Well, here we are, the end of October. Sonora just turned 2 years old, and what an amazing time we have had with her so far! She is truly the joy of our lives. She is such a sweet girl. Strong willed - yes, but she is amazingly sweet and affectionate and loving.
We've been taking her to parks alot and letting her climb and swing and run around like a crazy girl
Sonora's birthday was Friday, Oct 16th. We went to the Pumpkin Patch and to Oak Glen with my parents, but I would have to say the absolute highlight of the day for Sonora was the surprise phone call she got from her sweetheart Nathan Lee who recently moved to Kansas
We've been taking her to parks alot and letting her climb and swing and run around like a crazy girl Sonora's birthday was Friday, Oct 16th. We went to the Pumpkin Patch and to Oak Glen with my parents, but I would have to say the absolute highlight of the day for Sonora was the surprise phone call she got from her sweetheart Nathan Lee who recently moved to Kansas We celebrated Sonora's second birthday with a small party at the Fullerton Airport. We went to a restaurant called Tartuffles which lines the runway.
It's a seedy little joint with duct tape holding the seats together. The waitresses have eyeliner that looks like it may have just been added to over the years and hair with a definite 80's fullness, but the atmosphere ... well, you just can't beat it. Scrambled eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon ... the smell of coffee and glasses of ice cold milk. With that kind of a breakfast, I can't understand how the place is going under and closing this December. I wish I had the funds to resurrect it and turn it into a destination. Make it a real 50's diner with an aviator theme, have some really kind pilot available to talk to the kids who visit and offer short plane rides over Disneyland as an attraction. We invited all of Sonora's cousins and a couple of her favorite little friends. The place was full of kids saying "oooooh" every time a plane took off as they stared out the windows.
It's a seedy little joint with duct tape holding the seats together. The waitresses have eyeliner that looks like it may have just been added to over the years and hair with a definite 80's fullness, but the atmosphere ... well, you just can't beat it. Scrambled eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon ... the smell of coffee and glasses of ice cold milk. With that kind of a breakfast, I can't understand how the place is going under and closing this December. I wish I had the funds to resurrect it and turn it into a destination. Make it a real 50's diner with an aviator theme, have some really kind pilot available to talk to the kids who visit and offer short plane rides over Disneyland as an attraction. We invited all of Sonora's cousins and a couple of her favorite little friends. The place was full of kids saying "oooooh" every time a plane took off as they stared out the windows.The plan was to have Sonora fly in to her party. Our neighbor, Ken, is a pilot and has been offering Daniel a plane ride for the last couple years. We were at the condo for an air conditioner related thing and ran into Ken and he again offered a ride. Well, this time I jumped on the offer and asked if he wouldn't mind if Sonora tagged along. HE was excited to give Daniel and Sonora their first plane rides together. Well, when Daniel went to put her in the plane, she was willing and excited. Unfortunately the carseat didn't fit, so Daniel came and ran the seat back to me, but he didn't think it through and left Sonora in the plane with Ken. He knew it was only for a second, but she saw him run away with the carseat while Ken was strapping her in and thought Daniel was sending her away on the plane with Ken! Poor little thing ... she absolutely freaked out and kept saying through tears, "don't want to. don't want to." and that was the end of that. He brought her back to me and flew alone with Ken as the rest of us came back home and had a Hello Kitty Airplane cake (that matched her home-made invitations) and ice cream and sang Happy Birthday.
Sonora refused to open her presents. All she wanted to do was play with her friends and cousins.
Sonora refused to open her presents. All she wanted to do was play with her friends and cousins.Our house is half-packed. We are living in a state of chaos, not knowing what job Daniel will end up with. This weekend, he was blessed to go on the men's retreat at church on a scholarship. He also turned 38 on Sunday. We went to Disneyland to get his free gift card and let Sonora get all her pent up energy out. It has been such a whirlwind here.
We have amazing friends. I can't even begin to describe the faithfulness of our home group hosts and their unyielding consistency to help our cause. Mike and Christine Mueller have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have shown up with meals, helping hands, children to keep Sonora company, climbed in attics, moved heavy boxes, packed a ridiculous amount of tiny craft items, offered all kinds of services, prayers and friendship during this trial of ours. And these are new friends.
