smelling roses...

It's been a crazy fall and between our schedule and Time-Warner's lack of carrying the Big Ten network, Nathan hasn't gotten to see many OSU football games. But today, he got to watch the Bucks defeat Iowa in HD ... and indoctrinate his daughter a little more (watch the video). The Rose Bowl is within sight.

P.S. Thanks, John David and Jessica, for post-poning supper a few more minutes to let him finish the game! You were very understanding guests! Jessica, in a few years I'm guessing your new husband will have you cheering for Clemson and using football speak. I know Nathan converted me! ;-) Have a safe trip back to Memphis!

Homework

About 30 minutes before Ellie was to leave for school, we remembered she had a project due for her unit on dinosaurs. This poor child has parents who don't know scale -- check out that dinosaur compared to the volcano -- and apparently don't buy shoes because we couldn't find any shoe boxes for our diarama(sp?) project.

You don't want to know what this would have looked like if it were up to me alone. Nathan had the bright idea to use rice for the beach, blue play dough for the river, and a styrofoam cup for our volcano (covered in crushed oreos and colored sugar sprinkles). Lifting an image of a 'rainforest' off the internet and finding a sprig of fake greenery that had become separated from a plant in the center, we completed this project without spending a penny. I'm afraid you can tell.

Tweeting

In case you read this blog through an RSS feed like Google Reader, I am 'tweeting' now. It's nothing profound, but just a little slice of life between the blog posts. You can read my last few tweets at the top of this blog page or find me here: http://twitter.com/cydil.

Not sure why I started because wit and brevity are not my strong suits, but Nathan thought I should at least reserve my first name as my potential user name. I know, that sounds kind of silly because you don't exactly bump into 'Cydils' on every street corner, but I didn't snap up 'www.cydil.com' fast enough and when we inquired about it, some company wanted to sell it for $250. Now it's up to more than $1000! Can you believe that? Anyway, 'just in case' I ever decided I did want to tweet we created a account with my name, and before I knew it, I was using it ...

quick update

Mom is in Albania and I've been told that when one of my parents is away, the blog gets checked even more frequently than when they are home. So, given that, I'm posting a quick text update for mom's benefit (sorry no photos). You're all welcome to read if you so choose...

Before I get to our personal stuff, I want to publicly recognize Veteran's Day. I have been moved by the patriotic songs and images I have heard and seen throughout the day. I am grateful to all those who serve in our armed forces and for their families who sacrifice togetherness for the freedom of others. THANK YOU.

Switching gears...
Ellie's new level of communication has brought some interesting conversations into our home. She can say quite a bit, but we still have holes in communicating and it goes both ways (in expression and comprehension), particularly out of context. For example, today we picked her up from school and in response to asking her about her day, she said something like, "In the classroom, teeth came out! Teeth hit the floor!" She couldn't say whose teeth, but it sounds like perhaps someone in her class lost a tooth?

So that led to Nathan trying to explain to her at bedtime that one day she will lose a tooth. And when that happens, she will put it under her pillow. A tooth fairy princess will come and take her tooth and put a surprise in its place. That seemed fascinating to her, but she was more concerned that Nathan or I lose a tooth instead of her. Then as she was going to lay down, she picked up her pillow, picked up an imaginary object and said, "Look Daddy! The princess brought you a tooth!" And she proceeded to "put" it in his mouth, complete with a 'schwoop-ing' sound effect.

Yesterday we were talking about Christmas travel plans and Ellie overheard us (she is SO excited about Christmas -- we spent about 25 minutes in the Christmas aisle at Lowes a few weeks ago). I said something like, "During Christmas break --"
At which point Ellie interrupted me in a strong voice, saying, "NO! Don't break Christmas! Christmas is NICE!"

Yes, Ellie, Christmas is nice.

Ellie's current favorite song: Zacheaeus was a Wee Little Man, though sometimes she sings, "Jesus, You come down!"

Happy Birthday Gigi!

November 1

This morning our pastor opened church by saying, "November is the new December!" It seems that November will hold all the busy-ness and craziness inherant in the holiday season and for our family it is no different. We are going one week at a time, one day at a time.

