agency.....

I found this blog posting and wanted to share it. I like the emphasis on personal choice and revelation: My Choice: Placing My Baby for Adoption with LDS Social Services

the best gift

"The only gift is a portion on oneself"
Ralph Waldo Emerson

let's be honest- I don't have supermom skills

I spent three days watching my cousin's kids while she went on a business trip. Usually she works during the day and her husband works at night. When Loretta has to go out of town for work, their delicate family balance gets thrown off. Since we moved to Houston, I have been able to take care of the kids several times when Loretta has gone on work trips.

So I spent my days this week making meals that were mostly left on the kitchen floor, cleaning the house and then cleaning the house again, answering the same questions over and over again, stopping fights and tantrums, putting kids to sleep for naps and then trying to get them to stay in bed at night, changing stinky diapers and then changing diapers again, helping with sidewalk chalk art while applying bug spray, taking the kids to the pool (a major ordeal involving trying to remember to bring swim suits, towels, sunscreen, bug spray, treats, water, swim diapers and another diaper for after swimming) and then trying to convince the kids that it was time to leave the pool because my pale skin was turning into boiled tomato.

It was wonderful to see their simling faces and hear them laugh but by the end of each day, I was tired and worn out and yet still most of the things I had on my to-do list were not done. Going to the grocery store was in itself a major task. When I talked to my dad on the phone yesterday, I said that I had decided that, instead of wanting to be mother so badly, I have now decided that I want to skip directly to the grandparent part. We could just adopt adult children who are already self-sufficient, post-pubescent, and potty trained. They would have cute kids that we could visit but not be directly responsible for all of their actions.

But the best part of the day was when Lonnie would come home from work. The kids screamed and jump up and down, yelling his name. Lonnie chased them around the house as they yelped with delight. Their playing eventually wore them all out. Together, we gave the kids a bath and put them to bed. I sometimes joined in the pretend roughhousing fun but mainly I just sat and looked at my wonderful, patient, fun loving husband, regained my strength, and I felt like I wanted to be a parent.

I also realize that I can't do this alone. I'm not going to wake up one day with the skills of a supermom. Learning to be a great parent will be a process. But luckily I work on a team, and together I think Lonnie and I will be pretty good parents.

-Alisa

so in love are these two.....

My grandparents, Norma and Wally. This year my grandpa will be celebrating his 90th birthday, grandma will be celebrating her 85th birthday, and most importantly they will be celebrating their marriage of 65 years. They are still so in love. They hold hands when they walk and like to snuggle. They have so much fun together. They told me that they still have stories to share even after 65 years of marriage. My grandma told me they are so used to each other that not being in same room makes them feel uncomfortable. They like to dress in matching outfits so that "people know we go together". They have four children, fourteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren so far.

I was able to spent some time with my grandparents last week. My dad and I took grandma and grandpa on a sightseeing tour off all the places they used to frequent when they were in love. We drove to the house where he grew up and areas of the University that he frequented, including his old fraternity house. We even went to the candy store where grandpa used to buy grandma chocolates that grandma claims "sealed the deal" when they were dating. Grandpa even bought me some chocolate.

-Alisa

thai 4th of july

Our house has become the un-official holiday gathering place for our random assortment of friends here in Houston. It started with Easter and has continued with Independence day. We are people lovers. A holiday is not complete without a full house. Our great mix of friends and family always extends to include anyone else who might want to join the festivities. This holiday we had an especialy eclectic mix.

Our friends Kristy and James, along with their kids Issac and Levi are always part of the festivities. James invited some of his co-workers, living in Houston for the summer doing internships, to join us. They are from Thailand and offered to make us some great Thai food that included shrimp, squid, three types of soups and amazing spices. Another family, Aitran, Hugo, Phoebe and Andy, who just recently moved to the area, made some delicious spicy eggplant. Aitran is originally from China but also lived in Vietnam. Her husband Hugo is from Mexico and they have two great kids. Others at the gathering were; Lyle and Emily, along with baby Eva (Emily and Alisa volunteered together at a women's shelter and Lonnie and Lyle went to JR High together), Stephanie and Martin (Lonnie was the teaching assistant in a class Stephanie took in college), Sister Fisher and Sister Kendrick (the missionaries in our ward), Kelly (our neighbor) and Tim and Julia Nuttall (brother and sister-in-law to James and Kristy).

All together there were about 20 people here at the house and way to much food for us to finish. It was a great holiday.