Then there are the old faithfuls ... people who in the midst of their own everyday life, battles, journeys of raising their own kids and going through their own times have been there to support is. Rachel with 3 children always here to lend a hand. Amanda, driving from Ontario to help pack. Billy Martin stepping out in faith not knowing who he was helping and then being surprised it was us, old friends from long ago. New friends, Chris and Ashley who brought a stranger (now friend, Shawn) to gently wrap all the little china and tea party items and then carry heavy boxes and boxes down the stairs and move to my parent's garage so we could have more room inside to keep packing. All the calls and e-mails of support through prayer. Rick and Mary Bernard, Daniel's brother, Brian, my friend, Noble, among many others have offered us to move in with them when we found out we had 30 days to move out.
Then there are the old faithfuls ... people who in the midst of their own everyday life, battles, journeys of raising their own kids and going through their own times have been there to support is. Rachel with 3 children always here to lend a hand. Amanda, driving from Ontario to help pack. Billy Martin stepping out in faith not knowing who he was helping and then being surprised it was us, old friends from long ago. New friends, Chris and Ashley who brought a stranger (now friend, Shawn) to gently wrap all the little china and tea party items and then carry heavy boxes and boxes down the stairs and move to my parent's garage so we could have more room inside to keep packing. All the calls and e-mails of support through prayer. Rick and Mary Bernard, Daniel's brother, Brian, my friend, Noble, among many others have offered us to move in with them when we found out we had 30 days to move out.Then there is the story of amazing selflessness. Ryan and Michelle Crecelius, who were renting our home, gave it up and sacrificed their own comfortability so that we could be back in our home. Ryan said, "There's inconvenient, and there's devastating. What's happening to you is devastating and for us to move out is merely inconvenient." They realized that our pending adoption was at risk if we didn't get back home because that's where the original homestudy was done. To get another homestudy in a new place would be about $2500.00 and if we had to move in with another family, all bets would be off. Ryan even said that it would be so much easier for Daniel to focus on getting a job if he had a stable home base. No apartment would rent to us with no paycheck either. We have savings enough to go on for a few months if we go back home, but not enough to do a first, last and security deposit in a new place. So, not only are they moving out, they gave us a couple days in between so we could go back in and paint my bedroom back to periwinkle and have time to move our 20 years of stuff back in. All this with a smile on their face, they sent us home with the rest of the lasagna lunch they made and have been a consistent support the entire time, even though our chaos has turned into chaos for them. ONLY IN GOD'S ECONOMY can this true story be told.
Daniel is working tirelessly for Bruce Bender, an old friend who took Daniel in when he was a teenager. Bruce and his family have been there for Daniel and Brian over the years and when Bruce heard, he offered Daniel a job immediately. Bruce owns a company that is contracted by banks to fix up homes that have been repo'd. Daniel has been doing hard labor at a house in Glendale these last 2 weeks. He has been drilling the concrete to anchor the house for earthquake safety. Then every night, he goes online and puts out resumes and applications. He has been doing phone interviews, in-person interviews, and the extra blessing of Bruce is that he's allowing Daniel any time off he needs for an interview.
That brings me to the amazing network of friends who have been pouring in the leads and the tips for what jobs are available. COUNTLESS people have e-mailed opportunities to Daniel and we are so blessed and beyond thankful. Daniel is being diligent to follow up on these leads as we continue to pray for God's direction through this difficult time.
Sonora is in a state of confusion. We are including her as we pack and she is not impressed. She goes to her drawers, which were all labeled and she knew exactly where every toy was, and now she goes to empty drawers and says, " MOMMY! Little People all gone!" and then each day I have to remind her that the pirates are sailing to our new home, the little people will be there to welcome her and all her baby dolls and toys will be there for her to play with and are waiting for her to come to her new home. She has informed me several times that she has no intention of moving. No kidding. I said, "but Sonora, you will have pretty red walls in your new home." She yelled back at me and cried, "no, I like white walls!" What the nilly nelly is a 2 year old telling me about wall colors for??? Wait ... I know, I know, I can hear you all laughing and saying, "well Antoniette, she's YOUR 2-year old!"
I assume that next time I will be writing to you it will be from my home, the place I worked so hard to decorate and build over the last 20 years and I am so excited to go back. I have missed it so much, and I can only hope and pray we get to keep it
1 comment:
Touching to read about all the blessings in the midst of trial you, Daniel and Sonora are receiving. We are continuing to pray for God to reveal His pathway every day for you and your family. See you at study tomorrow.
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