This week kicks off missions conference at Asbury (Great Commission Congress). Nathan has been part of a committee planning for this event since early last spring. Meetings have gone longer and met more frequently as the week approached. We pray that it will be a significant time on campus. Would you join us in this prayer for Asbury?

Tonight we have another Global Cafe`. We will have the Strongs from Peru with us and we love this family! They hosted Nathan and a team of Asbury students in the spring of '08, as well as the women's soccer team shortly before that. They are with us until Tuesday. Following the service and supper, Nathan and our cabinet are rehearsing a simulation that will be taking place on Tuesday night as part of the week's missions activities. It could be really powerful but will require some extra practice to pull off well.

Meanwhile, Ellie and I will hold down the home front and support Nathan as best we can while he's in and out for lots of meetings and lunches and suppers in the cafeteria. Today we said goodbye to Mom and Dad Waggoner. They came for a quick visit and we enjoyed our time with them. Ellie was really sad to see them leave. Three times on the way home from church/lunch she reminded herself out loud, "I will see them again soon." Thanks, Mom and Dad, for coming! We all enjoyed your visit very much!

Catching Up

I've got lots of random photos to share from the month of October. Forgive the hodge-podge nature of this post!


Last Sunday we were so glad to enjoy our Church's annual harvest party for the youth and kids. Usually we're unable to participate in Sunday afternoon/evening church activities because of our Global Cafe` here at the Center on Sunday evenings, but we had the weekend off for Fall Break. Our pastor has a tradition of painting finger nails each year at the Harvest Party. Ellie was thrilled when we told her she could get her finger nails repainted at church. She chose an interesting shade: orange. Maybe it was the table covering? Or maybe she's showing a propensity to cheer for Illinois over Ohio State?

(Below) That's Ellie's 2nd cousin, Andrew N, helping her up one of the inflatables.

Monday's weather was so gorgeous, Ellie and I enjoyed several hours outside raking up leaves. Ellie insisted on having her own rake which she promptly declared was a 'spider broom'.

On Friday of last week we got a hotel for a steal (thanks, Priceline!) and stayed at the Hilton Suites at Lexington Green. Ellie loved riding the glass elevator and even more, feeding the ducks on the pond, which was right below our window. It was just the get away we needed, even if it was short.

(below) When Ellie was sick a few weeks ago, we read the Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor SEVERAL times. Here she is, in bed, taking the temperature of the Bears in the book.

Earlier this month I traveled to Memphis to shoot a wedding for a former Asbury student and friend, Jessica. (Click here to see some of my favorite photos of the day). I was so glad when it worked out to visit a sweet bloggy friend I've made, Diana (I posted here about her visit with us in Kentucky in 2007). She and her family graciously hosted me the night before the wedding at their home in Jackson. It was so nice to meet the rest of the family, but in particular, their 12-year-old daughter, Dajana, whom they adopted from Albania in December/January!

I got to visit with two other special friends that weekend -- I'm just sorry I don't have photos with them to share. Kami -- I loved the impromptu nature of our afternoon in Nashville! I can't wait to post your head shots! It was a super fun shoot! Kelly -- thanks for traveling down from IL to help me with Jessica and John David's wedding! It's always fun to get together with you. I still think you need to get a Garmin!

(above) with Diana in Jackson

(Above) with Laurie Kjernald

Laurie visited with us a few times during her 2 weeks here in Kentucky. A friend from our college days at Asbury, we've gotten to know each other even better since embarking upon our journey into international adoption. Laurie and Andreas live in Sweden with their sweet son, Samuel, whom they adopted from Nepal a year before we adopted Ellie. They are presently waiting for a referral of a little girl they're going to name Jane, also in Nepal. A visit with Laurie is always such an encouragement!

On Tuesday I joined Ellie's class for a field trip to a local orchard/pumpkin patch. The trip was fun, even though the weather bordered on miserable.




Thankfully the hay rack had an overhead cover to protect us from the rain! Ellie loved it!

Ellie Gets a Package