to see that we have all those papers!
With the completion of the Dossier, comes the need for finances. It has been weighing heavy on our hearts as yesterday was Sophia’s 9th birthday. We miss our kids, and we long to have them join us. In honor of Sophia’s birthday (and Djemson’s birthday in September) we are asking people to consider donating to our adoption fund so that we can send in our Dossier and the process really begin in bringing them home. Our ‘timer’ does not start until our final payment is made and our Dossier is delivered. Donations can be made at Sanford Institution for Savings, 254 Long Plains Rd, Buxton, ME 04093. Please make gifts payable to ‘Haiti Children’ fund. You can also use Paypal over there ---->
We look forward to what God has for us in 2012. If we had sent a ‘real’ Christmas card there would have been two photos included. So we leave those with you
We look forward to what God has for us in 2012. If we had sent a ‘real’ Christmas card there would have been two photos included. So we leave those with you
Much Love,
The Coldwell's
Don, Laurie, Emma, Sam, Eliza, Djemson and Sophia
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Minimizing
Going into the Christmas season and minimizing was really the right decision for us. At first I began to think "what was I thinking" as the ads for this toy or that item were coming to us.
It's refreshing though. We are choosing wisely what we are purchasing for presents. Not that we have gone crazy in years past, but I think we are putting more thought into items then we ever have before.
The exciting part for me, is that I'm not wondering "where are they going to put this?" or "What can we get them to get rid of to make room for X or Y" Our children are happily parting with items that they no longer love to play with (or they are packing them away for a time). They truly recognize that the space is worth it ~ to be able to spread out and play with what they have. Which almost makes gift purchasing easier. I'm not sneaking things OUT of the house.
It's also making it easier for me to purchase gifts for my husband, and others. If I'm minimizing what is in our home, how can we bless another individual with something that isn't going to just 'take up space'.
In this I've only come across one problem...the 3rd grade Christmas swap that is happening in Emma's classroom. We have slimmed down so much on things that we don't use, that we are really trying to come up with something in order for her to participate (the rules state that it can not be a new item ~ it needs to be something from home, that you no longer love/use). Um...I got rid of all that stuff! It has given Emma the opportunity to see that there are few things that she has a TON of (Silly bands anyone?). I appreciate that we're not spending $$ on a gift, but at the same time I'm viewing this as a 'junk swap' LOL! I think though, I'd rather have the problem of not knowing what to send in with her, vs the problem of not being able to walk through our house because of the amount of stuff strewn around.
It's refreshing though. We are choosing wisely what we are purchasing for presents. Not that we have gone crazy in years past, but I think we are putting more thought into items then we ever have before.
The exciting part for me, is that I'm not wondering "where are they going to put this?" or "What can we get them to get rid of to make room for X or Y" Our children are happily parting with items that they no longer love to play with (or they are packing them away for a time). They truly recognize that the space is worth it ~ to be able to spread out and play with what they have. Which almost makes gift purchasing easier. I'm not sneaking things OUT of the house.
It's also making it easier for me to purchase gifts for my husband, and others. If I'm minimizing what is in our home, how can we bless another individual with something that isn't going to just 'take up space'.
In this I've only come across one problem...the 3rd grade Christmas swap that is happening in Emma's classroom. We have slimmed down so much on things that we don't use, that we are really trying to come up with something in order for her to participate (the rules state that it can not be a new item ~ it needs to be something from home, that you no longer love/use). Um...I got rid of all that stuff! It has given Emma the opportunity to see that there are few things that she has a TON of (Silly bands anyone?). I appreciate that we're not spending $$ on a gift, but at the same time I'm viewing this as a 'junk swap' LOL! I think though, I'd rather have the problem of not knowing what to send in with her, vs the problem of not being able to walk through our house because of the amount of stuff strewn around.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Progress!
Yesterday was a stay home day from church for the girls and I. We are fighting off some germs and wanted to spare our friends of them. (You are welcome)
To continue on in the minimalist journey, we cleaned out our mudroom/sunroom/entry whatever you want to call it room. Each child has a bin with hats and mittens in it (along with snow pants and boots). My girls...ahhh love them. They are hat collectors. How many hats does each child *really* need? In my minimalist mind I say 1. One hat. Living in reality in this house I think 3 might be a better number because there will be hats lost, or left somewhere. So each girl had to pick their 3 favorite hats (they each had 6!)
Some they didn't even know they had.
They have been packed away for future use. I'm kind of doubting that we will have 3 hats for each girl in the spring.
We discovered multiple pairs of shoes that belonged to one little princess. No wonder she can't ever find any in her room.
The screens came out of the windows (we have crank out windows on one side) to wash them, and the room brightened. I didn't realize exactly how much sun was being kept out!
Husband cleaned out (on his own) his 'area' of 'stuff'. I'm liking this room! I'm anxious to PAINT it now.
*It was at this point where I told my husband I wanted paint for Christmas. Gallons and gallons of paint*
We were able to put away the entire clothes basket full of 'keep' items and in the process I cleaned out part of our basement 'storage' area. I now have a giant tote of 'get rid of' items. In order to use that tote though I unpacked a big stack of towels I had purchased for when we re-do the bathroom. Over a year ago. It hasn't been re-done. But I'm not storing them any longer. *I'd also like some paint for the bathroom!*
I woke up to happier calmer place this morning.
Today will be a break from purging and I'll just enjoy our home. I have a goal to start mixing our Christmas cookies up and freezing the batter for later. This will allow me to see how this works with only having limited items in our home. This afternoon we may make a run in the kids rooms *yipes*
Or I could just be the *sneaky* mom and do it while they are at school tomorrow. *grin*
To continue on in the minimalist journey, we cleaned out our mudroom/sunroom/entry whatever you want to call it room. Each child has a bin with hats and mittens in it (along with snow pants and boots). My girls...ahhh love them. They are hat collectors. How many hats does each child *really* need? In my minimalist mind I say 1. One hat. Living in reality in this house I think 3 might be a better number because there will be hats lost, or left somewhere. So each girl had to pick their 3 favorite hats (they each had 6!)
Some they didn't even know they had.
They have been packed away for future use. I'm kind of doubting that we will have 3 hats for each girl in the spring.
We discovered multiple pairs of shoes that belonged to one little princess. No wonder she can't ever find any in her room.
The screens came out of the windows (we have crank out windows on one side) to wash them, and the room brightened. I didn't realize exactly how much sun was being kept out!
Husband cleaned out (on his own) his 'area' of 'stuff'. I'm liking this room! I'm anxious to PAINT it now.
*It was at this point where I told my husband I wanted paint for Christmas. Gallons and gallons of paint*
We were able to put away the entire clothes basket full of 'keep' items and in the process I cleaned out part of our basement 'storage' area. I now have a giant tote of 'get rid of' items. In order to use that tote though I unpacked a big stack of towels I had purchased for when we re-do the bathroom. Over a year ago. It hasn't been re-done. But I'm not storing them any longer. *I'd also like some paint for the bathroom!*
I woke up to happier calmer place this morning.
Today will be a break from purging and I'll just enjoy our home. I have a goal to start mixing our Christmas cookies up and freezing the batter for later. This will allow me to see how this works with only having limited items in our home. This afternoon we may make a run in the kids rooms *yipes*
Or I could just be the *sneaky* mom and do it while they are at school tomorrow. *grin*
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