James' coworkers from Thailand- Nee and Niran. They were amazing cooks and took the kitchen by storm. In the end we convinced them to only cook 6 of th 9 dishes they had planned.

The non-stop sampling that took place all day long. The missionaries, Aitran, Kristy and Stephanie .

Emily and Eva, Kelly, Alisa, Kristy and baby Levi.

Everyone took their time in the kitchen, but these four were the hardest working.

helping each other

"The Lord does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other. The righteous life is achieved as we magnify our view of life, and expand our view of others and of our own possibilities. Thus, the more we follow the teachings of the Master, the more enlarged our perspective becomes. We see many more possibilities for service than we would have seen without this magnification. There is great security in spirituality, and we cannot have spirituality without service!"
--President Spencer W. Kimball

The first time I remember hearing this quote was when I was a missionary, and in line with my missionary assignment, I immediately identified myself as a service giver. As a missionary, I would be a person that would help the Lord meet the needs of others. Even as my life circumstances and roles have changed, I think that more often than not I identify myself as a service giver, that I try to see the needs of those around me and serve them.

As those who know her can attest, Alisa is a wonderful example of service giving. I think that Alisa is inherently blessed with the magnified perspective of life that President Kimball described. She has an ability to see so many possibilities to serve others. I enjoy the privilege of watching her every day in the ways that she builds others, whether it's a listening ear to a friend or visiting someone in the hospital that she just met a week before or babysitting for a relative or friend.

But Alisa and I now find ourselves in a more unfamiliar role, that of a service receiver. Neither Alisa nor I would have expected to need the service of others to help us fulfill our desire of having children, but we now find ourselves in this position. We are receiving service from many who have expressed that they are praying for us. We are receiving service from people who work in or have passed through the adoption process and are providing us with information to best manage the process. A service that we may yet receive could be that one of you knows someone who is placing a child for adoption and helps us make contact with the birth parents. And, of course, an immensely valued service for us would be that of a birth mother who makes the heart-wrenching decision to place her child into our family.

"It is vital that we serve each other." Sometimes we give service, and sometimes we receive. Through it all, we progress together.

-Lonnie

today is a good day.....

(photo taken around my birthday in 2004 on the doorstep of a shop in Paris, France)

Today is a good day.

Today is my birthday.

I feel asleep this afternoon with a baby in my arms.

This year, if I could ask for anything for my birthday, I wish that I could be influential in the life of a child. Of course, I would love to be a mother, but that is something over which I have little control. What I can control is myself, I can open my heart to serve others, especially children. I can make myself available to those who might need my help. I can open my heart and my home.

I got a call last night from Lyle, my friend Emily's husband. He told me that Emily is sick with strep throat and knocked out with medication. He asked if I could come over and help Emily take care of their 3 month old daughter Eva. I arrived at about 9:00 am and stayed most of the day until 5:00 pm. I was glad to be able to help Emily get needed rest while I cared for Eva.

So what greater gift could I start the year out with being able to take a nap on a recliner with a beautiful baby in my arms?

Today is a good day.

-Alisa

happy father's day

Top Ten Reasons Lonnie will be a great father.

10. Lonnie likes to play games and sports.
9. Lonnie is thoughtful and kind.
8. Lonnie is non-judgmental.
7. Lonnie makes other people feel good about themselves.
6. Lonnie can help with homework, especially math and science.
5. Lonnie loves his family.
4. Kids like Lonnie and gravitate to him.
3. Lonnie likes to laugh.
2. Lonnie is patient.
1. Lonnie loves me.

-Alisa

a few of my favorite things

I thought this was fun...and a little glimpse into things I like, don't like, etc.
-Alisa

Move your mouse over the pics to roll over.

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celebrating life!- improtant people in our life

Stella Celebrates her 1st Birthday


Sammy Celebrates his 5th birthday



Stella and Sam (Alisa's niece and nephew http://lambsandchubbits.blogspot.com/) both had birth days in the past weeks. They are great kids and we love to hang out with them.

Stella had a baby birthday party with all of her favorite things; swimming, eating strawberries, hanging out with fellow baby friends and not getting mauled by her big brother. Alisa found that great swim suit for her.

Sammy had a Luchador party. He and all his buddies ran around with our their shirts on, slid down the the slip-and-slide and practiced their wrestling moves.

These kids make great cousins. We love them like crazy!

Happy Birthday Sammy and Stellie!